Israel but it is thou O Achab and thy fathers house Osee iiii viii that haue forsakeÌ the lord your God and haue serued Baal So Nicholas lay the fault wher it is worthy to be layed and doubt ye not Prou. i. but the day is at hand except ye repent that as ye now cast away God and his word so wyl god cast you away and as he called to you and ye would not hear him so shal you cal to him Pro. xviii and he will not heare you And you that haue stopped your eares that ye might not hear the law God shal stop his eares froÌ you your praiers shal be accurssed Nich. Tush care not for that God was neuer better serued theÌ he is now Mattins euensoÌg masse goodli soÌg with prycksong organs we do all good thinges as we were wont to do Oli. Yea yea ye serue him as ye list and not as he commaundeth For he commaundeth you to beleue in his sonne and to folow his holy word but thys ye leaue vndone then ye pipe hym a daunce on the organes Nicho. Ther is nothing pleaseth the. Oli. what can please ani ChristiaÌ hart when he seeth gods worde set aside and contemned But Nicholas ⪠wherefore serueth holye candels Nich. To light vp in thuÌder and to blesse men when they lye a dying Oliuer The true light for theÌ that lie a dying is to know the sweete promises of Iesus Christ howe he dyed for our sinnes and purchased for vs resurrection and life that euery one that beleueth vpon him should not perishe but passe from deathe vnto lyfe As Christe saith Iohn xi I am the resurrectioÌ and lyfe he that beleueth in me although he were dead yet shall he liue and whosoeuer lyueth beleueth in me he shal neuer dy Ioh. viii And againe Christ saith Verelye verelye I saye vnto you if a man kepe my sayinges he shall neuer se death Iohn vi And againe in the gospel of S. Iohn Al that the father hath geueÌ me shal come vnto me him that coÌmeth vnto me I cast not away For I came downe froÌ heauen not to do mine owne wil but his wil that sent me And this is the fathers wil whych hath seÌt me that of of al which he hath geuen me I should lose nothing but shoulde rayse them vppe agayne at the last daye And thys is the wyll of hym that sent me that eueri man that seeth the sonne and beleueth on him haue euerlasting lyfe And I wyll rayse them vppe at the last daye Thys lyghte so comforted Dauid that he sayed Psal xxvi The Lord is mi light my helth whom shall I feare And agayne Yf I shoulde walke in the myddest of the shadowe of deathe Psa xxii I wyll not feare euell for thou O Lord art wyth me Thys lyghte coÌforted old SimeoÌ that he said Lord now lettest thou thi seruant depart in peace Luke ii accordyng to thy word c. This holi candel shone so bright in S. Paules eies that he said Phill. ii I long to be dissolued and to be with Christ This is our defeÌce against the thunder claps of gods wrath that falleth vpon sinners And wher this holy light of gods worde shineth Ioh. viii men walke not in darkenesse but haue the light of life But wher this is not what can thy holy candel do but light the into a wrong belefe so lead the into the darke dongeon of hell wherefore serueth holye palmes Nich. To make crosses to bear in our pursses and to set vp vpoÌ our windowes and dores that the diuel come not nigh vs nor into our houses Oliu. what if the deuil be in the house or euer the crosse be set vp Nich. Then let him flye away on the diuels name Oli. How shal he flye out seing the doores and windowes be so crossed that he dare not come nie them Shall he creepe into the benche hole or fly out at the top of the chymney Nich. He maye if he list for I beleue he hath no power to comeny the holy crosse Oliuer what if a crosse were set there made of an hasell sticke or of an vnhalowed palme wer it not so good as this Nich. No mary were it not Oliue why so Nich. For this made vpon Palme sundai in the passion time of halowed palme Oliuer Se the craftie diuel ⪠and how the people are deluded with blinde guydes The old church kept a memorye the suÌday before Ester how Christes glory was openly receiued acknowledged among the Iewes when they met him with date tree bowes and other faire bowes and confessed that he was the sonne of God commen into the worlde to saue mankinde and the gospel declaring the same was apointed to be read on that day But nowe our blind leaders of the blind toke away the knowledge of this with their latine processioning so that amonge .x. thousande scarce one knew what this ment They haue their laudable dumme ceremonies with leÌten crosse vptide crosse and these two must iustle til Lent breake his necke Then cakes must be cast out of the steple that al the boyes in the parish must lie scambling together by the eares ⪠tyl all the parish falleth a laughiÌg Nic. By our Lady I haue laughed well at it ere this Oliu. Yea Nicholas I warant the the deuil laugheth ful merily that he coulde with suche preatye toies mocke out Christes gospel And then where the auncient fathers apointed the history of Christes passioÌ to be read that it being wel knowen vnto the people they might the more depelier weigh the causes of the same and profit that coÌmeth vnto mankind this the deuil his ministers mocked out with the latin tong whiche many times neither the priest nor people vnderstode But Lord what Apes play made thei of it in great Cathederal churches Abbaies Nich. what did they there Oliu. One comes furth in his albe and his long stole for so they call their girde that they put aboute their neckes thys must be leashe wise as hunters weares their hornes This solempne syre played Christes part a gods name Then another coÌpanye of singers chyldren and al song in priksong the Iewes part And the deuil the deacon I should haue said read the the middel text Nicho. what dyd the prest at the alter al this while Oliu. He stoode mum and played Iudas that betrayed his Mayster And in the meane time because it was teadiouse to be vnoccupyed suche playne soules as thou art made crosses of palme to set vpoÌ your dorss to beare in your purses to chace awai the diuel god beforen Hath not our spiritualtie well ordred this matter trow ye to turne the reading preaching of Christes passion into such wel fauoured pastymes But tell me Nicholas hathe not thy wyfe a crosse of palme aboute her Nich. Yes in her pursse Oliuer And a go on
blessed mot he be Oliu. Nicholas ye blesse Christ but you cal his word new learning herisie and babling Nich. Naye that I do not Oliuer Did not you cal the holy readyng of the Byble so euen now Nich. why our sir Iohn telleth vs it was made by king Harry theight Oli. No good Nicholas no. That gratious king set it out and commauÌded that the people should reade it without ani letting But the Bible is gods boke and al that is in it is gods truth Therfore the old fathers that we should folow ar Christes prophetes and Apostles and Christ him selfe and not our old grandsires grandames For God geueth an expresse coÌmaundement zacha i. saying Be not lyke your forefathers vnto whom the prophets cryed before tyme saying Thus saith the lord god of hostes Turne from your euell waies and from your wicked imaginations they heared not nor toke heede vnto me saieth the Lorde Nich. Our forefathers were good men Olyuer But yet Christ was better Nich. They were wise men Oliu. Yea but yet Christe was wyser Nich. They were holy men Oliue But Christ is holier And what soeuer you can recken of them goodnes i. corin i. wisedome holynes c. Christ excelleth them in al things For he is made of god vnto vs our wisdoÌ rightuousnes holines sanctification Iho. xiiii and redemption Christ is the way the truth and the life and no man can come to the father but by him He that heareth Christes wordes hath life euerlasting But Nicholas tell me caÌ sir Iohn make an oxe or an horse Nicho. Nay by mi truth I trow not Oli. How can he theÌ make gods body Nich. It is no matter how we must beleue so for he saith so Olyu Nay Nicholas we must not beleue al that sir Iohn saith but we must beleue all that he saith and hath gods word to confirme his saying And this is an intollerable pride of the papistes to teach the people that thei make gods body Truth it is Eph. iiii that Christ ascending into heaueÌ gaue gyftes vnto men and appoynted church ministers but far other theÌ greased shauelinges for he apointed Apostles prophetes Euangelistes Shepheardes and teachers Phili. i. And saint Paule calleth the ministers of the church by the names of Bishops and Deacons i. Tim. iii. The office of these ministers appointed by Christ and S. Paul Luk. xiiii is to preach gods word to cal al men to repentaunce and amendement of life Iohn xxi i. Tim. iiii to declare to them that repent the good newes of the gospel Nich. Yea the prests wer woÌt to come to our houses to say vs gospels make vs holi water holy bread and so I trust they wil again now Oliue I pray the heare me a litle The gospel is a glad tidings that god the father Luke ii for his sonne Iesus Christes sake ii cori v. is contented and reconciled and receiueth maÌ againe to his fauour and grace Gala. iiii and wyll for his sonne Iesus Christes loue take vs by adoptioÌ to be his children Ephesi i. giue vs his holy gost make vs enheritours of eternal life Ioh. xvii And to confirme this promise our Sauiour Iesus Christ hath ordained .ii. holy sacraments Titus iii. Baptisme wherin we are certified that al our sins are washed away in the death of Christ i. corin xi And the holi supper of the lord that when we come together we should take the bread Mat xxvi breake it Mar. xiiii eate it in remembraunce that Christes bodi was vpon the good Fridai offered vp vpoÌ the crosse for our sinnes Luk. xxii and we shoulde al drinke of the cup in reÌmembrauÌce that Christes bloud was shed for our sins Therfore this is the priestes office to preach the death of Iesus Christ and to teach the people to know that none other thing could deliuer them froÌ their sins and therfore they ought both to consyder the haynous vglines of sin and the great wrath of god ouer it which otherwise wold not be reconciled nor atone with maÌ Rom. viii Then on the other parte to declare the great mercy loue charitie of god towards vs that spared not his own beloued soÌne but gaue him to the death of the cros for vs. Thus shoulde they be moued to repent the euel done to beleue and loue the charitie of God to walke in loue good frendship one to an other euer studying to liue an obedient life after the heauenly fathers wil and commaundementes Nich. Dothe not the priest make Gods bodye Do we not eate gods body Oliu. First answer me if thou can to a question or two Nicho. I wil if I can Oliue Canst thou say thy Creede in Englishe Nicho. Meanest thou the new Creede or the old Crede Oliuer There is but one Creede Nicho. I can saye that my mother taught me Credum deum I was harping at the new a good while but nowe I care not for it Oliue I se it was not for nought that christ said to his Apostles blessed ar the eyes that se that you se Luke x. For euen as then mani were blind and wold not se the light of his worde Iohn ix euen so is it now wel I wil help you out with your question Do you not beleue that the sonne of God came downe from heauen was borne for vs of the virgine Mary takyng our mans nature of her substauÌce Nicho. Yes that I do Oliuer And that he was crucified for our sins dead and buried and rose agayne vpon Esterday Nicho. Yes verely Oliu. And that he ascended into heauen ⪠and sitteth on the righte hand of God the father almighti Nicho. Ye mary ye Olyu And froÌ thence he shall come to iudge the quicke and the dead Nich. Ye mary Olyu Do you beleue this in very dede Nicho. Ye by my trothe Oliuer Then Christes bodye was made in the wombe of the virgin not by sir Iohn but as our Creede saith he was conceaued of the holy gost Luke i. borne of the virgin mari Other making of Christes body ther is none nor neuer was nor neuer shal be Thus our lord sauiour liued in this world August in Ioa. tract Item in pref piÌ xcviii taught vs the wai of gods truth eueÌ the doctrine that is set out in the holy Byble wherof the chief and principal article is how we are redemed froÌ our sinnes and receaued into the fauour and grace of God by that holy raunsome of Christes bodye broken vpon the crosse his precious blud that was on the crosse shed for vs. The holy bread geueÌ at the lordes supper is the sacrament of Christes bodye that was broken on the crosse and the blessed cup that we drincke is the sacrament of that blessed blud shed for our synnes And when we receiue them as our body fedeth vp
on the outwarde thinges we se so our soules are fed with the inward thinges we see not For the verye flesh of Christ is not eaten wyth our bodilye tethe nor his bloude dronke with our bodily mouthes or throtes but it is a sacramental eating done bi the soule minde not by the bodye or carnal instruments of the body Nicho. Howe can we eate but with our tethe or how can we drincke but wyth our throtes Oliu. You shal the better vnderstande thys misterye if you marke Christes dede when his holye sacrament was first instituted Christ him selfe satte at the table with his .xii. Apostles and taking the bread that stode before them euen such bread as they then vsuallye had to eate with the pascall lambe and gaue thanckes to hys heauenlye father and brake that bread and gaue it to them saying Take eate ye this is mi bodi whiche is broken for you They dyd take the bread and did eate as he commaunded them and they dyd drincke the cup that he delyuered them saying this is my bloude of the new testament which is shed for you Yet it was the next daye ere his bodye was broken and hys bloud shed vpon the crosse for vs and he sat whole amongst them at supper and him selfe did eate of that same bread which he called his body and dyd him selfe drink of that cuppe which he called his bloud therfore by faith they dyd receyue and eate his body drink his bloud They beleued that hys death and passion shoulde be for them and into remission for theyr sinnes as we now that Christ is ascended into heauen by faith doo eate his body broken and drincke his bloud shed although that he liueth sitteth on the right hand of his father But Christes veri naturall bodye is not toren with our teethe as the Capernites erroure thincketh nor yet his bloud dornk with our throtes mouthes But Nicholas haue you not a soule as wel as a bodye Nicho. Yes that I haue Oliue what maner of thing is your soule Nicho. By mi troth I can not tel Olyu I thinke Nicholas no more caÌ the greatest doctor of them al. And therfore because the soule is vnknowen vnto vs the scripture speaking of the soule those thinges that appertain vnto it vseth such wordes as we are aquainted with ascribeth those things vnto the soule that ar proper vnto the body So Dauid said My soule O Lorde thirsteth vnto the. And Christ saith Blessed are those that hunger and thurste for rightuousnes The harty desire of the soule is the hunger and thurst of the soule as the herty desire of meate and drincke is the hunger thurst of the bodi Therfore when a sinner feleth the burden of sinne vpon his conscience and the lacke of strength and power to do the wyl of God and is touched wyth gods spirit to be sory for this vnperfectnes and longeth fain to be deliuered this is the hunger of the soule This hunger is not satisfied tyl he heare the preaching of christes bodie broken for our sinnes that by his bloudshed our synnes ar forgiuen vs our infirmities healed we receiued into the grace and fauour of God But when we beleue this then is our hunger slaked and our thurst put away that is we feare no more dampnation but knowe that in Christ we haue our pardon Thus we eate Christ beleuing that his body was brokeÌ for vs and that his blud was shed for our sinnes Nich. wherfore eat we the Sacrament than we maye do this by hearing the preaching Oliu. I am glad that thou askest me this question for it seemeth thou wouldest faine vnderstand something of this matter As to writinges men set to seales for a confyrmation of the same writinges so Christ set to his worde his Sacramentes for a confirmation of our faith in his worde And to put vs the better in memory of the gifte geuen vnto vs by his word he called the same Sacramentes by the name of the gift geuen vnto vs in them So circumcisioÌ is called the Lordes league the pascal lambe is called the Lordes passing thorow Egipt Babtisme is called the new birth and the breade and wine is called the bodie and bloud of the Lord. Therefore Nicholas marke wel this In the Lords Sacraments ther ar .ii. things an earthli thing and an heauenli In Baptisme the earthli thing is water that washeth the bodie the heauenlie thing is the blod of Christ that washeth the soule and the holie gost renuing the hole man and sanctifying him in Iesu Christ In the holi supper of the Lord the earthli thing is bread and wine that we receiue at our mouthes into our bodyes which are digested in our stomaks and bi the natural powers conuerted chauÌged into our substauÌce and the excrementes of theÌ naturalli cast forth froÌ vs as other meates be but the heauenlie things at the blessed bodi of our lord sauiour Iesus Christ broken for vs his bloud shedde for vs vpon the crosse which we receiue bi faith with al the blessed frutes and profites that Christ bi his deathe resurrection ascencion intercession and priesthoode hathe obtained for vs. This swetelie and comfortablie we meditate in our mindes bi the working of the holy ghost it is distribute into al our actions dedes and we are wholi receiued into Christ to be one bodie wyth him as S. Paule saieth Heb. ii He that sanctifieth and thei whiche are sanctified are al of one And againe S. Paule saith The cuppe of thankesgeuing which we blisse is partaking of the bloud of Christ and the bread whiche we brake is partaking of the body of Christ For we though we be mani yet ar one bread one bodie in asmuch as we al ar partakers of one bread Nicho. These ar good words but our sir Iohn wil denie all this and we must do as our curate teacheth vs. Oliu. what teacheth he you Nic. That he offereth vp Christ in his Masse for our frendes soules Oliu. Yea but take awai moni that ye like fooles giue him and he wil sing another song In verye dede Christ was offered for our sinnes Heb. ix x but that was once for al and then he offered him self vpoÌ the crosse as our Crede saith after he had so by that offering satisfied vnto God neither neded he anye more to sacrifice nor we ani more sacrifices for vs. For by one oblation once offered he hath made perfect vnto God al that are sanctified Sir Iohn therefore is a false Antichrist and a disceiteful iugler in this point teacheth his owne dreame and not gods worde And I pray you what woorde of God hath sir Iohn to hang vp the Sacrament in the pixe Nicho. Mary sir it is a goodly sight in the churche Oliuer But Nicholas oure crede saith Mat. xvi Lu. xxiiii Actes i. that Christ asceÌded in to heauen and sitteth on the right hand of God the
father almighti And S. Peter saieth The heauens muste receiue him vntyll the tyme that al thing be restored And the angels said he should come from heauen as he ascended visiblie shal be sene Sir IhoÌ therfore doth great wrong to hang vp breade in the Pixe and to make the people beleue that it is Christes bodye or Christes Sacrament either Nich. why is it not the holy Sacrament Oliu. water in the fount is no Sacrament but when it is put to the vse that Christ appointed it then it is a Sacrament So bread wine are no Sacramentes vntil they be put to the vse that Christ appoynted that is to be eaten in remembraunce of his body brokeÌ and of his bloud shed then are they Sacramentes and the worthy receyuer hath the promises of Christ but the vnworthie receiueth hys condemnatioÌ But wheÌ the bread is made a gase a pageaÌt of a plai borne about for a pompe hanged vp to be worshipped it is an horrible abuse of Christes Sacrament For Christ neuer apointed any such worshipping of his sacramentes Nicho. why may we not worship the holy sacrameÌt Oliu. Yes forsoth ⪠we do worshippe it with most high honour when we vse it as Christ commaunded it to be vsed that is to eate the bread and to drinke the cup in Christes remembrauÌce Nich. Nai sir Iohn teacheth vs to sai a pater noster to the sacrameÌt to find a light afore it such like Oli. Sir Iohn hath that out of his owne brain ⪠and vnlearned nole Christ nor his Apostles nor any of the auncient doctours neuer taught any suche doctrine But I pray you what can sir Iohn do more Nicho. Manye goodlye thinges Oliue what I pray the Nich. He caÌ make holy water holy bread holy palme holy ashes holy candels Oliu. wherfore is holy water good Nic. To driue a war diuels troublous dreames to wash away venial sins Oli. what callest thou veniall synnes Nich. Light sinnes ⪠as swearinge of custome by gods bodye sides woundes c. telling of ribauldry tales drincking dronken and kyssing of prety weÌches Oli. These be horrible sinnes in the sight of God Ephes v. and S. Paule saith for such thinges sake the wrathe of God coÌmeth vpoÌ the children of vnbelefe what callest thou deadli sin Nich. Losing of Masse Matins EuensoÌg breaking of imber daies vigils and lenten Oliu. Ah Lord how you worship God in vayne Math. xv Esa xxix being afraide to breake mens traditions would to God men were but halfe so ready to keepe Gods commaundementes But what remedye for those deadlye synnes Nicho. we must be shryuen to syt Iohn he shal geue vs penaunce Oliu. what is penauÌce Nic. That our gostly father enioyneth vs as to sai iii. pater nosters in the worship of God and saint Iulian to fast saint Anthonies fast or to say euerye daye our Ladies psalter Oliue And are thy syns then forgeuen the when thou haste done thy penauÌce Nich. why not wheÌ I haue made amendes for them Can God haue any more then amendes Oli. Ye are deceiued Nicholas eueri wai For first ye think that synne whych in some cast is done and that which euer is horrible and great sinne afore god ye count it light and smal or no sin Againe ye thincke your synnes to be put awaye for your owne penaunce doynge and for the worthynesse of your owne woorkes whych is to to greate a blasphemye Nichol. why shoulde I not beleue that I am absolued when Syr Iohn layeth hys hande vpon me Oliuer what saith he when he absolueth thee Nicho. Many good woordes I warrant you Oliu. I trow so but what I praye the Nicho. By my troth I can not tel but beleue wel and haue well Oliu. But howe canst thou beleue that thou vnderstaÌdest not Nich. I beleue if I be shriuen theÌ he beareth al the charge not I. Olyu So maiest thou be easly deceiued But Nicholas Ioel. i. Eze. xviii true penauÌce or repentaunce is a tournyng with the hart vnto God hating and detesting of the sin afore passed ii Cor. v. Ephe. iiii trusting to haue forgiuenes by Iesus Christ and fully studying to liue a newe lyfe in tyme to come Thys should sir Iohn preache to vs in Englishe that our hartes maye be broosed vnto repentaunce by the law condempning vs and quickened again bi the gratious promise of the gospel I say it shoulde be don in English that we mai hear it and vnderstande it beleue it and so be absolued from our sins For they that repent and beleue are absolued bi Christ but such as do not sir Iohn mai absolue them at his pleasure but Christ absolueth them not Therefore a latin absolution to an English sinner is as good as a shulder of mutten for a sycke horsse And thynckest thou that thou art able to make a mendes for thi sinnes Nicho. whi not Oliuer wherfore died Christ then Gala. iii. if we could make amendes with our good dedes what neded we Christ then Neded his bodi to haue bene broken for our sinnes if our dedes could haue made amendes Or neded his bloude to haue bene shedde if holy water coulde haue washed awaye our synnes Christes death were in vaine if we by our owne merites might haue deserued reconciliation pardon at the hande of God Nicho. And shal I not do good dedes fast and pray ⪠and humble my selfe before God Oliu. Yes Nicholas if thou be hartely sory thou shalt weepe and lament thy wickednes fast and tame thy sinful carcasse pray and instantly aske mercie of God thi father But yet al these cannot make amendes to God for thy wickednesse committed for then neded thou not Christs death nor bloudshed to be betwene God the but thou wilt not forsake that I trust Nicho. No god forbodde I should Oliuer Then marke thys wel al thy good dedes are dewty for the time present not amendes for thy time past For if thou haddest done no sinne at all art thou not bound to kepe gods commauÌdementes I trow yes But if thou offend against gods commauÌdementes then must thou repent turne to god and aske pardon in Christes name and so obtain forgiuenes by his deathe who hath made amendes for the and from that time forward walke in gods commaundementes obedientlye And if thou haue hurt or harmed thy neighbour reason wold thou shuldest make him ameÌdes Didst thou neuer fal out with non of thi neighbours Nich. Yes by our ladi somtime Oliu. And didst thou no displeasure to theÌ in thine anger Nicho. No by god but as I came froÌ the hai making with mi pitch forke I dabbed a Cowe of hys in the flancke that she dyed of it Oliuer And what penaunce didst thou for that spiteful dede Nich. I said .v. Pater nosters in the worship of God and the .v. woundes and gaue a peny to a poore man Oliue Here if thou hadst hadde a good
felowshyppe tel me thinckest thou not sometyme the deuil is in her tounge Syghe not man Nich. I wold she heard you you might fortune to finde him in her tong and fist both Oliu. Then I se wel he coÌmeth not in her purse because the holi palme crosse is ther but if thou couldest intreate her to beare a crosse in her mouth theÌ he would not come there neither Nich. Saye you what you list the holy crosse is good Oliu. Nicholas I take god to recorde no man liuing more highly estemeth the signe and token that Christ dyed on then I do but the holier it is the more impietye is it that the preaching of Christes deathe and passyon that he suffered for vs shuld be set aside and the people deluded with superstitious opinions For such superstitious crossinges rather bring the dyuell to house then driue him froÌ vs. Nic. Yea and such as ye are maye say what ye list for the people lyked this better then your preachings and Sir Iohn hath willed the parish to bie a new crosse that we might folow the good lord again a precession Oliu. why wil he not say the English Letanie kneling in the bodi of the church that the people mai say it with him Nich. Tush we care not for it it is left of long since it is to teadious we wil folow the crosse a pression as our forefathers did Oliu. O folowers it is great piti to se one blind folow another til both fal in the pyt Nich. Sir Iohn tolde vs Math. xv that Christ said If any man wil be my disciple he must folow my crosse Oliu. I can sit Iohn thanck he is a cuÌning coblet The text Nicholas is thys Mat. xvi Mark viii Luke ix â Christe declared vnto his disciples that he must go vnto Hierusalem and there suffer many thinges of the elders of the high priestes and Scribes and be killed and rise againe the thyrde day Here Peter of a good carnal loue to his master toke him aside and rebuked him saying Master fauour thy selfe this shal not be Then turned he about and sayed vnto Peter Come after me Satan thou offendest me because thou sauourest not the thinges that are of God but the things that are of men Iesus then said to his disciples If any man wil folow me let him forsake himselfe and take vp his crosse and folow me For whosoeuer wil saue his life shall lose it But whosoeuer shal loose hys life for my sake and the Gospels the same shal saue it Here ye see what it is to beare the crosse and to folow the crosse and mark wel the order of the text Christ declared that he must suffer at their haÌdes which in veri dede should of deutie afore al other haue gloryfied him his doctrine Nic. who wer thei Oliu. The bishops priestes lawyers as now adaies one bishop being a crafti lawier worketh more myschiefe against the truth then a. M. beside caÌ do And yet the same with fained wordes of hipocrisi wil make al the world beleue that he seketh gods glori the reformatioÌ of religioÌ coÌmoÌ wealth of the people EueÌ as Caiphas did when he said in the couÌsel Ihon. xi it is expedient that one maÌ die for the people that the hole natioÌ perish not So sai they it is expedient that this doctrine of the gospell be destroyed the preachers burned so shal we agre with other realmes haue the hyest greatest in the world on our side But Caiphas was deceiued for the wai that he purposed to saue the people he destroied them and his wiked couÌsel fel on his own pate as it wil do without dout vpoÌ our hipocrits at the last Now coÌmeth peter as much as in him is couÌcelleth Christ to fauour himselfe But then Christ preached this sermoÌ To folow Christ that those that wil be Christs disciples must folow him that is as Christ most earnestli coÌstantli did the vocatioÌ that his heauenly father apointed him traueling froÌ place to place preachiÌg teachiÌg the wil of god vnto the people calling them to repentauÌce amendment of life so won soules vnto the heaueÌli father so must al Christes disciples do theyr vocation with faith diligence And wold to God oure byshoppes woulde well looke vpon thys texte for it principallye toucheth them And to take vp hys crosse dailye is to suffer with patience the miserable afflictions and tribulatioÌs pouertie neede sorowe syckenes pryson losse of goodes catels frends and al other that god laieth vpon vs. To take these things with quiet mindes knowledging that thei are laid vpon vs for our sins to kil sinne in vs to mortifi our fleshly lustes and apetites to raise and sturre vp true repentaunce hartie inuocation vpon god and paciently and faithfully to waite for deliueraunce at gods hand Thys is to take vp our crosses and to folow Christ euen to denie our selues and to lose our liues for hys word and gospels sake This is another maner of peece of worke then to carye palme crosses in our pursses or to go a procession after a tinne or copper or siluer crosse This S. Paul reioyseth in âi cor iiii saying we alwaies beare about in our bodies the dying of the Lord Iesus that the life of Iesu might alwaies appeare in our bodies And again he saith ⪠Gala. vi God forbid that I shuld reioyce but in the crosse of oure Lorde Iesu Christe whereby the world is crusified vnto me and I vnto the world that is the world greatli estemeth outward ceremonies and shewes of holines as the Iewes mutch boasted the circuÌcision of the flesh and neglected the new creature of the mind but Paul al true Christians reioyce not in sutche outward shewes of holines but in the true holynes of the hart and minde and espetiallie in this high benefit and gyft of god that they ar called to be partakers with Christ of the miseries and troubles of this world And as the world euer despiced Christe and couÌted him accurssed and so put him to the most vile deathe of the crosse so hath it euer done by Paule and al the Apostels and all other that folow their doctryne These must be dispiced and persecuted of the world ⪠and not counted worthy coÌmon breath ⪠aier And Paule his folowers the disciples of Christ againe coÌdemne the worlde by the iust sentence of gods worde because they refuse Christ cast aside the doctrine of his gospel and chose rather to be leade in the darcke dreames and mistye imaginations of hipocrits then in the cleare lyght of Gods holy scripture and veritie thus is Paule crucified vnto the world the world is crucified vnto Paul God knowith few bear the crosse thus and yet this is it that Christ requireth of vs to be his disciples to folowe hym to denye our selues and to beare our crosses