there may ye be also Father I wyl that they which thou hast geuen me be with me where I am that they maye see my glory whiche thou hast geuen me We knowe that if our earthy mansâ—…on of this dwelling were destroyed we haue a building of God an habitation nâ—…t made with handes but euerlasting in heauen Reade forth the Chapter When soeuer Christe our lyfe shall appeare then shall you also appeare with him in glory The lorde hymselfe shall come downe from heauen wyth a shoote and the voyce of the Archaungel and tromp of God And the dead in Christ shall arise first then we whiche shall lyue euen we which shall remayne shal be caught vppe with them also in the clouds to mete y e Lord in the ayre so shal we euer be with the lorde Therefore comfort your selues one another with these wordes The spirite or soule is before God a precious thinge and much set by Christ was killed as pertaning to the flesh but was quickened in the spirit In which spirite he also went and preached vnto the spirites that were in prison c. Here it is manifest that the spirites or soules of men are immortal and liue either in glory or in payne after they be losoned from the body Examples out of the new Testament WHen the Sadâ—…ces denied the resurrec tion of the body and the immortaliti of the soule Christe aunswered theÌ„ saying haue ye not reade what is wrytten I am the God of AbrahaÌ„ the God of Isaac and the God of Iacob He is not the God of the dead but of the liuing By this testimony of the holy scripture Christ declareth that though Abraham Isaac Iacob and al other of the faithful be dead as concerning theyr bodyes yet their soules liue with God and are immortall The history of the pore maÌ„ Lazarus of the rich vnmercifull gloton proueth euidentlye that the soules dye not with the body nor yet slepe vntil the day of iudgement as the vngodly Anabaptists dream nether are they cast into purgatory as the papistes teach but that the soules of the faythfull goe immediatly after their departure from the body vnto eternal glory and the soules of the vnfaythfull vnto euerlasting damnation so that the soules of al men are immortall and liue for euer either in heauen or in hel in glory or in payne The parable of the vnrighteous steward setteth forthe also the immortality of the soule as these words of Christ do declare Make you frends sayth he of the wicked Mammon that when ye shal depart hence they may receiue you into euerlastig dwel ling places The soule came agayne to the widowes son to the rulers doughter to Lazarus to them that after Christes resurrection came out of their graues to Dorâ—…s to Eu tichus c. Which thing declareth maâ—…festlye that the soule dyeth not with the bo dy but stil liued and remayned immortall The thiefe that hanged one the crosse with Christ sayde vnto him Lord remember me when thou shalte come into thy kingdome Christe aunswered verelye I saye vnto thee this daye shalt thou be with me in paradise The body of the thiefe dyed shortly after and was committed to the earth The soule of the thiefe was in paradise with Christ. The soule therfore liueth and remaineth immortall or els muste Christ be a liar But let God be true and all heretikes liars Sainct Stephen being at the pointe of death prayed saying lorde Iesu take my spirite Sainct Paule wisshed to be losoned out of his bodye and to bee with Christ. I saw vnder the aulter saith Sainct Iohn the souls of them that wer killed for the word of God and for the testimony whiche they had and they cried with a loude voyce saiing howe long tariest thou O lord bolye and true to iudg and to auenge our bloud on them that dwel on the earth and longe white garmentes were geuen vnto euery one of them And it was sayde vnto them that they should rest for a little season vntyll the number of their felowes and brethren and of them that should be killed as they were were fulfilled ¶ Of the glory of heauen and of euerlasting lyfe IF Sathan go forth to tempt thee that thou mightest lose the inheritance of the kingdome of god and say vnto thee that thou art a sinner an abhominable liuer and therfore thy faith is frustrate and thy hope vain in loking for the glory of heauen for God is a righteous Iudge and rewardeth euery man according to his deedes and merites let all these his craftyâ—… assaultes nothinge moue or abashe thee but call to thy remembraunce and beleeue stedfastlye that the heauenlye kingdome is not geuen thee for thy merites and desartes for so shouldest thou receiue nothing but eternal dampnation but for the promises which god the father hath made thee in Christes bloud if thou repent beleue Therfore cast away that rightousnes which the hypocrites chalenge by their good works and lay handes on that which commeth by faith of Iesus Christe so canst thou not be deceiued so can sathan win nothyng at thy hande so can it not but come to pas that thou shalt enioy the glory of heauen thorowe Christe Iesu. And that thou mayest doubt nothinge in this behalfe imprint these sentences and examples of the holy â—… scripture diligeÌ„tly and earnestly in thy minde ☞ Examples out of the olde Testament THe Lord hath saued me because it was his pleasure Prayse the Lorde O my soul and all that is within me praise his holy name Praise the Lord O my soule and forget not all his benefites which forgeueth all thy sinnes and healeth all thine infirmities which saueth thy life from destructioÌ„ and crowneth the with mercy and louing kindnesse They that put their trust in me shall inherite the land and possesse my holy hil Thy damnation O Israel came of thy selfe but thy saluation commeth of me Examples out of the olde Testament That princelye Prophet Dauid being thorowly perswaded that the inheritance of the glory of heauen and the possession of euerlasting life is the free gift of god thorow Iesus Christe and is denied to none although neuer so sinful and wretched if they repent being nothing appalled with his former sinful liuig as though y â— shuld pluck him from the inheritaunce of the heuenly kingdome knew what blessed felicitie and ioyful quietnes the soules of the faithful do enioy after their departure froÌ„ the bodyes lamented he caried so longe in this vale of misery and no lesse feruently desired to come and appeare before the face of god than the thirstye harte desireth to come to the water brookes The godly auncient Tobye knowinge gods exceeding great liberalitie in the gift of euerlastinge quietnes after the humble submission of him self vnto the Lorde hys god wyshed rather to dy than to lyue and beseched god that hys spyryte might be receiued in
Lorde our God is one Lord onely And thou shalte loue the Lord thy God with all thy harte with al thy soule with all thy might And these woordes which I commaunde thee thys day shalt thou take to harte and shalt rehearse them vnto thy children and shalt talke of them when thou sittest in thyne house and whē thou walkest by the way when thou lyest downe and when thou rysest vp And thou shalt binde them for a signe vpon thine hand and they shall bee a token of remembrance before thine eies thou shalt write them vpon the postes of thine house and vpon the gates If ye harken vnto my commaundemēts which I commaund you this day that ye loue the Lorde your God and serue hym with all your hart wyth all your soule then will I geue rayne vnto your lande in due season earlye and late that thou mayest gather in thy corne thy wine and thine oyle and I wyll geue grasse vppon thy fielde for thy cattell that ye maye eate and be fylled But beware that your harte bee not deceyued that ye goe aside and serue other gods and worship them and then the wrathe of the Lorde waxe whote vppon you and he shutte vppe the heauen that there come no rayne and the earth geue not her encrease and ye perish shortly from the good land which the lord hath geuen you Put vp therefore these my woordes in your hartes and in your soules and binde them for a signe vpon your handes that they bee a token of remembraunce before your eyes and teache them your childrē so that thou talke of them when thou sittest in thine house or walkest by the way when thou liest downe and when thou risest vp and write them vpon the postes of thine house and vpon the gates that thou and thy children may liue long in y e land which the Lord sware vnto thy fathers to geue them as long as the dayes of heauen endure vpon earth Let my doctrine encrease as rayne and my speach flow as doth the dew Euen as the rayne vppon the grasse and the drops vpon the herbe Take to heart all the wordes which I testifie vnto you this day that ye cōmaūd your children to obserue and do all these woordes of this lawe For it is no vayne worde to you but it is your lyfe and this worde shall prolong your life Be strong and verye bolde that thou mayest keepe and doe euery thing according to the lawe that Moses my seruaunt commaunded thee Turne not aside from it neither to the right hand nor to the left that thou maiest deale wisely whether soeuer thou goest And let not the booke of this lawe depart out of thy mouthe but exercise thy selfe therin day and nighte that thou mayest keepe and doe euery thing according to it that is written therin Then shalt thou prosper in thy wayes and deale wisely Lo I haue commaunded thee to be strong and bolde Fear not and be not afrayde for the Lord thy God is with thee whersoeuer thou goest Blessed is the man that deliteth in the law of the Lord and exerciseth himself in his law both day and night Lay hand on the learning lest the Lord be angry so ye perish frō the right way The law of the Lord is pure it turneth soules The witnesse of the Lord is faith full it geueth wisdom euen vnto babes The statutes of the Lord are right they reioyce the hart the commaundement of the Lord is bright and lighteneth the eyes The feare of the Lord is holy it endureth for euer the iudgements of the Lorde are true and righteous altogether they are more pleasaunt and worthy more to be desired then golde and precious stone yea they be sweter then the hony and the hony combe The Lord shall tell in the Scriptures of the people and of those Princes that were in her Blessed is the man whom thou hast nur tered O lord and taught him thy lawe He hath sent his word healed them deliuered them from their destructions Blessed are thei y e search his testimonies seeke after him with their whole harte Thou hast geuen strait charge that thy commaundements should be kept Oh that my wayes were stablished to kepe thy statutes then should not I be cō founded while I haue respect vnto all thy commaundements Where with all shall a younge man clenfe his way Uerely by ruling himselfe according to thy worde With my whole hart haue I sought thee oh let me not goe wrong out of thy commaundements Thy wordes haue I hid within my hart that I should not sinne against thee Thou rebukest y e proud cursed are they that depart from thy commaundements In thy testimonies is my delite yea thy statutes are my counsellers Teach me O Lord the way of thy statutes and I shall kepe it vnto the ende Oh geue me vnderstanding and I shall kepe thy law yea I shall kepe it with my whole harte Leade me in the path of thy commaundements for that is my desire Enclyne my hart vnto thy testimonies and not vn to couetousnes The law of thy mouthe is better vnto me then thousandes of gold and siluer The wicked mē haue told me tales but nothing agreable to thy law For all thy commaundements are true yet haue the vngodly persecuted me If my delite wer not in thy law I shuld perish in my trouble Oh how swete are thy wordes vnto my throte yea more then honye is vnto my mouth Thy worde is a lanterne vnto my feete and a light vnto my pathe It is hie time for thee O Lord to laye to thyne hand For they haue destroyed thy lawe For I loue thy commaundementes aboue golde and precious stone The preachinge of the worde geueth sighte yea and bringeth forth vnderstanding euen vnto the very babes Helthe is far from the vngodlye for they regard not thy statutes But great is the peace that they haue which loue thy lawe and they are not offended at it My Sonne if thou wilte receiue my wordes and kepe my commaundementes by thee that thine eare may harken vnto wisedome apply thine hart then to vnder standing For if thou criest after wisdome and callest for knowledg if thou sekest after her as after mony diggest for her as for treasure then shalt thou vnderstande the fear of the lord and find the knowlege of God For it is the Lorde that geeueth wisdome out of his mouthe commeth knowledge and vnderstandinge He preserueth the welfare of the righteous and de◅ēdeth them that walk innosētly he kepeth thē in the right path and preserueth the way of the saintes Then shalt thou not vnder stand rightuousnesse iudgement and equi tie yea and euery good path If wisedome enter into thine harte and thy soule delite in knowledge then shall councel preserue thee and vnderstanding shall keepe thee That thou maiest be deliuered frō the euill waye and from the
bee vnto their soules for they haue rewarded 〈◊〉 vnto theÌ„selues Byd the righteous do wel for they shal enioy y â— fruites of their study But wo be vnto thâ—… vngodly and vnrigheeous for thei shal be rewarded after their workes Thou shalt not praye for thys people thou shalte neyther geue thankes nor byd prayer for them Thou shalte make no in tercession to me for them for in no wise will I heare thee Readâ—… fourth This said the lord vnto me thou shalt not praye to do this people good for thoughâ—… they fast I will not heare their prayers Though they offer burnt offrings and sacrifices yet will not I accepte them For I wil destroy them with the sworde and hunger and pestilence ☞ Examples out of the olde Testament THe seruauntes and all the army of the proude Senacherib were destroyed for their blasphemy agaynst god Holoâ—…rnes blasphemed God when he sayde that there was none other god of the earth but Gabuchodonosor and therfore was he afterwarde slayne euen of a woman Nabugodonosor blasphemed god wheÌ„ he sayde to the three chyldren who is the God that caÌ„ delyuer you out of my hands The children of Isarell blasphemed god therfore perished when they sayd to the Prophet Ieremy As for the wordes that thou haste spoken vnto vs in the name of the lorde we will in no wise heare them But whatsoeuer goeth out of our owne mouth that will we doo We will do sacrifice and offer oblations vnto the quene of heauen lyke as we and our forefathers our kyngs and our rulers haue done in the cityes of Iuda and in the streates and fieldes of Ierusalem For then had wee plenteousnesse of vitails then were we in prosperytye and no mysfortune came vpon vs. But sence we lefte to offer and to sacrifice vnto the quene of heauen wee haue had scarsnesse of all thynges and perish with sworde and honger Those Iewes blasphemed God which saide let vs goe and make a couenaunte with the Heathen that are rounde aboute vs. For since we departed from them we haue had sorowe inough Nicanor blasphemed god when he saide Is their a mighty one in heauen that commaunded the Saboth daye to be kept It was aunswered yea euen the liuing god the mighty Lorde in heauen commaunded the. vii daye to be kepte Then sayde be and I am myghty vpon earth to commaunde them for to arme themselues and to performe the kinges busines Sentences out of the newe Testament He that is not with me is again me saith Christe And be that gathereth not with me scatereth abrode Therfore I say vnto you all manner of sinne and blasphemy shal be forgeuen vnto men but the blasphe mye agaynste the spirite shall not be forgeuen vnto men And whosoeuer speaketh a worde against the sonne of man it shal be forgeuen him But whosoeuer speaketh against the holy ghost it shal not be forgeuen him neither in this worlde nor in the worlde to come If any men see his brother sinne not vnto death let him aske and he shal geue him life for theÌ„ that sin not vnto deth Ther is a sin vnto death for which I say that a maÌ„ should not pray It maye not be that they whiche were once lightened and haue tasted of the heauâ—…nly gifte and were become partakers of the holy ghost and haue tasted of the good word of god and the powers of the world to come If they fall awaye ' that they should againe be renewed by repentaunce which in them selues do crucify the sonne of God making a mock of him If we sinne wilfully after that we haue receiued the knowledge of truth there remayneth no more sacrifice for sinnes but a feareful loking for iudgement and violent fire whiche shall deuoure the aduersarie He that despiseth Moyses lawe dyeth without mercye vnder two or three wytnesses How muche sorer suppose ye shall he be punished which treadeth vnder foote the Sonne of God and counteth the bloud of the Testament wherewith he was saÌ„ctified as an vnholy thing and dishonoure to the sprite of grace Examples out of the new Testament The Iewes spake blasphemie against the holy ghoste when they said of Christ by the power of Belzebub doth he cast out Deuils They were blasphemers whiche sayde to Christe hanginge on the cros thou that destroyedst the Temple of GOD and buildest it againe in three dayes saue thy selfe If thou be the sonne of God come down from the crosse They also spake blasphemy against the holy ghost which now adaies of a pretensed malice condemne the worde of God as herey and persecute the preachers therof as heretickes and sedicious persons Against the despising of Gods word of the plagues that follow the same IF the deuil go about to pluck downe thy minde from the loue of gods worde and to moue thee to despise the doctrine of thy saluation so that thou shouldest no more delight in the moste comfortable gospel of Christe which is the power of god to saue so many as beleue but rather in thinges of vanitie â—…ake hede that thou leanest not to his subtile suggestions but standing in awe of gods iudgementes â–ª and fearing his plagues valeauntly resist Sathan with these holy scriptures following ☞ Sentences out of the olde Testament IF ye wil not harken vnto me saieth the Lord nor kepe my commaundementes but despise them c. then wil I doo this againe vnto you I will set my face against you and ye shall fal before your enemies and they that hate you shall raigne ouer you I will make the heauen ouer you as hardyron and your land as hard as bras I will sende my wilde beastes vpon you whiche shall rob you of your children and destroy your cattel I wil send a sword vp on you that shall auenge my Testament with you I wil send the pestilence among you Reade the Chapiter to thend If thou wilt not harken to the voice of the Lord thy God to kepe and to do all his commaundements and ordinaunces then all these curses shall come vpon thee ouertake thee Cursed shalt thou be in the Towne and cursed in the Fielde cursed shall thine almayrye be and thy store Cur sed shall the fruite of thine bodye and the fruite of thy lande be and the fruite of thy oxen and the flock of thy shepe The Lord shall make the pestilence cleane to thee vn til he haue consumed thee from the lande The Lord shall smite thee with madnesse blindnes and dasing of hart because thou seruedst not the Lord thy god with ioyfulnes and with a good hart for the abouÌ„daÌ„cs of all thinges wherefore thou shalt serue thine enemie which the Lord shal send oâ—… thee in hunger and thirste in nakednes in neede of all thinges And he shall put a yoke of iron vpon thy necke vntil be haue brought the to nought Read this Chapiter diligeÌ„tly from the beginning to
man that speaketh froward thinges from such as leaue the high streat walk in the way of darknes which reioyce in doing euill and delite in wicked thinges whose wayes are crooked and their pathes slaunderous That thou maiest be delited also from the straunge woman and frō her that is not thine owne which geueth sweet wordes forsaketh the husbande of her youth and forgetteth the couenaunte of her God For her house is enclined vnto death and her pathes vnto Hell All they that go in vnto her come not againe neither take they holde of the waye of life That thou walk in the good way and keepe y ◠pathes of the righteous For the iust shall dwell in the lande and the innocentes shall remaine in it but the vngodly shall be rooted out of the lande and the wicked doers shal be taken out of it Blessed is the man that findeth wisedome and obtaineth vnderstanding for y e getting of it is better then any m◅rchandise of siluer and the profit of it is better then gold Wisdom is more worth then precious stones and all the thinges that thou canst desire are not to be compared vnto her Upon her ryght hand is long life and vppon her lefte hande is ryches and honor Her wayes are pleasaunt waies and al her pathes ar peaceable She is a tree of life to them that lay hold vpon her and blessed are thei that kepe her fast My son let not these thinges depart frō thine eies but kepe my law and counsail so shall it be life vnto thy soule and grace vnto thy mouthe Then shalte thou walke safely in thy waye and thy foote shall not stumble If thou slepest thou shalt not be afrayed but shalt take thy rest and slepe swetely Thou shalte not nede to be afrayed of any soden feare neither for the violent rushing in of the vngodly whē it commeth For the lord shall be beside thee and kepe thy fote that thou be not taken Let thine heart receiue my words kepe my commaundementes and thou shalt◅ lyue Get the◅ wisdome get thee vnderstandinge forget not the wordes of my mouth and shrink not from thē Forsake her not and shee shall preserue thee loue her and she shal kepe thee The chief point of wisedome is that thou willingly to obtaine wisedome and before all thy goods to get vnderstandinge Make much of her and she shall promote thee yea if thou embracest her she shall bringe thee vnto honour She shall make thee a gracious head garnishe thee with the crowne of glory Heare my son receiue my wordes that the yeres of thy life may be manye I will shew the way of wisdome and lead thee in the righte pathes So that if thou goest therin there shal no straitnes hinder thee and when thou runnest thou shalt not fall Take faste holde of doctrine let her not go kepe her for she is thy life The commaundement is a lantern and the law is a light and the way of life Wher no knowlege of gods word is the soule is not wel Apply thy heart vnto learning and thine eare to the wordes of knowledge Hee that turneth away his eare from hearing the lawe his prayer shal be abhorred When the preachinge of Gods worde faileth then perisheth the people Euerye worde of GOD is pure and cleane yea it is a shield to them that trust in it Uaine are all those men in whom no knowledge of god is Neither hearbe nor emplasture hathe healed thē but thy worde O Lord which healeth all thinges The fountaine of wisedome is the the word of god Be make and lowly to heare the word of god that thou mayest vnderstand and bring forth a wise and true answer Haue all thy pleasure in the commaun dements of god and in his lawes be thou most of al occupied and he shall geue thee an hart and a desire of wisdome shal be ge uen thee Be not slacke to beleue the worde of God Learnig is a precious iewel to a wisemā Nothing is better then the feare of god and nothing is sweter then to haue a respect to the commaundements of the Lord My people is led captiue because they haue no knowledge They haue caste away the lawe of the Lorde of hostes and the worde of the holy one of Israell haue they blasphemed Therfore is the wrath of the lord who◅ agaynst his people and he wyl stretche oute his hande and destroye them Make hast vnto the law and witnesse If they speake not according to this word they shall not haue the morning light All ye that are a thirst come vnto the waters and ye that haue no mony make haste by and eat Come I say by without mony and without any ◅xchaunge wyne and milke Why lay ye out your monye for that that is not breade in deede and spend your labor about that that shall neuer satisfye you Heare me heare I saye and eate that which is good that ye may be well liking Geue eare and come vnto me heare me I say and your soule shall liue As raine and snowe commeth downe ◅rom heauen and returneth not th◅ther agayne but watereth the earth and maketh it to bud and bring forth the fruit so that it geueth sede to the sower breade to the eater so shall my word be that shal come out of my mouth It shall not returne vnto me boyde but shall do what soeuer I wil and prosper in them to whom I send it Let not the wise man reioyce in his wysedome nor the stronge man in hys strength nor yet let the riche man glorye in his riches but let him that reioyseth reioyce in this thing that he know me that I am y e Lord which doth mercy iudgemēt and righteousnes in the earth Withdrawe not the woorde from the people if peraduenture they heare turne from their wicked way so that it may repent me of the euil which I haue determi ned to do vnto them for the maliciousnes of their councels Heare Israel the commaundements of life geue eare that thou maiest become wise Howe chaunced it O Israell that thou arte in the lande of thine enemies Thou art worne out in a straunge lande thou art defiled with the dead Thou art◅ reputed with them that go down to Hell Thou hast forsaken the fountain of wisedome For if thou haddest walked in the way of god vndoubtedlye thou haddest dwelt in rest vpon the earth Learne therfore where wisedome is and vnderstanding is that thou maiest also know where continuance of life is and all thinges necessary for to maintaine the same agayne where the light of the eyes and peace is This is the booke of the commaundementes and the lawe whyche abideth for euer All that keepe it shall come vnto life but they that forsake it shall come vnto death Behold the day is come sayth y ◠Lord that I
wyll caste an hunger vppon the earth not the hunger of breade nor the thirst of water but of bearing the word of the Lord. And they shal go from sea to sea and walke aboute from the South to the East sekinge the worde of the Lorde and yet shall they not finde it ☞ Examples out of the 〈◊〉 Testament GOd the Father wrote the law of the ten coÌ„maundements in tables of stone with his finger and commaunded Moyses to declare them vnto the people The people are commaunded of God not only to rede his holy law but also diligently to exercise them selues in the me ditation therof so long as they liue and to teach it their childreÌ„ yea to talk of it both in their house and when they go abroad and to write it vpon tâ—…e thresholds dores and postes of their houses that it may bee â—…er in their sight For man shall not liue with breade alone but with euery worde that procedeth from the mouth of God A kinge is commaunded to reade the boke of the law of the Lorde all the dayes of his life that he may feare the Lorde his God Iosua was commaunded that the boke of the Lordes law should not depart from his mouth but that he shoulde study in it day and night that he might kepe and do all thinges that are written in that boke King Saul was cast down from his roy all estate because he was negligente and disobedient to the law of God When Dauid lay on his deathe bed he saide to Sallomon thou shalt prosper and come to great renoume if thou kepest the commaundementes and ordinaunces which the Lord commaunded Moses Ioas when he was crowned in y â— temple had the law of the Lord deliuered vnto his handes that he shoulde keepe and maintaine the same Iosaphat that walked in the commaundementes of the Lord loued Gods word so entierly that he sent hys princes Leuites and priestes to teach in all partes of Iuda which had the booke of the Lordes law with them and went about in all the cities of Iuda and taught the people Ezechias diligently walked in the law of the Lord purged his realme of all idolatry set vp againe the true worshipping of God exhorted all his subiectes to followe the lawe of their Lord God Iossas that most godly king which walked so purely in the waies of the lord that he declined neither on the ryght hand nor on the left when the boke of the law was deliuered vnto him did not only cause the booke to be red before hym but he himself also red it before all his people both small and great and all idolatry destroyed restored the true religion to hys kingdome Esdras red the law of the Lord plainly and distinctly to the people they gaue very earnest and diligent attendaunce to the bearing of it Susan from her infanciâ—… was so diligentlye brought vp of her parentes in the lawe of God that she did not onely feare god but also chused rather to be stoned vn to death then she would once transgresse the law of god by committing adultery Sentences out of the newe Testament Man shall not liue with breade alone but with euery worde that commeth out of the mouth of God Uerely verely I say vnto you this age shal not passe till all these things be done Heauen and earth shall passe awaye but my wordes shall not passe away Blessed are they that heare the word of god and kepe it Blessed is he that eateth bread in the kingdome of God They haue Moyses and the Prophets let them heare them If they heare not Moyses and the Prophets neither will they beleue though one shoulde rise from the dead Thys is condemnation that lyghte is come into the world and that men loued darkenes more then lyght because theyr workes were euill For euery man that doth euill hateth the lyght neyther commeth he to y â— light least his workes should be reproued but he that doth truth commeth to light that his deedes myghte bee known how they are wrought in god Search the scriptures for ye thinke to haue eternall lyfe in them and these are they which testifie of me neyther will ye come vnto me that ye may haue life The wordes that I speake to you are spirite and life Lord to whom shal we go Thou hast the wordes of euerlasting lyfe He that is of god heareth the wordes of god But ye heare not bicause ye are not of god If a man kepeth my worde he shal neuer see death My sheepe heare my voyce and I know them and thei folow me and I geue them euerlasting lyfe Walke while ye haue light least darknes ouerwhelme you He that walketh in darknes knoweth not whether he goeth While ye haue light beleue in the lyghte that ye may be the children of lyght He that hath my preceptes and keepeth them he it is that loueth me If any man loueth me he will kepe my word and my father will loue him and we shall come to him and dwell with hym This is euerlasting life euen to knowe thee the alone true God and whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ. Euery one that is of the truth heareth my voyce The gospell of Christ is the power of god vnto saluation for so many as beleue Except the Lorde of bostes had left vnto vs sede that is hys most blessed word we had bene as Sodom and might well haue bene likened to Gomorra Faith commeth by hearing and hearing by the word of God Whatsoeuer thyngs are written afore time are writteÌ„ for our learning that we thorowe pacience comfort of the Scriptures might haue hope The word of the crosse is to them that perishe folishnesse but to vs â–ª that obtaine saluation it is the power of God If the gospell of Christ be yet byd it is byd among them that are loste in whom y â— god of this world hath blinded y â— minds of them which beleue not least the light of the glorious gospel of Christ which is the image of God should not shyne vnto theÌ„ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly with all wysedome Teach and monish one an other Quench not the spirite Despise not the studies and preachinges of the holy Scripture Proue all thinges and that is good holde faste God will all men to be saued and come vnto the knowledge of the truth Geue thy minde to reading exhortation and doctrine continue in these things Continue in reading the holy scripture which is able to make thee wyse vnto saluatioÌ„ thorow the fayth which is in Christ Iesus For all Scripture geueÌ„ by inspiration of God is profitable to teache to improue to amend and to instructe in ryghteousnes that the man of god may be perfecte and prepared to all good workes The word of God is
had and they cryed with a loud voice saying how longe tariest thou O Lord holy and true to iudge and to reuenge our bloude on them that be on the earth And long white garments were g◅ uen vnto euery one of them And it was said vnto them that they should rest a little season til the nomber of their fellowes and brethren and of them that shoulde be killed as they were fulfilled Against the temptation which the faithful haue when they compare their miseries and wretchednes with the welth prosperitie ▪ and pleasures of the swinish Epicures and wicked worldlinges Where thou also shalt see the misera ble end of the vn godly IF Sathan our olde aduersary with his handemaide the fleshe shall at any time moue thee to forsake God and his holy worde ▪ by considering the florishing and triumphant estate of the wicked worldlinges and the to muche miserable and base trade of the Lordes seruauntes and professoures of gods truth which liue in all kinde of misery wretchednes and pouertie and ar piteously oppressed of the tirants of this worlde when on the contrarye part the vngodlye haue all thinges at their owne pleasure and liue at their hartes ease without disturbance for lacke of temporall thinges consent no◅ to his subtil assaultes ▪ but manfully resist them cōsidering with thy selfe that thoughe the vngodlye raigne in t is world and haue the vppermost hand yet shall their end be miserable when the poore afflicted for Gods cause shall altar their manifolde temptations be rewarded with perpetuall ioy and euerlastinge glorye and that thou mayest be the more assuredly perswaded in these thinges ▪ call to remembrance these holy scriptures folowing Sentences out of the olde Testament KNowest thou not this that from the beginning euer since the creation of man vpon earth the praise of the vngodly hath bene short and that the ioy of the hipocrites hath continued but the twinck ling of an ey Though he be magnified vp to the heauen so that his hed reacheth vnto the cloudes yet he perisheth at the laste like dong in somuch that they which haue seene him shall say where is he He vanissheth as a dreame so that he can no more be founde and passeth away in a vision in the night so that the eye whiche saw him before getteth now no sighte of him his place knoweth him no more Wherefore do the wicked men liue in healthe and prosperitie come to their olde age and encrease in riches Their Childers children liue in their sighte and their generation before their eyes Their houses are safe from all feare for the rod of god doothe not smite them Their bullock gendreth and that not out of time their cowe calueth and is not vnfruteful They send their children forth bi flockes and their sonnes lead the daunce They bear with them tabrets and harpes and haue instrumentes of musick at their pleasure They spende their dayes in welthynesse but sodenlye they go downe to Hell O Lord thou art more righteous then that I should dispute with thee Neuertheles let me talke with thee in thinges resonable How happeneth it that the way of the vngodlye is so prosperous and that it goeth so wel with them whiche without any shame offende and liue in wickednesse Thou plantest them they take roote they growe and bring forth fruite They boste muche of thee yet art thou far from their raines But thou Lorde to whō I am wel knowen thou that hast sene and proued my hearte take them awaye like as a flocke is caried to the slaughter house and appoint them for the day of slaughter O Lord how long shal I crye and thou wilt not heare how long shall I cōplaine vnto thee suffering wrong and thou wilt not helpe why lettest thou me se werinesse and labour Tiranny and violence are before me power ouer goeth right for the law is torne in pyeces and there can no right iudgement go forth And why the vngodly is more set by then the righteous This is the cause that wrong iudgement procedeth Thine eies O Lord are clean thou mayest not see euil thou canst not be hold the thing that is wicked Wherfore then dost thou looke vpon the vngodly holdest thy tong when the wicked deuoureth the man that is better then himselfe Thou makest men as the fysh of the sea like as the creepyng beastes that haue no guide they take vp al with their angle they catch it in their net do sacrifice vn to their yarne because that thorow it their porcion is become so fat and their meat so plenteous Wherfore they cast out their net againe and neuer cease to slay the people Like as the wyne deceiueth the dronkard euen so the proud shal fal and not endure Ful miserable is the death of vngodly for they that hate the vnrighteous shall be plucked vp by the roote Freate not thy selfe at the vngodly be not thou enuious against the euil doers For they shal sone be cute down like the grasse and be withered euen as the grene herbe Greue not thi self at one y ◠is in prosperity and liueth in abhominacion Leaue of frō wrath let god displeasure let not thy gelousy moue thee also to do euil For wicked doers shall bee rooted out but they that paciently abyde the lord shal enherite the land Suffer yet a litle while and the vngodly shal be cleane gone thou shalt loke after his place and he shall be away Reade forth the Psalm◅ and marke it well Wherfore thus arrogantly magnifiest thou thy selfe at all tyme. O mischeuous gyaunt wherfore enforceth thy tonge mis chief fordgyng disceat lyke a new set Rasour Wherfore louest thou malice rather then honesty rather to lye then to saye truth For thou delightest in all maner of pernicious speach oh thou desceitful tong Wherfore god shall vtterly rende thee vp by the rootes and destroy thee and he shal throwe thee downe out of thy tabernacle and pluck thy rootes out of the land of the liuing Rede diligently and marke well the. 73. Psalme whiche altogether belongeth vnto this matter Wo be to the proud wealthy in Sion euen to suche as thincke them selues so s◅re vppon the mounte of Samarya which holde them selues for the best of the world and rule the house of Israel at their owne pleasure Ye are taken out for the euil day euen ye that sit in the stoole of wilfulnes ye that lie vpon beds of Iuory and vse your wantonnes vpon youre couches ye that eat the best Lambes of the flocke the fattest calues of the drouy ye that sing to the lute and in playing of instruments compare your selues vnto Dauid ye that drinke wine out of goblets and annoynte your selues with the best oyle but no man is sorye for Ioseph hurte therfore shall ye now be the firste of them that shal be led awaye captiue and the lustye ◅heare of the wilful shall come to an
Watch and praye that ye fall not into temptation Let your loines be gird about and your lightes be burning and your selues like men that waite for their maister when he will returne from the weddings that as foone as he commeth and knocketh they may open vnto him Blessed are those seruauntes whome the Lorde whan he commeth shall find waking Take hede watch pray for ye knowe not whan the time is As a man which is gone into a strange country and hath left his house and geuen his substance to his seruaunts and to euery man his worke and commaunded the porter to watche Watch ye therfore for ye know not when the mayster of the house will come at eueÌ„ or at midnight whether at the cockecrow ing or in the dawning lest if that he come sodenly he find you sleping and that I say vnto you I say vnto all watch Take heede to your selues least your hartes be greued with surâ—…eting and dron kennes and cares of the worlde and that daye come sodenly on you For as a snare shall it come on all them that sit on the face of the earth It is euen now hye time that we wâ—…ke out of sleepe Beholde nowe is the accepted time now is the day of health The day of the Lord shall come euen aâ—… a thefe in the night When they shall saye peace and no danger then commeth there on them soden destruction as the trauayling of a woman with child they shall not escape Let vs not sleepe as other doo but let vs watch and be sober The Lord is at hand Be patient and settle your hartes for the comming of the Lord draweth nigh Behold the iudge slaÌ„deth before the dore Be sober and watche for your aduersary the deuil walketh aboute like a roaring lion seeking whom he may deuour whome resist being stedfast in fayth The daye of the Lorde shall come as a theefe in the night Litle children eueÌ„ now is the last time Yet a little while he that shal come wil come and will not tary If thou shalt not watch I wil come on 〈◊〉 as a theefe and thou shalt not know what hour I will come vpoÌ„ thee Behold I come shortly Hold that which thou hast that no man take away thy crowne Beholde I stande at the dore to knock yf any man heare my voyce and open the doore I will come in to him and will sup with him and he with me The time is at hand He that doth enâ—… let him do euil stil. And he which is filthy let him be filthy stil. And he that is righteous let him be more righteous And he that is holy let him be more holy And because I come shortly and my reward with me to geue euery man accordinge as his deedes shal be Examples out of the newe Testament That seruaunt that diligeÌ„tly watcheth at all hours for his masters coÌ„ming doth in the meane season such things as his ma ster hath appoynted him is blessed for he shall enter into his masters ioye But the seruaunt that liueth without care is idle watceth not loketh not diligently vpoÌ„ his office thinketh not of his masters coÌ„ming smiteth his fellowes eateth and drinketh with the dronken that seruant I say shall haue his part with Hipocrites and shal be cast into vtter darknes where wepinge and gnashing of teeth shal be The 5. wise virgines prepared both lampes and oyle tarriing and watching for the comming of the bridgrome There fore when he came they being in a redines went in with him vnto the wedding But the fiue folishe Uergines slumbred and slepte so that when the bridegrome came they were vnprepared and hadde no oyle in theyr lampes and therfore were they shutte out of the dores and entred not into the mariage Let vs therfore watche for we know neither the daye nor the howre when the sonne of man shall come Against the slacknes of doyng good workes IF that futtle Sathan by his crafty persuasions woulde at any time make thee beleue that thou art so thorowly iustified by faith alone and so perfectly saned by Christe onelye that thou nedesâ—… not do any good workes nor yet bring forth the frutes of faith according to thy profession but liue as thou lust and do what thou wilt so at the full art thou saued thorow faith in Christe take hedâ—… thou be not deceiued with this painted visar but rather to the vtteriâ—…ost of thy power labour to coÌ„ firme thy faith with the plenteous doynge of good workes workyng thinc owne saluation as blessed Paule saith with feare and trembling And that thou maiest be the better encouraged so to do set these sentences and examplee of the holy scripturs euer before the eies of thy minde Examples out of the olde Testament I am the almightye God walke before me and be perfect Kepe the commaundementes of the lord thy God and his witnesses and his couenauntes which he hath commaunded thee and do thou that which is acceptable and good in the sighte of the Lorde that thou mayest prosper Now Israel what doth the lord thy god require of thee but to feare the Lorde thy God and to walke in all his wayes to loue him and to serue the Lorde thy God with all thyne harte and withal thy soul namely that thou kepe the commaundementes of the lorde and hys ordinaunces that thou maiest doe wel and prosper The faithful man is like a tree planted by the water side that will bring forth his fruite in due season Thou hatest althem O Lord that work iniquity Lord who shall dwel in thy tabernacle who shall rest vpon thy holy hill Euen he that leadeth an vncorrupt life worketh righteousnesse c. ¶ Reade the whole Psalme Departe from euill and do good Put thou thy truste in the Lord and be thou doing good Cease to do euil learne to do good Seke to do right deliuer the oppressed helpe the fatherlesse to his right defend the widow Breake thy bread to the hungry the nedy and the wayfaring man lead thou into thy house Whan thou seest a naked man couer him and hide not thy face from thy neighbour c. Examples out of the olde Testament Nohe was perfect and iust in his generations and walked with god loued god that is to say beleued in god leued god feared god soughte the glory of god and framed his life according to the wil of god being plenteous in al good and godly workes therfore God preserued him and his when he droâ—…ned all suche as were wicked persons and doers of no good workes Abraham was obedient to the wil of god and walked after his holye commaundements euer doing good works god therfore meruelously blessed hym made him the father of many nations and promised him that in his seede all kinreds shoulds be blessed God saw the workes of