Chrysostome wytnesseth Nether Baptisme sayth he nor forgyuenes of synnes nor knowledge nor y e communion of y e Sacramentes nor the holy table nor y e fruicion of the body nor y e partakyng of y e bloud nor ony of these thiÌ„ges shal may be able to profyt vs except we haue a lyfe whych is ryght very pure yea and fre from all synne What wyll these idle lubbers say to these wordes of y e goldeÌ„ mouthed Doctor Where are all theyr proude crakes becomme of Christ hys bloude and merites All these profyt nothyng at al without a good lyfe Chri. It stondeth christeÌ„ mâ—nin haÌ„d therfore to be earnest followers of good workes Phil. Ye saye trueth chefely if they entende to be saued But let vs heare the scriptures Whan God promised Abraham that he woulde blysse them that dyd blysse hym and cursse them that dydde cursse hym and that in his seed all nacions of the earthe shulde be blyssed that he would multiply hys seed as the starres of the firmament and make hym a father of many nacions that he woulde be hys defender hys sufficiente greate rewarde He made a couenaunt wythe hym because he woulde haue hym shewe gentylnes agayne and sayd I am the God omnipoteÌ„t walke before me be perfecte As though he shulde saye I am the God almyghty omnisufficient all good all holy all righteous all wyse all liberal al pleÌ„teous all mercyfull haue nede of no thynge but frely gyueth to all meÌ„ all thynges what so euer are necessary ether for the bodye or for the soule so replenyshed with al thynges that I am able and sufficient in all poyntes to satisfy the lawful desyres of all creatures yea I haue all thynges so in my power y t no thing that good is canne be gyuen to ony maÌ„ but of me alone what so euer I am or haue it is for the profyt of the of thy posterite Alonly walke before me and be perfecte take me alone for thy omnisufficieÌ„t sauiour flye vnto no other as though there were in me a certayne insufficiency but cleaue to me alone wyth all thy harte attempte no thyng but that is pleasaunt in my syght order thy lyfe in all poyntes accordyng to my holy wyll let thy conuersacion be innocent blameles pure honest right and all good and so wyll I be thyne almighty God thy puissaunt defender thy sufficient great rewarde This couenauÌ„t hath God made not only with Abraham but also wythe all hys posterite that is so many as are faythfull Nowe yf we be of the seed of Abraham I speake of the spituall and not of the carnall generacion than doth God require of vs also that we walke before hym and be perfecte that we stedfastelye cleaue vnto him by stronge faythe as the onelye and sole Authore of al goodnes so institute oure lyfe that we maye breath nothynge but purite innocency holynes intergrite all the tyme of our lyfe in this worlde Thus doyng God wyl be our God yea our almyghty God our strong defender and our sufficieÌ„t great rewarde no lesse than he was AbrahaÌ„s Therfore as Abraham walked before God so let vs do By this means shall God be no lesse beneficiall to vs than he was to Abraham If ye were the sonnes of AbrahaÌ„ sayth Christ ye woulde do the worckes of Abraham Euse. Of all these matters and howe we ought to walke before God and be perfecte ye taughte vs full godly in the Nosegaye whyche ye gaue vs. Chri. It was our second floure called Pure innocency Phil. I remember it wel and I am glad ye haue not forgotteÌ„ it I wyll therfore haste vnto the other scriptures Whan S. IohnÌ„ Baptist sawe many of the Pharisees Saduces commynge vnto his Baptisme he sayd vnto them O ye generacion of vipers who hathe shewed you that ye should flye from the wrath to come Bryng forthe therfore frutes worthy of repentaunce be not of this mynde to saye within youre selues Abraham is our father For I saye vnto you that God is able to bring it to passe that of these stones there maye rise vp chyldren to Abraham The hooke is now layd at the roote of y e trees Therfore euery tree that bryngeth forth not good frute shall be heweÌ„ downe and cast into y e fyre Theo. This is a terrible sayeng for al theÌ„ that are not earnest followers of good workes Phil. Certes as it profited the Pharises Saduces with the other Iewes nothynge at all to boste them selues of AbrahaÌ„ excepte they dyd the workes of Abraham so lykewyse it auauÌ„tedgeth vs nothiÌ„g at all to crake of GOD of Christes bloude pashon merites fayth c. if we do not good workes This seÌ„teÌ„ce abydeth alwaye true Euery tree y t bringeth forth not good frute shall be hewen downe cast into the fyre If we be not lyke vnto those trees which are plaÌ„ted by the riuers syde and brynge forth theyr frute in due season surely we shall be â—â—wen vp cast into hel fyre For how dare we looke for ony kyndnes at y e hande of God do no thiÌ„g y t he coÌ„mauÌ„deth Dauid sayth I beyng as a fruteful olyue tree iÌ„ y e house of God haue trusted iÌ„ y e mercye of God for euermore Dauid coÌ„fesseth here y t he trusted in the mercye of GOD but he addeth y t he was iÌ„ y e house of god y t is to say y e coÌ„gregacioÌ„ of Christ as a fruytefull Olyue tree which as Pliny writeth is neuer wtout grene leues frute Eu. You taught vs this also in y e Poâ—acioÌ„ for LeÌ„t declariÌ„g to vs what the Procession on Palme sondaye signifyeth with all the ceremonies pertaynyng thervnto Phil. So se ye than that if we wyll be holpen by the mercy of God we must be as fruytefull Olyue trees and brynge forth plenty of good workes and neuer cease from doynge them or elles our hope and trust is but vayne Christ sayth not euery one y t saythe vnto me Lorde Lorde shal enter in to the kyngedome of heauen but he y t doth the wyll of my father which is in heauen For many shall say vnto me at that daye Lorde Lorde haue not we prophecied iÌ„ thy name cast out dyuels by thy name and wroughte many miracles thorowe thy name But thaÌ„ shall I saye vnto them I knowe you not iÌ„ Departe froÌ„ me ye workers of iniquite Here are we taught that to professe God by our mouth to cal vpon his name to talke of Christ of fayth of y e gospell and of all the diuine misteries yea to worcke miracles and to caste out diuels by the power of Christes name shall auayle nothynge at the daye of iudgement excepte we lede a good lyfe in thys worlde worke the good pleasure of God For the kyngdome of God is not in worde but in power saythe S. Paule 〈◊〉 that
hys wordes and holye in all hys workes We are coÌ„maunded of god the father to heare him The spirite of GOD is vpon hym he is sent to preach mery tydynges to the poore that he myghte heale the broken in harte preache delyueraunce to prysoners and syghte to the blynde He is that good shepeherd whose voyce hys shepe heare And euery one that is of the trueth hearethe hys voyce He is that Lord God which techeth vs profitable thynges and gouerneth vs in y e way wherin we ought to walke Seynge than that he is a Lorde of suche and so great authorite excellency puyssaunce seyng also he teacheth nothyng but trueth agayne seyng he hath done so much for vs and teÌ„dereth nothynge more than our healthe and saluacion we were not only to much ingrate and vnkynde towarde hym but also very enemies vnto oure selues yf we should not wyth all diligence apply our selues both to heare hym and also to followe accoÌ„plysh suche thynges as he teacheth vs. Let vs therfore hear what he wylleth vs to do And teachethe vs that we shoulde denye vngodlynesse and worldely lustes Where as our Englyshe translacion hath teacheth the Greke worde is Paideuousa Chri. What signifyeth that I praye you Phil. It signifyeth not only to teache but so to instructe enforme fashon â–ª teache as scolemasters are wonte to do theyr chyldreÌ„ whome they found receaued rude grosse ignoraunt and wythoute all good knowledge both of learnyng manners Euen suche dyd our scolemaster and teacher Christ fynde vs all grosse all rude all barbarous al blynde all ignorant all vnlearned all vnmannered and clene out of fashon Howe coulde it otherwyse be We were darkenesse We walked in the vanite of our mynde blynded in our vnderstandynge beyng straungers from the lyfe which is in God thorow the ignorauns that was in vs and the blyndenes of our hartes so that we gaue ouer our selues vnto wantonnes to worke all manner of vnclennes wythe gredynes For Satan the God of this worlde had blynded our mindes that we should not beleue vnlesse the lyghte of the glorious gospell of Christ whiche is the Image of God should shyne vnto vs. But yet for all thys our rudenes ignorauncy blyndnes Christ that heauenly Doctor doth not disdayne vs. He is contented to receaue vs into hys scole to become oure scole master so y t we wyll leaue our wyckednes and be contented to be reformed Oh what a geÌ„tle poynt is thys of our sauyour Iesus christ not to disdayne vs for al our rudenes ignoraÌ„cy but ioyfully to accepte vs if we wyl follow y e trade of his scole The comoÌ„ sayeng is an honest master loueth to haue honest seruaÌ„tes Nowe who is more honest pure godly innocent and â—autelesse than this master Christ It becometh theÌ„ his seruauntes to practyse follow so nyghe as they can his manners Therfore the fyrst lessoÌ„ that his scollers learne in his schole is to denye vngodlynes wordly lustes They that entende not to do thys they are no fyt scholers for such a scholemaster thoughe they bragge neuer so muche of hys name and call them selues ChristiaÌ„s For not euery one sayth vnto me Lorde Lorde sayth Christ shall enter into heauen but he that dothe the wyll of my father which is in heauen And I pray you marke howe pretely and handsomely the Scripture speakethe That we should deny vngodlynes and worldely lustes As though it should saye although in tymes paste we haue both followed and mayntened vngodlynes ydolatry false worshyppynges of God supersticion confidence in our owne selues and workes and haue lyued after the lustes of the world and the flesh yet now for asmuch as we are come into a newe schole and haue another schole master techer which teacheth hys scholers nothyng but vertue godlynes and all that euer is contrary to vice it becomethe vs to deny forsake yea vtterly to forsweare all vngodlynes and worldly lustes and what so euer is coÌ„trary to the teachynge of thys oure newe scholemaster and neuer to haue to do w t them here after but studiously and wythe all applicacion of mynde to followe the doctrine of thys oure techer Theo. What is it to deny vngodlynes Phil. To deny vngodlynes is vttterly to forsake to cast away all thynges that should obscure deface or in ony poynte hynder the honour and glorye of God For who so euer wyl be Christes scoler he must fyrst seke the glory of God aboue all thynges as it is writen Thou shalt worshyp the Lorde thy God hym only shalt thou serue Euse. which are they that hynder the glory of God Phil. Aske ye which neyghbour Eusebius whan the world is altogither set on wickednes as s. IohnÌ„ sayth They loue the glory of menne more than the glory of GOD as Christ sayth All seake theyr owne and not that which is Iesus Christes sayth S. Paule What a sorte of Idolaters are there in the worlde whyche steale the honour from God gyue it to creatures What a nomber are fallen from Christ some puttynge theyr trust in popysh pardons some in y e merites of other some in theyr owne workes some in the obseruauÌ„ces of mens tradicions c What a company also is there y t loue worldly thynges more then God Howe doth the couetous man embrase and loue hys rytches so that it is not w t out a cause sayd of Christ It is more easy for a cable rope to go thorow the eye of a nedle than for a rytche man to enter into the kyngdome of God How doth the glotonne make of his belly and enfarse it wythe all kynde of deynties Howe dothe the prowde parsonne garnysh â–ª hymselfe and delight in precious ornameÌ„tes Howe doth the irefull man set asyde all charite and feare of God seake to be reueÌ„ged AgeÌ„ what a swarme of wycked parsons are ther whiche dishonour the name of oure God by vnlawfull and abhominable othes What thynge in earth do they leaue vnsworne by Yea what parte of y e moost glorious body of our Sauyour Iesus Christ wherby we receaued redempcion and saluacion do they leaue vntowched wythe theyr to moche detestable othes Why do not these wretches call this precepte of God to theyr remeÌ„braÌ„s Thou shalt not take the name of the Lorde thy GOD in vayne For the Lorde wyll not holde hym gyltles y t taketh his name in vayne The wisâ— man also saythe A man that vsethe much swearyng shall be fylled with wyckednes and the plage that is y e vengeauÌ„ce of God shal not go away from hys house Furthermore what a flocke is there that hate the Gods worde so many as laboure to promote and set it forth callynge them Heretykes and felowes of the newe learnyng How lytle pleasure haue these swynysh worldlynges and volupteous bely goddes ether to read the scriptures theÌ„ selues or to
a Prophet he shall receaue the rewarde of a Prophet And he y t receauethe a ryghteous man in the name of a righteous man he shall receaue y e rewarde of a righteous maÌ„ And who so euer shal gyue to one of these lytle ones a cuppe of colde water to dryncke onely in the name of a disciple verely I saye vnto you he shall not loose his rewarde Also in another place who so euer shal giue to you a cuppe of water to dryncke in my name because ye are of Christ â—erely I saye vnto you he shall not loose his rewarde Euery man shall beare his owne burdeÌ„ Al of vs must stonde opeÌ„ly before y e iudgyng place of Christ y t euery one maye receaue accordynge to that whiche he dydde whan he was alyue whyther it be good oâ— euell Christ the sonne of maÌ„ shall come in the glory of his father wyth his Aungelles and than shall he gyue to euery one accordynge to theyr workes The hour commethe in the whiche all that are in the graues shall heare the voyce of Christ they that haue done good shal come forth into the resurreccion of lyfe they that haue done euel into the resurreccion of damnacion To them that haue done the workes of mercy shall euerlastynge glory be gyuen at the day of iudgement to y e vnmercifull eternall damnacion So that they which do good workes in thys worlde shall receaue a glorious and euerlastynge rewarde in the worlde to come Of this had â— Paule a certen assurauÌ„ce whan he sayd I haue â—ought a good fyghte and haue fulfylled my course and haue kepte the sayth From henseforth is layde vp for me a crowne of ryghteousnesse whyche the Lorde y t is a ryghteous Iudge shall gyue me at that daye not to me onelye but vnto all them that loue his commynge Thus muche haue I spokeÌ„ coÌ„cernynge good workes here haue ye now your new yeres gyft coÌ„plete ê‘fecte Theo. Blyssed be God for thys our new yeres gyfte which is more precious thaÌ„ golde perle precious stone god mought gyue you an heaueÌ„ly gyfte for this your newe yeres gifte wherw t this day ye haue enryched vs. Phil. The christeÌ„ loue teÌ„der affeccioÌ„ wherw t I loue you all hath moued me to do that I haue done If I haue done you ony pleasure to the reioysyng of your spirite I am glad If I haue not in al poyntes satisfyed your desyre expectacioÌ„ yet accepte my good wyll For he is not altogyther to be blamed whiche entendeth well although all thynges do not thorowlye answere to his intent Well neyghbours I wyll now knyt vp in few wordes that I haue sponne in many shewe you breuely the whole effecte of your new yeres gyfte Ye haue learned y e Christ is the gyfte of God frely gyuen you of God the father for your newe yeres gyfte So that not only he but all that euer he hath in asmuche as he is man is ours his fastyng watchyng prayenge hys mercye goodnes purite innocency hys pashon bloude deathe resurreccion and all y t euer he hath besydes All is â—ures God hath gyuen vs all thyng with hym as S. Paule sayth This gyft of God Christ our new yereâ— gyfte hath appeared no more by tyâ—es figures clowdes and shadowes but in his flesh He hath taken flesh of y e moost holye and pure virgine Mary and is become very man for oure sake lyke vnto vs in al thynges syn alone excepte And y t we maye 〈◊〉 that he is a precious gyfte vnto vs he bryngeth helth vnto all menne not onely vnto the Iewes but also to the Gentiles so that who so euer calleth on the name of the Lorde he shall be saued be he Ieweor GeÌ„tile free or bonde noble or vnnoble For he is thalone sauiour None saueth but he alone nether is there ony saluacioÌ„ but in hym alone nor yet ony name gyueÌ„ vnto men vnder heaueÌ„ wherin they muste be saued but in his name alone Moreouer ye haue lerned that he is not only a sauiour bryngeth saluacion to al men but he is also a scholemaster vnto vs. For he teacheth vs y t fyrst we shulde deny vngodlynes worldly lustes and afterwarde lyue soberly ryghteously and godlye in thys â—â—esent world What so euer vice hath reygâ—ned in vs iÌ„ times past we must now vtterly put it awaye frâ—m vs were it Idolatry false worshâ—ppynge of God supersticion confidence in ceremonies despisyng of Gods word swearyng by hys moost blyssed name brekiÌ„g of y e saboth dâ—y c. or els vncleÌ„nes carnall affectes worldly lustes dyuellysh mocioÌ„s whordome theafte couetousnes dronckeÌ„shyp glotonny wrathe contencioÌ„ bloud sheddynge c. and gaâ—nysshe oure lyues wythe all kynde of vertues sobriete iustice godlynes purite innocency pacience longe sufferynge charite peace goodnes fayth temperaunce mekenes and wyth al theâ— other frutes of the spirite that â— good consciences and fre hartes we maye looke for that blessed hope and glorious appearyng of y e great God our sauiour Iesus Christ whiche wyllyngely and wythout ony compulsion gaue no aungell nor man but hym selfe for vs to redeme vs from all vnrighteousnes that is to saye from all synne â—oth originall mortal veniall or ony other so that we repente beleue aske marcye and amende our synfull lyuyng and to pourge vs a peculiare people vnto hymselfe to do hym seruyce none other and euen suche as wythoute any fayning or cloked holynes shuld be earneste followers not of theyr 〈◊〉 wylles fansys and fleshly plesures but of good workes eueÌ„ such workes as God commaundeth and â—â—â— accepted be fore hym not such â—s dame Good entent and her self or 〈◊〉 zele imaginethe and 〈◊〉 of theyr own braynes without â—he authorite of Goddes worde Thus haue ye neighbours in 〈◊〉 workes that ye receaued before in many What nowe reâ—â—yneth but that seyng God the father hath shewed vs so great kyndenesse by hys sonne Iesus Christ we do as y e new yeares gyfte teacheth vs that is 〈◊〉 saye deny vngodlynes and 〈◊〉 lustes lyue soberly righteously and godly in thys present â—â—â—ld and be earnest followers of good workes â–ª we may with a good conscience and mery harte looke for y e blyssed hope and glorious apperyng of the great God and our sauiour Iesus Christ. RemeÌ„ber that to be called a christâ—â—â— man anauayleth no thyng exceptâ— we lyue accordyng to our name and profession Remember that to rede the scriptures to haue the knowledge of them profyteth nothyng at all excepte we fashon our lyfe 〈…〉 dyng to the doctrine therof RemeÌ„ber that to crake of sayth of oure â—ustificacion by it is nothing to the purpose except we brynge forth the frutes of fayth Remember that to glory of our saluacion purchased by Christ auaylethe nothynge excepte me chaunge our olde lyuyng and become newe men Remember that al the benefites of christ serue only
as a cloth polluted wyth menstrue We were conceaued borne in syn The imaginacioÌ„s and thoughtes of mannes harte are prone vnto euell euen from his yonge age There is no man innocent before God there is no man but that synneth There is not a righteous man on y e earth that doth good and synneth not Euery one is an hypocrite wickeâ— and the mouthes of theÌ„ all haue spokeÌ„ folyshnes All we haue erred and gone astraye lyke shepe euery one hath followed his owne fansye The harte of man is wicked inâ—crutable No man is pure from synne no the starres are not clene in his sight howe much more is man fylthy and vnclene which is nothyng but corrupcion a very worme in comparison of God Who is able to say my harte is clene and I am pure from syn No maÌ„ is good but God alone We are al vnprofitable seruauntes The Lorde looked downe from heauen vpon the chyldren of men to se yf there were ony one y t had vnderstandyng or saught after God But all are swarued clene gone oute of the waye they are become all togyther vnprofitable there is â–ª none that dothe good no not one They are corrupt become abhominable iÌ„ theyr studies Theyr throte is lyke a wyde mouthed graue they worke deâ—eate with theyr tonges the poyson of adders is vnder theyr lyppes Theyr mouthe is full of cursynge bytternes theyr feete are swyfte to shed bloude Destruccion and werynes are in theyr wayes the waye of peace haue they not knowne Ther is no feare of god before theyr eyes Howe lyke ye these scriptures Do they not paynte oute man in his natiue colours What haue we of oure selues to reioyse boste of Chri. We maye perceaue now right wel that we be all wretched miserable synners Theo. If god had not gyuen vs his sonne christ to be our sauioure we hadde bene in a damnable case Euse. We were so pocky full of diseases that yf christ had not bene ourâ— Phisicion to heale our woundes 〈◊〉 his moost precious wouÌ„des we had continued styl disesed for euermore Phil. I am glad ye haue learned that all men are synners that therfore they haue nede of christ the gyfte of God whiche bryngeth saluacion to all men For this is the fyrst poynte to knowe christ aryght Nether can ony man to muche deiecte and casâ—e downe hym selfe For the more man humbleth hym selfe the more dothe he exalte y e glorious maieste of god But that ye maye be without dout in this matter I wyll rehearse certen vnto you out of both the Testamentes which shall declare that we be all synners Adam as ye knowe transgressed the commaundement of God in Paradise by his transgression made vs all bonde to eternall damnacion Nohe fell into the synne of dronkeÌ„nes Lothe was not only dronken but also lay with hys owne doughters so commytted y e greuous synne of inceste Abraham denyed hys wyfe Moses coÌ„mytted man â—aughter Dauid commytted bothe manslaughter whoredome Salomon was an Idolater Mathew was a tolle gatherer The Apostles dyd stryue amonge them who shoulde be hyghest of greatest aucthorite Mary Magdalene was a greuous synner Peter denyed and forsoke Christ thryse Paule persecuted the coÌ„gregacion of christ â—hat shoulde I make many wordes So many as euer were clad wythe this flesh Iesus christ alone excepte whiche was both God and man conceued borne without the seed of maÌ„ by the operacion of the holy Ghoste of the moost blyssed vndefyled virgin Mary were synners and so many as are in the same at this day 〈◊〉 shal be vnto the worldes ende are 〈◊〉 shall be synners saued onely by the fre mercy of god thorow Iesê° christ We all offende in many thynges sayth S. Iames. Here are none excerted If we saye saythe S. Iohn that we haue no synne we deceyue ourselues and the trueth is not in vs. Here S. IohnÌ„ which was so holy vertuous dearly beloued of god nombreth him selfe among synners neyther is he ashamed so to do that al glory maye be gyuen to God and the prayse of oure saluacioÌ„ to Iesus Christ our Lorde sauiour Chri. If all be synners with oute excepcion what is than to be sayde of y e moost glorious blyssed virgyn Mary Is she also to be rekened in the nomber of synners Phil. I answere with S. AusteÌ„ whan so euer there is disputacion of synne all must nedes coÌ„fesse them selues synners excepte y e holy virgyn Mary of whom for the honour of the Lorde I wyl haue no question at all whan we entreate of synne For we know that there was giuen to her more grace than to ony other creature for to ouercome â—yn on euery parte for as muche as she deserued to conceaue bryng â—orth hym whom it is euideÌ„t to haue had no synne Therfore this virgyn excepte if we coulde gather all y e sayntes both men and women whâ— they lyued here demaund of them whyther they were wtout synne What do we thyncke that they would aunswere as this Pelagian sayth or as IohnÌ„ the Apostle affyrmeth Uerely ware theyr excellency of holynes neuer so great in this bodye if they myghte be asked thys thynge they woulde surely crye with one voyce yf we shoulde saye that we haue no synne we deceaue oure selues 〈◊〉 the truethe is not in vs. Hytherto haue I rehearsed the wordes of S. Austen which as they excepte the moost blyssed virgyn Mary from the spot of synne so do they proue all other wythoute excepcion to be sinners Yet this dare I boldly affyrme say that this moost holy pure and glorious virgyn disdayned not to confesse Christ to be also her Lorde and sauiour Her wordes are these My soule magnifyeth the Lorde my spirite hath reioysed in god my sauiour Behold she bosteth not her good dedes she crakethe not of her merites she swelleth not with her owne dignite but humbly grauÌ„tyng herselfe to be the handemayde of the lord redy to do his moost godly pleasure and wyll in all thynges she confesseth God to be her sauiour and not her selfe nor her owne good dedes If so holye and pure a virgyne which was replenyshed wythe all grace vertue and goodnes dyd not bost of her own dignite worthynes merites dedes good worâ—kes but cleued to God alone and sought for saluacion at his hande howe wicked and goâ—les are they which seâ—e health at ony other sauyng aâ— thys gyfte of God Iesus christ which briÌ„â—geth saluacion to all meÌ„ Euse. This is godly spoken Dothe christ therfore bryng saluacion to all menne Phil. To all men that repent beleue and labour to 〈◊〉 a good lyfe â–ª were they neuer so greuous synners before For christ came not to call the righteous that is such as wyt iustify them selues by theyr owne good dedes merites but synneâ—s vnto repentaunce He
at the wyne and seake out wher the best is Therfore kepe no company wythe wyne bybbers and ryotous eaters of flesh for suche as be dronckardes ryotous shall come to pouerte Iesus y e sonne of Syrach also sayth Be not gredy in euery eatynge be not to hastye vpon all meates For excesse of meates bryngeth syckenes glotony coÌ„meth at the last to an vnmesurablâ— heate Thorow glotony haue maâ—â— peryshed but he that dyeâ—e the hym 〈◊〉 â—eÌ„peraâ—ely prolongeth his lyfe Therfore good neighbours that wâ— maye eschewe all these great perels let vs caste awaye all glotony droÌ„â—kennes lyue soberly practyse modâ—â—rate temperauns so embrace christen sobriete that we maye be sober bothe in body mynde So shall we be the more able to do oure duty toward our neighbours Theo. Trueth it is For he that can not order hym selfe well toward himselfe shal euell do his duty toward hys neyghbour I praye God gyue vs grace fyrst to looke vpon our selues as we ought to do afterwarde to behaue oure selues towarde our neyghbours aâ— it becommeth vs. Phil. This is a godly desyre We are taughte of Christ our scolemaster not only to lyue soberly whiche concerneth our selues but also ryghteously whiche to wecheth oure neyghboures Euse. What is it to lyue ryghteâ—usly Phil. To do to euery maÌ„ as we are bouÌ„d by y e commaundement of God For the offyce of ryghteousnesse is to gyue euery one his owne This oure lesson that we should lyue ryghteously comprehendethe all the seconde table of the ten commaundementes For iustice and ryghteousnes requirethe that we honour our father mother reuerence theÌ„ and do for them what so euer lygheth in our power It requirethe of vs that we also haue in honour all temporall magistrates so many as be our superious It requireth agayne that we giue to the ministers of Gods worde double honour that is to saye both an harty externall reuerence and also all thinges that are necessary for theyr lyuynge that theyr moost godly exercyses maye not be letted It requireth that we slay no man nor do no man no harme but walke charitably towarde all men speke reporte well of all men healpe conforte and socour theÌ„ yea though they be ourâ— extreme enemies seake our death For the coÌ„mauÌ„dement of our scholemaster is this Loue your enemies pray for theÌ„ that curse you do good to them that hate you c. It requireth that we commit none adultry but that euery man haue hys owne wyfe euery woman her owne husbonde It requirethe that we do no theafe nor steale ony thynge from our neyghbour nor brybe away his goodes vniustly nor deceue hym in bargaynyng but healpe hym mayntayne hym socour hym do for him vnto the vttrmoost of our power y t he may want no good thynge It requireth that we beare no false wytnes agaynst our neyghboures nor obscure hys good name nor yet do ony thynge at all that maye turne hym to displeasure but both thynke speake of hym gentylly frendly charitably enterpretynge all thynges vnto the best and coueryng his fautes where there is hope of ameÌ„dmeÌ„t It requireth of vs that we do not couyt oure neyghboures house wyfe seruaunt handmayd nor ony thyng that is his but that we wysh well vnto hym to all that he hath beynge contented wyth that y e God hath gyuen vs be it lytle or muche To be shorte to lyue ryghteously is to do vnto other as we woulde they shoulde do vnto vs. He y t doth these thynges aforesayde lyueth ryghteously behaueth hym selfe towarde hys neyghbour as he is bound by y e commauÌ„dement of God Chri Nowe haue we learned our duty bothe toward our selues our neyghbours Let it nowe be declared vnto vs I praye you how we ought to behaue our selues toward God Phil. Christe our scholemaster techeth vs not only to lyue soberly and ryghteously but also godlye Theo. What is it to lyue godly Phil. To lyue godly is to beleue that ther is but one true lyuyng God to cleaue vnto hym as the fouÌ„dacioÌ„ of all goodnes to looke for all health saluacioÌ„ at his hand to loue hym with the whole mynde harte power soule to call vpoÌ„ his moost blyssed name to prayse hym in all kynde of fortune to seke his glory aboue all thynges to serue him accordynge to his worde Euse. Blyssed is y e man to whome it is gyuen thus godly to lyue Phil. Neighbours nowe haue ye learned y e whole trade of Christes schole what he techeth Hys doctrine is this that ye should deny vngodlynes worldly concupisceÌ„ces that ye should lyue soberly ryghteously godly Looke therfore that ye followe thys teachynge practyse it in your dayly coÌ„uersacion that ye maye be founde no forgetfull hearers but ferueÌ„t doers of suche thinges as ye haue heard and learned Deny vngodlynes and for sake all y t euer is contrary to Gods honour prayse worshyp and glory Mortify youre carnall affectes and worldely lustes Become newe men in your lyuyng Awaye w t the workes of darkenes on wyth the frutes of the spirite Put on the armoures of lyght and cast awaye the workes of darkenes Be no loÌ„ger darkenes but lyght in the lorde Shyne in the worlde as great lyght Glorify God in your body in youre spirite whiche are Gods Lette youre lyght to shyne before men that they maye se your good workes glorify your father whyche is in heauen Lyue soberly modestly temperatly discretely â—agely toward your selues Do nothyng wherof your conscience maye eyther condemne or accuse you Lyue righteously toward youre neyghboure Do none otherwyse vnto hym than ye woulde he should do vnto you Lyue godly towarde God Seake hys glory in all thynges worshyp hym accordyng to hys word not after your blynd fansy fleshly ymaginacion Thus doyng ye shall shew your selues scholers not altogyther vnworthy suche a scholemaster But ye must note y t all these thiÌ„ges must be done in this present worlde as your newe yeres gyfte hathe For this is the tyme of grace fauour conforte and remissioÌ„ of synnes as God sayth by the Prophet I haue heard the in a tyme accepted in y e day of saluacion haue I socoured the. Behold now is that well accepted tyme behold now is y e day of saluacion Seake the Lorde whyle he maye be founde In thys world ther is tyme of mercy fauour grace Here is it lawful to lament our synnes Here maye we vndoubted beleue trust obtayne remissioÌ„ of our synnes After this lyfe there remayneth nothyng but ether euerlastynge payne or eternall glory as S. Ciprian sayth WhaÌ„ we go once out of thys worlde there is no more place of repentaÌ„ce there is no more satisfaccion to be made For lyfe is here ether lost or gotten here is prouision made for eternall
helth wyth the worshyppynge of God and the 〈◊〉 of fayth Let no maÌ„ discorage hym selfe because of the multitude of his synnes or by y e reasoÌ„ y t he hath bene so longe a synner thynkynge y t by this means he shal obtayne helth the lesse For so long as we are iÌ„ this worlde there is no repentaunce to late There is a waye to obtayne â—auoure and they that seake vnderstand the trueth shall soone come by it Therfore in this worlde must we deny vngodlynes worldely lustes In this world must we lyue soberly righteously and godly So doynge we maye with a good fre conscieÌ„ce do that which foloweth Chri. I pray you lette vs heare what it is Phile. LokiÌ„g for y e blyssed hope apperyng of the glory of y e great God and of oure Sauyoure Iesus Christ. A good seruaunte nedeth not to feare his masters commynge For in hys absence he hathe bene faythfull diligent to do that thyng which his master wylled him to do Therfore maye he lawfully euen with ioye gladnes loke for his masters retourne So lykewyse a christen maÌ„ that walketh in y e waye of the Lorde dothe that which he is appoynted by the lawe of God seaketh aboue all thinges thaccomplyshment of his masters wyll may with a fre glad and mery conscience looke for the commynge of Christ at the day of iudgement which shal be terrible to the wycked but confortable to the faythefull And verely so many as hope to be saued at y e great day ought so to behaue them selues in this worlde that they maye with â—oye at all tymes looke for it And they ought to be so muche the more diligent seing the tyme is vncerten whaÌ„ it shal be Of y e dai time sayth Christ knoweth no man no not the Aungels which are in heueÌ„ nether the sonne hymselfe saue only the father Take hede watch pray for ye know not when y e tyme is As a man which is gone into a strauÌ„ge countrey hath lefte his house and gyuen authorite to his seruauntes and to euery man his worke commaunded the porter to watche Watche therfore â–ª for ye knowe not whan the mayster of the house wyll come whyther at euen or at mydnyghte whyther at the cocke crowyng or in the dawninge leaste yf he come sodeÌ„ly should fynd you slepyng And that I say to you I saye to all watche It is to be noted that the Scripture calleth y t a blissed hope wherw t we hope and looke for the glorious commyng of oure Lorde sauioure Iesus Christ vnto the iudgemente And not wtout a cause For althogh a Christen man be neuer so greatly vexed in thys worlde yet whan he casteth the eyes of hys faythe vpon that daye and hope the that Christ shall come gyue hym eternall glory accordynge vnto his fayth thys maketh hym blyssed ioyfull quiet mery and contented wyth a gladde harte paciently and thaÌ„ckefully to beare what soeuer crosse God layeth on hys backe We are saued thorow hope sayth S. Paule Derely beloued sayth S. IohnÌ„ We are now y e sonnes of God it hathe not yet appered what we shal be But we know that if he once appeare we shall be lyke vnto him for we shal se hym as he is And euery one that hath this hope in hym purifieth hym selfe eueÌ„ as he is pure The hoope of sayntes is ful of immortalite sayth the wyse manne It followeth And the appearyngâ— of the glory of the great god and of our sauyoure Iesus Christ. At Christes commynge into thys world he came altogyther poorely He was borne of a poore mayd in a stable wrapt in simple clowtes and layd in a maunger amonge brute bestes He was brought vp homely lyued hardely not hauynge where once to reast his head All the tyme of hys lyfe he was of suche ignominy among the Byshoppes Prestes hed rulars Scribes Pharises and Saduces that at the laste they put hym vnto the moost spytefull death of the crosse as a pestiferous malefaâ—toure a deceyuer of the people a techer of newe learnyng an enemy to our mother the holy chyrche c. But whan he shall appeare agayne come vnto the iudgement his appearyng shall be glorious his commyng shall be royal victorious and triumphant He shal not come humbly and simply as a base person but lyke a great and almyghty GOD lyke a Lorde full of all puyssaunce myghtye and power terrible to the wycked and amiable to the faythefull He shall come in his glory and all the holy aungels wyth hym thaÌ„ shal he syt vpon the seat of his glory there shall be gathered before hym all nacions He shall shewe hymselfe to be a great God and suche one as none is able to be coÌ„pared vnto him It shal wel be knowne at that tyme that he was and is the true sonne of god that very true Messias which was promised of God by the Prophetes what so euer the wicked Iewes saye vnto the contrary Than shall it be manifest to al men that y e gods of the Gentiles are dyuels and that there is no other God but this oure God alone Than shal they that are the aduersaries of hys trueth enemies of his moost holy Gospel know howe greatly they haue erred blasphemed y e diuine verite persecuted his faythful seruauÌ„tes maintained pernicious doctrine yea than shall they receaue a reward worthy theyr wyckednes tyranny He shal shew hym selfe suche a great God that it shall lyghe in his power to gyue to y e faythfull euerlastynge lyfe to the wycked eternall daÌ„nacioÌ„ Oh great is the Lord worthy very much to be praysed there is no ende of hys greatnes sayth the Psalmographe Nedes must our Lord god be great seyng he replenysheth bothe heauen and ear the withe the maieste of hys glory No place is there ony where but that hys power retchethe vnto it Heuen is my seate earth is my footestoole what house wyl ye bylde for me sayth y e Lorde or what place is it that I should rest in Hath not my hande made all these thynge But it is to be noted y t Christ is not onely called a great God but also a sauiour ye y e our sauiour So y t at y e day of iudgemeÌ„t he shal not onely appere a great myghty God to al men but also a bounteous mercifull sauiour to the faythfull as S. Paule witnesseth our conuersacion is in heauen sayth he from whense we also looke for a sauiour euen the Lord Iesus Christ which shall chauÌ„ge our vile bodyes that they maye be fashoned lyke vnto hys glorious body accordyng vnto the workyng wherby he is able to subdue al thinges vnto hym selfe Agayne whan Christ whiche is our lyfe shall shew him selfe than shal ye also appere w t him in glory Thys great god christ is our sauiour and not
sayth if we say that we haue fellowshyp with Christ yet walke in darknes we lye do not y e trueth But if we walke in the lyght as he is in the lyght we haue felloweshyp one wyth another and the bloud of Iesus Christ gods owne sonne maketh vs cleane from all synne This texte prouethe manifestly that we haue no feloweshyp wythe Christ so long as we walke in darkenes that is in synfull lyuynge agayne that the bloude of Christe profytethe vs nothyng at all excepte we walke in the lyght of Gods worde laboure to fulfyll hys holye preceptes For sayth S. IohnÌ„ by this do we know y t we haue known hiÌ„ if we kepe hys coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„tes He y t sayth I know hiÌ„ kepeth not hys coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„tes is a lyare and the truethe is not in hym But he that dothe hys worde trulye in hym is the loue of God perfecte By this do we knowe that we are in hym He that sayth he abydeth in hym oughte to walke euen as he walked Of this all the other textes which I haue hitherto rehearsed we may easly learne what is our duty and howe earnestly we oughte to seake occasions for to do good Seyng we are y e peo-people of God yea hys peculiare oute chosen people we muste nedes shewe oure selues earnest followers of good workes or elles haue we no fellowshyp wyth Christ. God the father is not oure father nether are we christes brothers nor yet fellow heyres wyth hym if we seake not to lead a godly and vertuous lyfe Let vs neuer crake of the iustificacioÌ„ of fayth of y e fre mercy of God of christes pashoÌ„ bloud death merites c. we lead a lyfe worthy the kyndenes of God Lette vs neuer reioyse that we are delyuered from the power of SataÌ„ synne deth hell for so long as we coÌ„tinue in our olde synnefull lyuynge and wycked manners we pertayne not vnto Christ but are y e bonde slaues of Satan very fyre brondes of hell For as y e good preste Zachary father to S. IohnÌ„ Baptist sayth God hath perfourmed the othe whiche he sware to our father Abraham for to gyue vs that we delyuered out of the haÌ„des of our enemies myght serue hym wtout feare all the dayes of oure lyfe in holynes righteousnes Hereto agreeth the sayng of s. Paule the bloud of christ whyche thorow the euerlastyng spirite hathe offered hymselfe pure to God shall pourge youre conscience from dead workes for to serue the lyuynge God Here learne we y t christ hathe delyuered vs from the power of our enemies that we should serue him in holines and righteousnes all the dayes of oure lyfe Nowe if ony be not giuen to the seruyse of God surely he is not free but abydethe styll the miserable captiue bonde presoner of his enemies Let all meÌ„ therfore take hede prepare theÌ„ selues to lede a godly lyfe y t they maye be earnest followers of good workes or elles nether theyr baptisme nor Christ nor yet ony thyng that euer Christ dyd shall profytte them ony thynge at all Chri. O good Lorde how greatly be many deceued whiche put theyr trust in Christ crake muche of fayth yet continue styll abhominable lyuers thynkyng not with stondynge all this theyr great wyckednes to be saued Phil. To repeÌ„taunce â—aythe and amendement of lyfe mercy is neuer denyed But be not you deceaued neyghbours For not they whiche heare the lawe are righteous before god but they that expresse the law in dedes shall be coÌ„ted righteous Be ye the doers of y e worde and not the hearers only deceauyng your selfes Theo. God gyue vs grace thus to do that we maye garnysh the doctrine of God our sauioure in all thynges Euse. Amen I beseche the good Lorde Phil. Uerely there are many causes yea those vrgent and necessary why Christen men shoulde bryng forth good workes if they dyd consider theyr vocacioÌ„ callyng wel Fyrst because it is the wyll of God God hath coÌ„mauÌ„ded so by his holy worde For what chylde accoÌ„plysheth not his fathers wyll for the loue that he beareth towarde hym What seruaunt fulfylleth not his masters coÌ„maundemeÌ„t if he do but onely feare hym â–ª Hoâ—â— muche more than ought we wâ—â—che haue so louynge a fatheâ— and so puyssauÌ„t a Lorde and beneficiall a master for the loue 〈◊〉 â—earâ— that we beare toward hym shewe our 〈◊〉 obedient to his holy wyll fulfyl it to y e vttermoost of our power â–ª Where ether â—earâ— or loue of God is there must the â—ulfyllynge of Gods lawe nedes followe If so doth not neuer let vs confesse oure selues eyther to feare or loue god truly The sonne honoureth his father and the seruaunte his Lorde If I than be youre father where is my honoure â–ª And if I be your Lord where is my feare sayth y e Lord or Hoâ—stes Not euery one that sayth vnto me Lord Lorde shall enter into y e kyngdome of heauen sayth Christ but he thaâ— doth the wyll of my father which iâ— in â—eauen The holy 〈…〉 bryng forth frutes of repentaunce And christ sayth as my father gaue me commaundement so I do Agen I haue not spokeÌ„ of my selfe but he that sent me that is to saye my father he gaue me commaundement what I shoulde do what I should speake A christeÌ„ man therfore must do good because it is the commaundement and wyll of God Secondely we ought to do good workes that God may be glorifyed thorowe them as Christ sayth Let your light so shyne before men that they may se your good workes and glorify your father which is in heauen Also S. Peter se that ye haue as honest conuersacion amonge the Hey then that they whiche backe by tâ— you aâ— euell doers may sâ— your good workes and prayse God in the day of visitacion For what greater dishonour â—â—ther be done to god thaÌ„ to professe the name of God iâ—nominâ—â—usly to deface and obscure the glory of it thorowe our wycked and vngodly conuersacion Theyr rulars do vnrighteously sayth y e lord and by this means my name is blasphemed coÌ„tinually euen all y e whole daye longe S Paule also sayth the name of GOD is euell reported for you among the Hethen Agen what greater honour can there be gyueÌ„ to God of vs thaÌ„ to lede a godly lyfe to expresse the manners and lyuysh Image of our heuenly father in all our lyfe By the one God is dishonored by the other he is greatly honored praysed and magnified Thyrdely it is oure dutye to do good workes that we maye be certeÌ„ that our fayth is right true lyuysh and workynge For as there is not a more certen argument sure tokeÌ„ that a tree is good thaÌ„ by bringing â—orth good â—â—â—te so is ther not a better probacioÌ„ that our fayth is true 〈…〉 than whan we worke the