hauiÌ„ge experience prayeth on this maÌ„ner open myne eyes I shall consyder y e meruelous thynges of thy lawe To walke in this lyght Christe exhorteth vs sayeng walke whyle ye haue lyght vnles y e darkenes come on you He that walkethe in darkenes wotteth not whither he gothe Whyle ye haue lyght beleue on the lyghte that ye maye be the chyldreÌ„ of lyghte So many as be of God loue this lyght of y â— LORDES word and desyre with all theyr herte to walke iÌ„ it But they that be of Satan hate it refuse to walke in it Why so Uerely for they are beast lyke mynded styffe necked in all thynges resist the holy Ghost The lyght they hate be it neuer so pleasaunt wholesome but the darkenes they enhalse loue kysse kull be it neuer so tedious and horrible Therfore shall they receaue y â— greater daÌ„nacion as Christ wytnesseth sayengâ— thys is the condemnacion that lyght came into the worlde men loued darkenes rather then lyght For theyr workes were euel Euery one that doth euell hate the the lyght neyther commeth he to y e lyght vnles his workes shoulde be reproued O howe blessed are they to whome it is gyuen to walke in thys lyght Agayne howe miserable wretched vnhappy are they y â— speare theyr eyes at the commynge of this confortable light wyl not only not walke in it theÌ„ selues but also laboure to the vttermooste of theyr power to obscure quenche it that it maye appeare shyne to none at all These are those people whiche as the Prophet saythe prouoke God to anger Theise are the lyenge and vnfaythefull chyldren Theyse are the chyldren that wyll not heare the lawe of the LORDE These are they which say to them that se se not to them that looke looke not for vs those thinges that are right Speke vnto vs pleasauÌ„t thiÌ„ges preach vnto vs tales of Robyn hood take awaye from vs the right way go out of the pathe and away with that holy one of Israel froÌ„ our face Theise are they which hate hym that reproueth theÌ„ openly and abhore hym that telleth the truethe playnely Theise are they which call euell good good euell darkenes lyght lyght darkenes bytter swete swete bitter These are they whiche are wyse in theyr owne eyes and stonde wel in theyr owne coÌ„ceate But agaynst all such as contemne the holy scriptures cast awaye the law of theyr LORDE God wyllynge neither to enter theÌ„ selues nor yet suffryng other christ intonateth and thoÌ„derethe on this maÌ„ner wo be to you lawers for ye haue taken awaye the key of knowledge ye haue not onlye not entred in but ye haue also forbidden them that entend to enter But without doubte they shal no leÌ„ger preuayle For y e daye of the LORDE is at hand whan he shall breake Satans head destroye bothe him all his ministers with the breath of his mouth For he wyll no lenger sufferre thys great wickednes hygh abhominacion He wyll be knowne for y e God Sauiour alone He is that LORD which alone wyll be exalted and all Idolles shall be vtterlye broken on peces He is that God whiche wyll no lenger suffer his glorye to be attributed gyuen to other He is y e lawer which wyl expulse the darkenesses of mennes tradicions that fyghte with his infallible verite brynge in the glorious lyght of his moost holye worde To be shorte he wyll detecte and ouerthrowe all the Idols that obscure his glory and set vp his blyssed name to be praysed and magnyefyed for euer and euer So be it Of this thynge haue we experience euen at this tyme in y e whiche that LORDE of puissaÌ„ce hath moost puissantly by his derely beloued seruant Henry our moost vertuous godlye Kynge subuerted topledde downe and ouerthrowne a great parte of Antechristes kyngedome so that by his diuine polecy godlye enterpryse that great whore of Babylon the mother of all whore dome abhominacions of the erth hath loste her chefe glory renome is nowe become so vile that she is euen made the habitacion of diuelles the holde of all fowle spirites a cage of all vncleane hatefull byrdes So that no man nowe wyl once by ony of her mâ—rchaundyse And wythoute doubte the tyme is at hande that Babylon shall haue such a faull that it shall not be able after this at onye tyme to be repared For the mouthe of the LORDE hath spoken it whiche is faythfull in all his wordes whose trueth abydeth for euer euer Neyther caÌ„ this prophecy of Christ be made frustrate by ony humayne polecy Euery plante that my heauenly father hath not planted shall be plucked vp by y e rootes Who reioysethe not to heare these thinges yea who triumpheth not to se theÌ„ Blyssed are we to whome it hath chaunsed not only to heare these thinges ioyefully but also to se them pleasauntly which hereafter shall vndoubtedly se such thynges mo as shall may be able to prouoke onye faythefull herte seriouslye to reioyse Uerelye althoughe we be occasioned dyuers wayes to gyue God immortal thaÌ„kes for dyuers gyftes yet me thiÌ„ke we are most highly bouÌ„d to be thaÌ„kefull for y e reâ—â—â—â—ucioÌ„ of his moste holy worde in these our dayes And wo worth them that be vnthanckefull in this behalfe excepte they repent and amende The Scriptures shewe howe y t in y e tyme of kyng Salomon there was so great pleÌ„te of syluer at Ierusalem as there was of stones in the stretes What carnall manne would not haue delyghted to inhabite hymselfe there Yet verely in my iudgement we do farre excell y e glorious abundans of Salomon all hys in mundane treasures to whome it is gyuen not only to florysh with worldely goodes but also wyth the incomparable treasures of the spirite So that our condicion at this present doth not a lytle excede passe the state of those Israelites which lyued so gloriously vnder the empyre and dominion of Salomon Certes as concernynge my selfe let God be but a lytle mercifull vnto me yf I had not rather chose to lyue vnder this our moost Christen kynge withe that lytle nothinge that I haue to enioye the benefyte of Goddes worde than to liâ—e vnder SalomoÌ„ if he were now alyue there to abunde with all affluence plente of all worldly rytches I am sufficieÌ„tly rytch so loÌ„ge as I haue y e rytches of Gods word w t me And I doubte not but that of this opinion are so many as tender the glory of God the helthe of theyr owne soules Nowe seynge y e this incoÌ„parable treasure inestimable benefite of Gods word is so bounteously gyuen vnto vs let vs all togyther consent w t one mynde to coÌ„serue mayntayne this moste precious Iewel that we lose it not hereafter thorowe our
God worketh his moost diuine pleasure in his electe faythfull people all good thiÌ„ges chauÌ„se vnto vs. For theyr iudgynge place is the throne of God Theyr mouth sentence is the organ and instrumeÌ„t of Gods trueth They are the vicars of God They are the lyuish Image of God They are the ministers of God for oure wealth They represent the parson of God They exercyse the iudgemeÌ„t ofy e LORDE They are the fathers of the contre They are the pastors of the people They are the maynteners of peace They are the rulers of iustice and patrons of all true innoceÌ„cy They therfore whiche wyll not approue commende and allowe the imperye rule and dominion of the publique magistrates heade officers maye worthely be iudged twyse fraÌ„tyke to much estraunged froÌ„ all kynde of humanite Thus haue ye hearde in fewe wordes howe necessary the hygh powers are for the right institucion godly administracion of y e publique weale Theo. We se nowe ryght well that wythoute they regiment gouernaunce nothyng y t is godly vertuous can stond but all wicked thiÌ„ges must nedes spriÌ„g vp aryse in those Realmes where the publique Magistrates wante Phil. Trueth it is that ye saye well nowe for the iust perfecte accomplysshement of my promyse heretofore made I wyll declare coÌ„sequeÌ„tly vnto you what your duety is â—owarde the hygh powers I meane our moost soueraygne Lord y e king all the other rulers that gouerne vnder his mooste noble empyre and dominion Chri. I praye you hertely let it so be Phil. Ye remember wel I am sure that your flour whiche I I gaue you laste is this Lette euery soule be obediente to the povvers that beare rule c. Euse. We remember it well Phil. Here is Faythfull obedience required of you toward the high powers and rulers of the common weale For as it is theyr office to rule so is it our duety to obey that not faynedly but with sincerite of coÌ„scieÌ„ce purenes of mynde wythoute ony dissimulacion or Hypocrysy For ther is no povver but of God The povvers that be are ordined of God Therfore VVho so euer resisteth the povver resisteth the ordinaunce of God And they that resist shall gette totheÌ„ selues damnacion Butte I praye you marke what your floure sayth Let euery soule be obedience to the povvers that beare rule Note that it is sayd Let euery soule be obedieÌ„t Here se you that no parson be he spiritual or temporal as they vse to call them is excepted from obedience towarde the hyghe powers All are vnder subieccion All owe obedience feare honoure tribute to the rulers of the commoÌ„ weale None is free from this subieccion For euery soule is here takeÌ„ after the Hebrew phrase for all meÌ„ for so many as are reasonable creatures borne appoynted to lyue vnder a law So that the scripture here coÌ„maundeth all men both spirituall temporall both godly and vngodly both wicked righteous both perfecte imperfecte to obey the magistrates all such ordinauÌ„ces lawes as are made of theÌ„ for the glorye of God the commodite of the publique weale or els they accumulate heape vp to theÌ„ selues great daÌ„nacioÌ„ as S. Austen sayth who soeuer wyl not obey the lawes of the temporal gouernours which are made for the establyshemenâ— of Goddes truethe he getteth greate damnacion Theo. Are the spirituall persons bounde to be obedient also to the hygh powers by the word of God Phil. Yea verelye there is not one Bysshop nor preste within this Realme of Englonde which oweth not so muche obedience to the kynges graces maieste as the moost inferiour subiecte and vile temporall man doth Neither doth this name spirituall Archbishop Patriarche Cardinall Bysshop Archedeacon Suffragane Preste Decon c. delyuer them from subieccioÌ„ obedience no more than this word Tayloure Shoomaker Draper Marchaunt Innekeper water taÌ„kerde bearer Dawber Cobler â–ª c. dothe Let euery soule saythe the Scriptureâ— be obediente to the poVVers that beare rule Here is none excepted no not that Romyshe Porke which chalengeth so great authorite ouer all parsons in the worlde that he is not ashamed to suffer kinges Emperours to kysse and lycke hys pockye feete O shameles Antechriste Theophilacte vpon the aforesayde place of Paule wrytethe on thys manner Here he teacheth all men sayth he that whyther he be Preste or moÌ„ke or Apostle they should be obedient to the Prynces and hyghe powers Where is onye excepcion nowe I praye you where are the pryuyledges immunities fredoms liberties nowe become which the Butcher of Rome was wonte to giue so bounteouslye to hys dere spirituall chyldren that they might synne w t out punyshment be free from payenge tribute exempte from all temporal iurisdiccion â—e Lordes kinges within them selues hange and drawe at theyr owne pleasure and do what so euer theyr beastlyke lustes coueted Howe well followed they this doctrine of y e holy Ghost Of what spirite were they named spiritual which so manifestly fight with the spirite of god With what forheade durste they be bolde to cal theÌ„ selues the successours of y e Apostles seynge that contrary to y e teachynge practyse of all true Apostles they were disobediente to the hygh powers robbed them of theyr authorite led them captiue made theÌ„ to serue theyr voluptuous and beastlyke pleasures Euse. Undoubtedly there hath ben great abusion in the Clergy concernyng the temporall rulars Phil. It can not be denyed but thankes be to our LORDE God whiche hath in these our dayes brought it to passe by the reuelacion of his diuine verite that oure moost christen Kynge wyth certen other Prynces hathe very tryumphaÌ„tely gotten agayne recouered theyr authorite gyueÌ„ them of God wherof so many yeres they haue vniustly be depriued by the furious tyranny of that moost cruel Romysh Bysshop and his bloudye whelpes Theo. The holy scripture I am sure taught them no such disobedience Phil. No verely It rather teachethe them obedience as ye hearde before For it is wrytten the kynge beareth rule ouer all he hath dominion ouer them so that what so euer he sayth to theÌ„ they do it Was not Aharon the hygh Preste obedieÌ„t to Moses whom God appoynted rulare ouer his people dyd what soeuer he commauÌ„ded hym Wasnot the hygh Preste Achimelech and al the other Prestes obedient to kyng Saul called them selues his seruauntes and him theyr Lorde not once resistyng the fury of the king but rather chosyng to suffer death paciently vnder so great a tyrauÌ„t than once to resiste hym disobedieÌ„tly What nede I speake of Dauid SalamoÌ„ Ezechias Iosaphat Iosias AlexaÌ„der Demetrius Antiochus c. whiche euerhad the Bysshoppes Prestes Leuites other spirituall ministers in subiecion w t oute ony resistence Howe can oure spiritualte than be free from obedience subieccioÌ„ Chri. Ye
powre oute my prayers to our LORDE god that he maye be present alway with you by the assistence of the holy Ghost in all your godly enterprises which thynge also I moost hertelye desyre you that ye wyll lykewyse do for me Euse. To gyue you condygne and worthy thancke for your manifolde gentletes towarde vs we are not able But thys dare I promyse you in y e name of vs all that what so euer shall lygh in oure powers to do for you at any tyme we wyll be glad w t all our hertes to do it And to the vttermoost of our strengthes we wyll laboure to practyse fulfyl y t in workes whiche ye haue taught vs in wordes Phil. So doynge neyghbours my good wyll shall not only coÌ„tinue styll as it is toward you but also encrese dayly more more Wel now before your departure I wyl desire you to takâ— y â— paynes â—o dryncke with me after this our long talke large coÌ„municacioÌ„ y t ye may go home agayne froÌ„ me being fed both spiritually corporally Theo. We thanke you neighbour PhilimoÌ„ Chri. Praysed be god for this our goodly and pleasaunte Nosegay Euse. AMEN For he alone is worthy all the honoure prayse ¶ Gyue the glorye to God alone ¶ Imprynted at London in Botulphe lane at the sygne of the whyte Beare by IohnÌ„ Mayler for IohnÌ„ Gough Anno. DnÌ„i 1543. Cum priuilegio ad imprimendum solum Per Septennium Psal. cxviii Prouer. xix Prou. xxix Esaie viii Marke xii Ioan. v. Psal. cxviii and .i. Roma i. i. Tim. iiii Math. xiiâ— Psal. cxviii Mathew ix Ioan. xiiii Deut. xii Hebre. xiii Math. xvi Math. vii Luke vi ii Petre. i. Psal. cxviii Ioan. xii Actum vii Ioan. iii. Esaie xxx Amos. v. Esaie v. Luke xii Iob. xv Esaie xi Daniel viii ii Thess. ii Esaie ii Esaie xiii Iacob ii Apoca. xvii Apoca. xviii Esaie xii Iere. xv Apoca. xiiii Psal. cxâ—iiii â–ª Psal. cxvi Math. xv iii. Reg. iii. ii Para. ix Luke xii Esaie xii i. Cor. vii Eccle. xiiii Esaie xi i Pet. i. Iob. v. Iacob i. ☜ Iacob i. Colos. iii. Roma â— Ioan. iiii Exo. xxxii Mat. xxiii Luke xiii Luke xix Mat. xxvii Luke xxiii Rom. ix i. Ioan. iii. Luke xix ii Pet. i. The Banckette Coâ—os iii. Ephe. v. Rom. vi The potacion Esay lv A nosegayâ— Ioan. vi The names of the floures contayned in the Nosegaye the vertue of them Luke i. Phil. ii Rom. xiii i. Tim. i. i. Pet. v. Pryde is â— heade spring of all euyll What humilite is De grad Humilit Why so much pryde reygnethe nowe a dayes Esa. xiiii â— Cor. iiii Iacob i. Gen. iii. Beholde what synneâ— doth The goodnes of God toward maÌ„ â—ote wel Math. xi Esay ix Math. i. Luke i. ii Esay i. Luke ii Math. viii Luke ix Math. ix Marke ii Luke v. Math. viii Mark i. Luke v. Math. iiii Math. ix Mark v. Math. xv Math. xxi Marke xi Luke xix Ioan. xiii Phil. ii Mat. xxvii Mark xv Marâ— â—v Luk. xxiii Ioan. xviii Roma viii Heb. vii i. Tim. ii i. Ioan. ii Ioan. vi Mat. xxv Actiâ—â— i. i. Thes. iiii â— Ioan. ii Ioan. xiii Actâ—m ii i. Cor. iii. ii Cor. vi The vertue streÌ„gth of humilite i. Petre. v. Esaie lxvi Psal. â—i Eccle. xxxv Luke i. Luke xiiii i. Pet. v. Mat. xviii Marke x. Luke viii Gene. iiii Gen. vii i. Petre. ii Gen. xii xv xvii xviii xxii Gen. ix ii Pet. ii Gene. xxii i. Reg. xvi i. Reg. xv iii. Reg. xv iii. Reg. xxii iiii Re. xviii â—ix xx iiii Reg. xxi Ecclâ— xlix iii. Reg. xii iii. Reg. xv iii. Reg. xvi iiii Reg. i. iiii Reg. xvi iiii Reg. xxi Daniel iiii Luke i. Esaie xiiii Mat. iiii Iaco. ii Math. xi Luke x. Eâ—ai xxix AbdoÌ„ i. Esa. xxxiii â— Cor. i. Mark wel Luk. xviii Ser. de super De CoÌ„syd Lib. v. Epist. ad sororem Lib. xvii Moral Ibidem iii. Reg. x. iii. Reg. xi Iere. xi Of rytches and wysdoÌ„ Note Mark Ofholynes vertuous lyuyng ii Reg. â—â— Luk. xvii Ofworldly honour Dani. iiii Of martial affaires Iudith xiii Psal. xxxii Psal. cxxvi Of the fauour of gret menne Hester vii Omnium rerum vicis situdo est Of sumptuous mansions delicate fare Note Of gorgious apparel goodly beutye Lodouicus viues Eccl. xi Mark well Lib. ii de arte amaÌ„di Pro. xxxi In Introd adSap Menander Of nobilite and gentyll bloude Psal. xxix Eccle. x. Gen. iii. Esa. xl Iacob i. Of y e gyftes of god Mat. xxv â— Ioan. ii How humilite maye be obtayned Of y e bodye Libro de Mediat What man is Gen. iii. Mat. iii. Mark i. Agaynst vayne and sumptuous apparell Mark wel Noua pâ—acent i. Timo. vi Note thys councell Of y e soule Roma v. Ephe. ii Ioan. iii. Gen. vi ii Cor. iii. Of synne after Baptysme Of y e paynes of hel Of vertues qualities i. Cor. iiii Note In Cant. Ser. iii. vii Mat. xxiii Ep. xxvii Wythoute humilite nothiÌ„g coÌ„meth wel to passe Math. xiii Mar. iiii Luk. viii This tyme hath greate nede of good workes Gen. xvii Rom. xv Psa. lxxxxv â—iii Reg. xix Baruâ— vi Psa. cxiiii Ioan. iiii iii. Re. xviii Psal. â—i Note here well of god Iere. xvii Psal. i. Our dutye toward god What it is to walke be before God Math. xi i. Ioan. v. Roma viii Ioan. viii â—ote Rom. x. Offayth Psal. xv Ioan. iiii Heb. li. Ioan. xii i. Ioan. iiii Ioan. iii. Ioel. ii Act. ii Rom. x. Gal. iii. Rom. vi Ioan. i. Oze ii Act. xiii i. Pet. v. i. Ioan. v. i. Cor. iii. Esa. xxviii Rom. x. Esa. lvii Mat. xvi Rom. v. Gal. ii De fide ad Petrum Libri De caim et Abel Libro de virginitate In mat xxv In illuÌ„ simb Credo in deum Of feare Prouer. i. Eccle. i. Prouer. ix Psal. xiii Note Psal. cxi Psal. xxxiiâ— Maâ—a i. What feare we ought to haue toward god Of loue Deut. x. We muste-eâ—presse our fayth feare loue towarde God by external good workes Math. v. Mark well Deut. xiii Miche vi Agenste the vayne bosters of fayth Tit. i. Gal. v. Note here Gregory Chrisostom Note thys similitude ii Cor. v. Ioan. xv Esa. xii Ioan. vii Math. vii Luke vi i. Cor. iiii Mat. vii Luke vi Luke xiii Psal. vi Luke vi Ioan. xiiii i. Ioan. ii Rom. viii Ioan. iii. Chyldren oughte to follow y e maÌ„ners of ther father Leuit. ix i. Thes. iiii Luke i. Tit. iii. Why the scripture vseth thys worde walk Psa. lxxxiii Rom. ii Mat. xxiiii Apoc. ii Ioan. xii Ephe. v. Colos. iiii i. Ioan. ii Colos. i. Gen. xvii Mat. v. ii Cor. xiii Degrees of perfeccion Mat. ix Luke xii Mat. x. Mark viii Luâ—e xii i. Cor. ii Math. vii Luke xiii ii Tim. ii Mat. x. xvi Luke xiiii i. Ioan. ii Gala. v. â— Petre. v. Iacob iiii Luke xxiiii Rom. viii Gen.
¶ A pleasaunt newe Nosegaye full of many godly and swete floures lately gathered by Theodore Basille Eccle. 24. ¶ As the Uyne haue I broughte forthe fruyte of a swete sauoure and my floures are as the fruytes of honour rytches ¶ The Nosegaye speaketh What meanest thou my frende to gather Floures which sone perysh and decaye Theyr sauours wyll not laste eueâ— As by experience se thou maye For a lytle tyme they seme pleasaunt But streyght do they vanysh awaye Lyke thynges which to vanite graunt As by experience se thou maye Leaue therfore thynges transitory And enhalse godly thynges alwaye Which shall auaunce the vnto glory As by experience se thou maye Receaue me into thy bosome If thou doste desyre a nosegaye My floures are full of delectacion As by experience se thou maye To knowe thy selfe thou mayst learne here God and thy kynge truely to obeye â–ª And to thy neyghbour to be dere As by experience se thou maye Take me nowd vnto the therfore Beare me in thy bosome alwaye Much pleasure haue I for the in store As by experience se thou maye â–ª ¶ To the right worshypful mayster George Whetenhall Esquyer Thodore Basille wissheth continuall health and prosperous felicite ALthough we haue mooste vrgent weyghty causes yea those iÌ„numerable to extoll magnify commend prayse the exceadynge goodnes bounteous liberalite of our moost mercifull father yf we perpend peÌ„sitate weyghe ponder coÌ„sider his inestimable benefites which he frely without our deseruynge dayely giueth vnto vs miserable creatures yet if we weyghe all thinges in a iust balaunce we shall easely and withoute ony difficulte perceaue y â— we are moost bounde to celebrate prayse his moost blyssed name for y e restorynge of his holy word at this tyme brought to passe by his true annoynted HeÌ„ry our moost redoubted Kynge as by another Iosias whose graces moste excellent maieste that LORDE of powers mought prosper in all his diuine affayres godly enterprises For before God restored to the world the Gospell ioyfull tydynges of his derely beloued sonne our LORDE Sauioure Iesus Christe incredulite as chefe rulare reygned in oure hertes Hypocrisye as a vayne gloryous Empresse bare dominion SupersticioÌ„ Idolatry false sectes mennes tradicions confidence reposed in humayne inuencions Pylgrimages Offringes Bulles Pardonnes dispensacions Masses of Scala celi marchaundyse for merytes workes byenge sellynge of the diuine misteries with an whole sea of euelles mo had creapte in vnto y e great perturbacion disquietnes of y e holy catholyke chyrch as I may passe ouer the blynde ignorancy ygnorant blyndenes into the whiche by this meanes we were cast and tombled Howe can it otherwyse be If the lyght of Gods word be obscured extincte or quenched which only is the lanterne to our feete a lyghte to our pathwayes what meruayle is it though the fearce outerageous floudes of Idolatry all kinde of supersticioÌ„ breake in and inuade the boundes of christianite yea and ouerflowe theÌ„ For as Fayth Hope Charite Peace Mercy Pacience longe sufferynge humilite sobriete iustice spirituall liberte obedience towarde the hyghe powers and all goodnes reygneth where the LORDES word bereth rule so in lyke maÌ„ner where y t is expulsed banysshed exiled Incredulite hatred enuy couetousnes veÌ„geaÌ„ce contencion Glotony dronckeÌ„nes rapacite immoderate lustes vncleane affectes carnal liberte disobedieÌ„ce iÌ„surreccion arrogaÌ„cy pryde ambicioÌ„ crudelite maÌ„slaughter thefte false witnes hypocrisy ignoraÌ„ce blyndnes sectes Heresye and all that is contrary to the commaundeme nt and wyll of God beareth dominioÌ„ and hath preeminence as SalomoÌ„ sayeth Where knowledge is not there is no goodnes for y â— soule Agayne whan the preachyng of Gods word â—ayleth the people peryshe runne cleane oute of order Therfore it is wryten by the Prophet make hast to the lawe witnes If they speke not accordynge to this word they shall not haue the mornynge lyght that is to saye the true knowledge of God Rebuked not Christ y e Saduces bycause they were ignorant in the holy Scriptures affyrming that they were deceaued for lacke of the knoweledge of them Ye are deceaued sayth he bicause ye know not y e scriptures Therfore in y e gospel of Iohn he exhorteth al men to serch y e scriptures sayeÌ„g serch ye y e scriptures for they are they y e beare witnes of me And y e Psalmograph calleth theÌ„ blissed which search y e testimonies of the LORDE meditate in his lawe both both daye nyght The worde of God muste nedes be an excellent precious treasure seinge it is the power of GOD vnto saluacion for so many as beleue seinge also it is profitable to teache to iÌ„proue to amend to instructe in ryghteousnesse that the man of God may be perfecte prepared to all good workes Who is able to expresse what a precious relique and high treasure the worde of God is Uerely it is that treasure wherof Christ speaketh in the Gospell that lygheth hydden in the felde which whan a man once fyndethe for ioye therof he goeth selleth all that he hathe byethe that felde And it is no lesse treasure to the soule than the corporall eyes are to the bodye as y e Psalmographe testifieth Thy worde O LORDE is a lanterne to my fete a lyght to my pathewayes For as that man that is depryued of his corporal syght knoweth not how nor wher to walke so lyke wyse heÌ„ that wanteth the lyght of Goddes worde seeth nothynge and therfore walketh he not aright but waÌ„dreth abrode lyke a shepe dispersed destitute of a shepparde But as he that hath the true perfecte syght of the eyes stoÌ„blethe not but walketh at all times without dauÌ„ger so in lyke maÌ„ner he y e is endued by Christes spirite w t the light of y â— holy Scriptures waÌ„dreth not froÌ„ that true way which sayth of him selfe I am the waye the truethe the lyfe but alwaye is preserued that he walketh continually in the kynges hygh waye declynyng neither on the right hand or on y e lyfte hand He is not caryed about with strauÌ„g doctryne His fayth is bylte on a sure rocke therfore abideth he fyrme immutable stedfaste sure constant what so euer kynde of teÌ„peste assaylethe hym The gates of hell can not preuayle agaynst him Satan with all his army are not able once to abduce remoue hym from the true waye For the lyghte of Goddes worde is continually before his eies wher vnto he gyueth diligent attendance which also he followeth earnestly in all his iourneyes and therfore muste he nedes walke the true waye neuer erre Yf he be blyssed fortunate happy that hath the naturall lyght of his body howe much more blyssed heueÌ„ly at ease is he that is illumined with y e lyght of the LORDES word wherof y e holy king Dauid
that bost so much of faythe yet are wicked in all theyr workes They professe to knowe god as the Apostle sayth but wythe theyr dedes they denye hym seynge they are abhominable disobedient and vnapte to all good workes Such bosters of fayth do not only slaunder the true christeÌ„ fayth whiche worketh by Charite but also they deceaue them selues seynge they hope frely only to be iustified by thatfayth which is barren vnfruytfull voyd of all good workes Let them crake so muche as they lyste of theyr faythe loue towarde God yet are they wicked gospâ—llers For y e loue of god sayth saynt Gregory is neuer ydle For it worketh great thynges if it be the loue of god in dede but if it ceaseth to worke than it is no loue Chrysostome also saythe The sonnes of GOD are not content to syt ydle but the spirite prouokethe them to take some great and commendable worke in hand Uerely as impossible as it is for a good tre tobe wtout a good fruyte whaÌ„ the tyme of the yeare cometh so impossible is it for true fayth to be wythout good and christen workes And as the spirite of God can none otherwyse but do those thynges that are pleasauÌ„t before God so in lyke maÌ„ner a faythful maÌ„ which is the son of god can not cease froÌ„ workyng y e wyl of god Let these rude raylynge readers of the Gospell therfore be once ashamed of theyr fayth spirite wherof so greatly they crake seynge they are altogyther vnfruytfull and wtoute all good workes If ony man be in Christe he is a newe creature He that abydeth in me I in hym sayth Christ bryngeth forth moche fruyte And he that beleueth in me as the scripture sayth floudes of lyuysh water shall flow out of his bely Euery good tree bryngeth forth good fruyte He y t hath not a lust feruent desyre to worke the wyll of God and to fasshon his lyfe in all partyes accordyng to the holy law of God vndoubtedly he hath not y â— christen fayth neyther pertayneth he vnto Christe though he bablethe neuer so muche of faythe of God of Christ of all the diuine misteries For the kyngdome of God is not in word but in power Not euery one that sayth vnto me LORDE LORDE sayth Christ shall enter into y e kingdome of heauen but he that doth y â— wyll of my father whiche is in heauen Many shall saye vnto me at y â— daye LORDE LORDE haue not we prophecyed in thy name cast out dyuels by thy name and wrought miracles by thy name But than shal I saye vnto them I know you not Departe from me ye workers of iniquite He that hathe my commaundementes kepethe them he it is y t loueth me If ony maÌ„ loueth me he wyl kepe my worde my father wyll loue hym we wyl come vnto hym dwell with hym But he that loueth me not kepethe not my wordes God hathe not shewed to vs his manifolde kyndnes that we should lyue dissolutely and with oute all good order for so were we vnworthy ony kyndenes at all but that we should earnestly wyth all diligence eÌ„ploy our selues to worke his wyl to satisfy so much as lyeth in our power his godly mynd and to walke in all our conuersacion lyuynge as his derely beloued son w alked If he dyd not spare his only begotten Sonne but gaue hym for vs all euen vnto the death how vnkynde creatures myght we righteously be recounted if we shoulde not study with herty myndes to accomplysshe his holy preceptes Are they worthye to be called chyldren which neglecte theyr fathers wyll so greatly dissent from theyr Fathers manners Oure celestiall father is holy shall we his chyldren be prophane and vnholy Our celestiall father is good godlye mercyfull pacient all spirite shall we his chyldren be euell wycked rygorous impacient all flesshe Be ye holy saythe he for I am holy Certes god hath not called vs vnto vncleannes but vnto sanctificacion Nether hath he delyuered vs from Satan his army that we should lyue wyckedly but practyse pure iÌ„nocency true godlynes in all oure lyfe as Zachary the Preste father to S. IohnÌ„ Baptist sayth He hath performed the othe which he sware to our father Abraham for to giue that we delyuered oute of the handes of our enemies myght serue hiÌ„ without feare all the dayes of oure lyfe in such holines righteousnes as are acceptable before hym Thus se ye that if we wyl walke before God we maye not onlye beleue in God feare loue God but also lead a pure innocent lyfe be pleÌ„teous in good workes altogither studious of tru godlines Chri. But I pray you why doth y e scripture vse thys terme VValKe rather than ony other Phil. It is not with out a cause Ye knowe he that stondeth styl moueth nothing forward nor hasteth not vnto the end of his iourney But he that walketh is euer goynge draweth alwaye nerer and nerer vnto hys iourneyes ende In consideracion wherof the holy Scripture vsethe this worde VValKe to put vs in remembraunce that if we haue begun well in oure professioÌ„ we should not there cease stonde styll but go forthe froÌ„ vertue to vertue from fayth to fayth vntyll at the laste we attayne vnto y e perfeccioÌ„ of pure innoceÌ„cy For he y t coÌ„tinueth vnto ende sayth christ shal be saued AgeÌ„ be faythfull vnto the death and I shall gyue the the crowne of lyfe This word we read in diuers places of the holy Scriptures Christ sayth walke whyle ye haue lyght that the darkenes doth not ouerwhelme you For he that walketh in darkenes knoweth not whyther he goethe S. Paule also sayth walke as the childreÌ„ of light prouyng what is acceptable to the LORDE Agayne loke that ye walke circumspectly not as vnwyse but as wyse redemynge the tyme for y â— dayes are euell Hytherto pertayneth y e sayenge of S. Iohn he that sayeth leth in Christ ought to walke euen as he hath walked These places w t all other suche lyke declare to vs y t we ought so to walke in our profession by encreasynge dayely in vertues that at the last we may be perfecte as S. Paule sayth make euery man perfecte in Christ Iesus And this is it that followeth iÌ„ the latter ende of the senteÌ„ce And be perfecte For we ought so to walk that is encrease in all godlynes vertu honeste that we might be perfecte as Christe saythe be ye perfecte as youre heauenly father is perfecte Also Saynte Paule Reioyse and be perfect It is one degre of vertu to loue my neyghbour but it is an higher degre to loue myne enemy but the moost excelleÌ„t degre aboue all is so to loue oure verye
enemyes that we can be contented not only to do them good but also euē to gyue our lyues to wynne them vnto Christ. It is a poynte of mercy◠to helpe my poore neyghbour with my superfluous goodes but it is a poynte of perfeccion to sel all that euer I haue to gyue it to y e poore as Christe sayde to the rytche man If thou wylte be perfecte go and sell all that thou haste and gyue it to the poore thou shalte haue treasure in Heauen and come on thy waye followe me It is a poynt of godlynes to beare an honeste herte towarde the worde of God yet it is much more openly to cōfesse it boldly before men but the very perfecte poynte of godlynes is not only to loue confesse it but also manly to abyde by it euē vnto y e very death if nede so requireth Nowe therfore euē vnto y e moost greatest perfeccion in all thynges ought we to contend labour that we maye walke before God and be perfecte Euse. I thyncke there be but fewe that attayne come vnto this perfeccion Phil. This youre floure is in dede to the carnall man of a bytter and vnpleasaunt sauour but to the spirituall truly regenerate it smelleth sweter thā ony rose Theo. God graunt that we maye once be auncient in Christ. Phile. Labour God wyl helpe Enter in at the streyght gate For wyde is the gate broad is the waye that leadethe vnto destrucion and many there be which go in therat But streyghte is the gate narowe is the waye whiche leadethe vnto lyfe fewe there be that fynde it If ye wyll lyue and reygne in glory with christ ye must suffer with Christe ye muste take y ◠Crosse of Christ followe hym Ye must cast awaye all the vayne pleasures and pompes of the world the concupiscences lustes of the fleshe ye must mortifye Satan all hys subtile suggestiōs ye must māfully resist Ye must dye vnto synne and lyue vnto ryghteousnes For christ dyd not enter into glory before he had suffered thyncke ye the gates of heauen to be opēned for you if ye lyue in this world in ioy pleasure after y e flesh Na verely ye maye be sure For y e Apostle sayth yf ye lyue after the flesh ye shal dy But if ye mortify the dedes of y e body in y e spirite ye shal liue And this is it that remayneth of your flour And I vvyll make my couenaunte betvvene me and the and vvyll multiplye the beyonde all measure God commaundynge Abraham to walke before hym and to be perfect addeth this promyse aforefayde hath vndoutedly accōplyshed it Let vs also work before God be perfecte and y e promyse also shal be fulfylled in vs. God wyll multiply vs beyond all measure both in this worlde and in y e worlde to come as Christ sayth ther is no man y ◠hath forsaken house or father mother or brothers or wyfe or children for the kyngdome of heauē but y ◠shall receaue moche more in thys tyme and in y e world to come euerlastyng lyfe Chri. GOD graunte vs so to walke that we maye be founde worthy this eternal lyfe Phil. wel neighbours seynge that God is almyghty plenteous in power abundant omnisufficient ful of all good nedy of nothynge liberall gentle mercifull redy to helpe at euery houre wholly bente to beatifye and make welthye so many as call on hym in spirite and verite whome would it not delyght to do seruyse vnto such a LORDE to walke before him and to be perfecte seynge that for oure seruyse doynge he wyl encrease and multiplye vs that is to saye gyue vs in thys worlde abundans of all thynges necessary for this our lyfe in the worlde to come euerlastyng glorye Euse. This is a swete floure that ye haue nowe gyuen vs. Theo. I beseche God that we maye smell well of it Chri. Yea and that the sauour maye longe continue in vs. Phil. To that I say Amē For if this cōe to passe ye maye be sure to haue the fauour bothe of God and man whiche of all treasures is the greatest And of this shall ye not fayle if ye labour to walke before God and be perfect which I cal Pure Innocēcy He that is pure from synne and innocent or harmeles in his conuersaciō he muste nedes fynde grace and fauour in the eyes both of god and of all men Therfore dere brothers cleaue stedfastlye to this one verye God almyghty by true faythe as y e onlye Author of all good thynges feare him reuerently as a beneficiall LORDE loue hym tenderlye as a gentle Father and so walke accordynge to his moost diuine pleasure in clennes of lyfe and pure innocēcy without ony faynynge dissimulacion or Hypocrisye that ye maye in this worlde be gouerned of hym in al your Actes thorow his moost holy spirite in the worlde to come enioye the glory eternall Euse. Amē good LORDE Phil. Your duties learned towarde youre selues god I wil now declare how ye ought to be haue your selues toward our moost Christen excelente Kynge and all other rulers that are sent of hym And this shall be the thyrde floure of your Nosegay Theo. Neuer in better tyme. It commeth wel in place Let vs se it I praye you ¶ The thyrde floure called Faythfull Obedience Philemon YE remēber I am sure y ◠name of your thyrde floure Theo. Ye named it Faythfull Obedience Phil. Wel remembred Hold here it is Let euery soule be obediēt to the pouers that beare rule For ther is no povver but of God The povvers that be are ordened of GOD. Therfore vvho so euer resistethe the povver resistethe the ordinaunce of God And they that resist shall gette to them selues damnacion c. Howe doth the aspecte of this flour please your eies Chri. It is not only pleasaunte to the eye but it also gyueth a goodly odoriferous confortable sauour to so many as smel on it with purged noses For it sheweth howe we ought to behaue our selues bothe towarde our moost redoubted Kynge all other rulers which are sēt of hym vnto y e prayse of them that do well but vnto the punishement of them that do euell They therfore y t are faythful subiectes must nedes reioyse ī this flour vnfaynedly Phil. Wel sayd Althogh neighbours I do not doubte but that in your conscience ye are assuredly perswaded that the christen magistrates and hyghe powers do reygne rule haue dominion euery one in theyr kyngedome not of theyr owne tyrannye cruell violence and extorte power butte of the authorite of Gods worde the iust appoyntment of the hygh celestiall kyng for the great consolacion and cōforte of his people and for the innumerable cōmodities of the Christen publique weale which of theyr no lesse vertuous than ryghteous regiment
froÌ„ the very herte the hygh powers to be ordened of God and that ther fore they oughte to be obeyed had in perpetual reuerence honoure Chri. They graunt that in the olde lawe it was y e ordinaunce of God to haue ciuile magistrates as Iudges Kynges and other rulers but nowe saye they in the newe Testament it is not lawfull to haue ony preemineÌ„ce or superiorite For christ sayth be not ye called mayster For ye haue but one master eueÌ„ Christe All ye are brothers Agayne y e kynges of the Hethen haue dominioÌ„ on theÌ„ and they that beare rule ouer them are called gracious Lordes But ye shal not be so But the greatest among you shall be as the yongest and the cheffest as a seruaunt Lo saye they here is all dominion and temporall power forbyddenne amonge Christen people and equalitie of power proponed set forthe to all men And that we shoulde doubte no thynge hereof we haue saye they a manifest exaÌ„ple of Christe the teacher of all verite whiche whan the people would haue made him king fled awaye from them by no meanes would enioy y e offyce although beynge the very Messias and true annoynted kynge of y e Lord Moreouer he sayde to Pylate my kyngedome is not of this worlde Phil. O blynde ignorancye and ignorante blyndnes with what eyes do those Owles loke on y e holy scripture w t what spirite dothe that generacion of vipers searche and iudge y e moost sacred word of God With how fylthy vnwasshed feete do those swynysh and beastlike parsonnes enter into the swete and pleasaunt fountaynes of y â— moost pure scriptures O Lorde GOD what dareth not blynde Bayard attempte take in hande Christe came not into thys worlde to reygne but to serue not to be a teÌ„porall but spiritual king not to rule with the swerde but w t the breath of his mouth not to execute iudgemente on other but to be iudged hiÌ„ selfe not to lyue as an erthly Prynce but as a ghostly minister of Goddes worde not to â—lea but to be slayne Therfore was it conuenient that he shoulde fulfyll his Fathers wyll for the whiche he came downe that once done to ascende go vp agayne vnto the glory of his father Which all these thiÌ„ges he dyd lyuynge all the tyme y t he was in this worlde humbly and mekely shewynge euer obedience reuerence honour to the magistrates although Hethen euen vnto y e very deth And as he came to serue and not to be serued to obeye not to be obeyed so taught he his disciples whan they began to contende of superiorite to be humble lowly meke gentle obediente and not to go aboute ony temporall primacye which only pertaineth to the ciuile magistrates but to be contente w t theyr offyce whiche was to preache Gods worde to open the misteries of Christes kyngedome to reproue the world of synne and vnfaythfulnes to fyght with the swerd of goddes word to vse not carnal but spirituall armours to bryng a gayne suche as were gone astraye To be shorte wholly to be bent to enlarge the kyngedome of God and the glory of Christes Gospel This destroyeth not but rather magnifieth the authorite of y e hygh powers seinge Christ wylled them not to take vpoÌ„ them the office of temporal regimeÌ„t coÌ„trary to equite but only to be as seruauntes dispensatours of the misteries of GOD. And come of a good felawshyp dyd Christe at ony tyme shewe hym selfe disobediente to the publique magistrates head officers Dyd not he confesse that y e power which Pylate y e Iudge had ouer hym was gyuen hym from aboue Note that well I praye you and beare it away Dyd not he also pay tribute to Cesar willed other to do so lykewyse Dyd not y e Apostles also shew themselues obedient to the hygh powers in all poyntes yea and taught other meÌ„ so to do Ther is no power sayth S. Paule but of god The powres that be are ordenned of God Therfore who so resisteth the power resisteth the ordinaunce of God And they that resist get to theÌ„ selues daÌ„nacioÌ„ s. Peter also coÌ„maundeth vs to honour the kyng to be subiecte to hym as supreme head to the other rulers that are sent of him For this is the wyll of y e Lord sayth he Are not al these authorities alleged out of the newe TestameÌ„t Haue we not here both manifest textes also euident examples to approue the office and state of the hygh powers so that it is nowe of no lesse authoritie than euer it was before but rather greater and stronger seynge it is nowe also confirmed and establysshed by Christ his Apostles Let y e aduersaries of this ordinaunce of GOD learne to be ashamed confesse theyr disobedience become subiecte and giue reuerence honour to all head officers as to the ministers of god euen from the greatest to the least For so is the wyll of God sayth the scripture Theo. It wyll be obiected of these order destroyers we wulde gladly heare by the scripture if ony christeÌ„ man that had receaued the fayth of Christ dyd euer beare rule exercyse teÌ„porall dominion ouer his Brothers Phil. What is this What do I heare May not a christen man execute that offyce wherby vertue is mayntayned vice exiled Is he not more fitte to be a ruler that beleuethe in the true God feareth him seketh his glory embraseth vertue hateth vice loueth his neyghbour tendereth the common wealth seketh in al poyntes to be a father amonge his subiectes thaÌ„ suche one as beleueth in Idolles feareth them seketh thâ—yr glory despyseth the alone true God hate the vertue embraceth vice oppressethe his neyghbour tearethe the coÌ„mon welth iÌ„ peses sheweth hiÌ„selfe iÌ„ all thiÌ„ges a cruel Tyraunt among his subiectes What furious Erinnys hath inuaded and troubled y e braynes of these vnresonable creatures to resist the publique Magistrates and to condemne theyr authoritie which they haue receaued of God But let these honest men GOD wyll tell me was not Abraham Iosephe Iudas Moses Iosue GedeoÌ„ Samuel Dauid Ezechias Iosaphat Iosias w t many other Christen faythfull men Yet dyd they execute the office of Magistrates were hygh powers in dede allowed before God workynge that which was good in his syghte Euse. They were faythfull â—aye they we gâ—auÌ„t but not christen Phile. O monstures as though it were one thynge to be faythfull and another to be christeÌ„ Difference is there none betwene them vs but this only that they beleued in Christe to come and we beleue that Christe is come hathe fulfylled the prophecies of the holy meÌ„ ghostly enspired All sayth S. Paule he speketh of the fathers of the olde Testament dyd eate al one spirituall meate that is to saye w t vs all dyd dryncke the very same drinke of the
spiritual rocke which accompanied them Christ was y â— rocke It is a good coÌ„sequence therfore that it is all one chyrche bothe of them that beleued than in Christ of them whiche are nowe whiche chyrch is gathered togyther iÌ„ one the very same spirite so y t they be a lyke faythfull christeÌ„ hauyng one fayth one professioÌ„ one religioÌ„ one God one Lorde one sauioure one hope But I wyl come to y e new TestameÌ„t Was not Nichodemus Ioseph y e noble maÌ„ which was ChaÌ„berlayne of great authorite wtCaÌ„dace y t quene of y e loÌ„de of y e MoriaÌ„s which was baptized of Philip receaued into Christes flocke christeÌ„ faythful meÌ„ Yet were they magistrates Was not Cornelius which called Peter vnto him was baptized of hym a christeÌ„ maÌ„ Yet dyd he vse publique offices Was not Sergius Paulus Erastus w t dyuers other christeÌ„ meÌ„ And yet officers in y e coÌ„moÌ„welth Chri. All these thiÌ„ges are true Phil. Wel thaÌ„ let vs coÌ„clude if it were lawful at y e time for a christeÌ„maÌ„to bear rule iÌ„ y e coÌ„moÌ„ wele hou is it now become vnlawful Is ony maÌ„ more fyt to reigne rule amoÌ„g christeÌ„ meÌ„ thaÌ„ he which is of y e same profession fayth religioÌ„ Is it coÌ„uenieÌ„t for the wicked vnfaythful to haue dominioÌ„ ouer y e ryghteous christeÌ„ rather thaÌ„ they whiche desyre nothyng more thaÌ„ the glory of god the helth of theyr ChristeÌ„ brothers O extreme blindnes If that should come to passe who wuld not wish rather to be an vnfaythful painim thaÌ„ a faythful christiaÌ„ Behold to what poynte these wycked order breakers bryng the Christen religion whyle they wyll seme to fyghte moost chefelye for the glorious furtheraunce of it O foxysh Hypocrites Who perceyueth not theyr subtylite Who smellethe not they re crafte Who espyeth not theyr false hode Whyle they go aboute to syn without punishmeÌ„t to haue al thinges in coÌ„mon to lyue of the sweate of other meÌ„nes browes to lyue frely in al kynde of beastlike pleasure to defyle other meÌ„nes wyues maydens doughters seruauntes c. beholde to what poynte these grossâ— Gospellers these shamelesse Schismatykes these brutall bely Gods brynge the publique weaâ—e of Christendome God moughte once rootâ— suche Pestilences out of the earth that we maye according to our duty withe all submission of mynde faythefull obedience honoure and magnify y â— pyblique Magistrates Thus haue I neighbours grossely but faythfully rudely but truely proued to you by the iÌ„fallible verite of Gods worde that the hyghe powers are ordeyned of God and y t theyr office pleaseth God is agreable in all poyntes w t the holy scriptures both of the olde new Testastament Now accordyng to my promyse wyl I in thre wordes as they saye declare howe necessarye the office oâ— the publique magistrates is for the ryght institucion prosperous preseruacion of the common weale Euse. I praye you lette vs heare Phil. The office of the hyghe powers euidently declareth what innumerable coÌ„modities pleasures y â— christeÌ„ publique weale receueth by theÌ„ Moses whan he appoynted certen rulers ouer the Israelites coÌ„mauÌ„ded theÌ„ that they should iudge righteouslye that they shoulde not be parciall in theyr iudgementes but heare all indiffereÌ„tly not estemyng nor preferrynge the man of power and nobilite before the poore base perâ—on nor yet feare the persoÌ„ne of ony man for it is the iudgement oâ— GOD sayth he Agayne that they should receaue no gyftes for giftes do blynde the eies of the wyse depraue the causes of the ryghteous but alwaye pursewe follow that which is accordyng to iustice hauâ— euer wyth them the boke of y e lawe of the LORDE reade it all the dayes of theyr lyfe that they maye learne to feare the LORDE theyr God and to kepe all the wordes of hys lawe ordinauÌ„ces therof that they may do them The Prophet Ieremy also commauÌ„deth kynges other rulers to minister righteousnes to deliuer the oppressed from violent power to kepe equite not to greue nor oppresse the straunger the fatherles nor the wydowe nor yet to shed innocent bloud Here maye ye se in fewe wordes how necessary the office of the publique magistrates is for the ryghte institucion prosperous preseruacion of the common weale Howe expedient is it thinke you in matters of coÌ„trauersy that all thynges be iudged reconciled accordyng to equite iustice How necessary is it that y e poore oppressed be delyuered froÌ„ y â— violent bloud soupers How coÌ„uenient is it that the straunger wydowe fatherles be holpen prouided for How profitable is it that vnite coÌ„cord loue beneuolence frendshyppe amite be mayntayned and debate discorde stryfe maleuolence ire wrath contencion hatred emnite be exiled How necessary is it y e vertue reygneth vice be banyshed How semely is it that an order be kepte confusion dryuen oute of the publique weale â–ª By the godly office authorite of y â— hygh powers al these good thynges are broughte to passe and wythoute that what can there remayne in ony publique weale iÌ„ safe estate comely order As SalomoÌ„ sayth where ther is no gouernour there the people must nedes decay But wher as are many that canne gyue councell there is wealthe as Chrisostome sayth If thou takeste awaye the iudicial seates the offices of the lawe so hast thou vtterly destroyed all the order of oure lyfe And as if thou seperatest pluckest away from the shyppe the mayster stereman of it thou hast drowned the shyp as if thou leadest awaye the captayne from the armye thou haste made the Souldiours to be ouercome of theyr enemies So like wyse if thou takest awaye y e rulers oute of the Cyties we shall leade a lyfe more vnreasonable thaÌ„ the very brute bestes euer snatchyng onâ— at another bytynge deuourynge one another so that the man of the greater power shal subdue the poorer the bolder shall ouercome the meker spirited They therfore that go about to take awaye the publique magistrates maye iustely seme to be y e moost exstreme pestileÌ„ces of y e coÌ„moÌ„ weale to destroy y t which is no lesse profitable for our preseruacion safegarde and health than the sonne fyre or water is or what so euer can be rekened moost necessary for this oure nedy lyfe For by them is publique innocency honest behauour godly learnynge vertuous knoweledge syncer erudicion necessary artes fruytfull occupacions mayntayned By theÌ„ we lyue in tranquilite peace By them we enioye our owne possessions wtoute ony disturbaunce By them we are preserued from all iniuries cruell oppressioÌ„s By them oure Realmes are defended froÌ„ the iÌ„uasion of cruell Tyrauntes By them the glory of God floryssheth By theÌ„ the Gospell of Christ triumpheth all sectes heresies are extyrped plucked vp by the rootes To conclude by them
ê‘ceyue that he is gyuen altogyther to wickednes and wyll not gladlye heare anye wholesome admonicion yette cease not to praye for him as Abraham dyd for the fylthy Sodomites and Moses for the disobedient Iewes Yea thogh he be your extreme enemye and seaketh youre lyfe yet wysh wel vnto hym praye for him and desyre God to forgyue him as Christ and Steuen dyd Agayne yf ye perceyue that he is poore hath nede of your helpe fayle not to succoure his miserye and to helpe hym in his nede euen to the vttermoost of youre power to make an ende yf ye perceyue that youre neyghboure hath nede of any thyng that ye are able to do for hym I charge you in Goddes behalfe that ye with al expedicion helpe and conforte hiÌ„ If ye do this thaÌ„ do ye smel aright on this your flour ChristeÌ„ Charite shal receyue rewardes abuÌ„daÌ„t for your good dedes but if ye do it not know y t though ye bost neuer so muche in word and tong of your loue towardes god your neyghbour yet shal ye go to the dyuel headlong lyke abhominable Hypocrites and wycked dissemblers shall receaue greater damnacion than they which neuer knewe truelye no parte of God seing your loue is only in worde and tong but not in spirite and trueth Euse. As concernynge oure loue towarde God we wyll employe al our industrye and laboure to haue that loue toward hym which Peter had whan he sayde vnto Christ LORDE thou knoweste that I loue the as towchynge our neyghbour we wyll labour no lesse hartely to loue him than Ionathas dyd Dauid which as the Scripture sayth loued him as his owne lyfe Phile. Theyse are goodly exaÌ„ples vndoubtedly neighbours Loke therfore that ye folow them If ye bryng out of your loue suche dedes as Peter dyd thaÌ„ may ye be bolde to say that ye loue God vnfaynedly Agayne yf ye shew by youre outwarde workes suche loue towarde your neyghbour as Ionathas dyd to Dauid thaÌ„ nede ye not feare to saye y t ye loue youre neighbour in worke truethe so are ye perfecte and true christen men and maye be certayne after the departure oute of this transitorye lyfe yf ye so continue vnto the ende for to receaue the crowne of life which the LORDE hathe promised to them that loue hym as S. Iames sayth Here is nowe your Nosegay perfecte For I haue gyueÌ„ you al your fyue floures as I promised you at your fyrst coÌ„mynge Chri. We thaÌ„ke you right hertely for this Nosegay Euse. I thynke such a Nosegay was neuer gyuen before of onye man to his frende as you haue nowe gyueÌ„ vs. Theo. I beseche GOD gyue vs grace so to smell on this Nosegaye that the sauoure of it maye euer abyde in vs neuer departe nor go awaye from our hartes So maye we be sure neyther at onye tyme to offende our selues God our Kyng nor our neyghbour but leade suche a lyfe as wherwith bothe God and man shall be well pleased Phil. All this that ye haue hytherto spoken is true For I haue taughte you no thyng of myne owne brayne fantasye but onelye the pure worde of God the sentences myndes of y e holy and catholyke Doctors Therfore I pray you hertely good neyghbours be as diligent to obserue and kepe these floures as I haue ben studious to gather them togyther for you so shall I both thyncke my laboure well bestowed ye also of all pleasures shall do me the greateste Well I wyll nowe rehearse to you in fewe wordes what youre whole Nosegaye contayneth in many Your fyrst floure is called Vnfayned Humilite Hereof haue ye learned y e true knowledge of youre selues that ye ought not to be proud of ony thynge but enbrasynge Humilite lowlines of mynd alwayes coÌ„fesse that what so euer ye haue be it neuer so good precious it is the gyfte of GOD commynge downe froÌ„ the father of lyghtes and that therfore ye oughte studiously to laboure aboue all thynges that it be bestowed accordynge to the wyll of God that is vnto the glory of God the profitte of youre neyghboure the saluacion of your owne soules Your seconde flour called Pure Innocency Of this ye haue lerned your duty toward God howe ye ought to walke before hym accordynge to his worde and be perfecte Of your thyrde floure which is Faythfull Obedience Ye haue learned your duty toward our moost puissaunt excellent kynge all those ciuile magistrates heade officers which are appoynted to rule gouerne the matters of the publique weale vnder his graces maieste Ye learned also that by the worde of GOD ye owe to them obedience feare honour and tribute Your fourthe floure called Redy assistence â–ª taught you your dutye towarde youre neyghbour howe ye oughte to serue hym accordynge to the rule of the Gospell seakynge no lesse his profyt than your owne Your fyfte laste floure called Christen Charite declared to you that withoute this true christen pure loue all youre other floures profyt but lytle neyther can any worke beinge done of a malicious harte and out of Charite please God Agayne ye hearde that your loue bothe toward God your neyghbour was declared to be vnfayned yf ye dyd expresse it outwardly in suche workes as are prescribed of God in the holy Scriptures this is the whole summe of your Nosegaye Nowe deare brothers I beseche you by the great mercyes of God y t ye wyl by no meanes suffer y e smell odoure sauour of these herbes to faull oute of your brestes but that you alwaye beare this youre Nosegay about w t you smel on it at al tymes wtout ceasyng For these are those floures whiche shall preserue you from all pestiferous and contagious ayres from all perelles and daungers from al mischauÌ„ces and euell fortunes They also shall enspire and breath into you such confortable odoures swete sauours that ye shall by no meanes be so infected that ye maye eyther offende your selues God the kyng or your Neygheboure but what so euer ye worke shall be accceptable bothe to God and man What wyll ye haue more Thus muche haue I done nowe for you neyghbours and am redy at al tymes to do what soeuer lyethe in my power whan occasion shall be gyuen desiryng you fauourably to accepte this my good wyll towarde you as of one which wyssheth no lesse well to you thaÌ„ to him selfe tendereth your health no lesse than his owne seakethe youre true knoweledge in Christe Iesus euen as his owne to conclude whiche is redy at all tymes both to gyue him selfe and all that he hath so that ye may be in the moost gloryous bowels of oure Sauioure Christe and therin continewe vntyl the daye oâ— his tryumphant apperyng Which thynge moost deare brothers that it maye come to passe I wyll not cease neyther night nor daye to