rytche man lyued all in plesure had al thinges according to his hartes desyre But beholde y â— ende He was cruell merciles vnpiteful to the poore Therfore wheÌ„ he dyed the Scripture sayth that he was caried downe ito hel where he was tormented wyth suche greuous flames of fyre intollerable burnynges that he desyred Abraham to send downe Lazarus vnto hym that he myght dyp the typpe of hys fynger in the water coole his tonge for he was greuously tor mented in that flame But AbrahaÌ„ sayd remember sonne that y u haste receaued thy pleasures in thy lyfe coÌ„trary wyse Lazarus receaued paynes and troubles Therfore is he nowe coÌ„forted and thou arte tor mented As for y â— poore man his lyfe was so wretched beggerly miserable y â— no man woulde scasely wonchesafe once to cast theyr eye to looke towarde hym he was such an abiecte so vile so reÌ„t so torne so Lazarlyke ful of greuous sores Only y e dog ges lycked his sores But beholde y e ende This poore man dyed was caried of the AuÌ„gels into AbrahaÌ„s bosome This Hystory declareth playnely howe precious the deathe of the Saynctes that is of the faythfull is in the syght of the Lord appeare theyr lyfe neuer so miserable before the deynty worldlynges Agayne howe vile detestable the death of the wicked is in Gods syght haue they speÌ„t theyr lyfe iÌ„ neuer so much ioye pleasure felicite were they recounted before the worlde neuer so blyssed happye fortunate and brought to the ground with neuer so great pompe and solemnite And here se we that to be true whiche is written Wo be to you rytche men which haue yourâ—… consolacion Wo be to you that are fylled for ye shall honger Wo be to you that laughe nowe for ye shall lament and wepe Wo be to you whan all menne shall prayse you for accordynge to these thynges dyd theyr fathers to the false Prophetes But blyssed are ye that honger now for ye shall be fylled Blyssed are ye y â— wepe now for ye shall laugh The deynte worldeliges receaue payne after this life but the faythful in y e Lorde which be oppressed w t miserye troubled for Gods trueth shall receaue ioye glory So that as Dauid sayth Precious in the syght of the Lorde is the death of his Sayntes Hereto agreeth the sayenge of S. IohnÌ„ in his reuelacion Blyssed are the dead whiche dye in the Lorde The death of Saynctes muste nedes be precious in the syght of the Lorde they which dye in the Lorde must nedes be blyssed seyng that bothe y â— glory of God is sette forth by theyr death the Saynctes them selues set in a perpetual ioye euerlastig quietnes without ony more care or trouble For after y t they haue offered vp this theyr lyfe vnto god the soules of the righteous are streight wayes in the hand of God and the payne of deth shall not towche theÌ„ In the syght of the vnwyse they ap peare to dye theyr ende is taken for very destruccion The waye of y â— righteous is iudged to be vtter destruccion but they are in reste And thogh they suffer payne before meÌ„ yet is theyr hope full of immortalite They are ponysshed but in fewe thynges neuertheles in many thin ges shall they be wel rewarded For God proueth them lyndeth them mete for himselfe yea as golde in y e fornace doth he trye them receaueth them as a burnte offerynge whan the tyme commeth they shall be looked vpon They ryghteous shall shyne as the sparkes that run thorowe the rede bushe They shall iudge the nacions and haue dominion ouer the people theyr Lord shall reygne for euer They y t putte theyr trust in him shal vnderstand the trueth suche as be faythefull wyll agre vnto hym in loue for his chosen shall haue gyftes and peace But the vngodly shall be punyshed accordyng to theyr owne imaginacions for they haue despised y e righ teous and forsaken the Lorde Moreouer the ryghteous shall stonde in great stedfastnes agaynst suche as haue dealte extremely w t them taken away theyr labours Whan they se it they shall be vexed with horrible feare shall wonder at the hastines of theyr soden helth gronyng for very distresse of mynd shall saye within them selues hauyng inward sorowe mournyng for very anguyshe of mynde These are they whome we sometyme had in derision iested vpon We fooles thought theyr lyues very madnes theyr end to be w tout honour But â—…o how they are couÌ„ted amoÌ„g the chyldren of God theyr porcioÌ„ is amonge the Sayntes Therfore haue we erred froÌ„ y â— way of trueth The lyghte of ryghteousnes hathe not shyned vnto vs the sonne of vnderstondynge rose not vpon vs. we haue weryed our selues iÌ„ y e way of wickednes destruccioÌ„ Tedious wayes haue we gone but as for the waye of y e Lorde we haue not knowen it What good hath our pryde done vnto vs or what profyt hath the pompe of rytches brought vs All these thynges are passed awaye as a shadowe c. These and suche other wordes shall they that haue synned speake in hell But y e ryghteoê° shall lyue for euermore Theyr reward also is w t y e Lord theyr re membraunce with the hyghest Therfore shall they receaue a glori ous kyngedome and a beautyfull crowne of the Lordes hand For w t his ryght hande shall he couer theÌ„ withe his owne arme shall he de fende them c. Thus se we how dere precious in the syght of the Lorde the death of his Saynctesis S. Paule hauyng experience of this thing wheÌ„ he was yet alyue sayd on this man ner I desyre to be dissolued losoned oute of this mortall bodye to be with Christ. Also kynge Dauid Wo is me that I tary iÌ„ this world so longe Therfore howe so euer the wycked worldlynges recount the death of the Sayntes whyther it chaun ceth to theÌ„ by famyn hoÌ„ger swerde water fyre halter or ony otherwise vndoubtedlye it is precious in the sight of the Lord appeare it before the world of neuer so great ignomi ny reproche infamy shame and re buke Happy therfore is he that dy eth this death how so euer it chauÌ„seth vnto hym Blyssed is y e Crosse which bryngeth this glory But let vs se how it commeth to passe that the deth of Sayntes is so precious in the syght of the Lorde It followeth ¶ The syxte verse O Lord I am thy seruaÌ„t yea thy seruaunt iÌ„ dede the son of thy handmayde thou hast broken my bon des ¶ The nynte strynge BEcause no man be he neuer so holy good and perfecte should thyncke that thorowe his owne holynes goodnes perfeccion he had deserued that his deathe shoulde be dere precious and of great valour in
Dauid my treadynges had nygh slypt For I was sore greaued at the wic ked to se the vngodly in such prospe rite For they are i no parel of deth but stonde fast lyke a palace They come in no misfortune lyke other folke nother are they plaged lyke other men And this is the cause y t they are so puffed in Pryde ouerwhelmed wyth cruelte vnrighteousnes Theyr eyes swel for fatnes they do euen what they lyste Corrupte are they speake blasphemies maliciously proud presumpteous are theyr wordes They â—…retch forth theyr mouthe vnto heauen theyr tong goeth thorowe y e world Therfore fall y e people vnto them therout suche they no small auaâ—… tage Tush say they how shal God perceaue it Is theyr knowledge in the moost hyghest Lo these are the vngodly these prosper in the world These haue rytches in possession These haue sonnes y e growe vp as yonge plantes These haue mynyoÌ„ trymme doughters garnysshed round about euen lyke vnto a gorgious teÌ„ple These haue theyr garners full plenteous wyth all maÌ„ner of stoar These haue shepe that bryng forth thousandes hondred thousandes in theyr pastures and feldes These haue fatte oxen y â— are stronge to laboure To be shorte these haue no mischaunse no decay no trouble no noyse no complaynynge in theyr stretes that shoulde greue them Ieremy also saythe O LORDE thou arte more ryghteous than that I shoulde dispute wythe the neuerthelesse let me talke with the in thynges reasonable Howe happeneth it that the waye of the vngodly is so prosperous that it goeth so well with them which â—…out ony shame offend lyue in wickednes Thou planteste them they take roote they growe and brynge forthe fruyte They boste moche of the yet doste thou not ponyshe theÌ„ Thus se we howe the vngodlye lyke fat beastes wallowe tomble theÌ„ selues in all kynde of pleasures neyther wante they ony thynge in this worlde that theyr hartes can desyre yea they haue more prosperi te than they can awaye wythe all yet are the godly and Sayntes of the Lord oppressed with all misery leadynge a lyfe in great calamite wretchednes thaÌ„ ony creatures in the world But yet beholde y e ende of the wycked For sodenly they do consume perysh come to nought The Psalmographe sayth y e death of the wicked synners is very euel Agayne The vnrighteous maÌ„ shal receaue his plages ponyshmeÌ„tes whan he dyeth But let vs beholde these thynges as i a pure myrrour by rehearsyng certayne Hystories Howe triumphed the wycked kyng Pharao vpon the Israelites Gods people Howe lysle regarded he the sermons spoken and the myracles wroughte by the seruauÌ„tes of God Moses Aaron thorow the diuine spirite Howe continued he to persecute the people of God euen vnto the very hour of his death But be hold the ende Whan he was moost puffed vp in his pryde and mooste bent to do mischefe howe dyd God trap hym in his owne wylynesse euen broughte that vpon his owne head that he enteÌ„ded to brynge vp on other Dyd not God meruaylously drowne hym with al his wic ked army preserue his people by that meanes But what was that temporall deathe in comparison to the death eternall the moost greuous intollerable paynes that he nowe suffreth in hell fyre without mercye Agen how dyd Sennacherib y â— proud king of the Assirians bost hiÌ„ self not only agenst the good kyng Ezechias but also y â— lyuyng God yea blasphemed hym sayng as y e moost cruel lyonlyke tyraunt the great Turke doth nowe a dayes y t he woulde vtterly subdue both hiÌ„ his coÌ„pany yea y t theyr God shuld â—…e no more able to deliuer theÌ„ than 〈◊〉 broken staffe of rede He leaned muche to his owne poletyke wytte martiall valeaunce thynkyng y t in asmuch as heretofore he had sub dued all kyngdoms which he inua ded he also should haue ouercome y â— people of God But God which is the lyuynge almyghtye God able in a twyncklyng of an eye to make frustrate vayne all the fleshly ima ginacions of the worldly tyrauntes yea to brynge to noughte all theyr power sent his Aungell the very same nyghte that all the mischefe was enteÌ„ded agaynst his peo ple which smote in the hoost of the Assirians an hondred foure score fyue thousand men So that Sen nacherib brake vp departed and was shortely after slayne w t swerde of his owne sonnes An ende worthye suche a proude blasphemous Tyraunte But what is this vnto the infernall paynes y â— be endeles which he nowe remediles suffreth What proud crakes also dyd y â— ar rogant Tyrasite Holofernes make agaynst the people of Israel thynkyng that there was no kyngdome so inuincible stronge fortressed but that he with his martiall puissaunce feates of warre was able easly to ouercome So that he toke no thoughte lyued all in pleasure lyke a careles swyne gyuyng hym selfe to all kynde of beastelyke pleasures But howe valeauntly euen by one woman God dyd ouercome hym and put all his army to flight the Hystory maketh mencion What shal I speke of y e two Hero des wherof the one in the myddes of his fury wheÌ„ he was moost whot fyry in sekyng the deth of Christ for his sake sleynge innumerable infantes miserably dyed bringing nothing lesse than his cruell blou dy purpose to effecte so valeaunt myghty is our lord god to extiguish and quenche the tyrannye of these bloudsowpers whaÌ„ it is his moost godly pleasure to preserue those whome he wyll haue kept fre from theyr crudelite furious madnes The other Herode eueÌ„ in y e middes of his pompe honoure glory beynge clad in his kyngly apparel set Luciferlike on his iudgement seate after that he had moost Tyrauntelyke persecuted certayne of Christes chyrch yea slayne withe swerd Iames the brother of IohnÌ„ was smote of the AuÌ„gel of y e Lord because he gaue not y e glory to god So that he was eaten vp of wormes But what nede I rehearse so many Histories oute of the diuine letters seyng that this one whiche I shal nowe recite maye seme abuÌ„dantly to satisfy for to shewe howe precious in the syght of the Lorde the deathe of his saynctes is seme theyr lyfe in this world neuer so mi serable wretched pitieful poore ne dy beggerly full of all trouble so row dolour camalite Agen how vile detestable the death of y e wyc ked is in the Lordes syght be theyr lyfe here neuer so pompous galaÌ„t easy volupteous ioyful quiet care les popelyke S. Luke in his Gospell declareth how there was a certen ritche man which was apparelled w t pur ple costely lynnen fared deliciouslye euery daye In these wordes the Euangelist sheweth manifestly howe this
the health of thy neyghboure If y u doste this thaÌ„ shalte thou shew thy selfe to be no vayne man but faythfull true in thy profession But if thou doste the coÌ„trarye crake thou neuer so muche of thy faythe yet te doth it profyt the nothynge at all but rather encreaseth thy damnacion seynge thou arte an Hypocrite dissembler both before God maÌ„ Certes if thou hast the true faythe in the thou shalte be so enflamed w t the loue of God disposed vnto all goodnes that thou wylte not feare to saye w t S. Paule who shall seperate vs from the loue of God shall trouble do it or anguysh or persecucion or hunger or nakednes or perrell or sword as it is wrytten for thy sake are we kylled all y â— day longe yâ—… we are counted as shepe appoynted to be slayn Neuertheles in all these thynges we ouercoÌ„e far re for his sake y t loued vs For I am sure y t neither deth nor life nother Aungel nor rule nother power no ther thynges present nother thynges to come nother height nor low eth nor ony other creature shall be able to seperate vs from the loue of God which is in Christe Iesu oure Lorde Agayne he sayth I am not only redy to be bounde but also to dye for y e name of the Lorde Iesus So mighty a thyng is fayth that it neyther feareth manacinge wordes cruell threates sharpe lookes empresoning fetters chenes fagot tes fyre nor what so euer tyranny all the tyrauntes of the worlde can inuent It maketh y e parson whose hert it occupieth to be soâ—… flamed set on fyre w t the loue of God the desyre of doynge his wyll Wylte y u heare me If thou beleue aright in God workeste accordynge to thy fayth coÌ„fessyng Christ his worde boldely and vnfaynedly before the world thou mayst be sure to fynde lytle fauour at the haÌ„des of carnal worldly men as thou shalte easly perceaue by that which followeth ¶ The thyrde strynge But I was very sore troubled AFter that our Mynstrel hath made mencioÌ„ of fayth of spe kynge the worde of God whereby are to be vnderstande all good workes that procede come forth oute of faythe he nowe syngethe of the Crosse sheweth that he was very sore troubled greuously thretened vncharitably blasphemed euell reported maliciously persecuted cru elly handled suffered al kyndes of tormeÌ„tes for vtteryng declaring y e word of God I beleued sayth he therfore haue I spokeÌ„ but I was very sore troubled Here se we that as good workes followe faythe so doth persecucion follow the confession of Gods worde For this cause doth S. Paule caull the gospell of Christe the worde of the Crosse bycause it bryngeth persecucion trou ble blasphemies slaunders euell re portes empresonmeÌ„t hoÌ„ger thirst cold nakednes pouerte losse of fren des yea at the last very death oftentimes to so many as cleaue vnto it valeauntly Christes worde the Crosse are coÌ„pagnions insepera ble As the shadowe followethe the body so doth the Crosse followe the worde of Christ. And as fyre heat can not be seperated so can not the Gospel of Christ the crosse be pluc ked asundeâ—… Let vs call to remembraunce so many as from the fyrste age of the world fauoured god and his word howmanye shal we fid y â— escaped w toute the Crosse one waye or other as I may leaue of to speke of all the other olde and aunciente Patriarches at this tyme onlye take ryghteous Abell for an example whiche of all men shewed y e first example of pure innocencye and of a thankefull harte toward God for his benefites was not he shortely slayne of his bloudy brother cruell Cain yea that onlye bycause his owne workes were noughte hys brothers good as y e scripture testi fieth As fyre water put togyther fighte stryue are euer at debate tyl one hath swallowed vp another deuoured one another ouercome one another so lykewyse so long as good euell dwell togyther in this worlde there shall be a perpetuall discension betwene them The euel wyll euer hate the good neuer be at reste tyl the innocent be had out of the way not that the good doth ony displeasures vnto the euel but that the euell can not awaye with the good no more theÌ„ the rauening wolfe canne awaye with the poore harmeles shepe or the hoÌ„gry hauke w t the simple doue as Christ sayth The Prince of this worlde coÌ„meth yet hath he nothyng agaynst me Howe lytell fauoure also dyd Moses Aaron fynde amonge the diso bedient Iewes after they brought them out of captiuite from y e londe of Egipte Were not they many ty mes in daunger of theyr lyues for all theyr labour payne that they toke for theyr healthe saluacion How ware the Prophetes handled whiche preached in the name of the Lord Were not soÌ„e stoned to deth SoÌ„e slayn w t swerd Some sawne in peces As I mayepasse ouer ma ny holy meÌ„ Iacob Ioseph Dauid Helias Ananias Azarias Misael Tobias Eleazarus the mother among the Machabites her seuen sonnes wythe other innumerable whiche ether suffered deathe or els great trouble persecucion for the glorye of God Howe was Christe y t lambe of God w tout spot which dyd neuer no syn in whose mouth there was neuer ony gyle deceat found handled in this worlde How was he rayled vpon so sone as he began to speake preache the worde of his celestiall father Was he not called a glotton A wyne bybber A frend to PublicaÌ„s harlottes synners A deceyuer of the people A madde person A Samaritan A breaker of the Sabboth day A Heretyke A destroyer of the Temple An ene my to our mother the holy chyrch A Traytoure A forbydder to paye tribute vnto Cesar And such a one as woulde marre altogyther yf he were suffred longe Was he not reported to worke his miracles to cast out diuels by the helpe of Beel zebub prince of the dyuelles Was not his doctrine counted new lear nynge What dyd he at ony tyme althoughe neuer so good godly y t the worlde dyd not discoÌ„mend and condempne Dyd not theyr malice at the last growe vnto suche fury that they neuer ceased vntyll they had put hym vnto deth yea that the moost spitefull deathe y t coulde be inuented euen the deathe of the crosse hangynge hym betwene two theues as y e principal malefactour chefe captayne of all wickednes Agayne howe were the Apostles of Christe entreated Uerely euen as theyr mayster was before theÌ„ How ofte were they slauÌ„dered layd watche for thretened beaten whypped scourged put in preson caste out of cities stonned dragged out of the townes for dead Howe many also of them were slayne Some withe stones some w t
hartes remembrynge these wordes of Christ who so euer shall confesse me before men I wyll confesse hym also before my father which is in heaueÌ„ But who so euer shall deny me before men I shall deny him also before my father which is in heauen And if it be the wyl of oure heauenlye father that we be persecuted troubled greuouslye vexed for y â— confession of his trueth let vs not therfore feare to confesse the Lorde Christ but as good souldiours of Iesus Christ valeauntly suffer affliccioÌ„ yea very deth yf the glory of God so requirethe beynge assuredlye perswaded that by this meanes not only God shal be great ly glorified his holy gospell large ly promoted but also y t we for thys shorte trouble shal receaue perpetu all reste for this corruptible life im mortall glory for the vayne pleasu res of thys worlde eternall felicite and euerlastyng ioye worldes with oute ende Amen But lette vs heare what Dauid spake that he was so sore troubled ¶ The seconde verse I sayde beynge as it ware in a traunse euery man is a lyare ¶ The fourth strynge NO meruayle in dede thoughe our Mynstrell Dauid sayth that he was sore troubled for speakynge For he syngethe a verye homely songe lytle pleasaunte and swete to the eares of beastlyke carnall flesshely men Who can abyde to be called a liare yea that w tout ony reuereÌ„ce taken yet he shameth not to speake vniuersally to saye that euery man is a lyer withoute excepcion Surely me thyncke that Dauid wanteth here y e chefe poynt of a Mynstrell of a syngyng maÌ„ whiche is to lye flatter or at the leaste to fasshon his songe accordiÌ„g vnto the audience w t his singing to please so many as heare hym Is Dauid nowe become a man of so ly tle experience that he thinketh the holy Pharisees the wise Scribes the learned Byshoppes the deuout Prestes the godly rulars of y e temple c. could be contented to be called liars which would be noted tho rowe out all the world to be y e priÌ„ci pall teachers of all verite trueth alone to haue y e key of knowledge Undoubtedly Dauid kept shepe to longe for to be a Mynstrell to such delycate softe religious parsons But Dauid was a good playne siÌ„ple homely man brought vp in y â— countre endewed w t that spirite wherwith S. Paule was whan he sayde If I dyd please meÌ„ I should not be the seruaunt of Christâ—… For eueÌ„ as IohnÌ„ Baptist whan he saw many of y e Pharises Saduces coÌ„ myng vnto his baptisme called theÌ„ the generacioÌ„ of vipers for al theyr glysteryng hypocrysy fayned holynes as Christ called y â— Scribes Pharises blynd gydes strayning oute a gnat but swalowing vp a ca mel paynted sepulchres outwarde ly in apperaunce righteous before meÌ„ but iÌ„wardly ful of hypocrisy iniquite as S. Paule called Ana nias y e hygh preste a paynted wall bycause more lyke a bocher than a Bysshop he coÌ„maunded them that stode aboute hym to smyte Paule on the mouth contrary to al equite iustice whan he should haue pour ged hymselfe before the councell of the Articles layd agaynst him eueÌ„ so Dauid can none otherwyse but call hym y t is a lyar a lyare in dede He can not beare fyre in one hande water in the other He canne not playe placebo He is none of those that saye all is well when altogyther is starke nought He is no dissembler his harte his tong goeth togither He is as playne as a pack staffe For as the trueth is so speaketh he hauyng respecte neither to the parson nor to the tyme. He seakethe the glory of God not to satisfy the vayne fantasy of man He hadde rather suffer greate rebuke moche trouble extreme persecucioÌ„ yea very death than that Goddes glory should in ony parte be obscured thorow his faynynge flattery God sende vs fewer gnathos mo Dauids But lette vs retourne to oure songe I sayde beynge as it were in a traunse sayth he euery man is a ly are Before Dauid confesseth that enery man is a lyare it is to be noted that he sayth he was in a trauÌ„s that is to say in a daÌ„pe a stupour abasshement soden preuacion of sence or fealyng as whan a man is so rapte into another kynd or state that he forgetteth hiÌ„selfe or semeth to be in another world as they vse to saye For all this doth the greke worde Ecstasis sound A lyke thynge we read of S. Paule in the seconde Epistle to the Corinthians It is necessary in dede y â— Dauid shoulde be in this Ecstasy trauÌ„ce that is that he should be transformed into another man renewed by the holy ghoste illumined w t diuine knowledge lyfted vp to y â— coÌ„teÌ„placâ—… on of heueÌ„ly thiÌ„ges haue his miÌ„d wholly rapte plucked froÌ„ carnali te vnto spirituall ghostlye matters or elles coulde he neuer haue coÌ„fessed this infallible trueth that euery man is a lyare For a naturall man dothe not perceaue those thynges that pertayne vnto y â— spirite of God For they are folyshnes vnto hym neyther caÌ„ he vnderstaÌ„d theÌ„ because they be spiritually iud ged Howe can a man speake good thynges whaÌ„ he hym selfe is euell Can blessyng cursyng come both out of one mouth Doth a fouÌ„tayn sende for the at one place swete water bytter also Can a fygge tree â—…eare Olyue berys eyther a vyne beare figges Of the aboundaunce of the hart the mouth speaketh He that is of the earth is earthly and speaketh of the earth but he whom god hath sent speaketh the wordes of God Euery man speaketh as he is The chyldren of truethe speake trueth the sonnes of a lying seed speke lyes falshode Now is dauid no moresuch a manne as of nature is a lyare butte he is regenerate borne anewe of y e holy ghost is no moreof y t false lying seed which de ceyueth accordynge to the nature ingeny properâ—…e of SataÌ„ which is a lyare the father of all lyinge therfore confessethe he nowe another tale than he would haue done before his regeneracioÌ„ new byrth He woulde before haue glorified in hymselfe in his flesh in his bloude in his streÌ„gth wisdome polecy ritches holynes good workes and all that euer he dyd for that is the na ture of al flesh and haue fought maÌ„ fully agaynst them that condemne the Hypocrisy fayned holynes iniquite vnrighteousnes of the flesh but nowe beynge nourtered in the discipline of Gods trueth he freely grauntethe euery man of his owne nature to be nothynge but a lyare which thynge S. Paule also affirmeth in his Epistle to the RomaÌ„s Hereof maye we learne what we are of our selues howe blynde and vnapte of oure owne nature to
e promyse of God came at the tyme appoynted ito this miserable world toke flesh of the moost glorious virginne Marye became lyke to vs in all thynges syn alone excepte preached vnto vs the wyll of his heauenly father wrought mi racles suffered dyed for oure synnes on the thyrd day rose agayne for our iustificacion Certayne day es after he ascended into Heauen where he nowe sytteth on y e ryghte hande of god the father almyghty beynge there not ydle for he incessauntly prayeth for vs beynge our mediatoure aduocate apeasynge dayly the fathers wrath purchasynge for vs all good thynges And at the latter daye he shall come ageÌ„ to iudge bothe the quicke and the dead both the faythfull vnfaythfull bothe the shepe the goates than shal he take vs both body and soule enunied togyther withe hym into eternall glory where we shall remayne wyth him for euermore If ony man desyrethe to knowe more of the benefites of god and of his vnmesurable kyndenes toward vs let hiÌ„ resorte vnto y e Pathwaye of prayer read where I entreate of thanckes gyuyng from the xlii Chap. vnto the xlix there shall he se this matter entreted of at large If we dyd consyder on this wise the inestimable benefites of god to ward vs vndoubtedly we woulde leaue our vnthanckefulnes saye wyth Dauid what shall I gyue agayne vnto the Lorde for all those thynges that he hathe gyuen me But let vs se what our Mynstrell entendeth to gyue agen vnto god that we maye followe hym and do so lykewyse ¶ The fourthe verse I wyll take the cuppe of healthe caull vpon the name of the Lorde ¶ The syxte strynge HEre Dauid expresseth two thiÌ„ ges y t he entendeth to do One is to take the cuppe of health The other to caull on the name of the LORDE These are two thynges wherin God very much delighteth Fyrst he sayth he wyll take y e cuppe of health wherby is vnderstand af fliccion trouble persecucion morti ficacion of olde Adam kyllynge of carnall affectes slayenge of fleshly lustes bearyng of the crosse and at the last death as it appeareth by y e wordes of Christ to the soÌ„nes of Ze bedeus Can ye drynke sayth he of the cuppe that I shall drynke Also to his father Let this cup departe from me wherby he vnderstandeth his passion death To recompense partely y e kyndenes of God Dauid sayth that he wyll mortifye the ra giÌ„g lustes of his owne flesh y t fyght agaynste the spirite neuer leaue vntyl he hath made y e body subiecte to the soule that in all poyntes it maye be obediente to the lawe and wyll of God For this is an hygh acceptable sacrifice to God as Dauid wytnesseth iÌ„ another place a sacrifice to God is a troubled spirite a contrite humble harte God wyl not despyse S. Paule also saythe I beseche you brothers by the tender mercyes of God that you gyue your bodies a sacrifice y t is quicke holy acceptable to God whiche is youre resonable seruynge of God And God himselfe sayth by y e Prophet vnto whome shal I looke but vnto the huÌ„ble broken in spirite vnto hym y t fearethe my wordes Agayne he confessethe here that he wyl not only mortify his carnal lustes that he maye be truely spirituall but he wyll also paciently suf fer what soeuer crosse that is trou ble persecucion and affliccion God layeth vpon hym yea thoughe it be very death His harte is nowe so en flamed w t the loue of God for the be nefites that he hathe shewed vnto hym that he recositeth not only all that he hath but also his very lyte to vile of to small a price to gyue agayn for the glory of God that he may at the least in some parte shew hymselfe thankefull vnto so bounteous geÌ„tle a Lord as S. Paule sayth The holy Ghost wytnessethe layth y â— bondes troubles abyde me in euery Citie But I care not for it neyther is my lyfe dere vnto me so that I may fynish my course with ioy the office that I haue re ceaued of the LORD Iesu to testify y â— gospel of y e grace of God For I am not only redy to be bound but also to dye for y e name of y e LORDE Iesu. It is not withoute a cause that he calleth affliccion trouble or per secucion the cuppe of helth or salua cion for it brigeth i dede helth sâ—…l uacioÌ„ to a true Christen man And though the crosse be bitter to y e flesh yet is it swete and healthfull to the spirite And y â— more y â— body be depres sed made low y â— more is y â— spirite ex alied made hygh as s. Paule saith though our outward maÌ„ be brokeÌ„ yet y â— iward is renewed day by day Agen we are not detters to y â— flesh y â— we should lyue after y â— flesh For yf ye lyue after the flesshe ye shal dye But yf ye mortifi y â— dedes of y e body in y â— spirite ye shall lyue For they that are lead with y â— spirite of god are the sonnes of GOD. Therfore sayth Christ If ony man wyl come after me let hym deny forsake hiÌ„ self take his crosse dayly follow me For by many tribulacioÌ„s must we enter into y â— kyngedome of god And all y â— wyll lyue godly in Christ Iesu muste suffer persecucion It was necessary sayth the scripture that Christ shoulde fyrst suffer and so ryse agayne enter into glorye But for asmuch as it is an hard thing for a maÌ„ of his owne streÌ„gth pacieÌ„tly to beare the Crosse and to suffer rebuke slaunder ignominy blasphemy euel reportes empresoÌ„meÌ„t losse of goodes yea percuauÌ„se very death for Gods truethe and y â— glory of his worde seyng y t though the spirite be redye yet the flesshe is weake therfore Dauid saythe He wyll call on the name of the Lorde Wherfore Uerely for streÌ„gth that he maye be able to beare the crosse y â— is layd vpon his backe y â— he swarue not whan persecucion coÌ„meth and so slaunder y â— trueth which so bolde ly he professed before For withoute the assistence of Goddes spirite no man is able to abyde in the tyme of persecucion semeth he neuer so valeaunt a souldiour at other tymes as we may se in y â— Apostles of Christ whiche before theyr master was in onye daunger promised that they woulde neuer forsake hi but sticke vnto hym euen vnto the very deth yet whan they came to the bronte wel was he that could ronne away fastest in so much that he which be fore craked moost shewed hiÌ„selfe boldest of al the other I meane Pe ter dyd not only fle away from his master but also shamefully
denyed hym vnto a poore mayde sware y t he neuer knewe hym so impotente weake frayle ful of all imbecilite is man if he be lefte vnto hymselfe not endewed with strength from aboue Therfore our Mynstrel Da uid kynge Prophet not crakyng of his owne streÌ„gthes nor boasting of his owne free wyll withoute the healpe of Gods spirite saythe that he wyll call on the name of y â— Lord for strength valeaunce y t he maye manfully abyde in the tyme of persecucion confesse the trueth of God des worde publysshe his glory before all meÌ„ yea though a thousand deathes should followe It is very profitable for adflicte troubled coÌ„ sciences to caull on the name of the Lorde For as Salomon sayth the name of the LORDE is a myghtye toure very strong Bulwarke vn to that doth the ryghteous maÌ„ fly he shall be exalted fynd socoure Blissed is that man which putteth his truste iÌ„ the name of the LORDE regardeth not vanities false ymaginacions Call on me sayth God in the day of thy trouble and I wyll delyuer the and thou shalte honoure me Thus se we partely how Dauid goeth about to shewe hiÌ„selfe thaÌ„ke full agayne vnto God for the inesti mable benefites that he hath gyueÌ„ hym He wyll mortify his carnall af fectes paciently suffer what so euer crosse persecucioÌ„ trouble or affliccion be layde vpon his backe for Gods truethes sake And that he maye be the more able to do theyse thynges he wyll caull on the name of the LORDE All these be very acceptable thynges in y â— sight of god And God thyncketh his benefites wel bestowed where such gyftes be gyueÌ„ agayne vnto hym procedyng from a gentle thanckefull harte Nowe we beynge no lesse bound vnto God for his gentlenes thaÌ„ Da uid was ought to shewe our selues no lesse thankefull agayne to hym theÌ„ Dauid dyd or els are we muche vnworthy this inestimable beneficence of God We ought therfore to prouyde y â— no synne reygne in this oure mortal body but that we mor tifye our earthly members whoredome fornicacion vnclennes wan tonnes euell concupiscence couetousnes which is the worshypping of Idolles for the which the wrath of God is wonte to come vpon the chyldren of vnbeleue All wrath indignacion maiyce cursed speaking fylthy coÌ„municacion lying oughte we to laye asyde put vpon vs ten der mercye gentylnes honest behauour mekenes softenes goodnes charite peace ioy fayth teÌ„perauÌ„ce with all the other fruytes of y â— spirite For they y â— are of Christe haue crucified the flesh with the lustes concupiscenses therof yea they are dead to the world and theyr lyfe is hyd wyth Christ in God Moreouer we must be conteÌ„ted to take the cuppe of helth at y â— LORDES hande paciently suffer what soeuer crosse he layeth vpon vs yea prayse hym in the myddes of our trouble recountynge our selues so moche the more blyssed seynge that it is gyuen vnto vs not only to beleue in hym but also to suffer for y â— glory of his name beyng thorowly perswaded that yf we suffer wyths Christe we shall reygne with hym For many are the troubles of the ryghteous in this world but from theÌ„ all shall the LORDE delyuer theÌ„ yf none otherwyse yet at y â— least by death which is the nexte waye vnto the very true lyfe And because it is hard for y e flâ—…sh to awaye with the crosse which seketh glory wealth ease rytches ho nour not ignominy scasenes dis quietnes pouertie shame opprobry therfore must we flye with feruent and continuall prayers vnto God vnto his moost holy name y â— we maye haue strength sent vs froÌ„ aboue to do these thinges aforsayd that by no meanes we be found ingrate vnthanckefull vnworthy y e great vnmeasurable kyndenesse whiche God hath shewed vnto vs. So shall God not only not take away his giftes from vs but also en crease them dayly more more as the Scripture sayth to euery one that hath it shall be gyuen and he shall haue abundance But who so hath not from hym shall be taken a waye euen that he hath also But lette vs heare more of oure Mynstrelles songe ¶ The fyfte verse I wyl pay my vowes vn to the Lord before al his people ¶ The seuenth stryng DAuid goethe forthe to declare what he wyll reÌ„der vnto God for all those thynges that he hathe gyuen hym Before he sayd that he would take the cuppe of helth and caull vpon the name of the LORDE Nowe he addethe that he wyll also paye his vowes vnto the LORDE yea and that before all his people But what vowes are these Uerely not vnfaythfull folyshe vowes which displease god as y â— scripture say the but y â— earnest promises that he made vnto God for to fulfyl his moost holy Commaundementes These vowes wyll he paye These promises wyl he performe For they make vnto the glory of god the edifienge of his Chyrch the health of his owne soule Therfore wyll he stycke to them euen vnto the very death God gyueth a commaundement sayth heare Israel thy God is y â— one alone God Thou shalte haue no straunge Goddes in my syghte Thou shalte make the no grauen Image c. Dauid beynge one of the true israelites hath made a vow to kepe this moost holy precepte And as he hathe this vowe so wyll he laboure to pforme it For it is not vnfaythfull nor folyshe but agreable to the scripture neyther dothe it prouoke the keper of it vnto muche inconue niece absurdite but rather vnto great vertu holynes So that he is fully bent to performe his vowe Let the vnfaythful Idolaters wor shyp what Idoll or false God they lyste Dauid wyll surely cleaue to this one alone true God For in his hart shall none syt but this one God alone neyther wyll he admyt so moch as the shadow of ony other to be ioyned with hym to haue fe lowshyppe with his God This his God alone wyll he worship honour lerue This his God alone wyl he how do reuerence vnto This his God alone wyll he loue with all his harte mynde soule withe all hys powers This his God alone wyll he magnify prayse for euer euer And bicause he may not once be mo ued by ony vayne spectacle seduced from the honour worshyp and seruice of this god vnto ony image seruice Idolatry he hath made a sure vowe faythful promise that he wyll make no grauen Image ydoll or mawmet but he wyll onlye cleaue to this his one alone God serue hym not in external ceremo nies but in spirite trueth For coÌ„ founded be all they shame lyghteÌ„ on them sayth he that worship gra uen ymages glory in theyr mawe mettes
weale punysh the euel mayntayne the good accept no parson in iudge mente allowe no false accusacion shed no innocente bloude heare the small so well as the great set forth gods glory promote his holy word in all thynges seake the profyt of of the common weale Let the subiectes be faythefull true obedient to theyr Prynces hygher powers Lette the Bysshoppes Prestes that be called vnto the office of prechynge take hede to theyr selues to all the flocke in the which y e holy Ghost hath appoynted thē ouerseers to fede the cōgregacion of God Lette them fede Christes flocke so muche as lygheth in theyr power take the ouersighte of them not as thoughe they were compelled but wyllyngly not for the desyre of fylthy lucre but of a good mynde not as Lordes ouer the Parysshes but to be an example vnto the flocke Let them caste awaye vngodly and olde wyuysh fables be vnto them that beleue an example in y e worde in conuersacion in loue in spirite in fayth in purenes Let them giue attendaunce vnto readynge to exhortacion to doctrine Let thē study to shew thē selues to God lauda ble which nede not to be ashamed Let the husbōdes loue theyr wy ues as theyr owne bodyes and be not bytter churlysh or vnkynd vnto them but gyue honour vnto thē as vnto the weaker vesselles and as vnto them that are fellowe heyres wyth them of the grace of lyfe Lykewyse let y e wyues be in sub iecciō to theyr husbondes as vnto the LORDE in all thynges so behaue themselues as it becommethe women of an honest godly conuer sacion Let them aray them selues in comely apparell with shame fastnes discrete behauour not wythe brayded heere or golde or pearle or costely araye but withe suche as it becometh women that professe godlynes thorowe good workes Lette y e inward mā of the hart be vncorrupte withe a meke quiet spirite whiche before God is moche set by For after this manner in the olde tyme dyd the holy women whiche trusted in God tyer them selues were obedient to theyr husbondes euen as Sara obeyed Abraham called hym Lord whose doughters the wyues are so longe as they do well nor being afrayd for ony trou ble Let fathers not rate theyr chyldrē lest they be of a desperate mind but brynge thē vp in the nourtour and informacion of the LORDE Let the chyldren also obey theyr pa rentes in all thynges for y e is well pleasynge vnto the LORDE Let masters do vnto theyr seruauntes that which is iust equal put tynge awaye threatenynges know that they also haue a master in heauen with whome there is no respecte of parsons Let the seruauntes agayne be obediēt vnto theyr bodely masters in al thinges w t feare tremblyng in siglenes of harte as vnto Christ not w t seruice only in the eye syght as men pleasers but as the seruaū tes of Christ doyng the wyll of god from the harte wythe good wyll Let them thyncke that they serue the LORDE and not men let them be sure y t what so euer good a man doth he shall receaue it agayne of y e LORDE whether he be bond or free To cōclude let euery one amōg vs do our dutye lyue accordyng to the vocacion whereunto God hathe called vs. So shal it come to passe y t we shall not walke vnworthy the kyndenes of God So shall we truly paye our vowes vnto the LORDE So shall we faythfully per forme y t which we heretofore promt sed in baptisme So shall we dayly more more encrease in the loue of God taste more plēteously of his bounteous giftes But it is to be noted that Dauid saythe Before all his people This is none other thynge but y e which Christ commaundeth in the in as much as Christe hathe chosen them from the worlde therfore the world hateth them What is than to be sayd Uerely whither we liue or dye we are the LORDES and precious is the death of Sayntes in y ◠syght of y e LORDE as it followethe ¶ The eyght strynge Precious in the syghte of the Lord is the death of his Sayntes This song of our Mynstrel Da uid must nedes be very plesaūt delectable to the hearers seyng y t he syngethe all thynges in suche a godly goodly order setteth euery thynge in his ryght place For after that he hath made mēcion of payenge his vowes vnto the Lord whyche is to do all thynges accordynge to the cōmaūdemēt of God not after the fansy of carnall reason nor the iugemente of the wyse worldlynges wherof is lyke to ensew as we haue heard before much trouble yea very deth for y e worlde can not abyde to be rebuked nor to haue his pompe pryde pleasures glory honour hypocrisy supersticion fayned holynes pharisaical iustice glysteryng righteousnes dotynge inuencion fleshly imaginacions good ententes c. to be reproued yea condēned by y ◠worde of God he nowe declarethe what a dere precious a thyng the deathe of Sayntes that is to saye of the faythfull is in the syght of y e LORD be it recounted before the worlde of neuer so great ignominy despyte reproche and shame And this doth he to encourage men to paye theyr vowes vnto the Lorde that is to say to be earnest in y e word of God to seake the promocion of his glory to walke innocently before y e eies of his diuine maieste though al the world yea very hell should be wood and ryse vp agaynst vs. Precious sayth he in the syghte of the Lorde is the death of his Sayntes It is to be noted that he calleth not the death of the wycked precious in the syght of the Lord but y ◠death of Saynctes yea that not popysh but Gods Sayntes Precious sayth he in the sight of y ◠Lord is the deth of his Sayntes As for the wicked so longe as they lyue in this world they lyue more at theyr hartes ease haue all thiges more plenteously at theyr owne pleasure concernyng tēporall matters thā the true christen men and faythful Sayntes of God haue in as much that as we read in diuers places of the holye scriptures the godly many tymes complayne vnto God of the prosperous estate of y ◠wycked seme almoost to accuse God of vn righteousnes seyng the enemies of God prosper so wel and haue good lucke in all thynges they agayne which moost intierly fauour Goddes word seke his glory are moost miserably oppressed slaūdered persecuted empresonned redye to be slayne at all houres For as y ◠Psalmograph sayth The vngodly hath the ouerhande the poore is brēt The siner is praysed in followyng the lustes of his harte the wicked is blyssed and made muche of My feete were almoost gone sayth
the Lordes syght or els because that he had suffred many great tor mentes for the glorye of God yea perchaunse very death so by that meanes recounte hymselfe worthy by hys owne desertes of the lyfe eternall oure Mynstrell Dauid in this verse of his songe not vnto the derogacion of the sayntes honour whiche are not to be defrauded of theyr prayse but vnto the promocion settynge forth of Gods glory syngeth here howe it commethe to passe that the death of Saynctes that is of the faythfull is so precious i the sight of y e Lord. The cause is this sayth he because God hath broken theyr bondes For what is man that he maye appeare righteous in y e sight of God before whom a chyld of one day olde is not pure nor the starres in the Eliment nor nor yet the Aungelles in heauen There is no man good but God alone All our righteousnesses are as a clothe polluted wythe menstrue Who is able to say my hart is pure I am cleane without synne The moost ryghteous man in the world maye pray on this manner wythe Dauid Lorde enter not into iudge ment with thy seruaunte for none y â— lyueth shallbe fouÌ„d ryghteous in thy sight Is it ony maruayle wheÌ„ of our selues we are not able to thike a good thoughte moche lesse to worke ony good dede by our owne power before we be regeÌ„erate bor ne a newe and made other men by Christes Spirite And as towchyng the affliccion and trouble that we suffer in this worlde seme it to the flesh neuer so greate paynefull and intollerable yet can it not be compared to y e glo ry that shalbe shewed to vs as S. Paule sayth Notwitstandynge yf we suffer with Christ we shall also reygne with Christ yea be glorifi ed with hym not that we of our selues haue deserued so great glorye but because God hath so promised which can not lye but is faythfull in al his wordes leaueth no good dede vnrewarded that is done in Christ yea and that for his promise sake thorow his vnmesurable mercy poured forthe plenteously in the moost precioê° bloud of Christ Iesu. Now seyng y e not we onlye but also al y e euer we do of oure selues is vn pure vnclene in the syght of god vntyl both we al our dedes be pu rified by the diuine spirite therfore before we canne brynge forthe ony thinge that maye be approued and accepted before God we must be de lyuered from that moost miserable captiuite wherunto we ware caste of Satan thorowe the synne of Adam Our bondes must be broken we muste be set at liberte from the power of Satan syn death hel c. This thynge once done thaÌ„ what so euer we do in Christ and in oure newe regeneracion muste nedes be allowed before God receaued as an acceptable Sacrifice Yea whyther we lyue or dye both our lyfe oure death is right dere and precious in y â— syghte of the Lorde But let vs returne vnto our songe Although it be true nothynge more true y t God of his owne mere mercy fre goodnes vndeserued benignite saued vs whan we ware so vtterly loste that by no meanes we could seke ony parte of our own saluacion nor recouer by our owne strength power ony thynge at all that we before had lost in Adam so that both oure creaÌ„cion eleccion re demcion saluacion iustificacion glorificacion commeth only of hym thorow his moost entierly beloued sonne our Lord Sauiour Iesus Christe Yet do these his benefites only belonge vnto theÌ„ that are his faythfull seruauntes the sonnes of his handemayd as Dauid sayth here O Lord because I am thy ser uaunte yea thy seruaunt in dede the sonne of thy handmayde thou hast broken my bondes We se here that Dauid confessethe that God brake his bondes but he addeth also that he therfore is his seruaunt yea his vnfayned seruauÌ„te y â— soÌ„ne of his handmayd Wherby we maye easly learne that the merciful bene fites of God the father which lyghe poured out in Christes bloude pertayne not vnto all persons vniuersallye but only vnto those that are his seruauntes yea that not fayned but true hartye louynge and faythful the sonnes of his hande mayd God hath performed y e othe sayth y â— good preste Zachary father to S. IohnÌ„ baptist which he sware vnto Abraham our father to gyue vs that we beyng without feare delyuered froÌ„ the power of our enemies shoulde serue hym w t holynes ryghteousnesse before hym all the dayes of our lyfe We are delyuered sayth this good preste from the power of our enemiesnot y â— we should lyue wickedly vngodly but that we shoulde serue oure LORDE God not in our owne fleshly ymaginacions blynde good ententes but in holynes righteousnes yea that not a daye or two but al the dayes of our lyfe God hath not called vs saythe S. Paule vnto vnclennes but vnto sanctificacion God hathe blyssed you saythe the scripture by his sonne Iesus that euery one of you shoulde turne from his wicked nes God hath broken our bondes that we shoulde be his faythfull ser uauntes the sonnes of his hande mayd as Dauid sayth Now what is it to be the seruaunt of God Ue rely to do those thynges that we be commaunded of God In considera cion wherof S. Paule the other Apostles iÌ„ al theyr Epistles call theÌ„ selues the seruauntes of God bycause vnto the vttermoost of theyr power they euer fulfylled those thiÌ„ ges that were enioyned theÌ„ of god For it becommeth a seruauÌ„t to fulfyll his masters coÌ„maundemente not to worke after his owne fansy so maye he be bolde to appere in his masters syghte whan so euer he be called to aske that which his master hath promised him In lyke maÌ„ ner yf we wyll be counted so proued the seruauntes of God vnfaynedlye we muste earnestelye consider euery maÌ„ accordynge to his cal lynge what God hathe commaunded vs in his holy law and that we must laboure vnto the vttermoost of our power for to fulfyl or els we are no true seruauÌ„tes of God For by no meanes may we leaue y e wyll of God vnfylled practise thynges of oure owne imaginacion If ony man loueth me sayth Christ he wyl kepe my word my father shal loue hym we wyl come vnto hym and dwell with him He that hath my coÌ„ maundemeÌ„tes kepeth them he it is that louethe me For not euery one that sayth vnto me Lord Lord shall enter into the kyngdome of he ueÌ„ but he that doth the wyll of my father which is in heauen But it is to be noted that Dauid doth not only name hymselfe y â— seruaunt of god but he doubleth it sayth yea the seruaunt of God in dede As though he should
saye god hath done moch for me he hath bro ken my bondes he hathe delyuered me oute of captiuite set me agen at liberte therfore wyll I be his ser uauÌ„t yea that not faynâ—…dly but his seruauut in dede doynge what so euer he commaundethe me yea though it shoulde coste me my lyfe So it becometh vs not only to pro fesse our selues to be the seruauÌ„tes of God and christen men by mouth but also to expresse it in verye dede seyng that not the hearers but the doers of the law shall be iustified be fore God O LORDE GOD be mercyfull to vs howe many be ther nowe a dayes that caull themselues y e ser uauntes of God gospellers yet are nothynge lesse in theyr dedes They crake moch of fayth but they brynge not forth y â— fruytes of fayth They talke moch of the gospel but they lyue no part of y e gospel They reade the holy scriptures but they fashon theyr lyues nothyng theraf ter They call Christ theyr sauiour yet walke they nothynge worthye his kyndenes They thynke theÌ„ selues the sonnes of lyghte but they exercise the workes of darknes Oh that they were Goddes seruauÌ„tes in dede feruent gospellers earneste practisers of fayth true followers of the holy Scriptures to coÌ„clude both louers and lyuers of Christes gospell than wel were it with Chri stes chyrch But alas theyr lyuing is so dissolute theyr manners so wycked and vngodly that we may well saye as S. Paule wrytethe They professe that they know god but they deny hi wyth theyr actes seynge they are abhominable disobedient and vnapte to al good wor kes Moreouer Dauid callethe hym selfe here not only the true fayth full seruaunte of God but also the sonne of Gods handmayd Who is this handmayd of God Uerely the vniuersall congregacion of Christ whiche from the begynnyng of the worlde hathe serued God beleued in hym whose sonne euery one is y t beleueth in God For he is begotteÌ„ of God the sonne of god by fayth to that congregacion whose member he is made that congregacion by preachynge begetteth hym to God that beleueth the word of god So that as the congregacion is a mother by begettynge and wynnyng other to the fayth so is he that beleueth is begotteÌ„ vnto the fayth the sonne of the congregacion as s. Paule wryteth to the Galathians My lytle chyldren of whome I tra uayle in byrth agayne or w t whom I am agayne wythe chylde vntyll Christe be fasshyoned in you Also to the Corinthians althoghe ye haue many masters iÌ„ Christ yet haue ye not many fathers For I begat you in Christ Iesu by the gos pell He also writyng to Timothe calleth hym his natural sonne in 〈◊〉 fayth Agayne Syon signifyeng y â— Church of Christ sayth by the Pro phet who hath begotteÌ„ me these Al so iÌ„ another place the desolate hath mo chyldren than y â— maryed wyfe Thus se we that we must both be the true seruauntes of God and also the sonnes of the handmayd of god Christes chyrche yf we wyl en ioye the benefites that ly bent out in Christ. And verely it is not with out a cause required of vs not only that we shoulde be the faythful seruauntes of god but also the sonnes of his handemayd For many in tymes past nether want ther at this daye haue bosted valeauntly that they were the seruauntes of God yea woulde seme of a feruent zele to dye for the glory of god yet in as muche as they were not the sonnes also of gods handmayde they were not the seruauntes of god in dede but dissemblers Hypocrites Of this sorte were all the olde Heretikes Scismatikes false ChristiaÌ„s in tymes past which sowed dissensi on in Christes chyrche and deuided them selues from the holy catholike chyrche whiche is the fellowshyp of sayntes by teachyng straunge doctrine mayntenynge erroneous opinions coÌ„trary to the doctrine of the holy scripture the teachynge of the true godly fathers Of this sorte also at this tyme are the Anâ—… baptistes SacrameÌ„taries other Phanaticall frentyke Spirites which haue vayne visions inueÌ„ted of theyr owne braynes sowe cockel among the good wheat in the Lordes felde brynge in straunge sectes inuente newe opinions make disseÌ„cion in Christes churche allure meÌ„ from the olde true christen fayth corrupte the scriptures teache doctrine contrary to the vayne of god des word trouble the coÌ„mon weale of Christendome c. All these in as much as they haue deuided cutte of them selues from the chyrche of Christ which is the hand mayde of god pertayne not vnto god nether haue they any parte of gods mercy though they boste crake neuer so much that they be the seruauntes of god yea though they gyue theyr bodies to be plucked asunder wyth wild horses for y e glory of god For w t out the chyrche of Christ ther is no health nor saluacioÌ„ but altogyther death damnacion But I woulde haue men wyse in knowynge thys chyrche of Christe vnlesse they erre mayntayne an whore in steade of a spouse an vnchast harlotte for a true wyfe a fylthy strompette for a faythfull yokefellow a disobedient Synagoge for a christen congregacion We haue in tymes past taken the Bysshop of Rome hys paynted carnall Idolles I would haue sayd his sayncted Cardinalles Pa triarches Legates Archbysshops Bysshops Prestes Monckes Fryars Chanons Heremites Anacho rites other of the spiritualte as they call theÌ„ only to be the chyrche haue thought that by no meanes we myght departe from them and theyr doctrine excepte they would be daÌ„ned in what so euer case they stode were they on Goddes syde or contrary taught they accordynge to gods worde or otherwyse For once to hyske agenst them was coâ—… ted to cut the cote of Christe y â— had neuer a seme to subuert and tople downe the chayre of Peter Paul the chefe Apostles to defyle to tear to tread vnder fote the authorite of the chyrche Christes spouse yea to make shorte tale to caull oute of hel the heresies that were buried and layd to slepe By this meanes haue they theise many hundred yeares not only seduced the simple and vnlerned peo ple butte also falselye vsurpedde the name of the Chyrche callynge them selues the mother holye chur che beynge so rather in name thaÌ„ in very dede If they were faith full dyd continewe in y e doctrine of the holy Scripture so were they members of this chyrche of Christ yf contrarywyse than pertayned they not vnto this holy catholyke chyrche but were corrupt rotten members hâ—…ynge nothyng lesse theÌ„ pertakers of this helth and saluacion that is in this moost pure vndefyled chyrche This chyrche of Christ whome Dauid calleth here the handmayd of the LORDE is the vniuersall congregacion of the faythfull whiche w t a
Iesus Christ Goddes sonne maketh vs clene from all synne Thus se we y t by Christ by Christes death passion bloud the bondes of synne are broken and we sette agayne at liberte As for death hel desperacion what can they do Are not they also ouercome Let vs heare what y e Scripture sayth out of the power of deathe saythe the LORDE wyll I delyuer them from death wyll I redeme theÌ„ O death I wyll be thy deathe O hell I wyll swallowe the vp S. Paule also saythe Death is swallowed vp into victorye Where is thy stynge O deathe Where is thy victorye O hell The stynge of deathe is synne the power of syn is the lawe But thankes be to god whiche hathe gyuen vs the victory thorowe our LORDE Iesus Christ. Agen By death hath Christ put hiÌ„ to flyght that had lordshyppe ouer death that is to say the dyuel that he myght delyuer them which thorow the fere of death were al theyr lyfe tyme in daunger of bondage O swete and confortable sayenges O thalone true and christen pleasu res As touchynge oure last enemy whiche is the curse of the lawe are not we also made free from that by Christ What sayth the scripture Christ hath redemed vs froÌ„ y â— curse of the lawe whyle he was made accursed for our sake Agayne Christe is y e perfect fulfyllyng of y e lawe to iustificacion for euery one that beleuethe Also in another place be it knowen vnto you ye men brethreÌ„ that thorow this man Christ is pre ched to you the forgyuenesse of synnes from al the thynges wherby ye coulde not be iustifyed by y e lawe of Moses thorowe hym euery one that beleueth is iustified Thus se we that our boÌ„des are broken thorow Christ we also set at liberte froÌ„ the daunger of all our enemies so that now there is no coÌ„ demnacion for theÌ„ that are engraffed in christ Iesu whiche walke not after the flesh but after the spirite For the lawe of the Spirite of lyfe thorowe Christe Iesus hathe made them fre from the law of synne and death Who wyl now lay ony thing to the charge of Gods chosen It is God that iustifyeth who can than condeÌ„ne Hereof coÌ„meth it to passe that after we be once delyuered froÌ„ y e power of our enemies haue oure bondes broken set at liberte thorowe christ christes passion death bloud by whome Satan is vanquisshed synne put to flyght death ouercome hel swallowed vp desperacion driueÌ„ out of place the curse of the lawe vtterly takeÌ„ away yea the lawe fulfylled and heaueÌ„ gates open for the faythfull all that euer we do in christ is acceptable in the sight of God taken to good worth moche made of not for the dignite of the worke it selfe but because it is salted with y e dignite holines ryghteousnes purite innocency of Christ in whose name what so euer is done smelleth swetely before GOD so that bothe the thoghtes wordes dedes lyfe death of y e Sayntes that is of the faythfull yea all y e euer we do is precious in the syght of y â— Lorde as we herd before For sure we are that all thin ges worke to the best for them that loue God whiche are called of purpose For those whome he knewe before hathe he ordened also before y t they should be lyke fashoned vnto y â— shape of his sonne that he might be the fyrst begotteÌ„ amonge many bro thren As for those whome he hath ordyned before them hath he called also whoÌ„e he hath called theÌ„ hath he also made ryghteous whoÌ„e he hath made ryghteous them hathe he glorified also What shall we saye than vnto these thynges If God be on our syde who can be agaynste vs But let vs se what is to be ren dred gyuen agayne vnto God for these his inestimable benefytes toward vs miserable synners ¶ The seuenth verse I wyll offer to the the sacrifyce of prayse on the name of the Lorde wyl I call ¶ The tente strynge OUr Mynstrell Dauid goethe forth to be lyke hymself y â— is to saye to shewe that he is one of a very gentle thankefull nature redy at all times vnto the vttermoost of his power to recompeÌ„ce and make amendes for ony poynte of kyndenes that is shewed to hiÌ„ as we may se here For after y â— he hath songe of the singulare incoÌ„parable benefi tes of god which are shewed not on ly to hym but also to all mankynd I meane so many as are the faythfull people of God beleue in hym lyue accordynge to his diuine wyll and hathe consydered howe greatly both he all the faythfull are blyssed of God thorowe them in Christ Iesu he now taketh an occasion to ponder wyth hym selfe how he may shewe hym selfe thankefull agayne to God as he dyd before in y â— â—…ourth fyfte verse of this his songe For he desyreth nothynge to be more estraunged from his manners than ingratitude vnthankefulnes He thyncketh it no poynte of humanite to leaue the beneficence and gentle liberalite of a mortall maÌ„ vnrecompensed to neglecte therfore and nothynge to regarde the inestimable goodnes the infinite benefites of God he recouÌ„teth it an acte highly to be detested and abhored of ony christen harte To shewe hymselfe therfore thankefull to God for his benignite he is now full bent But what wyll he gyue God agayne What amendes wyll he make him In what thynges wyll he shewe 〈◊〉 selfe thanckefull agayne vnto the LORDE â–ª Wyll he gyue hym mountaynes of golde Wyl he bryng him heapes of precious stones Wyll he fetche hym frankensence and other swete sauours out of Araby Wyll he offer vnto hym fatte oxen lusty hayffers well lykynge shepe c. Na verely for he knoweth ful wel that GOD reiectethe all these thynges in many places of the holy Scripture neyther hathe he ony nede of Dauids goodes which hath bothe heauen and earth at his owne plea sure and all that is contayned in them Dauid knowethe full well y â— his goodes were gyuen hym of god that he should help his poore neigh bours with theÌ„ What wyl he gyue God than Uerely the sacrifyce of prayse of thanckes gyuynge For this is that thynge whiche God de syreth so greatly as he hymselfe testifyethe The Sacrifyce of prayse sayth he shall honour me Agayne offer to God the sacrifyce of prayse What so euer ye do sayth s. Paule in worde dede do all thynges in y â— name of the LORDE Iesu gyuynge thanckes to God and the father by hym Agayne he mercyfull Also in another place Gyue thaÌ„kes alway for all thynges in the name of oure LORDE Iesu Christ to God the fa ther. To the Hebrewes also he wry teth on this maÌ„ner By hym he me