without delaye retourned againe into the house that it went out of The more sorowfull that her death was by reason of her yong age for she was but twelue yeare olde the greater was the myrthe and ioye which was made for her relyuyng Her father and mother were greatly amased with this straunge wonderfull syght Iesus who neyther required reward or mede of them nor yet thankes for his laboure onely commaunded them to geue her meate bycause it myght thereby more certainely appeare how she was restored to life For catyng is not onely a sure token of lyfe but also of welfare and good healthe He lykewyse charged them that they shoulde not blase this thyng abrode whiche was priuely done and in the presence of a few persons eyther because he would haue it rather published by suche as he putte out a doores then by the ruler of the Sinagoge who should haue bene more enuyed but lesse beleued if he had bene the publisher hereof eyther because in that he commaunded them to kepe the thyng secrete whiche he knew ryght well they would not do his will was to teache vs how that in all the good dedes we dooe we ought vtterlye to exchewe all vayne glory and worldly prayse If a man wade deper herein and serche what secret learning lyeth hid in this miracle for euen the very doinges of Iesu be parables it shall appeare that this dead mayden of twelue yeare olde and scarcely yet mariable sygnifieth a man whiche by frayeltye of nature hathe fyrste fallen to the committing of some priuie cryme or synne and therfore because he is not yet past regarde of honestye nor by long custome rooted in synne maye with the medicine of shame easlye be holpen and cured therof When any suche offendeth it becoÌ„meth the Curates and pastours to folow the gentle demeanour of Iesu who without makyng any great a doe raysed the mayden at home in the presence of a fewe witnesses It shall be sufficient to rebuke suche as haue thus offended and done amisse secretly leste theyr faulte beyng once disclosed they eyther sette all shame aparte or els pyne awaye throughe ouermuche sorowe and heauinesse The fyrst offence if it happen throughe frayltie and weaknesse is very sone amended It is muche harder to cure hym whose wickednesse is once cum to the knowledge of the people and hardest of all to heale suche a one as is hardened and rooted in synne by long custome of synnyng And therfore he rayseth the mayden by vertue of his bare worde in her fathers seuerall house sufferyng fewe to be present thereat But he maketh more a doe when the young springalte whiche was borne out vpon mennes shoulders to be buryed is restored to lyfe agayne His mother and all the people that go with her make great mene and lamentacion The yong man is had out to burying and fyrst his mother heareth Christ saye wepe not Then Christ toucheth the coffin and causeth the porters to staye Anon he calleth the dead man with a loude voyce saying How I say to the aryse Then fyrst he rayseth himselfe and sitteth in the coffin afterward he begynneth to speake at the length he whippeth out of the coffyn and is deliuered vnto his mother But Christ commaundeth Lazarus graue to be shewed hym as thoughe he knew not where it were he wepeth once or twyse He is troubled and groneth in spirite He commauÌ„deth the graue stone to be remoued and calleth out Lazarus with a loude voyce The dead man cummeth out but bounde At the length he is vnbound and falleth to his meate It was no more maisterie for Christ to rayse vp the karkas whiche had layne fower daies deade then the bodie newly deade who at the daye of dome will by the voyce of thaungell rayse and call to lyfe agayne all mennes bodies that haue bene buryed in so many thousand yeares before but by thys fygure his wyll was to shewe vs howe muche a doe it is for them to turne from sinful lyuing who of long tyme haue bene accustomed to vices not to the ende that we should despayre of suche persons but because we should endeuoure to amende oure lyues in season and more earnestly goe about to bryng all that are in suche case to amendement Moreouer I thynke it also here worthye to be noted that where as Iesus woulde haue hys benefyte publyshed of the Gerasyte possessed of the deuyll yet commaunded he the ruler of the Synagoge to kepe sylence For the enuyous Synagoge went aboute by al meanes to ouerwhelme and oppresse the glorye of the Lorde Iesu the whiche Synagoge did also afterward beate the Apostles and charged theÌ„ that they should not be so hardy as once to speake of his name But theyr enuye preuayled nothyng at all The more they went aboute to oppresse his holsome name the more was it preached amonge the Gentyles The priestes holden theyr peace The Phariseis crye out and speake agaynst him The Scribes rayle vpon him Herod laugheth him to skorne but wurshyppers of Idolles theues extorcioners and such as are attached with the vyces of inceste and aduoutry sodainly delyuered by the grace of the ghospell from theyr olde synnes as from most fell and cruell dyuels doe magnifye and prayse hym The .vj. Chapter ¶ And he departed thence and came into his owne countrey and his disciples folowed him and when the Sabboth day was cum he begaÌ„ to teache in the sinagoge And many that heard him were astonied and sayde From whence hath he these thinges And what wisdoÌ„ is this that is geuen vnto hym and suche vertues as are wrought by his handes Is not this the carpenter Maries sonne the brother of Iames and Ioâ—es and of Iuda and Symon and are not his systers here with vs â–ª And they were offended with hym Iesus sayed vnto them a Prophet is not despised but in his owne countrey and among his owne kinne and in his owne housholde And he could there shewe no miracle but layde his handes vpon a fewe sycke folke and healed them and merueled because of theyr vnbeliefe WHat occasyon soeuer Christ haue to goe any whyther he is alwayes after one fashyon and lyke hymselfe that is he euer bryngeth healthe to teache his disciples that accompany hym how we christians ought neuer to cease to doe the busynesse of the ghospell but still to goe aboute whensoeuer occasion serueth thereunto to make of euell men good and of good better whether it happen vs to continew and leade our lyues at home in our owne houses or els in foreyne and straunge countreys in publyke place or in pryuate Moreouer he that is vnfaynedly indewed with suche vertue and goodnesse as belongeth to christian profession â–ª whether it chaunce hym to be in shyppe or in wagan or to haue familiar talke and communicacion or els to be present at feaste or at banket yea to make shorte tale euen when he bourdeth to or maketh any game or pastyme he so demeaneth hymselfe that euer
any thyng that his brothers necessitie requyred But the apostles which were as chiefe pieres of thys newe citie beeyng dispurueyed of worldely goodes but ryche in gyftes of the holy ghost augmented theyr company euery day more than other bearyng wytnes of our Lord Iesus Christes resurreccion with wonderfull great stedfastnesse of mynde and myghty power in workyng of miracles For his resurreccion was pryncipally to be perswaded by witnes of miracles For many one at his death had been present and not a fewe had been pryuy to his buriall And so lyued thys newe comminaltie vnder ryght valyaunte Capitaynes hauyng aboundaunce of all thinges for what they lacked in goodes was supplied and borne out with mutuall loue and concorde For although many one were poore yet was there none amongest them that lacked For as many as were possessioners eyther of landes or houses made sale of them and brought the pryce therof and laied it at the Apostles feete that they whom reuerently as fathers they regarded myght distribute the same goodes in common at theyr owne pleasure Fynally there was no lesse vpryghtnes amongest them that dealed the pryce of mennes possessions then was with those whiche brought it Trueth and vpryght dealyng is seldome founde among stewardes of housholde and layers out of money But here was that distribucion made among them accordyng to euery mannes necessitie without any choyse had of persons There was in this company one Ioseph whome the apostles by syrname called Barnabas whiche woorde in the Sirians toung betokeneth sonne of comforte by bloud and auncestry a Leuyte borne in Cipres This Ioseph bycause he dyd excell among other in great giftes and qualities of the mynde by reason wherof he was called Barnabas for the ioyfull comforte that the multitude had of his accesse was an example for many to folowe that lyberaliâ—ie whiche was semely for the ghospel For wheras he had lande in Cypres he solde it and brought the pryce therof and layed it at the Apostles feete as though it had been a vyle thyng and woorthy to be despised But yet were the Apostles of suche holynes that they would take nothyng therof for them selues aboue other The .v. Chapter ¶ A certayne man named â—nanias with Saphira his wyfe solde a possession and kepte awaye parte of the pryce his wyfe also being of counsell and brought a certayne part and layed it downe at the apostles feete But Peter said Ananias howe is it that Sathan hath fylled thyne herte that thou shouldest lye vnto the holy ghost and kepe awaie part of the pryce of the landes Pertayned it not vnto the onlyâ— after it was solde was it not in thyne owne power why hast thou conceiued this thing in thine herte thou hast lyed not vnto meÌ„ but vnto God Whan Ananias heard these wordes he fell downe and geue vp that ghost And great feare came on all them that hearde these thynges And the young men arose vp and put him aparte and carryed him out and buryed hym BUt lyke as Barnabas playne trueth without colourable deceite moued many to folowe his lyberalitie so was here an exaÌ„ple to put al people in feare that in matters of spiritual charge one should not deceyue an other For the holy ghost loueth playnes of hearte and hateth al deceite dissimulacion In like maner Iudas among the twelue Apostles was an example that no man shoulde put affiaunce in hymselfe but that eche manne should with all carefull diligence continewe in doyng his dutie There was of this companie a certayne man called Ananias one farre vnlyke vnto his owne name because he throughly not consented to the gracious fauour of God This Ananias had a wyfe called Saphira not vnlyke vnto the housbande Whan that Ananias more ambicious of honour theÌ„ desirous of perfite holynesse sawe dyuerse persons hyghly commended of all menne for their free sincere lyberalitie he solde his lande laied vp parte of the money his wyfe being pryuy therunto and allowing the same that of the two partes wherein his money was deuided the one shoulde purchase him prayse of the people with an estimation also or fame of holynesse the other woulde he kepe for himselfe yf any nede should happen distructing doubtlesse the holy ghoste and more caring or prouiding for himselfe then for the whole company of his brethren rekenyng thus with himselfe yf other dye for hunger I am sufficiently prouided for Suche forecasting was not besemyng a man that should put his whole affiance in Christe who promysed that they shoulde wante nothyng that seketh for the kyngdome of god and the rightwysenes therof neyther was this imaginacion mete for hym whiche shoulde bee of one will wyth other and of one mynde Whan he had brought to the apostles feete parte of the money that his liuelode was solde for Peter vnderstandyng by inspiracion of the holy ghoste whiche was in him aboundauntly the mannes vngodly dissimulacion sayed Ananias where as thou hast once dedicate thy selfe to the holy ghost and seen his power by so many tokens euidently declared why hast thou suffered the deuill nowe eftesones to put this in thy mynde to take by stelth awaye parte of that money whiche thou receyuedst for thy lyuelode as though thou couldest face downe the holy ghost with a lye who can in nowyse be deceyued and to bryng into this companie suche a presidente moste daungerouse If we had constrayned thee to sell thy liuelode against thy will some cause peraduenture it might haue been for to dissemble nowe sence thou diddest this of thyne owne free wyll whiche thou haste done to what purpose auayled it to deface that thyng with hypocryse whiche should haue bene to other an example of liberalitie Mightest not thou haue kept thy lande in thyne owne hand yf thou wouldest and moreouer after thou haddest solde it couldest not thou haue reserued the money wholy vnto thy selfe They for theyr trueth playne dealyng are well commended whiche of theyr owne free will bringeth forth all that they haue For we enforce no man thus to doe yf he be not willyng to thesame Upon what occasion than hast thou stablyshed in thy minde thus to disseÌ„ble in this matter It is not man that thou hast made this lye vnto but almightie god Yf thou thinkest that god may be deceyued thyne opinion of him is false and vngodly But yf thou beleue that he is pryuie to all thynges eyther thou despisest his righteousnesse or els thou thynkest that he fauoureth falsehood Ananias than perceyuing that thapostles knewe hys falsehood sodaynly fell downe as one that had be stricken to the herte with a sharpe rebuke and yelded vp the ghoste One for an example suffered death that many myght be therby preserued For after that this facte was bruted abrode it made many sore afrayed that none durste enterpryse any suche lyke offence against the holy ghost Young men remoued thence the dead corse and whan they had carryed it foorth buryed it
sunne and his clothes wer as white as the lighâ— And beholde there appeared vnto them Moses and Helias talkyng with him Than answered Peter and said vnto Iesus Lord here is good being for vs if thou wâ—lt let vs make here thre tabernacles one for the one for Moses and one for Helias As he yet was speaking behold a bright cloude shadowed theÌ„ And behold there came a voice out of the cloud saiyng this is my welbeloued sonne in whom I delight muche heare him And whan the disciples had heard these thynges they fell on their faces and were â—ore afrayed And Iesus came and touched them and sayd Arise and be not afrayed And when they had lyft vp their â—yes they sawe no man saue Iesus onely AFter sixe daies Iesus willyng by sum meanes as it were by a dreame to shew vnto his disciples that sighte and apperaunce in the whiche once he shall cum to be iudge of the worlde he chose out three of the numbre of his disciples Peter Iames and Iohn his brother and whan he had brought them vp into a very hye hyll farre from the sight of men he was transfigured before them And his face shyned lyke the sunne and his garmentes wer bryght with whytenesse as whyte as snow and as no fuller can make vpon the earth and there appered also to them Moses and Helias talkyng with hym of the glory of his death whiche he should suffer at Ierusalem This was thought good to Christ that the Apostles should be confyrmed by those auctours whom all the Iewes magnified moste and that they shoulde not suspect that he would abolish the law sith Moses stoode with hym nor the prophetes sith Helias was present neither yâ— they should abhorre his death as a shameful thing whiche so great men set forth and shewed it to bee glorious These thinges wer seen to the apostles as to men newely waked froÌ„ slepe for their iyes wer heauy grieued For mortall feblenesse was not of capacitie to receiue the greatnesse of the vision The disciples therfore being afearde and amased with suche a woÌ„derful and incredible sighte Peter not yet fully wel aduised but rauished wholly with the pleasure and maiesty of the sight which semed to be farre from mencion of death said Lord let vs buylde here three tentes or pauilyons one for thee another for Moses and the third for Helias This was thought vnto Peter more wisedom than to be slain at Ierusalem Peter had not yet ended his coÌ„municacioÌ„ but beholde a bryght and pleasauÌ„t cloude ouershadowed thapostles lest they should be absorpte and ouercummed with the highnesse of the sighte And behold the voice of the father sounded out of the cloude witnessyng of his sonne with the same wordes with the which he witnessed of hym wheÌ„ he was baptised in Iordane This is my onely beloued sonne in whom my mynde hath delight heare him Whan the disciples heard this voice ful of diuine maiestie and not to be borne of mannes eares they fell doune grouelyng vpon theyr faces and wer more afeard For they wer afeard of theyr lyfe because they had learned that God sayed thus man shall not see me and liue But Iesus receiuyng agayn his former shape touched them with his handes lest they shoulde suppose that he were a goste and with his accustomed and knowen voyce he comforted them saying Aryse and feare nothyng Further when they wer cum to themselues and lifted vp their iyes they sawe no maÌ„ there but Iesus alone euen lyke as he came vnto the hill And whan they came doune from the mountayâ—e Iesus charged them saiyng Shewe the vision to no manne vntill the sonne of man be rysen agayn from the dead And his discyples asked him saiyng why than say the Scribes that Helias must fiâ—st cum And Iesus aunswered and said Truely Helias shall first cum and restore all thynges But I saye vnto you that Helias is cum already they knewe hym not but haue doen vnto hym whatsoeuer they lusted In likewyse shal the sonne of man also sufâ—re of them TheÌ„ the disciples vnderstode that he spake vnto them of Iohn Baptiste And whan they came doune from the hill before they came to the cumpany of the other disciples he coÌ„mauÌ„ded them to tel no man of these thinges that they had sene vntil the sonne of man wer risen froÌ„ death For vntil that time the tale should be vnprofitable and not beleued And the disciples kept it to themselues and conferred betwene themselues what it myght meane that Iesus said after that he be risen again froÌ„ death Their hart was so wrapt entangled that that worde so often hearde â—ould not enter into their hart But a certain doubt rose in their myndes of that that they saw Helias standyng with Iesus this doubt they propose vnto hym in the way What meneth it than ê™ they that the Scribes teachyng and tellyng of the cumming of Messias be wonte to saye out of the authoritie of Malachie that before the cummyng of Messias Helias Thesbites shal cum And he went not before thy cummyng but this daye was seene in the hyll Unto whome Iesus makyng aunswer saied Truly Helias shall câ—m lyke as Malachias sayed and accordyng to his prophecie shall goe before my cummyng and shall restore al thynges the residewe of the people of Iewes being conuerted vnto the gospell leste the whole nacion should be condemned But this cumming shall be in tyme to cum when I shall be here againe with the maiestie of my father renderyng rewarde vnto euery man accordyng vnto his dedes And yet a certayn Helias went before this my cummyng also whom the Iewes despised euen as they dyd me and dyd vnto him not after his desertes but whatsoeuer it pleased them And the sonne of man shall be handeled of them with like mekenes Than the disciples vnderstode that he called Iohn Baptiste Helias for the lykenes of lyfe and freenesse in reprouyng of kynges And whan they wer cum to the people there came to hym a certaine man knelyng downe and sayed Lorde haue mercy on my sonne for he is lunatyke and soore vexed for oftymes he falleth into the fyer and oft into the water And I brought him to thy disciples they could not heale him Iesus answered and said O feithles croked nacion how long shal I be with you how long shall I suffre you bryng hym hither And Iesus rebuked the deuil and he went out of hym And the childe was healed from that tyme. But nowe when Iesus went vnto his disciples he sawe a great multitude of men about theÌ„ and the Scribes disputyng with them The people meruelyng whither Iesus was gone ran vnto him and saluted him He demauÌ„ded of them what the matter was that they disputed amonge themselues Than one of the multitude made aunswer Maister I brought my sonne to thee which is miserably vexed of an vnclean spirit which as often as he taketh him the childe is beaten against
geue her meate Whyles Iesus was aunswerynge the woman there came messengers from the ruler of the Synagoges house which saide vnto him Thy doughter is deade Why doest thou put the mayster to further paynes in vayne These wordes spoken the ruler of the Synagoge who had before a doubtfull hope mengled with muche feare beeyng nowe as a manne in despayre durst make no farther suite vnto the Lorde The messangers put hym in despaire sayinge She is deade So manye are wonte to speake by those persons whiche haue fallen to the committing of some haynous enormitie as for an ensample of aduoutrie inceste thefte or manslaughter sayinge He is at a poynte he is paste all goodnesse Surely Iesus sufferethe none to fall into desperacion but suche a one as refuseth to beleue in hym It is the propertie of Iewes to despaire The good Christian who knoweth the goodnesse of the Lorde to bee â—gâ—ll with his power neuer despaireth Christe therefore holpe and lyfted vp the fayntyng hope of the ruler of the Synagoge with swete and confortable wordes sayinge be not afrayed althoughe it be so that thy doughter be deade in dede Onelye haue belefe It skylleth not in howe euell case she be but howe stronge and stedfaste is thy faythe When he had thus spoken he came vnto the ruler of the Synagoges house and entred in but leauyng all the rablemente of people without dores sufferyng not so muche as his disciples to goe in with hym saue alonely Simon Peter Iames and Iohn who was Iames his brother These folowynge hym he entred into the ruler of the Synagoges house there founde he al thinges ryght gorgiouslly and with great pompe prepared for the buryall of the mayden and besyde this manye of her kynsmen and kynswomen lamentably bewaylyng her ouertymely deathe For she common sorte are wounte to take the death of young folkes much greuouslyer then of olde wher as in dede nothing is more to be desyred of god then in that age to dye when it is moste pleasure to lyue or euer the soule be blemished with the manifolde euyls of this present lyfe For it litle forceth howe longe a man liue but howe well and vertuously Iesus therfore teaching vs that we oughte not to bewayle the deade with vayne funerall songes caused the mourners to cease theyr noyse Why â—aythe he make you such a clamoure and noyse in the house with your wepynge and waylynge The mayde is not deade but a slepe Truly vnto hym she dyd but slepe who could much easlyer wakeÌ„ relyue her with a worde of his mouthe then one of vs can wake another oute of his slepe And slepe is in euery point a resemblaunce and meditacion of death For it bryngeth to reste the powers of the sowle and taketh awaye sence so that if it were continuall it were verye deathe in dede But suche as stode by when she died not perceyuing what Iesus meante by these wordes laughed hym to skorne because he beleued she was yet aliue sithe it euidently appeared that she was deade Iesus droue all these folkes out a doores whiche fylled the house full of noyse and dynne with theyr vayne wepyng and waylyng and dyd not onelye nothyng at all profyte the deade bodye therwith but also encreaced the woefullnesse of her parentes and laughed hym the aucthour of healthe to skorne There nedethe not the presence of suche people where the soule beeyng dead throughe synne is to bee called agayne to the lyfe of innocencie and vertuous lyuyng This thyng dyd Iesus then in a nother mannes seuerall house What woulde he nowe doe yf he sawe the great pompe that some vse in funerals euen to very madnesse There are certayne persones hiered to fayne mourninge and weping to crye out to teare the heare that manye tymes is none of theyrs to knocke themselues on the breste to scratche theyr faces to caste out wordes that no frantycke manne woulde speake the lyke full of distruste and vnbelefe They set mylke by the deade karkes therewyth to allure the soule strayinge and wandryng abrode into the body agayne They oftetymes crye and call vpon the dead body by name Phylip cum againe Come agayne to vs good Phylip. They chyde and braule with him saying Why hast thou forsakeÌ„ thy frendes Why wouldes thou kyll vs with mourning Thou lackeddest nothyng to liue all at pleasure neyther ryches nobilitie honorable aduauncemeÌ„tes beautie nor age O thou cruel felowe O wretches that we be c. Nowe put me hereunto trumpettes that sounde vnto the deafe the syngyng menne that syng vayne funerall songes vnto the deade bodie whiche hearethe them not and dooe not thereby take awaye the sorowe of the lyuinge but encrease it Furthermore put hereto the long rowes of torch-bearers and the raye of those that are clad all in blacke and mournyng apparell Yea there be summe also whiche cause horses trapped in blacke to bee brought into this pompous shewe to cary the deade maÌ„nes flagge and cootearmoure and with theyr downe lokyng for theyr neckes are fast bounde vnto theyr legges to make as though they sought for their maister that is descended and gone downe to hell What shall I rehearse the great feastes and solemne baÌ„kettes that they are wonte to make The magnificke and costlye buildynges of tombes as thoughe there were litle pompes and superâ—â—uite vsed in life excepte dead folkes dyd also declare themselues to be attached wyth these vices Nowe sytheÌ„s euen those that are of the wysest sorte of the heathen suppose these to be mad and fonde customes howe muche more then oughte they not to be had in vse amonge christen menne whiche dooe all slepe rather then dye and shal awake agayne the last daye at the sownyng of the Aungels trumpet Therefore to retourne to the order and processe of thy storye when Iesu had put all these folkes out a doores he toke the parentes of the mayden and wente into the secrete chambre whereas the coarse laye For his pleasure was that they shoulde be witnesses of the miracle whiche he entended to worke Here the Lord toke the mayden by the hand and as though he woulde haue wakened her out of her slepe sayde vnto her Tabitha cumy the whiche in the Syrian language is as muche to saye as howe mayden aryse Suche as are in a depe or sounde slepe cannot many tymes be wakened althoughe a manne call them ofte tymes with a loude voyce and pinche them neuer so muche and when they be called vp yet doe they not by an by awake but beeyng a good while halfe a slepe or drousy gape stretch theyr armes nod with theyr heades that many tymes the chynne stryketh the brest and if a man call not styll vpon them they fall aslepe agayne This deade mayden arose furthwith and walked at the voyce of Iesu beyng not only relyued but also very mery and iocunde For the soule which throughe thenforcement of disease had forsaken the bodye knewe the voyce of his maker and
perishe Be ye not aâ—earde litle flocke for yours is the kyngdome of heauen Paule hathe meate wherewith he coumforteth and cherisheth suche as are but newlye conuerted to Christe that they maye not fal agayne into diseases forasmuche as they are yet weake he hath also sounde and substanciall meate that maye kepe theim in perfeicte strength growyng forewarde from daye to daye vnto the measure of the fulnesse of Christe Those persones had gathered perfeict strengthe of whome it is thus wrytten in the actes of the Apostles They went reioycyng oute of the sight of the counsell in that they had been reputed worthie to suffre reproche for the name of Iesus That man also had gathered perfeicte strength whiche layed I can dooe all thynges in hym that maketh me strong And for this consideracion the Lorde Iesus in the ghospell exhorteth menne to the eatyng of the breade that was come from heauen the eatyng whereof geueth immortalitie He exhorteth men to the eatyng of his fleshe and to the drinking of his bloude meanyng vndoubtedlye of his doctrine whiche beyng as breade to the soule dooeth make thesame lustie and strong and as effectuall strong wyne doeth inebricate men and bryng them in a godly kynde of drounkennesse euen to the contempte of this worlde in lyke maner as fleashe hath sound nourishemente for the bodye and lyke as bloude hath a vertue and effecte vnto lyfe And though all the scripture of god haue a medicinable vertue and power in it yet hath it none a more effectuall electualye or receipt then that pertaineth to the ghospel One and thesame spirite it is that is in all the Scriptures of God but yet in the ghospell especiallye his pleasure was that the thyng â—â—ould remaine wherin he might speciallye shewe foorth his owne power because there shoulde appere some difference betwene the seruauntes and the maister betwene the puddels or litle gutters and the spryng or fountaine And truely it is a labour well bestowed to considre how great a thyng the vertue of this medicine is Euerie common weale is as ye woulde saye a certayne body The pestilent diseases and sickenesses of a common weale are euil maniers Againste whiche diseases such men as haue excelled others in wysedome haue in soondrye regions or deyned and set lawes as it were certayne medicines and remedies for thesame as for exaumple emong the Atheniens Solon made lawes emong the Lacedemonians Lycurgus emong the people of Crete Minos emong the Romaynes the tenne Commissioners called in theyr toungue Decemuiti Yet not one of all these men was hable to bryng to passe that other nacions also would enbrace and receiue the lawes that he had made No neither dyd any of them so muche as attempte such a thyng leste besides spendyng of labour in vayne he shoulde also haue wonne an opinion of a shamelesse acte in his so doyng Solon was faâ— to liue tenne yeares a banished man for thrustyng his lawes into the citie of Athens alone to be vsed there Plato a man so well learned and so eloquent coulde neuer bryng the people of Athens in mynde to receyue his lawes And yet is there no doubtes to bee made but that euerye one of theim perswaded theimselues that the lawes whiche they hadde made were true and that they wisshed yf it myght possibly haue been brought to passe that all the world should haue enbraced and receyued thesame No nor the lawes of Moses neither were iprâ—d abrode or receyued any ferther then within onely one nacion although in dede the Pharisets did with great highe suyt hunte to wynne and geat vnto them a fewe proselites that is to saye foreyns and aliens wonne to their religion Fynally not the violent autoritie of the Emperours neither was hable by vyolence or compulsion to obteyne that theyr lawes might haue weight and force with all nacions And the thyng whiche all the sayed persones by the lawes that they made did endeuour to bryng about thesame did also the Philosophiers attempt by theyr morall rules and lessons with great iudgement and with incomparable diligence and labour wryten and published Of al which neuerthelesse not one hath there been so eloquente or so well learned that he hath been hable to bryng any one nacion in the mynde that he woulde haue theim in so werishe and vneffectuall was the vertue of the medicine of phisicke which they broughte Onelye the trueth Euangelicall dyd in processe of a fewe yeares possesse perswade and ouercome all nacions of the worlde full and wholle drawyng vnto it the Grekes and the barbarous peoples the learned and the vnlearned the inferiour common people and kynges and all So pithâ—hy and so effectuall was the electuarie of this trueth that so many thousandes of people forsakyng the lawes of their owne countreyes renouncyng the religioÌ„ that theyr forefathers had vsed â–ª leauyng aswell the sensuall pleasures and vices whiche from their cradels they had been accustomed vnto they enbraced a new and a forein doctrine and out of diuerse toungues and ordinaunces of contrarie sorte they did consente to the receyuyng of a certaine lowe and basse philosophie especiallye at suche a tyme as neuer was there any of the lyke sorte furnished nor armed either with the maintenaunce and supportacion of learnyng and eloquence or with the power and autoritie of princes and at suche a time ferthermore whaÌ„ al the worlde with al the strengthe that it had fought against the trueth of the ghospel beeyng vnarmed and naked yet neuerthelesse it could not possiblye bryng to passe but that the sayed trueth after that it firste â—ntred possession vpon the countrey of Grece inuaded also the citie of Rome and the veraye courte of Nerâ— and foorthwith spred it self abrode throughout all and singular the prouincies of the Empire of Rome euen vntill the Isles called Gades lying in the ferthest parte beyonde Spaigne and vnto the Indians vnto the peoples of Afrike and the Scithians and the Isle of Britannia now called Englande beyng a countrey vttrelye diuided and cutte of from all the rest of the worlde These nacions and peoples dyd verye muche differ one from another in theyr languages lawes rytes vsages ordeynaunces Goddes religion and facions and anon beeyng from suche great discorde broughte to a generall vniformitie they begonne to syng all one song extollyng with laudes and prayses Iesus Christe the onely lorde and salueour of the worlde And all this while the spoylyng of their goodes their banishementes empriesonynges tormentes deathes were none other thing but good procedyng and goyng forewarde of the ghospell What persone hath there euer been founde that hath been content to suffre death for the lawes of Solon or the morall preceptes of Zeno But for the simple and playne doctryne of Christ how many thousandes of men both olde young how many thousandes of matrones and vyrgins haue willyngly offered and holden out their neckes to bee chopte of And yet how muche more wondrefull and more abhorryng from commune reason are the thinges
by course succeded All thissame though it semed to be doen by mere chaimce at auenture yet was there no one poynte therof but it was wrought by the high wysedome and prouidence of God yea not so muche as the veray numbre of the course but it was for a purpose and a consideracion For lyke as the numbre of seuen for many causes hath the figure significacion of the olde lawe so doeth the numbre of eight well accorde to the grace of the ghospel for asmuche as the euerlasting blisse of heauen is nowe geuen not through the workes of the lawe but freely and frankly through feith And Zacharie had also a wife named Elizabeth not only the better to be estemed for the respecte of her noble birth for she came of the stocke and bloud of Aaron the first prieste of the people of Israell but also worthie to be had in reuerence and wurship for hir integritie and perfecte goodnesse of behaueour to the intente that suche an holy man as Zacharie was should not be without a wyfe accordyng ¶ They were both righteouse before God and so walked in all the commaundementes and ordeynauÌ„ces of the Lord that no man could fynde faulte with them And they had no childe because that Elizabeth was baraine and they both were now well stricken in age For it was in veray dede an holy wedlocke knitte and made vp not somuch by copulacion of their bodies as by lykenesse of theyr mindes and hertes and by the felowship of godlines because they were both of them veray good folkes and iust not with the iustice of the Phariseis whiche Phariseis vnder a false couiour and counterfaite shewe of holynesse did sette foorth theyr prynted sheathe to the iyes of men for lucre and for worldely prayse defourmyng their faces and makyng them vnsightly for the nons a troumpette blowyng before them at all suche times whan they gaue their almes sekyng to be estemed holy by reason of long prayers made in corners of the stretes whan their herte was drouned in all fylthinesse of hainous offences and trespaces against God but Zachary and Elizabeth with vncorrupt hertes dyd in suche wyse obserue and kepe all thynges whiche the Lord had commaunded by the lawe that neyther they gaue vnto men any holde or tytle to fynde faulte with them and yet the which is a poynte of no small difficultie they did also by the puritie and clenesse of their liuyng shewe themselfes pleasyng in the sight of God Yea and this veray poynte also was wrought by the high wysedome of God of a speciall prouision to the ende that suche a one as should afterwarde geue testimonie vnto Christe at his cumming might on his owne behalfe be in all maner degrees worthy acceptacion emong the people of the Iewes first for the noblenesse of his linage being descended of the ordre of priesthood aswell on the fathers syde as on the mothers syde secondarily for the linyng of both his parentes beyng vnreprouable thirdly for the vertues giftes of grace in his owne selfe beyng wonderfull and suche as were but in fewe persones to be found and finally for his gloryous death whan he should suffre for the truthes sake Suche a cryar veryly it was mete that he should haue which came to allure to hymselfe the whole worlde with the sauor as it were of the good fame and opinion that should spryng of hym Ferthermore by the prouidence of God this poynte alo was wrought that the straunge maner of his natiuitie should stiere vp the myndes of men to haue a speciall regarde of Iohn and no suche common matiers or facions as were in other folkes to be looked for at his hande the whiche was borne into this worlde not after the common course of nature but by the onely benefite of God For although the holy conuersacion of zacharie and Elizabeth was specially well approued allowed of all persons yet in this one poynte their godlynesse semed to haue but hard happe that both of them were veray ferre groweÌ„ in age without hauing any issue or childe in all their tyme. For emong the Iewes lyke as the fruitfulnesse of matrimonie was reputed for a certayne thyng of great Royaltie so was barainnesse in as muche reproche as any thyng and was rekoned in the numbre of the chiefe missehappes and euils of this lyre For the moste parte of the people did interprete and take those persons to bee reiected and cast out of the fauour of God whiche had not had the fortune and happe with some kynde of issue to encrease and multiplie the people of the Iewes beeyng a people specially chosen dedicate vnto God For the Iewes beyng altogether grosse and carnall had not yet learned that a spirituall and ghostely people it was whiche God would haue by an heauenly generacion styll from tyme to tyme more and more to be multiplied with continuall succession of issue They had not yet heard that blissed were tho persons whiche had gelded themselfes for the kingdome of heauen And this mattier dyd not a lytle grieue them bothe in theyr mindes especially Elizabeth who was now euen already by a muche reprochefull name in euery bodyes mouth called baraine and was rekoned in the numbre of women of hard happe as one of suche barainesse that she was nowe past all lykelyhood or hope to haue any chylde because that veray many yeres hauyng passed in the coumpanie of her wedded house bande she had yet brought foorth no fruite of matrimonie For the reproche of barainnesse is woont moste specially to light on the womeÌ„ And this despaire of hauing any chyld the old age of them both had encreased But the bounteous goodnesse of God did of tendre fauour geue vnto the deuoute prayers and desires of theyr hertes that thyng which the strength and power of nature dyd not geue to the coumpanying of theyr bodyes And it came to passe that whan Zacharie executed the priestes office before God as his course came accordying to the custome of the priestes office his lotte fell to burne incâ—nse And he wente into the temple of the Lorde and the whole multitude of the people were without in prayer whyle the incense was in burnyng Therfore whan zacharie executed the office of the prieste in the ordre of his course whiche as we haue sayed was in the course of Abia and continuing within the temple in the sight of God attended the ministryng of the sacres lyke a pure and a chaste man and now accordyng to the custome and maner there was one to be chosen to goe into the innermoste and priuiest place of the temple which is called Sancta sanctorum that is to say the holy of holyes or the principall holy place the chaunce of the lotte so fell that he was chosen to entre into the principall holy place which it was not leefull for any person to entre except the bishop or suche an
froÌ„ Endor And whan he thyther wente his disciples folowed hym of whome by this tyme there was a great noÌ„bre and besides theÌ„ there weÌ„t also a great multitude of the common people of all sortes and degrees And whaÌ„ the Lord was now not ferre from the gate of the citie beholde an occasion of an other newe miracle There came a dead corpse carried on meÌ„nes backes towardes buriâ—ng with a great coumpanye of people And a doulful matier it was first because it was a very young man that was dead and taken froÌ„ his lyfe euen in the very floure of his age secondarily because it was the onely sonne of a wedowe who beeyng depriued of the coumforte of an housebande had sette all the hope and staye of her lyfe in the same her soonne This wedow therfore testified the woful tormenting of her hert both with weping teares and also with many piteous woordes of lamentacion suche as extreme raging dolour doth commonly putte in folkes myndes to speake The great wailyng of the wedowe together with the vnripe deathe of the yong strieplyng caused the reste of the coumpanye also to wepe as many as for kyndenes and bonde of neighbourhode went folowyng the corpse Whan the Lorde Iesus beeyng mostefull of mercie and pitie had seen this sight he toke compassion on the wedowe and shewed himself an effectuall comforter vnto her that had none els to bee hir comforter he holpe her bothe in wordes and also in dede WomaÌ„ saith he make no more weping And whan he had so said he came vnto the biere wheron the dead maÌ„ was carried and put his hand to it And immediatly they whiche carryed the corpse stayed Here bothe coumpanies earnestly herkenyng aswell they that accoumpanyed the wedowe as also they that came with the Lord Iesus turnyng to the yong maÌ„ that was dead young man ê™ he I saie vnto thee Arise At this worde immediatly the yong maÌ„ euen as it had been one newly awakened reysed out of his slepe sate vpright on the biere and to the entent that it should be the more euideÌ„t a token that his life was restored hym he begoonne to speake And this speakyng dyd ferthermore also declare the lustye freashenesse and heartynesse of spirite in him And when he had now lept doun from the biere and cleuyng faste vnto Iesus by whom he perceiued that his lyfe had been restored vnto him was stil rendryng thankes for it the Lorde deliuered hym vnto his mother to haue him home with her goyng now on his own feete whom she had caused after he was dead to be carryed towardes burâ—yng on fower mennes shoulders And thus truely was the matier doen as touching the story but not without a significacion of ghostly doctrine The wedow beyng a mother represeÌ„teth the churche Forsooth euen this is thesame wedow whoÌ„ the prophete Esaye doeth coÌ„forte saiyng Be glad thou barain that bringest not foorth chyldren reioyce thou the art nothyng towardes bearyng for mo are the children of the forsaken than of her that hath an husbande The synagogue trusteth altogether in her spouse Moses it maketh great vauntes of the children of AbrahaÌ„ beyng equall in noumber to the sande that lieth on the sea shore The churche after the estimacion of the worlde semeth destitute of her spouse who hath conueyed hymselfe vp into heauen at the first she semed barain and without hope of any issue or successioÌ„ the Iewes also the prices of this world labouryng that al memorie of Iesus whom they supposed to be vtterly destroyed and dead might vtterly be takeÌ„ away and abolished for euer This wedow doth daily bring forth not children of this world but childreÌ„ of the lyght neyther dooeth she bryng them foorth to Moses who taught thinges earthly but vnto Christ who teacheth and also promiseth thinges heauenly She bryngeth them foorth not to death but to immortalitie She groneth daily in bringing forth childreÌ„ yet vnshapen vnperfite vntil thei haue receiued the spirite of the gospel and vntil Christ be brought to perfite shape in theÌ„ A true mother she is singularly doth she loue her childreÌ„ whoÌ„ with gret carefulnesse she frameth and trayneth vntill they may growe to full age and may bee brought vp to the strength of perfite men For loue and deuocion towardes god also hath it infaÌ„cie it hath it cumming forward in growthe of age That if at any tyme it fortune any of her chyldren to dye she wepeth and can not be coumforted nor wepeth any lesse for hym then if she had had none but hym alone whom she loste Innocencie whiche is geuen through euangelical fayth is life and sinne is death We see with howe great affeccion mothers do mourne for the bodily corpses of their children but muche more tenderly doeth the churche wepe and waill for one that after baptisme is fallen again to any deadly synne and more pensife she is for the death of one sinner theÌ„ the Synagogue is glad of fourescore and nynetene ryghteous Well than forth is the dead maÌ„ borne of foure carriers that is to say of the inordinate desires of this worlde which hauing the dead corpse on theyr shoulders benng now destitute of the holy ghost lackyng now all felyng of himself beyng now dead aslepe in his ownnaughty vices carrye hym down streighte to the graue of euerlastyng despaire The church ferthermore hath gates by which she casteth out dead folkes lest that with the stinkyng of the dead corpse the others also that are yet whole maye bee infected She hathe other gates also by whiche to receiue in suche as are called to life agayn of the Lorde As she bringeth not foorth into life but by the spirite of Christe so doeth she not receiue into life again but whom Christ doeth call backe again The porters that carry the dead neuer stop ne stay vntill they cum euen to the graue For whoso hath made al his restyng place here in this worlde whoso hath once let himself at large to be ledde with sinfull affeccions ceasseth not with damnable proceding to fail coÌ„tinually into wurse wurse vntill he cum to the mayne depth of euils and is deliuered to his lustes abominable And all the while naught doeth the mother but wepe yea and all the coumpanye of his couÌ„treimen do wepe sorowyng that the deade is cast out whom they wishe to returne to life again And these verilye are the prayers of our mother the churche these been her teares and these are the sighes and grouynges of the godly persones makyng mone and sorowe for the death of a synner This young strieplyng was dead not beeyng yet confirmed with the spirite of the ghospel and so muche the more worthye of mercie because that thesame maÌ„ whoÌ„ they had hoped trusted should through the spirite of Christ haue prospered and growen foreward vnto the highest degree of euangelical godlynesse hym they see now past life and void of any spirite and by most merciles
frendely countenaunce and theyr garmentes glitteryng in maner of clere brightnesse or lightning Thissame veray lightnesse and sight of the Aungels had been an open semblaunt of the triumph of an arysing agayne to lyfe And whan the weomen beeyng throughly afrayed with this straunge syght cast their countenaunce and iyes downe vpon the grounde and durst not loke streight vpon the maiestie of the visioÌ„ being a thing aboue the reache of mans nature the sayed Aungels with mylde and amiable speakyng vnto them doe ease and recoumforte the hertes of them beeyng astouned with that soodayne feare O ye weomen saye the Aungels why doe ye seke hym in the graues of the dead which is a liuesman In dede here was he layed whan he was dead but nowe forasmuche as he is reuiued agayne he is not in graue where the dead doe reste but he is arysen agayne from death to life and walketh a liuesman emong the lyuing He had by his owne woordes foreshewed that dye he should he had foreshewed the tyme also the kynde of his death but thesame had also foreshewed that he would on the third day returne to lyfe againe Ye belieue hym to bee dead because ye sawe it belieue ye also that he is arysen againe to life For he will not in this pointe deceyue you whiche on the other parte tolde you trueth Hath sorowe and trouble of mynde made you to forget all thynges that he tolde you of aforehande Lette it come to your remembraunce againe howe that of all these thynges whiche haue nowe been dooen he leafte not any one poynte vnspoken of or vntolde aforehande whan he was yet in Galile For he tolde you afore that it was so decreed by the wysedome and ordeynaunce of his father that for the redempcion of mankynde the sonne of man should be deliuered into the handes of synners and that he should bee accused should be beaten and should be setfurth to receyue al kyndes of mocking skorning and finally that beyng hoighced vp vpon the crosse he should be put to death but yet that he thesame man should on the thirde daye returne to lyfe agayne Call ye the tyme well vnto your knowlage He was taken downe from the crosse well towardes the euentyde of the preparacion daye and layed here in thissame graue that daye is rekoned for the firste daye from his death All the whole Sabboth day he rested in his sepulchre Nowe is this the dayspring of the third day which third day himselfe arising together with thesame hath willed to be gladsome and prosperous to all the whole worlde After these woordes spoken the Aungels vanished awaye from theyr sight ¶ And they remembred his woordes and returned from the sepulchre and tolde all these thynges vnto those eleuen and to all the remnaunt It was Mary Magdalene Ioanna and Mary Iacobi and other that were with them which tolde these thynges vnto the Apostles And theyr woordes semed vnto them feigned thinges neyther beleued they them Than arose Petur and ran vnto the sepulchre and loked in sawe the linen clothes layed by themselfes and departed woondreyng in himselfe at that whiche had happened Than the wemen through the Aungels bringyng them in remembraunce doe call to memorie the Lorde Iesus woordes by the whiche he had tolde aforehand vnto his disciples aswell his death as also his resurreccion Whervpon leauyng the monumente they make hast to the eleuen Apostles and the other disciples who for feare of the Iewes lay in secrete places here some and there some gathered together and had euen themselues too forgotteÌ„ in maner all thinges that Iesus had tolde them and wer now in manier in despayre and to them doe the weomen bryng newes what they had seen and what they had heard of the Aungels The first weoman Eue beeyng deceyued by the serpent allured her housebande Adam to doe amysse these deuoute weomen beeyng taught by the Aungels doe moue and exhort men to promptenesse of beleuing Therfore because the weomen kynde shoulde not euermore without any ende continue in slaunder and oblique for death that had issued out of them into men the moste gladsome tidinges of lyfe restored agayne doethe therehence procede from whence the occasion of death hath first issued Now the weomen whiche brought the fyrst newes of the premisses vnto the Apostles were Marie Magdalene the systur of Lazarus Ioanna the wyfe of Chusa Herodes agent and factour Mary the mother of Iames the younger whiche was also called the systur of Mary the Lordes mother and many other weomen whiche in coumpany of these were woont to goe with Iesus where euer he wente But for the vncredible matâ—er that they brought newes of the weomen beyng estemed to bee vessels sumwhat fraile founde no suche regarde as to bee credyted emong the Apostles whom the Lorde for suche consideracion suffred to bee the slacker to beleue that the assured trueth of hys resurreccion myghte by the moe euidente proufes and tokens bee confyâ—med Therfore what the sayed weomen reported of soodayne seeyng of the aungels of the stone in a momente remoued from the mouth of the sepulchre semed to the Apostles and disciples to bee some poynte of dotage suche as reigneth in weomen because that thys sexe of woman kynde hauyng the conceipte of their imaginacion somewhat infected and corrupte through the weakenesse of reason and of good iudgemente in them doe many times belieue themselfes to see that thei see not and heare that they heare not And although they did not belieue it to be a mattier of trueth that the weomen reported yet dyd theyr earnest affirmyng of it and standynge therin thus muche auayle that Peter arysyng from the place where he sate ran furth to the monument and puttyng hys head in and lokyng afore hym he fyndeth not the body but the pieces of linnen in whiche the body of Iesus had been wound vp he seeth liyng there aside in a place by themselfes And yet not so neyther dyd he belieue that the Lorde was arisen agayne from death to lyfe so diepe forgetfulnesse had there taken hym of the thynges which Iesus had sayed but awaye he went from the sepulchre meruaylyng with himselfe what had befallen and doubtyng whether any body had taken awaye the bodye out of the monument and castyng many soondry thynges in his minde by whom or of what entent and purpose thatsame poynte had been dooen that the body taken awaye he sawe the linen pieces leafte behynde as thynges laysurely taken of from the body whiche could not without some buisinesse haue been plucked of and for that he sawe thesame linen pieces not cast aboute at auenture here one and there one but handesomely layed vp in theyr place and ordre the kerchefe wherwith the head and face of Iesus had been couered beyng layed by it selfe aparte from the rest ¶ And beholde twoo of them went thatsame daye to a toune called Emaus whiche was from Hierusalem aboute three
man we haue touched him with our handes and by all profes and tokenes we haue founde him to be very man yea and also we haue seen his godly glory in very dede mete for the onely sonne of God the like whereof was neuer shewed to any of the angels Prophetes or Patriarches but it was suche as God the father woulde haue his onely sonne to be honoured with And this glory we haue seen in the workinge of his miracles in the vttringe of his heauenly doctrine and in the vision vpon the mounte Thabor when he was transfigured before our iyes when also the very voice of his father cumming downe from heauen professed him to be his dearly beloued sonne as the saied father did notably set him furth in his baptisme both with his voice and with the holy goste vnder the figure and similitude of a dooâ—e And againe when the sonne before his death desired hym to glorify hym with that glorye whiche he had before the worlde was made a voyce came downe from heauen and knowledged him to bee his sonne saying Bothe I haue and will glorifye the. In conclusion we haue seen hym in his resurreccion both when he already beeyng risen from death to lyfe did shewe furthe to vs his body whiche we mighte touche and handle but yet was it subiecte to no euill and also when before oure iyes he was carried vp into heauen And his glory did appeare and shine vnto vs not onely by these thinges but also his very death did aproue his godly power and strengthe when as the vaile of the temple was deuided the earth quaked the stones braste in soundre the graues and monumentes did open the dead bodies did rise againe the sunne losinge his lighte broughte sodaine darkenes into the worlde And whiles immediatly after a vehementcrie he yelded vp his goste as who sayeth he forsoke his life wyllyngly and not for lacke of strengthe By thys so wonderfull a death he did so glorify the father that both the thefe whiche did hange by him and also the Centurion did acknowledge him to bee the sonne of God And albeit when he was conuersaunt here in earth and went about the busines of our saluacion he had leauer shewe vs exaumple of sobrenes mekenes and obedience then to boast his owne greatnes yet all his communicacion all his dedes yea his very behauiour and countenaunce did declare hym to bee full of all godly giftes full of eternall and suche trueth as cannot bee confounded For although God doeth geue to other holy men also large giftes of his grace trueth yet he did powre into him as into his onely sonne the whole fountaine of heauenly giftes to thintent that in hym alone might be so muche as shoulde suffice all men And we did thorowly see him to be suche one euen vntill his ascencion ¶ Iohn beareth witnes of hym and crieth saying This was he of whom I spake whiche though he came after me went before me for he was before me Let vs now procede and declare how he was first knowen vnto the world wheras vntil this time not so muche as his owne brethren beleued hym to be any other but man for he woulde be knowen lytle by lytle lest so straunge a thing shoulde not haue been beleued emonges men if it had risen sodainly And truly many thinges went before whiche might some maner of way haue prepared mens mindes to faithfull beliefe as the auctoritie of the prophetes the shadowes of the lawe the agreable song of the Angels at his natiuitie the godly deuocion of the shephardes the guiding starre the deuout behauiour of the three wise men the vnquietnes of kyng Herode with all Ierusalem for the birth of this new kyng the prophecies of Simeon and Anna and also certain thinges that he did beyond the reche course of mans nature wherat his mother and Ioseph meruailed with theim selfe what those thinges should meane yet neuertheles when the tyme was come wherin it was deereed eternally that he should openly take in hande the busynes of preaching the kingdome of heauen it pleased hym as I sayd before to be commended and set furth by the witnes of Iohn also for a tyme not that he neded mans witnes but because so it was expedient eyther to allure the Iewes to beleue of whom euery one had Iohn in hye estimacion or els to rebuke the vnbeliefe of the wicked when they woulde not beleue no not hym bearing witnes of Christ to whom in other thinges they did attribute so much that they toke him to be Messias which was promysed by the prophecies of the prophetes to deliuer the people of Israell Therfore when Iohn preaching the kyngdom of God to bee at hand had alredy gathered together many disciples dyd dayly baptise many was had in great auctoritie emong al men but in very dede men had an ill opinion of Iesu the said Iohn doth openly beate into the heades of the multitude and eftsons reherseth that thing whiche diuers times before he had witnessed of him And accordyng to Esaies prophecy whiche dyd tell before hand that he shoulde in wildernes say with a loud voice make redy the way of the lorde he nowe not priuely vnto his owne disciples but to all people indifferenly which euery day resorted to him accustomably because of his baptisme and doctrine yea and came purposely to heare the very certaintie what opinion so notable a man had of Iesu he I say spake out with a plain and a cleare voice saying This is he of whom heretofore I haue often spoken vnto you before whome thorow errour you do prefer me when that I tolde you there shoulde be one which should folowe me in age and time of preaching and shoulde also be rekened inferiour to me in the opinion of the multitude he hath nowe ouertaken me and whereas he semed to bee after me he hath begun to be before me And no meruaile seing that euen then also he did excell me in all giftes although in the iudgemente of men he semed inferiour vnto me ¶ And of his fulnes haue all we â—eceiued euen grace for grace for the law was giuen by Moses but grace and trueth came by Iesus Christe He is the fountain of all truth and grace All we whom ye haue in so great admyracion bee nothing els but as it were litle brookes or furth cumming streames for the litle that we haue euery man according to his porcion is drawen furth out of the fulnes of this fountain froÌ„ whence whatsoeuer apperteineth to euerlasting saluacion springeth vnto all men All the vertue that was in the patriarkes in the prophetes and in Moses dyd come from this fountain I am nothing els but the goer before of hym that is cumming he is both the very publisher and also the auctour of the grace of the ghospell whiche geueth true and euerlastyng saluacion to all men thorow faithe We are bounde to thanke hym for that by the
presumpcion be busy to entremedle Moste humbly therfore beseching your highnesse moste gracious Ladie in good parte to take my good zele and diligence and in case any thyng shall not suffyciently answere your mynde or desyre the same to impute rather to the lacke of facultee and knowlage then to any default of good wil in me I shal here without any ferther circuÌ„staunce of woordes commend and leue this whole worke to the diligent readyng and folowyng of all the deuout Englyshe congregacyon and wyth moste hertye prayer beseche almyghty God long yeres to preserue and coÌ„tynewe the prosperous estate of your highnesse to th ende that by your good help and meanes the deuout people that are willing and foreward to learne and to liue Christianlye maye receiue many lyke godly weorkes and fruictful traictises to theyr continuall ghostly profite coumfort and edifying in the same our Lorde Iesus Christe to whome with the father and with the holy ghoste be al laude honour and glory both in heauen and yearth for euer and euer Amen The Actes of the Apostles The .i. Chapter In the former treatise deare Theophilus we haue spoken of all that Iesus began to do and teache vntyll the daye in which he was taken vp after that he through the holy ghost had geuen commaundementes vnto the Apostles whom he had chosen to whome also he shewed himself aliue after his passion and that by many tokens appering vnto them fourty dayes speakyng vnto them of the kyngdome of God and gathered them together and commaunded them that they should not departe from Hierusalem but to wayte for the promise of the father wherof saieth he ye haue heard of me For Iohn truly baptised with water but ye shal be baptised with the holy ghost after these fewe daies NOwe haue I accomplished th one halfe of my promyse deare freÌ„de Theophilus forasmuche as I coÌ„prised in my former treatise the life of Iesus Christ more groundly rehersyng the history then other that write therof that is to weâ—e euen froÌ„ the time that Iohn Baptist which was the foremessagier of the Lorde was conceaued because the in this same rehearsal certaine prophecies were also disclosed affirmiÌ„g by expressed wordes of promise that Messias should sone after come This done sum thinges haue I rehearsed more at large which of the other wryters were lefte vntouched as of Christes conception of hys byrthe of his circumcision and of the purificacyon of Marye somwhat also I touched of his godly towardnes wherof he shewed a proufe tokeÌ„ being but xii yeres olde These thinges thought I for that cause worthy to be recited the by many tokens it myght bee euident that this was he whome the prophecies had notablye spoken of and that euen the tender youthe of Iesus lacked not wytnesse of good menne and of those whiche were inspired with the holy gost And thoughe it be not to be doubted but the Iesus whole trade of lyfe was an excellent example of perfecte holynesse yet those thynges omitted whiche were doone in the meane space we passed ouer vntyll that tyme that Iohn by his preachyng and baptisyng began to shew hymselfe the foremessagier of Christ forasmuche as oure lorde Iesus began from that tyme forwarde chieflye to be occupied aboute the healthe of mannes soule accordyngly as it was conteyned in the figures and darke sayinges of Moyses lawe and in the foreshewinges of the prophetes All whiche his busye endeuour resteth in these two poyntes in dedes that is as muche to saye as in workynge of myracles sufferyng paines of the crosse and in resurrection wherâ—in he lefte none of al those thynges vndoen that either by shadowes of the lawe wer signifyed or spoken of before by the prophetes and in wordes by meane whereof he taught a newe kynde of philosophie and a ioyfull so that we might bothe learne of him and take example to liue a godly lyfe All these thynges haue I treated of in ordre euen vnto that daye that he was receiued into heauen from whence he came after he had arisen from death to lyfe and commaunded his .xii. Apostles and other his disciples to the numbre of threscore .x. whoÌ„e he had specially chosen to th ende that they whan thei had receiued the holy ghost whom he euen than breathyng in the very face of them endued them with and afterward sente the same from heauen more aboundauntlye shoulde go throughe all the worlde and preache this ghospell not to the Iewes onely but vnto all maner nacions of the world And fyrst of all it was expedient that they by whom he had purposed to bryng all menne in belefe of his wonderful actes shoulde be throughly confyrmed in fayth themselues The chyefe poynt among the rest was this that all menne shoulde be fully perswaded that Iesus was in veraye dede deade and that he verayly arose from death to lyfe the thyrd daye not with a phantasticall body but with the veray same beeing now immortall whiche he before tyme had carryed on yearthe subiecte to deathe and whiche had been layed voyde of lyfe in the graue For this cause thought he it not sufficient once onely to shewe hym selfe to his disciples after he had arisen from deathe to lyfe but often tymes appered he to them not lyke as ghostes are wonte to appere but in sundrywyse declaryng by euident tokens to them that he had taken vnto him his liuely bodye agayne fowerty dayes taryed he with them on yearth for the same cause purposely yet of all this tyme would not he be seene of any but of his owne disciples And not onely his pleasure was to be sene of them hearde and felte but also familiarely he eate and dranke with them which is the moste euident token that maye be of a lyuely body And in the meane space he often commoned with them of the kyngdome of god puttyng them in mynd of those thynges whiche he had done and taught before his deathe that they myght finally perceyue that euery thyng was cumme to passe whiche he sayed shoulde cumme warning them farder what they from thence forthe shoulde eyther doe or awayte for For thoughe he had already geuen them authorytee to preache the ghospell yet forbade he them they shoulde not hastely set vpon the exercyse of so weightie a matier and that they shoulde not departe from Hierusalem but that they assembled there and together applying themselues eache with other to fasting geuing laudes to God and praying should awayt for the cummiÌ„g of the holy ghoste whome he before his death had promysed that hys father should sende to bee an other comfortour to them I sayed he promysed with myne owne mouthe and doubte not ye but my father will see the same vnfeignedly perfourmed that I haue promysed you in his name For his will and myne bee bothe one Thentrepryse that ye shall take in hande is of heuen and of no yearthely mannes inuencyon ye shall not teache carnall thynges as the Phariseis haue
fyne painted termes And therefore althoughe the Iewes haue layed dyuerse trespaces to my charge yet I thynke my selfe happy for this cause that I shall this day pleade this matter before you whiche knowe ryght wel the customes and ordre and also the doubtfull questions and poyntes that concerne the law of the Iewes Wherefore I wyll desire you to heare me paciently My liuing that I haue led of a childe whiche was at the firste amonge myne owne nacion at Ierusalem knowe al the Iewes which knew me from the beginning yf they woulde testifie For after the most streigth secte of our religion I liued a Pharise And now I stād and am iudged for the hope of the promyse made of God vnto our fathers vnto which promyse our twelue tribes instantly seruing God day night doe hope to cum Nor which hopes sake kyng Agrippa I am accused of the Iewes First and formoste wheras they laye vnto my charge that I haue trespaced against the lawe howe false that is al my whole lyfe whiche I haue hitherto led shall declare For although I was borne at Tarsus yet haue I euen from my chyldehode been brought vp among the Iewes at Ierusalē where I diligently applyed the lawe at the feete of Gamaliel So that the Iewes know wel ynough how syncerely and godly I dyd lede my lyfe among my countrey men and in the most royal citye for they knewe me many yeres agoe sence that I was fyrste conuersaunt at Iierusalem yf they would speake as they knowe it to be true in dede For I did not onely kepe the Iewes religiō dilygently but I professed that secte also whiche excelleth the reste bothe in obseruinge the religion and also in moste perfecte knowledge of the lawe that is to saye the secte of the Phariseis And it is a thing doen without al shame to accuse me that I am not a Iewe seeyng that I was and euen yet at this present also am a Pharisee by profession as who say that any man could denye him to be a Iewe that is borne at Ierusalem For among the Iewes the secte of the Phariseis especially doeth beleue that the bodies shal arise again and that euery manne shal be rewarded according to his liuing and dedes that he did here in this world Neither haue I at any tyme shronken from the Phariseis secte for euen now am I here artayned because I beleue that they shal be in a great felicitie ▪ that haue here lyued well accordyng as god made promyse to our forefathers But if it be a faulte to looke for that that god promysed to them that wurship him not I onely but many one moe than I are in the same faulte For why do the twelue trybes of our countrey wurship god daye and nyght but onely for because they trust the they shall come to this blisse which he hath promised And therefore scarcely is he worthye to be called a Iewe which trusteth not to that that god hath promised And yet O kyng Agrippa for this cause chiefely that I so beleue I am nowe endicted here of the Iewes ¶ Why should it be thought a thing incredible vnto you that God should rayse agayne the dead I also verely thought in my selfe that I ought to doe many thinges contrary cleane againste the name of Iesus of Nazareth which thing I also did at Ierusalē And many of the sainctes did I shut vp in prison had receiued authoritie of the hye priestes And whan they were put to death I gaue the sentence And I punished them oft in euery sinagoge and compelled them to blaspeme and was yet more mad vpō them and persecuted them euen vnto straunge cities About which thinges as I wōt to Damasco with authoritye and licence of the hye Priestes euen at mydday O kyng I saw in the way a light from heauen aboue the bryghtnes of the Sunne shyne round about me thē which iorneyed with me I knowe many wil thinke it a thing impossible yf a man should affirme that the bodye whan it is once dead and putrified shoulde aryse againe But many thinges seme to menne impossible whiche afterwarde yet they finde true If a manne should saye the one manne might rayse an other from death to lyfe he might iustely seme to speake a thing impossible and y◠not without a cause But wherefore shoulde you thinke it impossible that god whiche is hable to doe whatsoeuer shall please him should raise the dead to lyfe againe Can not he whiche gaue euery manne lyfe restore to lyfe whome shal please him Shal we thinke him to be a lyar or breakyng promyse in that whiche he hath made Yea I my selfe haue supposed thinges to be impossible whiche I afterwarde proued true and thinges to bee contrarye to oure lawe and vngodlye which I tried afterwarde to bee the principall pointes of perfeict godlynes and religyon In somuche that once I was of the same mynde towarde the discyples of Iesus of Nazareth that the Iewes are now towarde me for I stryued with al my power against thaduaūcing of his name and thought that I did wonderfull godly whan that I persecuted those that professed him to the vttermost y◠I coulde and so did I euen at Ierusalem For many holy men did I caste into pryson hauyng a commission of the high Priestes so to doe and pronounced the sentence of deathe against them whan they should suffre And I punyshed thē not onely at Ierusalē but in al Sinagogues whersoeuer I could heare of thē in any assembly purposing earnestly to bring them by veracion once to suche a pointe as to make them to speake in dispite of that moste blessed name lyke as I my selfe dyd in those dayes Neyther was I thus contented but more madly raged against them insomuche that I rode to forein cities and suche as were farre from Ierusalem to th entent that I myghte punyshe suche as professed his name And vpon a tyme whan I was most sette and bent to this cruell businesse whiche I dyd not yet of malyce but onely of zele that I bare to the lawe of my countrey and in this mynde tooke my iourney towarde Damasco being supported with authoritie of the high priestes euē at mydde day O king Agrippa I sawe a certayne light whiche was muche clerer then the brightnesse of the Sunne sodainlie to shine from heauen And it shyned round aboute me and those that were with me ¶ Whan we were all fallen to the yearth I hearde a voyce speakyng vnto me and saying in the Hebrewe toung Saule Saule why persecutest thou me It is harde for the to kycke againste the pryches And I sayde who art thou lorde And he sayde I am Iesus whom thou persecutest but ryse and stande vpon thy feete For I haue appered vnto the for this purpose to make the a ministre and a witnesse of these thinges which thou hast seen and of those thinges in the whiche I wyll appere vnto the delyueryng the from