in suche miserable case were not alyke moued to helpe this maÌ„ The preest Leuite were mercylesse the Samarytane was mercyfull Uerely in the Samaritane was y â— loue of god whiche excited moued him agayn to shew loue towarde his neyghbour But in the preest Leuyte was ther no loue toward god therfore had they no pytie coÌ„passioÌ„ vpoÌ„ theyr neighbour So y â— where the loue of God wanteth ther can the loue of oure neyghboure haue no place And to saye y â— trueth I thynke surely that accordinge to Christes prophecy y â— loue of manye was neuer so colde For whan was there euer so many fayre wordes so much dissimulacioon who can at this daye vnfaynedly know his frende froÌ„ his 〈◊〉 al trueth is vtterly decayd among the chyldren of meÌ„ Euery one speaketh lyes to theyre neyghbour theyr lyppes are deceytfull they speake one thynge thynke an other In theyr mouthe they speake peace w t theyr frend yet secretely they lay in wayte for him They stretch out theyr tonge as a bowe of lying and not of trueth As the folowers lay snares to take byrdes so do they laye snares trappes to take men And as the trappe is full of byrdes so are theyr houses full of disceyte Nowe is the tyme come that Christ speaketh of in the holy gospel The brother sayeth he shall betray the brother vnto the deathe y â— father y â— sonne the chyldren shall aryse aagaynst theyr fathers mothers shal putte them to deathe Manye are become ryght Iudasies that is frendes in pretence extreme enemyes in theyr workes so y â— almoost no man knowethe whome he maye truste take for his frende It shall therfore become al meÌ„ to folow the admonicion of the Prophete Ieremy which sayeth Let euery maÌ„ be ware of his neyghboure put hys affyance trust iÌ„ none of al his brothers For euery brother wyll supplant deceyue euery frend wyll walke deceytfully so y t one brother shal mocke another and not speake trueth For they haue taught their tonge to speake lyes studyed very ernestly to do wyckedly Here to pertayneth the sayeng of the Prophete Miche Kepe the secretes of thy mouth from her that slepeth in thy bosome for y e sonne shall worke the father displeasure the doughter shall ryse agaynst her mother the doughter in lawe agaynste her mother in lawe a mannes owne houshold and familyars shalbe his mooste enemyes Thus se we what loue ther is nowe a dayes amonge men Agayne what vnmercyfulnesse reygneth amoÌ„g men at this tyme Howe slenderly are the poore members of Christ prouyded for nowe a dayes Howe do they go about froÌ„ dore to dore lameÌ„tyng expressyng with dolorous sorowful wordes theyr to muche wretched miserable state yet no man pitieth theÌ„ ter thefte whoredome haue ouerflowed the world bloud hath towched bloud But to be shorte in this behalfe let vs knowe that the iugement shalbe w tout mercy to hym y t wyll shew no mercy Let vs also be assured that as the mercyefull shall obtayne mercy so shall the vnmercifull receyue euerlastyng daÌ„nacion Moreouer what couetousnesse raygneth amonge men at this present tyme Howe ioyne they house to house londe to londe ferme vnto ferme pasture to pasture so longe as any is to be gotten as thoughe they shoulde dwell vpon the earthe alone From the leest to the mooste they hange all vpoÌ„ couetousnesse froÌ„ the Prophete to the preest they go all about with falsehode lyes They are shameles dogges that be neuer satified Euery one foloweth his owne couetous appetyte euen froÌ„ the hyghest to the lowest They receyue gyftes to shed bloud They take vsury encrese They oppresse theyr poore neyghbours by extorcion They are lyke raueniÌ„g wolues to shed bloud to destroy soules for theyr couetous lucre They heape vp other mens goodes They lade theÌ„ selues with thycke claye They couetouslye gather togyther euell gotten goodes into theyr houses y t they maye set theyr neste on hye to escape froÌ„ y e power of mysfortune The are rycthe not to God but to the world They heape vp treasure and yet knowe they not for whome they gather it They do so abound in all kynde of rytches y t theyr goodes be corrupte Theyr garmentes are motheaten theyr golde theyr syluer are caÌ„ckred the rust of theÌ„ shalbe a wytnes agaynst theÌ„ shal eate theyr flesshe as it were fyre And yet for all theyr greate aboundans mercy shewe they none to the poore people but y â— more they haue the more they couyte For they are proud they put theyr hope in vncertayne rytches not in y â— lyuing God which gyueth vs aboundantly all thynges to enioye theÌ„ They do no good they be not rich in good workes they do not distribute and gyue with a good wyll they gather not vp treasures for them selues which should be a good foundacion agaynste the tyme to come y t they maye laye hande on eternall lyfe Therfore to all suche it is not with out a cause sayde Wo be vnto you rytch men which haue your consolacion Wo be to you y t are full for ye shal huÌ„ger Wo be to you y t laugh nowe for he shall wepe and wayle Agayne It is more easye for a Cammell to go thorowe the eye of a nedle than a rytch man to enter into the kyngedome of God What loue I praye you can there be to a mans neyghbour where such couetous affectes insatiable lustes do reygne God turne awaye this pestilence out of the earth Furthermore what detestable fylthye stynkynge and abhominable whoredome reygnethe in the worlde nowe a dayes yea and that so frely and wythout punisshment that it is accounted no synne at all among many but rather a sporte a good felowlike dalyauÌ„ce a tokeÌ„ of loue a touch of lusty youth The holy scripture coÌ„maundeth y e fornicacioÌ„ adultry whoredome al vncleanes shoulde not once be named among vs muche lesse perpetrated done Yet to deflour maydens to corrupt wyues to defyle wydowes is now iudged and taken but for a playe tryfelynge matter Yea many are growen into such vnshamefastenes that they vse to enterlase theyr talke at the tyme of theyr repast w t such fylthy coÌ„municacion nothyng fearyng to declare before other how valeant champioÌ„s they haue shewed theÌ„ selues in Uenus court Thus do they reioyce whan they haue done euel make a sport â—t vnfyttynge thynges O detestable abhominacioÌ„ This maketh as the Prophet sayeth that there are so many adulterers This maketh that they fal to whoredome hauÌ„t harlottes houses This maketh theÌ„ lyke stoned wyld horses to ney at theyr neighbours wiues Yea thys maketh chast matrimony to be despysed and whores to be set more by than
your maystershyp At another tyme God furtherynge me in my studies I shall wyth no lesse dilygence compyle ether workes no lesse serious weyghtye graue dedicatynge theÌ„ to your maystershyppes name as I truste to the glorye of God y e edificacion of his churche and the immortalytye of youre renowne In the meane season I shal moost hertely desyre God y e author of euery yeare that this new yeare with many other maye euer begyn vnto you wyth good fortune procede w t better ende wyth y â— whiche is beste and alwaye be prosperous and fortunate so long as they last God preserue your ryght worshypful maystershyp with the good gentle woman your wyfe in coÌ„tinual helth and prosperous felicite Amen ¶ Yours at wyll coÌ„mauÌ„dement Theodore Basille The newes out of Heauen ¶ Gabriel the Aungel and Embassadour of god speaketh WHerfore are ye sadde o ye men mortall Wherfore do ye walke as persons desolate dismayd altogyther conforteles Wherfore do ye sygh wepe sob and take thought Wherfore do ye wrynge your handes teare your heere Whye rather do ye not reioyce Why do ye not eleuate and lyfte vp your heades walkyng plesauÌ„tly Why do ye not loke w t smylynge countenaunces Whye do ye not putte oute of youre hertes all thought care Why do ye not so coÌ„pose set youre selues that all the gesture of youre body maye fraÌ„ckely wyth a lustye courage declare youre ioye myrth gladnes felicite and pleasauÌ„ce Ther is beleue me not one cause of sadnes but of gladnes many ye innumerable For God is nowe nomore an enemy vnto you but a dere frende He is become of a cruell iudge a mercifull sauyour of an austere and fearce LORDE a bounteous and gentle father of an extreme reuenger a tender forgyuer to be shorte he is now become the very same vnto you y â— a moost tender moost gentle moost louynge moost bounteous mooste kynde moost benefycial moost liberal most benygne father is to y â— his natural sonne whome he moost intâ—erlye loueth and tenderly inhalseth aboue al the other Howe therfore can ye be sadde Howe can ye any otherwyse than reioyce and be mery seynge that al doloure all so rowe all care all grefe all payne al perrell all trouble all daunger all disquietnes all hatred all malyce all emnite all maliuolence all euell wyll all wrathe all displeasure all desyre of vengeaunce and all that euer is coÌ„trary to your ioye pleasaunce to your health and coÌ„forte to your rest and tranquilitie is vtterly extinguysshed so put awaye for euer and euer that you whiche are of Gods faythful coÌ„gregacioÌ„ obedieÌ„t to his word redy to accomplysshe his moost holye and deuyne wyll shall neuer after this perysshe fall out of fauour but haue eternall lyfe And all this is come to passe thorowe Gods grande mercies by the glorious natiuite moost blessed byrth of his welbeloued son Iesus Christe whiche this daye is borne of a pure cleane virgine in BethleeÌ„ a citie of Dauyd thorowe the meruaylous and woÌ„derfull operacioÌ„ of the holy Ghost y e he shoulde be a sauyoure yea and an omnisulficient sauyoure to saue his people that is to saye so many as beleue in hym from theyr synnes and from the daunger of Sattan that they maye be made inherytours of eternall glory These newes out of heaueÌ„ am I Gabriel the Aungell and Embassadour of God sent for to declare vnto you that ye maye vnfaynedly reioyce not in vayne worldely thynges but fyrste in the LORDE GOD your sauyour afterwarde in celestial and heauenly thynges euer more be thankefull for them followynge worthy this inestimable benignite vnspeakable goodnesse of God y e father thorow Iesus Christ that these synguler benefytes may not at any tyme seme to be shewed vnto ingrate and vnthankeful personnes Me thinke I se you nowe begin to reioyse and skyppe for ioye yea and seriously to triumph as persoÌ„nes ful of francke courage at y â— hearynge of these moost pleasaunt and ioyfull newes which thyng certes to me is no vulgare delectacion smale pleasure But that you maye reioyce vnfaynedlye knowe that ye in dede haue an vrgente weyghtye cause to be glad yea and that with a contynuall myrth and suche a ioye as ought to be immortall neuer dye I wyl reherse to you in what damnable state ye were in before these moost confortable newes were sent vnto you from the mooste glorious and imperial seate of y e mooste blessed Trinite that you perceyuynge your owne miserable coÌ„dicion may the more seriouslye reioyse in those swete and delectable newes God in the begynnynge as the holy scriptures testifye created maÌ„ accordyng to his owne similitude lykenes ymage y â— is to saye he in dued hym with immortalyte wyt reason sapience iustyce free wyll mercy goodnes holynes truethe all perfeccion and gaue hym impery and rule ouer all lyuyng creatures constitutynge hym in ioyefull Paradyse a gardeÌ„ full of pleasure that he should worke in it kepe it geuyng hym also authorite power lybertye to eate of euery tree in y e garden saue only of y e tree of knowledge of good and euel yf man dyd eate of that neuer so sone god tolde him before y t he should dye the deth that is fall from the glorious state wherin than he stode become mortal wretched synfull miserable seruyle thraull captyue a very boÌ„d slaue to Satan hated of god voyd of all goodnes bent to al myschefe the sonne of perdicion a fyre brand of hell a vessell of yre and wrathe All these thynges dyd God tell before to AdaÌ„ that he myghte be prudent wyse circumspecte and the better inarme himselfe w t courageous valeauÌ„ce to fyght agaynst the crafty and subtyle assaultes of his enemy Not longe after Satan whom God before had throwen out of heauen for his arrogaÌ„cy and pryde enuyeng man that blessed gloryous state wherin he dyd remayne desyrynge also hys lyke perdicion full craftely and lyke a wyly serpent atteÌ„pted the womaÌ„ as y e more frayle vessell redy to be deuycte ouer come so that at the last thorow hys subtyl and crafty perswasions she gaue place to y â— tortuous wylye serpent y â— father of lyeng wyckedly transgressed Gods moost holy coÌ„maundement For Satan told her playnly that there was no daunger in eatyng of that fruyte which was forbyddeÌ„ neyther should they dye the deathe though they so dyd yea rather theyr eyes should be opened and they shoulde be as goddes knowynge good and euell The woman beyng enflamed with these honylycke and swete entysementes seyeng also that the tree was good to eate of fayre to the eye and plesaunt to beholde toke the fruyte of it dyd eate and
clypper shal he hold his peace nether shal he once opeÌ„ his mouth Thus because it is his pleasure shall he offer hym selfe vpon the altare of the crosse by hys moost precious bloude paye our rauÌ„some By this his glorious passion shal he take vpon hym your infyrmities beare awaye youre synnes By his moost blessed woundes shal al your iniquities be putte awaye Al your synnes shalbe layd on his backe His bloud shall make you cleane from al your synne By his bloude shal ye haue remission of your synnes By y e precious bloude of this Christ as of an immaculate and pure lambe shal ye be redemed from the tyrany of Satan By y â— oblacion of Christe shall ye be made free from al wyckednes delyuered from the power of darkenes caried into the gloryous kyngedome of God For he is the lambe of GOD whiche taketh awaye the synne of the worlde This is that sonne of man which is come to saue that which was lost not to destroy the soules of meÌ„ but to saue theÌ„ And al this shall come to passe by the oblacion offryng of his owne moost precious blessed body For he shal by your Bysshop not suche one as also shall haue nede to offer for hys owne synnes but for youres onely nether shal he be like y â— bishoppes of y â— old law which offer dayly for y â— sinnes of y â— people suche sacrifyces as can neuer take away sinne nor yet make men perfecte But this your Bysshop shalbe godly innoceÌ„t fautles segregated from synners and made higher then y e heaueÌ„s whiche shal not nede as the other Bisshoppes do dayly to offer sacrifices first for hys owne synnes afterwarde for the synnes of the people For he beynge without al synne shall once for all offer hymselfe And this one sacrifyce or oblacion of hys mooste blessed bodye shal be able to saue so many as beleue in him euen to the vttermoost Christ beynge the Bysshop of good thynges to come shall enter into y â— holy place by hys own bloud fynd euerlastyng redeÌ„pcioÌ„ He thorow the holy Ghoste shall offer hymselfe immaculate to God pourge your conscience from deade workes to serue the lyuynge God HeÌ„ once for al offeryng vp him selfe shall take awaye the synnes of many By the oblacion of the bodye of Iesus Christ done once for all shall you be sanctifyed With one oblacioÌ„ shall he make perfecte for euermore theÌ„ that are sanctifyed Here se you of what iÌ„estimable pryce the sacrifyce of Christ your bysshop is The vertue of it neuer ceaseth but endurethe in perfecte strengthe for euer euer y â— the sinnes of y â— faythful repentant maye be forgyuen at all tymes by it Christes bloud shall not crye for vengeauÌ„ce as y â— bloude of Abell dyd but for mercy grace fauour Yea by Christes bloud shall all thynges both in heauen eâ—the be pacifyed apeased set at a stay reconcyled to God the father abouÌ„daÌ„tly So that nowe ye shalbe purged of al your synnes by this one omnisufficiente oblacion of Iesus Christe your Bisshop For he alone shal treade downe the wynepresse take vpon his backe the great importible burden of your synnes all He by his death shall slaye death ouercome SataÌ„ synne hel desperacion all y â— euer maye be agaynste you So y â— nowe ye shal be made so cleare as though ye had neuer offeÌ„ded Ye shall now be so set at liberty as though before ye had neuer ben in captiuite And all this shall come to passe by the deathe alone of thys yonge chylde nowe borne whose body shall be the alone sacrifyce of all your synnes vnto the which as vnto an holy ancker ye muste alwaye ronne for ayde refuge succoure trustynge assuredly that his death â—s youre whole hope youre meryte youre refuge helth lyfe resurreccion For youre meryte is the compassion excedyng mercy of Christ your LODRE ye are not w toute meryte so longe as y â— LORD of mercyes doth not fayle And yf the merytes of the LORDE be many than are ye plenteous in merites The more able y â— he is to saue the more safe and w toute dauÌ„ger are ye Thus se you what a great occasioÌ„ ye haue to reioy se in the deathe of the LORDE Christ your alone sauyour wherby so many synguler great commodities shall chaunse vnto you God forbydde therfore that ye should reioyse in ony thynge at all saue only in the crosse death of your LORDE Iesus Christ. Syrtely but in asmuch as it is not sufficient that this youre newe hynge Iesus Christ do dye for your synnes except he also ryseth againe for youre iustificacion therfore do I also declare vnto you these moost ioyful coÌ„fortable newes y t after he be once dead buried he by y â— power of his deite shall gloriouslye ryse again y â— thyrd day froÌ„ deth to life for your iustificacioÌ„ accordiÌ„g to y â— holy scriptures For God his father shal make him alyue after two dayes vpon the thyrde daye he shall rayse hym vp he shal lyue in his syght As Ionas was iÌ„ y e belly of a whale thre dayes thre nightes so shall y e sonne of man be in the herte of the earth thre dayes and thre nightes And as Ionas by y â— power of God came out of y â— whalles belly y e thyrd daye so in semblable wyse shall this Christ by y e puissauÌ„ce of God his father ryse agayne y â— thyrd daye from deathe to lyfe By this glorious resurreccion of Iesus Christ shall ye gette the victory of Satan synne death hell desperacion c. By this glorious resurreccioÌ„ of Iesus christ shall ye be made ryghteous in God the fathers sight By this glorious resurreccioÌ„ of Iesus Christ shal heauen gates be opened for you which so longe haue ben sparred By this glorious resurreccioÌ„ of Iesus christ shall ye also ryse agayne enter iÌ„to euerlastyng lyfe By this glorious resurreccioÌ„ of Iesus christ shal god of his excedynge mercy beget you a new into euerlastyng hope an immortall heritage which is kepte for you in heaueÌ„ For Christ is y â— resurreccioÌ„ lyfe he y â— beleueth in him al though he be dead yet shall he lyue euery one that lyueth beleuethe in hym shall neuer dye Here se you in howe ioyfull and mery a state ye shall be set by Christes moost glorious resurreccion What is here but that moueth styreth vs to ioye gladnesse To muche brutall is he which at the heryng of these moost swete delectable newes dothe not seriously reioyse Furthermore after that thys LORDE Iesus Christ is risen agayn from death to lyfe hath continued here vpoÌ„ the earth certayne dayes
and Sauiour with the holy Ghost one very God worldes without ende to whome alone be all honour glory for euer and euer Amen ¶ A brefe rehersall of all those thynges that go before THus haue I declared vnto you the moost swete moost confortable moost plesauÌ„t moost meri newes out of heaue at the coÌ„maundement of the hyghest puissauÌ„t God Ye se iÌ„ how miserable a case ye are redacted and fallen by the synne of AdaÌ„ howe that by hym ye are all damned and made y â— sonnes of wrath Ye se that of your selues because of youre imperfeccioÌ„ ye are not able to do any good thyng that maye satisfy y â— deuyne wyll apease Gods wrathe Ye se that y â— workes of the lawe can not make you fre in y â— syght of god neyther are ye able of youre owne strenth free wyll so pureâ—y so spiritually to do theÌ„ as the law requireth that you may obtayne remissyon of youre synnes by doynge of them Ye se also that the sacrifyces of the olde lawe can neuer putte away synne as for workes of your owne inuencioÌ„ are mooste of all imê‘fecte mooste vnapte to purchase grace fauoure Thus se you that of youre owne selues of your owne polecy of your owne righteousnes ye are not able to escape the dauÌ„ger of daÌ„nacion yea rather daÌ„nacioÌ„ it selfe Therfore dyd I declare vnto you the coÌ„fortable newes out of heueÌ„ shewyng you that God not for the workes of righteousnes that ye haue done which in dede are none but of his owne free great mercy hath vouchedsaufe to preserue and kepe you from the dauÌ„ger of SataÌ„ sinne death hel yea and y t by this his welbeloued sonne Iesus Christ which this daye is borne in the cytie of Dauid to be the sauioure of y â— world So that for Iesus Christes sake God is well pleased with you Ye haue heard that y â— lawe hath condeÌ„ned you in asmuch as ye are traÌ„sgressours of it and hath made you accursed FroÌ„ this cursse of the lawe shal christ delyuer you not froÌ„ the lawe it selfe that you shoulde lyue vngodly after a remisse and dissolute maner for such haue no in heritauÌ„ce in y â— kyngdome of Christe of God but from the curse seruitude bondage damnacioÌ„ of y e lawe For he shall fulfyll y â— whole law eueÌ„ to the vttermoste And hys fulfyllynge shall be accepted before God the father for the fulfyllynge of so many as beleue in him And he settyng you at libertye from the curse of the lawe shall gyue you a newe herte put in you a newe spirite he shal take away your stony herte gyue you a fleshly that is a softe gentle herte redy to enclyne to y â— accoÌ„plyshment of Goddes wyll He shal gyue his lawes into your myndes wryte them in your hertes y â— you maye euer after franckely and with a free spirite fulfyl them Ye haue hearde how this Christ shall brynge you oute of the darkenes into the lyght of trueth by the syncere declarynge of hys fathers wyll For he is the lyght of y â— world God hath gyuen hym to be a witnes vnto the people a captayne a mayster amonge the heythen And this his doctryne shall he confyrme with such miracles as shall euydeÌ„tly shew proue that he is that true Messias whiche was promysed to come Agayne ye haue hearde y â— all his good dedes are youres For with hiÌ„ hath God the father also gyueÌ„ you all thynges so that he is your wysdome your righteousnes your saÌ„ctificacion and redempcion Ye haue herde also that he shall offer himsele for you to God the father an oblacion swete swellynge sacrifice vpoÌ„ the Altare of the crosse that by this one oblacion sacrifyce of his mooste blessed body done once for all all your synnes shall be put away ye shal be made perfecte and wasshed from all deformitie so cleane by christes bloud as though ye had neuer offended heretofore Ye haue hearde agayne that as christ shal dye for your siÌ„nes so shal he ryse agayne for your iustificacion obtaynynge for you the victory of synne death and hell y â— that his moost glorious resurreccion Ye haue heard y â— after he is once rysen agayne he shal here remayne certayne dayes than ascende corporally into heauen sytte downe on the ryght hande of God y e father sendynge downe the holye Ghoste which shall lede you into all trueth Ye haue hearde also that Christe syttynge on the ryght hand of God the father shall not be ydle but styll prouyde seke youre helth He shall be your mediatoure aduocate He shall make contynuall intercessyon for you He shall pleate youre cause before God his father He shall auaunce your matter before the deuyne presence Yf ye at any tyme excite or styre vp gods wrath against you thorowe your iniquitie he shall streyght wayes apease it and make God the father styll youre louynge father which elles would be to you an extreme reuenger Ye haue herde agayne y â— Christe at y â— laste daye shal come gloriously froÌ„ y â— right haÌ„d of his father to iuge the quicke the deade howe that after the iudgemente is once done ye shall enter into glory with hym lyuynge for euer after in such ioye pleasure gladnesse as can not by any meanes eyther be expressed by tong or coÌ„ceyued in herte All these coÌ„modities pleasures profyttes shal ye haue by this your new kiÌ„ge sauiour Iesus Christ which this day is borne in Bethleem a citie of Dauid What more pleasaunt and thanckeworthye newes coulde be brought to you then theise What coulde haue set suche a ioye in your hertes as the hearynge of these newes CaÌ„ any thyng lyke vnto these chaunse vnto you so great so welcome so acceptable so ioyful Uerely yf ye seriously coÌ„syder the misery wherwith ye were obruted ouerwhelmed before ye shall easlye perceyue that ye haue an earnest cause to reioyce No prisoner no captiue no bond slaue was euer in so great captiuite thraldome as ye were before these news were brought to you Iâ— a prisoner reioysethe for his delyuerance oute of pryson whiche once muste nedes haue an ende yf none otherwyse yet at the leest by death howe great a cause theÌ„ haue you to reioyse for your deliuerauÌ„ce which were captiues prisoners to that horrible monsture and pestiserous serpent euen SataÌ„ hymselfe yea and that not for certayne yeares but for euer worldes wythout ende Neyther was it youre body alone that was in captiuite and boÌ„dage but your soule also both your body soule were captyue to hym so that yf this your newe kynge redemer