But thou Lorde canst not be so disceyued nor blinded Thou wilt say as Isaac sayde The handes be the handes of Esau but the voyce is the voyce of Iacob that is in apparaunce thou arte a penitente but in deade thou arte an hipocryte Some other blame the deuyll as the causer of there synne many their desteny some other say theyr complexions be such that they can not forbere to coÌ„mitte certeyne synnes But I Lord leauing all such vayne excuses do saye with thy prophete Dauid It is I Lorde ii Reg. xxiiii whiche haue offended It is I that haue wrought thys iniquitie It is I Lorde not thou nor yet the deuyll nor destenye for they maye onely entyse me but they can not enforce and compelle me Psalmo .xl. Wherfore I pray the heale cure my sycke soule for I haue offeÌ„ded the. And I doubte not but thou hast forgeuen me the wyckednes of my synne I wyll in my confession geue example to other to folowe me Pro hac orabit ad te omnis setuÌ„s in temporâ— oportuno VeruÌ„ tamen in diluuio aquarum multaruÌ„ ad euÌ„ non approximabuÌ„t Roma vii for it is necessary for euery saynte or iust man to praye daylye for the remission of hys synnes in dew season as I do Whych beynge ones obtayned the great water floudes shall not come nere him Al we are holden vnder the lawe of synne may say wyth Paule O wretch that I am who shall delyuer me from the body of synne death It is thou lorde that muste do it and wylt do it yf we call to the in dewe season whych is whyle we are in thys lyfe This is the acceptable tyme ii Cori. vi in whych thou wilt hear vs and the day of health in whych thou wylt helpe vs. In thys daye we may worke Ihon. xi but when the night cometh theÌ„ may no maÌ„ more worke after death is no time of prayinge it is then to late for thou wylt not theÌ„ here oure prayers Seke the Lord sayeth the prophet Esaye whyle he maye be founde Esaye .lv. and call vppon hym whyle he is nere you Thou arte nere Lord to all that in this lyfe call vpon the faythfully thou kepest theÌ„ from the rage of water floudes Psalm .cxlv. that they come not nere them Beyng in this worlde we are in the midle of waters of teÌ„ptacions and vices in the company of the proud and wycked people in many tribulations We see the vanities of this worlde that are able to moue men whych are worldly we suffer persequutions whiche are able to brynge some to desperacion but thy grace kepeth vs that they come not nye vs. We behold the dartes comynge vpon vs and are not wounded We are in the water and are not drowned Theyr entisemeÌ„tes we esteame not al through thy might power Tu eo refugium mesi a pressura que circuÌ„dedit me Psalm .xiii. who arte and shal be my refuge and defence in the trouble that is to come aboute me Thy sonne Christe is the stronge rocke in which all byrdes that buylde do rest out of all ieoperdy Mathei xi To this al sinners may flye for succour and confort beynge werye there haue they refreshynge beynge loden they maye laye vppon hym al theyr burdeÌ„s of sinne and be eased This rocke the deuyll can not vnder myne nor skale no water of tribulation can drownde those that dwell on thys rocke no wynde of temptacion can ouerthrowe them The deuyll and hys wycked flocke may well assaulte them but he shall neuer haue power to hurte them Pharao kynge of Egypte with a great host purshued the chyldren of Israell that wente oute of Egypt Exod. xiiii but he coulde not hurt theÌ„ Thou lord wast theyr defence and destroyedest al theyr aduersaries Eâ—ultatio mea crue me a circuÌ„daÌ„tibus me EueÌ„ so arte thou oure defence our hoope our coÌ„fort Thou wylt compasse vs aboute wyth ioyfull deliueraunce Iob .xix. The house or tabernacle of oure body is enuironed with enemyes but thy prouidence wyll defende vs deliuer vs out of al daungers Intellectum tibi dabo et instruaÌ„ te in via hac qua gradieris Thou wylt enforme vs shew vs the way wher as we shall go This lyfe is a pilgrimage and a iorney for vs to trauayle in The ende of this way arte thou lorde Thou arte the marke that we shoulde shotte at To this ende we ought to haue al our respecte and tyll we come to the ende of oure iorney whiche arte thou we must neuer reste but styll go forward merily lustely in hope to haue ioy rest wheÌ„ we come to our iorneyes ende To be able to performe our viage thou geuest vs instructions fyrst to know the countrey wherin we do trauail the maner therof with the dauÌ„gers that we must passe in the iorney that therin we caÌ„ not loÌ„ge haue our abiding although it were neuer so moch to our coÌ„teÌ„tacion but must neades procede forth to an other region TheÌ„ geuest thou vs knowledge instructioÌ„ by fayth that if we passe well through this worlde we shal haue ioy euerlastiÌ„g in an other world Wherunto all wyse and good people wyl couet and so ronne theyr course here Hebre. xâ—â—â— that they may haue one of the games for their ruÌ„ning which is thou croune of rightuousnes imortalitie The loue of this rewarde should gyue al meÌ„ courage to endure payne trauayle in theyr course At the lest let the thyrde instruction serue them â–ª that is the paynes appoynted for them that are slowe in there course and lye downe in the midle of theyr waye other by disperacion sayinge thys instructioÌ„ is to harde for vs to learne or elles louynge ease and pleasure wyll chuse to reste here welthyly for a season though they suffer intollerable paynes therfore in an other worlde contrary to the example geuen vs by thy blessed sonne Christ whose iourney here was all paynfull and at no tyme pleasaunt and the same way toke his apostle Paule sayinge that by many tribulatioÌ„s we must entre the kingdom of heauen Actu xiiii These rules or instructions of oure iourney are very good trew and perfect but oure infirmitie is suche that we can not haue theÌ„ styl in oure remembraunce The hande is sette at a crosse where diuersitie of wayes lye to dyuers townes to shew whyche is the redy way to the most vsed towne of most estimation or resort but yf the man peregryne beyng in a talke with his felowe or hauynge hys mynde earnestli set on other thinges do passe by see not his rule and his directour whych is the hande he anon erreth and goeth out of his right way And why because the eye of hys mynde or hert is fyxed on other thynges not on hys wayes ende But thou Lord wyllynge to kepe vs in the right way
vnto the tyme of death and the laste ende when euery trewe labourer in thy vyneyarde shall receyue of the for hys wages a peny for hys dayes worke Math. â—â— that is the kyngdom of heauen for hys rewarde what tyme so euer he begynne to worke in thy worke as thou hast promised of thy mere liberalitie and free goodnes O mercyfull Lorde Quam multa sunt opera tua domine ommiâ— in sapientia fecisti howe noble and manifest be thy workes passynge farre the capacitie of all thy creatures to comprehende But thou ful wysely hast wrought all thynges by the same wysedome that hath bene wyth the before any thynge was created and before al tyme by the whyche thou haste numbred the sandes of the sea the dropes of the rayne and the dayes of tyme by which also thou haste measured the heyght of heauen the breadth of the earthe and the deapnesse of the sea Eccles i. Thys wysedome is thy very sonne the seconde person in trinitie i Corhin i Coloss ii he is thy power and thy wysedome in whom are hydde all the treasures of wysedome and knowledge By hym haste thou wroughte thine owne worke according to thy nature which is to haue mercye and not to shewe crueltie By hym hast thou wrought the worke of our redemption and delyuered vs from eternall dampnation And althoughe thou be sometyme angrye wyth vs for oure wyckednesse yet is it to the entent to shewe thy mercie after whiche is thy proper and naturall worke Esai xxviii Impleta est term possessione tua On thys maner doest thou fyll the earth full of thy ryches Not onely by the order and disposition of thy earthly creatures thereof but chiefelye in that thou causest man by thy helpe to leaue the inordinate loue of the worlde and the wanton pleasures therof and to become a newe man aspirynge to the heauenly thynges In thys thou causest hym to be iuste and perfectly thy possession to be of thy peculiar flocke of whyche thou takest greate cure Thou haste ordeyned thyne electe to walke and trauayle in thys greate and wyde worlde Hoc mare magnum 〈◊〉 spaciosum Illic reptilia innumerabilia animalia paâ—â—ua cum magnis whiche may wel be compared to the greate sea For as in it are innumerable thynges creapyng both greate and small beastes Euen so in thys worlde are many terrible dauÌ„gers and daungerous temptations Sometyme by flatteryng pleasures Somtyme by cruell displeasures whyche appeare therin Somtyme by prosperitie Sometyme by aduersitie Somtime by cruel manifest enemies Somtime by subteltie of false fayned frendes So that there are many mo daungers to men that lyue here on earth then be in those whyche passe ouer the seas Yet for all these fearfull daungers let the fayethfull neuer be afrayed Ibi naues per traÌ„sibuÌ„t For as the sure shyppes fliete in the sea vnder theyr sayles and passe through the stormy teÌ„pestes without drownynge so do thyne electe passe throughe the fearful perelles of all theyr enemies in this worlde by the meanes of the shyppe of thy churche and the trewe fayth therof Of whiche shyppe Christe is the sternes man the guyde and the sure ancour to be caste in all necessities Who so trusteth in hym shal be broughte to the fayre hauen of perfecte beatitude Who so kepeth hym wythin the bourdes of this faythfull shyppe neadeth not to feare the greate whales or other monstres muche terrible to shyppemen neyther yet the dreadfull dragon that sturdy stronge leuiathan whose sportynge place is in the deape of the sea Deaco iste quem formasti ad illudenduÌ„ ei Iob .xli. To whose power no power on earth may be compared For he is so madde that he feareth nothynge and is the kynge ouer al the chyldren of pryde Esay .xiiii. Luc. x. Genes iii. Thys is that lucifer whiche fel from heauen Thys is the serpent that deceyued in paradyse and brought death to al mankynde He was fyrste made by thy maiestie a bryght angel but through synne he is become a cruel deuyl And hath power through thy sufferaunce to illude to tempte and to deceyue mankynde Neuertheles when thy faythful people are penitent for theyr offeÌ„ces resist his temptations folowe thy lawes put theyr whole truste in the thy blessed soÌ„ne Iob .xi. theÌ„ do they mocke discerue him They put a ringe through his nose and boare his chaftes through with an awle and as Christ mocked him layenge an hoke for him bayted with his humanitie whiche when he thought to deuour causing hym to be put to death of the Iewes he was trypped in his owne turne takeÌ„ with the hooke of his diuinitie In lyke maner do the fayethful membres of Christ also mocke deceyue him For wheÌ„ he thinketh them surely in his daunger they turne to theyr head Christ for refuge i. Corhinth x. and by his helpe do vaÌ„quish him Great therfore good Lorde is thy mercie goodnes that sufferest not thy faythful to be teÌ„pted aboue theyr strength But in the middes of theyr temptation makest away for theÌ„ to escape out The enemy hath no power of hym self but such as thou suffrest him to haue He with al other creatures hange al vpon thy wyl and coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„t Omnia a te expectan vt des illis escam in tâ—pore suo dante te eis colligent Al waite on the that thou maist geue them meate in dew season wheÌ„ thou giuest it theÌ„ they gather it The meate appoynted to that serpent which deceyued Eue was earth Of the earth therfore of earthly men that loue better earthy thinges then heaueÌ„ly Genes iii. is the foode of that fierse leuiathan Such as are lefte destitute of thy grace depart froÌ„ the are lefte to be the foode of this serpent or dragon But I hertely beseche the moste merciful mightie God kepe thys dragon longe emptie Let hym not deuoure those for whose redeÌ„ption saluation thou voutchsafedest to sende thy most entierly beloued sonne to suffre death passion They haue the more pitie to great pleÌ„tie of foode of infideles Bring theÌ„ also lorde I besech the into the true fayth of thy holy churche that they may knowe the him that thou hast sent Io. x. for the saluatioÌ„ of al the world That there may be on both sortes one shepeherde one flocke and sende vs al lorde Aperiente te manuÌ„ tuaÌ„ replehuntur honitate abscondes vultuÌ„ tuum â—et turbabuntur thy merciful fauour Open thy liberal haÌ„de fyl vs all wyth thy goodnes Hyde not thy face froÌ„ vs for oure offeÌ„ces For then haue we cause of sorowe mourning coÌ„tinually No creature can lyue wtout the nourishing of corporall substauÌ„ce but must dye tourne to earth corruptioÌ„ Neither caÌ„ the soule of maÌ„ abide in lyfe spiritual with out the influence of thy grace Auferes spiritum coruÌ„â—t deficient et in pulueâ—em suum
reuertentur but it must nedes dye the death through sinne When thou dyddest coÌ„mauÌ„de thy prophet Elias to depart froÌ„ Achab there ensued in all Iurie great drought barreÌ„nes Iacob .v. iii. Regum .xviii. It rayned not by the space of .iii. yeres .vi. monethes But wheÌ„ thou dyddest tourne thy face towarde the couÌ„trey agayne seÌ„ding thy sayd prophet thither Emitte spiritum tuum â—et creabuntur they had pleÌ„tie of rayne great fertilitie Sende forth therfore mercyfull God thy swete breath vpon vs make vs new againe that we may leaue our olde naughtines become new creatures Genes xviii We knowledge our selues to be dust ashes Et renouabis faciem terte Sende therfore thy holy spirite to renewe the face of oure soules makinge it confirmable to thyne image according as thou diddest fyrst create it whiche through synne we haue made very foule Sit gloria domini in sempiternum â—etabitur dominus in operibus suis and defourmed Then shal we gyue glorie vnto thy maiestie whiche endureth for euer And thou Lorde shalte reioyse in thine owne workes Our worke is iniquitie thy worke is mercy for gyuenes Esay .xxviii. Thou art our iustice wherby thou makest vs iuste whiche before were wycked sinners Thou makest vs Qui respicit terram et facit eam tremere thine earthly creatures to tremble for feare of thy myghtie power thy iustice Our pride is therby abated We accoÌ„pte the good dedes which we haue done to be of thy gift goodnes nothinge presuminge of our owne frayle power Esoy lxvi For we know that thy holy spirite resteth vpon those that haue a lowly troubled spirite stande in awe of thy wordes But the greate hylles doest thou toutche they smoke Qui tangit moutes ei fumigant The proud stiffenecked people doest thou toutche by scourging punishinge them theÌ„ they come to the knowledge of the of thy myghtie maiestie Daniel .iiii. Then wyll they say as Nabuchodonosor sayed after his punishement honour and prayse be to the God of heauen whose power endureth alway his kingdom froÌ„ one generatioÌ„ to an other In coÌ„parisone of whoÌ„ al that dwel vpon the earth are to be reputed as nothing TheÌ„ wyl they sende forth a smooke of sacrifices prayses to the coÌ„fessing theyr weakenes thy mightie magnificeÌ„ce Psalm Cxli. Their prayer shal ascende vp into thy sight as an incense the lifting vp of theyr handes shal be an euenynge sacrifice i. Corhinth xv Cruel Saule was toutched of thy hande and became Paule a welbeloued apostle throughe the helpe of thy grace laboured more abouÌ„dauÌ„tly theÌ„ al thother apostles Such is the power of thy gracious influeÌ„ce This thy noble grace seÌ„de me most merciful god wherby I shal haue a louing desire to honour the lorde to praise the my god Cantabo domino in dâ—ta mea psalaÌ„ deo meo ê™diu sum So longe as I haue any beinge I wyll not ceasse to coÌ„fesse my sinnes to the to lameÌ„t mine iniquities then shal my wordes be pleasauÌ„t acceptable to ye. Placeat ei eloquium meum Ego vero letabor in domino And as I ioy wholy in the the art my creatour in thy soÌ„ne which is my redemer so shalt thou also delite in me the am thy poore creature haÌ„dy worke graunting me the frute of thy son christes passioÌ„ â—uc xv which he suffred for my redeÌ„ptioÌ„ And sence lorde the thou al thy heaueÌ„ly coÌ„pany reioyse so much in the coÌ„uersioÌ„ of siners that it is more ioy in heaueÌ„ of the turning of one siner to penauÌ„ce theÌ„ it is of .lxxx. .xix. iust meÌ„ which nede no repeÌ„tauÌ„ce I most huÌ„bly require the to coÌ„sume the vpgodly al siners out of the earth Deficienâ— peccatores a â—erra Et impli vltra â—on sint not that thou shuldest destroy theÌ„ but coÌ„sume their sines through the power of thy grace so that froÌ„ hence forth they be no more sinners but returne to the through herty repeÌ„tauÌ„ce Let their vngodlines be brought to an ende That they and we in perfect vnitie of thy fayth may prayse and magnify the with thy sonne Christ the holy gooste Benedic anima mea â—omino froÌ„ you both proceadynge worlde wythout ende Amen The Cxvi Psalme ¶ The faythfull man consideryng the benefytes by God to him gyueÌ„ breaketh forth to geuing of prayses and workynge good workes and for the loue whiche he beareth to God is contented gladly to suffre al persecutions Yea very death So that the honour of God be therby encreased WHo so euer enteÌ„deth to be the sonne of the most merciful God that art so good and so louyng a father and to enheryte the kyngdome of heauen as heyres togyther wyth thy blessed sonne Iesus Christe it is aboue all thynges fyrste requisite that he beleaue trewly in the in tharticles of thy fayth Roma xiiii Hebre xi whiche thou hast in holy scripture coÌ„maunded For what so euer is not of fayth that same is synne Fayth is the sure and perfect foundation of all chrysten religion whereby thy faythfull hope surely that all thy promises made to them of thy mere liberalitie shal surely and vndoutedly be fulfilled Luc. xxi So the heauen and erth shal perysh rather then one of thy wordes or promises should be vnperfourmed By fayth Abraham was iustified and by fayth Gens xv Genes xx Exod. iiii Exod. xiiii he was redy to make sacrifice of his onelye begotten sonne Isaac By fayth Moyses vnder toke to do message vnto Pharao kyng of Egypte and by fayth he entred the red sea wyth al the Israelites Fayth saued all the holy Patriarkes Prophetes and the good Iudges of thy people VpoÌ„ the faith ful onely dyd thy sonne Chryst worke his miracles In so much that in his country of Galile Mathw xiii he dyd not many miracles because of their vnbelefe And by this fayth with the helpe of thy grace at thys daye and to the ende of the worlde are and shal al Thy chosen people besaued Ephes ii and that frely without any deseruyng Of this beyng fully perswaded by thy holy scripture I beleue in the my most myghtie God three persones in one essence Credidi and in all thynges conteined within the limittes of thi sayd holy scripture And the same thy fayth I wyll not let to confesse before all the worlde I wyll not do as many of the prynces of the Iewes did which beleued in thy sonne yet durst they not boldlye confesse hym nother be acknowne of their faith lest thei should haue bene expelled out of the sinagoge Iohn xii They more estemed the glorye of this worlde then they dyd the glorye of God but through the helpe of thy grace Lorde I wyll nothing speake but that I fermely beleue Propter quod
the assisteÌ„ce of hys grace Nam et si ambulaueto in medio vmbremortis non timebo mala although we shoulde walke in the valey of the shadow of death yet we fear none euel for thou arte with vs. This lyfe is a shadowe of deathe after whych we trust by faith to dwell with the. Synne also is a shadow of death Esay .ix. and so darke a shadow that mankynde coulde not se to get oute therof tyl thy louynge soÌ„ne cam into this world geuynge hym lyght to see the way to heaueÌ„ And as synne is the shadow of death so do al synners as membres of the deuill walke in the same shadowe which cause temptacions and rayse persequutions to assault thyne electe Quoniam tu mecsi â—â— But al their coÌ„berous coÌ„pany we nothynge feare because thou arte wyth vs. If we walke in the water thou arte wyth vs that the strengthe of the floudes dryue vs nat awaye If we walke in the fyre the flame shal not burne vs. And why Because thou oure god arte wyth vs and thy sonne hath also promised to be wyth vs vnto the ende of the worlde Esay xliii Mathei vltimo Virga tua et bacuius tuus ipsa me consolata sunt His rodde of discipline and correction doeth chastise vs when we swarue at any tyme out of the ryght waye And ther in we iudge that he doeth loue vs for whoÌ„ so euer thou and he do loue Hebr. xii them do ye chasten and ye stourge euery sone that you receyue Christes stronge shepherdes staffe doeth stay vs when we ar weake as a sycke man is hoden vp by his walkyng staffe That is to say the gyftes of thy holy spyrite are oure strength our coÌ„forte in all infirmities tribulations and other encombraunces Thy rodde doeth directe vs to knowe what we shoulde dooe Thy staffe is oure streÌ„gth to stand fast therby agaynst al inuasions of oure enemies And to haue vs more sure cute of the dauÌ„ger of those that trouble vs thy sayd louinge sonne hath prepared set before our eyes the table of holy scriptures Parasti in conspectu meo meÌ„sam aduersus eos quitâ—â—bulant me wherin we maye trauayll and lerne to dryue awaye from vs all kyndes of temptacions Mathe. iiii as he hym selfe droue awaye the deuyll that tempted hym in desert by the allegations of holy scripture Impinguasti in olco caput meum Psalme .xliiii. And throughe these scriptures our heades are annoynted with oyle that is oure myndes are made ioyfull wyth spirituall gladnes Wyth thys oyle was thy sonne Christ annointed most priÌ„cipally aboue al other For in him as in the head rested that ioyful oyle from whense it ranne downe to the other membres Psalme â—xxâ—ii that is to all other faythfull people as the oyle that fel on the bearde of Aaron dropped froÌ„ thence to the skyrtes of hys garmeÌ„tes Ihon. i. i. Collos i. In Christ is the fulnes of grace from whoÌ„ distilleth all the grace Caliâ— meus mebrians quaÌ„ preâ—latus est goodnes coÌ„forte that we haue Through holy scripture also oure cup is fylled full to the brimme of pure liquor it causeth vs for ioy of heaueÌ„ly contemplacion to forget al the troubles miseries of this worlde The dregges of earthly pleasures and carnall affectioÌ„s remayne not in this cup. For as thy mercy hath gone before vs plentifully geuinge vs aboundauÌ„ce of thy great grace so we trust and doubte not but it wyll folow vs all the days of oure liues kepinge vs Et misericordia tua subsequetur me omnibus diebus vite mee that we fal not from fayth and from the good purposes and good mynde where in we are Thou lorde muste buylde oure house or els we laboure in vayne Psalme .cxxvii. yf we thynke we can buylde it Thou muste founde it vppon fayth and that is thy gyft Thou must also sende thy grace afterwarde to establysh oure worke or els it wyll fayll and fall and when it is ones erected thou must also kepe it by the continuall influence of thy sayd grace or els oure kepinge were but a yelding vp ther of to our enemies Thou must be our beginning Et vt inhabitem in domo domini in longitudinem dierum and also our endynge And then shall we be sure to dwell in the house of the lorde for euer that is in the heauenly citye of Hierusalem For we knowe surely that yf oure earthly mansion where in we nowe dwel were dissolued ii Cothin v. we haue a buildinge ordeyned of God and habitacion not made wyth mannes hande but eternall in heauen where is perpetuall ioye and beatitude wythout ende ¶ Dauyd in the person of euerye penitent Christian confesseth his offences The .xxxii. Psalme attributyng to God his coÌ„uersion but nothing to hys workes or deseruinges AMonge all the beautyfull sloures of vertue that growe in the gardyne of maÌ„nes soule one of the most pleasaunt most necessary and most acceptable is humilitie Whose power was so great that it drewe the sonne of God the seconde person in diuinitie from heauen into the wombe of the meeke virgyn Mary whom of all other he chose to be his mother specially for hyr humility Wherwith she amoÌ„ge many other vertues was syngulerly endewed In thys humblenesse of estate Chryst our sauyoure beynge lord of al the worlde walked al the dayes of hys lyfe there in ended humblynge him selfe vnto the vyle death of the crosse The wyse humilitye of Abygayll pacifyed the furye of Dauid i. Reg xxv when he was mynded to kyll all the men of the house of hyr husbande Naball The humble submission of wycked Achab asswaged the wrath of god ii Reg. xxi and kepte the plage of vengeaunce from his house al the dayes of his life The great goodnes of thys vertue is made manifest by openyng the hainousnes of the vice coÌ„trary therto whych is pryde for through it the bryghte aungelles fell from heauen Pryde of the myndes of Adam and Eue to be as godes knowynge boeth good and euell Genes â— caused them to breake the commaundementes of God and therfore were cast out of paradise Pryde caused the wycked people after the floude to take in hande the buyldynge of the tower of Babel Genes xi whose top should reatche vnto heaueÌ„ to get them therby a perpetuall name Pryde made A man to inuente a waye to destroy the people of God Hâ—ster .vi. which at leÌ„ght turned to his owne destructioÌ„ iiii Reg. xix For the proud blasphemous wordes of Sennacherib kynge of Assiria agaynst God the aungell of the Lorde slew in one nyght .clxxxv. thousand of his hoste he shortly after in hys owne countrey was slayne by two of his owne sonnes Pryde caused Nabuchodonosor to be cast by god Daniel .iiii. from his kingdom and to feade lyke an oxe wyth grasse in the feldes the space of seuen
he that is most iust had neade to haue his feete that is his fleshly concupisceÌ„ce washed therwyth â—ohn xiiâ— In figure wherof to teach them also humilitie thy sonne Christ washed the feet of his apostles And likewise he must do with vs to the inteÌ„t the nettes trappes that the deuyll hath set in our heeles that is in the fleshe through concupiscence myght be ouerthrowen broken and we not entangled wyth them at the latter daye â—ui contiâ—unt in virâ—te â—â—a etâ—â— muâ—â—ituâ—ine diuinarum suatuÌ„ storiantur Iâ—cob .i. whych daye shal be terrible to those that put there truste in theyr goodes and boast them selfe in the multitude of theyr ryches They are resembled to the freshe floure that kepeth his pleasaunt coloure and sauoure for a short space but the heat of the sunne maketh it to wither his beauty to perysh and the floure to fall away EueÌ„ so is it of all such as put theyr confidence in their riches They shall peryshe together wyth there great aboundaunce Their goodes may serue theÌ„ here for theyr profite but then can they serue theÌ„ to no purpose No man can with money Frater non redâ—â—it redimet homo non dabit deo placationeÌ„ suaÌ„ et precium redemptionis anime sue saue his brother from deathe or from dampnacion no not the moste holy iust man that lyueth nor make a grement wyth God offeringe great gyftes for the redemptioÌ„ of hys soule for neyther death nor hell wyll be intreated for any golde The wrathe of God wyll not be asswaged that day wyth gyftes Sopho. i Whether can the soule of man be valued with money The price of it is very great only the death of thy sonne was the redemption ther of Whych pryse if it wyll not serue the wicked for that they end in synne he wyl not paye for them by dyenge agayne for theyr redemptioÌ„ but shal leaue them to be tormented for euer Et laborabit ineternuÌ„ viuet adhuc in finem Theyr bodyes shall dye the corporal death but the soules shall lyue in coÌ„tynual fyre and payne wythout ende beynge at the generall day of iudgemeÌ„t vnited to the same bodyes and suffer euer after together Apo. ix They shal then desyre to dye shall not fynde death They shall haue theyr parte in the lake whych burneth wyth fyre brimstone which is the seconde death Ryght sore and terrible is this payne can with no tongue be expressed Mad therfore are al men Apoca. xxi and merueylously blynded that wyl more regard smal pleasure here then greate paynes there Or more esteame temporal ioyes for a season then the heauenly ioyes that are euer permanent But the worldly people are sore blynded in one thynge They se the wise man and the foole dye one kinde of temporall deathe Sapi. vii they perceyue that all men haue one entraunce into lyfe and one goyng out in like maner Wherfore they iudging al thinges carnally consyder not that foloweth that is after death the one to go to glory the other to paine none of them both shall carye they re ryches wyth them Eâ— relinqueÌ„t alienis diuitias suaâ— but leaue it here to straungers they know not to whom Yea all though they leaue them to theyr owne chyldren that be wycked as theyr fathers were they do leaue them to straungers for that they can nothynge helpe theyr fathers there wyth For the parable of the man that was robbed and wouÌ„ded in the way as he wente froÌ„ Hierusalem to Hierico Luke i declareth playnlye that none be oure neighboures or frendes but those that do vs good which after the death of the wycked person none can do to hym nother brother nor sonne frende nor kynsmaÌ„ Therfore all such mennes godes are left to straungers But the wyse men doo make frendes therwith while they are in this present lyfe Luke .xviii. as the wycked seruaunte dyd that they may haue frendes to receaue theÌ„ into euerlasting tabernacles when they are departed from hence Prouerb vi The littel Emmet hath learned to gather hir food in haruest that shall serue her in the wynter and men that haue reason are so assotted that they prouide not here for that shall serue them in winter that is in the last day of iudgemeÌ„t How fond are they that maye and yet wyll not so laye it vp here in the handes of Chryste the sure treasure house that is in the handes of the poore that they may be sure to fynde it agayne with great gayne when they are departed out of this worlde They shal lay vp in store i. Timo. vi temporall thinges and receaue againe eternal If they would be rich in good workes and ready to geue and distribute they should lay vp in store for them selues a good foundacion agaynst the tyme to come that they myghte obtayne euerlastyng lyfe But the folysh sort of people are more desyrous of honourable fame to remayne to their succession then to haue heauen after this lyfe Et sepulchra coâ—uÌ„ domus coruÌ„ in eternuÌ„ â–ª tabernacula coruÌ„ in progenie progenie vocauerunt nomina sua in terris .. They make theÌ„ costly pleasaunt and substantial tombes to be theyr houses as though they shoulde dwell in them for euer whyche are a memorial of them to their posteritie Yea their names and actes are engraued theron with solempne Epitaphes Some haue made cities and townes and called them by theyr names ii Reg. xviii to augment theyr glory as Absolom raised vp a pyllar to kepe hys name in remeÌ„braunce because he had no children and called it after hys owne name AbsoloÌ„s pyllare By these meanes they acquire to them a fame theyr soules burnynge continually in hell Hiete xvii Their names be written in the worlde as becommeth worldly people to haue but theyr names are cleane put forthe of the boke of lyfe Et homo in honore noÌ„ commorabitur assimilatus est iumentis ad equatus est eis How can these men be well esteamed of the wyse theyr honoure can not endure but they are compared to brute beastes and become lyke vnto them They were naturally made to the Image of god toutchyng the soule and the qualities ther of but now they haue made them selues by folowyng carnalitye to be lyke beastes Yea the very vilest and cruelist beastes that are As to swyn for fylthy lyinge in synne to asses for ther folly to beares for ther crueltie to fores for their craft and subtilty to horses for their inordinate desire of the pleasures of the fleshe O lorde how vnlyke is thys there facion to thy noble creation of man Hec est via insipientie câ—ruÌ„ â–ª et post eos iurta os coruÌ„ curreÌ„t semper How great folyshnes is thys waye of theyrs And yet theyr posteritie prayse it with theyr mouth and folowe the steppes Prouer xvii in which they sawe
labour for goodes for honour and dignitie for landes to leaue to theyr successioÌ„ to endure for euer and for prayse of the world But when al is done it is but a spiders webbe gotten with labour and kept to smale effect for or it be long al is taken awaye other by some vnhappy chaunce or elles by death Whych infallibly approcheth and vnmercifully striketh Dies annoram nostro um in ipsis spetuagin 〈◊〉 annis Si autem multum ocâ—oginta anni et ê™ amâ—lius labor est et dolor â—uoniam transiuimus ito et auolauimus fewe men there are in thys our tyme which liue to se .lxx. yeares But if thorough the strength of theyr nature they attayne to ixxx yeres which is a very rare thyng sene Yet lyue thei then all in payne and sorow and tary but a short space after For as the bird clippeth her wynges and flieth away when she espyeth an hauke commyng a farre of so doth the aged at the appearing of death These punishmentes by short lyfe in these latter dayes of our tyme whych lyue far vnder the age of men that liued in the begynnyng of the worlde also of our myseries during the sayde shorte lyfe and last of all of death of thy wrath and of paynes eternal are for that our sinnes he more greuous then were the sinnes of men in the old time Mathew .xxiiii. Charite is more colde iniquitie is more aboundaunce Quis nouit fortitis nem ire suer whych causeth thy wrathfull indignatioÌ„ to be more fierse in punishmeÌ„t Thou hast strycken vs to cause vs to knowe oure selues but we haue not repented for in stead thereof we haue murmured and bene impatient Hebreos .v. Thou hast beaten vs and we haue refused to receiue disciplin We haue nothyng done our dutie vnto thy maiestie as we ought to haue done Et secundum timore tuum indignationeÌ„â—am Whereby we haue stirred vp thi mightie displesure against vs which we can by no meanes asswage but by submyttyng of our selfes wholy vnto thi great mercy and goodnes For who is able to stand with the in iudgemeÌ„t Or can for feare Hiere ii numbre or expresse the execution of thy displeasure agaynst synne Lyke as no eye hath sene no eare hath hard nor hert can imagine the ioyes prepared for thyne elect no more can any tong expresse or mynde thynke the number of the greuous turmentes whyche are ordayned for the wycked synners after this lyfe Iob .xxxi. The wrath of God is to be feared as are the swellyng and raging waues of the sea whyche cannot be noumbred Psalm .cxxx. The weightie burden which he maye lay vpon vs if he wyl charge vs accordyng to our actes Vt numereÌ„tur dies nâ—stri sic ostende et venâ—emus corde sapienti no man can sustayne Wherefore teach vs mercifull Chryst to noumber our daies that we may apply our hertes vnto wisedome Geue vs grace to haue in remembraunce the short dayes of our lyfe wyth the dauÌ„gerous passage of our time in this world So that hauynge no trust or affiaunce in the vncerteintie thereof we may wholy apply our selues to the conteÌ„plation of heauenly wysedome i. Cori. i. that we may coÌ„sidre ernestly thy goodnes shewed vnto vs who art the powre and the wysedome of God thy father and as by thy punishynge of vs for oure synnes â—nuertere domine vs quo et dâ—precabilis eâ— super seruos tuos it semed thou didest turne thy face from vs. So beholdyng our hertie repentaunce for our offences we besech the to turne the mercifully and louyngly vnto vs be gratious to vs that are thy seruauntes For although we fall oftymes from the through the frailtie of our nature yet we forsake not the vtterlye but returne to the as the wastful sonne returned to his father after long absence â—uke .xv. and was receiued and much made of at his returne We are thy seruauntes redy by thy grace to serue the. â—hreno iii. Here therfore our humble prayer and as thou wilt not here the prayers of synners that continue in synne and prouoke the to anger so to vs who are returned to the by penitence shew thy mercy and thy grace let thyne anger asswage Exod. xxxii Imple nos matutina â—isericordia tua Oh satisfie vs wyth thy mercy that early in the mornyng that is righte sone and shortly In the nyght of the olde law the wrath of thy father reigned vpon men by reason of hys sentence geuen vpon mankynde for his inobedience ii Peter i But when thou Lord diddest arise after thy passion then arose also mercy and grace Then the day appered and Lucifer that bright morning sterre began to shyne in the hertes of men With this mornynges mercy satisfie my soule gratious Lord. ii Corhin v. For which all thy faythful sore hungre and thryst so long as they abyde in thys lyfe But thei shal be perfectly and fully satisfied when thy glory shal be manyfested vnto them in thy heauenly habitation Psalmo .lxvi. Laudabimus et letabimur cuntis diabus nostris Then shall we reioyce and be glad all the dayes of our lyfe The daies of this worlde passe away lyke a shadow But all our dayes in that glorious life are but one day of eternitie In those daies the suÌ„ne neuer setteth night neuer approcheth but al is bright day wtout end With that ioyful day coÌ„fort vs again good lord Letifica nos pro dieâ— quibus affliristi nos pro annis in quibus dimus mala in recoÌ„peÌ„ce of the yeres wherin we haue suffred much auersitie endured the manifold plages which thou hast seÌ„t vs. As after many dangrous passages great aduersitie thou broughtest at the last thy people Israell into the pleasaunt land of Chanaan let thy noble worke of our redeÌ„ption appeare to vs and take effect in vs thy faythful seruauntes Appereat seruis tu opus tuuÌ„ et gloria ti super filios eorum and suffre not the benifit of our reconsiliation to be hid from our chyldreÌ„ and our posteritie but that they may know it and enioy it to the obteining of thyne euerlasting glory Cause the bryght maiestie of the Lorde God Et sit splendor domi dei nostri super nos to be vpon vs that is let thy grace shyne vpon vs let it be euer assistent vnto vs most merciful Iesu which art the bright light of God thy father Et opus manuum iâ— stratum dirige super nos et opus manuu nostrarum confirâ—â— TheÌ„ shall we be sure that what worke soeuer we take in hande it shal surely prosper Our intentes shal be so directed that nothyng shal be done for vain glori nor for any temporal reward but al for the loue of the principally then to the profit of our neighbour for thy sake lord to whoÌ„ be honoure glorye with the father
the holy gost world without ende ¶ The prophet Dauid beholdynge the fall of Adam beynge for synne caste oute of Paradise The Cii Psalme and his sorowfull penaunce made after to God therfore set forth this psalme of penaunce in the person of AdaÌ„ mete to be sayd by all his posteritie that are penitent inwardly for theyr offences to his hyghnes coÌ„mitted and desyre to be restored to the fauoure of God whych through synne they haue lost O moste blessed father of heauen the fouÌ„tayne of al grace and goodnes Ephes ii â—mans .x. that art rych in mercie and plentifull in geueyng the same to al that faythfully cal vpon thy name lorde that haueuyng a sonne no lesse rich in powre wisdome knoledge and mercy theÌ„ thou art thy selfe didest not spare to seÌ„d hym from thy heaueÌ„ly palaice downe to the earth eueÌ„ into the wombe of a virgin for the saluacion of mankynd to declare thyne abouÌ„dauÌ„t loue towardes vs thou didest make him pore whiche before was riche Corin. viii to the intent that we whyche before were very poore should by hys pouertie be made ryche that he who before was all one wyth the in thi diuine substaÌ„ce might now be made one with vs that are membres of the body wherof he is the head Domine exaudi oratiâ—nem meam et clamor deus ad te ueniat HarkeÌ„ good lord geue eare vnto my praier Let my cry and hertie peticion ascende vp before the sight of thy maiestie The comyng of thy mercifull soÌ„ne did make me veri rich But the vilenes of myne owne actes hath cast me downe and made me veri pore and miserable The greatnes of mine offences hathe caused the to tourne awaie thi face from me withdrawing thi grace whiche was the cause of al my good wyl good workes Thou caÌ„st fynde no good thing in me worthy of thy fauour Wherfore Lorde beholde the face of Christe thy dearly beloued sonne my brother my mediatour For his sake geue me that which of my selfe I am much vnworthi to obteine of the. Ne abscondas faciem tuam a me In die tribulationis mee inclina ad me aurè â—uam Shewe thy delectable couÌ„tenaunce vnto me Loke on me with thy pitiful eie And in the time of my trouble encline thyne eare to me I am neuer withoute trouble Myne olde enimies daylye assaulte and ver me Wherefore I wyll not cease daylye to call vppon the. But specially at the hour of my death Lord heare me and defend me at whych tyme my sayd enimies wyll most busilye inuade me Roman ii Indignacion wrath tribulacion and anguishe shall then come vpon the soule of euery man that doth euyl Before that troublous tyme lord heare me But wyth which of thine eares With the eare of thy iustice No I besech the. For that eare must hear myne accusers to my condemnation My prayer must be hard by thyne ear of mercy from whense coÌ„meth forgeuenes to those that are gilty so that penitence folowe the iniquitie Wyth this eare Inquacumque die innocauero te uelociter exaudi me Isaye heare me when I call vnto the and that with spede So that accordynge to the greatnes and multitude of my tribulations maye be the spedye receiuing of my peticion Which shal not be to craue of the aboundauÌ„ce of earthlye goodes aboue that honest necessitie dooth require But the abundaunce of thy grace in this lyfe and for thy glorye euerlastinge in another life This hast thou of thy mere liberalitie promised to graunt to all that in stedfast fayth call vppon the. Iaco. i This hastie callyng vpon the doste thou delite in Esaye .lviii. and as thy prophet Esay sayth thou art as redye to answere me as I am redy to cal vnto the. Wherfore make spede in hearynge as I am dryuen by necessitye to be hastye in callynge considering the short tyme of myne abidyng in thys worlde Thou diddest indue man in his creation with immortalitie but synne brought in death to al that bere lyfe Consumpti sunt sicut fuinâ—dies mei so that my dayes are consumed awaye lyke smoke Age ouertaketh youth before I am aware of him youth stealeth from me preuely as the smoke doth vanysh away after it is once out of the chymney Yea many tymes before age coÌ„meth death priuely woundeth keaping none order in his arresting but al according to the time onely to the before knowne Iob .ix. Thus my time passeth away more swyftly then a runner or then a ship that is good vnder sayle and as an Egle that hasteth to get his pray For this cause I haue more neade of thy spedi helpe Also my bones are brent vp as it were a fyre brand Ossa mea quasi frira contabuerunt or as meat ouer dried that sticketh to the friyng panne As my bones do sustayne or vpholde the flesh of my body so do the powres of the soule susteine the soule Which beyng moysted and mayntained by the fat moysture of thy grace are liuelye and quicke able to work acceptably But thy grace being once with drawne all remayneth drye burned to the panne Thei haue no powre of them selues to worke any good worke or to thynke any good thought And if that whiche is of most force in me be of so small force efficasie Alas in what case then is the corrupt flesh bred naturally in concupisceÌ„ce What goodnes caÌ„ we loke to fynd therin of it selfe more then we would loke for a throne to brynge furthe pleasaunt apples Percussus sum quasi tenum et arefactum est cor meum Ful well may mankynd be like ned to grasse For so loÌ„g as he through thy grace worketh the workes of iustice so long is he grene florishing and liuely But so sone as sinne which is the sythe or sickle of our enemy the deuyl doth cut of the grasse by the roote causyng man to fall from the obedience dewe vnto thy maiestie and from thy lawes he theÌ„ waxeth dry withered and with euery temptation falleth from vice to vice and becommeth very barreÌ„ of good workes The cause is for that wheÌ„ maÌ„ leauith the fouÌ„datioÌ„ which should be his norishyng his strength and his life he must nedes consume wast and dry Quia oblitus sum coÌ„medere panem meum I haue left thy holy word and commaundemeÌ„tes which are as bread to the soule geuing nutriture and moysture by fayth and charite and haue eaten of the fruit of the tree which thou forbadest me I haue with our father Adam folowed the illusion of the serpent and tasted of sinne Wherfore my leaues wyther my fruyt is destroied Ecclesi vi and I am left as a dry and a barreÌ„ tre without any goodnes Wherfore I left the liuely food of thi holy word that semed bitter at the first tast and in steade therof receiued swete poysen that is death of both bodye and soule throughe the desolation of
limmes nimble These are liberal and very necessary gyftes to the body But much more noble spiritually to the soule For maÌ„ lyueth not onely with material bread but also wyth the worde of God Luc. iiii Wherby the soule is made stronge and comforted agaynste al his enemyes It is able to do good and to auoyed euyll It receyueth spiritually thy blessed sonne that lyuely bread Iohn .vi. which descended froÌ„ heauen and by him receyueth after this life lyfe euerlasting in heauen By the wyne is signified the passion of thy louynge sonne oure maister Christe For whiche maÌ„ thyrsted ful sore a longe season But when the tyme determined by thy godhead was come he came suffered for our redemption He then queÌ„ched our thirst He therby made maÌ„kynde mery that before was sadde out of al coÌ„forte And where he satte in darkenes Esay .xiii. he therby receiued light He was before in captiuitie then was made fre and his raunsome payed But the frailtie of his nature is so great that onles he be styll holden holpen vp he must nedes fal againe to sin Wherfore lorde the oyle of thy grace is euer ready to annoint him therby to make him able to resiste throughe the whiche of him selfe is weake caÌ„not stande Thys oyle of gladnes this oyle of coÌ„fort springeth in thy deitie as in the head and from thence desceÌ„deth first to the manhode of Christ as froÌ„ the head to the beard Psalm Cxxxiii Psalm .xlv. Whom thou hast specially annointed aboue al other to the intent he shoulde therw t annoint al other faythful people Which are the garmeÌ„tes of Christ wheÌ„ leauing al vice they put on them the garmeÌ„t of hys faith liue according to his lawes Saturabuntur lignâ— campi et cedri libani The moisture of the oyle is of the sap wherw t the comoÌ„ sort of trees of the felde are fulfylled also the high trees of the mouÌ„t of libanê° that is aswel the comoÌ„ base sort of people as also the noble high mighty lordes princes of the worlde are replenished with this oyle of thy grace gladnes such as thy deitie hath plaÌ„ted quas plantasti pÌ„destinate to saluatioÌ„ For al other plaÌ„tes which are not of thy plaÌ„ting Mathei xv Illit aues nidificabi must be plucked vp by the rootes In these hye trees of libanê° the birdes do brede Such as are spiritual ê‘sons liue after the spirite are sucoured brought vp defeÌ„ded by the priÌ„ces nobilitie of the worlde The holy deuout persons sowe to them theyr spirituall sede and reape therfore temporal thinges necessary for theyr lyuing For who wyll mosell the mouth of the oxe that treadeth out the corne i. Corhint ix Neuertheles so many as are spiritual Deut. xv i. Timo. vi are contented wyth foode and rayment For suche of them as wyl be ryche fal into temptations snares and into many fooly she and noysome lustes whyche drawe them vnto perdition and destruction But so many as are very spiritual Herodit domus dux est eorum learn of the faucon to brede in the rocke whyche is Christe Although they haue theyr necessaries of the nobilitie for theyr trew preaching of thy worde yet do they not preach to please meÌ„ but to please and do theyr deutie to thy maiestie â— Corin. ix For wo be vnto theÌ„ yf they preache not The rocke whyche is the house of the faucon that is to say Christ is theyr leader theyr guyde and theyr gouernoure MoÌ„tes excelsi ceruis petra refugium hexina â—tis to whom onely they haue respecte To thys rocke in the mountaynes flee the hartes for succour To it fleeth the hedgehogge a beast with prickes for refuge The perfecte man and the synner that is loded wyth the prickes of synne in his conscience runne al to this rocke for succour The one to be preserued in the grace goodnes that is gyuen hym the other to discharge hym selfe on this rocke of al his burden of sinnes Esaye .xxxviii. For behynde on Christes backe doth he laye al the heauy burden of his iniquities and is then become a newe creature So sone as man is wery of his burden Christe is ready to receyue it Mathew .xi. and to ease and refreshe hym As the moone receyueth her bryghte light by the approching of the sunne Fecit luna per teÌ„pora and a gaine by the farre departyng of the sunne from her she loseth her lyghte so doth thy churche here militant and the membres therof knytte togyther in fayeth by the approchynge of the sonne of iustice thy sonne Christ Iesus and the influence of hys grace receyue lyght of trewe knowledge and power to worke wel to the example of other But yf thy grace and hys be ones wythdrawen for theyr iniquities Sol cognouit occasâ—â— suum then remayne they in darkenes not able to do or thynke any good thynge To the iuste electe people this sonne aryseth from the wicked Sapi. v. Iohn .iii. it setteth and hydeth it selfe shewynge them no lyght And why for they loue darkenes and the workes therof better then lyght Wherfore they shall seke lyghte and not fynde it The nyght and darkenes shal enuirone them Posuisti tenebras facta est nox in ipsa mouibuntur omnes bestie sylue Catuli leonis rugientes ad predam et quereÌ„ res a des esâ—am sibi wherin al the beastes of the foreste do moue The yonge lyons roring then seke theyr praye and aske theyr foode of God The wycked spirites greadely gape to deuoure the wretched synners beynge destitute of the lyghte of grace The iniquities of men are theyr mooste pleasaunte foode Neuertheles they haue no further power to tempt nor to hurt theÌ„ theÌ„ thy power Lorde doth permitte them to do For yf Sathan myght haue done his wyl on thy seruaunte Iob he had at the laste slayne and deuoured hym Luc. xxii So had he done to the apostles of thy blessed sonne So woulde he and his wycked complices destroye all mankynde were they not by thy Godlye power and wysdome restrayned Some men thou sufferest to be tempted for theyr probation and coronation Some for theyr punyshment and dampnation But specially in the nyghte where synne rayneth there oure enemye tryumpheth Oriente sole retedent et in spâ—luncis suis cuâ—abunt and in the hertes of the wycked he maketh hys denne or restynge place For where the sonne of iustice by grace doth aryse in the hertes of thy faythfull they anone departe and flee awaye Egredietur homo adopus suum et ad seruitutem suam vsque ad vesperam The man maye sauely go to hys workes and tyll the lande vnto the euenyng The faythful maye wythout daunger worke al workes by the commaunded to be done encreasynge in vertue and good lyuyng all the tyme of hys lyfe vnto the euenyng That is