superstitious Egyptians Chirstians without none within Iewes in the flesh not in the heart Israelites in the letter and not in the spirit who sought praise of men but none of God left very fewe whetstones few swordes that is very few Testamentes and Bibles left fewe Smithes that is fewe builders in Gods Churche among vs least the Protestantes said they make them swordes and speares and so preuaile against vs. O let vs reioyce and be thankful For as Ionathan with one swoorde ouercame the Philistines so Gods ministers by one swoorde the sworde of spirite the worde of GOD haue pulled downe the power kingdome of Antichrist God graunt he neuer rise again in England As waxe melteth at the Sunne as the fat of lambes consumeth before the fier as the heate dryeth vp the clowdes as the Lion goeth into his denne when man goeth foorth to his worke as the Owle flieth to his hole when the day starre appeareth as Dagon fell downe before the arke of the Lord as Bell the Dragon were destroied before the face of Daniell so the mists of Egypt vanished the Lions of Babilon were vanquished the owles of Rome departed the fat greâ—e of Antichriste melted the Gods of that Sunne of perdition were with vs in Englande all destroyed they al come to nothing when it pleased the Lorde too sende his fier his heat his sonne his day starre his ark and his Daniell that is his worde and ministers amongst vs. Let vs then remember howe cruelly we were handeled and reioyce in the Lorde that wee are so mercifully deliuered but I would to God that many were not sory for the departure of this whoore out of England loke you to your selues chiefly O ye merchants For you may seeme to haue most cause to lament for the fall of that great strumpet For thus sayth the Angell The kinges of the earth shal bewaile her and lament for her which haue committed fornication with her they shall cry Alas alas the great citie Babilon that mightie citie but why shall they so lament because saith hee they liued in pleasure with her yea chiefly the merchantes of the earth saith the Angel shall weepe and waile ouer her yea euery ship maister and all the people that occupie shippes and shipmen and whosoeuer trafficke on the Sea shal stande a farre of and crye Alas alas that great citie But why shal merchants and all shipmen crie so Because no man buyeth their ware any more and by that whore saith hee were made rich al that had shippes on the Sea by her costlinesse Bee not sory for her marke what the Angell saith in that place O heauen reioyce of her and the holy Apostles and Prophetes and pray vnto the Lorde that she neuer returne hyther againe When Dagon fel downe before the arke of the Lord the first time hee was not broken hee was set vp the second time but then the head of Dagon and his handes were broken of That whore of Babylon fell downe once in the dayes of king Edward and was set vp again in the dayes of Queene Mary But nowe in the glorious raigne of our Souereigne Elizabeth shee is fallen downe the seconde time not only her head and her handes are broken of but wee hope that all her body is grounde to powder a curse come to him that shall goe about to set her vppe againe Cursed bee that man saith Ioshua before the Lorde that ryseth vp and buildeth this Citie Ierico yet Hiell did builde Ierico but a curse came to his whole stocke and house for it So cursed be that man before the Lorde that shall beginne to builde that towre of Babell that seate of Antichriste in Englande againe But as the Lorde commaunded Ierusalem to be distroied and all the Iewes though Iulian the Emperour did with all his power aide them were not able to build it so the Lord hath throwne downe this whore and we trust that all the kings of the earth all Popes all Priestes all Monkes all Friers all Nunnes shall not bee able to lift her vp againe She was in England a glorious whore a gorgeous whore therefore her desolation is more shamefull she was in England an high whore and an heauie whore Therefore her fal is the greater as Iezabell was hurld out at a windowe eaten vp of dogges only her skull the palmes of her hands her feete remaining the which the seruants of Iehu buried so wee thanke our God who hath throwne downe this great Iezabell and we pray that if any thing of her be left it shalbe buried O let vs then loue embrace the Gospel followe and obey the Gospell and continue in our profession to our liues end I say continue abide endure stand fast be stronge quiet your selues like men You haue put your haÌ„ds to the plough looke not back least you be iudged vnfit for the kingdome of God For not euery one that runneth but he that runneth to the goale hath the garland not euery one that entreth into a ship but hee that goeth ouer the Seas bringeth home treasures not euery one that worketh in the vineyarde but he that continueth working vnto night hath the peny not euery one that fighteth but hee that ouercometh shall haue the crowne To conclude not euery one that beginneth well but that endureth vnto the ende shalbe saued Nowe you follow the Gospell but I feare many are like the snaile who pulleth in her hornes if any man goe againste her Nowe you laboure for the meate of the soule but you are in your houses like the snaile rather theÌ„ you will loose your houses I feare many will fall from their standing I loue the Gospell saith the worldly man but as long as I am in my house that is as long as I haue peace and quietnesse but if persecution come as lice forsake the head when the man is dying as rattes forsake a house that is ruinous or hath no victuall so will I leaue the Gospell if it bring a swoorde or warre or take away my goods All the Apostles forsooke Christe in time of danger and Demas did forsake Paule and imbraced this present worlde But remember this O man Hee that loueth landes liuings or life more then the Gospell it is as true as the Gospell for it is in the Gospell hee shall neuer come to heauen bring hee neuer so manye keyes from Rome in his hande but hee that shall loose life or liuing for the Gospell it is as true as the Gospell for it is in the Gospell shall haue for his liuing a kingdome for his life a blessed immortall euerlasting life in heauen Satan goeth about to winowe you as wheate stande fast in the faith a lawe in your members rebelleth against the lawe of your mindes stande fast in the faith the fleshe fighteth against the spirite stand fast in the faith the worlde plucketh you by the sleeue to looke backe stande
holy place by the hie prieste for sinne were burnt without the campe therefore euen Iesus that he might sāctifie the people with his owne blood suffered without the gate What is this to vs let vs therefore saith the Apostle goe forth to him out of the campe for here haue we no continuyng citie but we looke for one to come Wilt thou O man go forth out of the camp Labour not so much to prouide meat for the campe The workes of the fleshe are manifest as gluttony dronkennesse c. They that doe such thinges shall neuer inherit the kingdome of God The fruite of the spirite is temperancie and such like against such there is no lawe For they that are Christes haue crucified the fleshe with the affections and the lustes if wee liue in the spirite let vs also walke in the spirit Woe be to you saieth Esay that ryse to followe after dronkennesse and are strong to drinke wine Wilt thou resist the diuell be sober and watch saieth Peter beware take heed saieth our Sauiour least your harts be ouerloaden with surfaiting and droukennesse and that ayde come on you vnawares Let vs then remember the time that we are in and the consideration hereof shall call vs from labouring for this meate Wee are not children of the night nor of the darknes that that day should come on vs as a thiefe wee are children of the day and of the light therefore let vs not sleepe as other doe but let vs watch and be sober For they that sleepe sleepe in the night and they that bee dronken are dronken in the night but let vs which are of the day be sober considering the season it is nowe time that wee shoulde arise from sleepe for now is our saluation neerer thē whē we beleued it the night is past and the day is come let vs therfore cast away the works of darkenes put on vs the armour of light so that we walk honestly as in the day not in gluttony and drunkennesse not in chambering and wantonnesse not in strife and enuiing but put on the Lorde Iesus Christ and take no thought for the flesh to fulfill the lusts of it Consider the time for the deuill knoweth his time to be short the yeares of his lease are now almoste expired therfore now he will make hauocke Consider the time for the day of the Lorde is at hand let vs waite for his cōming Cōsider the time we haue had the Gospel these xxii ful yeres by reasō now we should be able to be taken for tutors to teach and gouern our selues The sunne stoode still in the middest of heauen for a whole day in the dayes of Iosua neuer such a daye of light as was in the dayes of Iosua The sonne of God hath holden his sunn ouer this Realm a long time neuer such a time of light as hath beene in the dayes of Elizabeth Many haue desired to see that we see and could not see them to heare those thinges that we heare but could not heare them But yet beholde the Niniuites shall rise and shalbe able to condemne vs for they repented at three dayes preaching If such preaching had beene in Tyrus and Sydon in Sodoma Gomorrha in the new found landes as hath beene in England they woulde haue brought forth more fruite of repentaunce then we haue done Let vs therefore for it is time with weeping and fasting turne to the Lord our God The Iewes in token of contrition and true repentaunce did sometimes were sackloth sometime tumbled in ashes sōtime did lye on the ground rent their cloths shaued their heds powred out water before the Lord signifying that they were like vnto water which being powred out is troden vnder foote runneth away and is dryed vp Let vs rente our heartes and not our garmentes put on sobrietie and not sackloth tumble in heauines and not in ashes lye in mourning and not on the ground cut of the foreskin of our harts and not shaue the hayre of our heades powre teares out of our eies and not water out of buckets let vs weepe as Ezechias wept who turned his face to the wall and wept heauily as Mary who fell downe behinde Iesus and wept pitifully as Peter who remembring the wordes of Christ went out and wepte bitterly Wee are not commaunded to fast eyther fortie dayes as Moses before the law as Elyas vnder the law as Christ after the lawe or superstitiously or hipocritically as the Papistes doe but that euery man may truly say with Paule I chastise my body bring it vnder subiection least when I haue preached to others I my selfe become a castaway The Lorde will prouide for them that seeke him The multitud was with Christ three dayes and had nothing to eate yet they were not hungry bee strong then O Sampson a dry iaw bone shall giue thee water before thou perish Faint not O Israel the Lord shall turne the hard rock into a standing water and the flinte into a springing well before thou perish dispayre not Elyas the Angelles of heauen the Rauens of the ayre shall feede thee before thou perish Die not O Daniel if none in Babilon wil pitie thee Abacucke shalbe brought out of Iewrie to bring thee meate before thou perish You cannot adde one cubit to your stature after this meat the Gentles labour a sparrowe doeth not fall downe to the ground without Gods prouidence all the hayres of your head are numbred I haue beene young and now I am olde sayeth Dauid yet I neuer sawe the righteous forsaken nor his seede to begge their bread O care not then for to morowe the morowe shall care for it selfe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The day hath enough with his owne griefe Let vs now examine our selues whether we labour for this meate or noe And so I come to my third part If we consider the great and gratious benefits wherewith God hath blessed England as peace wealth health libertie plentie victorie the Gospell Preachers Gouernours so noble and wise counsaylours so godly and so zealous a Princes England hath receiued much therefore of England much shalbe required England is not able to render I appeale to euery mans conscience one for a thousand therfore is England very much indebtted O London daughter of England thy siluer is become drosse thy wheate chaffe thy gold yron thy wine water thy grapes thorns thy figs thistels yet thou art taught the will of thy father more then other thy sisters of England therfore O London with many stripes vnlesse the Lord turne to thee thou to him and that shortely thou must needes be punished For we al doe so draw iniquitie with cordes of vanitie and sinne as with cart ropes we so staine our selues with our own works and goe a whoring with our owne inuentions as Iob in body so we in soule are so sicke from the soule of the foote to the crowne of the head
but he that drinketh of the water whiche the sonne of man shall giue vnto him whome God the father to this purpose hath sealed shall neuer thirst agayne but the water in him shalbe a well of water springing vpp vnto euerlasting life yea out of his belly shall flowe riuers of water of life Wherefore as Eleasar and his two companions did breake thorowe the mighty hoste of the Philistines and brought water out of Bethlehem for Dauid euen thorowe the hoste backe againe Dauid longing after that water right so let vs boldely and couragiously breake thorowe the middes of all our enemies both temporal and spirituall to get this water and this bread of the soule of heauen and of life that it may bee sayde of vs as our Sauiour spake of the Iewes in the beginning of the gospel the kingdome of heauen suffereth violence and the violent take it by force So zealous were they O I wold to God so zealous were wee too receiue Gods mercy so freely offered so greedie were they O I would to God so greedy were we to imbrace to loue to obey to follow Gods word so purely preached For as the pewter pot which the fire melteth is not so soone consumed beeing full of licour as the glasse which euery knock breaketh is not so lightly dasht in peeces beeing full of water so we though wee consume as the fat of lambes before the presence of the Lord and be as drie stubble the Lorde a consuming fire though we be more brickle then glasse for glasse being safely lockt vp endureth long but we kepe we our selues neuer so daintily neuer so warily neuer so safely come to an end as a tale that is told So wee I say being full fed with this foode shalbee able to abide all blowes al knocks shall quēch all the fyrie darts of the wicked shall stand fast in the euil day so stand that all the gates of hell shal not once be able to preuayle against vs. What better reason can I geue then this for it endureth vnto euerlasting life But alas as Eue was content to aduenture the losse of Paradise for an apple as Esau was content to loose his birthright his fathers blessing for a messe of pottage as the children of Israel did loath Manna Angels foode in their hearts turned back to the flesh pottes of Egypt as the Iewes at this time did seek Christ not for his doctrine not for his miracles but chiefly for meate because hee had fedde them and so fedde them that they had more store left when they had done then when they beganne to eate So because the dayes of Noe are come because the dayes of Lot are come because the dayes of the Sonne of man are at hande wee are weerie of the meate that endureth vnto euerlasting life and doe labour for the meate whiche perisheth to serue the bellie the fleshe sinne the worlde and all is to serue the Diuell For as it was in the dayes of Noah so shall it bee in the dayes of the sonne of man they ate they dranke they maried and gaue in mariage vnto the day that Noah went into the Arke and the flood came and drowned them all lyke as it was in the dayes of Lot they ate they drank they bought they solde they plāted they builte they married but in the day that Lot wēt out of Sodom the lord rayned fire brimstone from heauen consumed them all There was neuer more eating and drinking I meane neuer more surfetting and drunkennesse neuer more buying and selling I say neuer more deceyt in buying and selling neuer more planting I might truely say neuer more supplanting one of another neuer more marying I woulde to God I might not iustly say neuer more whoring to conclude neuer more building I meane not building of Colledges of almes houses of schooles there was neuer lesse I pray you mistake me not I say neuer more building of priuate houses which wee thinke shall continue for eeuer and call our houses and our landes after our owne names So that wee may iustly bewayle the madnesse and miserie of this age as Chrysostome did the folly and fondnesse of his tyme. Si secularibus abstinere iubemur quae miseria quae amentia est ea a domino postulare quae habita abiicienda desiderare in quibus nullam omnino curam adhibendam praecipit That is if wee are commanded to abstayne from worldly thinges what a misery what a madnesse is it to begge those thinges at the Lordes hands which when we haue wee must cast away and to desire those things wherein the Lord commaundeth vs to put no care at all Wherefore seeing it may well be sayde of vs Englishmen as Paule sayde of the Cretians euil beastes slowe bellyes and seeing I may now truly speake with Paule many walke of whome I haue told you often and nowe tell you weeping that they are enemies to the crosse of Christ whose ende is dānation whose God is their belly whose glory is to their shame whiche minde earthly thinges and seeing vppon good occasion I may exhorte you with Paule nowe I beseeche you brethren marke them diligently whiche make diuision offēces cōtrary to the doctrine which you haue learned and auoyde them for they that are such serue not the Lord Iesus but their owne bellies with fayre speech flattering deceiue the hearts of the people this doctrine is as needfull necessary nowe as it was in the time of our Sauiour Christ when he thus taught the people Labour not c. Not onely to disswade you frō laboring for the meate which perisheth but to perswade you to labour for that meat which doth endure vnto euerlasting life The which wordes conteine in them first a disswasion a dehortation a proposition negatiue Secondly a perswasion an exhortation or conclusion positiue Whervnto is annexed first a reason taken from the person that geueth the certainty of the thing geuen which the Sonne of man shal giue vnto you Secondly a confirmation drawen from the office and function of our Messias and Sauiour For him hath the Father sealed that is appoynted and consecrated him to geue life vnto all thē that labour for this meate IT had been sufficient for our Sauiour onely to haue vsed the exhortation labour for c had he not perceiued them as we nowe see the worlde to hunt labour for bellie cheere as dogges doe for carion swine for draugh horses for prouender too bee wrapped and tyed in these earthly thinges as the men of this age are like the fishe in the hooke the bird in the net the conie in the hay therfore he beginneth with the dehortation Labour not c. And bicause a litle before mention was made of meat he speaketh figuratiuely vsing the Metaphore of meate whereas hee might plainely haue saide care not for the bodie to fulfill the lustes of it but care
o heauēs harken o earth saith the Lord the oxe knoweth his owner the Asse his Miasters cribbe but my people doth not know me again the stork in the ayre doeth knowe her appointed times the tutele the crane the swallow obserue the time of their comming but my people knoweth not the iudgement of the Lord. But why doth the oxe know his owner the Asse his maisters cribb why doe the storke the turtle the crane the swallowe obserue the time of their comming is it not for meate for their bodies and for their liues shoulde they labour for their liues not we for ours For well saide Tullie to Caesar Non est haec tua vita dicenda quae corpore spiritu continetur illa inquam illa est vita tua Caesar quae vigebit memoria saeculornm omnium c. This is not to be called thy life which doth consist of bodie and soule that I say that O Caesar is thy life which shal endure thorow out all ages c. And well saide Africanus to Scipio Nou tu is es quem fama ista declarat sed mens cuiusque is est quisque non ea figura quae digito demonstrari potest Thou art not he Scipio whom this form and proportion of bodie doth shew thee to be and eche mans minde is the man not that figure and shape of bodie which may bee demonstrated and poynted at with the finger We then in labouring for this corruptible meate doe neither labour to mainteine our liues nor yet too susteine our selues For this is not our life wee are not they whom these shapes and formes of our doe shew vs to be Our soules are our selues our selues are our soules let vs then labour for our selues that is for our soules As the Lord did carie the Iewes so doeth hee offer too carie vs vppon Eagles winges what whereas the deade carcase is we like young Eagles may resort but wee will not bee carried As Christ did clocke for the Iewes so he doth for vs to come vnder his wings but wee will not come We are like Esops cocke who estemed more of one barley corne thē of al the precious stones in the world The heauens doe declare the glory of God the firmamēt sheweth his handy worke the Elemēts obserue their order the sun doth reioyce to run his course onely the foundations of mans hearte are out of course only man doth disobey gods wil. The sun once abode in the mids of heauen for the space of a whole day but it was at the prayer of Ioshua the sunne once went backe tenne degrees but it was at the request of Ezechias but flesh and blood doth stil stand in the way of sinners still walke in the counsell of the vngodly sit stil in the chayre of pestilence and still goe backe from the streight way streight path of the Lord. if this foode were cleane taken from vs and were not to be found as it hath byn wee might then seeme to haue some reason to labour for the other meate For as Hanum king of Ammon tooke Dauids seruāts shaued their beards halfe of cut of their garments by the halfe so those shauers and shauelinges those barbours and Barbarians of Rome tooke away half the Lords Supper from the people they might haue no drink And took the woorde of God from them they had not their meate But now as Mary sate in her owne house quietly hearde Iesus preach as in the dayes of Solomon euery man vnder his figge tree vnder his vine tree heard the lawe peaceably euen from Dan to Beersheba so nowe euery man in his owne house may reade with quietnesse and euery one vnder his figge tree and vine tree with cheerefulnes and ioyfulnes may heare the glorious gospel of Iesus Christ euen from the mount to Barwicke from Douer to S. Dauies the Lord be thanked for it the Lorde continue it the Lord grant we be not vnthākfull that we may labour for this meate which endureth vnto euerlasting life But that my speech may more edifie that it may be mighty in operation that it may pearce and enter thorow euen to the deuiding asunder of the soules and spirites of your ioynts marrow that you may be pricked at the hearte in hearing this my sermon as the Iewes were at Peters sermon when they cried Alas men and brethren what shall we doe as Iosiah was hearing the lawe read by Shaphan when ye tare his clothes As the King of Niniuie was when he hearde the woord by Ionas as Eglon king of Moab whē he heard the word by Ehud who rose vp from their thrones cast of their Kingly robes that my talke may so be powdred with salt that it may giue sauour vnto al to conclude that my sermon may be like that precious oyntmēt which was on Arons head ranne downe on his beard to the very lower skirts of his clothing That it may touch head foote king subiect hie lowe rich poore young old bond and free man and woman Let vs first see what this meat is secondly why we should not labour for it thirdly let vs examine our selues and this our age whether wee labour for this meate or no. By meate is meant not onely food for the belly which the erth bringeth forth as greene hearbe for the seruice of men wine to make glad the heart of man oile to make him a cheerefull countenance bread to strengthen mans heart not onely cloth for the back furniture for bedding which by Gods appoyntment we receiue of dumbe creatures as wooll of sheep lether of oxen fethers of foules silk of wormes but also honour promotion fauour dignitie woorship countenance iolity pride ambition auarice riches surfetting drunkennesse and whatsoeuer else is carnall whatsoeuer is fleshly whatsoeuer is worldly whatsoeuer is tēporal whatsoeuer is not eternal is called meat which perisheth The which Epithetan is added both as a reasō to with draw vs from labouring for this meate because it doth perishe and also to declare a difference betweene the bodie the soule the meates of them both Lyra maketh this difference Cibus corporalis perit non spiritualis Si enim cibus corporalis maneat in propria forma non nutrit sed nocet cerpori sedsi nutriat oportet quod a propria natura pereat conuertatur in membra econuerso cibus spiritualis manet Conuertit in seipsum sumentem That is the meate of the bodie doth perish but not the meate of the soule for if the meate of the body should abide in it proper forme it could not nourish but hurte the bodie but if it nourisheth it must loose it proper nature and bee turned into the partes and members of him that taketh it whereas contrariwise the meate of the soule doeth abide in it owne nature and turneth
at the time of our banquetting the diuel is more busy with vs hath eftsones more power ouer vs at a diner did the diuel moue Herode to behed Iohn Baptist at a supper did Satan perswade Iudas to betray his maister But what sayth Paul to vs of these things these things are our examples to the intēt we should not lust after euil things as they lusted al these things came vnto thē for exāples ar writtē to admonish vs vpō whō the ends of the world are fallē But haue we had no exāples of late whō did the Lord smite down in that terrible plague in Oxford not mockers of Gods seruantes as were the Philistines not Idolaters and murmurers as were the Iewes but the most religious zealous the godliest the strongest the best learned amongst vs iudges sherif knight esquier iustice gētleman scholler for zeale for godlines learning I may truly say for the most of them as Dauid said of Israel the Lord smot down the chosen men that were in Oxford But when was this done euen whē the meat was in our mouths at our acte and proceeding a time of mirth of feasting bāquetting I meane not that scholers made the feasts but their frends then assembled I come a litle nearer to your remembrāce was there not a great feaste and a greate assemblie in this Citie not of Herode and his courtiours but of many right noble personages when the Lord of late shooke not London not Englande onely but the most part of Europe with a terrible earthquake the earth at that time did shake and we for a time did quake the Lord shake the heartes of al englishmen What shall I say of these they are no doubt examples for vs that in the middest of our feasting we set not our minds on our bellies but remember our God think on that meate which endureth vnto euerlasting life If we so doe thē shal we come to the marriage of the greate kinges sonne the Lord graunt wee may leaue our farmes forsake our oxen and not suffer our wiues to make vs say I can not come Then shall we be partakers of that feast with the prodigall sonne the Lorde turne vs home from feeding of swine and in hearte to cry for our sinnes father I haue sinned agaynst heauen and against thee I am no more worthy to be called thy sonne Then shall we enter with the .5 wise virgines into the bridegromes chāber the Lord graunt that we haue lāps that our lāps may haue oyle and that our oyle may burne Man beefore his fall might onely eate of the fruit of trees as Tertullian noteth afterwarde the vse of corne was lawefull for him conditionem consciencie ipso situ corporis approbante the bodie allowing the state and condition of the consience For mans concience being right and vpright he looked vp towarde heauen and pluck the fruite of trees but when the conscience of man was by sinne cast downe man turned his eyes toward the ground and made the graine of corne to bee his meate and so after the floode not onely fruite not onely corne but fleshe was also lawfull The Lorde did alwayes prouide according to the times and seasons and ages of mankind sufficient and conuenient foode Nay beholde the Lorde feedeth the young rauens that call on him the foules of the heauen sowe not reape not nor gather into ther barnes yet they are fed and by our heauenly father they are fedde The Lillies of the fielde labour not spinne not yet Solomon in all his royaltie was not clothed like one of them Thus then will I reason hath God care for beastes too feede them and for flowers too cloth them and will he not much more feede and cloth vs are they fedd and clothed without sowing without reaping without carying without spinning and labouring and shall not wee bee clothed and fed if wee sowe reape cary spinne and labour Will God care for my rayment then much more for my body will he care for my bodie then muche more for my life For the life is more woorth then meate and the bodie more woorth then rayment I will then care neither for cloth nor foode nor bodie nor life but I will first seeke the kingdom of God and the righteousnes thereof and then I am fully assured that all these thinges shalbe ministred vnto me thou shalt not saith the law mussel the mouth of the Oxe that treadeth out the corne And again if thou wilt finde a birds nest the dam sitting theron thou shalt not take the dam with the yong Doth God take care for oxen is God so mercifull to birdes will he not take more care for vs will he not be more merciful vnto vs. In the Cedars of Libanus saith the Prophet the byrdes make their nestes and the Fir trees are a dwelling for the Storcke the hie hils are a refuge for the wilde Goates and so are the stony rocks for the conies the Lyons roring after their pray doe seeke their meat at God In the Sea are thinges creeping innumerable both smal and great beastes there goe the shippes and there is that Leuiathan whom thou hast made to take his pastime therein These waite all vppon thee that thou maist giue them meat in due season Let not vs therefore labour for this meate let vs with prayer seeke our meat at God let vs waite vpon him and he will giue vs meate in due season For our God which layeth the beames of his chamber in the waters which maketh the cloudes his chariot and walketh vpon the winges of the winde is so mercifull that he suffereth his rayne to fall vpon bad and good his sunne to shine vpon iust and vniust For it is hee that appoynteth the Moone for certain seasons and by him the sunne knoweth his going downe Hee couereth the heauen with clowdes he prepareth rain for the earth he maketh the grasse to grow vpon the mountaines and greene hearb for the seruice of men He doth cōmand the clowdes aboue and open the dores of heauen Hee doeth send the first and latter raine his clowdes droppe fatnes hee onely maketh the vallies so full of corne that they laugh and sing If wee aske bread of our earthly father will he giue vs a stone if we aske fish will hee giue vs a serpent if we aske an egge wil he giue vs a Scorpion Much more will our heauēly father giue good things vnto vs if we labour for the meate that endureth vnto euerlasting life Chrisostom woondreth that men will presume so much to begge corruptible meate at Gods handes seeing that among seauen petitions in the Lordes prayer sixe are for the spirit and soule and but one and not that altogether for the bodie For the first three hallowed bee thy name thy kingdome come thy will be done are for the spirit and soule the three last forgiue vs our
in England but the vniuersities and other places are full of them yet must wee labour for this meate Although the Midwiues neede not feare the kinge of Aegypt to hide Moses three monethes and afterwarde to cast him out Rahab need not to feare the king of Ierico to hyde the spies vnder stalkes of flaxe and let them downe at her window Michael need not feare her father Saule to let her husband Dauid downe at a windowe and to lay an Image in his bead Obadiah need not feare Queene Iezabell to hide a hundred Prophets in a caue The Disciples need not feare the hye Priestes to let downe Paule thorowe the wall by a rope in a basket Moses need not feare Pharao and saye I haue a stutting tongue Ieremy need not feare the Iewes and saye I am a childe Ionas need not feare the King of Niniuie and so for to runne away both from him from the Lord but all the Ministers of the Lorde are mainteined and preserued may vtter the message of their master boldly with out feare and freely without daunger yet wee must labour for this meate although the Lorde hath broken the bowe and knapped the speare in sunder broken our swordes into mattocks and our speares into sithes blessed vs with the crowne of peace and crowned vs with mercie and louing kindnes yet must wee labour for this meate if it were a time of derth of scarcitie of penurie thē we might haue some pretence to labour for belly meate as Iacob did send into Aegypt for corne as Dauid did send to Naball for victuall then we might seeme to haue some coulour of cause to doubt and to be ouer carefull as Moses was when he sayde shall the sheepe thebeeues be slaine for them or shal al the fishe of the sea bee gathered for them and suffise them as King Iehorams seruaunte who mocked the Prophet prophecying the plentie of corne to bee the next day and sayde though the Lorde woulde make windowes in the heauen could this come to passe As Saint Andrew who sayde there is a little boy heere which hath fiue barly loaues and two fishes but what are they amongst so many If I say we were brought into such extremitie as they were fleshe and bloud woulde be ready to doubt But seeing God hath blessed the fruite of our cattell the increase of our kine the flockes of our sheepe our basket our dough seeing al his blessings are come vpon vs and ouertaken vs as hee promysed to them that feare him why should wee labour to fulfill the lustes of the fleshe and take no care to prouide victuall for our soules I pray God those things be not the fall of England which were the vtter ruine of Sodome They were iiii sinnes pride pride aboundeth in England fulnesse of bread gluttony triumpheth in England idlenesse idlenesse is succoured in Englande contempt of the poore beholde this sin hath as a Queene gottē the vpper hand in England Aboue all other vices The way to heauen is a narrow way the gate is a straight gate then wee must striue and labour to enter in The kingdome of heauē is a treasure hid in the ground it is a pearle of great price in a far country then must we take our spade dig then must we enter into ship and passe ouer the seas We are in the Lords Vinyarde not they that sleepe and are idle shall haue their penny at night but they that worke and labour Thou art promised to haue but thou must aske and haue thou shalt finde but thou must seeke and finde it shalbe opened vnto thee but thou must first knocke and then it shalbe opened Knocke like the womā of Canaan who continued knocking although shee was three times repelled and the gate of mercie was shut against her not that she should not enter in but that with more earnestnes desire and vehemencie shee myght knocke and euen prye thorowe the chinkes of the gate so must wee labour by prayer for our meate and though we haue not our petitions at the first second and third knocking yet we must knocke as Peter continued knocking at the dore before hee coulde come in Labour to see Christ as Zacheus who being a man of worship in the middes of a citie did climb vpon a wild Fig tree like a boy to see Christ because he was a man of lowe statute and coulde not see Christ for the prease Let vs labour by fayth as did the sick of the palsey to come to Christ who seeing hee could not goe in at the dore for the multitude was let down thorow the roof of the house which they vncouered Let vs labor by faith to touch the very hem of Christes garment as did the woman who had an issue of blood twelue yeares and had spente all her money on Phisitians If wee thus labour saluation wil come into Zacheus house the dropsie shall bee cured the issue of blood shalbe stopped Remember what a iorny the queen of Saba tooke to come to heare the wisedome of Solomon Remember the trauell of the Eunuche of Ethiopia Candaces the Queene of the Ethiopians chiefe gouernour who had the rule of al her treasure and came to Hierusalem to worship Remember the long iourney of the wisemē who came from the farthest parte of the East to see Christ The Iewes went vp euery yeere to Hierusalem the Papistes trauaile farre and wide on Pilgrimage to see reliques dead mens bones monuments images monasteries and such like trumperie and they thinke theyr labour well bestowed All these shall ryse when the trumpet shall sound and shalbe able to condemne vs if we will take no paines suffer no labour moue scarse a foote to heare the word of God to receiue the euerlasting Nectar and the heauenly Ambrosia to refresh to nourish to cherish yea to preserue our soules vnto euerlasting life But what is meate in this place whatsoeuer pertaineth to the renuing and amendment of this life or to The chiefest part wherof is that which is hid from the wise and mightie of the worlde that which is receiued of the poore and simple that which is the power of God vnto saluation to euery one that beleeueth the glorious Gospel of Iesus Christ and because meat doth not nourish a dead carcasse we must labour for fayth the life of the soule and because this meate cannot bee digested in our soules without the effectuall operation of Gods spirit we must thirdly labour for the holy Ghost who is promised to be giuen to all them that in a right and true prayer shall aske for him of the Father in the name of the sonne although hee descend not like a doue as vpon our Sauiour nor in the forme of clouen and fierie tongues as vpon the Apostles He is now to be sent not to be seen of our bodily eies but into our
it doth no good vnlesse we haue life and the iust shall liue by fayth It is very necessarie that we labour for fayth whereby we may perfectly be nourished and well fedde with this meate there is nothing that the deuill desireth more then to haue fayth out of our heartes therefore hee planted vnbeliefe in the heartes of Adam and Eue for vnbeliefe they were thruste out of paradise vnbeliefe in the heartes of Moses and Aaron for vnbeliefe they neuer came into the lande of promise vnbeliefe in the heart of Zacharie for vnbeliefe hee was dumbe vntill the thing came to passe whereof hee doubted Faith is the euidence of thinges whiche are not seene vnto faith did Christ call Mary when he saide to her touche me not for I am not yet ascended to my father Cum iam ascenderit saith Barnard tum tangi ab ea velit aut possit vtique poterit sed affectu non manu voto non ocu lo fide non sensibus woulde he or could he be touched of her when hee was ascended truely he coulde but with the hearte not with the hande with prayer not with the eie with faith not with sēses By faith we see him as the wise men we imbrace him as Simeon we heare him as Mary we touche him as Thomas Faith is the shield whereby we quenche all the fierie darts of the wicked by faith our hartes are purified by faith we resist the deuill by faith we are the children of Abraham by faith we shall not come to condemnation but shal passe from death to life no vertue by Christ so much cōmended as faith be it vnto thee according to thy faith thy faith hath made thee whole I haue not founde so great faith no not in Israell O woman great is thy faith be it vnto thee euē as thou wilt to faith nothing is vnpossible Whatsoeuer is without faith is sinne and without faith it is vnpossible to please GOD on the contrary parte nothing doeth more greeue the Maiestie of Almightie Iehoua then incredulitie and vnbeliefe all the day long I haue stretched out my hande to an vnbelieuing people O thou of litle faith why dost thou doubt to them that went to Emaus hee saide O fooles and slowe of heart to beleeue Againe O generation incredulous how long shall I bee with you how long shal I suffer you in his owne countrie hee coulde not do many myracles for their vnbeliefe the Iewes entred not into his rest Why for vnbeliefe let vs therfore crie with the Apostles Lorde increase our faith and as the father of the sicke childe cried with teares Lord I beleeue helpe my vnbeliefe Now because faith is not reuealed vnto vs by fleshe and blood but by the holy ghost let vs labour for him also that this meat by faith may worke effectually in vs let vs vtter vnto the Lorde strong cryings and deepe sighings for his spirite that our prayer may bee in his sight as the incence and the lifting vp of our handes an euening sacrifice For hee is the spirite of trueth the Maister and Teacher of the faithfull the shewer of thinges to come the witnesse of Christ the distributer of all giftes the spirite of adoption the pleadge of our inheritance hee beareth vs witnesse that we are the children of God hee helpeth our infirmities and maketh petition for vs. No man saith that Iesus is the Lorde but by the holy Ghost did not the Diuelles saith Chrisostome name Christe Somtime they named Christ saith he for feare not for loue and somtime that the people might giue eare to them take them for professours of the gospel so they might bring the people through a colour of christianity into manifolde heresies but of sinceritie heartie good will they neuer named him So then no man can name Christ louingly sincerely but by the holy Ghoste we haue not receiued the spirite of bondage to feare againe but the spirite of Adoption wherby we crie abba father Wherefore this is the end of my exhortation that you labour for all these three meate faith the spirit by heartie and earnest praier I meane not to crie all day long as Baals Priestes did O Baall heare vs O Baal heare vs. Nor as the Ephesians cried for the space of two houres great is Diana of the Ephesians But in hearte feruently and strongly as Moses Phinehes Manasses Ionas our Sauiour Iesus Though our praiers be short as was the prayer of the poore publicane God be mercifull to me a sinner of the prodigall sonne father I haue sinned against heauen and against thee am no more worthie to bee called thy sonne Of Steeuen Lord Iesu receiue my soule Of our Sauiour Christe Father into thy handes I commit my spirite nay though wee vtter neuer a worde the Lord will heare vs Moses spake neuer a woorde when GOD saide vnto him why doest thou cry vnto me Moses Anna spake neuer a word when God heard her prayer she only moued her lippes and Ely the Prieste saide she was dumbe If we thus labour for the spirite we shal obteine him and then our faith shall be fruitefull thē the meate in vs shalbe effectuall The word norisheth faith reuiueth the holy ghost quickeneth the word saueth faith iustifieth the holy Ghost sanctifieth the worde bringeth vs to heauen faith openeth the dore the holy Ghoste placeth vs among the holy Angels to haue euerlasting life which the sonne of man shal giue vnto vs. And this is the reason added to the exhortation being drawne from the person that giueth and the certaintie of the thing giuen Hee which is called the word of God the image of God the power and wisdome of God the Creator of all thinges the searcher of the heart the prince of life the Lord of glory the prince of saluation the prince of faith the brightnesse of the glory and the ingraued fourme of gods person the sonne of God doeth heere call himself the sonne of man he whom Peter confessed to be the sonne of God hee whom the Angell named Iesus hee of whom God the father witnessed this is my beloued sonn in whom I delight heare him hee when the very Diuelles could not choose but confesse him to bee the sonne of God doeth heere call himselfe the sonne of man Hee calleth himselfe the sonne of man first to testifie that he tooke a very true and substantiall nature of man both body soule vpon him fleshe of our fleshe bone of our bone Verbum caro factum est the worde was made fleshe heere some woulde proue that hee was not perfect man because the worde was made flesh that signifieth only the body but these men know not that flesh in the scripture sometime signifieth the one part of mā as when Christ saide
him that taketh it into it selfe according to that saying of Augustine speaking as it were in the person of this meate Non me mutabis in te sed tu mutaheris in me Thou shalte not chaunge mee into thee but thou shalte bee chaunged intoo mee and another difference the same Lyra maketh in this sort Panis vitae non solum vitam conseruat sed etiam dat ipsam de no uo panis corporalis vitam corporalem preexistentem tantummodo conseruat The bread of life doeth not onely preserue life but geueth life anew but the meate of the bodie onely preserueth the life which is in the bodie and let these serue for two reasons to proue my secōd part That we ought not to labour for meate which doth perish wherevnto nowe I come In the beginning the Lorde God tooke the man put him into the garden of Eden that he might keepe it and dresse it wherevpon as Peter Lombard noteth that man was made out of Paradise and afterwarde put into it both to signifie that he should not long continue there and also that Paradise was assigned vnto him by grace and not by nature so haue we to learne that God doeth so detest and abhorre idlenesse that though then there was no neede of labour yet hee woulde haue Adam there not onely a keeper but a dresser of the garden For although at the first God made euery plant of the fielde before it was in the earth and euery herbe of the fielde it grewe for the Lord had not caused it to rayne vppon the earth neyther was there a man founde to till the grounde yet afterward God would haue the man to keepe labour dresse and trimme the garden not in the sweate of his face not in paine not in sorrowe but in mirth ioy pleasure and peace Where ydle liuers loytring vacabundes wilde rogues begging Friers loose libertines carnall Anabaptistes snatchers from other mens trenchers they that liue in no vocation no arte no trade no science cannot make this a shroude for their sinne or a cloake for their knauerie saying we are heare forbidden to labour for this sentence of God pronounced against man in the sweate of thy face thou shalt eate thy breade was not onely a curse but a commaundement That euery man should labour in some vocation that as Paule sayth he that woulde not woorke might not eate For wee heare sayth he that there are some which walke among you inordinately and woorke not at all but are busie bodies therefore them that are such wee warne and exhort by our Lorde Iesus Christ that they woorke with quietnes and eate their owne breade For this commandement giuen to the Iewes from God by Moses there shal be no begger among you was a commaundement not only to moue thē to pitie to mercy to liberalitie but also to take away roote out al loyterers al shifters al vagabunds all busie bodies all that liue in no vocation from the common wealth of Israel The slouthfull will not plow because of winter sayth Solomon therefore shall he begge in sommer but haue nothing But you will say I will neyther plow nor begge I will shift with the vniust steward whom Christ commended and say dig I cannot and to begge I am ashamed The breade of deceite sayth Solomon is sweete to a man but afterwarde his mouth shalbe filled with grauell Wherfore we are not heere simplie forbidden to labour but this is forbidden both to labour too carefully as the heathen doe or to labour for the meate of the bodie and care not for the meate of the soule as the Athistes doe which saye in their heartes there is no God The Lord God knowing the nature of man aboue al other vices would be prone to gluttonie and belly cheere did first before al other commandemēt consecrate proclaime an iniunctiō of tēperancy fasting thou shalt not eate of the tree of knowledge of good euil The breach of the which commaundement did iustly and differently not onely thrust Adam and Euah out of Paradise but caused the Cherubins to be heat and the blade of a sword shaken to keepe the way of the tree of life for euer to keepe vs from it had not he which hath the keyes of the bottōles who openeth no man shutteth shutteth no man openeth he who deuided the red sea that we might escape frō the Egyptiās he who deuided the rock that might haue water in the wildernesse hee who duided Iordā that we might pas in to the land of promise he who deuided the earth that we might rise againe he who diuided the cloudes and the heauens with his bodye that wee might might followe after him he who onely giueth to eate of the tree of life had not he I say taken away the Cherubins and remooued the blade of a swoorde too make vs a plaine direct open and safe way to enter againe into Paradise and to taste of the fruite of the tree of life But what caused Euah to eate of it that which doeth cause vs all too labour for that meate which perisheth Nitimur in vetitum We must desire that which we are forbidden to doe it was a fruite too get knowledge a proude mynde a fruite pleasant to looke on a wanton eye a fruite good for meate a lickerishe tooth of the woman But that we may the better vnderstande howe God is grieued when men labour for this belley meate let vs call to remenbrance the times of olde and thinke vppon the daies of late how the Lord hath executed his terrible iudgementes and horrible vengeence how he hath abundantly poured out of the violl of his wrath whē men haue bin in the middest of their mirth of their feasting and banquetting The people sate downe to eate and drinke and rose vp againe to play let me alone sayth the Lorde to Moses that my wrath may wax hote against them for I will consume them And although God hearde the prayer of Moses yet Moses slewe of those belly Gods 3000. men agayne the people lusted for meate saying who shall giue vs fleshe to eate wee remember the fishe that we had in Egypt for naught the cucumbers the pepons the leekes the onyons and garlike But nowe our soule is dried away wee can see nothing but this Manna as now sayth the Papists where is our plentie of victuall our feasting our singing our ringing our pyping our dauncing we see nothing but the bare Testament nothing but this manna sayde the Iewes nothing but this Gospell saye the Papistes beholde while the fleshe was betweene their teeth before it was chewed the wrath of the Lorde was kindled there was an exceeding plague among them that the place was called Kibroth Hattanah the graues of lust When fel downe the house vppon the Lordes of the Philistines at a banquette When fell downe the house vpon Iobs children at a feast Yea