also sayth Pâ—o. xxix Whan yâ— preachyng of Gods worde fayleth than perysh the people come to nought We fynd thys true euery daye more more For the longer we lyue the more wyckednes do we se reygne It pytyeth a Christen mannes hert to beholde yâ— face of thys worlde What vngodlynes supersticion Hypocrisye dissimulacion swearynge pryde enuye dronkenshyp glotony fornicacion adulterye whoredome couetousnes an whole sea of euelles hath ouerflowed the world And all this is come to passe thorow the sleapye negligence of Curates nether can ther as yet be perceuedony amendment The Prestes go forthe styl to neglecte yâ— office of preaching Gods worde and yâ— people remayne styll in theyr old blyndenes not carynge much though they neuer heare one word of the holye Scripture preached vnto them in al theyr lyfe so lytyll pleasure haue the poore selye soules in it because they knowe not what a precious tresure yâ— most holye worde of God is What than remayneth but that one of vs moâ—yshe Colos. iii teache and exhorte another as S. Paule byddeth teache monyshe ye one another For if one laye man were no more mercyefull to a nother than yâ— Preastes are for the moste part surely the greatest part of the world shuld philâ— ii I thyncke ronne hedlonge vnto the deuel for want of knowlege Wherfore I exhort al meÌ„ of what degre â—orte soeuer they be charitably to monyshe one a nother whan they se ony man offende and rebuke hym by the Scriptures of God yâ— we maye shyne in the myddes of a froward croked nacion as greate lyghtes in the worlde pure fauteles Rom. vi â–ª such as noman can complayne of holdynge fast the word of lyfe Let vs suffer no synne to reygne in thys our mortal body but mortifye all thynges yâ— stryue agenst the spirite Let vs so watch gyue diligence to our selfes yâ— nether Satan nor the world nor yet the flesh may haue ony interest in vs. Math. v. Let vs hate deteste abhorre synne Iacob v. as yâ— mooste greuous pestilence and pestiferous poyson that can chaunse vnto vs. But aboue al thynges as Christe Iames monysheâ—he vs lette vs not sweare at all nether by heauen nor by earth nor yet by ony thyng that is contayned in them If one of vs at onye tyme shall chaunse to heare a nother sweare pollute yâ— name of our Lord God by vayne idle vnlaful othes let vs charitably monishe the offeÌ„der exhorte hym to cease froÌ„ hys swerynge and moue hym vnto yâ— prayle of God and of hys moste holy blessed name For surely if ther were no mo synnes committedde in Englond but only yâ— blasphemynge of God of his creatures by vayne swearyng it were ynoughe to bring final destruccion vnto thys Realme from yâ— which I besech God longe to preserue it and gyue the InhabitauÌ„tes thereof grace to correcte and amende theyr synful manners And to the intent that men may knowe how great offence it is before God vaynly to sweare I haue made this Inuectyue agaynste swerynge which here foloweth wherin as in a clere myrrour they shal vnfaynedly perceue and se what great dampnacion hanggeth ouer the heades of all swearers and that it is not possible for them to escape yâ— moost greuous vengeauns of God excepte wyth al haste they repent for sake theyr detestable maÌ„ner of swearyng earnestly fal vnto the harty praises of God Thys myne Inuectyue I dedicaâ—e to your good Master shyppe to whoÌ„ I confesse my selfe more endeâ—ted bound than my poore beggary shal euer may be able to recompeÌ„ce your moost kynd free geÌ„tylnes desiring you for your accustomed humanite to accept this my litle gift with yâ— mind wherwyth I haue offered it to you and to take it as a testimomy of my faythefull and seruiseable harte towarde you I was the gladder to dedicate this my lytyll treatyse to you because I haue in times paste perceaued and styl daylye do howe greatly ye desyre that al menne shulde lyâ—e accordynge to theyr profession at Baptime that thorowe theyr good workes they maye garnysh the doctrine of oure Lorde and Sauyoure Iesus Christ. Nether is it vnknowne vnto me what a ferueÌ„t and godlye affeccion you beare towarde the holy scripture howe desyrous ye are that the worde of Christ shuld dwell in Christen men ritchely with all wysdome as saynt Paule sayth Ioan. x â–ª Chele be the singulare great gyftes of God which he hath wrought in you by his holye spirite and are manifest â—â—gâ—es tokeÌ„s that ye are the child of saluacion â–ª eâ—heri toure of eternall glory one of Christes flock seynge ye are â—o earnestly bent both to heare practyse the word of god in your dayly maners Titus iâ— For Christe sayth Loâ—o. iii. He that is of God hearethe yâ— wordes of God Agen My shepe heare my voyce God mought vouchsafe to encrease these his gyftes in you dayly more Ioan. viii more vnto yâ— glory of hys most blyssed name and the saluacion of your soule in whome I desyre to yourâ— ryghte worshypful Mastership and to the good Gentle womanne youre wyfe all good luckye and prosperous thynges AMEN Yours at coÌ„maundement and wyll Theodore Basille Leuit. 24. VVho soeuer curseth hys God shall beare hys synne And he that blasphemethe the name of the Lorde he shall dye for it All the multitude shall stone hym to death Whyther he be Cytezyn or Straunger if he blaspheme the name of the Lord let hym dye the deathe August in Math. THey synne no les whyche blaspheme Chryste reyguyng in heauen than they whych crucifyed hym walkyng in earthe ¶ The Inuectyue WHense shall I take my beginnyng whyle I lament the corrupte maÌ„ners of thys moost wretched world more aptely and fytter for the purpose than of the Prophet Ieremy and with wepyng teares and sorowfull harte cry oute wyth hym Hiere lx sayeng Oh who shall giue my head water ynoughe a well of teares for myne eyes that I may wepe nyght and daye for the slaughter of my people The Prophet dothe not here bewayle them that haue theyr bodyes slayne wyth swearde or with ony other kynde of violence but he lamenteth the to muche wretched and daÌ„nable state of suche as are slayne in theyr soules withe the multitude of synnes for what so euer the sweard is vnto the body euen the very same is synne vnto the soule as it manifestly appeareth by his wordes that followe For he calleth them adulterers and a company of wycked traÌ„sgresâ—ours They bend theyr tonges lyke bowes Veâ—itasodium parit sayth he to showte ouâ—e lyes As for the trueth they maye nothyng awaye wyth all in the world For they go from one wickednes vnto another holde nothyng of god They are so false and crafty thaâ— euery one had nede to kepe hymselfe from another No man maye safely trust hys owne brother for one brother
vndermineth another and one neghbour begyleth another Exulat Veritas yea one dissembleth with another and they deale with no trueth They haue practised theyr tonges to speake lyes haue taken great paynes to do myschefe They haue set theyr stoole in the myddest of deceate and for very dissemblynge falshode they wyll not knowe the Lord. Theyr tonges are like sharpe arowes to speake deceat Wyth theyr mouth they speake peasably to theyr neyghbour but priuely they laye wayte for hym These wordes of the Prophet declare euidently that he bewaylethe theÌ„ that are slayne in theyr soules by the reason of the manifolde wyckednes wherwyth they are wouÌ„ded inwardely slayne that is to saye cast awaye from the fauour of God condemned vnto perpetual death except they repent beleue amende So lykewyse I at this tyme vsyng the wordes of the Prophet do not lament suche as haue tasted the death of the bodye and are gone but them that are yet alyue in this worlde as concernyng theyr bodyes but dead thorowe synne as towchynge theyr soules These I lament these I bewayle these I sorow sygh for â—oth daye and nyghte These make me to laye asyde all myrthe and ioye to walke as one desolate â–ª and confortelesse These cause me to wyth that I beyng one a priuate parson might be banyshed yea cursed from Christ so that so great a multitude myght be saued My fayth is yâ— I am wrytten in the boke of lyfe and nombred amoÌ„g the vessels of mercy notwithstondyng woulde God I myghte be wyped out Rom. ix so that these the are slayne in the soule thorow synne myght be saued What one man hauyng but a carnel of Christen salte in his brest wyssheth not so Who desyrethe not rather beyng one parsonne to be daÌ„ned than so great a nomber shoulde peryshe What nede I rehearse here the teÌ„der affeccion of Moses Christ and Paule Exo. xxxii which they bare toward the saluacion of other Phili. ii whom all we ought to followe Rom. ix Moses whan the Isralites had offended God for worshyppyng of the golden calfe prayed for them on this manner Forgyue them oh Lorde this faulte or eâ—les wype me oute of the boke wherin thou hast wrytten me Christ by the Prophet saythe Esa. v Iudge I praye you betwyxte me and my vyneyard What more coulde haue bene done for it yâ— I haue not done Rom. ix S. Paule wyshed hymselfe to be banyshed from Christ for hys brethren and kynnesfolke as pertaynyiâ—g to the fleshe whiche are the Israelites Certes he is no true Christen maÌ„ that prouideth for his owne saluacion and carethe not for the health of other God sayth Chrisostome Hom. vii iâ—â— Genesâ— wyll not that a ChristeÌ„ maÌ„ shoulde be contemed wyth hymselfe alone but that he also edifye other not by teachyng only but by lyuing and coÌ„uersacion also Charite sayth saynt Paule i. Cor. xiii Phil. ii seaketh not her owne Agayne let no man seake his owne but the profyt of other This made al the holy fathers in tymes past to be so desyrous of the health of other that they wyshed euen wythe the losse of theyr owne healthe Hiâ— ix the saluacion of theyr Christen brothers who beyng of theyr mynd and godly enspired wisheth not yâ— same at this hour For euen as the Prophet Hieremye dyd lament the wyckednes of the people whiche lyued at that tyme Vice greately encreased euen so I am sure do so many as are godly mynded bewayle the vngodlines that reygne among vs at this daye For consyder what synne and howe manifolo reygned at that â—yme eueÌ„ the very same with a great heape more reygneth yea triumpheth in these our dayes so greatly hathe wyckednes preuayled and gotteÌ„ the vppermoost hand If I shulde discend go downe in to the great Occean and mayne see which ouerfloweth the whole world wyth thaboundans of all euelles so shoulde I neuer be able to sayle and passe thorow I wyl therfore at this tyme take vpon me onely to searche the seuerall sea of one synne only althogh it may seme to be both great large brode depe bottomeles not able to be sayled thorow of ony maÌ„ and shewe howe many dauÌ„gers and greuous perrelles abyde them that presume to passe in that cruell fearse see And this synne is the moost wycked and detestable vice of swearyng which now reygneth so greatly in euery place that I feare all admonicions exhortacions warnynges and councels are frustrate and vayne so euell is a noughtye peruerse custome so rare a thynge is it to heale that pocke which is rooted by the bonne Notwythstondyng although some ê‘aduenture shal laugh at this my laboure as a songe sunge to them that are deafe eared yet for asmuche as my trust is yâ— al whiche be entangled with this vice are not of a desperate mind nor so ouerwhelmed wyth the waues of this vnmercifull sea but that they maye be called agayne brought vnto amendment eueÌ„ for theyr sake and to wyn theyr soules vnto glory wyl I speke somewhat in this matter declare how greatly the abhominable synne of swearyng is to be detested and abhorred of euery true Christen harte Therfore I shaâ—l moost intierlye desyre all faythefull and Christen people that shall read this my worke to marke diligently what so euer they shall here fynde and to repose it in yâ— bottome of theyr hartes as a graue weyghty matter pertaynyng vnto the health of theyr soules Saye 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 are 〈◊〉 If ony man wyll not amend after this our admonicion his damnacion fâ—ll vpon his owne head For I am free froÌ„ his bloud and haue done my dutye in this behalfe After that God had brought his people the Israelites out of Egipte myndyng to institute appoynâ—e a newe publique weale that shulde be gouerned after his deuyse and appoyntment he ordined certayne ceremonies and ordinaunces whiche they shoulde obserue and by the obseruasis therof shewe and outwardly declare theyr obediente harte towarde hym Among all other for the ryght iÌ„stitucioÌ„ of theyr lyfe he gaue them by his seruaunt Moses ten coÌ„maundemeÌ„tes whych by no means they myght transgresse except they woulde faull into his great displeasure wrathe indignation To the kepers of those commaundementes he promised all good Deut. xxviii fortunate and prosperous thynges but to the traÌ„sgressours suche as breke them he threatened all troublous greuous and paynefull thynges as we maye se in the bokes of Moses of yâ— other Prophetes AmoÌ„g all other he gaue a commaundement whiche is thys Thou shalte not take the name of thy Lorde God in vayne For the Lorde wyll not holde hym gylteles that taketh hys name in vayne As thoughe he shoulde saye Beholde I am yâ— Lorde thy God which haue done the many greate singuler pleasures I haue made the lyke vnto myn owne similitude lykenes and image I haue preserued the froÌ„ eternall
Iewes God amende these croked customes Furthermore this damnable vse of swearyng hath so greatly preuayled ChildreÌ„ among them that professe Christ that it is also exepte into the brestes of yonge chyldren It is not a rare thyng nowe a dayes to heare boyes mothers teare the moost blyssed body of Christ wyth theyr blasphemo â–ª oothes euen from the toppe vnto yâ— too What meruel is it thaÌ„ thoughe they be abhominable swearers whaÌ„ they come to age But wheÌ„se learne they thys Verely of theyr pareÌ„tes and such as bryng them vp Cursed be those parentes whiche so behaue them selues eyther in worde or dede that they gyue ony occasion of euell at all vnto theyr chyldren Great is theyr daÌ„nacion The bloud of theyr chyldren shal be required at theyr haÌ„des Better were it for such fathers and mothers if they had a mylstone teyed aboute theyr neckes and so to be caste into the sea thaÌ„ blaspemously to abuse the name of God vnto yâ— euell example of theyr chyldren Is it ony maruell therfore thoughe we be so greatly plaged seing the name of God is so much blasphemed amoÌ„g vs nowe a dayes of euery degre and age Howe can we be bolde to saye yâ— we beleue in God whan we lyue no thyng accordynge vnto hys worde Wyth what forhead may we be bold to call vpon the name of God in our aduersite seyng we wythout all honour and reuerence do so shamefully abuse it wythe vngodlye oothes Howe maye we hoope that Christes bodye was offered vp to God the father a swete smellyng Sacrifice for our synnes Ephe. v whan we so vnreuerently sweare by it Heb. ix How maye we boldly say 1. Ioan. i that all our iniquities be wasshed awaye by Christes bloude whaÌ„ it shameth not vs wickedly to swear by it to obscure the vertue of it by our vnlawefull oothes so muche as lyeth in our power Wyth what couÌ„tenauÌ„ce shall we be bolde at yâ— dreadful day of iudgemeÌ„t to behold loke vpoÌ„ yâ— moost glorious face of the euerlastiÌ„g righteous Iudge Christ whose honour we haue so oft defaced with our vayne ydle swearyng Vndoubtedly these swearers and blasphemers of the name of God are in a farre worse case The world and gods word iudgeth diuersly of swearers than they appere before the worlde The world by the reason of the longe custome continuaunce therof thyncke it no synne ydelly to swear nether doth it iudge them that are swerers to be in onye worse case than the other sorte be but the worde of God iudgeth other wyse of them Gods word declareth them to be the moost greuous enemies of god of his moost blyssed name of Iesus Christ his sonne and of his moost bytter passion Gods word vttereth them to be the chyldrenne of wrath fyre brondes of hell captiues of Satan and ryght heyres of eternall daÌ„nacion Gods worde sheweth manifestly yâ— they haue in no parte yâ— celestial heritage but are already iudged to hel syre if they do not in thys lyfe repente bewayle theyr wretchednes confesse theyr abhominacioÌ„ desyre marcy and beleue faythfully to haue forgyuenes For heaueÌ„ and earth shall passe awaye but yâ— worde of the Lorde abydeth for euer Math v Esay xl Therfore this comminacion and threate which accompanieth the commaundement must nedes be true come to passe The Lorde wyll not holde hym gyltelesse that taketh hys name in vayne Let not these swearers therfore glory in theyr wickednes and thynke yâ— they shall escape vnponished â—ota because God takethe not vengeaunce on them streyght wayes but rather let them thyncke that theyr damnacioÌ„ shall be so muche the more greuous seyng they escape so longe wythout punyshment The rytche gloâ—tonne of whome we read in the Gospell of Luke Luke xvâ— liued in this world according to hys fleshly appetyte and wanted nothyng that myght satisfy yâ— beastlyke desyre of yâ— flesh yet yâ— end of him was euerlastiÌ„g daÌ„nacioÌ„ So shall it chauÌ„se to al theÌ„ yâ— be wycked traÌ„sgresâ—ours of this holy precepte of God The Lorde wyll not holde him gylteles sayth the scripture yâ— taketh hys name in vayne This thret of god is not to be laughed at For if there be a God as I am certenly ê‘suaded ther is I am sure that these abhominable Swearers shall not escape vnponysshed let theÌ„ esteme theyr synne as lyght as lytle as they lyst yea I am sure the vengeaunce of God hangeth ouer theyr heades wher so euer they be And although God take the not vengeauÌ„ce on them streyght wayes yet am I sure that they shall not escape if in this worlde yet not in the worlde to come Ps. exliiii so righteous a Iudge is God so faythefull is he in all his wordes Howe can it otherwyse be We se by dayly experience that if ony manne blasphemeth an earthly Prynce Gen. iii or speakâ— euell of his name he dyeth yâ— death streyghtwayes without mercy If such honour and reuerence be gyueÌ„ vnto a worldly Prynce which is earth vnto earth shall returne ageÌ„ what is thaÌ„ to be thought of theÌ„ which blaspheme yâ— name of the moost hygh celestial kyng which is kyng of all kynges and Lorde of all Lordes The blasphemy done to a mortall man is ponyshed with swearde and shall the blasphemy done to god escape thyncke you wyth a fylyppe in the forhead or with the knocke of a lytyll woden betyll as it beganne in certen monnes houses to be ponyshed nowe of late Na verely It is no fylyp matter excepte ye wyll admyt suche a fylyppe as shal fylyppe them downe into the botome of hell fyre God is no popette nor no babe It is not a fylippe that can wype awaye yâ— blasphemy of his moost blissed name before his hyghe throne glorioê° maiestye Wo be to theÌ„ yâ— syn and kepe not my comaundementes sayth the Lorde for I wyll not surely spare them iiii Es. xv In the olde lawe God gaue this coÌ„mauÌ„dement for the blasphemers of his name Who so euer curseth his god Le. xxiiii sayth he shall beare his synne And he that blasphemeth the name of the Lorde he shall dye for it All the multitude shall stonne hym to deathe Whyther he be Citizyn or straunger if he blasphemethe the name of the Lord let hym dye yâ— deathe What wyll the blasphemers of God saye to thys precepte Do they thynke that God is a sleape so that nowe he careth not for the glory of his name Na let them be sure GOD tendereth nowe his glory so much as euer he dyd and abhorreth wyckednes now no lesse thaÌ„ he hath done euer heretofore He is a ielous god wyl not suffer theÌ„ to escape vnponysshed that pollute defyse his moost glorious name In math S. AusteÌ„ sayeth they synne no lesse whiche blaspheme Christ reygnyng in heauen than they which crucifyed hym wal kyng in earth In qecalogum A certen wryter also in
chefely they that labour in worde doctrine i. Cor. ix For the Lord hath ordined that they which preach the Gospel shulde lyue of the Gospell Wo be to me sayth S. Paule if I preach not yâ— Gospel Shal these good men thaÌ„ God wyll escape free seynge they do nought and yet receaue so great frutes commodities and rewardes Hom. vii Super illud Dignuâ— est operarius c. what do we O ye sheppardes sayth S. Gregory How may we be bolde to receaue wages yet be no worke men We take the profytes of holy chyrche for our dayly stipende yet do we labour no thyng at all in prechyng for the euerlastyng Chyrche Let vs consyder and weyghe what greate damnacion it is to take here the rewarde of laboure and to do no thyng for it Beholde we lyue of yâ— oblacioÌ„ of yâ— faythfull but what do we laboure for yâ— soules of the faythful we take for our stipend what so euer the faythfull haue offered to redeme theyr sinnes and yet do we not once shewe ony diligence agaynste those synnes ether by the studye of prayer or preachyng Let beneficed menne which gyue so lytle attendaunce vpon Christes flocke marke wel thafor sayde wordes of the holy Doctore consyder with them selues whyther they maye iustly receaue so muche do so lytle for it Dist. xviii cap. oporâ—et or not Agayne the same Doctore saythe the prestes to whome the Lordes people are coÌ„mitted must watch with great diligeÌ„ce vpon the Lordes shepe that they be not rent and torne with the bytynges of the wolfe that is to say with the mocions of the dyuell God giue them grace once to be prestes shepe herdes not only in name apparel but also in work and truth Among seruyng meÌ„ also aboue all other what wycked and detestable oothes are there hearde Seruing men If there be ony of that sorte which feare God loue his worde therfore abstayne from vayn oothes how doth his coÌ„panye lout hym Loke what an asse is among a sorte of apes eueÌ„ the very same is he amonge hys fellowes They thyncke hym not worthye to weare a sweard buckelare that caÌ„not face oute the matter with plentye of oothes He yâ— can swearebest soonest gyue a blowe he is couÌ„ted an hardy fellowe and fyt to do a GeÌ„tyll man seâ—uyse whan to saye the truethe of all men he is moost wretche and coward and moost of all vnapte to do suche a Gentyll man seruyse as â—oueth God and his holy lawes Yea such pestilent swearers and fylthy blasphemers of God and hys creatures ought all honest and vertuous Gentle men to putte oute of theyr houses vnlesse they bryng the vengeaunce of God vpoÌ„ theyr whole family wyfe chyldreÌ„ seruauntes c If they knowe that onye man haue bene in that place where the plage reygneth woulde come into theyr houses they speare the gates agenst hym they shutte hym ouâ— by no means wyll they suffer him to enter And why Verely because they wyll not haue yâ— plage brought in among them vnlesse they should be infected and so dye Alas for pure pite to dye we are all borne and dye we must at one tyme or other whyther it be by the plage or otherwyse therfore it maye seme that the death of the body ought not so greatly to be feared why than rather do they not putte out of theyr houses these pestiferous caytisses which thorow theyr abhominable swearyng infecte all theyr family not onely theyr bodyes but theyr soules also and prouoke God to poure out his moost fearse greuous plages vpoÌ„ them Is not this the sayeng of the wyse man the maÌ„ that vseth muche swearyng shall be fylled with iniquite Eccl. xxiii and the plage yâ— is to saye the vengeaunce of GOD shall not go awaye from hys house Awake therfore O ye gentyll men awake ye men of nobilite awake An admoniâ—ion for Gentle meÌ„ suffer no swearers in youre houses eschew them more then a venemous serpent fede a dragoÌ„ sooner in your house than ony suche one as hathe pleasure in swearyng For as towchyng the one it only hurteth the body the other destroyeth the bodyes soules of so many as be vnder you dayelye prouoke the vengeaunce of God agaynste you and all that euer ye haue in towne Eccle. xiii felde or els where He that toucheth pytche sayth Iesus Syrache shall be defyled of it And he that kepeth company wyth them yâ— are proud shall learne pryde Lykewyse they that accoÌ„pany suche as be swearers and blasphemers of Gods moost holy name must nedes proue lyke vnto them and therfore runne into lyke damnacion Awaye therfore wyth such out of your houses excepte they wyl amend Mayntayne none that shall bryng yâ— plage of God vpoÌ„ your house Suffer not the tender brestes of youre chyldren to be poysonned in theyr yonge age with the pestilent and damnable coÌ„municacion of these abhominable swearers But aboue all thynges looke that ye youre selues haue the name of God in so greate reuerence and honoure that by no means ye abuse it at ony tyme by your vaynâ— oothes vnto the euel exaÌ„ple of yourâ— family Agayne whan the comon sort oâ— people in a parysh are gathered togâ—ther at ony tyme to make mery Paryssh 〈◊〉 aâ— the custome in many places is to do chefely on the Sondayes other hâ—ly dayes at after noone whan theâ— oughte rather to be occupyed in seruent prayers or els in the readyng or hearyng of the holy Scriptures what shamefull wycked oothes do they sweare WhaÌ„ they are once set vpon the alebenche and well whytled in theyr braynes thorow the many cuppes that haue bene fylled in howe faull they then to swearynge What parte of Christes moost blyssed body is leaste vntorne He is taken for ioylyest fellow that can best swere I let passe theyr other fylthy talke dronckeÌ„shyppe and excesse O wyckednes Are these Christen meÌ„ Not muche before they were in the Temple and ful solemnely went vp downe patteryng with a payre of â—eades in theyr handes and whan yâ— preste redde the Gospell althoughe they vnderstode not one worde yet of custome they stoode vp lyke men and whan the prest named Iesus in the Gospell and they sawe hym for yâ— reuerence of it make curtesy they also full manerly bowed theyr knees as deuoute parsonnes pretendyng by that meanes that they haue the name of Iesus amoÌ„g them in great honour yet streyght wayes go they vnto the alehouse and by theyr wicked oothes do they there the gretest dishonour to the name of Iesus that can be done in the worlde These people maye well be resembled to those Iewes whyche in despyte strypped Christ put on hym a purple robe platted a crowne of thornes put it vpon his heade a reed in his right hand and bowed theyr knees before hiÌ„ mocked hym sayeÌ„g Aue rex Iudeorum hayle kynge of the
but that which is good to edify with all whan nede is that it maye haue fauour with the hearers If no fylthy communicacion ought to procede out of our mouthes muche lesse ought ony vayn dothes vngodly swearynges blasphemies c. come forth out of them If our wordes ought to be good to edify wythe all thaÌ„ ought they not to be such as should destroy both our selues the hearers which many tymes chaunseth thorow wicked oothes Let not dome Ephe. v sayth he and all vnclennes or couetousnes or fylthynes or folyshe talkynge or iestynge be once named among you as it becommeth saynctes but rather thanckes gyuyng If these thynges maye not once be named among vs surely much lesse yea a M. tymes muche lesse oughte oothes swearynges blasphemies of Gods moost holy name be named among vs and hearde in our dayely speache If the wrath vengeaunce of God be wonte to faull vpon the chyldren of vnbeleue for these thynges aforesayd as S. Paule testifyeth certenly let all swearers be certenlye assured that they shall not escape the plages of Gods vengeasice and theyr damnacion shal be yâ— more greuous for asmuch as they professe godlynes and lyue nothynge accordyng thervnto What are they ony other than blasphemous mockers of God They saye that they knowe God but withe theyr dedes they denye hym seynge they are become abhommable and disobediente and enell mynded vnto all good workes as S. Paule writeth Titus i They are welles wythout water cloudes caryed about of a tempest to whom yâ— myst of darckenesse is reserued for euer They are trees without â—rute at gatheryng tyme ii Pe. ii twyse dead plucked vp by the rootes Iudas Epistle They are the ragyng waues of the sea somyng oute theyr owne shame Howe can they than escape the vengeaunce of god The Sodomites Gomorrians sinned agaynst nature therfore were they consumed wythe fyre brymestonne froÌ„ heaueÌ„ the swearers synne agaynst the God maker of nature is it to be thought â—e xviii that they shall escape vnponyshed If suche as committe the lessest synne be punysshed howe can they than escape which of sende in the greatest They maye be sure if they do not amend not only to be plaged with fyre brymestone but also to suffer all other kyndes of intollerable paynes yea and that in hell where is no redemcion nor marcy to be had The Lorde Psal. xi sayth Dauid seeth both the ryghteous vngodly but who so delyghteth in wickednes him his soule abhorreth Vpon the vngodly he shall reygne snares fyre brymestonne storme tempest this rewarde shall they haue to drynke For the Lorde is ryghteous and he loueth righteousnes his cosâ—tenauce beholdeth the thyng that is iuste Agayne he saythe God is a ryghteous Iudge Psal. vii and God is euer threatenyng If men wyl not turne he hath whet his swearde he hathe bent his bowe and made it redy He hath prepared hym the weapons of deathe ordined his arrowes to bestroye We rede in the forth boke of Moses that whan the chyldren of Israel were in the wyldernes they fouÌ„d a man gatherynge styckes vpon the Sabboth day 〈◊〉 .xv â–ª And they that found him gatheryng styckes brought him vnto Moses and Aaron vnto all the congregacion they put him inward For it was not declared what shoulde be done vnto hym And the Lorde sayd vnto Moses the manne shall dye Let al the multitude stone hym with stones without the hoost And all the multitude brought hym wythout the hoost stoned hym with stones and he dyed as the Lorde coÌ„maunded Moses If the man that gathered styckes vpon the Saboth daye for transgressyng that coÌ„mauÌ„dement whiche notwythstondynge was but a ceremoniall law seruyng but for a tyme and a figure of oure spirituall quietnes and reast which we ought to haue coÌ„tinually in our consciences toward God which precepte also is nowe abolyshed stond in none effect so that we are Lordes of the Sabothe daye and maye appoynte what daye it shall please the head rulers to cease from laboure yâ— we may the more coÌ„ueniently come togyther vnto the teÌ„ple for to pray to heare the holye worde of God to se the blyssed Sacramentes ministred c. If the man that gathered styckes I saye vpon the Sabothe daye was stoned vnto deathe by the commaundement of God for transgressynge that precepte howe maye these swearers than persuade themselues that they shal escape vnponished althoughe they sweare abuse God and all hys creatures by theyr vnlawfull oothes The other precepte was ceremoniall The Iewes at thys day accordiÌ„ge to theyr olde wont wyl teare there garmentes whan the heare Gods blessedâ—ame blasphemed for the drede of Gods feercewrath that is â—â—yred vp there by Butte who among vs ChristeÌ„ shewethe hiÌ„selfe by ony meanes to be displeased there wtal in whom ough to be the loue feare dreade of God so wel as in yâ— Iewes is nowe of no strengthe but this commaundement is morall and abydeth styll in perfecte strengthe and so shall do so longe as the worlde stondeth shall yâ— transgressioÌ„ of this than escape vnponyshed The other was punyshed by death and shall this escape fre wythout punyshment Let the wicked worldlynges laughe at the matter so much as they lyst there lyueth a god agaynst whome the offence is committed which wyl not suffer the blasphemies of his holy name and of his creatures to escape vnpunyshed And well were it wythe these abhominable swearers which go forth in theyr wyckednes wyll not amend if in this worlde they myght he consumed with fyre and brymestone froÌ„ heauen as the Sodomites were or stoned vnto death as the transgressour of yâ— Saboth daye was so that theyr plages and paynes myght on this manner ende they afterward enioye euerlastyng lyfe But it is to be feared that after thys lyfe they shall feale more greuous tormentes than euer the Sodomites dyd ether suffer in this world or where they be nowe God be marcifull vnto them and gyue them grace to amend Hytherto haue we hearde howe greuous an offence it is beâ—ore God for to sweare to take his moost blissed name in vayne or to abuse onye of his creatures by vayne vnlawfull oothes We haue heard also how God wyll not suffer by ony meanes them to escape vnponished that wickedly sweare and breake this godly commaundement Nowe seyng that GOD wyll so sharpely ponysh them that take hys name in vayne or feare not to sweare for euery lytle trifle by hym or by hys creatures what is than to be sayd of perâ—â—ry Of perâ—ury What is to be thought of them which bothe falsely and wyllyngely forsweare them selues Into howe great ponyshment shall they faull whiche feare nothyng at all to sweare in a false matter vpon the holy Euangely that moost â—lyssed worde of euerlastyng trueth yea to call God and all his holy saynctes to be wytnesses
in that behalfe In howe troublous and ragynge sea sayle these wretches miserable caytisses What intollerable plages abyde them What fearse punyshmeÌ„tes and cruell tormentes are prepared for theÌ„ Howe is it possible that they maye escape the moost extreme venâ—eaunce of GOD Not only to sweare but also falsely to sweare Not only falsely to sweare but also to sweare vpon the holy Euangely Not onely to sweare vpon the holye Euangely but also to caul God al hys holy sayntes to be wytnesses yea that in a wrong matter O detestable abhominacion O wyckednesse more than can be expressed O shameful synne worthy all kynd of punyshment O incomparable vice worthy to be reuâ—ged not with papers wearyng only but wyth the moost bytter intollerable paynes that are prepared in hell for Satan and hys ministers Thou shalt not forsweare thy selfe saythe the scripture It is not lawful for vs vaynly to sweare shall we than presume falsly to forsweare our selues Althoughe the compâ—ny of them which suffer them selues to be periured I trust be not to be compared in nomber vnto the multitude of them that be the customable sweares yet waÌ„t there not at this daye which are gilty of that faute and woulde God it were not so in Englond What is to be sayd of those men who so sweareth by god yâ— is yâ— truth righteousnes taketh hyâ— to wytnes to maintayne hys lyeng disâ—eaâ—e vnrighteousnes he is a periure yll lyghte suche one yâ— lytyll regardeth goddâ—s truth hys â—ommaundementes which for a lytle trifle wyll forsweare them selfes gyue theyr soules from god to the dyuell Howe miserâ—ble agayâ—e are they which although they know the matter to be wrong wyll for a lytle mony or for fauour of the â—arty willyngly take an oothe vpon a â—oke falsly forsweare themselues â—â—â—rary to theyr owne conscience Are not there thynke you in the world whiche for couetousnes of teÌ„porall possessions make clayme to other mens landes fordge false euidence inuent wrong titles and bryng in falfe witnesses wyth them to sweare vpon a boke that all is truethe whan they knowe the contrary and theyr conscience condemneth theÌ„ for so swearyng What abhominable wretches are all these What periured caytiffes maye these be counted What ponyshmente can be inuented sufficicieÌ„tly great for theyr detestable wyâ—kednes Thus by theyr periury and false wytnes is the true owner deceaued of hys ryght depriued of his goodes caste into pouerte made a wretche throne into suche misery that nether he nor his wyfe nor yet his childreÌ„ are able to lyue but many times perysh for honger O wretched creatures O insatiable wolâ—â—es Whyle they haue respecte only vnto theyr couetous affeccion and labour to satisfy that they neglecte despyse both the helth of theyr owne soules and the wealth of theyr neghbour What for all that Yet by this meanes haue they obtayned theyr purpose and set the other beggarly fellowe besydes the sadle Now they are menne of fayre londes They are Gentle mennes fellowes They are able to lyue wythoute theyr dame They shall be are a rule in the countrey and be counted among yâ— moost honest meÌ„ of the Paryshe They shal haue nowe wherof to lyue at theyr hartes ease so longe as they lyue And whan they dye they shall leaue theyr heyres suche lyuynges that yâ— best Gentle men in all the countrey shall be glad to marry theyr doughters vnto them Are not these great coÌ„modities who wolde want these pleasures maye haue them by one means or other O miserable wretches whyche for a lytle easy lynynge that they maye leaue theyr chyldren wealthy behynde them feare nothyng at all to cast theyr soules into hell fyre What dothe it profyt a man to wyn all the whole worlde and at the laste to lose hys soule To much a wretch is he which for worldely possessions wyll putte hys soule in daunger Mark wel To farre estraunged is he from GOD whiche regardeth the goodes of this worlde more than hys owne soules health And what commoditie shall he haue by those goodes wrongfully gotten whiche he hathe leafte vnto hys sonne whan his soule lyghethe brennyng in hel fyre and greuously ponyshed wythe all kynde of cruell intollerable paynes A comparison betwene yâ— father the sonne The sonne is counted a Gentle manne before the worlde for the goodes sake yâ— father is reckenned before God and his holy saynctes a fyre bronde oâ— hel The sonne is Lorde of many possessions yâ— father is a wretch hath nothyng The sonne is replenyshedde withe deynties ioye and pleasures the father is fylled ful of bitter sorowes greuous paynes and iÌ„tollerable tormentes The sonne syngeth playeth daunceth and maketh mery the father weapeth lamenteth soroweth and wysheth hymselfe neuer to haue ben borne Fidem spectato Beholde what is the ende of euell gotten goodes Behold how Dame Periury rewardethe her seruauntes at the latter ende Behold vnto what poynt falshode bryngeth them that vse it Why do not meÌ„ remember these thynges laboure to lyue iustly ryghteously of theyr owne Godlynesse is great ritches sayth S. Paule i. Ti. vi if a man be coÌ„tent with that he hath Oh that meÌ„ wold once be wyse and remember theyr latter ende So would they not huÌ„t about to get the goodes of this wretched world by hooke or by crooke as they do now a dayes but rather lay vp treasures for them selues in heaueÌ„ where nether rust nor moulthes corrupte Mat. vi and where theues nether breke vp nor steale Treasures that are wickedly gotten profyt nothing but ryghteousnes delyuereth from death Pro. x sayth SalomoÌ„ Let not therfore those men thynke which so gredely gather togyther the goodes of the worlde yea that vnryghteously that those possessions can longe endure in theyr stocke kynred lynage For we haue both hearde and sene that goodes wrongfully gotteÌ„ be soone dispersed abrode come to nought Is not this a common sayeng among vs Euel gotten goodes wyl neuer coÌ„e to good profe Agayn the goodes whiche are wrongefully gotten the thyrde heyre shall scasely enioye The Latinistes also saye Male partum peius perit A thyng that is euell gotten neuer thryueth but yâ— spendyng of it is worse thaÌ„ the gettynge was The Poet Claudianus haue very godly verses pertaynyng vnto this our matter which I wyll here nowe reherse In prolem dilata ruunt periuria patris Clandia nusi Curâ—tium Et paenam merito filius ore luit Et quas fallacis collegit lingua parentis Has eadem nati lingua refudit opes That is to saye the periuries of the father escapyng punishment in this worlde â—aull vpon the sonne in so muche that the sonne is plaged for that the father hathe offended And looke what rytches the tonge of the deceatfull father hath gathered togyther euen the very same hath the tonge of the sonne payde home agen and wastfully speÌ„t The Greke Poet
Hesiodus also sayth Hesiodus that that maÌ„ whiche wrongly testifieth and falsly forsweareth hymselfe doth not only hurte Iustice but he himselfe also is so hurte that he can neuer be healed after Moreouer he saythe that all his posterite and chyldren shall be of thâ— lesse reputacioÌ„ euer after so that they shall lyue in ignominy theyr renowme shall be obscure darke and of no price before all men Who nowe therfore is so mad as falsely to forsweare hym self for a litle dungelyke mucke seyng that by this means he shal not only prouoke Goddes wrath vnto hym selfe condemne his owne soule cast hymselfe into euerlastyng damnacion but also procure plages for his chyldren that succede hym Oh that menne wolde once be wyse and learne this lesson of S. Paule and followe it â— Tim. vi Iob. i hauyng meate dryncke cloth let vs be contented For we brought nothyng in to the worlde neyther shall we cary ony thyng out of it Fear not o my sonne Tobi. iiii sayde Thobias we lyue a poore lyfe in this worlde notwithstondyng we shall haue many good thinges if we feare God and go awaye from all synne and do well But wolde God wolde God that Lady Periury dyd exercyse her vnmercifull and tyrannicall â—râ—elnes only in gettyng and scraâ—chyng â—p togyther falsely and contrary to all Peiurye thyr tâ—the innocente â—loude iustice the goodes of this worlde Wolde God wolde God she dyd not also thorowe her vnryghteous violence churlysh malice thyrst shede and sucke vp innocent bloud Wolde God that thorowe her false wytnes bearyng true men were not put vnto deathe causeles Hath it not bene heard yea knowen and sene thynke you that of very malice thorowe the periuries of false forsworne caytiffes whiche haue taken an oothe testified contrary to the trueth and gyuen false euidence at syses sessios or els where True meÌ„ are sometyme hanged many men both honest and true haue bene hanged or other wyse rydde out of the way yea and that wythout a cause as it hath ben proued afterward Some also haue bene condemned for Heretykes and 〈…〉 for speakyng agaynste Aâ—â—â—christ and Idolatry c. What wyll meÌ„ saye vnto this Is not this a thynge worthy to be lamented Wolde not here be a redresse in thys behalfe Deâ—erâ—ethe this malicious periury to be wyâ—ked at aâ—d not rather to be ponysshâ—d accordyng to yâ— deâ—ertes therof Awake awake ye Quest mongers An adinonâ—â—on for quesâ—â—mongâ—â—s and take hede you gyue a true iust ryght verdiâ— Remember that ye go vpoÌ„ lyfe death and theâ—fore ought ye to do nothing rathly Remember that it is not the bloude of an oâ—e or a calfe that shall be shâ—d but the bloude of a Christen man for whose lyfe and health oure Lorde sauioure Iesus Christ dyd suffer his moost pricious bloude to be shed â— Cor. iii and in whose harte the holye Ghoste dwelleth Remember that he is the Image of god which hath hâ—s lyfe put into youre handes ether to be saued Gen. ii or to be cast awaye Remeber that if ye defyle the Temple of God handle a Christen man otherwyse thaÌ„ ryght require surely god wyll destroy you The bloud of that innocent whome ye so cruelly haue murthered shall crye for vengeauÌ„ce agaynst you both daye nyght as the bloud of Abell dyd vpon Caym Gen. iiii i. Ioan. iii Math. vii Luke vi neuâ—r cease vntyll God hath takeÌ„ vengeauÌ„ce on you Remember that wyth what mesure ye mete to other wych the same shall it be mesured agayne vnto you Therfore take ye hede Be not rashe nor hastye in gyuing your verdit Be prudent wyse circumspecte Ponder all thynges wyth a ryght vp conscience Weygâ— the matter in the balance of iustice Marke all parties Beleue not euery lyghâ—e tale streyghtewayes but boulte out wyth all diligence the originall oâ— it Lette nother the rytches nor the fame nor the dignite nor yette the giftes of that manne which putteth in the inditement agenst another moue you ony thyng at all to gyue the more credence vnto his wordes by that meanes to caste awaye the partye accused vntyll ye haue thorowly boulted oute yâ— trueth of the matter Shew suche indifferency that ye maye not be found at the dredefull daye of iudgement gyltye of the shedyng of ony ryghteous bloud but blameles and wythe a pure conscience Ye Iudges also execute youre office according to equite An admonicion for iudges Suffer not the confortles to be oppressed Lette iustice conioyned with a fatherly pitie and tender compassion reygne in your brestes Suffer no matter of vnryghteousnes to preuayle before the seat of your iudgyng place RemeÌ„ber that whyle ye syt in iudgement ye are no priuate personnes Ye represent the parson of God Ye execute Gods offyce Psal. â—viii Ioan. x Ye are the Image of God Yea ye are Gods and the sonnes of the moost hyghest as the scripture calleth you Your iudgynge place is the iudgyng place of God Your mouth is the mouthe of God Beware therfore what senteÌ„ce ye pronounce Math. vii Lette all thynges be done with great deliberacion Gyue not iudgement so hastely that ye shal afterwarde repent you therof RemeÌ„ber that as ye iudge Why God hatâ— gyuen men two eaâ—es so shal ye be iudged God hath set you in authorite that ye shulde ryghteously iudge of all thynges Remember that God hathe gyuen you two eares one to heare the accuser another to heare him that is accused that by this means ye shulde not be percial nor wedded to one tale but indifferentely to heare both parties Remember that for asmuche as ye occupye the place of God ye ought not to ê‘uert iudgement but to do the office of God and to execute iustice vnlesse the hyghe Iudge for youre vnryghteous sentence pronouÌ„ced condemne you and caste you into hell fyre Sap. vâ— For GOD sayth the scripture shall appeare to you O ye rulers and Iudges very dredfully yea and that without ony longe tariauns Wonderfull harde iudgement shall they haue yâ— beare rule To the maÌ„ of small power mercy is graunted but as for the mighty they shall suffer myghty and exceadyng great tormentes For God whych is rulare of all thynges Deut. xii Pa. xix wyll not regarde one parsonne more thaÌ„ another nether wyl he feare yâ— greatnes of ony maÌ„ for he made both the lytyll and the great and he hathe a lyke care for all Notwythstandyng surely the men that be in authorite Iob. xxxiiii Eccl. xxxv Rom. ii Gala. ii Ephe. vi Colos. iii Act. x â— Pet. i Sap. i Psal. lvii shall haue the greater ponyshment Therfore ye that iudge yâ— earth take hede loue ryghteousnes Iudge truly o ye sonnes of men Seake all means possible that no innocent bloud be shed Admitte no fâ—lse wytnesses none vnlawfull othes no false swearynges no malicious periuries to be brought receaued before