are greater than Christe the Kynge of glori He offered vs a sacrifice to God and go we aboute to offer hym Agayne he that sacrificeth oughte to be so pure as the sacrifice and whoe I praye you can be so pure as Christe our sacrifice Whoe is able to saye my herte is cleane and I am fre froÌ„ synne To presume to offer sacrifice for the synnes of the people is it anye other thynge than to make them selues Christes and sauiours and to saye wyth that moste proude Angel as it is writ ten by the prophet I wyll clyme vp aboue the cloudes and wil be like the highest of al Do not thei go aboute to shewe them selues equale to Christe yea Christ hym selfe which take vpon theÌ„ to offer sacrifice for the sinnes of the people What other thing did Christ but take awaye oure synne If our Massemongars do the same are they not Christs in dede And yet thys prerogatiue haue they a boue Christe that wher as Christ coulde not obtayne pardonne for our sinnes but by suffering great paines yea very death they do it wtout any paynes taking at al. Christ was mocked scorned thei be praised much made of Christ was accused of heresy and treasoÌ„ they be couÌ„ted good catholike meÌ„ and fulle deuote fathers Christe was pricked to the braynes with a crowne of thorne they haue a bald patch vpon their heades in stead of crownes some haue on their cappes miters for catching cold Christ was stript naked of all hys clothes they be clad in sylke saten damaske veluet and cloth of golde Christe bare hys owne crosse of woode vpon hys shulders whan he went to suffer they haue crosses of golde and syluer borne before them Christ was nayled vnto the crosse they stande at the altare wyth turne returne and halfe turne Christe hanging on the crosse prayde for his very enemies thei standinge at the altare praye for such as be their patrones Founders Bene factours and for suche as hyere them for monie Christe paciently suffered the blasphemyes and opprobrious wordes y t causeles were spoken agaynste hym they if any man offende them streight waies accuse condeme cursse and excommunicat them Christ with hys sacrifice soughte to do good to other they wyth their sacrifices seke to brynge men to superstition to wrap theÌ„ in Idolatry to graffe in them wycked opinions but aboue al thynges to enriche Corban Corban that they may haue plenteously wherwith to fede their idle and beastly bellies Christe at hys passion had vineger and gall geuen hym to drinke but thei haue bread of the fineste and wyne of the beaste to eate and drincke Christe offered hys owne blessed bodye a swete smellynge sacrifice to God the fa ther for the synnes of the people they offerre a wafer cake and 〈◊〉 sponefull of wyne makynge the people to beleue that it is a sacri fice whyche they offer pro salute uiuorum et requie omnium fidelium defunctorum For the health of them that be aliue and the rest of all the faythfull that are dead Christe after he had offered hys sacrifice sayd Consummatum est Euery thyng is done and pefectly finished that maketh vnto the saluacioÌ„ of man yea and that by this my one oblation They can not say so neither bring they any thyng vnto perfection For theyr sacrifices are so imperfecte that they are as redye to offer to morowe as to day and neuer the bet ter Christe after the oblacion of hys most blessed bodye commended hys spirite into the handes of hys heauenly father and died straight wayes they after they haue offered their newe founde oblation faull to bancketynge drinckynge gullynge and glossynge to huntynge whoring dis inge and cardynge and all the dayes of their life they liue dissolutely in moste vayne pleasures boethe of the fleshe and of the worlde What feloweshippe and agremente is there here I praye you betwene Christe and the Massemongers betwene the ob lacion of Christ the popish sacri fice betwene the Masse and the death of Christe Ye maie se into what absurdities and to muche inconueniences these pedlerlyke Papistes faulle whyle they stablish an Idole of their owne makynge How saye ye are they not goodly Christes and pretye sauioures Theo. Christes They are euen suche Christes as the true Christ hym selfe speaketh of in the Gospell of Sayncte Mathewe Ther shal aryse sayth he fals Christes and false prophetes Here they be called Christes but ther is added vnto it False so that they be false Christes fayned Christes liynge Christes deceyteful Christes Christo. Of suche Christes Christe gaue vs warnynge and bade vs take hede saying if any man shall saye vnto you Behold heare is Christ or there is Christ beleue hym not â—…f they shall say vnto you Beholde he is in the wyldernes go not out Beholde he is in the pixe beleue them not Lo I haue told you afore hand These popishe Masse mongers are the ministers of SataÌ„ which chauÌ„ge themselues into Angelles of lyght These are those men that haue corrupt mindes which are wythout all trueth whyche thyncke that lucâ—…e is godlines These are those false Prophetes and false teachers whiche sayeth Sayncte Peter shall priuelye brynge in damnable sectes euen deniynge the Lorde that hath bought them and brynge vpon them selues swifte damnacion and many shal folowe theyr dam nable wayes by whome the way of trueth shall be euyl spoken of and thorowe couetousnes shall they wyth fayned wordes make Marchaundise of you whose iudgemente is nowe not farre of and theyr dampâ—…acion sleapeth not Philemo We haue textes almost innumerable conteyned in the holye scriptures whyche declare that Christ alone by hys bloude hath perfectely wrought oure re demptioÌ„ satisfied for our sinnes pacified the wrath of God and brought vs agayn into fauoure But if ther were no mo places of the scripture to condeÌ„ne the sacri fice of the Masse but thys one whyche Christe hangynge vpon the crosse sayed Euery thynge is made perfecte it were sufficiete For if Christe by his death haue made all thynges perfecte than lefte he nothynge imperfect So doeth it truely folow that the papistical sacrificeynge for the synnes of the quicke and deade is damnable iniurious and despitful to the blessed passioÌ„ of christe seinge Christe made all thynges coÌ„suÌ„mate and perfecte by his pre cious death and by that alone ob tayned perpetuall remission for al the synnes of the faythful For his glorious death and bytter pa ssion is eueÌ„ now of as ful streÌ„gth and of as much vertue as it was what time he suffered and so shal coÌ„tinewe vnto the worldes ende as blessed Paulle sayeth Iesus Christ yesterday and to day the same continueth for euer Therefore is he called an euerlastynge priest because he doth al thinges perfectly requireth none other to healpe hym as he him selfe sayeth by y e prohet I am he that tea cheth rightuousnes am of power
to helpe The cōgregation of the faithful speaketh Wherefore thē is thy clothinge red thy rai mēt like his y t treadeth in the win presse Christe answereth I haue troden the presse alone of al peo ple ther is not one w t me Neither Abrahā nor Isac neither zachary nor Iohn Baptist neither Mary nor Elizabeth neyther Peter nor Paulle neyther man nor Angell hath payde our raunsome by his bloude shedynge but Christe alone alone that moste pure and vndefiled lambe whyche taketh a waye the synnes of the worlde In hym alone and in none other is all oure health and saluacton Neyther is ther any other name giuen vnto mē wherin thei must be saued but onelye the name of our most blessed lord and bounte ous sauioure Christe Iesu that Kynge of glorye He onelye hath taken on hym oure infirmities borne our paynes He was woūded for oure offences smittē for our wyckednes The chastisment of our peace was laide vpō him and w t his stripes we are healed As for vs we haue gone al astray like shepe euery one hath turned his own way But the Lord hath heaped together vpō him the iniquitie of vs all He suffered violence and was euyll entreated and dyd not yet open his mouth He was led as a shepe to be slain yet was he as styl as a lambe before the shearer and did not open hys mouth He was had a waye frō presonne hys cause not heard and wythout any iudgement Al thys suffered he for our sake to put awaie our iniquities Yea he was cut of frō the groūd of the li uing which punishment dyd go vpō him sayth God for the transgression of my people whych in dede had deserued y t punishment It pleased the lord thus to burst hym wyth plages and to smite hym wyth infirmities that when he had made hys soule an offerynge for synne he might se long lastynge seede He hath iustified the multitude and borne awaye their synnes These wordes are spoken by the Prophete whyche teache vs manifestly that ther is no sacrifice that deserueth remission of synnes to vs or pacifieth the wrath of God styred vp agaynst vs thorowe synne but on ly the death of Iesus Christ. By the meanes of Iesu Christe sayeth Sayncte Paulle ye whyche sometime were farre of are made nye by the bloude of Christe By Christe we haue redempcion tho rowe his bloud euen the forgeue nes of synnes accordynge to the ryches of his grace God hath de linered vs frō the power of darck nes and hath translated vs into the Kyngedome of hys deare sonne by whom we haue redemtion thorowe hys bloude euen the forgiueues of sinnes It plea sed the father that in him should all fulnes dwel and by him to re concile al thinges vnto himselfe and to set at peace by him thorow the bloud of his crosse boeth thin ges in heauē thinges in earth This is a true sayeinge and by all meanes worthy to be reaceyued of vs that Christe Iesus came into the worlde to saue sinners There is one God and one mediator betwen God and man euen the mā Christ Iesus which gaue hym selfe a raunsome for al men Ye know sayeth blessed Pe ter howe that ye were not redemed with corruptible thingse as siluer and golde from your vain conuersacion but wyth the precious bloude of Christe as of a lambe vndefiled and wythout spot The bloud of Iesus Christ gods owne sonne maketh vs per fectly cleane sayth S. Iohn frō al synne Agayne he sayth Christ loued vs and washed vs from oure synnes in hys owne bloude If these sentenses were truely knowen of the Laye people and vnfaynedly beleued they would sone geue ouer their popyshe sacrifices and onely cleaue as they oughte to the alone sacrifice of the highe and euerlasting Priest Iesus Christe which he once for all offered vpō the aultare of the crosse They woulde leaue to run madyng to y e masking Masse of the papistes and make more hast vnto godlye sermons and vnto the holye and blessed Supper of the Lord. Euse. Me thincke these Massemongers whiche make of the Lordes Supper a priuate churlish breakefaste for as much as they eate and drincke alone and make th◅ people beleue that in their Masse thei offer Sacrifice for their synnes boeth of the liuynge and of the deade and boste that their Masse is of as great vertue and strength as the passion of Christ for the satisfaction of our wickednesses besides their intollerable blasphemies a gaynste the Lorde and hys annoynted offende greatly against the dignitie and the ryght vse of the Lordes Supper For Christe whan he instituted thys blessed Supper to be celebrated wyth breade and wyne and appoynted them to be the holye misteries of hys bodye and bloude gaue no commaundemente to offer and sacrifice for the sinnes of y e quicke and the deade but to eate and drinke these holy misteries in the remembraunce of hys death as he hym selfe sayeth Do thys in the remembrance of me Hereto agreeth Sainct Paule so ofte sayeth he as ye shall eate of thys bread and drincke of thys cuppe ye shall shewe the death of the Lorde tyll he come So that the Lordes Supper was not instituted of Christe to be a sacrifice propiciatorye satisfactorie expiatory and I cā not tel you what but onelye a commemoration or remembraunce of that sacrifice which could not but once be offered and a certayne confirmacion or seale for the infirme and weak linges that they be redemed by Christ bi Christes passion bloud and death that hereby they may be assured of the fauoure of God of remission of sinnes if they sted fastly beleue that Christe hath sa tisfied for their synnes vpon the crosse and in thys fayth eate and drincke the misteries of hys bodye and bloud For whan so euer the true Christians eate drinke the bodye and bloude of Christe in fayeth and wyth a beleuinge spirite their synnes are forgeuen them no les than if Christe euen at that presente hadde died vpon the crosse not for the eatyng and drinckynge but for the fathers sake in Christes bloude so mightye in operacion is Christe and so presente is he at euerye howre vnto so manye as beleue in hym and are gathered togither in hys name For he is the eternall god therefore hath hys death an eter nal euerlastynge fruite Christ. Ye haue taught vs Neighboure Philemon many goodli and god ly thynges concernyng the sacrifice of Christ which beate downe the sacrifice of the popishe masse euen vnto the grounde yea they driue it downe euen vnto the pit of hel from whens it firste came Nowe wyll I reherse vnto you agayne what I haue redde and hearde of the papistes concernynge this matter that ye maye se what their opinion was and is of the Masse and of the sacrifice thereof Phile.
be a coÌ„memoracion of hys bloude shedeynge to his Disciples the papistes minister to the people not onely wyne but water also myngled theyr with Christe gaue the sacrament of his bodye and bloude into the Disciples handes the papistes put it in the peoples mouthes not sufferynge them to touche it wyth their handes for their to muche base filthines Christe deliuered the sacrament to his Disciples sittyng at the table the papistes coÌ„pel y e people to receyue it kneling vpon their kenes Christ deliueringe the breade and wine to hys Disciples sayde vnto theÌ„ take ye eate ye and drincke ye the papistes say beholde honour worshippe and reuerence youre maker here Christ instituted his supper to be a remembraunce of hys death and passion whiche is the onely sacrifice for the synnes of the people the papists affirme that their massekyng Masse is a perfecte sacrifice foâ—… the quicke and the deade and of as greate vertue and strenght as the blessed passion of our sauioure christ is Christe deliueringe the miste ries of hys body and bloude to hys disciples tolde them that his body shoulde be broken for them and hys bloude shead for them and many into the remissioÌ„ of sin nes the papistes shame not to lie that Christe by hys death satisfied onely for original synne and the synnes paste as for all oure synnes what so euer they be veniall or mortal they be put away by the sacrifice of y e masse Christ deliuered the sacramente of hys body and bloude vnder both kin des to hys disciples the papistes steale awaye from the common people the misterye of Christes bloude Christe gaue to hys Disciples the sacramente to be eaten for a remembrauÌ„ce of his death the papistes holde it vp aboue their heades and commaund the people to worshippe it as God Christe ministered the sacrament in suche apparel as he did customably weare the papistes put on maskyng apparel Albes girdels vestimentes coopes subdeacon deacons tunicle and what not Christe playnly and puerly ministered the sacramente to hys Disciples wythout 〈◊〉 ceremonies the papistes muste haue sensers belles candles 〈◊〉 paxes corporasses Superaltaries altare clothes cruetres napkins besides their dowkynges and lowtynges their turnynges and returnynges their gaspynges and gapynges their knelynges and winkinges their mockinges and mowynges their crossinges and knockinges their kissynges and lickeynges their noddynges and nosynges their washynges and wypynges thâ—…ir booynges and bleatinges as I may speak nothynge of their prostracions and inclinacions of their commemoracions and histrionicall gesticulacions more meate for madde braines and dronckardes than for graue and sober honeste men Christe commaunded hys Disciples to receyue the sacramente so ofte as they woulde the papistes appoynte the common people onely to receyue it at Easter or whan they be in perell of death Christe wylled hys Disciples so ofte as they eate of that sacramentall breade to remember hys death tyl he come he mea neth vnto the iudgemente the papistes say they haue hym al redye in there handes and in theyr mouthes in theyr boxes and in their pixes Christe dyd not appoynte anye parte of the sacramente to be reserued after the coÌ„ munion the papistes reserue it and haÌ„ge it vp wyth an haltar in the pixe sence it carye it about in procession and make a pageaunt of it Christ appoynted his sacramente to be eaten in the remembrauÌ„ce of his passioÌ„ the papistes kepe it so long that it corrupteth waxeth moulâ—… breadeth ful of wormes Christe in the institutio of the mistery of hys body sayed â—…hys is my body which is geueÌ„ for you Do thys in the remembraunce of me The Papistes in theyr consecration as they cal it mangle the wordes of Christe in some place addinge of theyr own to the wordes of Christe and in an other place leauynge altogyther oute In the consecracion of the bread they haue Enim which Christe hath not nor anye word for it in the Hebrue tonge And herein do they greuously offende agaynste God whyche commauÌ„deth that nothyng should be added to hys worde Agayne they leaue oute thys confortable promisâ—… quod pro uobis datur which is geueÌ„ for you wherin our chefe consolacion ioye and comforte is coÌ„tained And here again do thei not a lityll offende agaynste the hyghe maiestye of God seynge they plucke so many wordes froÌ„ the institucion of Christe They are also verye theues enemies to vs seynge they depryue vs of so swete and confortable promise wherin is coÌ„preheÌ„ded the misteri of our saluatioÌ„ Christ in deliuering the cup of the mistery of his bloud spake these words Drinke ye all of this This cup is y e new Testament in my bloude whych is shed for you and for manye into the remission of synnes The Papists rehearse not the words in the consecration of the wyne as I maye go forth to vse theyr terme in all poyntes as Christe dyd but adde moe vnto them as though there were a certayne im perfection or insuffitiencye in the wordes of Christe Theyr words are these Thys is the chalice of my bloude a newe and euerlastynge testament the misterye of fayeth whiche for yâ—…u and many shall be shed for the remission of synnes Although in the additioÌ„ of these wordes there is no vntrueth yet is it not conueniente for any man whych is but fleshe earth duste and ashes to putte oughte to the wordes of Christe whyche is the wysedome of the father and knoweth beste what is mooste expediente for the settynge forth of his glory If a maÌ„ adde anye thynge to the Testamente and laste wyll of any mortall manne or doe plucke oughte therfro his faulte is counted very greate and he hym selfe for euer after discredited bycause he hath so vniustly dealte wyth his neyghboures wyl In what estimation then are they to be hadde whyche corrupte the testamente and laste wyll not of man onelye but of God and man also wherin are bequethed not worldely transitorye thinges but thyngs heauenlye and perpetuall Neyther is thys blessed testameÌ„t sealed wyth waxe but wyth the preciouse and deare herte bloude of our Lorde and sauioure Christe Iesus to mancle this heauenlye testamente to corrupte thys blessed wyll wherein is bequethed vnto vs the fauoure of God remission of al our sinnes eternal lyfe if we truely repent and earnestly beleue is much vnsittyng for any christen man neyther are suche manckelers and corruptours suche theues and robbers anye more to be beleued of the faithful congregation Christe as I may once make an end after he had fed his disciples with the holy misteries of his bo dye and bloude gaue thankes to God the father and so prepared him self thorow earnest praier vnto the death The Papistes after they haue once droncke and eate vp all togyther they gyue no thankes wherby the coÌ„mune people are edified excepte it be when they blesse wyth the empty cup or byd theym go home
the most wicked kinge I passe ouer many other of the olde testamēt which were vnmercifully persecuted and slayne for gods trueth Some as the blessed Apostle say eth were tried wyth mockynges scourginges wyth bondes prisonment some were stoned some were hewen a sunder some were slayne with swerde al were troubled and vexed Theo. These are they of whom the wise man spea keth god proued thē and founde thē meete for him selfe yea as the golde in the fornace dyd he trye thē and receyued thē as a brunte offeringe c. Phi. As I may at y e last come to the newe testament to whō is it vnknowne that Iesus Christ our Lorde sauioure after mani blasphemies rebukes slaunders and bitter tormentes suffred the most spiteful death of y e crosse so entered in to glorye Holye Iohn Baptist that blessed priestes sonne for trueth tellynge to king herod for reprouing hym of his abhominable liuing was cast into prisonne and beheaded Iames the brother of Iohn had his head striken of for preaching Christ to be son of y e liuinge god The holy martirs Stephē was stoned vnto deth because he prea ched Christ affirmed that God dwelleth not in temples made w t mans hād What kindnes Peter and Paule w t the other apostles foūd at y e hādes of thē whose saluaciō they most diligētly sought the histories make menciō Neyther do I heare speake of those blissed martirs which syns their dayes haue died for the confessiō of gods trueth so that the Gospel of Christe is not without a cause called of sainct Paulle the word of the crosse For al that wyl lyue godlye in Christ Iesu sayeth he shal suffer persecution To consider these histories afore rehersed shall stablishe our fayeth greately and very much comforte vs in the tyme of oure tribulacion so that we shall not lyghtely slyde frome God and frome hys holye worde but reioyse in hym recoūtynge oure selues moste blessed fortunate and wealthy that god hath vouched safe not only that we shoulde beleue in him but also suffer for hym It shall be expediente for vs also to remember that Christe calleth them blessed which suffer persecution for righ tuousnes sake and sayeth that theirs is the kingdome of heauē Agayne that the seruaunt is not greater thā hys Lord but if they persecuted Christ our Lorde and maister thei wil also persecute vs his seruauntes Disciples If they haue called the father of the houshold Belzebub much more they wyl cal them so that are of hys housholde If we were of the worlde the worlde woulde loue vs but for asmuche as we are not of the worlde but Christ hath chosen vs out of the world therfore doth the world hate vs. And did not Christe tel vs afore that we should lament and wepe that is to saye be oppressed of tirauntes but the worlde shoulde reioyse and that in the world we should haue affliction and trouble Agayne are we not taughte y t by many tribulations we must enter into the kingdome of God Chri. The fleshe abhorreth trouble persecution namely whan death is like to folow phile The spirite as Christ sayeth is redye and of a good courage to suffer al thinges for the glorie of God but the fleshe is weake The outward man is loeth to dye but the inward man wisheth to be losoned out of this corruptible body and to be wyth Christ. But if the good wil of our heauēly father so be y t we muste nedes suffer death for Christes sake let vs set thys saying of S. Paule before oure eies and stedfastli beleue it if we die with christ we shal liue with him If we suffer w t him we shall also reigne with him And our sa uioure Christ sayeth whosoeuer shall lose his life for my sake and for y e Gospel he shal kepe it Here to agreeth the saying of s. Peter detelye beloued maruaile not that ye are proued bi fire whiche thyng is to trie you as thoughe some straūg thing happened vnto you but reioyse in asmuch as ye are partakers of christes passion y t when his glory appereth ye may be mery glad If ye be railed vpō happie are ye For y e glory the spirite of god resteth vpō you Againe if any mā suffer as a Christen man let hym not be a shamed but let him glorifie God on this behaulfe And let thē y t are troubeled accordinge to y e will of God cōmit ther soules to him w t wel doing as vnto a faythful cre ature They y t suffer trouble for y e lordes sake for the gospell shal stande before the glorious seate of God and before the lambe Christe and they shall be clothed wyth longe whyte garmentes and palmes in their handes They shal euer be in the presence of the seat of God and serue him daye and nyghte in hys temple and he that sitteth in the seate shall dwell amonge them They shall honger no more neyther thyrste neyther shall the sunne lyghte on thē neyther any heate For the lambe whyche is in the middes of the seate shal fede thē and lede them vnto fountaynes of liuynge water and God shall wype awaye al teares from their eyes Furthermore it shall be greate comforte for vs also to remember wyth what wyllynge hertes Christ and al the blissed martires suffered death for the glorye of God Christe oure Lorde and sauioure whan the tyme of hys bytter passion beganne to drawe nyghe and perceyued that Iudas wente aboute to betraye hym to the Byshopes and priestes sayde that thou entendeste to do do it quickelye and out of hand And whan the Byshoppes seruauntes came to laye hande on hym where as he myght haue escaped their cruell handes he wyllyngely offered hym selfe vnto them whereby we maye se that he wente vnto hys death wyth a merye and ioyefull herte Christofor These hys wordes which long before his passion he spake to y e Iewes do also testify and wytnes his redy bente good wyll to suffer for the saluacion of mankynd Therfore doeth my father loue me because I gyue ouer my lyfe that I maye take it agayne No manne taketh it away frō me but I gyue it ouer euē of myne own good wil I haue power to gyue it ouer I haue power to take it againe Theo. Of the willinge oblacion of him selfe it was prophecied by the holy Prophetes The prophet Esai sayeth he was offered because it was his good pleasure Dauid also saith in the parson of Christ I wil offer sacrifice vnto the willingly He speketh of the sacrifice of his body Againe Christe hym selfe sayeth by the forsayde Prophet vnto his heauēlye father as for sacrifice and offerynge thou wouldest none therfore madeste thou me a bodie As for burnte offeringes for synne thou hast not alowed them Than sayed I
behold I am at hand In the begin ing of the boke is it writtē of me that I should do thy wyl O God Phile. As the lord Christ willingly suffered for the health of man so likewise did the apostles suffer al kindes of tormentes ioyefully for the glorye of God for the settinge forth of his blessed worde for the name of Iesu Christe the lord as we rede in the actes of y e apostles They were whipped of the byshopes seruauntes as S. Luke testifieth because they prea ched Christ so sent awaye But whan thei came frō the councell they reioysed y t thei were counted worthy to suffer rebuke for the name of Iesu. How glad ioyeful and redie the blessed Apostle S. Paule was to suffer any kinde of torment for Christes sake these his wordes do aboūdātly shewe Beholde I beinge bound in the spirite go forth vnto Hierusalem not knowyng what thinges shall chaunce vnto me ther but y t the holy goste in euery citie doth testifie sayinge y t bondes troubles do abide me But I care not for thē neither is my life dere vn to me so that I maye finishe my course w t ioye y e office which I haue receyued of y e lord to testifithe gospell of the grace of God Againe whē Agabus y e prophet toke Paules girdel bound hys hādes fete ther w t saying thus sayeth the holye goste the man whose girdel this is shal the Iewes thus bind at Hierusalē and they shall deliuer hym into the handes of the heathen and whē they that were wyth Paule hearynge these thynges moste instātly desired him that he should not go vp vnto Hierusalem the blissed apostle answered saying what do ye wepyng and troubelynge my herte I am redye not only to be bounde but also to die at Hierusalem for the name of y e Lord Iesu. O faythful Apostle The lord Iesu christ was so dere vnto him y t for his sake for the anauncement of his glorye for y e setting forth of his most glorious gospel he feared neither chea nes nor death He alwayes had before hys eyes y e short paines of this world y e euerlastinge ioyes of y e world to come He euer remēbred this saying of y e lord Christ whosoeuer shall lose hys lyfe for my sake for the gospel he shall kepe it He neuer forgat these his maisters wordes whosoeuer shal be ashamed of me of my sayīgs in this whorishe sinful generacion the son of man shal also be a shamed of him whā he shal come in y e glory of his father w t y e holy angelles But whosoeuer shal cō fesse me before mē I shall cōfesse him also before my father which is in heuē We rede also y t the blissed martire Ignatius after many greuous tormētes was thratened if he wold not forsake christ hys word y t he shuld be cast vnto wilde beastes so be deuoured But he being nothinge abashed w t those threates but perceyuing his death to be differted whiche he so greatly desired to suffer for christes name wrot an Epistle to the Romaines desired thē that thei woulde kepe hym no lenger frō his martirdome but w t al expediciō bringe to passe y t thei had so long threatened In the which epistle amōg many other wordes which declare hys valiāt fayth mighti courage in god he wrigh teth on this maner O wholsome beastes y t are prepared for me Whā shall they come whan shal they be sente out whan shal they eate my fleshe I would wishe w t al my herte y t they might be more gredy I wil bid thē vnto y e deuourīg of me praie thē lest par aduēture as they haue done in many thei feare to touch my bodie Yea if they shal make any de lay I my selfe wil brast into thē offer my selfe to thē Gyue me liberty I besech you for I know what is expedient for me Nowe that I beginne to be the disciple of Christ let fyres galowes wild beastes breakyng of my bones rackynge of my membres payne thorowout all my bodye and all the punyshmentes of the world that can be inuented by the craft and subtilty of the deuyll be ministered vnto me I wyll refuse none of theim all so that I maye deserue to obtaine Iesus Christ. Theo. O blessed glorious martyre O valeant and noble souldi our of our most mighty capitain Christ Iesu. O what a myrrour glasse and spectacle is here offered vnto vs wherein we maye se and learne not onelye hygh patience but also an exceadynge desyre to suffer al kynde of tormentes for the glory of Christe Phile. Not onely the blessed martyre Ignatius shewed him selfe wylling and ioyfull to suffer all kynde of aduersitie yea verye death for the cōfession of Christ and of hys blessed trueth but other holye men innumerable as we reade in histories Whē Decius the Emperoure that mooste cruel tyraunte hadde spoyled the blessed martyre Hypolitus of his vestures bycause he woulde not do sacrifice to false Gods the mā of God spake boldely vnto him sayinge thou haste not spoyled me of my garmentes but thou haste rather begun to clothe me And when the aforsayde tyraunt cōmaunded that he should be clo thed agayne w t his own accustomed kynd of apparaile and said vnto hym Use thyne olde seruice whych thou hast euer had in our syght be our frende the blessed martyre w t a stoute courage answered my seruyse is thys faithfully to serue Christe and by seruyng him spedly to come vnto a frutefull victory Shortlye after the tirant seyng his stedfast and vnshakē cōstācy cōmaūded him to be depryued of all hys goodes and to be headed w t diuers other about y e nūbre of nintene whiche al wyth ioyfull courage suffered death for Christes sake The blessed martyre Tiburtius was apprehēded of y e cruel iudge Fabiā and cōmaūded either to offer sacrifice to y e Idols or els to go w t naked fete vpō the hote burning coles He boldly wēt on thē barefoted hauinge no harme saied to y e tyrante Lay away thine vnfaithfulnes learne that he is the God alone whō we cōfesse to haue power ouer all creatures For thorowe the myghte of my Lorde Iesus Christe me thynke that goyng vpon burnyng coles I walke as it were vpō red roses wtout fealynge of anye paine or hurt of my fete For the creature obeyeth the commaundement of the creatoure When the tyraunt sawe that the fyre dyd hym no harme he commaunded that he should be slayne w t the swerd The blessed martyre wente vnto hys deathe wyth a toyfull herte praysynge God that he woulde vouchsafe to gyue hym strength for to confesse his mooste blessed name holy word before worldly tyrantes When Galerius the Proconsull cōmaunded that S. Cipriā should be headed bicause he was an enemy to the Goddes of