blesse and praise ye the Lord. It is saide that Dauid after the victorye that God gaue hym against Goliah the Philistian 1. regum 17 made this psalm Blessed be the Lord my God Psal. 144 whiche teacheth my handes to warre and my fingers to fight When Hyram had hard the words of Saloman 3. regum 5. he reioysed greatly and said Blessed be God which hath geueÌ„ vnto Dauid a wise sonne ouer thys people The Temple being finished Salomon in the presence of all the people 3. regum 8. sayd Blessed be the LORDE GOD of Israell whyche spake with his mouthe vnto Dauid my father Dauid did appoynt chefely Asaph and his brethren to thanke our Lord. 1. Par. 26 It foloweth then blessed be the Lord God of Israel for euer and euer and let al the people say Amen King Dauid was very pleasaunt and ioyful 1. Para. 16 and blessed our Lorde before the vniuersall multitude Esdras perceiuinge Arthaxerses to be wel minded towards the Iewes said 1. Esdras 7 Blessed be the Lord God of oure fathers whiche so hathe inspired the kinges harte to garnishe the house of our Lord that is at Ierusalem When Esdras hadde opened the boke of the lawe Es. 2. ca. 7. all the people stode vp and Esdras blessed our Lord god with a loud voyce and all the people answeared Amen 2. Esdras 9 After that the wall of the citye of Ierusalem was finyshed vnder Esdras and Nehemia the Leuites said Stand vp and blesse the Lorde foreuer and euer When Sara the doughter of Raguel had made an end of her prayer To. 3. she saide Blessed is thy name o God of our fathers Tobias instructinge and teachyng his sonne Tob. 4. Amonge all other thinges he said vnto him Blesse thou and be alway thanckful vnto God beseche him that he will order and direct thy waies Raguell and his wife perceiuynge that Sathan had not hurte nor touched yonge Toby Tob. 8. sayde Blessed bee thou o Lorde God of Israell for it is not hapned vnto vs as we thoughte Raphaell dyd diligentlye monyshe Tobye and his sonne Tob. 12 that they shuld blesse and be thanckefull vnto God and tell oute al hys wonderous workes After that Tobye hadde recouered his sighte Tob. 13 and had harde Raphaels communication he opened hys mouthe and praised our Lord and sayde Greate arte thou O Lorde for euermore Osias the chefe ruler of the people of Israell Iudi. 13. seing Iudith with the hed of Holofernes sayde Blessed bee oure Lorde the maker of heauen and earthe A mistery was reueled in the night to Danyell by a vision and he praysed our Lorde of heauen saying The name of God be blessed for euer and euer Dani. â— for wisdome and strength ar hys owne and he chaungeth the tymes and ages Ananias and his fellowes beynge cast into the burning ouen did walke in the myddest of the fyre Dani. 3. praysyng blessing our Lorde And kyng Nabuchodonoser afterwardes perseuynge and seinge so greate a myracle sayd blessed be the God of Sidrach Misach and Abednago After they had obtayned of their enemies the victorye 1. Mach. 4. and had builded an aulter the children of Israel worshypped gaue thankes to God that he had prosperd them and geueÌ„ them the victory Forasmuche as Heliodorus that woulde haue spoyled the temple of oure Lorde 2. macha 3. was through the vertue of God moste terribly scourged they praysed our Lord that had magnified his place and temple Whan Machabeus and suche as were with hym perceyued that God had sent them ayde 2. Mach. 11. they blessed and praised our Lorde altogether whiche had shewed them mercye and were comforted in their myndes When Iohn the baptist was borne zacharis mouthe was opened Luke 1. And he prophesied saying Blessed be the Lorde God of Israel When Mary Ioseph had brought the childe Iesus into the temple Symeon toke him vp in hys armes Lu. 2. and blessed oure Lorde God saying Now lettest thou thy seruaunte departe in peace And after Christes ascention Lu. 24. there were in the temple that praysed and lauded God And Paule suffering tribulacions 2. Corin. 1. sayd blessed be God the father of our Lorde Iesus Christ. 1. Pet. 1. And lykewyse Peter To blesse god is as it were a heauenlye worke and office Apoca. 5. And I hearde them all saye blessinge honoure glorye and power be vnto him that sitteth vpon the seate and vnto the lambe for euermore ¶ Of the benediction and blessing wherwith man doth blesse man ¶ The viii chapter MElchisedech kinge of SaleÌ„ met Abraham and blessed him Gen. 14 saying Blessed be Abraham vnto the high God Genesis 27 Isaac blessed Iacob sayinge God geue the of the dewe of heauen and of the fatnesse of the earth and plenty of corne and wine When that Esau cried oute aboue measure Genesis 17 Isaac sayde vnto hym Thy blessinge shall be the fatnesse of the earth and of the dew of heauen from aboue And with thy swerde shalt thou lyue and shalt be thy brothers seruaunt And Ioseph broughte in Iacob his father to Pharao Genes 47. And Iacob blessed him And Pharo asked him how olde he was Iacob blessed his sonne Ioseph and sayde Genes 48. God before whom my fathers did walk blesse these laddes He spake of Manasses and Effraim whom Iosephe desired that hys father shoulde blesse Gene. 49 For after this Iacob blessed euery one of his children with proper and seuerall benedictions Our Lorde spake vnto Moses sayinge On this wise ye shall blesse the chyldren of Israell Numer 6. Our Lorde blesse thee and kepe thee Our Lorde make his face shyne vpon thee And Aaron lyftynge vp his hande ouer the people Leui. 9. blessed them Balaam the sonne of Beâ—r sayde vnto Balach Numer 23. I am brought and conueyde hether to blesse and it is not in me to alter it The poore mannes pledge shal not remayne with thee all the nyght but thou shalt deliuer hym the pledge againe or euer the sunne goe downe Deuter. 24 that sleping in his owne raiment he may blesse thee Moses the manne of God blessed the children of Israell before hys deathe Deuter. 33. and said our Lord came from Sinai and shewed his beames from Seir vnto them Iosua called the Rubenites the Gaddites and the halfe tribe of Manasses Iosue 22. and saide vnto them Haue ye kept all that Moses commanded you so he blessed them sent them away In the songe and thankes geuynge for the victorye againste Sisara we read Iudi. 5. Blessed be thou Iahel the wyfe of Haber the Kenite amonge all women and blessed shall she be in her teÌ„t and tabernacle Noemi perceiuinge Ruth his doughter in law to be honored of Boom ruth 2. said blessed be he of our Lorde for the lyke fauor grace that he
trouble suche lucke and prosperite was in his hande Ptolomy the king of Aegipt would haue obtained Alexāders kingdome bee fraude and gyle 1. Mach. 11. but his enmite and malice was openly knowne Simon knewe that Triphon dissembled in his wordes 1. Mach. 13. when he demaunded Ionathas two sonnes and a hundred talentes of syluer yet cōmaunded he the money and the chyldren to be sente vnto hym leeste hee shoulde be the greater enemy against the people of Israell and saye because hee sente hym not the money and the chyldren therefore is Ionathas dead ¶ Of peace and concorde Cap. xlviii Gen. 1. IN the begynning god made all other beastes double that is male and female But he created man sole and of him are all other procreated and made and that to cōmende the vnite of peace and concord in man Riches and abundaunce of temporall thinges Gen. 13.26 are oftentimes the matter and occasion of strife and debate as it appereth in Abrahams and Lots herdsmen and Isaac and the shepherdes of Gerare Menne doo gladly make peace and frendshyppe with suche as be of great mighte and powre Gen. 16. And therefore Abimelech came to Isaac because he sawe him prosper Sumtimes a man must geue place and avoide the fury or hastines of his better Gen. 17.18 As Iacob did departing from his brother Esau vntill his fearsnes and wrath was swaged The Gabaonites hearinge what Iosua hadde done at Ierico and Hai Iosu. 9. came vnto hym and made a good peace and agrement with them Whan Phinees and the other legates that wer sent vnto the children of Iosu. 22. Ruben had heard theyr excuse they were appeased and gladly receaued theyr answere Althoughe Absolon hadde doone to 2. regu 18. wickedly againste his father yet Dauid more desyred peace then the death of his sonne for he sayd Is the yong man Absolon safe Notwithstanding that Dauid was holy 2. regu 7. and suche a one as pleased god yet our lord would not that he should buylde hym a house but that Salomon his peasible sonne should enioye and be honored and haue that priuiledge Our lord is much to be lawded and praysed when he geueth his people a peasable and a quiete estate 3. regu 5 as was in Salomons time the whiche sayd The lorde my god hathe geuen mee rest on euerye syde so that there is neyther aduersarye nor anye euyll plage Then there foloweth blessed be oure lorde Good and blessed menne haue loue and amite one to a nother 3. regu 14. But the euyll fyghte agaynst the good and other that are euyll As there was war contynually betweene Roboam and Ieroboam It was declared and shewde vnto Helias that oure lorde was not in the mighti strong winde 3. regu 19. nor in the earth quake nor in the fyre But in a small styll voyce that is in tranquilite and peace And the people blessed and thanked all those 2. Esd. 11. that wer wyllinge to dwell at Ierusalem Ionathas sente ambasidoures vnto Bachides for to make peace wyth him 1. Mach. 9. and yet the selfe Bachides was capytane of the hooste in the whyche Iudas Machabeus Ionathas brother was slayne King Demetrius sent letters vnto Ionathas with louynge wordes and praised him greatly for he sayde we wyll firste make peace with him 1. Mach. 10. before he bynde him selfe with Alexander against vs elles he shall remember the euyll that we haue doone agaynst him his brother and his people The cause of the peace that was in Onias time 2. Mach. 3. was his wisdome and goodnes and the goodnes of his subiectes After that Iudas Machabeus had ouerthrowen Lisias 2. Mach. 11. he wyllinglye and gladlye made peace with hym For he perceyued that the Hebrues beinge defended by the healpe of almightie God could not be ouercome Wherfore he sente them worde and promised that he would consent to all thinges whiche were iuste and resonable and to make the kinge their frende Oure Lorde woulde vs to haue so muche peace and concorde with oure neighbours Mat. 18. that he said vnto Peter that we should not forgeue our brother yf he sinne against vs tyll seuen tymes but seuentye tymes seuen tymes The Angelles in oure Lordes natiuitie brought tidinges of peace and commaunded them to haue peace amonge them selues Luke 2. Luke 10. Iohn 14. that they should shew it forthe Luke 24. Forther more he leaft them peace and after his resurrection he offered them peace He that desireth to kepe peace and to haue the quietnes of minde muste abstayne from discursions and troubles of the minde Iohn 11. and at sometymes cease from that that is honest and laufull For when Martha hearde that Iesus was come she wente and met him Mary sat styll at home nor moued not thence vntyll she was called of oure Lorde by her sister althoughe that Mary parauenture was not ignoraunt of oure Lordes commynge when that Martha knewe it before Howe greate that the goodnes of peace is it may be pondred by Paule that discrete iudge the whiche moste diligentlye in all hys Epistles dothe wyshe it to all those that he writeth vnto excepte in hys Epystle to the Hebrewes in the whyche for certayne causes he nether setteth to his name nor premytteth anye salutation Note yet that when he sayeth peace be vnto you he premytteth grace Sayinge Grace bee with you and peace Roma 1. Wher by it is manifestely vnderstanded that true peace cannot be hadde wythoute the grace of god Esa. 48. And therefore Esaye saythe As for the vngodlye they haue no peace ¶ Of vnite and common consent Capi. xlix De. Ci li. 12. Capi. 22. GOD made mākynde of one mā to cōmende declare vnto men how pleasant a thing the vnite of many is vnto hym Wherevppon Saint Augustine doth say Man was made one but not lefte alone There was neuer thinge that humayne nature spake of so commodius for mankynde so full of discorde through vice so geuen to feloshippe so naturall agaynst the vice of discorde other to be taken hede of if it be not or to be holpen and healed if it apeare as the remembraunce of oure fyrste parent whome god would creat alone that of him many other shuld spring that by thys admonition a concordiall vnitye myght be obserued and kepte in many The people of Israell was of one consent and minde in the desarte Exo. 19. and willing to receiue the law For after they had hard of Moses the wordes of the law they answered all wyth one voyce all that our Lord hath said we wil do The people to make and performe the worke of the tabernacle of oure Lord Exo. 35. and the holy uestmentes of the ministers did bringe in offer with most readiest deuout minds all that was necessary to performe the same All the children of Israell wer gathered and knit
of her lyfe Oure Lorde castyng those oute of the temple with a scourge that solde and bought Oxen Iohn 2. shepe and doues and the chaungers of money sayed make not my fathers house an house of marchaundise sekynge very often tymes in this and other thinges his fathers honoure It is written of the chylde Iesu that he wente downe with them Luke 2. that is with Mary and Ioseph and came to Nazareth and was subiecte and obedient vnto them Also in a nother place he sayeth Iohn 8. I honour my father And hangynge vppon the crosse he commended his mother to his welbeloued disciple Iohn 19. Whereby it appeareth what carefulnesse he hadde for hys mother that forgat her not at the poynte or laste Artycle of death ¶ Of thankes geuing for the benefites of God Capi. lxiii IAcob gaue thaÌ„ks vnto god most diligeÌ„tly Gen. 31. saiyng Lord I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and truthe whiche thou hast shewed vnto thy seruant Exo. 13. Our lorde woulde that the childreÌ„ of Israell shoulde neuer forget theyr deliueraunce oute of Aegipte And it shall be Sayth he a signe vnto thee vpon thyne hande for a remeÌ„brauÌ„ce betwene thyne eyes that the lordes lawe may be in thy mouth Moses and the chyldren of Israell sange this songe vnto our lord Exo. 15. said Let vs singe vnto our lord This was after they had so wonderfully passed ouer the red see After thei hadde obtained and gotten a wonderfull greate victorye of theyr enemyes Nume 31. the prynces of the hoste of Israel came to Moses saiyng that there was not one of the children of Israell slayne in the battayle And yet they hadde taken of men and cattayle a greate number And for that cause they offerde vppe great gyftes vnto our Lorde Our Lord commaunded that after the myraculus goyng ouer Iordan they should pitche Iosu. 3. and set vp twelue stones in and for a perpetual monument and memory of the same After the victory obtained by Barath Tebora of Sysara they saÌ„ge gaue â—hankes to our Lord. Iudi. 5. Anna praid and praised our Lorde for her sonne Samuel the which our Lord had geuen her 1. reg 2. Although the children of Israel in suche battailes as they wanne dyd fyghte stoutlye and stronglye Iudi. 20. Yet they said that it was oure Lorde that smote theyr ennemyes that the laud and praise myght be geuen vnto oure Lorde When Dauid heard of the reuelation that God made by the Prophet Nathan 2. reg 7 of the continuaunce of hys kyngdom he gaue God thankes most humbly and deuoutly Oure Lorde is muche to be lauded and praysed that geueth hys people a good prince and prelate 3. regu 5. Blessed be our Lord saith scripture which hath geuen vnto Dauid a wyse sonne ouer this mighty people 1. Esd. 1. Cyrus the kynge of Persia proclaymed thorowe oute all hys Empyre Oure LORDE God of heauen hathe geuen me al the kingdoms of the earth and hathe commaunded me to buylde hym a house at Ierusalem Whosoeuer now among you is of hys people oure Lord hys God be with him and let hym go vp to Ierusalem and build the house of our lord God of Israel Tobi. 11. When Tobias had recouered hys sighte he and his wife and all that knew him before that he was blinde praised and glorified God Iudi. 16. After the victorye of Holofernes host was obtained all the people resorted and came to IerusaleÌ„ to prayse and pray vnto our Lord. Dani. 2. After that the vision of Nabuchodonozor king of Babilon was reueled opened vnto Daniel He blessed oure Lord God of heauen and sayde The name of our Lord be blessed for wisdome and strength are his The iii. childreÌ„ being deliuered froÌ„ the burning fire and flame of the fornace Dani. 3. praysed our lorde well and deuoutly And not they only gaue thaÌ„kes vnto god for that thing but Nabuchodonozor did also cause the wonderful thinges of our lord to be proclaymed thorow out al his kingdome After that the temple vnder Iudas Machabeus was erected and purifyed 1. Mach. 4. they worshypped and gaue thankes to the GOD of heauen that hadde prospered and geuen them the victorye Iudas Machabeus and the people of IerusaleÌ„ wrote vnto Aristobolus 2. Mach. 1 saying we being deliuered by god froÌ„ great daungers and pearils magnifyceÌ„tly do geue thankes vnto hym When the blessed virgin had herd the laude and praise that Elizabeth gaue her LuKe. 1. saying Blessed art thou amonge women she praysed and lauded God for the benefytes geuen to her and to all the worlde wyth these wordes My soul magnyfyeth the lord We reade in the gospel that when our Lord purposed to do some greate miracle Iohn 6.11 that oftentimes he loked vp to heauen gaue thankes Mat. 26. as it manifestly appeareth in the multiplicatioÌ„ of the loues In the resuscitation of Lazarus and in the institucion of the blessed and holy sacrament After Ihon the Baptist was born LuKe. 1. and that zacharias had recouered his speache he prophesying praysed our Lord saying Blessed be oure Lorde God of Israel Simeon toke the child Iesus vp in hys armes Luke 2. and blessed our Lord. When the people saw that our Lorde had healed the man of the palsy Mat. 9. they meruailed and glorified god whyche had geuen such power to men And likewise when the widowes son was reuiued Luke 7. ther came a fear on theÌ„ al and they magnified god and gaue vnto him the glory saying A greate prophet is rysen vp among vs. One of those x. lepers that which wer clensed at Goddes commaundement turned backe againe Luke 17. and fell downe on hys face at hys feete and gaue hym thankes After that our Lord had supt with his disciyles Mat. 26. and had said grace they went out vnto mount Oliuer The halt that was healed by Peter Act. 3.4 entred with the Apostles into the temple walkinge and leapinge and praisyng God Then ther followeth All men praised God because of that which was done for the man was aboue xl yere old on whom the miracle of healing was shewed Paule gaue thankes for the benefits to him and other exhibited 1. Timo. 1. To hym self in his conuersyon I thancke my Lord god that coÌ„forted me in Christ wheras before I was a blasphemer a persecutor contumelious but yet I obtained merrye because I did it ignorauntly through vnbelefe And in his coÌ„uersation thankes be vnto god 2. Cor. 2. which alwais geueth vs the triumph and victory in Christ Iesu. And deuoutly he geueth thaÌ„kes for the benefites exhibited to his brethreÌ„ First verely I geue God thankes for you all Roma 1. that youre Faythe is spoken of in all the world 1. Thes. 2. And to the Thessalonians What thanckes can we recompence to God again for you ouer
may dye with him doubted of our Lordes resurrection whereof it came that Peter was the more meke and gentle to sinners and that the faithfull and they that stackard in the faithe were the better stablished there in And of this it is gathered that no manne should presume vpon his stedfastnes And that no man whether he be fallen from his faith or doubteth therin should despair of the mercye or of the forgeuenesse of God And by this that Iudas the Apostle and dispensator of God did slide into suche an eanorme crime nor rose not againe al presuÌ„pteous security is deminished and broken by the whiche no manne for the state condition that he is in nor for the dedes that he hath done oughte to be hie mineded but in fear For why the Apostles wer the faithful leaders of the people and yet they were kept in prysonne wythal diligence It might seme to such as be weake that God shuld not haue suffred such thinges to haue bene done in the beginning of the faith Actes 4â— But yet the faithful therby wer maruelously comforted and the aduersaries of our faithe confuted Actes 12. The like thing chaunced in Peter alone when he was taken by Herode put in prison and broughte forth and miraculouslye deliuered by the Angell It was great iniquity to stone Steuen to death Actes 7. and yet many good thinges throughe the prouidence of God came therof For Steuen was gloriously crowned in heauen and aboundauntly honoured in earthe his oration and prayer that he made there brought Paule vnto vs and left vnto al our posterity an example of a maruelous paâ—ience and charitye Actes 8 Steuen beynge thus stoned there followed a greate persecution in the Churche and congregation that was at Ierusalem For they were all sparkled abrode through out al the regions of Iewry and Samaria except the Apostles so that â—t semed to be a great detriment or hinderaÌ„ce to the honour of the christiane religion But the Discyples that were scattered abroade dyd so preache and sette forthe the worde of God that the Churche there by was a greate deale the more enlarged Actes 13. For as much as the Iewes when Paule and Barnabas preached the woorde of God vnto them refused it and put it from them they tooke an occasyon to preache vnto the Gentyles There was a dissentyon betwene Paule and Barnabas for IhoÌ„ whose sirname was Marke whome Paule woulde not receyue because he wente from theÌ„ but Barnabas toke Marke wyth hym Actes 15. and so they departed a sunder one from the other Where by shoulde haue folowed as it was thoughte some greate rebuke and shame But God disposing the matter there ensued greate frute and profite For the worde of God was opened preached to manye They committed a verye haynous deede and faute that putte that excellente doctoure Paule in prison coÌ„pellynge hym to cease from Preachinge the whyche thynge myghte seme to many a great inconuenience and that God should not haue suffred it And yet it is to bee greatly noted that the deuine prouidence by suche impedimentes and losses hath shewed and caused greate frute and profyte For as the merites of Paul did therby increase so likewise he left the mo examples of vertue and taughte muche better by his woorkes then before time by his wordes For beynge in prison he wrote to those that were absent and in farre countries nether was he so profitable vnto the church by his preachinge as he was by sending of his Epistles And therefore if he in any one city or prouince had ben honoured of all men and gladly hardt he should not yet haue had such occasions to haue gone and visited so diuers and many nations as he visited Therfore when that the Iewes or any other did persecute him froÌ„ towne to towne he preached the woorde of God to manye And when he was in hold he wrote his Epistles and when the Iewes resisted him Actes 13. he turned him self to the gentiles And againe because that in Syria he founde Festus and Felix vnrightfull Iudges Actes 25. hee was enforced to appeale to Cesar and so hee came to Rome and throughe his predication and doctrine was greatly illustred and luckelye by hys passion made mooste famous ¶ Of the benignitie of God to hys seruauntes ¶ The third Chapter ABraham commynge and speaking with our Lord Genesisâ— 28 desired him to spare the Sodomites vsed suche a maruelous boldnes that men might haue iudged him very importune But yet our Lord answered him all wayes gentlye and graunted him his request Our Lord moste gentlye appeared vnto Iacob flying and eschuynge hys brothers anger Gene. 31. and deliuered hym from his father in lawes insecution returning again to his brother Iacob vsed a greate audacitye and bouldnes in his prayer to our Lorde Gene. 38. saying I wyl not let thee go excepte thou blesse me And oure Lorde saide vnto Moses I haue seene this people Exodus 32. and behold it is a stiffe necked people suffer me that my wrath may wax hot against them As thoughe he wold saye thou holdest me nor I cannot consume these wicked sinners excepte thou let me go And our Lord spake vnto Moses as a man speaketh to his frende Exodus 33. and did defend him from his enemies and detractours Oure Lorde obeyed vnto Iosuas voyce Iosue 10. saying Sunne stand thou styll vpon Gibeon Balack called Balaam for to curse the children of Israell Iosu. 24. but our Lorde cleane contrarye blessed them by Balaam Nume 22 Gedeon demaunded twise of oure Lorde a signe in the fiece Iudi. 6. whether he shoulde obtaine the victorye of his enemies This was to be maruailed at that oure LORDE when he hym selfe was abiected and refused 2. regum 7. disdayned not there at but in the contempte of the seruauntes of GOD he estemed him self to be contemned As it is manifest and plaine in Samuel 1. regum 8. They did not reiecte thee but me saithe oure LORDE Note also howe courteouslye oure LORDE spake vnto Nathan 2. regum 7 of Dauid and of his house in time to come Notwithstandynge that the posteritye of Dauid did sinne greuouslye and manye manner of wyse 4. regu 19. yet hys good deedes are oftentymes remembred and because of them oure Lorde doth verye ofte spare and forgeue the sinnes of the people At the Commaundemente of God the rauens broughte breade and flesh to Helias 3. reg 17.19 And afterwardes the angell of God shewed hym breade and water Ezechia the kinge of Iewry sayde Oure LORDE wyll be mercifull 2. Para. 30 vnto all those that seeke hym withall their hartes nor shall not impute vnto them that they are not sufficiently inough sanctified Our LORDE sente his Aungell the whyche ledde for the yonge Tobias and broughte him agayne he draue the deuill from hys wife he made hys parentes glad and ioyfull To. 5.8.11
shewed to the liuing he reserueth for the dead Boom did commend Ruth that fled to the GOD of Israell ruth 3. and sayde Blessed arte thou in oure Lorde for thou hast shewed more goodnesse and mercy in the latter end than at the beginning Hely blessed Elkana and his wife and saide vnto him 1. regum 2. Oure Lorde geue the seede of this woman for that she hath lent our Lord or for the peticion that she hath made vnto the Lorde The Ziphites sēt word vnto Saul 1. regum 23 that Dauid lurked in theyr countrey And Saule said Blessed are ye in our Lord for ye haue compassyon on me It was told Dauid that they of Iabes had buried Saule 2. regum 2. and hee sayde vnto them Blessed are ye vnto oure Lord that ye haue shewed such kindnesse vnto your Lord Saul and haue buried him King Salomon turnes his face 3. regum 8. and blessed al the congregation of Israel and all the Congregation of Israell stode still When Dauid had made an ende of the burnt offeringes 1. Para. 16◠and peace offeringes he blessed the people in the name of our Lord. And he dealte to all Israell bothe man and woman a craknell of bread and a good peece of fleshe and a flacket of wyne Raguel takyng the right hande of hys daughter Tob. 7. gaue her into the right hand of Tobias saying The God of Abraham the God of Isaac and the God of Iacob be with you Ioyne you together and fulfyll hys blessynge in you He kyssed Tobye and wepynge toke hym aboute the necke and sayd Tob. 9. Gods blessinge haue thou my sonne for thou arte the sonne of a good vertuous man Gabelus goyng into the house found Tobi he wepte and sayde the god of Israel blesse the for thou art the sonne of a ryghte vertuous and iuste man and of one that feareth god Osias the chefe ruler of the people of Israel sayd vnto Iudith blessed art thou of Our lorde the hye god Iudi. 13. aboue all wemen vpon earth And afterwardes all the elders began to prayse her wyth one voyce Iudit 15 sayinge Thou worshyp of Ierusalem thou ioye of Israell c. And it fortuned that when Elizabeth heard the salutacion of Mary LuK. 1. she cryed with a loude voyce and sayde Blessed art thou amonge wemen c. ¶ Of the malediction and cursse wherwith man dothe cursse man ca. ix IT is red that Noah amonge all other menne was the fyrst that cursed Chanaan his nephew Gen. 9. because that C ham hys father disclosed the nakednesse of Noah to the reste of his brethren when that he should rather haue kept it close Amonge the wordes of benediction that Isaac gaue to Iacob hys sonne Gen. 27. He sayd Cursed be he that curseth thee and blessed be he that blesseth thee Iacob sayd vnto Simon and Leuis father Gen. 49. cursed be their wrathe For it was shamelesse their indignation and fearcenesse for it was harde and cruell Balac sente messengers vnto Balaam Nume 22. that he should come curse the people of Israel Nume 22. for he had heard him to be acursed vpon whom maledictiō or curse fell or chaunced Who so curseth hys father or his mother Leui. 20 let him dye Moyses writeth and setteth for the Deu. 27. manye maledictions curses agaynst those that transgresse goddes cōmaundementes deliuered vnto them The Citie of Hiericho beynge destroyde Iosua sware Iosu. 6. saying cursed be the mā before our lord that riseth vp and buildeth this cyte Hiericho The Sickemites when they were eating and drinckinge and mery Iudi. 49. dyd curse Abimelech Goliah the philistine cursed Dauid in the name of his goddes 1. reg 17. Saule purposinge to ensue and folowe the philistines 1. regu 14 charged the people with an oth saying Cursed be the man that eateth anye foode tyl night vntil I be auenged of mine enemies Semei came out cursing he caste stones at Dauid 2. reg 16. sayd come forthe thou bloudsheder and thou man of Belial Eliseus cursed the chyldren that mocked him 4. reg 2. saying go vp thou balde head go vp thou bald head And there were torne in peeces with .ii. beares .xlii. chyldren When Machabeus layde sege to a certen holde named Gazer 2. mach 10. they that were within curste and bande excedingly And made great craking with wycked wordes The Pharisees berated and cursed him that was borne blynd whom our Lord Iesus dyd illuminate Iohn 9. And they sayd Be thou his disciple The Iewes reproued Paule saying Reuilest and cursest thou goddes hye Priest Actes 23. But Paule excused hym selfe and sayd I wyste not brethren that he was the hie priest and gouernoure ¶ Of the seuerite of god against the wicked ca. x. GOd punished the sinne of our first parentes greuously Gen. 23. the whiche as they beleued was veniall that it shuld not haue ben punished so extremely God spared not the original world but welnye destroyed it wholye with water Gen. 7. The .v. cities were consumed with stinkinge fyre be the angels sent from god Gen. 19. for bogery The Egiptians perceyued that the chyldren of Israel were drowned and sanke as leade Exo. 14.15 god cōmaundinge the same in the mightie waters Because Amalech people did let the children of Israel goinge to the lande of promise Exo. 17. Oure lorde sayd to Moses I will vtterly put out the remēbraūce of Amalech from vnder heuen For the calfe sake that the people worshipped Exo. 32. there fell in one daye aboute 3000. men There went a fyre oute from oure lorde and consumed Nadab and Abihu Leui. 10. the sonnes of Aaron because they tooke eyther of them his censor and putte straunge fyre therin and cens thereupon And offered it before oure Lorde Oure Lorde cōmaunded the cursed Leui. 24. speaker to be broughte wythoute the hoste and let all the multitude stone hym And while the fleshe that our lorde sent Nume 11. the children of Israell beholding and seing the same was yet betwene theyr tethe Our Lord smote the people with an exceading great plague Our Lorde plaged Marye with the Leper Nume 12. because she spake against Moses Of 600. thousand men the whiche were nombred shall none come into the land of promise and that for their sinnefull dealinge Nume 14 saue Caleb and Iosue as our Lorde did threaten them He that was found gatherynge of stickes vpon the Sabboth daye Nume 15. was stoned to deathe by Gods commaundement Our Lord consumed Chorath Dathan and Abiram Nume 16 wyth a terryble deathe Oure Lorde punished Moses greuouslye at the water of strife Nume 20. because he doubted and yet vntil then he had born him self very holily faithfully as wel vnto God as to man Our Lord sent fiery serpentes amonge the people Nume 21. because they
siluer smyth which made syluer shrynes for Diana called together the workmen of like occupation and styrde vp a great number of people agaynst Paule whome he sayed dyd tourne muche people from the worshippinge of the goddes When they hearde these sayinges they wer full of wrathe and cryed oute sayinge Greate is Dyana of the Ephesians As Paule was saylynge oute of Grece into Siria the Iewes layed wayte for him Act. 20. and he was counseled to retourne thorowe Macedonia And there accompanyed hym many brethren of dyuers and sondrye places When certayne Iewes of Assyria hadde seene Paule in the Temple they moued all the people and layed handes on hym cryinge Menne of Israel help And they toke Paul and drewe him out of the temple Act. 21. And as they went about to kil hym tydinges came vnto the hye capitayne that all Ierusalem was moued the whyche toke soudiers and ranne vnto them When they sawe hym and the soudyers they lefte smytynge of Paule Then the captayne toke Paule and commaunded him to be bounde with two chaynes As the Iewes cryed against Paul and caste of theyr clothes and threw duste into the ayer Act. 22. the capitayne commaunded hym to be broughte into the castell and bad that he shoulde be scourged and examyned that they myght knowe wherefore they cryed so on hym When the hye captaine had Paule in holde mo then fortye Iewes sayd vnto the hye priest We haue made a vowe that we wyll taste nor eate nothinge vntyll we haue slayne Paule Cause hym therefore to be broughte forthe For wee are readye or euer hee come near Act. 23. to kyll hym But the Capitayne beynge monyshed of thys by Paules systers sonne caused him wyth stronge hande and warelye to bee conueyed vnto Felyx the hye debitye Paule standinge before Felyx the Debity the Iewes accused him that he was a pestilente felowe and a seditious Ac. 24.25 and when he had oftentymes harde hym and the Iewes and that the tyme was sore spente and that Festus should succede him in Cesaria Act. 27.28 hee wyllynge to shewe the Iewes a pleasure lefte Paule bounde the whiche perceyuinge that Festus dyd hym wronge appealed vnto Cesar After this appeale he suffered shipwrack and at Rome was bound with chaynes and sufferd great anguyshe and tribulation Act. 14. Paul and Barnabas exhorted them to continue in the faythe affirminge that we must thorow muche tribulation enter into the kingdome of God 2. Corin. 1. The Apostle wrytinge of him selfe sayeth Brethren I woulde not haue you ignorant of oure trouble which happened vnto vs in Asia Where with we were greued out of mesure passinge strength so greatlye that it yrked vs to lyue When we were come into Macedonia our fleshe had no rest 2. Corin. 7. but we wer troubled on euery syde outward was fightinge inwarde was feare And the Apostle commendinge the Thessaloniās sayd Ye became folowers of vs 1. Thes. 1. and of our Lord receauinge the worde with much affliction with ioye of the holy ghost There was aboute a fytye yeares from the tyme of the cōminge of the holy ghost vnto the disciples Apo. 1.5 Per totum and the time that Domitian exyled Iohn the Apostle And yet we rede not that he hadde in all that tyme so many dyuine consolations as hee hadde in the lyttle tyme of his tribulation As it is euident in the fyrste of the Apocalipse ¶ Of the multitude of euyll menne Capi. Cxii WHen the floude was ther were saued onely but .viii. persons For all fleshe had corrupte hys waye vpon earth Gene. 6. The children of Israell were mo then the children of Isaac Gene. 25. and Abraham had mo chyldren by Agar then by Sara In the .v. cytyes of Sodome were not founde .x. iust persons Gen. 18.19 so there was a multitude of euyll menne and fewe good Amonge al Iosephs brethren there wer but two Gene. 37. Ruben and Iudas that labourd to saue him but yet the euyll preuailde Moses sente spyes to consyder and search the lande of promise Nume 13. but there were but two of them good Caleph and Iosue Sixe hundred thousand fyghtynge men were nombred Nume 1. of the which two only Caleph and Iosue dyd enter into the land of promise There were mo wyth Absolon going about to vsurpe his fathers kingdome 2. regu 15 then wyth Dauid that raigned wel and iustly The greater parte of the children of Israel was in the kingdom of Samaria 3. reg 12. for there were ten tribes and the worst sort of people and the least part in the kingdome of Ierusalem for there were but two tribes 3. regu 20. The nomber of the king of Siriās fighting men that fought against Israel was so great that the king said The dust of Samaria is not ynough for all the people that followe me to take euery man an handful There was so greate a nomber of fighting mē in Holofernes host Iudi. 2. that they couered the ground of the lande like the grashoppers All the inhabitours of Egipte and the wemen the which stode in a great multitude Iere. 44. did sacrifice to straunge Gods There abode no moe wyth Iudas Machabeus then 800. men 1. Mach. 9. but in Bachides and Alchinus the traitors host were 10000. men and two thousand horsmen Ther was at Ierusalem when our Lorde suffred a greate multitude of people Iohn 19. yet was there not a manne found that woulde manifestly wythstand our Lordes death so falslye and wickedly procured But euerye man cryed delyuer not Iesus but Barrabas Certaine Iewes the whych Paule found at Rome at hys fyrst comming thither Act. 28. said vnto him As concerning this sect of Christiās we knowe that euerye wher it is spoken against ¶ Of good men which lurked and were as vnknown among the euyll Cap. Cxiii ALthoughe it be wrytten that all flesh had corrupt his way vpon earth Gene. 6.7 yet our lord said vnto Noe the haue I sene righteous before mee in thys generation The iust man Lot did inhabyte among the Sodomites Gene. 13. Ioseph did lead a chast and a faithful life in Egipt Gene. 39. Our Lord appeared vnto Moses in the lande of Madian Exod. 3. when he kepte Ietros hys father in lawes sheepe in the desart Samuel euen amonge the wycked children of Hely 1. regu 2. was holy and innocent Helias iudged all that were vnder Achab and Iezabell to be Idolaters hym self excepted 3. regu 19. but our Lord saide vnto hym I shall leaue me 7000. of whiche neuer man bowed hys knees vnto Baall Roma 11. Tobias was of the tribe of Neptalim and vnder the kingdome of Samaria Tob. 1. in the whych al were estemed to be Idolaters and wyth diuers vyces infected And yet being in captiuity he forsoke not the way of truthe Wheras al in a māner worshipped proud Aman Esther 3. only
it vnto her frendes although it was to the hindraunce of her husband Iudi. 16. Dalida by great importunitye obtayned that Sampson tolde wher in his mighty strength did reast Anna Samuels mother wepte and coulde take no sustinaunce 1. Reg. 1. for the greate desyre she hadde to haue Chyldren 3. Reg. 3. She was verye greadye to haue a Chylde that tooke awaye an nother mannes Iezabel was so desirous and greadye to delyuer vp Nabothes vineyard to her husband 3. reg 21. that she brought forth false witnesses and thrise procured and caused Naboth to be stoned most cruelly When that the Sunamite woulde go to Elizeus 4. reg 4. and that her husbande would not fullye consent there to she said I wil go so immediatly she prepared an asse and sayde vnto her seruaunt by the waye looke thou by no impedimeÌ„t or let vnto me but do that I commaund thee Athalia Ochozias mother coneting to raign ouer the land 4. reg 11. destroyed al the kinges sede except Ioas thinfant the which was secreatly hidden and taken away Anna Tobias wife daily loked went about the stretes Tob. 10. where by she thought there shoulde be any hope of his comming that she might see hym comming a farre of Esther was not contente that the kinge had geuen her Amans house Esther 9. that he had destroyd and slain in Susan the chefe city 500. men But also the next day folowing she caused 300. mo to be slain The woman of Canane obtayned her doughters healthe throughe importune Math. 15. prayer The mother of Zebedes children taried not that our lord shuld reward her children after thexcelleÌ„cy of theyr merits Mat. 20. But preuenting the time she desyred that the one mighte be set on his righthand in his kingdome the other on his left Herodias laid such wait and so hated Ihon the Baptist that she chose that her doughter should rather ask his body Mat. 14. then the half of Herodes kingdoÌ„ Our lord doth put an ensample of a widow Luc. 18. the whiche was so molestious and greuous vnto a iudge which feared not God nether regarded man that at the last he aduenged her of her aduersary Act. 12. A maid named Rhoda perceiuinge that Peter knocked at the doore dyd not open it but for gladnesse leauing hym wythout ran in and told theim that were wythin ¶ Of the deceitfulnesse of wemen Ca. Cxxviii ADam by the occasion of Eue was deceyued although he was not seduced in that Gen. 3. that Eue was but then onely when he by her perswasion and counsell did eate of the tree forbyden Sara hearing the promise that she shoulde conceyue a chylde Gen. 18. laughed within her selfe But when she was reproued of her mystrust with a lye she excused her selfe Whilst Lothes ii doughters desiring to haue childreÌ„ by theyr own father Gen. 19â— durst not induce him there vnto with wordes but with wyne they accomplished their purpose They woulde sone haue deceaued an other when they spared not their owne father Rachel with a proper inuention beguyled her father Gen. 31. seekynge hys Idoles Iosephs lady and mestres to excuse her selfe Gen. 39. accused him vniustlye to her husbande and afterwards at her husbandes handes reuenged her selfe of Ioseph most wickedly Al be it the Hebrues mydwyues hadde a good and a deuout intente in reseruynge of the chyldren Exo. 1. yet by the fyndinge oute of a lye they deceiâ—ed Pharao the king of Egipte The wemen of Moab deceyued the children of Israell Nume 25. when that Balaam the sothesayer wyth all hys magicall crafte coulde doo nothinge against them Rathab the harlot hyd Iosues spyes and caused those that inquyred for them Iosu. 2. to runne and pursue after them vnto the ferye of Iordan sayinge that they wente forthe at the shuttinge of the gate Iahel wente forthe to mete Sisara and sayed vnto him Iuhi. 4 tourne into me my LORDE and feare not and yet at length she kylde hym beynge a sleape Sampfons wyfe wept before him and sayed Surelye thou hatest me and therefore thou hast not tolde me the ryddle Iudi. 14. And he reuelde it vnto her to his owne destruction Dalida was continuallye molestius vnto Sampson Iudi. 16. and sufferde him not one daye to be at rest and quyet so that his soule was faynte and incombred euen vnto death thus strong Sampson was ouercomde and folishlye opened all thynges vnto her When Michol vnderstode that Saule her father soughte Dauid 1. regu 19 her husbande to slaye him she caused him to departe and layed an Image vpon his bed The men that should haue brought worde vnto Dauid of Absolons estate and condition 2. Re. 17. were let downe into a well and a certayne woman spreadinge a couerlet ouer it as thoughe she had bene dryinge furmenty corne thereon fayned that they were departed and gone Iudith al be it she dyd it of a good zele and intente Iudith 10. deceyued Holofernes of whome all the earthe stode in awe and feare Herode feared Iohn the Baptist knowinge that he was a iust manne Mar. 6. and yet Herodias labourd the mater so that she causde him to be beheaded in prison Saphira and Ananias her husbande dyd lye vnto Peter as concerning parte of the price of the land Act. 5. But Peter punyshed that lye mooste greuouslye ¶ Of the folyshe and vndiscrete coÌ„munication of wemen Ca. C.xxix WE reade that Eue spake fyrste with the serpente or euer she spake with god how to worship him Gen. 3. or wyth her husband to receaue any erudition of him Sara when our Lorde did promise that she should haue a childe mistrustinge it dyd laughe Gen. 18. and afterwardes denyde that she laughed When Rachel sawe that she was vnfrutfull and baren Gen. 30. she sayed vnto her husbande Geue me children or els I am but deade asthoughe it had bene in Iacobs power to make the baren frutfull Assone as Sampsons wyfe knewe her husbandes obscure and darke riddle Iudi. 14. she disclosed it to her cityzens to the greate hynderaunce of her husbande Assone as Dalida saw that Sampson had coÌ„fessed and opened his hole minde vnto her Iudi. 16. how he mighte be depriued and lose his strengthe she caulde his ennemyes vnto her and eftsones dysclosed the thynge vnto them Because Dauid vpon greate deuotion did daunce before the arke of our Lorde 2. regu 6. Michol Saules doughter sayd scornefully vnto hym O how gloryous was the kynge of Israell thys daye When Tobias spake of the kydde Sayinge Take hede and looke that yt be not stolen Tob. 2 Anna his wife being angrye answered Nowe is thy hope become vayne openlye When Sara the doughter of Raguel dyd iustlye rebuke her mayden she answered her impaciently and verye iniuriouslye Tobi. 3. sayinge God let vs neuer see sonne or doughter of