deele the better But sorowe and bee carefull in thyne heart that Auarice and insaciate couetousnes reigne soo soore amongest them that to dooe almose they haue cleane forgotten for the common reliefe that they bestowe vpon the needy bee fayre woordes colored with Hypocrisye as alas good man God healpe the god healpe the. O counterfaited Christian god commaundeth the to healpe them and cursed arte thou of what degree soo euer thou arte that wylt not succoure thy poore neyghbour in his necessitie Bee penitent therfore in time for dampnacion hangeth ouer thy hed I suppose thou seest plainely inough what miserye and myschefe reigne euery where The poore bee despysed and Goddes woord so lytell regarded and thought vpon that that soore and lamentable saiyng of Esaye maie iustely bee spoken vnto vs in these daies It is an obstinate people vnfaithefull chyldren saieth he chyldren that wil not here the law of the Lord the .xxix. of Esai O noble Englande this lawe of the Lord thou hast moste plainly set forth vnto the as yet thy myserable state is soore to bee lamented for through thy obstinate blindnes thou prouokest God to stryke styll with durable strokes thou dooest not soo humbly submitte thy self vnto his blessed wil and testament as thy duetie is Thou arte neyther soo ioyouse ne yet so earnestly bent to haue it goe forward as God hath geuen the occasions within these fewe yeres It semeth thine hearte is setled on fantasies most fond and kepest olde dotyng dreames foo fast vnder locke yea and sauerest so much of auncient custome that the pure worde of God in thy spirite hath smal taste But heare a whyle and geue eare and thou shalte knowe more of thy duetie and determine thy selfe lowely to folowe suche histories as shall be rehersed vnto the gathered out of the lawe of the Lord. First considre when that holye man Esdras Preached vnto the people their eares were so wonderfully enclyned to the booke of the lawe and their heartes so enamored for the singuler delight they had to heare the swete wordes and pleasant promises of god that they could not but weepe the .ii. booke of Esdras the .viii. chapter Forsothe it was a greate token of grace to weepe for the feruente zeale and loue of Goddes worde Thei also made greate myrthe because they vnderstode what was declared vnto thē O happie people that so reioysed in knowledge What man is he dissendyng downe into hymselfe that wold not reioyse also to remēber what ioye and felycitie these people had in the woord of God and mourne nowe for compassion to beholde what spite and euell wyl many beare toward the holy Bible whose miserable blyndnesse is muche to be lamented truely suche is the pestilent malice of ignorantes suche bee the deceiptes and wyles of Ipocrites the one in league and full consente with the other labour with all subtilitie to wrappe the people in blyndnesse styl and yet openlye they faigne theym selfes glad and ioyouse that the truthe is come out but sorow and sigh in their heartes to haue it go forwarde Great pytie it is that any manne should goe about to endomage Christen men in the word of God For the greatest compassiō that we ought to haue on any one thyng vnder Heauen is on the rude multitude of Chrystians lackyng the trewe knowledge therof for Chrysten mennes heartes shoulde alwaies bee enclosed in that highe and heauenly wisedom of God consideryng that Ignoraunce is the most pestilent poyson that can reigne emongest men And to learne howe to abbolyshe the great and wonderfull blyndnes whiche hathe hadde a long course and continuance emongest vs thou haste the holy Byble playnely set forth vnto the and yf thou haue a hoole and a cleare heart thou mayest sone learne to folowe the trace of vertue thou shalte learne also to be strōg and quiete to beare al afflictions yea and shalte be able to enstruct suche as thou haste nouryshed to liue togither in an amiable conuersacion But alas there be many both temporal and spirituall that wyll neuer take the testament in their handes they passe lyght of it care not howe lyttell it is spoken of emongest them but if it come by chance vnto thē they esteme it as a geast nether welcome ne yet loked for Of what spirite they learne this of I muche marueil yf one call them counterfaited christians ryght scribes and Phariseis they set vp their brystels and fall in a rage Oh Lord suche are nothyng mindfull of the saiyng of Elephas vnto Iob receaue the lawe at the Lordes mouthe and laie vppe his woordes in thyne hearte and he shall geue the an haruest with suche plentifull abundaunce that it shal exceade the duste of the yearthe and looke what thou takest in hand it shall prospere Nowe Englande this Godly saiyng shoulde steere vp the and all thyne to shewe your selfes most humble and meke in settyng forwarde the woorde of GOD Surely thou deserueste greate glorye and hyghe estymacion yf thou bee agreable vnto his truthe And therfore shewe thy selfe euer couragiouse to promote his blessed testament and cease now to be styffenecked to desende thy supersticion and wilfull ignoraunce for this is playne no man shal bee excused by ignorance ne yet shal escape to geue accompte of his bailywicke Thou shuldest therefore obedientlye enbrace the liuely woord of God which is a thing most mete and requisite for all agees and degrees of men Thou shouldest studie the same both daye and nyghte and geue thy self wholy to knowe the Euangelion of Chryste for the eyes of the Lord behold all the earth to strenghthen them that are holie with him the .xvi. Cha. the .ii. Chronicles This kynde of studie is most conuenable for the professours of Christ and thus to dooe is the chefest puincte of our profession in Baptime whereunto yf you answere as saieth sainct Paule He that is most abiecte emongest you is better then they that bee taken to bee of highest authoritie emongest the vngodly the .i. to the Corinthians Let vs nowe therfore plante surely in our hertes the lawe of God Let vs shewe our selfes ioyouse to heare the eternal testamēt of Christ spoken of emongest vs Let vs remember well the saiyng of Samuell vnto Saull Thou haste caste awaye the biddyng of God and therfore the Lord hath caste the away also This shoulde be no lesse fearfull vnto vs nowe least the Lord cast vs away which maie and wyll not drinke of the well of the water of life freely that is the holy Bible most godly and syncerely set forthe in oure Englishe tongue For the whiche wee oughte with reioysyng heartes to saie O the lot of our felicite most luckely chaunged For where as of late we offred sacrifice vnto Idols now we be taught to offre the sacrifice of Iustice vnto our heauenly father Of late we were obedyent vnto al damnable rites and wicked supersticion nowe we be taughte to obey onely the Gospell which is saluacion
holy pleasant and acceptable before God a reasonable sacrifice whiche is the sacrifice of the mynd For God is a sprite and his fauoure is gotten by the gyftes of the sprite the .xii. to the Roma The Euāgelist witnesseth also that Chryste is fully satisfied with a faithfull heart saiyng geue me thine heart I aske no more Now truely no man geueth his heart vnto God but he that forsaketh the pleasure pōpe and vanities of this vile world and with a syncere mynde bent onely on heauenly wysedome seeketh to knowe the scriptures of Christ for Godly wisedom as saieth S. Paule deliteth in Godly and simple mindes and therfore none of the princes of this world haue atteigned it Neyther Pilate neither Annas nor Cayphas nor the Pharisees ne yet the deuelles although thei wer learned in the knowledge of worldly thynges pufte vp and proude because they knewe the lawe neither proude princes deserued to know this no nor yet the curiouse and haute Phylosophiers The .ii Corinthi This Heauenly wisdōe is the Gospel of Christ which bringeth quicke and spedy saluacion as thou maist read in the .x. to the Romains by the strength and power of it al thynges haue their beyng both in heauen and yearth This heauenly wisdome which is the very wil and testament of our sauiour Chryste putteth power efficacy and vertue in the holy sacramentes By this heauēly wisedome whiche is the misticall holy gloriouse scriptures of Christe our solles liue and haue their spirituall norishmente Yea and in receuyng this heauenly wisedome which is the blessed word of God wee receaue the bodie of Christ here dooeth appere by these woordes an excedyng grace and vertue of the liuely woord of God Therfore whosoeuer wil consider the effectes therof and way with himself the pith thy puinctes of our christiā religion desiryng to find fauour grace and mercie at the handes of God he must obediently al supersticion false and intermingled doctrine and wilfull ignoraunce vtterly set a part enbrace nowe Christes Gospell whiche reconcileth all menne to God as thou shalt finde in the fourth to the Galathyans this reconciliacion loue and fauour he that wold not gladly haue yf he might is to bee thoughte bothe madde and miserable for it is a thing farre aboue the beneuolence of hyghe kynges and mightie princes it is therfore most gredily to be desired Nowe truely this grace and fauour al poore men may well and easely atteigne at the handes of God whiche with simple obedient heartes reade his blessed Testament and seke forth his scriptures and all that be thus occupyed are openly pronounced to bee very acceptable in Goddes sight Accordyng to this saiyng of the holy Prophete Blessed are they that seeke forthe thy testimonies and require thy law with all their heartes By this it dooeth apere that it is requisite for al christen men eyther poore or riche to study the holy Bible and diligentely to searche forthe the wyll and pleasure of God Thou canst not denye but that thyng is pleasaunt and acceptable in the fathers sighte that causeth him to geue his sonne benedictiō for as muche as wee see daily that benediction is not giuen but vnto suche chyldren as folow their fathers mind and pleasure And that it is very nedefull that all men shoulde bee perfectly taughte in the holy Scriptures Esaie the Prophet plainly declareth It is a people saith he without vnderstādyng and therfore he that created them shal not fauour them and he that made theym shall not bee mercifull vnto them the xxvii of Esaie By these wordes it is easy to bee iudged That who so euer is not diligente to reade the woorde of God falleth into his indignacion and fearfull displeasure and wandereth on ignorauntly as one voide and destitute of al grace to whose peruerse mynd God wyl shewe no mercie surely this is the greatest plage and misery that can chance vnto men Now to auoide this wicked estate who would not bee circumspecte and willyng to take in his hand the holy Testament Vndoubtedly he that through the deuell and ignoraunce is so seduced that he hath it in meane estimacion and to reade it hym self is neyther couragyouse ne yet of good wyll to haue it set forthe by other is in a miserable case Yea the misery of such a man no tong can sufficiently expresse and yet to see howe wickedly many nowadaies bee confederate togither in a Deuelyshe conspiracie against the promotyng of it is a thyng soore to bee lamented And all that bee of this peruerse and stubburne iudgement bee more abhominable in goddes sight then wer the wicked and grosse people of Geresa whiche coulde not away with Chrystes doctrine regarded not his commyng vnto them no nor woulde in no wise bee acquainted with hym whose familiaritie and acquaintaunce euery christen man oughte desirousely to seeke And this is plaine that there is none so good a meane to be throughly acquainted with him as to bee busied in his holy scriptures and alwaies to haue a delyghte there folowyng the holy Prophete whiche said vnto god thy commaundementes Lorde bee my ioye and delectacion This holy man beatyng alwaies a faithful heart vnto God and euer diligent to set abrode the lawes of his Lord saied vnto his deere and best beloued sonne Salomō and vnto all the people Kepe seeke for the commaundementes of the lord your god that you may enioye a good land and inherite your chyldren after you for euer This was Godly counsaill and worthie commendacion this counsail shoulde all Christen men folow and gladly learn the syncere law of Christ for it is spiritual and the giuer of life as thou arte taughte in the eight to the Romains And in this doyng wee must needes prospre and goe forwarde in all our affayres As it is shewed in the .xv. Chapyter .ii. of the Chronycles Beleue his Prophetes and soo shall ye prospere Howe wonderfully I praye you dyd kyng Iosaphat prospere because he forsoke Baals waies and walked vpryghtely in Goddes commaundementes obeyed the holy prophetes and vtterly shoke of all the wycked dooeynges of Israel euen for the earnest heart he hadde vnto the truthe God alwaies defended hym and stablyshed his kyngdom in his handes and so hathe he promysed vnto all kynges prynces whose heartes are couragiouse in the wayes of the Lorde This noble Prince was nothyng forgeatfull to call in memorie his loyall dewtie and faythefull obedyence towardes GOD his creatour and gouernoure He was the truest hearted Kyng vnto GODDES woord that euer was annointed or had charge ouer Chrystes congregacion for he was inflamed with suche zeale and faythfull affection of hearte to set abroade the lyuely word of GOD. That he sente forthe dyuerse of his Lordes Priestes and Leuytes and caused theym to carry the booke of the Lawe with theym and commaunded theim to teache the people in all the Cities of Iuda Hys couragiouse and Pryncely hearte for this his dooeyng cannot haue sufficient lawde and
their deuelish doctrine did not long endure The earnest mainteners of Goddes woord felt alwaies their spitefull cruell and bluddy hāds And to thinke wherfore many honest mē haue suffred we shuld al reioyce cōsidryng that losse of lyfe is an highe felicitie where perpetuall memory commeth in place Thei that haue enterprised and emploied thēselfes to do their dueties beste towardes God haue been sonest snapt vppe iniquitie hathe often soo ruled the roste Reade auncient histories and you shal fynde this plaine And nowe especially great maruaill it is what vnfaithfulnes the minysters find in the bible Sins their dreames were taken from thē they haue seldome said where arte thou Lord They folow lyghtnes and vanitie thinke it inoughe to stand at the aultre although you stand at the alter it doth not folow that you ar nerest to christ for you are nere Chryst stand worthelie at the aultre whē you shew your selfes willyng to promote his holy Gospel Cast of slouthe and sharpe youre wyttes all blunte and dull with Ignoraunce Haue ye not redde the woordes of the holye Prophete I wyll delyghte saieth he in thy commaundementes as one that hathe founde great spoile and ryches This holy Prophete reioysed soo in his heart at the liuely woord of God that he saied with a sighe Oh Lorde howe sweete bee thy woordes in the roffe of my mouthe yea they be swetter in my mouthe then the honicombe He saied furthermore the lawe of thy mouthe Lorde is better to me then thousandes of golde and syluer Esay the Prophete also as one some thyng offended with the ministers because Goddes woord was not thankefully receaued but estemed very lyghtly amongest them for thei made falsehode theyr refuge and vanitie their guyde Heare the woord of the LORD therfyre sayeth he yee mockers whyche rule the people of Ierusalem Esaye the xxviii Chapter Theyr vayn confydēce miserable blindnes and wilful ententes engendred vexaciō brought continual vnquietenes vnto these ministers yea it so sterred vp the ire and indignacion of God that they wer altogether troden vnderfote as myserable abiectes The lord deuysed a mete handelyng a worthy conuenient intertainmente for suche sheaperdes as wold not herken vnto his holy word The Lord again hymselfe perceauyngful wel the stubburnnesse of the people in reiecting his word and also sore offēded to see their ready willyng hertes sone enclyned vnto Idolatrie speaketh thus O ye people loke vpō the woord of the Lord Ieremie the fyrste Moreouer the Lord very desirouse to haue his statutes promoted and especially that his sheperdes shuld se wel vnto and noryshe their flocke speketh thus O ye sheperdes heare the worde of the Lord. Ezech. xxxiiii in the same chapter he most pitiefully lamēted ouer his seely pore shepe he sawe they were daily robbed and mooste cruelly deuoured of all wylde rauenyng beastes of the felde they runne blyndlye on what mischefe thei lust for the sheperdes whiche should haue been their guides and conducters fed them selfes onely with most daintie delycates and neuer regarded whiche waye the flocke went The lord willing to haue his word that wel of grace and singuler comfort most highly promoted saied he would cleane rydde and vtterly deliuer his people from Idolatrie for the wycked Prophetes vsyng vnclean sprites false doctryne and deceiptful garmentes shuld be confoūded as detestable deceiptours And for the spedie perfourmaunce of this he cōmaunded his swerd to aryse and plague as well the Ignoraunt people reiectyng his woord as the euell and superstyciouse sheperdes Zacha. the .xiii. In another place also the Lord moost greuousely offended with dissēblyng mynisters whiche wroughte altogether for lucar and gayne I haue saith he no pleasure in you for whiche of you wyll kyndle fyre on myne Aultre for nought The Lord affyrmed that they vnhalowed his Aultre in that they sayed it was not to be regarded they onely thought not scorne made light of it but they regarded muche lesse what vile trumpery they offred vnto it Malachie the fyrst The Englysshe Byble forsoth may well be compared vnto this aultre for suche as shoulde promote it and esteme it most laboure for gayne they had rather worke a trentall of Masses and syng in a fewe Dirige grotes then bestowe an houre in readyng the Bible to their paryshiners Again Nabuchodonozor a prīce of high dignitie honour and worshyp whom all people kynredes tongues wōderfully feared was for his proud stomacke stiffe heart against god and his word cleane deposed frō his kingdome and so plagued that he fel from that moost renowmed dignitie and estate of a kyng to the felowshyp of beastes he refused the companye of men and became beastly hearted enclining hymself altogyther to company with Asses and in steade of his sumptuous and pryncely dishes was very glad to feede most gredily like an Oxe on fair grene grasse Daniel .v. Furthermore whan God sawe that the people folowed the filthinesse of their owne imaginacion trusted in this and that and claue not fast vnto him but walked altogyther in myserable blyndnes and appeared wonderous wilfull for the rulers were cruell the Iudges were wolfes and the preistes wer light persones dyd muche iniurie and vtterly refused the ordinance of God and cared not how lyttell the lawe was spoken of with this the Lord greuousely offended spake vnto them moost vehemently Woe vnto you abhominable fylthye and cruell whyche wyll not heare nor be reformed Sophonie the third Chapiter Dauid the holy Prophete also whiche coulde full well iudge the strength of Goddes woord for he made it alwaies his refuge and vsed it as his trustie anker saith vnto the Lorde wherewithall shal youthe clense his waie euen by rulyng hymselfe after thy woord This Prophet spake often full fayre vsyng most plesaunt woordes as a meane to atteigne his requeste and peticion wherein he desired onely this the Lord to teache hym his statutes declaryng that he would set all his delight and councell in them yea and continually talke of his wondres makyng answere vnto all blasphemers my truste is in thy word lorde This holy mā whose wordes works no mā is able to improue said also vnto god I haue more vnder stādyng then all my teachers for thy testimonies are my studie Psal Cxix these places be sufficiēt to encourage all men to read the Byble Who wold not hearyng this apply his vnderstandyng in highe thynges Who woulde not leaue his vanities and selfe studie and giue sygnes of a newe lyfe who would not lamente to see what ignorātes guide the flocke of Chryst who would hearyng this appeare a scoler to tradicions and a persecutour of the word who woulde not hearyng this submit his idle and supersticiouse hed to the obeysaunce of the Byble Who would hearyng this folowe his own blynd seemyng and opinion Pythagoras saith he that knoweth not that he ought to know is but a brute beast amongest men Who woulde not then with this Godly saiyng be drawē vnto the
to perish or rather thus perishing for lacke of true erudicion and broughte into such amased dulnes through the contrarietie of preachers that thei know not well whom to truste It is therfore necessary to set trouthe forward and to exhorte all men to cleaue faste vnto the worde of GOD yea and to admonishe theym not to contende for small tryfles and lyghte occasions but to vse sobre and familier communicacion in matters of oure religion for yf they pondre well howe GOD abhorreth contencion and discord thei wyl bee sore ashamed to enter into it And that it soo long contineweth emongest vs most prestant prince many are much to bee reproued especially suche as be profound in eloquence expert in tonges and great in science for they shine and shewe gloriouse to the world and dooe nothyng but bear lumpyshe heartes toward the truthe They might compas thinges to avoyde all contencion and fynd meane to frame vs al to bee of one mynde in the woorde of God And in thus dooyng they shoulde appease the Ire of GOD and worke moost strongely in the defence of this noble realme For this cannot be denied that weale publique is made sure and perpetuall where the worde of GOD is thanckfully receaued and the Kyng faythefully obeyed of his louyng subiectes This thing cannot come to passe most redoubted Kyng tyll there bee a restraint against such as vse outragious wordes against the readers of the Bible nor till the heartes of your graces subiectes be made more agreable vnto the truth no nor til the Cleargie be brought also in such loue and acquaintance with the holy Bible that they wil shew them selfes as ready to sow as they be nowe to reape and forgeat to trust so muche as thei do to the sailes of their prosperitie and worldly dignitie remēbryng this that they ar not to be estemed as hed rulers of the worlde but as ministers apoynted to dispose those thīges that thei ar charged withall not the offices of menne but of GOD. This office wherwith they are so streightely charged is to feede the people with the woorde of God wherfore most gracious King now to conclude Although I am not so able as willyng to put men in memorie of their dueties in these thynges and to refourme their folysh and wicked contencion yet I trust youre grace will so gently considre my pretence that this rude Inuectiue maye fynd fauoure in your graces syght to gooe forth to the encouragemēt of al youre graces louyng subiectes vnto the woord of GOD. Vnto whō most humbly with heart minde we ought to pray both that your highnes maye spedely folowe vertuouse kynge Iosua whiche mooste gently exhorted his people willyng them to be exceadyng diligente to take beede vnto all thynges that were written in the law of the LORD makyng also heartie request vnto them to cleaue faste vnto the Lord their GOD and also that all the nobles and commons of this your realme may answere your grace again as the people did Iosua God forbid but that wee shoulde serue the Lorde our GOD. The Lord will we serue and his voice wyl we obey that is the holy Bible and Christes blessed Testament Yf God geue them grace thus to dooe then this your graces noble realme shal alwaies be most strōgly warded and defended the Lord accordyng to his promise shall geue your highnesse prosperous successe in al youre affaires whose mercifull hande may alwaies defend your noble estate Your Maiesties faithful and humble seruaunt Philippe Gerrard yeoman of the Chambre vnto your grace ¶ To the reader I Thought it requisite most gentle reader to admonishe the of two thynges the one is that in alledgyng S. Paule I folow the Paraphrasis of Erasmus that famus renoumed clarke for he foloweth the iudgement of the doctours declareth thinges at full yet swarueth he not from the text The other is wher as I was once determined to haue inueighed very vehemently with diuerse quicke sentences and thonderyng places of holy scripture I haue gone from my purpose in that behalfe as one some thyng abashed to write put to light thinges that I might iustly haue stād vnto yea and very loth that any man should reporte that either in this or that I haue dismeasured my penne Wherfore good reader I desyre the to take in good part this lame base Inuectiue I should rather haue sayd rude and simple exhortacion And although it be not framed accordyng to thyne expectacion holde the content My traueile in this is only to wynne men For I haue heard say that sharpnes in writyng hath been so noisome to some that they haue straight cast al vnderfoote and looked no further whiche neuer syns could byde anye handelyng ne yet cōfourme thē selfes to any kynd of truth or thinges iustly spoken whose stubburne and wylfull intentes I trust wyll be remedied that I shal not nede to set forthe the vehement Inuectiue whiche I haue in a redines to come forthe if I perceiue hereafter iust occasion to bee giuen Thus fare well THE INVECTIVE HOwe faythfull hertes we owe vnto GOD for his euident tokens of loue towarde vs moost vile and miserable sinners S. Paule sheweth in the .v. to the Romains Christe saieth he willyngly for our sakes suffered death and putteth away our offences with his blud His benignite and gentlenes here toward vs was exceadyng great if wee diligently note and pōdre that he the creatour of all thynges would die for vs most sinfull creatures That he innocent fauteles and most pure would suffre suche Passyon to remedye and healpe our wickednes yea and brefely that the God Immortall woulde suffre most cruell and greuouse tourmentes for the loue of men mortal O hard hearted that wyl not be thankefull for this great gentlenes and high benignitie calling to memory the wōderfull Iuell treasure of his death For true Innocencie and perfecte saluacion saith sainct Paule bee giuen freely by it the .v. to the Galathians O faithful Christians was not this a preciouse reward for this most high and heauenly gifte our dutie is tendrely againe with hearte and mind to loue hym by his Godly merites and loue toward vs wee should bee quickly prouoked for through his death we bee all dedicated vnto hym and sanctified in his moost holy and preciouse blud let vs therfore obey vnto hym This obedience forsoth is chefely required at our handes in folowyng of his doctryne for it is not enough as witnesseth S. Paule to bee dipped in water neither to professe Christ excepte all our hole life aunswere vnto his doctrine frō which not to swarue one iote wee haue professed in Baptime and haue made there an earneste promise to bee of this bande and holy religion yea and alwayes to humble our selfes vnto his heauēly doctrine Euen nowe therfore for the perfourmance of these thynges let vs offre a mete and worthy oblaciō for this our Godly profession that is a liuyng sacrifice pure and
commendacion For this a man may well saye O mooste noble Iosaphat moost woorthily by this acte thou haste gotten perpetuall memorie and also the Heauenly kingdome where thou reygnest nowe in wonderfull ioye and felicitie O happie Lordes that in those daies obedyently wente on soo Godlye a message and lyke trewe Subiectes shewed your selfes earnest and faythfull hearted to accomplyshe the Kynges commaundement whiche emongest all actes of high kinges and princes is most woorthily celebrated and had in renoume as thou mayest reade in the notable history of Iosaphat set forth in the Bible yea this act was so wōderful vnto men so plesant in the eyes of God that by the reason therof al kynges princes feared vertuouse Iosaphat For he wrought most nobly folowīg his guide capitain the holy ghost whiche maketh all men feruent in the feare of the Lord Esaye the .xi. Yea alwaies be considered the great kyndnes giftes and benefites of God He knewe ryght well that who so deliteth in the lawe of the Lorde and exerciseth him self therein both day and nyght must needes prospere and dooe thynges acceptable before God Furthermore he being euer tēdre ouer the weale of his subiects and pretendyng most nobly to defend equitie and Iustice appoineted iudges in euery Citie and straightely bade them Feare the Lord dooe Iustice regard not one mā more then another take ye no rewardes of them bee couragiouse for the Lord wyll bee with the good Herken to noble Iosephat all christen princes whom God hath appoincted to guide and conduct his people in his holy testimonies and Godly preceptes And also other inferiour powers may take exaumple and learne of hym as of the comliest and noblest Prince that euer bare renoume His vertuouse actes would God they woulde humbly receaue and sette before their faces his wonderful Godly dooynges yea and learne nowe to promote the Gospel of Christ to stere thē to this so godly a worke the saiyng of Esay is a stronge perswasion a great encouragement to read the gospell assone as thy iudgementes are knowen vnto the world then the inhabiters of the earth learn rightwisenes Esay the .xxvi. whiche vndoubtedly is a thyng as necessary to be learned at this daye as any one thyng vnder heauen Yf men woulde weygh the handelyng of thynges and howe pitiefully the poore be oppressed of the ryche and for amendemente of this thyng Let vs all praye with the holy Prophete Esay Oh Lord nowe healpe for thou art the poore mannes healpe a strenghte for the nedefull in his necessitie Esay the .xxv. and to encourage vs all to minister vnto the nedye wee reade a Godly saiyng in the Prophet Dauid whereon resteth the summe and effect of our christianitie That is blessed is he that hathe a respecte vnto the poore and considereth his necessitie in the yl day the Lorde wyll freely deliuer him Here forsoth is a wonderfull Godly promise vnto suche as bee pitiefull and tendre ouer the poore And who so wyll not with heart and mynd geue vnto them thinges necessarye but tourneth his face from them and hautely ouer looketh them not willyng to offre vnto those liuely Images of God meate drinke raiment with other nedefull thynges he shall then bee appoincted into euerlastyng punishemente of Hell a place for the mercilesse ordeyned of God Verily this shal bee full iudgemente and perfecte sentence spoken of Goddes owne mouthe in that terrible day awaye ye wicked and mercilesse creatures into euerlastyng fire Then shal honour pompe and dignitie nothyng auayle then shall these great possessours of goodes pitiefully crye alas and bewail their infelicitie and great lacke of grace But now this to considre theyr heartes bee ouer hard Who doeth not see how pitiefully the poore be despised in euery place be not most men more ready to deuour them then to healpe them be they not hastyer to make them starke beggers then to succour to relefe thē in their necessitie truely ouer al that thus do there hangeth the vengeance of god wonderful Plages and myseries euen suche as hanged ouer the wycked Diues spoken of in the Gospell and lette all of his confederate feloweshyppe wherof forsothe the nomber is greate bee fully perswaded in this that it is not possyble that these impoueryshers of the poore shoulde alwayes prospere but that eyther they or theyr heyres shoulde falle in some myserye and sodayne decaye and moost commonly to spreade abrode their euel gotten goodes as thou maiest plainly read in the xij of Iob. Aand how to vse the poore all chrysten men maye nowe learne of that vertuouse man whose charitable saiyng should neuer out of our memories that is I deliuered the pore whē he cryed and the fatherles that wanted healp the .xxix. of Iob. Iob considred full well that God was none of them that vsed parcialitie no nor yet any acceptour of personnes and that made hī so plainly to affirme that god regardeth not the riche man more thē the poore Iob .xxxiiii. but verily the cause that many passe so litel to tread thē vnderfote with wicked oppression vtterly to vndoe thei care not how many is a certein greedy desire to accumulate riches to mainteine worldly pompe and dignitie and to haue the blynde prayses and vayne commendacions of this deceiptefull worlde as to be estemed very riche and as the common saiyng is he is one yf he liue that will proue a great riche man by his witte and policie he hath purchased thus muche Where this sensualitie reigneth vertue and Godlynesse must nedes be put a syde And by none other mean most cōmonly these great ryches and vaine tytles bee attaigned but by vsurye gyftes brybes and in disceauing the poore O thou most miserable and infortunate man that by this meane waxest riche Heare what a wonderfull plage hangeth ouer thy heade The fyre shal consume suche as bee greedy to receiue gyftes for they beare mischefe in their bodies bring forth deceipte The .xviii of Iob. Oh Lord dooeth not I pray you euē now the state of this woorlde declare yf you marke well that the sore threatenynges of God the reward of sinne as death Hell and eternall dampnacion to bee thinges nether thought vpō ne yet feared in mēnes conscience For yf they feared God and had the strength of his spirite all the ryches glory of this world could not moue them to thinke the contrary but that it were much better for them to helpe the poore and to be confourmable vnto Goddes commaundement then deuelyshely to treade theim vnder foote for wicked Mammon and filthy lucar sake Suffre not your eies thus to bee blinded with vanities it is seen daily that misers and vile abiectes euen suche as bee brutyshe both in mynd and body for their ryches sake to be highly estemed and pufte vp in pride The rude and gasyng multitude iudge all suche men to be in highe ioye and felicitie for their vncertain and transitory rychesse thynke thou them neuer a
Byble they that marke well sentences of grauitie and worthy notacion wyl not put reasō vnder foote and bee soo madde as to stretche their hand against the promoting of the gospell It is a token of a pestilente and wycked heart to murmure at suche as reade it For the time of them is gloriouse that gloriously spend it and cursed are they that lyue ignoraunte as brute beastes It semeth that suche esteme the hight and supreme wisedom of god to be vanities surely we ought to celebrat those daies with high ioye whan we once here tell that the ignorant sort geue ouer their enuious trauails against the Byble For then thei shall be greatly desired beloued and well named emongest al men thē shal sedicion and discorde take their leaue and enter no more in place Pitie it is that their yl intentes shuld condemne the Godly thinges that haue ben writen to winne them they ought to yeld and giue greate thankes to God that thei are deliuered frō Romishe auctoritie If they wold now shake of their old and dusty tradicions abate their depraued malice they mighte restore again their glorious fame and haue estimacion loue and fauour in steade of infamie shame and disdain Surely it were a thyng most pleasaunt in Goddes syght to see thē and the rude multitude florish in his word for in some places yet as great is the necligēce of the people as the ignorance of preistes And that they thus continewe weake wittes be not the cause but very slouthe and malice whiche cause them to folowe the corrupcion of auncient custome and to set their heartes altogyther on pleasure idlenes Thei thus folowyng their owne wilful intentes pulle doune styll the estimaciō of preistes And yf they would leaue the wyles of the worlde that nowe flocke togither styffely in blyndnesse appliyng their wittes to ēdomage other with their restye lyues cause sedicion and sclaunder vnto good ministers then myght Englande auaunce it selfe and saie Now shal I florishe and haue fauoure in goddes syght Nowe shall I be valiaunt in vertues worthy great fame For now there be none to troble and vex the poore sort peceable people bent to the gospell Nowe shal science augmente and men wyll drawe to the byble Truely I could neuer hete Antique historie alledged that men shuld not knowe it Now I shal weaken the hertes of mine enemies and make thē stande in dreade they wyll feare me more for my knowledge thē for al my valeaunt conquestes Now the heard hearted that were in credite and spred abroade the traines of supersticiouse doctrine and with blynd flattery begiled the symple sorte wyl do seruice for my common weale They wyll remember that men are but beastly by nature and Godly by their cunnyng knowledge And yet to saie further I haue often desired to haue vyces restrained and vertues augmēted that it wil now come to passe I haue a full trust for my drad soueraigne lord and supreme head Kyng Edward the sixt beginneth to be stable in the Lord and couragiouse in his woord and all his people within this his noble realme lyke louing subiectes be obedient vnto his grace perfectly taughte theyr duetie and obeisaunce Often Englād hath been in perill and daungier whē the people were weake faint and dull of vnderstandyng by whose meane it somtime hath loste the supreme heade and gouernour to it great sorowe and care But the pytiefull losse of noble Kyng Ihon shoulde perse euery mannes heart most sore and by what traiterous traines through false pretence he was caste awaie it is necessarye to be knowen whose noble and valiaunt vertues worthely to extoll I suppose no tongue is able That noble Kyng was soo broughte vppe in vertuouse and Godly bokes and toke such great trauell in the scriptures that thereby he espyed how the glorie of God was shamefully dusked and defaced with wicked tradicions supersticiō and Idolatry thinges most intollerable Then he quickely like a prince of courage and noble hearte spake openlye he wold redresse the pompe and glorie of the cleargie the gospell shuld haue free passage let them al saie what thei lust Thē they like a multitude of traiters turned themselfes from naturall subiectes into beastly rebelles They were soone confederate togyther lyke vile and detestable wretches to bluddie theyr handes on Goddes holy annoynted their deere soueraigne Lorde and gouernour al to mainteine Romysh auctoritie And to their dampnable intentes there wanted no trayterouse traynes for whan they coulde not deuise howe to kyll hym neyther with sword nor dagger they inuented policie Their daily ragyng and maliciouse heartes were neuer at quietnes tyll they had encouraged with theyr pestilent perswasions a sturdy blacke Monke to take saie vnto his grace of a poysoned cuppe when his highnesse valiauntly came into a certain Abbey where he stode in doubte and suspection of no man for al the brethren receaued him lyke Ipocrites fayned thē selfes mery ioyeouse outward but were sorowefull within They vsed ioyeful wordes but bare wicked heartes Thei sorowed not for repentance but at the sight of his graces presence whiche greued their heartes full sore then the Pryour archetectour of this heinouse treason and father of al mischefe espiyng oportunite of tyme brought in the Monke with his poysoned cuppe Oh Lord I maruel that his intrels dyd not breake to offre so fylthy a draughte to so noble a King I maruayl how his maliciouse hand for terrour sorow could hold the cup from fallyng Wonder it was that feare of god speach of people and shame of the world dyd not restrayn his propensed and wycked heart from that terryble draught deeathly vnto the Kyng and dampnable vnto hymselfe A wickeder deede and a more myserable myschefe hathe not been heard of O maliciouse and vnhappy Monkes O wretches I dare saie hearder hearted then Pharaoo and falser then Iudas or els the intestyne of theyr heartes woulde haue trembled and quaked to betray theyr deere souerain lord O wicked subiectes and beastes vnnatural I saie again O cruel wretches that soughte to make awaie hym for whose sake they should haue spent the best blud of their heartes yf these shamefull villaynes had red the notable histories of the Byble they would haue restreigned their cankerd stomackes frō consent to murder their kyng If they had read the historye of kyng Dauid and Saul and noted wel what reuerence loyall obeysaunce Dauid shewed vnto Saull although he knewe that he was a kyng vtterly cast of and refused of god If thei had marked also the wonderfull woordes and high displesure that king Dauid toke with his seruaunte whiche came vnto him either lokyng for herty thākes orels some great reward and said he had killed Saull The gentle heart of Dauid arose so at his woordes and grudged so sore at that heinouse dede that straight he promoted his seruant euen to as good a death as the gibet or galowes I thinke they woulde
then haue stopped their wicked most pestilent purpose O Lord and yf they had knowen or at the least wold haue knowen what reuerence subiectes oughte to shew to their hedes thei wold haue trēbled and quaked to haue conspyred or thought any euel against their dere souerain lord But these holy fathers euer as full of fables as false religiō Quickely inuented howe they myght craftely cloke their wycked doynges and to stop the murmuring of the people they reysed this rumour that the kyng saied if he liued one twelmonth an half peny loofe should be worth .xl. d. amōgest them Who doth not smell this to be a shamfull and a detestable lie for his grace was tendre ouer the poore and louing to his subiectes and neuer pretended nether to them ne yet to the publikewelth any such domage He was in dede earnestly bent and very couragious to set forth the wil and pleasure of God and for this cause onely they wrought his confusion Alas these fathers were men sworne to obediēce yet thei neither preached the trace of it ne yet folowed the same they should haue been full of good graces but thei emploied thēselfes to wicked vorage tirannie thei studied so soore to augmēt their liuelod that thei had neuer leasure to thincke on the hyghe and supreme wisdome of god Wherof whosoeuer hath tastedfully wil neuer grudge against his king or Prince for the knowlege of it adiuigneth the hertes of al subiects most straightly vnto their dere souerain lord the strength vertue of it is suche that it wil neuer suffre any sparke of treason to dwell in a subiectes hert It plāteth such loue faithful obediēce where it goeth that the corrupciō of treasō can find no place to enter Treason is a thyng so horible vnto it that it cānot endure to thinke on the plagues that it iustly deserueth Yea it is of this nature that al synne wickednes is noisōe vnto it but of al other treason is the noysomest for it causeth riotouse wittes repugnaūt to reason publique quietnesse to steere vp cōmocions to slaie innocentes to folow wicked disobedience thynges most detested in Goddes syght And if we prudently weigh what daunger it hathe often broughte vnto this noble realme how it hath perished the memorie of honorable houses yea especially howe it hath blotted the estimaciō of many noble mē disherited their sonnes shamed their progenie troubled the sprites of al other their frendes Thē we wil not suffre no such folie to enter into our heades but gladly endeuor our selfes to read the Byble for this is the waie to purge and clēse al treason frō euery mannes heart O Lord what obediēce it hath taught amongest vs within these fewe yeares Who doth not knowe nowe what power God hath giuen a Kyng ouer his people Who is ignorant what obeisance is to be shewed to Goddes holy anointed who so had marked the cumming of our dere soueraine Lord king Edward the .vi. from the Towre vnto Westmīster shuld haue seen and hard plētiful tokens of true and louing hertes for al the noble citiezēs and people of the coūtrey which came farre of on euery syde were there wonderfull ioyouse to se that daie yea to se the hope glory cōfort of al true English heartes The citizēs studied forsoth very sore howe to receaue his maiestie most triumphantly as people willing to declare tokens of their obediēt heartes Thei made thēselfe very gorgeouse stode in humble order to receaue their deere lord supreme head his towardnes in vertues much spokē of amōgest them made them wonderful ioyeouse his highnes also appering personally before them al a child of cumly sobre and modest countenaunce swete visaged and of face most beautiful in whō also there wanted neyther godly educacion nor yet any acquired vertues but in all thynges most perfectly framed streighte so allured drewe vnto him al their hertes that it was wōder to se the ioie thei made to behold their gouernour the peace and tranquillitie of the wealth of England so triūphātly passe through amongest them whiche again with gentle valiant countenance looked on thē his people standyng rounde about hym on eueryside whose presence euery man soo desyred standing in goodly order that their eies daseled with long lokynge for that most gloriouse syght their heartes also aked to bee deferred from it whiche passed so pleasantly by Then thei stādyng styll prayed that his highnesse might surmoūt al other in vertue and nobilitie and that god wold geue him grace especially to walke in the waye of good deedes and in vertuouse actes as he had entered so to perseuere and that God would geue him an heart to loue vs his poore and faythfull subiectes and worke for the common weale yea and that he may bee no acceptour of persons but to regard the poore as well as the ryche This Godly peticion and other thynges there shewed were euident tokens of their faythful heartes whiche are very muche to bee regarded for the loue of subiectes is the safiete of the kyng and the defence of the realme Yea he that hathe the loue of his subiectes hathe a wonderfull treasure For I remember that I haue read an historie of Antique felicitie of the world past worthy to bee noted There was a certain ryght hygh and mightie prince a man of excellent and profound vnderstandyng whose felicite was set altogither to haue the loue of his subiectes desiryng rather their weale then his owne priuate cōmoditie It chaunced that certayne Prynces watred against him he then made neither acte nor statute but sent his louing letters amongest his subiectes desiryng theym to healpe hym with money then they consyderyng full well his noble and tendre hearte towardes theym and weere a people taughte but onely by nature to obeye their gouernoure for they knewe nothyng of the lawe of GOD spedily broughte into the treasure house soo muche money as serued the kyng .vii. yeares and yet whan the warres ceased there remained great plentie Forsoth these mennes gyftes were of gret pryce but their good wylles were of greater O gloriouse tyme. O realme moste happye where the kyng and his people were so knytte togither And contrarilye there was one Tyberius the sonne of August a destroyer of the people and very spytefull toward the Romaynes lyghte of his dooeynges vsynge outragyouse woordes vnto all good menne yea and of suche foolysshe presumpcion and boldenesse in his realme that he thoughte he might dooe what he luste in folowynge hys owne wycked and naughtie ententes ¶ This Emperour was also prowde and furiouse which thyng fylled his subiectes heartes full of sorowe and broughte vnto him selfe muche eyuell wyll and lyghte estymacion And that well appeared For after his deathe all the aunciente fathers and nobles of Rome with the reste of the people made greate Sacryfice and earneste peticion Vnto the GODDES to sende Tyberes solle into the furies of Hell he had wrought theim so muche sorowe that they would hym no ioye nor yet any part of the Goddes glory ¶ O the infelicite and daungerous estate of Rome in those daies when the Kyng and his people murmured one at another For no man that hath reason wyll repugne vnto this but that realm is wel warded where the kyng and his subiectes bee of mutuall loue and fidelitie Nowe therfore vtterly to auoyde all contencion and dyscorde and to plante for euer amongest vs a stable and louely societie of lyuyng there is no better meane then to arme oure selfes with vnitie and concorde drawyng al in one line to promote the Gospell of Chryst and to enlarge our heartes to receaue Godly and gentle perswasions as menne very wyllyng to presente theym selfes to the Byble and to flee vnto it as vnto our mooste trustie porte and gladly receaue that heauenly treasure If wee thus dooe all strangers shal feare vs as they did the sonnes of Iacob and accordyng vnto the holy Prophete our purpose shall prospere and come well to passe yea and suche shewe wyll appeare of vs that men wyl not suffre our memorie to peryshe but to renoume vs as people of vertue and worthy commendacion Wherfore moost humbly wee oughte nowe to praie the lord that he would put awaie all lettes from their stomackes that grudge secretly at his holy woord and make light of the byble that heauenly treasure set to shew amongest vs in euery churche Whervnto yf we beare faint and sturdy hertes let vs bee well assured the Lorde wyl blaste and blot our doynges with euell fortune and enuiouse mishap for as farre as I haue read there was neuer Emperour Kyng nor yet Prynce that prospered whiche tooke parte against it thou maiest fynde in diuerse notable places of the Bible how God oftē punyshed with greuouse plagues and durable strookes many regyons whiche reiected and made light of his word Again there is nothyng neither in heauen aboue nor in yearth vnderneth so pleasaunte and acceptable in God the fathers syght as to haue his liuely woorde that heauenly treasure most thankefully receaued and honored amongest vs. O then thou counterfayted Christian what spirite of errour moueth the to murmure at suche as read thenglyshe Bible Wonder it is that thou art not ashamed to accōpt thy selfe any of Christes felowshippe for in contempnyng and making light of his gospell thou declarest thy selfe a right Paganime or rather a Iewe yea I saie thy longe prayer often fastyng and almose deedes and all good woorkes that thou canst deuise shall nothyng preuayle the But appeare plainely in Goddes sight as thynges most vile detestable so longe as thou bearest a supersticiouse hearte towardes his blessed Testament Alas suffre not thy self no longer to be begiled set before thy face what doctrine Moises taught the people in the .vi. of Deutro He straightely charged them to keepe the lawe of God in their heartes and willed them also to teach it vnto their chyldren and talke of it vnto their familie this place shuld wake the out of thy dootyng dreames Sterevppe thy heart for shame vnto Chrystes gospell and reuerence it whersoeuer thou goest wherevnto bee al honour and prayse Amen FINIS ¶ Imprinted at Londō in the parishe of Christes Church within new gate by Richard Grafton Prynter to our soueraigne lorde Kyng Edward the VI. 1547. Cum priuilegio ad imprimendum solum