deserued eternall daÌ„nacion he dydde not streyghtwaye with the same rigoure fearcenesse wherwith he condeÌ„ned the Aungels for theyr disobedient arrogaÌ„cy caste vs awaye into the fyre of Hell but full gentely sent vs into this vale of misery for to repeÌ„t that afterward he myght saue vs yet constitutyng appoyntynge vs styll Lordes rulers oueral lyuyng creatures ¶ The. xliii Chapter MOreouer whaÌ„ it was not possible bycause of the great enormite of our synne that we coulde of our owne power strength merytes deseruynges good workes saue wynne our selues agayne into y e fauour of God howe louyngly w toute ony desertes of our parte eueÌ„ of hys owne mere goodnes and free mercy did he promise to saue vs by his derely beloued sonne oure LORDE Iesus Christ at his tyme predefined and appoynted from euerlastynge sente him downe in â—â—his worlde Which for our sake vnfaynedly by the wonderfull operacion of the holy Ghoste toke flessh of the moost blessed moost pure vndefyled virgyn Marye became very man lyke vnto vs in althynges sinne alone excepte Which also after he had lyued here certayne yeares eueÌ„ of his owne free wyll w tout any compulsion for the feruent vnspekable loue that he euer bare towarde vs gaue hymselfe vnto the very 〈◊〉 yea euen the moost spite full 〈◊〉 deathe of the Crosse. He offered 〈◊〉 â—oost blessed bodye a swete smellynge Sacrifyce to God the father for oure wyckednesse He suffred his moost precious bloude to be shed vpoÌ„ the Altare of the Crosse to paye the rauÌ„some for our synnes He refused no kynd of paynful grefe greuous payne to apease Goddes wrath to reconcyle vs vnto his celestiall father O good Iesu sayethe S. Bernard howe greatly were we endetted to the yet dost thou paye oure dette We haue synned thou arte punysshed This is a worke w tout exaÌ„ple a grace without meryte a charite without measure Uerely verely not the prodicioÌ„ betrayenge of Iudas not the furye cruell malyce of the Pharises and Bysshops not the wycked and false witnesses not the vnryghteous accusers not the cruell vnmercyfull iudges dyd put Christ to death but we our selues our synne our iniquite our vngodlynes our abhominacion our corrupte maÌ„ners dyd slaye hym put hym to that moost cruell deth We are they that dyd kyl him We soughte his deathe We dyd betray hym We dyd falsely accuse him We nayled him vpon the Crosse. We scourged his moost blessed body We shed his moost precious bloude We dyd cleue asunder his moost blessed herte with a speare oute of y t which raÌ„ne both water bloude We gaue hym Eysell Gaull to dryncke We scorned him we mocked him we dyd spit on his moost swete face We buffetted hym we brused hym we were the Authors of all y t tyranny which was wrought agaynst hym Yet for y â— loue that he bare towarde vs dyd not he disdayne to suffer all these in tollerable paynes by whose passioÌ„s suffrynges we are perfectly made whose by whose moost blessed bloud all oure synnes are wasshed awaye by whose deth euerlasting lyfe chauÌ„seth abundantly vnto vs. O vnmesurable kyndnes What a loue hath God to vs that he spared not his only sonne but gaue hym for vs all y t so many as beleue in hym maye not peryshe but haue euerlastynge lyfe And as God the father gaue hys sonne Christ vnto death for our synnes so dyd he rayse hym vp agayne by his moost puissaunt power from death for our iustificacioÌ„ He is oure peace howe than can we be sadde heuy He is our Sauiour howe theÌ„ can we despayre He is oure waye howe than can we erre He is oure trueth howe than can we be deceyued He is our lyfe howe thaÌ„ can we dye He is oure Resurreccion howe thaÌ„ can we slepe in synne He is our Phisicion how thaÌ„ caÌ„ we be sycke diseased He is our lyght howe than caÌ„ we walke in darkenes He is our bread howe thaÌ„ can we be hungrye He is oure defender howe than can we be afearde He is oure wisdome howe than can we be ignorante He is our righteousnes howe than can we be vnrighteous He is our sanctificacion howe than can we be prophane vnholy He is our redeÌ„cion howe than can we be damned He is our rytches howe than can we be pore He is oure beautye howe than can we be deformed yll fauoured He is our mediatour and aduocate howe than can oure matters be vnhearde He is oure head howe than can we his members perysh He is our Bysshop Curate of our soules howe than can we wante spirituall doctryne He is our dore how than can we but enter into the kyngdom of heauen To conclude he is altogither oures all that euer he hathe how than can we but sayle in a safe quiette hauen Howe than can we but haue all thynges prosperous fortunate Thus se we what an hye treasure Christ is to vs. Yf any maÌ„ desyreth to knowe more of Christ what benefites we haue receiued by let hym read my worke of y e Newes out of heaueÌ„ where he shall se Christ truly lyuyshly paynted as alone perfecte redemer a plenteous and an omnisufficient sauiour for al theÌ„ that faythfullye repente and lede a newe lyfe Would not all these so great commodities large benefytes whiche we receyue of God y t father thorowe Iesus Christ moue ony christeÌ„ hert in the worlde to be thankful and to syng perpetuall prayses vnto God For we haue lerned here that al our saluacion coÌ„meth only from God y e father thorow Iesus Christ that he saued vs mercifully wheÌ„ we were loste miserablye But let vs beholde more of Goddes kyndnesse that we maye learne that thankes ought to be gyuen vnto hym seriously ¶ The. xliiii Chapter ALthough by Christ we be sette agayne at lybertye receyue our manumissioÌ„ fredome froÌ„ that captiuitie wherunto we were made honde by the synne of Adam so sone as we are regenerate borne a new by y e honorable Sacrament of Bapâ—tisme and the holy Ghost yet in as much as afterward thorow our fragilite weakenes we fall agayne in to synne deserue therby also to beâ— cast from the fauour of God to be dampned perpetuallye yf God dyd not also healpe vs in this behalfe Oâ— LORDE God in how miserable a casâ— are we What should it profytte vs by Christ to be delyuered from that wretchednes into the whiche Adam dyd caste vs yf there were not also a remedy to expulse that daunger into the which we cast our selues thorowe synne after Baptisme Therfore here also dothe the goodnesse of God appere very large bountious toward vs. For though we synne after baptisms neuer so greuously yeâ— doth not he streyght wayes take
anâ— thynges in the name of the LORDE Iesus gyuynge thanckes to God the father by him And so doynge let hym not doubt but that he shall obtayne all good thynges accordyngâ— vnto his hertes desyre ¶ The .xviii. Chapter SYxtely he that inteÌ„deth to pray muste earnestly prouyde that he asketh all thynges accordyng vnto the wyll of God He may not aske afâ— ter his owne fantasy wyl plesure but after the wyll of God For oure wyll in comparison of Gods wyll is neuer good but euell or prone to euell For we knowe not what we shoulde praye as it becommeth vs. Therfore what so euer we aske we must refeâ—ce it vnto y e wyll of God and be contented to be ordered in all thynges accordyng vnto his moost â—olye wyll as Christe taughte vs to â—raye in the Pater noster Let thy wyll be fulfylled as in heaueÌ„ so lyke wyse in earth Christe also himselfe for to gyue vs an example when the â—oure of his passion began to drawe â—igh prayed vnto his father on this manner My father yf it be possible â—et this cup go awaye from me Not withstandyng let not myne but thy wyll be fulfylled The Leper also â—ayd to Christ LORDE yf thou wylt â—hou maist make me whole Here the Leper desyred to be clensed of his leâ—rosye yet he referred his requestes vnto Christe eyther to be graunted or denyed So it becoÌ„meth vs iÌ„ lyke maner to aske all thynges accordiÌ„g vnto the wyll of God what soeuer we desyre euer to submyt referre â—t vnto Gods wyll whiche knoweth â—este what we haue nede of what â—s moost necessarye for vs before we pray For we haue not a greter warâ— re nor an harder fyght iÌ„ this world than y e battayle stryfe of the Spiâ— ryte of y e fleshe which two are alâ— wayes so at debate y e the hatred beâ— twene theÌ„ can neuer be apeased For as y e flessh lusteth agaynst y e spiryte so doth the spiryte fight very valeaÌ„t ly agaynst the wycked fearce cruel violence of the fleshe are euermore as the Apostle wytnesseth one ageÌ„sâ— another so that we can not do those thinges y e we would in asmuch that we are compelled to crye oute w e the Apostle o wretched vnhappy that I am who shall delyuer me froÌ„ thys body bonde vnto death Howe euell it is to followe oure owne wyll neglectynge in y e meane season the good pleasure of God dyuers Histories of y e holy scriptures shewe Kyng Saul thought that he had done well when he perceyuyng the people to go away from hym offered burnte offrynges to y e LORDE in the absence of Samuel sayenge that he dyd it to pacifye the LORDE that he was coÌ„pelled to do so But Samuell sayd vnto hym thou hast done folisbly neither hast thou kept the coÌ„maundementes of the LORDE thy God whiche I coÌ„maunded the. Agayne God coÌ„maunded Saul to staye Amelech to destroye al that euer ther was not to spare one not to couyt any thyng of theyr goodes but to kyll man woman chylde sue kynge babe ore shepe camell asse what soeuer could there be sound besydes But Saul followiÌ„g his own wyll more than the wyll of God spared Agag the king of Amelech alyue with the beste flockes of shepe ores cattell all that euer was fayre he spared woulde not destroye them but what soeuer was vyle and of no pryce that he destroyed Whan Samuel came vnto hym sayde what of beastes do I heare here He ausweâ— red the people hathe broughte them from Amelech They be the best and fattest of all the flockes they be reserued to be offered vnto the LORDE But Samuel sayde vnto hym Bycause thou hast cast awaye the word of y e LORD y u LORD hath cast away y e that thou be no more king Wyll the LORD burnt offringes sacrifices not rather that it may be obeyed vn to his worde Obedience is better then Sacrifyces to gyue eare to y e LORDES coÌ„maundement is more thaÌ„ to offer the satte of wethers What godly excuses had kynge Saul here to couer his faulte and to make his wyll vnto carnall iudgemeÌ„tes to appeare verye vertuous godly For all that euer he dyd was done to honour God to sacrifice offer oblacions to God Yet God casteth awaye that wyll whiche is contrary to his wyll seme it neuer so godlye vertuous and good in the syght of fleshly wyse meÌ„ Yea cursed be all good wylles all good zeeles all good inteÌ„tes that fyghte w e the wordes of God Oza also thought he had done wel when he seyng the arke of God in iopardy of fallyng oute of the wayne steyed it w e his hande yet for all hys good voyl bicause he touched it was he stryken of the LORDE streyghte waye dyed Kynge Ozias in lyke maner of a good intent would haue taken vpoÌ„ him to burne incense vnto y e LORDE but Azarias the preste sayd boldely vnto hym it is not thyne offyce Ozias to burne inceÌ„se vnto the LORDE but it pertayneth to prestes the sonnes of Aaron which are consecrated to suche ministry seruyce He com maunded him also to go out of y e sanctuary tolde him y e that whiche he had done should not turne vnto his prayse of the LORDE God And immediately after for his disobedsente presumpcioÌ„ he was stryken w e leproly so beynge cast oute of the house of the Lorde he contynued a Leper euen vnto his death The Iewes dyd put Christ his Apostles to death of a good zele wyl intent and purpose The tyrauntes whiche dyd slaye the holy martyres thoughte they dyd well The bloude soupers also which at this tyme persecute Christes gospel vnder y e name of Heresye cruelly slaye shed the bloude of the true Christians vnder the pretexte of persecutynge Heretikes perswade themselues that they do well thynke they meryte greatly in y e syght of God as Christ sayth the tyme shall come that they which kyl you shal thike y e they do an high seruyce vnto God Whyle we follow our owne wyll we commyt many absurdities vnsyttynge thynges Therfore whatsoeuer we do we must haue a respect to the wyll of God make ours conformable vnto it vnlesse we hepe vp daÌ„nacion vnto our selues in all our peticions prayers requestes We muste aske accordynge to the wyll of God He that doth otherwyse doth euell therfore he obtayneth not y e which he desyreth as S. Iames say ethe Ye aske and haue not bycause ye aske amysse for to consume it vpon youre volupteousnes If he doth obtayne it vndoubtedlye it is to his greater damnacioÌ„ Therfore let vs aske accordynge to the wyll of God So may we be sure to haue our her tes desyre as S. IohnÌ„ sayth This is the trueth that we haue in God that
almoost slayne thorow the decrees of that Bysshop Howe greatly was the Christian lybertye enclosed stopped vp so that no maÌ„ could enioye y e vse of those thynges which the word of God determined free withoute his lycense dispensacion Howe were the singulare merites of Christes death the inestimable price of his moost precious bloud adnihilated set at nought and the Bysshop of Roomes pardoÌ„s trusted vnto perfecte affiaunce reposed in theÌ„ for remission of synnes eternall saluacion What a sorte of Hypocritical supersticious workes creptin thorowe oute ChristeÌ„stome almoost which only were beleued to be thealone good workes and the true good workes whiche are commaunded of God in his holy scriptures vtterly neglected despysed set at nought Who thought it not a more meritorious acte to gylde an Image than to cloth a poore naked manne Who thought it not a better dede to ruÌ„ne gaddynge a pylgrimage into diuers countrees for to seke dead Images than to tary at home to visyte the poore members of Christ which laye bedrede sycke lame feble impoteÌ„t O extreme blyndnes Agayne what an infinite monâ—â—â—res Monckes I woulde haue sayd other religious parsons and God wyll as they desyre to be called dyd there aryse in his kyngedome Who thoughte it not a better dede to put his chylde into an Abbay there to lyue ydlely swinyshly irreligiously pampred vp with all delicious fare that should prouoke vnto Iewdnes than to lette him lyue abroad in the worlde there to practyse some honest arte occupacion that myghte turne to the commodite mayntaynance of the common weale What blyndenes hadde inuaded this Realme Dyd not we thynck it rather our duty to obey y â— proude Bishop of Rome than our owne natyue kynge Dyd not we esteme his faÌ„tasticaâ— decrees aboue the edictes lawes and actes of our own kyng were we not more redy to followe his sensuall lustes beastlyke pleasures than to obeye y â— coÌ„maâ—dementes of our owne kynge ruler Into what perels woulde not we caste our selues to do y t rammysh Byshop pleasure Yea woulde God that certayne of this Realme in tymes paste had not rather had a mynde to dye for the mayntenaunce of the false vsurped power of y t Bysshop than to lyue with obedient and faythfull hertes to our moost Christen kynge O LORDE God what a blyndnes was this where was this doctryne of Christe his Apostle become that all men should be subiecte obedieÌ„t to the hygh powers This sentence of S. Paule laye buryed Let euery soule be subiecte to y â— high powers For there is no power but of God All powers are ordayned of God He therfore y t resisteth resisteth the ordinaunce of God And they y t resist shall take to theÌ„ selues damnacion Also S. Peter Be subiecte to to euerye humayne creature for the LORDES sake whither it be vnto the kynge as supreme head or to the rulers that are sent by hym to the punyshment of the euell doers but vnto the prayse of them that do well The Christen prynces were not had in reuereÌ„ce honour as they ought o miserable case detestable abusioÌ„ ¶ The. xlvii Chapter FUrthermore what ygnorancy blyndenes was in this Realme concerninge the true christeÌ„ knowledge Howe many sauoured Christ aryght Howe many walked in the streyght pathe wayes of Gods ordinauÌ„ces Howe many beleued Christ to be the alone Sauiour Howe many trusted to be saued only by y â— merites of Christes death y e effusion sheddynge of his moost precious blessed bloude How many ranne to God alone eyther in theyr prosperite or aduersite Howe many amplered Christe for theyr sufficient medsa toâ—r aduocate vnto God y e father Howe many felte the efficacye power of the true christeÌ„ fayth wherby a christeÌ„ maÌ„ is frelyiustified How many could discerne the fayned and the true workes asunder Howe many dyd know what they professed at Baptisme Howe many had knoweledge what theyr Pater noster meÌ„t wherfore they prayed Howe many dyd perfectly vnderstand the articles of the Christen faythe Howe many dyd knowe what the ceremonies of the chyrche mente as holye bread holy water and suche other Howe many hearde the Euangicall doctryne euer preached purely and syncerly O good Iesu be mercyful vnto vs. If I shoulde go forth to reherse all the abuses all the ygnoraÌ„cy blyndenes wherwith this now moost free and florysshynge Realme hath ben oppressed thys many hundred yeares thorowe the tyranny of that Babilonicall stroÌ„pet it woulde vndoubtedly make a worke much loÌ„ger then the Iliades of Homere But nowe are theise enormities yea deformities of this Realme of Englond vtterly exiled banyshed All false Religion is exterped plucked vp by the rootes The miserable captiuite wherwith we were oppressed in the Popes kyngdome is turned into delectable liberte Dur conconscieÌ„ces are restored to theyr olde fredome Christes deth is beleued to be a sufficient Sacrifyce for them y e are sanctified All supersticious fantasies inuented of ydle braynes are full godly put downe The famous Images wherwith the symple people coÌ„mytted sornicacion I meane Idolatry are iustly plucked downe conueyed oute of the waye All the monasticall sectes haue put of theyr cowles monstruous garmentes Our moost Christian kynge is now accordyng to y e verite of Gods word his iust right title recognised to be supreme head of y e chyrch of Englonde nexte vnto Christ immediately here in earth He is honored of vs his subiectes as we ought by y e lawe of God had in reuerence aboue all creatures mortall Not onlye his moost noble grace but also so many as he appoyntethe to rule ouer vs we obey w t all submissioÌ„ humilite of mynd ¶ The. xlviii Chapter MOreouer ygnorancy blyndenes are exiled and banysshed Gods lawes are manifestly declared vnto vs. So that we maye yf we wyll kepe his moost godlye commaundementes The moost sacred Byble is freely permytted to be red of euery man in the Englysh tonge Many sauour Christ aright dayly the noÌ„ber encreaseth thanckes be to GOD. Christ is beleued to be the alone Sauiour We nowe faythfully truste to be saued by the deathe of Christ that the bloud of Christ maketh vs cleane from all synne Christ is beleued to be our sufficient mediatoure aduocate The true christen fayth whiche worketh by charite is plenteous in good workes is nowe receyued to iustify The good workes that are appoynted in y e holy scriptures are nowe only vsed put in exercyse among the faythful What we professed when we were baptised many nowe knowe ryghte wel The twelue Articles of the christeÌ„ fayth the LORDES prayer called y e Pater noster the teÌ„ coÌ„mauÌ„dementes are nowe rehearsed in y e Englyshe tonge both of yonge olde so that nowe all vnderstonde theÌ„ Many of