wee shoulde not defame or robbe our neighboure of his good name or fame The almightie god gyue vs that grace that we may obserue thys commaundemente well thorow oure Lorde Iesus Chryste So be it The nynthe-housholde Sermon vnto theyr Chyldren and famylye WE are come now to the laste two commaundementes of God well beloued chyldrē which do intreat both of cōcupiscence or unlawfull desyrynge thus doth god commaunde Exo 20. Thou shalt not desyre thy neighboures house nor thou shalt not desyre hys wyfe his seruaunte his hande mayden his oxe his afse or any thynge that perteineth vnto hym Beholde and marke these two laste commaundementes of almyghtie God and bothe of them as I haue sayde a lytle before do speake of vnlawfull desyrynge and brieflys this they do commaund vs it is not ynough not to take away other mens goodes which thing was forbidden in the seuenth commaundemente but also we shoulde not couet the goodes of our neighbour as for an example my neighboure hath an house pleasauntely buylded and trewly God wylleth that we shoulde not couet the selfe same house but that we shoulde fauoure our neighbour with all our herte although we haue but a lytle house scarse to thruste our heade in And often tymes my neighbour hath a wyfe whiche is of a godly beutie and indewed wyth good manners and ryche I oughte to suffer or let my neighboure aloue w t her although I haue a wyfe whiche is nothynge to be compared to any neighbours wyfe Althoughe this commaundemente doth seme properly to apperteyne vnto the Iewes to the whiche for the hardenesse of their hertes they were suffered to haue lycence to gyue vnto their wyues a testimony of deuorcemente yfany man wolde not kepe them withe hym which lycence they dyd greatelye abuse for if any man had a wyfe whyche had a good dowrye and fayre an other man that coulde by any meanes wolde bringe her into the hatred of her housebande and then a deuorcement made w t the first husbande did take her to wyfe and it do not syldome chaunce among Christians y t one doth take an others wyfe away And so many in these dayes do take away vnto them eyther their trew labourynge seruaunce or mayden increasynge their yearely wages There perteyneth also to these thynges that y e beastes which be frutefull and stronge we do hate that our neighbour shoulde haue theym and therefore bye all the chraftye meanes that we can we wyll obteyne and get them for our selues to be shorte these commaundementes wyl vs that thou shuldeste not once wisshe thy selfe well if thy neighbour shoulde fare the worse And these two commaundementes seme to be compared agaynst couetuousenes for conetuouse mē gape for and couet all thynges and they cannot suffer their pore neighbour to haue any good thyng with a good wyll both these commaundementes of almyghtye god ye and also the voice of Christe the sonne of god Luke the 12. Chapter shall call you awaye from coneteousenesse when he saythe Take heade of couetuousnesse for bycause the lyfe of euerye man is not in the abundaunce of those thynges which he doth possesse the saying of S. Paul doth fray you from couetuousnes both to the Ephesians the 5. Chapter to the Collos the 3. Chapter Callynge it ydolatry let this plucke you from couetuousenes for that that God doth abhorte it whiche we maye perceyue in Laban Gene the 30. Chapter And in Rabal the fyrste boke of the kynges the 16. Chapter Wherefore flee you frome this enyll well beloued chyldren and imbrace you godlynesse and those thynges which the mercy of god shall gyue you take theym thankefully Godlynesse is a greate gayne say the Samcte Paule in the fyrste Epistle too Tymothe the laste Chapter too those that can be contente in their vocation with a good wyl For we haue brought nothynge into the worlde and we can carye nothynge awaye Wherefore yf we haue necessary lye meate and drynke and where wythe all for to couer vs let vs so be contented Beholde nowe hytherto I haue declared in ordre the tenne commaundementes of God vnto you although it be but meanely which seing that they be beyonde mannes strength or anye mannes power to obserue them kepe them accordingly yet let vs pray vnto the holy ghoste that he wolde bothe renewe and puryfie oure herte that we may not onely kepe them with our extery our doynges but also with our inwarde affection wyl So be it ¶ The Declaration of our belief called in laten simbolum apostolicum The firste housholde Sermon of god the father and the creation of all thynges YE haue heard euen of late well beloued Chyldrenne those thynges whiche god doth require of you in his x. commaundementes yea euen of vs all and seyng that those thynges which he requyrethe of vs can not be performed of vs for bycause of the fragilytie and weakenes of our strength for Christe saith Ihon the 7. Chapter None of you do perform the lawe with your deades he is onely to be knowen of vs which giueth power that we may do those thynges whiche of our selues can not be done he is trewlye God of whome what so euer is necessary for vs to be knowen that same is in oure belief comprehended which belief that it may be vnderstande some what of youe I wyll dilygently declare it And for y t I wolde open to you some waye vnto those thynges which we nowe take in hande I gyue you knowledg that there is one god as it doth appeare in y e fyrste Epistle to the Corinthians the 8. Chapter that is to saye one essence or spirituall substaunce for god is a spirite Ihon the 4. Chapter And truely that same deuyne essence or spirituall substance is atributed to their persons God the father God the sonne and God the holy ghoste Matthew the laste Chapter So that those thre persons be equallye euerlastynge of an infynite power of an infynite wisedome of an infinyte goodnesse c. Now trewly what god is is shewed in the fyrst begynnynge of y e beliefe when a Christian man sayth I beleue in God the father almyghtie maker of heuen and earth Let vs begynne and examyne euerye worde a Christian man sayth I do beleue we do beleue trewly those thynges which be not present before our eyes for fayth is an argumente of thynges hoped for and a declaration of those thinges that do not appeare to the Hebrues the 11. Chapter we do beleue in god and what is god God is a spirituall substaunce for god is a spiryt Ihon the 4. our god is all y t thinge to the whiche we haue a confydence with all oure herte for if we haue a confidence to the trewe god we are in a good case if we haue a confydence to a false god or to mammon or to anye other god we do procure the euerlasting payne of our vngodlynesse Wherfore sayth a Christian man I beleue in god and not simplye
I beleue god beholde heare Gregorie Nazyanzene which in his fyrste boke of the worde of god writeth to beleue in any thing doth properly perteyn vnto the godhead To beleue therfore in god is to beleue and to haue asure confidence in his deuine substaunce and euerlastynge substaunce which hath neyther begynyng nor endynge And god is the name of y e deuine maiesty And for that that we do say more ouer in our beliefe that we do beleue not onelye in god but in god the father it is the beclaration of a greate fayth for he that doth beleue god to be the father to hym is promysed al thyng of god and loketh for all thynge of god for yf the sonne hath a confydence that he shall obteyne all thynge of his yearthly father how mothe more ought we to haue a confydence that we shall obteine all thynges of god the father for why as Christe sayth hym selfe if you which be euyll can gyue your Chyldren good gyftes how moch more royll the father of heauen gyue yf ye shal aske of hym Matthew the 6. Chapter What meaneth this that a christyan man saythe I beleue in god the father almightie Truly nothynge else then I beleue in God and also in god the father which can do all thynge that he wyll to whome there is nothynge impossible And it folweth the maker of heauen and yearth that is to saye I beleue in god whiche hath create heauen and yearthe and all thynge which eyther is sene in heauē or in earth whiche be the sonne the Moone the sterres innumerable the Cloudes the foules the fysshes and all kynde of beastes And god y e father hath not brought fourthe the yearthe naked but garnysshed it with greate varyetie of all thynges corne flowers grasse and with dyuerse kyndes of beastes And we ought not to thynke that god hath onely once created all these thynges with the word for he sayde and they were made whiche we see as well in heauen as in earth and so leaue in creatyng of thynges but we ought to prynte this in our remembraunce that yet God dothe create all thynges in euery momente of the whyche we haue neade of in thys presente lyfe for Christ sayth Ihon the 5. Chapter my father dothe worke euen at thys tyme I also And the C. lxiiij Psalm Thou openynge thy hande all be fulfylled wyth plentyfulnes And god dothe not create as yet soomoche but yet for all that all those thynges whiche haue bene create frome the begynnynge he doth dayly encreace w t hys power yea and also kepe with hys worde and is presente wyth all thynges that be created for so god makethe the pearthe frutefull sendynge rayne frome heauen and kepeth the frutefulnes therof leaste those whiche it bryngeth forth shoulde perysshe wyth anye tempestes but that it shoulde retourne to our vse for that thynge that I saye of the earth I wyll to be spoken also of other thynges Wherefore Saincte Paul saithe to the Collossians the 3. Chapter All thynges stande by hym and in the 2. Chapter Also to the Ephesians the first chap. he doth after the counsels of his wyll Mat. the 10. Two sparowes be soulde for a farthynge and one of them falleth not upon the earth witout the heauenly father But this article in his kinde doth require this thinge that we should beleue in god the father nowe if euerye man will examine him selfe he shal perceiue in hym selfe also many good thynges that be priuate for he shal perceyue that he is a man indewed with reason healthful in his body to haue the power to giue and to receiue and to florisshe in the quickenes of his mēbres can go hither and thither hath a perfecte sighte can heare very wel to get his lyuing But who can reherse those benefites whiche florissheth often tymes in one maner I pray the from whence do they come forsooth euen from God which hath created by his almyghtifulnesse al these thinges and daily doth create and kepeth those that be created and gyueth al thinges Therefore to beleue in God the father is to perswade with his herte that al which thou haste thou hast them of god The firste Epistle to the Corinthians the 5. Chapt. And that god hath for thy cause created al thinges whiche either be in heauen or earth and dailye doth create And thou canst not content thy selfe with these thinges but he also gentely deliuereth the frō al euils And doth adioine vnto the his holy Aungels that they may fight for the againste the assaultes of the deuill And he dothe all these thinges for bicause he is thy father by his onely goodnes and mercie and of none of thy deseruinges And thoumaist thinke to thy selfe that thou shalt haue of him all thinges seing y t he is almightie And thou causte wisshe nothinge or thinke any thinge but straight way if it pleaseth him he may graunt it the. Let vs be thankefull welbeloued chylbren vnto god the father for hys greate goodnesse and mercye towardes vs myserable synners And let vs neuer more dispayer but when we haue so heauenlye a father both gentell mercyfull and allmyghtye which will graunte to all those that doo aske of him aboundauntlye all thynges whiche they shall haue nede of for ye know y t wordes of Christ which I rehersed a lytle before Mathew the 6. chapter if you therfore seyng that ye be euyl do knowe to giue to your chyldrē good gyftes how moch more youre father which is in heauen shal gyue yf youe aske of him So be it The Seconde housholde sermon of the beliefe YE haue harde now welbeloued chyldren what god the father is what we ought to beleue of him the voice that he sente from heauen do declare Now seyng that Ihon in his first epistle the 2. chapter sayth who so euer denieth the sonne he hath not the father And in y e last chapter who so euer hath y e sonne hath lyfe who so euer hath not the sonne of god hath not lyfe furtheremore ye ought to knowe what is y e sonne of god and what we shulde beleue of him ther fore it foloweth I beleue in Iesu Christ the onely sonne of god when I saye I beleue I do not sygnifye onelye that I beleue that Christ is the sonne of god Mathew the 8. chapter for that the denyls of hell do beleue saynte Iames y e 2. Chapter But this I will it to signify that I haue the sonne of god and that those thynges which be spoken of the son of god be turned into y e commoditie vtilite of my doyng and euerie priuate mans for whye This is my very fayth in Iesus Christ which iustifieth a man Those things which truely be spoken of Christ y t he is Iesus for why he maketh safe his people frō their sinnes Matth. y e 1. Chater And that he is Christ y t is the anoynted of god y t is the Kyng Prist kyng truely for y t vnto hym is gyuen al power both in heauen in earth Mat. the last chapter and y t he is the Pryst for y e he offered him self for our synnes He brues the 6. chapter And for y t he doth make intersession for vs vntoo y e father Romayns y e 7. Chap. And besydes those do I beleue y t the same Iesus Christ is y e sonne of god truely y e onely son For whye one Christ is the onely naturall sonne of god w t out begynnyng gotten of the father as well euerlasting almightie as god the father furthermore that Christe is y e verie and euerlastinge Son of god and very god w t veri god the father as many other places of holy scripture as this which is in the first Epistle of S. Paul to y e corinthians y t 10. Chap. do wel declare And these be y e wordes of S. Paul Let vs not tempte Criste as in lyke case some of thē did tempt hym they were kylled of Serpentes Now Moises y e 4. boke y e 14. Chap. saith The lord saith Al those which haue tempted me now ten times haue not obeied vnto my voice thei shal not see y e lande c. Where y e voice of the lord or y e Lorde of al creatures is put which voice doth agree is attributed to y e only euerlasting on◠▪ and very god Where also Moyses sayth The lord of al creatures that is to sey he calleth him very God the people haue tēpted me x. tymes bye by Paul declareth who was y t god which y e people did tēpt he declareth y t it was christ whiche verylie was not yet at y t tyme borne of y e virgin Mary Wherefore it was truely spoken y t Christ was that mā of whō Moyses spake y t he was truely God become both Christ y e Son of god w t out beginnyng borne of y e father yet sōe what destinct frō y e father but of this thing we haue sufficiently declared to you Prynted at Ippiswich by Ihon Osivē Cum priuilegio ad Imprimendum solum The rest of the sermons shalbe printed shortlye
householde certeyne housholde sermons In the whiche those thynges whiche were requisite to a very trew and Christian relygion myght be expounded wyth few wordes propise corespondent for the matter which sermons often tymes I vse to reade in my house to mye Chyldren in laten to my famyly in y e mother tonge And do earnestly require at their handes after my readynge whether thei do vnderstand these thynges which are rede or no and leaste they should forget veri quycly those thinges which I haue red I do require oftentymes of theym all thynges which in these sermons be entreated of euen as of their distafe and spyndell which sermons I beyng earnestly requested of my especiall frendes haue suffered to come abroad y t by them euen other fathers of housholdes maye be styrred towarde their famyly to teache them wel and godly For I knowe that fathers of housholdes be slacke in this thynge and do not dylygently excecute their office commytted to them of God Fyrste I wyll leaue out some of my sermons in laten yf my fryndes shall think it beste and set out those that be necessary in y e mother tonge But vnto the mi welbeloued Thomas doo I dedycate these my pryuate sermonnes for that I know the to be gyuen studiously to a perfecte godlynesse And althoughe I knowe thou haste no nede of these sermons to enstructe thy famyly wyth for that thou haste attempted many godly thynges wyth the studie of godly wysdome yet for all that seyeng I knowe that euery thynge which may be conducyble and profytable to obteine and get some godly wisdome is most acceptable vnto the I doubte not but y t thou wylte take these my sermons well at worthe For bycause I haue writen them to the furtheraunce of Christes true relygion Some perchaunce wyll laughe me too scorne for that I wolde be taken for an earnest lawer and haue taken vpon me to interlace my selfe with holy scripture whose laughinge to scorne I wyll vtterly dispise Although that I am amonge the company and the felowshyp of lawers yet I will not be forgetful of those thynges which perteyneth to a christian father of an houshold for this is a blessed saiynge of S. Paul he that hathe no care of hys and espeacially for hys housholde denyethe hys faithe and is worse then an infideele This byd the wel to fare my especiall good frend A communication of the lordes prayer Betwene Christopher and Ierome Ierome My welbeloued brother Chrystostopher from whence commest thou Christopher I come from y e temple my brother Ierome Ierome Out of y e temple What hast thou done there Christopher What shuld I there do I haue prayed Ierome Hast thou prayed If it pleased the but for thy paines my gentle brother teache me homely and briefly what is prayer to what ende and how what we should pray for although our welbeloued father did frutefully teache vs at home many godly thynges as concernyng prayer as it semed vnto me yet for all that I canne not tell how I shoulde well vnderstand them nor to haue theÌ„ in remembrauÌ„ce Christo O brother thou putteste vnto me an harde matter for thoose thynges which thou wyllest to know of me they oughte not to be asked of suche a rude Chylde but of some doctour of dyuynitie and hee that is learned But for as much as thou prayest me so soberlye I wyll shew my self vnto the as a brother And so much as I bare awaie in remembraunce frome our father and the preather of these thynges which thou wilte knowe of me I will tell it the but thou doste praie me in vaine that I shoulde do it homely and briefly and how shuld I beyng a childe do otherwyse in suche graue matters Iero. Brother I thaÌ„ke the for thy gentyll and brotherly herte but do as well as thou canste and Cryst shal be thine assistaunce C. Except I be disceaued there be foure things to be noted in this oure disputation The firste is that I will shewe the what it is too praie the seconde is wherefore we shuld praie the thirde is how we should praie the fourthe is what we shoulde praye Iero. Surely brother y u arte of a good renembraunce for by cause thou doste remembre chiefly y e pryncypall thynges y t I couet in espeacyall to be learned in and therfore shewe thy mynde euen onlye vpon those thynges Christo Well beloued brother both my father and the preacher dyd saye to praye is to aske some what of god Iero. Of god What is god Christo God as our father said yf thou doste well remembre is all that thynge to the whiche we haue a confydence withe all our herte so that yf we haue a confidence to y e god wyth all our herte which did create and make bothe heauen and earthe and all thynge that therem is and gouerneth al thynge we haue a confydence to the trew god if we put any truste in any other god we are both wicked and far from the trew God Iero. I vnderstand well y t thou sayste my brother Christ Brother our father and the preacher amonge all other thynges had in remembraunce Fyrst wherfore we should pray the firste cause was y t god did commaunde vs to praye for why wheÌ„ god did gratiously threten in his second coÌ„maundement y t we should not take his name in vayne oure father said god w tout doubt willeth y t we shuld aske of him in al kyndes of necessitie we shuld praye also y t he wold be redy at all tymes both to rule vs gouerne vs for why when god forbad y t we shulde take his name in vayne our father sayd that we myght easely coniecter y t god wold require y e vse of hys name of vs what vse shuld we haue of his name but to cal vpoÌ„ it in all kindes of necessitie and eiul thinges Ie. Surely this is a great cause wherfore we shuld pray but doste thou remeÌ„bre brother what other causes ther be Ch. The seconde cause wherfore we shoulde praye oure father sayde it was thys for that y t we haue neade of manye thynges we are caste euery momente into y e peryls of many euyls And seing all thynges shoulde be gyuen of God y t we are defended of god onely agaynst all maner of parels of euyll very necessyty which is a mortall darth doth compell vs to praye Ie. nor this is no small matter my brother wherfore we should pray but yet y e therd cause remaineth excepte I am disceued C. it is trew and y t after y e mynd of our father ther remayneth y t God did coÌ„stantly promes to all theÌ„ y t did pray vnto him he wold moste mercifully heare theÌ„ it is vngodly eyther to be forgetful of y t promes or to â—i lipend it wherfore for y t he hath promeysed therfor we are coÌ„pelled euery one of vs to pray vnto him I. and wher hathe godlye
petitions of his faythfulll But peraduenture thou lokest brother y t fynaly I shoulde shew the what thynges we shoulde pray for that is what thynges we shoulde aske of god although I thynke that it is no nede seyng that dayly thou doste pray with me afore the table Ie. Truely those thynges I do loke for all though chiefly I pray dayly with the but I know not how to vnderstand those thynges whiche I praye Christo Those thinges which we ought to pray for ther is no man doth shew better thē Christe hym selfe for y u knowest so dyd our father affirme I. Trewly he did affirme it but I pray y e repete it agayne compendiously as y u canst right wel C. I wyll do at thy cōmaundement that w t a good wyll my brother C. The syxte Chap. of Matt. saith Ye shal pray after this maner Our father which art in heauen halowed be thy name Thy kyngdome come Thy wyll be done in earth as it is in heauen Gyue vs this daye our dayly bread And forgyue vs our trespaces as we forgyue them that trespace agaynst vs. And suffer vs not to be led into temptation But delyuer vs from euyll Amen Ierome I haue this prayer vpon my fyngers endes yf thou wylte know it I wyll say it without the boke Ch. O brother it is not ynough to saye this godly and holy prayer without the boke excepte thou maist vnderstand it for our father did say that this praier shall neuer come from y e bottome of the herte vnlesse we do well vnderstande it there is no prayer thankfully taken of god onlesse it be drawne out of the inwarde bosome of our herte Ie. Therfore make me that I maye vnderstande this prayer by some meanes all though I learne it not withoute the boke Ch. I wyll go aboute to do it god wyllyng And as thou arte wonte to do gyue thy dilygence vnto me wyth an attentyne eare Ierome I shall doo that thyng Christo In the first begynnynge of this praier our father dyd affirme beneuolence almoste to be taken of those thynges which shal be asked afterward for synce that god not onely God that is to saye oure defender succuorore and helper but also is a father nor fathere of this man or that man but oure father that is of us all which puttethe their truste in Iesus Christe his onelye begotten sonne And how can he denye vs y t thynge the which we aske of hym Ierom. Surely euen in lyke case seyng that oure yearthely fathers bye whose mean we were brought into this world can not deny vs that thynge which we aske of hym moche lesse euen that oure father celestial which is father of vs all can deny vs of any thynge that we aske which doth excell all other yearthely fathers both in goodnes mercy Christo Surely thou doste gyue a godly Iudgemente of our god my brother Ierome euer talke thou on these thynges lette thys be thy Godly exercyse Therfore thou knowest how with these wordes our father should be a preparation with a certeyne beneuolence towardes those thynges which we shalbe about to aske Iero I knowe it very wel but how vnderstandest thou thys thynge which is added vnto which art in heauē Christo God truely as thou haste hearde of our father is in euery place but peculyarly he is in heauen and he is in celestial and hygh thynges And withe these wordes we are called from the care of worldely thynges for to be alwaye in contemplation of heauenly thynges Wherefore Christe when he shoulde praye did lyft vp his eyes vnto heauen Iero. Surelye this fyrste begynnyng doth excellently well and therefore say on Christo The begynnyng of this prayer doth gather seuen petitions in the which thou haste hearde all those thynges as knitte vp euen to gither with one band euen what so euer shoulde be eyther asked of God or necessary for vs. Iero. I haue hearde those thynges whiche thou haste sayde but cause that I may more playnely vnderstande them Christo Fyrst we praie let thy name be halowed thys thynge our father did saie that it did smell some what of the Hebrew phrase and therefore it could not be vnderstanded so wel of men Ierome Whatte doth it meane then Christo This it meaneth that y e name of god that euer both was and is holy shalbe sainctified in vs that is as oure ked kynges Princes euen as it might be with a sudden thunder which at the denylles instigation wolde go aboute to forbyd and extyuguysshe the Gospel w t all those which were earnest professours of the Gospell yea and also that this petition dyd often tymes withstande that the wicked and cruell wyll shall I say their carnall desyre shall in no wyse be fulfylled Iero. How wyllest thou that these wordes shalbe vnderstande euen in earthe as it is in heauen Christo Haste thou forgotten those thynges that oure father did say that these wordes ought thys waye to be taken that in lyke case as the holy Aungels in heauen do obey his holy will so in like case here in earth his holy wyll to be obeyed of all men yea and that in all maner of thynges Iero. But gentyll brother what do we then aske to be gyuen vnto vs of God whylest we saye gyue vs this daye our dayly bread Christo To be shorte gentle brother we do not onely aske of god for bread but we aske for those which labour dilygently that he might preserue vs with a sufficiencye yea and alsoo fortillers of the earthe that god wolde send a prosperous successe vnto their laboures to sende temperatenesse of weather to make their grounde frute full that the corne may growe to our sustenance we also do aske here that god maye take awaye all euyls which be wonte ether to destroye cornes or choke vp cornes as hayle thunder boysterous wyndes or else such proper chaunces as doth apperteyne or come by their owne nature as wormes or rottynge when it dothe lye on the grounde where vpon oure father did shew that the Heathens had certen holydayes that were instituted to praye vnto their Goddes for suche chaunces In the steade of such feastes as I thynk wee haue come into their place certeyne superstitious supplications and prayers made vnto Amburbya or the prayers of Amburbia Ierom Forsoth those thynges which thou haste shewed I remembre that they were declared of our father Christo We pray for in the same petition that god may dryue awaye battayle for that in tyme of warre all corne and fyldes be destroied trode vnderneth the foote and thoose that be tyllers be slayne so that there must nedes folowe dearth of corne to be shorte we do aske of god for all necessarye thynges perteynyng to our lyuing with these few wordes Iero. I vnderstande very wel how many thynges we do aske of god wyth these few wordes but I pray the wherfore is this worde to day addyd Chris To
wordes of Sayncte Paule those that laboure in the worde and doctryne y e 1. Thi. 5. be worthie of double honour partely also y t we might chiefly teache our chyldren in this daye the commaundementes of god and that we ceasynge from all labours for whye this saboth day did thus signyfie to the Hebrues the word of god myght bryng forth frutefully some frute as well in vs as in all our famylye or housholde And partely this commaundement doth commaund vs that we shoulde be chastened wyth the feare of god that is to saye y t we shoulde not haue his worde in derysion for it is impossyble that he whyche feareth god with all his hert should not regarde his holy word And that thyng that I haue sayde of the sabaoth day or else of this our seuenth day I wyll that it shall be mente as well of other dayes which be ordeyned by the congregation for to read the storyes of the gospell Behold well beloued chyldrē ye haue herd how our sabaoth day shall be vsed but alas it greueth me how specially this present tyme and now a dayes we vse the sabaoth truely when we haue slept almoste mydde daye at the laste we awake come to the temple in the whyche as sone as y e sermon which we haue hearde earnestlye preached vnto vs is done then we flee straight way whome to dyner and as sone as dyner is done we go and gase a broad or else to banke tynge or to daunce I am ashamed here to tell before you certen thinges that be done in the sabaoth day seyng that many be ashamed to do thē But you welbeloued chyldren halowe your sabaoth day that is to say ocupie your selues w t godly exercyses In numery the fourth boke of Moyses the 15. Chapter We reade y t a certeyne man was commaunded of god to be stoned to death for that he had gathered woode on the sabaothe daye therfore take hede that and yf you my suse your sabaoth day god wyll punysshe at lengthe the breakyng of the sabaoth daye It is a fearefull thynge as the aucthor of the pistle to the Hebrnes the 15. Chap. saith To fall in to the handes of y e lyuinge God The fourth housholde Sermon vnto theyr Chyldren and famylye Very often ye haue heard of me well beloued children that the hole lyfe of a christiā doth stand in two thynges fyrste that we myghte knowe what doth perteyne vnto God and then what is our dewtye towardes men Those thynges which we must exhybit towardes god ye may easely perceyue them out of the fyrste commaundement whiche I wolde wysshe y t you wolde beare aboute wyth you in youre mynde and that you wolde kepe them more better then the nayles on youre fyngers for why they shall teache you in all thynges how you shall vse youre selfe And ye shall not lightly goo out of the ryghte waye yf thou wylte folowe them euen as guydes that leade you in the ryght wave of youre lyfe for he cannot by no maner of meanes erre whiche hath god before his eyes and yf he doth vnderstande that his loue oughte to be preferred afore the loue of all creatures Furthermore that duetie whyche we ought to do towarde men the commaūdementes that folow declare seing that our duetie done once vnto god there are no men whom it becomethe to imbrase wyth a more greater loue to do more greates honour vnto then to our parentes which this fourth cōmaundemente doth shewe of our parentes honour thy father and mother that it maye be well vnto the and that thou mayst be longe lyuynge vpon the earthe ye haue heard well beloued chyldren that god dothe commaund that we should honour our parentes To honour our parentes not onely honourably gentely and mekely to salute their parentes to speake vnto them and to handle them gentlye and to put of their cappes vnto them and to gyue them the waye and gyue them the hyghest place but with all their hert not onely to loue them but also to haue a feruent herte towarde them and they beyng oppressed with pouertie to helpe them and they hauynge their health to handle them gentlye and beyng very aged yf nede shal requyre to beare them on their shoulders where soo euer theye wolde go Furthermore what soo euer they shall commaunde so that it be not wycked none otherwise then yf it were sent from heauen we ought to receyue it wythe all loue and feare and once receyued dilygently to execute it and not to mocke them yf eyther wythe age or wyth any other kynde of faulte they do dote not cruelly to make answere vnto them what tyme they do earnestlye rebuke you Beholdé how farre and how large the honour of parentes dothe extende neither here we be not onely commaunded to honoure our parentes by y e whyche ye are brought fourth here in this world and by them be brought vp but we are also commaunded to honor the parentes of our soule the teachers of goddes worde and your maysters And also subiectes be commaūded that they should honour their magistrates bothe men seruauntes and women seruauntes be commaunded to honoure both theyr maysters and mystresses To be shorte in this commaundemēt both polityque lawes and houshold laues be ordeined and al obedyence is commaūded towards those whō by god we ought to honoure for because that we shoulde be the redyer to gyue honoure vnto our parētes god dyd annex to this commaundemente a serteyne pleasaunt promys And what is this promys I praye the here that it may be well with the for it is well with vs when all thynges chaunce accordynge vnto our mind vndoutedly if we be in helth or yf there be mynystred vnto vs aboundauntly our daylye necessaryes or what so euer we do it doth luckelye chaunce when our mynd is voyde of all troubles we are well spoken of we are taken reuerently of all men And trulye these thynges be excedyng good which god impertyth unto those which honour their parentes But thys is a gyfte not commonly sene that those shal be partakers of a long lyfe which haue not gyuen honor vnto their parentes what is more pleasaunte then lyfe Is not lyfe and y t a longe life that all we couet Let those good thynges well beloued chyldrene styre you vp that you maye remembre your dewtie as well towarde youre father and mother as also to the teachers of his holy worde Maisters all magistrates yea euen all oure lyfe tyme for why you do heare who reqyireth it of you y t you should giue honor vnto your parentes It is neyther aungell nor prophete but the almightie god lorde both of Aungell and prophete which can not so easely forget this precepte not onely in cholde Testament but also in y e newe Testament did studie furthermore to renew it for Salamon in his prouerbes y e 30. Chapter saith The eye whiche disdeyneth the father and dispiseth the cōmaundemente of the mother Crowes shall picke it
oute besyde the riuer and Egles shall deuour it Behold ye do heare here welbeloued Chyldren what the holy ghost doth require of you trewlye that you shoulde giue honour vnto your parentes yf ye do not ye here what kynd of punishmēt he doth admonishe vs with Ecclesiast the 3. Chapter saith Who that doth honour his father he shall haue delyte in hys chyldren and he shall obteyne hys request in that day that he dothe praye he that honoureth his father shall haue longe lyfe and he that is obedient vnto his sather shall make hys mother glad Honour thy father that thou mayste be blessed of god c. Furthermore Christe the sonne of god and our sauyour the xv Chapter of Matthew Chydynge y e Pharises saith Wherfore do you breke the commaundemente of God for your owne traditions For god commaunded saying honour thy father and mother and who so euer curseth father or mother shal dye the death Also Sainct Paul to the Ephesians the 5. Chapter sayth Chyldren obey your parentes in the lorde for that is ryghte honoure your father and mother in the lord whiche is the fyrste commaundemente that hath any promes that it may be well vnto the and that thou mayste lyue longe vpon the earth yea heare well beloued chyldren how this fourth precepte both in the olde Testamente and also in the new is very often tymes repeted wyth out doubte euen onely for this cause y t god shoulde shew that this commaundemente shoulde not escape the remembraunce of chyldren and that it shoulde be alwayes vnto them as the moste necessaryest thyng perteynyng to them in the house yea and also euen that thyng which almyghtie god hath declared bye many examples for why in lyke case as god did curse Cham the sonne of Noe for that he had no honour vnto his father Euē in lyke case did he blesse Sem the sonne of Noe for that he dyd reuerently honour his father as it dothe appeare in the ix Chapter of Gene. And it is not vnknowen what dyd chaunce to Absalon the second boke of y e kynges the xviij Chapter For that he gaue not dewe honour vnto his father Dauid as he ought to do But what neade I too set fourth any more examples as whoo shoulde say that the holy scripture were not ful of examples with the which god doth now shew that he fauoureth those which honor their parentes so to hate those which do not their duetie in honourynge their parentes These thynges I thynke well beloued chyldren shall kyndle you that ye should haue dewe honour vnto your patentes it is the fyrste commaundement of god hauyng promes that is not once much spoken of abrode but we fynde it very often repeted in holy scripture yea and also by examples wyth the whiche God sheweth inobediente chyldren toward their parentes y t he wyll be auenged of thē And in examples to the whiche he doth declare how iust he is of his promes toward those chyldren whiche loue their parētes honor thē obei thē For that which I here say of parēts y t self same I will you to vnderstande of maisters professours of thy deuine word of all Maiestrates for as I haue sayd a litle before in this commaundemente all obedyence is commaunded toowardes euery man our dutie once done to god the which be called to the hygheste honoure Iesus Christe the sone of God graunt that that thinge the which is required of you in this commaundement that you earnestly may performe it with the helpe of his spyryte and that you may both mynd it and folow it for god is he which worketh in you bothe for to wyll it and to performe it after as it shall please him to y e Philippi 2. The fyfte housholde Sermon vnto theyr Chyldren and famylye YE haue hearde well beloued chyldren what god hath required of you now therfore heare wherein our dutie doth apperteyn towarde other men god saith thus Thou shalt not kyl whiche commaundement truely in his kind as the Iewes do vnderstande it doth seme onely to forbyd that we shuld not neyther kyll our neighbour with hande nor with swerde But Christe being the chief interpreter of the law Matthew the v. Chapter It is not ynough sayth he yf thou kylleste no man wyth thy hande vnlesse also our herte is voyde of all angre and hatred for why thus saith Christe oure sauiour Who so euer is angry wyth his brother is giltie of iudgemente that is to say he is worthy to haue that punishmente which he shoulde haue that with his hande hath kylled any man that is to dye and semblabely to be kylled Ihon in his fyrste Epistle the 3. Chapter sayth Euerye one that hatyth hys brother is a manqueller why so For although he kylleth not his brother with a swerde yet beyng inflamed w t hatred in his herte wyssheth his neyghbour to be vtterly kylled Nor truely those onely of the which we haue spoken bye man quellers but Ehrist sayth further ▪ Who so euer shall saye to hys brother Racha shall be gyltye of counsell for Racha doth signyfie here all maner of tokens w t the which we declare our selues to be angry with our neighboure as whē we wyl neyther see a mā nor heare him or when we wyll reioyce priuely when any mysfortune is chaunced towarde our neighbour or else when we do shew our selues towarde our neyghbour that it shall easely apeare that there can be nothyng more thankefull nor nothyng more welcomer then yf our neyghbour come to vtter distruction Christ sayth more ouer who so euer shall saye foole shall be gyltye of helle fyre in this worde foole is comprehended not onely externe sygnes but al naughtie wordes whiche come from y t herte that doth hurte our neyghboure And yf I do call any man foole vpon agood intente I synne not So paule calleth the Galathyans fooles in y t 3. Chapter And Christe in the laste Chapter of Luke sayth vnto his Discyples O fooles and slow herted to beleue and truely we oughte not onelye here to vse the name of fooles but also greuousely to be angry and to shew al maner of sharpnesse and as it were vnmercyfulnes for suche anger is a godly zeale which is angry wyth the euyll and not wythe the person to whom he wyssheth wyth all his herte good for this cause the men of law if they wolde take it as they should take it They say well that they be the enemyes of the cause and the frende of the person Ye haue heard well beloued chyldren how Christe hath more truely and better interpretated this commaundement againste kyllynge thy brother then either the Iewes in olde tyme did interpretate it or then some Christians at this presente day do interpretate it after y e text Ye do hear also that although all the world is full of manquellers yet for all that no man wyll knowe in hym selfe y t he is a manqueller what What