may dye with him doubted of our Lordes resurrection whereof it came that Peter was the more meke and gentle to sinners and that the faithfull and they that stackard in the faithe were the better stablished there in And of this it is gathered that no manne should presume vpon his stedfastnes And that no man whether he be fallen from his faith or doubteth therin should despair of the mercye or of the forgeuenesse of God And by this that Iudas the Apostle and dispensator of God did slide into suche an eanorme crime nor rose not againe al presuÌ„pteous security is deminished and broken by the whiche no manne for the state condition that he is in nor for the dedes that he hath done oughte to be hie mineded but in fear For why the Apostles wer the faithful leaders of the people and yet they were kept in prysonne wythal diligence It might seme to such as be weake that God shuld not haue suffred such thinges to haue bene done in the beginning of the faith Actes 4â— But yet the faithful therby wer maruelously comforted and the aduersaries of our faithe confuted Actes 12. The like thing chaunced in Peter alone when he was taken by Herode put in prison and broughte forth and miraculouslye deliuered by the Angell It was great iniquity to stone Steuen to death Actes 7. and yet many good thinges throughe the prouidence of God came therof For Steuen was gloriously crowned in heauen and aboundauntly honoured in earthe his oration and prayer that he made there brought Paule vnto vs and left vnto al our posterity an example of a maruelous paâ—ience and charitye Actes 8 Steuen beynge thus stoned there followed a greate persecution in the Churche and congregation that was at Ierusalem For they were all sparkled abrode through out al the regions of Iewry and Samaria except the Apostles so that â—t semed to be a great detriment or hinderaÌ„ce to the honour of the christiane religion But the Discyples that were scattered abroade dyd so preache and sette forthe the worde of God that the Churche there by was a greate deale the more enlarged Actes 13. For as much as the Iewes when Paule and Barnabas preached the woorde of God vnto them refused it and put it from them they tooke an occasyon to preache vnto the Gentyles There was a dissentyon betwene Paule and Barnabas for IhoÌ„ whose sirname was Marke whome Paule woulde not receyue because he wente from theÌ„ but Barnabas toke Marke wyth hym Actes 15. and so they departed a sunder one from the other Where by shoulde haue folowed as it was thoughte some greate rebuke and shame But God disposing the matter there ensued greate frute and profite For the worde of God was opened preached to manye They committed a verye haynous deede and faute that putte that excellente doctoure Paule in prison coÌ„pellynge hym to cease from Preachinge the whyche thynge myghte seme to many a great inconuenience and that God should not haue suffred it And yet it is to bee greatly noted that the deuine prouidence by suche impedimentes and losses hath shewed and caused greate frute and profyte For as the merites of Paul did therby increase so likewise he left the mo examples of vertue and taughte muche better by his woorkes then before time by his wordes For beynge in prison he wrote to those that were absent and in farre countries nether was he so profitable vnto the church by his preachinge as he was by sending of his Epistles And therefore if he in any one city or prouince had ben honoured of all men and gladly hardt he should not yet haue had such occasions to haue gone and visited so diuers and many nations as he visited Therfore when that the Iewes or any other did persecute him froÌ„ towne to towne he preached the woorde of God to manye And when he was in hold he wrote his Epistles and when the Iewes resisted him Actes 13. he turned him self to the gentiles And againe because that in Syria he founde Festus and Felix vnrightfull Iudges Actes 25. hee was enforced to appeale to Cesar and so hee came to Rome and throughe his predication and doctrine was greatly illustred and luckelye by hys passion made mooste famous ¶ Of the benignitie of God to hys seruauntes ¶ The third Chapter ABraham commynge and speaking with our Lord Genesisâ— 28 desired him to spare the Sodomites vsed suche a maruelous boldnes that men might haue iudged him very importune But yet our Lord answered him all wayes gentlye and graunted him his request Our Lord moste gentlye appeared vnto Iacob flying and eschuynge hys brothers anger Gene. 31. and deliuered hym from his father in lawes insecution returning again to his brother Iacob vsed a greate audacitye and bouldnes in his prayer to our Lorde Gene. 38. saying I wyl not let thee go excepte thou blesse me And oure Lorde saide vnto Moses I haue seene this people Exodus 32. and behold it is a stiffe necked people suffer me that my wrath may wax hot against them As thoughe he wold saye thou holdest me nor I cannot consume these wicked sinners excepte thou let me go And our Lord spake vnto Moses as a man speaketh to his frende Exodus 33. and did defend him from his enemies and detractours Oure Lorde obeyed vnto Iosuas voyce Iosue 10. saying Sunne stand thou styll vpon Gibeon Balack called Balaam for to curse the children of Israell Iosu. 24. but our Lorde cleane contrarye blessed them by Balaam Nume 22 Gedeon demaunded twise of oure Lorde a signe in the fiece Iudi. 6. whether he shoulde obtaine the victorye of his enemies This was to be maruailed at that oure LORDE when he hym selfe was abiected and refused 2. regum 7. disdayned not there at but in the contempte of the seruauntes of GOD he estemed him self to be contemned As it is manifest and plaine in Samuel 1. regum 8. They did not reiecte thee but me saithe oure LORDE Note also howe courteouslye oure LORDE spake vnto Nathan 2. regum 7 of Dauid and of his house in time to come Notwithstandynge that the posteritye of Dauid did sinne greuouslye and manye manner of wyse 4. regu 19. yet hys good deedes are oftentymes remembred and because of them oure Lorde doth verye ofte spare and forgeue the sinnes of the people At the Commaundemente of God the rauens broughte breade and flesh to Helias 3. reg 17.19 And afterwardes the angell of God shewed hym breade and water Ezechia the kinge of Iewry sayde Oure LORDE wyll be mercifull 2. Para. 30 vnto all those that seeke hym withall their hartes nor shall not impute vnto them that they are not sufficiently inough sanctified Our LORDE sente his Aungell the whyche ledde for the yonge Tobias and broughte him agayne he draue the deuill from hys wife he made hys parentes glad and ioyfull To. 5.8.11
Act. 16. the congregations were stablished in the faithe and encreased in nombre daily When the keper of the prysone in the which Paule and Silas were detained Act. 16. saw the earthquake and the prison open beyng sore troubled and afraid fel down at their fete saying what must I do to be saued and they said beleue in oure Lorde Iesus and thou shalt be saued When Paul had disputed at AtheÌ„s against Idolatry Act. 17. certaine men cleauing vnto him beleued amonge the which was Dionisius c. ¶ Of the fidelitye that ought to be kept to man Capi. xxxv ELiezer Abrahams seruaunt dyd the message coÌ„mitted vnto hym Gen. 24. by his master verye faithfullye when he went for Rebecca to Bathnals house Iacob serued his vncle Laban faithfully when that he keping his shepe by day was consumed with heat Gen. 29.31 and by night with frost Ioseph shewed him self faithful vnto his maister Gen. 39. in that he woulde not touche hys wyfe And in his counsail that he gaue vnto Pharao Gen. 41. and in suche seruice as he exhibited and dyd for hym Rachab the harlot did faithfullye with the spies which Iosue sent Iosu. 2.6 and likewise Iosue afterwardes vsed her faithfully again Althoughe the Gabaonites had deceiued Iosue and the children of Israel Iosu. 9.10 yet they kepte their othe and promise wyth them and after that faithfully defended them against theyr enemyes Ionathas did faithfully disclose his fathers yre and wrathe vnto Dauid 1. regu 20. and as much as laye in hym excused hym and afterwardes coÌ„forted hym Abiathars father beynge slaine by the occasion of Dauid 1. regu 22. I am saythe Dauid the cause of the deathe of all the soules of thy fathers house Abide with me and feare not For if anye seke my soule he shal seke thine also with me thou shalt be in sauegarde Dauid would not smyte nor laye his handes vpon Saul hys Lord and king 1. regu 24. Notwithstanding he was euel and did persecuâ—e him and yet if hee had woulde hee myghte twyse haue slaine hym The harnesse bearer of Saule was a greate signe and token of fidelitye 1. regu 31. and yet he did but vndiscretely when that he seing his master was deade woulde liue no longer but fel vppon his sweard and died with him what oughte we then to do for oure Lorde that was crucified for vs The men and inhabitours of Iabes in Galaad 1. regu 31. shewed them selues faithfull to Saule theyr Lorde notwythstandinge he was euell and wicked when they reuerently buried hym Urias the Hethite would not liue in delite and pleasure 2. regu 11. as long as hys Lord Ioab labourd and was in warfare When the city of Rabbath was in ieopardy to be loste and taken 2. regu 12. Ioab as long as he beseged it sent for Dauid to come thither to take the citye that the honor of the victory might be geuen to his master not to him self When Dauyd fled from Absolon Ethai sayde vnto him As trulye as God lyueth 2. regu 15. in what place my Lorde the kynge shal be whether in death or lyfe euen there also wyll thy seruaunt be Dauids menne woulde not that he should goe forthe with theim to battayle 2. regu 18. Saying Thou art compted to be worth ten thousand of vs. Wherby it appeareth that faythfully they loued hym And in another place Thou shalte notte goo oute with vs to battayle 2. regu 21. that thou quenche not the light of Israell All Israell separated them selues from Dauid 2. regu 20. and folowed Selon the sonne of Bochri But the Iewes cleaued vnto their kynge bothe faythfully and constantly Thre robust and stronge menne moste faithfully defended Dauid fightygne agaynste the Philistians 1. Para. 11. and brought him water out of the well of Bethelem the whyche he greatlye desyred Ioiada the hye priest dyd exceding faythfully with Ioas the sonne of Ioram kynge of Iuda 4. regu 11. Notwithstanding that he afterwardes regarded it but slenderly Onias the byshop and other priestes did faythfully trauell and labour 2. Mach. 3. to kepe such thinges as widowes and pepylles had deposed and geuen them to kepe Oure Lorde dothe commende the Mat. 25. fidelite of those seruauntes that encreased the thynges delyuered vnto them Paule wyth great faithfulnes procured 2. Cor. 9. the gatherynge of mennes almes to be done for the necessite of the poore in Iewry Paule sent faythfull and effectuous letters to Philemon for his fugitiue seruaunte Onesimus Philip. 1. Certain of the chefe of Asia gaue Paule discrete and faythfull Counsayle Act. 19. desirynge hym that he would not prease nor come into the common hall ¶ Of quietnesse and illustration of the minde Cap. xxvi AFter that Abraham went from Hur of the Chaldees Gen. 12.13.15.18 Our lord apâ—eared sondrye tymes vnto hym and visyted hym wyth dyuers reuelations Gen. 18. Our Lorde appeared vnto AbrahaÌ„ in the plaine of Mambre as he sat in his tent dore in the heat of the daye The whiche maye he expounded of a contemplatiue man Gen. 24. Isaac dwelt in the south countrey and was gone out in his meditations or to pray in the field Gen. 25. Esau became a cunning hunter a tiller of the earth but Iacob was a quiet and a symple man and dwelled in the tentes Gen. 28. Iacob departed from Bersabe to come to Haram and purposynge to reast there in a certaine place because the sonne was downe he tooke of the stones that were in that place and put them vnder his heade and layde hym downe and slept in that same place and he sawe in a dreame a ladder standinge vpon the earth c Moses kept the shepe of Ietro his father in lawe Exo. 3. and he droue the flocke to the back side of the desert and came to the mountaine of god Horeb. And Oure lorde appeared vnto hym in a flame of fire Iethro Moses father in lawe seinge hym occupied from morninge vnto euen in geuinge of iudgement to the people he sayde vnto him Exo. 18. Thou consumest and weriest thy selfe and those that are with the with vayne and vndiscrete labour Be thou vnto the people in those thinges that pertayne vnto god Our lord came doune to the mount Sinay Exo. 19. and called Moses vp to the top of the mountaine and there he reueled vnto hym the iudgementes the commaundemeÌ„tes and the ceremonies the which he should teache the people Our lorde spake vnto Moses face to face as a maÌ„ speaketh vnto his frende And Moses was with oure lorde .40 dayes and fortie nightes and did neither eate bread nor drinke water Oure Lorde spake vnto Moses saying get the vp into this mountayne Deu. 32. and frome thence beholde the lande whiche I geue vnto the chyldren of Israell Samuel did slepe in the temple and oure Lorde calde Samuell
Nabuchodonozor saied vnto the elders and captaines of his wars that this was his thought and purpose to bring the hole earth vnder his dominion Nowe when that thynge pleased them all c. Kinge Ahasuerus beinge wrothe with Quene Uasthi questioned with his wise counsellers Esth. 1. what senteÌ„ce or law shuld be executed vppon the Quene The which counsellers did not coole the kinges furye nor excuse her that was absent but one answered wyth indignation saying The kinges indignation is iust Amans frends Esth. 5 his wife not perceiuyng the cankerd and euel minde that he had towardes Mardocheus did not reproue nor rebuke hym but said Commaund thou a hye payre of galowes to be framed and made The princes and hie estates of Darius the king of Perse Dani. 6 hauing a desire that the king shuld make an vniust decree dyd purpose a thinge that semed to pertain to his honor Alchinus that wicked traytor willing to be made the hie priest i. mach 7 said vnto kinge Demetrius Iudas and hys brethren haue destroyed thy frendes after ther foloweth the the king made Alchinus the hie priest commaunded him to be reuenged to punyshe the children of Israel After that Ihons disciples wer departed and gone Mat. xi oure Lorde began wonderfully to praise him the which thynge maketh agaynste those that doe openlye prayse menne and seacreatly detract and backbite them The Pharises going about to take Christ in his wordes Mat. 22 began to praise and to flatter him saying Master we know that art thou true and teachest the way of God truely Herode Agrippa that greate kyng perceiuing that he pleased the Iewes because he had taken certaine of the congregation Act. 12. and had killed Iames the brother of Ihon proceaded further to haue taken Peter Act. 12 The people gaue a shout to Herod that wicked king the which had slain Iames and incarcerated Peter saying It is the voyce of a God and not of a man Act. 24. Tertullius the orator whyche was brought in against Paul by the president Felix did at the beginnynge of his oration flatter Felix ¶ Of derision and contumelious reprofe Ca. lxx THe men of Sadoch and Phanuel derided Gedeon persecuting Zebee and Salmana Iudi. 8. but of that folowed mischaunces For afterwardes he intreated them very rigorously and euel Nabal contemned contumeliously the woordes of Dauids messengers saying 1. regu 25. what is Dauid And what is the sonne of Isai Ther is plentye of seruauntes now a dayes that breake away from their masters Michol seing king Dauid dansinge before the Arke of the Lord 2. regu 6. despysed him because she sawe him bare And afterwardes deriding mocking him she said O how glorious was the king this day Wicked Iezabell spake scornfull mocking wordes vnto Achab. 3. regu 21. Thou art a man of great authority and dost gouern thy kingdom well For as muche as the children deryded and mocked Elizeus the prophet 4. regu 2. saying Go vp thou bald head Two beares tare and deuoured xlii of theÌ„ King Hezechias postes went swiftly from city to city 2. Para. 30. warnyng the chyldren of Israell to retourne vnto oure Lord. But they laughed theÌ„ to scorn and mocked them 2. Para. 36 Our Lord sent his prophets daily vnto them warned them to spare his people and his dwellinge place But they mocked the messengers of god and litle regarded hys wordes misused his prophets When Sanabalat Tobias hard say that the walles of Ierusalem wer a buildinge 2. Esd. 4 they mocked the buylders When Tobias was blynde hys frendes kinsfolk laughed his liuing to scorn Tob. 2. sayinge where is nowe thy hope for the which thou hast done almes and buried the dead Nicanor seing the burnt sacrifices that wer offred for the king laughed them to scorn with comtempt 1. mach 7 spake proudly and disdainfullye ye swore in his wrath Antiochus that cruell tiraunte beinge kindled in anger by the wordes of the seuenth brother 2. Mach. 7. was more cruell vpon him then vpon all thother and toke indignation that he was so lightly regarded Oure lorde was dyuers maner of wayes derided as it shall afterwards apeare in the chapiter of pacience Certayne Iewes Act. 2. when they sawe that our lordes disciples after the infusion of the holy goost spake diuers languages and tongues sayed mockingly These menne are full of new wyne When the Athenienses had hearde Act. 17 of the resurrection of the deade that Paule preached Some mocked And other sayed let vs heare the agayne of this matter ¶ Of Detractors and euel speakers Capi. lxxi IOsephs lady and mestres spake wickedly to her husband of him beinge Innocent and chaste Gen. 39 Pharo sayed who doubteth but that ye haue some mischefe in hande Exo. 10 wherby it appeareth that euell men doo affirme and at sometymes doo laye to good mennes charges wyth vniust boldenes the thinge whiche is vniust and false Mary and Aaron vpon a light occasion spake against Moses Nume 12. but quickly after ther folowed a pain and punishment that reuenged the matter Nume 14. The children of Israell dispraysed the lande of promise to theyr greate pain and punishment Nume 16. By the occasion of Chores and his felowes sedition many were mooste fearfully slain And yet after that the multitude murmured against Moses and Aaron saying ye haue kylled the people of our Lord. Although Balaam was euell yet he said Num. 23. that he in no wise wold curse the pâ—ople which our Lorde had blessed And as touchinge that there are many worse found then be the which do gladly and more oftentimes curse and backbite the good then the peruerse and euel Saul at the beginning was exceading gooâ— 1. regu 10. but yet the children of Beliall said how can he saue vs By the occasion of Doeg the Idumite declaring vnto Saule that Abimelech â—he priest had comforted and refreshed Dauid 1. re 22. he slue .lxxxv. men that did weare a linnen Ephod And many mo wemen and children The lords of the Philistines caused Achis the kynge of Seth 1. reg 19 to remoue Dauid the which by his iudgemente was good from his honest office and place that he had preferd him vnto Dauid commauÌ„ded the yonge man that shewed of kinge Saule and his sonnes death 2. reg 1 to be slayne And yet he thoughte that he hadde brought him prosperus and glad tydinges The chefest of the children of Ammon saied vnto theyr lorde 2. re 10 Tâ—inkest thou that Dauid for the honour of thy father hath sent comfortours to the And so they peruerted the simple and pure intention of Dauid Absolon ambitiusly desyringe the kingdome 2. regu 15 saied vnto one that hadde busynesses before hym There is no man deputed of the king to heare the. Siba Mephiboseth seruant did wickedly bacbyte
to death The kinge that was weke harted fearfull answered theÌ„ Lo he is in your handes For the kinge may denye you nothinge Darius the king of Persia ordained by the counsell of his great estates a certain cruel decre and law Dani. 6. the which Daniell obserued not and therefore he was put into the Lions denne and it dyspleased the kynge yet he durst not manfully resyste hys estates and lordes When Iudas Machabeus saw that his hoost fayled him and that he must nedes fight 1. Mach. 9. it brake his hart and he was slaine in the battaile And yet we reade not that Iudas was ether in war or any other where a frayde before Nicanor made peace amity with Iudas Machabeus the which thinge displeased kinge Antiochus 2. mach 24 And he sent vnto Nicanor to seÌ„d him Iudas And although he did it muche against his wyll yet he coulde nor durst not withstande the kinges wyll and commaundement so that if he had coulde he hadde fulfilled the kinges euell intent and minde Peter walkinge vpon the sea came vnto oure lorde mat 14. But when he sawe a mighty winde he was a frayde Nicodemê° semed to be a weak sprited man Iohn 3. that he came to Iesus by night as though that by daye he durste not come vnto him When the disciples saw that oure Lord was taken and bound they forsoke him and fled mat 26. But Peter folowed him a farre of because he durst not approche neare Our Lorde reproued the weaknes of mind of his disciples because they feared the commotioÌ„ of the sea mat 8. he being present saying vnto theÌ„ why are ye fearful O ye of litle faith Peter was to feble sprited when that he after so bold wordes mat 26. at the onlye voyce of a wenche denied hys Lorde and master Likewise that yong man clothed with linnen mar 14. when the ministers caughte him he chose rather to leaue his lynnen garment and flye awaye naked then to tary there any longer The parents of him that was born blind Iohn 9. again resâ—ored to his sight by our Lorde did fearfully answere the Phariseis because they feared to be excoÌ„municate out of the sinagoge ¶ Of Fortitude and strength to do euel ¶ Ca. lxxxiiii CAine was stronger then Abell when he rose vp against hym and slue him Gen. 4. The foure kinges did trauel and labour very sore which after so greate a slaughter of men ouercam the kyng of Sodome with many other Gen. 14. and led a waye Lot Abrahams nephewe as a prisoner Abimelech Gedeons soÌ„ne sustained great fatigation and labor when he slue lxx of his brethren Iudi. 9. afterwards by stronge hande tooke Sychem the which euen sone after was slain most miserably Saule put him self to many greate pearels and trauail 1. reg 18.19 to persecute Dauid and coulde neuer obtain his purpose 2. regu 15. Absolon being mineded to expell driue his father out of his kingdom toke a great businesse vpon hym but yet his chaunce was but euil Ieroboam both by thought dede 3. regu 12. trauailed very sore to auert and turn the people of Israell from the house of Dauid once turned so to retaine and kepe them Holofernes paste ouer and wasted many countries to bring them vnder the yoke of his dominion Iudi. 1.16 But yet at the last one woman or euer he coulde accomplyshe hys purpose behedded hym Antiochus Epiphanes tooke and sustained great laboures to destroye the worship and honor of god in Iewry 2. Mach. 9. and yet at leÌ„gth brought to pouerty and confusion he died a most miserable and wretched death in a strange and a foren country The children of this world in their generation are oftentimes not onlye more prudent and wise then the children of light Luc. 16. but also of greater power for when the disciples tooke theyr reast and slept Iudas procuring hys prodition and treason watched moste diligently The chefe priestes did weary them selues with great â—are and labour to extinguish and bringe to naughte the name of Christ Mat. 28. for they corrupted the kepers of the Lordes sepulchre with great summes of mony to saye that his disciples toke him away Againe they did cast and bind his disciples in prison Act. 3.4 and now and then they monished them with wordes nowe wyth stripes and did them great iniuryes to the entent they should not speake nor teache in the name of oure Lorde Iesu. When Lysias the Tribune hadde Paule in bondes there were aboue forty Iewes which had made a vowe that they would eat nor tast nothing Act. 23. till they had killed Paule And therefore they desired that he myghte bee broughte forthe that sodenlye they myght inuade him and kil him ¶ Of Murther Capi. lxxxv OUr Lord did greuously punyshe the murther that Cain commytted Gen. 4. and yet there was no law wrytteÌ„ that did forbid it Exo. 1. 1. regu 17. Caine slue his brother Abell 2. regu 20. Moses the Egiptian Dauid Goliath 3. regu 2. Ioab Abner and Amasam Salomon Abdomam Maâ— 6. Ioab and Semet Act. 5. Herod Ihon the Baptist. Peter Ananias Saphira Gen. 9. but in theese consider the variety of intentioÌ„s and causes God would that man should vehemently much abhor murther therfore he said flesh in the life therof and in the blud therof shal ye not eat A murtherer shuld be reputed and estemed as dead And therfore Rebecca saide Gen. 27. why should I be depriued or desolate of both my soÌ„nes in one day For if Esau had slain Iacob she iudged that she had lost both If zebee and Salmana had not slain Gedeons brethren Iudi. 8. Gedeon had not afterwardes slain them Abimelech the sonne of Ieroboam slue thre score and ten of his brethreÌ„ to the entent he might raigne alone Iudi. 9. and yet he ruled not longe there but sustained great misfortune and made an euill end For because the Abimelech the priest comforted Dauid flying from Saule 1. regu 22. Saule the persecutor of Dauid slewe him with many other priestes wemeÌ„ and children Dauid caused the yong man which confest that he murthered Saul 2. regu 1. to be slain 2. Re. 11. And procured Urias deathe by the hand of Ioab Absolon slue his brother Amnon whome he inuited to the banket 2. Râ— 13. eueÌ„ as he was eatinge and mearye wyth wyne The effusion and shedding of mans bloude is so horrible 3. Re. 7. that althoughe Dauid was other waies a very good manne yet our Lord would not that hee but that Salomon hys Sonne should build him his temple Notwithstanding that Ioab was a worthy man of armes verye faithful to the Lorde hys master 3. Re. 2. yet in as much as he deceitfully slue two men all that euer he had done before was coumpted as nothinge
sonne Ioseph was deade Gen. 37. he sayde I wil go downe into hel vnto my sonne mourninge So then he beleued that he was there in spryte Iosephes brethren hauynge in wil and mynde to saye that one of theyr brethren was deade said We are xii brethren Gen. 42. the sonnes of one man the yongest is with oure father and one no man wotteth wher he is Our lord appearing vnto Moses in a bush Exo. 3. sayd I am the God of Abrahā Isaac and Iacob c. by thys our sauiour proueth the resurrectyon of the dead Mat. 22. He is not a God of the dead saith he but of the liuyng It is sayd of Chore and hys companye that they wente down alyue into hell Nume 16. and the earth closed vpon them and they pearyshed from amonge the congregation By thys it appeareth that the euil as touchyng theyr soules do lyue in hel If Saule had surelye beleued that Samuel had bene extincte and deade as touchyng hys soule 1. regu 28. he woulde not haue desyred hym to haue bene reuyued and called againe When that Dauids seruauntes maruailed why he wepte not for hys yonge sonne that was dead he said I shal go to him rather thē he shal come again to me When that Dauids seruaunts meruailed why he wept not for his yong sonne that was dead 2. regu 12. he said I shall go to him rather then he shall come againe to me When Absolon was hanged and thrust thorowe with iii. speares 2. regu 18 Dauid be wailed lamented him mournfully And s. Augustine in his boke de doc chri sayth That Dauid bewaild not the lack and deathe of hys sonne But because he knew to what pains that adoulterous and Paracide soule shoulde be drawen vnto But for his other sonne that died an Innocente and for whose sicknesse hee was sore afflicted 2. regu 12. he reioysed 3. regu 17. Helias praid for the reuiuification of hys hostes chylde saying O Lord my God let thys childes soule come into hym againe Oftentimes we read in the bookes of the kynges 3. regu 14. he was layde a sleape wyth hys fathers The whiche thing by no meanes maye be vnderstanded or spoken of brute beastes 4. regu 13. and therefore ther by it is proued that they liue after theyr death and that here after they shal arise again as it appeareth in those that slepe It is manifest and open by Thobias wordes which he spake rebuking the folishnesse of his kinsfolkes that the soule liueth after that it is seperated from the body Tobi. 2. We are saythe Toby the children of holy men and loke for the life which God shal geue vnto them that neuer tourne their be lefe from him And afterwardes in his oration and prayer he saithe Tobi. 3. O Lord deale not wyth me accordynge to thy wil and commaund my sprite to be receiued in peace Our Lord gaue Iob double of al the euer was his Tobi. 42. And at length he gaue him vii sonnes and iii. doughters The preacher after the mynd of s. Eccle. 11. Gregory in the laste of his Morales spake expresly and plainly sayinge Let the dust be tourned agayne vnto earthe from whence it came and the spryte shall retourne vnto God whiche gaue it By those woordes that the dampned do saye in hell they declare and shew Sapi. 5. that the good as wel as the euil do liue in a nother world Thus it is wrytten euen literallye of Nabuchodonozor king of Babylon Now that thou art laid down to slepe that is in death Esai 14. there come no mo vp to hewe vs downe Hel also beneathe trembleth to meete thee at thy comming And after there foloweth Thy pryde is brought downe into the depe of hel And many mo thinges ar wrytten there by the whyche it is euidente that he pearished not vtterly but that his soule went downe into hel When that they counseld Eleazarus to faine and dyssemble hym self to haue eaten of the flesh of the sacrifice 2. Mach. 6. he said Though I were now delyuered from the tormentes of menne yet shuld not I escape the hand of almighty God nether aliue nor dead One of those seuen brethren saide 2. Mach. 7. Those thynges I possesse and haue from heauen but now for the lawe of God I despyse them for my truste is that I shall receyue them Of hym agayne Lykewise it is cleare and manyfest by the mothers wordes and other that they as touchyng the soule beleued not that they should pearish Razias takyng hys owne bowels threw them vpon the people 2. Mach. 14 callyng vpon our Lord and ruler of the earth and spirit to reward and restore him this again and so he dyed Our sauiour warninge his Dysciples the whych he sent abrode Mat. 10. sayde vnto them Feare ye not them which kyl the body but are not able to kyll the soule But rather fear him which is hable to destroy both soule and body into hel That thing which our Lord dothe shew of the rych man and Lazarus semeth to be no parable or symilitude Luke 16. but a manifest hystorye And so it appeareth that the soules bothe of the good and euyll be immortall and receyue after the separatyon from the bodye euen as they deserued beynge in the body Our Lorde by the ensample of the vniust steward that made hym frendes wyth hys masters goodes Luc. 16. dothe conclude sayinge make you frendes of the vnrighteous Mammon that when ye shall haue neade they may receiue you into euerlastinge habitatiōs The which saying was of none effect if the soule after the seperation from the body or after the death of the body had no receptacle or place to be receiued vnto Blessed saint Steuen had a deuout and a right opinion and faithe of the soule Act. 7. the whyche when they stoned him saide Lorde Iesu receyue my spryte It appeareth manifestlye by the wordes of that excellent doctor Paul tha◠the soule doth liue after it be seperated from the bodye 2. Cor. 5. We knowe saith he that if our earthy mancyon of thys dwellynge wer destroyed we haue a building of God an habitation not made wyth handes but eternal in heauen Philip. 1. And he saith I desyre to be losed to be with Christ. And the selfe same man saythe O wretched man that I am who shall deliuer me from this bodye subdued vnto death roma 7. Truely he wold not say such thinges but that he was sure of a nother life ¶ Of the faith that man shuld haue vnto God Cap. xxxiiii ABraham beleued our lorde Gen. 15. and that counted he to him for righteousnesse and note that he beleued God whiche promised hym a thynge most difficult and hard After that the children wer past ouer the red sea Exo. 14. and Pharaos host ouerthrowne and drowned the people feared oure Lorde and beleued
people dyd pearyshe wyth theym And hys wyfe that looked behynde her was tourned into a pyllare of Salte And Lot hym selfe that woulde not after the Aungels counsell by and by ascende vp to the mounte dyd trespasse and synne wyth hys owne doughters Ruben counsayled hys brethren to restore Ioseph to hys father agayne Gen. 37.42 But in as muche as they would not it hapned afterwardes that they wer put to trouble When the chyldren of Israell wold ascende or euer it was tyme vnto the place that oure LORDE hadde spoken of Nume 14. Moses sayd Our LORD is not among you The Amalechites and the Cananytes are there before you And ye shall fall vppon theyr sweardes because ye are tourned awaye from our LORD and wil not heare hym After that horryble deede commytted agaynste the Leuites wyfe the Chyldren of Israell gathered together Iudi. 20. and sente messengers to the children of Beniamyn the whych shulde saye thus vnto them what wyckednesse is thys that is hapned amonge you Delyuer vs those that haue commytted that haynous dede But they wold not here them and afterwards therefore they were in a manner all slayne a few excepted Abner said to Asael leaue of to followe me 2. regu 2. but he despysed hys wordes And Abner smote hym thorow wyth the hynder end of hys speare Roboam Salomons sonne would not heare the olde mennes Counsell 3. regn 12. but harkened to the counsel of yonge men wherfore he lost a great part of hys people Achior gaue Holofernes good and faythfull Counsell the whyche hee proudlye and dysdaynfullye despysed and wythin a while after was slain and his host put to flighte wyth losse and confusion Iudi. 6. Godolia whom the king of Babilō had made gouernoure of the lande of Iuda Iere. 40.41 sent Iohanan the sonne of Careah faithful word that Ismaell the sonne of Nathania woulde kill hym And he answeared him Thou speakest falsly of Ismael but in the seuēth month Ismael came and after he had eaten with Godolia he slue him Daniel said vnto Nabuchodonozor o king Dani. 4. accept my counsel redeame thy sinnes with almes but he would not agre there vnto and so was turned into a beast Iudas Machabeus taking hys iorney towardes Galaad 1. Mach. 5. left Iosephus and Azarias to be captaines ouer the people and commaunded them saying Se that ye make no war against the heathen vntill the time we come againe But they couetyng to get thē a name and fame lost both the thyng they wente aboute and theyr name also Iudas Machabeus had but viii C. men 1. Mach. 9. his aduersaries were two and twenty thousande his companyons warned hym not to fyghte wythoute an host of men but he would not follow their counsell he hym selfe was killed in that battaile and the remnaunt fled Pilates wife gaue her husbād good counsell Mat. 27. but he refused to followe it Fearing more to offend Cesar then to condēpne the iust innocent blud ¶ Of suspition and false credulity Ca. lvii ABraham suspected that the fear of God was not in Geraris Gen. 20.26 and that the men of the country wold kyl him for his wiues sake The like chaunced to Isaac Laban suspected that Iacob hadde stolen his goods Gen. 31. and for that cause he searched all his houshold stuffe Iacob perceyuyng Iosephes coate to be bloudy Gen. 37. suspected that he hadde bene dead and of some wycked beast deuoured Ioseph commaunded his stewarde to bringe his brethren into his house to dine with him Gen. 43. but they being sore afraid suspected and beleued that he would haue broughte them into seruitude and bondage The Rubenites and the Gaadites going to their possessions Iosu. 22. did build set vp an aultar beyond Iordan The children of Israell hearinge there of were sore troubled not knowing for what purpose they had done it and beleued that they woulde goe from theyr law When Sampson was gone to hys fathers house Iudi. 15. his father in law thought and beleued that he had hated refused his wife and therfore he maried her to a nother Hely seinge Annes lips moue and that she spake neuer a word 1. regu 1. beleued she had bene dronken Because Saule did persecute Dauid he laid to Dauids charge that he persecuted him 1. regu 22. And said that hys sonne Ionathas had stirred vp his seruaunt to lie await against him the whyche thing was most vntrue and false When Dauid was with Achis the king of Geth as the keper of hys life 1. regu 26 The Lordes spake vnto Achis to let Dauid go least he shuld flie returne again vnto Saule Dauid sent messengers to king Amnon to comfort him ouer the death of his father ◠regu 10. But his Lordes suspected that they came rather to spy oute the city then to comfort hym After that kinge Ahasuerus was moued against Aman that he was laide downe vpon Esthers bed Esth. 7. to intreat her for his lyfe The kinge laid vnto him that he in his presēce wold haue opprest and forced the Quene When Ieremy was going toward the land of Beniamin Iere. 37. the porter of the gate toke hym and layd falslye to hys charge that his minde was to run to the Caldees Ieremye the Prophet declared the wyl of our Lord to the people that was left and remained after the destruction of Ierusalem Iere. 42.43 they said vnto him Thou lyest Our Lord hath not sent the but Baruch the sonne of Neria hath prouoked the against vs that he might bring vs into the captiuitye of the Chaldees The tormentors that led Eleazar to his torment paine 2. Mach. 6. toke displeasure and wer angry with him because of the wordes that he said for they coniectured suspected that he had spoken them of an arrogancy and hie mind When the disciples saw our Lord walking on the sea Mat. 14. they suspected that it had bene some sprite and cried out for feare When Simon the Pharisy saw a woman which was a sinner wepyng at our Lordes fete LuKe. 7. he spake wtin him self saying If this mā wer a prophet he would surely knowe who what manner of woman this is that toucheth him for she is a sinner For a man nother to set muche by him self Luke 18. nor yet to iudge euil of a nother the example that the Lord our sauiour doth bring in of the Pharisy that bosted him self and of the meeke and hūble Publicane is much profitable When the Iewes after the effusyon of the holy spirite sawe that oure Lordes disciples spake wyth dyuers tongs and languages Act. 2. Some of them saide These menne are full of newe wyne All the christē disciples wer afraid of Paule after hys conuersion Act. 9. beleued not that he was a Disciple vntil that Barnabas broughte hym to the Apostles and declared to them
Ammon recompensed honour 2. re 10 and good dedes with iniury when they vituperated and put Dauids messeÌ„gers to rebuke and shame whiche he sent to comfort the kinge ouer the death of his father Dauid and Ioab were ingrate and vnkynde to faythfull vrias 2. regu 18 of the whyche two the fyrste sente letters And the other dyd Cruellye execute them After that Dauid had reuoked Absolon his sonne 2. reg 15 and hadde forgeuen him the murther coÌ„mitted against his brother Ammon he made insurrectioÌ„ against his father 2. re 16 Dauyd in disheretinge so sone Miphiboseth Ionathas sonne remembred not the amite and loue that was betwene his father and him 3. reg 12 Oure lorde exalted and set Ieroboas ouer ten tribes And by and by elated wyth pride and a wyll to rule hee peruerted the people from the true honouringe and worshipping of god Eliseus hadde done much good for the kinge of Israel 4. re 6. And all his people And yet for the dearth that was in the countrey he commaunded his head to be smitten of But god disposed it other wise 2. Para. 24. Ioas the kinge of Iuda remembred not the mercy and kyndnesse that Ioiada the hye preast had done vnto him but slue zacharia his sonne reprouing and rebukinge him that he had leâ—â—e oure lorde and transgressed his commaundementes Amasias trustynge to the succoure and healpe of god ouercame the Edomites and the chyldren of Seir. 2. Para. 25 And yet brynginge theyr gooddes a waye he bowed hym selfe and worshipped before them And the prophet that was sent vnto him sayed why haste thou sought and honoured the goddes of the people which were not able to deliuer their owne people out of thy hande Ezechias dyd not vnto god accordinge to it that he hadde shewed him 2. para 32 for his hart arose Many haue abused and tourned the goodnes and honoure of princes shewed vnto them Esth. 1 into pride Nor they are not contente to geue thankes for benefites and to violate the lawe of humanite in theÌ„ selues but also they hope and thâ—nk to escape the sentence and iudgemeÌ„te of god that seeth all Our lorde complayning of the people of Iewry sayeth I haue norished and brought vp chyldren but they despysed me Esa. 1 And hee proueth that they are least thankeful then beastes There foloweth The oxe hath knowen his owner aud the asse hys masters crib But Israell hath receyued no knowledge my people hathe no vnderstandynge Oure LORDE woulde haue done and shewed manye and greate benefytes to Achab the kynge of Iuda Esa. 7 as hee sente hym woorde by Esaye but hee despysed too receyue theym Ionathas sente stronge armed menne 2. mach 10 the whyche delyuered Demetrius from the handes of the Antiochians And yet afterwardes Dâ—metrius dyd alienate hym selfe clean from Ionathas nor rewarded him not according to the benefytes that hee had shewed hym but troubled hym verye sore Of the tenne Leapers that our Sauioure cleansed Lu. 17 there came but one agayne to magnify God and to geue hym thanckes The damsels maisters or Parentes oute of whome Paule dyd caste the spirite of Prophesye Act. 16 were very ingrate and vnkind vnto Paul For whye they sorowed more the losse of theyr gayn and vauntage then they reioysed in the expulsyon of the deuil That truthe engendreth hatred Ca. lxvi BAlaac the kinge of Moab was very dolourous and sory when that Balaam spake anye good of the children of Israell Notwythstandynge it was true that he spake Nor he dyd not honor hym as hee woulde haue honoured Nume 24. if hee hadde spoken pleasauntlye and after hys mynde I thoughte saythe Balaac to promote thee vnto honour but our Lorde hath kepte the backe from worshyp Ionathas Gedeons sonne that told the truthe of Abimelech and his Iudi. 9 whiche had vnryghtfully made him king was fain to flye from the face and presence of Abimelech Saule was angry with hys sonne Ionathas 1. reg 20 because he excused Dauid the which was an innocent blamelesse towardes Saule Achab dyd hate Micheas the Prophet for tellyng him the truth 3. reg 22 I hate hym saith he for he doth not prophecy good vnto me but euel When Ananias the Prophet had reproued Aza the kynge of Iuda 2. para 16 because he put his truste in Bennadab the Kynge of Syria Aza was wrothe and sent the seer into prison zacharias the sonne of Ioiade at the commaundement of king Ioas was stoned 2. Para. 24 because he rebuked the kynge and hys Lordes that they had lefte forsaken our Lord. When Achior hadde rehearsed the greate and noble thynges that oure Lorde hadde done for the children of Israell Iudith 5.6 and that hys power was greate Holofernes princes Lordes were angry and thought to slay him and Holofernes him selfe disdained the thing vehemently Sedechias the kinge of Iuda layde Ieremy the Prophet in pryson Iere. 31 saying why doste thou prophecye thus Thus saith the Lord c. When Baruch had red the words Iere. 36 that he had wrytten out of the mouthe of Ieremy before Ioachim the kyng of Iuda he caused the boke to be caste into the fyre because it declared the truth of the captiuity of Ierusalem the king coÌ„maunded Baruch Ieremy to be takeÌ„ but they wer not fouÌ„d then as god would When that Ieremy prophecied the captiuity of the city he was cast into a lake Iere. 38 wher there was no water but mire and so he descended and stacke fast in the myre Because Daniel proued Bel and the dragon to be no Goddes Dani. 14 they of Babilon gathered them selues together to come vnto the king and procured that Daniel should be cast into the Lions den Because of Eliazarus good true woordes they that drue hym to torment that a litle before wer mild gentle 2. mach 6 waxed wroth and angry Because Ihon the Baptist said vnto Herode math 14 It is not lawful for the to haue thy brothers wife mar 6 he imprisond him and afterwards behedded him When our lorde had reproued the hipocrites pharises of many thinges they beganne greuously to waxe busy aboute hym Lu. xi to stoppe hys mouthe laiyng wayte for hym and seking to catche some thing out of his mouthe whereby they might accuse him The pharises cursed him that was borne blynde Iohn 9 and healed of oure lorde and caste him out of the Sinagoge because he confessed the truthe most constantlye The hye preastes hearing the wordes of the Apostles as concernynge Christes doctryne Act. 5 claue a sonder and sought meanes to slee them and beynge beaten warned them that they should not speake in the name of Iesu And they departed from the counsell reioysing that they were counted worthy to suffre rebuke for his name When the Iewes hearde Saynte Steuens wordes Act. 7 theyr hartes claue a