people the glorye of the preyste the myrthe and gladnes of the countrye and the feare of enemyes whether they be visyble or inuysyble Peace my brethren is to be kepte wyth al force and myght for continually he continueth in God that doth abâ—de and continu in holy peace and hathe fociete and felowshippe with the saints of god Yt is the pryestes parte and deuty in peace to monyshe and warne the people what they oughte to doo And it is the peoples dewtye in humilitie to heare that the preyst doth monyshe them The preist whatsoeuer is vnlawfull muste forbyd that it be not done and the people muste herken and beware they do it not and all prelates and lyke wyse al sub iectes must at all tymes and euerye where obserue and kepe the bonde of vnytye in faythe and dilectyoâ— For why without peace the prayer of the preiste is not receyued nor the oblation of the people Yf we wil then that god shall quyckely heare vs and that thankefully he may receaue our gyftes we must be conuersaunt and lyue in peace of the which the truth it selfe hath vouchsaued to in structe vs For he sayethe yf thou offreste thy gyfte at the altare and ther remembreste that thy brother hath oughte agaynst thee leaue there thyne offerynge before the aulter and goo thy waye fyrste and be reconcyled to to thy brother and theÌ„ come and offer thy gyfte Forasmuche then as god desireth our vnitie and concord our sauyour hym self doth shew it in the gospel speking thus vnto his father O holye father kepe theÌ„ in thine own name which thou hast geueÌ„ me that they may be one as we are And the Apostle exhorteth the faythfull sayeng I beseche you brethren that ye all speake one thing And agayne he sayeth let ther be no enui nor no dissention among you let all bitternes aÌ„ger indingnation roring blasphemi be put away from you withall malitiousnes And in a nother place he say eth For bearynge one a nother throughe loue and diligent to kepe the vnite of the spirite in the bond of peace beyng one body and one spirite euen as ye are called in one hope of your callyng Thys vnanimitie was in tymes past vnder and amoÌ„g the apostles Thus the new peple of our belife obseruing the commaundementes of god kepte theyr charitie the scripture dothe proue it saying All they that beleued were of one wyl and mynde And agayne they all contynued with one accord in pra er with the women and marye the mother of Jesu and with his brethren And therfore they prayed with effectuous prayers with hope obteyned whatsoeuer they demaunded of the mercy of god But vnanimitie is in vs so diminishyd that the libera litie of workes is clene brokeÌ„ In those daies they sold their howsys and laid vp their tre sures in heuyn and gaue the price of them to the apostles for to be dystrybutyd to the vse of the poore But now we geue nothynge of our patrymonye nor yet oure tythes And when god ddthe commaund vs to sell we bye rather and encreace Thys the vigur and force of our fay the in vs doth waxe drye thus the strength of the faythefull waxith feable And therefore our lorde consyderynge oure tyme dothe saye in the gospel whan the sonne of man shall come thynkste thou that he shal fynde faythe vpon the earth we see it done that he fore tolde Fayth is and consisteth in the feare of god in the lawe of iustice in bilectyon and in workes No man doth thinke vpon the feare of the thynges that be to come No man considereth the day and wrath of oure lorde nor the paynes that shall come vpon the vnfaithful nor the eternal tormentes apointed for mysbeleuers the whyche thynges our conscience wold feare yf it beleuyd them but because yt beleueth not it feareth not at al. But yf it beleuyd I wolde take hede and beware yf it woulde beware it shuld auoyd skape them let vs asmuche as we may styrre vp our selues wel beloued brethren brekyng the slepe of our olde slothfulnes watch to obserue fulfyl gods commaundemeÌ„ts And lette vs be suche as he hath commaunded vs to be saying Let your loynes be gyrte aboute and your lyghtes brennyng and ye youre selues lyke vnto menne that wayte for theyr mayster when he wyll returne from a weddynge that assone as he commeth and knocketh they maye open vnto hym happy are those seruauntes whyche our lorde when he cometh shalfynd watchyng we muste be redy therefore leste that when the daye of expedition shal come he find vs intricate and vuredye Let our lyght gyue lyghte and shyne in good workes that the light it selfe may bring vs from the obscuritie and darkenes of thys worlde to the lyght of eternal clerenes that we may haue the fruition of the eternall peace and perpetual felicitie with christ whiche is the auctor of the true peace and with his holy angels our Lorde Jesu Chryste grauntyng the same whiche with the father and the holy ghoste doth lyue and reigne worlde without ende Amen ¶ Of exchuynge and anoydyng of ebrietie and dronkennes Ser. xiiii ALthongh dere brethren I do beleue yâ— thorough yâ— mercy of GOD yâ— doo feare the vyce of drunkennes euen as ye do feare the de pe pytte of hell and that ye youre selues wyll not drinke intemperatly nor ouermuch nor compel no nother maÌ„ to drynk more than nedeth yet it can not be but that there be some neglygent persons whych wil not be sober But yet I pray yoâ— that do lyue soberly not to be miscontent nor yet to blame vs for nedes we must blame and accuse al suche drunkardes For notwythstandinge my welbeloued brethren that drunkennes be a greauous vyce and muche odious before God yet among manye it is throughout al the world so customably and commeÌ„ly vsed that they which wil not know gods commaundemeÌ„tes thinke and beleue it to be no synne Insomuch that at all theyr bankettes they doe laugh them to scorne that caÌ„ not drynke and quafe al out And thorowe an enuyous loue and amitie they are not ashamed to adiure inforce men to drinke more then suffiseth Truelye it were a lesse faute for hym that maketh a man drunken to wound him and to cut hys fleshe wyth a sword than to kyll and murder his soule with superflutie of drynke And forasmuch as oure bodyes are made of earth and that the earthe by longe and to much continuannce of raygne is made moyste and so resolued into myre and durte that it cannot be tylde nor so wen so in lyke wyse whan our fleshe is to muche moysted with drynke it cannot receaue spyrytuall culture nor tyllage nor bring forth the necessarye frutes of the soule And therefore as al men do desire sufficient raine for theyr feildes to execeyse tyllage withal and to reioice in the aboundaunce of fruitâ— and corne so in
Pray you my most dearely and welbeloued brethren that with all our studye diligence we call to oure remembraunce whi and wher fore we be named and called Christians and whi we bere the crosse of Christ in our fore heades For truely we ought to know that it is not suffici ente to receaue the name of Christen men excepte we do the workes of Christians For what doth it auaile saith our lorde to call me lord lord yf ye fulfyll not my commauÌ„dementes yf thou name thy selfe a Christen souldear and contynuallye doste blesse thy self with the crosse of Christ and after thyne habylitie and substannce doeste no almes dedes nor regardest not charitie iustice nor chastitie thy christen name shall nothyng auayle the. The sygne and crosse of Christe is a thynge moste excellent and therfore with this moste pretious signacle and seale that thynge whiche is mooste precious ought to be sealed For what doth it auayle or profyte the to make a seale of a rynge of golde yf thou close putrified and rotten strawe therein Or what doth it auauntage vs to weare or to haue the crosse of Chryste in our foreheades and mouthes and in wardly in our soules to haue and hyde synne he that thinketh euel speaketh euell and yf he that blesseth hym â—elfe wyll not amend hys synnes decreace not but rather augment and increace There be that when they goo aboute theft or adultery yf they stuÌ„ble neuer soo lytle they doe blysse theÌ„ selues but yet they staye not them selues frome theyr euell workes and purposes Nor the wretches perceaue not that in so doinge they do rather include the deuyll then that they exclude hym But he whiche throughe the ayde of god doth reiecte and repell all vitious and synfull lyuinge and stryuethe bothe to thinke vpon that is good and to do good he doth well and iustlye blysse his mouthe with the sygne and token of the crosse and endeuer hym selfe to doo suche workes as shall deserue and meryte to haue and to receaue that sygne and token of the crosse For it is written The kyngedome of heauen is not in wordes but in power and good workes And agayne fayth with out good workes is dead in it selfe Therefore leaste that peraduenture we haue not this Chrysten name to oure ayde and amendment but to our vtter damnation and de struction let vs whiles that we haue remedy and help in our owne handes retourne vnto good workes And to the eutent ye may throughe the helpe of God accomplysh and doe those thynges loke that there be peace and concorde amonge you and that ye reduce and brynge those that are at stryfe and debate to peace and vnytiâ— Auoyde and flye allesyngs Excheue periury as perpetuall mortal death And aboue al thinges loke that after youre habilitie as is aforesayde ye ex hibite geue your charitie to the poore and nedy and that ye offer vp your oblations to be consecrated vpon the aulter Loke that ye canne saye poure beleife and the lordes prayer and that ye teache your chyldren the same For I maruell very muche howe they dare be so holde as once to name them selues christians that do dissimble to saye a fewe verses onelye of theyr crede or of the lordes praier Like wise ye shall vnderstaÌ„d that for those children the whiche ye do Christen ye are as suerties vnto God and therefore be circumspecte to correcte and chasten aswell those whiche ye do Christen as your owne naturall chyldreÌ„ that they maye liue chastly soberly and iustly And beware that youre lyfe be such that youre chyldren yf they wyl folowe you burne not in the eternall fier but that they may approch and come with you to the perpetuall blysse of heauen Take you heede that do here and iudge mens causes that ye iudge ryghteously and that ye take no gif tes of the poore For gyftes doe blynde wyse mens hartes and dooâ— chaunge alter the wordes of the prudent wyse lest peraduenture whiles ye get and heape vp monye ye lese youre soules For no man can gette vnlawfull gaine without laweful paine and damage for where is luker there is losse luker in the cheste and damage in coÌ„science Let no man drinke to be dronken nor compell anye other at hys table to drinke more than nedeth lest that throughe ebrietie droÌ„kennes he lese both his owne soule and theyrs also Loke that ye come together to the churche vpon the sonday for yf the wretched Jewes doe kepe and sanctifye theyr sabboth daye with such deuotioÌ„ as one that day they wyl do no earthly worke at all how muche more shulde we christen men on the sundaye geue applye our mindes to gods seruyce to come to that church for the salute saluatyon of our owne soules And when ye come together praye for the remission of your synnes Make no stryfe there nor no debate for who so commyng to the churche doth so he tho rowe debate doth wound hurte hym selfe there where he myght haue healed holpen him selfe by prayer And beyng in the churche beware and loke that ye braule not but that ye paciently do listeÌ„ and take good hede to youre diuine seruyce For he that doth iangle or bable in the church shall geue an acountes and rekenyng aswel for other as for him selfe because he wold neyther here GODDES sworde nor yet suffer other men to here the same Loke that ye truly pay your tithes to the churche And let hym that was proude waxe humble that was lecherous wax chast that was wont to siele or to inuade other mens goodes gyue his charitie to the poore Lette hym that hathe bene enuious be beneuolent and gentle that hath done iniurye be ready and quicke to aske forgeuenes and that he to whoÌ„ iniurye was done vnto be preste and readye to forgyue As ofte as any infit mitie or sickenes doth chauÌ„ce amonge you let him that is diseased receaue the holy coÌ„munion of the verye bodye and bloude of Chryst and afterwardes be aneled that scripture may be fulfylled in hymsayinge yf anye man be sycke let the preist be sente for to anointe hym to praye ouer hym and the prayer of fayth shall saue the sycke and God shall rayse hym vp and yf he be in synne they shal be forgeuen hym Take heede and marke nowe good brethren that he the whiche in his syckenes wyl resort vnto the churche may obtayn bodely health and receaue the forgeuenes of synnes Seynge then that double goodnes and benefite mai be fouÌ„d and obteyned in the churche whi do these wretches labor by inchaunters by fountaynes by trees by diuilysh philaters be caracters by dyuiners and sothesayres to induce much mischeife among the people But as I haue sayde vnto you before looke that ye do admonish warne your chyldren and all youre housholde to liue chastly and ryghteously prouokyng and sturringe them to good workes not onely by wordes but
vi Ser. HOly scripture doth often times exhorte vs to fiye to the remedye and medecin of confessioÌ„ not that because that God hath anye nede of our confession vnto whome all that we thinke speake or do is cleare and at hand but because we can not be otherwise saued except that we being penitente do penitently confesse that we negligentelye haue coÌ„mitted Sathan shal not accuse him agayne at domes daye that dothe here of his sinful dedes and vngodly life accuse him selfe so that he be confest and penitently doth leaue and forsake them renueth them not agayne Confesse your sinnes say the S. James one to another and praye one for another yâ— ye may be saued And the Apostle Paule sayth Confession with the mouth is to oure saluation And Salomon sayeth thus of the confession of sinnes he that dothe hyde and cloke hys synnes shall so rowe but he that dothe confesse his faults and forsaketh them shall obteine mercy It is a ryght good medecyne of saluation not to renew our olde mâ—dedes nor to refresh the skarres of our old woundes For S. Ihon sayeth yf we confesse our synnes God is faithful and iust to forgeue vs and to clense vs from all iniquitie Dauid sayeth lyke wyse I sayd that I wold coÌ„fesse mine iniquitie and vnrighte wisenesse agaynste myself and thou diddest remitte the wickednes of my synne Lette the synner confesse his sinnes whilest he lyueth for hereafter is no frutefull confession nor no penaunce that shal profyte to saluation Se nowe is the time of healthe nowe is the acceptable time nowe is the tyme of remission for those that are penytente For why after deathe shal be the tyme of punysshement for those that were negligente to confesse them of theyr iniquities All wickyd and sinneful personnes haue bitter penaunce in paine and torment but yet it doth profyte them nothinge vnto remission for theyr conscience doth wryng them to the encrease and augmentation of the paine that they do suffer They myghte by coniÌ„ession haue escaped the bitternes of theyr tormentes and payne but they dyd not regarde it And therfore as they are outwardly troubled with fire so they are inwardly vexed with the remorse of conscieÌ„ce How caÌ„surgion heale the would the which the pacieÌ„t is ashamed to shewe God dothe desyre our confession that there by he might haue a ful and a perfect knowledge of our misde des He that is ashamed to di close and to confesse hys sinnes shall haue God both his iudge and hys punysher A man shall do best to iudg him selfe in this worlde leste that God here after iudge him to perpetuall payne and tormeÌ„t Euerye sinfull man ought to haue double sorowe in penaunce fyrste that throughe his negligeÌ„ce he did no good and agayne that throughe a certayne boldnes he committed that thing which was euyll That he shuld not haue done he did that he shuld haue done he did not Confession dothe iustifie confession doth geue remission of sinne Al hope of forgeuenes doth rest in confession confession is a worke of mercy the verye health of those that be sicke and wyth penaunce our onely help and comfort whose land praise the Lord doth declare in the gospel saying Do penaunce for why the kingdom of god doth drawe â—yghe And S. Ihon the baâ—tiste dothe saye Do ye worthy workes of penaunce Worthye workes of penaunce are to be wayle the sinnes that are past and to renewe them no more As it is written lâ—ke thou adde nor heape not sinne to sinne And our Lorde by the Prophete Esaias doth saye Washe ye and be cleane He is wasshed cleane that doth bewail that is past approcheth no more vnto them He is wasshed not cleane that doth lament his misdedes and afterward renueth that he lameÌ„ted Of these menne S Peter doth speake most terribly sayinge A dogge returning to his vomite O my child sayth holy scripture hast thou coÌ„mitted sinne do no more so but pray that the old maye be forgeueÌ„ thee True penaunce is not iudged by the nuÌ„ber of yeres but by the bitternes and heuines of the mynd S Peter by and by obteyned of God the forgeuenes of his synnes because he lamented most bitterlye that he had thryse denied hym And notwithstanding a mans penauÌ„ce be but shorte yet if it be done with the inward bitternes of the mind God the righteous iudg coÌ„sidering the secretnes of maÌ„s heart will not despise it For god doth not so much require the continuaunce of time as he doeth ponder the will and the sincere mind of him that repenteth doeth penaunce For he that with al his heart minde doth trust in Christ although he departe and dye with much sinne yet his faith shall lyue for euer as GOD in hys holye Gospell doethe saye I am the resurrectyon and lyfe whosoeuer beleueth on me thoughe he were deade yet shall he lyue and whosoeuer lyuethe and beleueth on me shall neuer dye He doth speake of yâ— death of the soule the which shal happen and chaunce vnto man through the infirmities and fraylnes of synne God of his nature is mercyful and ready to saue al those by mercye the whiche he can not fynde to saue by iustyce He woulde that euerye man shulde be saued and that no man shuld peryshe saying by the Prophere that whansoeuer a synner dothe conuerte hym selfe that he shall lyue not dye And notwithstandyng we are all wicked synners yet yf we turne to penaunce let vs not doute but that throughe the mercye of God we shall obtayne the remission of al out iniquities sinnes The mercy of GOD doth helpe and succour those that in this world be peniteÌ„t do penaunce For penauÌ„ce in the worlde that is to come where euery man shal geue an accouÌ„ts of his owne workes dothe not preuayle Penaunce must be done in this worlde for after our death is none amendemente ¶ Of auriculare confession vii Ser. MEn are wont to saye moste dearely beloued brethren that God knoweth al thinges and that with god there is nether time past nor tyme to come for he seeth al thyng and pondereth all thinge all thinges are bare open vnto God Why will God then say they that we shulde coÌ„fesse our sinnes to man were it not better not to manifeste and disclose such euyl dedes then to open them abroade for who is he that wold glad lye saye I haue trespassed aboue al other And yf I shuld shewe all thing vnto manne I shuld be estemed the worst of all other many throughe mine example wuld do much euil Why should a man then coÌ„fesse hymself to any other O thou man docite thou not know that we ar al sinuers for if we say that we be with oute synne we deceaue oure selues and the trueth is not in vs. We do al sinne we are all borne in synne we
time to do penaunce but incontynently offerd vnto GOO the sacryfice of an huÌ„ble and of a coÌ„trite heart And if afterwards he hadde continued in his humylytye the mercye of GOD had neuer forsaken him Also kyng Manasses was so wycked as it is wrytten of hym that he replenished the whole citie of Hierusalem with al in iquitie yet after that he was taken put in prison he throgh greate penaunce and muche humilitie dyd so obtayne the grace and fauour of god that he merited to be numbred accepted amoÌ„g the frendes good louers of god And after that thesinneful Magdalene the which wasshed Christes fete with her teares wype them with her heare knewe that the heauenlye Phisition was come she went into Simons house vndesired she that before was bold prompt shameles vnto all vnthriftines was nowe more bold to be saued and therefore she deserued to heare that all her synnes were forgeuen her Nor this woman prolonged not to dâ— penaunce but why lest she might sinne she did so leue of to sinne that no necessirie but her owne voluntary will withdrue her from her misliuing We might find manye mo in holy scripture the which through doinge of penaunce after their infinite innumerable crymes prouoked and caused god to be mercifull and gratious Lord vnto them the which did not only returne to their first estate and condition but to a much better But forasmuch as it were a very longe thinge to speake of al these fowre whiche we haue recited spoken of al sufficient to know that the lorde the which forgaue Dauid after so great a sinne and the sacrilegius Kynge Achab and that after so innumerable iniquities reputed penitent Manasses to be his frende and forgaue the sinful Magdalen which did wash his fete with her teares and did wipe theÌ„ with her heare al her sinnes is ready not only to forgeue vs oure mysdedes and trespasses yf we returne vnto hym but also to geue vs eternall beatitude rest euerlasting Therfore mi good brethren let vs thynkyng vpon those thynges la boure with Gods helpe as much as we maye possible that no deadly sin crepe in amoÌ„ge vs but yf so be there be any that througe that deceytfulnes of the deuil are ouerthroweÌ„ or east into this euill let him or euer any such crimes by a coÌ„tynual custome do encrease seke for remedy and laboure wyth greate sorowfulnes of hearte to be reconsiled to wyn the fauour of almightye God againe Nor let him not be ashamed to do penaunce that was not ashamed to synne but stryue incontinently thorough godly operation to a mende him selfe that he may be knowen and accepted of the father amonge hys chyldren leste that he exclude hym from the eternall blysse and eiecte him from the heauenly banket and bouÌ„d both hand and foote caste him into the exterioure darkenes where is waylyng and gnasshyng of teth and that he reuoked and throughe the medecines of penaunce humilytie and coÌ„punction restored to hys olde estate and helthe agayne and adourned wyth the perylls of good workes maye meryte to heare these wordes O my good and faythfull seruaunt enter and come into the ioye of thy lord Amen ¶ Of almose dedes Ser. ix _ 〈◊〉 My most derly beloued brethreÌ„ haue monished you presumed too geue you couÌ„sell to do and to geue almose And although my admonition hath God willing profyted manye a one yet I feare me leste there be that do lesse then they may or els nothing at all But some wyll say vnto me I am a poore man not able to do any almose dedes But because that no poore man shoulde excuse himselfe from doing of almose dedes our Sauiour hath promysed to rewarde vs for a cuppe of colde water Sayst thou theÌ„ that thou arte poore Yf thou haue in substaunce no more then wil resonably find thee then thy onely good wil is sufficiente But I pray the exactly to examen thy conscience whether that at tymes peraduenture thou haste not lost through superfluous drinking thatthou mightest haue geueÌ„ in almose or lest that in earthe thou haste consumed through gluttoni that thou shuldest with almose and charitable dedes haue layd and treasured vp in heauen or lest by preparynge of delycate welfare and byinge of superfluous araye and apparell thou hast not nowe the thing that thou sholdest haue to geue vn to the poore for the saluation and redemptyon of thy soule And notwithstandynge our galaunte and pretious araye is wont to be consumed and mothe eaten yet the neadye can not obtayne nor get the thinge that is moost vyleste Yf all these impediments theÌ„ do not aggrauat nor burden our soules or yf we haue the thinge whiche onelye suffysethe vs and oures we shall not then appere to be in faut and guty although we geue nothing to the poorer but yf luxuriousnes and super fluitie as I haue sayde doo deuoure and consume that charitye and mercy myghe haue tresured vp in heauen let vs then whyle tyme is amende oure selues and â—â—udye to recompence and wyth all oure myght to fulfyl that we haue not done or perchaunce that we haue done but far other wyse and lesse then we shuld haue done And therfore help thy selfe O thou christen maÌ„ that doeste reade and heare these thynges with Daniels most holy counsel Accept my counsel sayth he and redeme thy soule with almose charytable dedes The whyche counsell yf thou wylt not lysten to and heare thou shalte call vpon God but in vayne O thou soule that doste inhabite and dwell within these carnal frayle wales watch praye aske seke and knocke I say watch asking pray sekyng and knocke workyng The Lorde shall aunswere thee that doeste watche and aske sayinge beholde here I am If thou wylt pearce and go thorowe the fire thy lorde God is with thee the flame shall not burne the. For why as water doth quench fire eueÌ„ so doth almose dede quenche synne Therefore yf thou wylte open thy hande to the poore Chryste shall open hys gates vnto the that as a possessioner of heuen thou maist enter come in And yf thou thynke that the ende of the worlde be long a commynge loke onely vpon thyne owne ende and beholde howe the worlde by a lytle and a lytle doth consume and vanish Al thynges whyche were good are gone and taken away such euyll as neuer was doth approche The thing that the word of God dyd pronostycate is dayly accomplished fulfilled yet that notwithstandynge man doth nother chaunge nor amend Therefore take counsel whilest that thou hast thy redemption in thyne owne hande geue and distribute vnto thy selfe that is thyne whyleste it is thyne For the thinge that thou doest possesse and hold is but frayle and bryttle â–ª and other mens that thou doeste loke for Consider what maner of pryce the Lorde payde for thee he shedde hys pretyous bloude
penaunce do not helpe what shall become of thys manne Or what shal be hys iudgement in tyme to come that in thys worlde was not worthy to receaue the benediction and to be blessed with his spouse And note thys my brethren yf they which haue no wyues throughe kepyng of concubines or medling with other mens wyues be in soo greate daunger what shall they most vnfortunates thinke of them selues that perchaunce haue wyues and yet commytte adulterye and throughe a certayne madnes do despere of the iudgement of GOD nor feare not the paynes of hell nor drsire not the eternall reward Uerely yf they were in true and perfecte fayth they wold beleue in God and feare the iudgement that is to come And this may wel be proued that all suche do beleue and truste more in man then they do in God for where they do see perceaue that men be there they do feare to committe adultery but to do it secretlye where God doth see it they feare not But yf they had neuer soo lytle a sparke of true fayth as they suffer not their seruauntes to trespas in their owne syght and presence so woulde they not presume to do and committe adulterye in the presence and syghte of the Lorde their God But of these speaketh the holy goost by the Prophet The vnwise man sayde in his hearte and mynde there is no God For thys is withoute peraduenture that he beleuethe not yâ— there is a God whych secretlye dothe those thynges in gods syghte and presence the which he feareth to do in the presence and sight of manne But that wrtche knowethe not that the face and anger of God is vpon al those that do euyll to destroye them for euermore But perchaunce some do saye thus howe can I that throughe my greate busynesse or by the kynges commaundement am absent from my wyfe so manye monethes or yeares kepe chastitie Unto thys I maye geue thys aunswere that he retourne home vnto hys wyfe But when I aunswere the merchaunt so he sayeth that yf he leaue of the feate of merchaundise he shal not be able to lyue The man of warre doth saye yf I departe from the hooste the kynges maiestie wyll be discontente wyth me But vnto these a manne may saye that yf he feare the kynge and vpon that occasyon retournethe not home to his owne wyfe he oughte soo to feare God that he touche nor coÌ„pany with none other mans for as the kynge maye put hym to death â–ª that returneth home from the hoost to hys wyfe without lycence so maye god punyshe hym perpetuallye that beynge farre from hys wyfe commytteth adulterye I praye you good brethren yf soo be that anye of you through your necessary busynes or by the kinges commaundemente be at some tymes farre from your wyues why shoulde ye not lyue so longe in chastitie for the loue of God and yâ— welth and saluation of your soules Doth thy busines the kinges commaundemente inforce the for so manye dayes not once to touche thy wyfe and the loue and precepte of God shall not perswade thee to touche none other mans but I woulde that all they that whiche for lucre sake onelye and ryches and at the kings commaundement do obserue and kepe these thynges and dyssemble to kepe them for Gods sake shoulde knowe that yf penaunce do not ayde and helpe them that they when they shal stande in iudgemeÌ„t before GOD can not escape froÌ„ hearing of heauye dolorous wordes for these wordes shal be sayde vnto them Gette you hence from me ye wycked and cursed people into eternall fyre And what a thynge is this that a â—olde champion goyng to battaile shall at some tymes peradueÌ„ture sleye no lesse then tenne of hys enemyes and committynge of adultery with some mayd taken in warfare doth murder his owne soule with the sworde of synne Consyder howe great an euyll it is that man should be more cruell to hym selfe murderynge hys owne soule throughe letcherye then to the bodyes of hys enimies by byctory Forsothe it is a dolorous and a lamentable thinge that he as I haue sayde who hathe victoriouslye ouerthrowen ten of hys enemyes shoulde be ouercome by a woman or that he which hath ouerthrowen so many of his enemies bodies should in hearte and soule be ouercome by a woman Surelye it is to greuous a thing that he whyche can not be ouercome with no weapon shoulde be subdued through bodely lust and pleasure or that swete and pleasaunte wordes shoulde ouerturne hym whome no hardnes could ouerturne or that he which disdayned to be the bondman of man shoulde me rite to be the bondemanne of synne when that it is a more vnworthye thynge to serue in minde then in bodye as it is wrytten for of whom soeuer a man be ouercome vnto the same is he in bondage Good brethren yf I shoulde not shewe you these thynges I should aunswere for youre selues at the daye of iudgemente But whosoeuer he be that is more desyrous to be greued or angrye wyth me then to amende hym selfe he can not now throughe ignoraunce excuse hym sayiuge â–ª that he was not monished of these thinges nor forbydden to do euyll nor prouoked by oft castigation and admoniti on vnto all suche thinges as should please God But I beleue that the mercy of god shall so inspire euerye neglygente person that they shall be muche more worthe and angrye with them selues theÌ„ with the preistes good medeeynes and admonytyons And as the sycke and weake persons doo require bodelye helth of the carnall phisition so shall they require and demauÌ„de soule helth of the spy rituall and goostlye Phisityon But I do hope and trust that throughe the mercye of God they shall soo studye to comforte chere vs by theyr good amendement that they shall come moste prosperouslye God willinge to the eternall rewarde and lyfe euerlastynge Amen ✚ Of the fire of purgatory howe it purgeth not mortall but veniall synnes WE haue herd my derely be loued brothreÌ„ the Apostle saying in the apostolicaliesson that no man caÌ„ laye anye other fundatioÌ„ then that which is laid which is Jesus christ if any maÌ„ bild on this fundatioÌ„ gold siluer preciusstones timber hay or stoble euerye maÌ„s worke shall apere For the daye of our lord shall declare it it shal be reueled shewed in fier And the fyre shal proue and try euery maÌ„s worke what it is yf any manes worke that he hath bylde vp on byde he shyll receaue are warde yf anye mans worke burne he shal suffer losse but he shal be safe him selfe neuertheles yet as it were thorow fyre Ther ar many that misse vnderstaÌ„dinge this lessoÌ„ are thrugh a certen false securitie deceuyd â–ª beleuinge that yf they bild vpoÌ„ the fundatioÌ„ of christ criminal mortal sinns that these sinnes maye be purgyd by this traÌ„sitory fire that afterwardes they shal come to perpetual eternal life But this
auayle them that with these euylles doe that good is For it is true that that Apostle sayeth a lytle leuen so wreth the whole lompe of dowe And this Ye can not dryncke of the cuppe of God and of the cup of the deuyles ye canne not be pertakers of Gods table and of the table of deuylles And he sayth No man can serue two maysters Therfore if christen men doe loke thoroughe the grace of God to be saued they muste make no vowes to no trees nor praye to no fountaynes yf any man therefore haue in his feildes in his house or ny vnto his house trees alters or anye other vayne thynge where the poore wretched symple people are wonte to make theyr vowes and doth not hewe them downe and destroye them he is and shall be partaker of al such witchcraftes and sorcery as is and shal be committed there And what a thinge is thys that whan anye suche tree vnto yâ— which they were wonte and accustomed to do sacrifice do fall that no man dare gether it to make them fier wythal I pray you to behold mark the wretchednes and the folyshnes of man the which doyng honor to dede trees despise gods commaundemeÌ„ts They dare not burne that brauÌ„ches of trees yet throughe inchauntmentes they caste them selues hedlyng into hel fyer And therefore let hym which hetherto hath not don this euyll reioyce be gladde thanke god therefore striue to continue faithfully in good workes But let him that hetherto hath delyuered hym selfe vp to be entangled and taken with suche deuelyshe enorme fashions let hym I say do penauÌ„ce fly withal feare despyse those foresayde witchcraftes that god maye forgeue hym and for the glorye of hys name cause him to come to the euerlasting blesse of heauen And forasmuch as it is come to my knowledge that as yet there are some that which throughe symplycytye and ignoraunce or elles thoroughe glutteny the whiche thinge is mooste to be beleued feare not nor are not ashamed to eate of suche sacrilegius meates as are yet after the vse custom of Paganes offered vp bewitched I denunce and streightly coÌ„maund you before god hys aungels yâ— ye haunt nor com no more to no such diabolical dinners made in any temple or at any fountayne or tree And like wise yf any thing be sente you from thens feare it and as thoughe you saw the deuyll refuse it and so refuse it that ye suffer no maner of parte of such sacrilegius bankets to be exhibited or broughte into your houses that because of this sayinge of the Apostle ye cannot sayth he drynke of the cup of god and of the cuppe of deuylles ye can not be pertakers of gods table and of the table of Deuylles And because some are wont to saye or euer I eate therof I dooblesse me let no maÌ„ presume to do so For how doth he that eateth of suche sacrilegius and wicked meates blesse his mouth that put teth a sworde to hys owne hearte For as the bodye is slayne with the sworde soo is the soule slayne with such deuelyshe and wycked meates But we truste in the mercye and goodnes of God that he wyll vouchesafe so to inspire and inflame you to goodnes that the wickednes of the deuyl nether in other thinges nor yet in these sacrilegyus obseruations and sorceryes shal not come among you but that ye shall fasten and set all your hope in God nor neuer returne agayne to these wycked abhominations our lord Jesus Chryst whose empyre and honor is infinyte grauntynge the same So be it ¶ Of the true paymente of tythes Ser. xvi GOd my derely be loued brethreÌ„ being merciful vnto vs the time aprocheth draweth on to gather in our haruest And therfore with thaÌ„kes vnto god the hath geuen vs al let vs thinke vpon our offringes true payment of oure tythes For God which hath vouchsafed to geue vs all doth also vouchesafe to repeate and to aske vs tythes nor yâ— for hys owne gayne and vse but for our gayne and profit For he doth promyse vs by the Prophete sayeng Bryng in sayth he all your tythes into my barnes that there maye be meate in my house and proue me sayth the Lorde in these thynges whether I shal not open vnto you the caractes and the cloudes of the skye geue you frute aboundantlye See now I haue proued howe that tythes do profytte vs more then they do profite the Lorde O ye imprudente and vnwise people what euil thing doth God commaunde that he should not be worthy to be hearde he sayeth thus Thou shalte not delay to offer vp vnto me the tythes of thy barne and of thy wynepresse Yf it be sinne to be tar dius and slow in offering vp and paying thy tythes how great a trespasse is it to offer none at all He sayeth againe Honor and worshyp thy lord God with the frute gayne of thy true and iuste laboure Do sacrifice and offer vnto him of the first and chefest of al thine encrese that thy barnes may be replenished with corne and that thy winepresses may redounde and flowe ouer with wine Thou doste not geue that thing frely nor yet without gayne that sone after thou shalte receaue a gayne with great lucre Per adueÌ„ture thou dost demauÌ„d To whom shal that thing be profitable that God doth rereaue to restore agayne And againe thou dost aske me To whose profite it redoundeth that is geuen vnto the pore If thou beleue wel it is thine owne vtilitie and profite but yf thou wauer be in doubt thou hast lost it Tithes good brethreâ—ar the tribute of the indigente and poore people therfore geue the poore their tribute and the preistes their offeringes And if perchauÌ„ce thou haue no tythe corne as hath the husbandman then thy witte and thy haÌ„dy craft wherwith thou dost sustaine thy selfe is Gods and of that thing thou doest gayne get thy liuyng withall he doethe aske require tithes Geue him the tithes of thy wages and lucre which thou doeste gayne in warfare the tythes of thy merchaundise and of thy handy crafte For why it is a diuerse thinge that we geue and paye for the earthe than that we geue for the vse of our life Therfore o thou maÌ„ geue it because thou dost possesse it geue it because thou hast deserued to be borne for the Lord sayth thus Euerye man shall redeme his soule there shall be no sycknes nor no misaduenture among theÌ„ Thus thou hast in holye scripture Gods owne wrytinge wherwith he doth promise yâ— yâ— yf yâ— pay thy tythes thou shalte not onely haue aboundaÌ„ce of frute corne but also that helth of bodye Thy barnes sayeth he shal be full of corne thy wyne presses shall redounde with wine and there shal be no sickenes amonge you Seinge then that by the true paynge of tythes thou mayeste meryte both
is duly celebratyd But yet it is not alway made vnto those by whom it is made Where vpon is that also in the canon That as many as shal receaue of thys partycypatyoÌ„ of yâ— alter the sacrameÌ„t of thy sonne may be replenyshed with al beueÌ„lye grace benediction For why al that receue the body of our lorde by thys pertytypation of the alter ar not spiritualy replenished with yâ— heuenly grace and benediction Wherof is this that we for that yâ— we do teÌ„porally may obtayne eternal ioye And also That we may obtaine the thinges with an inuisyble effect whych we perceiue to be receyued with vysible misteries And many other saiengs after this sorte maner This sacrameÌ„t therfore the which is reposyd eueÌ„ froÌ„ the beginning eternallye hyddeÌ„ from the deuyl reuelid vnto the prophets coÌ„mited to yoursolicitude is to be folowyd with dew thaÌ„kes O your holy and celestiall mistery O laudable desyre O noble spectakle O soleÌ„ne miraclc God which in al things is wuÌ„derful is shewed as coÌ„cerniÌ„g you more maruelous thaÌ„ hun self whilst that by you he workethe things of more marnel what shal I sai sore O ye preistes of God blesse ye the Lord doinge the thynges that maye plese god lest that be to your raine that is prouyded to the worthy receuer for helth and saluation I shall not call your gods preistes without a cause yf in the house of god ye do liue preistly For why that dignitie coÌ„meth not in thys name because he is a preist I say not of the name but of vertue of coÌ„uersation not of the office of meritte not of the word of holynes not of the mistery For scripture sayeth we that haue many prestes seke for preistly men many I saye in number not in merit in dissimulatioÌ„ not in fayth in forme not in vertue in corral coÌ„mixtion and not in spirytuall band in the coÌ„nuiction of the fleshe not in the vnitie of heart Theyr handes be wasshed but theyr workes be vnwasshed They come vnto the diuine sacrifices with blody conciences They eat without feare reuereÌ„ce the fleshe of the Babe the which sitteth in heuen as the fleshe is solde in the market They do not assist staÌ„d at the alter as prests but as butchers in that shaÌ„bles This degre certenly is a casual degre it is a iudicial degre thys anointid dignite is not clarifide but by merits by no bilife of maners exercyse of vertu by the instauÌ„ce of good works Therfore my derelye belouid dig vp your housold wals that is set your herts vpoÌ„ your wais go about asmuch ye may quickly to redeme the thinges wherin ye haue offeÌ„ded for the dai of our lord shal come euen lyke a thefe And as there is no thing more cer ten than death so ther is nothyng more vncerten thaÌ„ the houre of death vpon the whiche thynk ye as it is worthy to be thought vpon watch ye circumspecly to thynke vp on it The which thing shal be to the honor of god to the ioy of angells a sauer vnto life to your subiectes and to you a crowne of eternal life In the whych thyng Chryst mynystryng the helpe of his grace vouchsafe to here his anoiÌ„ted the which lyueth raygneth world without ende Amen ¶ Imprinted at LondoÌ„ in Poules Churchyarde at the sygne of the holy goost by John Cawoode Printer to the Kyng and Quenes maiesties ¶ A declaracion of the Almanacke ¶ The golden number xix ¶ The Cycle of the Sunne xxvi ¶ The Sonday letter ¶ Betwene Christmas and shrouetide ix wekes and two dayes ¶ Ashewednesday the thirde day of Marche ¶ Easter day the. xviii of Apriell ¶ The Ascention day the. xxvii of May. ¶ Whitsonday the. vi of June ¶ Good to take purgations all the daye in this sygne ✚ ¶ In the mornyng in this ⊣ ¶ In the euenynge in this ⊢ ¶ Good to let bloud all the day in this ✚ ¶ In the mornyng in this ⊣ ¶ At after none in this ⊢ ¶ Good to sowe in this signe S. ¶ To set plant and graffe in this P. ¶ The daies dauÌ„gerous to begin any thing * ¶ The newe moone in this signe ◠¶ The first quarter in this ☽ ¶ The full mone in this â ¶ The last quarter in this ☾ ¶ Ye shall finde in what day the sonne entreth in any of the. xii signes ¶ Also in what signe and in what degree the moone is euery day at noone ¶ Also when the Terme beginneth and endeth ¶ To confort the vertue naturall attractife Aries Leo Sagittarius ¶ To comfort the vertue natural retentise Taurus Uirgo Capricornus ¶ To confort the digestife Gemini Libra Aquarius To confort the expulsyue Cancer Scorpio Pieces ¶ Also the chaunge and disposition of the wether be marked vpon euery quarter of the mone ¶ In this yeare we shall haue no Eclipse of the Sunne nor of the Moone 18 g simion episcopi 〈…〉 19 a Sabini et Juli. maâ— 18 pt ✚ 20 b Mildrede virgin 0 sa ✚ 21 C Lx. x. martirs 13 git ☾ The last quarter the .xxi. day at .x. of the clocke afore noone colde rayne winde East 22 d Cathedra petri 25 ta 23 e Locus bisexti Fast 8 ca 24 f Mathee apo ¶ Terme en 20 priâ— * 25 g Inuen off Paule 2 aqua p * 26 a 15 ra ✚ ✚ â— 27 b augustine 28 us ✚ ✚ â— 28 C oswalde inar 11 Pis ✚ ✚ ◠¶ Marche 1 d Dauid bishop 25 ces â— â—Newe moone the first day at thre a clocke 〈◊〉 min. morninge colde winde somwhat thoist 2 e chad bishoppe Aâ—â— 3 f martine ¶ Ascewenisday es â—â— 4 g adriani mar e Tau â—â— 5 a focas eusebii â— rus 〈◊〉 6 b victer pope 6 Ge â— 7 C perpetue et soci 〈…〉 ☽ First quarter the seueÌ„th day at .x. â—clok after noone winde somwhat moiste 8 d depo felix 4 〈…〉 9 e agapite vir 8 cer ✚ ✚ 10 f ymber daye le p * 11 g ¶ Sonne in Aries 10 o p 12 a gregori pape 9 vic S 13 b theodore matr 13 go s â— 14 C leo bishop 25 go 15 d longine mar 〈…〉 â Full moone the .xv. day at .iii. a clok .xlii. in s afore noone raine change dry 16 e Hilary 20 bra 17 f patricii bishop 2 scor * 18 g Edw. kyng 14 pi 19 a Josephsponsus 26 us ✚ 20 b cutbert abbot 8 sa ✚ 21 C benedicti abba 20 git ✚ 22 d aphrodesii bishop 2 ta S * 23 e theodori priest 15 pri s ☾ The last quarter the .xxiii. day at thre a clock before noone faire after moiste 24 f agapite Fast 28 cor s 25 g ¶ Annun or our lady 10 aqua ✚ ✚ p 26 a Castor martir 23 ◠✚ ✚ p 27 b 6 pis ✚ ✚ p 28 C Dorothe virgin 20 ces ✚ ✚ 29 d Uictorine 4 art ✚ 30 e quirine 18 es â— The