made ready seing her suster vnoccupied sitting at Iesus fete she thought it lost labour to chide her suster whoÌ„ she knew could not be plucked awey but she suÌ„what blamed our sauiour whych held her wyth hys wordê from the necessarie busynes as she thought Lord sayth she hast no regard y e my sustre suffreth me to do al alone CoÌ„maund her therfore y e she rise help me Our lorde being moch delyted in the zeale affection of either of these women discoÌ„mendeth not the diligent sturring about the house of Martha neyther doth he chyde her for murmuring at her suster but he gently excuseth Mary saieng Martha Martha veryly thou arte troubled vexed about many thinges But there is one thyng most nedeful which is alweys to be done if it may be as who shuld say Do thou thy fuÌ„ction office what soeuer the purueiance be But Mary hath chosen a farre bettre parte whych forgettinge the thinges of the body is holly vusied in the thinges of the mind It is not mete that she shuld be called awey froÌ„ the bettre thinges whiche she hath chosen be thurst to lower vyler seruices Thy loue zeale is thaÌ„kfull vnto me in that thou preparest a repast for the time for me mine but I am more swetely repasted of theÌ„ whyche conuey my wordes into the bowels of theyr sowles that they may be saued For this is y â— meate whyche doth singularly fede me thys is the drynke which doth singularly refresh me He that regardeth the thinges of y e body is distracted into suÌ„dry cares and of these officies there shal be then an ende when immortalitie appearing y â— necessities of mortal persons shal cease wher w t the weaknes of humane nature is now accombred But he goeth the nerest wey to worke which casting awey al such cares is altogither rauished vnto heuenly thinges setling himself to one only thing but which one is bettre thaÌ„ al the other thinges the felicitie wherof shal not be taken awey but augmented when that thing shal be abolished which is imperfect that opened which is perfecte Neither ought we to murmure againste them as though they were ydle personnes which haue sequestred themselfes from corporal ministeries do for the same purpose attend and giue themselues to heuenly doctrine folowing and ensuing the steppes of Christ lerning the thing that they may teache others throughly transposing into the intrailes of the mynde the thinges that they may instructe their euen christen to thintent they may profette the moo to the winning of euerlasting saluation And yet in the meane season they shall not lacke their rewarde which with a godly zeale do releue according to the exemple of this Martha the bodily necessities of the preachers of gods word whyche feade the hungry clooth the naked viset the sicke and prisoners harbrough receiue the nedy for in that they do this to their euenchristâ— they do it to Christ himself And he that geueth but a drawght of colde water to a prophet y â— is to say to a precher in y â— name of a prophet shal haue the same reward that the prophete hath Wherfor as â—aint Austine saith our lord rebuketh not the worke corporal seruice of Martha but â—e distinctâ—th y â— office sayng Mary hath choseÌ„ the best ê‘te which shal not be taken from her as if he shuld say Thou Martha hast not chosen an euil ê‘te but she hath choseÌ„ a better why a bettre bicause it shal not be taken from her but from the shal be ones taken the burthen of necessitie For when thou coÌ„mest to the heueÌ„ly countrey thou shalt fynd there no gest ne straunger to receyue by hospitalitie but for thy â—pfette it shal be taken from the to thintent the thing that is better might be giuen vnto the labour shal be taken from the that rest might be giuen vnto the in the stede Thou sailest in y â— midde sees she resteth in the hauen or port For the swetnes of y â— trouth is euerlastig yet in this life it is augmeÌ„ted but in that life to com it shal be accoÌ„plished shal neuer be takeÌ„ awey Now surely there was neuerwomaÌ„ no noryet man that euer atteined here in this world to y â— high perfection heuenly kind of liuing as did the most blessed virgine Mary y â— mother of Christ who was replenished with al graces most plentuously as also testified Gabriel gods angel Mary which was this Marthas suster in dede was moch to be coÌ„mended but nothing to be coÌ„pared w t the perpetual virgine Mary Christes mother Wherfore as she was here in erth replenished with al vertues so is she now in heuen replenished with al ioyes Let vs then folow the diuine contemplatioÌ„ godly meditatioÌ„ of these Maries that we maye also enioye that blesse that shall neuer be taken from vs through Christe oure lord To whom be al praise and honoure Amen ¶ On saynt Bartilmews day The Gospel Luc. xxij THere was a contention amonges the disciples of Iesus whiche of them was thoughte to be greater But Iesus said vnto them The kynges of the Gentilles do reigne ouer them they that haue power vpon them be called graciouse Be not ye so but let the greater amoÌ„gê you be made as the yonger the chief as the seruitour For whiche is greater he that sytteth down at the bourd or he that serueth Is not he that sytteth downe Uerily I am in middes of you as he that serueth ye are they which haue abode with me in my temptations And I dispose vnto you as my father hathe disposed vnto me a kyngdome that ye may eate and drinke at my bourde in my kyngdon and sitte on seates iudging the. xij tribes of Israell The sermon vpon this Gospel FOrasmuch as our Sauiour Christ at his mauÌ„dy or supper before his passion had made mention of the kingdom of God his disciples which were at that tyme sumwhat weake not throughly spiritual but smellyng yet a lytle of the fleshe fel at contention and variaunce amonges themselfes which of them shuld after his departure haue the primacie or hed rule in the kyngdoÌ„ of god For in the hole busynes of the blessed sacrameÌ„t mystery of hys mauÌ„dy he semed to take them al as egal not preferryng one aboue an other sayng vnto theÌ„ Take deuide amonges you But Iesus albeit at diuerse other tymes he had chalenged them for thys affection yet at hys departure vpon thys occasion he specially reth to plucke it cleane from them coÌ„mauÌ„ding them that they shulde not ymagen any such thinge in the kyngdom of heauen as they sawe in worldly kyngdoms For this is a farre other maner thing it standeth in benefites and not in force it is obteyned and also mainteyned w e ghostly garrisons and not with violence and is enlarged by persuasion and not by compulsion
persones be called in latine publicani And surely this kind of meÌ„ bycause they did exercise an occupation or office of fylthy gaines and of violent rapacitie were many ways infamed noted and euyl spokeÌ„ of and specially amonges the Iewes But our Sauiour Iesus Christ which had called a lytle before vnto him SimoÌ„ and Andrewe IhoÌ„ Iames froÌ„ a base though yet not vnlawful kynde of lyuyng to thintent he wold openly declare vnto the worlde that he abhorred no sorte of men at al so they wold conuert themselfes to better he calleth this Mattheu vnto hym and coÌ„maunded hym to folowe hym Mattheu castynge no perilles or at lest wey despising al perilles whiche myght happen of Rulers forthwyth without delay leauing his accomptes vnperfite and leauing his gaynfull office beganne to folowe Iesus beinge sodenly made of a publicane a disciple And bycause he forsoke earthly gaynes he was ryghtly made a stuard of the Lordê talentes Truly the very brightnes and maiestie of the hidde godhed of our Sauiour Christ which also glystered in his humane face had power to pluck vnto him with the first syght those that beheld him For yf the Magnes stone hathe as they saye suche vertue efficacie in it that it caÌ„ draw vp yron vnto it howe much more could he that is the Lorde of al creatures drawe vnto hym whom he wolde And it happened afterward that this Matheu being now called to be Christê disciple desired him that he wold vouchesaue to take a repast wyth him at his house Our Lorde neyther disdayned to do thys thynge at hys new disciples request to thintent he wold gyue vs instruction that the company and felawshyp of wicked ê‘sons ought not to be eschued of preachers and holy men yf there be any hope that by their coÌ„pany they woll amende there nawghty lyfe Mattheu therfore beyng honored by Christes commyng into hys house made vnto hys maister a great and sumptuouse feast wherunto he also had byddeÌ„ many men of his ordre and facultie that is to wit euen a bourde full of customers publicans and synners whom by hys exemple and wordes he had allured and drawen into admiration loue of Iesus The pharisees therfore whiche were euer huntynge and seking occasions how to sklaunder trappe Christ espyeng hym nowe wyth hys disciples syttyng and eatyng wyth these synful sorte of men durst not yet rebuke Christe to hys face lest he shulde peraduenture taunt them againe as he had oftentymes doon before but went about to drawe and trayne his disciples from him Wherfore they come to them say Why doth your maister eate wyth these publicans and synful persons Trouth it is good people that the euil talkes of euyl men do corrupt the good maners of good meÌ„ But Christes coÌ„munication wyth these euil men was not to catche the euil maÌ„ners of them but by his heueÌ„ly medicine to plucke the euyl maÌ„ners froÌ„ theÌ„ He cam to cal the shepe y t were lost strayed out of the right pathe of godlines being seduced led out therof by suche hypocrites pharisees as these were which were here offeÌ„ded w t Christ These be they that Paule speaketh of which glorieng in the lawe do disworship god by the traÌ„gressioÌ„ of the lawe vaynly reputynge themselfes to be the guydes of y â— blind the light of theÌ„ y e be in darknes Our Sauiour therfore hearing the pharisees thus disputing wyth his disciples which as yet were but weake he defeÌ„deth them in this wise The hole nede no phisician but the sicke Christe calleth him selfe a phisician whiche by a wonderfull kynde of surgery was wouÌ„ded for our iniquities that he myght heale the woundes of oure synnes He calleth them hole which wyllyng to stablyshe there owne iustice were not subiect to the true iustice of God And he calleth them sicke and diseased whiche beynge ouercome in their coÌ„science do acknowlege their frailtie and espi yng howe by the lawe they be not iustifyed do submitte themselfes by penaunce to the grace of God But go your weys sayeth Christe and learne what thys sentence of the prophete Osee meaneth where God sayeth I require mercye and not sacrifice as who shulde saye Why accuse ye me when I releue and correcte synners Why do ye not rather accuse God the father of heauen which speaketh thys sentence by his prophet He admonisheth vs than that by workes of mercie we shulde gette vs the reward of the heuenly mercy and not that despising the necessities of the pore nedye we shuld trust to please God by the oblation of sacrifices Wherfore good people lette vs folowe thys blessed Apostle saynte Matheu let vs leaue al fylthy gaynes and come to Christ when he calleth vs by the preachynge of hys word Let vs be charitable do the workes of mercie as Christe teacheth vs that we maye be of the nombre of those which shall inheritie the kingdome of heuen prepared froÌ„ the beginnyng of the worlde by the father of heuen to whom be al prayse Amen ¶ On the Assumption of our Lady Gospell Luc. x. IEsus entred into a certaine towne And a certain woman named Martha receyued hym into her house And this woman had a sustre named Mary which also sitting at Iesus fete herd his word But Martha was combred about moch seruing stode and sayd Lord hast thou no regarde that my sustre hath left me alone to serue Byd her therfor that she helpe me Iesus answered said vnto her Martha Martha thou carest and art troubled about many thinges but one is necessarie Mary hath chosen the best parte which shal not be taken from her The sermon vpon this Gospell What time our sauiour Christ walked here vpon erth w t his disciples which leauing the cares of earthly thinges gaue themselues only and holly to the gospel it chauÌ„ced so that he entred into a certain village In this village there dwelled two women the name of the one was Martha the others name was Mary whiche women ioyfully receyued Christ and his disciples into their house The loue and zeale of either of them towardes the lorde was egal but their fourme maner of lyfe was diuerse like as in one body be sundry vses of the partes and membres of the same as also in the bodie of Iesus which is the church be diuerse sundry giftes of the spirite For Mary making as it were holyday from al busynes of the house now at Christes comming sat her downe at his fete hearing his wordes wherwith she was so rauished that forgettinge all other thinges she coulde not be plucked thens Contrary wise Martha being carefull for the purueaunce of the feast ranne about hither thether al busye that nothing at al shuld lacke that perteined to the welcoÌ„ming feasting of such a gest Wherfor not being sufficient of her selfe alone to do al y e she wold haue done
shal be blessed of gods holy hande they shal increase and multiplye they shal replenish the erth and haue it subiecte vnto them accordinge to the saynge of scripture If they feare the Lorde and walke togither in his wayes god shalle surely blesse them prosper and further them in al their doinges Wherfor thou maÌ„ which art hed of thy wife so loue maynteyne cherishe tender thy wyfe euen as Christe hath loued and moste tendrely imbrased his spouse the church If thou so do thou shalt eate the labours of thy haÌ„d as the prophet writeth thou shalt be happy and it shal be wel with the. Thy wife shal be as a plentifull vine tree vpon the walles of thy house Thy chyldren as oliue braunches rownd about thy table Loo sayth he thus shal the man be blessed whiche feareth the lorde This is gods institution of mariage these be the officies of maryed persons In these if ye walke like feithful and right christian persons though through the malice of the worlde ye suffre affliction here ye shal be sure after thys frayle lyfe perpetually to raygne wyth Christe oure lorde whyche wyth the father and holy goost thre per sons and one god is to be glorifyed and praised worlde without ende Amen ¶ At burienges The Gospel Ihon. xi MArtha sayd vnto Iesus Lorde if thou haddest bene here my brother had not dyed But nowe also I know y â— whatsoeuer thou askest of god god wol giue it the. Iesus sayde vnto her Thy brother shal rise againe Martha sayde vnto him I knowe y â— he shal rise at the resurrectioÌ„ in the last day Iesus sayd vnto her I am the resurrectioÌ„ and the life He that beleueth on me though he were dead yet shall he liue And euery one which liueth and beleueth in me shal neuer dye Beleuest thou this She sayeth vnto him Yea lorde I beleue that thou art Christe the sonne of god which cammest into the worlde The sermon vpon this Gospell WElbeloued people in our sauiour Christ this gospel is right comfortable to al feithful and true christian folke For in it is conteyned the glad and swere tydinges to al vnfeyned Christians that is to wit how Christ is our resurrectioÌ„ and our life if we beleue vnfeynedly vpon him and verely this is one of the chiefest articles of our religioÌ„ to beleue that though we dye here bodily for a tyme or rather slepe for so the scripture calleth it yet we shal rise againe and lyue euerlastingly wyth God in heauen through Christ in case we haue had stedfast feith in him and be founde cladde and adourned wyth the wedding garment at the day of the great Solempnitie that is to say at the generall resurrectioÌ„ of the chosen people of god when Christ the sonne of God shal be in full most perfite wise knitte conioyned in mariage to his louing espouse the church or congregation of the feithful persons But ye wol aske what thys weddynge garment is Ueryly after the minde of saint Gregorie it is charitie And that per sone entreth to the maryage but wythout the wedding garment whych being in the church hath feith but lacketh charitie Truly thys mans feith is not the true and liuely feith but it is a feyned feith and a deade feith as saint Iames calleth it bicause it is wythout workes For what auaileth it o my brethreÌ„ sayth thys holy Apostle Saynte Iames if a man wold say he had feith and hath no workes Trowe you that this feith shal saue him if your christeÌ„ brother or suster be naked and lacking dayly sustenaÌ„ce and one of you wolde say vnto them Go your way in peace warme your selues and fylle your belyes and yet neuertheles ye gyue them not the thynges necessarye for the body what wol this helpe So also feith if it hath not deades it is of it self dead By these wordes of saynt Iames we may lerne my freendes that it is not inough for a christeÌ„ man or womaÌ„ to say he beleue in Christ but he must also shew vs his feyth as saynt Iames sayeth by his dedes and workes Wherfore the weddinge wede that we must be cladde with is not bare fayth but it is charitie whyche is the frute of feyth or if ye wol nedes haue it feyth let it be that liuely fâ—yth which is garnished wyth this charitie that is to wit wyth suche zeale loue and affection whiche ye beare to god that for his sake ye freely aide releue your euen christeÌ„ accordinge to youre power And verely these be the workes that almyghty God requyreth of vs if we wol be counted his children and the inheritours of euerlasting blesse He commaundeth that our lyght shuld shyne afore men that they maye se our good workes and glorifye the father of heauen Finally the doers of these as hymselfe doth wytnes shal be called the blessed children of his father at the general resurrection and shal be â—ydden to come and entre into the vnspeakable ioyes of heuen which were prepared for theÌ„ sithens the beginning of the world Neither doth the most excellent clerke saint Hierom disagree from this interpretation saynge that the wedding garment may very wel be called the commaundementes of the lorde and the workes whiche be accomplyshed and fulfilled at the bidding of the law and gospell and he sayth that these workes do in a christen persone make the garment of the newe man whych garment verily who soeuer in the drad full day of iugement shal be found vnder a christen name not to haue shal be forthwith taken and caste into vtter â—arknes where according to the sentence of Christ shal be weping gnashing of teethe This by occasioÌ„ deare freeÌ„des haue I spoken of the weddyng garment wher w t must that sowle be cladde adourned which at y e general resurrectioÌ„ vprising again of al mankinde in flesh according to y â— article of our beleue shal by Christ liue euerlastingly But yet for the better more cleare vnderstaÌ„ding of this gospel I thinke it very expedieÌ„t to repete declare vnto you the very begynning of the historie whiche is red in this gospel accordyng as saynte Ihon the Euangelist doth report it in the begynninge of the xi chapter namely sith in it is conteined the most coÌ„fortable chefest article of the christen mans beleue The historie is this As our Sauiour Christ abode at Iordan it chaunced that in a towne named Bethania a certayne man called Lazarus laye sycke This towne was the natyue place countrey both of the sycke man and of his two susters Mary and Martha Uerely this Mary was she which wyth a notable record of loue towardes our sauiour Christ had annoynted hys hed as he sate at meate wyth a right preciouse oyntment with her heare had wyped hys feete whyche she had washed with the very teares that ranne downe from her eyen By reason wherof