good godly profyteth onye thynge at all Rede y â— Chapter whaÌ„ ye come home Certes this Charite christen loue must nedes be an excellent thynge seynge it is the ende of the CoÌ„maundement the fulfyllynge of all the law seyng also that Christ in his last sermon whiche he made to his Disciples a litle before his passhon exorteth vs with so many wordes vnto it S. IohnÌ„ fereth not so greatlye to auauÌ„ce and commende Charite y t he affirmeth God to be Charite sayeng God is Charite he that abydethe in Charite abydeth in God God in hym Unto thys true and Christen Charite S. Peter also mouethe vs on thys manner Before all thynges saythe he haue ferueÌ„t charite among you For Charite couereth y â— multitude of synnes And S. Paule saythe aboue al thiÌ„ges haue Charite which is the bonde of perfeccion For he y â— hath this christeÌ„ Charite can none otherwyse but loue God wythe all his harte mynde strength power soule He can none otherwyse but forsake the worlde the dyuell the flesh cleue to God alone as a true and faythfull wyfe doth to her husbond He wyl by no menes swere by y â— name of his lord god but reuereÌ„ce honour worship prayse it He wyl not breake the Sabbothe daye but sanctify it accordyng to the worde of God Agayne he that loueth his neyghbour sincerly wyl by no meanes hurte hym nor worke any euel agaynst hym He wyll not disobeye his superiours He wyl commyt no manslaughter whoredome thefte nor beare ony false wytnes nor yet couyt that which shoulde be hynderauÌ„ce to his neyghbour but he wyl gladly with a free spirite do vnto the vttermooste of his power what so euer the Scripture requireth of hym as Christ sayth yf ony man loueth me he wyll kepe my word and my father shall loue hym we wyl come to hym dwell with hym He that loueth not me kepeth not my wordes He that hath my CommauÌ„dementes kepeth theÌ„ he it is that loueth me he that loueth me shall be loued of my father I wyl loue hym shewe my selfe vnto hiÌ„ How dothe this youre floure please you Euse. I neuer smelled a sweter and more pleasaunt odoure in my lyfe Theo. I praye you rehearse it once agayne Phil. Let Vs not loue in vvord noâ— tonge but in vvorke and trueth Theo. Is not this the sayenge of S. Iohn in his Epistle Phil. Yies verelye Theo. Me thynketh that he gyueth here a coÌ„maundemente that we shoulde not loue in worde nor tonge but in worke trueth Phil. Ye saye trueth Theo. It is not lawefull than for vs to eâ—presse the loue that we beare in oure hartes towardes oure neyghboure by manifeste open euident wordes as to speake gentylly to coÌ„mon frendely to wysh wel with louynge wordes to all men Phil. S. Iohn in this place forbyddethe no more gentle speache louynge communicacion thaÌ„ S. Paule in your other flour dyd forbyd to make prouision for you and yours But his mynd is this they which wyl crake boste by outwarde wordes y t they loue God theyr neyghbour yet shew it not in workes and truethe they are lyers haue not in theÌ„ the christen Charite which the Scripture coÌ„mendeth so greatly in euery place Such are lyke theÌ„ of whome S. Paule speaketh on this maÌ„ner they saye they knowe God but w t theyr dedes they denye it playnely seynge they are obhominable disobedient and mynded vnto no good workes He that hath the substance of the world sayth S. Iohn seeth his brother haue nede is moued with no compassion towardes him howe doth the loue of God abide in hym As though he should say albeit a maÌ„ craketh neuer so much y t he loueth God yet yf he fulfylleth not that which God coÌ„maundeth him howe dare suche one boste that he louethe God A man loueth so muche as he worketh If he worketh no thynge nother doth he loue any thing For as S. Gregory sayth in a certayne homely the loue of GOD is neuer idle For he worketh great thinges yf it be loue but if it seaseth to worke than is it no loue in dede Loue sayth S. Paule is pacient curtious Loue enuiethe not loue dothe not frowardely Loue is not puffed vp dealeth not dishonestly seaketh not her owne Loue is not prouoked to anger thynketh not euell reioysethe not of iniquite but reioyseth in the trueth suffereth al thinges beleuethe all thynges hopethe all thynges abydethe all thynges What a poynt is this of loue to say that I loue God yet run a whorehuntynge after straunge Goddes Agayne what a poynte of loue is this to saye that I honour y e name of God and yet blaspheme it withe mooste shamefull abhominable othes What loue is this toward my neyghbour to saye that I loue him and yet wyll do no thynge for hym whan I se him in necessite Is this loue Peryshe moughte suche loue Agaynste these wicked Hypocrites open dissemblers dothe S. Iohn in this place thonder whaÌ„ he sayth let vs not loue in worde nor tonge but in worke trueth There were in the tyme of the Apostles manye false Christians whiche by wordes pretended muche loue both towardes God and theyr neyghbour and yet dyd they expresse shew none at all by theyr outward dedes Such haue we nowe a dayes also among vs which styffely affyrme that they loue God his worde yet do theyr workes proue the contrarye The scripture reiecteth that loue which is fayned and is not in spirite and trueth that is to say fyrst engraffed in the harte afterwarde declared by manifeste euident workes worthy such a loue Therfore neighbours yf ye wyll smell aryght and to your conforte of this your floure Christen Charite prouide that youre loue benot fayned Let it not only be in worde and tonge but also in worke and trueth Fyrst as concernynge youre loue towarde God it shall appeare in nothynge more manifestly than yf you laboure wythe all mayne in al your workes to seke the glory of God the honour of his moost blyssed name the promocioÌ„ of his holy worde Agayne as towchynge your neyghbour your loue shallnot be fayned towardes hym yf ye helpe hym in all such thynges as he hath nede of as for an example If ye perceyue hym ignoraunt in the lawe of God teach hym Goddes worde bryng hym vnto Christ teache hym where of whom and by what meanes he shal obtayne helth saluacion Declare to hym what y â— true christeÌ„ faythe is of what great strength vertue efficacy and power it is Exhorte hym vnto the true good workes which god approueth by his worde leueth not vnrewarded Charge hym to flye vnto y â— name of God as vnto a strong Bulwarke in all his aduersite and trouble Furthermore yf ye
¶ A pleasaunt newe Nosegaye full of many godly and swete floures lately gathered by Theodore Basille Eccle. 24. ¶ As the Uyne haue I broughte forthe fruyte of a swete sauoure and my floures are as the fruytes of honour rytches ¶ The Nosegaye speaketh What meanest thou my frende to gather Floures which sone perysh and decaye Theyr sauours wyll not laste eueâ— As by experience se thou maye For a lytle tyme they seme pleasaunt But streyght do they vanysh awaye Lyke thynges which to vanite graunt As by experience se thou maye Leaue therfore thynges transitory And enhalse godly thynges alwaye Which shall auaunce the vnto glory As by experience se thou maye Receaue me into thy bosome If thou doste desyre a nosegaye My floures are full of delectacion As by experience se thou maye To knowe thy selfe thou mayst learne here God and thy kynge truely to obeye â–ª And to thy neyghbour to be dere As by experience se thou maye Take me nowd vnto the therfore Beare me in thy bosome alwaye Much pleasure haue I for the in store As by experience se thou maye â–ª ¶ To the right worshypful mayster George Whetenhall Esquyer Thodore Basille wissheth continuall health and prosperous felicite ALthough we haue mooste vrgent weyghty causes yea those iÌ„numerable to extoll magnify commend prayse the exceadynge goodnes bounteous liberalite of our moost mercifull father yf we perpend peÌ„sitate weyghe ponder coÌ„sider his inestimable benefites which he frely without our deseruynge dayely giueth vnto vs miserable creatures yet if we weyghe all thinges in a iust balaunce we shall easely and withoute ony difficulte perceaue y â— we are moost bounde to celebrate prayse his moost blyssed name for y e restorynge of his holy word at this tyme brought to passe by his true annoynted HeÌ„ry our moost redoubted Kynge as by another Iosias whose graces moste excellent maieste that LORDE of powers mought prosper in all his diuine affayres godly enterprises For before God restored to the world the Gospell ioyfull tydynges of his derely beloued sonne our LORDE Sauioure Iesus Christe incredulite as chefe rulare reygned in oure hertes Hypocrisye as a vayne gloryous Empresse bare dominion SupersticioÌ„ Idolatry false sectes mennes tradicions confidence reposed in humayne inuencions Pylgrimages Offringes Bulles Pardonnes dispensacions Masses of Scala celi marchaundyse for merytes workes byenge sellynge of the diuine misteries with an whole sea of euelles mo had creapte in vnto y e great perturbacion disquietnes of y e holy catholyke chyrch as I may passe ouer the blynde ignorancy ygnorant blyndenes into the whiche by this meanes we were cast and tombled Howe can it otherwyse be If the lyght of Gods word be obscured extincte or quenched which only is the lanterne to our feete a lyghte to our pathwayes what meruayle is it though the fearce outerageous floudes of Idolatry all kinde of supersticioÌ„ breake in and inuade the boundes of christianite yea and ouerflowe theÌ„ For as Fayth Hope Charite Peace Mercy Pacience longe sufferynge humilite sobriete iustice spirituall liberte obedience towarde the hyghe powers and all goodnes reygneth where the LORDES word bereth rule so in lyke maÌ„ner where y t is expulsed banysshed exiled Incredulite hatred enuy couetousnes veÌ„geaÌ„ce contencion Glotony dronckeÌ„nes rapacite immoderate lustes vncleane affectes carnal liberte disobedieÌ„ce iÌ„surreccion arrogaÌ„cy pryde ambicioÌ„ crudelite maÌ„slaughter thefte false witnes hypocrisy ignoraÌ„ce blyndnes sectes Heresye and all that is contrary to the commaundeme nt and wyll of God beareth dominioÌ„ and hath preeminence as SalomoÌ„ sayeth Where knowledge is not there is no goodnes for y â— soule Agayne whan the preachyng of Gods word â—ayleth the people peryshe runne cleane oute of order Therfore it is wryten by the Prophet make hast to the lawe witnes If they speke not accordynge to this word they shall not haue the mornynge lyght that is to saye the true knowledge of God Rebuked not Christ y e Saduces bycause they were ignorant in the holy Scriptures affyrming that they were deceaued for lacke of the knoweledge of them Ye are deceaued sayth he bicause ye know not y e scriptures Therfore in y e gospel of Iohn he exhorteth al men to serch y e scriptures sayeÌ„g serch ye y e scriptures for they are they y e beare witnes of me And y e Psalmograph calleth theÌ„ blissed which search y e testimonies of the LORDE meditate in his lawe both both daye nyght The worde of God muste nedes be an excellent precious treasure seinge it is the power of GOD vnto saluacion for so many as beleue seinge also it is profitable to teache to iÌ„proue to amend to instructe in ryghteousnesse that the man of God may be perfecte prepared to all good workes Who is able to expresse what a precious relique and high treasure the worde of God is Uerely it is that treasure wherof Christ speaketh in the Gospell that lygheth hydden in the felde which whan a man once fyndethe for ioye therof he goeth selleth all that he hathe byethe that felde And it is no lesse treasure to the soule than the corporall eyes are to the bodye as y e Psalmographe testifieth Thy worde O LORDE is a lanterne to my fete a lyght to my pathewayes For as that man that is depryued of his corporal syght knoweth not how nor wher to walke so lyke wyse heÌ„ that wanteth the lyght of Goddes worde seeth nothynge and therfore walketh he not aright but waÌ„dreth abrode lyke a shepe dispersed destitute of a shepparde But as he that hath the true perfecte syght of the eyes stoÌ„blethe not but walketh at all times without dauÌ„ger so in lyke maÌ„ner he y e is endued by Christes spirite w t the light of y â— holy Scriptures waÌ„dreth not froÌ„ that true way which sayth of him selfe I am the waye the truethe the lyfe but alwaye is preserued that he walketh continually in the kynges hygh waye declynyng neither on the right hand or on y e lyfte hand He is not caryed about with strauÌ„g doctryne His fayth is bylte on a sure rocke therfore abideth he fyrme immutable stedfaste sure constant what so euer kynde of teÌ„peste assaylethe hym The gates of hell can not preuayle agaynst him Satan with all his army are not able once to abduce remoue hym from the true waye For the lyghte of Goddes worde is continually before his eies wher vnto he gyueth diligent attendance which also he followeth earnestly in all his iourneyes and therfore muste he nedes walke the true waye neuer erre Yf he be blyssed fortunate happy that hath the naturall lyght of his body howe much more blyssed heueÌ„ly at ease is he that is illumined with y e lyght of the LORDES word wherof y e holy king Dauid
hauiÌ„ge experience prayeth on this maÌ„ner open myne eyes I shall consyder y e meruelous thynges of thy lawe To walke in this lyght Christe exhorteth vs sayeng walke whyle ye haue lyght vnles y e darkenes come on you He that walkethe in darkenes wotteth not whither he gothe Whyle ye haue lyght beleue on the lyghte that ye maye be the chyldreÌ„ of lyghte So many as be of God loue this lyght of y â— LORDES word and desyre with all theyr herte to walke iÌ„ it But they that be of Satan hate it refuse to walke in it Why so Uerely for they are beast lyke mynded styffe necked in all thynges resist the holy Ghost The lyght they hate be it neuer so pleasaunt wholesome but the darkenes they enhalse loue kysse kull be it neuer so tedious and horrible Therfore shall they receaue y â— greater daÌ„nacion as Christ wytnesseth sayengâ— thys is the condemnacion that lyght came into the worlde men loued darkenes rather then lyght For theyr workes were euel Euery one that doth euell hate the the lyght neyther commeth he to y e lyght vnles his workes shoulde be reproued O howe blessed are they to whome it is gyuen to walke in thys lyght Agayne howe miserable wretched vnhappy are they y â— speare theyr eyes at the commynge of this confortable light wyl not only not walke in it theÌ„ selues but also laboure to the vttermooste of theyr power to obscure quenche it that it maye appeare shyne to none at all These are those people whiche as the Prophet saythe prouoke God to anger Theise are the lyenge and vnfaythefull chyldren Theyse are the chyldren that wyll not heare the lawe of the LORDE These are they which say to them that se se not to them that looke looke not for vs those thinges that are right Speke vnto vs pleasauÌ„t thiÌ„ges preach vnto vs tales of Robyn hood take awaye from vs the right way go out of the pathe and away with that holy one of Israel froÌ„ our face Theise are they which hate hym that reproueth theÌ„ openly and abhore hym that telleth the truethe playnely Theise are they which call euell good good euell darkenes lyght lyght darkenes bytter swete swete bitter These are they whiche are wyse in theyr owne eyes and stonde wel in theyr owne coÌ„ceate But agaynst all such as contemne the holy scriptures cast awaye the law of theyr LORDE God wyllynge neither to enter theÌ„ selues nor yet suffryng other christ intonateth and thoÌ„derethe on this maÌ„ner wo be to you lawers for ye haue taken awaye the key of knowledge ye haue not onlye not entred in but ye haue also forbidden them that entend to enter But without doubte they shal no leÌ„ger preuayle For y e daye of the LORDE is at hand whan he shall breake Satans head destroye bothe him all his ministers with the breath of his mouth For he wyll no lenger sufferre thys great wickednes hygh abhominacion He wyll be knowne for y e God Sauiour alone He is that LORD which alone wyll be exalted and all Idolles shall be vtterlye broken on peces He is that God whiche wyll no lenger suffer his glorye to be attributed gyuen to other He is y e lawer which wyl expulse the darkenesses of mennes tradicions that fyghte with his infallible verite brynge in the glorious lyght of his moost holye worde To be shorte he wyll detecte and ouerthrowe all the Idols that obscure his glory and set vp his blyssed name to be praysed and magnyefyed for euer and euer So be it Of this thynge haue we experience euen at this tyme in y e whiche that LORDE of puissaÌ„ce hath moost puissantly by his derely beloued seruant Henry our moost vertuous godlye Kynge subuerted topledde downe and ouerthrowne a great parte of Antechristes kyngedome so that by his diuine polecy godlye enterpryse that great whore of Babylon the mother of all whore dome abhominacions of the erth hath loste her chefe glory renome is nowe become so vile that she is euen made the habitacion of diuelles the holde of all fowle spirites a cage of all vncleane hatefull byrdes So that no man nowe wyl once by ony of her mâ—rchaundyse And wythoute doubte the tyme is at hande that Babylon shall haue such a faull that it shall not be able after this at onye tyme to be repared For the mouthe of the LORDE hath spoken it whiche is faythfull in all his wordes whose trueth abydeth for euer euer Neyther caÌ„ this prophecy of Christ be made frustrate by ony humayne polecy Euery plante that my heauenly father hath not planted shall be plucked vp by y e rootes Who reioysethe not to heare these thinges yea who triumpheth not to se theÌ„ Blyssed are we to whome it hath chaunsed not only to heare these thinges ioyefully but also to se them pleasauntly which hereafter shall vndoubtedly se such thynges mo as shall may be able to prouoke onye faythefull herte seriouslye to reioyse Uerelye althoughe we be occasioned dyuers wayes to gyue God immortal thaÌ„kes for dyuers gyftes yet me thiÌ„ke we are most highly bouÌ„d to be thaÌ„kefull for y e reâ—â—â—â—ucioÌ„ of his moste holy worde in these our dayes And wo worth them that be vnthanckefull in this behalfe excepte they repent and amende The Scriptures shewe howe y t in y e tyme of kyng Salomon there was so great pleÌ„te of syluer at Ierusalem as there was of stones in the stretes What carnall manne would not haue delyghted to inhabite hymselfe there Yet verely in my iudgement we do farre excell y e glorious abundans of Salomon all hys in mundane treasures to whome it is gyuen not only to florysh with worldely goodes but also wyth the incomparable treasures of the spirite So that our condicion at this present doth not a lytle excede passe the state of those Israelites which lyued so gloriously vnder the empyre and dominion of Salomon Certes as concernynge my selfe let God be but a lytle mercifull vnto me yf I had not rather chose to lyue vnder this our moost Christen kynge withe that lytle nothinge that I haue to enioye the benefyte of Goddes worde than to liâ—e vnder SalomoÌ„ if he were now alyue there to abunde with all affluence plente of all worldly rytches I am sufficieÌ„tly rytch so loÌ„ge as I haue y e rytches of Gods word w t me And I doubte not but that of this opinion are so many as tender the glory of God the helthe of theyr owne soules Nowe seynge y e this incoÌ„parable treasure inestimable benefite of Gods word is so bounteously gyuen vnto vs let vs all togyther consent w t one mynde to coÌ„serue mayntayne this moste precious Iewel that we lose it not hereafter thorowe our
of diuine litterature godly knowlege wherby the faythfull are inserted planted engraffed in our LORDE Sauioure Christ Iesus but they also vituperate discoÌ„mend y e serious payneful endeuours of other which w t al mayne labour to dilate enlarge y e kingedome of God the glory ther of yea and that not without great daunger of theyr helthe as I maye adde nothynge hereto With what spirite such personnes be inflated puffed vp I wyll not here define But certes they very much aberre dissent are estraunged from my seÌ„tence iudgement perswasioÌ„ For I desyre wysh wyth all my herte that all menne lyuinge were in the bowelles of Christ that the word of Christ myght opulently rytchly abundantly dwell in them withe all wisdome knoweledge be they Turkes Iewes SaraceÌ„nes or onye other seynge that there is one LORDE of all sufficiently rytche for so many as call on him in spiryte verite We rede that Moses desired â—o greatly the health saluacioÌ„ eueÌ„ of the grosse Idolaters the Iewes that he estemed his owne wealth fauoure of no price withoute theyr health prosperite yea he wysshed to be blotted out of the boke of lyfe if the people of Israel were not also saued with hym O feruent charite burnynge loue Howe many wayes sought our moost geÌ„tle sauiourâ— Christe also to brynge his enemies to repeÌ„taunce Would not he haue gathered them togither as a henne doth her chyckeÌ„s yet they would not Dyd not he deplore lamente eueÌ„ with profuse moost large teares theyr obstinate blyndâ—nes and blynd obstinacy whaÌ„ he tofore saw the perelles imminent that were redy to faule vpon them Dyd not he praye for them euen whan they had hanged hym on the crosse Dyd not he suffer his moost blyssed body to be brokeÌ„ and his moost precious bloud to be shed for theyr redeÌ„pcioÌ„ If they would conuerte amende yea at the last gyue his owne lyfe for theyr saluacion O loue incoÌ„parable O charite without measure What nede I rehearse S. Paule which so intierly thyrsted the helth of his kynnesmen the Israelites that for theyr saluacion he wysshed not only to be secluded banysshed but also vtterly accursed froÌ„ christ He rather desyred hiÌ„selfe to be depriued of eternal saluacioÌ„ thaÌ„ that so many should be coÌ„iect cast into euerlasting daÌ„nacioÌ„ O true Apostle O spectacle moost worthy to be looked on of all Prelates Bisshoppes Curates Here se we howe ferueÌ„t our desyre shoulde be towarde y e sauyng helth of our christeÌ„ brothers Uerely we oughte not to seake all meanes possible for to brynge them vnto consummate absolute perfecte knoweledge of Christes moost wholesome doctryne but also euen to gyue oure lyues to brynge them vnto Christ as S. Iohn sayth By this we haue knowne loue bycause he hath gyuen his lyfe for vs we are bounde agen to gyue our lyues for the brothers Therfore neyghbours accordynge to the commaundement of that moost noble maÌ„ne which sayd laboure vntyll I come for the right herty zele that I bare towarde your soules I thyncke it my bounden dutye so longe as we dwell togither to talke with you of the worde of lyfe whiche is able to saue your soules Ye know that at Christmasse last paste I made you a Bancket wher in I proponed set before you four dysshes The fyrste contayned into what great misery we were cast by Adam The seconde howe we ware freely saued by the mercy of God y e Father thorowe Iesus Christe In your thyrde dysh I declared howe we mighte obtayne come by this vnmeasurable bouÌ„tie great goodnes of god In the fourth I shewed you what is your duety after we haue receyued these inestimable benefites of God the father thorowe Christ Iesus verely to put of oure conuersacion to become new meÌ„ to be plenteous in good workes to dye vnto synne to lyue vnto ryghteousnes dayly more and more to waxe grande auncient in Christ that at the laste we maye attayne come vnto the very perfeccion of christianite These thinges ye haue not forgotten I am sure neyghebours Euse. God forbid brother Philemon y t we shouldebe negligent in theyse thynges that pertayne vnto the helthe of our soules So might we worthely seme to be moost ennemies of oure owne saluacion Phile. I reioyse very muche at it Moreouer syns that tyme ye knowe that not many wekes paste I made you a Potacion for Lent wherin I set before you manye godlye thynges moost worthy to be knowne concerning that tyme of lent Of the holy Sacrament of Penance the partes therof I talked much with you I taught you also howe ye shoulde â—aste accordyng to the wyll of God I also openned vnto you the misteries significicacions of certayne Ceremonies vsed in the TeÌ„ples for the tyme of Lent Last of all I de-declared vnto you howe ye shoulde prepare your selues worthely to receue at y e time of Easter y e most blyssed sacrameÌ„t of the Altare Al these thynges haue I taught you yea that not in vayne as your quotidâ—ane fruytes do manifestlye shewe For ye seme vnto me dayely more more to expresse manners worthye your profession so that I perceaue the word of God is not sent to you in vayne but that it briÌ„geth for the much fruyte in you vnto the glory of God the conforte of the faythful the saluacioÌ„ of your owne soules If all men vnto theyr vttermooste possibilite wold likewyse endeuour them selues to bryng forth fruytes accordynge to theyr knowledge verely it should be an occasion that y e Gospell of Christ should excite and store vp meruaylous loues so that it should haue in short space mo freÌ„des fewer enemies yea and they y t studye to haue Christes doctryne both truely knowne earnestly followed shoulde also no more be blasphemed detracted rayled vpoÌ„ and yll spoken of but rather animated encouraged to proceade in theyr mooste godly and vertuous enterprises Nowe neyghbours seynge that hyther to ye haue ben no forgetful hearers but obsequious followers and diligente doers of the thynges taught you I thought it not vnfyttyng to caull you once agen vnto me and accordynge to the tyme of the yere to gyue you a Nosegay full of moost redoleÌ„t odoriferous floures which maye both expell all pernicious hurtefull sauours also conserue kepe your incolumâ—te valeauÌ„ce both of body mynd Theo. Nothynge can be gyuen to vs more grate acceptable pleasauÌ„t than this your gyfte nowe promised neyther can any thyng at this present beatify vs on suche sorte Chri. No verely this is wtout dout Phil. I shall be the gladder to iÌ„partâ— it to you But neyghbours knowe this one thyng that euen as your Banket PotacioÌ„ were not made of corruptible meate but of suche as permayneth
springeth and the feare of the LORDE For as the one is the begynnynge of wisdome â–ª so is the other of helth Euse. I pray God we may so knowe our selues that we may deserue to haue this moost excellent vertu engraffed in our brestes Phil. Neyghbours one worde wyth you than an ende of this your fyrst flour Remember that your floure is called Vnfayned humilite bycause ye may not outwardely pretend humilite and inwardely be inflated wythe Pharasaicall arrogancy puffed vp after the manner of the proud Hypocrites and supercibious Pharises whom Christ his Apostles rebuke so oft in y e holy scriptures for theyr fayned holynes Be no paynted sepulchres outwardely fayre and inwardly full of rotten bones and al fylthynes For many as saynt Ierome sayth followe the shadowe of Humilite but fewe the trueth Let all glosyng wordes be taken away let all faynynge gestures cease Pacience sheweth a maÌ„ to be truly huÌ„ble Let your humilite therfore not only be expressed wyth gesture and voyce but also let it procede from y e pure affecte of the herte So maye ye be sure to haue God gracious fauourable vnto you euer to prosper in all your honest trauayles godlye affayres Hytherto haue I spoken sufficientely of youre fyrste floure called Vnfayned humilite and I haue bene the longer aboute it bycause I would be glad to expell the poisonof Pryde out of your hertes which raygneth almoost vniuersally beyond al measure at this daye and to engraffe in you this goodly herbe which is so swete and wholesome that wythout it no medicine can ryghtly be ministred This beynge digested all other are y â— more easye to receyue Theo. Neyghboure Philemon thyncke not but y e your wordes are reposed euen in y e lowest parte of our hertes we trust that ye haue not sowen this seed of Goddes worde in ony stony grouÌ„d but in suche good earth as shall brynge forth some an huÌ„drethe folde some syxty folde and some thyrtye folde Phil. It doth me good to heare this to knowe your redy wyll vnto all goodnes vertu For in dede neighbours we had neuer more nede to worcke well and to do good dedes than at this tyme. The christen religion begynneth vtterly to decay Alas we speke much of Christe but manye lyue no part of Christ. Uice styl reygneth vertu hath no place Well I wyl gyue you your second floure Christo. I praye you lette vs haue it ¶ The second floure named Pure Innocency Philemon BEhold here is the second floure of your Nosegay I am the almighty GOD. VValke before me and be perfecte And I vvyll make my couenaunte betvvene me and the and vvyll multiplye the beyonde all measure Euse. Was not this the sayenge of God the father vnto AbrahaÌ„ Phil. Yies verely pertaynethe now vnto vs no lesse than it dyd at y t tyme to hym For what so euer thynges are wrytten are wrytten for our learnynge Ye shall receaue moche pleasure of this your floure yf ye marke the vertue of it well Fyrst ye shall note that God calleth hymselfe the almyghty God wherby we maye easely discerne hym froÌ„ those gods yea rather Idolles and dyuels whome the Hethen dyd worshyp call vpoÌ„ For our God is omnipotent that is to say almyghty plenteous in power aboundant oâ— sufficient ful of all good nedy of nothynge The Gods of the Gentiles are of no power puissauÌ„ce streÌ„gth full of all imbecillite weakenesse misery Our God made all thinges of nothing by y e power of his word The Gods of the HetheÌ„ make not but they are made of other and are none other thynge than wood stonnes syluer gold or wicked spirites Oure God is able to helpe so many as call on hym in spirite truethe The Gods of the Gentiles are not able for to helpe theÌ„selues neyther do they heare ony man that cal on them as we maye perceaue by the prestes of Baal Oure God lastethe for euer euer euen worldes worldes withoute ende The Gods of y e Hethen perysh and are more vayne than the smoke Thus se ye what a God we haue None eyther in heauen earth or hel is able to compare w t this our God He alone is good mercifull gentle pacient long sufferynge almyghty ryghteous omnisufficient plenteous of power full of all good In him all thinges abunde nothinge wanteth He is y e omnisufficient protectour valeaÌ„t defender for all them that repose theyr affiaunce and truste in hym Who therfore wyll not haue a pleasure to serue this God Who is so madde to forsake this God to folowe ony other Who beynge godly mynded wyll not seake the glory of this God euen froÌ„ the very harte Who hauyng but a carnell of Christen salte in his brest wyl not haÌ„ge wholy on thys God as alone altogyther sufficient for the faythefull abundantly in all thynges wherof they haue nede eyther pertaynyng to the soule or to the bodye Cursed be that maÌ„ that putteth his truste in man that takethe fleshe for his arme he whose herte departe the from the LORDE For he shal be lyke the Heath that groweth in the wildernes As for the good thyng that is for to come he shall not se it but dwell in a drye place of the wyldernes euen in a salte vnoccupyed londe O but blyssed is the maÌ„ that putteth his truste in the LORDE whose hope the LORDE is hymselfe For he shall be as a tree that is plaÌ„ted by the waters syde which spreadeth oute the roote vnto moystnes whom the heate can not hurte wheÌ„ it coÌ„meth but his leaues are grene in the tyme of drowte shall he not be carefull neyther shall he cease at ony tyme to bring forth his â—ruite Secondely ye shall note that after God hath described him selfe to be almyghtye that is passynge all other in power it is so greate infinite vnmeasurable he expresseth the duety of so many as wyll serue hym as they ought VValKe before me saythe he and be perfecte Loo here is your flour Pure Innocency He that obserueth this precepte of god canne not displease erre or offende butte worke pure innnocency before god WalKe before me sayth he be perfecte Theo. What meanethe God by that I praye you Phil. To walke before God is to serue hym according to his worde so purely and innoceÌ„tly as though GOD hymselfe were euer present before oure eyes Chri. This is a hard thiÌ„ge Phil. The yoke of Christ is swete y e burdeÌ„ is lyght neyther are his preceptes heauy For where the spirite of the LORDE is there is liberte And if the sonne hath made you free than are ye truly free And yf ye be endewed wyth streÌ„gth froÌ„ aboue than is nothyng harde but all thynges easy thorow the spirite that worketh in you Theo. I praye you declare vnto vs howe we may
walke purely innocētly before God Phil. To walke before God is on such sort to īstitute our lyfe as he hath appointed ī his holy scripture not as carnal reasō imaginethe or good zeale wtoute knowlege deuiseth cōtrary to y e prescripte of Gods worde as we haue sene here to fore in our mōstruous Mōckes which laborīg to establish theyr own ryghteousnes were not made obedient to y e iustice of God That ye may walke before god certayn thīges are to be obserued first y t ye haue a sure cōstāt stedfast tru lyuysh fayth to beleue y t whiche y e holy scriptures tech of god of his workes Ye herd y e God is oīpotēt almighty plenteous in power abūdāt o◠sufficiēt full of all good nedy of nothing This must ye beleue vndoubtedlye yf ye wyll walke before God Ye herd also y t as God is able so wyll he healpe so many as call on him in spirite truethe Thisalso must ye beleue wtoute ony hesitaciō or doutyng For wtoute thys fayth no man can please god nor come vnto hym aryght For this fayth is y e foūdacion and grounde of the christen religion This fayth maketh a christen man Thys fayth makethe vs the sonnes of lyght This fayth prouoketh and callethe vnto God This Faythe trustethe not in her owne ryghteousnes and good workes but on the promyses of God Thys fayth maketh vs to be borne of God This fayth mitigatethe y ◠wrath of God Thys faythe obtayneth al good thynges of God as it is wryttē he that beleueth on him hath euerlastynge lyfe Beleue in y ◠Lord sayth the scripture ye shall be safe wtoute ony daunger Agē Euery one y t calleth on y e name of y e lord shal be safe For ther is but one LORDE of all sufficiently rytche for so many as call on him This fayth maketh vs the sonnes of God as y e Apostle sayth all ye are the sonnes of God bycause ye haue beleued in Christ Iesus Agayne So many as receaue hym he gaue them power to be made the sonnes of God in as much as they beleued in his name This fayth maryeth vs to God as he hym selfe testifyethe I wyll marye the vnto me in faythe and thou shalt knowe that I am the LORDE Thys fayth purifyeth our hartes This fayth ouercommeth Satan This fayth vanquissheth y e worlde This fayth makethe vs the Tēples of the lyuyng God This fayth wyl not suffer vs to be confounded This fayth bringeth to vs the mercy of God in al our aduersite This fayth is the fulfyllynge of Gods cōmaūdemētes This fayth makethe vs the enheritours of the earthe possessours of Goddes holy mountayne This fayth maketh vs to vnderstonde the truethe This faythe causeth that hell gates can not preuayle agaynst vs. This fayth iustifyeth vs. This Fayth bryngeth all good thynges vnto vs. This fayth as S. Austen saythe is the begynnynge of mans helth without this no man can reach or come vnto the nomber of the sonnes of God wyth out this all the labour of manne is frustrate voyde This Faythe as S. Ambrose saythe is the roote of all vertues and that thou byldeste on this foundacion that alone profyteth vnto y e reward of thy worke fruyte vertue This fayth sayth he is rytcher thā all treasures strōger thē all corporall power more healthful than all Phisicions This faythe as Chrisostome saythe is a lampe For a lampe lyghteneth the house so doth fayth the soule This faythe of the Catholyke religion is the lyght of y e soule the dore of lyfe the foundaciō of euerlastyng helth Thus se ye what an excellent treasure this christen fayth is without the whyche by no meanes ye canne walke worthely before the LORDE our God Moreouer thys your fayth must be conioyned wyth a reuerēt feare towarde God For the feare of the LORDE saythe the wyse man is the begynnynge of wisdome and expelleth synne Withoute this feare no man can purely walke before God For he that feareth God truely feareth also to displease hym yea he sekethe all meanes possible to accomplysh the wyl of god as the Psalmo graph sayth blyssed is that man y t feareth y e LORDE for all his delight pleasure shal be in his cōmaundementes Unto this feare of GOD dothe Dauid exhorte vs sayenge feare ye the LORDE all ye that are his seruauntes For they shall neuer wante y e feare hym The sonne honoreth the father the seruaūte his Lord yf I be your father wher is my honoure And yf I be youre LORDE where is my feare saythe y e LORDE of Hoostes But this feare ought not to be a seruile and bonde feare procedynge from an vnwyllynge harte but a reuerent gētle feare flowynge oute of loue Therfore wyth this your faythe feare must ye also haue a syncere pure loue towarde God cōbyned so that ye shall both truely beleue in God reuerently feare hym vnfaynedly loue hī And this is it that Moses wryghteth and now O Israel sayth he what doth the LORDE thy god require of the but that y u shouldest feare the LORDE thy God and walke in his wayes loue hym serue the LORDE thy God in all thy herte in all thy soule Nowe haue ye herd partely what it is to walke before God Euse. I praye you what remayneth there behynde Phil. After that ye haue conceaued in your hertes this faythe feare loue toward God thorow the operacion of the holy Ghoste so that ye haue entred the pathe waye of oure LORDE god nowe doth conueniēt tyme require that ye walke not only secretly but also openly before God tha◠is that ye do not only inwardly in your hertes beleue in God feare loue god but also that ye outwardly shew forth this your fayth feare loue buryed wythin you by externall workes that men seynge your godly conuersacion maye then glorify your father which is in heauē For this is to walke before god euē to beleue ī god to feare god to loue God and to lede an innocēt lyfe accordynge to his holy worde Without thys innocēcy purite of lyfe I se not what al fayth fear or loue profyt Followe your LORDE God sayth Moses feare hym kepe hys cōmaūdementes heare his voyce ye shall serue hym and cleaue vnto hī The Prophet Miche also sayth I wyll shewe the O man what is good what the LORDE requireth of the euen to do iudgement and to loue mercy studiously to walk w t thy God Here se you y t yf ye wyll walke before God ye muste do good dedes leade a pure innocent lyfe study to accomplyshe Gods wyll in all poyntes laboure to fasshyon your manners after the rule of goddes worde Farewel they
that bost so much of faythe yet are wicked in all theyr workes They professe to knowe god as the Apostle sayth but wythe theyr dedes they denye hym seynge they are abhominable disobedient and vnapte to all good workes Such bosters of fayth do not only slaunder the true christeÌ„ fayth whiche worketh by Charite but also they deceaue them selues seynge they hope frely only to be iustified by thatfayth which is barren vnfruytfull voyd of all good workes Let them crake so muche as they lyste of theyr faythe loue towarde God yet are they wicked gospâ—llers For y e loue of god sayth saynt Gregory is neuer ydle For it worketh great thynges if it be the loue of god in dede but if it ceaseth to worke than it is no loue Chrysostome also saythe The sonnes of GOD are not content to syt ydle but the spirite prouokethe them to take some great and commendable worke in hand Uerely as impossible as it is for a good tre tobe wtout a good fruyte whaÌ„ the tyme of the yeare cometh so impossible is it for true fayth to be wythout good and christen workes And as the spirite of God can none otherwyse but do those thynges that are pleasauÌ„t before God so in lyke maÌ„ner a faythful maÌ„ which is the son of god can not cease froÌ„ workyng y e wyl of god Let these rude raylynge readers of the Gospell therfore be once ashamed of theyr fayth spirite wherof so greatly they crake seynge they are altogyther vnfruytfull and wtoute all good workes If ony man be in Christe he is a newe creature He that abydeth in me I in hym sayth Christ bryngeth forth moche fruyte And he that beleueth in me as the scripture sayth floudes of lyuysh water shall flow out of his bely Euery good tree bryngeth forth good fruyte He y t hath not a lust feruent desyre to worke the wyll of God and to fasshon his lyfe in all partyes accordyng to the holy law of God vndoubtedly he hath not y â— christen fayth neyther pertayneth he vnto Christe though he bablethe neuer so muche of faythe of God of Christ of all the diuine misteries For the kyngdome of God is not in word but in power Not euery one that sayth vnto me LORDE LORDE sayth Christ shall enter into y e kingdome of heauen but he that doth y â— wyll of my father whiche is in heauen Many shall saye vnto me at y â— daye LORDE LORDE haue not we prophecyed in thy name cast out dyuels by thy name and wrought miracles by thy name But than shal I saye vnto them I know you not Departe from me ye workers of iniquite He that hathe my commaundementes kepethe them he it is y t loueth me If ony maÌ„ loueth me he wyl kepe my worde my father wyll loue hym we wyl come vnto hym dwell with hym But he that loueth me not kepethe not my wordes God hathe not shewed to vs his manifolde kyndnes that we should lyue dissolutely and with oute all good order for so were we vnworthy ony kyndenes at all but that we should earnestly wyth all diligence eÌ„ploy our selues to worke his wyl to satisfy so much as lyeth in our power his godly mynd and to walke in all our conuersacion lyuynge as his derely beloued son w alked If he dyd not spare his only begotten Sonne but gaue hym for vs all euen vnto the death how vnkynde creatures myght we righteously be recounted if we shoulde not study with herty myndes to accomplysshe his holy preceptes Are they worthye to be called chyldren which neglecte theyr fathers wyll so greatly dissent from theyr Fathers manners Oure celestiall father is holy shall we his chyldren be prophane and vnholy Our celestiall father is good godlye mercyfull pacient all spirite shall we his chyldren be euell wycked rygorous impacient all flesshe Be ye holy saythe he for I am holy Certes god hath not called vs vnto vncleannes but vnto sanctificacion Nether hath he delyuered vs from Satan his army that we should lyue wyckedly but practyse pure iÌ„nocency true godlynes in all oure lyfe as Zachary the Preste father to S. IohnÌ„ Baptist sayth He hath performed the othe which he sware to our father Abraham for to giue that we delyuered oute of the handes of our enemies myght serue hiÌ„ without feare all the dayes of oure lyfe in such holines righteousnes as are acceptable before hym Thus se ye that if we wyl walke before God we maye not onlye beleue in God feare loue God but also lead a pure innocent lyfe be pleÌ„teous in good workes altogither studious of tru godlines Chri. But I pray you why doth y e scripture vse thys terme VValKe rather than ony other Phil. It is not with out a cause Ye knowe he that stondeth styl moueth nothing forward nor hasteth not vnto the end of his iourney But he that walketh is euer goynge draweth alwaye nerer and nerer vnto hys iourneyes ende In consideracion wherof the holy Scripture vsethe this worde VValKe to put vs in remembraunce that if we haue begun well in oure professioÌ„ we should not there cease stonde styll but go forthe froÌ„ vertue to vertue from fayth to fayth vntyll at the laste we attayne vnto y e perfeccioÌ„ of pure innoceÌ„cy For he y t coÌ„tinueth vnto ende sayth christ shal be saued AgeÌ„ be faythfull vnto the death and I shall gyue the the crowne of lyfe This word we read in diuers places of the holy Scriptures Christ sayth walke whyle ye haue lyght that the darkenes doth not ouerwhelme you For he that walketh in darkenes knoweth not whyther he goethe S. Paule also sayth walke as the childreÌ„ of light prouyng what is acceptable to the LORDE Agayne loke that ye walke circumspectly not as vnwyse but as wyse redemynge the tyme for y â— dayes are euell Hytherto pertayneth y e sayenge of S. Iohn he that sayeth leth in Christ ought to walke euen as he hath walked These places w t all other suche lyke declare to vs y t we ought so to walke in our profession by encreasynge dayely in vertues that at the last we may be perfecte as S. Paule sayth make euery man perfecte in Christ Iesus And this is it that followeth iÌ„ the latter ende of the senteÌ„ce And be perfecte For we ought so to walk that is encrease in all godlynes vertu honeste that we might be perfecte as Christe saythe be ye perfecte as youre heauenly father is perfecte Also Saynte Paule Reioyse and be perfect It is one degre of vertu to loue my neyghbour but it is an higher degre to loue myne enemy but the moost excelleÌ„t degre aboue all is so to loue oure verye
froÌ„ the very herte the hygh powers to be ordened of God and that ther fore they oughte to be obeyed had in perpetual reuerence honoure Chri. They graunt that in the olde lawe it was y e ordinaunce of God to haue ciuile magistrates as Iudges Kynges and other rulers but nowe saye they in the newe Testament it is not lawfull to haue ony preemineÌ„ce or superiorite For christ sayth be not ye called mayster For ye haue but one master eueÌ„ Christe All ye are brothers Agayne y e kynges of the Hethen haue dominioÌ„ on theÌ„ and they that beare rule ouer them are called gracious Lordes But ye shal not be so But the greatest among you shall be as the yongest and the cheffest as a seruaunt Lo saye they here is all dominion and temporall power forbyddenne amonge Christen people and equalitie of power proponed set forthe to all men And that we shoulde doubte no thynge hereof we haue saye they a manifest exaÌ„ple of Christe the teacher of all verite whiche whan the people would haue made him king fled awaye from them by no meanes would enioy y e offyce although beynge the very Messias and true annoynted kynge of y e Lord Moreouer he sayde to Pylate my kyngedome is not of this worlde Phil. O blynde ignorancye and ignorante blyndnes with what eyes do those Owles loke on y e holy scripture w t what spirite dothe that generacion of vipers searche and iudge y e moost sacred word of God With how fylthy vnwasshed feete do those swynysh and beastlike parsonnes enter into the swete and pleasaunt fountaynes of y â— moost pure scriptures O Lorde GOD what dareth not blynde Bayard attempte take in hande Christe came not into thys worlde to reygne but to serue not to be a teÌ„porall but spiritual king not to rule with the swerde but w t the breath of his mouth not to execute iudgemente on other but to be iudged hiÌ„ selfe not to lyue as an erthly Prynce but as a ghostly minister of Goddes worde not to â—lea but to be slayne Therfore was it conuenient that he shoulde fulfyll his Fathers wyll for the whiche he came downe that once done to ascende go vp agayne vnto the glory of his father Which all these thiÌ„ges he dyd lyuynge all the tyme y t he was in this worlde humbly and mekely shewynge euer obedience reuerence honour to the magistrates although Hethen euen vnto y e very deth And as he came to serue and not to be serued to obeye not to be obeyed so taught he his disciples whan they began to contende of superiorite to be humble lowly meke gentle obediente and not to go aboute ony temporall primacye which only pertaineth to the ciuile magistrates but to be contente w t theyr offyce whiche was to preache Gods worde to open the misteries of Christes kyngedome to reproue the world of synne and vnfaythfulnes to fyght with the swerd of goddes word to vse not carnal but spirituall armours to bryng a gayne suche as were gone astraye To be shorte wholly to be bent to enlarge the kyngedome of God and the glory of Christes Gospel This destroyeth not but rather magnifieth the authorite of y e hygh powers seinge Christ wylled them not to take vpoÌ„ them the office of temporal regimeÌ„t coÌ„trary to equite but only to be as seruauntes dispensatours of the misteries of GOD. And come of a good felawshyp dyd Christe at ony tyme shewe hym selfe disobediente to the publique magistrates head officers Dyd not he confesse that y e power which Pylate y e Iudge had ouer hym was gyuen hym from aboue Note that well I praye you and beare it away Dyd not he also pay tribute to Cesar willed other to do so lykewyse Dyd not y e Apostles also shew themselues obedient to the hygh powers in all poyntes yea and taught other meÌ„ so to do Ther is no power sayth S. Paule but of god The powres that be are ordenned of God Therfore who so resisteth the power resisteth the ordinaunce of God And they that resist get to theÌ„ selues daÌ„nacioÌ„ s. Peter also coÌ„maundeth vs to honour the kyng to be subiecte to hym as supreme head to the other rulers that are sent of him For this is the wyll of y e Lord sayth he Are not al these authorities alleged out of the newe TestameÌ„t Haue we not here both manifest textes also euident examples to approue the office and state of the hygh powers so that it is nowe of no lesse authoritie than euer it was before but rather greater and stronger seynge it is nowe also confirmed and establysshed by Christ his Apostles Let y e aduersaries of this ordinaunce of GOD learne to be ashamed confesse theyr disobedience become subiecte and giue reuerence honour to all head officers as to the ministers of god euen from the greatest to the least For so is the wyll of God sayth the scripture Theo. It wyll be obiected of these order destroyers we wulde gladly heare by the scripture if ony christeÌ„ man that had receaued the fayth of Christ dyd euer beare rule exercyse teÌ„porall dominion ouer his Brothers Phil. What is this What do I heare May not a christen man execute that offyce wherby vertue is mayntayned vice exiled Is he not more fitte to be a ruler that beleuethe in the true God feareth him seketh his glory embraseth vertue hateth vice loueth his neyghbour tendereth the common wealth seketh in al poyntes to be a father amonge his subiectes thaÌ„ suche one as beleueth in Idolles feareth them seketh thâ—yr glory despyseth the alone true God hate the vertue embraceth vice oppressethe his neyghbour tearethe the coÌ„mon welth iÌ„ peses sheweth hiÌ„selfe iÌ„ all thiÌ„ges a cruel Tyraunt among his subiectes What furious Erinnys hath inuaded and troubled y e braynes of these vnresonable creatures to resist the publique Magistrates and to condemne theyr authoritie which they haue receaued of God But let these honest men GOD wyll tell me was not Abraham Iosephe Iudas Moses Iosue GedeoÌ„ Samuel Dauid Ezechias Iosaphat Iosias w t many other Christen faythfull men Yet dyd they execute the office of Magistrates were hygh powers in dede allowed before God workynge that which was good in his syghte Euse. They were faythfull â—aye they we gâ—auÌ„t but not christen Phile. O monstures as though it were one thynge to be faythfull and another to be christeÌ„ Difference is there none betwene them vs but this only that they beleued in Christe to come and we beleue that Christe is come hathe fulfylled the prophecies of the holy meÌ„ ghostly enspired All sayth S. Paule he speketh of the fathers of the olde Testament dyd eate al one spirituall meate that is to saye w t vs all dyd dryncke the very same drinke of the
say trueth But all these hystories hytherto alledged you haue borowed of y e olde Testamente We woulde be glad to heare this thyng proued by the authorite of the newe Testament For there haue bene neyther yet want which thyncke it a matter of absurdite and a thynge very vnsittyng that tēporall rulars should reygne ouer the spiritualte Phil. O disobedient hertes Dyd not Mary y e mother of Christ Ioseph obey the cōmaundement of Augustus the Emperour when y e whole world should be taxed and went into theyr Cyte Bethleē Dyd not Christe hymselfe teache obedience towarde the hygh powers Dyd not he paye tribute Was not he content to dye vnder y e temporall rulers confesse y t theyr power was gyuen them frō aboue Dyd not the Apostles so in lyke māner both teache and do Dydde not Paule wyllyngly euer obey y e publique magistrates Flestus Faelix c Dyd not all the Bysshops and ministers of Gods word so lykewyse do teach ī y e primatiue Chirch vntyl y t wycked man y e son of perdiciō came which exalted him selfe aboue all that is called God in so muche y t he syttethe in the Temple of God bostynge hym selfe to be God But the LORDE shall slaye hym with the breath of his mouth shal put him to flyght wythe the clerenes of hys commynge Let it come to passe O LORDE yea and that shortely Furthermore was not this the Commaūdement of Christ Paye y t to the Emperour that is due to the Emperour what is due to the Emperour that is to the temporal gouernoure but obedience feare honour tribute c. Howe than cann◠any man be excepted from the obedience of the temporal power be he called spirituall or otherwyse Let euery soule saythe S. Paule as ye heard before be obedient to the powers y e beare rule Agayne he sayth warne them that they submyt thē selues vnto Prynces to the hygher authorite to obeye the Officers S. Peter also sayth submyt youre selues to all manner of ordinaunce of mē for the LORDES sake whyther it be vnto the kyng as vnto y e chefe head or vnto rulers as vnto them that are sent of hym for the punyshment of euel doers but for y e prayse of thē that do wel For so is the wyl of God Are not all these authorities selected oute of the newe Testament sufficiēt to declare what obedience all kynd of people owe to the hygher powers Euse. Yies in good fayth that no man frō this true faythfull obedience is excepted Phil. Uery well sayde So here do ye nowe learne ▪ what is one poynte of your dutye towarde oure moost redoubted kyng other head officers Chri. This is truely faythfully w t all humilite submission of mynde to be obedient vnto them gladlye to execute perfourme do y e which they commaūde and requyre of vs. Phil. Than do ye perceyue right wel that as it is the office of the publique magistrates for to rule so is it your duetye to obeye Theo. We perceyue that righte well and that we maye by no meanes resiste the high powers in asmuche as they are ordened of GOD. For who so euer resistethe the power resistethe the ordinaunce of GOD. And they that resiste shall get to thē selues damnacion Phil. It is wel sayd But I wyll nowe go forthe to declare vnto you what your dutye is more toward the high powers Chri. I praye you lette it so be Phil. It is not only required of vs by y e worde of God that we should be obedient to the head rulers but also that we feare them For Sayncte Paule amonge all other thynges whiche we of very duty owe to the hygher powers rehearseth feare So that it is our dutye also to feare vnlesse we attēpte ony thynge that should derogate theyr pryncelyke authorite or in ony poynte displease them For the rulers are not feare sayth he to them that do well but to thē that do euell Wilte thou not feare the power Do that is good thou shalte receyue prayse of it For he is the minister of god vnto thy welth But if thou dost that which is euel than feare For he bearet he not the swearde in vayne He is y e minister of God a taker of vengeaūce to punysh hym that doth euell Wherfor◠ye must nedes obey not only for punyshmēt but also for cōscience sake And this is it that Salomon sayth the Kynge ought to be feared as y ◠roryng of a Lyō Whoso prouoketh hym vnto anger offendeth agenste hys owne soule Agen he saythe my sonne feare thou the LORDE the kynge Beholde how he ioyneth the feare of God of the King togither bycause we shuld walke euer wyth a reuerēt feare toward hym alway beynge afearde eyther to thyncke breath speake or do that should be cōtrary to the Kinges graces pleasure Howe greuously they haue be punyshed that walked as sedicious parsons wythoute ony godly feare toward the publique magistrates the Histories of Dathan Abyron of Zambry Baasa shewe manifestly Neyther haue we wāted experience of thys thynge nowe a dayes For what I praye you hathe euer ben muttered or secretly conspired agaynst the kynges graces maieste at ony tyme eyther amonge men of nobilite or yet of the baser sorte y t hath not come to lyght wrought destruccion to the Authors therof This is vndoubtedly the prouision of God GOD defendeth his ministers as a good master doth his seruauntes God waytethe vpon the Kynges graces helth He defendeth hym from his enemies He kepethe all his bones as the Psalmograhe sayth that not one of them shall be broken He hath nōbred the heares of his head so that not one of them shall perysh wythout the good wyll of our heauenly father He hath w t oute doubte hytherto shall continually preserue his moost gracious maieste from all the craftye conspiraciōs subtyle assaultes of all his enemies so that they shal neuer preuayle agaynste hym but hys grace shal euer be preserued in safe estate haue perpetually the tryūphant victory ouer all his enemies vnto y ◠great glorye of God the fruytefull promocion of Christes Gospell and the prosperous tranquilite welth of al vs his moost louing subiectes For as it is impossible to hynder or let the course of y e Sonne or moone so is it impossible for thē to escape whiche imagyne or worke ony violence or treason agaynst his grace Certes there is no euasion nor way to escape as the wyse manne sayth For God alwaye preserueth his ministers and wyll not suffer them to escape vnpunysshed that cōtēne disobey or laboure to destroye hys ordinaunce Woulde God therfore that all men would remember this sayenge of the preacher Wysshe the kynge no euell in thy thought and speake no hurte of the rytch in
thy priuye chamber For a byrde of the ayer shall betraye thy voyce and w t her fethers shal she bewray thy wordes There is nothynge hyd y â— shall not come to lyght neyther is there ony secret that shall not come to reuelacion Euse. If they would set before the eyes of they re mynde thys moost godlye wyse sentence than shoulde they neuer offend but euer feare once to thinke ony thing that shoulde be preiudiciall to y e kinges graces honour Phil. Ye saye trueth Prouyde therfore that ye your selues remember it well euer set before your eyes this feare and that not constraynte seruyle bonde or churlysh but reuerent gentle obsequious wyllynge yea euen suche a louynge feare as a deare Sonne hath toward his moost hertely beloued father so that ye woulde feare to offend though ther were no law nor punyshment at all euen for the loue that ye heare towarde vertue true innocencye purite of lyfe If ye haue this fear ye shal easly haue the true obedience all other thinges which moost of al become faythfull louynge subiectes And with out this feare knowe that ye canne none otherwyse but precipitate throwe headlonge your selues into all kynde of mischefe parell dauÌ„ger destruccion Chri. God mought en grasfe in oure hertes thys reuerent feare towarde our moost excellente PriÌ„ce that we by no meanes maye offende hiÌ„ neither in thought word nor dede Theo. Amen good LORD I beseche the. Phile. Moreouer besydes this obedience and feare we owe also to the hygh powers honoure as S. Paule wytnessethe in the aforsayd texte And S. Peter sayth honour all men loue the brotherhead feare God honour the kynge Here are we also commauÌ„ded to honoure the kynge Euse. What meaneth the scripture by that I pray you Phil. To honoure the kynge is not only to pretende shewe an outward humilite huÌ„ble obeysaunce towarde him as by puttyng of our cappe to hym reuerently to speake to hym to knele vnto hym to graunte hym freely wyllyngly what so euer he requireth of vs but also with herte mynde to wysh well vnto hym to desyre all good prosperous thynges vnto hym to praye for hym to desyre longe lyfe vnto hym to pray that God maye rule gouerne all his councelles enterprises affayres to watch diligeÌ„tly y t no harme disturbance or incommodite chauÌ„se vnto hym and in all oure actes eyther publique or priuate open or secret to seake the honour of hym as of oure mooste soueraygne LORDE This honor shewed Dauid to kyng Saul which knowyng Saul to be his vtter enemy one that sought his lyfe woulde notwithstondynge so much as once hurte hym nor yet suffer ony other to do it althoughe he had sufficieÌ„t oportunite occasioÌ„ dyuers tymes to haue slayne hiÌ„ if he had bene so minded The Lord forbyd me sayth he y â— I should laye mynhand on hym Agen kyl hiÌ„ not For who sayth he shall laye handes on the LORDES annoynted and be not gyltye The LORDE lyuethe he dyeth not excepte the LORDE smite him or that his day be come to dye or els go to battayle there perysh He also afterwarde commaunded y e younge manne to be slayne whiche came tolde him that he had kylled kynge Saul thynckynge by thys menes to haue picked a great thaÌ„ke or obtained some beneficial reward at Dauids hand Here was true honor For it is not lawfull for any maÌ„ beynge a subiecte to aryse ageÌ„st hys Prynce to auenge hys owne quarell be he neuer so muche a Tyraunt or sustayneth he at his hand neuer so great iniuries wronges but paciently to suffer all thynges yea rather death thaÌ„ he should once resist leauynge the vengeaunce vnto hym which sayth vengeaunce is myne I wyl reward For he that resisteth the ordinaunce of God getteth to hym selfe dampnacion And they that dishonour the hygh powers shal fall into ignobilite proue a miserable end Chri. They therfore dishonour greatly the magistrates which eâ—cite store vppe sedicions make coÌ„motions trouble the traÌ„quilite of the common weale wysshing that there were no temporall gouernour ouer theÌ„ but that they myght liceÌ„ciously do what so theÌ„ lusteth P. Such sekers of carnal best lyke liberte hitherto haue stil shal receaue a reward worthy theyr labour But learne you moost deare brothers vtterly to reny forsake the pestiferous wicked maÌ„ners of such sedicious Scismatykes disobedient Rebellions and study vnfaynedly to giue that true obedieÌ„ce feare honour to our moost christeÌ„ bouÌ„teous Prynce y t the scripture requireth of vs as I haue taughte you before and to so manye also as are appoynted of him to rule vnder his graces dominion So shall ye both please God and also leade a good and quiet lyfe in this worlde Euse. God forbyd that the contrarye shoulde be founde in vs. Phil. Nowe remayneth the fourth thynge to be declared vnto you which all we subiectes from the hyghest to the lowest owe to our moost excelleÌ„t kynge Theo. What is that I pray you Phil. Uerely trybute For this causealso sayth S. Paule must ye pay tribute For they are Gods ministers which mayntayne the same defeÌ„ce Gyue therfore to euery man his duty trybute to whome tribute beloÌ„geth custome to whome custome is due feare to whom feare beloÌ„geth honoure to whome honour pertayneth Chri. I pray you what meane ye by this worde tribute PHIL. By tribute I vnderstand all paymentes that are due to the ciuile magistrates as tenthes fyftenes reÌ„tes taskes subsidies customes c. All these are we bounde by Gods commaundement to paye without ony tumulte or grudgynge that not wythout a cause For seynge that y â— hygh powers take so great paynes for to defeÌ„de vs to kepe al that we haue in safegarde agaynst the violence of our enemies agen to mayntayn vertu to expulse vice which thynge can not be brought to passe without prudeÌ„t wyse learned gouernours it is expedient that we whiche receaue these coÌ„modities of them do minister agayne vnto theÌ„ freely aboundantly and liberally what soeuer they require of vs for y â— preseruacion of y â— publique weale and mayntenaunce of theyr dignite Neyther can we denye theÌ„ thys excepte we wyl transgresse Goddes precepte and fall into the daunger of damnacion and shew that we be moost extreme enemies to oure selues For Christe wyllynge to gyue vs an example of this thyng payd tribute hym selfe and commauÌ„ded other so to do sayenge Paye that whiche is due to Cesar vnto Cesar vnderstandynge by the name of Cesar euery magistrate and temporal power generally And that the kynges grace may lawefully withoute onye scruple or grudge of coÌ„science take such charges of vs as I rehearsed before and that we oughte not once to mutter agaynst his graces pleasure wyll iÌ„ this behalf it is manifest by these wordes
meanynge that they shoulde not be so bent to seke theyr owne auauntage that they should vtterly neglecte the profyt of theyr christen brother For y e very same mynd ought to be in vs that was in Christ Iesu whiche beynge in the shape of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God but made hym selfe of no reputacioÌ„ toke vpoÌ„ hym y â— shape of a seruaunt became like a nother man was founde in his apparel as a man He humbled hym selfe became obedieÌ„t vnto the death eueÌ„ the death of y â— Crosse. Here is youre floure Redy asistence Here is an example that ye shoulde be redy to assist helpe your neyghbour at al tymes Howe dyd our moost blyssed Sauiour Christe vtterly neglecte caste awaye as I may so speke his owne glory honour and worshyp to seke our health conforte saluacion This redy assistence helpe oughte also to be in vs yf we pertayne vnto Christ. For we oughte to haue y â— care for our neighbour that Christ had for vs or elles we walke not accordynge to Charite This redy assistence also se we in that Samaritane of the Gospell which seynge a certayne man spoyled robbed greuouslye wounded and halfe deade had pytye on hym came vnto hym bounde vp his woundes powred in oyle wyne layenge hym on hys beaste brought hym vnto an Inne made prouision for hym Here is a nother godlye example of redy assistence Here is a myrrour for all menne to looke in Here is a payre of spectacles for to shewe euery man what his dutye is toward his neyghbour Euse. As how I pray you for an example Phil. Certes as this Samaritane dyd To be bent at all tymes to healpe so manye as hath nede of our helpe to procure no lesse the helthe furtherance of other than of our selues As for an example Arte y u a Iudge a Iustice of peace a Constable a Baliffe or ony other coÌ„moÌ„ officer So hast y u y e lawe in thy hande Matters of contrauersye are broughte before the. Looke therfore that thou iudgeste all thynges accordynge to equite Be not parciall Fauoure not one parte more than another Shewe indifferency Do as ryght require Gyue no wronge sentence neyther for feare nor loue of ony parsonne Practise none iniquite Condemne not the innoceÌ„t for lucres sake Be not corrupt with gyftes Eate not the poore maÌ„ neyther deuour thou his substauÌ„ce but helpe to sustayne hym in his ryght agaynste the violence of the wicked Tyrantes and cruel oppressours accordyng to thy office yf thou doste this than haste thou this flour Redy assistence about the doste to thy neyghboure as y u arte bound by the commaundemeÌ„t of God If thou doste this that is iudge contrary to equite suffer the poore to be oppressed for fauoure or lucres sake or els bycause thou bearest a cruell harte and spytefull stomacke agaynst the parte so gettest thou the great displeasure of God hepest vp to thy selfe euerlastinge damnacion Arte thou a Bysshop prest or spirituall minister of Goddes worde looke than well to thy office RemeÌ„ber that it is thy dutye reuerently to minister y e moost blyssed Sacramentes of Christes Chyrche and to preach the worde of God to y â— flocke vpon whome the holy Ghoste hath made the ouerseare to gouerne the congregacioÌ„ of God whome he purchased with his bloude Remember that it is sayd vnto the Pasce Pasce Pasce fede fede fede Fede ther fore thy Paryshe with good exaÌ„ple of vertuous lyuinge Fede them w t the pure EuaÌ„gelion true Gospell of Christ. Fede theÌ„ also w t corporall foode thorowe the mayntenauÌ„ce of hospitalite Teache them to forsake all Idolatry supersticion only to cleaue to the true lyuing God the alone and omnisufficient sauiour Teache them to honoure call on the name of theyr LORDE God in all theyr aduersities and troubles Teach them faythful obedience toward theyr superiours Teache theÌ„ to loue theyr wyues as theyr owne flesh to brynge vp theyr chyldren familye in the feare nourtoure of the Lord. Teach theÌ„ to labour for theyr lyuiÌ„g not to takeaway ony mans goodes vniustly Teache theÌ„ to testify the truethe to beare no false witnes Teache them to be no manâ—lears but to loue al men with a pure harte Teache them to lyue of theyr owne not to couyt that which pertayne to other meÌ„ Teach them to walke streyght in the path wayes of the LORDE al the dayes of theyr lyfe vnlesse the fearce plages cruel veÌ„geaunce of God fall both vpon the them Crye cease not Shewe to the people theyr synnes offenses wickednesses CoÌ„maund the wicked to forsake hys iniquite Exhorte the rytche man vnto the glad redy distribucion of his goodes to y e poore people Fede y e flocke of Christ so muche as lyethe in thy power Be an example of the fayth full in word in coÌ„uersacion in loue in spirite in fayth in purite clennes of lyfe Gyue attendaunce to thy selfe to doctrine continew in these Reproue them that synne opeÌ„ly before all men that y â— other may be afeard Kepe thy selfe pure clene honest Suffer affliccioÌ„ trouble as a goodsouldiour ofIesus Christ Study to shewe thy selfe acceptable to God a workemaÌ„ that nedeth not to be ashamed deuydynge iustly the worde of trueth Flye the lustes of yongthe followe righteousnes fayth charite peace with them that cal on the LORDE wyth a pure harte Reproue the ennemyes of trueth fearsely that they maye be whole in faythe Speake y u those thiÌ„ges that become wholesome doctrine but aboue all thynges be an exaÌ„ple to other of good workes Be not absent from thy benefice Liue not dissolutely at the vniuersite or els wher Be not that Spheppard and Idol that forsaketh his flocke but gyue them meate in due tyme. Suffer not y e wolfe to deuour Christes shepe whome he bought wythe no lesse pryce than wythe his owne most precious bloud DefeÌ„d the glorye of GOD and not thyne owne dignite Striue for the helth of thy flocke not for thy rytchers possessions The synful of thy flocke exhorte vnto faythfull repentaunce The desperate prouoke thou vnto y â— trust of Gods mercy The weake make y u stronge The diseased looke thou heale The bloudye wounded looke thou cure The broken looke thou make whole The imperfecte loke thou make perfecte The stroÌ„g in Christ loke thou make auÌ„ciente To conclude if thou be a true Bisshop a faythful ouerseare a diligeÌ„t Curate a trusty shepparde rather gyue thy lyfe spend all the bloud in thy body than that one of y e least of Christes flocke should perysh thorowe thy faute So mayst thou be sure whan that Prynce of sheppardes shall appeare to receyue the immarcessible crown of glory if y u dost not these thynges
ê‘ceyue that he is gyuen altogyther to wickednes and wyll not gladlye heare anye wholesome admonicion yette cease not to praye for him as Abraham dyd for the fylthy Sodomites and Moses for the disobedient Iewes Yea thogh he be your extreme enemye and seaketh youre lyfe yet wysh wel vnto hym praye for him and desyre God to forgyue him as Christ and Steuen dyd Agayne yf ye perceyue that he is poore hath nede of your helpe fayle not to succoure his miserye and to helpe hym in his nede euen to the vttermoost of youre power to make an ende yf ye perceyue that youre neyghboure hath nede of any thyng that ye are able to do for hym I charge you in Goddes behalfe that ye with al expedicion helpe and conforte hiÌ„ If ye do this thaÌ„ do ye smel aright on this your flour ChristeÌ„ Charite shal receyue rewardes abuÌ„daÌ„t for your good dedes but if ye do it not know y t though ye bost neuer so muche in word and tong of your loue towardes god your neyghbour yet shal ye go to the dyuel headlong lyke abhominable Hypocrites and wycked dissemblers shall receaue greater damnacion than they which neuer knewe truelye no parte of God seing your loue is only in worde and tong but not in spirite and trueth Euse. As concernynge oure loue towarde God we wyll employe al our industrye and laboure to haue that loue toward hym which Peter had whan he sayde vnto Christ LORDE thou knoweste that I loue the as towchynge our neyghbour we wyll labour no lesse hartely to loue him than Ionathas dyd Dauid which as the Scripture sayth loued him as his owne lyfe Phile. Theyse are goodly exaÌ„ples vndoubtedly neighbours Loke therfore that ye folow them If ye bryng out of your loue suche dedes as Peter dyd thaÌ„ may ye be bolde to say that ye loue God vnfaynedly Agayne yf ye shew by youre outwarde workes suche loue towarde your neyghbour as Ionathas dyd to Dauid thaÌ„ nede ye not feare to saye y t ye loue youre neighbour in worke truethe so are ye perfecte and true christen men and maye be certayne after the departure oute of this transitorye lyfe yf ye so continue vnto the ende for to receaue the crowne of life which the LORDE hathe promised to them that loue hym as S. Iames sayth Here is nowe your Nosegay perfecte For I haue gyueÌ„ you al your fyue floures as I promised you at your fyrst coÌ„mynge Chri. We thaÌ„ke you right hertely for this Nosegay Euse. I thynke such a Nosegay was neuer gyuen before of onye man to his frende as you haue nowe gyueÌ„ vs. Theo. I beseche GOD gyue vs grace so to smell on this Nosegaye that the sauoure of it maye euer abyde in vs neuer departe nor go awaye from our hartes So maye we be sure neyther at onye tyme to offende our selues God our Kyng nor our neyghbour but leade suche a lyfe as wherwith bothe God and man shall be well pleased Phil. All this that ye haue hytherto spoken is true For I haue taughte you no thyng of myne owne brayne fantasye but onelye the pure worde of God the sentences myndes of y e holy and catholyke Doctors Therfore I pray you hertely good neyghbours be as diligent to obserue and kepe these floures as I haue ben studious to gather them togyther for you so shall I both thyncke my laboure well bestowed ye also of all pleasures shall do me the greateste Well I wyll nowe rehearse to you in fewe wordes what youre whole Nosegaye contayneth in many Your fyrst floure is called Vnfayned Humilite Hereof haue ye learned y e true knowledge of youre selues that ye ought not to be proud of ony thynge but enbrasynge Humilite lowlines of mynd alwayes coÌ„fesse that what so euer ye haue be it neuer so good precious it is the gyfte of GOD commynge downe froÌ„ the father of lyghtes and that therfore ye oughte studiously to laboure aboue all thynges that it be bestowed accordynge to the wyll of God that is vnto the glory of God the profitte of youre neyghboure the saluacion of your owne soules Your seconde flour called Pure Innocency Of this ye haue lerned your duty toward God howe ye ought to walke before hym accordynge to his worde and be perfecte Of your thyrde floure which is Faythfull Obedience Ye haue learned your duty toward our moost puissaunt excellent kynge all those ciuile magistrates heade officers which are appoynted to rule gouerne the matters of the publique weale vnder his graces maieste Ye learned also that by the worde of GOD ye owe to them obedience feare honour and tribute Your fourthe floure called Redy assistence â–ª taught you your dutye towarde youre neyghbour howe ye oughte to serue hym accordynge to the rule of the Gospell seakynge no lesse his profyt than your owne Your fyfte laste floure called Christen Charite declared to you that withoute this true christen pure loue all youre other floures profyt but lytle neyther can any worke beinge done of a malicious harte and out of Charite please God Agayne ye hearde that your loue bothe toward God your neyghbour was declared to be vnfayned yf ye dyd expresse it outwardly in suche workes as are prescribed of God in the holy Scriptures this is the whole summe of your Nosegaye Nowe deare brothers I beseche you by the great mercyes of God y t ye wyl by no meanes suffer y e smell odoure sauour of these herbes to faull oute of your brestes but that you alwaye beare this youre Nosegay about w t you smel on it at al tymes wtout ceasyng For these are those floures whiche shall preserue you from all pestiferous and contagious ayres from all perelles and daungers from al mischauÌ„ces and euell fortunes They also shall enspire and breath into you such confortable odoures swete sauours that ye shall by no meanes be so infected that ye maye eyther offende your selues God the kyng or your Neygheboure but what so euer ye worke shall be accceptable bothe to God and man What wyll ye haue more Thus muche haue I done nowe for you neyghbours and am redy at al tymes to do what soeuer lyethe in my power whan occasion shall be gyuen desiryng you fauourably to accepte this my good wyll towarde you as of one which wyssheth no lesse well to you thaÌ„ to him selfe tendereth your health no lesse than his owne seakethe youre true knoweledge in Christe Iesus euen as his owne to conclude whiche is redy at all tymes both to gyue him selfe and all that he hath so that ye may be in the moost gloryous bowels of oure Sauioure Christe and therin continewe vntyl the daye oâ— his tryumphant apperyng Which thynge moost deare brothers that it maye come to passe I wyll not cease neyther night nor daye to
owne necligence Let vs not hynder theÌ„ that go about to repare byld agen thâ— TeÌ„ple of our LORD god but rather praye for theÌ„ that they maye hauâ— prosperous successe brynge theyr labours to a fortunate end Yea let vs euery one helpe to y e edificacion byldyng of gods house If we can not make the waulles yet lette vs fetche morter stones to the MasoÌ„nes for to make it wt. Let vs further the buyldynge so muche as we maye and not hynder it by ony meanes vnlesse we be cursed of God Let vs cast our mony togyther euerye man for hys porcion to the makinge of this glorious temple that the name of God may be praysed in it of the faythfull for euermore Yf we be not able with the rytche man to cast great abuÌ„dans of goodes in to the treasure house yet let vs w t the poore widowe of the Gospell at the leest gyue two minutes God wyll surely approue accepte oure good wyll Only let vs not hynder the workemaÌ„shyp of it but further it to the vttermoost of oure power so shall the blessyng of God be amoÌ„g vs we shall dwell safely in his holy mountayne the earthe shall be replenisshed with the knowledge of the LORDE eueÌ„ as the water of the sea that ouerfloweth the londe And although there maye be inuented diuers wayes to reedifye bylde agayne this house of y e LORD yet me thynke to speake generally the nexte moost redy waye to further it to brynge it vnto a good ende is to lyue vertuously euery man studiously to do that vnto the which God hath called hym For w t out doubte this oure dissolute remisse manner of lyuynge hathe hytherto very much hyndred the bylâ—ynge of Gods temple I wyll not saye that it hath driuen awaye many which woulde haue ben strennuous and valeante labourers in the worke of the LORDE if our sluggishnes had not perswaded the contrary In coÌ„sideracioÌ„ wherof althoghe I am no fytte person to be a worke man in this behalfe yet verely I desyre with all my herte that this byldynge of the LORDES Temple may go forward I wyshe to the labourers therof all prosperous fortunate thynges that they may bring theyr worke vnto a glorious ioyefull ende And although I can not greatly further theyr godly laboures yet wyll I not hynder theÌ„ but helpe them to the vttermoste of my possebilite in al thynges Let other brynge Ceder trees syluer Golde Pearle precious stones vnto the byldynge garnysshynge of this teÌ„ple I wyll agayne for my parte gather stones fetche the tymber and make the morter or do suche smalâ— thynges as my lytle streÌ„gthes shal be able to beare and suffer And that all men maye haue an experimeÌ„t of my good wyll toward the byldynge of this temple behold at this tyme I brynge forth a nosegaye for to adourne garnyshe the Temple w t all hauyng in it v. floures yea those not such as wyl wy ther awaye at y e heate of the SoÌ„ne but rather such as the beauty wherof wyll neuer decaye nor be obscured with the fearce asperite of onye tempest The fyrst floure is called vnfayned Humilite The seconde pure innocency The thyrd faythful obedience The fourth Redy assistence The fyfte Chri sten Charite These be such floures as who so euer smelleth well vnto them and replenyssheth his senses w t y e odoriferous sauoures of them surely he shal ryght sone perceaue that there can no flâ—ures be gathered y t shall make more vnto the adournemente of Gods Temple than these aforesayd For of the fyrst he shall smell y â— ryght knowlege of hymselfe which after the censure of all learned meÌ„ is the begynnynge of all wisdome learne to be humble meke lowely without the which how can ony man fortunately aspire come vnto ony progresse or furtherance in vertues Of the seconde he shall sauour howe he ought to behaue him selfe vnto God that he maye walke innocently as it becommeth hym Of the thyrde he shal learne true obedience towarde his Prynce Of the fourth he shall smell what hys duety is towarde his christen brother Of y e fyft how al these thiÌ„ges ought to be done CaÌ„ ony thiÌ„ge be fouÌ„d more precious for the garnysshyng of gods TeÌ„ple thaÌ„ thys nosegay which briÌ„geth to al y e faythful such delectable swete melâ—fluous coÌ„fortable sauours Who so smelleth well on this Nosegay shall neyther offende hym selfe nor God nor the Kynges grace nor yet his neygheboure but shall worke all thynges according to the wyll and pleasure both of God maÌ„ Uerely I would wysh it not only to be borne in the handes or bosoms of all christen meÌ„ but also to be prynted and fast rooted in theyr hertes so myghte they be sure to lyue in this worlde a quiet godly lyfe after the departure to enioye that glorye whiche is immortall God graunt it maye come to passe This my Nosegaye gathered of me iÌ„ the space of thre dayes at such houres as I coulde conuenientlye suffurate steale awaye from y e institucion teachynge of my Schollers I nowe offer and dedicate to youre ryghte worshypfull maystershyp as a testimony memorial of my right harty good wyll towarde you moost instantly desyrynge you to accepte it with such good mynd as you are alwayes accustumed of your naturall humanite and geÌ„tlenes to receaue the gyftes presentes of them which desyre frendly wyssh well vnto you The gyfte is lytle I confesse vnworthy youre bouÌ„teous liberalite shewed toward me at all tymes No meruayle For what shoulde an herbe bryng forth but floures pleasauÌ„t for the tyme but sone perysshyng Yet your Basille at this time hath broght forth to you such floures as heueÌ„ earth shal soner perysh thaÌ„ y e leest leafe of theÌ„ shal so much as oÌ„ce wither awai or loose the beaty therof Wherof I do not doubte but that this my ly tyll gyfte shall be acceptable vnto you if not for the price of it yet for the longe continuaunce of y e same and so muche the more bycause at this tyme you are partely occupied in the adournynge and garnysshynge of that your new garden w t moost swete herbes pleasant floures So that y e herbes of that your garden the floures of youre Basille put togyther wyll vndoubtedly make goodly and swete sauours the one for the body the other both for body soule which thinge that LORDE myght graunt from whom descendeth euery good and perfecte gyfte God preserue youre good mastershyp longe in helth with the right worshypfull vertuous GeÌ„tyl woman your wyâ—e and al your familye So be it The Nosegaye Philemon Eusebius Theophyle Christopher talke togyther Philemon THere wanteth not at this presente tyme which not only theÌ„ selues are but litle studious vigilant and laborous for the prosperous propagacion settinge forth