neuer haue escaped vndestroyed but God so preserued him that he escaped y t death and those princes which hoped that after his death to haue ruled borne their owne sway were of the lions vtterly destroyed this is the ende of all vayne hope Therfore as there is an infallible and true god so is there also but one firme and true faith and in like one hope and one charitie Let all christians therfore pray vnto God to send his holy spirite amongeâ—t vs and that we may be thankful for his inestimable benefites daily bestowed vpon vs lest the like mischiefe happen vnto vs now present as by example hathe happened vnto those the which â—aue bene refusers of the same ⧠The description of Charitie GOd is charitie he that dwelleth in charitie dwelleth in God and God in hym Here in is also loue perfect in vs that we should haue trust in the day of iudgement The charitie of God is declared vnto vs for he hath sent his sonne alredy into the world to redeme the world from sinne death and hell and hath payde for our raunsome euen his most precious bloud vpon the crosse for vs miserable creatures els had we bene vtterly destroyed for euer No man ascended vp into heauen but he that came downe from heauen And as Moyses lifted vp the Serpent in the wildernes euen so must the sonne of man be lifted vp that none that beleue in him perish but haue eternall life Little children ye are of God and haue ouercome the world for greater is he that is in you then he that is in the worlde he the which is prince of the worlde is the diuell But the charitable louing and merciful sauiour he is the king of heauen and of all charitable people but suche as say that workes onely iustifieth from sinne do not onely and vtterly deny Christ to be come in the flesh but also they deny and depriue them selues from the euerlasting ioy and heauenly felicitie and although workes are nedefull and necessary yet beyng without faith hope charitie nothing at all auayleth In beleuyng that all such workes as are done truely and not fainedly with faith ioyned are most wholesome and profitable Hope in tarying the good will and pleasure of God neuer thinkyng the Of Charitie ¶ The signification AS many as intend to be pertakers with Christ his Apostels must vse this worke of charitie which is to fede the hungry to clothe the naked to harbor the harbourles lodge the stranger to visite the sicke and to relieue the prisoners and poore afflicted members of Christ this is the dueties of all faithfull people tyme long of this our abode and pilgrimage Charitie in all thinges nourishing and ready to cherish all such as lacke and are in necessitie and so continuyng till it shall please the Lord to chaunge vs into a better life which is most glorious for if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his sonne much more seyng we are reconciled we shalbe preserued by his life not onely so but we also ioy in God by the meanes of our Lord Iesus Christ by whome we haue receyued the attonement Nothing ought to seperate vs from the charitie of God for whatsoeuer he be y t seeth what Christ hath done for him cannot but beleue that God loueth hym and with all his soule mynde and will ought to loue god agayne for thorough his loue that loueth vs we ouercome strongly the infirmity of our corrupt and filthy flesh yea I am sure that neither death neither life neither aungels neither rule neither power neither thinges present neither thinges to come neither hie neither low neither any other creature shall be able to depart any faithfull beleuer from the loue of God shewed in Christ Iesu our Lord. For the eternal wisdome of God was and is such that before the world began appointed certayne that should professe set forth the gospel of his sonne euen to the worlds ende that is they are not onely called but also elected and chosen All the commaundementes do lead vs to charitie for the ende of the commaundementes is loue the which commeth of a pure hart and of a good coÌ„science and of fayth vnfayned for the which thynges some haue erred and haue turned vnto vayne iangelyng because they would be doctours in the Scriptures and yet vnderstand not what they speake neither wherof they affirme If this part of Scripture were well considered of all such frantike heades the which taketh vpon them to interprete the scriptures according to their owne wilfull myndes I doo not doubt but suche would be better aduised in considering their dueties not onely to their princes and gouernours but also to the omnipotent God who is able in a moment clearely to seclude and cutte of such vnprofitable impes For as Corach Dathan and Abiram were destroyed for their rebellioÌ„ against Moses Gods seruaunt in resisting the ordinaunces and lawes before commaunded they as men the whiche would seme wiser in their doyng then Moses which had the firme and true law in dede were by the Lord so greuously plaged that the earth opened and they all went downe into hell suche is the rewarde of all disobedient children Watche ye stande fast in fayth quit you like men and be strong and let your busines be done in loue My little children these things write I vnto you that ye sinne not if any maÌ„ sinne yet we haue an aduocate with y e father Iesus Christ which is righteous and he it is that obtayneth grace for our synnes not for our sinnes onely but for the synnes of the whole worlde And hereby we are sure that we knowe him if we keepe his commaundementes He that saith I know him and keepe his commaundements is a lyer and the veritie is not in him Owe nothing to any man but to loue one an other with charitable loue I therefore which am in bondes for the lordes sake exhort you that we walke worthy of the vocation wherwith you are called in all humblenes of minde and meekenes and long suffering forbearing one an other and forgeuyng one an other through loue and that you be diligent to kepe the vnitie of the spirit in the bonde of peace beyng one body and one spirite euen as you are called in one hope of your callyng Let there be one Lord one fayth one baptisme one God and father of all which is aboue all and in you all Let vs be rooted in charitie that is let vs consider one an other to prouoke vnto loue to do good workes and let vs forsake the fellowship that we haue among our selues as the maner of some is but let vs exhorte one another and that so much the more because ye see that the day draweth nye in this part is shewed our duetie if we wil be pertakers of the mercy before rehersed But if we sinne willinglingly after that
shall keepe my commaundementes Let loue be without dissimulation hate that which is euill and cleaue vnto that which is good Be kinde one to an other wyth brotherly loue We shoulde not loue one an other as Cayne which was of the wicked and slew his brother and wherefore slew he him because his owne workes were euil and his brothers good He that loueth not his brother abideth in death who so euer hateth his brother is a man slayer and ye know that no man slayer hath eternal life abiding in him ¶ Our loue towardes our enemies WE ought to loue our enemies ye haue heard how it is sayd thou shalt loue thine neighbour and hate thine enemy But I saye vnto you loue your enemies blesse them which curse you do good to them that hate you pray for them which do you wrong and persecute you that ye may be the children of your father that is in heauē for he maketh his sunne to arise on the euill and on the good sendeth his raine on the iust and vniust for if ye loue them which loue you what reward shal ye haue do not the publicans likewise and if ye be frendly to your brethren only what singular thinges do ye do not the Publicans also ye shalbe therefore perfect euen as your father which is in heauen is perfect Let not the wrath and gelosye moue thee to follow the wicked and vngodly why the wicked shall haue no posteritie and the candle of the vngodly shalbe put out My sonne feare the Lord and the kyng and keepe no company with them that slide backe from his feare for their destruction shall come sodainly and who knoweth the aduersity that may come of them both Goe not from the doctrine of the elders for they haue learned it of their fathers for of them thou shalt learne vnderstanding so that thou mayst make answere in y e time of neede kindle not the coles of sinners when thou rebukest them least thou be burnt in the fiery flames of their sinnes resist not the face of the blasphemer that he laye not wayte for thy mouth Thy children shalbe taught of God and I will geue them plenteousnes of peace in righteousnes shalt thou be grounded and be farre from oppression for the which thou needest not to be afrayed neither for hinderaunce for it shall not come nigh thee beholde the aliant that was farre from me shall dwell with me and he that ioyneth battayle against thee shall pearish and as for all tongues that shall resist thee in iudgement thou shalte ouercome them and condemne them this is the heritage of the Lordes seruauntes and their righteousnes commeth of me saith the Lord. A wise iudge will order his people with discretion and where a man of vnderstanding beareth rule there goeth it well as the iudge of the people is himselfe euē so are his officers and loke what manner of man the ruler of the Citie is such are they that dwel therein also An vnwise king destroyeth his people but where they that be in authority be men of vnderstanding there the citie prospereth I say vnto you whosoeuer confesseth me before men euen him shall the sonne of man confesse also before the Angels of God he y t denieth me before mē shalbe denied before y e Angels of God whosoeuer speaketh a word against y e sonne of mā it shalbe forgeuē him but vnto him y t blasphemeth the holy ghost it shal not be forgeuen Also when the Apostles of Christ were forbidden to preach they would not but shewed thēselues more obedient vnto God then men such was the enuy of the Iewes to y e professours of God his worde And it came to passe as he sate at meat with them he tooke bread blessed it brake and gaue to thē and their eyes were opened and they knew him and he vanished out of their sight Our Sauiour Christe shewed himselfe after his passion vnto two disciples as they went toward Emas and after that standing in the middest of the eleuēth as they were together saying that he was the light of the world and the sauiour of all those which beleued in him such loue had our Sauiour towardes the enuious Iewes and yet they woulde not beleue Also when the martyr S. Steuen rebuked the stifnecked Iewes for their cruell oppression and putting to death of al the prophets before the comming of that iust whome ye haue now betrayed and murthered and ye also haue receaued a law by the ordinaunce of Angels and haue not kept it and when they heard his wordes they gnashed their teeth vppon him and ranne all at once and stoned him In like sorte hath the enemies of Gods Gospell sought to kill to destroy the professours of hys truth God graunt for his mercy if it be his will to open their eyes that they may perceiue the truth and sory their for offences Who so euer shall not receiue you nor will heare your preaching whē ye depart be out of that house or that citie shake of the dust of your feete Truely I say vnto you it shalbe easier for the lande of Zodom and Gomorra in the day of iudgement then for that Citie There is nothing so close that shal not be opened and nothing so hide that shall not be knowen a worde spoken in due season is like apples of golde in a grauen worke of siluer Be not wise in your own opinions recōpence to no man euil for euill prouide afore hand thynges honest in the sight of all men if it be possible howbeit of your part haue peace with all men dearely beloued auenge not your selues but geue roome to y e wrath of God for it is written vengeaunce is myne I wil reward sayth the Lord. Therfore if thyne enemy hunger feede him if he thirst geue hym drinke for in so doing thou shalt heape cooles of fier vppon his head be not ouercome of euill but ouercome euill with goodnes When the profit Dauid heard that an Amelikite had slayne his enemy King Saule he was very sory and mourned for him and caused y e Amelikite for his rewarde also to be slayne because he had killed the Lordes annoynted When the Lord purposed to destroy Zodom and Gomorra Abraham sayde vnto hym Lorde what if there be 50. righteous wilte thou spare the rest for their sakes so that it came to the number of tenne and there coulde none be founde but onely Lotte and his householde the which were preserued thus oughte euery man to forgeue and to pray for his ennemy and so shall we bee the seruauntes of God ¶ Of fayth and the wonderfull working of the same and stedfast beliefe of the fathers in olde tyme. The signification THe man in armour signifieth all stedfast beleuers of the veritie being armed with constant zeale of Christianitie and weaponed with the shielde of liuely faith the spere of continuaunce and the
Sommer and haue nothing Delight not thou in sleepe least thou come vnto pouertie but open thine eyes that thou mayest haue bread Thus gentle reader mayest thou see the mischiefe and vnhappines that ensueth sloth When Eneas came from the siege of Troy hee ariued in Carthage there for a tyme to solace hym selfe and as he walked y e Quene of Carthage whose name was Dido espying y e comely personage of Eneas was therwith inflamed And when they had talked togethers and sociated them a certaine space the sayd Eneas departed into Italy and there was long tyme absent from the presence of Dido who waxed displeasant at his sloth and forgetfulnes saying that the cause of hys absence without spedie returne would be cause of her death Eneas not regarding the letter that Dido sent but being loth to iourney remayned still in Italy In the meane tyme Dido slue her self and whē Eneas knew of her death then he lamented y t he had not come before her death Some writers say that Dido builded Carthage and Eneas was dead iij. C. yeares before the buildyng of Carthage therfore it was not that Eneas but some other S. Augustine writeth of y e same Confessionum in fine Great griefe it is the learned to see in slothfull rest to spend their dayes Such may be likened to dronebees that sucke the sweete and go their wayes ¶ The signification HE which rydeth on the Asse signifieth sloth as well amōg the chiefest as among the lowest the Fryers weede and Beades signifieth hypocrisie and lothsomnes of the truth SLoth among the spiritual is much to be reproued spokē of in all such as do not thankfully apply the giftes that God geueth thē to their brothers profite From such God wil take hys giftes will make thē voyde of al ghostly vnderstāding The kingdome of heauen is lyke vnto x. virgins which tooke their lampes and went to meete the bridegrome Fiue of them were folishe and v. were wise The folishe tooke their lampes but tooke no oyle with them But the wyse tooke oyle with them in their vessells with their lampes also While the bridegrome taried they all slumbred and slept And euen at midnight there was a cry made beholde the bridegrome commeth goe out to meete hym Then all those virgins arose and prepared their lampes And the folish sayd vnto the wise geue vs of your oyle for our lampes goe out But the wise aunswered saying not so least there bee not inough for vs and you but goe ye rather to them that sell and bye for your selues And while they went to bye the bridegrome came and they that were readye went in with hym to the wedding and the gate was shut vp Afterwardes came also the other virgins saying Lord Lord open to vs. But he answered sayd verely I say vnto you I know you not Watch therefore for ye know neither the day nor the houre when the sonne of man shall come The lampes signifie such dead fayth as S. Iames declareth to bee in deuills and rotten trees which bring forth no fruite We ought alwayes so to liue euen as though we should depart presently Enuie seeketh where to finde to hurt hys neighbour if he can And neuer ceaseth but to purloyne which hath bene the vndoing of many man ¶ The signification THese two mē signifieth the one a true labourer the other an enuious deceauer he which soweth the ground is diligēce of mind in sowing the seedes of veritie but he which stādes pouring the corne into the water signifieth a deceatfull person seeking by all meanes to waste and spoyle the seedes of veritie the byrdes signifie the faythfull followers of the veritie ENuie ought to be put out frō all men for by enuie many men cōspire their owne death and come to vtter destruction Example of Caine that slue hys brother Abell and therefore the Lorde sayd to Caine Now art thou cursed from the earth c. By enuie Ioseph was solde of hys brethren into Egypt Thorowe enuie Saule would haue slaine Dauid with a Iauelinne but Dauid escaped and fled from hym Who made Daniell to bee cruelly entreated but onely enuie For when Darius had ordayned a C. xx Lordes which should be in all his kingdome amongest whō was Daniell which exceeded all the reast of the Lordes for the spirite of God was with hym so that y e kyng was minded to set hym ouer the whole realme Wherfore the princes Lordes sought to picke out in Daniell some quarrell yet could they finde none occasion nor fault vpon hym Then they seing that they could not preuaile they imagined a sure statute namely that who soeuer desired any petition either of any God or man within xxx daies except it were to the king the same person to be cast in the Lions dēne So Darius made the writing and confyrmed it whereby ensued that those which sought the death of Daniell whom God had deliuered from the denne of the Lions the same were of the Lions destroyed Where Gods word preached is in place vnto the people willingly Woe be to them that would deface for if such cease the stones will crie ¶ The signification HE which preacheth in the pulpit signifieth godly zeale a furtherer of the gospel and the two which are plucking him out of his place are the enemies of Gods word threatning by fire to cōsume the professors of the same and that company which sitteth still are Nullifidians such as are of no religion not regarding any doctrine so they may bee quiet to liue after their owne willes and mindes WHo caused our Sauiour Christ to be condemned to death but enuie of y e Iewes Also because the coūsell of Ahitofell was refused hee presently sadled hys Asse and rode home and so hāged himselfe The Iewes also thorow enuie stoned to death y e Martyr S. Steuen So likewise Senacherib or Sanabalat when he heard say that the walles of Ierusalem were redified he was wroth and tooke great indignatiō and mocked the Iewes Wherby it appeareth that enuie is a right greuous malady and contrary to nature for nature desireth good and euery creature naturally taketh pleasure in good thinges But enuie tormenteth him selfe when he seeth any good thyng happen vnto an other and the most harme falleth vpon hym selfe It holdeth the hart and the minde in great melancholy and maketh y e cullour to waxe pale It drieth the body and maketh all such as vse it oft to sigh and to speake alwayes euill of other and can not say well Enuie seeketh alway to destroy the wealth and welfare of hys neighbour Enuie maketh a man to be like a feend of hell which may not suffer the creature in no wyse to do well God graunt for hys mercy to shorten the dayes of such enuious mindes as seeketh to displace the veritie While enuie seeketh to destroy and will not cease to leaue hys will Then mischiefe
most doth him annoy and so of death he hath his fill ¶ The signification HE which striketh with death behind him signifieth enuiousnes against the quiet state of the faithfull and in hoping by enuie to destroy death is hys reward the other by constaÌ„t faith in Christ is preserued by the sword which is the word of God and so ouercoÌ„meth enuie the Angell behind hym is Gods prouident loue which neuer faileth all those that trust in hym THe vngodly is caste downe for his iniquitie but the righteous hath a good hope euen in death A pacient maÌ„ is better then one stroÌ„g he that can rule him selfe is more worth then he that winneth a citie Thorow enuie Acis was slaine by the monster Poliphemus because he would haue rauished Galathe the wife of Acis Also the two sonnes of king Phillip of Macedon Percius Demetrius thorow enuie sought eche others death and were both slaine Also Nessus deceaued Hercules of Dianira at a riuer and being on the other side would haue violated her wherby Hercules shotte an arrowe through his body Nessus perceauing him selfe to haue his deathes wound gaue a venomed shirte to Dianira saying that to whom soeuer she gaue that shirte his loue should neuer depart from her so that by the sayd shirte Hercules was destroyed Thus enuie hath vndone many a man and woman brought theÌ„ to vtter destruction O wretched enuie and daughter to pride which neuer seeth the end of thy miseries thou desirest to see the people in misery and then thou reioycest and art glad when that thy neighbour decayeth by thee neither from thee may come any profite neither in this world nor in the world to come To Serpent like I may compare those greedie wolues that lambes deuoure Awayting still to catch in snare all such as gette they may by power ¶ The signification THe Dragon signifieth the enemie to all that professe the worde of God the Cardinall persecution or a persecutor of the same the Fryer murther the sheepe which are a killing signifieth the professours of Christ from the beginning of the worlde to these present dayes ENuie is blinde can doe nothing but dispraise vertue it is a scabbe of thys world to haue enuy at vertue O y e miserable conditions of people that are to bee gouerned amoÌ„g whom diligeÌ„ce is hated negligence is reproued where sharpnes is perillous liberalitie thaÌ„keles coÌ„municatioÌ„ deceatfull pernitious flattery euery mans couÌ„tenance familiar many mens mindes offended waite to hurt priuily faire wordes openly wheÌ„ officers be coÌ„ming they tary for theÌ„ while they be present they do await on theÌ„ being out of authoritie al do forsake theÌ„ All other sinnes are not so pestiferous as enuy for y e lecherous by his sinne getteth somtime a frend or louer but it may be accoÌ„pted a miserable deadly kind of frendship The couetous by his vsury getteth goods possessions The negligent by his sloth oftentimes hath peace because he medleth with nothing The proud of such as he is him self is often praysed If he be rich of the poore for feare or if he hath ought for that which he hath The irious or wrathfull maÌ„ is often feared The glutton by filling hys panch of sweete and delicate meates Thus among all sinnes enuie is most pernitious and to be accompted most miserable When daintie dames hath whole delight with proude attyre them selues to ray Pirasmos shineth in the sight of glittering glasse such fooles to fray ¶ The signification THe woman signifieth pride the glasse in her hand flattery or deceate the deuill behinde her temptation the death head which she setteth her foote on signifieth forgetfulnes of the life to come wherby commeth destruction TAke heede y t thou fall not into pride least thou perishe with such as before haue offended Example of Lucifer which for his pride was cast down into y e infernal hell Also Adam by traÌ„sgression fell thorow y e subtill intisinges of the Serpent Agar the seruant of Sara thorow pride disdained her mistres because of a childe that she had by Abraham therefore she was driuen to flie into the wildernes by the way that lyeth to Sur. Also Membroth or Nimrod thorow pride caused the Tower of Babell to bee builded And the Lorde sayd Beholde the people is one and they haue all one language Come let vs goe downe and confound their language that euery one vnderstand not hys neighbours speach And so the Lorde scattered them from that place into the vpper face of all the earth It is therfore to be vnderstanded y e pride surmouÌ„ting folly all sinne is shame seruitudâ— Pharao king of Egypt through hys obstinate pride was drowned in the red sea all his hoste so y t there remained not one of theÌ„ Haman for his pride was haÌ„ged on y e gallowes that he had ordayned for Mardocheus Abimilech because a womaÌ„ smote him on y e head with a peece of a milstone therwith brake his braine panne as he approched the Tower of Thebez he therefore caused his harnesse bearer to runne him through y e body for that it should not be sayd y t a woman had slaine him Also Nabuchadonozor was transformed into a dumbe beast for the space of vij yeares because he so proudly exalted him selfe saying Thys is the great Citie of Babylon which J my selfe with my power and strength haue made The rich to prayse in some respecte as from all vice will soone refraine But such as Pauper doe detecte those gestes with Diues must take paine ¶ The signification THe rich man signifieth a proude maÌ„ couetous such a one as careth for no poore man but for such as hym lyketh to many such are not good in a coÌ„mon wealth the poore man signifieth the pouertie generall whose petitions of such are not heard nor once relieued ANtiochus also for hys pride was greatly punished of God smitten with such a disease of y t which he might not be healed Nicanor thorowe pride was discoÌ„fited ouercome of y e Iewes Phaeton because he toke vpon him to gouerne y e chariot of his father Phâ—bus he therfore had a great fall Dedalus was also drowned because he tooke vppon him to flie so hie in the ayre that the force of the sunne beames melted hys magicall winges in refusing his father Icarus counsell Dauid the kyng after that hee had numbred the people his hart smote hym saying I haue sinned exceedingly in that which I haue done Iezabell proudly sought the death of the Prophets and therfore the Lorde sent Iehu to Iezraell And wheÌ„ Iehu was come to Iezraell Iezabell heard of it and starched her face and tyred her head and looked out at a window And as Iehu entred at the gate she sayd had Zimri peace which slue hys maister And he lift vp his eyes to the window and sayd Who is of
my side who And there looked out to him two or three chamberlaines And he sayd throwe her downe so they threw her downe and her bloud dashed toward the wall and toward the horses and he troade her vnder foote And so she was deuoured of dogges Why boastest thou thy selfe thou tyraunt that thou canst do mischiefe where as the goodnes of God endureth yet dayly put me now in remembraunce for we wil reason together shewe what thou hast for thee to make thee ¶ The signification THe womaÌ„ signifieth Gods loue The hart continuance of the same Hell vnder her signifieth death and destructioÌ„ vnto the careles liuers of this world the lambe signifieth the quiet conscience of the faithfull And death vnder him signieth the chaunge of life vnto all the good to immortalitie the bad to destruction righteous thy first father offended sore and thy rulers haue sinned against me The earth is the Lords and all that therein is the compasse of the worlde and they that dwell therein who shall assend into the hill of the Lord or who shall rise vp in his holy place Euen he that hath cleane hands and a pure hart and that hath not lifte vppe his minde vnto vanitie nor sworne to deceiue his neighbour What man liuing can say that he is cleane and hath not offended now therefore consider what wonderfull loue our creator hath to man when he by his holy spirite calleth vs to repentaunce to the ende that all shoulde come to hys eternall and heauenly kingdome From all misdedes wherin they haue offended against me I saith the lord wil clense them and all their blaspeemies which they haue done against me when they regarded me not I will forgeue them and this shall gette me a name and prayse and honour among all the people of the earth which shall here of the good that I will shewe vnto them yea they shalbe afrayed and astonned at all the good deedes and benefites that I will do for them God so loued the world that he gaue hys only begotten sonne that whosoeuer beleueth in him shoulde not perishe but haue euerlasting life for God sent not his sonne into the worlde to condemne the worlde but that the worlde through him myghte be saued he that beleueth on him is not condemned but he that beleueth not is condemned already because he hath not beleued on the name of the onely begotten sonne of God and this is the condemnation that light is come into the word and men loue darckenes more then light because theiâ— deedes were euil foâ— euery one that doth euill hateth the light neither commeth to the light least his deedes shoulde be reproued but he that doth truth coÌ„meth to y e light that his deedes may be knowne how â— t they are wrought in God Be ye therefore followers of God as deare children and walke ye in loue euen as Christ loued vs and gaue himselfe for vs an offringe and a sacrifice of a sweete sauour to God as for fornication and all vncleanes let it not be once named amonge you nor coueteousnes as it becommeth saintes or filthines or foolishe talking or iesting which are not comely but rather geuing of thaÌ„ks for this ye know that no whoremoÌ„ger either vncleane person or couetous person which is a worshipper of Images hath any inheritaunce in the kingdome of Christ and of God let no man therefore deceiue you with vayne wordes for because of such thinges commeth the wrath of God vpoÌ„ the childreÌ„ of disobedience be not ye therefore companions of them ye were sometyme in darcknes but now are ye light in the Lorde for vngodly communication strengthneth the body against the spirit and withdraweth the minde from al good exercise and labour and thereby deserueth the iust wrath of God and such as are worshippers of Images fornicatours such like hath no part wyth Christ in his kingdome to whome be all glory for euer Be not wise in thine owne consent but feare the Lord and depart from euill so shall thine nauell be hole and thy bones strong honour the lord with thy substauÌ„ce with y e firstlings of al thine increase geue vnto the poore so shal thy â—arnes be filled with plenteousnes and thy presse shall flowe ouer with sweete wine My sonne depise not the chastening of the lord neither faint wheÌ„ thou art rebuked of him for whom the Lord loueth him he chasteneth and yet delighteth in him euer as the father in his owne sonne if ye endure chasteninge God offereth himselfe vnto you as vnto sonnes what sonne is he whome the father chasteneth not Reioyce ye heauens and singe prayses thou earth talke of ioy ye hilles for God hath comforted his people and will haue mercy vpon his that be in trouble but Sion saide God hath forsaken me and my Lord hath forgotten me Will a mother forgette the childe of her wombe and not pitie the sonne whome she hath borne And though she do forgett yet will I not forgette thee sayth the Lorâ—e These are the wordes that the Lorde sheweth vnto Ieremy saying Thus saith the Lord God of Israel write vp diligently all the wordes that I haue spokeÌ„ vnto thee in a booke for loe the time commeth sayth y e Lord that I will bringe agayne the prisoners of my people Israell and Iuda sayth the Lord for I will restore them vnto the lande that I gaue to their fathers and they shal haue it in possession By this may it euidently appeare that God is alwayes myndefull of hys people and will not forget them although for a time he suffer them yet at the length he will visite and helpe them For when the Phariseyes had heard that he had put the Saduces to silence they came together and one of them which was a Doctour of the law asked him a question and tempting him saying Maister which is greatest commaundement in the law Iesus saide vnto him Thou shalt loue thy Lorde thy God with all harte and with all thy soule and wyth all thy minde this is the firste and greatest commaundemeÌ„t And the second is like to it Thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe in these two commaundementes hange al the law and Prophetes In this commaundement the which our Sauiour Christ spake to a Doctour of the seâ—t of the Phariseyes and Saduces in willinge them firste to loue God and next his neighbour or neighboures is plainely to be vnderstanded the loue of our Sauiour Christ towards man in declaring that he which loued God faithfully and also his neighbour should receiue for his reward the euerlasting ioyes and feliciâ—ie thâ—t soroâ— is â—endent plaine that for the great louâ— our â—auiour Christ hath towarâ—â—s man dyd not onely teach all those the which were mindefull of his euangelicall doctrine but also shedde his most precious bloud to 〈◊〉 come man from the bondage of sinne vnto the life of righteousnes and so 〈◊〉
measure He that teacheth the liuely faith in Christ buildeth the building and doctrine of God For faith in tribulation causeth patience Let euery man see therfore whether he continue in the same Faith also maketh vs to obtayne that whiche we desire in prayer and by the which we are by the number of saintes in receauing remission of our sinnes Thus faith is our vâ—â—tory for all that is borne of God ouercommeth the world and this is the victory that ouercommeth the worlde euen our faith Who is it that ouercommeth the worlde euen he which beleueth that Iesus is the sonne of God Christ is risen from the dead and is become the first frutes of them that slepe for as by man came death euen so by man also came life euerlasting to all that faythfully beleue ¶ Of Hope The signification THe troubled seas signifie the temptations of mankinde the shippe beyng rent signifieth the dispersed churche of God who beyng tossed to and fro by the force of temptations and throwne out yet they not fearyng the boysterous windes of aduersitie but thorough assured hope in Christ they flie to the rocke of endles felicitie which is Christ. BEcause therefore that we are iustified by fayth we are at peace with God thorough our Lorde Iesus Christ by whom we haue a way in through faith vnto his grace where in we stand and reioyce in hope of the praise that shalbe geuen of God neither do we see onely but also reioice in tribulation for we know that tribulatioÌ„ bringeth pacience pacience bringeth experience experience bringeth hope and hope maketh not ashamed for the loue of God is shed abrode in our hartes by the holy ghost which is geuen vnto vs. All suche as be right Christians are not ashamed of this hope for they are well assured that by the death of Christ God loueth vs and will bring the hope of all Christians to passe Hope here is not alone but is ioyned with fayth and charitie so that the one cannot be without the other neither the one to haue the lacke of the other For as Faith cannot be iustified without workes no more can hope without charitie for as faith without workes is deade so is hope without charitie deade also Therfore it is necessary for all christians to ioyne theÌ„selues to these foure and although they be named in foure seuerall names yet but two in effect as may be very plainly vnderstanded Faith workes hope and charitie workes in the name of a plurall number signifieth all as well the euill as good But I meane those workes in the which all faithfull Christians ought to arme themselues withall and all those that with willing mindes doo further any of these vnto such the rewarde is most happy and fortunate with faithfull hope there is alwayes constant charitie the which worketh so diligently that she neuer seaseth but is still labouring by all meanes to helpe and relieue all such as of her hath neede Example herein may be compared vnto all diligent preachers furtherers of Gods worde the which neither for persecution nor preferment of liuing will once leaue of froÌ„ teaching the poore of whom they haue cure charge of such there is very fewe which signifieth most euident and playne that charitie is nere blynde and can not very well see Therefore I wishe or desire all estates so to bridle their affections that with sufficiencie eche man may so liue in this world that in y e world to come he may haue euerlasting felicitie Hope thou in the Lorde and kepe his way and he shall promote thee that thou shalt possesse the land WheÌ„ the vngodly perishe thou shalt see it But my hope hath bene in thee O Lord. I haue sayd thou art my God God is our hope and strength a very present helpe in tyme of trouble For thou lord art my hope thou hast set thine house of defence very hye My soule hath longed for thy saluation and I haue a good hope because of thy worde Thou O God art the thyng that I long for thou art my hope eueÌ„ from my youth I also cried vnto the Lord and sayd thou art my hope and my portion in the land of the liuing Blessed be the Lorde my strength which teacheth my handes to warre my fingers to fight my hope and my fortresse my castle and deliuerer my defender in whome I trust which subdueth my people that is vnder me for I suppose that the afflictions of this lyfe are not worthy of the glory which shall be shewed vpon vs also the feruent desire of the creatures abideth loking when y e sonnes of God shall appeare because the creatures are subdued to vanitie against their wyll but for hys will which subdued them in hope for the very creatures shall be deliuered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious libertie of the sonnes of God for we know that euery creature groneth with vs also and trauaileth in payne euen vnto this time not they only but euen we also which haue the first fruites of the spiritie mourne in our selues and waite for the adoption and loke for the deliueraunce of our bodies for wee are saued by hope but hope that is seene is no hope for howe can a man hope for that which he seeth but and if we hope for y t which we see not then doo we with patience abyde for it for where fayth is there is hope and where as there is no sure hope there is no christian fayth wherefore it may be right well sayd we are saued by hope That is by the most certayne and sure faith in Christes promise whiche causeth vs to hope certainly that at the tyme appointed we shall be deliuered from this great burden of the flesh The desire of y e righteous is acceptable but the hope of the vngodly is iudgement The vngodly is cast a way for his iniquitie but the righteous hath a good hope euen in death The hope that is put in a false man in tyme of neede is like a rotten tooth but let not thy soule be moued to slay him Also as there is a good hope vnto the godly which before is expressed so is there a fayned hope among the wicked and very seldome can be redressed whiche is when a man in worldly causes hopeth to bring to passe that thyng which by no meanes may be entertayned or gotten Example of one Iphis the sonne of Theucer kyng of Mesia a countrey ioyning to Hungary the which for the loue of a damosell called Anaxareten hanged him selfe Wherefore the Poetes haue fayned the saide Anaxareten to be turned into a stone because that she loued not him the which for her loue had hanged him selfe Moreouer what ensued of the Princes whiche sought the death of the Prophet Daniell their folishe vayne hope was vtterly frustrated for they thought that Daniell being once among the lyons could
soule to be takeÌ„ from y e deuils to be put into their fained purgatory with lie al. PolichronicoÌ„ saith y t wheÌ„ Dunston coÌ„maunded y e deuils to leaue y e soule of Edwine that one deuil spake and said had not Dunston ben they stil mought haue tormeÌ„ted him But y e strength of their requiem Masses were of such abhominable operation y t they could kepe him no longer Thus these shameles rebels the ofspringes of Sathan are not ashamed to confirme say this to be true which is most pernisious filthy God for his mercies sake opeÌ„ the eyes of all obstinate papistes hinderers of his word that while the light of his glorious gospell shineth among vs both they and we all may imbrace the light and not to runne hedlong into the vale of darkenes where is weping wayling and gnashing of teath and endles woes for euer continuing remember the wordes of our sauiour Christe which he spake ouer Ierusalem saying Iâ—rusalem Ierusalem qua occidis prophetas lapidas eos qui mittuntur ad te quoties volui congregare filios tuos quemadmodum auis nidum suum sub pennas et noluisti O IerusaleÌ„ Ierusalem which killest y e prophets and stonest them that are sent vnto thee how oft would I haue gathered thy children together as the Hen gathereth her nest vnder her winges but ye would not let these few ensamples be sufficient CoÌ„sider wel of them and prayse them as they are worthy flye fables and cleaue to the veritie and then no doubt God will extend to vs his mercy Amen Problemes SAthan flourishing Uertue decreseth Uertue flourishing Sathan consumeth If will haue desire to froward intent Both froward and will in the end will be shent As Fides and Fallax be not of one minde So vice with vertue can neuer agrée Uice will to vice as euill by kinde When vertue shines bright strange sightes you shall sée A seruaunt I had both trusty and true Ful of obedience and very diligent Yet euill in maners â–ª full well did ensue In darkenes condemned no time to repent When earth by his vapour shall fume so the head That nothing may cause such apacient to sée Beware in the end it turne not to Lead And so of thy head neuer cured to be When Phaeton whipped his horsses gan runne The worlde to compasse as he then thought But Soll sone displased so wilfull a sonne And all his intent consumed to nought Where mault long lieth not looked vnto The Popes they deuoure and wast sone the corne Yet all not consumed for all they can doo When fier aproch ther better vnborne When Crocadill wéepeth and lieth full lowe Then danger nere crepeth of haue none take And the asse for pastour doth neigh with show Then Fallax from falshoode sée thou forsake The Uiper his kinde doth vse and kepe By resemblance of loue with an outwarde show So ire once kindled causeth some so wepe And like will to like as all 〈◊〉 well knew The Oke that is grene and fresh in his kinde The Iuy once spred and on the tope take holde By little and little his force is vntwinde And the Oke once fallen then nedes must vnfolde As spring of sommer the gates doo delight And Aquaries would be in Leos place The force of Philomisos may sone lose his fight And causelesse to forget eche knowen face The Snayle once voyde his house cannot gett Where substance of body is vtterly spent Nor life to sée light that once might haue set And house in the ende by tempest is rent When Leo by force his pray doth seke By Uenus assent and thinkest not to misse Philogines with heate may cause him to gréete So greate is his power deuoyde of all blisse When Vulcan with force hath done what he can With hammers and sledges to hollow the ground Yet Philamertia the enmye of man Surpasseth his force and geueth the wound Where the hogge is filled with vnwonted swill And the Ape is vsed to thinges not meete There deadly drincke full soone doth kill To late to morne lesse cause to weepe When golde into copper are changed in one And Acteons dogges are suffised with pray Then euery poore pastor shall dwell alone And of theyr whole liuing shall haue no nay When. Bon. in to ner yae be to some His banner displaied in place where he would Then L as Ioylese may say vndone Sith Pietas delaieth once that he could While Soll with his beames so fresh geueth light And Ely wisheth Zabeth long to raigne Then pray to Iehouah we lose not that sight In whome consisteth our profite and gayne All such as are wise vse iudgement by measure Be not to rash a solusion to geue And so it may chaunce sone to perseuer Much better to vnderstand the matter to atchiue FINIS ⧠Of the day of doome And comming of the Lord wherein is contayned the rewarde of the faithful the reprobate go into euerlasting fier BEholde heauâ—n and the heauen of heauens is the Lords and the earth with all that is therein notwithstanding the Lord had a lust vnto thy fathers to loue them and chose theyr seede after them euen you aboue all nations as thou seest this day Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your hart and be no more stifnecked for the Lord your God is God of Gods and Lord of Lordes a great God a mightie and a terrible God which regardeth no mans person nor taketh giftes he doth right vnto the fatherlesse and widdow and loueth the stranger to geue him foode and rayment loue ye therfore the stranger also for ye were strangers your selues in y e land of Egipt Thou shalt feare y e lord thy god him onely shalt y u serue to him shalt thou cleaue and sweare by his name he is thy praise thy God that hath done for thee these great terrible things which thine eyes haue sene Thy fathers went down into Egipt with 70. soules and now the Lord thy God hath made thee multiplied thee as the starres of heauen consider most gentle reader the mercifullnes of so puissaÌ„t a creatour that would not the death of a sinner but that he should be conuerted and turne from his wicked wayes if not that then where he promised life he will rewarde with horrible death takeheede therefore and be constant in all truth vnto the ende and God will preserue thee and on all those that haue no loue vnto his word among suche doth God let slip false prophets to deceaue them And therefore God shall sende them strong delusion that they should beleue lyes that al they might be damned which beleue not the truth but haue pleasure in vnrighteousnes and those which withdraw the faithful from the truth of the gospell Whoso dwelleth vnder the defence of the most highest shall abide vnder the shadow of the almightie
a thousande shall fall beside thee and ten thousande at thy right hand but it shall not come nigh thee yea with thine eyes shalte thou beholde and see the rewarde of the vngodly God beginneth iudgement at his owne house for he sendeth tribulations and afflictions vnto his church If ye be rayled vppon for the name of Christ happy are ye for the spirite of glory and the spirite of God resteth vpon you one theyr part he is euill spoken of but one your partes he is glorified see that none of you suffer as a murtherer or as a theife or an euil doer or as a busie bodie in other mens matters if any suffer as a christian maÌ„ let him not be ashamed but let him glorify God on his behalfe for the time is come y e iudgement must begin at the house of God if it first begin at vs what shal the end be of theÌ„ which beleue not the gospell of God and if the righteous scasely be saued where shal the vngodly sinner appeare wherfore let them that suffer according to y e will of God commit their soules to him with well doing as vnto a faithful creator Riches helpeth not in y e day of veÌ„geaunce but righteousnes deliuereth from death the righteousnes of the iust shall deliuer them but the wicked shalbe taken in their owne vngodlines If we had truely iudged our selues we shoulde not haue bene iudged but when we are iudged of the Lord we are chastened because we should not be damned with the world Uerely verely I say vnto you the tyme shall come and now is when the dead shall heare y e voyce of the sonne of God and they that heare shall liue for as the father hath life himselfe so likewise hath he geuen to the sonne to haue life in hymselfe and hath geuen hym power also to iudge in that he is the sonne of man Maruaile not at this the houre shall come in the which all that are in the graues shall heare his voyce and shall come forth they that haue done good into the resurrection of life and they that haue done euill vnto the resurrectioÌ„ of damnatioÌ„ For God so loued y e world y t he hath geueÌ„ his only son y e none y t beleue in him should perish but should haue euerlasting life for God seÌ„t not his son into y e world to condemne the world but that the world through hym myght be saued he that beleueth on hym shall not be condeÌ„ned but he that beleueth not is condeÌ„ned already because he beleueth not in the name of the only sonne of God He that refuseth me and receaueth not my wordes hath one that iudgeth hym the wordes that I haue spoken they shall iudge hym in y e last day There shall goe a fire before hym and burne hys enemies on euery side hys lightnes gaue shine vnto the worlde the earth saw it and was afrayd The Lords comming shalbe heard like a great noyse froÌ„ the Citie and shall reward hys enemyes on a sodayne euen as the trauayling of a wife wheÌ„ she bringeth forth a maÌ„ childe or euer she suffer the paine of the birth and anguish of the trauayle The night is passed and the day is come nye let vs therefore cast away the dedes of darkenes and let vs put on the armour of light Let vs walke honestly as it were in the day light not in eating and drinking neither in foolishnes as strife and enuiyng but put ye on y e Lord Iesus Christ and make no prouision for the flesh to fulfill the lustes of it Of y e times and seasons brethren ye haue no neede that I write vnto you for ye your selues know perfectly that the day of the Lord shal come euen as a theife in y e night when they shall say peace and no daunger then commeth on them sodayne destruction as the trauayling of a woman with childe and they shall not escape therfore let vs not sleepe but watch diligently for the comming of the Lord that at our calling we may be found occupied in all God exercises least being found idell we perish in our owne iniquitie and so come to destruction both of body soule Examine therefore euery maÌ„ amoÌ„g your selues and so spende y e dayes of thys troublesome pilgrimage that in y e ende we may come and appeare at y e generall day before y e eternall iudge who shall iudge all flesh according to theyr desartes and let vs most chiefely pray vnto God so to ayde vs wyth hys holy spirit against the temptacions of Sathan that at our appearance we may be found lawdable and glorious in the sight of that most pure and imaculate lambe Iesus Christ and to receaue y e blessed benediction when he shal say come ye blessed children into my euerlasting kingdome prepared for you from y e beginning of the world And to y e reprobate wicked ones goe ye wicked into the infernall hell prepared for you the deuill and his aungels Let all faithfull hartes pray vnto God and alwayes glorify his most blessed name vnto the which God be all glory power and dominion for euer and euer AmeÌ„ A Smalle reward I looke to haue Of such as do the truth despise No whit at all I mynde to craue But further truth in any wise All flesh is frayle and soone doth rotte As doth the flower in the fielde When man is gonne full soone forgot Therefore in tyme to truth do yelde Lament all flesh that liuing be With brinish teares and blubbrid eyen Then after death you soone shall see The christall glasse of light to shine Which glasse is Christ our Sauiour That for vs all his bloud hath shed Yelde vnto him all might and power Our only ioy and supreme head Let fickle fancie not you moue From him which can both kill and saue For like as gold so will he proue If light you way to late to craue FINIS Eccl. 14 Eccl. 16 Eccle. 10. Oseas 5. Iohn 18. Psal. 15. Ezech. 12. 1. Thess. 5 The property of the viper is the femall biteth of the males head and the yong gnaweth themselues out of their dammes belly Chitofell Aiax 2. Esd. 13. Prou. 19 Deut. 19. Prou. 17. By the Asse is meÌ„t the cruell Antechristians Iohn 12 Mark 13 Luk. 12 Rom. 8 Prou. 27. Tullius Augustinus Ambrosius Ambrosius Gen. 34. 1. Cor. 10. 1. Cor. 7. 1. Cor. 6. Heb. 13. 1. Cor. 5. Augustiâ—us Tullius Exod. 20. Deut. 5. Luk. 18. Dan. 13. Math. 14 Prouer. 6. Eccle. 23. Rom. 1. Hieronimus Luke 15. Abessa of BetheleÌ„ was iudge in Israell about thys tyme. ReguÌ„ 16. â— Reg. 13. Iudit 13. Gen. 9. Ouid. lib. 14. Iudges 17 Cor. 6. Tullius Ecclesia Boctius Eccle. 31. Osea Luk. 21. Eccle. 37. Ephe. 5. Prou. 31. Prou. 23. Eccle. 31. Rom. 12. Eccle. 23. Esau. * Heb. 12 Gen. 25. Exod. 16. Luk. 16. Percius in hys Satires Cato â—