to hym and not to expresse our loue towardes him vpon our brethrē accordynge to hys commaūdement For that whych is done to them he counteth it done to hym selfe Who so euer then hath thys worldes good and seeth hys brother haue nede and shutteth vp his cōpassion from hym how dwelleth the loue of god in hym As who shulde saye yf we be not beneficiall and good to our nedy and poore neyghbour it is a sure token that we loue not God and consequently that he neyther loueth vs. And in contrary wyse yf we be beneficiall and good to oure neyghboure for gods sake it is a ryght sure sygne and declaracion of our fayth towardes God and that god loueth vs Wherfore deare brethren let vs be mercyfull accordynge to thexemple of the heauenly father as Christ monysheth vs Luc. vi And let vs not as Ihon sayeth here loue in worde i. tim i neyther yet in tonge but in dede and in trouth and as saynt Paule sayeth of a pure harte and of a good conscience and of faith vnfayned Whych thynge he calleth the ende of the cōmaundement These be the worthy frutes of fayth These frutes yf we brynge forth we declare our selues to be good trees plāted by the ryuer syde whych bryngeth forth frute in due season psal i we declare oure selues to be of the nombre of them whych S. Ihon here speaketh of that be translated from death to lyfe euerlastynge Where we shall lyue eternally wyth the father sonne and holy gost To whome be all glorye AMEN The gospell on .ij. sondaye after Trinitie The .xiiij. chapter of Luke Th argument ☞ Christe in thys parable declareth that he is not apte to the kyngdome of heauen whych wyl ones laye hys hande to the plough loke backe to hys affections IEsus put forth a similitude to hys disciples sayenge A certayne man ordeyned a great supper and bad many and sente hys seruaunt at supper tyme to saye to them that were bydden come for al thynges are now ready And they all at once began to make excuse The fyrst sayd vnto hym I haue bought a farme and I must nedes go se it I pray the haue me excused And another sayd I haue bought fyue yooke of oxen I go to proue them I praye the haue me excused And another sayde I haue maryed a wyfe and therfore I can not come And the seruaunt retourned and brought hys mayster worde agayne therof Then was the good man of the house displeased and sayd to hys seruaunt Go out quyckely into the stretes and quarters of the cytie and brynge in hyther the poore and the feble and the halt and the blynde And the seruaunt sayd Lorde it is done as thou hast commaunded and yet there is rowme And the Lorde sayd to the seruaunt Go out vnto the hye wayes and hedges and compell them to come in that my house may be fylled For I saye vnto you that none of those men whych were bydden shall tast of my supper OVr Sauiour Christ good christen people consyderynge the vanitie of mens myndes in the worlde whych for the moost parte are wonte rather to talke of God of hys word and of the blessed state of the lyfe to come thā ernestly to appoint theyr mindes to remoue out of theyr lyfes such impedimētes as myght hynder them from God and hys worde shutte them out in cōclusion from the kyngdome of heauen declareth in thys gospell as in a proper parable the great foly of suche as so content themselfe wyth wordes only and vayne prayses and consyder no further to temper theyr lyues in suche wyse that an other daye they maye enioye in dede the euerlastynge lyfe in the kyngdome of heauen wherin they confesse so muche blysse felicitie to be as one ther was whych was syttynge at the table wyth Christe hearynge hym talke of the resurrection of the iuste sayd vnto hym Blyssed is he whych eateth bread in the kyngdome of God Christ takynge occasion of hys wordes taught both hym and all other in hym that many ther were whych could cōfesse wyth theyr mouth such to be happy that shulde be receyued there but yet in the course of theyr lyues semed not much desyrous to be partakers of that blysse howe greate so euer it be how frely so euer it be offred or howe kyndly so euer they be called ther to whose vnkyndnes and forgetfulnes of theyr owne welth and commoditie he resembled and lykened to such gestes as were gently louyngly called to a rych feaste wel aboundauntly prepared in all thynges and yet refused to come hauynge very vayne excuses for them selues whose vnkynde behauiour was reported to the feastmaker moued hym to displeasure to renounce them for theyr vnworthynes to take other to syt at hys feast Whyche although they were but of poore estimation yet bycause they were ready with great thankes to receyue the lyberalitie of the feaste maker so gently offred wythout theyr deseruynge they were admytted to sytte at hys owne table wyth hymselfe had the fruition of those delicates which the other that were fyrst called refused despysed Here is mater my frendes for vs that be Gentyles to consyder wyth great thankes to almyghty God ☜ that where as the people of the Iues were fyrst called by the seruauntes and messangers of hys word to the great supper of the ioye of heauen and they refused to come that then it pleased the father of al mercy to sende hys seruauntes to call vs to his said feast whych of al people were moost vnworthy and furdest from hym in somuch as we were wyde of all truth and lyght syttynge in moost blynde darkenes of errour and ydolatrye wanderynge in the bye pathes and croked wayes of our owne lustes and ymaginations so poore and voyde of all grace that in stede of the true God we honoured mortal men and brute beastes as our God Thus prouoked we hym fyrst these were our merytes and deseruynges vnto hym And yet pleased it hym to sende hys seruauntes to preach vs hys gospell and by the violence of so great gentylnes offered vs and earnest callynge on vs by hys Apostles we were brought into his holy house church of hys electe and there plenteously were set before vs to receyue frely the innumerable graces benefytes conteined and promysed in the worde of the gospell so that now Christ wyth al his ryghtuousnes wyth all hys iustice and holynes is frely gyuen vs to our welth and commoditie yf we wyll applye our selues by fayth and charitie to oure callynge Yf we se the want of ryghtuousnes in our selfe be anhongred therfore let vs sue vnto Christ and he shall replenysh vs therwyth Yf we be stūge wyth synne and wolde be delyuered from the daunger therof in Christe shall we fynde clere remyssion and shal be quyte discharged Yf we wante strength to fyght agaynst our inuisible enemyes the worlde the fleshe and
clensyng of penitent persons do denye that our mother the church wepynge for the spiritual death of her chyldren ought to be comforted by hope of restoryng agayne to lyfe Whyche damnable opinion the wycked Anabaptistes at thys daye haue renewed in dyuers places of christendome whych denye that they that fall into deadly synne after baptisme can by due penaunce or any other meanes come agayne to the state of grace whome we praye God to brynge out of theyr foule heresye Let vs than good people instauntly humbly praye to almyghty God the father of heuen that it wolde please hym so ofte as we fall into synne to touch and speake to vs so vertuous and pythy wordes that maye quicken vs and rayse vs from death to lyfe in yeldynge and restorynge vs lyuyng truly in spirite vnto our mother whych is the churche of faythfull men and that we may speake continually the worde of prayse and of grace vnto God in suche wyse that by occasion of vs our neyghbours maye be edifyed and exhorted for to prayse glorifye god wyth vs knowynge that God hath vysited his people by Iesu Christe Vnto whome apperteyneth glorie and honoure eternally Amen The Epistle on the .xvij. sonday after Trinitie The .iiij. chapter to the Ephesians Th argument ☞ Of the vnitie of fayth that there be no dissension amonges christen people BRethren I whych am a presoner of the lordes exhorte you that ye walke worthy of the vocacion wherwyth ye are called wyth all lowlynes and mekenesse wyth humblenesse of mynde forbearinge one another thorow loue and be diligent to kepe the vnitie of the spirite thorowe the bonde of peace beynge one bodye and one spirite euen as ye are called in one hope of youre callynge Let there be but one Lorde one fayth one baptisme one God and father of all whych is aboue all and thorow all and in you all MY brethren and systers in Iesu Christe let vs consyder the benignitie louynge kyndnes and swetnesse of the holy goost the whych doth not commaūde vs wyth rygoure and sharpnesse as men do often but doth desyre vs louyngly by his great messanger the apostle saynt Paule that we shuld walke worthely in the vocacion or callynge vnto which we be callyd Of thys vocacion is spoken in the fyrste chapter of the fyrst epistle vnto the Corinthias where he sayeth God is true and faythfull by whome you are called into the company of hys sonne our Lorde Iesu Christ Thys companyenge with Iesu Christ is the christen and catholyke churche the whyche is called a bodye wherof he is the heade and we be his members in case we be conducted and leade by the holy goost For he is the sturrer the lyfe and the conductour of all the catholyke churche for to make it to walke worthely wyth the heade in all humilitie mekenesse and swetnesse He doth teache vs also by true loue and charitie in all pacience to supporte beare the faultes and infirmities of our neyghbours And saynt Paule induceth vs to do thys in the .vi. chapter of the epistle vnto the Galathians Beare the burthens one of another and so ye shall accomplysh the lawe of Christ The whych doth admonysh vs aboue al thynges that we shulde endeuoure our selues to kepe the vnitie of the spirite of fayth in a bonde of peace and cōcorde that is to wyte in sauourynge in fayth one selfe thynge And what is that that we shulde all sauour That we be one body one spirite and all called into one hope of saluation by Iesu Christ That ther is one Lord one fayth one baptisme one God and father of all whych is aboue al and ouer all thynges and in vs al whych is he that is blessed in the worlde of worldes Thys is the fayth in the whych we ought to be vnied and knytte with the holy goost and to haue stedfast peace concorde The whych thynges yf we haue we shal be conducted by thys holy goost in all graces and vertues for to blesse laude and glorifye thys ryght hygh and souerayne father by our Lorde Iesu Christ vnto glorie of al the Trinitie wythout ende Amen The gospell on the .xvij. sonday after Trinitie The xiiij chapter of Luke Th argument ☞ Christ healeth on the sabboth daye and commended humilitie vnto vs. WHan Iesus went into the house of one of the chefe pharisees to eate breade on a Sabboth daye and they watched hym And behold ther was a certayne man before hym whych had the dropsy And Iesus answered and spake vnto the lawyers and pharisees sayenge Is it lawfull to heale vpon the sabboth daye And they helde theyr peace And he toke hym and healed hym and let hym go and answered them sayenge whych of you shall haue an asse or an oxe fallen into a pytte and wyll not strayght waye pull hym out on the sabboth daye And they coulde not answere hym agayne to these thynges He put forth also a similitude to the gestes whan he marked how they preased to the hyghest roumes and sayd vnto them Whan thou art bydden of any man to a weddinge syt not downe in the hyest roume lest a more honorable man thā thou be bydden of hym and he that bad hym and the come and saye to the gyue thys man roume and thou than begynne wyth shame to take the lowest rowme But rather whan thou art bydden go and syt in the lowest rowme that whan he that bad the commeth he may saye vnto the frende syt vp hyer Thā shalt thou haue worshyp in the presence of them that syt at meate with the For whosoeuer exalteth hymselfe shal be brought lowe And he that humbleth hymselfe shal be exalted AT the begynnynge of our gospell good christē people Iesu Christ doth cōmende vnto vs syngularly loue and charitie towarde al men whan we se that so familiarly he haūted and frequented wyth them that were hys enemyes and hys euell wyllers that also he dyd eate and drynke wyth them for to haue occasion to teache them and to conuerte them vnto God hys father as the auncient doctour Cyrillus noteth Cyrillus And here be rebuked and checked those whych haue hatred malyce rancor agaynst theyr christen brethren and do not vouchsaufe to company wyth them nor also to speake vnto them whan that by the diuine commaundement of almyghtye God they be bounde for to to remytte and to pardon al iniuries math vi and ought by all meanes they can for to recōcile them or els God shall neuer be reconciled wyth them Consequently Iesu Christe doth instructe vs that we ought at al tymes to accomplysh and do the workes of mercy towardes our brethren and neyghbours And specially that the sondaye be not in any wyse violated by the sayd workes of charitie The whych he shewed well whan that vpon the sabboth day he dyd heale the poore mā of the dropsie Which as holy doctours do expoune is truely the fygure of all humane nature The
that preciouse perle that Christe speaketh of in the Gospell of Matheu where he sayth mat xiij that the kyngdome of heauen is lyke vnto a marchaunt man sekynge goodly perles which whaÌ„ he founde one precious perle went and solde al that he had bought it Nowe thoughe thys thynge be playne ynoughe and apparaunt yet wyth your pacience I wyll declare vnto you what the moost excellente doctoure of the churche saynte Hierome wryteth vpon thys place The wordes of saint Hierom Surely sayeth saynte Hierome there is one perle moost precious of all that is to wit the knowlege of oure Sauioure and the mystery of his passion and resurrection whiche whan a marchaunte man hath founde as saynt Paule the Apostle dyd he despyseth all the mysteries of the lawe prophetes his olde obseruauncies wherin he lyued without reproche yea and he regardeth them no better thaÌ„ the parynges of hys nayles or chyppes to thintent to wynne Christe vnto hym Thys Christe as Ihon baptist witnesseth is the lambe of God which taketh awaye the synne of the worlde Ioh. i. Where as before his commynge we were as shepe wandering wythout a sheperde but nowe by fayth we be conuerted vnto oure sheperde which is the onely good shepherde and vnto the byshop of our soules which is eternall alwayes mediatoure and intercessoure for vs alwayes presentyng and offerynge hymselfe for vs. Let vs than good people follow his coÌ„uersation Let vs beare paciently al thingê for the loue of hym which hath suffred so many tribulations and extreme paynes for vs. Let vs not synne wyllingly Let vs not speake any vntrouthe fraude dissimulation and lyes Let vs not curse if any say euyl of vs. Let vs not threaten if any do greue vs. Let vs giue vp all vengeaunce vnto God Let vs remembre the good whiche he hath done vs by his glorious passion that we maye be deade with him as to him and mortified by his spirite as to vs. Let vs liue no more in beastly wise to our selues but in most clenly sorte to him which is our iustice for we be the shepe which he hath conuerted from wandering forthe of the right path from errour infidelitie vnto fayth He is our shepherd let vs worthely folow him vnto the pasture of life He is our bishop our mediatour our intercessour our oblacion And how do we feare that we shulde not be exalted to his glorye Let vs haue this faith that none is refused which foloweth hym mekely and paciently Who so euer hath thys fayth can not peryshe yea there was neuer so great a sinner but that this mediatour raunsomer hath satisfied from him if being truly conuerted and penitent for his synnes he be garnished and cladde with this frutefull fayth and brenning charitie and hope in him which is our only sauiour redemer To whom with the euerlasting father of heauen holy goost be glory without ende in secula seculorum Amen The Gospel on the second sonday after Ester day The .x. chapter of Ihon. Targument ☞ Christe is the true shepherde IEsus said to his disciples I am the good shepeherde A good shepherde giueth his life for hys shepe An hyred seruaunt and he whyche is not the shepherd neyther the shepe are his owne seeth the wolf come and leueth the shepe and fleeth and the wolfe catcheth and scattereth the shepe The hired seruauÌ„t fleeth because he is an hyred seruaunt and careth not for the shepe I am the good shepeherd and knowe my shepe and I am knowen of myne As my father knoweth me euen so know I also my father And I geue my lyfe for the shepe and other shepe I haue whych are not of thys fold Them also muste I brynge and they shall heare my voyse and there shall be one folde and one shepeherde IN this Gospel good people our Lord doth shew vs that he is the true and right shepherd And it is good reason for he only hath giuen himselfe vnto the death and hath quyckened all hys shepe He alonly doth nourish with his doctrine all his shepe with the fode of euerlastinge life Yf the wolfe doth come that is the greate deuell of hell or any of hys members he neuer forsaketh his shepe but doth defende and delyuer them from the force and myghte of the enemye for he is stronge aboue all is more myghty then all And also the shepe be hys and he hath bought them with a greate pryce which is aboue all prices He doth loue them according to the price that is to say more than any thought can thinke or tonge expresse And he hath not alonly boughte them agayne but he hathe made them and created them so that they be his owne workes and his owne shepe He surely is the shepherde by whoÌ„ al thinges bene made Wherfore naturally he caÌ„ not hate them He is no forgetfull shepherde but he is a shepherde knowing all he can forget nothinge For as the eternal father knowith al so in like maner he knoweth al. As the father eternal knowith al in giuing him al in like maner he knowith his shepe in giuing theÌ„ all For he giueth them life wisedome might Yea and suche life wisdome and might as is aboue the capacitie of the worlde For those that be accordinge to the worlde be but shadowes of them And by this wisdom which surmouÌ„teth the world his shepe know him This is the good herdinaÌ„ giuing life to al knowing al which is almighty But the hired shepherd is none such He woll not dye for his shepe He doth not giue them life Yea when the wolfe commeth he doth leue them forasmoch as they be not his owne He hath neither made them nor yet bought them againe He therfore rennyth awaye and letteth them be loste and deuoured wyth the wolfe and fynally go into euerlasting damnatioÌ„ He is vnmighty He is ignorant cleane vnlike vnto the good herdmaÌ„ Furthermore this hired shepherd hath but a lytle a particuler flocke But the good herdmaÌ„ hath a grete flocke he hath the slocke of the natioÌ„ of Israel of al other nations He hath the vniuersal flocke whyche from daye to daye he leadethe and gatheryth to gether that they may heare his swete voice hys holy doctrine whyche is the doctrine of the gospell tyll tyme that all the worlde shall be but one flocke and that there be but one herdman whyche is our Lord Iesu Christe as it is sayde here And there shal be made one shepecote and one herdman Now by this parable good frendes we be taught and enformed of the true office of Christ and wherfore he came into thys worlde Hys office whervnto he was sent of hys father was to teach vs and also to saue vs. As touchynge hys doctrine and teachynge who euer in fedynge of hys flocke was more vigilant more busy more paynfull than he was Who euer ministred to hys shepe more diligently the fode of the euangelicall
to lyfe And furthermore how and in what wyse by hys vprysyng or resurrection he shulde coÌ„mence hys raigne and haue accesse to hys father And assuredly the preachyng and fore shewynge hereof was ryght necessary to the Apostles of Christ to be often made and dryuen into theyr heades For the flesh as Christe sayeth hymselfe is weake and agayne the articles of oure religion be suche that they surmount the sklender capacitie of mans wyt neyther can they easely be perceyued Thys is the cause why Christ lyke a faythful mayster neuer ceaseth to dryue into hys disciples heades the suÌ„me coÌ„tent of our fayth to thintent he myght fully execute thoffice that he came for Now thys is hys sentence and mynde whych he declareth to hys disciples Wythin a lytle whyle O you my louynge scholers and disciples I shal be betrayed vnto the Iues as I haue often tymes heretofore shewed vnto you that I shulde be condemned Mat. xij scourged bobbed and at last nayled to the crosse And for asmuch as euen lyke as Ionas was in the whales bely thre dayes and thre nyghtes I must in lykewyse be buryed in the grounde for the space of thre dayes and thre nyghtes Christes raigne Therfore for a lytle whyle in dede ye shall not se me But agayne after a lytle whyle that is to wyt the thyrde daye after whan I shall ryse agayne ye shall verely se me how be it that shall not be longe for I must awaye to my father and begyn with hym my spirituall raygne Ephe. i. and .iiij. Lo my deare frendes with such wordes Christe teacheth hys apostles what maner thyng his kyngdoÌ„ shuld be how the coÌ„myng is to the same Assuredly the kingdoÌ„ or raigne of Christ is none other thynge thaÌ„ that Christ hath coÌ„quered the world syn death sataÌ„ hell furthermore hath taken of his father all power both in heuen and in erth in such sort as hensforth he is to be the most puissaunt and mighty kinge ouer the mount Sion Psal iiij leading and gouernyng his subiectes with the holy spirite of comforte Into this his kingdom it behoued hym to entre by the crosse by sheding of his mooste precious bloude and by death euen as the prophete Dauid longe before had prophecied of him sayeng he shall drynke of the floude in the waye Psa cix and therefore he shall lyft vp his heade Now this spirituall kingdome was not moche knowne to his apostles For they thought rather that the kingdom of Christ shulde haue ben a worldly and an outwarde kyngdome whych thinge they styl loked for vntyl the spirite was gyuen them whych taught them the knowlege hereof and how they ought to come vnto it and to gette it and how to perseuer and continue in the same If we therfore good brethren and systers be lykewise mynded to entre into thys kingdome and by Christ to vanquysh synne death Satan and hel we must nedes acknowlege and take Christ for oure Lorde and sauiour for our kinge and hyghe bishop fastelye beleuing that we be reconciled and made at one agayne with the father of heuen by his bloude and in suffering and doinge the thinges that Paule speaketh where he sayth i. tim ii If we shall suffer togither with him we shall also reigne with him Seconde An exeÌ„ple of our ignorauÌ„ce we haue here good people an exemple of oure ignoraunce and blyndnesse and that in thapostles For loke how lytle they attayned the mystery of the gospell wythout the holy goost so lytle can we also attayne by oure owne powers to iustice or soule health But harkeÌ„ your selues out of the very texte the rudenes or ignoraunce of the appostles Christ had shewed them that after a litle whyle they shulde not se him agayne after a lytle whyle they shulde se him agayne for he muste go to hys father This must nedes be vnderstande of his death and resurrection and of his spiritual kyngdome What it is to go to the father Ps lxvij For assuredly to go to his father is nothinge elles but to fulfyll all thynges as it is declared in the .v. chapi to the Ephesians and by hys holye gooste to exalte gloryfie saue mankynde or to speake the wordes of the prophete dona dare hominibus to gyue gyftes to men But I praye you how do thapostles vnderstande thys They talke and conferre with themselues what meaneth that he sayeth after a whyle ye shall not se me and agayn after a whyle ye shal se me we knowe not saye they what he speketh Lo my frendes the apostles do here confesse theyr ignoraunce and that they atteyne not to the wordes that he spake albeit he had spokeÌ„ often tymes before of hys crosse deathe and resurrection vnto them Wherfore I do not a lytle wonder what these men meane whyche fyghte so strongly for the defence of theyr owne naturall and carnall power syth they se here so manyfestly that the apostles themselues whyche had Christe so moch conuersaunt amonges them coulde not by theyr owne mere power before the holy gooste came vnto them vnderstande the spirituall kyngdome of Christe So that it manifestly appeareth that while they woll be doctours and teachers of other they be them selues full of all blyndenes and ignoraunce Thys therfore is the summe and effecte of thys place that the flesh in suche thynges as perteine to iustification can do no good onles the holy gost beyng communitate by the word be receiued and had For as the prophete Ieremy recordeth Ier. xiij they shal be taught of God and not of themselues Thyrdly Christe doth preuent his apostles when he espyed them not to atteine his wordes and that they wold aske him the meanyng of the same sayeng vnto them in thys wise Of thys ye do question amonges your selues that I sayd a litle and ye shall not see me and agayne a lytle and ye shall se me Verely verely I saye vnto you ye shall wepe and lamente but the worlde shal reioyce Ye shal sorow but your sorowe shal be turned into ioye Lo how Christ tendereth his apostles he shaketh them not of for their rudenes and ignoraunce but moste gentlye instructeth them shewinge them howe his format wordes ought to be vnderstand sayenge vnto them in thys wise Ye shall wepe and be sory but why bycause ye shall see youre Lorde and mayster apprehended and takeÌ„ nayled vpon the crosse and put to death Crosse ê‘secutioÌ„ Then shall calamitie and sorow begynne and principally this shall trouble you that the world shal reioyce at your aduersitie and your maysters aduersitie And euen as Christ had spoken so it came to passe concernyng both hys owne crosse affliction and heuines also his apostles For do ye thynke yt a lytle crosse vnto hym when that he was reuiled and vpbrayded of the Iues sayeng vnto hym let God delyuer hym if he woll haue hym I omytte and passe ouer with
in them Vndoubtedly thys answere teacheth vs two thynges Fyrst ☜ that the wyll of God ought not to be learned of the dead as Moses also forbyddeth in Deuteronomye sayenge Deut. xviij Let noman serch the trouth of the deade for God abhorreth it And surely not wythout cause for he that ensercheth the trouth of deade men sheweth hymselfe not contented wyth gods worde whych is a synne agaynst the seconde commaundement Also to serche the trouth of deade men is to put other meanes thā preachers by whome God wol haue hys word knowen and spred abrode Thys thynge doth the exemple of Saule teach vs i. Reg. xxviij whych after he was caste vp of the Lorde and vtterly wycked in his harte by the helpe of a wytche raysed vp the prophete Samuell from death that is to wyt a certayne person resemblynge Samuel in voyce and vysage Secondly thys answere of Abraham teacheth vs that besyde the worde wrytten none other is to be loked for or to be herde though an angell shulde come from heauen or a goost ryse frō death to lyfe Wherfore good christen brethren and systers I exhorte in the Lordes name you that be rych to make your selues frendes of your wicked Mammon Luc. xvi that is to saye of your worldly goodes that when ye dye they may receyue you into euerlastyng tabernacles lest ye be serued as thys ryche mā was And agayne I exhorte you that be poore to haue sure faith in the Lorde and pacience in your aduersitie and pouertie And doubt ye not but at your departure out of this transitory worlde accordynge to the example of this poore Lazarus ye shal be caryed by angels into the bosome of Abraham abrahās bosome that is to say into euerlastyng lyfe in whych after the exemple of the father Abraham who is the father of al beleuynge chyldren the godly be receyued as into the bosome of the heuēly father To whom wyth the sonne and holy goost be all honoure and glorye Amen The Epistle on the .ij. sondaye after trinitie The .i. epistle of Ihon the .iij. chapter Th argument ☞ Of the syngular loue of God towardes vs and howe we ought agayne to loue one another MAruayle not my brethren thoughe the worlde hate you We know that we are translated frō death vnto lyfe bycause we loue the brethren He that loueth not hys brother abydeth in death Who so euer hateth hys brother is a mansleer And ye knowe that no mansleer hath eternall lyfe abydynge in hym Hereby perceyue we loue bycause he gaue hys lyfe for vs and we ought to gyue our lyues for the brethren But who so hath thys worldes good and seeth hys brother haue nede shutteth vp hys compassion from hym how dwelleth the loue of God in hym My babes let vs not loue in worde neyther in tonge but in dede and in veritie FOr asmuch as deare brethren and systers euen from the begynnynge of the worlde it hath bene sene as the exemple of Abel wytnesseth that the godly haue suffred persecution trouble ☜ and vexation of the vngodly and wycked persons therfore the holy Apostle of God saynt Ihon doth here exhorte vs to pacience in persecution and in aduersitie and that we shulde not be false harted and discouraged bycause we se we be euell and vnworthely handeled intreated of the wycked worlde And it is not without cause that saynt Ihon moueth vs to pacience for of truth it is a ryght harde thynge a mā to stāde fast in trouble and not to despayre or at leste waye not to doubte of the trouth of gods word for al that he seeth so many euell and vnhappy chaunces vnto hym on euery syde And besydes that he exhorteth vs in thys place vnto pacience he also therwythall comforteth al that be vexed troubled for trouthes sake wyth the greate benefyte and profyte whyche they haue taken through gods worde that is to wyt that they be translated frō death to lyfe and be now made the beloued sonnes of God to whych commodities and profytes al the persecutions in the world be not able to be compared Maruayle not sayeth S. Ihon though the worlde hate you We knowe that we are translated frome death vnto lyfe bycause we loue our brethren O what an vnspeakable solace and comforte is this my frendes vnto vs to know that we now lyue vnto God warde albeit before the worlde we be daylye mortifyed and euen kylled none otherwise thā shepe that go to the slaughter And agayne on the contrary parte what a fearful horrible thynge is it that the wycked persons whych pursue the godly be dead to god warde We be than translated frō death to lyfe Wherfore Bycause sayeth Ihon we loue oure brethren Surely my frendes the louynge of our brethren is an open declaracion token to the worlde that we be the chyldren of God For he that sayeth he hath faythe and loue towardes God and yet loueth not hys neyghbour maketh a starke lye For a good tree must nedes brynge forth good frute He then that loueth not hys brother abydeth in death that is to saye Rom. vi he is not yet rysen from death to lyfe wyth Christ vnto a new lyfe Yea saynt Ihon goeth forther and sayeth Who so euer hateth hys brother is a manslayer The law is spirituall Surely my frendes the lawe is spirituall and requyreth also the inwarde affections as Ihon doth here testifye For not only he that kylleth by layeng on of handes and violence vpon hys brother is in daunger to the law of murther but also he that pursueth hys neyghbour wyth hatred So though that he be not a murtherer and māsleer in outward dede yet in harte he is But no mansleer hath eternal lyfe abydynge in hym For loke wyth what measure we meate to other Mat. vij wyth the same shall it be measured agayne to vs. Now in the doctrine and teachynge of charitie ye shal vnderstande that it is the maner of thapostles euer to brynge vs to the exemple of Christ whereby to frame our lyfe lest we shuld inuent and deuise of our owne heades newe formes fashions of louing our brethren S. Ihon therfore doth here preuente vs and setteth forth Christ for an exemple to be folowed of vs The loue of god toward vs whych loued vs hys brethren not after a lyght and base sorte but euen wyth the peryll of his owne lyfe He wol haue vs than in lyke wyse to loue our brethren not lyghtly but so vehemently that when nede requyreth we shulde not stycke to venture our goodes yea our lyfe also for theyr sauetie welth By thys we knowe charitie that is to saye the loue of Christ towardes vs and what our loue and charitie ought to be in asmuche as he gaue his soule or lyfe for vs O what excedynge and vehemente loue was thys of Christ And shall we then shewe our selues churlysh and vnkynde agayne
oure vnkyndnes and perfidie partly chideth vs for them and beynge both full of wonder and ready to chyde axeth vs What is thys that I heare of you As thoughe he shulde saye vnto vs all good men in all places complayne of you accuse your auaryce your exactions your tyrannye They haue desyred in you a long season and yet desyre diligēce and synceritie I commaunded you that wyth all industrie and laboure ye shulde feade my lytle ons both bodyly with your temporall goodes and rentes whyche ye haue for that purpose delyuered vnto you and also gostlye wyth my worde But what do you ye ernestlye fede your selfes from daye to daye wallowynge in delytes and ydlenes I bad you teach my commaūdementes and not your fansyes and that ye shulde seke my glory my vauntage you teach your owne tradicyons and seke your owne glorye and profyte You preach very seldome and whā ye preache ye do nothyng but snappe them that preach truly asmoch as lieth in you so that it were moch better suche not to preach at all than so to preach Oh what heare I of you You that ought to be my stewardes what other thynge do you than applye all your studye to brynge my lytle ons to enuye shame contempte yea more then thys ye pulle them into peryls into prysons and as moch as in you lyeth to cruel deathes To be shorte I wolde that my people shulde heare my doctrine and at theyr cōmodytie reade it also as many as wold your care is not that all men maye heare it but all your care is that none shulde reade it because ye be afrayed leste they by the readynge shulde vnderstand it and vnderstandyng learne to rebuke your nygardnes infidelytie slouthfulnes Thys is your generacion thys is your bestowynge of my treasur thys is your wysdome In this generacion in thys dispensacion you be moste politike moste wyttye These be the thynges that I heare of your demeanour I wyshed to heare better reaporte of you Haue ye thus deceyued me or haue ye rather deceyued yourselues Where I had but one house that is to saye the churche and thys so dearly beloued of me that for the loue of her I dyd put myselfe forth to be slayne to shede my bloude thys church at my departure I cōmitted vnto youre charge to be fed to be noryshed and to be made moch of My plesure was ye shulde occupye my place my desyre was ye shulde haue borne lyke loue to thys church lyke fatherly affection as I dyd I made you my stewardes yea in matters of moste importaunce For thus I taught openly Luce. x. He that shulde heare you shulde heare me He that shulde despice you shulde despice me Mat. xvi I gaue you also keyes not erthly keyes but heuenlye I left my goodes that I haue euermore moost highly estemed that is my worde and sacramentes to be dispensed ministred of you These benefites I gaue you and do ye gyue me these thankes Can ye fynde in your hartes thus to abuse my goodnes Haue ye thus deceyued me No no ye haue not deceyued me but your selues My gyftes benefytes towarde you shal be to your greater dānation Bycause ye haue contēpned the lenitie clemēcy of the mayster of the house ye haue ryght wel deserued to abyde the rygoure and seueritie of the iudge Come forth than let vs se accompte of your stewardship An horrible and fearfull sentence ye maye haue no longer my goodes in your handes A voyce to wepe at and to make mē tremble You se my frendes you se to what euel the euel stewardes must come to your laboure is payde for yf ye can so take hede that no such sentence be spokē to you Naye we must al take hede lest these threatenynges one daye take place in vs al aswell vs of the clergye for myspendynge the spirituall treasure as you of the laytie for myspendynge the temporal treasure wherof god hath made vs stewardes Wherfore good people at the lest way let vs take exemple folow the policie of the worldly stewarde that our sauiour Christe here telleth hys tale of to thintent we shulde do the same This worldly stewarde whan he sawe he was accused to hys lorde that he had wasted hys goodes thought thus wyth hymselfe What shal I do my lorde wol surely take from me my stewardshyp Dygge I can not and to begge I am ashamed Wel I wol at lest way make me frendes of my lordes goodes whych whan I am remoued out of myne office shall take me into theyr houses for the kyndnes and benefyte that they shall haue receyued at my handes So whan he had assēbled together all hys lordes detters he sayde to the fyrst What owest thou to my lorde He answered an hundred tonnes of oyle Than the stewarde to hym sayd Take thy wrytynge and syt downe quyckely wryte for an hundred but fyftye My lorde is very ryche I woll that by my meanes thou shalte wynne the one halfe Thys done he sayd to an other Howe much owest thou He answered an hundred quarters of wheat The steward also bad hym syt downe and wryt in hys byll but foure score For sayeth he my lorde shal not espye twentye taken awaye but to the whych arte a poore man it maye do pleasure In semblable wyse he dyd wyth the reste of hys lordes detters Now thys disceyt and polycie yf thys temporal rych man had espyed he wolde surely haue punyshed hys stewarde But yet the Lorde Iesus for an exemple of lyberalitie commended and praysed vnto hys disciples the disceytfull but yet wyse policie of thys stewarde and to the imitacion and folowynge of hym he prouoketh all vs christen men and rebuketh our slouthfulnes in asmuche as worldlye wyse men and suche as serue thys worlde are wyser and more busye in prouidynge for themselues the sustenaunce of the bodye then we be whych oughte to forsake the vanities of thys worlde and folowe the thynges that be eternall The chyldren of thys worlde sayeth he are wyser than the chyldren of lyght in their natiō My frēdes ye shal vnderstād that our sauiour Christe in thys saynge touched the slouth fluggishnes of hys he dyd not alowe the fraude and sudtyltie of other neyther was he glad that it was in dede as he had sayed but cōplayned rather that it shulde be so as many men speake many thynges not that they ought to be so but that they are wont to be so Naye thys greued Christ that the chyldrē of this world shulde be of more polycie than the chyldren of light whych thyng yet was true in Christes tyme nowe in our tyme is moste true Who is so blynde but he seeth thys clearly excepte perchaunce there be any that cannot discerne the chyldren of the worlde frome the chyldren of lighte The chyldren of the worlde conceyue forth brynge more prudently thynges conceyued and brought forth they nourysh and cōscrue wyth moch
Math. vi Forgyue vs our trespasses as we forgyue thē that trespasse agaynst vs. And by these wordes sayeth saynt Austine humblynge oure soules we cease not after a maner to do dayly penaunce But it is to be feared lest many of vs playe rather the pharisees parte thynkynge our selues hyghly in gods fauour and in the meane season despysynge our neghbours whych by theyr humble submission and penitent hertes shall get vp before vs. Heauen is gyuen not to such as iustifie themselues by their owne dedes but to such as mekely and penitently call for mercy pardon and grace wherby they maye afterward worke that maye be pleasaunt in gods syght Who wol surely in heauen crowne them wyth glorye immortall To whome be honoure and prayse for euer and euer Amen The Epistle on the .xij. sondaye after Trinitie The .ij. Epistle to the Corin. the .iij. Chap. Th argument ☞ The ministration of the gospel is here praysed BRethren such trust haue we thorow Christ to godwarde not that we are sufficient of oure selues to thynke any thynge as of oure selues but yf we be able vnto any thynge the same commeth of God whych hath made vs able to minister the new testament not of the letter but of the spirite For the letter kylleth but the spirite gyueth lyfe Yf the ministracion of death thorow the letters fygured in stones was glorious so that the chyldren of Israel coulde not behold the face of Moses for the glorye of hys countenaunce whych glorye is done awaye why shall not the ministracion of the spirite be much more glorious For yf the ministrynge of condemnation be glorious much more doth the ministration of ryghtuousnes excede in glorye FOr bycause that saint Paule welbeloued brethrē in our sauiour Christe had a lytle before the begynnynge of the epistle of thys daye praysed the Corinthians sayenge vnto them that they were hys epistle in Iesu Christe in asmuch as they had receyued hys gospell and had wrytten and imprinted his fayth in theyr hartes by hys administration preachynge Ministred by vs sayeth he not wryttē with ynke but by the spirite of the lyuyng God Not written in tables of stone as those that Moses had but in tables of flesh in the harte therfore to thyntent to gyue them none occasion that they shulde waxe therwyth proude and to hope and glorie in themselues and not in God and also for to holde them in humilitie vnder the sauegarde of God saynt Paule sayeth We haue truely such hope in God by Christ not that we are sufficient of our selues c. As yf he had sayd Thys that I saye I do not speake it arrogantly presumynge of myne owne wyttes but I haue such hope in God by Iesu Christ that thys that I say is true and shall abyde true I do not saye it of my selfe as of my selfe for we be not sufficient to thinke any thynge of our selues as of our selues but oure sufficientnes and all that whyche we maye thynke speake and do touchynge goodnes cōmeth and dependeth from God whych is begynnynge myddes and ende of all goodnes The whych hath made vs and gyuen vs power to be ministers and preachers of the new testament of the new and good promises whych are by Iesu Christ He hath gyuen vs authoritie and commission to be a preacher not of the letter but of the spirite for the letter sayeth saint Paul sleeth the soule and the spirite doth quycken it We ought here to note well the difference that there is to preache the letter and the spirite For vnto the tyme that the lyuely worde of God be by feruēt fayth rooted in our hartes vnto the tyme I say that we serue God nomore wyth euell wyll but ioyfully and frely what studye or lections soeuer we take yea yf we knewe the olde and new testament by rote of harte yet folowe we the letter But the spirite of God the spirite of scripture the spirite of the which S. Paul speaketh of here is out of feare it serueth in lybertie For where the spirite of the Lorde is there is lybertie fredome Saynt Paule now after that he bare the lyght of God I meane the worde of Iesu Christ beynge desyrous and wyllynge not to hyde it vnder a bushell but exaltynge it and settynge it vp to be bruted and praysed of angels and of men commeth to compare the eternall gospell vnto the transitorye lawe of Moses He calleth the lawe of Moses the executynge or administracion of death damnation Not but that the law is good and holy yf it be vsed lawfully but forbycause the Iues haue abused it to theyr damnation And for the same cause by occasion it is called administration of death He sayeth than yf the administration of death that is to saye yf the auncient lawe was delyuered and gyuen in lyght in puissaunce and in glorye what shall the lawe of the gospell be whych is the administration of the spirite of lyfe and of iustice But forasmuche as dyuerse heretikes and vnlearned persones haue mysvnderstanded thys wrytynge of saint Paule in thys place therfore I thynke it not amysse brefly to make a faythfull reapport vnto you of S. Austines wordes concernynge the interpretacion of thys place Thus he wryteth in hys seconde boke agaynst the aduersary of the lawe and prophetes The lawe albeit it be holy iust and good The wordes S. Austine yet it bryngeth death to the transgressours and breakers therof whome the grace of God helpeth not to fulfyl the iustice of the lawe For it behoued that in the olde testament a lawe shuld be layde vpon the proude and stubborne Iues and on such as trusted vpon the power of theyr owne wyll whych lawe shuld not gyue them ryghtuousnes but shulde commaunde vnto them ryghtuousnes and so beynge wrapped and in tangled wyth the death for transgression that they myght fle to grace which grace not only cōmaūdeth but also helpeth thys grace in the new testament is reuelate and opened vnto vs. And of thys occasion do these blasphemours of gods worde thynke that the lawe was nought whych was gyuen by Moses bycause it is called the ministration of death fygured in stony letters They consyder not that it was so called bycause of them whyche thoughte by theyr owne fre wyll to satisfye the lawe not holpen with the spirite of grace were holden gyltye of transgression vnder the letter of the same lawe For assuredly the transgression or breakinge of the lawe shuld not be euell onles the law it selfe were good What maruayle is it than yf it be called the ministracion of death where the letter kylleth in prohibitynge euell whych is done and in commaundynge good whych is not done and on the contrary syde that the other is called the ministracion of the spirite whych quyckeneth that we mought ryse from the death of preuarication and rede not gyltie in tables ryghtuousnes ☞ but beynge fre might haue it in our hartes and maners that is to
worlde for to wynne Iesu christe Therfore the apostle in the .iij. chapter of his epistle vnto the Colossiās doth exhort vs sayenge Arraye you as chosen of God holy and beloued from the entrayles of mercy benignite humilite mekenesse and patience Supporte the one the other and pardone and forgyue one an other amonge your selues if any hath quarell to other So as god hathe pardonyd so pardone you And aboue all thynges haue charite whych is the bonde of perfection If we do thus we shall at laste comme vnto his bankete of the weddinges of the sonne of God and his spouse and we shall haue the weddinge garment where shal be nothinge reproched vnto vs but we shal be in the nombre of the chosen people shall haue the pleasures of the kingdome of heuen Vnto the glory of the father and of the sonne of the holy ghost whych conueyth all them that doth good vnto thys glorious weddinge wherunto he bryng vs al. Qui viuit et regnat in infinita secula Amen The Epistle on the .xxj. sondaye after Trinitie The .vj. chapter to the Ephesians Th argument ☞ Sayncte Paule doth here describe vnto vs the armour of the christian souldioure MY brethren be stronge thorow the Lorde and thorowe the power of hys myghte Put on al the armour of God that ye maye stande agaynst the assautes of the deuil For we wrestle not against bloude and flesh but agaynst rule agaynst power agaynst worldly rulers euen gouerners of the darkenes of thys worlde againste spiritual craftynesse in heauenly thynges Wherfore take vnto you the whole armoure of God that ye maye be hable to resiste in the euell daye and stande perfecte in all thynges Stande therfore and youre loynes gyrde wyth the trouth hauyng on the breste plate of ryghteousnes and hauynge shoes on your fete that ye maye be prepared for the Gospell of peace Aboue all take to you the shild of fayth wherwith ye may quenche all the fyrye dartes of the wycked And take the helmet of saluation and the sword of the spirite whych is the worde of God MY brethren and frendes ye shal marke consydre that our enemye the deuel doth warre contynually agaynst vs and sercheth by all wyles and meanes possible to bryng vs to cōfusyon and death and that we maye be vnable to resiste hys assaultes and powers The apostle doth therefore teache vs what thyng we haue to do in such and so greate peryls that is that we shuld comfort and lyfte vp our selues in God and in hys moste comfortable myght and power Ps xxiij For as it is sayed in the .xxiij. psalme The Lorde God is strong and mightye The Lorde god is mighty in battel Certes my frēdes it is our Lord Iesus Christe that the prophete here speaketh of which by hys moste triumphante and gloriouse death and passion hath bene mighty in surmountyng our enemye I meane oure mortall enemye the Deuyll Then in thys bytter conflycte and battell that we haue agaynste both hym the worlde and the fleshe let vs take good corage and harte vnto vs not in trustyng so moch vnto our own power and strēgth but in the strenght and puysaunce of Iesus Christe whyche shall fight for vs and whych shall not leaue vs that be his membres but in hym and by hym we shal be made myghty to resiste valiauntly to withstande all temptacions yea and all the maliciouse powers of any princes myghty men that gouerne the darkenes of this worlde whych wolde inforce vs to vngodlynes or for vngodlynes wolde persecute and afflycte vs. Let vs then take the armour herneys of god wherwith we maye make resistence and stande stedfast agaynst the strenghtes assaultes and embushementes of the deuyl For if we be knyghtes of Iesu Christ certeynly we must entre in to battayl wyth hym for there shal be none crowned ☜ but they that shall haue fought worthylye The armour of a christē souldiour And what is the armoure of god Certes it is thys Firste we muste haue agaynst all corrupt lustes and concupiscences our loynes or raynes gyrthed with trueth Agaynst synne the brene plate of iustice and innocencye For shoes we must haue pure affection whych is the preparacion for to walke in the gospell of peace And in all thinges we muste take faythe for oure shelde by whych we maye put out the vehement temptacions of the deuell wherewyth he doth assayle vs as wyth dartes inflamed the whyche shal by no meanes annoye vs if we haue stedfast faith in Iesu Christ and in his holy worde For helmet we must haue hope of saluation And thus armed yet muste we haue the sworde of the spirite that is the worde of god by the whyche sworde all the puissances and force of the euyl spirite shal be cut And furthermore we muste neuer leue these armours as longe as we be in thys worlde for we shall alweyes haue batayle But by these armours we shall vanquyshe in Iesu Christe and by Iesu Christ and not by oure owne strength vnto hym then be perpetuall glorye togyther wyth the father and holy ghost in infinita seculorum secula Amen The gospel on the .xxi. sonday after Trinitie sonday The .iiij. chap. of Iohn̄ Th argument ☞ Iesus healeth the rulers sonne THere was a certen ruler whose sōne was sicke at Capernaum As sone as the same herd that Iesus was come out of Iewry into Galile he went vnto hym and besought hym that he wolde come downe and heale his sonne For he was euen at the poynt of death Thē sayde Iesus vnto hym except ye se sygnes and wōdres ye wyl not beleue The ruler sayeth vnto hym Syr come downe or euer that my sōne dye Iesus saieth vnto hym Go thy waye thy sonne lyueth The man beleued the worde that Iesus had spoken vnto him And he wēt hys waye And as he was nowe goinge downe the seruauntes met hym and tolde hym saying thy sonne lyueth Then enquired he of them the hour whē he begāne to amend And they sayde vnto him Yester daye at the seuenth houre the feuer left hym So the father knewe that it was the same hour in the which Iesus sayde vnto him Thy sonne lyueth And he beleued and al hys housholde IN this gospell good christen audience our Lord Iesus Christ doth rebuke hym whych desired the health of his sonne forbicause that he did not beleue sufficiently that is to saye that he had not hope in him as he ought to haue And did reproche him that if they se not tokens they wolde not beleue But ye wol say Why he that desired Christ to heale his son dyd not beleue Sainte Austine To thys doubte thus aunswereth S. Austine Aske not me but aske Christe what he thoughte of this mā For it foloweth in the text that Iesus sayd vnto hym Onles ye se sygnes and wonders ye wyll not beleue So saith S. Austine he reproueth him bicause he was colde
in fayth or at leste way neither hot nor colde forasmoche as he thought our Sauiour Christ could not help hys sōne except he wente home wyth hym where as in verye dede Christ was able by the only word and commaundement of hys mouth to heal hym namely sith with hys wil he created and made al thynges of nought wherfore by thys he rebuked all them that do demaunde outward signes For he wil not giue vs any signes but only the token of his death and resurrection as only sufficient for oure temporall consolation and eternal saluation knowinge as saith saynte Paule that our olde man that is our sinnes and concupiscences is crucified and deade wyth hym to the ende that we serue no more to sinne but that we shuld walke in newnes of lyffe as risen agayne wyth hym Thys is the token that is giuen vnto vs for our saluation And albeit that he of whom we speake had not such fayth vnto Iesu Christ as he ought to haue had for he demaunded hys bodyly presence as neadefull for to helpe hys sōne yet for all that by hys inestimable goodnes he shewed hymselfe vnto hym suche as he was that is to saye God whyche is not absent from any place hauyng might by hys only word to heale all maladyes and infirmities as well spirituall as corporal and sayd vnto hym Go thy waye thy sōne lyueth and he beleued hys word And in goyng dyd mete wyth hys seruaūtes the whych gaue hym witnesse of the lyfe and health of hys sonne And whan he had demaunded of them the houre of the health of hys sonne and that he knewe that at the selfe houre that Iesu Christ had spoken the worde he was healed he beleued the more and hys fayth was augmēted and he dydde not only beleue but also all hys housholde Degreis in fayth after S. Bede Wherfore my frēdes the excellent clerke Bede noteth here in thys place that in fayth ther be degrees lyke as in other vertues whych haue initiū incrementum et perfectionem that is to saye a begynnynge an increase and a perfection The faythe then of thys man had begynnynge when he asked hys sōnes health increase when he beleued Christes wordes saynge thy sonne lyueth perfection when hys seruauntes brought hym tydynges that hys sōne was hole in dede aboute what tyme he recouered O howe the worde of god is myghty and of greate power the whych destroyeth thus al syknesses principally infidelite whych is the greuoust syknes that maye be for yt is cause of death not only bodely but eternall Let vs then haue fayth and stedfast hope in our Lord Iesu Christ whych seeth all and knoweth all and whyche is in all places And wyth one onlye worde shall he gyue vs lyfe both bodely and gostly vnto the glory of the celestiall father whych healeth all and wyll heale all that be sycke by him Qui uiuit et regnat c. Amen Thepistle on the .xxij. Sondaye after Trinitie sonday The first chap. to the Philippyans Th argument ☞ Paule wishethe that the grace of god charitie myght increase in vs. BRethren we trust in our Lord Iesu Christ that he whych hath begonne a good worke in you shall performe it vntyll the daye of Iesus Christ as it becōmethe me so to iudge of you all because I haue you in my harte forasmoche as ye al are companyons of grace with me euen in my bondes and in the defendinge and stablyshynge of the gospell For god is my record how gretly I long after you all from the very hert rote in Iesus Christ And this I pray that your loue maye increace yet more and more in knowledge and in all vnderstandinge that ye maye accepte the thyngs that are most excellēt that ye maye be pure and suche as hurte no mans concsiens vntyll the daye of Christe beyng fylled with the frute of ryghtousnes which frute cometh by Iesus Christ vnto the glory and prayse of god THe apostle saynt Paule good people doth here teach vs that we must abyde and wayte for frō God the perfection and accomplyshyng of all good workes begonne sayeng that it apperteyneth vnto hym to make an ende of the woorke that he hath begonne the whych is wtout doute the worke of fayth whych worketh by charytie For Iesu Christe sayeth in the .vj. chapter of saynt Ihon Ioh. xj Yt is the worke of God sayeth oure Lorde that ye beleue in hym that he hath sente And also Iesu Christe is called auctor of fayth Also it apperteyneth vnto God for to gyue vs perseuerance and contynuaūce in the same fayth vnto the daye of Iesu Christe as it is written in the .xxxvi. psalme The afflictions of man shal be redressed in welth by god wherby we maye lightly vnderstand that man as of hymselfe cannot do any good and that all they whych vaunte them of theyr power do erre and blaspheme agaynste God when they attribute vnto thēselfes that whych apperteyneth vnto God whose power it is when we do any good The daye of Iesu Christe is the daye of the death of euery body The day of Iesus Christe and to speke generally it is domes daye at the whych daye he shall yelde vnto euery one accordyng vnto hys fayth or infidelitie that they shal haue folowed vnto the faythfull lyfe eternall and vnto the vnfaythfull the deathe eternall And the apostle might iustly thynke of the Philippians that god wold do vnto them this grace for to make them to perseuer vnto th ende for the charite that he had vnto them the which beleue lightly al thinges that is to the honour forbycause also that themselues did reioyce when they had vnderstande that in prysonmente at Rome he defended hym after suche a sorte that it was vnto the confirmation of the gospell and the greate ioye of the same And therfore he prayed them that thys charytie towarde god and loue vnto hys worde might aboūde and increase alwayes more more in the knowlege of god and in all spirituall sense for to discerne and approue the meruelouse thynges and for to be pure and clene and without offending and rebuke at the day of our lorde Iesu Christ both particuler vniuersal al replenished with the frute of iustice which is the iustice of faith by our lord Iesu christ vnto the glory of the eternal father In this saint Paule giueth vs to vnderstand how that al begynning the endes of good workes ought to be attributed vnto God And the charytie whych one ought to haue to another when one heareth or vnderstādeth that the worde of God doth growe it augmenteth and confirmeth whych is the doctrine of the Gospell for in the same is the true science and knowlege of god and the wit of the holy ghost wherby one maye proue and assaye the better thinges whych be the welthes spirituall and heuenly The whyche graunt vs the heuenly father by our lorde Iesu Christ Amen The gospel on