but that which is good to edify with all whan nede is that it maye haue fauour with the hearers If no fylthy communicacion ought to procede out of our mouthes muche lesse ought ony vayn dothes vngodly swearynges blasphemies c. come forth out of them If our wordes ought to be good to edify wythe all thaÌ„ ought they not to be such as should destroy both our selues the hearers which many tymes chaunseth thorow wicked oothes Let not dome Ephe. v sayth he and all vnclennes or couetousnes or fylthynes or folyshe talkynge or iestynge be once named among you as it becommeth saynctes but rather thanckes gyuyng If these thynges maye not once be named among vs surely much lesse yea a M. tymes muche lesse oughte oothes swearynges blasphemies of Gods moost holy name be named among vs and hearde in our dayely speache If the wrath vengeaunce of God be wonte to faull vpon the chyldren of vnbeleue for these thynges aforesayd as S. Paule testifyeth certenly let all swearers be certenlye assured that they shall not escape the plages of Gods vengeasice and theyr damnacion shal be yâ— more greuous for asmuch as they professe godlynes and lyue nothynge accordyng thervnto What are they ony other than blasphemous mockers of God They saye that they knowe God but withe theyr dedes they denye hym seynge they are become abhommable and disobediente and enell mynded vnto all good workes as S. Paule writeth Titus i They are welles wythout water cloudes caryed about of a tempest to whom yâ— myst of darckenesse is reserued for euer They are trees without â—rute at gatheryng tyme ii Pe. ii twyse dead plucked vp by the rootes Iudas Epistle They are the ragyng waues of the sea somyng oute theyr owne shame Howe can they than escape the vengeaunce of god The Sodomites Gomorrians sinned agaynst nature therfore were they consumed wythe fyre brymestonne froÌ„ heaueÌ„ the swearers synne agaynst the God maker of nature is it to be thought â—e xviii that they shall escape vnponyshed If suche as committe the lessest synne be punysshed howe can they than escape which of sende in the greatest They maye be sure if they do not amend not only to be plaged with fyre brymestone but also to suffer all other kyndes of intollerable paynes yea and that in hell where is no redemcion nor marcy to be had The Lorde Psal. xi sayth Dauid seeth both the ryghteous vngodly but who so delyghteth in wickednes him his soule abhorreth Vpon the vngodly he shall reygne snares fyre brymestonne storme tempest this rewarde shall they haue to drynke For the Lorde is ryghteous and he loueth righteousnes his cosâ—tenauce beholdeth the thyng that is iuste Agayne he saythe God is a ryghteous Iudge Psal. vii and God is euer threatenyng If men wyl not turne he hath whet his swearde he hathe bent his bowe and made it redy He hath prepared hym the weapons of deathe ordined his arrowes to bestroye We rede in the forth boke of Moses that whan the chyldren of Israel were in the wyldernes they fouÌ„d a man gatherynge styckes vpon the Sabboth day 〈◊〉 .xv â–ª And they that found him gatheryng styckes brought him vnto Moses and Aaron vnto all the congregacion they put him inward For it was not declared what shoulde be done vnto hym And the Lorde sayd vnto Moses the manne shall dye Let al the multitude stone hym with stones without the hoost And all the multitude brought hym wythout the hoost stoned hym with stones and he dyed as the Lorde coÌ„maunded Moses If the man that gathered styckes vpon the Saboth daye for transgressyng that coÌ„mauÌ„dement whiche notwythstondynge was but a ceremoniall law seruyng but for a tyme and a figure of oure spirituall quietnes and reast which we ought to haue coÌ„tinually in our consciences toward God which precepte also is nowe abolyshed stond in none effect so that we are Lordes of the Sabothe daye and maye appoynte what daye it shall please the head rulers to cease from laboure yâ— we may the more coÌ„ueniently come togyther vnto the teÌ„ple for to pray to heare the holye worde of God to se the blyssed Sacramentes ministred c. If the man that gathered styckes I saye vpon the Sabothe daye was stoned vnto deathe by the commaundement of God for transgressynge that precepte howe maye these swearers than persuade themselues that they shal escape vnponished althoughe they sweare abuse God and all hys creatures by theyr vnlawfull oothes The other precepte was ceremoniall The Iewes at thys day accordiÌ„ge to theyr olde wont wyl teare there garmentes whan the heare Gods blessedâ—ame blasphemed for the drede of Gods feercewrath that is â—â—yred vp there by Butte who among vs ChristeÌ„ shewethe hiÌ„selfe by ony meanes to be displeased there wtal in whom ough to be the loue feare dreade of God so wel as in yâ— Iewes is nowe of no strengthe but this commaundement is morall and abydeth styll in perfecte strengthe and so shall do so longe as the worlde stondeth shall yâ— transgressioÌ„ of this than escape vnponyshed The other was punyshed by death and shall this escape fre wythout punyshment Let the wicked worldlynges laughe at the matter so much as they lyst there lyueth a god agaynst whome the offence is committed which wyl not suffer the blasphemies of his holy name and of his creatures to escape vnpunyshed And well were it wythe these abhominable swearers which go forth in theyr wyckednes wyll not amend if in this worlde they myght he consumed with fyre and brymestone froÌ„ heauen as the Sodomites were or stoned vnto death as the transgressour of yâ— Saboth daye was so that theyr plages and paynes myght on this manner ende they afterward enioye euerlastyng lyfe But it is to be feared that after thys lyfe they shall feale more greuous tormentes than euer the Sodomites dyd ether suffer in this world or where they be nowe God be marcifull vnto them and gyue them grace to amend Hytherto haue we hearde howe greuous an offence it is beâ—ore God for to sweare to take his moost blissed name in vayne or to abuse onye of his creatures by vayne vnlawfull oothes We haue heard also how God wyll not suffer by ony meanes them to escape vnponished that wickedly sweare and breake this godly commaundement Nowe seyng that GOD wyll so sharpely ponysh them that take hys name in vayne or feare not to sweare for euery lytle trifle by hym or by hys creatures what is than to be sayd of perâ—â—ry Of perâ—ury What is to be thought of them which bothe falsely and wyllyngely forsweare them selues Into howe great ponyshment shall they faull whiche feare nothyng at all to sweare in a false matter vpon the holy Euangely that moost â—lyssed worde of euerlastyng trueth yea to call God and all his holy saynctes to be wytnesses
to do truely theyr office and to set this sayeng of the Psalmograph euer before theyr eyes Be not lyke a horse a moyle whiche haue no vnderstanding Psa. xxxi For ignoraunce in al men is to be abhorred but in Prestes chefely If after the mynde of thapostle Paule sayth S. Ierome In Esaâ—am Christ is the power of God and the wysdom of God it followeth well that he that knowethe not the scriptures knoweth not the power of God and the wysdome of hym For the ignorauÌ„ce of the scriptures is the ignoraunce of Christâ— Leo the Byshop saythe Dis. xxxviii Can. Si in â—aâ—cis if ignorauÌ„ce semeth intollerable euen in laye meÌ„ how moch more is it worthy nether of excuse nor of forgyuenes in them that beare rule I therfore desyre all Prestes that be good and vertuous and tender the glorye of God the saluacion bothe of theyr owne other Christen mennes soules that they wyll not be moued wyth these wordes whych come from a breast that wysheth wel vnto them all but earnestly looke vpon theyr office better caste awaye blynde ignoraunce study for yâ— knowledge of holy scriptures and laboure wyth all mayne to do that which God requireth of them Moreouer saynt Gregory sayth Ad venantium Episcopumâ— yâ— shepparde whiche doth not rebuke them that offende wythout doubte he sleath them by holdyng hys peace Agayne he sayth In Ezech Hom. xâ— we that are called Prestes besydes these euels that we haue of our own we adde also other mennes deathes For we slea so many as we se dayly go vnto deathe yet are sluggyshe holde our peace Heâ—e is terrible sayenge that they whiche are appoynted to saue Christen meÌ„nes soules do cruelly slea theÌ„ by theyr negligence holdyng theyr peace Oh that the Byshops of euery diocesse wold diligently looke vpoÌ„ thys matter the easyer much shulde be theyr accountes at the dredefull daye of iudgement The holy Ghost mought breth it into theyr myndes In concilio tâ—lerano we reade on thys manner Dis. xxxviii Can. Ignoranta Ignoraunce the mother of all errours is moost of all to be exchewed in the Prestes of God whyche haue taken vpon them the office of teachyng among the people of God Prestes are warned to rede the holye scriptures as Paule thapostle sayth vnto Timothe 1. Tâ— iiii gyue attendaunce to readyng exhortacioÌ„ lernyng continew alway in these Let Prestes therfore know yâ— holy scriptures and canons and lette all theyr worke businesse and trauayle consist inpreaching and doctrine let them edify all men so well with the knowledge of fayth as wyth the good informacion of workes O godly decree Here maye all prestes learne that theyr worke doth consist in preachyng and doctrine in edifiâ—ng the people and in giuing them godly examples of vertuous lyuynge God sende vs mo suche councels Byshop Nicolas wryteth on this maÌ„ner Dist. xliii Can. Dispensatio the distribucion of the heauenly seed is enioyned vs. Wo therfore be vnto vs if we do not spryncle it abrode Wo be vnto vs if we holde our peace Here is eternall daÌ„nacion thretened prestes if they do not sowe abrode the heauenly seed of Goddes worde in the feldes of christen mennes hartes Let them looke well to theyr office for they stond in a perrillous state Many of them thyncke it a great pleasure to receaue yerely so great profites of theyr benefices Luke vi but let them remeÌ„ber the commoÌ„ prouerbe swete meate must haue sower sawce Wo be to you sayth Christ that laughe nowe â—or ye shall mourne wepe Wo be to you that are fylled for ye shall honger Wo be to you rytthe menne whiche haue your consolacioÌ„ Wo be to you whan all men prayse you Platina in the lyfe of Byshop Innocentius the syxt Platinaâ— wryteth on this manner Innocentius the syxt dyd not gyue the ecclesiastical benefices but vnto such Prestes as ware thorowly proued tryed both in lyfe learnyng Wold god we hadâ—no such Inno centes And he made a constitucioÌ„ that all prelates and so many as had benefices shuld go home to their owne Paryshes vnder payne of cursyng For he sayd that no hyrelyng but the very owne shepparde ought to kepe his owne shepe Here was a wonderfull godly coÌ„stitucioÌ„ Wolde god it were oâ—serued thorow out all Christendome Than shuld Christes â—locke be muche better fed than they are at this tyme. Than shulde not yâ— ParsoÌ„s Vicars be abseÌ„t froÌ„ theyr benefices as they are now a dayes Than shuld yâ— goodes of yâ— Paryshes be spent amonge the Paryshners not abrode as they be now a dayes no man can tell where about Than shuld the poore people be better looked vpon Than shulde Prestes be more diligent to mayntayne hospitalite Than shuld the beneficed meÌ„ more quietly applye theyr myndes vnto the study of holy scriptures other godly meditacioÌ„s ThaÌ„ shulde seruent loue which is now almoost vniuersally decayed spryng vp new agayne betwene the prestes and the laye men Than shulde prestes be honored as fathers and laye men couÌ„t theÌ„ selues as theyr chyldren gyuing them reuerence and double honour as the scripture commauÌ„deth 1. Tim. v ThaÌ„ shulde Gods worde florysh and the glorye of God he sought of all men Ah shall we not once se thys ioyfull daye in Englande Whan myght it euer be broughte to passe better and more conuenieâ—tly than nowe vnder this our moost excelleÌ„t Kyng which hytherto hath so bothe godly prosperously lyke another Ezechias trauayled in the byldyng agayn of our Lorde Gods temple in throwynge downe the workes of Hypocrisy supersticion and Idolatry and in settynge vp agayne the pure and Christen religion Lorde graunt that it maye come to passe yea yâ— shortly Thus se we both by the holy scriptures Prestes must both preach syncerly also lyue godlye Luk. iiii the auncieÌ„t Doctors and the godly olde councels how greatly all Byshoppes and Prestes ought to be occupyed in studyeÌ„g and preachyng Goddes worde But to thys theyr godly preachyng they must also ioyne a vertuous and pure lyfe vnlesse they edify not so muche wyth theyr preachynge as they destroye wythe theyr wycked lyuyng It is a shame for a PhisicioÌ„ to be so spotted pocky that it shall maye iustly be sayde to him PhisicioÌ„ heale thy selfe God sayde to the synner sayth the Psalmographe Psal. xiix why doste thou preache my lawes and take my Testament in thy mouth Thou haste hated to be reformed and thou haste caste awaye my wordes behynde the. If yâ— sawest a these thou rannest with hym and wythe adulterers dyddest thou laye thy porcion Thy mouth dydde abound wyth cursed speakyng and thy tonge dyd couple craftely togyther deceates Thou dyddest sytte speake agaynst thy brother ageÌ„st thy mothers sonne dyddest thou lay a stomblyng blocke These thynges haste thou done and yet haue I holdeÌ„ my peace Thou wyckedly thoghtest that I wolde be
damnacion vnto the which thou haddest made thy selfe bounde thorowe the offence of thy fyrste father Adam Gen. iii whiche he committed in Paradise Rom. â— I haue fed the in thy mothers wombe I haue norysshed the hytherto I haue sent the thy helth saued the from all daungers And now at the last also eueÌ„ of myne own mere mercy fre goodnes Exo xiiii I haue delyuered the out of Egypt that lond of seruitude extreme bondage eueÌ„ out of the handes of that thy moost cruel vnmercyful enemy Pharao I fede the with meate from heauen Ex. xvixvâ—â— I gyue the dryncke out of the harde stony rocke nowe I hast with al mayne to lead the into the lond of yâ— Cananites euen suche a lond as floweth wyth mylke and hony abundethe wyth all good thynges where thyne enemies caste out before thy face thou shalte lyue reygne lyke a moost wealthy Prynce rulare of the earth Exo. xx Looke therfore that thou kepe my commaundementes ordinaunces Deut. v. Heare my voyce Flye the voyces of straungers Looke thou haue none other Gods besydes me Take me â—or thyne one alone god Feare honoure worshyp me alone Loue me wyth all thy harte myade strength power soule c. Hange on me Seake for all good thynges at my hand Beleue me to be that God alone which am omnisufficient pleÌ„teous to gyue and nedy of nothyng Make the no grauen â—mage vnto yâ— lykenes of ony thyng in heueÌ„ earth or elles where Do no reuerence nor honoure vnto them But aboue all thynges loke thou take not yâ— name of me thy lord God in vayne For if thou so do verely thou shalt not escape vnponyshed I wyll be reuenged of thy wyckednes A comparisâ—â— betwene god and man For by no means wyll I suffer my name to be polluted deâ—iled wythe thyne abhominable vnlawfull othes Iob. xxxvii And that thou mayst take my name into thy mouch with honour Eâ—o xv and reuerence it whan it is named Deut. iiii remeÌ„ber that I am a Lorde Heb. xiii terrible in aspeâ—â—e Psal vi greate in power Math. vii righteous in iudgemeÌ„t Psal. â— redy to take veÌ„geauÌ„ce on yâ— wycked Gen. vi viii such one as am acoÌ„sumiÌ„g â—yre by no means caÌ„ suffer iniquite â–ª And as for the workers therof I hate detest and vtterly abhore Agayne thou arte a miserable wretched and vyle synner begotten conceaued borne in synne ful of al fylthynesse wycked in al thy thoughtes wordes and dedes deseruyng at euery houre by thyne abhominable lyuyng to be caste into hell fyre were not I called awaye from takynge vengeaunce by my greate mercy and long suffryng what art thou than O man whiche beyng so so vile wretched synfull stynkyng dareste presume to take my name whiche am kyng aboue all kynges Lord aboue all Lordes into thy polluted mouth seing it is a name that excellethe all other Phil. ii seynge also that vnto it euery knee that is in heauen earthe or hell bowe and gyue reuereuerence vnto it agen seyng that the dignite greatnes vertue ther of can by no meanes be comprehended Vse not therfore my name vnreuerently but magnify laud prayse honoure and worshyp it hoth day and nyghte Flye vnto it as vnto a strong Bulwarke and holy anchore in all thyne aduersite Seake for remedy ayde and succoure of aâ—l thy diseases at the goodnes of that If thou doste otherwyse knowe that I am the lyuyng God into whose handes it is a dreadfull thyng to faull For I wyl visite the with moost greuous affliccions Hebre. x I wyll ponysh the with many intollerable diseases vpon thy bodye in this worlde I wyll smyte the thy wyse thy chyldren thy cattell All that euer thou hast wyll I bryng to nought Of al men lyuyng wyl I make the moost vyle wretched What so euer thou goest about shal not prosper but come to an euel end So that in this worlde my vengeaunce that is to saye corporall plages shall faull vpon the after this present lyfe Math. xiii shalte thou with oute fayle be caste into vtter darkenes Esa. lxvi where wepyng and gnasshynge of tethe shall be where the fyre shall neuer be quenched where thy tormeÌ„tes shall neuer haue ende where the worme that gnaweth thy conscieÌ„ce shall neuer dye Whose eyes send not forthe large fountaynes of teares to heare these thynges Yea whose harte faynteth not for distyllyng of bloudy teares to heare so great so greuous threates Ioan. xiiii yea and that from the mouth of God â—itus i whiche is yâ— selfe trueth Psa. â— xliiii whych can not lye which is faythfull in all his wordes What maÌ„ is so infected with the abhominable synne of sweryng that dothe not nowe tremble shake and quake for seare to heare what greuous and intollerable paynes abyde hym Who hath an harte so indurated and hardened thorowe the detestable vicious custome of swearyng whiche is not nowe redy so cease from hensforthe so wickedly to abuse the moost holye and blyssed name of God and to honour reuerence and worshyppe it euer after Thou shalte not take the name of thy Lorde God in vayne For the Lorde wyll not holde hym â—yâ—teâ—esse that taketh hys name in vayne God hathe gyuen ten commaundementes yeâ— haue none of them all coÌ„minacions threates subioyned expresly vnto theÌ„ but two only which are the seconde the thyrde one for Idolatrye the other for the vniuste vsurpacion and vnlawfull vsyng of the name of God Idolatry sweriÌ„g are the mooâ—re greuous synnes whereby he manifestly declareth how great the synne of Idolatrye and of swearyng is in his syght aboue al other vices Who is nowe so at defyaunce wythe the christen religion so lytle estemeth the glory of the moost excelleÌ„t name of God that he wyll not cease from his wickednes of swearyng learne from hensforth to glorify the moost blyssed name of God if not for lous yet for feare of the moost greuous intollerable plages that shal vndoutedly faull vpon hym Thou shalte not take the name of thy Lord god in vayn God speaketh these wordes wythe a maruelous great vehemeÌ„t â–ª emphasis because he woulde haue vs imprynt thys hys precepte in our memory And because we shoulde harkeÌ„ the more vnto it he addeth a threte and sayth For the Lorde wyll not holde hym gyltlesse that taketh hys name in vayne This is a greuous threat shaketh al yâ— partes of a ChristeÌ„ maÌ„nes body yâ— is led with ony fere at al toward god Nowe let vs lernâ— what it is to take yâ— name of our Lord God in vayne yâ— we faul not into that synne What it is to take the name of God in vayne receue a rewarde worthy our wyckednes To take the name of God in vayne is to caull God a
wytnes in vniuste and trifelynge matters vaynely to sweare by his moost blyssed name to take it in our mouthes wythoute a necessary vrgent cause and to obscure the glory of it thorow wycked vngodly othes All they that thus do shall not escape vnponysshed O Lorde God howe many are there at thys tyme that transgresse this holy precepte Howe many caull God a wytnes in vniust trifelyng matters Howe many pollute defyle yâ— in them is the glory of Gods moost blyssed name How many sweare coÌ„tinually not only by God al yâ— euer he made agayne not onely by his derely beloued son our Loâ—d sauiour Iesus christ but also with honour reuerence I speake it by all yâ— holy meÌ„bers of his moost glorioê° body How common an oothe nowe dayes is Gods flesh Gods bloud Gods hart Gods bodye Gods woundes Gods nayles Gods sydes Goddes guttes and all that euer maye be rehearsed of God O wickednes O abhominacion What parte of Christes moost blyssed body do these wycked abhominable swearers leaue vnreÌ„t and vntorne They are much worsse thaÌ„ the Iewes which cried Tolle tolle crucifige eum Awaye awaye to the gallowes wyth hym Ioan. xix crucifye hym torment hym leaue not one part whole of hym For they only cryed vpoÌ„ Pylate to haue hiÌ„ crucifyed but these swearers them selues crucify hym rent and teare hym The Iewes crucifyed hym but once and than theyr fury ceased In math but these wicked caytiffes crucify him dayly with theyr vnlawefull oothes neyther doth theyr malyce cruelnes cease at ony tyme S. Austen sayth They syn no lesse whiche blaspheme Christ reygnyng in heauen than they whiche crucifyed hym walkyng on the earthe Yea there want not which haue so great pleasure in swearyng yâ— they thinke theÌ„ selues no men excepte they face crake and bragge out theyr matters wyth large and shameles oothes They iudge it a poynte of elogancye ciuilite and good nourtoure to enterlase theyr talke wythe abuÌ„daÌ„s of oothes They recount him an asse a dastarde and an hobbe of the contrey that can not sweare valeauntly so greatly hath vice preuayled so greatly hath wickednes rooted herselfe in the hartes of men so lytle authorite bearethe vertue godlynesse nowe a dayes in the worlde MeÌ„ of occupacion The maÌ„ of occupacon feareth no thyng at al to sweare by God to call him a witnes in a vayne and triflyng matter whan he byeth or selleth ony thyng so that he maye gette but a peny by this means O Lorde what dothe it profyt a man to wynne all yâ— who le world to loose his soule How customably is this hearde dayely among them that be byers and sellers O â—â—treâ—e abhominacioÌ„ By Gods soule man take it vnto the say not but that thou haste a frendly peny worth For by the blyssed body of god thou hast it as good chepe as euer I bought it And yet are all togyther starke lyes But lette it be grauÌ„ted that theyr ooth were true is it therfore conuenient yâ— in worldly matters for euery lyghte trifle what 〈◊〉 and faythe oughte to reygne amoÌ„g christen men we shoulde thus abuse the name of god whom we ought neuer to haue in our mouthes without great reuerence and for vrgeÌ„t weyghty causes There ought to be so great sincerite faythfulnes trueth singlenes amonge Christen men that yea yea naye naye should be sufficient But alas there is so moch crafte deceate suttelty falshode and doublenes reygnyng in the worlde at this tyme that none dare trust another no thoughe they promyse neuer so fayre excepte they sweare Exulaâ— fides no nor than nether He that feareth notto blaspheme yâ— name of god wyl not let to deseaue his neyghbour excepte they haue them bound in blacke whyght as they saye O Lorde vnto what poynt are we come whan all trueth credence is so farre banysshed from the boundes of Christianite yâ— there is more fayth trust gyuen to an obligacioÌ„ or suche other trifle than to yâ— word and promyse of a Christen man It is euen as the Prophet sayth Oze iiii there is no trueth vpoÌ„ the earth Psal. â—x but swearyng cursyng lyeÌ„g Rom. iii Euery man is a lyare Luke xviii Euery man that lyuethe is nothyng but vanite nether is ther ony trust in hym Do ye thynke sayeth Christ that the sonne of manne shall fynde ony fayth on the earthe whaÌ„ he shall come Verely I thynke but a lytle which is an euident tokeÌ„ that the daye of the great terrible iudgement is not farre of Moreâ—uer howe is God rent and torne by blasphemous othes not only among men in bargaynynge Dysers and Cardâ—rs byeng and sellyng choppyng and chaâ—â—gyng c. but also in playeng yo le matters How wyl the diser sweare rather than he wyll loose one caste Howe wyll the carder teare God on peces rather than he wyll loose the profyt of one carde Howe wyl they that stonde by beholde forsweare them selues for the loue that they beare to one of the parties Agayn howe depely do menne of lawe sweare vnto theyr Clientes Men of lawe yâ— they haue laboured theyr matters earnestly to the Iudges whan many tymes they haue not spoken one worde but styl prolonge the matter that theyr auauntage maye be the greater Howe doth the prest sweare that if it had not ben for the loue of suche suche an honest man and for yâ— good Prestes benefyced men reporte that he hath hearde before of the Parysh he would neuer haue beÌ„ person of 〈◊〉 And yet it is not vnknowen that the moost part of the loue theyr paryshners so derely that after they be once â—ure of theyr benefyce they care not although they neuer se none of theÌ„ after so that they maye haue the auaÌ„untage of the benefice excepte peradueÌ„ture of theyr deuocion it be at haruest whan the tythe barnes are ful or elles at Easter to searche howe good the Easter boke wyll be that yeare This once done hense go they agayne leaue asyr Iohn Lack latin in theyr stead whyche teachethe not muche more than the hyll mouethe The wolffe maye come and easely rent Ioan. x. teare deuour the poore shepe For the shepparde hath gotteÌ„ the mylke wolle and he is gone He hathe lycked the fatte from hys paryshners berdes hath taken his iourney Take thought for the flock who lysteth O Pastor Idolum derelinquens gregem Zaâ—h xl O shepeparde Idolle that thus forsaketh his flocke But alas what consciences haue these menne which take so muche and do so lytyll If they wyll reape carnall thynges so must they sow spiritual thynges sayth the scripture The labouryng plow maÌ„ not the ydle lubber muste receaue of the frutes i. Cor xix sayth S. ii Tim. ii Paule i. Tim. v They that rule well are worthy double honour
our tyme There lyue at this daye whiche haue knowen certen meÌ„ to be great swearâ—rs of whome some many yeares before they dyed were greuously punyshed wyth strauÌ„ge and innumerable diseases some by yâ— strong hand of God had theyr houses as yâ— Prophet Zachary sayth consumed with fyre some lost theyr speache before they dyed another sort certen dayes before they dyed Felix queÌ„ faciuÌ„t alienape ricula caâ—tum had such an heate and breÌ„ning in theyr mouthes that by no means they could suffer to haue them speared Theyr toÌ„ge all that euer was within theyr mouthe was so blacke as a coole Were not all these manifest tokens of Gods wrath and vengeaunce for takynge his holy name in vayne Woulde God they yâ— were thus punyshed myght be an example vnto vs for to leaue the wycked and vngodly custome of swearyng If we wyll not cease but styll prouoke god vnto anger surely we shal proue feale those same plages and much more greuous And wolde god oure paynes myghte cease in thys worlde that we myght be free from euerlastyng damnacion We all professe Christ Ioan. viii Ioan. x Ioan. xviii and caull our selues christians why do we not thaÌ„ those thinges that Christ commaundeth vs Christ sayth he that is of God heareth the wordes of god Ioan. xv Agayne any shepe heare my voyce Mat. â— Also in another place euery one that is of the trueth hereth my voyce If we therfore be of God why do we not heare the wordes of God If we be yâ— shepe of Christ whye do we not heare our sheppardes voyce If we pertayne vnto Christ which is yâ— selfe trueth why do we not heare hys voyce Christ sayth ye haue hearde that ii was sayd to them of thou old time thou shalt not forsweare thy selfe but perfourme vnto the Lorde that yâ— haste sworne But I saye vnto you swerâ— not at al neyther by heaueÌ„ for it is the throne of God neyther by earth for it is the footestoole of hys feete nor by Hierusalem for it is the citis of the great kyng nether shalt thou swear by thy head because thou art not able to make one heare whyght or blacke But let your communicacioÌ„ be yea yea naye naye For what so euer is more than that cometh of euell Herevnto agreeth S. Iames sayeng before all thynges Iacob v o my brethren looke ye sweare not nether by heueÌ„ nor by earth nor by ony other ooth Let your coÌ„municacioÌ„ be yea yea naye naye that ye fall not into dissimulacion Here are we forbyddan to sweare by ony thynge that euer God made If it be not lawfull for vs to sweare by ony thiÌ„g yâ— euer Godmade thaÌ„ is it not lawful for vs to swear by him that made al thinges If it be synne to sweare by the creatures thaÌ„ must it nedes be damnable to sweare by yâ— creatore Why do we not remember these thynges and leaue our great swearynge It is a shame to se christen men lyue so contrarye to theyr profession It shall be more tollerable to Tyrus and Sydon to Sodâ— me Gomorre at the daye of iudgement Math. xi than to vs except we shortely repent beleue and amend For that seruaÌ„t which knowethe his masters wyll and doth it not shall be beaten w many strypes Swearyng hathe euer bene couÌ„ted a thing of so great absurdite Luke xii that the very Ethnyckes and Gentiles dydde deteste it in so muche that a certayne Greke Poet wryteth on this manner flye swearyng although thyne ooth be ryghâ— accordyng to the truethe Our damnacion is greata What a sayeng is this of an Infidell Shall not he and such other ryse vp at the daye of iudgement condemne vs seyng they were Infidelles and we Christen men Our Lorde be mercifull vnto vs. All hunte after worldly promocions and seake to lyue in pleasure and welth but no man seaketh howe to lede a godly innocent lyfe howe to leaue theyr swearyng and to magnify the moost glorious name of God For we go forthe styll to synne as thoughe there were no punishment ordined for it at all We blaspheme the name of god as though he were so chyldysh that he woulde neuer caull vs vnto an accouÌ„tes for oure vngodly blasphemies We so â—eare Christ and al the partes of his moost blissed body as thogh he shuld neuer come vnto the iudgement for to rewarde the good to condemne the euell Christ sayth that we shall gyue an accouÌ„tes at yâ— daye of iudgement for euery ydle worde Math. xii that we haue spoken what is thaÌ„ to be thought of our abhominable othes wherby God is so greatly dishhonoured What accosites shal we gyue of theÌ„ Howe narowly shal we be examined of them What wyl we aunswere in this behalfe What wyll we saye what excuse wyll we make I feare vnlesse we shall be redy of oure owne free wyll to runne hedlong into hell syre before the terrible sentence of damnacion be giuen our conscience shall so condeÌ„ne vs. Lorde holde thy holy hande ouer vs gyue vs grace to amende Sayente Pauls sayth Colos. iiii lette your speache be well fauoured and powdered wyth salte that ye may know howe to answere euery man What place hathe thys commaundement of thapostle among them whiche so pouder theyr wordes the there come nothyng out of theyr mouthes but vayne othes wicked blasphemies The communicacioÌ„ of these men sauour lytle of salte wherby is vnderstonde the wysdome of Gods word what saâ—e signifyeth it is so fresh vnsauery Yea wolde God these abhominable blaspemers of Gods moost holy name were not extreme enemies to gods worde chosyng rather to remayne dastardes styll in the folyshnesse of the worlde Swearers are enemyes to gods word than to become wyse and prudeÌ„t in the wysdome of gods worde All swerers therfore are enemies bothe to god and hys worde A Christen man maye not acquaynte hymselfe wyth such maÌ„ners nor so wyckedly abuse hys tonge For oure tonge is gyuen vs not that we shoulde sweare lye blaspheme ieste rayle scoffe mocke vse vngodly talke but yâ— we shulde onely speake those thynges whiche maye bothe turne vnto the glory of god the health of our neyghbour And thys is it that S. Paule sayth let your speach be wel fauoured and poudered wyth salte Colos. iiii Our speche is well sauoured semely honest comely whan there appeare the no thing in it that maye offende the eares of ony true Christen man Mark wel but is agreable in all poyntes to godlynes and honeste It is poudered wyth salte wheÌ„ it vttreth those thynges which are godly wyse and edifye so many as are the hearers of it Let all swerers marke this and amende theyr coÌ„municacion vnlesse they be that vnsauery salte Math. v whiche shall be caste out and troden vnder foote Agayne he sayth lette no sylthye coÌ„municacion procede out of youre mouthes Ephe. iiii
reiecte as a thyng muche daungerous and hurtefull bothe to the body and soule Suche an othe Iud. xi promyse or vowe made Iepte that if God wolde delyuer the chyldren of Amnon into his handes whan he came home agayne in peace what so euer thynge commeth fyrst out of his dores shulde be the Lordes and he wolde offer it vp for a burnt offeryng At his returne it fortuned that his doughter being his only chylde came out agenst him wythe tymberelles and daunces Whan he sawe her he was much amased and greatly sorowful because of his vow that he had made to god Notwythstondyng he sayde God desyreth thanckes gyuyng and not bloudy sacrifices I haue opened my mouthe vnto the Lorde and canne not go backe So that to fulfyll his folyshe and wycked vowe he committed the greuous synne of manslaughter and cruelly â—â—ue hys owne doughter contrary to yâ— lawe of God whan it had ben better and muche more godly to haue brokeÌ„ his folyshe vowe and to haue kepte hys handes clene from the bloude of hys doughter and to haue gyuen God ryght harty thanckes for the victory that he had gotten ouer hys enemies Psal. i For it is the sacrifice of prayse that honourethe God Heb. xiii The calfes of oure lyppes are acceptable sacrifyce and welcome vnto god Psal. xlix I meane thaÌ„kes gyuyng For he delyghtethe not in the slaughter of ony creature but rather wylleth that they shuld lyue vnto that vse and end for the which they were made God the father by the Psalmograph sayth heare o my people let me speake let me testifye among you O Israel I am god yea I am euen thy God I wyll not reproue the bycause of thy sacrifices thy burnte offerynges are alway in my syght I wyll take no bullockes out of thy house nor goates oute of thy feldes For all the beastes of the felde are myne and thousandes of cattell vpon the hylles I knowe all the soules vpon the mountaynes the wylde beastes of the felde are in my syght If I be hongry I wyl not tel the for the whole world is myne all that therin is Thynkest thou that I wyll eate the flesh of oxen or dryncke the bloude of gotes Offer vnto god the sacrifice of prayse and pay thy vowes vnto the moost highest And call vpon me in the tyme of trouble so wyll I heare the that thou shalte thaÌ„ke me The Psalmograph hymselfe also sayth Psal. â—v in me o god are thy vowes which I shall paye vnto the euen very harty prayses thankes gyuyng Vowes ofentymes in the scripture are taken for prayses and thankes gyuyng He calleth the vowes yâ— we shulde offer vnto God for his benefites prayses thankes gyuyng and not the kyllyng and offryng vp of our chyldren or the performynge of such folysh wicked vowes which caÌ„ not be performed wythout synne and vngodlines Herode also made a promyse to the doughter of Herodias whaÌ„ she dauÌ„ced salyed so plesantly before hym and hys Lordes at a certayne banket that he wolde gyue her what so euer she wold aske euen vnto yâ— halfe of hys kyngdome She by the councell of her wycked mother asked the head of IohnÌ„ Baptiste So that the kynge because he wold not go backe of his worde suffered the holy Prophet of God to be slayne no cause why but only yâ— he thought it wolde not stonde with his honour royall dignite to breake his promyse Ah folysh vowe and more folysh kyng Ah wycked promyse and more wycked kynge Better had it bene for hym a thousaâ—d tymes to haue gone backe of his worde to haue brokeÌ„ his wicked vow and to haue loste al his royall dignite than so vertuous a man shulde haue bene slayne We â—e to all those vowes and promises whyche are not fulfilled without synne and wyckednes Agen we rede in thactes of thapostles that there were mo than forty men which had conspired agenst Paule Act. xxiii and made a solemne vow an earnest promyse and a foule deuout ooth that they woulde neyther eate nor dryncke vntyll they had slaynâ— Paule For we are redy saye they to kyll him before he come nygh vnto vs by a myle A whotte zele in dede but not accordynge to knowledge Here was a whotte brennyng zele They thought euery hour a thousaÌ„d yere tyl they might mete with tholy Apostle and shedde his bloude they were so lothe to be founde double in theyr wordes so sory that he shulde teache ony more such newe learnyng and late sprong vp heresye vnto the great confusion of theyr holye synagoge and the vtter shame of yâ— foole dâ—uout fathers the Pharises Scribes Lawers bishoppes prestes rulars of the Temple elders of the people c. To preuent these high inconueniences and to suppresse yâ— great enormities newly reysed vp by the meaÌ„s of Paules doctrine ye wyll not easely beleue what paynes these good men toke They coulde not rest nether nyghte nor daye As for meate dryncke and slepe was gone with them Bâ— mery at theyr hartes they could neuer vntyll they had slayne Paule yâ— greate Heretyke that teacher of new learnyng that brynger in of new lawes that destroyer of all the olde laudable customes that troubler of the coÌ„mon peace Ioan. xvi that sower of discorde yâ— peruertour of the holy olde religioÌ„ that enemy of all good deuocion c. Therfore made they a solemne vow in good tyme might it be spokeÌ„ that they woulde tast nothyng no not so much as a pore ale bery for yâ— coÌ„forte of theyr harte vntyl they had slayn Paule in so muche that they were gone so farre in dede that they had rather slea Paule and cast theyr soules into hell fyre for doyng that mischeuous acte than they would once breake theyr vowe For they iudged by this meanes to do God an hyghe sacrifice Surely I thyncke that if the porke of Rome had at that tyme 〈◊〉 reygnyng and in his full power scaulled they would scasely haue beleued that he had ben able to dispeÌ„se wyth theyr vow it was so solem feruent and spronge out of the harte roote Is it not to be thought that they were whot in theyr matters whaÌ„ they coulde not kepe theyr mischeuous pretence secrette DignuÌ„ patella operculum but came vnto the chefe prestes and elders as couers worthy such cuppes gostly fathers fyt for suche a confession and tolde them that they had bouÌ„de them selues wyth a vowe that they myght eate nothyng vntyl the had slayne Paule Had it not ben great pitie thynke you that these menne shulde haue dyed for â—onger seynge they fasted for so good a purpose O holy votories I maruell howe they could euer pacify theyr consciences afterwarde seynge they made so solemne a vowe and yet brake it For they neuer slue Paule so myghty a Lorde is God to defende his serualltes from the cruell handes of bloudy tyrauntes But the holye religious men are
lyke vnto the but I wyll reproue the come face to face agaynst the. O vnderstonde these thynges ye that forget God vnlesse he plucke you awaye there be none yâ— can delyuer you Sayncte Paule also sayth Rom. ii thou that teachest another teachest not thy self Thou that preachest that men shulde not steale stealest thy selfe Thou that sayste that whoredome shulde not be committed playest the whoremonger thy selfe Thou that abhorrest Images robbest God of his honour thy selfe Thou that gloryest of the lawe thorowe breakyng of the law dishonorest God For the name of God is euell spoken of among the Gentiles thorowe you Of these thynges it is euident yâ— it is not sufficient for prestes to preache Goddes worde except they also leade a vertuous godly lyfe Math. v. Who so euer doth and teacheth he shal be called great in the kyngdom of heauen sayth the scripture Christ doth not onely call prestes the salte of the earth but also the lyght of yâ— world Wythe theyr preachyng they season the people Prestes are not only called the salte of yâ— earthe but also the lyght of the worlde but wythe theyr lyght of godly conuersacion they shewe men howe they ought towalke and lyue Therfore immediately is it subioyned lette your lyght so shyne before menne that they maye se your good workes glorify your father i. Tim. iiii which is in heauen i. Tim. â— Be an example of the faythfull sayth Paule ii Tim. iâ— in worde in conuersacion in loue in Spirite in faythe Kepe thy selfe pure Study to shewe thy selfe commendable to God a worke man that neadeth not to be ashamedde He that preacheth Christ In serm deieiunio sayth S. Ambrose ought to shewe hym selfe wholly estraunged from all kynde of vices S. IohnÌ„ Chrisostome also sayth In Math. it is a great shame for Prestes and for so many as be of the Clergy whan laye men be founde faythfuller more ryghteous than they are Howe canne it otherwyse be than a shame for them to be inferioure to the laye people whome to be lyke vnto them it is also a shame AgeÌ„ S. Gregory sayth the lyght of the flocke is the flame of the shepparde In Pastora For it becoÌ„methe the Lordes shepehearde and a Preste to â—hyne in manners and lyuyng that in hym as in yâ— glasse of theyr lyght the people that is committed vnto hym maye bothe discerne what they shulde follow and also se what they shulde correcte and amende Hereof is it euident what great purite and innocency of lyfe ought to be in prestes that theyr lyfe may correspond and in all poyntes answere to theyr preachyng But here is an answer to be made to the vnsauery talke of certen men nowe a dayes which because they se the manners of the Preachers not agreable in all poyntes to theyr sermons faull at defyaunce with gods worde blaspheme it as heresy rayle vpon the preachers and absent them selfes from the hearyng of all godly exhortacions warnynges and couÌ„cels These parsons hynder no man so moche as them selfes They may well be compared to a folysshe man Mark well whyche cometh vnto the market for to bye meate But whaÌ„ he beholdeth the butcher and perceaueth hym to haue some deformite in his face as one of his eyes to be out or to be balde or elles to holde his necke awrye gothe streyght home agayne chosethe rather to dye for honger than he wyll bye meate of suche a butcher although the meat be neuer so pure Math. xxâ—â—â— clene commestible wholsome But let vs heare what the holy scripture saythe In the chayer of Moses syt Scribes and Phareses All theâ—fore that they commaunde you to kepe loke that you kepe and do but accordyng to theyr workes do ye not For they say but they do not Here christ commaundethe vs not to abstayne from the hearyng of Goddes worde though they be neuer so wicked and euyll that preache it For who were more vngodly and greater enemies to Christ than the Scribes Phareses yet Christ commaundethe to heare them so longe as they sytte in the chayer of Moses What it is to syt in the chayer of 〈◊〉 To syt in the chayer of Moses is truely syncerly to preach those thynges that Moses dyd to enterpret the lawe accordyng to the ryght vayne of the holy scripture and only to seake the glory of God the profyt of the faythfull So long as they that are preachers do thys they are to be hearde though theyr lyfe be neuer so abhominable For it is not the preacher to whome we must haue pryncipall respecte but to the word of God Nother do we come into the Temple to gase vpon the Preacher but to hear the holy scriptures declared and so lerne to lede a godly lyfe If he were one of the ministers of Satan yea Satan hymselfe that preacheth so longe as he bryngethe in Scriptum est so long as he teacheth purely the diuine scripture wythout wreastyng Euerye maÌ„ yâ— preachethe the scripture trulye is to be hearde be hys lyfe neuer so wycked or corruptynge of the same he is to be hearde We ought not so greatly to marke the teacher as that which is taught If he teachethe well it is ours we haue that we came for if he lyueth well it is his owne and he shal receaue the rewarde But lette vs heare what Chrisostome sayth to thys matter In Math Cap. xxiii If the presteâ— lyue wel sayth he it is theyr auauntage but if they teache well it is yours Be not curioê° to boulâ—e out that which pertayneth vnto another man For oftentymes good learnyng comethe forthe from an euyll manne as vyle earth bryngeth forth precious gold Is precious golde despysed for the vile earth Therfore as the golde is chosen and the earth forsakeÌ„ so lykewyse take you the learnyng leaue the manners Agayne he saythe let vs take the doctrine but not the maÌ„ners Herbes are not necessary for the bees but the floures are So you lykewyse gather the floures of doctrine and leaue theyr fashons of lyuyng Here this holy Doctore wylleth vs not to despyse yâ— word thoughe the Preacher be euell Lette vs take that is oures and let go that is hys The doctrine is oures yâ— lyfe is hys I had rather haue a syncer preacher of Gods worde which shal declare Christ vnto me purely rebuke my synful lyuyng conforte me wyth the swete promises of GOD shewe me howe I ought to institute my lyfe according to yâ— wyl of god c although hys maÌ„ners be somewhat corrupte and dissent from his preachyng thaÌ„ to haue a wicked Papist a pestileÌ„t Pharese a supersticious Hypocrite whiche shall outwardely lyke a crafty foxe preteÌ„d a certayne grauite and a popeholy manner of lyuynge and yet corrupte the holye scriptures confounde Gods worde wyth mens tradicions lede the people into supersticious errours flatter the herers preach for lucre