be taught to trust in God to be redy to serue youre neghbure to suffre your aduersite pacieÌ„tly to despise y e false Gods seruice for that also haue all y e prophetes al euaÌ„gelistes al apostles taught more thaÌ„ thousande yeres agone They be new doctrines which the Popets disciples sworne seruauÌ„tes haue brought vp within these thre or foure hundreth yeares That which Paul preached to y e Athenians was also counted for newe learnige for they sayde Lo here coÌ„meth he the preacher of new deuels There is nother old nor new God but there is an euerâ—stige God which is which was shal be There is no newe nor olde learnynge of God Gods worde endureth for euer Iesu Christ is yesterdaye to daye he endureth for euer Stycke fast to hys worde and ye shall not be deceaued for hys worde is trewth He hath the wordes of lyfe suffre no doctour no apostle no angell of heauen to drawe you from hym Buylde your house sure vpoÌ„ y e rock Christ that ye maye with stonde all tempestes and assaultes Be not lyghtely turned from the good learnynge whiche ye be taught in the fayth accordynge to the scripture what so euer ye be taught besyde it let that be accursed What can we tell what oure forefathers haue beleued or not What caÌ„ we tell whiche workes he hath imputed theÌ„ for synne or not are we sworne to their fayth are we christened in y e name of our fathers why wil we then abyde by their fayth so earnestly which is vncertayne to vs Is not faith a gyfte of God Perchaunce god hath poured yt also in them we not knowenge whan or who forsomuch as yt is a gyft of God He that beleueth in my sayeth Christ though he dye he shall lyue Her is not promysed yf he abyde by the fayth of hys forefathers Who is so preuy of Gods iudgmeÌ„tes that he knoweth why God suffred the worlde thus longe to coÌ„tinue in this great darknesse It hath chaunced of tymes in the olde testament amonge the Iewes that the trewe Gods seruice and the knoledge of y e lawe was forgotten for a great season so that no man knewe of the lawe nor cremonyes As for the causes hereof or iudgement we wyll referre them to God thankynge hym for hys benefete in restorynge vnto as agayne the pure gospell shall we not brother Lazarus Yee verely brother with all oure hartes I am now thaÌ„ked be God so wel eased in consciencie that I fele no heuynesse nor troubell more at my harte Before was I neuer quiete now wolde I do thys than that nowe wolde I haue thys pylgrymage gone for me than that candell offred which I haue not made you preuy of hethertho I haue also caused oftymes golden masses be sayde for me to optayne health I feare me I haue offended also therin I must make a playne confession to you Timothe What be these golden masses Lazarus They be seperate masses that profyte greatly sayde agaynst pestilence derth and such lyke plages dyseases and vrgeÌ„t grefes They be sayde or songe for y e coÌ„munalty and thereby they optayne golde of them that they be sayde for They haue cost my large sixe pounde seÌ„ce my disase begaÌ„ne though they haue profyted my lytell Timothe I perceaue well ynough ye haue ben a vessell full of superstition ye haue so beÌ„ laden with these pylergnawers sayntes minions as saynt Iames with hys moskelshelles I praye you tell me were ye neuer in the brotherheade of oure ladyes psalter Were ye neuer written in the brotherheade of Caims kynne that is y e foure orders of the popes souldyers Lazarus I haue not named theÌ„ al yet yet I was mynded to haue ben buryed in a graye freres cote to haue ben releast of y e thirde parte of my synnes But now I byd this brablynge fare wel I loth the hearynge of them Shewe me youre mynde of the masles wether a man may cause them to be sayde for hym whan he is in yeopardy seynge Christ hymself hath institute them Timothe I am not aduised that euer I dyd once reade the name of masâ—e in the whole scripture of God I reade of the supper oâ— the lorde which Christ w t his apostles and the apostles with other beleuynge haue kepte and vsed Whan I entende to coÌ„pare the masse and y e supper of our Lorde together I can not perceaue it to be one thynge But seynge yt will be to longe to shewe the difference betwene theÌ„ I wyll deferre that vntyll oure nexte metynge As for to answere vnto your question I shall leaue the worde masse vntouched and answere you scripturely w t wordes of the scripture You haue ared of the masse and I shall answere you w t the supper of our lorde The vse of y e supper hath Christ institute for none other intent saue only that the breade of oure Lord shulde be distributed and the chalice of Christes bloude shulde be ministred to euery man in a remembraunce of hym which hath offred hys body vnto death and shed hys bloude for vs for a forgeuenesse of synnes As he sayeth himself As oft as ye shall do thys namely that whyche I do here to youre ensample do yt in the remembraunce of me that is that we shall shewe the death of oure Lorde as Paul sayeth Than do we declare the death of oure Lorde whaÌ„ we preache and shewe vnto the comunalty or coÌ„gregation how christ hath offred hys body vnto death for vs and that because we shulde not remayne in the euerlastynge death and so is he become a death vnto death that we shulde be taken from death vnto lyfe Yf ye now cause the supper of oure Lorde to be vsed for you to such intent as Christ hath ordeyned yt than are you admonished to despyse thys bodely death whiche ye must abyde after youre syknesse and to thyrst the lyfe tocome Now yf ye vse yt to optayne health therby and to abyde longer in thys synfull lyfe than do ye turne the vse of yt and compell Christ to daunse after youre mynstrelsy ye make a game of Christes passion and glorious death whose frute operation ye spurne from you sekynge therin to fulfyll youre sensualite Thynke ye it be not a greate foly and dyshonorynge of God that you wyll haue the passyon of Christ called vpon and remembred for you to optayne bodely health therby or prosperite Is it not a grosse blyndnesse and folyshnesse to requyre y e health of your synfull body of y e death of christ ye ought rather to consyder the slayenge of youre carnall appetite in thys present sufferynge through the crosse that now ye beare wyth Christ because y t through thys sufferynge and deynge wyllyngly ye maye lyue eternaly with christ Ye seke ease and longe lyfe in Christes crosse ye ought rather to seke pacient sufferynge and victory of death What dede is this that ye hyer prestes for golde or syluer to saye preuy masses for you
the Lorde and complayned vnto my God So he herde my voyce out of hys holy temple Learne to take your flyght to the Lorde with Christ whiche beynge man and proued in all thinges that he myght succour them that be teÌ„pted hath done so before Learne to defende youre selues with the weapons of Gods worde for as Christ hath ouercome the deuell so maye you ouercome hym also with all hys suttel wyles To this exhorteth you Paul sayenge to the EphesiaÌ„s the .vi. Put on the armoure of God that ye maye stoÌ„de stedfast agaynst the crafty assaultes of the deuell For we wrestle not agaynst fleshe bloude but agaynst rule agaynst power namely agaynst y e rulers of the world of y e darcknesses of this worlde agaynst the sprite of wykednes vnder heaueÌ„ For this cause take ye y e armour of God that ye maye be able to resyst in the euel daye stonde ê‘fecte in all thynges As these enmyes are spirttuall and inuisible euen so haue we no nede of fleshly weapons but the weapons of the spirite which be myghty in God to destroye al stroÌ„ge fenses and holdes of the deuell pearsynge vnto the partynge of body and soule Wherfore put on the shylde of fayth wherwith ye shall queÌ„che the fyrie dartes of the wycked enmy and take y e helmet of saluation and the swearde of the spyrite whiche is the worde of God And praye vnto the Lorde callynge alwaye vpon hys name in the spyrite that ye maye ouercome Sathan the tempter and enmy whiche seketh all aboute euen as a roarynge lyoÌ„ whou he maye deuoure but you must withstonde hym manly in fayth Lazarus You haue opened now the case and shewed me the weapons therwith I maye ouercome myn a foresayed enmyes But seyng I am an vnexpert souldyer y t hath not ben vsed greatly to haÌ„dell such weapon I praye you to seperate my the dartes and arowes of Goddes worde that I may shute euery enmy seuerally namely synne death hell And fyrst shewe my howe to defende my selfe whan my synfull lyfe coÌ„meth to my remeÌ„braunce Tobias I wyll do it gladly but I feare lest I be to tedious for you The sicke ought not to be ouerlonge taried withall I wil rather returne agayne another tyme and procede in thys matter Lazarus No good Toby it is not to tedious for me me thinketh ye be come but now Timothe was .iiii. houres with me yesterday yet semed it me not to be one houre Tobias In the name of God Neuerthelesse yf I be ouerloÌ„ge with you warne me hardely Or yf ye desyre ought I wyll reache it you Lazarus No no go on with youre matter where ye lefte for ye can do me no greater pleasure Tobias As concernynge the fyrst assault that ye shal be assayed with namely youre forepast synnes which shall procure to bringe you in despayre Agaynst them arme you with such scriptures that shewe you how the innocency and rightwysnes of Christ hath put awaye al youre vnrightwesnesse and wyckednesse Euen as God sayeth Esay liii of his sonne Christ thorowe out the whole chap. Cast y e multitude of youre synnes vpon the lambe of God which putteth awaye y e synnes of y e worlde RemeÌ„bre y t God hath closed all vnder vnbeleue that he myght haue mercy on all Take holde vpon the good Samaritane whiche taketh cure of the soule Take your flyght w t the prodigall soÌ„ne vnto your merciful farther though ye be naked seabby ragged for he shal receaue you fatherly w t spred out armes and put on you the garment of innoceÌ„ty Though you be lost by reason of synne the Lorde hym selfe seketh after you Though ye go astraye with y e straynge shepe yâ—t doth the good shepehearde take you vpon hys shulder and bringeth you to y e shepetolde HerkeÌ„ how swetely and louengly God calleth you vnto him sayenge Math. xi Come to me al ye that laboure and are laden and I shall ease you of your synnes Remember y e Christ is become oure wysdome ryghtwysnes redemption and sanctification .i. Cor. i. Remember that he is a trew phisicion of oure soules Yf ye were no synner what were Christ nedefull to you yf ye were not wounded ye shulde nede no surgeon A phisicion or surgeoÌ„ is praysed because he doth an excellent cure The kynde naturall worke of Christ is to saue hys people and heale theÌ„ of al their synnes for that is his profession yee he doth yt in dede so y t our vnrightwysnes maketh gods right wysnes be praysed as wytnesseth paul Ro. v. Neuerthelesse wher abuÌ„dauÌ„ce of syn was there was yet more pleÌ„teousnes of grace In that hath god declared hys loue that we whan we were synners Chryst dyed for vs. We shal be so much the more accepted before God in that we be clensed by hys bloude and iustified Happy is that man not he that hath no synne for he that sayeth he hath no synne deceaueth hymselfe and the treuth is not in hym But he is happy to whom synne is rekened no synne The lawe that is the knowledge of oure synne is geuen by Moses but grace and trewe Saluation by Iesus Chryst For he hath anulled the handwrytinge that was contrary to vs and fastened it vpoÌ„ the crosse wherby he hath taken awaye all power of the princes of darknesse Coloss ii and hath triumphed ouer them in hys own personne The hye prest of the olde lawe myght not offre ony offerynge for the peoples synne wythout he had first offred an offeringe for hymselfe and wythout bloudsheddynge was no forgeuenesse But Chryst oure trewe bysshoppe which hath an euerlastyng presthode after the ordynaunce of Melchysedech had no nede to offer for hys synnes for he neuer synned nor he hath not procured forgeuenesse of synnes by the father by ony straunge bloude of oreÌ„ or calues but with hys owne bloude Thus was he vnspotted that hath clensed vs from all vnclennes And seynge we haue thys Iesu that passed the heauens let vs holde oure profession and go boldely vnto the seate of hys grace that we maye receaue mercy and fynde grace to helpe in the tyme of nede Hebr. v Al the waies of the Lorde are mercy and treuth He promyseth it mercyfully that which he shall geue vs treuly Of thys mercy hath God left and geuen vs the worde of atonemeÌ„t Iesu Chryst Yf ye knowe the same promyser and geuer of mercy treuly then maye ye trust welynough that ye shall optayne forgeuenge and remyssion of synnes Which forgeuenesse you shal also optayne that he be founde trew in his wordes of promyse and that he maye ouercome your synne whan he is iudged of the vngodly to be no Saueour The manheade of Chryst shal couer your mysdedes so that the deuel your accuser shal fynd nothiÌ„g in you blameable Forget w t Paul that which is behinde you couet to that which is before namely to the token of this victory of synne death tocome To
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
perceaued welynough that temptacion was a sure token that he shulde be counted in the nombre of the ryghtwyse The which Raphael the angell declared openly sayenge And because thou wast accepte and beloued of God yt was necessary that temptation shulde trye the. Thus haue they that pleased God euer den proued for eure comforte that we also shulde not despayre whan ony troubell is sent to vs of oure welbeloued fathers hande The carnall wyt can not perceaue nor comprehende that trouble is profytable and a tryall of our fayth but as sone as they get ony troubell they be offended with the workes of god sayenge to all the ryghteous that suffre as Iobs wyfe dyd Do ye yet continue in your perfectnesse Curse god dye As though they wolde laye It is playn now that he is no god that thus scourgeth you and vtterly forsaketh why do ye trust hym yet Saye much good of hī that bryngeth death vpon you for he is as worthy of youre blessynge as a wylfull murthurer to be saued Shrenk frō hym denye hym and remembre ye be mortall and that with thys lyfe ye passe all yeopardyes trust ye yet to optayne good thynges of youre Lorde These and such lyke wordes enspyreth oure wyfe sensualite into oure myndes whan we be assaulted of troubel For as than doth not the flesshe knowe nor fele that god vnder correction and vnder the shyne of hys wrath hath hydde louely countenaunce and couereth y e trew lyfe in death The frendes of the afore sayde Iob also were offended through hys great mysery sayenge Whan dyd euer the innocent perysshe whan were the ryghtwyse destroyed Call loke wether ther be ony body now to geue you an answer of the hope that ye had in the Lorde Turne ye to ony of the sayntes and beholde wyther such lyke dyd happen vnto them Now se ye how the vngodly frendes which take parte with oure flesshe iudge oure acceptabelnes to God by these worldly prosperytes Beholde how carnall wyt estemeth that for a curse which fayth receaueth as a godly reioycynge The frendes that loued Toby after the flesshe dyd also mock the good man he beynge blynde euen as those that vnderstonde nor the worke of pacyence and the glory of the crosse sayenge Where is thy hope for the which thou hast done almes and buryed the dead this is the rewarde that ye haue for doenge good But herken how Tobyas rebuked them sayenge Saye not so for we are the chyldren of holy men and loke for the lyfe which God shall geue vnto them that neuer turne theyr beleue from hym Beholde thys stronge fayth of Tobyas wyth such an answer shall ye shoue and auoyde the wycked in speracion of Sathan that alwaye entyseth you sayenge Are ye wytlesse that ye loke for remissyon of synnes by the bloude of Chryste and loke for the lyfe by death Ye shal be deceaued for who is rysen from death Do not ye se how the fayth of youre Chryst is denyed Yf he loued you as ye thynke wolde not he do you good Yf he were a trewe sauyoure and trew god he wolde not suffre you to lye here thus he wolde not ordre you thus I counsell you to let thys Chryst go what haue ye to wyth hym seynge he doth you no good he doth onely fraye you wyth hell and lyfe tocome herewyth wolde he fayne lede you as wyth a lyne It is not as he maketh you beleue Eate drink and be mery satle youre harte vpon a swete grounde as yt was yesterdaye so shall it also be now Lette vs eate and drynke for what shall we haue more tomorowe must we dye Be not abashed with the folysshe fayth of Christ I can accōlyshe al youre desyre here on earth Do not ye se how my sorte is exalted in the worlde and lyue at ease they be welthy of ryches they haue many frendes theyr houses be wythout care and they be not scourged theyr cattell encrease theyr flocke multiplyeth theyr chyldren playe and be mery they play on instrumentes What do ye gayne vnder the banner of the poore wreched naked disfygured and crucyfyed Chryst saue onely pouerty anguysshe and cōtinuall crosse Lo How hys discyples go by the stretes wyth sore hyles the be fooles and nygardes they be not able to geue a mouse a meales meate and whan they haue lōge ynough serued theyr master obeyenge hys commaundementes at the last they be hewē chopped stykt burnt drowned or come to such lyke shamfull ende what victory hath he thē gotten Where do ye se him rise agayne where se you the swearde shrenke from hym The fyre consumeth hym and water ouerwhelmeth hym where abydeth hys God that shall not forsake him in y e poynt of death Lazarus Ah brother how shal be able to escape these snares of the suttel fynde Verely such temptations haue of tymes made me so doubtfull and perplexe of harte y t I wyste not wyther to shifte me self Yf God hadde not sustayned me I myght haue ben fallen into despayre and ben choked in myn vnbleue I haue bē oft displeased with God seynge all thynges prospered so well with them and I with them that be lyke me stroue agaynst the moone and seuē starres labourynge and toylinge cōmynge out of the one crosse into another My thought yf I were god I wolde haue ordered the game other wyse Timothe Verely brother the deuyll wyth his fleshly pleasures which he layeth before mē to entyce them hath a pleasaunt begynnynge as a bye charged with hony but in y e ende is there a stynge Yf ye behold y e lustes of the fleshe before with the heithē than be they very pleasaunt in the eye as a fayre woman trymly deckte but yf hyr bake be turned than is it all horrible what ye se Thys is the brode lusty waye wherof Christ speaketh sayenge that many walke it yt but she bringeth to eternal dānation The chyldrē of thys worlde y t lyue so welthy passe theyr tyme in yoie it is trew but what foloweth sodēly they go downe to hell sayeth Iob. xxi dauid psal lxxii sayeth y t he also was nye ouercome with beholdīge of y e worldly men and was nye ouercome of the tēptacion of welth as we all be somtyme sayenge My fete that be the thoughtes where with the hart moueth were almoost gone my steppes were neare sleded And why I was greued at the wyked to se the vngodly in such prospyte For they are in no parell of death but stonde fast as a palace They come in no mysfortune lyke other men nother are they plaged lyke other folke c. Wherfore brother I exhorte you not to be moued at such inspirynges of the deuell be not greued not offended with y e vngodly for ye shall se theyr ende how that they shall wyther lyke hey and decaye as flores in the felde Be renewed in the Lorde and he shal accomplishe the desyres of youre harte Say alwaye with
this do y e great ensaÌ„ples of mercy shewed to peter to mary magdalene to y e murtherer serue I wil leaue of dauid of paul many more Submitte your selues rendre you to god confessynge you to suffre worthely and iustly for your synnes that Christ died vniustly Beleue y t in y e despising of Christ is hidde y e godly glory in y e death is hidde y e kyngdoÌ„ of Christ which y e aforesayd murtherer did it shal be sayde vnto you To daye shall ye be w t me in paradise CoÌ„sidre your wyckednesse Christes goodnesse CoÌ„sidre y e damnacion that ye haue deserued and agayn the loue of Christ which hath recoÌ„cyled you by the father This doynge you shal heare w t Mary magdalene Many synnes are forgeueÌ„ you for ye loued many your faith made you safe Peter remeÌ„bred y e wordes of christ bi his lokyng vpoÌ„ hiÌ„ at y e coks croeÌ„g bewayled he his synnes The Lorde almyghty doth now beholde you with this presente syknes and by sendynge of death and perchaunce letteth the souÌ„de of the worde come in youre harte Knoledge your synnes knoledge the trew iudgment of God that he letteth passe vpon youre mysdedes in your sufferynge and he shall not forsake you in youre callynge and mournynge But shall appeare vnto you with a comfortable worde of hys resurreccion which shall make youre conscience lusty and to reioyce in hope of the lyfe to-come as he hath done with Peter Happy are they that wepe with Peter bearynge of very loue the yocke and power of synne in theyr bodyes with greueousnesse for they shal be conforted Thys is the promyse of God y t caÌ„ not lye vnto you nor yet wyll do Loke vpon thys trustynge to it you shall rightwell subdue youre enmy synne Lazarus O Lorde geue me thy godly grace that I maye beleue thy holsome worde by y e which my harte may be purifyed of all synfull desyres which are innumerable in me Tobyas Amen God graunte you thesame Lazarus Instructe me now farther good brother how I maye behaue myselfe in y e death tocome whan I begynne to mystrust wether death shall than wholy swalowe my vp Tobyas The nature of the mysbeleuynge is such that they can not beleue there be a rysynge agayne of the flesshe by reason thys bodely death semeth to consume a man wholy and all Wherfore they saye wyth mouth and harte as it is wrytten in the boke of wysedom The tyme of oure lyfe is but short and tedious and whan a maÌ„ is once gone he hath no more ioye nor pleasure nother know we ony man that turneth agayne from death for we are borne of naught and we shal be herafter as though we neuer had bene and so forth Ouer these men that be of such fayth commeth damnation worthely for as they lyue and their opinion is so doth it chaunce also vnto them The gospell is yet wholy hydde vnto them for the God of this worlde hath blynded theyr hartes so that the lyght of the gospell the glory of Christes rysynge can not shyne in theyr hartes Such men were they of AtheÌ„ that sayde of Paul that he was a declarer of new deuels Act. xvii whaÌ„ he declared them Iesu and shewed them of hys resurreccion Of lyke natural blyndnesse dyd it come that they of Athen axed at Paul sayenge Maye not we knowe what new doctryne this is that thou teachest For thou bryngest straunge tydynges in to oure eares We wolde knowe therfore what thys meaneth VpoÌ„ which questyon Paul made a goodly sermon coÌ„cernynge the fayth in Chryst and hys rysynge agayne The mystery of the resurreccioÌ„ of Chryst is the chefe and princypall poynt of our fayth For what shulde it haue had auayled vs that Chryst dyed and suffred for vs yf he hadde not bene rysen agayn This resurreccion of the flesshe that we also abyde in Chryst maye not be rekened a dreame because we se it not For yf we sawe it with oure eyen than were it no fayth for fayth is of thynges inuisible and not apparaunt Wherfore though all men seme to begynne the lyfe and fynishe it agayne in thys present worlde yet are we assured and beleue that we all shall ryse agayne from death in the daye of dome euen as Chryst is rysen first This assuraunce of trew fayth passeth all sureties that can be persuaded by ony sutelty of maÌ„s ymaginacion By this fayth Not by the outward opinion speake we of the resurreccion of flesshe euen as the prophet saieth Psal â–ª â—â—v I beleued and therfore haue I spoken Paul taketh vp this worde speake sayenge .ii. Corin iiii Seynge we haue the same sprite of faith accordinge as it is written I beleued and therfore haue I spoken we also beleue and therfore we speake for we knowe y t he which raysed vp the Lorde Iesus shall rayse vs vp also by y e meanes of Iesus shall set vs with you it foloweth For y e thinges which are sene are temporall but the thynges which are not sene are eternall Wherfore al that we beleue of god all that we speake of the resurreccion the lyfe tocome semeth not to be so Euen as God hymself and hys honour worshyppe be also inuysyble and not appataunte to be trew vnto such carnall wysemen that haue not receaued the same spryte of the prophete and Paul By the afore sayed sprite of fayth speaketh Paul of the resurreccion saienge The body is sowen here in corrupcion and shall ryse in vncorrupcion Yt is sowen in dyshonoure and it shall ryse agayne in glory Yt is soweÌ„ in weaknesse and shal ryse in poure Yt is sowen a naturall body and shall ryse a spirituall body For flesshe bloude shall not possesse the kyngdom of God and that which is transytory can not possesse eternal heretage Thus must the grane of the flesshy body that is sowen here in eath fyrst dye in the grouÌ„d before it can brynge forth new frute into lyfe euerlastyng which lyfe we do abyde certaynly by fayth in the resurreccion of the flesshe though it appeare impossible vnto vs. For because Chryst is rysen therfore shall we ryse also and not abyde in death For God is no God of the dead but of the lyuenge Abraham Isaac and Iacob Lazarus I wyll graunte it ryght wel that we shal all ryse agayne at the daye of dome nor in that am not I tempted but I am more afrayed of the seconde and eternall death Instructe my agaynst that I pray you that I may perceaue that I feare and drede the seconde death by the reason of my great mysbelefe Tobias Wherto thynke ye the resurreccion of Chryst be stabylisshed with so many tokens and wonders but onely that we shulde stedfastly beleue therin To beleue in the resurreccion of Christ is to beleue that he raygneth and is a kynge and that in his rysynge death and synne be subdued vnto hym Death is the wages of synne Seinge than
we be clensed by the sheddynge of the bloude of christ we are also assured of death which els shulde haue folowed death Therfore all those that be yet mysbeleuynge sad and heuy harted and walke before God in bytternesse they be yet in synne And because they beleue not the resurreccion of Chryst therfore can not they reioyce in Chryst nor come to ony hope of the lyfe tocome Herken how royally the resurreccion of Chryst is set forth vnto vs in scripture Paul sayeth in the .x. chap. to the Romanes Yf thou knowlegest Iesu with thy mouth that he is the Lorde and beleuest in thyne harte that God hath raysed hym vp from the dead thou shalt be saued Yf ye dye in Chryst ye shall also ryse in him and lyue foreuer lyke as he now lyueth eternally For God hath begotten vs agayne vnto a lyuely hope by the resurrection of Iesus Chryst from the dead .i. Petri. i. Whā that which is mortall in you shall haue put on all immortalyte by the departynge of death than shal death be swalowed vp in the victory For Chryst hath ouercome hym by his death which had the lordshyppe in this worlde by the disobedience of Adam as Chryst sayeth hymselfe The prynce of this worlde is come but in me hath he nought For so much than as Christ beynge y e trew sede of Eua hath destroyed and brused the serpentes heade that is death wherby the serpent raygned myghtely vpon all mankynde then maie ye now hardely triūphe inwardely sayeng Death where is the stynge o hel where is thy glory praysed be god which hath geuen vs victory by Iesu Christe Lyke as it was impossible that Christ not shulde please god in his ryghtwesnes euē so is it impossible we shulde not please God by fayth in Christ Thys confirmeth Christ sayenge The father loueth you for you loued me Of this misery of the resurreccion hyd lyfe coulde I brynge you forth manye scripturely reasons and ensamples but I fear lest it wyl be to tedious for you beynge syke Lazarus No brother fear not I loue so well to hear y e ensamples of scrypture whych teache vs how lyfe is hyd in death Tobias We haue many figures ensāples in y e scripture which teach and declare vnto vs that lyfe is fyrst declared in dyenge Whan the lorde God had fyrst created Adam our father he caused hym to slepe that out of the slepers syde he might make a lyuynge creature namly Heua to be a helpe vnto man Gene. ii the whiche also he dyd Lo how straunge seme the workes of God to be in oure ymagination Adam slepeth and is in the figure of death for slepe is very well compared vnto death and of him cōmeth the lyfe vnto Eua lykwyse also in oure dyenge appeareth oure lyfe fyrst wyth Christ Death of y e Christians is called in scripture a slepe or a peaceable rest Lazarus rested in the bosome of Abraham Steuen the fyrst martyr dyd slepe in the Lorde whan he was stoned Is it not cōfortable that the holy goost doth call oure dyenge here but a slepe or a rest Steuen dyd slepe in the Lorde that is he is departed hence with a suete rest and ease at the harte wherin he felt no paynfulnesse at the harte as a mā y t slepeth a naturall slepe slepeth without ony passion or felynge of y e same That death is not paynfull to the beleuenge cōmeth of Christes death The soul of a Christian beynge full of the lyuynge worde of God feleth not death nor regardeth it more than though she were paynted on the wall which appeared by the apostles y t wente meryly from the iudgmēt seates because they were founde worthy to suffre for the name of Iesu Act. v. Another ensample is this What tyme as God had cōmaūded Abraham to offre hys only sōne Isaac he wente thre dayes iourney vpō the word of God leauenge his owne vnderstondynge and wyt yeldynge himself wholy in the handes of God so that in y e meane season was Isaac dead and forgotten For Abraham was fully determyned to offre hys sonne vpon the hyll which he sawe afar of on the thyrde daye But finally whan Isaac was nearest vnto death and Abrahā drew the swearde to smyte hym thā was the sonne wholy in y e harte of hys father and fully delyuered vnto death Where Abraham now sawe the death of his sonne in lyftynge vp y e swearde there appeared vnto him the life of his sonne for the swearde was stayed by the angel of the which he was not ware dat it shulde happē After this ensāple also was Christ rekened dead of the whole worlde what tyme as he laye in the graue But on the thyrde daye he rose agayne shewenge hymselfe alyue This wyse shall it be wyth vs. Death semeth to take vs wholy and put vs out of mans remembraunce but thā shall fyrst oure lyfe appeare accordinge as Paul sayeth Youre lyfe is hyd wyth Christ in God Farthermore you rede that Moses was cōmaunded Nume xxi whan a greate multitude of the people was slayne with the venymous serpentes because of their murmuringe agaynste God to set vp a brasen serpent in a token that whose behelde it shulbe recouer and lyue whiche also chaunched What is the meanynge of thys Christ Iesu is signifyed by this brasen serpent which beynge lyfted from the earth and hāged vpō y e crosse as a treue tokē of forgeuenesse that whose beholdynge hym with the eyen of fayth and sure confidēce and hope to optayne health maye be healed and relyue agayne in the soule be he neuer so sore wounded and bytten with the venyme of synne Thys is yt that Christ also sayde Iohn iii. And lyke as Moses lyft vp the serpent in the wyldernesse euen so must the sonne of man be lyft vp that whosoeuer beleueth in him shulde not perishe but haue euerlastynge lyfe Take this figure to youre doctrine good brother You lye here bitten of the serpentes your synnes whiche haue kylled with bytynge oure forefathers with all their progeny For by the enuy and venym of the deuyll is death come in the whole worlde Wherfore beholde now your saueoure on y e crosse Beholde the lyō of the kynred of Iuda that hath ouercome all Beholde this serpent as a sure tokē of the good wil of God to you warde ye nede not to feare death for it geueth you lyfe Ionas the prophet was rekened for dead what tyme as he laye thre dayes in the whals belly dead drouned But afterwarde was he alyue againe shewed y e Niniuytes for he was sustaineth from death by god which relyued hym agayne By this Ionas is Chryst also fygured wytnessynge it hys owne selfe in the gospel to assure vs that we shall also ryse with him agayne yf we abyde stedfastly beleuynge vnto the ende What more assuraunce can ye haue of God than that he hath not spared hys owne sonne but hath geuen hym ouer vnto death for vs
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
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