to helpe The cōgregation of the faithful speaketh Wherefore thē is thy clothinge red thy rai mēt like his y t treadeth in the win presse Christe answereth I haue troden the presse alone of al peo ple ther is not one w t me Neither Abrahā nor Isac neither zachary nor Iohn Baptist neither Mary nor Elizabeth neyther Peter nor Paulle neyther man nor Angell hath payde our raunsome by his bloude shedynge but Christe alone alone that moste pure and vndefiled lambe whyche taketh a waye the synnes of the worlde In hym alone and in none other is all oure health and saluacton Neyther is ther any other name giuen vnto mē wherin thei must be saued but onelye the name of our most blessed lord and bounte ous sauioure Christe Iesu that Kynge of glorye He onelye hath taken on hym oure infirmities borne our paynes He was woūded for oure offences smittē for our wyckednes The chastisment of our peace was laide vpō him and w t his stripes we are healed As for vs we haue gone al astray like shepe euery one hath turned his own way But the Lord hath heaped together vpō him the iniquitie of vs all He suffered violence and was euyll entreated and dyd not yet open his mouth He was led as a shepe to be slain yet was he as styl as a lambe before the shearer and did not open hys mouth He was had a waye frō presonne hys cause not heard and wythout any iudgement Al thys suffered he for our sake to put awaie our iniquities Yea he was cut of frō the groūd of the li uing which punishment dyd go vpō him sayth God for the transgression of my people whych in dede had deserued y t punishment It pleased the lord thus to burst hym wyth plages and to smite hym wyth infirmities that when he had made hys soule an offerynge for synne he might se long lastynge seede He hath iustified the multitude and borne awaye their synnes These wordes are spoken by the Prophete whyche teache vs manifestly that ther is no sacrifice that deserueth remission of synnes to vs or pacifieth the wrath of God styred vp agaynst vs thorowe synne but on ly the death of Iesus Christ. By the meanes of Iesu Christe sayeth Sayncte Paulle ye whyche sometime were farre of are made nye by the bloude of Christe By Christe we haue redempcion tho rowe his bloud euen the forgeue nes of synnes accordynge to the ryches of his grace God hath de linered vs frō the power of darck nes and hath translated vs into the Kyngedome of hys deare sonne by whom we haue redemtion thorowe hys bloude euen the forgiueues of sinnes It plea sed the father that in him should all fulnes dwel and by him to re concile al thinges vnto himselfe and to set at peace by him thorow the bloud of his crosse boeth thin ges in heauē thinges in earth This is a true sayeinge and by all meanes worthy to be reaceyued of vs that Christe Iesus came into the worlde to saue sinners There is one God and one mediator betwen God and man euen the mā Christ Iesus which gaue hym selfe a raunsome for al men Ye know sayeth blessed Pe ter howe that ye were not redemed with corruptible thingse as siluer and golde from your vain conuersacion but wyth the precious bloude of Christe as of a lambe vndefiled and wythout spot The bloud of Iesus Christ gods owne sonne maketh vs per fectly cleane sayth S. Iohn frō al synne Agayne he sayth Christ loued vs and washed vs from oure synnes in hys owne bloude If these sentenses were truely knowen of the Laye people and vnfaynedly beleued they would sone geue ouer their popyshe sacrifices and onely cleaue as they oughte to the alone sacrifice of the highe and euerlasting Priest Iesus Christe which he once for all offered vpō the aultare of the crosse They woulde leaue to run madyng to y e masking Masse of the papistes and make more hast vnto godlye sermons and vnto the holye and blessed Supper of the Lord. Euse. Me thincke these Massemongers whiche make of the Lordes Supper a priuate churlish breakefaste for as much as they eate and drincke alone and make th◅ people beleue that in their Masse thei offer Sacrifice for their synnes boeth of the liuynge and of the deade and boste that their Masse is of as great vertue and strength as the passion of Christ for the satisfaction of our wickednesses besides their intollerable blasphemies a gaynste the Lorde and hys annoynted offende greatly against the dignitie and the ryght vse of the Lordes Supper For Christe whan he instituted thys blessed Supper to be celebrated wyth breade and wyne and appoynted them to be the holye misteries of hys bodye and bloude gaue no commaundemente to offer and sacrifice for the sinnes of y e quicke and the deade but to eate and drinke these holy misteries in the remembraunce of hys death as he hym selfe sayeth Do thys in the remembrance of me Hereto agreeth Sainct Paule so ofte sayeth he as ye shall eate of thys bread and drincke of thys cuppe ye shall shewe the death of the Lorde tyll he come So that the Lordes Supper was not instituted of Christe to be a sacrifice propiciatorye satisfactorie expiatory and I cā not tel you what but onelye a commemoration or remembraunce of that sacrifice which could not but once be offered and a certayne confirmacion or seale for the infirme and weak linges that they be redemed by Christ bi Christes passion bloud and death that hereby they may be assured of the fauoure of God of remission of sinnes if they sted fastly beleue that Christe hath sa tisfied for their synnes vpon the crosse and in thys fayth eate and drincke the misteries of hys bodye and bloud For whan so euer the true Christians eate drinke the bodye and bloude of Christe in fayeth and wyth a beleuinge spirite their synnes are forgeuen them no les than if Christe euen at that presente hadde died vpon the crosse not for the eatyng and drinckynge but for the fathers sake in Christes bloude so mightye in operacion is Christe and so presente is he at euerye howre vnto so manye as beleue in hym and are gathered togither in hys name For he is the eternall god therefore hath hys death an eter nal euerlastynge fruite Christ. Ye haue taught vs Neighboure Philemon many goodli and god ly thynges concernyng the sacrifice of Christ which beate downe the sacrifice of the popishe masse euen vnto the grounde yea they driue it downe euen vnto the pit of hel from whens it firste came Nowe wyll I reherse vnto you agayne what I haue redde and hearde of the papistes concernynge this matter that ye maye se what their opinion was and is of the Masse and of the sacrifice thereof Phile.
wyth Itemissa est Well thys maye ye easly perceyue howe greatly the Popysh masse differeth from the true institutiō of the Lords supper and that they agre togyther as Christe and Beliall lyghte and darcknesse trueth and falsehode ce Christo. It shall therfore be conuenient for all true christian hertes no more to repose the trust of theyr saluation in the Sacrifice of theyr Popeyshe masse nor in anye thynge apperteynynge to the same but onely in the blessed passion in the precyouse bloude gloryouse death of oure Lorde and sauiour Iesus Christ which by the alone Sacrifice of hys mooste holye body hath euen vn to the vttermoste and at the full payed our raunsome broughte vs euerlastynge healthe Theo. Thys is a confortable hea rynge for all fayethfull penitent synners But I praye you neighboure Philemon remayne there no mo causes of reioysyng in the Lorde oure God Philemon Yesse verilye For thys oure Lorde and Sauioure Iesus Christe dyd not onelye boeth wyllyngely and frelye gyue him selfe vnto the deathe of the crosse for oure synnes and wyckednes and by thys meanes paye oure raunsome to God the father for oure offēses that Satan might haue no power ouer vs but he al so thorowe the might of his godhead rose agayne gloriously and triumphantlye on the thyrd day accordynge to the scriptures for oure iustification as the Apostle sayeth He was betraied vnto the death for our synnes and rose agayne for oure iustification For as by the death of Christe oure raunsome is payed the diuine wrath is pacified oure synnes are washed away in Christes bloude a reconciliacion perfect atonemēt is made betwene God the father and vs the obligation of oure dette is rased oute the law is fulfilled the curse of goddes wrath is takē away al thynges both in heauen and in earth are pacified so in lyke maner by the Resurrection of Christe wee are made ryghtuousse accepted into Goddes fauoure recounted for iuste holye and vertuousse sette at libertye from the tyrannye of Sathan admitted into the celestiall courte of the newe Hierusalem and become felowe cityzyns of the houshold of God wyth the Saynctes and blessed spirites Euse. O inestimable treasures broughte to vs by the gloryouse resurrection of our moste blessed sauiour Iesu Christ. Phile. Yea lette vs marke thys also by the waye that as oure moste valeaunt Lorde and Emperoure Iesus Christe by his resurrection gatte the vyctory ouer Sathan Synne Deathe Hell Desperation and all that is enemye to Mannes healthe so in lyke condicion haue we in hym and thorowe hym goten a glorious victorye ouer Sathan and all hys kyngdome that we maye wyth a ioyeful voyce saye death is swalowed vp into victo rye O death where is thy vyctorye O death where is thy styng The stynge of death is sinne the power of synne is the lawe But thanckes be to God whiche hath geuen vs the victorye thorowe oure Lorde Iesu Christe Christo. O what a ioye and comforte is this to a Christen mans herte to se hys enimies whiche before so greately soughte hys distruccion thus vanquished subdued and troden vnder his fote This haue we gotten as ye very truly haue sayde by Christes resurrection as Christe hym selfe testifieth sayeinge nowe is the iudgemente of the worlde nowe shall the prince of thys worlde be caste oute Agayne be of good comfort I haue ouercome the world By the Prophet Ose he also sayeth I wyl deliuer them from the power of death yea from deathe it selfe wyll I redeme them O death I wyll be thy death O hel I wyll be thy destruccion Phile. Moreouer by Christes resurrection haue we obtayned not only Iustification victory ouer our enemies but also resurrection of bodye and euerlastynge immortalitie For as oure Lorde and sa uioure Iesus Christe dyd put of the mortalitie of hys bodye and became immortall at hys resurrection so by the power of that hys moste glorious resurrection shall we also at the greate day of iudgemente in oure resurrection receyue immortall and incorruptible bodyes euen lyke vnto the glorious body of oure moste myghtye and valeaunt captayne Iesu Christe The. Oh who cā expres the worthines excellency of these heauenly gyftes whiche we obtaine by the mooste victorious and triumphante Resurrection of Iesus Christe oure Lorde and sauioure Philemon Lette these thynges therefore dearelye beloued brethren make you to reioyce in the Lorde Lette these thyngs prouoke you to wythdrawe your mynde from transitory thynges and stedfastly to fyxe it on thynges cōstaunt and euerlastinge Lette these thynges sequester youre Ioye and pleasure frome the swete entisynge moremaydes of thys worlde and allure to the alone delectation in celestiall treasures Christ. O blessed is that man to whōme it is geuen frome aboue truely to sauoure these thynges fayethfullye to beleue theim and earnestly to reioyce in that Lord whyche is the alone geuer of thē Sure m◅◅at man be that hys name is written in the booke of lyfe Philemon But lette vs go forthe to declare moe benifites of God towarde man that oure ioye in the Lorde maye be vnfayned cōsummate and perfecte After this mooste noble conqueste and victorious triumphe whyche oure moste mighty Emperour Christ Iesus hadde ouer Sathan and hys infernall ministers he taried here in thys worlde certayne dayes wyth hys Disciples eatynge drynkeynge and talkyng wyth thē of the kyngdome of his heauenly father and confirming them in the waye of trueth And thys dyd he not only to make thē stronge in the article of his resur rection but also by the instruction of them to corroborat fortifye and strength vs in the same seekynge no les oure health then the saluacion of them For as the Apostle sayeth if thou doste confesse wyth thy mouth the Lorde Iesus beleue wyth thyne herte that God raysed hym vp frome the dead thou shalt be saued Cer tayne dayes paste from his resur rection Christe our Lorde by the power of hys godhede in y e sight of his Apostles ascēded into heauen God and man Haue we no cause to reioyce in this behaulfe Hath this his marueylouse ascēsion brought no commoditie and profite to vs Haue we a iuste cause to reioyce in hys natiuitye preachynge miracles good workes crosse passion bloude death resurrection whych al are ours not in hys ascention also We reade that the Apostles were very sadde when Christe told theim that he shoulde ascende vnto his father But Christe sayed vnto them I tel you trueth it is expedient and profitable for you that I go ascende vnto my father Christe tolde the Apostles that it was expediente profitable for theim that he shoulde go vp into heauen If it were expedient for them it is euē so like wyse for vs. For we are saued by y e very same waye whereby they receyued saluation Let vs therfore consider what commodities and profites the Apostles had by Christes ascention and let vs w t
poore abiectes and vyllaynes of this worlde by the authoritie of Goddes worde It can not be it can not be For euery one that doeth euyll sayth Christ hateth the lyght neyther cometh he to the lyght least hys works should be reproued Now as cōcerninge the wicked worldlings thei cā fauour no more the truth of Gods word thē the bealied hipocrites For it condēneth their couetousnes theyr ambitio their vain glory their pride their whordome their pollynge their pillinge their falshode theyr oppression their vnmercifulnes theyr cruelty theyr tyrannye and what so euer ahomination they vse beside Howe can it otherwise come to passe but they whych rebuke these vices muste neades be hated persecuted enprisoned and slayne of the wycked worldlynges for tellynge thē the truth for rebukynge these theyr most abhominable and outragiousse synnes as the prophete sayeth They hate hym that reproueth them openlye and who so telleth them the playne trueth they abhorre hym Can lighte and darcknes agre Can Christ and Beliall be at vnitie No more canne the worckers of wyckednes and the rebukers of the same be ledde wyth one consente There muste nedes be dissētion betwen thē as was betwene Abell and Cayne Iacob and Esau Christ and the byshoppes the Apostles and the worldelye tyrantes And for as muche as the same impietie and vngodlynes the same wyckednes and abhomination reigneth nowe in the worlde that hathe bene vsed in tymes paste and it ought of veri duti to be rebuked at thys presente wyth no lesse libertye of speache then it hathe bene in tymes paste excepte wee wyll wyncke at so greate abhomination and wyth the wycked worldelynges and bealied hypo crites syncke downe to the deuyl for oure laboure it is not to be doubted but they that shall take vpon them that office shal proue fynd euen that same gentilnes at theyr handes that Moyses the Prophetes Christe and hys Apostles the holye martyrs and blessed sayntes receyued of their bluddy predecessours Therfore if the waues and surges of cruell persecution shal at any tyme rise againste vs the good wyl of our heauenlye father so prouidynge without whole sufferaunce al the hypocrites in the worlde can do nothynge agaynst vs let vs not despayre nor cast away our hope but styl go forth to reioyce in the Lorde oure God and manfullye abyde by the veritie of his word remēbring y t it is called the word of the crosse trouble persecutiō remembringe that no kynde of aduersitie chaunceth to vs but the same happened in times past to the Prophetes and Apostles yea to Christ hym selfe that pure Lambe of God remembrynge y t all whyche wyll lyue Godlye in Christe Iesus shall suffer persecution remembrynge that by the crosse awaye is prepared for vs vnto eternall lyfe And that we maye wyth the more free spirite and francke courage reioyce in the Lord when so euer the crosse or persecution is layed on oure backes for Goddes sake and for hys Gospell let vs enarme oure selues wyth the cōfortable textes of the holye scripture and call to remembraunce the hystories of the blessed menne of God whych also suffred like or greater pains for the glorye of the Lorde not forgettynge that euen frome the beginyng of the worlde the wicked begā to persecute the godly as we may see in Abel and suche other Euse. Unto this pacience and the folowing of the prophetes doeth blessed Iames exhorte vs saying Bepatient brethren to the cōming of the Lorde Behold the husband man waiteth for the precious fruite of the earth and hath long patiēce therupō vntyll he receiue y e yarelye later raine Be ye also patiente therfore and settle youre hertes for the commynge of the Lord draweth nye Grudge not one agaynste an other brethren leste ye be dampned Beholde the Iudge standeth before the dore Take my brethren the prophets for an exemple of sufferynge aduersitie of patience whyche spake in the name of the Lorde Beholde we counte them happye whyche endure Chri. Oure sauiour Christ sayeth also Blessed are ye when men reuile you persecute you and shall falselye saye all maner of euyll saying agaynste you for my sake Reioyce and be glade for great is your reward in heauen For so persecuted they the Prophetes whyche were before you Phile. What pleasures the holy prophetes of God found at the worldes hande it is not hard to expresse Esaie that moste excellente Prophet of God for hys libertie of speache in rebukynge the syn of the princes and of the people and for prophesyeng of the vengeaunce of god to fal vppō the cōtreie and people for not receiuing the word of god was cut in two partes a sūder wyth a sawe of wode Theo. O intollerable payne Phi. The prophet Ieremy was stoned vnto death of his people at Taphnes in Egipte because he rebuked them of their wicked liuynge and exhorted thē vnto repentaunce and amendemente of lyfe The Prophete Amos at the commaundemente of kynge Amasias for hys preachinge was cruelly beaten and greuously tormented and at the laste the Kynges sonne Ochosias caused hym to be thurste into the temples of the heade wyth a great naile oftrone so shortli af ter died The Prophet Micheas was cruelly beatē emprisoned fed w t breade water because he spake the trueth told the king what should chaunce vnto hym The Prophete Helias was greuously persecuted of quene Iesa ble kinge Achabes wife for speakinge agaynste Baall and hys chaplens The Prophet zacharie son of Barachias was stoned to death for telling the king truth The Prophete Daniell was cast into the denne of lions because that contrarye to kynge Darius commaundemente he prated vnto his Lord the God Israell Which of the prophetes escaped wythout persecution And as the wicked worldlynges and bellie◅ Hypocrites handled the prophetes of God for telling the trueth so handled they al other y t obeied not their wickedlawes and filthy requestes Were not Sidrach Misac Abednago caste into a firie fornace because they would not worship the golden Image that kinge Nabugodonoser had made but only y e God of Israel Was not Achimelech wyth certaine other holy mē of god slaine at kynge Saules commaundemente because he she wed kyndenes to Dauid the hertye beloued seruaunte of God Was not Io sephe caste into prisonne because he woulde not leane to the filthy requeste of hys Lordes wyfe Was not Susan that vertuous woman at the poynt to be stoned vnto death because she woulde not consente to the vnlaufull and fylthy requestes of the two Iudges Was not Eleazarus miserablye put to death because ◅e at the kinges comaundement would not eat swines fleshe contrarie to the lawe of God was not a certayne woman wyth her seuen sonnes most cruelly put to death because they would not obaye the wycked precepte of
in mind so did he chose pore hum ble men to be his disciples y t they might go b◅are abrod like faith ful ministers y e heauēly riches of his exceding mercy toward man Christ. Not wyth out a cause For the riche galaūte and pompous worldlynges are no fit vessels t◅ c◅rye the treasures of the kyngdome of heauen so vnequally matched are Christe and Mammon heauen earth Golde and gods worde light and darcknes They maye pretend and beare an outwarde fac◅ to the worlde as thoughe they were the Apostles and ministers of Christe as Iudas Simon Magus and suche other dyd but inwardelye and afore God th◅y are the Apostls and ministers of Satan and whan they seme moste of all to talke of Christe of Christes doctrine of hys glory than are thei most of all ennemies of the crosse of Christe seke the condemnacion both of his doctrine and glory and laboure to stablishe their owne drousy dreames lowe◅ye lawes croked cōstitutions diuel lishe decres Antichristian actes and al for their God y e belly So swete a thynge is it to these false ministers and craftie apostles of Satan to tomble and walow in all kyndes of carnall pleasures and worldly riches Christe therfore knowynge all suche Bellye goddes to be vnapte for the prea chynge of the Gospell as he was pore and humble him selfe so did he chose to be hys ministers and Apostles por◅ homble menne ◅i shars day labourers tolgatherers such other vyle personnes abiectes of y e worlde These appointed he vnto the office of prea chyng his heauenly fathers wil. These made he dispensatoures and Stuwardes of the misteries of god These commaunded he to goforth and preach the Gospell the ioyful and glad ◅idings the fauoure of God towarde manne Repentaunce fayeth fre remission of sinnes in his bloud peace tranquillite of conscience euerlastinge lyfe c. The. These your wordes doeth blessed Paul affirme sayeing the folishenes of God is wiser then mē y e weakenes of god is stronger then men Brethrē ye se your calling how y t not mani wise mē after the flesh not many mightie not manye of hie degre are called but god hath chosen the folishe thynges of the world to confound the wyse And god hath chosē the weake things of the world to cō◅oūd the things which are mightie And vile thin ges of the world thinges which are dispised hath god chosē yea thinges of no reputacion for to bring to noughte things of repu tatiō y t no flesh should reioyce in his presēce Phi. Againe to shewe his humilite lolines how was he cōtent at euery mans desire to ◅o whither thei wold haue him gladly to do what so euer they re quested him Did he not heale y e deseased Restore y e blind to their sight The deaffe to their hearig The dūbe to their speaking The dead to their life Yea y e very Lepers did he not disdaine to purge cl◅se of their leprosie to touch w t his own handes whō the fine Pharises y e lusty lawers y e solēne saduces y e sawsy scribes the brag ing byshopes y e pattering priests w t y e whole rable of y e hypocritish sort disdained once to loke vpon so far is it of y t these holy fathers sought any remedy at al to helpe y e pore disseased After many tra gedies had betwen Christe the spiritual sorcerers w t y e other pōpouse worldlings for his doctrin miracles whā the time came ap poynted of hys heauenly father frome euerlastinge that he for mans reconciliation and pacifiyng of the diuine wrath shoulde offer hymselfe ▪ a swete and euerlastynge Sacrifice to God hys father wherby he myght redeme man from the tiran◅y of Satan paye hys raūsome by the price of his dere herte bloude fatisfie for hys offēses set a perpetual peace betwene God the father and mā and by hys death and passion bringe an whole sea of heauenlie treasures to the faythful penitēt sinners wyth what alacritie and cherefulnes of mynd wyth what desire and redines went he to his glorious passion No kinde of payne Did he disdayne For to sustayne To do man pleasure Hys owne herte bloude To shed on the rode It dyd hym good To make man al pure Euse. O the vnoutspeak◅able fa uoure of God towarde man If he had sent downe faythful Abra ◅ā or any other of the old Patri arches or aunciente holye Prophetēs to haue suffered for mans saluatiō it had wythout al doubt bene a token of singulare great fauoure toward man but to send downe hys onely begotten and derely beloued sonne from hys glorious throne yea and that for his enemies for their health and saluacion it is loue passynge all loue it is charite farre exceading all charite it is fauoure rather to be depely maruelled at than a ble worthily to be expressed The sonne of god to be come man and suffer dath for our sake Oh how cā we otherwise thē ernestly and frō y e very hert reioyce in y e Lord oure God Christ. Truly to much iron herted are all thei which reioyce not in y e blessed incarnaciō glorious death of this most ble ssed sede Iesu christ our Lord by whom so many so excellēt treasures of heauēli goodes haue fre ly chaūced vnto vs. Al things euē vnto the very death did he for our health saluation yea y t so cōsūmat perfecte y t ther was no thing left behind vnaccōplished y t might turne vnto our wealth cō modite profit cōcerning our redēpciō Let the turckes bost their Mahumet and reioyce in hym so much as thei list let Papistes auaunce their pope triumphe in him so much as is possible let the rich worldlinges magnifie their wicked mamon reioyse in it ful their hertes let y e glistering hypo crites delight in their god the bel ly euē vnto the vttermost yet let vs let vs I say y t professe Christ aright only reioyse in Christe in Christes natiuite passiō bloud death as s. Paul saith god forbid y t I should reioyse in any thinge but in the death of our lord Iesu Christ. For so louinge gentle a Sauioure can no wher be found so fauourable liberal a Lord cā no where be sought out In this sauioure lord therfore let vs re ioyse in none other Theo. The papistes can not broke this doctrine y t Christ alone y e most highe euerlastinge priest hath by hys death passiō in offeryng vp his own blessed body a swet smelling sacrifice to God the father so plē tuously so omnisufficiently so at the ful made satisfacion for oure sinnes y t we nede none other sacrifice satisfactory to put awaye our wickednesses Phile. No mar uel for in defacing the glory honour
of y e true onli sacrifice Iesu Christ thei set vp magnifie an Idol of their own makīg whiche is y e masse presume in y t to offer sacrifice dayly for y e synnes of the quicke and deade crake that it is of no les price valoure strength and vertue than the passion and death of Christ◅is Againe that what so euer christ did for the saluacion of man vpon the altare of y e crosse they do the very same at the masse Chri. O extreme blasphemy Whoe euer denied y e Lord that bought them if these popishe massemon gers do it not Who iustly may be called the enemies of the cros of Christe if the mumblynge Massehunters be not the verye same Whoe at anye tyme hath troden vnderfote the sonne of God and counted the bloude of the testamente wherewyth the fayethfull are sanctified as an vnholy thynge and done dishonour to y e spirite of grace if these shamelesse sacrificers haue not done it And yet it is a worlde to se what a numbre there are not onely of the ignoraunt and vnlearned but of them also whych bragge boeth of wysedome and learnyng that cleaue to this Idolatrous masse wyth to the and naile that defend it to the vttermoste wyth swerd fyre and halter that maintayn it wyth their tyches possessions that striue for it wyth as stronge reasons and arguments as they canne partely bicause they are afrayed I speake of the Popeishe priestes lea◅t thys commune whore theyr masse should be driuen out of the game place and by thys meanes theyr kitchen shoulde ware colde and theyr idle bea◅ies be no more fedde with the labours of other mennes handes p◅rtelye bicause they thynke if thys abhominable strompet the masse were banyshed oute of the temples I speake of the rude ignoraunte people all true religion were gonne al christen deuotiō were perished in so muche that they coulde not tell what to do for to please god nor yet how to worship him partly I speake of the worldly wise bicause they wyll geue no place to the trueth leste if they should consēte to the puttynge awaye of thys mooste stynkinge and filthye whore the masse that old baude and grādmother of whoredome and abhominations of the earth they shoulde be compelled to graūte as they thynke to theyr greate shame and ignominie that both they haue bene blynde and also led other blind these many yeres and so they sholde lose theyr estimation renoume and fame amonge the people which things they mooste chiefelye hunte and haucke after For they loue the praise of men more then the glory of God Euse. Certes so longe as that Popeyshe Masse shall be continued in the churche and beleued to be a sacrifice for the sinnes of the quicke deade Idolatrye shal beare rule among vs infidelitie shall lye couched in y e hertes of mē Supersticion shal neuer be exiled frome the bondes of Christianitie Hypocrisye shall styll fytte in the consciences of menne the vsurped power of the Byshoppe of Rome shall not loose hyr strengthe the fruites of Christes deathe shall neuer be truly knowne neyther our heauenlye father worthylye thancked for them the purgyng fornace of the Italiā bishop shal neuer be quēched the idle shauē nation of the popeish masse mōgers shall styl be mainteyned in theyr disolute and beastlye maner or lyuynge the papisticall sa crificers shall not cease to blaspheme that most swete smelling sacrifice Iesu Christe that most hygh and euerlasting bishoppe the holye blessed supper of the Lorde shall neuer be truely frequented and vsed in the churche of Christe to be shorte an whole sea of euyls shall raygne florysh and triumphe in the christen cōgregatiō Phile. Truly I thinke there is no christen herte whych considerynge these thynges tofore rehearsed lamenteth not to se so greate an euil and pestilēce as the masse is to reygne amōg theim that professe Christ yea to be had in so hygh price that it is beleued to be of no lesse strēgth and vertue thē the glorious passion of oure Lorde and Sauioure Iesus Christ. But let vs se howe thys wycked opinion of the sacrifice of the masse agreeth wyth Gods moste holy worde The Papistes affirme that the synnes of the quicke and deade are put awaye by the sacrifice of theyr masses whiche they mumble daily Against thys deuillish doctrine must we set as an inuisible bulwarke thys texte of blessed S. Paule It became vs to haue suche an hye prieste as is holye innocente vndefiled seperate frō sinners and made higher then heauen whyche neadeth not dayly as the other priestes to offer Sacrifice fyrste for hys owne synnes and then for the syns of the people For this did he that is to saye Christe once for all when he offered vp hym selfe Lette these sacrificers here note that no prieste can offer any sacrifice for oure synnes but suche a one as is holy innocent vndefiled c. whyche is Iesus Christe alone Seyng then that they wante thys holynes innocency puritie c. It is euidente by S. Pauls wordes that they can not sacrifice neyther for the quicke nor for the dead Agayne blessed Paule sayeth that thys euerlastynge priest Ie sus Christe neadeth not daylye as the other priests to offer sacrifice whyche by one oblation of him selfe hath deliuered for euermore so manye as beleue in hym from al theyr sinnes Uerili these missars are altogither amise What wyll they say now If Christe neade no more to offer sacrifice muche lesse neede the priestes If one oblation of Christe be altogyther suffitiente thē are the dayly oblatiōs of the popish massemōgers vaine and vnprofitable If Christe offered hym selfe once for al then canne not the papists offer hym so oftē as it pleaseth them Whereof it maye be concluded that they do no thynge in theyr satisfactorye masses but blaspheme the Lord and hys annoynted seynge they so arrogantly arrogate vnto thē selfes power to offer sacrifice for the sins of the people when this one oblation of oure Sauioure and Lorde Christe Iesus is all whollye suffitiente and thorowlye able in euerye poynte euen vnto the vttermooste to saue all the electe chosē people of God yea and y t so abūdaūtlye at the ful y t henseforth there nedeth no reiteraciō nor no renewing therof If ther were no mo scripturs to cōdemne this wicked opinion of the Sacrifice of the masse but thys one tofore recited it myght seme to any christen iudgement sufficient to subuert ouerthrowe tople downe what so euer the Papists haue builded vpon the sande of theyr owne inuentions these certayne hundred yeres What is chaffe in comparison to wheate sayeth the Lorde Is not my word lyke fyre sayth the Lord and lyke a twibytte cleauynge the rocke of stonne But lette vs rehearse mo scriptures The blessed Apostle saith Christ beyng a bishop of good thinges to come came by a
I praye you speake on Christ. The Masse saye they makein men holy yea it maketh them ryghtuous and deliuereth them from sinnes The Masse is a sacrifice and not the sygne of a sacrifice onelye In the Masse is the bodye and bloude of Christe truely offered for the quicke and deade The masse of a prieste be he neuer so naughti is profitable ex opere operato Christ w t his pa ssion satisfied for originall synne and instituted the masse to be an oblacion for the synnes committed dayely boeth mortall and ve niall To heare masse is the hono ringe of God whither the hearer vnderstandeth it or not Missa soundeth sacrifice ergo the masse is a sacrifice Missa is deriued of Mitto to sende for in the masse the lamb that is to say Christ is sente vnto the father to forgeue oure synnes The Masse deliuereth s◅ulles from purgatorye for asmuche as it is a satisfactory sacrifice for synnes Not onely the sacrifice of Christ wherin he offered hym selfe was a sacrifice for synne but we also offer for oure sinnes a continual sacrifice in the masse The sacrifice of Christ obtayneth mercy onely for original synne and for the synnes paste The sacrifice of the masse euerye daye is the true sacrifice for synnes Althoughe Christ was once offered on the crosse in the open likenesse of fleshe yet is the same Christe dayelye offered on the altare at masse The wordes of con secracion duly spokē of the priest there is made a transubstantiacion of wyne into the bloude of Christe and of the bread into hys bodye Euery man may lawfully worshippe the hoste consecrated Althoughe Paule calleth the sacramente of the Supper breade yet maye we not beleue therefore that the substaunce of breade remaineth in the sacrament Christ saide Hoc est corpus meum This is my bodye therefore muste we nedes holde that there is a transubstantiacion and that the substaunce of breade is chaunged in to the bodye of Christe The bodye of Christe is presente in the Masse so greate and large as it was whā it hanged on the crosse Forasmuch as Christe that most hyghe maiestie of God is present at the masse therefore is it verye godly to appointe many ceremonies that Christ may be entertay ned honorably Masse ought not to be sayed but in an holye place and vpon an altare of stone for Christe him selfe is called a stone The masse amonge al the suffrages for the deade doeth profitte moste of all for the deliueraunce of soulles out of purgatory By hearinge of masse we maye obtayne not onely spiritual goodes but all maner of corporall and temporall goodes also The cannon of the masse is godly and catholyke and it was ordeyned of the Apostles The masse ex opere operato iustifieth and taketh away the giltines of the faute and payne in thē for whom it is done With y e sacrifice of the Masse the satisfactiōs of the deade are rede med The masse ex opere operato geueth grace and beyng applied for other deserueth vnto them ex opere operato forgyuenes of the faute and payne and obtayneth what so euer we haue nede of in al oure lyfe In the olde testamēt ther was a byshop that offered sacrifices for the synnes of y e people therefore in the newe testamente muste ther be priestes and Byshoppes to offere sacrifices for sinnes The body of the Lord once offered on the crosse for originall synne is continually offered for dayly sinnes vpon the altare that by thys meanes the churche maye haue a gyfte wher wyth they may pacifie the wrath of god It is an heresy of the Arrians to holde that the masse is not a sacrifice for the quicke and the deade Howe saye ye Neigheboures to thys doctryne of the massekynge papistes Is it not good stuffe Theo. God haue mer cy on vs. I haue not heard more blasphemous doctrine in my life agaynst the trueth of Gods most blessed word nor more iniurious and dispiteful agaynst the glorious passion of our onely Lord sauioure Iesu Christ. O to much miserable is that realme where suche doctrine is taught Bonde slaues and wreched captiues are they to Satan and to hys Antichristian sinagog where such tea chers reigne and bare rule Oh whan wyl these papistes cease to speake blasphemies againste the sonne of the liuinge God The teachers of thys doctryne are ryghte chaplens to that beaste which had seuen heades and ten hornes and opened hir mouthe to speake blasphemies agaynste God and hys name and agaynst hys holye congregation wyth so many as inhabite the heauens These are those marked Marchauntes whiche haue committed abhominable whoredomme wyth that fylthey and vncleane stromppette Babylon and wepe nowe because no man wyll bye their marchaundise nor their ped lary any more their golde syluer and precious stones their pearle raynes purple and scarlet their ornamētes their franckensence wyne and oyle their fyne flower and wheate with the bodyes and soules of mē Phile. I haue spent the more tyme in declaringe vnto you the wycked opinion of t◅e papistes concerning the sacrifice of the masse and cōfutinge of the same because ye shoulde reioyce in none other thyng as touching your redempcion satisfactiō for your sinnes a perfecte atonmēt made betwene God and vs but onely in the death and passion of oure Lorde and sauioure Iesu Christ as S. Paule sayeth God forbid that I shoulde reioyse in anye thynge but in the death of oure Lorde Iesu Christe Nowe the sacrifice of the masse beynge reproued and proued of no force and vertue to put awaye the synnes of the quicke and deade as the papistes haue falsely taught and made the folishe simple people to beleue for lucr◅s sake of what price I praye you is the masse nowe to be estemed It agreeth nomore with christes supper thā Christ Belial light and darckenes trueth and falshode Christe made a sermon before he ministred the sacramente of hys bodye and bloude to hys Disciples the papistes say masses the deuill and all and yet no sermon at all Christ sate at the table and turned hys face to his Disciples whan he gaue them the misteries of hys bodye and bloude the papistes sequester them selfes from the people they stand at an altare and turne their backes to the multitude Christe reheresed the wordes of the institution of hys supper openly yea and that in suche a tonge as al hys Disciples vnderstode y e papistes whisper to them selues playenge silence glome and vtter althinges in a straung tong that no manne vnderstādeth what is spokē nor for the moste parte them selues neyther Christe gaue the sacramente of hys bodye and bloud to hys Dysciples for to eate the papistes gyue nothyng to any man but eate and drincke altogether them selues Christe ministered the misterye of hys bodye in com mon breade the papistes minister printed waferre cakes other wyse not cōmonly vsed Christ mi nistered wyne to
geueth meate to the hungrye Beholde the eys of the Lorde are vpon them that feare hym and vpon them that truste in his mercye that he maye deliuer their liues from death and nourishe thē in the tyme of honger They that feare the Lorde shall haue no scarsenes They which seeke the Lord shall want no good thynge Feare not my sonne sayeth Tobias we leade a pore lyfe notwythstandynge we shal haue plentye of al good thin ges if we feare the Lorde depart from all synne and do well God gyueth vs aboūdantly in al thin ges to enioye them sayeth sainct Paule God him selfe sayeth I wyll not fayle the nor yet forsake the. Christo. Who beynge a fayethfull manne althoughe neuer so muche oppressed wyth pouertye wyl not reioyse in the lord which hath promised and wil no les per fourme that he wyll not forsake so manye as truste in hym Philemon And that ye may be thorow ly perswaded of hys faythfulnes concernyng thaccomplishement of his promes consider I praye you howe frendly and fayethfully he dealt in tymes paste wyth his seruauntes and wyll no les fauorably handle vs if we haue lyke fayeth in hym Dyd he not fede the people of Israell wyth meate from heauē and gaue thē drincke out of the rocke Dyd he not sende meate twise a daye by the rauens to the Prophet Helias and so miraculously fed him whā the vnfaythful perished for hōger Did not Christ turne wa ter into wyne at the mariage in Cana Galile Dyd not Christe wyth fyue barlye loues and two fyshes fede fyue thousande men besydes womenne and children and yet there of remained xii baskettes full of the fragmentes Do not all these histories teache vs to haue fayeth in God and to beleue that God hath a father lye care for hys seruauntes What so euer thynges are wryten are writtē sayth blessed Paul for oure learnynge that thorowe pacience and cōforte of the scriptures we shoulde haue hope It is not to be passed ouer at thys presente that Christe hath in the gospel of Mathewe Be not care full for youre lyfe what ye shall eate or what ye shall drincke nor yet for youre bodye what ye shal put on Is not y e life more worth than meate And the bodie more of valure than rayment Behold the foules of the ayer for they sowe not neyther reape nor carye into the barnes and youre heauenly father fedeth them Are ye not much better thā they Which of you by takyngr thoughte can put one cubite to hys stature And why care ye thē for raiment Consider the lylies of the felde howe they growe They laboure not neyther spinne and yet I tel you y t Salomon in al his rialtie was not arayed lyke vnto one of these Wherfore if god so cloth y e grasse whyche is to daye in the felde and to morowe shall be cast into y e fornace shal he not muche more do the same to you O ye of litle fayeth Take therefore no thoughte sayinge what shall we eate or what shall we drincke or wherewyth shall we be clothed After al these thynges seake the heathen For youre heauenly father knoweth that ye haue nede of all these thynges But seke ye firste the kyngdome of heauen and the ryghtuousnes thereof and all these thynges shal be cast vnto you The. O swet comfortable scriptures Lette the heathen take thought for their liuinge which knowe not God as for the fayth full Christians thei haue a lorde whiche wyl prouyde for them aboūdauntly Let adulteres forni cators theues Dronkardes swe rers and suche other wycked par sonnes take care wherewith they shall be fedde and cladde as for the seruauntes of God they haue an almyghtye Lorde in heauen whiche wyll sende them plentye of all good thynges If ye be louynge and obediente sayeth the Prophet Esay ye shal enioye the beste thynge that groweth in the lande But if ye be obstinate and rebelious ye shall be deuoured with the swerd For thus the lord hath promised wyth hys owne mouth The wicked therfore and not the faythfull shall want and be oppressed wyth famyne Euse. If God taketh such fatherly care for hys seruauntes howe than commeth it to passe manye tymes that those whyche seeke most of al hys glory lede in this worlde the most base miserable lyfe and often are found socourles and destitute of all mannes healp Whan they whych be vnfayethfull regarde neyther God nor any thynge that is godly dis pise hys most blessed worde persecute the true preachers thereof oppresse theyr pore neyghboures deale vniustly wyth all men c haue ouer flowyng aboūdaunce of al thinges lyue lyke voluptuous Epicures in al kind of pleasure possesse whatsoeuer theyr hertes can wishe or desire Thys thing se we presentely before our eyes and as it may be gathered of the holye Scriptures manye good menne in tymes paste haue complayned of this thynge vnto god and almooste as it were accused God of vnryghtuousnes Are not these the wordes of the holye and paciente man Iobe◅ When I consider my selfe I am a trayde and my fleshe is smitten wyth feare Wherefore do wycked men lyue in health and prosperite come to ther olde age and increase in ritches Their childrē lyue in their syghte and their generacion before their eyes Their houses are safe from all feare and the rodde of God doth not smyte them Their bullocke gendereth and that not oute of tyme their cowe calueth and is not vnfruiteful They send forth their chyldren by flockes and their sonnes leade the daunce They beare wyth them tabrettes and harpes and haue instrumen tes of musicke at their pleasurs Thei spend their daies in wealth thynes c. The holy Prophet Ie remye maruelynge greatelye at the prosperitie of y e wycked speaketh to God on thys maner O Lorde thou art more ryghtuous then I should dispute wyth the. Neuertheles lette me talke wyth the in thynges reasonable How happeneth it that the way of the vngodli is so prosperous that it goeth so wel wyth them which wythout any shame offende and lyue in wyckednes Thou plantist them and they take rote they growe and brynge forth fruite Are not these the wordes also of the blessed Psalmographe truely God is louynge vnto Israell and vnto suche as are of acleane herte Neuertheles my fete were almost gone my treadinges had welnigh flypt And why I was greued at the wicked I do se also the vngodly in such prosperitie For they are in no parell of death but are lusty and stronge they come in no misfortune lyke other folke neyther are they plaged lyke other men And thys is the cause why they be so holden wyth pryde and ouerwhelmed wyth crueltye theyr eyes swel for fatnes and they do euen what they luste They corrupte other and speake of wycked blasphemy theyr talking is against the most higheste For they stretche
the most wicked kinge I passe ouer many other of the olde testamēt which were vnmercifully persecuted and slayne for gods trueth Some as the blessed Apostle say eth were tried wyth mockynges scourginges wyth bondes prisonment some were stoned some were hewen a sunder some were slayne with swerde al were troubled and vexed Theo. These are they of whom the wise man spea keth god proued thē and founde thē meete for him selfe yea as the golde in the fornace dyd he trye thē and receyued thē as a brunte offeringe c. Phi. As I may at y e last come to the newe testament to whō is it vnknowne that Iesus Christ our Lorde sauioure after mani blasphemies rebukes slaunders and bitter tormentes suffred the most spiteful death of y e crosse so entered in to glorye Holye Iohn Baptist that blessed priestes sonne for trueth tellynge to king herod for reprouing hym of his abhominable liuing was cast into prisonne and beheaded Iames the brother of Iohn had his head striken of for preaching Christ to be son of y e liuinge god The holy martirs Stephē was stoned vnto deth because he prea ched Christ affirmed that God dwelleth not in temples made w t mans hād What kindnes Peter and Paule w t the other apostles foūd at y e hādes of thē whose saluaciō they most diligētly sought the histories make menciō Neyther do I heare speake of those blissed martirs which syns their dayes haue died for the confessiō of gods trueth so that the Gospel of Christe is not without a cause called of sainct Paulle the word of the crosse For al that wyl lyue godlye in Christ Iesu sayeth he shal suffer persecution To consider these histories afore rehersed shall stablishe our fayeth greately and very much comforte vs in the tyme of oure tribulacion so that we shall not lyghtely slyde frome God and frome hys holye worde but reioyse in hym recoūtynge oure selues moste blessed fortunate and wealthy that god hath vouched safe not only that we shoulde beleue in him but also suffer for hym It shall be expediente for vs also to remember that Christe calleth them blessed which suffer persecution for righ tuousnes sake and sayeth that theirs is the kingdome of heauē Agayne that the seruaunt is not greater thā hys Lord but if they persecuted Christ our Lorde and maister thei wil also persecute vs his seruauntes Disciples If they haue called the father of the houshold Belzebub much more they wyl cal them so that are of hys housholde If we were of the worlde the worlde woulde loue vs but for asmuche as we are not of the worlde but Christ hath chosen vs out of the world therfore doth the world hate vs. And did not Christe tel vs afore that we should lament and wepe that is to saye be oppressed of tirauntes but the worlde shoulde reioyse and that in the world we should haue affliction and trouble Agayne are we not taughte y t by many tribulations we must enter into the kingdome of God Chri. The fleshe abhorreth trouble persecution namely whan death is like to folow phile The spirite as Christ sayeth is redye and of a good courage to suffer al thinges for the glorie of God but the fleshe is weake The outward man is loeth to dye but the inward man wisheth to be losoned out of this corruptible body and to be wyth Christ. But if the good wil of our heauēly father so be y t we muste nedes suffer death for Christes sake let vs set thys saying of S. Paule before oure eies and stedfastli beleue it if we die with christ we shal liue with him If we suffer w t him we shall also reigne with him And our sa uioure Christ sayeth whosoeuer shall lose his life for my sake and for y e Gospel he shal kepe it Here to agreeth the saying of s. Peter detelye beloued maruaile not that ye are proued bi fire whiche thyng is to trie you as thoughe some straūg thing happened vnto you but reioyse in asmuch as ye are partakers of christes passion y t when his glory appereth ye may be mery glad If ye be railed vpō happie are ye For y e glory the spirite of god resteth vpō you Againe if any mā suffer as a Christen man let hym not be a shamed but let him glorifie God on this behaulfe And let thē y t are troubeled accordinge to y e will of God cōmit ther soules to him w t wel doing as vnto a faythful cre ature They y t suffer trouble for y e lordes sake for the gospell shal stande before the glorious seate of God and before the lambe Christe and they shall be clothed wyth longe whyte garmentes and palmes in their handes They shal euer be in the presence of the seat of God and serue him daye and nyghte in hys temple and he that sitteth in the seate shall dwell amonge them They shall honger no more neyther thyrste neyther shall the sunne lyghte on thē neyther any heate For the lambe whyche is in the middes of the seate shal fede thē and lede them vnto fountaynes of liuynge water and God shall wype awaye al teares from their eyes Furthermore it shall be greate comforte for vs also to remember wyth what wyllynge hertes Christ and al the blissed martires suffered death for the glorye of God Christe oure Lorde and sauioure whan the tyme of hys bytter passion beganne to drawe nyghe and perceyued that Iudas wente aboute to betraye hym to the Byshopes and priestes sayde that thou entendeste to do do it quickelye and out of hand And whan the Byshoppes seruauntes came to laye hande on hym where as he myght haue escaped their cruell handes he wyllyngely offered hym selfe vnto them whereby we maye se that he wente vnto hys death wyth a merye and ioyefull herte Christofor These hys wordes which long before his passion he spake to y e Iewes do also testify and wytnes his redy bente good wyll to suffer for the saluacion of mankynd Therfore doeth my father loue me because I gyue ouer my lyfe that I maye take it agayne No manne taketh it away frō me but I gyue it ouer euē of myne own good wil I haue power to gyue it ouer I haue power to take it againe Theo. Of the willinge oblacion of him selfe it was prophecied by the holy Prophetes The prophet Esai sayeth he was offered because it was his good pleasure Dauid also saith in the parson of Christ I wil offer sacrifice vnto the willingly He speketh of the sacrifice of his body Againe Christe hym selfe sayeth by the forsayde Prophet vnto his heauēlye father as for sacrifice and offerynge thou wouldest none therfore madeste thou me a bodie As for burnte offeringes for synne thou hast not alowed them Than sayed I
behold I am at hand In the begin ing of the boke is it writtē of me that I should do thy wyl O God Phile. As the lord Christ willingly suffered for the health of man so likewise did the apostles suffer al kindes of tormentes ioyefully for the glorye of God for the settinge forth of his blessed worde for the name of Iesu Christe the lord as we rede in the actes of y e apostles They were whipped of the byshopes seruauntes as S. Luke testifieth because they prea ched Christ so sent awaye But whan thei came frō the councell they reioysed y t thei were counted worthy to suffer rebuke for the name of Iesu. How glad ioyeful and redie the blessed Apostle S. Paule was to suffer any kinde of torment for Christes sake these his wordes do aboūdātly shewe Beholde I beinge bound in the spirite go forth vnto Hierusalem not knowyng what thinges shall chaunce vnto me ther but y t the holy goste in euery citie doth testifie sayinge y t bondes troubles do abide me But I care not for thē neither is my life dere vn to me so that I maye finishe my course w t ioye y e office which I haue receyued of y e lord to testifithe gospell of the grace of God Againe whē Agabus y e prophet toke Paules girdel bound hys hādes fete ther w t saying thus sayeth the holye goste the man whose girdel this is shal the Iewes thus bind at Hierusalē and they shall deliuer hym into the handes of the heathen and whē they that were wyth Paule hearynge these thynges moste instātly desired him that he should not go vp vnto Hierusalem the blissed apostle answered saying what do ye wepyng and troubelynge my herte I am redye not only to be bounde but also to die at Hierusalem for the name of y e Lord Iesu. O faythful Apostle The lord Iesu christ was so dere vnto him y t for his sake for the anauncement of his glorye for y e setting forth of his most glorious gospel he feared neither chea nes nor death He alwayes had before hys eyes y e short paines of this world y e euerlastinge ioyes of y e world to come He euer remēbred this saying of y e lord Christ whosoeuer shall lose hys lyfe for my sake for the gospel he shall kepe it He neuer forgat these his maisters wordes whosoeuer shal be ashamed of me of my sayīgs in this whorishe sinful generacion the son of man shal also be a shamed of him whā he shal come in y e glory of his father w t y e holy angelles But whosoeuer shal cō fesse me before mē I shall cōfesse him also before my father which is in heuē We rede also y t the blissed martire Ignatius after many greuous tormētes was thratened if he wold not forsake christ hys word y t he shuld be cast vnto wilde beastes so be deuoured But he being nothinge abashed w t those threates but perceyuing his death to be differted whiche he so greatly desired to suffer for christes name wrot an Epistle to the Romaines desired thē that thei woulde kepe hym no lenger frō his martirdome but w t al expediciō bringe to passe y t thei had so long threatened In the which epistle amōg many other wordes which declare hys valiāt fayth mighti courage in god he wrigh teth on this maner O wholsome beastes y t are prepared for me Whā shall they come whan shal they be sente out whan shal they eate my fleshe I would wishe w t al my herte y t they might be more gredy I wil bid thē vnto y e deuourīg of me praie thē lest par aduēture as they haue done in many thei feare to touch my bodie Yea if they shal make any de lay I my selfe wil brast into thē offer my selfe to thē Gyue me liberty I besech you for I know what is expedient for me Nowe that I beginne to be the disciple of Christ let fyres galowes wild beastes breakyng of my bones rackynge of my membres payne thorowout all my bodye and all the punyshmentes of the world that can be inuented by the craft and subtilty of the deuyll be ministered vnto me I wyll refuse none of theim all so that I maye deserue to obtaine Iesus Christ. Theo. O blessed glorious martyre O valeant and noble souldi our of our most mighty capitain Christ Iesu. O what a myrrour glasse and spectacle is here offered vnto vs wherein we maye se and learne not onelye hygh patience but also an exceadynge desyre to suffer al kynde of tormentes for the glory of Christe Phile. Not onely the blessed martyre Ignatius shewed him selfe wylling and ioyfull to suffer all kynde of aduersitie yea verye death for the cōfession of Christ and of hys blessed trueth but other holye men innumerable as we reade in histories Whē Decius the Emperoure that mooste cruel tyraunte hadde spoyled the blessed martyre Hypolitus of his vestures bycause he woulde not do sacrifice to false Gods the mā of God spake boldely vnto him sayinge thou haste not spoyled me of my garmentes but thou haste rather begun to clothe me And when the aforsayde tyraunt cōmaunded that he should be clo thed agayne w t his own accustomed kynd of apparaile and said vnto hym Use thyne olde seruice whych thou hast euer had in our syght be our frende the blessed martyre w t a stoute courage answered my seruyse is thys faithfully to serue Christe and by seruyng him spedly to come vnto a frutefull victory Shortlye after the tirant seyng his stedfast and vnshakē cōstācy cōmaūded him to be depryued of all hys goodes and to be headed w t diuers other about y e nūbre of nintene whiche al wyth ioyfull courage suffered death for Christes sake The blessed martyre Tiburtius was apprehēded of y e cruel iudge Fabiā and cōmaūded either to offer sacrifice to y e Idols or els to go w t naked fete vpō the hote burning coles He boldly wēt on thē barefoted hauinge no harme saied to y e tyrante Lay away thine vnfaithfulnes learne that he is the God alone whō we cōfesse to haue power ouer all creatures For thorowe the myghte of my Lorde Iesus Christe me thynke that goyng vpon burnyng coles I walke as it were vpō red roses wtout fealynge of anye paine or hurt of my fete For the creature obeyeth the commaundement of the creatoure When the tyraunt sawe that the fyre dyd hym no harme he commaunded that he should be slayne w t the swerd The blessed martyre wente vnto hys deathe wyth a toyfull herte praysynge God that he woulde vouchsafe to gyue hym strength for to confesse his mooste blessed name holy word before worldly tyrantes When Galerius the Proconsull cōmaunded that S. Cipriā should be headed bicause he was an enemy to the Goddes of
ascen cion a preparer of a heauenli and glorious mansion for vs againe a purchaser of the holye goste to comforte vs and to lede vs into al trueth but also an intercessour mediatoure and aduocate where by he obtayneth for vs all good thynges and putteth a backe frō◅s what so euer shoulde hinder ◅e obtaynynge of gods fauoure and the heauenly enheritaunce Christe purchaseth for vs of hys father thoroughe his intercessiō so aboūdantly and so altogether sufficiently al thinges necessarye for the conseruacion boeth of our bodie and soule that we nede not to praie vnto any sainct in heauē as the papistes haue taughte vs neither vnto mary Iohn Peter Iames nor any other to be oure intercessoure mediatour or aduo cate It is Christes office alone to be a mediatonree betwene god and vs as blessed Paulle teacheth vs in his Epistle vnto Timo the. I doubte not neygheboures but so many as are fayethful are replete wyth exceadynge ioye to consider howe manifolde and diuers benefites gyftes and graces chaunce to vs by the wonderfull ascencion of Christ our Lord and sauioure Theo. Who so euer considereth depely in hys minde those thynges that ye haue taughte vs hitherto shall be occasioned vnfainedly to obeye thys commaundemente of the blessed Apostle he that reioyceth let hym reioyse in the Lorde so swete and full of all heauenly pleasure are these commodities whyche wee receyue of God thorowe Christ oure Lord. Philemon But let vs make haste vnto an ende concernynge thys matter that we maye learne in fewe wordes what so euer remai neth of gods goodnes towarde vs in Christe I meane so muche as oure wyte can comprehende and we be taughte in the holye scripture that we maye earnestely reioyse in the Lorde oure God We haue hearde heretofore manye vrgente and wayghtie causes why we shoulde of very right and boūden dutie reioyse and be mery in the Lorde Nowe it remayneth orderlye to declare the finall and laste cause whye wee ought to be glade and reioyse in God Christ. I praye you lette vs heare Phile. As Christ was borne for vs wrought al good thinges in hys manhode for vs suffered for vs died for vs rose againe for vs ascended into heauen for vs purchaised the holy goste for vs prayeth for vs obtayneth al best thynges for vs so likewise at the laste daye shall he beynge oure heade come agayne frō the right hande of his father to fet◅ vs hys membres and to enunite vs w t him in the same glori ther euer to remayne And althoughe to the wycked he shall come as a ter rible and ryghteous iudge to revenge and not to pardonne to punishe and not to forgiue to cōdeme and not to saue yet to the fayethfull shall he come in hys glorious maiestye and all the blessed Angeles wyth hym lyke a mooste louynge and Gentle sauioure sayeynge to them on thys manner come ye blessed of my father possesse ye the kyngdome prepared for you from the begynnynge of the worlde O whooe is able to expresse what ioye and comforte thys afore sayed sentence shal bringe to the hertes of the fayethfull But to the vnfayethfull it shall be sayede gette ye hence ye cursed into euerlastinge fire which is prepared for the deuil and hys Angeles Euse. O that daye shall be to the wycked a bitter daye a daye of wrath a daye of tribulacion and anguishe a day of calamitie mise ry wrechednes a daye of darcknes and miste a day of cloudines boistuousnes a day of feareful trompettes and shawmes blowynge Philemon I graunte notwythstandeynge to the fayethefull it shall be a swete daye a daye of fauoure a daye of quietnes and peace a daye of wealth and felicitye a daye of clearenes and lyghte a daye of comforte and solace a daye of heauenly myrth ioye and pleasure For as blessed Paulle fayeth the eye hathe not seene nor the eare hathe not hearde neyther canne the herte of manne thynke what thynges God hathe prepared for them that loue hym They shall be as Angelles of God in heauen They shall shyne as the clearenes of the firmament and as starres for euer and euer They shall be counted amonge the sonnes of god and their lot shal be among the saynctes They shall receyue of the Lordes hande an honorable kyngedome and a beautifull diademe They shall be clad with longe whighte garmentes Thei shal be be fore the throne of God and serue hym day and nyght in his temple They shal hōgar and thyrste no more neither shall the sonne or any heate faul vpon thē for the lambe Christe whyche is in the middes of the throne shall gouerne them and lead thē vnto the fountayues of the water of lyfe and God shal wype a waye euery teare from their eies Thei shall dwell in a citye that nedeth neyther sonne nor mone to shyne in it For the clerenes of God shal illumine it They shall beholde the glorious face of god presently and hys name shall be written in their foreheades They shall eate of the tre of lyfe whych is in the paradise of God To conclud they shal haue a crowne of glory and syt wyth Christe their elder brother in hys throne euen as he sitteth wyth hys father in hys throne and shall lyue wyth God and hys holy angelles in al kind of honoure and glorye ioye and pleasure worlde wythout ende O what can a Christen man desire more of the Lorde hys God then these thinges which I haue heretofore rehersed Come of tell me nowe I praye you if we haue not many yea and innumerable boeth vrgent and wayghtie causes why we shoulde reioyse in the Lorde our God I doubte not I doubte not moste dere brethren but by the hearynge of these thin ges ye are nowe so rapte into the loue of God for the moste hyghe and singulare pleasures whyche thorowe Christe Iesus ye haue allredye receyued and here after shall receyue a thousand tymes more abound a untlye that from hēceforth al worldly thinges shal waxe vile vnto you and ye shall euen from the verye herte endeuoure youre selues at all tymes to repose all youre ioye comforts pleasure and felicitie in the Lord oure God alone alone so that ye shall reioyse in none neyther in heauen nor in earth but in hym alone alone Chri. Neyghboure Philemō we all are kindled with so feruente and so hertye loue towarde God for these hys moste singulare and inestimable benefites that we do not onely defye the world and all the vayne plea sures of it but we also are redye for our stedfast loue in God and for the perfecte reioysinge in him gladly to saye wyth the blessed A postle who shall seperat vs from the loue of Christe Shall tribulacion or anguishe Or famine Or nakednes Or parel Or persecution Or swerde I am sure that neyther death nor lyfe nor angels nor soueraignties nor powers nor thinges present nor thynges to come nor strenghte
heyght nor depth nor anye other creature shall be able to seperate vs from the loue of God whyche is in Christe Iesus oure Lorde Philemon I am gladde to heare these youre wordes and I am fully persuaded y t thys youre ioye shall encrease vnto an excedynge and perfecte reioysynge in the Lord our god vnto the great and syngulare comforte boeth of youre bodies and soules But ye shall note that the holye Apostle doeth not onely bydde vs reioyse in the Lorde but he addeth vnto it Alwaye Reioyse in the Lorde Alwaye sayeth he Theo. What meaneth the blessed Apostle by thys worde Alwaye Phile. Uerily he wyll that oure ioye and reioysynge in the Lorde be not flittyng transitory and of small con tinuaunce as the pleasure that is conceyued of worldly thynges is the ende whereof is bytter and sorowfull as Salomon say eth the ende of worldelye ioye is heauines mornening and lamen tynge but constante stedfaste inmutable not diminishinge but encreasynge vnto an hyghe perfection of godly mirth ioye felicitye pleasure For he that conti nueth vnto the ende sayth Christ shal be saued It is not ynoughe to begynne well and to continue in the same a certayne space excepte we perseuer euen vnto the end of our lyfe The wyfe of Lot began well when she came oute of synfull Sodome but bycause she dyd not goe forthe but loked backe agayne vnto it she was turned into a salte pillar The wyse menne that came frome the East parte of the worlde to worshyppe Iesus Christe the newe borne kynge of the spirituall Israelites were cōmaunded of god no more to returne to the mooste blouddy and wycked kynge Herode Iudas begā well and was one of Christes disciples very earneste in settynge forthe the kyngedome of God for a certain space but seynge he dyd not perseuer in that Godly purpose but became of a preacher a treytour of a disciple a thiefe of a minister a murtherer he is now the sonne of perdition and dampned for euermore He is not y e true sonne that promiseth hys father that he wyll worcke in hys viniyarde doeth not but he that māfully worketh in it indede so perceue teth to y e ende he shal inioy y e enheritaunce of his father For the kingdome of god shal be takē away frō idle lubbers geuen to theym that worcke and brynge forth the fruits therof Not they whych whē they heare the word fyrst of al do ioyfully receyue it beleue it for a tyme talke of it in the time of tentation go away slide backe and become other mē shall possesse eternall lyfe but they whyche with greate ioy and gladnes of mynde heare it receyue it beleue it cleaue faste vnto it in the tyme of persecution and perseuer in the same euē vnto the very last breath No man is crowned saith saynte Paule excepte he fyghte lawefullye that is vntyll he haue goten the victorye by resistynge the worlde the Deuyll and the flesh thorowe Christe oure Lorde And the Lord hym selfe sayeth No manne that putteth hys hād to the plough and loketh backe is meete for the Kyngedome of heauen Hereto agreeth the sayinge of Saynt Peter If after they haue forsaken the vncleannesse of the worlde by the knoweledge of the Lorde and Sauiour Christ Iesus they yet againe beyng wrapped in theym are ouercome the laste is worsse then the fyrste to theym For it had bene better for thē not to haue knowen the way of ryghtuousenes thē after theyr knoweledge to turne away from that holy commaundement that was geuen theym But that it chaunced to theim that is wonte to be spoken in a true prouerbe The dogge is returned vnto his vomit and the sowe cleane washed vnto the wallowinge in the myre Of these thyngs aforesaid maye wee learne that it is not inoughe to begyn well except we perseuer and continue euen vnto the geuynge vp of the Goste as they vse to saye He that continueth to the ende saieth Christ shall be saued Agayne he sayeth If ye abyde in my worde truelie ye shall be my Disciples and ye shall knowe the trueth and the truth shal deliuer you We must abyde in the worde of God or els we can not be Christes disciples We are deliuered frō the rule of our enemies saieth holy zachary the prieste father to that mooste excellente Prophete of God S. Iohn Baptiste that we beynge wythout feare shoulde serue god in holines and rightuousnes before him all the dayes of our life Note that he saieth all the daies of oure lyfe muste we serue God in suche holines and ryghtuousnes as is acceptable before hym The holye scripture requireth of vs a continuall progresse and an vnletted perseueraūce in y e waye of Godlines In consideration wherof the blessed Apostle doeth not onely exhort vs to reioyce in the Lorde but he addeth vnto it Alwaye requirynge of vs not a flyttynge and transitorye reioysynge but a constaunte stedfast sure continual and vnchaungeable reioysynge in the Lord. Reioyce in the Lorde alwaye saieth he Euse. It is but a trifle to ioy and reioyce in the Lorde in hys worde and ordinaunces so longe as prosperitye endureth and the worlde laugheth vpon vs but to reioyce in the Lorde in hys word and ordinaunces when we be assayled wyth troublous aduersitie whē we be visited wyth greauouse sicknes when we be empouerished thorowe miserable misfortunes whē we be hated blasphemed persecuted oppressed en prysoned punished of worldelye tyrantes for God for hys worde and ordinaunces thys is a perfecte ioye and christian reioysing to beare the crosse of Christe to suffer patientlye all kynde of aduersitie to cleaue faste to God in the tyme of temptation to be cōtente so well to abyde troubles as prosperouse thynges thākfully to take what so euer plages or punishmentes God shall laye vpon vs eyther by hys owne louynge visitation or by the crueltye of the wycked worldelynges whyche are alwaye enemyes to Goddes trueth and to al true louers of the same thys is in mine opinion to reioyce alwaye in the Lorde and to acknowledge hym to be our most gentil father and louinge sauiour whether he send prosperitie or aduersitie Phile. Truth it is y t ye 〈◊〉 brother Eusebius If therefore anye of you at anye tyme be visited wyth sickenes or diseases of the body murmure not nor grudg not against God blaspheme hym not nor speake not vnreuerently of hym nor yet wyshe not that syckenes to be taken frome you otherwyse then hys Godlye pleasure shall be whyche knoweth muche better what is expediēt or profitable for you then ye youre selues do but wyth hyghe patience most herty thankes geuynge receyue that louynge visitation of youre heauenlye father as an holy enplasture holsome salue to heale all those pockye diseases wherw t your soules are infected thorowe the stynkynge corruption of olde synfull Adam We are corrected and punished of