¶ The Gouernaunce of Uertue teaching all faythful christiaÌ„s how they oughte daily to leade their lyfe fruitfully to spend their time vnto the glorye of God the health of their owne soules Newlye corrected augmeÌ„ted by Thomas Becon 1566 ¶ Imprinted at London by Iohn Day ⧠CVM PRIVILEGIO Regie Maiestatis THOMAS BECONVS SACROSAÌ„CTAE THEOLOGIAE PROFESSOR AETATIS SVAE 41 AN o. DNÌ„I 1553. Ora expressa vides viuos immitantia vultus Quod potuit calamo pictor arte vides Mentis quam Nullus potuit tibi redere pictor Effigiem scriptis prebuit ipse suis To the Godly Reader GRace groweth after gouernaunce Is an olde saide saw in eche place If gouernaunce hath good resemblance Grace delighteth to folow the trace Grace glorieth in godly gouernance Grace hasteth â—…o her haule and palace Grace doth godly gouernaunce auaunce And cause it to excel in eche place Where gouernaunce is godly wise Sage Sober Honest and Prudent There doth grace gloriously deuise To haue her seate aye permanent But if gouernaunce be wicked Idle wanton vndiscrete and vaine Grace whiche is godly disposed With such gouernaunce can not remaine This boke shall thee instruct therfore Thy life vertuously to leave That grace with thee may euermore Remaine as Gods moste blessed seede To fight against Sathan and sinnes To represse errours and heresies To pray to God his grace to winne In this boke to learne thou maiest deuise Take thou it therfore in good part As a ioyful Iewel for thy welth And geue God thankes withall thy hart Which by his worde worketh thy helth As for my trauaile and paine I craue none other recompence But thy life vertuously to traine That thou maiest enioy gods presence â–ª FINIS 3. Regum 1. If a man be vertuous ther shal not an heare of his fal to the ground But if wickednesse shal be found in him he shall dye for it Tobi. 4. Loue vertue all the dayes of thy life and walk not in the wayes of wickednes For while thou studiest for vertues thou shalt haue good successe in al thinges that thou goest about and so shall all they that loue goodnesse A Table to fynde the principall matters contayned in this booke AN exhortacion to the Reader The Epistle dedicatory How a man should be haue himself in the morning when he riseth A prayer in the morning A confession of our sinnes vnto God the father How thou shouldst behaue thy selfe before thou go to dinner A prayer before dinner Of the behauiour at the Table in dinner time A thankes geuinge after dinner What is to be done after dinner Of Supper A prayer before Supper Of the behauiour at the table in supper time A thankes geuing after supper Of going to bed A prayer to be sayd when we goe to bed A prayer to be sayd â–ª when thou art in bed Remedies against all kindes of temptacions Against Idolatry Against infidelity or misbeliefe Against the heresy of such as deny Iesus Christâ—… to be god Against the heresy of them which holde that Iesus Christe the sonne of God tooke no fleshe of Mary his Mother Againste the grosse and fantasticall opinion of the Papistes which affirm that Christes naturall body and bloud is carnally eaten and dronken in the Lords supper Against the plucking away of thy trust and confidence from Christ and his merites to put in the merites of other creatures or in thine own good workes or in the intercession of Saintes or in sacrifice of the popish Masse Against such as go about to diswadâ—… the christian people from the studiing reading or hearinge of Goddes woorde Against strange religion or newe found woorshipping of God Against mens traditions and vnwritten verities Against the folowing of vngodly forefathers Against the wicked olde customes longe vsages Againste suche as slaunder Christes gospell by cal linge it newe learninge Against pensiuenes and thought taking for the life Against hunger pouerty or carefulnes of liuing Against keping of euill company Against idlenes Against swearing Against lying slaundering â–ª and filthy or vncleane talke Against pride or vayneglory Against feasting glotony and dronkennes Against fornication and adultery Against couetousnes Against rebellion and disobedience Against malice grudge enuy hatred and anger Against the temptation of the faythfull in consideringe their owne miserye and contrarywise the wealth of the wicked Against the most horrible and dampnable sinne the sinne against the holy Ghost Against the despising of gods word and of the plagues that folow the same Against carnall security and fleshly liuing without the feare of God Against the flacknes of doing good workes Against the troublous tempestes of sicknes of losse of goods or any other kind of aduersity Against the temptation of the Deuill for noâ—…t satis fieng the lawe of God and for thy sinfull liuing â–ª Against desperation for thy late conuersion and tur ning vnto God Against sinne death and helâ—… To the right honorable and moste vertuous young Lady Iane Semer daughter to the highe and mightie Prince Edward Duke of Somerset his grace Thomas Becon wisheth increase of godlye knowledge in Christe Iesu our Lord. THere are no Parents most godlye Ladye that deserue better of the Christen publique weale then they whiche thorow gods gift hauing Children employ all their endeuours to traine them vp euen from theire verye cradels in good letters in the knowledge of gods moste blessed wil that with their young yeres learning vertue and godlines may grow and encrease and the younglinges by this meanes be made at the last auncient and perfect schollers in the mistery of Christes schole This careful study and studyous care for the vertuous bringing vp of youth god in time paste earnestlye required of all Fathers and Mothers in the common weale of hys people the Israelites and according to gods holy commaundement suche as vnfainedlye feared the Lorde their God and wished wel to their countrey refused no laboure no paine nor cost that their children might be made profitable members of the publique weale As I may pas ouer the auncient and holye Patriarches whiche were before the law of Moyses of whose diligeÌ„ce in the vertuous bringing vp of their yonglinges it is more than double wickednesse to doubt seing we haue this euident testimony of Abraham euen of gods own mouth Shall I hide froÌ„ Abraham saith god that thinge which I entend to do Seing that Araham shal be a great and a mighâ—…ye people and all the nations of the earth shal be blessed in him I know this also that he wil commaund his Children and his housholde after him that they keepe the way of the Lorde and do after righte and conscience What earnest diligence did the moste noble and vertuous King Dauid shew in the godly bringing vp of his Children speciallye of Salomon that he might become a Prince worthye both for his godlynes learning wisedome and pollicye to rule in the common weale after him What godly
Apostlesayth do all thyngs vnto the glory of God Agayne let euery man looke not for his owne profite but for the profite of other Charitie seketh not her owne Of Supper ☞ When the tyme is come â–ª that thou shalte leaue of thy worke and prepare thy selfe vnto supper eueÌ„ with the same reuerence that thou camest vnto the table at dinner come agayne nowe but before thou doest taste any meate pray on this maner A prayer before Supper THe eyes of all thynges looke vnto thee O Lorde and thou geuest theÌ„ meate in due tyme thou openest thy hand and fillest euery liuyng creature with the blessing vouchesafe O heaueÌ„ ly father for Christes sake mercifully to loke vpon vs louingly to blesse vs liberally to geue vs grace so to taste of these thy creatures that our bodyes beyng satisfied with the moderate vse of them we may bee the more able to serue thee our Lord God and to profit our neighbour thorow Iesu Christ our Lord. Amen Of the behauiour at the table in Supper tyme. ☞ After thou hast thus prayed vnto GOD â–ª eate thy meate with a chearefull and thankefull mynde vsing the same modesty and honest behauiour that thou diddest vse at dinner And wheÌ„ thou hast supped geue thankes vnto god for his benefites on this wise A thankesgeuing after Supper FOr these thy benefites wherewith thou hast refreshed our hungry bodyes we thanke thee most merciful fa ther desiring thee that thou wilt also feede our soules with y â— lyuely faith in the bloud of thy sonne Iesu Christ our Lord that we beleuyng stedfastly and working diligently thy holy wil may obtayne thy glorious kyngdome thorowe the same Iesu Christ our Lorde Amen VVhat to be done after Supper ☞ When thou hast on this wise geue thaÌ„kes vnto God thou mayest do what thou wilt so it be godly and honest â–ª vntill thou goest to bed â–ª If thou canst rede rede thou thy selfe or els here some other rede parte of the holy scriptures that may be to the comfort of thy self and of so many as be with thee or passe the tyme by frendly and honest talke with some of thy loâ—…yng and trusty familiares or els debate with thy selfe how thou mayest most conueniently bryng that to passe that thou hast to doo the next day folowyng Of goyng to bed ☞ And wheÌ„ the time coÌ„meth that thou must go to bed thou beyng in thy chamber to cal remeÌ„brauÌ„ce how thou hast spent the day past If thou perceiuest that y u hast offeÌ„ded God in any thyng at all confesse thy fault vnto him with a repentaunt and sorowfull heart â–ª and desire hym of hys great mercye for Christes sake to forgeue thee and promise that vnto the vttermost of thy power hys grace woorkyng with thee thou wilt amende that wherin thou hast offended and walke more diligently in the rules of thy profession Cry with the Publicane O God be mercifull to me a sinner Cry with that lost sonne Father I haue synned against heauen and in thy sight and am no more worthy to be called thy sonne Pray with Dauid for thy names sake O Lorde for geue me my sinne for it is excedyng much Thus with a faythfull hart beleuyng that thy sinnes are for geuen thee content thy selfe and quiet thy conscience If thou perceyuest that thou hast that day committed no notable crime â–ª then geue to God right harty thankes whiche by his holy spirite hath wrought the same in thee and desire him to encrease his giftes in thee that hys glory may be shewed in all thy actes dedes This done prepare thy selfe to bedward and when thou art ready to lye down lift vp thou hart thy eyes and thy handes vnto heauen pray to God on this maner A prayer to be sayd when we go to bed I ThaÌ„ke thee O heauenly father by thy dearelye beloued Sonne Iesu Christ our Lord and Sauiour that of thy free mercy thou hast preserued me this day from all hurtes and dauÌ„gers Uouchesafe also I most humbly besech thee to kepe me this night and to saue me ftom all myne enemyes both bodely and ghostlye Gyue to my body quietnesse and fleepe but let my mind continually watche vnto thee thinke on thee and on thy holy law that wheÌ„ the cherefull light of y â— day shal spryng and appeare I being whole both in bo dy and mynde may ioyfull ryse again be thanckefull vnto thee and diligent ly walke in my vocation vnto the glo ry of thy blessed name and the commo ditie of my neighbour thorowe Iesus Christ thy sonne Amen ☞ When thou hast thus prayed lye down in thy bed and say on this maner The Prayer O Lorde God and my heauenly Father I commende my bodye and soule into thy handes that in Christe whiche is our life and resurrectioÌ„ thou mayest defende me from euerlastyng death and giue me that blessed and ioy full lyfe of immortalitie and that he which is the true light may poure out the brightenesse of hys grace into my hart preserne me both bodye soule vnto that day of the glorious resurrection where the faythfull with ioyfull harts shall see thee face to face and for euer reygne with thee in glory Amen ☞ Remedyes agaynst all kyndes of temptations Against Idolatry ☞ If that olde enemy Satan goeth about to persuade thee that there be â—…o gods then one resiste him with these Scriptures ☞ Sentences out of the olde Testament I am the Lord thy God Thou shalâ—… haue none other gods in my sight Understand and marke wel that the Lord he is God in heauen aboue and vpon the earth beneath neither is ther any other God besides him Here Israel the Lord our god is one Lord. Se howe that I yea that I am the Lord and that there is no god but I. Heare O my people I will charge thee O Israell that if thou wilt herâ—…en vnto me there shall no straunge god be in thee neither shalt thou worship any other god For I am the Lord thy God I am the lord there is none other I am the Lord there is els none It is I that created light and darknes I make peace and trouble yea euen I the Lord do all these thynges Am not I the Lord is there any god but I A god that is righteous such one as saueth ther is none besides me Turne vnto me all ye coastes of the worlde and ye shal be saued for I am God and there is els none Haue we not all one Father hath not one god made vs ☞ An example out of the old Testament AbrahaÌ„ saw three worshipped one ☞ Sentences out of the newe Testament Thou shalte worshyp the Lord thy god and him onely shalt thou serue We haue but one god whiche is the Father of whom are all thinges and â—…e in him and one Lord Iesus Christ by whom are al thinges we in him
of Abraham that is to say was made and became ve ry true and naturall man of the kinrede of Abra hā accordyng to Gods promise So that all that euer he had concerning his humanitie he had it of the blessed Uirgine which came of y ◠stocke of Abraham ☞ Agayne he saith in all things it became hym to be made lyke vnto hys bretherne Here saint Paule confesseth that Christ was made like vn to vs in all thynges which thyng by no meanes could be true yf he had not taken vpon him our nature and substaunce If he belyke vnto vs in all thynges sinne alone excepte so followeth it that he is of the same nature of the same fleshe and bloud that we are or els could not he be like vnto vs in all thynges And so should thys holy apostle and al other godly writers and teachers haue brought vs in errour But let god be true and all heretikes lyers ☞ Now haue we learned both truly and fullye of the holy scriptures which are infallible verities that Christ was cōceiued by the holy ghost and borne of the Uirgine Mary By the which worde of we beleue that he toke his humanity of her substaunce and had none other begynnyng as touching his humanity than in her and of her by the operation of the holy ghost so that we may truely conclude that as Christ is very God of God the father wythout a mother so is he very man of Mary his mother wythout any Father Therfore may hys God head be as iustly denied as hys manhode and flesh takyng of the blessed virgine Mary But Christ abydeth very god and very man whatsoeuer the wicked hiretikes hable Cursed therefore bee Cerdo Marcian and Manes which taught that christ appeared as man and yet had no parte of true manhoode in hym but onelye had a fantasticall bodye ☞ Cursed be Cerinthus which taught that Iesus was begotten of Ioseph and Mary after y ◠maner of other men and that Christ came down from aboue vnto Iesus ▪ Cursed bee the Ebionites the Theodosians the Antimonians and the Photinians which affirmed that Christe was borne of the virgine onely man not God Cursed be Appelles which taught that Christ had his body of the elements in the ayre Cursed be Ualentinus which sayd that Christ brought his body wyth him from heauen and tooke no fleshe of the Uirgine Mary but passed through her as water through the pype Cursed be hys Apes the Anabaptistes ▪ which in these our dais haue raysed vp that most detestable and horryble heresie Cursed and confounded be all they which wyth theyr hartes do not beleue wyth their mouthes vnfainedly confesse that Iesus Christ is both God and man to whom be glory for euer Amen Against the grosse and fantasticall opinion of the papistes which affirme that Christes naturall body and bloud is carnally eaten and dronken in the lordes supper IF the deuill or the pope or any of their impes go about with sophisticall reasons to persuade thee that Christ is naturall in the sacramentall bread and wyne or that the bread and wine is turned vnto the reall and naturall body bloud of Christ euen as he receaued it of the blessed Uirgine suffer not thy selfe to bee beguiled and mocked but valiauntly resiste them wyth these sentences and histories of Gods moste holye worde ☞ Sentences out of the olde Testament THe Lord is in his holye temple the Lordes seat is in heauen The Lord lord looked downe from heauen vpon the children of men to see if there were any that would vnderstād and seeke after god God is gone vp wyth a mery noyse and the Lorde wyth the sounde of the trompet God sitteth vpon his holy seate Thou art gone vpon hie O Christ thou hast led captiuitie captiue receiued giftes for men Syng vnto God O ye kingdomes of the earth O sing praises vnto the lord which sitteth in the heauens ouer all He looked downe from his sanctuarye euen out of heauen did the Lord behold the earth that he might heare the mourninges of such as be in captiuitie and deliuer the children appointed vnto death The Lord hath prepared hys seat in heauē and his kingdom ruleth ouer al. O Lord my god thou art become excedyng glorious thou art clothed wyth maiesty and honor thou deckest thy self with light as it were with a garment and spreadest oute the heauens lyke a curtayne Thou layest the beames of thy chambers in the waters makest the cloudes thy charets and walkest vpon the winges of the winde The Lorde sayd vnto my Lorde sit thou on my right hand vntill I make thyne enemies thy footestole The Lorde is hie aboue all heathen and his glory aboue the heauens Who is like vnto the lord our God that hath his dwellyng so hie and yet humbleth himselfe to behold the things that are in heauen and earth Wherefore shall the heathen saye where is now their god As for our god he is in heauen he hath done what so euer pleased hym Unto thee O Lord lift I vp my eies which dwellest in the heauens Whither shal I go from thy spirit or whether shal I flee from thy presēce If I clime vp into heauē thou art there c Wil god dwel on the earth Behold the heauens and heauens of all heauēs are not able to contayne thee And how should then this house do it that I haue builded The house which I build shal be great for great is our god aboue al gods But who is able to build hym an house whē that heauen and heauen aboue all heauens is not hable to receiue him God is hyer then heauen what arte thou able to do Deper then hell howe wilt thou then know hym His length excedeth the length of the earth and hys breadth the breadth of the sea Thus saith the Lord heauen is my seate and the earthe is my footestoole where shall now the house stand that ye will build vnto me And where shall be the place that I will dwell in Sentences out of the new Testament IF any man say vnto you Loe here is Christe or there is Christe beleue it not For there shall arise false annoynted and false teachers and shall shewe greate myracles and wonders in so muche that yf it were possible the verye electe should be deceaued Beholde I haue tolde you afore Wherfore if thei say vnto you behold he is in the desert goe not ye forth behold he is in y ◠secret places beleue it not For as the lightnyng commeth out of the east and appeareth into the West so shall the commyng of the sonne of man be Ye haue the power alwayes w t you but me shall ye not haue alwayes And when the Lord had spoken vnto them he was receiued into heauen and is set downe on the right hand of god It came to passe as Christ
his bloud manye of his Disciples vnderstandyng his wordes grosely as the papistes doo vnderstande the wordes of the Lordes Supper wente backe and forsoke him and walked no more with him Then said Iesus to y â— twelue will ye also goe away Then Simon Peter aunswered him Lord to whome shall we goe Thou haste the wordes of eternall lyfe and we beleue and are sure that thou art Christe the sonne of the liuyng god Iesus heard that the Iewes had excommunicate the blinde man whome he had made to see and when he had found him he said vnto him doest thou beleue on the sonne of god He answered and said who is it Lord y â— I myght beleue on him And Iesus sayde vnto him thou hast sene him and he it is y â— taketh with thee And he sayd lorde I beleue and he worshipped him Martha said vnto Christ I beleue y â— thou art Christ the sonne of god which should come into the world Iesus sayde to Thomas bring thy finger hether and see my handes and reach hither thy hand and thrust it into my side and be no more faithles but beleuing Thomas answered and said vnto him My Lord and my god Iesus said vnto hym Thomas because thou hast seene me thou hast beleued blessed are they that haue not sene and yet haue beleued The Enuche sayd vnto Phillip see here is water what doth let me to bee baptised Phillip said vnto him If thou beleue with all thine heart thou maiest And he aunswered and said I beleue y â— Iesus Christ is the sonne of god The restoryng of y â— blind to their sight the raysing vp of the dead vnto life the cleÌ„sing of the leapers the healyng of theÌ„ that were diseased with the palsey the restoring of men possessed with deuils vncleane spirites to their whole minde the makyng of the deafe to heare and the dumme to speake with the other mi racles that Christ wrought do euidently proue Christ to be the natural sonne of god yea and god himselfe Against the heresie of them vvhich hold that Iesus Christ the sonne of God toke no fleshe of Mary hys mother ☞ I feyther Sathan wyth hys subtle suggesti ons or anye of hys decetifull worke men wyth theyr crafty reasons and falsifiyng the holy scrip tures goe about to perswade thee that Iesus Christ the sonne of God tooke no fleshe of that blessed virgine Mary hys mother but brought hys body wyth hym from heauen enarme thy selâ—…e wyth these authorities of gods worde against theyr pestilent and damnable dartes Sentences out of the olde Testament I will set enmitie betwene thee and the woman betwene thy seede and her seede The verye selfe same seede shall treade downe thy head and thou shalte tread vpon his hele In thee all kynreds of the earth shal be blessed In thy seede shall all the nations of the earth be blessed The scepter shall not departe from Iuda and a lawe geuer from betwene his fete vntil Sâ—…lo come and vnto him shall the gathering of the people be He shall bynde his fole vnto the vine hys Asses colte vnto the braunche He washed his garment in wyne and his man till in the bloud of grapes His eyes are redder then wine and his teethe whiter then mylke There shall come a star of Iacob and raise a Scepter of Israel Out of Iacob shall he come that shall haue dominion I will raise them vp a Prophet from among their brethreb lyke vn to thee wil put my wordes in hys mouth he shal speake vnto them all that I shal coÌ„mauÌ„d him and whosoeuer wil not har ken vnto the wordes whiche hee shall speake in my name I wyll require it of hym I wil set vp thy sede after thee which shall be of thy sonnes and will stablish his kingdoÌ„ He shall build me an house and I will stablish his seate for euer I will bee his father and he shall bee my sonne and I wil not put away my mercy from him as I did from him y â— was before thee but I will set him in my house and in my kingdome for euer his seate shall be sure for euer I haue sworne once by my holines y â— I will not fayle Dauid Hys seede shall endure for euer and his seate also like as the sunne before me He shall stande for euer more as the moone and as the faithfull witnes in heauen The Lord hath made a faithful othe vnto Dauid and he shall not shrink froÌ„ it out of the fruite of thy body shal I set vpon thy seat Behold a Uirgine shall conceaue beare a sonne and shall call hys name Emanuell Unto vs a child shal be borne vnto vs a child shal be geuen vpoÌ„ his shoulder shall the kingdome lye he shall be called with his owne name the wonde rous geuer of councell the mighty god the euerlasting father y e prince of peacer he shall make no ende to encrease the kingdome and peace and shall sit vpon the seate of Dauid and in his kingdom to set vp the same to establish it with equitie and rightousnes from henceforth for euer more This shall the gelousy of the Lord of hostes bring to passe There shal come a rod forth of the kin dred of Iesse a blossoÌ„ out of his roote The spirit of the Lord shall light vppon it the spirite of wisedome and vnderstanding the spirite of councel streÌ„gth the spirit of knowledge and of the feare of god c. Behold the tyme commeth sayth the Lord that I will raise vp the righteous braunche of Dauid which shall beare rule and discusse matters with wisdoÌ„ and set vp equitie and righteousnesse agayne in earth In his tyme shall Iuda be saued and Israell shal dwel without feare And this is the name y t they shall cal him eueÌ„ y e lord our rightous maker Behold the time commeth sayth the lord that I wil performe the good thing which I haue promised vnto the house of Israell and to the house of Iuda In those dayes and at the same time I wil bryng forth vnto Dauid the braunch of righteousnesse and he shall doe equitye and righteousnes in the lande In those dayes shal Iuda be helped and Ierusalem shal dwel safe and he that shal call her is euen god our righteous maker For thus the Lord god promiseth Dauid shal neuer want one to sit vpon the stole of the house of Israel I will rayse vp vnto them one onely shepeheard euen my seruant Dauid he shall feede them and he shall be theyr shepeheard I the Lorde will bee theyr god and my seruaunte Dauid shall be their prince Euen I the Lorde hathe spoken it Understand this and marke it well that from the tyme it shall be concluded to go and to repayre Ierusalem againe vnto Christ there shal be seuen wekes Then shal the stretes
are laden and he promiseth that he wil refresh them Christ is that true lyghte which light neth euery man that commeth into this worlde Christ is our Lord of whose fulnes al we haue receyued euen grace for grace For the lawe was geuen by Moses but grace and truth came by Iesus Christe Christ is that lambe of god whiche taketh away the synnes of the world As Moses lyfted vp the Serpent in wildernesse so must the Sonne of man be lyfted vp that euery on that beleueth in him may not perishe but haue euerlasting lyfe For God loueth the world so feruently that he gaue his only begot ten sonne that euery one that beleueth in hym may not pearish but haue euerlasting lyfe For god sent not hys sonne into the world to condemne the world but that the world should be saued by hym He that beleueth in the sonne hath euerlasting lyfe but he that beleueth not in the son shall not se lyfe but the wrath of God abydeth vpon him Christe geuethe that lyuynge water whereof whosoeuer drinketh shal neuermore thirste but that water shal bee vnto hym a fountayne of water that springeth vp into eternal lyfe Christ is that bread of life whiche came down from heauen If any man eate of that bread he shall liue for euer Christe alone the Sonne of God maketh vs free Christe is the dore If any man enter in by him he shall be safe For he shall go in and come oute and â—…nde pasture Christ is that good shepeheard which gaue his life for his shepe Christ is the resurrection and life he that beleueth in him althoughe he were dead shal liue and euery one that liueth and beleueth in him shall neuer dye Christe is the light of the worlde and came into the worlde for this purpose y â— euery one that beleueth in him shoulde not abide in darknes Christe is the waye truthe and life No man commeth vnto the Father but by him Christe is that mighty prince whiche hath ouercome the world There is none other name geuen vnto men vnder heauen where in they muste be saued but onely that name of Christ. Neither is ther any saluation in any other but in him alone Christe is ordained of God a iudge of quick and dead To him geue all the pro phets witnesse that thorowe his name all that beleue in him shal receiue remis sion of sinnes Thorow Christ is preached vnto vs the forgeuenes of sinnes so that by him all y â— beleue are iustified from all things from whiche we coulde not be iustified by the law of Moyses The righteousnes no doubt whiche is good before God commeth by y e faith of Iesus Christe vnto all and vpon all that beleue There is no difference for all haue sinned and want the glorye of God but are iustified freely by his grace thorow the redemption that is in Christ Iesu to whom God hath made a â—…eat of mercy thorow faith in his blud to shew the righteousnesse whiche before him is of valoure Christ died for our sinnes and rose â—… gaine for our iustification We beinge iustified by faithe are at peace with god thorow our Lord Iesus Christe by whom we haue awaye in thorowe fayth vnto thys grace wherein we stande and reioyce in hope of the prayse that shal be geuen of God God setteth out hys loue that he hath to vs forasmuche as while we were yet sinners Christe died for vs. Muche more then nowe being iustified in his bloude shall wee be saued from wrath thorowe hym For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the deathe of hys sonne muche more seinge we are re conciled we shal be preserued by his lyfe Not onelye so but we also ioye in God by our Lord Iesus Christe by whom we haue receaued the attonement ☞ Rede the whole Chapter Euerlastinge life is the gifte of God thorow Iesus Christ our Lord. There is no dampnation to them which are in Christe Iesus which walke not after the flesh but after the spirit For the law of the spirite that bringeth life thorow Iesus Christe hath made vs fre froÌ„ the lawe of sinne and death We know that al things worke for the best vnto them that loue god whiche also are called of purpose For those which he knew before he also ordayned before that they should be a like fashioned to the shape of his sonne that he might bee the first begotten sonne among many brethren And whom he appointed before them also he called And which he called them also he iustifyed which he iustifyed them also he glorifyed What shall we theÌ„ say to these things If God be on our side who can be against vs which spared not hys owne sonne but gaue him for vs all how shall he not with him geue vs all thinges also Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods chosen It is God that iustifyeth who then shall coÌ„demne It is Christ which is dead yea rather which is rysen agayne which is also on the ryght hand of God and maketh intercession for vs. Christ is the end of the lawe to iustifye all that beleue Whosoeuer beleueth on Christ shall not be ashamed There is no difference betwene y e Iewe and the Gentile For one is Lorde ouer all that cal on hym for whosoeuer shall call on the name of the Lord shal be safe Christ is made of God our wysedome our righteousnes our sanctification and redemption Christ our Easter Lambe is offered vp for vs. We are washed we are sanctified yea we are iustifyed by the name of the Lorde Iesu and by the spirite of our God The liberalitie of our lord Iesus Christ is greate which though he were riche yet for oure sakes he became poore that we through hys pouertie myght be made rich If righteousnes come of the lawe then died Christ in vayne Christ hath deliuered vs froÌ„ y e curse of the law and was made accursed for vs. Sâ—…ande faste in the libertie wherwith Christ hath made vs free and wrappe not your selues again in the yoke of bondage Ye are gone quite froÌ„ Christ as many as are iustifyed by the law and are fallen from grace For we looke in spirite to be iustifyed thorow faith For in Iesu Christ neither is circumcision any thing worth neither vncircumcision but fayth which by loue is mightie in operation God forbyd y â— I shoulde reioyce in any thing but onely in y â— crosse death passioÌ„ of our Lord Iesus Christ. Blessed be god the father of oure Lorde Iesu Christe whiche hath blessed vs with all manner of spirituall blessings in heauenly things by Christ. By christ we haue redemption thorow his bloud euen the forgeuenes of sins according to the ritches of hys grace which he shed on vs aboundauntlye in all wisedome and prudence God whiche is
flee the companye of suche as denye Iesus to bee Christ and the sonne of the liuing God Saule keping compani with the vnfaith full Iewes as with the byshops the priests the pharises c. became a greuous persecutour of the christen congregation but being deliuered from their felowship he be came a worthy Apostle and a feruent prea cher of gods truth Against Idlenes IF Sathan moue the vnto idelnes which is the wel spring and rote of al vice â—…et before the eyes of thy mind both these sentences and examples of the holy scripture Sentences out of the olde Testament The Lord toke Adam and put him into the garden of Eden that he might dresse and kepe it In the sweate of thy face shalt thou eat thy bread vntil thou teturnest into the earth from whence thou wast taken For dust thou art and into duste thou shalt bee turned agayne A man is borne to labour and a byrde to flye Thou shalt eate the labour of thy hand Go to the Emmet thou fluggarde consider her wayes and learne to be wyse She hath no guyde nor ouersear nor ruler yet in the sommer she prouideth her meat and gathereth her foode together in the haruest How long wilt thou slep thou sluggish man When wilt thou arise out of thy slepe Yea slepe on still a litle slum ber a litle folde thyne handes together yet a litle that thou maiest slepe â—…o shall pouerty come vnto the as one that traualeth by the way and oppresse thee like a thefe If thow be not stouthful thy haruest shal come as a springinge well and pouertye shall flye far from thee Who so gathereth in sommer is wyse but he that is sluggishe in haruest bringeth himselfe to confusion The sluggard would â—…aine haue and caÌ„ not get his desire but the soule of theÌ„ that woorke shal haue plentye A â—…outhfull body wil not go to plowe for colde in Winter therfore shall he go a begging in sommer and haue nothing Delight not in slepe least thou come vn to pouerty but open thyne eyes that thou mayest haue breade inough He that tilleth his lande shall haue pleÌ„teousnesse of bread but he that followeth idlenes shall haue pouertye ynough Idlensse hath bene the occasion of much euill and wickednes Behold the sinnes of Sodom were these pryde fulnesse of meat aboundaunce and idlenes Examples out of the olde Testament Adam gate his liuing with the labour of his hands and the sweat of his browes Caine was a plowman and tilled the earth Abel was a shepeheard and kept shepe Iubal was a Musicion and exercised Musycke Thubal Cayne was a Smithe and a grauer in mettall Nohe was a Planter of Uineyardes Abraham Lot Isaac and Iacob were Plowmen and shepeheardes Ioseph was a magistrate and a publique minister in the common weale of Egipt vnder king Pharao Moyses was a shepehard and kept the shepe of Iethro his Father in law Preist of Madian The Children of Israell got their lyuing with hard and painful laboure in Egipt vnder king Pharao Dauid before he was annointed kinge of Israel was a shepeheard All the preistes and leuites of the olde law euery man according to his vocation laboured by geuing attendaunce in the teÌ„ ple by killing of beastes and offering of sacrifices by studiyng the scriptures of god and teaching the same vnto the people Amos the Prophet was one of y e shep heardes of Thecua Abacuk the Prophet trauailed in husbandry ☞ Sentences out of the olde Testament LEt vs not be wery of wel doyng For when the time is come we shall reape without werines Let him that stole steale no more but let him rather labour with his handes the thing whiche is good that he may geue to him that needeth We beseche you brethern that ye studye to be quiet and to meddle with your own busines and to worke with youre owne handes as we commaunded you When we were with you we gaue you this commaundement that if anye man wil not labour the same should not eate Let â–ª all men worke with quietnes and eat their own bread Examples out of the newe Testament CHrist was a carpenter The Apostles of Christe were fisher men Paule laboured with his own handes and get both his own liuinge and others that were with him Saint Luke was a Phisicion and as some write a painter also Aquila was a maker of tentes of the which occupation saint Paule was Simon S. Peters host was a tanner Dorcas that vertuous woman made garmentes with her owne handes gaue them to the poore people YE haue hearde how it was said to them of y e olde time thou shalt not forsweare thy selfe but shalt performe vnto the Lord those thinges that thou swearest But I say vnto you sweare not at all neyther by heauen for it is Gods seat nor by the earth for it is his footestole neither by IerusaleÌ„ for it is the Citie of the great Kinge neyther shalt thou sweare by thy hed because thou canste not make one hayre white or blacke But your communication shal be yea yea nay naye For whatsoeuer is added more then these it commeth of euill Aboue all thynges my brethren sweare not neyther by heauen neither by earth nether any other othe Let your yea be yea and your naye naye leaste ye fall into hipocrisy Examples out of the newe Testament HErod to performe his wicked and diuelishe othe which he had made to the doughter of â–ª Herodias hys whore for her pleasaunte daunsinge suffered and commaunded the heade of that moste godlye preacher saynt Iohn Baptist to be cut of Let all men therfore beware of vayn rash and wicked othes Saynt Peter when it was layde to his chardge that he was one of Christes disciples â–ª sware that he knew not the maÌ„ But afterwarde he bitterly wept for his swearing and denying of Christ. Let vs also lament and be sory sor our idle and wicked manner of swering and leane it and praise tâ—…e name of the Lord our God ¶ Agaynste lying slaunderinge and fylthy or vncleane talke IF Sathan at any time moueth thee to abuse thy tonge contrarye to the will of God either in lying slaundering or other wicked and idle words resist his temptacion â—… these scriptures following Sentences out of the olde Testament THou shalte eschue lyinge Ye shall not lye neither shall anye of you deceiue his neighbor Thou O Lord shalt destroye all them that speake lies There be sixe things that God hateth and the seuenth hee vtterlye abhorreth A proude countenaunce a lying tong hands defiled with innocent bloud an harte imagining wicked councels feete swifte vnto mischiefe a false witnesse the sower of discorde among brethren Liyng lips are abhominatioÌ„ to the lord but they that do faithfully please him A false witnes shall not
the dead but of the liuing The houre shall come in the whiche all that are in the graues shall heare his voice and shall come forthe they that haue done good vnto y e resurectioÌ„ of life thei y e haue done euel vnto y e resurrectioÌ„ of damnatioÌ„ I know that my brother shall rise again at the latter day God hath raised vp y e Lord and shall raisâ—… vs vp by his power If there be no risinge again from death then is Christ not risen If Christ is not risen then is our preaching vaine your faith is also vaine Read and commend to memory the xv Chapiter of the first to the Corinth The Lord Iesus shall chaunge our vlle bodies that they may be fashioned like vn to his glorious body c. I would not brethern haue yon ignoraÌ„t concerning them which are fallen a slepe that ye sorow not as other do which haue no hope For if we beleue y â— Iesus Christe died rose againe euen so they also which slepe by Iesus wil god bring againe with him Read forth ☞ Examples out of the new Testament CHrist raised from death the daughter of y â— Rular the Son of a certaine widow and Lazarus with many other These are euident examples of our resurrection After Christ had geuen vp the ghoste the graues did open and the bodyes of ma ny Saintes whiche slept arose and came out of y â— graues after his resurrectioÌ„ caÌ„e into the holy citie appeared vnto many Christ rose againe from death the third day accordinge to the scriptures and was sene of Cephas then of the twelue After that he was sene of mo then fiue hundreth brethern at once c S. Peter raised Tabitha from death S. Paule restored vnto life a certaine yong man named Euticus Christe rebuked the Saduces because they beleued not the resurrection of y e ded The Epicures and Stoykes laughed S Paule to scorne when as he at Athens taught the resurrection of the dead But he defended the doctrine Against them that deny the immortalitie of the soule IF Sathan or any of his tempte thee to liue at thy pleasure labouring to perswade the â—…y sophi sticall reasons of carnal imaginations y â— the soul of man is but as the breath of other beastes that after the dissolutioÌ„ of the body it is nothing nether liueth afterward but hath an end with the bodye take hede that thou geuest no place to such wicked and most damnable doctrine but enarme thy selfe a gainst it w t these authorities of the holy Scripture ☞ Sentences out of the olde Testament GOd created man in his owne image in y e image of god created he him male and female created he them The Lord god shope man euen dust froÌ„ the ground and breathed in his nostrels the breathe of life and Adam was made a liuing soule I should vtterly haue fainted but that I beleue verely to sâ—… the goodnes of y e lord in the land of the liuing Like as the harte desireth the water brookes so longeth my soule after thee O god My soule is a thirste for god yea euen for the liuing god when shal I come to ap peare before the presence of god The bodye shal be turned againe vnto earth from whence it came and the spirit that is the soule shall returne vnto God whiche gaue it God made man to be vndestroyed that is to say immortall yea after the image of his own likenes made be him The soules of the righteous are in the hand of God and the pain of death shall not hurt them In the sight of the vnwisethey seme to dy and their end is taken for very destructioÌ„ but they are in rest The hope of the faithful is ful of immortalitie The righteous shall liue for euermore their reward also is w t the Lord and their remembrance with the highest Therfore shall they receiue a glorious kingdome a bewtiful crowne of the Lordes hand Read the third fourth and fift Chapiters of the boke of Wisedome We are the children of holy men and looke for the life whiche God shall geue vnto them that neuer turne their faythe from him Examples out of the olde Testament THe holy scriptur testifieth that Ehore and his complices went downe quicke vnto Hel and the earthe couered them so that they perished By this it is euident that the soules of the wicked are immortall and liue in the paines of hel fire If Saule had not beleued bothe the resurrection of the body and immortalitie of the soule he wold neuer haue gone about to haue had Samuel raised vp When Dauid saw that his childe was dead he wept no more but said I shall go vnto him he shal not come again vnto me Helias prayed for the rasing vp againe vnto life of his hostes Sonne sayinge O Lord my God I beseche thee let the soule of this Childe come into him againe And he reuiued When Tobias was laughed to scorne of his elders and kinssolkes which said vn to him here is thy hope for the which thou hast done almose and buried the dead He rebuked them and sayde say not so for we are the children of holy men and looke for the life which god shall geue vnto theÌ„ that neuer turne their faith from him Againe he prayed vnto god on this ma ner Now O Lorde deale with me according to thy wil and commaund my spirite to be receiued in peace For more expedieÌ„t were it for me to dye than to liue Sentences out of the new Testament FEare not them whiche kil the bodye but are not able to kil the soule But rather feare him whiche is able to destroy both soule and body in hel Ther is no man that hath forsakeÌ„ house eyther father or mother either brethren or wyfe or children for the kingdom of Gods sake which shall not receiue muche more in thys worlde and in the worlde to come lyfe euerlasting Thys is the wyll of hym that sent me that euery one which seeth the sonne and beleueth on him haue euerlasting life and I wyll raise him vp at the last day My shepe heare my voyce and I knowe them and they followe me and I geue vn to them euerlasting lyfe and they shal neuer peryshe neyther shall anye man pluck them oute of my hand I am the resurrection and the lyfe He that beleueth on me yea though he were dead yet shal he liue and whosoeuer liueth and beleueth on me shal neuer dye Let not your hart be troubled Ye beleue in God beleue olso in me In my fathers house are many mansions If it were not so I would haue told you I go to prepare a place for you And if I goe to prepare a place for you I will come agayne and receiue you euen vnto my selfe that where I am
peace ☞ Sentences out of the new Testament FEare not litle flocke for it is your Fathers plesure to geue you a kingdom Euerlasting life is the gift of God thorow Christe our Lord. Whome god hathe predestinate them hath he also called whome he hath called them also hath he iustified whome he hath iustified them hathe he glorified The eye hath not sene and the eare hath not heard neither hath it entered into the hart of man what thinges god hath prepared for them that loue him By grace are ye saued thorow faith and that not of your selues For it is the gifte of god and commeth not of workes least any man should boast him self God saued vs not for the dedes of righ teousnes whiche we wrought but for hys mercy and louing kindnes God hath geuen vs euerlasting life and this life is in his Sonne he that hathe the Sonne hath life and he that hathe not the Sonne of god hath not life Be faithful vnto the death and I will geue thee the crowne of life To him that ouercoÌ„meth will I geue to sit with me in my seate euen as I ouercame and haue sitten with my father in his seate Examples out of the newe Testament The reuerent auncient father SimeoÌ„ being nothing apalled with y â— remeÌ„brauÌ„ce of his sinnes after he had seene and embra sed Christ in his armes knowinge him to be the alone Sauiour of the world shewed himselfe ready glad and willinge to dye that he might enioy that heauenly enheritance purchased by the same Iesus Christ our Lorde S. Paule being fully perswaded that al his sinnes were washed away in Christes bloud desired to be loosoned from that his mortall body and to be with Christ. Virescit vulnere virtus Geue the glory to god alone Here endeth the Gouernance of vertue ¶ Here followeth certayne godlye prayers for sundry diuers purposes A prayer for the Queenes Maiesty O Lord our heauenly father high and mightye king of kinges lord of Lords the onely ruler of Princes which doest from thy throne behold al y â— dwelllers vpon earth most hartely we besech thee with thy fauour to behold ourâ—… moste gratious soueraigne lady Queene Elizabeth and so replenish her wyth the grace of thy holy spirite that she may alway incline to thy wil and walke in thy way Indue her plentifully with heauenly gifts graunt her in health and wealth long to liue strength her that she maye vanquish ouercom al her enemies And finally y â— after this life she may attayne euerlasting ioy and felicity through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen A generall confession O Lord God almighty father of mercy and God of all comfort we thy poore creatures resort vnto thee knowledgyng and confessing our selues before thy gloryous maiestye that we are all greuous sinners and can of our selues do nothing but sinne For all our imaginations intentes and thoughts are enclined and disposed vnto euel from our youth vp Our damnation coÌ„meth of our selues wee our selues are not able to thyncke a good thought It is thou onlye that doest worke in vs both the will the dede We are but earth and naturally the children of wrath We of our selues are but vaine yea lighter then vanitie it self We can do nothing without thee theris not one of vs whole we are all vnclene al our rightousnes is but as a filthy cloth We haue no more power to doo good of our selues then a man of Inde hath power to chaunge his skinne or the leoparde her spottes Nowe accordinge to this euell and corrupte inclination of our nature so haue we liued in thoughtâ—… worde and deede We haue finned we haue offended we haue gone backe from thy lawe haue not harkned vnto thy worde We haue not loued thâ—… O Lorde with all our strength with all our heart with all our power We haue bene sore transgressors of thy commaundementes wee haue not putt oure whole truste and confidence onelye in thee Wee haue in oure troubles and neede not soughte for helpe onely in thee We haue not called onely vpon thy name but with false confidence with vaine supersticion and vnlawfull otheâ—… haue we blasphemed thy name We haue prayed and made intercession vnto stockes stones made the creatures oure aduocates mediatours coÌ„trary to thy word We reposed our trust and affiance in our own deedes â–ª and in such workes as haue bene deuised by mens fantasies besides the scripture We haue wandred on vaine pil gremages offering vp mony candels and tapers to Images and reliques with such like supersticion We haue bene slouthful in our busines We haue not bene ferueÌ„t and diligent in doing of our duty Special ly on suche dayes as be appointed for the preaching of thy word we haue not plyed our selues wholly to learne it nor occupied our time in prayer geuing of thanks vnto thee And as touching the loue that we ought to haue vnto all men women for thy sake we haue not bene ernest in it at al times We haue not loued our neigh houre as our selues we haue not done as we would be done vnto we haue bene vngentle vnpacieÌ„t vncurteous froward angry and displeased we haue reioyced in our neighbors hurte and bene sory of his welfare We haue bene led with false doc trine errours from the way of thy truth We haue sinned w t our fathers we haue don amisse we haue delt wickedly therfore our most deare father whiche art in heaueÌ„ forasmuch as we haue blasphemed thee not soughte alway the glory of thy name graunt now that from henceforth thy name may be saÌ„ctified and halowed in vs. Graunt now that thy kingdome maye come and that in steede of sin and errour thou onely maiest raigne in vs graunte now that our wil may be coÌ„formable vnto thine and that in al aduersitie we may be hartely wel content to suffer thy wil to be done in vs. Graunt now that we bee neuer destitute of our daily food but that we may alway be nourished w t thy worde in our soules and haue such a competent liuing in this life as is necessary for our body GrauÌ„t now that we may euen from our heart rootes forgeue one another all maner of trespasse as y â— for Iesu Christes sake thy Sonne haste mercifully forgeâ—… vs. GrauÌ„t now that where the world the deuill and our owne flesh doth dayly tempt and prouoke vs to sin we may thorow thy strength be able to resist all their temptation Graunte nowe that thorow thy helpe and grace we may be deliuered from all euill from all daunger and peryll of soule and body from all synne hel and dampnation from all pryde and enny from all wrathe and slouthfulnes froÌ„ couetousnesse vnmeasurable and filthy lyuing Graunt now that from hence forth we may be content with such fatherly pro uision as thou haste made for vs already graunte now that we may
this my poore gifte in good part And I shall moste humbly beseeche the Lorde our God to preserue my Lords grace and my Ladyes grace your honourable parentes in good health longe life and encrease of honoure and to geue my Lordes youre Brothers and my Ladies youre Sisters and you also grace to go forth in your godly enterprises and Christen studies that ye may tru ly know the Lord your God the saluation whiche ye haue by his soÌ„ne Iesus our alone Sauiour who euer preserue your good Ladyship in coÌ„tinuall helth and prosperous felicitie Amen THE GOVERNANCE of Vertue ¶ How a man should behaue him selfe in the morning when he riseth When thou risest in the morning looke that thou with all humblenesse of mynde knelest downe and lifting vp thy harte thy handes and thine eyes into heauen vnto God the father almighty pray on this maner ¶ A prayer for the morning O Lord God my heaueÌ„ly father I most humbly thanke thee y â— thou of thy fatherly goodnes hast vouchsafed to defend me this night from all euil I most entyrely beseche thee to preserue me also this day both from suffring and doyng any euill and to geue me grace so to walke in the lyght of thy holy woorde that I may bring forth y e frutes of y â— same vnto the glorye of thy blessed name and the profite of my neighbour Amen ¶ After thou hast prayed on this maner seing we be al sinners it shall be expedient if thou hast conuenient leasure to confesse thy selfe to God on this maner ¶ A confession of our sinnes vnto God the father MOst greuouslye haue I wretched sinner offeÌ„ded thee my Lord God and heauenly father both in thought word and dede in so much that in my selfe I uÌ„nde such vnworthines that if I did not behold thine exceding great mercies set forth in thy dearely beloued sonne our Lord and sauiour Iesu Christ I could not but dispayre and wholy geue my selfe into the hands of Satan that olde enemy of mankynd But when thorow thy grace and holy workyng I loke vpon thy mercies offered frely to all faythfull peniteÌ„t sinners in thy son Christ Iesus for whose sake thou art well pleased with man and of thy own good will forgeuest vs al our sinnes wheÌ„ soeuer we flee vnto thee in his name I cease to dispayre beginne to conceiue an earneste faithe and an vndoubted hope of obtaynyng forgeuenesse of al my sins in Christes bloud for thy louing and fatherly promise sake I therfore poore and wretched sinner most humbly beseche thee for Christes sake to forgeue me al my sinnes where with from the day of my byrth vnto this present tyme I haue most greuously offended thy fatherly goodnesse and to geue me grace so to resiste the deuill the world the flesh â–ª and so to order my lyfe accordyng to thy blessed will that thou mayest delight in me as a father in his sonne de fend me froÌ„ all euill and worke in me all good thinges vnto the glory of thy holy name ☞ After the confession say the Lordes prayer called the Pater noster and so commendyng thy selfe vnto God faule in hand with some honest and vertuous exercise accordyng to thy callyng But whatsoeuer thou doest do it with purenesse of hart singlenes of eye â–ª yea so do it as though God wer present and looke vpon thee as vndoubtedly he doth Of Dinner ☞ WheÌ„ the time coÌ„meth that thou shouldest refresh thy wery and hongry body approch vnto the table with reuerence and when thou art set lyft vp thy hart thy hands and thy eyes vnto heauen and pray vnto God on this maner A prayer before dinner O Most gentill God and louyng father whiche mercifully â—…edest al ly uing creatures we beseche thee blesse vs and all these thy giftes whiche we at this present shall receyue of thy beuÌ„ teous hande for the refreshyng of our hungry bodies and geue vs grace to doo all thynges vnto the glorye of thy name thorowe Iesu Christ our Lord. Amen Of the behauiour at the table in Diner tyme. ☞ WheÌ„ thou hast thus prayed vnto god eate thy meate soberly and christenly esche wyng all superfluitie surfeting and drouckenship Consider that thy meate and thy drinck are the giftes of God are reuerently thanke fully to bee receyued â–ª Remember that in the tyme of thy repast thy behauiour be honest comely in all thinges Let thy communica tion as the Apostle sayth ve well sauoured and powdred with â—…t that is to say seasoned with godly wisedome that thou mayest know how to answere euery man Let no fil thy talke procede out of thy mouth but that whiche is good to edifie when neede is that it may haue fauor with the hearers remem bring that thou shalte geue accountes at the day of iudgement for euery idle worde that thou speakest Eschewe all dissolute and vncomely laughyng least thou be therby counted wilde waâ—…ton foolishe without good maners Let thy couÌ„tenauÌ„ce he graue sober modest gentle and â—…ouyng towarde al that be at the table and so fashion thy selfe in gesture worde and deede as though God and his aungels weâ—… visibly present at the table And when Dinner is done geue thankes to God for his benefites on this maner A thankes geuyng after Dinner WE thanke thee O heauenly father for this our foode which being saÌ„ctifâ—…ed by thy worde thou hast vouchesafe at this present to geue vs wee beseche thee that thou wilt also fede our soules w t the liuely bread of the word which commeth out of thy mouth that we receauyng at thy mercâ—…full hande meate both for our bodyes and soules â–ª may lyue and growe in all godlynesse vnto the glory of thy blessed name tho row Iesu Christ our Lord. Amen VVhat is to be done after dynner ☞ After thou hast geuen thankes vnto God for thy repast â–ª returne vnto thy labour vertuously exercise thy self accordyng to thy voca tion and callyng Employ earnest diligence about thy businesse and alway in thy minde desire God to blesse to prosper and to bryng to passe all thy counsels deuises trauailes labours and enterprises Do not thy worke negligently and deceitfully but so laboure as thoughe God were present and beheld thee as vnfaynedly he doth Cursed be he sayth Hiere mye that doth the Lordes worke deceitfully Saint Paule also exhorteth that what soeuer we doo we should do it hartly as though we did in vnto the Lorde and not vnto men for as much sayth he â–ª as ye know that of the Lord ye shall receyue the rewarde of inheritaunce for ye serue the Lord Christ. Yea verely so many as labour or trauayle in any vertuous enterprise they serue God and of God shal they receiue their rewarde Therfore in thy calling labour earnestly and diligently what soeuer thou be sekyng not onely thyne owne lucre â—…uaunt age but much more the glory of God and the profite of thy neighbour as the
had no bene a naturall child takyng his flesh or the substance of Mary his mother and not bryngyng hys body with hym from heaueÌ„ or I know not from whence as the vngodly Anabaptistes in these our dayes do most fastly dreame But let God be true and all heretikes lyers IN another place the Prophete sayth there shall come a rodde foorth of the kyndred of Iesse and a floure shall florishe out of hys roote ☞ In thys place the Prophete doth so openlye declare Christe to be true man and the naturall sonne of Mary the virgin that it is won der that any Hereticke can haue so wâ—…oryshe a forehead once to denye iâ—… Thys rodde and â—…loure which spryngeth out of rodde and kintâ—… 〈◊〉 Iesse is Christ the Lord â–ª The roote out of the whiche floure vndefiled virgine Marye Christes mother whiche came of the kynred of Iesse kyng Dauids father Can any man deny but that the floure is of the same nature and substaunce that the tree is of whiche beareth the floure If we grauÌ„t the floure to be of the na ture and substaÌ„ce of the stocke that beareth the floure why are the Anabaptistes more wicked and cruell agaynst Christ the floure and fruite by Gods ordinaunce of the holy virgine then vnto the stocke and roote of euery floure of the fielde Can the floure of an OraÌ„ge spryng out oâ—… an Oke No more can the humanitie of Christ which is the blossome and floure of Mary take his originall of the ayre of heauen or of such other matter they know not what But as the floure of the OraÌ„ge springeth out of the OraÌ„ge tree and is of the very same nature and substaÌ„ce that the OraÌ„ge tree is so likewise Christ being the floure of the most blessed Uirgine tooke his begynnyng of her and is of the very same substaunce and nature that she is Let God therefore be true and all heretikes lyers AFter the. 62. weekes sayth the Prophet Daniell shall Christ be slaine and they shal haue no pleasure in him ☞ The sleyng of Christ euidently proueth that Christ was vâ—…y man yea and a maâ—… mortall and subiect vnto death so well as we If he had brought his body with him from heauen â–ª so had bene a celestiall body â–ª an impassible and immortal body But for asmuch as Christ feared death â–ª â—…uffed the paines of death yea and dyed in dedâ—… accordyng to the Scriptures it followeth that Christ was true and vnfayned man takyng his humanitie of that holy virgine Mary his mother and lyued in all pointes lyke man sinne alone extepâ—…e and at the last dyed for our synnes â–ª as the Apostle sayth Let God therfore be true and all heretikes lyers ☞ Sentences out of the new Testament THe booke of the kyndred of Iesus Christ the sonne of Dauid the sonne of Abraham Iacob begat Ioseph the husbande of Mary of whome was borne that Iesus whiche is called Christ. The byrthe of Iesus Christe was on this wise WheÌ„ hys mother Mary was maried to Ioseph before they came together she was found with child by the holy ghost Then Ioseph her husbande being a perfect man and loth to defame her was mynded to put her away secret ly While he thus thought beholde the aungell of the Lord appeared vnto him in a dreame saying Ioseph the sonne of Dauid feare not to take vnto thee Mary thy wife For that whiche is conceyued in her is of the holy ghost She shal bryng forth a sonne and thou shalt call his name Iesus For he shall saue hys people from their sinnes All thys was done to fulfil y â— whiche was spokeÌ„ of the Lord by the Prophet Esay saying beholde a mayd shall be with child shall bryng foorth a sonne and they shall call hys name Emanuell whiche is by interpretacion GOD with vs or God and man The aungell gabriell was sent from god vnto a citie of galile named Nazareth to a virgin spoused to a maÌ„ whose name was Ioseph of the house of Dauid and the virgins name was Mary And the auÌ„gel went in vnto her said Hayle ful of grace y â— Lord is with thee Blessed art thou among women When she sawe hym she was abashed at hys saying and caste in her mynde what maner of salutation that should be And the aungell sayd vnto her feare not Mary for thou hast fouÌ„d grace with god thou shalt conceiue in thy wombe and beare a sonne and shalte call hys name Iesus He shall be greate shall be called the sonne of the hyest And the Lord god shall gâ—…ue vnto hym the sea 〈◊〉 of his father Dauid and he shall reygne ouer the house of Iacob for euer and of hys kyngdome shal be none ende Then â—…ayd Mary vnto the aungell howe shal this bee seyng I knowe not a mane And the aungell aunswered and sayde vnto her the holy ghost shall come vppon thee and the power of the hyest shall ouershadowe thee Therfore also that holy thyng which shall be borne of thee shall be called the sonne of god Elizabeth was filled with the holye ghost and cried with a loude voyce and sayd Blessed art thou among women â—… blessed is y â— fruite of thy wombe And whence hapneth this to me that the mo ther of my Lord should come to me c. It fortuned while they wer there her time was come y â— she shuld be deliuered And she brought forth her first begotteÌ„ son wraped him in swadling clothes layd him in a maunger because there was no roume for theÌ„ within y â— Inne Behold I bring you tidings of great â—…oy y â— shal come to all y â— people For vnto you is borne this day y â— city of Dauid â—… sauiour whiche is Christ the Lord. The child grew and waxed strong in spirite and was filled with wisedome the grace of god was with him Iesus encreased in wisdome and age and in fauour with god and man Blessed is the wombe that bare thee and the papes whiche gaue thee sucke The worde was made fleshe dwelt among vs. Dauid was a Prophet knewe that god had sworne with an othe to hym y â— the fruite of his loynes that is to say Christ should sit on his seate God dyd sette vp Dauid to be theyr kyng of whom he reported saying I haue founde Dauid the sonne of Iesse a man after my owne heart he shall fulfill all my will Of this mans sede hath god accordyng to hys promise brought forth to the people of Israell a sauiour euen Iesus Iesus Christ the sonne of god was be gotten of the seede of Dauid as pertaynyng to the flesh Christ as concernyng the flesh came of the Israelites To Abraham and hys seede were the promyses made He sayth not in the sedes as many but in thy seede as in one whiche is Christ. When the tyme was full come God sent hys Sonne borne of a woman
blessed theÌ„ he departed from them and was caryed vp into heauen I go to prepare a place for you And if I goe to prepare a place for you I wil come agayne and receiue you euen vnto my selfe that where I am there ye may be also If ye loued me ye would reioyce because I sayd I go vnto the Father Now I go my way to him that sente me and none of you asketh me whether I goe But because I haue saide suche thinges vnto you your hartes are ful of sorrow Neuertheles I tell you y â— truth it is expedient for you that I go away For if I go not away that coÌ„forter will not come vnto you But if I departe I wil. send him vnto you I went out from the Father came into the world Againe I leaue y e world and go to the Father It is Christe whiche dyed ye rather which is risen againe whiche is also on the right hand of God So ofte as ye shall eat of this breade and drinck of the cup ye shall xemeÌ„ber the Lords death til he come God the father raised Christe froÌ„ the dead and set him on his right hand in heauenly things aboue al rule power might dominioÌ„ and aboue all names that are named not in this world only but also in the world to come Christ is gone vpoÌ„ highe hath led cap tiuitie captiue and hathe geuen giftes vnto men That he ascended what meaneth it but that he also descended first into the lowest parts of the earth He that descended is euen the same also that ascended vp â–ª euen aboue all heauens to fulfil al thinges God hath exalted Christ on high geuen him a name whiche is aboue all names that in the name of Iesus euery knee should bowe bothe in heauen and thinges in earth and things vnder the earth If ye be risen againe with Christe seeke those thinges whiche are aboue where Christe sitteth on the right hande of God Whensoeuer Christe whiche is oure life shall shew him self then shall we al so appeare with him in glory The Lord him selfe shall come downe from Heauen with a shoute and the voice of the archaungell and trompe of God c. Christe the Sonne of God being the brightnes of his fathers glory and the very image of his substaunce ruling all thinges with the woorde of his power hath by his own person purged our sins and sitteth on the right hand of the maiesty on hye This man Christ after hee had offered one sacrifice for sins sitteth downe for euer on the right hand of God and from hence forth tarieth till his foes be made his fotestoole Let vs runne with pacience vnto the battayl that is set before vs lokyng vn to Iesus the captain and finisher of our fayth which for the ioy that was set before him abode the crosse and dispised the shame and is set down on the right haÌ„d of the throne of god Iesus Christe is on the right hande of God and is gone into heauen Angels powers aud might subdued vnto him Examples out of the newe Testament When Iesus had spoke these things whyle the Disciples beheld him he was taken vp on hye and a cloud receyued him vp out of their sight And while they loked vp stedfastly to ward heauen as he went behold two men stode by them in whyte aparell whiche also sayde ye men of Galyle why stande ye gasyng vp to heauen This same Iesus which is taken from you into heauen shall so come euen as ye haue sene him go into heauen Stephen beyng full of the holy ghost loked vp stedfastly with his eies into heauen and sawe the glorye of god and Iesus standynge on the ryghte hande of God and sayd Beholde I see the heauens open the sonne of man standing on the right hand of God When Saule iornyed it fortuned that as he was come nye to Damasco sodenly there shyned rounde about him a lyght from heauen and he fell to the earth and heard a voyce saying to him Saule Saule why persecutest thou me And he sayde what art thou Lord and the Lord said I am Iesus whom thou persecutest c. Against the plucking away of thy trust and confidence from Christ and his merites to put it in the merites of other creatures or in thine owne good workes or in the intercession of saints or the sacrifice of the Popish Masse IF Sathan by this subtile and crafty suggestion seking thy daÌ„nation go about to pluck thy faith confidence and truste from Christe his bloud and his merites to repose it in the merites of men or in thine own good dedes works and merites or in the intercession of saintes or in the sacrifice of the Popishe masse so that thy whole saluation shall not hang on Christ â–ª his deseruiÌ„gs only but rather on some other stranÌ„g meanes leane not to his temptations but manfully resist them stedfastly abiding in this persâ—…asion that Christ alone is thy righteousnesse and that all thy saluation dependeth on him alone and on none other thinge neither in heauen nor in earth And that thou may est be confirmed in this faith let these scriptures whiche are vnâ—…ubted verities euer be before thine eyes suffer not thy self neither by y â— crafty assaults of sathan nor by the subtle and fleshly reasons of any man to be plucked from them ☞ Sentences out of the old Testament Christ is that seede which did tread down Sathans head Christ is that seede in whom al nations of the worlde shal be blessed Christ is the ruler duke and captain whome al nations haue so long looked for whiche also defendeth his people from the power of Sathan Christ is that Sonne of God whom wee are commaunded to kisse and embrace least wee pearish from the ryghte way Christ is our vpholder our glory our strong shield Christ is the Lord from whoÌ„ al helth and saluation commeth and hee it is y e blesseth his people Christ is the Lorde that neuer forsaketh them that truste in him and seeke after him Christ is our strength our sure rock our bulwarke our refuge our defence our buckeler and oure mighty sauinge helth and our sanctuary Christ is he that saueth vs because it is his pleasure Christe saueth the poore oppressed and layeth full lowe the highe lookes of the proude Christ is the Lord in whome alone our fathers trusted they trusted I say in him and he deliuered them They cryed vnto him and they were made safe they trusted in him and they were neuer confounded Christ is that Lord whose waies v niuersall are mercy and truthe to them that seke after his Testament and ordinaunces He it is that will be mercifull to our sinnes euen for his owne names sake be they neuer so great Christ is our light our sauing helth whoÌ„ theÌ„ shall we fear Christ
is the defeÌ„ der 〈◊〉 our life of whome then shall we â—…e afrayed Christe is the strength of his people and the defender of the health of his annointed Christ is our refuge in all tribulatioÌ„s that assaile vs. Christes eyes are vpon them that fear hym and vpon them that trust in hys mercy he may deliuer their souls from deathe â–ª norishe them in the time of hunger Christ is gentle blessed is that man that trusteth in him Christ beholdeth the righteous and heareth their prayer Christ is at hand for them that are troubled in hart he shall saue the hum ble and meke spirited Christe geueth saluation to the righte ous and he is the defeÌ„der in the tyme of trouble He helpeth theÌ„ and deliuereth them and maketh them free from finners and saueth them because they trust in hym Christ pardoneth all our iniquities and healeth all our dyseases he delyuereth our lyues from destruction and crowneth vs in iuercye and louynge kindnes Christ is righte mylde and mercyfull flow vnto wrath but ready to forgenenes He chydeth not euer neither is he angrye alwayes he dealeth not with vs after our sinnes nor rewardeth vs accordyng to our wickednesse The height of the heauens is not so present ouer the earth as is his merciable goodnes ouer them that worship him He setteth our sinnes as far from vs as is the East froÌ„ the West Neuer was there any father so tender vnto his chyldren as is the Lorde vnto them that worshippe hym For it is he that knoweth our making he remembreth that we are but of dust That the age of man mortall is lyke grasse that he florisheth lyke a flowre of the fielde Whiche as soone as anye sharp wind toucheth it it is gone being no more founde in hys place But the merciable goodnes of the Lord is for euer and euer preseruyng hys worshippers and the form of his rightwise mâ—… kyng is presente with theyr chylders chyldren so long as they kepe his couenaunt and hold his commaundementes inmynd to do them Christ is the Lorde with whome there is both infinite mercy plenteous redeÌ„tion For he it is that redeemeth Israel from al their sinnes Christ is that Lord yea Christ is that Lord in deede which putteth awaye our iniquities for his owne sake and will remember them no more Neither haue we anye thyng wherby we may be iusti fied in his sight Christ alone is that sauiour in whom Israel is saued with an euerlasting health Christ can no more forget vs then a mother can forgette the chylde of her wombe And thoughe she forgetteth her childe yet cannot he forget vs For he hath written vp vs in his hands so that we are alway in his sight Christ hath taken vpon him our dyseases and borne awaye oure sorowes Christ was wounded for our iniquities and brused for our sinnes Christ was offerd for vs because it was his pleasure Christe alone hath troden downe the vynepresse neither was there any at al that helped him Examples out of the old Testament When God determined to slea all the first borne in the land of Egipt bothe of man and beaste hee commaunded his people euery man in hys house to slea a Lambe of a yere olde and without spot and with the bloud therof to annoynte the vpper doore post and the two syde postes that whan the Aungell whiche smote the land of Egipt should see the bloud he mighte passe ouer them not destroy them This pascal Lambe of the Iewes is a figure of the true Pascall lambe Iesus Christ the Lorde whiche is the pure and vndefiled lambe of God whiche offered him selfe a sweete smellynge sacryfice vnto God for vs which neuer committed synne and in hys mouth no gyle was founde For as the bloude of the Lambe sprynckled on the doore postes of the Israelites dydde dryue awaye the auenger and kepte harmles the fyrst begotten of the Israelites so lykewyse the bloude of Christ sprinckeled in the heartes of men by â—…aythe dryueth Sathan synne death desperation and hell from them puryfieth their consciences maketh their hear tes merye setteth them at one wyth God and bringeth ouerlastyng lyfe as Sainct Iohn saith Behold that lambe of god which taketh away the sinne of the world Hereto agreeth the saying of S. Paule christ our passeouer is offred vp for vs. Christ was figured by Manna which God gaue from heauen vnto the Israelites to eate in the desart For as that breade was very plesaunte and good of taste and had in it the sauour of all sweete and deintye meates so that they whiche dyd eate of that neded none other meate Euen so lykewyse is Christ the moste sweete and pleasaunte breade that came downe from heauen He that eateth of thys bread shal lyue for euer neyther nedeth he to folow ani other straung repast For in Christe the soule of a christen man through fayth findeth enough to fede vpon The rock out of the whiche plenty of swete waters gushed out for the coÌ„fort of the thirstye Israelites in the wildernes signifyed Christe also as Sainte Paule dothe declare For as that rocke gaue out abdundance of swete and plea sant waters to the great comfort of the peple of Israel which otherwise should haue pearished so likewise is Christe y â— rock out of the which floweth plenty of heauenlye waters comfortable for the thirsty soule whiche otherwise can not be succoured but muste needes pearish And he that drinketh of those heauenly waters whiche come out of the rocke Christ shall not nede to seeke after the â—…inking dirtie puddles of other For in this Christe he shall finde plentye of waters to drinke yea and that vnto the vttermost for his soules helth as Christ him self sayeth Whosoeuer shall drink of the water that I shall geue him shall neuer more be a thirste but the water that I shall geue him shall be in him a wel of water springing vp into euerlasting life The brasen serpent in the olde lawe was a figure also of Christ. For as those whiche were striken of y â— fyry serpentes were made whole wheÌ„ they loked vppon the brasen Serpent for their faithes sake which they had in the promise of god annexed vnto the ser pent so likewise they that are wounded with the firie darts of Sathan are made whole when so euer they beholde with the eyes of the inward man by fayth Iesus Christe whiche was crucified for our synne as Christ himselfe testifieth sayinge As Moises lyfted vp the Serpent in the wildernesse euen so must the Son of man be lyfted vp that none that beleueth in him peryshe but haue euer â—…astyng life Sentences out of the newe Testament Christ is so called a Sauiour for hee it is that saueth hys people from theire synnes Christe came not to call the iusticiaries but sinners to repentaunce Christ calleth al them that labour and
riche in mercy thorow his great loue wherewith he loued vs euen when we were dead in sin hath quic kened vs to gether in Christ for by grace are ye saued and hath raysed vs vp together and made vs sit together in heauenly thinges thorow Christ Iesus By grace are ye made safe thorow faith and that not of your selues For it is the gift of God and commeth not of works least any man should boast himself We were straungers and farre of but nowe we are made nigh by thy bloude of Christe Christ is our peace By Christ Iesu our Lord are we bound to draw nighe in the trust which we haue by fayth on him Christ is ascended vp on high and hath led captiuity captiue and hath geueÌ„ gifts vnto men In Christ haue we redemption thorow his bloude that is to saye forgeuenes of sinnes By Christ thorowe the bloude of hyscrosse are all things reconciled to God the father and set at peace both in heauen and in earth This is a true saying and by all means worthy to be receiued that Christe Iesus came into this world to saue sinners There is one God and one Mediatour betwene God and man which is the man Christ Iesus which gaue himselfe a raunsome for all men God hath not saued vs for the dedes of rightousnes which we haue wrought but of his mercy hath he saued vs. We are not redemed with corruptible siluer and gold from our vayne conuer sation which we receiued by the tradicions of the fathers but by the precious bloud of Christ as of a Lambe vndefiled and without spotte Christe is the shephearde and bishop of our soules The bloud of Iesus Christ Gods soÌ„ne maketh vs cleane from all sinne If any maÌ„ sinne we haue an aduocate with the father Iesus Christ that ryghteous one and he is a mercye stocke for our sinnes not for our sinnes onely but also for the sinnes of all the world Our sinnes are forgeuen vs in y e name of Christ. For thys purpose appeared the sonne of God to loose the workes of the deuill In thys appeareth the loue of God towardes vs because that God sent his onely begotten Sonne into the worlde that we myght liue thorowe him Herein is loue not that we loue God but that he loued vs and sent his sonne to be a sacrifice for our sinnes Christ in hys owne person hath purged our sinnes Christ thorow death put down him that had rule ouer death that is to say the deuill and hath made vs free from the daunger of bondage In that Christ himself suffred and was tempted he is able to succor them that are tempted We haue not an high priest which can not haue compassion on oure infyrmities but was in all poyntes tempted lyke as we are but yet without sinne Let vs therefore goe boldelye vnto the seate of grace that we may receaue mercye and fynde grace to helpe in tyme of neede Christ hath an euerlasting priesthoode Wherefore he is able also euer to saue them that come vnto God by hym forasmuch as he euer liueth to make intercession for vs. Christ being Byshop of good thinges to come came by a greater and a more perfecte tabernacle not made wyth handes that is to saye not of thys manner buildyng neyther by the bloude of Goates and Calues but by hys owne bloude he entred in once for all into the holy place and founde eternall redemption For if the bloud of Oxen and Goates and the ashes of an Heyfer when it was sprinckled purifyed the vncleane as touchyng the purifyeng of the fleshe howe muche more shall the bloude of Christ which thorowe the eternall spirite offered himselfe without spotte to God purge your consciences from dead workes to serue the liuing god And for this cause is he the mediator toure of the newe Testamente that thorow death which chaunced for the redeÌ„tion of these transgressions that were in the first Testament they which were called might receiue the promise of eternall inheritaunce Christ now in the end of the world hath appeared once for al to put sinne to flight by the offering vp of him selfe We are sanctified by the offeringe of the body of Iesu Christ once for all With one offring hath Christ made perfect for euer them that are sanctifyed Christe loued vs and washed vs from our sinnes in hys owne bloud and made vs kings and priests vnto god his father Christe liueth for euermore and hath the keyes of hell and death Christ is Lord of Lordes and king of kings and they that are on his side are cal led and chosen and faithful ☞ Examples out of the new Testament Christ is that welbeloued Sonne of god for whose sake the heauenly father is well pleased with man Christ is that kyng which forgaue the seruaunt the ten thousande talentes that be oughte Christ is that moste louyng Samaritane which healed the wounded man that was halfe dead Christ is that tender shepeheard which fetched home vnto the shepefolde euen vpon hys shoulders the lost shepe Christ is that most gentle father which wyth so great ioy and with embracinge armes receiued home againe the lost son Against suche as go about to disswade the christen people from the studying readyng or hearing of gods worde IF Sathan or any of his impes goe about to disswade thee and to plucke thy minde from studying readyng or hearyng gods woorde that thou mayest walke in darkenes and neuer come to the knowledge of the truth least by this meanes thou shouldest be saued leane not vnto hym but enarm thy selfe against his wicked teÌ„ptations with these scriptures followyng ☞ Sentences out of the olde Testament THou shalte tell thy sonne at the same dai say because of that which the lord dyd for me wheÌ„ I departed out of Egipt Therfore shall it bee a signe vnto thee in thyne hand and a token of remembrance before thine eyes that the law of the lord may be in thy mouth how that the Lord broughte thee out of Egipt with a mightye hande Speake to the children of Israell and say vnto them that they make theÌ„ gardes vpon the quarters of their garmentes amongst all your posterities and put yellow râ—…handes vpon the gardes in y e quarters And the gardes shall serue you that ye may looke vppon them and remember all the commaundements of the lord and do them y â— ye order not your selues after the meanyng yf your owne harte nor go a whoryng after your owne eyes Therefore shall ye remeÌ„ber do all my coÌ„maun dements and be holy vnto your God Take heede to thy selfe now and kepe well thy soule that thou forgette not the thynges which thine eyes haue seene and that they depart not out of thy harte all the dayes of thy lyfe And thou shalte teach them thy children and thy childers children Heare O Israell the
liuishe and mightie in operation and sharper then any two edged sworde Lay a part all filthinesse all superfluitie of maliciousnesse and receaue with mekeâ—…es y â— word that is grafted in you which is able to saue your soules And see ye be doers of the word and not hearers onely disceauinge your selues For if any heare the worde and doe it not he is like to a man that beholdeth hys bodely face in a glasse For as sone as he hath looked on hym selfe hee goeth hys waye and forgetteth forthwyth what his fashion was But who so looketh in the perfecte lawe of libertye and continueth therin if he bee not a forgetfull hearer but a doer of the worke the same shall be happy in hys dede Lay a side all malice guile and dissimulation and enuy and al backbityng and as new borne babes desire that milke not of the bodye but of the minde which is without corruption that ye may grow therin We haue a ryght sure word of prophecie wherunto if ye take heede as vnto a light that shineth in a darke place ye doe well vntill the daye dawne and the daye starre aryse in our hartes So that ye firste knowe thys that no prophecie in the scripture hath any priuate interpretation For the scripture came neuer by the will of man but holy men of God spake as they were moued by the holy ghost Whosoeuer transgresseth and abydeth not in the doctrine of Christ hath not god He that endureth in the doctrine of Christ hath both the father and the sonne If there come any to you and bring not thys learning him receaue not to house neither once bid him god spede for he that biddeth him God spede is partaker of hys euill deedes Blessed is he that readeth and heareth the wordes of the prophecte and keepeth these thinges that are written therin Blessed is he that kepeth the words of the prophecie of this booke ☞ Examples out of the new Testament THe people preased so greatlye vppon Christ to heare the word of God that he was compelled to enter into a ship and so to teach them Mary the sister of Martha sat at Iesus feete and hearde hys preaching And when Martha being greatlye combred aboute muche seruing and other worldlye busines sayd to Christ Maister doest thou not care that my sister hath leste me to minister alone Byd her therefore that she helpe me He said Martha Martha thou carest and arte troubled aboute many thinges but one thing is needefull Mary hath choseÌ„ her that good part which shall not be taken away from her Whan Christ preached in the temple all the people did hange of his mouth hearing hym Peter turned three thousande at one of hys sermons The Eunuch chamberlain and of great authoritie with Candace Queene of the Ethiopians read the Prophet Esaye sitting in his charet to whom the holy ghost sent Philip which did both expounde the Scriptures vnto him also baptised him So dere are they to God which delight in the reading of his holy word The noblest of byrth amonge them of Thessalonia which receaued the worde with all diligence of mindes searched the Scriptures dayly whether those thinges were euen so as Paule Silas preached Apollos was an eloquent man mightie in the scriptures He was informed in the way of the lord and he spake feruently in the spirite and taught diligently the thinges of the Lord and yet knewe he but the baptisme and doctrine of Iohn onely whom wheÌ„ Aquila and Priscilla his wife being lay persons had herd they toke him vnto them expounded vnto him the way of God more perfectlye in somuch that afterward he mightely ouercame the Iewes and that openly shewing by the scriptures that Iesus was Christ. Philip the Euaungelist and preacher of the gospell had foure daughters excellently learned in the holy scriptures Timothe was brought vp in the holy scriptures from his young age Against straunge religion or newe found worshipping of God IF thou be moued vnto straunge religion or new found worshipping of God eyther by Sathan by the pope or by any subtue hipocrite loke that thou by no meanes doest leane vnto their wicked motions but rather valiauntly withstaÌ„d theÌ„ with these sentences and examples of the holy scripture ☞ Sentences out of the old Testament HEare Israell your Lorde God is one God Thou shalt loue thy Lord god with all thy harte with all thy soule and with all thy strength Thou shalt feare thy Lord God and serue him alone And now Israell what doth the Lorde thy God require of thee but that thou fearest the Lorde thy God and walke in hys wayes and loue him and serue the Lorde thy Godwith all thy harte with all thy soule and kepe the commaundementes of the Lorde Doe that which is pleasaunt in y â— sight of the Lord thy God Sacrifice to the Lord the sacrifyce of righteousnesse and trust in hym I will not reproue thee in thy sacrifices sayeth theâ—… Lord for I am full of thy burnt offeringes Offer to God the sacrifice of prayse and pay to the most highest thy vowes Call on me in the day of trouble and I will deliuer thee and thou shalt honour me Heare O my people I will geue thee a charge O Israel If thou wilt heare me there shall be no straunge nor new found God in thee neither shalt thou worship any foraine God For I am the Lorde thy God which brought thee out of the lande of Egipt To doe mercy and iudgement pleaseth the Lord more than sacrifice A sacrifice well pleasing to the Lorde isto attend to hys coÌ„maundementes and to departe from all iniquities and vnrighteousnes What shall I do with all these your sacrifices sayth the Lord I am full of them The burnte offeringes of Weathers and fatlynges the bloude of Calues Lambes and Goates I will none of them When ye come before my sighte who requyred these thinges at your handes that ye shoulde walke in my courtes Bryng me no more sacrifice on thys manner in vain Your sensing is abhomination vnto me The feastes of the new Moone and the Sabbothes and other holy dayes I can not abide Your congregations are wicked Your Kalendes and your solemne feastes my soule hateth I am euen werye of them It greueth me to the hart for to suffer them When ye shall praye many prayers I will not heare you For your handes are full of bloude Bee ye washed and cleane Take awaye your euil thoughts from myne eyes Cease to do euill learne to doe well Seeke iudgement helpe the poore oppressed be fauourable to the fatherlesse defend y â— widdow and then come proue me sayth the lord If your sinnes bee as redde as scarlet yet shall they be made as whyte as snow And if they be made like purpell yet shall they be made as white as wolle If that ye will be contented
heare me ye shall eate the good fruites of y â— earth If that ye will not but prouoke me to anger the sworde shall deuoure you for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it Put your burnt offerings to your sacrifices eate the flesh For when I brought your Fathers out of the lande of Egypt I spake not one word vnto them of burnte offeringes and sacrifyces but thys I commaunded them saying heare my voyce and I shall be your God and ye shall be my people See ye walke in all the wayes that I haue commaunded you that ye may prosper I hate and vtterly defie your holy daies and where as ye sense me when ye come together I will not accept it And though ye offer me burnt offeringes yet will not I receaue your giftes Awaye from me with the noyse of thy songes for I can not abyde the hearyng of thy playeng at the Organs Prouide that equitie may followe as the water and righteousnesse as a mightie streame for in these thinges haue I delight and pleasure sayeth the Lorde I will mercy and no sacrifice sayth the Lord and the knowledge of God do I set more by then burnt offeringes What shall I offer worthy the Lorde Shall I bowe my knee to y â— hie god Shall I offer vnto him burnt sacrifices calues of a yeare olde May the Lorde be pleased with a thousande fat Weathers Or with many thousandes of lustie Goates Shall I geue my first begotten for my wickednesse Euen the fruite of my wombe for the sinne of my soule I will shewe theâ—… Oman what is good and what the Lord requireth of thee verely to do iudgement to loue mercy and carefully to walke with thy God How long will ye halte on both partes If the Lord be God follow him If Baall be God follow him ☞ Examples out of the old Testament NAdab and Abihu of a good entent offered incense to the Lord w t straunge fyre yet for all their good zeale they were consumed with fyre so that they dyed before the Lord. King Saule thought that he had done great worship vnto God when in the absence of Samuell he offered burnt offeringes but Samuell said vnto him thou hast done folishly neither hast kept the coÌ„maundements of the Lord thy God which I commaunded thee Saule also of a good zeale contrarye to the commaundement of God spared Agag the kyng of Ameleche aliue with the best and fattest flockes of sheepe oxen â—…c Pretending that he reserued them for to offer vnto the Lorde But Samuell sayd vnto him for asmuche as thou hast caste away the word of the Lord the Lord hath cast away thee that thou be no more king Willeth the Lorde burnt offringes and sacrifices and not rather that it maye be obeyed vnto his worde Obedience is better then sacrifices and to geue eare to the lordes commaundement is more then to offer the fatte of Weathers Oza thought y â— he had done God highe seruice when he stayed the Arke of God in the waine being in ieoperdie of falling but yet was y â— Lord angry with him because he touched it contrarye to hys word in so muche that he was striken and sodenlye dyed King Ozias toke vpon him to burne incense vnto the Lord thinking that by this meanes he should highlye please God but for all his pretensed holines he was strikeÌ„ with leaprosie and so being cast out of the house of the Lorde he continued a leper euen vnto his death ¶ Sentences out of the new Testament THese people draw nighe vnto me with their mouthes honour me with their lippes but their hartes are farre from me Beholde they worship me in vaine teaching doctrines euen the coÌ„maundements of men Woe be vnto you ye Scribes Pharisees yea very ipocrites which deuour widowes houses vnder the pretence of long prayer ye shall therefore receiue the more greuous dampnation God hath deliuered vs from the hand of our enemies that we should serue him in holines and righteousnes all the daies of our life The houre commeth and now it is wheÌ„ true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirite and truth for the father seketh such that should worship him God is a spirite they y â— worship hym must worship him in spirite and truth The time shall come that whosoeuer killeth you shall thinke that they do vnto God an hie good seruice God is my witnesse whom I serue in my spirite Be ye fulfylled with the spirit speaking with your selues in psalmes and hymnes spiritual songes and making melodie to the Lord in your hartes geuing thankes alwayes for all thinges vnto God in the name of the Lord Iesus Christ. Unto god king euerlasting immortall inuisible and wise only be all honour and glory for euer and euer Amen ¶ Examples out of the new Testament OUr Sauiour Christ whan he liued in thys worlde dyd all thinges according to hys heauenly fathers commaundementes as he hym selfe sayth as my father hath geuen me commaundement so doe I thys dyd he to geue vs example that in matters of religion we shoulde attempte nothing as due seruice vnto god but that only which we haue learned out of his holy worde The apostles of Christe bothe taughte and wroughte that onelye whiche they had receaued of their Lorde and maister Iesus Christ. Of these aforesaid Scriptures histories maiest thou learne that God is not worshipped as carnall reason and fleshly wisdome imagineth and prescribeth but as god by his holy worde biddeth appointeth and commaundeth A Christen man oughte to followe Christes steps and to walke as he hath walked Against mens traditions and vnwritten verities IF Sathan or any of his impes vnto the derogation of Gods glorye shall at any time tempt thee with mans tradicions or vnwritten veryties for to geue no les credite vnto them than vnto the word of God auoyde him with these scriptures ☞ Sentences out of the olde Testament YE shall not ad vnto the worde that I speake nor take ought from it Ye shall not turue vnto the right hand nor vnto the left haÌ„d but by the way that the Lord your god hath commaunded you ye shall walke that ye may liue and haue good luck Keepe the commaundementes of the Lord thy god and the testimonies and ceremonies whiche hee hathe commaunded thee and do that whiche is pleasaunt and good in the Lordes sight that thou maiest haue good luck That I coÌ„mauÌ„d thee do y â— only neither put to any thing nor take ought away Put nothing to his wordes least thou be reproued and found a lier Wo bee vnto them that cal euill good good euil which make darknes lighte and light darknes that make sower swete and sweet sower Wo be to them that are wise in their own sight and think them selues to haue vnderstanding Wo be vnto you that make vnrighteous lawes and
deuise thinges which be to harde to be kept through which the poore are oppressed on euerye side and the innocentes of my people are therewith robbed of iudgement Wo be to those shriÌ„kiÌ„g childreÌ„ saith y â— lord which seke counsel but not at me whiche take a web in haÌ„d but not after my will y â— they may heap one sinne vpon an other Thus saith the Lorde my thoughtes are not your thoughtes and your wayes are not my wayes but as farre as the heaueÌ„s are higher then the earth so far do my wayes exceade youres and my thoughtes your thoughtes Your lippes speake leasinges and your tong setteth out wickednes No man regardeth righteousnesse and no man iudgeth truly Euery man hopeth in vaine things and imagineth disceite conceiueth wickednes and bringeth forth euil They breede Cockatrices egs weaue the spiders web Whosoeuer eâ—…eth of their egs dieth but if one tread vpon them their commeth vp a serpent Their webbe maketh no cloth and they maye not couer them with their laboures Their deedes are the deedes of wickednesse and the worke of robbery is in their handes their feete runne to euill and they make haste to shed innocent bloude Theyr councels are wicked councels hate and destruction is in their wayes but y â— way of peace they know not In their goings is no equitie their waies are so crooked y â— who so goeth therin knoweth nothing of peace My people haue committed two greate euils They haue forsaken me the fountaine of liuing waters and digged them pits pits I say that are broken and can hold no water Take bâ—…de saithe the Lord ye truste in coâ—…sels that begile you do you no good Heare not the wordes of the Prophets that preach their owne dreames Heare O ye house of Israel saith the lord Is not my way right or ar not your waies rather wicked The children of thy people saye tushe the way of the Lord is not right where as their way is rather vnright Examples out of the olde Testament Ieroboam kynge of Israel contrary to gods word made two calues of gold and set them vp to be worshipped of people as their goddes but both he and his posteritie were greuously punished for it How greuously god punished al such as brought in strauÌ„ge worshippings of god or any matters concerning Idolatrye or ought els contrary to y â— word of God although y â— authors of theÌ„ made the simple people to beleeue y â— they were verities although vnwritteÌ„ as the Papistes do now adaies y â— holy scriptures in diuers places do euideÌ„tly shew namely in the bokes of the kinges and of the chronicles ☞ Sentences out of the new Testament Except your righteousnesse dooth excede the righteousnes of the Scribes and Phariseis ye can not enter into the kingdome of heauen Beware of false Prophets which câ—…me vnto you in sheepes clothing and inward ly are rauening wolues Why do ye transgresse the commaundenâ—…ent of God for your tradicions Euery plant y â— my heaueÌ„ly father hath not planted shal be plucked vp by y e rotes This is my welbeloued Sonne in whom I am wel pleased heare ye him Teache them to kepe all thinges that I haue commaunded you Ye leaue the commaundemeÌ„t of god and maintaine your owne constitutions Well ye do caste aside the commaundemeÌ„t of god to kepe your own tradicions If ye abide in my worde ye are my disciples in deede and ye shall knowe the truthe and the truthe shall make you fre He that is of god heareth the wordes of God My sheepe heare my voice I knowe them and they followe mee neither shall they at any time pearishe nor yet shall any man pluck them out of my hand He that hathe my commaundementes and kepeth them he it is that loueth mee If any man loueth me he will keepe my wordes If ye keepe my commaundementes ye shall abide in my law Ye are my frends if ye doe those things that I commaund you Euery one that is of the truthe heareth my voyce I dare not speak of any of these things that Christ hath not wrought by me I beseeche you brethern marke them that make deuision and geue occasions of euil contrarye to the doctrine y â— ye haue learned and auoid them For they that are such serue not the Lord Iesu Christe but their own bellies with swete preachiÌ„gs and flattering words deceiue the harts of the simple Though we our selues or an Angel froÌ„ Heauen preache any other Gospel to you then that whiche we haue preached vnto you holde him accursed As I saide before so say I now againe if any man preach any other thing vnto you then that ye haue receiued holde him accursed Thoughe it be but a mans testament yet no maÌ„ despiseth it or addeth any thing therto when it is once alowed How much more ought nothing to be added to the tes tament of the moste highe God nor yet be taken from it Be no more children from heÌ„ceforth wandring and caried with euerye winde of doctrine by the wilines of men crafts whereby they lay awaite for vs to deceiuâ—… vs but let vs follow the truth in loue and in all thinges growe in him whiche is thy head that is to say Christ. Caste away vngodlye olde wiues fables exercise thy self vnto godlines If any man teache otherwise is not content with the wholsome words of our Lord Iesus Christe and with the doctrine of godlines He is pufte vp knoweth no thing but wasteth his brains about questioÌ„s strife of wordes wherof spring enuye strife rayling euill surmisinges and vaine disputations of menne of corrupte mindes and destitute of the truth whiche thinke that lucre is godlynes From suche seperate thy self If any man speake let him speake as though it came of gods owne mouth Whosoeuer transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ hath not god He that endureth in the doctrine of Christ hath bothe the Father and the Sonne If there come any vnto you and bring not this lerning him receiue not to house neither bid him god spede For he that bid deth him god spede is partaker of his euil deedes Be not caried about with diuers and straunge learninges If any man addeth to these thinges god shall adde vnto hym the plages that are written in this booke And if any maÌ„ shall minish of the wordes of this boke of this Prophecy god shal take away hys parte oute of the booke of life and out of the holye citie and from those thynges which are written in this booke Examples out of the newe Testament Christ rebuketh the pharises for bringing their traditions into the churche of God by that meanes defacyng the glory of Gods most holy worde Blessed Sainct Paule reproueth them which be dead with Christ from the commaundements
faithful in the lande that they maye dwell with me and who so leadeth a godly life shal be my seruaunt There shall no deceitful person dwel in my house He that telleth lyes shall not tarye in my sight I hate the vngodlye but thy lawe O Lord do I loue My Sonne if sinners entice thee vnto wickednes leane not vnto them If they say come go with vs let vs lay awaite for bloude and conuey our selues priuely to trap the innocent Let vs swalow them vp quickly like hel and deuour the perfect like a whirle pit For thus shal we finde great ritches and garnishe oure houses with oyle Cast in thy foote among vs and let vs make a common purse My sonne walk not with them but refraine thy feete from their wayes for their feet run vnto mischiefe In vaine are nets spread abrode for birdes before their eyes For euen these men lay awaite amonge them selues one to shed anothers bloud Neither are their owne liues in sauegard amoÌ„g theÌ„ selues These are y â— pathes of couetous men amonge whome one spareth not the life of another Come not in the path of the vngodly and walk not in the waye of the wicked Eschue it and go not therin depart aside and passe ouer by it For they cannot slepe except they haue first done some mischiefe For they eat the bread of wickednesse and drink the wine of robbery The path of the righteous shineth as the light and is euer brighter and brighter vnto the perfect day But the way of the vngodly is as y â— darknes wherin men fall or they be aware Who so accompanieth the wise shall haue wisedome but he that is a companion of foles shall proue like them Trauail not by the way with him that is brainles least he doo thee euill For he foloweth his owne wilfulnes and so shalt thou pearish thorow his foly Striue not with him that is angrye and cruel go not with hiÌ„ into the wildernes for bloud is nothing in his sight and where there is no helpe hee shall murther thee Loke not vpon a woman that is desirous of many men least thou fall into her snares Use not the company of a woman that is a player and a daunser and heare her not least thou perish through her entising Beholde not a maiden that thou be not hurt in her beauty Bring not euery maÌ„ into thine house for the disceitfull layeth wait diuersly Who will haue pitie on the charmer that is stinged of the serpent or of all such as come nie the beastes Euen so is it with him that kepeth companye with a wicked man and lappeth him self in his sinnes He that toucheth pitche shal be defiled of it and he that kepeth companye with a proud person shall also become proud and stately Examples out of the olde Testament ABraham because he woulde not be partaker of their Idolatry fled from the â–ª people of Chaldea beinge his natiue country Lot at the commaundement of the An gels departed out of Sodome least he tari yng with y â— Sodomites shoulde haue ben consumed with them Sara would not suffer Ismael which was geuen to mocking to kepe company with her Sonne Isaac least he also should become a mocker Iacob would not kepe coÌ„pany with his Brother Esau althoughe greatly entreated least some wickednes shoulde thereof haue happened Moyses at Gods appointment commaunded the people to departe from the dwellinge places of Chore Dathan and Abiron least they also be wrapped in their sinnes and so pearishe among them Iosaphat king of Iuda was almost slain in the bartail because he kept company weÌ„t vnto the wars w e wicked king Achab. After his returne also he was greatlye rebuked of Iehu for so doing When all the people went to worship the Golden calues whiche Ieroboam had made Tobias onely fled awaye from the company of them all and went to Ierusalem vnto the Lordes temple and there worshipped the Lord God of Israel So long as Iudas Machabeus did put his trust in the Lord all thinges prospered wel with him but when he begaÌ„ to ioyne frendship and to kepe coÌ„pany with the hea theÌ„ the Romaines shortly after he was ouercome and slaine in battel The like thing chaunced to Ionathas ☞ Sentences out of the new Testament GO not into the wayes that lead vnto the hethen and into the Cities of the Samaritans enter ye not I beseeche you brethern marke them whiche cause deuision and geue occasions of euil contrary to the doctrine whiche ye haue learned and auoide them Do ye not know that a litle leueÌ„ sow reth the whole lump of dow Purge therfore the olde leauen that ye may be newe dow â—…s ye are swete bread I wrote vnto you that ye should not kepe company with whoremongers If any that is called a brother that is to say a Christen man bee a whoremonger or a couetouse person or a worshipper of images eyther a rayler or a dronkarde or an extorcioner with him that is suche se ye neither eat nor yet kepe company Put away from among you that euill person We require you brethern in the name of our Lorde Iesus Christe that ye withdraw your selues from euery brother that walketh inordinatlye and not after the institution which ye receiued of vs. If any teach otherwise and is not content with the wholsome words of our lord Iesu Christ with y â— doctrine of godlines he is puft vp and knoweth nothing but wasteth his braines about questions and strife of words wher of spring enuy strife railings euil surmisinges and vayne disputations of men with corrupt myndes and destitute of the truth which thinke that lucre is Godlynesse From such seperate thy selfe A man that is geuen to heresy after the fyrst and seconde admonicion auoyde Remembring that he that is such is peruerted and sinneth euen dampned by hys owne iudgement If there come any vnto you and bring not this learning hiÌ„ receaue notto house neyther byd him GOD speede For he that byddeth hym god speede is partaker of his ill dedes Examples out of the newe Testament Peter so long as he kept company with Christ and Christs disciples he concinued in the truth preached the truth confessed openly Christ to be the sonne of the liuing god and promised that he would not onely goe into prison but also vnto the verye death with Christ but when he once came into the courte into the Byshoppes house he straight wayes was striken with suche feare that a poore mayde and a symple Simme Shakebuckler made hym both to denye and also to forsweare Iesus Christ his Lord and maister whome before he had boldly so oft confessed before the worlde Saint Peter preaching to the beleuing repentaunt Iewes among other his godly exhortations commaunded them to saue themselues from the vntowarde generation of the vnfaithfull and to
be riche Accompany not with riotous drinkers and eaters for such shal come to pouerty and such sluggish slepers shal go all to rag ged Where is wo Where is wailing where is stryfe where are trappes layde where are wounds without a cause wher are bloudy eies Do not al these thinges chawnce vnto them that sit alway at the wyne and geue their mindes wholly to gulling and glossing Wo be to you that rise vp early to geue your selues to dronkennes and set al your mindes so on drinking that ye syt sweating therat vntill it be nyght The harpe the Lute the Tabour the droumslade the trumpet the shalme and plenty of wyne are at their feastes but the workes of the Lord do ye not behold neither consider ye the workes of his hand Woo be vnto you that are stronge to drinke wyne and are mighty to auaunce dronkennes Fornication wyne and dronkennes take away the hart Thorow feasting many haue died but he that eateth in meane shal prolong his life Examples out of the olde Testament Adam and Eue by satisfiyng their gredâ—… appetite in eating the forbidden fruit dyd not only transgresse the commaundement of god but also throw both themselues and al their posteritie into euerlasting daÌ„pnation if we had not bene redemed by Christ. The stinking Sodomits by geuing theÌ„ selues to inordinate eating and drinking fel vnto vnnatural lusts and so most miserably perished Thorow dronkennes Lot committed incest with his owne doughters The people of Israell geuing their mind vnto bancketting fell into Idolatry Holofernes that moste Ualeant captain being dronken was slain of a woman ☞ Sentences out of the new Testament Take heede that your hart be not ouerwhelmed with feasting and dronkenship Let vs walke honestly as in the daye tyme not in banketting and dronkennns not in chambring and wantonnes nor in strife and enuiyng but put ye on the Lord Iesus Christ. And make not prouision for the flesh to fulfil the lustes therof Banketeing add dronkennes are the workes of the flesh Be not dronken with wine wherin is lechery but ye be filled with the spirit It is a good thing that the hart be established with grace and not with meates which haue not profited them they haue had their pastime in them Dronkardes shall not inherite the kingdom of God Be ye sober and watch for your aduersary the Deuill goeth about like roaryng Lion sekyng whom he may deuour whoÌ„ see that ye resist being strong in fayth Examples out of the newe Testament Herod geuing his mynd to banketting graunted that the holy man Iohn Baptist shoulde bee beheaded at the desire of his whorishe doughter That euill seruaunte which sayth in his hart my Lord wyll be long a commyng and so begin to smite his felowes yea and to eate and drynk with the dronken The same seruauntes lord shall come in a day when hee loketh not for him and in an hour that he is not ware of and shal hew him in peces and geue him his porcion w t the Hipocrites there shall be weping and gnashyng of teath The rich gloton that fared so daintely euery day was cast downe into hel and most greuously punished Against Fornication and adultry IF at any time thou be tempted of the Deuill of the world and the flesh to defile thy selfe with fornication adultery whoredom incest or with any other vncleannes call these sentences and examples of the holy Scripture to remembraunce and valeantly resiste those most wicked temptacions Sentences out of the olde Testament Thou shalt not commit adultery Thou shalt not lye with thy neighbours wife to defile her with sede Thou shalt not make thy doughter com mon that thou wouldest cause her to bee an whore The man that breaketh wedlocke with an other mans wife euen he that breaketh wedlock with his neighbors wife let him be slain both y e aduoterer y e aduoutres If a priests daughter fall to playe the whore she defileth her father therfor must she be burnt with fyre If a man be found lying with a woman that hath a wâ—…dded husband they shall die eyther of them both the man that lay with the wife and also the wife so shalt thou 〈◊〉 away euell from Israell Cursed be he that lieth with his neighboures wise and all the people shall saye Amen There shal be no whore of the daughters of Israel nor no whoremonger of the sonnes of Israell An whore geueth swete wordes forsaketh the husbande of her youth and forgetteth the couenaunt of her god Her house is enclined vnto death and her pathes vnto hel All they that go into her come not againe nether take they hold of the way of lyfe The lips of an harlot are a dropping honye combe and her necke is softer then oyle but in the ende she is as bitter as wormewood and as sharpe as is a swerd Her feete goe downe vnto death and her steps hast them into hell Wherefore deare childe geue eare vnto me and swarue not from my wordes Fly froÌ„ her wayes and come not once so niegh â—…s vnto her dores Kepe thee from the euill woman and from the flattering tong of the harlot that thou lust not after her beauty in thine hart and leâ—…t thou be takeÌ„ with her faire lokes An harlote will make a man to beg hys breade but a maried woman wyll huntâ—… for the precious life May a man hide fire in his bosome and his clothes not be burnt Or can one go vpon coales and his feete not be hurt Euen so whosoeuer goeth into his neighbours wife and toucheth her cannot be vngilty He that is an whoremonger is a foole and bringeth his life to destruction He getteth himselfe also shame and dishonor such as shall neuer be put out He that accompanieth himselfe with an whoore shall go downe vnto hell but he that goeth away from her shal be saued He that medleth with an whore is a foole and without wit He that maintaineth whores shal come vnto beggary If mine hart hath lusted after my neighbours wife or if I haue laid waight at his doore Oh then let my wife grind vnto another man and let other men lyâ—… with her For this is a wickednes and sinne that is worthye to be punished yea a fire that should vtterly consume and 〈◊〉 out al my substaunce My sonne kepe thee well from all whor dom and beside thy wyfe see that no â—…aut be found in thee Cast not thy mind vpon harlots in any manner of thing least thou destroye both thy self and thy heritage Go not about gasinge in euery lane of the City neither wander thou abroade in the streates therof Turne away thy face from a beautifull woman and looke not vpon the fayrenes of other Sit not with another mans wife by any meanes lye not wyth her vpon the bedde make no words
their wicked liuing and exhorted them vn to repentaunce Amos at the commaundement of kinge Amassas for his preching was cruelly beaâ—…en and greuously formented At the laste Ochozias sonne of Amasias caused him to be thurste into the temples with a great nayle and being half deade he was caryed into his own countrye where he sone after died Micheas was buffeted emprisoned and fed with bread and water Examples out of the olde Testament BLessed are they that suffer persecution for righteousnes for theirs is the kingdome of heauen Blessed are ye when men reuile you perseâ—…ute you and 〈◊〉 speak all euâ—…l sayings against you for my sake Reioyce and be mery for great is your rewarde in heauen For so persecuted they the Prophets before you The scoler is not aboue the maister nor the seruant aboue his Lorde If they haue called the Father of the housholde Belzebub how much more shall they so cal them that are of his houshold Be not afrayed of them that â—…il the body but rather feare him whiche is able to destroy both body and soule in hel fire Euery one that shall confesse me before men I shall confesse him also before my fa ther whiche is in heauen But whosoeuer shal deny me before men I shall also deny him befyre my Father that is in heauen Ye shal be hated of all men for my sake Whosoeuer wil follow me let him forsake him self and take vp hys crosse and folow me For whosoeuer wil saue hislife shall lose it But whosoeuer shall lose his life for my sake and the gospelles the same shall saue it For what shall it profite a man if he winne all the world and lose his owne soule or what shall a man geue to redeÌ„ his soul w tal agaiÌ„ whosoeuer fore shal be ashamed of me and my wordes in this whorish and sinful generation of him also shall the son of man be ashamed when he commeth in the glory of his Father with the holy angels The seruaunt is not greater theÌ„ his Lord. If they haue persecuted me they will also persecute you If the world hate you know ye that it hated me before you If ye were of the world the world wold loue that is his But forasmuch as ye are not of the world but I haue choseÌ„ you out of the world therfore doth the world hate you The tyme shall come that who so euer killeth you wyll thinke that he doth God seruice Ye shal lameÌ„t and wepe but the world shal reioyce In the world ye shal haue trouble but be on a good comfort I haue ouercom the world If we suffer with Christ we shall also be glorifyed together with him I suppose that the afflictions of thys life are not worthy of the glorye whiche shal be shewed vpon vs. Blessed be God the father of our Lord Iesus Christ which is the father of 〈◊〉 and the God of al comfort which comforteth vs in all our tribulations As the afflictions of Christ are plenteous in vs euen so is our consolation pleuteous by Christ. We are not weried but though our out ward man perishe yet the in ward man is renued day by day For our trouble which is shorte and lighte prepareth an exceding and an eternall waight of glorye vnto vs while we loke not on the things which are sene but on the things which are not sene For thinges whiche are seene are temporal but things which ar not sene are euerlasting We know that if our earthly mansion of this dwelling were destroyed we haue a building of God an habitatioÌ„ not made with handes but euerlasting in heauen Unto you it is geuen not only to beleeue in Christ but also to suffer for his sake Suffer affliction as a good souldiour of Christ. If we dy wyth Christ we shal liue with him If we suffer w e him we also shalreigâ—… with him if we deny him he will also dny vs. All that wil liue godly in Christe Iesu shall suffer persecutions This is thanke woorthyâ—… if a man for conscience toward god endure grefe and suffer wrong vndescrued If when ye do wel ye suffer wrong and take it patientlye then is there thankes with God For here vnto verely were ye called Blessed are ye if any trouble happen vn to you for righteousnes sake Dearly beloued maruel not that ye are proued by fire which thing is to trye you as though some straung thing hapned vnto you but reioyce in as muche as ye are partakers of Christes passion that when his glorye appereth ye may be merye and glad If ye be railed vpon for the name of Christ happy are ye For the glory and the spirite of God resteth vpon you On theyr parte he was euill spoken of but on your parte he is glorified If any man suffer as a christian man let him not be ashamed but let him glorify god in this behalfe Let them that be trooubled according to he wil of god commit their saules to him with wel doyng as vnto a faithfull creatour Iesus to saÌ„ctify the people with his own bloud suffered without the gate Let vs go forth therfore out of the tentes and suf fer rebuk wyth him For here haue we no continuyng city but we seke on to come By many trybulations must we enter into the kingdome of heauen The holy ghost witnesseth in euery city saying that bandes and trouble abide me But none of these things moue me neyther is my lyfe dear vnto my selfe that I mighte fulfill my course with ioy and the ministration of the word whith I haue receiued of the Lord Iesu to testify the Gospell of the grace of God I am ready not to be bounde only but also to dy for the name of the Lord Iesu. Blessed are the deade that dye in the Lorde euen so sayth the spirite that from henceforth they reaste from their labours But theyr worke folow them Examples out of the new Testamen IOhn Baptist for truth telling to kinge Herod was cast into prisoÌ„ beheaded Iesus Christ our Lord and sauiour after many blasphemies rebukes slaunders and bitter tormentes suffered the moste spitefull deathe of the crosse and so entred into glory The holy marter S. Stephen was stoned vnto death Iames y â— brother of Iohn was beheded What kindnes Peter and Paule wyth the apostles found at the handes of them whose saluatioÌ„ they most diligeÌ„tly sought the histories make mencion Neither I heare speak of those blessed Marters which sence their dayes haue dyed for the confession of gods truthe so that the gospell is not without a cause called of blessed Paul the word of the crosse For all that wil liue godly in Christ Ie su saith he shall suffer persecution I saw saith Sainct Iohn vnder the altar the soules of them that were killed for the woord of god and for the testimonyâ—… whiche they
had lost his sight grudged not aginst god that the plage of blindnes chaunsed vnto him but remained stedfast in the feare of god and thanked God â—…l the dayes of his life Ezechias being warned of God by the Prophet to prepare himselfe vnto deathâ—… death prayed vnto god in the time of hys sicknes and obtained fifteene yeres longer to liue Manasses being afore an Idolatour a maintayner of Idolatry after that god had plagued â—…i euen wheÌ„ he was in tribulatioÌ„ He besoght y e Lord his god humbled him self excedingly before y â— god of his fathers made intercessioÌ„ to him He hard his pray er brought him againe to Ierusalem into hys kingdome Examples out of the new Testament IF any man wil come after me let hi for sake him self take his cros folow me By manye tribulations must we enter into the kingdome of heauen â–ª We reioyce in tribulatioÌ„ for we know that tribulation bringeth experience experience bringeth hope and hope maketh not ashamed If we suffer together we shal be gloryfied together For I suppose that the afflictions of this life ar not worthy of y â— glory which shal be shewed vpon vs. Be patient in tribulation If we liue we liue to be at the lords wil And if we dye we dy at y â— Lords wil whether we liue therfore or dy we are y â— lords While we are punished we are corrected of the Lord lest we shuld with this world be condemned We are not weried but though our ont warde man perishe yet the inwarde man is renewed day by day For our exceading tribulation whiche is shorte and lyghte prepareth an excedinge and euerlastinge weyght of glory vnto vs while we loke not on the thinges whiche are seene but on the thynges that are not seenne For thinges whiche are seene are temporall but things which are not seÌ„e are eternall Reade the fist Chapter of the seconde to the Corinth My strength is made perfect thorowe weaknesse Uery gladlye therfore will I reioyce of my weakenes that the strength of Christe maye dwell in me c. Reade the. 12. chapter to the Hebrues Be pacient aud settle your hartes for the commyng of the Lord draweth nye Take the Prophetes for an example of suffring aduersitie and of long patience whiche spake in the name of the Lorde Be hold we count them happy which endure â—…e haue heard of the patience of Iob and haue knowne what end the Lorde made for the Lord is very pitiful and mercifull The Lord knoweth how to deliuer the godly out of temptacion Examples out of the newe Testament The prodigall sonne before hee was plagued gaue his mind to all kind of riot and vnthriftye rule but after that he was striken with pouertye he knowledged his faulte he submited himself to his fathers wil pleasure and so was receued again into fauour A certayne man after he had bene punished with sicknes for his sin by the space of thirty eight yeares was made whole of Christe There haue bene many good men both in the olde new testament of whom som were racked and woulde not be deliuered that that they might receiue a better resurrection some tasted of mockinges and scourgings some of bondes and emprisonmente some were hewen a sunder were tempted were slayne wyth swoordes walked vp and down in sheues skinnes in goates skins in neede in tribulation and vexatioÌ„ which the world was not worthy of they wandred in wildernes in mountaynes in dens in caues of the earth c. ☞ Against the temptation of the deuel for not satisfiing the lawe of god and for nby sinfull liuinge If Sathan at the houre of death or any other timet would pluck the from thine assuered stedfast faith in Christs bloud and perswade thee that thou art but a dampned wretch forasmuch as thou hast not so trayned thy life that thou hast satisfied the law of God but rather liued wiakedly and therfore deserued euerlasting damnation be on good comfort desâ—… paire not harken not to this wicked suggestions neither haue thou respecte to thy workes deedes which whan they be moste righteous and pure ax as the Prophet saith like a cloth polluted with mâ—… strue if they be coÌ„pared to that puritye and cleanes whiche the law requireth and shoulde be iudged of Gods righteousnes according to their desarts but settle thine eyes stedfast on Christ and his merites consideringe not what thou haste doone but what Christ hath done for thee if thou repent and beleuâ—… and alwayes haue these moste comfortable Scriptures in thy remembrance Sentences out of the olde Testament AL they that put their trust in thee shall not be put io confusion Call to remem braÌ„ce O Lord thy tender mercies and thy louing kindnes which haue bene euer of olde Oh remember not the sins offences of my youth but accordinge vnto thy mercy thincke thou vpon me O Lord for thy goodnes sake Mine eyes are euer looking vnto the Lord for he shal plucke my feete out of the net Because he hath put his trust in me I wil deliuer him I wil defeÌ„d him because he hath knowne my name Reade the. 104. Psalme I know that thou wouldst maliciously offend sayth God Therfore haue I called thee a transgressoure euen from my mothers womb Neuertheles for my names sake I will withdrawe my wrath and it shal be for my honours sake if I patiently forbeare thee and roote thee not out By the knowledge of him whiche is my righteous seruaunte sayth God the father of christ He shal iustefy the multitude forasmuch as he hath borne away theyr sins To know thee O Lord is perfect righte ousnes yea to know thy righteousnes and power is the roote of immortality Examples out of the olde Testament Adam transgressed theÌ„ commaundement of God in Paradise and by his transgression made both hymselfe and all vs bound to eternall dampnation Nohe fell into the sinne of dronkennes Lot was not onelye dronken but also lay with his owne daughters and so committed the greuous sinne of incest Abraham denied his wife Moses committed manslaughter Dauid committed both manslaughter and whoredome Salomon was an idolator All these wyth manye other of the olde Testament were sinners and offended the Lord their God by breaking of his lawes yet for theyr fayth whiche they had in that blessed seede which was so oft promised of God the father euen Iesus Christe they were saued Sentences out of the newe Testament We are not vnder the law but vnder grace The law of the spirite that bringeth life thorow Iesu Christ hath made me free froÌ„ the law of sinne and death Christ is the perfect fulfilling of the lawe to iustefy all that beleue No man is iustefied by the law in the sight of god The iust that is the faithful christian shall
liue by faithe Christ hath deliuered vs from the curse of the lawe whyle he was made accursed for vs. As manye of you as are iustified by the lawe are fallen from grace We loke for and hope in the spirite to be iukified thorowe fayth Christ is our peace he hath broken down the walle that was a stop betwene vs he hath also put awaye thorow his fleshe the cause of hatred that is to say the lawe of commaundementes contained in the lawe written be so making peace hath reconciled vs to God thorow his crosse Christe hath put oute the band wrighting that was agaynst vs contained in the lawe written and that hath he taken out of the way and hath fastned it to his crosse and hathe spoyled rule power and hath made a shew of them openly and hath triumphed ouor them in his owne person Be it knowne to you ye men and brethren that thorowe this manne Christ Is preached vnto you the forgeuenes of sinnes and that by him all that beleue at iustified from al things from the whiche â—… could not be iustified by the law of Moses Examples out of the new Testament MAthew was a tol gatherer The Apostles were ambicious and did striue amoÌ„g them who should be highest and of greatest authoritye Mary Magdalen was a greuouse sinner Peter denied and forsoke Christ thrise Paule persecuted the congregation of Christe Al these yea and why not transgressed the lawe of God for as Christ sayth Moses hath geuen you a law and yet none of you do fulfil it not with standing for theyr repentance and fayth in Christes bloud they obteyned remission for their sinnes and are made the sonnes of God heires of God felow heyres with christe of euerlastinge glory For if righteousnes come by the lawe then died Christ in vayne but euerlâ—…sting life is y â— gieft of God thorow Iesus Christ our Lord. Against disperation for thy late conuersion and turning vnto God IF Sathan lay to thy charge that thou commest very late and turneste vnto God out of tyme and therefore there is no hope to bee looked 〈◊〉 set these scriptures before thine eyes and euer remember that there is no conuersion vnto God to late in this life â—…f it come of faith but at whatsoeuer houre a sinneâ—… repenteth beleueth and turneth vnto God he is well accepted and freely receiueth remission of all his sinnes ☞ Sentences out of the olde Testament Let the vngodly man forsake hys owne wayes and the vnrighteous his owne imaginat ions and turne againe vnto the Lord so shal he be merciful vnto him to our God for he is very ready to forgeue Returne O thou rebel Israel saith the lord and I wil not turne awaye my face from you For I am holy sayth the lord I wil not turne away my face from you For I am holy saith the Lorde and I wyll not be angry for euermore As truely as I liue saith the Lord god I haue no pleasure in the death of the wic ked but much rather that the wicked turne from his way and liue Turne you turne you from youre vngodlye waies O ye of the house of Israell Oh wherefore will ye die The wickednes of the wicked shal not hurt him whensoeuer hee conuerteth from his vngodlines If the wicked shal repente him and turn from al his sins which he hath wroughte and shal kepe all my precepts and do iudg ment and righteousnes he shall liue and shall not dye I will not remember all his iniquities which he hath wronght In his righteousnes which he hath wroght shall he liue It is not my will saith the lorde that the wicked should dye and not rather that he shoulde turne from hys wayes and liue Turne and repent ye from al your iniquities and your iniquityes shall work you no displeasure Cast away from you all youre wickednesse wherein ye haue offended make you a newe hearte and new spirite And wherfore wyl ye die O ye house of Israell For I wyll not that any man should dye sayeth the Lord. Returne therfore and liue Turne to the Lord youre God for he is great and merciful pacient and of much kindnes and redye at all tymes to forgeue yea eueÌ„ wheÌ„ he is at the point to punish At all tymes when a sinner turneth vnto me sayth the lord I wyll no more beare hys iniquityes in my mynde but freely forgeue them God appointeth here no time of our coÌ„ uersion but whensoeuer we turne he pro miseth vs fauour life mercy and forgeuenes of sinne Examples out of the olde Testament After that the Prophete Nathan at the coÌ„maundement of god had rebuked kinge Dauid for his dissolute manner of liuing Dauid strait waies with a sorowful repen taunt hart turned vnto the Lord and huÌ„bly confessed his sinnes saying I haue offended the Lord. The Prophet immediatly answered the Lord also hath put away thy sinne Dauid did not so sone conuerte but that he was as sone forgeuen to signifie vnto vs that at what so euer time wee vnfainedly turne vnto the Lorde our god he will haue mercy on vs and forgeue vs. The Niniuites for theire abhominable liuyng were thretned vtterly to be destroi ed within forty dayes but they falling vnto repentaunce and turning vnto the lord theire GOD were forgeuen spared and not destroyed Sentences out of the new Testament They that are whole haue no nede of a Phisicion but they that are sicke I came not to call the righteous but sinners vnto repentaunce Come vnto me all ye that laboure and are laden and I shall refreshe you Heere Christ prescribeth no time he only biddeth vs come and be the burthens of our sinnes neuer so greuous and heauy yet wyll be ease vs of them The Sonne of man came to seeke and saue that which was lost God wil haue all men to be saued and to come to the knowledge of the truthe If any man sinneth we haue an aduocate with god the father Iesus Christ y e righte ous one And he it is that obtaineth mercy for our sinnes not for our sinnes onely but for all the worldes Examples out of the new Testament The labourers in the Lordes vineyarde that came last of all receiued their peny sâ—…wel as they that came in the morning nei ther had one more then another The history of the thefe which was ful of wicked deedes and neuer turned vnto God vntil the very houre of his deathe declareth manifestlye that there is no con uersion in this life to late if it be accompanied with true repentaunce and vnfained fayth The thief hanging on the crosse and at the poynt of death onlye sayd to Christ Lorde remenber me when thou coÌ„mest into thy kingdome And Christ wel acceptiÌ„g his conuersion sayd vnto him truly I say vnto thee this day shalt thou be with me
in Paradise Against sinne death and hell IF Sathan in the time of sicknes or els whaÌ„ goe about to fray thee to quenche thy spirit either with the greatnes of thy sinnes or els with the error and fearcenes of death and hell be not dismayd but with a lustye courage resiste his temptations with these most swete and comfortable scriptures Sentences out of the olde Testament I am he indede sayth god he which puteth away thy sinnes yea that for myne own sake will remeÌ„ber them no more As for thine offeÌ„ces I haue driuen theÌ„ away like the cloudes and thy sinnes as the miste Turne thee againe vnto me for I haue redemed thee Where is ther such a god as thou artâ—… that pardonest wickednes and forgeuest the offences of the remnaunt of thine heritage He keepeth not his wrathe for euer And why for his delighte is to haue compassion He shall turne againe and be mercifull to vs hee shall putte downe our wickednes and caste al our sinnes into the bottome of the sea Out of the power of death sayth the lord wil I deliuer them yea from the death it self wil I redeme them O death I will be thy death O hel I wil swallow thee vp Examples out of the olde Testament That holy king and prophet Dauid being fully perswaded that by Christ which was to come Sathans head was broken a sunder sinne was vanquished death was ouercome hell was swalowed vp that they could nothinge hurt that faythful man lamented sorowed that he continued so long in this vale of misery and moste hartelye wished to be deliuered out of thys prison and to goe vnto the Lord his God That godly and aunciente father Toby knowing that neither sinne death nor hell can do any thing against gods choseÌ„ people which in Christe haue gotten the victory ouer them al so that they nede not to feare death nor anye thing to come after this life praied to god on this maner Nowe O lord drale with me according to thy wyl and commauÌ„d my spirite to be receiued in peace for more expedient were it for me to dye than to liue Sentences out of the new Testament CHriste shall saue hys people from their sinnes Behold the Lambe of God that taketh away the sinnes of the world There is no damnation to theÌ„ that are graft in Christ Iesu. Christe came into the worlde to saue sinners The bloud of Iesu Christe maketh vs cleane from all synne Thorow the name of Christ al Prophets beare witnes that so many as beleue in him shal receiue remissioÌ„ of their sinnes Death is swalowed vp into victory Wher is thy sting O death Wher is thy victory O hell The sting of deathe is sinne and the power of sin is the lawe But thankes bee to God which hath geuen vs the victory thorow our Lord Iesus Christ. By death hath Christ put him to flight that had lordshippe ouer deathe that is to saye the Deuill that he myght delyuer them which thorow the fear of death were all theyr lyfe tyme in daunger of bondage Examples out of the new Testament SO sone as the auncient father Simeon had seene and receiued Christe into his armes he fering neither sin death nor hel shewed himselfe redy to depart out of this world and spake with a ioyful voice O Lord now lettest thou thy seruaunte depart in peace c. Blessed Paule knowing that thorowe Christ the power of synne death and hel is so altogether weekened that they can do the faithful no harme wished to be losoned out of this world and to be with Christ. ¶ Against them that deny the resurrection of the body IF that olde enemy Sathan labour to perswade thee that there is no resurrection of the dead but as the bodye returneth to death so shall it for euer continue in the earth neuer receiue lyfe again nor line either in glory or in peace after this present life that therfore thou maiest liue as thou iust defende thy selfe against his cruel assaults 〈◊〉 these senteÌ„ces exaÌ„ples of the holy scripture Sentences out of the olde Testament The Lorde killeth and maketh alyue againe bringeth downe to the graue and stretchetâ—… vp againe I am sure that my redemer liueth and that I shall rise out of the earth in the latter day and that I shall be clothed againe with this skinne and see god in my flesh yea I my self shall beholde him not wyth other but with these same eyes These that be deade will I raise vp againe from their places and bringe them out of the graues Thy dead shall liue euen with my body shall they rise againe Awake and singe ye that dwel in the dust For thy dew is euen as the dew of hearbes and the earthe shall cast out of her them that be vnder her the earth shall disclose her own bloud and shal no more hide â—…em that are slaine in her Your bones shall florish like an herbe Beholde saith god I wil put breath in to you that ye may liue I wil geue you sinowes and make fleshe growe vpon you and couer you ouer with skin and so geue you breath that ye may liue knowe that I am the Lord. Thus saith the Lord god behold I wil open your graues O my peo ple and take you out of your Sepulchres Many of them that slepe in the duste of the earth shall awake some to euerlasting life some to perpetuall shame and reproofe Examples out of the olde Mestament THe Prophet Helias raised vp froÌ„ death vnto life the Sonne of the widdow of Sarepta which is in Sidon Helizeus obtained of God a Childe for his Hostesse which dyed and as afterward by the prayer of Helizeus raysed vnto life Read and mark diligently the 37. Chapiter of Ezechiel A certaine woman with her 7. Children were cruellye put to death because they would not eate swines flesh contrary to gods worde at the commaundement of the kinge The seconde of the brethren saide vnto the kinge thou moste vngracious person puttest vs now to deathe but the kinge of the worlde shall raise vs vp which dy for his lawes into resurrection of euerlasting life The mother of the 7. Children sayde thus vnto them I cannot tel how ye â—…am in my woÌ„be for I neither gaue you breath nor soule no nor life It is not I that ioyned the members of youre bodyes together but the maker of the worlde whiche fashioned the birth of man and began all thinges Euen he also of his owne mercye shall geue you breath and life againe like as ye now regard not your own selues for his lawes sake ☞ Sentences out of the newe Testament AS touching the resurrection of y â— dead haue ye not reade what is said vnto you of god which saieth I am Abrahams god and Isaackes god and god is not the god of
be temperate in eatyng and drinking And of so honest and cleanly coÌ„uersation that we geue no man occasion of euyll Graunte nowe that in steade of our old fayned works we may be occupied with suche fruites of thy holy spirite as thy worde maketh mencion of GrauÌ„te now that according to the wholsom monition of thy blessed apostle Peter and of al the scripture besyde we may be faithful true obedieÌ„t vnto the king our soueraigne Lord and Supreme head immediatly vnder Christ. And not only vnto al such officers as be seÌ„t of him but also vnto al such wholsoÌ„ lawes iniunetions as by his autority be made for y e tranquilt ty and wealth of vs his subiects Graunt now that we al may encrease in y e knowledg of the that our youth may be brought vp in vertue that children may obey their fathers mothers that seruauntes may be true to their maisters that landlordes may be gentle to their tenantes that husbands may be louing to their wiues and wiues likewise to their husbandes that men may kepe their houshold in the feare knowledge of thee y e idle people may be set to labour that al such as be poore in dede may be wel and louingly prouided for Graunt y e for the loue of thee we may fede y â— huÌ„gry geue drink to y â— thirsty cloth y e naked geue lodging to theÌ„ that be harbourlesse â—…urye the dead visite theÌ„ that be in prison helpe such as be in sycknesse Finally graunt now most mercifull father that whatsoeuer thou forbiddest we may forbeare it and whatsoeuer thou â–ª coÌ„maundest we may euery one in his calling performe the same and so coÌ„tinue in thy seruice till our liues ends that al our thoughts words deds may redound vn to y e glory of thee now euermore AmeÌ„ Thankes be geuen to God Obedience vnto our Princeâ—… and loue to our neighboures For the Cytie or towne wherin thou dwellest EXcept thou O mercifull lorde God almighty kepe the citye the watchmen wake but in vain that kepe it Therfor O lord god send thy holy spirit into y â— harts of them which rule our citye or town to the intent that we with them they with vs may liue in thy godlye feare so that it may goe well with vs. And suffer vs not good Lord to put our truste any more in worldly power as money horse weapon artillery gunnes or strong walles but much rather in thee which arte adefender of al them that put their whole affiaunce and trust in thee For kinges Princes and Rulars O Lord of Lords Iesus Christ thou art an example and glasse or myror of theÌ„ which gouern and beare rule of realmes couÌ„treis cities whome they ought to folowe for thou art the best and the wisest and therfore canst thou not erre nor doe any other thing but wel Uouchsafe with the lyghte of thy clearnes and wyth the fyre of thy loue to kindle the hartes of al such as thou through thy godly prouideÌ„ce hast instituted and ordayned to be rulers ouer the people to the intent that they through thee as by a fore going light may see and perceiue what is best to be done and fulfyl the same and that they taking thee alwaies for a sure mark of their eye do not that thing which only semeth good in their syghte but that which may be to thy honour to our profitte and to their health and saluation to the intent also that they may iustly and duly minister execute their office geueÌ„ vnto theÌ„ of thee so that we with theÌ„ they with vs maye lead a peaceable vertuous and quiet life So be it Wheu thou goest to thy labour or worke O Most kynd and gentle heauenly father thou knowest and hast taught vs how great the weakenes of man is so that no man without thy godly helpe can do any thing Thus voâ—…chiafe to send vs thy ho ly spirit y e he may strengtheÌ„ styrre indu our vnderstaÌ„ding reasoÌ„ in al things y e we this daye outwardlye shal goe aboute take in hande or it that we in wardlye shall think or haue in minde to the intent that it may be done to thy glorye and to y â— profite of our neighbour A Prayer for a godly life IT greatly greueth vs O mercifull Father and euerlasting God that we thorow the greâ—…ous and continuall assaults of our enemies are not able to passe ouer our yeres in this worlde with such puritie of life as we ought and as thou requirest of vs. Uerely we are on euery parte so besieged and compassed round about of oure aduersaries that scarsely at any time we can be free from their pestiferous deadly darts nor yet haue so much respite as once to breath toward true godlines Oh moste louing Lord thou art our Father and we thy children conuenient therfore is it that we thy children represent and openlye declare in oure conuersation the maners of thee our father Thou art good gentle louing suffring holy righteous faithful c. It therfore becommeth vs thy children in our liuing to practise goodnes gentlenes loue charitie mercy patience longe suffering holines righteousnes faith c ¶ Thou haste geuen vs an example that euen as thou hast done so we likewise should do If we say we dwell in thee we ought to walke as thou haste walked For thou hast called vs not to vnclennes but vnto holines Thou hast deliuered vs from y â— power of our enemies that we being w tout feare should serue theâ—… in holines and righteous nes all the dayes of our life The bloude of thy sonne Iesu Christe hath clensed vs from al sinne net that we shoulde continue in darkenes but rather walke in the light as thou art in light Thy louing kindnes hath appeared vnto all men not that we shoulde followe vngodlines and worldly iustes but that we should liue soberly righteously and godly in this present worlde Thou diddest chose vs in Christ before the foundacions of the world were layde that we should be holy and without blame before thee through him We are thy workemanship created in Christ Iesu vnto all good woorkes which thou ordayneste afore that wee shoulde walke in them Forasmuche then as all the benefytes which thou haste bestowed vppon vs are geuen vnto this eâ—…de that we should walk worthy of thy kindnesse represent thy maners in our coÌ„uersation mortifye the fleshe and the lustes thereof haue nothing to do with Sathan nor the world but leade a good life garnished full of good workes and in all pointes fashioned after the rule of thy blessed words we moste hartely pray thee to endue vs with thy holy spirit which may take away our stony hart and geue vs a new fleshly and soft harte kil that olde man in vs whiche is corrupt thorow deceiuable lustes and fashion in vs that new man which is made after thy image
and likenes in righteousnes true holines Suffer vs not to geue ouer our selues againe vnto our olde lusts and concâ—…piscences where with we were led when we knewe not thee nor thy Soâ—… Christe but eueÌ„ as thou whiche hast called vs art holy so likewise graunt y t we mayâ—… be holy in all our conuersation O mercyful god not the hearers of thy law but thâ—… fulâ—…llers of it shal be iustified Neither shaâ—… euery one that saith vnto thee Lord Lord enter into the kingdom of heaueÌ„ but the that do the wil of thee our Father which art in Heauen To confes thee with our mouth and to deny thee with our deedes worketh rather our damnation then saluation For the true knowledge of thee consisteth not in talking but in working not in fauouringe but in folowinge not in louinge but in liuinge To promise thee by mouth that we wil worke in thy vineyarde and yet worke nothing at all declareth not vs to bee thy sonnes but rather bastardes To bragge of the iustification of faith and not to bringe forthe the fruites therof to glorye in the merites of thy sonne Christe in his bloude death and passion and not to liue worthy in his kind nesse to profes thy holy gospel and not to walk according to the doctrine thereof to be baptised in thy name and not to mortiâ—…y our members which are of the earth nor to walke in a new life to be partakers of the deuine misteries and not to bee made one spyryte wyth thee what auayleth it Wee are thy freendes if wee doo those thinges that thou commaundest vs. We are thy seruauntes if we be obediente to thy will Wee are thy Sonnes if we honour and reuerence thee according to thy woord We seeke thy glory if we attempt nothing whereof thou shouldest be dyshonoured Leadinge a life confirmable to thy blessed will wee shall prouoke the ve ry enemies of thy truth to prayse thee but coÌ„trariwise thou shalt be euel spoken of Graunt therfore we beseech thee that our life may answer to our professioÌ„ and that the light of our good workes may so shine before men that they seinge our godly coÌ„uersation may gloryfye thee our heauenly father Amen ¶ A short praier to be sayd at the receiuing of the mystery of Christes bodye at the holy communnion O Heauenly and blessed father I render vnto thee most harty thanks for all thy benefites which thou hast shewed vnto me most wretched sinner but specially for y â— most swete smeling sacrifice which thy only begotten son offred vnto thee on the aulter of the crosse by geuing his most pure and vndefiled body vnto the deth for the redemption of mankind in the remenbraunce wherof according to thy welbeloned sonnes ordinance I now receiue this holy bread most entierly beseching thee y e I may both be partaker of the merites of thy deare sonnes body breaking and also lead a life worthy of so great a benefit vnto the glorye of thy name Amen A Prayer to be sayd at the receyuing of the mistery of Christs bloud in the holy communion O Blessed and merciful Father thy loue toward me sinful creature is so exceading great and vnspeakeable that I cannot but geue vnto thee most huÌ„ble thaÌ„ks â–ª namely for the sheding of the moste precious bloud of thy dear Sonne Iesu Christ by the vertue wherof thy wrath stirred vp against mee wretched sinner is pacified My raunsome is payed the lawe is fulfilled my enemies are ouercome and put to flight In remembraunce of this so noble a victorye and of so great a benefite I am come to this thy table O mercifull father to drink of this cup. Desiring thee that as my outward man is comforted by the drinking of this wine so likewise my inward man may be comforted and made stronge by true faith in the precious bloude of thy moste deare son O Lord my heauenly father geue me thy holy spirit which may so rule and gouerne my hart that I neuer be vnthankful nor forgetful of this thine exceading great kindnesse But so traine my life according to thy blessed wil that what soeuer I do speake or thinke may be vnto the glory of thy blessed name and the helth of my soule thorowe Iesu Christe oure Lord. Amen For all them whiche lye in the extreme panges of death or otherwise O Pitiful Phisicion and healer bothe of soul and body Christ Iesu Uouch safe to cast thine eyes vpon this poore sinfull creature Nâ—… who lyeth heere captiue and bouÌ„d with sicknes turning his weaknes to thy glory and to his helth And bout safe good Lorde to send him pacience and sufferance that he maye with a true and perfect faith fight manfully against all teÌ„tations of the Deuil that he maye no longer continue So be it ☞ A confession for all people to be sayd in the morning O Merciful and most louing father whose loue is infinite whose mercy endurethe for euer We sinful creatures trustinge in thine vnspeakable goodnes and loue towards vs do appeare this morninge before thy deuine maiesty most lowlye confessing our manifolde sinnes and in innumerable transgressions of thy commaundements and fatherly wil. Against thee onlye against thee O Lorde haue we sinned therfore we confesse our sinnes we knowledge our offences we accuse our selues vnto the O mercifull Lord and wil not hied our vnrighteousnes We find in our selues nothing but ignoraunce of thy wil disobedience mistrust doubtfulnes in thy goodnes incredulitie hatred and con tempt of al spiritual thinges selfloue con fidence in our selues and fâ—…ruent lustinge after carnal thinges of this worlde And this tree of our corrupt nature bringethe forthe continually in vs none other fruit but rotten and vnsauery workes of the flesh in thoughtes wordes â–ª and doinges vnto condemnation Wherfore we humbly besech thy fatherly goodnes euen for thy sonne Iesus christes sake whom thou hast set forth for a purchaser toÌ„wardes vs of mercy throughe faithe in his bloude to make our hearts cleane Take away our stony hartes and geue vnto vs a true and a liuelye taith whichshal worke continually by loue through Christe Haue mercy vpon vs forgeue vs our sins for thy sons sake Certefy our coÌ„science of remission of the same by thy holy spirit by whose operation we maye so mortefye in vs our old man the whole body of sinne that we continually dyinge vnto sinne may walke in newnes of life to the glory of thy name through Iesus Christ our lorde So be it Then say this 86. Psalme treatably BOw downe thyne eare O Lord and heare me for I am pore and in misery O preserue my soule for I am holye my God saue thy seruant that putteth his trust in thee Be mercifull vnto me O Lorde for I will call dayly vpon thee Comforte the soule of thy seruaunt vnto thee O lord do I lift vp my soule For thou lord art good and gracious and of great mercy vnto all them that cal vpon thee