What man shall haue a sillie sheepe Fall in a pit and lye in payne If it were worst of all he keepe And will not on the Sabboth day Haue care to fetch it thence away How much more may a man be then Preferd before a sheepe I pray There is no law forbiddeth men To do good on a Sabboth day Stretch forth said Christ thy withered hand This heard they all that there did stand It was restored to him so And all the people saw the same It fild the Pharisies with woe Which sought for to eclipse his fame And they went out with litle ioy Deuising Christ for to destroy For they had missed their intent Which made them rage so much the more To trappe him in his words they meant Yet fayl'd as they had done before His worthy works they did despise And went his death for to deuise But he that knew their meaning well Departed thence and went away He needed not that man should tell That they sought how they might him slay His fathers will he did respect And he his works did well effect Great multitudes him followed thence And he likewise them healed all Each one that came in his presence And vnto him for helpe did call Yet charged them they should not tell Or make him knowne if they did well Esayas Prophecie tooke place My seruant whom I chose ywis And my beloued full of grace In whom my soule delights is this My spirite put on him I will And he shall iudge the Gentiles still He shall not striue in word or deed None in the street shall heare his voyce He shall not breake a bruised reed The Gentiles shall in him reioyce Yea smoaking flaxe quench shall not he Till he both iudge and victor be Christ then had twise refelled such Opinions fond as they did hold At first they had presumed much And then againe did seeme as bold The Sabboth lets no man at need His wants supply or do good deed Iesus seeing the multitude dispersed as sheepe hauing no shepheard tooke compassion on them And Iesus Christ did not ceasse then But went about to eu'ry place In townes and Cities among men To preach and he was full of grace He healed each disease they had All men of him were very glad But when he saw the multitude He tooke on them compassion The people seemed very rude And wanting consolation For all abroad they scattered were As sheepe that had no shepheard there The haruest great and the labourers few The haruest is surely said he Now very great yet few I say Do labour in the same pray ye The Lord thereof to send away Some labourers for to take paine That by his haruest he may gaine Christ called his xij Apostles and sent them forth to preach giuing them power to worke miracles and heale diseases Then his Disciples Christ did call Power to them he gaue and grace That vncleane spirites they should all Cast out of men in eu'ry place As free you haue so likewise deale All sicke-men freely see you heale Twelue Iesus did send fotth to preach And did command them saying so Among the Gentiles them to teach Or to Samaria do not go To the lost sheepe of Israell Go first of all these newes to tell Say ye and teach that now at hand The kingdome of our God doth come Saluation throughout the land Is surely sent to all and some To all that will beleeue say ye That they the same shall shortly see Heale ye the sicke the leapers clense Raise vp the dead the deuils out cast And see when ye depart from hence Ye freely giue from first to last And in your iourney take no care What weeds ye weare or how ye fare What house or Citie ye come to Among the worthy there remaine Till you from thence haue cause to go Let them with you in peace retaine Such as do not deserue this grace Shake of their dust in the same place That dust shall witnesse against those That you desired not their wealth And earthly treasure that they chose Before this proffred sauing health They in the iudgement sure shall gaine Of Sodome and Gomorh the paine As sheepe I send you simple men In midst of worldly wolues to go Be ye as wise as Serpents then And innocent as doues also To kings and counsels for my sake When you are brought no thought then take For what ye speake it is not ye When torments for you do remaine The holy Ghost in you shall be To guide your speach and ease your paine The father shall the sonne said he And friend his friend betray for me Ye shall be hated for my name But he that dureth to the end Shall saued be and voyde of blame From persecution you defend From Citie to another go If you haue need for to do so For the Disciple is not sure Nor the seruant his Lord aboue Like death if you as I endure A signe it is of perfect loue If Beelzebub they do call me Is it strange then you so should be Nothing is hid but that shall I Make manifest and what ye heare In secret preach it openly Of men ye need not stand in feare Feare him that soule and body may Destroy in hell feare him I say If that a sparow shall not fall Nor any haire of yours decay But that your father cares for all And ouer all doth beare a sway Why should you care or be afrayd You shall be sure to haue his ayde Who so shall me on earth confesse Or me deny before men here Shall haue the like and nothing lesse In heau'n before my father there For my cause peace must needs decay And dearest friends their friends shall slay Who father friend his sonne or wife Doth loue more then he loueth me Who so my Crosse to saue his life Doth not take vp but seeks to flye The one vnworthy of me is The other shall not scape ywis He that receiueth you or me Receiueth him that vs hath sent A Prophet who receiueth he Reward shall haue to his content These litle ones who doth relieue God sure to him reward will giue Christes Sermon at the sending forth of his Apostles to preach When Iesus had then made an end Of giuing these commandements To his whom he then forth did send To teach the Iewes good documents The place he stood in was a plaine And with him many did remaine Yea multitudes of people were Out of all Iurie standing by From Tyre and Sydon they were there To heare his doctrine verely And at his hands to haue reliefe Each one as he was painde with griefe And they that with fowle spirits sore Tormented were Christ heal'd them all And still they sought him more and more Which boldly durst not on him call To touch his vesture as he went For health thereby to them was sent Then Iesus
And worship him they say King Herod what is knowne to thee Declare without delay This troubled all Hierusalem as it had done the King Yet many knew in Bethlehem Should be this child-bearing But Herod fearing his estate So doubtfull to endure Did of this matter much debate His Crowne it was not sure Therefore he sent the men away To search where Christ should be That Christ saith he without delay May worship't be by me Now as the chiefe Priests Scribes and rest Had therein taught to them The wisemen so were ready prest To go to Bethlehem Yet warned by the king they were To make returne againe Thereby he thought to end his feare When he the child had slaine So they depart and loe the starre Which they had seene before By which they had now iourneyd farre And were to trauaile more Did still direct them in their way Each day by day and night Till they had seene it did not stray The onely Lord of might Whom when they found they fell downe flat To worship him and these Gaue to him treasures each one what Each one of them did please Or as their countrey yeelded then They vnto him did bring Gold incense mirrhe those sage wisemen Did offer to that king And so being warned in a night For God an Angell sent Another way with all their might They to their countrey went Then they perceiu'd that Herods drifts Was onely him to slay Whom they adored with their gifts Therfore they went their way Christ was presented in the temple at Ierusalem where Simeon and Anna witnessed of him Marie purified according to the law When Maries daies were finished Full thirtie daies and three She afterward was purified As women wont to be And then the child they did present Meekely before the Lord For to Ierusalem then went His friends with one accord This was a law they did obserue The first that opened The mothers wombe they did reserue To God as hallowed And offer'd an oblation Of turtle Doues a paire Or pigeons young this portion They would not sure appaire Then Simeon surnamed iust That long had liued there For Israels comfort he did trust He liu'd of God in feare The holy Ghost him this foretold No death shall dint on thee The Lord his Christ though thou art old Before thou surely see He then into the temple came When Iesus there was brought And speaking plainly of the same As in his minde he thought Said Lord now lettest thou in peace Thy seruaunt to depart According to thy promise ease Is hapned to my hart For with mine eyes I sure haue seene Saluation sent by thee And in mine armes thy sonne hath beene That workes the same for me Him thou prepared hadst before To be the Gentiles light And eke to Israell euer more Their glory and their might Then Ioseph and his mother milde Did maruaile much to heare The wordes he spake there of the child And pondred them with feare Yet Simeon blessing them could say Oh Marie be content This fall to many is the stay To Israell was meant Old Anna was a Prophetesse Which prayed day and night This likewise did the child confesse To be the Gentiles light She came by chance the same to see That she so much desirde The rites performed orderly They home-wardes all retir'de Ioseph warned of an Angell flieth into Egipt After all this was Ioseph warnde That he should take the child And mother then all three vnharmde Least they should be beguilde For Herod as the Angell said Would seeke to take his life Wherefore to Egipt all affrayd Went Ioseph and his wife The infants slayne Herod as mockt did take a scorne And in his angrie moode Slue infants all in Bethlehem borne And spilt their guiltlesse blood The children there of two yeares old Or vnder as they were He slue them all his act was bold It wanted grace and feare This act was foretold long before In Ieremie we reade That Rachell she should so deplore Her children being dead Which was accomplished in deed By Herod in his ire Who made so many infants bleed Yet mist of his desire For Christ was gone from thence away To Egipt to remaine Whence he till Herods dying day Did not returne againe That it which earst the Prophet said Might certainly be donne I out of Egipt vnaffrayd Haue called backe my sonne Ioseph warned againe by an Angell returneth out of Egipt after the death of Herod When Christ was now full fiue yeares old And had in Egipt beene Two yeares or more as authors hold The Angell there was seene To warne Iosephus thence to come Againe to Israell And bring his wife and sonne as some Supposed there to dwell For now they were both dead and gone That sought the child his life Then he and his supposed sonne Returned and his wife But Archelaus Herods sonne That held his fathers place Made Ioseph thinke they were vndonne He doubted of his grace He went and turned then aside Another part vnto Of Galilie there to abide As he was wild to do In Nazareth he did remaine That it might come to passe What earst the Prophets verie plaine Foretold and so it was Iesus being twelue yeares old disputeth with the elders in the Temple at Ierusalem His parents yeare by yeare they went Their passeouer to hold And did the same with like intent When Christ was twelue yeares old They to Ierusalem did go And there abode the dayes Appointed for that feast no mo For then they went their wayes Yet Christ the Lord abode behind Whom they with sorow sought Three dayes not knowing well his mind What then our Sauiour thought For he began to set abroch The businesse he had Who did perceiue the time approch To make his chosen glad Among the Doctors as he taught And posed them withall His parents found him that were fraught With griefe vnto the gall Yet were they easd and pleasd to heare Each one to geue him prayse Though hey had sought their sonne with feare And sorow sundry wayes Then he againe obediently To Nazareth did come And seru'd his parents reu'rently Most like a louing sonne And he increasd in stature so In wisedome and in grace With God and men where he did go That happie was the place Sixe things specially to be noted in this first part of the Historie Sixe things we may especially In this part marke and see Pertaining to Christes infancy As authors do agree 1 First of what line Christ Iesus came He was of Dauids seede 2 The holy Ghost conceiu'd the same That Marie bore in deede 3 The wisemen thirdly came to see And seeke to finde a king Then found confest him so to be For whom they treasure bring 4 Fourthly by flight Christ scapeth sure King Herods heauie hand 5 For him the infants death indure When Christ had left the land 6 Sixtly being warnd to come
causes of fasting Christ answered the Pharisies and Iohns disciples Then Iohns disciples came and said The Pharisies fast oft and we But thy disciples vnaffraid Do eate and drinke abroade with thee Then Iesus said the children sure Mourne not while that the feast endure But when the Bridegroome shall be gone Then they will all fast at that day No man doth patch a new piece on An old garment it rents away The law obserued is by thee The Gospell makes the other free New wine will burst the bottels sure If they be old therefore I say Sith ceremonies may endure No longer time but must delay Let new wine haue new vessels then And be contented with these men Christ healed a woman that had bin sick of a bloudie issue twelue yeares and raised Iayrus daughter from death As Christ with Iairus thence did go To raise his daughter lately dead A woman sick twelue yeares or moe With touching him of health was sped And after that where they did see The maide from death deliu'red he Christ gaue sight to the blind When Iesus did from him depart Two blind men meeting him did crie Thou sonne of Dauid ease our smart Beleeue ye then said Christ that I Can helpe ' yes Lord said they then he Did touch their eyes and made them see Christ casteth out a deuill and maketh the dumbe man to speake Againe they brought a dumbe man there Possessed with a deu'll but he Cast out the deu'll to their great feare And the dumbe spake which Christ made free The people maruaild yet some said He had done it by Satans aide So Iesus went from place to place Teaching and healing eu'ry one To all that sought he did giue grace He was of great compassion The labourers are few said he Yet is the haruest great yee see At the poole of Bethesda Christ healed a man that had bene diseased 38. yeares and being accused defended his fact After all this against the feast Of Passeouer which then was nie Christ Iesus that tooke little rest Vnto Ierusalem did hie That holy Sabaoth of the Lord The Iewes obseru'd with one accord Christ at Ierusalem then found A multitude of sicke and lame About Bethesda lying round Abiding till the Angell came When as the Angell stird the poole The water still made one man whole Christ by that poole a man did see That had lyen sicke there very long Wilt thou be whole oh man said he Sir I want helpe among this throng Rise thou said Christ thy bed vp take For perfect whole I do thee make Christ heal'd him on the Sabboth day Whereat the Iewes were grieued sore And sought our Sauiour Christ to slay Rewarded thus he was therefore The Iewes accusing Christ do moue Him iustly them for to reproue To whom the father witnessed And Iohn did testifie the same The Scriptures also verified As did his works so full of fame That he the sonne of God should be The stubburne Iewes him would not see Christ defended his Disciples accused for plucking eares of corne on the Sabboth Three feasts the Iewes kept yeare by yeare And chiefest Sabboth dayes did call Of the same feasts it doth appeare The Passeouer was first of all This they the feast of sweet bread name On this day they from Egypt came The next was that whereon God gaue The law by Moses vnto men That day in reuerence we haue The holy Ghost was giuen then This some the feast of weekes do say Some Pentecost some Whitsonday The feast of Tabernacles last Came of these three in order there Those feasts were neuer fully past Till all their dayes accomplisht were The first and last day of each feast Were counted chiefe of all the rest The seu'nth day also through the yeare Is was and so shall be for aye With them and Christians eu'ry where In solemne wise a Sabboth day Though theirs and ours do disagree One day with them obserue not we Christ passed thorough a corne field Vpon the second Sabboth day This doth to many matter yeeld To reason when he went that way Some say it was in Easter feast The last and chiefe day of the rest That day the first doth answer well And so the second Sabboth day Men might it call it did excell The middle dayes as all men say And there withall time of the yeare This reason good makes to appeare Some thinke it was on Whitsonday Because this Sabboth second was As they suppose and that no way The first did the same Sabboth passe These reasons both may please all such As selfe-will leades not ouermuch That day a Sabboth day was sure When the Disciples plucked corne Which thing the Iewes could not indure They did the act most vilely scorne Not knowing him that went that way To be Lord of the Sabboth day The cause they did not waigh withall That hunger then did cause the same The Pharisies on Christ did call And his Disciples fowlie blame They did prefer tradition Before their owne saluation But Christ said vnto them againe What Dauid did who hath not read Now his example doth remaine Though Dauid lye a good while dead These do as he did them before When he and his did hunger sore He had the meate that was forbid These breake you thinke the Sabboth day They do as he and his then did Find fault with him yet no man may The Priests do in the Temple so The Sabboth breake yet free they go One greater then the Temple is And here he standeth verely Mercy will I not sacrifice Learne what this meaneth faithfully Then will you not condemne this day These innocents that hurt no way The sonne of man is Lord likewise Yea euen of the Sabboth day Shall I then these so much despise Or suffer them for foode decay Though fault with them you find so soone The law allowes what they haue done The day is made all men to serue And no man made to serue that day Should not man then his life preserue Vpon the Sabboth if he may The law that bindeth man so fast To finish I am come at last Christ healed one in the Synagogue on the Sabboth day that had a withered hand and answered his accusers Now Christ disposed to beat downe Their grieuous superstition Went shortly after to their towne To reason of this question And to the Synagogue he went The fittest place for his intent For there was alwayes most resort Which was our Sauiours Christs desire That many men might haue comfort All his affection was on fire This his deuise to further then Fell out a worke among those men A man there with a withered hand Was present in that very place They said giue vs to vnderstand If law allow men so much grace As to be cured on this day Christ to accuse they sought a way Christ answered to them againe
lifted vp his eyes On his Disciples saying this Ye poore are blessed euen thrise For yours Gods kingdome surely is Ye that now hunger blessed are You shall be sure of better fare And ye that weepe yet blessed are For ye shall likewise laugh againe When men hate you take ye no care And when they do procure your paine Nor yet when they you separate Reuiling at your base estate If for the sonne of mans sake they Your names put out as euill men Reioyce ye greatly God obay And be in heart glad of it then Behold in heau'n reward haue ye The Prophets were as now ye be But woe to them that rich are here And do repose thereon their trust The day will come it shall appeare They dearly bought vile earth and dust In heau'n true treasure may be found Each thing corrupts that growes in ground Woe be to you that now are full For yee shall hunger after this If you were not exceeding dull For meate ye would not morgage blisse Woe be to you that now laugh so For you shall waile and weepe for wo. Woe be to you whom men do praise And speake well of deseruing ill When yee haue spent out all your dayes You shall bewray what was your will False Prophets were by like deuise Among your elders had in price But vnto you which heare I say Your enemies see that yee loue To them that hate you if ye may Shew how my doctrine doth you moue To do them good and blesse withall And pray for them that wish your fall To him that smiteth thee also Vpon one cheeke the other giue Who so thy cloake would take thee fro Giue him thy coate and do not grieue To purchase so a quiet life And stirre thou no debate or strife Giue eu'ry man that asketh thee And he that takes thy goods away By force or fraude how so it be Aske thou them not againe I say But vnto other men so do As thou wouldst be of them done to If that ye loue do good or lend To them that do requite the same Each sinner so doth for his friend You should do more then such for shame Be mercifull to such as need For so your father is indeed Christ healed the Centurions seruant being absent the Centurions faith After that Christ had finished His Sermon as you heard before From thence he likewise hastened For he desired more and more The worke he had in hand to end Which for our good did wholly tend As Capernaum he came to A Captaine there a Gentile borne Made for his seruant much adoe That seemed then a man forlorne He su'd by meanes his health to haue Christ with a word his life did saue The Captaines great humility And faith our Sauiour did commend In Israëll then certainly Like praise to none he did extend Of these said Christ shall many come To heau'n and haue the childrens roome Christ raised from death the widowes sonne at Naijm The next day after Christ did raise The widows sonne to life againe And all the people gaue God praise That present then did there remaine All they did spread abroad his fame That either saw or heard the same Iohn Baptists message to Christ by two of his disciples Iohn Baptist was in prison cast Herodias had obtaind the same And his disciples came in hast And told him there of Iesus fame Yet he in prison as before Would winne to Christ disciples more For when his workes to him were told That his disciples might beleeue In Iesus Christ Iohn said behold A message vnto you I giue Iohn knew him well assuredly As he oft times did testifie But that his might also perceiue That Christ the true Messiah was Of whom they should all grace receiue In whom they might all truth embrace Go ye and say Iohn sent to thee To aske if thou be euen he They went and both to Iesus came And said to him our maister sent To know if thou be sure the same Or else another that is meant Men knew as then that Christ should come How when or where that knew but some Christs answer sent backe to Iohn by his disciples Go back said Christ to Iohn againe Shew him what yee do heare and see The blinde and halt are rid of paine The leapers and the deafe go free The dead are raised vp this day The poore the gospell beare away And therewithall to them he gaue A gentle admonition His humblenesse that they might haue In reu'rent estimation Blessed said Christ shall that man be That taketh no offence by me Christs testimonie of Iohn Baptist When they were gone then Christ began To speake vnto the company What went yee out to see a man Infected with inconstancie Iohn you in wildernesse did finde Not as a reede shakt with the winde What went ye then out for to see A man cloathed in soft raiment Such men in kings courts vse to be Iohn is with meaner weed content Iohns raiment showes him to be plaine He flattred not he could not faine But what went yee out then to see A prophet I say to you more Of whom is written this is he My messenger shall go before This is Elias whom they say Should come for to prepare the way No greater among men did rise Then Iohn the Baptist verely Not any that you can deuice Yet this I say assuredly The least in heau'n goes him before And doth enioy Gods graces more Gods kingdome suffreth violence Since Iohns time to this very day The Gentiles with all diligence Without the law new cald obay The lawe and Prophets haue their end For he is come whom yee attend He that hath eares to heare may heare Marke what I say therefore amend Sith that Elyas did appeare The law and Prophets made an end Yet you remaine both deafe and blind That may your true Messiah find Christ reprooueth his auditorie This generation it is Like children that their fellowes call And say we piped haue iwis And yet yee daunced not at all So you deferre from day to day For to repent for all we say Hard was the life that Iohn did lead For meate and drinke he tooke no care He had a deuill men supposed The sonne of man they do compare With gluttons and with drunkards when He eateth meat as other men Christ vpbraideth the vnthankefull citties wherein he had taught and done so many miracles and yet they repented not Then Christ began for to vpbraid The citties that so oft had seene His workes and yet for all delaid For to repent as they had beene Cleane void of sinne or had no will To learne the good and leaue the ill Chorazin wo be vnto thee And to Bethsayda woe likewise The great works that were done by me In you yee greatly did despise If they in Tyrus had bene done It had repented long agone If Tyre and Sidon had I say
Find in his heart to sell away All that he hath without delay Old Abraham was such a one He left his countrey friends and all His wealth he neuer thought vpon But did obey when God did call And Dauid that Gods word dist tast As sweet as hony to his last And the Apostles they were such And so the godly Martyr all These did esteeme nothing so much As to obey when God did call These marchants all they had they sold To buy this pearle surpassing gold The seuenth parable of the draw-net declaring the state and condition of Gods word Gods kingdome is like a draw net Which one into the sea doth cast Things of all sorts when it doth get He drawes it full from thence at last The good he doth in vessels lay But casteth all the bad away So shall it be at the worlds end The Angels shall seuer the bad And such as by no meanes amend From iust men which shall then be glad Though wicked men in fire then do Both waile and gnash their teeth for wo. Then Iesus asking them could say All these things vnderstand ye yet Yea Lord for so say they we may Thy words we neuer shall forget By this Christ did teach them againe The state of Gods word verie plaine The godly may not seuer now Themselues away from wicked men But as the tares in wheate must grow Till haruest time the reapers then Shall saue the wheate and for their hire Shall burne the tares in flaming fire And eu'ry Scribe said Christ that is Taught to Gods kingdome I compare Vnto a housholder iwis Whose treasure houses stored are And doth to whom himselfe so wold Bring forth to giue both new and old As these so more of Christ were donne Then we in writing left vs haue Approuing him to be Gods sonne Come to the world mans soule to saue Yet here the meeke and godly mind Of heau'nly foode his fill shall find All glorie be to thee on hye Oh Father Sonne and holy Ghost One mightie God in Trinitie Which saued vs that else were lost To thee be laud oh God therefore And prayse and honour euermore Amen THE FOVRTH PART OF THE HISTORIE OF OVR LORD AND SAVIOVR IESVS CHRIST contayning those things which he did the third yeare after his Baptisme which was the two and thirtieth yeare of his age according to the foure Euangelistes the yeare after the creation of the world 4173. beginning at the death of Iohn Baptist To the tune of the Lords Prayer Iohn Baptist was beheaded his head giuen to Herodias daughter and his body buried by his Disciples the 13. of Aprill Anno Domini 32. THe yeare of Christs Natiuitie The thirtie two as then it was And thirteenth day assuredlie Of Aprill thus it came to passe That Iohn the Baptist lost his life To please Herodias Philips wife For Iohn had said to Herods face Herodias may not be thy wife Which wrought in her that wanted grace Such feruent hate she sought his life She neuer rested night nor day Till she had got his head away His doctrine she misliked so Because he said she could not be King Herods wife and Phillips to Two brethren may not mary thee And though she did him much despise Yet could not she his death deuise For Herod heard Iohn willingly And feared much him to offend For he confessed Iohn to be Both iust and holy to his end This was a let to worke her will Her malice she could not fulfill Till it befell when Herod had Enclosed Iohn in prison fast And on his byrth day to be glad As he had vsed in times past A Royall feast he causd to be Made for the states of Galilie Whereat what hap'ned you shall heare Though Herod knew it in his hart That Iohn was iust and stood in feare To play with him that bloudie part For oft he heard him ioyfully And did obay him willingly Yet at that feast a daintie Dame Herodias daughter daunc'd so well That all that to the banquet came Commended her and then befell The thing that was desired so By the maydes mother long ago For Herod so was pleasd withall That straight he gaue without aduise Hap what might happen to befall He did not recken of the price What gift soeuer she would craue The same he promisd she should haue She quickly went and Counsell had Or else was taught to aske before This made her mother verie glad For this she thirsted had so sore Aske thou Iohn Baptists head she said Which done was graunted to the mayd Though Herod grieued at the same Yet would not he the gift deny For feare of foolish worldly shame And for their sakes that then stood by Therefore he to the hang-man said Go fetch his head giue it the mayd The minion with Iohn Baptists head Vnto her mother straightway went When his Disciples law him dead His death they greatly did lament And they his body buried And thereof Iesus certified Then Iesus fame so farre was spread That many wondred at his name King Herod knew that Iohn was dead Yet scarsly could beleeue the same Iohn risen is againe said he By whom are wrought the works you see Some other said Elyas was Or else some Prophet come againe By whom such workes were brought to passe To name him Christ they thought it vaine Yet Herod him desir'd to see That he might learne what he should be Christ preaching in his owne countrey was despised of his countreymen When as Christ Iesus for to preach To Nazareth his countrey came Esayas booke they did him reach That he might reade vpon the same Whereout he taught them what he was What he should teach and bring to passe His doctrine so astonied some That they did wonder at his words Whence doth say they this wisedome come Or who to him these works affoords Is not that Iosephs sonne I pray The Carpenter we heard this day His mother Marie we do call His brethren be they not with vs As men amazed they were all To heare him so that text discusse Saue in his countrey then said he A Prophet shall sure honor'd be Wherefore he said to them againe When famine plagued Israell And they for three yeares wanted raine And moneths fixe as stories tell The Prophet then was sent to none Saue in Sarepta vnto one Oh Israell thy leprosie So great in Elyseus time Though few could finde a remedie Naaman yet was cured by him When they hard this it grieu'd them sore And they deuis'd his death therefore No greater workes there then did he Then on few sicke his hands to lay When he their vnbeliefe did see He maruaild much and went away Teaching in eu'ry towne and place Where he came and had gotten space Christ sent forth his Apostles by two and two to preach And he the twelue did call againe And sent them forth by two and two Power of him they did obtaine And
loue In them you dye departing hence Except your faith vnfained be And ye beleeue that I am he Who art thou then said they againe The same said he I told before And many things of you remaine To say and iudge that grieue me sore Yet true is he that sent me here Whose words to speake I do not feare They vnderstood not he spoke this To them as of the father then When ye lift vp the sonne iwis Then shall I be well knowne to men That of my selfe I do nor say But as my father makes the way For he that sent me is with me The father left me not alone My doings all directeth he Him please I and we both are one As he spake these things many were That then beleeued on him there Christ said to those that did beleeue In my word if ye do abide Ye my Disciples are I giue You knowledge of the truth beside And the same truth shall make you free That are so ioynd in league with me They said we be of Abrahms seed And neuer yet to any bound Why sayst thou then ye shall be freed As we had bene in slau'rie found I say said he who so doth sinne Sinnes seruant is it wraps him in Of freedome or the difference betweene the sonne and the seruant The seruant doth but soiourne here The sonne doth in the house abide They that the sonne shall free are cleare And shall be free at eu'ry tide I know ye are of Abrahms seede Ye seeke to kill me yet in deede And why in you can take no place My words I speake that I haue seene With my father you voyde of grace With your father to long haue beene Ye follow him the deuill I say And therefore seeke ye me to slay Abrah'm said they our father is Christ said if ye his children were Ye would his works then do not this Ye would to kill me stand in feare This did not Abraham sure I haue Told you the truth which God me gaue Your fathers works you do in deed They said of fornication We were not borne we are Gods seed And other father haue we none If God were he ye would loue me For I came forth from God said he I came not of my selfe but sent My talke why do you not perceiue Because my word with good intent Ye do not heare nor yet receiue The deu'll your father is whose lust You do and in him onely trust A murtherer he euer was And did the truth most deadly hate For lyes all other he doth passe This is your fathers dreadfull state Because I tell the truth said he Ye wickedly beleeue not me Who can of sinne rebuke me here The truth why do ye not beleeue He heareth Gods word with much feare That is of God and so doth liue Ye heare it not therefore said he Because of God none of you be The Iewes then answering said againe Samaritan deuill thou hast I haue no deuill I tell you plaine My father whom away ye cast I honour ye dishonour me Which your decay no doubt will be And I seeke not so much my prayse But there is one that seeks the same And iudgeth you and all your wayes Whose iudgement you may neuer blame The man that keeps my word I say Shall see no death nor dying day A deu'll we know thou hast in deed For Abraham is dead and gone So did the Prophets likewise speed And yet thou sayst there shall not one That keeps thy word death tast or see But from his dart thou keepst him free Then Abraham which now is dead And all the Prophets dead also Whose fame so farre abroad was spread Art thou greater then they or no Whom makest thou thy selfe to be Tell vs that we may honour thee Iesus said if I honour me My honour is nought worth at all My father doth the same said he Which you your God in vaine do call Ye know him not but him know I If I said no then should I lye I know him and his word I keepe Your father Abrahm did reioyce To see before he fell on sleepe My day and so to heare my voyce He saw it and thereof was glad Ye want the grace your father had Thou art not old yet fiftie yeare Hast thou our father Abrahm seene Though this so strange to you appeare Before he was I sure haue beene They tooke vp stones to stone him then But Iesus hid him from those men Christ gaue sight to one that was borne blind And as Christ Iesus passed by When he out of the Temple went Where then the Iewes most cruelly To stone our Sauiour Christ had ment He saw a blind man by the way That had bene blind from his birth day And his Disciples asked thus Oh master who did sinne we pray He or his parents tell it vs That he is blind what doest thou say Then Iesus said nor they nor he But that all men Gods works might see His works I must worke that sent me While it is day the night comes on I am the light while here I be When I go hence the light is gone And so he spat and made the clay Which curde his blindnesse cleane that day Then Christ said go in Siloam wash Lo I haue sent thee so to do Which when he did his eyes as glasse Were made as cleare and seeing to The neighbours that knew him before To see him see did wonder sore Some said and thought that it was he Some other thought him like the same But he confest himselfe to be Borne blind and spread Christ Iesus fame For whom said he you Iesus call Hath made me see as you see all They said how op'ned he thine eyes Mine eyes he did annoint with clay And then he said to me arise Go wash the same from thee away I washt and then receiued sight Which neuer saw before the light Where Christ was then he could not tell They brought him to the Pharisies Though Christ had done but all things well In opening the blind mans eyes They chaft that Christ should worke the clay To heale him on the Sabboth day The Pharisees askt him the same He answer'd as he did before From God said they he neuer came That makes not of the Sabboth more Some said how can he sinfull be That workes such workes as we do see Then asked they the blinde againe Tell vs of him what doest thou say He said he is a Prophet plaine That wrought this worke on me this day They scarse beleeu'd he had beene blind Till they had knowne his parents mind Of them his parents were afraid Because they had decreed so Who so confessed Christ they said Out of their Sinagogue should go Our sonne he is borne blinde he was Let him tell how this came to passe Then called they the blind againe And said to God the glory giue He is a sinner this is plaine Though he thy griefe did
within are not the lesse Of bribrie full and all excesse Ye fooles made not the very same The inside and the out also Giue almes therefore and leaue for shame To be so tied your toyes vnto Relieue the poore when they do craue And cleane shall be all that ye haue Woe be to you ye Scribes I say And Pharisies so full of guile Ye hypocrites is this the way To cloake your cursed craft so vile Ye keepe the least the law doth will And leaue the great things vnkept still Mint Annise and Cummin tith'd be And waightier matters left alone The law commaundeth these to thee But last of all to thinke vpon For iudgement mercy and faith are The chiefest things should be your care Woe be to you ye Scribes also The highest seats ye all do loue In Synagogues and where ye go And that men in the markets moue With reuerence to greete you there Or giue you place and praise elsewhere Woe be to you for sure ye be Like painted tombes in outward sight Appearing faire to them that see No part within how they are dight For dead mens bones lie there doubtlesse Within them full and filthinesse A Lawyer answer'd him againe Oh maister thou in saying so Rebukest vs likewise as vaine And subiect with them to like woe Christ said to him it cannot be That you of all men should go free For heauie burdens ye do binde And on mens shoulders them do lay Most greeuous to be borne in minde Intollerable eu'ry way But you your selues will not once proue With any finger them to moue Woe be to you that build so braue The Prophets tombes that were before And garnish outwardly each graue Of righteous men now more and more And more then that you verely Thus vtter your iniquitie If we had bene aliue ye say In our forefathers time had we Consented so to be the day That so much bloud then spilt should be No no the Prophets should not so Haue di'de or suffred any wo. So then ye are as witnesses Vnto your selues how that ye be Their children as ye do confesse That murdred them therefore do ye VVhat lacked of their cruelty Performe with all dexterity God said behold I will you send Both Prophets and Apostles sure To see if that you will amend Yet you will not their words endure You will them kill and crucifie And persecute most busily That on you all the bloud may come Which was shed vpon earth I say From righteous Abell Adams sonne To Zacharias bloud which lay Betweene the temple verely And the Altar slaine cruelly Martha and Marie sent Iesus word that their brother Lazarus was sicke Lazarus sure as then did lie Sore sicke and neare his death indeed This man he dwelt in Bethany His sisters both of him tooke heede Martha the first then Marie shee They were belou'd of Christ all three Christs feete annointed Mary sure And wiped with her haire the same The oyle was costlie sweete and pure Her fact Christ did defend from blame These women did for Iesus send And said come helpe thy sickly friend This sicknesse Iesus then did say Is for Gods glory not to death The sonne of God must by this way Who takes and giues men life and breath Assure your selues be glorifi'd Which thing Christ shortly verifi'd Now Iesus loued Martha well Her sister and her brother to Yet he there after this did dwell Two daies ere he to them would go And did as he had done before There heale and teach men more and more The Pharisies question of diuorcement and mariage answered of Christ As Christ departed Galily And to Iudea came againe And as he passed Iordan by While in that coast he did remaine As graciouslie he vs'd to deale Their sicke and lame he there did heale Then came to him the Pharisie Full fraughted both in heart and minde With craft and cloakt hypocrisie Hoping in Christ some fault to finde But still for all their taken toile The Pharisies receiu'd the foile May man his wife Sir put away For euerie cause he can deuise Haue ye not read then Christ did say Or Gods decree do ye despise That they were male and female fram'd When Adam the first man was nam'd Therefore a man shall loue his wife Though he his father should forsake With her he needs must lead his life They both by promise that they make Become one flesh and so remaine Though they in persons still are twaine Let no man put a sunder then All such as God hath coupled so Though Moses haue allow'd some men Their maried wiues for to forgo From the beginning sure I say It was not as it is this day Truly for whoredome she may be Diuorced and so may the man If he commit adultery Nor afterward well mary can For which of both this part doth play Should single liue till death say nay If it be so of man and wife It were not good to mary then Yet some so borne chast lead their life Some are made chast also by men Some chast themselues who can perceiue Let him this doctrine so receiue Iesus among other other things that he taught his Disciples declared vnto them the parable of the rich man that so much delighted and trusted in his riches While Iesus his Disciples taught The Leauen of the Pharisie To shunne with care for it was naught He called it Hypocrisie And will'd them to teach openly What he had taught them priuatly Feare ye not man but God sayd he Before men likewise me confesse And you shall well assured be I will to you like loue expresse Before Gods Angels verily I will confesse you constantly Blasphemous words auoide withall And for your selues take ye no care God will heare you when ye shall call Of him your haires all numbred are When Princes vexe you for my sake In worth do you your troubles take Then sayd one of the company Maister command I do pray thee The liuing now immediatly My brother may deuide with me A Iudge or a deuider who Made me sayd Christ I should do so Wherefore said Christ to them againe Take heed beware of greedinesse Abundance here is all but vaine It worketh man but heauinesse A man for all his riches may Prolong his life no not a day The grounds of a rich man said he Brought him forth fruites most plenteously Therefore he thought what then might be Done in such great prosperity I haue said he no roome to lay My fruits such store I haue to day This thing sayd he sure will I do I will now all my barnes downe pull And greater build and thereunto Gather my fruits till they be full I haue deuised this therefore Because my grounds do yeeld such store I to my soule will also say Soule thou hast much goods layd in store For many yeares liue now I may At more ease then I did before From henceforth soule eate drinke
trade For when they knew they should go free And fall to no disgrace Although the gouernour did see That they did lye apace They spread abrode this false report Which no way can be so That his disciples did resort By night his graue vnto And had Christs bodie stolne away To make men thinke that he As he before aliue did say In three dayes will I be And this among the Iewes is sayd Vnto this verie day For they are not at all affrayd That he was stolne away By Pilates winking came to passe That this escaped tho He as the high Priests blinded was For God would haue it so The high Priests did the Gouernour Perswade he was content The watch men had their hire therefore And so away were sent And being gone they spread this fame That Christ was stolne away Which sure the Iewes do to their shame Beleeue vnto this day Christ appeared to Peter Christ first to Marie did appeare To comfort sinners all Then to the other women there To answer Euahs fall And thirdly vnto Peter he Did shew him selfe also From former feare to set him free For Christ did see his wo. Of the two Disciples that went to Emaus and what happened to them by the way Of the Disciples the same day As two to Emaus went This from Ierusalem then lay As writers do consent Threescore furlongs or foorthright As we accompt do take Seu'n miles and one halfe mile we might Of the same furlongs make This Nicopolis since we name The Romains cald it so It was a towne sometimes of fame And very pleasant tho They talked both of what was done As well to Christ before He dy'd as this which now begonne For to amaze them more For they had heard the women tell That Christ rose vp againe And was aliue yet knew not well Which they should do of twaine Beleeue or not or what to do For all men saw him die But women onely say these two These newes do testifie And as they thus then reasoned Behold it came to passe That Christ him selfe as happened Or purposely it was Did ioyne him selfe in iourney wise With those Disciples then And sayd what do ye thus deuise And looke as wofull men Yet all this while their eyes were hold They could not both perceiue What man he was that was so bold Though they did him receiue Most willingly to walke the way And trauell with them to As may appeare by what they say As they together go Art thou said Cleopas my friend A stranger onely here And if thou be a while attend And giue vnto me eare For at Ierusalem of late The thing hath happened That we so much do wonder at Was thus determined Then Iesus sayd what things were those They sayd to him againe The thing that we do now disclose A number do disdaine Iesus of Nazaret was this A Prophet mightely In word and deed allowd iwis Of God and man lately Him the high Priests and rulers all Deliuered to be Condemned in their iudgement hall And crucifi'd was he But we did hope that he would sure Deliuer Israell Tis since he did his death endure Three dayes we know it well And certaine women that we haue Among vs verely Astonied vs for at his graue Where they were certainly Though they there found his bodie gone They did returne and say Of Angels that a vision They saw this very day Which sayd that Christ did liue indeed So that on this report Some of vs did with hast and speed Vnto the graue resort And they did find apparantly All as the women sayd But saw not him assuredly Which made vs all dismayd O fooles said Christ and verie slow Of heart for to conceiue What hath bene sayd do ye not know Or will ye not perceiue The Prophets all haue this foretold That Christ should suffer so Then to his glorie enter should And to his Father go And he at Moses then began And the Prophets by name Interpreting from man to man Their sayings of the same And all their writings left behind Of Christ from first to last He then imprinted in their mind And would from them haue past For to the towne they did draw neare Whereto as then they went He seemed not to tarie there So trying their intent But they constraining him did say Abide with vs all night Farre spent alreadie is the day And now the towne in sight So he went in to take his rest Whereof they both were glad And then to supper them addrest Content with what they had He sitting downe the bread did take And when they both did see He first gaue thankes and then it brake They knew him Christ to be For both their eyes were opened And they did know him well But marke what after happened For thus it then befell While they with ioy surprized were He went out of their sight And left them both abiding there To take their rest all night Herein we may assuredly Perceiue Christ Iesus vse And learne to eate meate thankfully Lest we the same abuse Christ vsing now his wont before In breaking bread to pray Did lighten them that verie sore Were blinded by the way And yet againe twixt ioy and feare They were amazed so They could not see how from them there He then away did go Not that he did his shape at all Exchange as some men say But from this earth their minds to call On heau'nly things to lay For now no more on earth is he At he before hath bin As mortall man so found to be In all excepting sinne But sitteth sure in heau'n aboue Now in great maiestie His Father for vs still to moue And worke our libertie Then they betweene them selues did say Did not our hearts reioyce While he talkt with vs by the way And while we heard his voyce Our hearts did burne while we heard how He op'ned more and more The Scriptures vnto vs so slow To marke the same before And in that houre they rose againe And did returne with speed They letted not for anie paine They went backe both indeed Vnto Ierusalem they hie Where the Apostles were For they did there together lye Amazed much with feare Whom when they found they ioyfully Began for to report How by the way most happily Christ did to them resort Yet ere they came the newes was spread That Simon Peter he Had likewise surely lately sped Of Christ a sight to see While these confest what he had done And told them by the way And how to know him they begonne By breaking bread that day Iesus stood in the midst and sayd Peace be vnto you all It is my selfe be not affrayd Perceiue it well you shall This was that verie day at night That he did first arise That Christ appeared in their sight While closely in this wise They shut them in a secret place The Iewes they feared so That they durst not be seene a