sonne Ioseph was deade Gen. 37. he sayde I wil go downe into hel vnto my sonne mourninge So then he beleued that he was there in spryte Iosephes brethren hauynge in wil and mynde to saye that one of theyr brethren was deade said We are xii brethren Gen. 42. the sonnes of one man the yongest is with oure father and one no man wotteth wher he is Our lord appearing vnto Moses in a bush Exo. 3. sayd I am the God of Abrahā Isaac and Iacob c. by thys our sauiour proueth the resurrectyon of the dead Mat. 22. He is not a God of the dead saith he but of the liuyng It is sayd of Chore and hys companye that they wente down alyue into hell Nume 16. and the earth closed vpon them and they pearyshed from amonge the congregation By thys it appeareth that the euil as touchyng theyr soules do lyue in hel If Saule had surelye beleued that Samuel had bene extincte and deade as touchyng hys soule 1. regu 28. he woulde not haue desyred hym to haue bene reuyued and called againe When that Dauids seruauntes maruailed why he wepte not for hys yonge sonne that was dead he said I shal go to him rather thē he shal come again to me When that Dauids seruaunts meruailed why he wept not for his yong sonne that was dead 2. regu 12. he said I shall go to him rather then he shall come againe to me When Absolon was hanged and thrust thorowe with iii. speares 2. regu 18 Dauid be wailed lamented him mournfully And s. Augustine in his boke de doc chri sayth That Dauid bewaild not the lack and deathe of hys sonne But because he knew to what pains that adoulterous and Paracide soule shoulde be drawen vnto But for his other sonne that died an Innocente and for whose sicknesse hee was sore afflicted 2. regu 12. he reioysed 3. regu 17. Helias praid for the reuiuification of hys hostes chylde saying O Lord my God let thys childes soule come into hym againe Oftentimes we read in the bookes of the kynges 3. regu 14. he was layde a sleape wyth hys fathers The whiche thing by no meanes maye be vnderstanded or spoken of brute beastes 4. regu 13. and therefore ther by it is proued that they liue after theyr death and that here after they shal arise again as it appeareth in those that slepe It is manifest and open by Thobias wordes which he spake rebuking the folishnesse of his kinsfolkes that the soule liueth after that it is seperated from the body Tobi. 2. We are saythe Toby the children of holy men and loke for the life which God shal geue vnto them that neuer tourne their be lefe from him And afterwardes in his oration and prayer he saithe Tobi. 3. O Lord deale not wyth me accordynge to thy wil and commaund my sprite to be receiued in peace Our Lord gaue Iob double of al the euer was his Tobi. 42. And at length he gaue him vii sonnes and iii. doughters The preacher after the mynd of s. Eccle. 11. Gregory in the laste of his Morales spake expresly and plainly sayinge Let the dust be tourned agayne vnto earthe from whence it came and the spryte shall retourne vnto God whiche gaue it By those woordes that the dampned do saye in hell they declare and shew Sapi. 5. that the good as wel as the euil do liue in a nother world Thus it is wrytten euen literallye of Nabuchodonozor king of Babylon Now that thou art laid down to slepe that is in death Esai 14. there come no mo vp to hewe vs downe Hel also beneathe trembleth to meete thee at thy comming And after there foloweth Thy pryde is brought downe into the depe of hel And many mo thinges ar wrytten there by the whyche it is euidente that he pearished not vtterly but that his soule went downe into hel When that they counseld Eleazarus to faine and dyssemble hym self to haue eaten of the flesh of the sacrifice 2. Mach. 6. he said Though I were now delyuered from the tormentes of menne yet shuld not I escape the hand of almighty God nether aliue nor dead One of those seuen brethren saide 2. Mach. 7. Those thynges I possesse and haue from heauen but now for the lawe of God I despyse them for my truste is that I shall receyue them Of hym agayne Lykewise it is cleare and manyfest by the mothers wordes and other that they as touchyng the soule beleued not that they should pearish Razias takyng hys owne bowels threw them vpon the people 2. Mach. 14 callyng vpon our Lord and ruler of the earth and spirit to reward and restore him this again and so he dyed Our sauiour warninge his Dysciples the whych he sent abrode Mat. 10. sayde vnto them Feare ye not them which kyl the body but are not able to kyll the soule But rather fear him which is hable to destroy both soule and body into hel That thing which our Lord dothe shew of the rych man and Lazarus semeth to be no parable or symilitude Luke 16. but a manifest hystorye And so it appeareth that the soules bothe of the good and euyll be immortall and receyue after the separatyon from the bodye euen as they deserued beynge in the body Our Lorde by the ensample of the vniust steward that made hym frendes wyth hys masters goodes Luc. 16. dothe conclude sayinge make you frendes of the vnrighteous Mammon that when ye shall haue neade they may receiue you into euerlastinge habitatiōs The which saying was of none effect if the soule after the seperation from the body or after the death of the body had no receptacle or place to be receiued vnto Blessed saint Steuen had a deuout and a right opinion and faithe of the soule Act. 7. the whyche when they stoned him saide Lorde Iesu receyue my spryte It appeareth manifestlye by the wordes of that excellent doctor Paul tha◠the soule doth liue after it be seperated from the bodye 2. Cor. 5. We knowe saith he that if our earthy mancyon of thys dwellynge wer destroyed we haue a building of God an habitation not made wyth handes but eternal in heauen Philip. 1. And he saith I desyre to be losed to be with Christ. And the selfe same man saythe O wretched man that I am who shall deliuer me from this bodye subdued vnto death roma 7. Truely he wold not say such thinges but that he was sure of a nother life ¶ Of the faith that man shuld haue vnto God Cap. xxxiiii ABraham beleued our lorde Gen. 15. and that counted he to him for righteousnesse and note that he beleued God whiche promised hym a thynge most difficult and hard After that the children wer past ouer the red sea Exo. 14. and Pharaos host ouerthrowne and drowned the people feared oure Lorde and beleued
wept together 1. reg 20. Saul hering Dauids voyce that had spard him 1. reg 24. lifted vp his voyce wept When Dauid sawe that Sicelag was burnt 1. reg 30. and that the men wer takeÌ„ prisonners and caried away He and the people that were with him wept vntil they coulde wepe no more Dauid mourned and wept for Saul and Ionathas 2. reg 1. and for the other that were slaine Dauid and all the people did mourn and wepe for Abner 2. reg 3 whom Ioab murdred Dauid would not wepe for his little sonne that was deade 2. reg 12. and yet he wept for him when he was sicke NotwithstaÌ„ding AbsoloÌ„ shewed him self very naughtes wicked towards his father 2. regu 18. yet his father king Dauid bewayled his death most pyttefully Elizeus seing Azael before him begaÌ„ to wepe 4. regu 8. for the euyl that he being king of Siria shuld do to the childreÌ„ of Israel Hezechias wepte very sore praying our lorde for the death the whiche he verely estemed to be at hande 4. reg 20. When Iosias the king of Iuda herd the thretnyngs for sinne writteÌ„ in the boke of the law of god 4. regu 22. he rent his clothes wept greatli pleased our lord When the temple was reedified be those that came froÌ„ Babilone 1. Esd. 3. a man could not know or discerne the ioyful voyce or sound of those that were mery glad froÌ„ the noyse of weping amonge the people When that Esdras prayed wept for the coÌ„mixtion of the Iewes the gentiles 1. Esd. 9. a greate numbre of men and women beinge gathered together resorted vnto him wept very sore When Nehemia heard of the miserable estate and condition of the cytie 2. Esd. 1. of Ierusalem he wept mourned certaine daies fasted and prayed before the face of god of heauen Toby did eat his meat with mourning feare Tobi. 2. for he had the dead coarâ— of hys neyghboure in hys house the whiche he would bury in the night And when Toby had heard the inturius wordes of his wyfe Tobi. 3. he sighed and with teares began to make his prayer After that Sara Raguels doughter had heard her maydes contemelius greuous words Tobi. 3. she prayd besought god with teares that he would delyuer her from that rebuke When yonge Tobi was departed gone froÌ„ his parentes Tob. 5. his mother began to wepe sayd The staffe of our age haste thou taken and sent awaye from vs. When Gabelus came into Raguels house Tobi. 9. and saw yonge Toby sitting at the table He wept and blessed him Blinde Toby arose ran to mete his sonne returning homewards Tobi. 11. He receaued him he and his wife kissed him they began to wepe for ioye And wheÌ„ Achior had plainly declared all the Holofernes had sayd Iudi. 6. all the people with a coÌ„men lameÌ„tacioÌ„ pourd out their praiers together vnto oure Lorde And afterward the whole congregacion with great murning weping made their prayers together all the night longe saying we haue sinde with our fathers Iudith stode before Holofernes bed making her prayers with teares Iudi. 13. that god wolde vouchesafe to make perfect the thinge that in her thought she had deuised When Mardocheus had herd of the wicked and vniust sentence that was geuen agaynst the Iewes Esth. 4. he rent his clothes besprincled hys head with ashes and put on sakâ—loth with loud and lamentable cryinge declared the bitternes sorowfulnes of his mynd And in al landes countries as farre as the kynges cruell worde and commauÌ„dement extended ther was great lamentation amonge the Iewes fastynge weping and mourning After that Haman saw that Mardocheus Esth. 6. was so magnified and honored he gat him home in all the haste mournynge and bareheaded Holy Iob wept lameÌ„ted his owne miseries Iob. 30. saying my harp is turnd to sorow my pipe to wepinge whose vehement weping sorow dothe appere by his words before spoken Iob. 16. My face is swoln wich weping my eies ar the shadow of death he also lameÌ„ted wept for other meÌ„s sorowes trouble I wept sayth Iob with him that was in trouble Iob. 30. my soule had compassion vpon the poore psal 6. Kinge Dauid the prophete had a bathe euen of his owne teares I wyl wash my bed euery night water my couche with my teares His teares wer vnto Dauid as meat drinke psal 41. psal 69. psal 101. My teares haue beÌ„ my meat day night Thou shalt geue vs plenteousnes of teares to drincke And in a nother place He sayth I myngled my drincke with weping And Dauid remembring his owne lyfe did wepe psal 55. O God I haue opened my lyfe vnto the and thou hast set my teares in thy sight And hauing heauen in remembraÌ„ce he saide psal 136. By the waters of Babylon we sate downe and wept And in his prayer to our Lorde psal 38. he saith Heare my prayer Oâ— Lord and with thine eares receiue my teares psal 94. And in a nother place let vs wepe be fore the Lord our maker Esaias perâ—eiuing the dâ—structyon of his people Esa. 22. said Get ye hence from me for I wil weepe and make bytter lamentation Nor go not about to coÌ„forte me vppon the destructyon of the daughter of my people Ieremy said Be obedient geue ear take not disdaine at it Iere. 13. For it is the Lorde him selfe that speaketh Then there followeth But if ye wyll not heare me that geue you secreat warnyng I wil mourne from my whole hart for your pride and stubbernes Piteously wil I wepe and the teares shal gushe oute of mine eies for the lords flock shal be caried away captiue The copyous complainâ—e and bewailing that is in Ieremy Iere. 9. are signes and arguments of many teares who wil geue my hed water inoughe and a wel of teares for mine eyes Iere. 6. that I may wepe night and day for the slaughter of my people And the manifold lamentatioÌ„s therfore I do wepe Thre 1. and mine eyes gushe out of water Then foloweth for my sorow is very great and my harte is heauy And the clamerous and loude sobbinges Mine eies runne and can not cease Thre 3. Mine eies breake myne heart tourne not thy face from my syghing and cryinge And for the failing and losse of eies Mine eies Thre 2. saith Ieremy begin to fail me thorowe wepinge and my bodye and bowels are disquieted I Daniel mourned for the space of iii. wekes Dani. 9. so that I had no lust to eat bread as for â—lesh and wine ther cam none within my mouth When that Susannes frendes saw that the prestes should bear witnesse against her Dani. 13. thei weptâ— and she loking vp toward heauen
and commaundemeÌ„tes of the obseruation and kepinge of them ca. xxiiii OUr Lorde gaue vnto our fyrst parent Adam a lyte and a easy coÌ„maundement to be fulfilled Gen. 2. Saying Thou shalt eat of euery tree of the garden but as touching the tre of knowledge of good and euyll thou shalt not eate of it But he kepte this coÌ„maundement but euyl and therfore he fel into a great and greuous paine and punyshement Notwithstanding the commaundementes seme at some tymes to bee of lyte slender maters Gen. 2. yet they oughte and with no small diligence to be obserued in asmuch as the transgressors are greuously punished For our Lorde sayde vnto Adam In what day or houre soeuer thou eatest of the tree of knowledge of good and euel thou shalt dye the death Noe dyd euery thynge euen as the Lord commaunded him Gen. 7. When the people of Israel should receyue the Commaundementes of God Exo. 19. they were commaunded to bee sanctyfyed Goe vnto the people and sanctyfy them to day and to morowe And therfore he commaunded the chyldren of Israell to make them gardes of yellow sylke in the quarters of theyr garments Nume 15. to haue a contynual remeÌ„brance of the celestyal coÌ„mandemeÌ„ts Oure Lorde when he made Iosue ruler ouer hys people Iosu. 1. gaue hym a specyall monytyon of the medytatyon and obseruatyon of hys lawe and commaundementes Balaam the sorcerer sayde vnto Balach the kyng Nume 23. Tolde not I thee saying Al that the Lord commaundeth that must I do Beholde nowe what reuerence thys euyl man had to gods commaundement Iosua omytted nor mynyshed no word of all that our lord coÌ„maunded Iosu. 11. Saule the whych was specyallye chosen 1. regu 15. was vtterly reiected and caste away for the trangressyon and breakyng of Gods commaundement Dauid instructynge and teaching Salomon hys son 1. Para. 22. the whych shoulde raygne after hym sayde Then thou shalt prosper when thou fulfillest the statutes and lawes whych our Lord gaue to Moses After the ordynaunce of Ioiada the byshoppe 2. Para. 23. they brought oute the kynges sonne and put vpon him the crown and gaue hym in hys hande the lawe that was to be kepte and made hym kynge Syrus kynge of Persia and Monarch of all the worlde 1. Esd. 1. was not ashamed to saye Oure Lorde God of heauen and earth hath commaunded mee to buylde hym a house at Ierusalem Our Lord eueÌ„ complaining doth say The commaundements of Ionadab the sonne of Recchab the whych he commaunded his children to kepe and that they should drincke no wine preuailed and were better kepte then mine Iere. 35. For they obeyed theyr fathers commaundement I haue spokeÌ„ vnto you and yet haue ye not bene obedyent vnto me Susanna putting her life and good name in pearell and daunger Dani. â—3 iudged it better to fal into the hands of man then to forsake and leaue the lawes of God Ther were two wemen accused to haue circumcysed theyr sonnes 2. Mach. 6. whoÌ„e when they had led rounde aboute the city the babes hanging at their brestes they cast them down headlinges ouer the wals Eleazar an aged maÌ„ sustayned greuous pains of the body 2. Mach. 6. and at length he was put to deathe because that he against the law of god wold nother eat swines flesh nor yet fain or dissemble that he had eaten it For the law of god the vii brethren with their mother suffred greuous intollerable pains vnder Antiochus 2. Mach. 7. Other creatures that obey the lord do induce vs to obserue his commandementes 2. regu 24. of good aungels ther is no doubt the which are his mynysters doynge hys wyll and hys worde Of euell angels 1. Para. 21. He commaunded the euell sprite to go oute of the man Luke 8. He commaunded the Rauens to fede Helias and they did so 3. regu 17. And the Psalme doth say generallye He hathe geuen them a law which shal not be brokeÌ„ Fire and haile Psal. 148. snow and Ise winde and storme fulfyll his word Iob. 9. He commaundeth the Sunne and it ryseth not The parentes of Ihon the Baptist walcked so in all the lawe Luke 1. ordinaunces and iustyfications of oure Lorde that no manne could fynde faut wyth them Our Lord answered the yong maÌ„ that axst him Mat. 19. what good he should do to haue euerlastinge life sayinge If thou wilte enter into life keepe the commaundementes ¶ Of obedience and disobedience Ca. xxv GOD willing that man beyng in the state of innocency should liue vnder obedience Gen. 2.3 bounde him wyth preceptes and lawes and punished him right sore and greuously liuing disobedyently Noe spedely obeyed our Lord in althinges that he Gen. 7. at the instant time of the floud commaunded him Notwithstanding that Gods commaundement of the circumcisioÌ„ was a greuous and an vnwont thing Gen. 17. yet Abraham made no procrastinatyon nor no delay to fulfill and accomplish the same For euen in the self same day that god coÌ„mauÌ„ded it he fulfilled it Abraham without any stop or delay offred vp his only soÌ„ne in a sacrifice Gen. 22. Beholde and consider his meruelous and wonderfull obedyence Ioseph did spedely obey his father that sent him to his brethren Gen. 37. although he had accused them wher vpon he and not without a cause might a feared to haue gone vnto them Moses obeyed our Lorde that made Exo. 3.4 him the capitayne and guyde of hys people But marke yet wyth what difficultye For he excused hym selfe fiue times The children of Israell promysed greate obedience Exo. 24. saying Al the wordes whiche oure LORDE hathe sayde wyll we doe But yet afterwardes they did the contrary in their deedes The children of Israell walkyng in the wlldernes at Gods commaundement pitched their tentes Nume 9. and at hys coÌ„maundement they toke theÌ„ downe Also the children of Israell were afraid to ascende and to go vp into the land of promise Nume 14. when God commanded them but wheÌ„ God forbad them they stroue to goe vp but it was to their paine Manye of the chyldren of Israell that went to warre againste the commaundement of God and Moses Nume 14. Nume 31. wer ouerthrown of a fewe but whan they foughte by obedience and commaundement a few ouerthrew a multitude and wan the victory In as much as Achan transgrest the commaundemente of Iosua the people wer ouercome in battaile Iosu. 7. and all Israell stoned him with stones 1. regu 13. Saule offeringe burnte sacrifyce againste the commaundemente of Samuel was reproued And likewise because he spared Agag the king of the Amalakites and theyr sheepe and other pretious chefest of their goods which shuld haue bene destroied 1. regu 15. and then Samuel saide vnto him Better is obedience then sacrifice Althoughe Dauid was annoynted king by Samuel 1. regu 17.
Act. 16. the congregations were stablished in the faithe and encreased in nombre daily When the keper of the prysone in the which Paule and Silas were detained Act. 16. saw the earthquake and the prison open beyng sore troubled and afraid fel down at their fete saying what must I do to be saued and they said beleue in oure Lorde Iesus and thou shalt be saued When Paul had disputed at AtheÌ„s against Idolatry Act. 17. certaine men cleauing vnto him beleued amonge the which was Dionisius c. ¶ Of the fidelitye that ought to be kept to man Capi. xxxv ELiezer Abrahams seruaunt dyd the message coÌ„mitted vnto hym Gen. 24. by his master verye faithfullye when he went for Rebecca to Bathnals house Iacob serued his vncle Laban faithfully when that he keping his shepe by day was consumed with heat Gen. 29.31 and by night with frost Ioseph shewed him self faithful vnto his maister Gen. 39. in that he woulde not touche hys wyfe And in his counsail that he gaue vnto Pharao Gen. 41. and in suche seruice as he exhibited and dyd for hym Rachab the harlot did faithfullye with the spies which Iosue sent Iosu. 2.6 and likewise Iosue afterwardes vsed her faithfully again Althoughe the Gabaonites had deceiued Iosue and the children of Israel Iosu. 9.10 yet they kepte their othe and promise wyth them and after that faithfully defended them against theyr enemyes Ionathas did faithfully disclose his fathers yre and wrathe vnto Dauid 1. regu 20. and as much as laye in hym excused hym and afterwardes coÌ„forted hym Abiathars father beynge slaine by the occasion of Dauid 1. regu 22. I am saythe Dauid the cause of the deathe of all the soules of thy fathers house Abide with me and feare not For if anye seke my soule he shal seke thine also with me thou shalt be in sauegarde Dauid would not smyte nor laye his handes vpon Saul hys Lord and king 1. regu 24. Notwithstanding he was euel and did persecuâ—e him and yet if hee had woulde hee myghte twyse haue slaine hym The harnesse bearer of Saule was a greate signe and token of fidelitye 1. regu 31. and yet he did but vndiscretely when that he seing his master was deade woulde liue no longer but fel vppon his sweard and died with him what oughte we then to do for oure Lorde that was crucified for vs The men and inhabitours of Iabes in Galaad 1. regu 31. shewed them selues faithfull to Saule theyr Lorde notwythstandinge he was euell and wicked when they reuerently buried hym Urias the Hethite would not liue in delite and pleasure 2. regu 11. as long as hys Lord Ioab labourd and was in warfare When the city of Rabbath was in ieopardy to be loste and taken 2. regu 12. Ioab as long as he beseged it sent for Dauid to come thither to take the citye that the honor of the victory might be geuen to his master not to him self When Dauyd fled from Absolon Ethai sayde vnto him As trulye as God lyueth 2. regu 15. in what place my Lorde the kynge shal be whether in death or lyfe euen there also wyll thy seruaunt be Dauids menne woulde not that he should goe forthe with theim to battayle 2. regu 18. Saying Thou art compted to be worth ten thousand of vs. Wherby it appeareth that faythfully they loued hym And in another place Thou shalte notte goo oute with vs to battayle 2. regu 21. that thou quenche not the light of Israell All Israell separated them selues from Dauid 2. regu 20. and folowed Selon the sonne of Bochri But the Iewes cleaued vnto their kynge bothe faythfully and constantly Thre robust and stronge menne moste faithfully defended Dauid fightygne agaynste the Philistians 1. Para. 11. and brought him water out of the well of Bethelem the whyche he greatlye desyred Ioiada the hye priest dyd exceding faythfully with Ioas the sonne of Ioram kynge of Iuda 4. regu 11. Notwithstanding that he afterwardes regarded it but slenderly Onias the byshop and other priestes did faythfully trauell and labour 2. Mach. 3. to kepe such thinges as widowes and pepylles had deposed and geuen them to kepe Oure Lorde dothe commende the Mat. 25. fidelite of those seruauntes that encreased the thynges delyuered vnto them Paule wyth great faithfulnes procured 2. Cor. 9. the gatherynge of mennes almes to be done for the necessite of the poore in Iewry Paule sent faythfull and effectuous letters to Philemon for his fugitiue seruaunte Onesimus Philip. 1. Certain of the chefe of Asia gaue Paule discrete and faythfull Counsayle Act. 19. desirynge hym that he would not prease nor come into the common hall ¶ Of quietnesse and illustration of the minde Cap. xxvi AFter that Abraham went from Hur of the Chaldees Gen. 12.13.15.18 Our lord apâ—eared sondrye tymes vnto hym and visyted hym wyth dyuers reuelations Gen. 18. Our Lorde appeared vnto AbrahaÌ„ in the plaine of Mambre as he sat in his tent dore in the heat of the daye The whiche maye he expounded of a contemplatiue man Gen. 24. Isaac dwelt in the south countrey and was gone out in his meditations or to pray in the field Gen. 25. Esau became a cunning hunter a tiller of the earth but Iacob was a quiet and a symple man and dwelled in the tentes Gen. 28. Iacob departed from Bersabe to come to Haram and purposynge to reast there in a certaine place because the sonne was downe he tooke of the stones that were in that place and put them vnder his heade and layde hym downe and slept in that same place and he sawe in a dreame a ladder standinge vpon the earth c Moses kept the shepe of Ietro his father in lawe Exo. 3. and he droue the flocke to the back side of the desert and came to the mountaine of god Horeb. And Oure lorde appeared vnto hym in a flame of fire Iethro Moses father in lawe seinge hym occupied from morninge vnto euen in geuinge of iudgement to the people he sayde vnto him Exo. 18. Thou consumest and weriest thy selfe and those that are with the with vayne and vndiscrete labour Be thou vnto the people in those thinges that pertayne vnto god Our lord came doune to the mount Sinay Exo. 19. and called Moses vp to the top of the mountaine and there he reueled vnto hym the iudgementes the commaundemeÌ„tes and the ceremonies the which he should teache the people Our lorde spake vnto Moses face to face as a maÌ„ speaketh vnto his frende And Moses was with oure lorde .40 dayes and fortie nightes and did neither eate bread nor drinke water Oure Lorde spake vnto Moses saying get the vp into this mountayne Deu. 32. and frome thence beholde the lande whiche I geue vnto the chyldren of Israell Samuel did slepe in the temple and oure Lorde calde Samuell
Ierusalem was finyshed 2. Esd. 6. that all the hethen which were there about were afrayde All the heathen on euery side were afrayde of Iudas and his brethren 1. Mach. 3. so that the rumoure of hys name came vnto the kinge Theire aduersaries heard that Ionathas was ready with his menne to the battayle 1. Mach. 10. they feared and were afrayde in they re hartes After that Lisias was ouerthrone be Iudas Machabeus 2. Mach. 11. he was wyllinge to make peace with him and promised that he woulde consent to all thinges whiche were reasonable euen as Iudas woulde Herode feared Iohn knowing that he was a iust manne Mar. 6. and an holy and he kept hym After the terrible death of Ananias and Saphira the disciples wer all together in Salamons porche And no man durst ioyn him selfe to them Act. 5. but yet the people magnified them When Paule and Silas were both in prisone together Act. 16. and their feete made fast in the stockes sodenly there was a greate earthquake The keper of the prison beinge afraide fel doune at the fete of Paule and Silas saide Sirs what muste I do to be saued ¶ Of the loue of god Capi. xl WHen God shoulde geue the law vnto Moses he said vnto hym Exo. 20. I am thy lorde god shewynge mercy vnto those that loue me and keepe my commaundementes The chefest of al the coÌ„maundemeÌ„tes is the loue of god Deu. 6. For Moses said after he had repeated the commauÌ„dementes vnto the people Thou shalt loue the lorde thy god with all thine harte c. Moses willinge specially to printe in the peoples mynde the feare and loue of god Deu. 10. saide and nowe Israell what dothe the lorde thy god require of thee but to feare the Lorde thy god and to walke in all his wayes to loue him and to serue the lorde thy god with all thine harte c. Iosua beinge olde and stryken in yeres calde all the people of Ierusalem vnto him Iosua 13.13 and wareninge them of many thinges amonge all other he sayde Take hede most deligentlye of this that ye loue your lorde god It is wrytten of Dauid that with his whole hert he did prayse our lord and loued god that made him Eccle. 47. ye and be hym selfe sayde a lorde that arte my fortitude and strengthe I wyll loue the. The Apostle Paule hathe geuen this sentence Psal. 17. If any manne loue not our lorde Iesus Christ the same bee cursed For oure lorde that shall reuenge thinges shall come In asmuch as loue is a vertue that moueth a man to christ wards 1. Cor. 16 Paule â—adde greate Loue the whiche was crucified vnto Christ. And it may be noted that Christ was his wisdome Nether shewed I my self that I knew any thinge amonge you 1. Cor. 2. saue Iesus Christe euen the same that was crucified And his substaunce I haue counted sayth Paule all thinges losse Philip. 3. and do iudge them but vyle that I maye winne Christ. And hys iustice He is made vnto vs our wisdome 1. Cor. 1. our Iustice our sanctification and our redemption It may be sayd that Christ spake in Paule 2. Cor. 13. Seke ye experience of Christ whiche speaketh in me Also Christ did worke by Paule I dare not speak of any of those things Rom. 15. which christ hath not wrought by me Againe Christ did lyue in Paule I liue yet now not I but Christ lyueth in me Gala. 2. And agayne he saythe Christ is to me lyfe Philip. 1. Item Christ doth triumphe in him Thankes be to god whiche alwaies geueth vs the victory in Christ 2. Cor. 2. He may also be called Christes seruant Paule the seruaÌ„t of Iesê° Christ. And the Apostle of Christ. româ— 1. Paule the Apostle of Iesu Christ. And the legate or messenger of god Now then are we messengers in the roume of Christ 2. Cor. 1. 2. Cor. 5. euen as though God did exhorte you throughe vs so praye we you in Christes stede that ye be reconciled vnto God And he was Gods helper We are goddes helpers or labourers And Gods champioÌ„ 1. Cor. 3. I haue fought a good fight And againe So fight I not as one that beateth the ayre 2 tim 4. And againe 1. Cor. 9. If I haue foughten with beastes after the maner of men 1. Cor. 15. Item a runner I so runne not as at an vncertaine thinge 1. Cor. 9. And a speciall folower Be ye folowers of me 1 Cor. 1â— as I am the folower of Christ. Saint Iohn sayth Let vs therfore loue god for he loued vs first 1. Iohn 4. ¶ Of the loue that man ought to haue to his neighboure Cap. xli CAyne was greuously reprehended of oure Lord Gen. 4. and punished because he did wickedly against his brother and sayde that he was not hys brothers keper Note how diligently and carefully Abraham prayde oure lorde Gen. 18. that he would spare the Sodomites the whiche thinge was a great signe and token of loue Moses had so greate dilection and loue to his neighbours exodi 32. whyche were hys subiectes that in hys prayer to God he sayde eyther forgeue them their sinne or wype me oute of thy booke Moyses did wyshe in hys prayer that oure Lordes people coulde prophecy Nume 11. notwithstaÌ„ding that his honor should seme to be deminished therby Moses would haue no greater dominion then he had Nume 14. and yet our lorde promysed him it Suche was his loue towardes his neyghbours whome he ruled Iudi. 21. The chyldren of Israell after the occision and death of the chyldren of Beniamin wept very sore and sayd O lorde wherfore is this euyl chaunsed in Israell The soule of Ionathas was knyt with the soule of Dauid 1. regu 18. and Ionathas loued him as his owne soule Dauid shewed that he loued his enemye 2. reg 1.3 when he mourned for Saul and his frende when he wept for Ionathas and Abner Dauid likewise bewailed the death of Absolon his sonne 2. regu 18 althoughe he was euyl and his aduersary Nehemias dothe shewe his greate loue towardes the children of transmigratioÌ„ esdra 2. per totum as it appeareth by the thinges that he did for them Because Tobias hadde shewed the works of charity to many Tobi. 1. many did loue him and therfore when he was commaunded by the king to be slain he was hiden and not found Oure LORDE wolde that we should haue suche loue to our neighbors Mat. 18. that he said vnto Peter that he shoulde not forgeue his brother that sinneth against him till seuen times but seuenty times seuen times The Samaritane is much extolde and lauded for the great loue and charitye that he had to his neighboure Lu. 10. For comming vnto him being halfe deade he was moued with pytye and
For in nothing was I inferior to the chefe Apostles Paul rebuked the GalathiaÌ„s sharply and feruentlye Gala. 3. because that they after they had receiued the truth and verity of the gospel would return to circumcision and to the obseruations of the law O ye folishe Galathyans saith he who hathe bewitched you that ye shuld not beleue the truth Paule hard say that certain of the Thessalonians walked vnquietlye inordinatly 2. Thess. 3. workinge not at all but beinge curious and busybodyes And therfore he commaunded them to bee rebuked ¶ Of the compassioÌ„ that man shuld haue to his neighbor ¶ Ca. xliiii WHen Abraham hearde that Lot his brothers sonne was taken Gen. 14. he spedely and manly succourd and recouered him Ruben and Iudas wythstode their brethren that woulde haue slaine Ioseph And althoughe they broughte hym not to his father Gen. 37. yet by that menes he was the more gentlelye handled Gedeon hauing pity and compassion vpon those that folowed hym â—udi 8. asked and prepared bread for them Although the childreÌ„ of Beniamin Iudi. 21. had most greuously offended the children of Israell yet because they were destroyed they liftinge vp theyr voyces wept very sore Samuri mourned for Saule notwithstanding he knew that God had reiected and forsakened him 1. regu 15. Dauid hauing compassyoÌ„ on those that wer weary to folow and fyghte 1. regu 30. appoynted that as hys parte is that goeth downe and fyghteth so should hys parte be that tarieth by the stuffe that it might be parted a like Dauid was heauy for the death of Absolon 2. regu 18. although he had greatly offended him But Dauid knewe that in soule he was damned Helias tooke the womans sharpe wordes very gentely 3. regu 17. and hauinge coÌ„passion for the the sorow she tooke for the deathe of her sonne he prayede effectuously When Iezabell had slaine and destroyed the Prophetes of oure Lorde 3. regu 18. Abdias hyd a hundred of them and fed them for a longe season Eliseus had compassion and pittie on the wydow that was bedetted 4. regu 4. and encreased the lytle oyle that she had We should not alonely haue compassion on oure neighbours for the euylles that are presente 4. regu 8. but also for those that are to come And therfore Eliseus lookynge vpon Azael that should do euyl thinges to the children of Israel dyd wepe After that the chyldren of Israell had taken of the people of Iuda two thousande women and chyldren 2. Para. â—8 they spared them and sent them home agayne wel clothed and refresshed Nehemias hearing of the miserable estate of the cytie of Ierusalem 2. Esd. 1.2 wepâ—e many a daye and at the last he founde both counsell and good helpe When Sennacherib reygned whiche hated the children of Israel Tob. 1. Tobias wente dailye throweoute all his kinred and comforted them he fedde the hungry clothed the naked and buried the deade and that deligently Iob had greate compassion vpon hys neyghbours Iob. 19. The whiche sayde The Eare that heareth me shal blesse me for I deliuered the poore when he cried and so did I the fatherles and hym that hadde none to healpe him the blessinge of the pupyl came vppon me and I comforted the wydowes hart When quene Esther hearde of the cruell sentence that was geuen against her people Esth. 7. she tooke the matter no other wise but although she had bene one of them notwithstanding that she being the kinges moste welbeloued spowse was in securite safegard for all that sentence When Iobs three frendes hearde of all the trouble that happened vnto hym Iob. 2. they came to comforte hym but in asmuche as they coulde not vnderstande the cause of his affliction they were afterwardes a burden vnto him Esd. 21. We shoulde not onely haue compassion on the iuste being in affliction and trouble but also vpon the synful and vniuste And therfore Esay saith My loynes for the destruction of Babilon are fylled with sorowe Heuynesse hathe taken holde vppon me as the panges of a woman that is trauaylinge Esaye seinge in sprite the calamite that shoulde come or chaunce vnto his people Esd. 22. sayde Gette ye hence I will wepe and make bitter lamentation Labur not for ye shall not be hable to comforte me because of the destrucction of the doughter of my people A bemelech the morian beinge sory that Ieremye the prophet was caste into the lake or dongyonne where theire was no water butte myre Iere. 38. procured the matter soo wyth the kynge that he was drawene oute After that Baruche hadde wrytten the thretning woordes at the mouth of Ieremy Iere. 45.43 he sayde wo is me for our lorde hathe geuen me sorowe vppon sorowe And yet the people sayde that Baruch had prouoked Ieremye agaynste theym that they myghte be deliuered into the handes of the Caldees When oure lorde had disclosed vnto Ezechiel the synnes that the people had committed Eze. 3.9 and the paynes that they should suffer He was heuy and full of sorowe Kinge Darius knowinge that Daniel was cast into the lake of Lions Dani. 6. euen for very heuynes wente to bed supperlesse neyther was there any meate brought before hym And furtheremoore hys sleape faylded him Onias the preaste was in greate heuynes when he sawe that the temple should be spoyled by Heliodorus 2. Mach. 3. and that suche thinges as was layde there be widowes pupilles shuld be be taken and caried away The noble king Antiochus though he was euen specially euyl 2. mach 4. yet when he hearde that Onias the hye priest was wrongfully put to death beyng moued with mercy it pitied him and he wepte remembring his sobernes and manerly behaueour Oure Lordes disciples came vnto hym Mat. 15. and besought him for the womaÌ„ of Chanane saying Lord send her awaye for she crieth after vs. Oure Lorde against those that wil not haue pyttie of theyr neyghboure mat 18. and forgeue hym from the harte doth induce the parable of the vngratious seruaunte to whome he forgaue a thousande talentes and yet woulde not forgeue hys fellowe an hundred pence And that no man dothe gladly beare with his neyghboure nor hath mercye or compassyon on them is well proued mat 25. because that at the latter iudgement there shal be a speciall disputacion of the workes of mercy And when our Lorde sawe that the wydowe wepte whose sonne was caryed out dead He had compassyon on her Lu. 7. and sayd vnto her wepe not and he reuiued her sonne that was dead Our Lorde was moued with mercye towarde the indigent and nedye people mat 14 For they folowed him on fote in the deserte The Samaritane was moued and had compassion on the wounded Lu. 10 He bounde vp his woundes and poured in oyle and wyne and made prouision for hym and caused hym to haue meate Oure
of oure lorde Mar. 15. For first he was scourged vpon the heade he was smitten vpon the heade wyth a rede Iohn 18. And vpon the face One of the ministers whiche slode by the bishop smote hym on the face Mat. 27. Aud they dyd smyâ—e hym in the necke and ouer all his body And Pilate delyuerd Iesus that was scourged to be crucifyed And in this thynge it is to be noted that all such as do learne are wont to be scourged and beaâ—eÌ„ vpon the heade seruantes vpon the necke the whiche men thrust out of the house gilty persons vpon the face and sceleraâ—e persons thorowout all the body Also a faythfull soule muste consider that hee was scourged wyth the tonges of blasphemers dispisers and of those that cried oute and sayde Mat. 26. crucifie him and that smote hym wyth their handes as it is wrytten They smote hym on his face wyth the palme of their handes And with a rede and scourges As Mathew and Marke do testifie And to the heape of all iniuryes it maketh that the lorde of all lordes and rulers the whiche doth lose that be fetered and dothe illuminate the blynde was taken and bounde lyke a thefe Iohn 18. The Iewes ministers sayth Iohn toke Iesus and bounde him Also he was lesse estemed theÌ„ a thefe for the Iewes demaunded that Barrabas Luc. 23. should be loosed oure lorde to be crucified Mat. 27. yet Barrabas was a thefe and in seditioÌ„ had coÌ„mitted murther So that Barrabas was a murtherer a sediâ—ius person a famous thefe and in malyce sore diffamed forther more he was hanged and set betwene two theues as thoughe he had bene their maister and worste of all other For Iohn saith Iohn 19. And Iesus in the middes Forthermore we must way ponder that he was afflicted and punyshed in all the members and sences of his body His eies behelde and sawe those cruell tormentors And also his mooste mekest mother the whiche in soule was crucified his derely beloued disciple and the deuoute wemen that in minde suffered with him His eares did heare blasphemouse mocking iniurious and dispising wordes Likewyse hys nose by reason of the place in the whiche he was crucified where the misdoers were beheaded might with filthy slenche be offeÌ„ded His tast was noied because they gaue him wine mingled with myrre or vineger with gall to quenche his thurst withall wherby we may well vnderstand that the drinke which thei gaue him was very bitter His sense of feeling or touching sprede thorowout all his body felte paine in his members which wer scourged in his handes and feete Which were borde thorow with nayles It may be likewise coÌ„sidered Iohn 19. that he sustained losse in things longing and pertayning to his bodye For he was spoyled of hys raiment his frendes went from him Mar. 14. For his disciples for soke him ran awaye Thus he was afflicted as it is sayed in all partes of his body by his most bytter passion Also in hart and minde he suffered for he was sorye for his frendes that stode by and for his enemies that ignorauntly did crucify him And againe in a maner he sufferd was hurte in his good name fame Mat. 27. For they called him a seductor of the people Sir sayd the chefe of the priestes to Pilate we remeÌ„ber that this deceiuer said while he was yet a liue c. And yet we muste marke as touching the helthfull passioÌ„ of our Lord Iesu Christ that it was most fylthy most ignominius shameful be reasoÌ„ of the place because it was done in Ierusalem Wher he was knowen and honored and wher he had done many miracles Item because of the time day for it was done in the solempne feast of Ester when a greate multitude came together vnto the feast and he was led vnto his crosse and passion at nyne of the clocke to thenâ—ent he myghte bee sene and knowen of all menne And agayne it was most fylthy coÌ„sidering the kinde of death For it was the deathe of the crosse a death dewe vnto yll spoken menne yll doers and vniuste menne And the maner of goynge to his deathe Iesus wente forth bearynge his crosse the whiche thinge is not red of other two wicked persones which wer led with him Iohn 19. And again bi reason of his coÌ„panions For he was crucyfied betwixt ii theues asthough he had ben one of theÌ„ or the greatest or maister of them Forthermore the bitternes of hys blessed passyoÌ„ was increased by the naturall complection of our lords body For manifest it is that his holi bodi was of the best most purest coÌ„plectioÌ„ made fashioned by the worke of the holye goost without any faute or errour of nature and so his holye fleshe had no rebellion or fyght against the spirite And therfore the spirit did loue not without a good cause his body more then any other mans spirite or soule shuld loue his body Item the bitternes of his passion was agrauate by the continuaunce of the same For many marâ—irs that wer burnt or drowned or beheaded did accomplish and ende their martirdome very shortly But oure Lordes passion endured euen in a manner from thinstance of his conception vntil the houre of his death For he foreknewe mooste certenlye what his humanity shulde suffer but specially it continued from the tyme of his laste supper vntill the nynthe hour of the syxte daye folowyng And also it was aggrauate by the quality of the members in the which he suffred that is in his fete and handes the whiche are members full of neaues sinewes most ready to receiue dolor and pain And that our lordes passyoÌ„ was most bitter and very greuous it may be most chefely gathered by this that Luke sheweth for in his oration prayer had after supper hys sweate throughe the vehement imaginacion of the anguishe and paines that were to come Luc. 22. wer like droppes of bloude trickeling downe to the ground But that our Lord went frely and willingli vnto his passion that made it most gratious Mat. 26. Râ—â—e saith he let vs be going Behold he is at hande that shal betray me And Ihon saithe he went forth to mete the ministers that sought Iesus of Nazareth Iohn 18. and when they hard our Lord say I am he they wente backewardes and fell to the ground And when he was taken bounde ignominiousâ—y led away falsly accused buffeted be spued scourged mockingly crowned with thorne yet hee neuer shewed anye word or signe of impacience or trouble but shewed them manifolde benefites that so dyd handle him For hee healed the seruaunts eare that was cut of he spake many deuout and profitable wordes vnto theÌ„ and praid meekely for those that crucified him calliuge mooste swetely vppon his father beninglye excusinge them Luc. 23. sayinge father Forgeue them for they wotte not what they