sonne of man cum Wherfore seing that these thynges vndoubtedly shal cum to passe and it cannot certainly be knowen vpon what daye they shal cum wake and watche coÌ„tinually leste that daie cum vpon you vnwares and vnprepared If menne watche that theyr money peryshe not muche more oughte you to watche that your soule perishe not For what householder is so negligent whych yf he knew that the thiefe would breake into hys house in the nyght season woulde sleepe all nyght and suffer hys house to be broken downe Therfore ye muste wake all your lyfe because ye be certayne that the daye wyl cum whan ye looke not for it For so ye must liue that whansoeuer the day dothe cum it may finde you doing your duty that furthwyth ye may be receiued vnto your rewarde Who is a faythful and a wyse seruaunt whome hys lorde hath made ruler ouer hys housholde to geue them meate in season Blessed is that seruaunt whome his lorde whan he cummeth shall fynde so doing Uerely I saye vnto you that he shall make him ruler ouer all his goodes But and yf that euil seruaunt saye in his hert my lord wyll be long a cummyng and so begyn to smyte his felowes yea and to eate and drincke with the dronken the same seruauntes Lorde shal cum in a daye whan he loketh not for him and in an houre that he is not ware of and shal hewe hym in pieces and geue hym hys porcion with Hiprocrites there shall be wepyng and gnashyng of teeth Wyll not a wyse and a faythfull seruaunt do thesame whome his maister going farre from home hathe made ruler ouer hys familie to geue them meate in due season The maister doth not poynte hym when he wyl retourne home leste he shoulde bee slacke in hys office but whansoeuer the mayster shall returne shal not the seruaunt be happy yf hys maister finde him doing his duty Certaynely I saye vnto you that the maister hauing a triall of his trustinciâ—e will bee bolde to truste hym with greater thynges and wyll make hym ruler ouer all hys goodes Contrary wise yf the ill and vnfaithfull seruaunt wil saye in hys harte my mayster is longe awaye and perchaunce he wyll neuer returne and vpon this hope begynneth to beate hys felowe seruauntes and neglecting the famylye eateth and drynketh with dronckardes howe vnhappy shall he be when hys mayster shal cum at the daye when he loketh not for hym and the houre when he thought that he would not returne For he shal not onely set hym beside his offyce but he will also cut him a sonder in the myddest and ioyne hys parte with the Hipocrytes which hath the title and name of the office of the ghospel where as in their doinges they be contrarye to the ghospell And there for hys sensuall pleasures of wrongshaped swetenesse wherewith beyng inebriate and drounken he had not awayted for the cummyng of hys mayster he shall be punished with intollerable torment his laughyng shal be turned into wepyng and hys songes into gnashyng of teethe ¶ The .xxv. Chapter Than shall the kyngdome of heauen be like vnto ten virgins whiche takyng theyr lampes wente furthe to meete the spouse But fyue of them were foolyshe and fyue were wyse They that were foolyshe takynge theyr lampes tooke no oyle with them but the wyse tooke oyle with them in theyr vessels with the lampes Whyle the spouse taryed they all slumbered and slepte And at midnight there was a crye made Beholde the spouse cummeth goe furth to meete hym Than all the virgins arose and prepared theyr lampes And the foolishe sayed vnto the wyse geue vs of your oyle for our lampes are out But the wyse answered saying Not so leste there be not ynoughe for vs and you but goe ye rather to the sellers and by your selues And whyle they wente to bye the bridegrome came and they that were ready went in with hym to the mariage and the doore was shutte Afterwarde cum the other virgins saiyng Lorde lorde open vnto vs. But he answeryng sayeth Uerely I saye vnto you I knowe you not Watche therfore for ye knowe not the day nor the houre in the whiche the sonne of man shal cum ANd Iesus to put in the myndes of hys disciples surely that they shoulde not slacke or sleepe in thys life but that through the continuall seruyce of godlinesse and duties towarde theyr neyghboure they shoulde get and prepare them thynges for the waye to euerlastyng lyfe for in the resurreccion we shoulde seke it to late vnlesse we shoulde prepare in tyme he sette furthe a parable of tenne virgins who takyng theyr lampes wente to meete the spouse But of these fyue were fooles whych prouided them not of oyle agaynste the cummyng of the bridegrome because they thought he woulde not cumme so sodenly but that they myghte haue had space to gette them oyle sumwhere But the wyse virgins knowyng that the tyme was vncertayne whan theyr spouse shoulde cum leste they myght bee found vnredy caryed out with them in theyr vesselles oyle for theyr lampes whereby they myght refreshe the lampes as they began to fayle Therefore when the spouse differred hys cumming longe all the virgines beganne to nappe and at length fel a slepe In the dead nighte sodainly rose a clamour and a noyse emong the seruauntes callyng them oute to meete the spouse beholde the bridegrome is at hande goe furthe and meete hym Than al the virgines wakyng from slepe prepared their lampes But the fooles when they sawe they muste departe sodainely at middenight and hadde no oyle theyr lampes nowe faylyng of lyght they desyred the wyse virgines to geue them parte of theyr oyle But they made answere we feare that we haue not inough both for vs and you Go ye rather to the oyle sellers and by of them And in the meane tyme as they went to bye the brydegrome came and they that were ready entred in with him to the mariage and furthwith the gate was shut At last come the foolyshe virgins also and knocke at the gate and saye Lorde lorde open the gate for vs. Unto whome the brydegrome made answere truely I knowe you not Wherfore after the example of the wyse virgyns and of the faythful seruaunt and the politike householder watche ye and prepare in time the stoare of good workes because ye knowe not the daye nor the houre of hys cummyng and when he shall sodenly appeare there shal be nowe no lenger time of well doyng but euery manne shall haue rewarde accordyng as he hath done before Likewise a certaine man taking his iourney into a straung countrey called his seruauntes and deliuered vnto them hys gooddes and vnto one he gaue fyue talentes and to another two and to another one accordyng to hys habilitie and streyght way departed And he that had receiued fyue talentes went and occupyed wyth the same and gayâ—ed other fiue talentes Lykewise also he that had receyued two gayned other two But he
vnto this Sicamine tree plucke thy selfe vp by the rootes and plant thy selfe in the sea and it shoulde obeie you The Apostles because they well perceyued by these saiynges of Iesus that faithe is the fountaine of all euangelicall vertues whiche fayth the Lord did so diligentely require in them as a thyng necessarye yf they should bee hable to worke miracles whiche faith he dyd so many times allow and cōmend yea euen in many alienes too that wer not borne in Iewry which faithe could obteine any manier thyng what euer it were and throughe whiche fayth euen theyr owne selfes also had putte awaye soondry diseases from men and hadde cast out deiuils and because they knewe and remembred well that onely through defaulte and wante of faithe in theim it hadde hapened that they coulde not deliuer a certaine persone afore beeyng possessed with a dumme deiuill Albeit one shall not be a fitte man for the other necessarie preceptes of the ghospell neither onlesse he haue conceiued an vndoubted faith and truste in hys herte For whan will he despise the sensuall pleasures of this worlde whan will he poure oute his gooddes to bestowe theim on the poore whan wyll he releasse and clerelye forgeue a displeasure or a wrong dooen vnto hym by his brother whan will he dooe suche persones good as haue dooen hym the contrarye whan will he mekely and pacientelye take enpriesonmente scourgeyng with roddes and the peines of death which is not fully and throughly perswaded that he hathe an vnestimable large rewarde prepared for hym in heauen Thys thyng I saye because the Apostles well vnderstoode they saye vnto the lorde Maister forasmuche as we haue no goodnesse at all but of thee we praye thee that thou wilte encreace our faythe in vs. The Lorde hereupon as one that well knewe the Apostles to bee as yet grosse and vnperfeicte and to make requeste to haue their fayth encreace chiefly for such a purpose that they myghte haue the more power to shewe myracles dooethe in dede allowe and ratifye the strength and power of fayth yf it bee syncere and pure in a body as it ought to bee but he opened vnto theim that thesame oughte to bee coupled with humilitie and sobrenesse of the moste perfeicte degree and that it oughte not to bee shewed foorth for vainglorious bostyng but at suche times alwaies as either the preseruacion of the neighbour orels the glorye of God dooeth at the poynte of some extremitie necessarily require it And hereupon sayeth he by a similitude or comparison If ye haue fayth as a graine or corne of mustarsede whiche is litell in quantye and lowe by the grounde ne putteth not foorth his vertue of bityng the toungue excepte it be bruised in some thing or broken betwene the teeth ye shall saye to this Sycamine tree whiche by reason that the rootes are taken of a great wyde coumpace within the grounde semeth vnpossible by any strength or power to be plucked vp out of his place bee thou plucked vp by the roote and bee thou remoued into the sea there to stande as fast rooted as thou standest here nowe it shal obey your bidding Tertes by the graine of mustardsede the Lorde signifyed himselfe who wheras he shewed and vsed hymselfe the moste lowest and meanesse of al creatures yet dyd he hyde within hym a secrete power of the nature of the godhed which thā neuer afore vttred it selfe whan the grayne of his bodye was bruised on the crosse was in deathe as it were burried within the grounde The effectuall strengthe of this grayne wrought in the disciples whereof they oughte not to haue vsurped any porcion to theyr owneselfes as the which were not the principall autours ne heade dooers of the thynges that they wroughte but onelye ministers and seruauntes assured to be punished if they had lingred or slacked to goe through with executyng that was geuen theim in charge commission to dooe and bounde to putte ouer all the lande prayse vnto god if any thing had or shoulde by meane of theim bee iolyly or royally wel doen. ¶ Who is it of you if he had a seruaunte ploughing or feding cattalle that wil say vnto him whan he cometh from the fielde Goe quickely and sitte down to meate saieth not rather vnto him dresse wherewith I maie sup and girde vp thy self and serue me til I haue eaten and drounken afterward eate thou and drinke thou dooeth he thanke the seruaunte because he did the thinges that wer commaunded vnto him I trowe not So likewise ye whan ye haue dooen all those thinges whiche are commaunded you saye we are vnprofitable seruauntes we haue dooen that whiche was our duetie to dooe This good lesson afore goyng the lorde dyd by addyng thereunto an other parable engraue in the hertes of his disciples Whiche of you sayed he is a maister so muche for a seruauntes ease or commoditie to dwelle withall that in case he haue a seruaunt that is a tiller of hys grounde or his hearde to kepe hys cattall wyll saye to hym by and by as soone as he is come home from hys weorke out of the fielde Geat thee yonder goe sitte the downe to meate and well not rather thus speake come on make readye somewhat for me to haue to my supper and girde thy clothes to thee and come awaite vpon me vntill I shall haue taken my repaste of meate and drinke and than shalte thou take thee some meate and drinke afterwarde And yet this notwithstandyng that the saied seruaunte dyd vprightly and faythfully that his duetye was to do in the fielde dooeth his maister vse to geue hym thankes because he hath dooen all that was geuen hym in commaundemente to bee dooen I thynke not but he would haue punished hym well and truelye in case he had not dooen it And why so veraily for none other respecte or consideracion but because they are seruauntes and euen of duetye oughe all theyr seruyce to theyr mayster to whom theimselfes and all are due as to the true owener And as for the thanke and praise of all that euer is dooen the maister taketh to hymselfe who is accoumpted for the dooer of the thynges whatsoeuer he dooeth by meane of theim who without hym can vtterly dooe no manier good thyng at all And in lyke manier euen ye too take not vnto youre selfes the glorie of youre well dooynges but onely do ye your faithfull labour as your duetie is And whan ye shall haue dooen all thynges whiche been enioyned or commaunded you yet saye ye Unprofitable seruauntes we are what our duetye was to dooe we haue dooen and no more For this humilitie shal conserue and kepe the Iewel of feyth perfecte in you Al the rest of thynges leaue ye vnto your Lord. Leat none of you take into his owne handes as due vnto hym any honour ne preuent he not the iudgement of the Lorde He best knoweth hys owne
that had receyued one went and digged in the yearth and hyd his lordes moneye Iesus added also another parable stirryng hys disciples to the continuall desyre of good woorkes that they shoulde not suffer the doctrine and gyftes that he gaue them to bee barren and vnfruitfull through theyr negligence but through theyr diligence and carefulnesse shoulde turne them to the profite of theyr neyghboure and so make themselues mete for greater giftes because they hadde bestowed that thyng which they hadde receyued after theyr measure and capacitie for theyr maisters aduauntage who desireth to be enriched with suche gayne A certayne man ê™ he goyng farre from home called his seruauntes and deliuered them hys goodes not to spende them and lauyshe them oute for their owne pleasure but to gette sum vauntage therof to theyr mayster of whome they had receyued the stocke And to one he gaue one talente vnto another two agayne to another fyue as he thought euery man meete Thys done furthwith he toke hys iourney He therfore that hadde fyue talentes committed vnto hym ceased not but wente furthwith and lente furthe the moneye that he had taken to vsurye so often that at laste by vsurye he gayned asmuche as hys stocke came to and of fyue talentes he made tenne In lyke maner he that had two talenâ—â—s committed vnto hym soe occupied them that by vsurye he made his gaine as good as his stocke Further he that had one talente deliuered him went hys wayes for slogisshenes and hyd the talente that he had receyued in the grounde thynkyng it ynoughe yf he restored agayne the stocke to his maister After a long season the lorde of those seruauntes came and rekened with them And he that had receiued fiue talentes came and brought other fyue talentes saiyng Lorde thou deliueredst vnto me fyue talentes Behold I haue gained with them fyue talentes mo His lorde sayed vnto hym O good and faythfull seruaunt thou haste been faithfull ouer few thynges I wyll make the ruler ouer many thynges Enter thou into the ioye of thy lorde He also that had receyued two talentes came and sayed Lord thou deliuerest vnto me two talentes Lo I haue wonne two other talentes with them His lord saied vnto him O good and faythfull seruaunt thou haste been faithfull ouer fewe thinges enter into the ioye of thy lorde Therfore after long iourneying the maister returned home and required accoumpte of hys seruauntes of that he had deliuered them and of that that they had layed out Than came furth he whiche had receiued fyue talentes and brought other fyue whiche he had gayned by vsury makyng his accoumpt after this sorte Ye gaue me a stocke of fiue talentes lo I haue gayned as muche more to them The maister praisyng the diligence of hys seruaunte saieth O good and trusty seruaunt because I haue founde the trusty in a litle money I wyll truste the with mo thynges enter into the ioye of thy maister After him came he also vnto whome the maister had committed two talentes and beyng commaunded to make his accoumpt sayethe syr ye committed vnto me the stocke of two talentes lo I haue gayned as muche agayne by vsury The maister commendyng the diligence of this seruaunte also sayeth O good and trustye seruaunt because I haue founde the trusty in a litle hereafter I wyll truste the with greater thynges enter into thy maysters ioye And he whyche had receyued one talente came and sayed Lorde I knewe the that thou arte aâ—hard man reapyng where thou haste not sowen and gatheryng where thou hast not strawed and therfore I was afrayed and went and hyd thy talent in the yearth Lo there thou hast that is thyne His lorde answered and saied vnto hym Thou euil and slouthfull seruaunt thou knewest that I reape where I sowed not and gathered where I haue not strawed thou oughtest therfore to deliuer my moneye to the exchaungers than at my cummyng should I haue receyued my owne wyth gayne Take therfore the talente from hym geue it vnto hym whyche hath ten talentes For to euery one that hath shal bee geuen and he shall haue aboundaunce But he that hath not from hym shal be taken away that whyche he hath And caste the vnprofitable seruaunte into vtter darkenes There shal be wepyng and gnashyng of teeth Finally came he also whyche hadde hyd in the grounde the talente that he hadde receyued and beyng commaunded to render accoumpte doethe not onelye not acknowelege the faulte of slowthefulnesse but also accusyng hys maister of roughnes and greate couetousnes doeth double the faulte of hys duetye neglected Syr ê™ he I knewe ye were a roughe and a sore manne ye take haruest there where ye sowed not and gather gayne there where ye did no coste Therefore fearyng leste yf my stocke by anye chaunce shoulde haue been lost ye woulde haue been cruell and sore agaynste me I wente and hydde youre talente in the grounde Thys hadde I rather doe than to goe aboute to gette gayne by vsury and in the meane season to be in daunger of the stocke Lo thou haste that that is thyne owne If I deserue not prayse for increase of game yet I haue prouided that the stocke shoulde bee safe and sure This communication the maister turneth into hys owne heade saiyng Thou naughty and slouthfull seruaunte thou knowest as thou sayest that I am desitouse of gayne and that I take my harueste there where I haue not sowen and gather gayne there where I bestowed no coste The more therefore oughteste thou to haue committed my moneye vnto the exchaungers and I that hunte for gayne whereas I haue done no coste shoulde haue cumme and required my moneye with gayne and haue taken auauntage there where as I hadde sowen and doone coste The stocke was myne not thyne Thou were bounde to be a diligent seruaunt vnto thy mayster Than he turnyng vnto the other seruauntes sayed take awaye the talente from thys vnprofitable seruaunte and geue it to hym that hath tenne talentes And as they meruayled that he commaunded more to be geuen vnto hym whyche had alreadye aboundantlye the mayster sayeth so it shall cumme to passe in thys kynde of ryches Whoso hath he is worthye to receyue more that he maye abounde and haue plenty but he that by slouthefulnes hathe gotte hym no maner of gaine shall be robbed also of that that he semeth for to haue because he is vnworthye to haue it Furthermore take awaye that vnprofitable seruaunte from my syght and caste hym into the outewarde darkenes There in the stede of the ioye of hys maister whych he would not deserue he shall be pained with wepyng and gnashing of teeth With suche parables the Lorde Iesus pricked forward his disciples bothe with the greatnes of rewardes and with the feare of punishementes vnto the desyre of the euangelicall godlines and also to doe for theyr neyghboures and to feare them from slouthfulnes and from boldenes of yll doyng Whan the
wrathe of God and to atteyn saluacion Now beganne they to waxe sumwhat curable toward to be healed wheÌ„ they acknowlaged their diseases and earnestly desyred remedie Iohn therefore sheweth them a remedye of perfecte strength and efficacie at all assayes For he calleth them not ne exhorteth them to the sacrifices of beastes and suche other iudaicall meanes of pourging their sinnes but vnto the workes of charitie God is with no sacrifice in the world more sooner pacified then with beneficiall doyng to our neighbour God hath no nede of any benefites of oures but he suffereth it to be rekened as doen to himself whatsoeuer we bestow vpon our neighbour beyng in necessitie and nede He that hath two coates sayeth Iohn let hym couer his naked brother with the one of theÌ„ And he that hath asmuch meate as may suffise for twayne let him geue halfe therof to an other that is hungrie With these two exaumples Iohn taught the people of the grosse and blockishe ignoraunt multitude that the most strongest and effectuall meane to appeace God beyng offended with vs is if we by all meanes be fraÌ„ke and bountiful in doyng good to our neighbour whatsoeuer thyng he hath nede of whether it bee apparell or meate or drinke or harbourgh or ayde succour against violence or coumfortable wordes in time of sorow or doctrine for his instruccion or good exhortacion and counsayll And bounden we bee to helpe the present necessitie of our brother not only with part of those thiÌ„ges wherof our selfes haue superfluitie or more then we neede but also we ought to cut of a litle share of suche thynges as myghte otherwyse stand vs in good stede for our own vses and occupiyng as often as our neyghbours necessitie requireth present helpe out of hand This remedy than it was that was geuen by Iohn to the common multitude whiche remedie neuertheles serueth for all men indifferently Than came the Publicans also to be baptised and said vnto him Maister what shal we doe And he said vnto them require no more then that whiche is appointed vnto you Than came also the Publicans that is to saye the customers and takers vp of tolles beeyng semblably stryken with great feare of Iohns preachyng whereas otherwise they were a kynde of people geuen to pollyng rauine and getting all that they might for their owne singuler aduauntage and lucre with all others mennes losse and dammage and hinderaunce meÌ„ nothiÌ„g passyng on religion or on the feare of God but more ready to obey the commaundementes of worldly princes then the preceptes of God whiche sorte of men where as they haue an euyll name among all nacions and bee commonly ill spoken of yet among the Iewes they wer specially aboue al other sortes of men abhorred and repuâ—ed abominable And yet the sore sharpe preachyng of Iohn had stryken suche an horrible great feare into theym all that euen they too as euill as they were came to Iohn requiryng baptisme and desiring to learne how and what way thei might appeace the wrath of god And Iohn the true foregoer messenger of him who would driue back or put away no man were he neuer so muche spotted or defiled with sinne made a soft and a ientle aunswer euen to Publicans also yf ye cannot yet saith he fynde in your hertes to geue out to the poore nedye sum parte of that that is your propre own yet at lestwise make ye this one steppe towardes a better life that froÌ„ hensforth ye holde your handes from pollyng and catchynge awaye the goodes of other men Ye haue an annuall stipende and an ordynary fee of Cesar and it is rated out vnto you by a playne rule howe muche or litle ye ought to require of the people for any duetie ¶ The souldiers lykewyse demaunded of him saiyng And what shall we do And he sayd vnto them hurt ye no man neither trouble any man wrongfully And bee content with your wages After the Publicans came souldiers also an vnruelye and an vngodlye kynde of people hauyng no regarde ne care of any lawes heady and hastye to do wrong and felowes that vsed to sell their life and solle for money setting al their delite felicitie in catching and robbing froÌ„ other meÌ„ fierce and presumteous through ouermuche libertie and sufferaunce Neuertheles the feare of Gods vengeance fell vpon these meÌ„ too and therfore they also came to Iohn They acknowlaged their wicked state of soldiership as they vsed it they desire baptisme and require moreouer to be enfourmed what possible meanes they might make to haue god appeaced to wardes theÌ„ It was surely in this kynde of men a great point of furtheraunce towardes healthe that they would acknowelage their dysease and were pricked with desire of a better life Therfore Iohn would not at the first day aduenture to require in suche as they were that they should shew beneficiall liberalitie towardes theyr neyghbour because he thought it to bee a steppe sufficient and great enough for the first settyng forwarde towardes God yf suche as they wer would honestly refrain and kepe themselues from doing mischief aboute in places where thei caÌ„e And to speake more of this sort of meÌ„ in dede thei are woont to be noysom and hurtfull in thre poyntes especially that is to wete in violent oppression in laiyng to mens charges and burdenyng them with false crimes and in pillage or robberye For oftentymes the weapoÌ„s which the prynces haue delyuered vnto them for defense and maynteynaunce of the publique tranquillitie they tourne to the hurte of their very own countreye men being true subiectes and do auenge theyr owne priuate malice with the same weapon wherewith the safetie of the wholle people in general ought to haue been defended So that oftentimes they goe on theuing for booties and spoyle the countrey they burne they driue away mennes cattell thei ranishe weomen they breake vp mennes houses they turne the good man of the house where they haue been lodged or intertained thei turne him cleane out of his owne doores and pumble him about the paâ—e And because they dooe oftentymes play these partes and haue nothynge sayd nor dooen to them for it they thynke they may doe it lawfully Agayn sum of them promote false playntes against honest simple men beefore their princes or captains for none other purpose sauyng that a porcion of the parties gooddes beeyng seased as a forfayte maye cum to their snapshare in rewarde of their false accusacion maliciously and slaunderously prepeÌ„sed And at suche vngracious prankes the princes do oftentymes wynke whyle they ernestly tendre the gratifiyng of theyr seruauntes Furthermore sum of this sorte of people whan they prodigally coÌ„sume and waste out vpon harlots vpon dice or in bankettyng and reuellyng at the wyne all that euer theyr Prynce dooeth in the name of a fee or stypende allowe theym they make vp their losse agayne with pillyng and pickyng and dooe not onelye leaue suche duties as they
therfore sent messagers afore hym twoo or three of the Apostles to prepaire him some harbourgh and place of soiourneyng within a certaine citie of the Samaritanes throughe whiche his iourney laye And whan they came the tounesmen had shutte the gates of the citie against them because they coniectured by the veray facions and couÌ„tenaunce of the Apostles that they were gooyng towardes Hierusalem For the Samaritanes in consideracyon that all theyr woorshyppyng of God was in a mountaine of their owne hated and abhorâ—ed all such as went to HierusaleÌ„ in the way of deuocion to worship God there Upon this Iames and Iohn who hadde been sente on the sayed message when they sawe the vncourtesie of the inhabitauÌ„tes there whiche woulde not suffre them so much as to come within the precincte of their towne walles beeyng euen all out of pacience sayed to the Lord Maister is it thy pleasure that we bidde fier to come downe from heauen as Helias ons dyd whiche may consume these felowes But Iesus because he woulde shewe howe great the mildenes of a teacher of the ghospell ought to bee bridleed their wrathefulnesse with a sharpe rebuke saiyng Take ye not the dede of Helias for your exaumple He beyng led with the spirite brought the wicked people of that tyme to confusion But as for ye doe not yet vnderstand what spyrite ye ought to bee of That same spirite of the ghospel is more meke then so There shall hereafter come a time of redresse and vengeaunce But vntill that daye the sonne of man is come not to cast awaie mennes liues or soules but to saue them They that do now at this presente kepe vs out of their towne wil peradueÌ„ture an other day hereafter take vs in They are therefore to bee saued that they maie bee in case to repent emende And so leauyng the towne they turned an other waye to an other litle towne By these wordes Iesus toke out of theyr stomakes al desirefulnesse of doing vengeaunce and taught vs to vse fauourable bearyng towardes suche as at the firste begynnyng woulde exclude and kepe out the doctrine of the ghospel from theim allegeyng that it was enough to leaue such for a season vntil they might at a tyme of occasion bee conuerted to a better mynde And it chaunced that as they were walkyng in the waie a certaine man saied vnto him I will folowe the whither soeuer thou goe Iesus saied vnto hym Foxes haue holes and birdes of the ayre haue nestes but the sonne of man hath not where to laie his head Againe it fortuned as they wente that a certaine man of his own voluntarie mynde sayed vnto Iesus I will folowe the whithersoeuer thou shalt goe And Iesus myndyng to shewe that suche as broughte not with them myndes mete for suche a weighty matter were not to bee admitted to the fraternitie of preaching the ghospel for that better it were not to take the matter vpon theÌ„ then to geue it ouer again after it were once taken in hande sayed vnto him Foxes haue holes of theyr owne in the earth and birdes of the aier haue theyr nestes in the trees but the sonne of man hath not anye place where to put hys head in Suche an one therefore as hathe anye thing in this worlde whereon to sette hys delite or whereon to set his ful reste and quiet is no mete folower of the sonne of man He muste renounce all thynges that will folowe me And he saied vnto another folowe me And thesame saied Lord suffre me first to go and buirie my father Iesus saied vnto hym leat the dead buâ—rie their dead But go thou and preache the kyngdom of God An other saied Lord I wil folow the but leaâ—e me first go bid them farewel which are at home at my house Iesus saied vnto him No man that putteth his handes to the plough and looketh backe is apte to the kyngdome of God Againe whan he had cast his iye on a certaine other man he saied vnto hym folowe me But he made this aunswere Maister geue me leaue fyrste to buirie my father But Iesus geuyng a bywoorde that the cause of saluacion is to bee preferred before all poyncâ—es of carnall duetye sayed vnto hym Leate the dead buirye theyr deade but gooe thou and shewe abrode the kyngdome of God By thys exaumple dyd the Lorde forfende the excuses of suche men whiche vnder the colour of naturall affeccion and dutie dooe putte of and delaye the care and earneste appliyng of eternall saluacion And yet a wurse â—orte of menne then those are they whiche vnder the colour of fyndyng stoppes and lettes about the affaires of theyr housholde do prolong drieue of fro morowe to morowe the matter of saluacion whiche oughte euen at the first occasioÌ„ streight way to be gone through withal For there came an other man to hym who beeyng commaunded to folowe him aunswered Maister I will come after thee doe nomore but suffre me to goe bidde my familiar frendes and my housholde farewell Than saied Iesus whosoeuer hath ons put his hande to the plough and than afterwarde loketh backe again is not apte for the kyngdome of God This matter of the ghospell is an high matter and an hard to come to whiche whoso hath ons enterprised thesame must with a peâ—pertuall appliyng of it procede stil and goe forwarde to thynges of more and more perfeccion and neuer turne his mynde awaye to the vyle cares of transitorye thynges of this worlde The .x. Chapter After these thinges the Lorde appointed other seuenty also and sent them two and two before him into euerie citie and place whether he himself would come Therfore he saied vnto them the haâ—uest is great but the labourers are fewe Praie ye therefore the lord of the haruest to send forth labourers into the haruest Goe your waies Behold I send you forth as lambes emong woulfes Beare ye no wallet neither scrip nor shooes and salute no maÌ„ by the waie Into whatsoeuer house ye entre first sate Peace be to this house And if the sonne of peace be there your peace shall teste vpon hym yf not it shall turne to you againe And in the same house tarrye styll eatyng and drinkyng suche as they geue For the labourer is woorthye of his rewarde AFter these thinges the Lord chose and toke out of the noumbre of his disciples other seueÌ„tie also as he had tofore chosen his twelue Apostles and sent them two and two before hym into euerye citie place whether he himself had determined to come to the end that by theyr preaching teaching before thei might prepare and make ready the myndes of the people against the cumming of the Lord. These dyd he euen so enstructe howe to preache and teache his ghospel as he had before taught the twelue and he shewed and opened the cause why he had so encreased the noumbre of preachers saiyng The harueste is greate but the labourers are fewe praye ye
goddes hande who can not vse anye deceipte or fraude and who as he is both riche bountiful will for vile thinges repaye most precious for earthly thinges celestial for thinges transitory and shortly to bee taken awaye thynges eternally for euer and euer to endure Endeuour your selues therefore to bee grounded ryche menne in suche goodes as these geat you treasour bagges that dooe neuer weaxe olde and laye vp treasour for your vse in heauen whiche shall neuer fayle and whiche shall bee safe for you aswell from theues as from mothes For this thing we see commonlye to chaunce that in what place euery manne hath hys treasoure there hath he his hearte also For what thing a man dooeth earnestlye loue the same can he not forgeat lyke vnto a ryche manne that hath great goodes eyther layed vp at home in hys cofers or dygged in the grounde thoughe he bee abrode from home yet he hath hys hearte at home full of care and feare leste some priuye these shoulde robbe them leste any other casuall chaunce may eyther bewray or perishe hys treasour Agayne they that be in loue haue theyr myndes euermore earnestly fixed and set on the thyng that they loue But your herte muste euermore be in heauen And in heauen will it euermore bee if ye shall haue nothing on the earthe whiche ye dooe eyther hyghly esteme or loue but shall haue all your treasour safely layed vp in heauen ¶ Let your Iâ—ygnes bee girt about and your lightes burning and ye your selues like vnto men that awayte for theyr lorde when he will returne from the wedding that whaÌ„ he cometh and knocketh they may open vnto him immediatly Happie are those seruauÌ„tes whome the Lorde whan he cometh shall fynde wakyng Veryly I say vnto you that he shall girde himselfe about and make them to sit downe to meate and he walkyng by shall minyster vnto them And if he come in the seconde watche yea if he come in the third watche and fynde them so happie are those seruauntes This vnderstande ye that if the good man of the house knewe at what houre the thefe woulde come he woulde surelye watche and not suffer his house to bee broken vp Be ye therfore ready also for the sonne of manne will come at an houre whan ye thynke not The tyme is shorte with all earneste endeuour ye must attende that ye hoorde vp in heauen a great heape of good weorkes The daye approcheth euen at hande in whiche euerye one of you shall for the seede that you haue sowed of temporall thynges reape an harueste euerlastyng But because thys daie is to you vncertaine ye muste continually froÌ„ time to time bee prepayred and readie against it come And that shall ye bee if ye shall not bee stopped ne staighed with any lettes or impedimentes of wordely thinges if ye shall not haue leat slippe any occasion of doing good Agaynst the cumming of thys day than eat your loignes from time to time be wel girt about leat light burning candels be in your handes that ye may be like vnto wise and feithful seruauntes who because they are vncertayne what houre their lorde wil returne froÌ„ the wedding they stande continually in a redinesse watching with torche-light to the ende that assone as he beyng come home agayne shall knocke they may by and by open the doores vnto hym Thys diligence of seruauantes shall not be displeasaunte to the lorde or maister but happy may they bee yf the maister sodaynly cumminge shall see theym watching For this I saye vnto you for a certayntie that the maister shall geue agayne to theym an excedyng large rewarde for that pleasure and seruice whiche neuerthelesse it was their bounden dutie to doe For he agayne on hys partie shall girde hymselfe and diligently watching what euery one requireth to haue he shall as a seruitoure geue it theym hys owne handes Neyther dooeth it make any force in what parte of the night he cometh for it was his pleasure to haue that thyng vncertayne but at whatsoeuer watche of the night he cometh whether in the secounde or in the thirde or in the veray dead of the night happy shall the seruauntes bee yf the lorde shal finde them in a due readinesse There is therfore no slackenesse to be vsed in this life But so muste men liue as though that day shoulde come euen at this present houre For it shall sodainly and vnwares steale vpon the worlde therfore muste men alwaies prouyde that it maye not come vpon theim beyng vnready For after that he shall be ous already come it will by that time be ouerlate to amende the slepinesse afore paste There is none so sluggyshe a mayster of an house that woulde suffer to haue an hole dygged throughe into hys house by a nyghte these if he knewe afore hande what houre the thefe woulde come That if suche an one dooeth kepe continuall watche that he maye not bee spoyled of hys worldelye goodes howe muche more is it youre parte to watche that ye maye not lese the blisse euerlastyng As the nyghte thefe comethe stealyng at suche an houre whan the folkes of the house are moste harde and dead in slepe and leaste loking of all is for any body to vndermyne it so shall the sonne of man sodaynely come at suche an houre whan ye shall leaste of all mystruste or thynke that he will come Therefore in asmuche as that same tyme is to you vnknowen and yet vndoubted it is that come he will bee ye contynually readye well armed and furnyshed with good weorkes and lyghte as menne clene rydde and voyde from all lettes or encoumbraunces of thinges worldely ¶ Petur sayed vnto him Maister tellest thou thys similitude vnto vs or to all men And the lorde sayed Who is a feithfull and wise stewarde whome hys lorde shall make rewler ouer his householde to geue them their duetie of meat in due season happie to that seruaunte whome his lorde whan he cometh shal finde so dooing Of a trueth I say vnto you that he wil make him rewler ouer al that he hath But and if the seruaunt say in his herte my lorde will differre his cumming and shall beginne to smyte the seruauntes and maydens and to â—ate and drinke and bee dronken the lorde of that seruaunte wil come to a day whan he thinketh not and at an houre whan he is not ware and will heâ—e him in pieces and geue him his rewarde with the vnbeleuers Petur whan he had hearde these woordes sayde vnto the Lorde maister whether is it thy pleasure that thys parable shall appertayne properlye and directely to vs alone that are thy disciples or els dooeth it indifferentlye concerne and touche all people Than the lorde in suche sorte attempereth hys aunswere that he denyeth it not in some behalfe to perteyne to all menne that couet to atteygne euerlastyng saluacyon but specially he signyfyeth it to concerne suche as haue the despensacion and disbursing of