lesse vntyl the body of death be whole and clene put awaye Be not moued at the small Babylonyans that is the worldly thoughtes or hys pleasures but knocke them agaynst the trew corner stone Chryst wherby ye shal be saued What do we loke for after thys lyfe What pleasaunt thynge perceaue ye in it that myght cause you to desyre a longe lyfe What is thys lyfe saue a contynuall battayll and crosse a deadly enemyte and continuall hatred What is it but a preson of synne For the euell that we hate that we do and the good that loue that we do not The grace and mercy through Iesu Chryst must delyuer vs orels shall we styck fast by the fete We haue here no abydynge cyte but seke and longe for another that is commynge For we know yf at the least we be beleuynge that yf the earthy dwellynge place of oure body be corrupte and destroyed we haue a buyldynge ordeyned of God an house not made with handes but euerlastynge in heauen ii Corinth v. That we now therfore sygh and grone lokynge about before we can be ryd of this body that is because we wolde faynese and couet to be clothed with the heauenly duellynge place wythout puttynge of and auoydynge of thys earthy cloth and dwellynge place We wolde fayne retayne thys fylthy sack because of the company that we haue had wyth it so that it which is mortall myght be swaloued vp of the lyfe immortall wythout assayeÌ„ge of death But that can not be Seynge it is ordened for man once for to dye And that we shulde leaue herein earth by partynge of the soule that which we haue receaued of the earth And well is vs that God seynge oure mysery hath pytyeth vs makynge our death safe through his death For he is become a death vnto death so that death hath no fearfulnesse in her saue onely hyr vysure to fray them that be chyldysshe in fayth and vnderstondynge But vnto the faythful and them that haue vnderstondynge is she depryued of hyr stynge and venyme Yf ye auoyde youre mynde of the grymnesse and vtter appearaunce of her than shall ye fynde no death more in her Go boldli to death breake open hys yawes loke what is in hym Yow shall fynde no lyfe no power or strength in hym to byte you Prouoke hym boldely to mete you in the fyghtynge place and he shall flye from you Defye death with all them that can holde wyth hym for they can not harme you they can not mynysshe one heer of you Saye hardely wyth the prophet Ose O death where is thy stynge O hell where is thy gloriation or reioycenge The death is swalowed vp in Christes victory And therfore is death called in scripture a slepynge more thaÌ„ death Of this haue you a goodly fygure The brasen serpent that Moses made Numeri xxi semed afarre of to haue ben a serpeÌ„t in dede but yf ye dyd aproche vnto yt than might ye perceaue welynough that it was a dead serpent and that it had no venym that it coulde nother byte nor stynge Euen so is it w t death outwarde it hath a fearfull visage but the power of it is take awaye by Christ For he hath ouercome him y t had power of death y e deuyll as ye shall heare more herafter Lazaarus Youre declaration that ye haue shewed here is very spirituall I beleue it be all as ye saye yee I am well pleased there with Yet do I perceaue that goodmen which haue such felynge and knoledge in themselues that is to wete that the death of Christ is death vnto y e natural death as well as the euell and bad do shrenke wrenche at y e poynt of death as though death had yet power vpoÌ„ them Tobias Treuth it is that the waye which bryngeth vs to lyfe is strayght the porte of death narowe Wherfore we caÌ„ not passe vnto death by sufferinge wtout strayghtnesse pearsynge but what is y t vnto the lyfe health The body must fulfyll hys naturall course it ought not nor can do otherwyse it caÌ„ but wrenche pinche shouer kyke Let y e asse beare y e trushe hardely it maketh no matter yet for all this wyl not we feare death Yf death can do nought more what awayleth much repinynge wrenchynge it is light to be ouercome thys wreÌ„chinge may be permitted him welinough al is for one euell houre Let y e fleshe ê‘ceaue in it self y e testameÌ„t of AdaÌ„ vnto y e last houre We haue nought now to walke in saue hope this hope abydiÌ„g of y e life tocome shal cause vs rightwel to ouercome y e sorow wo of death haystely to forget it It is but y t bytiÌ„ge of a fle y t hurteth not y e soul The death is better for vs thaÌ„ we can thynke she loseth vs of al misery she ioyneth vs to god sendeth vs forth to euerlastynge lyfe Let HeytheÌ„ and Turkes feare death which haue no fayth of the lyfe tocome But oure conuersacion and thoughtes are in heauen for from thence do we abyde our Lorde Iesu Christ which shall restore oure castawaye body agayne makynge it coÌ„formable vnto his glorifyed body Yf we hadde not this hope of the partynge of the body trustinge no lenger in Christ than durynge thys lyfe than ware we as sayeth Paul i. Corint xv the moost abiecte and refuse of al meÌ„ But now is Christ dead rysen agayne y t we shuld also ryse again in hiÌ„ in a new life Death is oure last enmy y t holdeth vs froÌ„ the lyfe thys must once be ouercome me in vs also Christ dyed for nought yf he hath not anulled the power lawe of death Christ is not rysen from death yf we must abyde in death Yf Christ be not rysen than is oure fayth vayne than abyde we damned in oure synnes than is scripture a lye than be the apostles also and y e prophetes false wytnesses of God That be farre For Christ dyed and is rysen agayne that he shulde haue dominion ouer quycke and dead Wherfore as we all dye in Adam so shal we be relyued agayne in Christ of which relyuyng agayne Christ hath made a profe in him selfe Therfore sayeth Paul If the sprete that hath raysed vp Chryst from the dead dwell in you thaÌ„ shal y e same sprete relyue youre mortall body by the spirite that dwelleth therin Lazarus Than wyll not I be moued though the fleshe do somtyme sygh and mone because of death and the fayntnesse of payne but wyll abyde alwaye the redemption tocome with a lyfted vp heade that is w t a mery spirite For yf I shulde consydre all thynges what els is in this valley of teares saue payne and anguishe synne and wyckednesse Tobias The poetes and Phylosophers estymed death to be a good thynge because yt is the ende of all wrechednesse and a rest of all euell Many Heythen haue beÌ„ lesse abassed for the death
bitter recepte knowenge and stedfastly belyuynge to optayne health by none other meanes Lazarus As for me surely I wolde rather thanke him drynke hys recepte though it were as bitter as regale yf I knewe to optayne health therby Timothe Lo then nomore ye ought to despise the hyghest physicioÌ„ of your soule nor to refuse hys medycines though they be bytter and paynfull vnto your olde Adam But ye must haue an eye to his promyses ouercome that which is payneful to you wherby neuerthelesse ye be saued Thus haue martyrs ouercome in sufferynge and death for dyenge they sawe the trew lyfe in syknesse and disease of the flesshe they sawe the power of God which is fortyfied and stabylysshed hereby God of hys nature is merciful but that he maye worke hys worke in vs that is to heale to make safe and sounde he doth fyrst a thynge that is straunge to hys nature which semeth vnto vs a token of hatered that is he scourgeth and beateth vs with syknesses and grefe Thus doth God a straunge worke as sayeth Esaye in the .xxviii. chapter that he maye worke hys natural worke By this straunge worke of God that is the chastenynge or scourgynge of the father we lese oure corage goodes bloude health welth and lyuelode and come euen in the myddes of the crosse despysynge and death All thynges appeare here before our flesshly eyes as though we were enemies vnto God and wholy despysed of God and wote not to consyder how he shall delyuer vs. Yet do we perceaue the hande of God inwardly which doth so sustayn vs that we fall not in desâ—ayre mystrusting or mumurynge agaynst God wythout the hande of God it were impossible for vs to stonde the twinklinge of an eye In the ende of the worke do we fyrst perceaue the councell of God than se we that he wyll mayntayne and fede his shepe in his lappe whom he wyll not haue to dye for hunger and dysease He can tempte the ryghtuous and also delyuer them agayne By fayth may we be conquerers of all Fayth is of thynges that be not apparent now where fayth shal haue a place there must such thynges be beleued as be inuysyble Thus is fayth of the lyfe to come chefely contayned and declared in dyenge Thus we beleue that God relyueth vs in kyllynge that he saueth vs and iustyfyeth vs in synnynge that he brengeth vs to heaueÌ„ whaÌ„ he semeth to thrust vs down to hell in that he forsaketh vs and that he healeth vs in oure soule whan the body is vysyted with al maner of syknesses For he hedeth hys mercy vnder hys wrath How wolde haue beleued that God wolde haue dealte so peteousli with hys good frende Iob in takyng awaye all hys best beloued thynges but onely because he was mynded to restore hym all this agayne doubell Let therfore youre eye of fayth preasse vnto saluacion and reioyce though God shewe you not his foreparte that is a chearfull countenaunce as he dyd vnto Peter beynge on the mouÌ„t Thabor but hys hynder parte lyke as he appared vnto Moses For whan this worke of his is past thaÌ„ appeare his fotesteppes WhaÌ„ this chastesynge is past than shall he smyle at you and shew you his fatherly fauoure though in this anger he seme to gerne and loke grymly vpon you Perceaue you this Lazarus I can not perceaue perfectly so much at ones Neuerthelesse I perceaue that in youre wordes there is a Godly vnderstoÌ„dynge though I can not comprehend so much at once Therfore I desyre you to declare me more earnestly and sleghtly which waye oure synnes be mortyfyed in vs by the crosse and sufferynge Tymotheus I wyll do yt gladly Whatsoeuer a man loueth besyde God that is hys Idoll therfore is yt nedefull to declare what thynges we sett stoare by besyde God that we myght endeuoure vs the better to fulfyll the fyrst commaundement wherin we are commaunded to loue God with all oure harte power and vnderstondynge Some leane to much to temporall possessions which be withdrawen from them as a pelowe from vnder a mans heade by extorcion with the fyre by warre or by some other losse that hys hart beatt the more lyberte to be turned wholy to God Another hath hys carnal affeccion fyxed to sore vpon hys wyfe chyldren father and mother or frendes These false goddes be withdraweÌ„ from them whan they suffre ether in theyr name or fame goodes or bloude or whan they be taken from them by death to rydde a man of hys carnall affection and to open to a man hys infydelyte that God may possesse the harte wholy and alone lyke a gelous louer The thyrde is wanton and full of pleasure he setteth great stoare by hymself by reason of hys bewty strength honesty wysdome puyssaunce vnto such sendeth God troubell anguysshe sykenesse sores onwholsoÌ„nesse or folysshenesse to the intent y t he myght se how that all flesshe is nothynge but hey and all his glory as the grasse of the felde the grasse wythereth and the flore faydeth Lazarus I can not perceaue yet that God receaueth vs in scourginge al we flye strokes Tymotheus Your mysbeleue is the cause of flyenge which Paul rebuketh in the .xii. to the Hebrews saynge Bretheren haue ye forgotten the consolacion which speaketh vnto you as vnto chyldren saynge My sonne despyse not the chastenynge of the Lorde nother faynte whan thou arte rebuked of hym for whom the Lorde loueth hym he chasteneth Yee he scourgeth euery sonne that he receaueth Yf ye suffre hys chastesynge he offreth hym selfe vnto you as vnto hys beloued sonne What sonne is he whom hys father doth not chastyse Yf ye be farre from the chastenynge which is comune to all chyldren then be ye no chyldren but bastardes Also yf we haue hadde carnall fathers of whome we stode greatly iÌ„ awe which chastysed vs how much more shal we be obedyent vnto the father of spretes and shall lyue by hym Oure carnall fathers haue taught and enfourmed vs after theyr best mynde and that for a lytle season But thys father of oures teacheth and chastyseth vs for oure profyte that he maye make vs partakers of hys holynesse All thys present chastysynge semeth to be nothynge yoyfull but sorowfull but herafter she geueth a quyete frute reward vnto them which be proued therby Are not these sayenges comfortable vnto them that be in payne punyshment is dewe vnto synne and wythout synne is noman lyuynge wherfore good Lazarus receaue all that is sent vnto you and suffre though it be greueous Be pacyent in youre depressynge For as golde and syluer be tried in the fyre so is man tried in the fornace of temptacion Therfore scrypture exhorteth vs to estyme it aboue all other frutes And there is no frute so trewe as yf we be proued by many folde temptacions knowenge that temptacion in faith bryngeth forth the frutes of pacience Beholde all the martyrs and chyldren of God in theyr sufferynge and let theyr constant fayth be an
than we are Socrates dyd drinke his death laughynge He tought y t death is not to be feared y t which he dyd fortify with the dede Yf the fleshly affection and hye mynde of Socrates to fortyfy and to strength hys doctrine myght not ouercome the naturall feare of death What shall than do y e certaynte of oure fayth that be Christen men that is they that knowe they can not dye Ought not than the hope of the lyfe tocome take from vs the beholdinge of death Though the iust and faythfull seme to dye in the syght of y e ignorauÌ„te whaÌ„ they be burned drouned beheaded yet do not they once se death I wyll not saye assaye y e death for they dye in peace· They were dead afore in God by geuiÌ„ge themselues ouer to God and he y t dyeth in God lyueth eternally Happy are they that dye in the Lorde for their dyenge is chaunged in to lyuynge That is it that Christ sayeth He that kepeth my worde shall not dye foreuer Lazarus They haue alwaye made hell so whote â—nto vs and the deuell so blake that we â—â—â—ste not whether to turne oure selues They made vs so afrayde of death and chefely in that they sayde that the deuell appeareth vnto vs very horrible commynge to tempte vs of thys or that euell wherby euery maÌ„ feared death But where was the worde of God thaÌ„ which promyseth That we that beleue in Christ shal neuer assaye nor se death Haue these false teachers and blynde leaders neuer sene such euangelicall scripture nor red nor herde theÌ„ Tobias Though they haue sene herde and red it yet haue not they beleued it For the prince of this worlde hath blynded their mysbeleuyng hartes Where is no faith there is a perpetuall disquietnes of conscience there is a hell a fearfulnesse yee a see full of all fearfulnesse remorse and mysbelefe There is hell whote and the deuell blake there is a perpetual rackinge place of a synfull conscience In the waye of the synners is greate trauayll laboure as wytnesse they theÌ„selues sayeÌ„ge We be weryed in y e waye of wyckednesse we haue trauayled many wayes and the waye of trueth hath not ouershadoweth vs. That is it that the wyse man sayeth The harte of the wyked maÌ„ is lyke a see tossed with the waues And because these hypocrytes and workholyons seke peace where as they fynde no peace but greate disquietnesse and troubell for the vngodly haue no peace sayeth the lorde God therfore thynke they it be so with euery man as it is with theÌ„ They thynke euery man be so doubtfull and vnstedfast harted as they be yee because they estyme them selues more holyer and better than other therfore thinke they other must fele whoter fyre than they themselues and that other must fele the gnawenge worme more in theyr consciences than they Wherfore they augment and make the lawe the deuell and death more haynous before mens eyen They that be the moost fearfullest as these be vnto them wyll they be more horrible and dredefull with wordes and other thynges wherby they be become nothynge but rackers of the simple I beleue their worme neuer rest their fyre be neuer quenched I beleue right well they go astraye fyndyng no reste wyth y e manslayer Cayn I beleue they runne faythlesse with Iudas to the prestes and freers to be shryuen for coÌ„fort and reste but they abyde styll desperate I beleue right well they be ready to do satisfactioÌ„ for theyr synnes with Antiochus and of mistrust geue mony to praye for theÌ„ But al theyr fastynge prayenge goynge wolwarde and barefote all their mulynge and bablynge shall not helpe theÌ„ Whether soeuer they turne them selues they fynde alwaye synne present they mete al waye the deuyll and death in the tethe Howe can these teache otherwyse than they finde How shuld they preache y e gospell of peace y t neuer taysted peace How shulde they instructe another in Gods behalfe of his atonement of his rest and victory of death and his assuraunce froÌ„ hell whiche haue no fayth therof Let none of these deuel martyrs make you thus folyshe or wytlesse If ye haue the worde of God y t sheweth you peace forgeuenesse you haue God Where rest is there is God there is an euerlastynge coÌ„uenaunt There is roted out the feare of death y e deuell hell For feare is not in loue but she excludeth feare Paul sayeth We that be iustifyed by fayth haue peace by God He that is iustified thyswyse by the trew fayth of Christ though he sawe the deuell death hel with hys eyen yet wolde not he be abashed yee he wolde rather fyght agaynst them ouer come them than he wolde flye one fote And why for the gates of hell that is y e power of thesame can not optayne the victory of Peters fayth Sayntes haue ouercome kyngdomes by faith wrought ryghtwesnesse and optayned the Godly promyses The prophet sayeth Though a battayll a rose agaynste me in that wyl I hope Though I must go through the myddest of death yet shall not I feare for thou art with me lorde Thou hast prepared a tabel before me against myne enmyes Be of good cymforte sayeth Christ for I haue ouercome the worlde That is y e victory y t ouercoÌ„meth y e world eueÌ„ your faith sayeth Iohn ¶ Lazarus you haue declared me that so clearly that I euen reioyce therin and feare death lesse than afore Let here come whan it shal please God I knowe by experieÌ„ce welynough what fearfull coÌ„science I haue had in myn vnbelefe iÌ„ my moost vertuous workes ye nede not to make farther declaration in this behalf Neuerthelesse this I require yet of you y t ye wil shew me how I shall behaue my self beste henceforth whaÌ„ the teÌ„ptacioÌ„ of syn death or hell shal assault me Tobyas In y e .iiii. of mat is it eyudeÌ„t how ye ought to behaue yourselfe agaynst teÌ„ptacioÌ„ of the deuell or of synful desyres which also be one kiÌ„de of deuels Lo how christ suffered himself to be teÌ„pted of glutony of presumptioÌ„ of couetuosnesse to proue y t we be dayly teÌ„pted of the same deuel or rather worse to an exaÌ„ple coÌ„fort y t such teÌ„ptacioÌ„ can not harme vs no more thaÌ„ they haue ouercome Christ Marke how Christ hath ouercome chased the same deuell w t al hys teÌ„ptacions to an exaÌ„ple that we must kepe thesame sure grounde yf we entende also to ouercome the deuell and to chace hym from vs wythshame Christ hath ouercome w t none other weapons saue only Gods worde all those that dyd withstande him other hell death or the deuell for all these haue ben enmyes to God as you maye rede in the .xvii. psalme The sorowes of death haue compassed me and the brokes of vngodlynesse made me afrayed The paynes of hell came about me y e snares of death toke holde vpon me But what foloweth Yet in my troubell I called vpon
to ouercome death to opē agayne the gates of lyfe Fynalbeholde how Chryst declareth hys lyfe in dyenge to stabylishe oure fayth that we shulde not doubte in the lyfe tocome no not in the myddes of death For Chryst hangynge on the crosse geuenge vp hys spryte vnto hys father testyfyenge with the bowenge downe of hys heade that he was euen dead he shewed yet some tokens of lyfe that were hyd in hym whan hys blessed syde was opened wherout cā runnynge water and bloude Wherfore doubt not in y e lyfe tocome for ye haue receaued a pledge of this lyfe by the loue of Chryst which is poured in you by the knoledge of God Chryst dyed and is crucifyed for oure weaknesse but he lyueth by the power of God We are also weake with hym and dye by reason of weaknesse but we shal lyue afterwarde with Chryst by y e same power of God Searche and proue yourselfe whether ye haue also thys hope fayth in the Lorde and in hys promises which shall geue you hys ryghtwesnesse for youre synnes and lyfe for death Lazarus Now as concernynge hell what shall I saye of it Yt is a commune saienge it we good dyenge yf man knewe where to become Thus must also come of a mysbeleuynge harte that we be thus abasshed for hell Tobyas Yt is sure so greate mysbeleue causeth vs to fear hell But knowe ye what is hell Hell is nothynge els saue feare and drede of death and a tremblinge against the iudgment and ryghtwysnesse of God The vngodly and damned can neuer escape thys death and hell for they haue no lust nor loue to God whom they beholde as a fearfull iudge and feare hys ryghtwysnesse He is sayde to be in hell that perceaueth wythin hymself how wycked and wreched he is wherby he is enfourmed and persuaded the fear of death and damnation So that the moost damnation and payne of hell is the despysynge and blasphemynge of God For so longe as we haue no lyuely wytnesse inwardly of the spryte of God that we be the chyldren of God so longe do we hate him and can not beholde his ryghtwysnes so doth oure haynous conscience of synne dryue vs. By these afore sayde wordes is it playne vnto you that the hell of the vnryghtwyse begynneth here in earth seynge the worme of theyr wicked consciencie dyeth not and the fyre of theyr wrath is not quenched Wherfore as the kyngdom of God is iustification peace rest and godly corage euen so is hel synne troubell and raygne In this hell was Caym whan he fled here earth no man persuynge hym In this hel also was Iudas y e traytour abode therin to his damnation Pether sayeth Act. ii that God hath raysed vp Chryst loosed the sorowes of death for so much as it was impossible that he shulde beholden of her that is Christ hath redemed vs and made vs sawe from all oure enmyes The deuell is a pussaunte Lorde and well weapened with all hys traynes erroures and fearfulnesses Math. xii But the sonne of God was a myghtyer Lorde which hath torne the powers of hell for all thynges were geuen hym in hys hande as Chryst sayeth Math. xxviii Vnto me is geuen all power in heauē in earth Yf al thinge be geuē vnto hym thā is also y e ouercōmynge of hell geuē him Christ descēded down to hel before hath troubled the kīgdō of y e deuel he hath also brought glad tydīges vnto thē y t were p̄soned ī hel The gates of hell cā not withstōd y e faith of Peter this was Paul sure of which caused hī to saye to y e Ro. viii I am sure the nother death nor lyfe nor angell nor rule nor power nor thynges present nor thynges tocome nor heyght nor depth nor ony other creature shal be able to seperate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesu our lord Christ sayeth in y e boke of psalmes Lorde out of hell hast thou drawen my soule This redemynge delyuerynge of Christ is happened to oure profete For as Christ was a conquerer of al euē so shal we also be ouercomers winners through him for so much as we be in corporate in hym Before we were sundered but now are come neare by the bloude of Christ For he is become our peace he hath made vs cytesens with the sayntes of the housholde of God Seynge we are gathered in y e house of God we haue here altogether a kyngdō an heretage a victory and all saluation To this serueth the prayer of Christ which he made to the heauēly father Iohn xvii I praye not only for thē meanyng his apostles but also for them whiche shall beleue by theyr preachynge y t they all maye be one lyke vs thou father art in my and I in the that they also maye be one in vs. Thynke ye thys prayer is spoken for nought Thynke ye God the father hath not herde his beloued sonne in the houre of hys sufferynge A good father despyseth not the peticions of his chyldren Be of good cheare sayeth Christ I haue ouercome the worlde In Christ shal we conquere suenge that which is promysed vs in the prophet psal xc Thou shalt go vpon the lyon and adder the yonge lyon and draggō shalt thou treade vnder thy fete that is all power of the deuels and also hell Lazarus I trust I shall mynde and remēbre your exhortacions very well so farre as God doth not depriue me of my fyue wyttes Tobias Yf it come so farre that you be depryued of youre fyue wyttes by reason of the feruentnesse of youre siknesse be not moued therat Let God worke hys worke vntyl the ende Suffre God to accomplishe hys wil for he dyeth not euell that dyeth in God Yt is no force vnto the beleuynge wether he dye onwares or wares for they abyde the Lordes cōmynge alwaye which shal come sodenly vpon the mysbeleuynge as a thefe in the night How bitter is the remembraunce of death vnto him that hath ease and rest in hys substaunce and goodes Lazarus How happeneth it that it is comunely sayde lyfe is happy for so farre as I perceaue death is more happy Tobias The cōmune by worde is not to be vnderstonde of the bodely lyfe which we neuer can lede without synne but you must vnderstonde it of such a lyfe as we lede in God wherin we shall lyue for euer though we wandered in death Wherfore yf ye require a longe temporall lyfe of God than desyre you to synne longer to moue god to more wrath But that life which we lede in God by fayth wherby the ryghtwous lyueth that is happy Lazarus Now do I knowe nothyng in myne opynion that can kepe my back frō dyenge willīgly saue only my wyfe children which yet haue nede both of my helpe counsell Tobias Cōmitte your wyfe chyldren vnto the Lorde almyghty which hath geuē or lēt you vnto thē to care for
carnall desyres nor to the seruyce of oure brother But shal I tell you what you ought to haue done Timothe I praye you what Tobias You shulde haue strenghted the deuocioÌ„ of oure vicar with a groat so might you haue optayned him best Timothe It is sure so And that appeared wel last daye by the aldermannes wedowe wheare as it was no nede to bid hym come whan she laye syke for wyth her was he dayly yee vnbydden waytinge for the soull as a carmeraunte doth for the carien and all was to optayne somwhat by testament Be these feders be these pastores Tobias No but rather wolues wherof Ezechiel speketh saynge They haue eateÌ„ the mylke of their floke and with the woll they be clothed but they kepe them not from the wolues My thynketh they be dissemblynge Hypocrites and paynted graues which wyth longe bablinge or seruyce saynge deuoure wedows housen wherfore they shall receaue the greater damnation I thynke also these be the falfe prophetes semynge outwardly shepe But inwardly they be rauenous wolues Timothe Yf these prestes and as they call theÌ„felf religiousmen knewe what a christen dedeyt is to comfort the sorowfull to visite the syke to helpe the poore They shuld preferre the helpynge of them before all other workes For God shall esteme yt which is done to y e least of his as tough it were done to hymselfe But prestes do not regarde yt for they saye they haue ben longe ynough wyth the syke whan they haue ministred the sacramentes Tobias Yf they yett ministred the supper of oure Lorde to the syke dewly teachynge the Christians what Christ hath optayned for vs than myght the pacient geue thankes to God of the victory wherin he hath ouercome death to the beleuynge For that is the saynge of Christ whaÌ„ he sayth As oft as ye do ytt ye shall do ytt in the remembraunce of me which is acordynge to Pauls saynge Whan the death of oure Lorde is shewed But alas they do nought now but onely rehearse y e xii artikles of the fayth sleghtly to the syke And so mynister the sacrament wythout farther instruccioÌ„ of yt thynkynge all thynges to be very well dispached I praye God they haue not of tymes more mynde on the yewel which lyeth perchaunce in the syght than on the necessite of the poore Or that they mynde not more a good testament Tobyas They must be very blynde seynge they make lesse conscience of leauynge the breade of the poore that is Gods worke onbroken than of leauynge theyr masse matins and other seruyce onsayâ—â—e seynge it is hongred so soore for The ChristeÌ„man which is the lyuinge tempel of God must stonde by and abyde tyll the prest hath dispached his matyns or vysited the dead mens graues hath he neuer so great nede Yf Christ had the yongeman which wolde be his disciple to luffre the dead bury the dead and y t he shulde not leaue Goddes worde ondeclared for burieng what shal he saye theÌ„ thinke yow to them which excuse them selfs with theyr rummelynge and mummelynge of matyns euensonge and such lyke popyshenesse that they visyte not the syke or shewe the kyngdome of God where troubell and anguyshe is Tobyas Yt hath not auayleth the yonge man surely that he wolde haue buried y t dead much lesse shal it auayle theÌ„ y t be marked with the beastes marke to leaue theyr neghboure onserued and onregarded Yee Chryst hymself and that with the dedes of charyte which must be preferred before all the works of the lawe and promes acordynge as Chryst sayth that he is Lorde of the Sabbath We also shal be iudged after the declarynge of the dedes of charyte towarde oure neghboure Tymotheus Yt is well sayde surely and accordynge to the gospel Christ also rebuked the scribes iustly for theyr opinion of ceremonies commaundynge them to go and learne what that saynge of God is I wyll mercy and not sacrifyce Tobyas How vnderstonde you that saynge will God haue no sacrifice then which he him self commaunded so earnestly to de obserued here semeth Christ to be contrary to the wyll of hys father Tymotheus I wyll tel yow All sacryfices and burnt offerynges of the lawe were ordeyned and institute vnto the Iewes for none other intent saue onely for theyr sygnifycacions They dyd sygnifie the trew offerynge of Christ to come which out of very pury heate of loue dyd offer hymself vnto death by sheddynge of hys owne bloude for vs poore synners and thus is he become oure trewe and euerlastinge prest Seynge then we haue Christ al other offerynges ceasse and now we are come to the lyght all other shadowes vanishe For Christ is the ende and fulfillinge of the lawe wherfore we nede nomor the lawe with hyr ceremonies and ryghtwesnes as a teacher leadynge vs to Christ yee he onely commeth to the father which hath herd him and is taught of hym For so much then as the Pharises dyd regarde and had confydence more in sacrifyces and workes of y e lawe than they hadde respecte to hym y t was sygnyfyed therby whose dedes of charite also they counted lesse then the ryghtwysnes of the lawe therfore warneth Christ them to learne that God wyll haue mercy and no sacrifyce which he dyd lothe as Esay doth clearly expresse Tobyas You haue declared that very well But what saye ye to this worde of Christ These ought to haue bene done and not leaue the other vndone for oure prestes and lawers vnderstonde hereby that they may rather leaue the workes of mercy vndone than to leaue their mattens pattens masses diriges and such other muÌ„blinges vnsayde Tymotheus With this saynge rebuked Christ the Scribes and Pharises which at that tyme estymed theyr sacryfices feastes tythes and offeringes as hygly as oure Papistes counte masses saynge of seruice worshippinge of sayntes for the moost acceptable workes The tythes were lymited vnto the prestes of the olde lawe and graunted of God in the lawe but seynge they sought theyr deuty so narowly not wyllynge to transgresse the lawe in the same tythinge of mynt comin and anyse they declared theyr couetousnes and fayned loue of the lawe For in that parte of the lawe wherin theyr auauntage dyd consiste they wolde haue no breache but in other chefe pointes of the lawe namely where they were commanÌ„ded by the lawe to offer them selues to the seruyce of theyr neghboure they were as negligent as though it had not pertayned to them Therfore sayeth Chryst Wo vnto yow Scrybes and Pharises ye ypocrytes which tyth mynte anyse and comyn and leaue the wayghtyer matters of the law behynde namely iudgment mercy and fayth These ought to haue bene done and not to leaue the other behynde that is So longe as the lawe hath her course as yet she hath so longe ye maye receaue your dewty of y e tythes yee of anyse mynte and comyn but the dedes of fayth loue and mercy which y e lawe requyreth of you as chefest maye you not leaue vndone but
ye seke the kyngdome of God with marchaundyse which is spirituall inwarde and it coÌ„meth in vs without ony coÌ„uention or coÌ„tracte precediÌ„g yt Knowe ye not that y e byers and sellers are chased of God Or wyll ye haue christ to come vpon earth agayne to bringe lyfe to you by a newe waye and maner and not thorowe death the crosse We lyue dye in God what maketh it matter than wether ye lyue or dye in body The father hath geuen christ all power both in heauen earth than hath he also power ouer death hel and all deuels If ye seke ease another waye other thys or that more than of Christ which is a trew phisicion of oure soull than shall ye be lykened vnto the woman that hadde ben syke so longe and spent al hir substaunce in phisyke to optayne health and yet hadde no ease whiche she optayned moost surest in Christ It is a great plage and an horrible worke of Gods iudgmentes that he suffreth vs to walke thus blyndfylde in oure owne inuented wayes wherin we haue more coÌ„braunce of conscience than reste or yoie The cause no doubte is that we wyll not herken to Gods worde but stoppe oure eares whan we be admonisheth therof estimiÌ„g it as lyes Wherfore god sayeth psal lxxx My people wolde not heare my voyce and Israel wolde not obey my So I gaue them vp vnto their owne hartes lustes let theÌ„ folowe their ymaginatioÌ„s Lest we come to this let vs praye earnestly w t the prophet sayenge Ordene me wayes in thy presence my lord my god WhaÌ„ ye seke delyuerauÌ„ce release w t massâ—s pilgrimag than be not youre wayes redrest in Gods preseÌ„ce For these wayes hath not he shewed nor gone them hymselfe We repyne at hys wayes of the crosse of dyenge of huÌ„blynge we shoue them from vs wyth hande and fote Oure wayes be easy to go they please vs beste all were well yf we coulde optayne release therby ye though the deuyll shulde helpe to it Wherto is oure Christendome become Lazarus I haue hadde now a ful answer of al I am sory I am gone so farre wyde from God My pardon letters my reliquyes my folysshe treatises of meditation my beedes and all such superstitions wherein I haue hadde a false confydence wyll I cause to be brent wythout delaye in wytnesse that I counte it abominacion which hetherto I haue done wyth theÌ„ I yelde my self to my Lorde God In him wyll I lyue in hym wyll I dye he is the tower of my strength noman shal drawe me out of hys handes hensforth Oh Lorde remembre not the mysdedes of my youth and ignoraunce O Tymothe yf I were now whole yf I coulde go and stonde what lust shulde I haue to serue God how shulde I runne to them that lye bedryd there to dystrybute myn almes which now I can not do seynge I am Gods presoner Tymotheus Lo ye come forth agayne with youre sensualyte you begynne to dispute agayne with God you wyll checke hym in hys iudgment knoweth he not how you maye serue him best in siknes or health And yf he knewe it not shall ye teache it hym It is hys wyll at this tyme that ye serue hym wyth sufferynge mekely and that ye receaue both thys and other aduersyte that he shall sende you wythout grudgynge These be the purest and moost acceptable workes of all that can be done without oure addinge therunto For all that is added to this of men that is vncleane and synne Where we onely do suffre god workynge wythout hynderaunce there is the moost principall vertue and the beste worke For as it is written The obedience of the lawe and the wyll of God is better than al offerynges and to be at hys commaundement is better than to offer all fat sacryfyce Be therfore ydle stonde styll assaye and se how good the Lorde is Yf ye dyd consydre the botome of youre harte a lytel whyle you shuld perceaue what a false and wylye felowe were hydde there cloked you shulde fynde that in that ye saye yf I were whole I wolde serue God and my neghboure ye entende not the same but your owne loue which causeth you to wysh so for youre owne ease of this payne and that ye myght lyue somwhat longer It is now tyme to praye and not onely in y e tyme of health He y t nedeth is occasioned to praye The hypocrytes do praye wythout nede for they be full and satisfyed they be holy in theyr sight Ye praye dewly whan ye offre youre wyllynge sprete vnto God and are redy to beare all that he pleaseth to lade you wythall Thys doth also the worde deuotion sounde for Deuotion is a yeldynge or geuynge ouer of hymself to an other thynge Happy is he that hath a trew deuotion or yeldynge of hymself to God Such a man hath hys wyll alwaye for hys wyll is fulfylled in all that can retyde hym by the reason hys wyll is wholy yeldeth to God For y t cause is he euer so wel coÌ„tent he wolde not starte though he sawe the deuyll no though he must descende the hell He that hath such deuotion prayeth wythout ceassynge wether he wake slepe go stonde reste laboure although hys lyppes moue not though he knocke not his breste though he â—alye not w t God wyth hys fysry stykes which all is but an hypocrytisshe game It is great skyll to praye and to saye much To geue ouer the harte vnto God and to make much rummelynge wyth the mouth dyffer much Paul hadde leuer fyue wordes spokeÌ„ in y e vnderstoÌ„dinge thaÌ„ fyue thousande wordes spoken wyth the breth of the mouth God is a sprete and in sprete and treuth wyll he be worshypped The almes dedes that you wolde geue yf ye where whole doth not God esteme for theyr multitude but he regardeth the lust and wyll that ye haue to them A cuppe of colde water shall not God forgette not for cause of the water but for the good wyll of the geuer which perchaunce is of no greater abylite He that geueth one drawght of water vnto a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receaue the rewarde of a prophete And why For God regardeth the harte and mynde but man regardeth the outwarde worke Thys testyfyeth the wedowe in the gospell that caste onely cone farthynge in the Gods cheste which neuerthelesse hadde geuen more than they that gaue great summes Paul also sayeth Yf there be a wilâ—inge mynde it is accepted accordynge to that a man hath not accordynge to that he hath not The poorest creature liuinge male geue as much almes as the rychest Almes is a greke worde and signifyeth a mercyfulnesse or declaringe of a pytyful harte Can not thynke ye the poore haue a mercifull and compassionable harte towarde the that be in pouerte anguysshe though theyr power can not extende to declare it Yf theyr harte be thus moued to a lyuely compassion than haue they done almes
coulde not kepe y e ioye of y e worde loÌ„ger close in my hart But I caused al my housholde be called together and rehearsed before them all that I herde of Timothe insomuch thâ—â— they were stered therwyth thankynge God for hys workynge it in vs. After that caused I be burnt all my pardon letters my folyshe treatyses of deuotion my beedes with all y e reliques and goostly gyftes that freers and noÌ„nes sent me now one than another These caused I be burnt in the presence of al my housholde because that they whyche were offende by me in them shulde se the wytnesse of my fayth to theyr strenghtynge Ought I not to haue done so Tobias In that haue ye done accordynge to the gospell This was a trew shryft a trewe satisfaction for youre synnes I doubte not but ye haue receaued a trewe absolution of hym that only can forgeue synnes that is God Lazarus Now is my desyre of you good Toby that ye also wyll teache me some good thynge out of the holy scripture to despyse death and to receaue it wyllyngly by fayth For I haue receaued the sentence of death Fulfyll that which ye promysed my by Timothe and I wyll praye God entterly to geue me eares to heare which hytherto haue ben stopped w t the flesshe the whiche I feare not but he wyl do yt Tobias Seynge ye hunger so y e worde of God I wyll breake it vnto you in the name of God so farre forth as he shall sende me sprete vtterauÌ„ce Syt ye eassy ynough or shall I rayse you som what hygher â–ª y e ye maye syt aâ— more ease Lazarus No I praye you for I was shyrted euen now Begynne in the name of God must ye wyll Tobias The philosophers haue had diuerse opinions of death But in this the moost parte agreeth that death is a partynge of the body and soule In thys naturall departynge shall not we Christen men sixe oure philosophical eyen nor iudge w t a hethenishe iudgmeÌ„t in this behalf For as longe as we â—esouieâ— our selues with such consyderation of 〈…〉 sight of death trayeth vs so that we begâ—nne to hate death therby because 〈◊〉 taketh awaye the body which we loue and so causeth vs to hate death naturally Of which euell wil to y e natural death 〈…〉 lefe the cause which wyl 〈◊〉 that naturaly death semeth to take awaye as shal be more euident herafter 〈…〉 consydre the death in sucâ—â—igâ—â—◠〈…〉 it were a passage froÌ„ death to 〈…〉 consyderation or beholdyng 〈…〉 in vs and that we shaâ— not 〈◊〉 in death but shalbâ— rather 〈…〉 Euen as Christ sayeth 〈…〉 and trusteth in the 〈…〉 shall lyue For 〈…〉 is counted lyfe to the beleuynge but vnto the vngodly is it death euerlastynge By this is appeareth vnto euery ChristeÌ„ maÌ„ to be a lyenge word y t the Phylosophers do saye namely That death is y e moost horrible thynge of all horriblenesses The cause why they sayde so was that in their opinion by death man is depreued of the moost pleasaunt thinge for euermore which is not trewe For a Christen man hath no greater charge heuyer burthen nor more enmy than the body of synne as ye shall heare more herafter As suê‘stition hath houghly fashioned y e deuell to refrayn synninge eueÌ„ so hath yt figured death also fearful as y e rewarde of synne AccordiÌ„ge to y e desyre of y e lyfe to come iÌ„ vs is death acceptable vnto vs pleasauÌ„t Put awaye y e opinion of death froÌ„ your hart you shal not feare death The siknesses the febelnesses which be tedious for our fleshe to beare make y e fleshe euer weaker agaynst the assault of death they be not death But the figure of death that pearseth in to vs before death by reasons of vnbelefe that is the moost greueous and haynous death So that we cause death vnto oure selues as we cause other grefes also in our hartes The very sufferynge and departynge of the soule from the body is not in the poynte of death but that we by consyderynge of death we are drawen compelled to leaue the body that we set se great stoare by and thys causeth death to be so bytter Whâ—rby ye maye perceaue y t the death of synners is the worst moost bytter seynge they muâ—â— forgo the best beloued thinge that is the sels Now is the Chrysten fayth which we as chyldren of sayntes haue confessed in baptyme of such nature that it promyseth and sheweth a sure fayth of the lyfe euerlastynge through Chrystâ—â— death Which faith and hope 〈…〉 in vs all that we saâ— great pryce by 〈◊〉 kepte dylygently afore tyme leâ—t it myght be taken from vs by death This goodly ye well oure body that we made so great of are we wyllynge 〈…〉 to forgo by reason of yeâ—oue that we haue gotteÌ„ to y e heaueÌ„ly 〈…〉 hath swalowed vp all worldy thynges So that we do estyme it a great vauntage to be delyuered from this wreched body that caused vs to wander and be absent from God The sure waytinge for the glory tocome in vs despiseth ouercometh and refuseth all paynfull grefes wherof y e vnfaythful which feare death be astonyed and al the wayes possible they withstonde death Wherfore it is a trew sayenge he dyeth well that dyethyer he dye As much fayth as a Christen man hath of the lyfe tocome so much despiseth he this teÌ„poral death And agayn As much vnbeleue as a Christian hath towarde God and loue to hymselfe so much doth he feare flye bodely death Lo thys is the summe brefely touched of all that can be shewed you of dyenge By this shall ye also perceaue welynough that death is not to be feared in so much as she is rydde of hyr stynge and venym y t is swalowed vp in the victory of Christ which hath ouercome hym that had power of death that is the deuyll to y e health of all faythfull which shall optayne heauen accordynge to the abylite of theyr fayth Lazarus Alas brother ye haue geuen me so much atonce to eate that I can not swalowe it all ye must geue it me by peces as Tymothe hath done that I maye come to the playne vnderstondynge Tobyas That I may do it comely I must begynne where Timothe hath left I tolde you that he dyeth well which dyeth before he dye Thys fyrst dyenge is in the mortifyenge or slayenge of the olde Adam that is oure sensuall appetytes The sen sual appetytes that liue in you and must be slayen in you are loue of thy self lust to ydelnesse pryde and boastynge appetyte to vengeaunce prouokynge to anger inordinate loue to your wyfe chyldren and frendes desyre of bodely health wysshynge of temporall fortune loue of thyself and bodely or goostly worke In these thynges doth oure olde man couet to lyue longer and longer These desyres are mortyfyed and slayeÌ„ in vs by the spryte of God in the new byrth of the inwarde
the Chrystenly bryde may say My loue is myn and I am hys Lazarus That same is very comfortable that Christ hath accepted vs and geuen hym self vnto vs. Wherby we haue receaued hys lyfe for oure death his strength for oure weaknesse hys ryghtwysnesse for oure synnes But whan beare we Christ in oure body Tobias Where we be contrary to Christ and folowe not hys learnynge ensample and spirite ther do not we beare Christ Ther be we ryd of Christ ▪ Paul sayeth .ii. Cor. xiii Knowe ye not your selues that Iesus Christ is in you Except ye be castawayes Those than that through the spirite of God be obeyenge in all pacience redy to obey Gods cōmaundements in redringe and delyuerynge thēself to the wyll of God compelled and made lusty harted They maye saye w t Paul I lyue now not I but christ liueth in me Paul had also crucified hys fleshe with his cōcupiscences so that the worlde became hym a crosse and he a crosse vnto the worlde agayne He was sayde to beare Christ in his body for his body was dayly destroyed through the crosse lyke as the body of Christ was slayne by the crosse and sufferynge To such lyke mortifyenge exhorteth vs Paul Rom. xii sayenge I beseke you brethren by the mercyfulnesse of God that ye geue ouer your bodyes for a sacrifyce that is quyck holy and acceptable vnto God which is youre resonable seruynge of God Thys is an acceptable sacrifyce which is consumed of the brande of sufferynge which we do beare wyllingly with Chryst lyke a trew burnt offeringe For in the daye of trybulation we offer vnto God a trew sacryfyce of prayse that is the frute of oure lyppes in knoledgynge hys name That we as the payne of oure body cōmeth plentuous vpon vs knoledge the name of Chryst that is a token that we be Chrystes disciples guyded by hys sprete by the which he hath bene obedient to hys fathers wyll vnto the death of the crosse Orels shulde we be lyke them that beleue so longe as all thynges prosper but in tyme of temptacion than do they shrynke The spyryte of fayth teacheth and assureth vs that Chryst in oure sufferynge is oure comforte and in oure dyenge oure lyfe The sacrifyce of prayse shall worshyppe me sayeth the Lorde and there is the waye wheryn I shall shewe my saluation A dead and mortifyed harte is a sacrifyce very acceptable before God He that hath mortifyed hys naturall body here in earth he that is dead in hys harte ▪ he that beareth Chryst in hys body because he wyll go wyth Chryst wythout the tentes of hys harte wythout the gate bearynge the rebukes of hys sauyour wyth hym on hys shulder he shall not fear death he shall not estymed death hys enmy nor flye yt For she taketh not it which he wolde rather kepe but she geueth hym that which he wolde kepe wyth all hys harte The lyfe temporall is swete vnto the flesshe but oure lyfe y t we shall lede with Chryst is sweter Lazarus Treuth it is and therfore is death vnto vs passage to lyfe Wherfore we ought to praye hartely that he let not vs fall in such temptacion that myght ouercom vs but that he wyll delyuer in vs that euell daye from all euell that myght drawe vs from the fayth For it is the myghty worke of God to beleue that we be hys yee euen in the poynte of death the which as yet I do not fele in me For I fele yet another lawe in me which is contrary to the inspyracion of the holy goost I loke aboute for the flesshe pottes of Egypte whervpon I was wont to sytte Whan the fygure of death offereth it self from afore than do I searche wether I can not escape behynde out of thys wreched lyfe Seynge I am so bounde with synne I ought to be obedient at Gods callynge and wythout lokynge aboute departe but I beseme the wyfe of Loth. I can not leaue the lokynge aboute though my neke laye theron My wyfe the flesshe wherwith I am laden is yet very feble to withstonde such temptacion Alas brother I can not awaye with thys wyfe Tobyas Feare not good brother feare not for such totynge and lokynge backwarde such battayll and febelnesse dyd also Paul fele whan he beholdynge hys wrechednesse sayde in the .vii. to the Roma O wreched man that I am who shall delyuer me from the body of thys death It is necessary such assaultes come vpō vs. Victory commeth by fyghtynge agaynst synne and of victory commeth tryumphe but noman shal be crouned saue he that fyghte deuly Yf ye wyll triumphe with Chryst ouer synne death wythout battayl that can not be for such waye hath not Chryst shewed you Fight lyke a trew souldyer of Chryst That we feare death and shrenck at it is naturall weaknesse the cause Which is not damnable for she is not imputed to vs for sinne Yee Chryst hyemself hath taken such weaknesse vpon hym for vs whan he beganne to shouer to tremble and to be heuy for the death tocome sayēge My soule is heuy vntyll death Mat. xxvi Why dyd he so seynge he knew death coulde not hurt hym He knewe well he shulde se no corrupcion Why was he afrayed He knewe hys death shulde brynge lyfe vnto vs all and ouercome death why dyd not he rather reioyce in that death wherof shulde come so much goodnesse what shulde it greue hym than to dye wold he rather haue had delaie of it dyd not he wysshe vs such mercy and welfare seyng he semed to couet to be loose of this sufferynge Alas no that be farre But seynge he toke vpon hym bare man heade yt pleased hym to assaye the weaknesse of manhode because we shulde not faynte yf lyke temptacion arose agaynst vs Wherof no man lyuynge be he neuer so holy is fre For how sore the inwarde man is lyghtened of the spyryte yet doth the olde Adam the wyfe of Loth not forsake hyr kynde in fyghtynge and desyrynge agaynst the spyryte Which battayll and desyres we ouercome and haue ouercome by fayth that assureth vs to haue a trew bysshoppe by God the father namely Iesu Chryst which hath bene tempted in all poyntes that he myght knowe how to helpe them that be proued The Lorde is trew for he can proue and delyuer the good Christians out of temptations agayn Christ which knewe no synne is become synne for vs that we shulde be the iustyfycacion or ryghtwysnesse of God in hym Chryst hath damned synfulnesse of synne in hys flesshe Synne is dāned and put awaye in Chryst she can not damne vs she must be auaylynge vnto ryghtwesnesse so farre is she come Chryst iustyfyeth vs and who can blame vs Chryst dischargeth vs of all synne what deuell or what flesshe is it than that can laye ony synne or fault to vs The syknesses and weaknesses that ye haue after ye be Chrystened haue ye commune with al sayntes them shall ye fele other more or
thē so longe as it shall be his Godly wil to suffre you to be a carer or prouyder for thē But now doth death discharge you of this office sorowfulnesse Rendre god y e charge ioyfully Go you forth now w t Abraham in straūge coūtryes leauynge youre kynne fathers house come in y e londe y e God shall shew you Obey gods callinge He y t loueth more father mother wyfe chyldrē lōdes or possessions than my is not worthy of my saieth Christ As longe as ye were able you haue shewed loue and good wyll vnto your housholde Of this maye be boaste right wel that because ye wolde passe y e bondes of your cōmission of loue But what mysbelefe is y t that ye do not trust god w t the kepenge of his owne chyldren What was youre helpe care and kepynge wythout hys ouersyght yf the Lorde do not buylde the cyte they laboure in vayne that buylde it Put ye your confydence in God that he shall helpe you and trust ye him not the kepynge of your children Though it seme that your children departe from you in dyenge and ye of them yet do they kepe theyr heauenly father which taketh more care for them than euer you coulde This will I tell you your fayth may be such that God wyll rayse ten fathers or weldoers in steade of you of whom w t partynge of death they be depryued Dauid sayeth I neuer sawe a ryghteous mā forsaken nor hys sede seke breade Auoyde now all sensualyte out of your mynde Commytte youre wyf thylderen and all that ye loue vnto God who onely shall kepe them best The mystrust murmurynge of parentes is of tymes correcte and punyshed in the chylderen as namely whā they myspēde y e goodes in ryot or suffre losses and domages in them the which theyr frendes busyed to leaue thē great plenty of and to prouide them substancialy of them Lazarus Let it be so God graunte that I maye yelde both me and mine willyngly in the hondes of God My thynketh my tyme doth aproche Oh I longe so sore to be embraced of my brydegrome Chryst Cantic ii His left hande is vnder my heade and hys ryght hande shall clespe my necke I desyre with Paul to be lowsed and to be with Chryst Heale my Lorde and I shal be healed Tobias That is well Chrystenly prayed God sende you hys stronge spryte which shal strength you in all sufferynge yee and also in death But now brother yf I perchaunce shall se you nomore in this lyfe Haue ye ony quarell with ony man or haue ye ony thynge that greueth your mynde shewe on Lazarus What occasioneth you to aske the same haue ye herd ought therof Tobyas The cause of my questyon is that yf ye haue ony variaunce or ony skyll wyth your brother before all other thinges ye ought to dispach thesame and to be recōcyled agayne w t hym In thre thinges sayeth Sydrac haue I pleasure which also be alowed before God and mē The vnite of brethren the loue of neghbours and man and wyfe agreynge well together And that ye maye forther and sett forth such loue and vnite ye ought to be ware lest ony variaunce come after your departyng by reason of the goodes amōge youre frendes and kynred Lazarus I haue dispached and prepared all this lōge before so neare as I might I trust there shall ryse no stryfe betwen my frendes or chyldren I was mynded to haue geuen vnto the church or temple to the iiii orders of stronge valeaunt beggers and vnto our vicare and parisheprest of such as shulde haue ben ouerplus But that mynde is altered for God hath geuen me a better mynde I thanke hym hyghly therof Tobias All testamentes that be made to the fortheraunce of the loue of oure neghbure are good There be of tymes churches founded masses great doles to Gods great dishonoure For God is not honoured with such thynges but only with y t he hath cōmaunded himself Some thinke to do an hygh pleasure vnto God yf they disheret their chylderen frendes kynred amonge whom afterwarde ther aryseth a great strife They bequiet their goodes to founde holydayes trentals masses of requiem wherwyth they fede the spiritualty They thynke to please God with such foundations and make an atonement with such goodes as they haue skrapen and raked together by wronge falsede gyle vsury and such lyke wayes spared them Where as God hateth in hys offerynge al such robbery They founded also altares and monumentes and costly graues to haue theyr names in estymation amonge the people and to lyue longe in their mouthes be praysed for these dedes To thys entent be tabels and such memorials hanged vp in euery churche as a byrders net is spred O tabel of exchaungers cast out of y e tēpel by Christ O yeartyde O Corbam corbam how dewly arte thou practysed yet dayly of oure scribes pharises which lyke paynted graues deceaue the onwyse and symple For they saye it is offered vnto Gods honour seruice that which is withdrawē from the poore chyldren and heires Now brother is it not tyme for me to departe my thynketh I haue ben longe ynough here I must also go yet to the poore house or hospital for so haue I promysed Lazarus I thanke you hartely good brother for youre kynde vysitinge of me and louely teachyng me Come agayne to se how it is with me at your leasure Tobias I wyll do so And now I cōmitte you to God which I praye to be youre guyde vnto the lyfe euerlastynge Yf ye haue nede of me sende for me and I wil be glad to come vnto you Lazarus The Lorde be blessed and thanked ouer all foreuer Tobias Feare well good brother Lazarus Fare well good Toby God kepe vs all and be oure guyde and counceler vnto lyfe eternall Tobyas Amen The ende of thys treatyse ¶ The summe and intente of this treatyse NOw hast thou sene good reader the maruelous worke of God in hys two electes namly Tymothe Toby which to theyr power haue planted and watered the sede of Gods worde in theyr neghboure Lazarus beynge at scole wherin is the wyll of god taught that is adfliction syknesse and subieccion of the flesshe vnto the sprite They now beynge occasyoned by knoledgyng their deuty to theyr neghboure endeuour to make hym to dye in the Lorde and make hym apte vnto the ioye euerlastinge after his troubell Wherin I praye the to marke the ordre and waye Fyrst Tymothe commynge the one daye instructynge him to take his troubelous syknesse paciently in the which admonitiō he doth treuly and pythfully declare the seuen petitions of the Pater noster reprouynge by the waie his impaciency mysbeleue and superstitiousnesse wherin he was so drowned that it semed to haue bene impossible he shulde euer bene come out of But the Lorde which kylleth relyueth again ledeth to hel bringeth vp again hath also shewed his maruaylous power w t this sykmā whō he hath called to hym by repētaūce as he wyll also do the moost synner and mysdoer of vs yf he repente treuly Secondarly Tobias commynge the secōde daye as hys promyse was instructeth hym how to take his death paciētly And in the meane season expoundeth certayne of the artikles of oure fayth namely the power of God in creatynge al thynges y e frute of Christes sufferynge death resurrecciō ascensyon of the holy goost which be the treu churche of communiō of sayntes of remyssion of synne of rysynge agayne of the flesshe and of the lyfe eternall or euerlastynge And fynally he sheweth what be oure enemyes death synne and hell and how we maye best withstonde them This with other superstitions and abuses doth he so featly and scripturly declare and teacheth to eschue as in myne opynion no rabby magister noster or puffet vp doctor coulde do though he had spent the beste parte of hys lyfe ī searchyng Chryst at Paris Take therfore this treatyse oft in thyne handes loke diligently vpon it and vse it as it is offered vnto thy I wyl not busy my selfe greatly in praysynge of it for the commune prouerbe is veryfied in it that is good wyne nedeth no garlande for yf thou rede it diligently and folowe it so neare as God wil lēde y e grace thā shalt thou receaue the profyte that is sought both in dytynge and translatynge of it namly y e health of youre soul and herafter lyfe euerlastynge which graūte you god the father sonne holy goost Amen ¶ Prynted in Southwarke By My Iames Nicolson for Ian Gough Cum Priuilegio Regali