a doar of the worke the same shal be happye in his dede If any maÌ„ among you seme to be denoute refrayneth not his tonge but deceaueth his owne herte this mannes deuocion is in vayne Pure deuocyon vndefyled before God the father ys this to vysyt the fatherlesse widdowes in their aduersyte and to kepe hym selfe vnspotted of the worlde ⊢ ¶ He for byddeth to haue any respect of persones and not to boast of fayth where no dedes are CAPI II. MY brethren esteme not the fayth of our Lorde Iesus Christ the Lorde of glory with respecte of persons For if ther come into youre company a man wearinge a golden rynge clothed in goodly aparell and ther come in also a poore maÌ„ in vyle raymeÌ„t and ye haue a respecte to him that weareth the gaye clothyng saye vnto hym Syt y u here in a good place saye vnto the poore stande thou there or syt here vnder my â—ote stole are ye not parcyal in youre selues and haue iudged after euyll thoughtes Harken my deare beloued brethren Hath not God chosen y â— poore of this worlde such as are ryche in sayth heyres of the kyngdome which he promysed to them that loue hyme But ye haue despysed the poore Do not ryche men execute â—â—rannye vpon you drawe you before the iudgemeÌ„t seates Do not they speake euell of y â— good name which is called vpon ouer you If ye fulfyll the royall lawe accordyng to the scripture Thou shalt loue thyne neyghboure as thy selfe ye do well But yt ye regarde one person more then another ye commyt synne are rebuked of the lawe as transgressours Whosoeuer shall kepe the whole lawe yet fayle in one poynte he is gyltie of al. For he that sayd Thou shalt not câ—myt adulterye sayde also thou shalt not kyll Though thou do none adulterye yet yf thou kyll y u art become a transgressor of the lawe So speake ye and so do as they that shal be iudged by the lawe of lybertye For he shall haue iudgement without mercy that sheweth no mercy mercy reioyseth agaynste iudgement ⊢ What auayleth it my brethren though a maÌ„ saye he hath â—ayth yf he hathe no dedes Can sayth saue him If a brother or a syster be naked destitute of dayly â—ode one of you saye vnto theÌ„ depart in peace â–ª God sede you warmnes fode notwithstandynge ye geue theÌ„ not those thynges whiche are nedfull to the body what shal it helpe Euen so fayth yf it haue no dedes is deed in it selfe But some maÌ„ wyll saye y u hast fayth I haue dedes shewe me thy fayth by thy dedes I wyl shewe y â— my fayth by my dedes Beleuest y u that ther is one god Thou doest well The deuyls also beleue and tremble But wylt thou vnderstande O thou vayne maÌ„ that fayth without dedes is deed Was not Abraham oure father iustifyed thorow workes when he had offred Isaac his sonne vpon the aulter Thou seest howe that fayth wrought with hys dedes and thorugh the dedes was the fayth made parfecte and the scripture was fulfylled which sayth Abraham beleued God and it was reputed vnto hym for ryghtewesnes and he was called the frende of God ✚ Ye se then howe that of dedes a man is iustifyed and not of fayth onely Lyke wyse also was not Raab the harlot iustifyed thorowe workes when she had receaued that messengers and had sent theÌ„ out another waye For as the body without the spirit is deed euen so fayth without workes is deed also ⊢ ¶ What good and euell commeth thorowe the tonge The dutye of suâ—he as belerned The difference betwyxte the wysdome of the Gospell and the wysdome of the worlde CAPI III. MY brethren be not euery maÌ„ a master knowynge howe that we shal receaue the greater damnacion for in many thinges we synne all If a man synne not in worce the same is a perfecte man and able also to tame all the body beholde we put byttes in to the horses mouthes y â— they may obeye vs and we turne about all the body of the. Beholde also the shyppes which thought they be so greate are dryuen of fearce wyndes yet are they turned about with a very smal helme whyther soeuer the violeÌ„ce of the gouerner wyll Euen so the tonge is a syctel member also and boasteth great thynges Beholde howe great a thynge a lyttell fyre kyndleth and the tonge is fyre euen a worlde of wyckednes So is the tonge set amonge oure membres that it defyleth the whole body setteth a fyre all y â— we haue of nature and is it selfe set a fyre euen of hell All the natures of beastes and of byrdes and of serpentes and thynges of the see are meked tamed of the nature of maÌ„ But the tonge can no man tame It is an vnruely euyll full of deedly poyson Therwith blesse we God the father therwith curse we me whiche are made after the âšœ ymage and symilitude of God Out of one mouth proceadeth blessinge and cursyng My brethreÌ„ these thynges ought nat so to be Dothe a fountayn sende forth at one place swete water and bytter also Can the fygge tree my brethren beare olyue bertes eyther a vyne beare fygges So can no fountayne geue bothe salt water fresshe also If any man be wyse endued with knowledge amonge you let hym shewe his workes out of good conuersacyon with mekenes of wysdome But yf ye haue bytter enuyeng and stryfe in your herte reioyce not nether be lyars agaynst the trueth For such wysdome dissendeth not froÌ„ aboue but is earthy natural dyuelysshe For wher enuyenge stryfe is there is vnstablenes and all maner of euyl workes But the wysdome y â— is froÌ„ aboue is fyrst pure then peasable gentle easy to be entreated full of mercy good frutes with out iudgynge without simulacyon yee and the frute of rightewesnes is sowen in peace of them that mayntayne peace CAPI IIII. ¶ Warre and fyghtynge coÌ„meth of voluptcousnesse The frendshype of the worlde is enimyte before God â–ª 〈◊〉 orâ—acyon to 〈◊〉 sclaunder and the vanyâ—e of thys lyke FROM whence coÌ„meth warre fyghtynge amonge you come they not here hence eueÌ„ of your lustes that fyght in your meÌ„bres Ye lust haue not Ye enuye haue indignacyon cannot obtayne Ye fyght warre Ye haue not because ye aske not Ye aske receaue not because ye aske a mysâ—e euen to consume it vpon your iustes Ye aduouterars wemeÌ„ that breke matrimonye knowe ye not howe y â— the freÌ„dshype of the worlde is enemyte w t God whosoeuer therfore wylbe a freÌ„de of y t worlde is made the enemy of God Ether do ye thinke y e y e scripture saith in vayne The spirit y t dwelleth in vs lusteth euen coÌ„trary to enuy our geueth more grace wherfore he sayth God resisteth the proude
her Ther fore she sayd yf it shulde go so to passe what helpeth it that I am with chylde Wherfore she went to aske the Lorde And the Lorde sayde vnto her there are two maner of people in thy wombe and two nacyons shall be deuyded out of thy bowels and the one nacyon shal be myghtyer then the other and the elder shal be seruant vnto the yonger Therfore when her tyme was come to be delyuerd behold there were two twynnes in her wombe And he that came out fyrste was reed and he was all ouer as it were a rough garmente they called his name Esau. And after hym came his brother out his hande holdynge Esau by the hele And his name was called Iacob And Isaac was ix yeare olde when they were borne and the boyes grewe and Esau became a cunnyng hunter and tylman But Iacob was a perfyte man and dwelled in the tentes Isaac loued Esau bycause he dyd eate of his venyson but Rebecca loued Iacob Iacob sod potage and Esau came from the felde and was fayntye and Esau sayd to Iacob fede me I praye the with that reed potage for I am fayntye And therfore was his name called Edom. And Iacob sayde sel me this day thy byrthryght Esau sayde Loo I am at the poynte to dye what profyte shall this byrthryght do me Iacob answered swere to me then this daye And he sware to hym and solde his byrthryght vnto Iacob Then Iacob gaue Esau bread and potage of ryse And he dyd eate and drynke and rose vp and went his way And Esau re garded not his byrthryght ¶ Isaac is rebuked of Abimâ—lech for callynge Rebecca his syâ—â—ex Chryst is promysed The chydynge of the 〈◊〉 for the welles Isaac is conforted The aâ—onement bytwene Abimâ—lech and Isaac The bigamie of Esau. CAPI XXVI ANd there came a derth in the lande pas synge the fyrste derth that was in the dayes of Abraham And Isaac went vn to Abimelech kynge of the Philistians vnto Gerat And the Lorde appeared vnto hym and sayde Goo not downe into Egypte but byde in the lande whiche I shall shewe vnto the soiourne in this land and I wyll be with the and wyll blesse the for vnto the and vnto thy seed I wyl gyue all these contreyes And I wyl performe the othe which I swore vnto Abraham thy father and wyll multyplye thy seed as the sterres of heuen and wyl gyue vnto thy seed al these countries And in thy seed shall all the nacyons of the earth be blessed bycause that Abraham harkened vn to my voyce and kepte myne ordinaunces my coÌ„maundementes my statutes and my lawes And Isaac dwelled in Gerar. And the men of the place asked hym of his wyfe and he sayd she is my syster for he feared to say She is my wyfe Leest the men of the place shulde haue kylled hym bycause of Rebecca whiche was bewtyfull to the eye And it happened after he had ben there longe tyme that Abimelech kynge of the Philistians loked out at a wyndowe and sawe Isaac sportyng with Rebecca his wyfe And Abimelech called Isaac and sayde she is of a suertye thy wyfe why saydest thou She is my syster To whome Isaac answered I thought that I myght peraduenture haue dyed for her sake Abimelech sayde why haste thou done this vnto vs one of the people myght lyghtly haue lyne by thy wyfe so shuldest thou haue brought synne vpon vs. And so Abime lech charged all his people sayenge he that toucheth this man or his wyfe shall dye the death Isaac sowed in that lande and found in that same yeare an C. busshels and the Lorde blessed him and the man waxed mygh tye and went forth and grewe tyll he was excedynge great for he had possessyoÌ„ of shepe of oxen and a myghtye housholde and therfore the Philistians had enuy at hym for the Philistines stopped and fylled vp with erth all the welles whiche his father seruauntes dygged in his father Abrahams tyme. And Abimelech sayd vnto Isaac get the from vs for thou arte myghtier theÌ„ we a great deale Therfore Isaac departed thence and abode in the valley of Gâ—â—ar and dwelt there And Isaac returnynge dygged agayne the well of water whiche they dygged in the dayes of Abraham his father whiche the Philistyans had stopped after the death of AbrahaÌ„ and gaue them the same names which his father gaue them Isaacs seruantes dygged in the valley and founde a well of lyuynge water And the heerdmen of Gerar dyd stryue with Isaacs herdmen sayeng the water is oures Then called he the well Eseck bycause they stroue with hym And they dygged another well stroue for that also And he called the name of it Sitena And then he departed thence and digged another wel for the which they stxoue not therfore called he it Rehoboth sayeng The Lorde hath nowe made vs rowme that we maye increase vpon the earth And he went vp thence to Beer Seba. And the Lorde appeared vnto hym the same nyght and sayd I am the God of Abraham thy father feare not for I am with the and wyll blesse the and multiylye thy seed for my seruaunt Abrahams sake And he buylded an aulter there and called vpon the name of the Lorde and pytched his tente And there Isaacs seruantes dygged a well Then came Abimelech vnto hym from Gerar and Ahusath his frende and Phicell cheyf captaynâ— of his worke And Isaac sayde vnto them Wherfore come ye to me seynge ye hate me and haue put me awaye from you Whiche answered In seynge we sawe that the Lorde was with the we sayd let there be now an othe bytwyxte vs eueÌ„ bytwyxt vs and the and let vs make a bonde with the that thou shuldest do vs no hurte as we haue not touched the and as we haue done vnto the nothynge but good and sent the awaye in peace for thou arte nowe the blessed of the Lorde And he made them a feast and they dyd cate and drynke And they rose vp by tymes in the mornynge and sware one to another And Isaac sent them awaye And they departed from hym in peace And that same day it happened that Isaacs seruauntes came and tolde hym of a wel whiche they had dygged and sayd vnto him we haue found water And he called it Seba And the name of the citye is called Beer Seba vnto this day Esau was xl yeare olde and he toke a wyfe called Iudith the doughter of Bery an Hethyte and Basmath the doughter of Elon an Hethyte also whiche were disobedient vnto Isaac and Rebecca ¶ Iacob stealeth the blyssynge from Esau by his mothers counsell Isaac is sad Esau is comforted The hatred of Esau towardâ— Iacob CAPI XXVII ANd it came to passe that when Isaac waxed olde and his eyes were dym soo that he coulde not se. He called Esau his eldest sonne and sayde vnto hym my son Whiche sayde to
to remembraunce howe oure fathers also in tymes past were tempted that they myght be proued yf they worshypped theyr God a ryght They ought to remembre howe our father Abraham beynge tempted and tryed thorowe many trybulacyons was founde a louer and frende of God So was Isaac so was Iacob so was Moises and al they that pleased God beyng tryed thorowe many troubles were founde stedfast in fayth Agayne they that receyued not theyr teÌ„ptacyons with the feare of God but put them selues forth with vnpaciency and murmurynge agaynste God peryshed of the destroyer and were slayne of serpentes And therfore shuld not we vndertake to be auenged for the thyng that is done vnto vs but to consydre that all these punyshementes are farre lesse then our synnes and mysdedes Beleuinge also that this correccyon commeth vnto vs as to the seruauntes of God for amendemente and not for our destruccion Then sayde Osias the elders vnto Iudith All that thou speakest is true and no man can reproue thy wordes Pray thou for vs now therfore vnto God for thou arte an holy woman and fearest God And Iudith sayde vnto them Seyng ye knowe that my wordes are of God then proue my councell and deuyse yf it be of God beseche God y â— he wyll brynge my councel to good ende Thus haue I deuised Ye shal stande this nyght before the porte and I wyll go forthe w t Abra my mayden Praye ye therfore vnto God that he wyl graciously remeÌ„bre his people of Israel wtin fiue dayes as ye haue said As for the thynge that I go in hande wtal aske ye no questions of it tyl I open it vnto you my selfe do ye nothiÌ„g els but pray vnto the Lorde our God for me Then Osias the prince of the people of Iuda sayd vnto her Go thy way i peace the Lorde be w t the that we may be aueÌ„ged of oure ennemyes And so they wente from her agayne ¶ The prayer of Iudith for the vyctory CAPI IX NOwe when they were gone theyr way Iudyth wente into her closet put on an hearrye smocke strawed asshes vpon her heade fell downe before the Lord and cryed vnto hym sayinge O Lorde God of my father Symeon which gauest hym a swerde for a defence agaynst the enemyes that vsed vyolence and wylfulnes and that rauisshed the vyrgin and put her to dyshonesty Thou that gauest theyr wyues into a pray theyr daughters into captiuite and al theyr praye for a spoyle vnto thy seruauntes whyche bare a zele vnto the helpe me wyddowe O Lorde my God I beseche the. For thou hast done all thynges from the begynnynge and loke what thou hast taken in hande and deuised it came euer to passe For all thy wayes are prepared and thy iudgementes are done in thy euerlastyng for knoweledge O loke nowe vpon the armies of the Assyrians lyke as it was thy pleasure somtime to loke vpon the host of y â— EgipciaÌ„s when they being weapened ê‘secute thy seruauÌ„tê put theyr trust in their charettes horsmeÌ„ in the multitude of their men of warre But y u lokedst vpon their host castyng a thycke darkenes before them when they came into the depe the waters ouerwhelmed them Euen so Lorde let it go with these that truste in the power multitude of their men of warre in theyr charettes arowes speares and knowe not that thou onely art our God whiche destroyest warres from the begynnyng and that thou art the Lord. O lift vp thyne arme nowe lyke as euer troÌ„ the begynning in thy power brynge their power to naught cause theyr myght to fall in thy wrathe They make theyr boste that they wyll vnhalowe and defyle thy Sanctuary and to wayst the tabernacle of thy name to cast downe the horne of thyne aulter with theyr swerde Bryng to passe O Lorde that the pryde of the enemye maye be cut downe with his owne swearde that he maye be takeÌ„ w t the snare of his eyes in me and that thou mayest smyte hi with the lyppes of my loue O geue me a stedfast minde that I maye despyse him and his strength that I may destroye hym Thys shall brynge thy name an euerlastynge remembraunce yf the hande of a woman ouer throwe hym For thy power O Lord staÌ„deth not in y â— power of men neyther hast y u any pleasure in the strength of horses There was neuer proude persone y t pleased the but in the prayer of y â— humble and meke hath thy pleasure bene euermore O thou God of the heauens thou maker of the waters and Lorde of all creatures heare me poore woman callynge vpon the puttynge my truste in thy mercy Remembre thy couenaunt O Lorde and mynister wordes in my mouth and stablysh this deuice in my hert that thy house maye contynue styll in holynes and that all the Heythen maye knowe that thou art God and that there is none other but thou ¶ Iudish decketh her selfe â—o go to Holofernes The blessynge that the Elders gaue Iudith Holofernes is in loue with Iudith CAPI X. ANd wheÌ„ she had left of cryeng vnto the Lord she rose vp from the place where she had lyen flat before the Lord called her mayden wente downe into her house layed the hearrye clothe freÌ„ her put of the garmneâ—es of her wyddowhode wasshed her body anoynted her selfe with precyous thynges â–ª of swete sauoure broyded and platted her hearre set an hooue vpon her head and put on suche apparell as belongeth vnto gladnesse slyppers vpon her fete armellettê spaÌ„ges earynges fynger rynges and deckt her selfe w t all her best aray The Lorde gaue her also a specyall beautye and fayrenes for all this deckyng of her selfe was not done for any voluptuousnesse and pleasure of the fleshe but of a ryght discrecyon and vertue therfore dyd the Lorde increase her bewtye so that she was exceadyng amiable and welfauoured in all mens eyes She gaue hyr mayde also a botell of wyne a pot with oyle pottage cake bread chese and went her way Nowe whan she came to the porte of the cytie she founde Osias and the elders of the cytie waytyng there Whiche whaÌ„ they sawe her they were astonnyed marueled greatly at her vewty Neuerthelesse they asked no questioÌ„ at her but let her go saying The god of our fathers geue the his grace with hys power perfourme al the deuyse of thy herte y â— IerusaleÌ„ maye reioyce ouer the that thy name may be in the noÌ„bre of the holy ryghtuous And al they y â— were there sayde w t one voyce so be it so be it Iudith made her prayer vnto the Lord went out at the porte she and her mayde And as she was going downe the mountayne it happened that aboute y â— sprynge of the day the spyes of the AssyriaÌ„s met w t her toke her saying whence coÌ„mest y u Or whither goest y u She answered I am a
The 〈◊〉 and good councell of the wyse is to be embraced 〈◊〉 shulde be searched for The profet therof CAPI VI. BE not thy neyghbours enemye for thy frende sake for who so is euel shall be the heyre of rebuke and dishonoure whosoeuer beareth enuye and a double tonge offendeth Be not proude in the deuyce of thyne owne vnderstandyng left thy streÌ„gth be hurte by foolyshnes and left thy leaues wither and thy frute be destroyed and so thou be left as a drye tree in the wyldernes For a wycked soule destroyeth hym y â— hathe it maketh hym to be laughed to scorne of his enemyes and bryngeth hym to the porcyon of the vngodly A swete worde multiplieth frendes and pacifieâ—h them that be at varyaunce and a thankfull tonge wyll be plenteous in a good man Holde frendshyppe with many neuertheles haue but one counceler of a thousande Yf thou gettest a frende proue him fyrst and be not hastye to geue hym credens For some man is a frende but for a tyme wyl not abyde in the daye of trouble And there is some frende that turneth to enemytâ— and taketh parte agaynste the and yf he knowe any hurt by the he telleth it out Agayne some freÌ„de is but a companyon at the table â—nd in the daye of nede he continueth not But a sure frende wyll be vnto the euen as thyne owne selfe and deale faythfully with thy housholde folke If thou suffre trouble and aduersyte he is with the hydeth not hymselfe from the. Departe from thyne enemyes yee and beware of thy frendes A faythfull frende is a stronge defence who so fyndeth suche one fyndeth a tresure A faythfull freÌ„de hathe no peace y â— weyght of golde and syluer is nat to be compared to the goodnesse of his fayth A faythfull frende is a medycyne of lyfe and they that teare the Lorde shall fynde hym Who so feareth the Lorde shall prospere with frendes as he is hym selfe so shall hys frende be also My sonne receaue doctryne from thy youth vp so shalt thou fynde wysdome tyll thou be olde Go to her as one that plâ—weth and soweth and wayte pacyently for hir good frutes For thou shalt haue but lytle laboure in her worcke but thou shalte eate of her frutes ryght soone O howe exceadynge sharpe is wysdome to vnlerned men an vnstedstast body wyll nat remayne in her Unto suche she is as it were a touch stone and he casteth her from hym in al the hast for wysdome is with hym but in name there be but fewe that haue knowledge of her â— But with them that knowe her she abydeth euen vnto the apperynge of God Geue eare my soÌ„ne receaue my doctrine and refuse not my councell Put thy fote into her lynckes and take her yocke vpoÌ„ thy necke bowe downe thy shoulder vnto her beare her paciently and be not wery of her bandes Come vnto her with thy whole herte kepe her wayes with all thy power Seke after her and she shal be shewed the and when thou haste her forsake her not For at the last thou shalt fynde rest in her that shall be turned to thy great toye Then shal her fetters be a stronge defence for the and her yocke a gloryous rayment For the bewtye of lyfe is in her her bandes are the couplinge together of saluacyoÌ„ Yee a glorious raymeÌ„t is it thou shalt put it on and the same crowne of toye shalt thou weare My sonne yf thou wylt take hede thou shalt haue vnderstandynge and yf thou wylt applye thy mynde thou shalt be wyse If thou wylt bowe downe thyne eare thou shalt receaue doctryne and yf thou delyte in hearynge thou shalt be wyse Stande with the multytude of suche elders as haue vnderstandynge and consente vnto theyr wysdome wich thyne herte that y â— mayest heare all godly sermons that the worthy sentences eskape the nat And yf thou seyst a man of descrete vnderstandynge get the soone vnto hym and let thy fote treade vpoÌ„ the steppes of his dores Let thy mynde be vpon the coÌ„maundementes of God and be earnestly occupyed in his lawes so shall he stablysh thy herte and geue the wysdome at thyne owne desyre ¶ â—e must forsake euell yet not inâ—â—â—fyâ— our selues The behauiour of the wyse towarde hys wyfe hys frynde hys chyldren his seruauÌ„tes his father mother the prestes it CAPI VII DO no euell so shall ther no harme happen vnto the. Departe away from the thynge that is wycked and no mysfortune shall medle with the. My sonne sowe no euell thynges in the forowes of vnryghteonsnes so shalt thou nat reape them seuen folde Laboure not vnto man for any lordshyppe neyther vnto the kynge for the seate of honoure Iustifye not thy self before God for he knoweth the herte and desyre not to be reputed wyse in the presence of the kynge Make no labour to be made a iudge excepte it so were that thou couldest myghtely put downe wyckednes for yf thou shuldest stande in awe of the presence of y â— myghtye thou shuldest fayle in geuynge sentence Offende not in the multitude of the cytye put not thy selfe amoÌ„ge the people Bynde not two synnes together for in one synne shalt thou not be vnpunyshed Saye not rush God wyll loke vpon the multytude of my oblacions and when I offre to the hyest God he wyll accepte it Be not faynte herted when thou makest thy prayer nether slack in geuing of almes Laugh no man to scorne in the heuynesse of his soule for God which seyth all thynges is he that can brynge downe and sett vp agayne Accepte no lesyng agaynst thy brother nether do the same agaynst thy frende Use not to make any maner of lye for the custome therof is not good Make not many wordes when thou arte amonge the elders and when y â— prayest make nat much bablynge Let no laboxyous worke be tedyous vnto the nether the housbandrye whiche the Almyghtye hath created Make not thy boast in the multitude of thy wickednes but humble thy selfe euen from thyne herte and remembre that the wrath shal not belonge in taryinge and that y â— vengeauÌ„ce of the flesh of y â— vngodly is a very fyre and worme Geue not ouer thy frende for any good nor thy faithful brother for y â— best gold Departe not from a discrete and good woman that is fallen vnto the for thy porcyon in the feare of the Lorde for the gyft of her honesty is a boue golde Where as thy seruaunt worketh truly intreate hym not euel nor the Hyrelinge that is faythful vnto the Loue a dyscrete seruauÌ„t as thyne owne soule defraude him not of his libertie nether leaue hym a poore man If y â— haue catell loke well to them and yf they be for thy profet kepe theÌ„ If y â— haue soÌ„nes bring them vp in nourture lernynge and holde them in awe from
inexperte in the worde of rhghtuousnes For he is but a babe But stronge meate belongeth to theÌ„ that are partecte eueÌ„ those which by reason of vse haue their wittes exercised to discerne both good and euyl ¶ He goeth for the with the thynge that he beganne in the latter ende of the tyfâ—c Chapyter and exhorteth them not to fayntâ— but to be stedfast and pacyent for so muchâ— as God is sure in his promesse CAPI VI. THerfore leuynge the doctryne that pertayneth to the begynnyng of Christen men let vs go forth vnto perfeccyon not laynge agayne the foundacion of repentauÌ„ce from deade worckes and of fayth toward God baptysynges of doctryne and of layinge on of handes and of resurreccion from death and of eternall iudgement And so wyl we do If God permitte ☞ For it can not be that they whiche were once lyghted and haue tasted of the heauenly gyfte and were become partakers of the holy Ghost haue tasted of the good worde of God and of the power of the world to come yf they fall awaye and as conceruyng them selues crucyfie the sonne of God a fressh make a mocke of hym that they shulde be renued agayne by repentaunce For the earth whiche dryncketh in the rayne that commeth oft vpon it and bryngeth forth herbes mete for them that dresse it receyueth blessynge of God But that grounde whiche beareth Thornes and brears is reproued and is nye vnto cursynge whose ende is to be burned Neuerthelesse deare frendes we trust to se bettter of you and thynges whych accompany saluacion thoughe we thus speake For God is not vnryghtuous that he shulde forget youre worke and laboure that procedeth of loue whyche loue ye shewe in hys name whyche haue ministred vnto the saintes and yet ministre Yee and we desyre that euery one of you shew the same diligence to the fui stablishynge of hope euen vnto the ende that ye faynt not but be folowers of theÌ„ which thorow fayth pacience receyue the enherytauÌ„ce of the promysse For when God made promes to AbrahaÌ„ bycause he had none greater to sweare by he sware by hym self saying Surely I wyl blesse the and multyply the in dede And so after that he had taried pacieÌ„tly he enioyed the promes For men verely sweare by hym that is greater then them selues and an othe to confyrme the thynge is to them an ende of all stryfe So God wyllynge very aboundauntly to shewe vnto the beyres of promes the stablenes of hys counsayle added an othe that by two immutable thynges in whyche it was vnpossible that God shulde lye we myght haue a strong consolacioÌ„ which hitherto haue sled for to hold fast y â— hope that is set before vs whych hope we holde as an ancre of the soule both sure and stedfast which hopealso entreth in ito those thynges whiche are within the vayle where the fore tuÌ„ners for vs entred in euen Iesus that is made an hye prest for euer after the order of Melchysedech ¶ He compareth the presthode of Christe vnto Melchisedech but to be farre more excellent CAPI VII THis Melchisedech kynge of Salem which beyng prest of the most hye god met Abraham as he returned agayne from the slaughter of the kynges blessed him to whom also Abraham gaue tythes of al thinges fyrst is called by interpretacyoÌ„ kyng of ryghtuousnes after that kynge of Salem that is to say king of peace without father without mother without kynne hath neither begynnynge of dayes neyther yet ende of lyfe but is likened vnto the sonne of God and contynueth a preste for euer Consyder what a man this was vnto whom also the Patriarke AbrahaÌ„ gaue tythes of the spoyles And verely those chyldren of Leui which receyue the offyce of the prestes haue a coÌ„maundement to take accordyng to the lawe tythes of the people that is to saye of their brethren yee thoughe they spronge out of the loines of Abraham But he whose kin red is not counted amonge them receyued tythes of AbrahaÌ„ blessed him that had the promyses And no man denyeth but that he which is lesse receiueth blessing of hi which is greater And here meÌ„ that dye receyue tithes But there he receyued tithes of whoÌ„ it is witnessed that he liueth And to saye the trueth Leui him selfe also which vseth to receyue tithes payed tythes in AbrahaÌ„ For he was yet in the loynes of his father whaÌ„ Melchisedech met AbrahaÌ„ If now therfore perfeccion came by the presthod of the Leuitê for vnder that presthod the people receyued the lawe what neded it furthermore that another prest shuld ryse to be called after the order of Melchisedech and not after the order of Aaron For yf the presthod be translated then of necessitie must the lawe be translated also For he of whom these thynges are spokeÌ„ pertayne vnto another trybe of whom neuer man serued at the aulter For it is euydente that oure Lorde spronge of the trybe of Iuda of whiche trybe spake Moyses nothyng concernyng presthode And it is yet a more euident thinge yf after the similytude of Melchisedech there aryse another preste which is not made after the law of that carnall commaundemente but after the power of the endelesse lyfe For after thys maner doth he testyfye thou arâ— a preste foreuer after the order of Melchisedech ☞ Then the commaundement that wente afore is disanulled because of weakenes and vnprofytablenes For the lawe brought nothynge to perfeccion but was an introduccyoÌ„ to a better hope by the whiche we drawe nye vnto God And therfore is it a better hope because the thyng was not done without an othe For those prestes were made wtout an othe but this preste w t an othe by him that sayde vnto him The Lorde sware wyl not repent Thou art a prest for euer after the order of Melchisedech And for that cause was Iesus a stablysher of a better testament And amonge them many were made prestes because they were not suffred to endure by the reason of death But this man because he endureth euer hath an euerlastiÌ„g prest hode Wherfore he is able also euer to saue them to the vttemost that come vnto God by him seynge he euer liueth to make intercession for vs. For such an hye Preste it became vs to haue which is holy harmlesse vndefiled seperate froÌ„ synners made hyer then heauen Which nedeth not dayly as yonder hye prestes to offer vp sacrifice Fyrst for his owne synnes then for the peoples synnes For that dyd he once when he offred vp him self For the lawe maketh men prestes which haue infirmitie but the worde of the othe that came seÌ„ ce the lawe maketh that soÌ„ne prest which is perfecte for euermore CAPI VIII ¶ The offyce of Chryste is more worthy then the Preestes offyce of the olde lawe whyche was vnperfecte and therefore abrogate OF the thinges which we haue spoken this is