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
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.
The Iewel of Ioye ⧠Philemon Eusebius Theophile and Christofer talke togither Philemon SO ofte as I call to remeÌ„brauÌ„ce which for the most part I do eueri hour this commaundemente of our Lord and maister Occupy your selues til I come wherbi we are admonished diligently to emploie our taleÌ„t committed vnto vs euery one accordyng to oure vocation in the auauncemente of Gods glory and in the edification of oure christian brethren whose health and saluation not onelye wyth the losse of our temporal possessioÌ„s but eueÌ„ of our life also if nede so require we are bounde vnder payne of damnation to seeke leynge that God as the wyse man testifieth hath geuen to euery man charg ouer hys neighboure agayne seynge that accordyng to the doctrine of blessed Iohn as Christe gaue hys lyfe for vs so lykewise are we bounde to bestowe oure lyfe to wynne oure Brethren to Christe forasmuch as we all are membres of one bodye are coÌ„maunded without dissimulation to loue our neyghboure as oure selfe and to seke his commoditie profit furderaunce in al Godlines no lesse then oure owne I can none otherwise then reproue and accuse myne own sluggishnes whyche almooste these fyue yeres past haue omitted my butye towarde my neyghboures not goynge forth as I began in my Christemas bankette in my Potation in my Nolegaye and in my Neweyers gyfte to exhort theÌ„ to godlines to encourage theÌ„ valeauntly to go forth in the same to perseuer vnto the end but traneing my life in other exercises I trust not altogither vngodlye nor vnprofitable to the christen publique weale I haue neglected the neighbourly office which I ought to haue practised toward theÌ„ Yea I feare lest thorow the neglectyng of my dutye toward my neighbours I haue not shewed my selfe an obedient seruauÌ„t in al pointes coÌ„cernyng the diligeÌ„te accoÌ„plishmeÌ„te of my Lord maisters precept whych straightly chargeth me not only to occupye my selfe priuately in vertuous studies godli exercises but also opeÌ„ly that his holy glorious coÌ„gregatioÌ„ mai be edified brought to y e true perfect knowledge of his most godly wil. Certes the omissioÌ„ leauing of this my duty toward my neyghbours doth not a little disquiet me seing y e so long tyme I haue had no familiar talke with theÌ„ of Godly matters no nor yet once sene them sence I gaue theÌ„ a newe yeres gyfte beynge vnwillynglye thorowe the furious and Nerolike cruelty of certaine persons whose tyraÌ„ny sens that tyme God hath not left vnpunished dreueÌ„ awaye from them to the greate and continual disturbaunce of my minde for lacking the company of so louing neighbours and swete frendes But I haue sent my seruauntes for them that I may talke wyth theÌ„ after myne olde sorte renewe our acquayntaunce and be merye togythere For it is a swete thynge when fryndes mete and mery when olde acquayntaunce flocke togitherward I maruail that they tarye so longe I feare leste my seruaunte doeth not his message expeditelye or els that they haue some greate lettynge For I am well assertayned that if they once haue knoweledge of my returne into the contrye no worldly affaires can withdrawe them longe from my companye But beholde where they come flockyng togyther Oh pleasauÌ„t and confortable syghte Teares distyll out of myne eyes for very ioye yet can I not withhold my selfe from them but must nedes wyth mâ—…ting armes embrace theÌ„ louingly salute them and swetely kisse theÌ„ O most deare neighbours christen brethreÌ„ so hertelye welcome as herte can thinke Blessed be God which hath preserued vs alyue vnto thys daye that we maye yet once agayne se one an othere talke one wyth an other frely reioyce in the Lord our God Come come vnto me Let me embrace you kisse you once againe did you hertely welcome Euse. O moste true herted frende and vnfained brother we praise God for your salfe return into the countrye Theo. This day moste swete neighbour hath replenished vs al w t ioye vnspekeable forasmuch as it hath offe red you againe to our syght Chri. O deare brother Philemon your reparing into this couÌ„trie your sight your company your taâ—…ke hath eueÌ„ nowe sodainly so reuiued vs that we seme to haue put on a certain kind of immortalitie And as for all other hys benifites so likewyse for this ' do we render to the immortal God moste hertye thankes and wyth oâ—… voyce we all byd you moste hertely welcome home pâ—…le I know dere neyghbours your vnfayned loue and readye bent goodwyl towarde me And you do not more reioice at mi returne then I am entierly glade that I haue founde you all in good health Euse. But I praye you tell vs of good felowshippe brother Philemon in what parties of y e world haue ye traueyled so long tyme For neither by letters nor yet by reporte of anye credible persons sence your departure coulde we learne where you trayned youre lyfe Wee feared leaste in so perellouse tyme ye hadde bene swalowed vp of the greadye cormorantes and insasiable Locustes whyche are neuer satisfied nor fylled wyth the sheadynge of innocente bloude Neyther was the libertye of your speache nor the swyftenesse of youre penne vnknoweÌ„ to vs which y e swarme of Antechristes secte sence you fyrste of all traueiled in the Lordes haruest coulde neuer abyde but extreÌ„ly persecute blaspheme and coÌ„demne Philemon What gentilnes I found for my Godly trauailes at the haÌ„ds of some menne in these parties ye know ryght well Therfore when neyther by speaking nor by writing I coulde do good I thoughte it best not rashly to throwe my self into the raueneynge pawes of these greadye wolues but for a certaine space to absent my selfe from theyr tyrannye accordynge to the doctrine of the Gospell For as there is a time to speake so is ther a time to kepe scilence When the poore are oppressed and troden vnder the fote then shal the wyse man sayth the prophete holde hys peace for the time is euyl And we haue a manifeste commaundement of oure sauiour Christe that we shoulde not geue that whych is holy vnto dogs nor caste pearles before swyne leste they treade them vn der theyr feete and they turne againe and al to rent vs. For ther be some kynde of men so greatly infected w t the nature of Suffenus and accombred wyth the properties of Menius two foleish vayne gloriouse Poetes that they thynke nothynge well spoken nothynge truly wrytten excepte they theym selues be the authours doers thereof they are those same very hypocrites whych find fault at a little mote in an other mannes eie but they caÌ„ not perceiue a great â—…eame in theyr own eyes They are those same Pharises which sparre vp the kingedome of heauen before meÌ„ They are those same sawiers which take awai the key of know ledge thet theÌ„ selues enter not in nether suffer they other y t wolde to enter in
They are those same Babilonical backslideds â—…yng childreÌ„ which wyll not heare the lawe of the Lorde but daily cry Loquimini nobis placentia Tel vs pleasaunt things prouide vs of errours care not for the ryghte way but away w t the holi one of Israell from oure face they are those same faulse christians of whom sainte Paule prophecied which shoulde be louers of them selues couetuouse hye minded proude euyll speakers disobedient to their elders vnthankeful vngodlye vnkind false of theyr promise false accusers riatours fearce despisers of them that are good traitours heady standing in their own conceite louers rather of pleasures then louers of God hauynge an outwarde apperaunce of godlines but deuyinge the power thereof Lyke as Iannes Iambres wythstode Moyses eueÌ„ so do they also resist the trueth Men are they of corrupt mindes and leude as coÌ„ cerning the faieth but they shall preuaile no lenger For theyr foleishnes shall be manifeste vnto all men as theyrs was Where thynges be so ordered that the truth can beare no place nor the professours therof be thaÌ„kfully receyued but rather blasphemed persecuted enprysoned and vngentillye handeled what should men do but shake of the dust of theyr fete for a wytnes agaynst thé at y e dai of iudgmeÌ„t depart into some other place wher they may do good as Christ y e Apostles did quietli to abide y e pleasure of god as the prophet saith It is good to loke for y e sauing health of the Lorde with scilence After thys sorte dyd I appoynte my selfe and leauyng mine own natyue contrye I traueiled into suche straunge places as were vnknowen to me and I to them And yet I thanke the Lorde my God whyche neuer leaueth hys seruauntes succourlesse I although an vnprofitable seruauÌ„t in that exile and banishmeÌ„t waÌ„ted no good thynge Let the voluptuouse worldelynges take though for the bealâ—… and be carefull for thys present lyfe I haue learned in that my iorney to cast my care vpon the Lord my God whyche aboundauntlye feadeth so many as trust in him and depeÌ„d on his liberalitie and goodnes For one house I founde xx and for one frende an hundrede I coulde wysh nothynge for the prouision of thys my lyfe but I had it plentuously God so afore seynge for me hys vnprofitable and wretched seruaunt Theo. The promise of God is euen so Euery one saieth he that forsaketh house or brethrene or sisterne or father or mother or wyfe or chyldren for my names sake and for the kyngedome of God that is to saye for the loue that he beareth toward the Gospell of Christe he shall receyue an huÌ„dred folde as much in this presente tyme and in the worlde to come lyfe euerlastinge Chri. Trueth it is but you haue not yet declared to vs in what contryes ye haue beene here in Englande sence your departing from hence Philemon After I departed from you and had takeÌ„ my leaue of my moste swete mother of mâ—… other deare frendes I traueyled into Darbyshere from thense into the Peke whither I appointed my bokes and my clothes to be brought Euse. Into the Peke Lord God what made you ther Phile. Mine entent was by exercising the office of a schole maister to engrafte Christe and the knoweledge of hym in the breastes of those scholers whome God shoulde appointe vnto me for to be taught Theo. I thinke you found there very peakeish people Phile. Not so I coÌ„fesse to you that I fouÌ„d ther very good wittes apt vnto learnyng Chri. But how fauour they christen religioÌ„ in those parties Philemon I will tell you Comming into a little village called Alsoppe in y e dale I chauÌ„sed vpon a certaine gentilmanne called Alsoppe Lord of that vilage a maÌ„ not onely auncieÌ„t in yeres but also rype in the knoweledge of Christes doctrine Theo. By what meanes had ye knowledg of hys Godly disposition Phile. After we had saluted one an other and take a sufficient repast for that presente he shewed me certayne bokes whiche he called hys Iewels and principall treasures Eusebius I praye you what bokes were they Phile. To rehearse theÌ„ al by name I am not able but of this am I sure that amonge all other there was the newe Testamente after the translation of the Godly learned maÌ„ Myles couerdale whyche seamed to be as well worne by the diligente readynge thereof as euer was anye portas or masse boke amonge the papistes CHri A rare thynge and almoste a miracle to fynde an olde man namelye in those parties where Christe I thynke as yet was neuer trulye preached to be so well affected towarde the readyng of the sacred scriptures Euse. Yea and a gentylman also For gentylmen now adaies for the most parte delite so much in readinge the worde of God as a true christian doeth in readynge the Popes decretals they are all togyther so addict to the vaine pleasurs of this world Theo. Many thinke it to be an vnsemly thing for a man of nobilitie to be studiouse of holy letters haukes and dogs dise and cardes as I may speake nothynge of theyr seruise to lady Uenus is theyr pastime and delectation If they reade any thynge it is some vaine trifle of loue or when they be beste occupied an history or cronicle Phile. I graunt many geÌ„tilmen litle answer their vocatioÌ„ nether are they studious of gods word as they ought notwythstaÌ„dinge praysed be God for it I know many both meÌ„ womeÌ„ of nobilitie which greatli delite in readiÌ„g the holy scriptures do not onely loue but also lyue the Gospel Euse. I praye God encrease the numbre dayly For then shall it go well wyth christian religion when noble men shal be learned in those bokes whiche are fountaynes and head sprynges of all true perfecte and christian religioÌ„ Notable is y e seÌ„tence of Plato which affirmeth that the publique weale is mooste fortunate greatly auauÌ„ced if such as be the gouernours therof be either wyse or studiouse of wysedome Therfore doeth the scripture in so many places exhort the ciuile magistrates to be learned in the lawe of god But I pray you tel vs had the geÌ„tilman none other bokes but only y e new testameÌ„t Phi. Yes verily I remeÌ„bre ryght wel y t he had many other godlye bokes as y e obedieÌ„ce of a christeÌ„ maÌ„ the parable of y e wicked MaÌ„ moÌ„ y e reuelatioÌ„ of Antichrist the sum of holiscripture the boke of Iohn Frith against purgatory al y e boks published in the name of Theodore Basil w t diuers other learned mens worckes In these godly treatises this auÌ„cieÌ„t geÌ„tilmaÌ„ amoÌ„ge the mouÌ„tains rocks occupied him self both diligeÌ„tly and vertuouslye Chri. I would not lightly haue beleued that such a maÌ„ coulde haue bene fouÌ„de in so barbarouse and rude a couÌ„try nor y t so fruitful works had bene placed in so vnlearned a regioÌ„ Phile. Neyther
w t y e deuil vseth to catch y e folish peo ple. A faire womā wtout discrete mauers saith Solomō is like a ring of gold in a swines snowte And y t we mai be wel ascertened y t it was hir beauty y t moued thē wtoute shame to prouoke hir to vnclēnes these words of y e history declare it manifestli Susāna was a tēder persō merueylous fair of face Therfore the wicked mē cōmaūded to take y e cloth frō hir face y t at y e lest they might so be satisfied in hir beuty Phi God sēd vs mo Susās Beauti reigneth in mani would god it were accōpaned w t y e fear of god y t the beutiful persōs might not abuse their beutye but chuse rather to be stoned w t Susā then once to defile theyr h◅sbandes bedde Euse. God sende vs the beautye of the minde whyche consisteth in Godlye vertues and honeste qualites for y t is the true beauti y e other is but fraile vayne traū sitory doth not longe endure But what sai you vnto galaunt apparell where of so many brag and boaste nowe adayes Is it not a thynge where in we maye worthely reioice Phile. Nothing lesse for the wyse manne sayeth Glory not in thyne apparaile at any tyme. Uestures were geuen vs of God to couer oure filthye nakednes not that we shoulde glorye in them make them instrumentes of pride We ought rather when we put on our garments to lament our mischaūce our mortalitie and vncleannes then to reioyce in theym For so longe as our grādfather Adam continued in the state of innocēcy he neded no kynde of apparel to couer his body for he was altogither cleane beautiful good holye innocent and perfect but after he had brokē the commaūdement of God by geuinge eare to Satans subtile perswasions perceyuynge his miserie wretchednes wherinto he was fallen thorow his disobedience he was ashamed of hym selfe and boeth he his wyfe perceiuinge y t they were naked sowed fig leaues togither and made them selues apr◅ns to couer their fylthye and shamfull nakednes wythall Afterward when God droue theim out of Paradise bicause their feble and mortali bodies whyche now were subiecte to all kind of diseases tempestes and blastes shoulde not perishe for colde agayne that they myghte haue where with to couer theyr filthye nakednes y e they myghte walke the more honestly he made them lethern garinentes and clothed them therwyth Here euen from the beginning do we learn both what garments were geuen vnto manne of God and for what purpose Neyther wyth fyne clothe nor wyth Saten Dam◅ske veluet nor wyth cloth of gold did God apparayll Adam neyther dyd he trime and set forth oure grandmother Eue wyth sumptuouse apparayle of cloth of syluer or clothe of golde neyther dyd he set vpon hyr head a french hode wyth an edge of golde besydes pearles and precious stons and suche other trime trames I can not tell what but he clothed thē boeth wyth symple garmentes of leather not that they shoulde reioyce and be proude of theym but to vse theim as thynges necessarye to couer theyr wretched nakednes and to defende theim from the cruell stormes fearce tempestes of wynde raine snow hayle c. Euse. As in other thynges so lykewise in apparel is the world at thys presente wonderfullye fallen frome the first institution of thynges For if wee shoulde compare the chyldrene wyth the father I meane if wee shoulde consider what apparell God appoynted vnto Adam and what is vsed nowe a dayes a manne shoulde fynde as greate differ◅nce betwene theym as is betwene the Sunne and the leaste starre in lyghte and bryghtenes to beholde the vayne and folish light fashyons of apparayle vsed amōg vs it is to much wōderful I thinke no realme in y e worlde no not among the Turkes and Sarazyns dote so muche in the vanitie of theyr apparell as the Englyshe men do at thys presēt Theyr cote muste be made after the Italian fashion theyr cloke after the vse of the spanyardes their gowne after the maner of the Turckes their cappe muste be of the frenche fashion and at the laste theyr dagarde muste be Scottish wyth a venecian tassel of sylke I speake nothynge of theyr dublets and hoses which for the moste parte are so minsed cutte and iagged that shortlye after they become boeth torne ragged I leaue of also to speke of the vanitie of certayne lighte braynes which bicause nothing should want to the settyngforth of theyr fondenesse wyll rather weare a Martē chaine the price of viii d thē they would be vnchayned O what a monster and a beaste of manye heades is the Englyshe manne nowe become To whom maie he be compared worthely but to Esoppes crow For as the crow decked hyr selfe wyth the fethers of all kynde of byrdes to make hyr selfe beautifull euen so doeth the vaine Englyshe man for the fonde apparelynge of hym selfe borow of euery nation to set forth hym self galaunt in the face of the world He is an Englishe mā he is also a Italiā a Spaniard a Turke a Frencheman a Scot a Uenecian and at the laste what not He is not much vnlyke a mōster called Chimera which hath thre heades one like a Lyō an other like a Gote the thyrd lyke a dragon I passe ouer the lighte and wanton apparel of women now a dayes partlye bycause it is so monstrous and partlye bicause I haue not bene nor yet am veri muche acquaynted wyth theim wherby I myght be the more able to discribe theyr proude Pecockes tayles if not at the full whiche were an infinite laboure yet at the leste somewhat to set it forth as a painter doth y◅r he do lay on colours But of thys am I certaine that they obserue not in theyr apparell the rule of the holye scriptures For. S. Peter sayeth that the apparayll of honest and vertuous women shold not be outewarde wyth broyded hear and hangyng on of golde eyther in puttynge on of gorgeous apparel but lette the hydde man which is the herte be without al corruption so that the spirite is before god a thyng much sette by For after this maner in the olde tyme did the holy women which trusted in God tyre them selues and were obediente to theyr husbandes euen as Sara obeyed Abraham and called him Lord whose doughters ye are as long as ye do well Hereto agreeth the sayinge of S. Paul to Timothe Lette the womē aray them selues in comely apparell wyth shamefastenes and discrete behauour not wyth broyded hear eyther Golde or pearles or costelye araye but as it becometh women y t professe godlines thorow good works A game to Titus he saith Speke to the womē that they be in such rayment as becometh holines Solomon in the description of an vnhonest woman amonge other proprieties rehearseth sumptuouse and galaunte apparel callynge it
man of greate possessioÌ„s of a viâ—…e condition a maÌ„ of hygh noble renoume Euse. Trulye the goodnes of God towarde man can not be expressed Phile Yet are these benifites whych one man geueth to an other more vyle then dust if they be compared to y e precious giftes heretofore rehearsed whiche God gaue to man But marcke what foloweth Theo. Saye on we besech the. Phile. Satan that old subtile serpent perceiuing man to be made of God for this enteÌ„te y t he should enherite that glory frome the whyche for hys intollerable arrogancye he was moste worthely deiecte and caste downe craftelye subtilly lyke him selfe w t manye swete proâ—…ses and faire flaterynge wordes at the laste allured oure grandmother Eue to the traunsgression of Gods commaundemente and she lykewyse hyr 〈◊〉 so that by this meâ—…s 〈◊〉 they and theyr posteritie were not onely depriued of those pleasurs and commodities whyche I rehearsed heretofore but also vtterli daÌ„ned for theyr disobedieÌ„ce And al this came to pas thorow the enuy of SataÌ„ as y e wise maÌ„ saith God created mâ—… to be vnde stroâ—…ed yea after y e image of his own liknes created he him Neuertheles thorow enuâ—… of the deuyl death entred into the world Christo. O lamentable chaunce Nowe is man become of the Image of God the Image of the deuill of the heyre of glorye the enheritour of euerlasting paine of immortall mortall of good Godly wicked and deuillishe of fre a bonde slaue wyth all hys powers to Satan sinne death hell desperation c. Euse. But what enioied that rauenynge woulfe his pray Phile. Nothynge lesse for God whych is gentle and the self gentilnes moued wyth louynge compassion tender zeale and fatherly pity towarde man forgettyng the displesure y t maÌ„ had done to him thorow hys disobedieÌ„ce castyng al hys sins behind his backe enflamed w t no lesse loue towarde maÌ„ coÌ„cernyng hys saluatioÌ„ beholde what grace mercy doth then he was before the traunsgressioÌ„ minding to shew hym selfe of no lesse puissaunce and streÌ„gth to recouer saue maÌ„ theÌ„ Satan was to destroy coÌ„deÌ„ne maÌ„ came into Paradice sought hym vp made garmeÌ„tes for him to couer hys nakednes seÌ„t hym into thys world made him Lord ouer all and promised hym that the sede of a woman euen Iesus Christ hys owne sonne borne of Mary the vyrgin shoulde deliuer him from the power of Sathan reconcile hym to his Godly fauoure satisfye for hys wyckednes make hym a newe man endue hym wyth hys holye spirite fynallye thorowe hys merites and good workes bring him vnto the celestiall enheritaunce from the whyche Satan at that presente had exiled hym Thys promise was so fayethfull for God hym selfe spake it which is the selfe trueth whyche can not lye which is iuste in al his wordes agayne so coÌ„fortable that so manye I meane Adam hys posteritie as did apprehend and laye hand on that wyth earneste fayeth were fre from that miserable thraldome wherinto they were cast thorow Satans willnes receyued into fauour taken as moste deare chyldren and recounted perfectly rightuous for the assured perswation and vndoubted faith y t they coÌ„ceiued in the blessed sâ—…de Iesus Christe at the tyme promised of God the father So that so longe as they liued in thys present world they liued in the fauour of God and when they departed from hence God appointed theyr bodies to reaste in the earth placed theyr soules where hys good pleasure was vnto the commynge of his sonne theÌ„ to receiue that blessed ioye and heauenly felicitie that they had loste thorow their disobedience Iesu Christ that most blessed sede workynge thys saluation for maÌ„ noâ—… for any good dedes that we had done but of his own mere mercy and tender pity Theo. O here is the good shephearde that soughte vp the loste shepe when he had fouÌ„de it layed it louyngelye vpon hys shoulders â—…eÌ„derly brought it home agayne to the shepefolde O here is y e most swete louing tender father which w t so greate ioy embrasing armes receiued home againe the lost son O here is y e merciful SamaritaÌ„ whych pyâ—…ying the wouÌ„ded man being half dead poured wine oileinto his wouÌ„ds bound theÌ„ vp laied him vpoÌ„ his beast caried him to an inne paid for his healiÌ„g O here is that moste puisaunte kynge whyche of his owne liberalitie forgaue hys seruaunt the ten M. taleÌ„tes which he ought O here is y e mighty Loâ—…d which trode downe the wyne pâ—…sse alone alone neyther was there anye at all that holpe hym O here is that moste louyng sauiour that saueth his people froÌ„ all theyr synnes O here is that diligente Phisitian that is ready at all tymes to healpe the diseased to refreshe theym that labourâ—… and are laden O here is that myghty Dauid that slewe Golias and deliuered the Israelites from the cruel PhilistiaÌ„s O here is that mooste valiauÌ„te Emperour whych for our sakes hath coÌ„quered SataÌ„ â—…el death synne desperation damnation wyth al the powers infernal O here is that tender herted louer that can no more forget vs then a mother can forget the chyld of hyr wombe and though she forget hyr chyld yet can not he forget vâ—… For he hath written vp vs in his handes so that we are alwayes in his sight To whom is not here opened an exceading greate and large windowe to reioyce in the Lorde oure God except we be estraÌ„ged froÌ„ al that is God or Godly Phile. I am glad brother Theophilus to heare you speake on thys maner But lette vs go forth After so many pleasures shewed to man which all thorowe hys owne faulte he so wyckedly loste after so greate a synne committed agaynste the diuine maiestie so frelye to forgeue man so to accepte hym into hys fauoure so to loue hym that he promiseth to send downe from hys moste glorious throne hys owne dearly beloued son to make a perfect recoÌ„ciliation euerlastynge agremente betwene hym and man that they may for euer and euer dwell togyther in ioyefull glorye Oh what a feruente charitie and vnmeasurable loue of God is this Who canne worthelye either by herte thynke or by tonge expres or yet by penne sette forth the exceadynge greatenes of Goddes kynde hertye loue towaâ—…d man The Kynge of all Kynges the Lorde of all Lordes yea that Lord to whose maiestye al thinges are obediente boeth in heauen earth and Hell so to set his mynd on man beyng but a pore vile and miserable creature yea of all mortall Creatures moste synneâ—…ull mooste disobediente mooste frayle and readye to fal so to loue and tender hym that to do hym good to brynge hym vnto glorye and honoure he dis dayneth not but mooste wyllyngelye vowchesafeth to sende downe hys onelye begotten and dearelye beloued sonne yea and that into thys synnefull vale
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
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
a constaūt fayth and hope loke for the same For there is but one Lorde of all ryche inough for so many as call on hym Euse. I praye you let vs heare that our ioye maye be ful Phile. Fyrste that we maye truely reioyce in Christes ascētiō I wil labour to shew you some of the cō modities of it as we are taught in the sacred scriptures Christ in hys laste sermon sayed vnto hys disciples I go to prepare a place for you If I gooe my waye and prepare I wyl come agayne and take you vnto my self that wher I am ye maye be also Here haue we one vrgente cause whye wee oughte earnestelye to reioyce in Christes ascention For of thys aforesayed sentence we learne y t Christe is ascended vnto hys father to prepare a place for vs in heauen Can anye thynge sound more pleasaunt and thanke worthy to oure eares then to heare that the son of God came downe frō hys heauenly throne became man suffered death rose agayne for oure sake and is nowe ascended very God and very man into heauen to prepare a gloryous mācion for vs in the kyngedome of heauen What is more cōfortable for a Pilgrime then after long traueling by straunge contries at the laste to come home to hys owne house and ther to find all thyngs wel prouided for him Are not we straungers and pylgrimes in thys worlde Do wee not wāder frō place to place vncertainly loke for an other mācion more quiet mery to come If ther were not such a dwelling place to be loked for after thys presēt life of al creaturs the true christiās were most miserable But ther is vndoubtedli an heauēly palaice prepared for y e faithful yea and y t bi Christes ascētiō Theo. Certise here haue we I cō fesse one great occasiō to reioice in the ascention of Christe seynge by it he hathe prepared for vs a dwellynge place among the holy sayntes blessed angels promiseth y t he wyl come againe take vs vnto hym and place vs euen there where he him selfe is Phile. An other commoditie that we haue by Christes ascention is the gyfte of the holye Goste For Christe him selfe sayeth If I go not awaye the confortou◅e shall not come vnto you But if I goe my waye I wyl sende hym vnto you By thys confortoure he vnderstandeth the holy gost whych conforteth and maketh stronge wyth Godly puissaunce yea and leadeth into al truth y e hertes of so many as he inhabiteth What an inestimable treasure the gyfte of the holy Gost is no mā knoweth but he that is endued wyth wysdome from aboue Whence come al these backe slyders from God and hys worde but onely of the lacke of the holye Gooste Whence come so manye Heretikes scismatikes anabaptistes sacramentaries papistes with al the whole rable of sedicious sectaries but onelye that thei are destituted of thys cōfortoure of thys holy spirite whiche shoulde comforte thē in fayeth and leade them into all truethe Dauid knewe full well what a singular and greate treasure to a fayethful man the hauynge of the holy Goste is agayne what an vtter decaie and extreme destruction it is to y t man that whanteth thys confortoure whan he prayde on thys maner create in me a pure herte O God and a right spirite renewe thou in my inwarde partes Caste me not awaye frome thy face and thy holy spirit take not awaye from me Thys holye spirite do the fayethfull receyue from God the father thorowe the ascention of Christe Is thys a small gyfte to haue the holy gost geuen vnto vs to dwell wythin oure breastes and wyth hym all the heauēly fruites of the spirite fayeth loue hope pacience ioye longe sufferyng meakenes temperaunce iustice goodnes gētlenes modestie honest behauioure peace with an whole sea of good thynges mo yea and at the laste euerlastinge life Who reioyseth not in thys moste excellente gyft purchaised for vs by the ascencion of the Lorde Christe our God and sauioure Christo. That such giftes shoulde be geuē vnto men of Christe after Christes ascention it was longe before prophecied of the holye Psalmographe thou arte gone vpon hye thou haste ledde capptiuitye captiue and receyued gyftes for menne ▪ Euse. Of the gyfte of the holye goste plenteously to be geuen after Christes ascencion God hym selfe speaketh by the Prophete Ioell sayeinge it shall be in the laste dayes sayth God of my spirite I wyll powre out vpon all flesh And your sonnes and your doughters shall prophesye and your young men shall se visions and your olde men shall dreame dreames And on my seruau◅tes and on my hande maydens I wyll powre oute of my spirite in those dayes and they shall Prophesie Philemon Neyther do here cease the commodities and profites that wee enioye by the ascension of Christe For besydes the preparacion of the heauenly mansions and the gyfte of thi holy Goste whiche withoute doubte are moste highe and syngulare treasures Christe by hys ascension is become oure intercessoure mediatoure and aduocate He sitteth on the ryght hand of God the father makyng intercession for vs. If we wyl obtaine any thynge of God the father he is straight wayes redye to be an aduocate and to plead our cause before his father and easelye obtayneth what so euer he desireth so greate is hys dignitie and exce◅ncye Agayne if at any tyme we offende God as we all do amysse in manye thynges and by oure offence prouoke the wrath of God vnto vengeaunce Christ oure aduocate and mediatoure is at hande immediately to pacifie the i◅e and wrath of God to reconcile vs vnto hym to purchaise remission of oure synnes and to recouer the fauoure that we had loste thorowe oure weake nes as S. Iohn sayeth if anye man synne we haue an aduocate wyth the father Iesus Christe that ryghteouse one And he is a mercie stocke for oure synnes not for oure synnes onely but for all the worlde 's also For the bloude of Christe is not lyke the bloude of Abell For the bloude of Abell crieth for vengeaunce vpon hys brother Cayne which vniustely slewe him as the bloude of al innocences and martyrs do in like maner call for vengaūce against thē that haue oppressed thē shed their bloud vniustly but y e bloud of Christ crieth for grace fauour and mercy crieth for pardon forgyuenes and remission of synnes crieth for ioye quietnes and euer lastyng life God sayeth Sainct Paull setteth forth his loue won derfully towarde vs for if when we were yet synners Christe died for vs muche more than we beynge nowe iustified in his bloud shal be saued from wrath by him If when we were enemies we were recōciled to God by y e death of hys sonne muche more we beyng reconciled shall be made safe thorowe hys lyfe No man can sufficientlye expresse the worthynes of thys cōmodite that Christ is not onely become by his
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
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
the Romains and wold serue none but Christe alone the sonne of almighty God y e blessed martyre with a lusty courage and me ry hert braste out into these wordes sayinge I thanke almyghty God whyche voucheth safe to losen me from the baÌ„des of this body And so died When Maximianus that moste cruell Empe roure commaunded hys souldiours to worshyppe false Goddes and to slea so manye as professed Christ hys blessed word Mauricius w t his felowes answered that eyther in worshypping false Goddes or in sleaynge the true Christians they by no meanes would obeye the Emperour We are sayd they thy souldidurâ—… O Emperour but yet we frely confesse that wee are the seruauntes of God which gaue vs thys our life We can not folowe the Emperour so that we shoulde denye God our maker yea and thy ma ker also whether thou wylte or wylte not We are christian men therefore maye wee not persecute such as professe Christe We are readye rather to dye then to kyll suche And wee are more desierousse to dye innocentes then to lyue wycked and synfull Know thou that the mindes of thys army by no meanes can be ouercome These wordly weapons we caste awaye Oure breaste is enarmed wyth the fayeth of Christ which is oure shylde bucler and defeÌ„ce agaynste the fyrye dartes of the deuil of al his souldiours Therfore slee thou kil thou mur ther thou minister what kynd of payne thou wylte we w t a bolde courage offer our selues to suffer for the glory of God And shortly after y e holy man of God wyth a greate nuÌ„bre of blessed martyrs mo were slaine w t the swerd Eus. These be notable exeÌ„ples worthy to be practised of al faythfull christiaÌ„s if God at any time calleth theÌ„ vnto this conflicte w t the worldely tyrauÌ„tes fained holy hypocrites for the coÌ„fessioÌ„ of hys blessed trueth Philem I could rehearse many mo godly hystories to declare w t what a readye wyll wyth howe reioysing an hert the blessed martyrs of Christ suffred all maner of bitter tormentes for the Lords sake but these at this presente shall suffice For hereof maye ye learne to practise thys word of the Apostle Alway I mean to reioyce in the Lorde our God not onely in prosperitie but also in aduersitie be it in sycknes losse of goodes pouertie persecution or anye other crosse y t god our father laieth vpoÌ„ vs. For this the duty of a true christen maÌ„ to coÌ„ceyue that same fayeth hope and ioye in God when he is assayled in tribulation that he had before when all thynges were moste prosperouse to him So meaneth the Apostle when he sayeth Reioyce in the Lorde alwaye And bycause he woulde haue vs earnestlye to reioyce in the Lorde at al tymes be it in prosperitie or aduersitie he doubleth this word Reioyce saiyng Reioyce in the Lord alway yea once agayne I saye reioyce Piththye and full of efficacye is thys sentence of the Apostle and comprehendeth in it many Godly misteries as ye haue hytherto partely hearde S. Paule desiereth nothyng more then that we shoulde reioyce in the Lord. His ioye is altogyther in God therefore would he that yours should be so lykewyse And vnto thys doeth that princelyke prophet ex hort you also saying Be ye glad reioyce in the Lord O ye rightuous and al ye that are true her ted be mery in the Lord. Agayne Let so mani as trust in y e O lord be meri yea thei shal be ioyful for euer and thou shalt dwel among them And al that loue thy name shall reioyce in the. Therefore if we loue the name of God if wee truste to be saued by hys mercye if we loke for good thynges at y e hand of our heauenly father thorowe Iesus Christ let vs sequester our ioye frome all worldelye thynges whyche are but vanitie as ye haue hearde before and repose it only in the Lord our God Chr. That Lorde whyche is the father of mercies and the God of all consolation mought grauÌ„t vnto vs hys most holy spirite to worcke in vs suche a swetenes delectation in spiritual thynges that what so euer is of the world may waxe vile vnpleasaunt and bitter vnto vs and that wee by thys meanes maye vnfaynedlye and euen from the very bottome of the herte reioyce in the Lorde our god alone alone Theo. The Lorde myght brynge thys thinge to passe in vs. Philemon Well neyghbours Nowe accordynge to my promisse haue I geuen you this Iewell of Ioye not so conningelye and worckemanlyke I confesse handeled as some other of better knowledge and more rype iudgmeÌ„t in y e misteries of God coulde haue done it notwythstandynge truely and fayethfully wroughte accordynge to the pure vayne of the holye scriptures But what so euer thys youre gyfte is I praye you take it to good worthe and accepte my louynge herte towarde you Thoughe possibilitte fayleth yet good wyll shall neuer wante in me but what so euer the Lord shall geue at all tymes I wyll bestowe it vpon you and vpon hys holye congregation and by no meanes suffer the talente geuen vnto me of my Lorde God to lye Idle by me but for my power I wyll so employe 〈◊〉 that it maye turne to the glorye of God and to the profite of hys blessed churche For the hystorye of the vnprofitable seruaunte whyche hydde vp the money of hys Lord in the ground therefore was coÌ„deÌ„ned caste into vtter darckenes where wepyng gnashyng of teth shal be ought to make al meÌ„ afrayed that haue receyued any gyfte at al of God and to prouoke theim not to be sluggyshe and idle but to vse theyr talentes accordynge to the commauÌ„demente of God whyche sayeth Occupye youre selues tyl I come Euse. Blessed is that man whych so occupieth hys talent that God therwith is glorified and hys neyghbouredifted Sure maye he be at that great and dreadful day of iudge mente to heare of hys Lord God thys most swete and ioyfull senteÌ„ce O myne own good seruauÌ„te and fayethfull Thou haste bene faythful in little I wyl make the ruler ouer muche Enter in into thy Lordes ioy Philem. Neyghbours I wyll disease you no lenger but as I haue geuen you a spirituall Iewell ioyful and coÌ„fortable for the soule so wyll I in like maner at this my coÌ„ming home and returne into mi natiue contrye bestowe somewhat vpon you that shall not be vnprofitable for y e body For I wysh good boeth to your soule body And woulde God it laye in my power to gratifie you in both alyke But that whych shall wante in worldely thinges shall if I lyue be recompensed in spiritual thin ges But as I maye at the laste make an ende remember brethreÌ„ remembre what ye haue hearde of me at thys present Remembre that all thynges in thys worlde be subiect vnto vanitie yea they them selues are mere vanitie as the preacher sayeth Al
is but vanitie yea altogither is plain vanitie What maruel wheÌ„ maÌ„ him selfe for whose sake al worldelye things were created is very vanitie RemeÌ„ber that the ende ofal worldlye ioye of al carnall pleasure of all temporall felicitie is bitter sorow and greuous payne Remembre that we are borne to dye prepare therefore for youre laste ende Remembre that the goodes of this world are transitorie â—…ttyng away and seldome tary longe wyth theyr olde possessour and owner gather not ther fore treasure togither on earthe wher rusie and mothes corrupt and wher theues breake thorow and steale but gather ye treasure togither in heauen wher neyther rust nor mothes corrupt wher theaues neyther breake vp nor steale Make you frendes of the wicked Mammon that when ye shal haue nede they may receiue you into euerlastynge dwellinge places Remembre that what soeuer ye sowe that shall ye reape whither it be of the flesh corruption or of the spirite eternal life If ye on thys wyse iudge both of the worlde and of worldly thynges doubt ye not but that yours hertes shall burne wyth suche an earneste and vnfayned loue towarde God that ye shall reioyce in hym alone alone yea and that alway that is boeth in prosperitie and aduersitie at all tymes haue a quiet a mery conscience which of al treasures is the most precious in this world And y t ye may do this the more fortunately consider your vocation remeÌ„bre youre callynge Ye are called christians expresse Christe youre â—…ord and maister in al your coÌ„uersatioÌ„ liuing He that sayeth he dwelleth in Christe oughte to walke eueÌ„ as Christe walked Ye are called gospellers loue lyuâ—… y e gospel Let your lighte so shine before menne that they maye se your good worckes and glorifye your father whiche is in heauen The Papistes raile on you blaspheme you cal you heritikes seditious personnes c. Ordre so your life that the aduersaries seynge your Godlye conuersation maye eyther be wonne to coÌ„fesse the same truth with you or els be ashamed to speke any euil of you For this is the wyl of God that wyth wel doinge ye shoulde stop the mouthes of folysh and ignorauÌ„t men as fre but not making liberty to be a cloke of noughtynes but euen as the seruauntes of God Ye confesse youre selues to be iustified before God bi faieth alone prouid that thys youre fayeth be not idle sluggishe nor deade as S. Iames sayeth but â—…iuish and mighty in operation and full of all good and Chrian workes For in Christe Iesu neither is circumcision anye thynge worth neyther yet vncircuÌ„cision but fayth which worketh by cha ritie and the ende of the coÌ„maun dement is charitie that commeth of a pure herte of a good conscience of fayeth vnfayned Ye beleue to be saued by the alone sacrifice of Christes most blissed bodie coÌ„mit nothinge vnworthy the gentlenes of so kind louing sauiour Ye coÌ„fesse to know god denie him not in your dedes but be alwayes studious of good worckes Ye professe y e doctrine which requireth of you and of al subiectes fayethfull and huÌ„ble obeisaunce to y e King his Maiesty answere to youre professioÌ„ obeye vnfainedly not onely for feare of â—…nishemeÌ„t but for coÌ„sience sake 〈◊〉 For ther is no power but of 〈◊〉 â—…e powers y t be are 〈◊〉 â—…d Therfore whosoeuer resisteth the power resisteth y e ordinaunce of God And they y t resiste shall get to theÌ„ selues daÌ„nacion Feare god the king sayth Salomon Feare god hououre the Kinge sayeth blissed Peter Therfore feare obeye loue honoure our most excellent Prince Neyther thicke breath speake or do anything y t may be preiudicial to the godly doiÌ„ges of y e king his highnes but be y u alwaye led w t a reuerente feare towarde his grace Neither coÌ„sente to any tumult coÌ„motioÌ„ insurrectioÌ„ sedicion conspiracy c neither coÌ„seale any thig wherby any dishonour to the Kinges Maiestie any displeasure to hys moste honorabâ—… couÌ„cel ani vnquietnes to y e pâ—… que weale may be wroughâ—… 〈◊〉 euermore sette before yoâ—… 〈◊〉 thys sentence of the 〈…〉 wyshe the kynge 〈…〉 thought speake no hurte of the noble man in thy priui chamber For a birde of the ayer shall betraie thy voice and with her fethers shall she bewraye thy wordes How greuously they haue al waies be punished y t were sedicious walked wtout anye godlye feare toward the ciuille Maigistrates the histories of Dathan and Abiron of zambry and Baa sa of BagathaÌ„ Thares shewe manifestly Neyther haue we waÌ„ ted experience of thys thynge in these our dayes And as vnto the Kinge his Maiestie so lykewyse submit youre selues vnto the other Rulers y t are sent of him for the punishemente of euill doers but for the prayse of theÌ„ y t do wel Ye haue a pleasure to heare the preachers of gods worde reuerence theÌ„ as the ministers of god geuing theÌ„ no les honoure than the childe gyueth the father remembring y t they be the Angells of God the messengers of Christ the light of the worlde y e salte of the earth y e dispensatours of the misteries of God the feders of Christen mens soulles the comfortours of the weake the Phisicians of the sicke the vpholders of the whole the exhorters vnto the vertue the fraiers awaye froÌ„ vice whiche watch continually for the health of oure soulles Be not vnthaÌ„kful to the preachers but to suche as minister spiritual thynges to you disdayne not to giue corporal thinges y t the prea chers may y e more freli giue their mind to y e studies of y e holy scriptures If we sowe vnto you spiritual thinges sayeth s â–ª Paule is it a great thing if we reape your carnal thinges The Lorde hath ordayned y t they whiche preache the gospel should liue of the gospel Againe he sayth let him y t is taught w t the word minister vnto him y t teacheth him in al good thinges Be not deceiued god is not mocked Moreouer ye y t are maried loue your wiues euen as christ loued the coÌ„gregacioÌ„ Nou rishe cherish theÌ„ as your owne bodies remeÌ„brynge that they be your owne fleshe your own bones se y t by no meanes ye be bitter vnto theÌ„ but giue honour vn to theÌ„ as to the weaker vessels as to theÌ„ y t are felow heires also of the grace of life Teach youre wiues to be obedieÌ„t vnto you as vnto y e lorde to loue you as their owne selues to be of honest beha uoure chast housewifely good no euil spekers but sober fayth ful in al thinges Learne them to kepe silence w t al subiectioÌ„ to a raie theÌ„ selues in manerly apparel w t shamefastnes honest behauoure not w t broided heare other