Newes out of heauen both pleasaunt ioyfull lately set forth to the great coÌ„solacion â–ª coÌ„forte of all christen meÌ„ By Theodore Basille ✚ Roma 10. ¶ O how beautyful are the feete of theÌ„ which briÌ„g y e glad tydiÌ„ges of peace shewe good and mery newes Ioan. 7. ¶ My doctryne is not myne but his that sent me If any man wyll do his wyll he shall knowe of the doctryne whether it be of God or whether I speke of my selfe â–ª He that speaketh of him selfe seaketh his owne prayse But whosoeuer seketh his prayse y t sent hym he is true no vnryghteousnes is in hym Ioan. 8. 〈◊〉 that is of God heareth the wordes of God Ioan. 18. Euery one that is of the truth heareth my voyce ¶ To the ryght worshypful Maister George Pierpount Theodore Basille wissheth continual health and prosperous felycite IF wyth studious atteÌ„t myndes we reade y â— moost sacred scriptures markyng wel such thiÌ„ges as make to our informacion learnynge erudicion â—nâ—â—ease of deuyne knowledge we shal easely without any difficulte perceaue that among al other vertues fruytes of y e spirite Christe â—ur LORDE Sauiour exhortethe â—s vnto none so moche as to loue â—harite In thys thynge sayeth he â—hal al meÌ„ know that ye are my dysâ—iples yf one of you loue another â—s though he should say other meÌ„s â—eruauÌ„tes are knoweÌ„ by theyr maysters cognisauÌ„ces I wil also y â— you whych are my disciples be knowne by my cognisaunce in lyke maner whych is loue comminge oute of a pure herte and a good coÌ„sieÌ„ce and a fayth not fayned And as Christ hym selfe dyd inculke beate in nothyng so moche as pure loue and ferueÌ„t charite so dyd the Prophetes Apostles in al theyr sermons wrytinges aboue all thinges exhorte men to mutual loue yea y t vnfayned as we maye se in theyr prophecies Epistles in somoch that S. Paule sayth that though he could speake w t the tonges of meÌ„ aungles yet had no loue he were eueÌ„ as souÌ„dyng brasse or as a tinglyng cymbal And though he could prophecie vndeâ—stond al secretes al knowledge and had al fayth so that he coulde moue mouÌ„taynes oute of theyr places had not loue he were nothiÌ„g And though he bestowed al his goodes to fede the poore yea though he gaue his body euen to be burnt yet had no loue it profyteth hym nothynge The excellencye of thys christen loue muste nedes be great inestimable seynge that w tout it no thing is acceptable in the syght of God though it be iudged of the world to be a worke of neuer so hye and singulare meryte Of this loue christ dyd prophecy that it shoulde waxe colde in y â— hartes of many nowe these last dayes that wickednes should abound 〈◊〉 plentuous Certes accordyng to hys prophecy whyche euer is true â—n asmoche as he is the selfe trueth â— caÌ„ not lye is it come to passe For â—f we consyther wel the maners of â—â—en at thys present we shal w tout â—oubte easely perceaue that thys chrysteÌ„ loue towarde God and our neyghbour reygneth but in the hertes of a few And that they haue no thynge lesse than that true workyng fayth which the holy scriptures coÌ„meÌ„d so hyghly in euery place For the christen fayth worketh by charite sayeth saynt Paule Nowe in asmuch as the fayth wher of so many hoste nowe a dayes worketh not this charite or loue in them it is manifest an euident argumeÌ„t that theyr fayth as S. Iames calleth it is a dead fayth y e is a fayth in name but not in dede Yf there were true liuish fayth thaÌ„ would it worke loue in theyr hertes both toward God theyr neighboures Agayne if ther were such a law as is the fulfyllynge of the loue than wold it whan tyme requireth and an occasyon is gyuen shewe forth it selfe by eternall operacyon Who can iustly affyrme y â— he loueth God yet worketh not his wyll nor yet walketh not in y e waye of hys moost godly coÌ„maundementes he y â— sayth I knowe hym kepeth not his coÌ„maundement sayeth saynte Ihon is a lier the trueth is not in him But he that kepeth his worde truly in him is y e loue of God perfecte Agayne thys is y e loue of God that we kepe his coÌ„maundementes Beholde S. Ihon sayth that the loue of God is in none but in them only whiche do his wyll Neyther do Christes sayenges dyffer from this If ye loue me sayeth he kepe my coÌ„maundemeÌ„tes He that hath my coÌ„maundementes kepeth theÌ„ he it is that louethe me If ony man loueth me he wyll kepe my word He that loueth not me kepethe not my wordes If ye kepe my commauÌ„dementes ye shall abyde in my loue Ye are my freendes yf ye do theyse thynges y â— I coÌ„maunde you Christ sayeth here playnely that whosoeuer hath an herty precordial loue toward hym kepeth his coÌ„maundementes but yf any do the contrary surely he loueth not christ How than may theyse men be recounted iudged to loue Christ whan they go not about to fulfyll one poynte of his worde Hys worde is that they shoulde loue him w t all theyr herte mynde soule streÌ„gth but in y e stede of him they loue them selues theyr carnall pleasures wordely vanyties the ende wherof is dampnacion His word is that they should honour reuerence Gods moost holy blessed name but they omittynge the iuste honour of it blaspheme it rayle on it wickedly sweare by it to y e great defasynge of gods glory so muche as lyeth in theyr power For thorowe theyr wickednesse the name of god is styl blasphemed railed vpon euel spoken of as the holy scriptures saye Yf christen princes do not shortely fynde some remedy to exyle banysh thys moost detestable haynous abhomynable maner of swearyng out of theyr realmes Certes it is to be feared yea we may be certayne that God wyl powre out vpon vs his vengeauÌ„ce plage vs greuously although we haue not wanted nor yet dayly do dyuers tokens of hys fearce anger toward vs yet do we not repeÌ„t amend God is a ryghteous iudge God is euer threatenyng Yf meÌ„ wyll not turne he wyll whette hys sweard bend his bowe and make it redy He wyll prepare him the weapons oâ—â—ath orden his arrowes to 〈◊〉 Agayne his worde is that they shoulde sanctify the Sabboth day that is so to temperate theÌ„selues abstayne from wycked lustes that they maye quietly mediate in gods lawe read the holy scriptures giue them selues to deuyne conteÌ„placioÌ„ talke of serious matters praye to God for grace gyue hym thanckes for his benefytes visyte the sycke coÌ„fortles continually be gyueÌ„ to the
workes of y â— spiryte But what do they lesse the moost sacred holy Byble thankes be to God which hath brought these thiÌ„ges to passe by hys dearely beloued seruaunt our kynge HeÌ„ry the eyght a prince of famous renowne mortall glory whose graces hyghnes I mooste humbly beseche almyghtye God in whose handes the harte of â—uerye kyng is lyke as are y â— ryuers of water to turne it whyther so euer it shall be his pleasure to beutyfye w t the benefyte of ê‘petuall helth that his moost excellent maiesty liuing here among vs his faythfull subiectes the yeares of auncient Nestor or sage Tythonus maye styl continually auaunce promote let vp Christes moste blessed gospel to the glorye of God the saluacion of hys subiectes soules the immortalytye of hys graces mooste noble renowne the vtter confusyon of Antechrist and his kyngdome the moost sacred holy Byble I saye is nowe had amonge vs in our vulgare tonge frely permytted to be read of all men vniuersallye at tymes conuenieÌ„t wythout any let or perturbacion eueÌ„ in the churches but howe many reade it Uerely a man may come into some churches se y â— Byble so enclosed and wrapped about with dust eueÌ„ as y â— Pulpet in lyke maner is bothe w t duste coppe webbes that with his fynger he maye wryte vpon the Byble this Epitaphe Ecce nunc in puluere dor mio So lytle plesure haue these fylthy swyne currish dogges in that mooste sweate synguler treasure which is the meate of the soule the swearde of y â— spirite the tree of lyfe the lanterne to our fete the lyght to our pathes whiche also turneth soules gyuethe wisdome euen vnto babes reioysethe the herte gyueth lyght vnto the eyes is able to saue the soules eyther of the readers or hearers yf they seriouslye folowe it O cruell murtherers of theyr owne soules Uerely this is the coÌ„deÌ„nacioÌ„ that y e lyght is come into the world meÌ„ loue the darkenes more then the lyghte for theyr workes are euell Who so euer doth euell hatethe the lyghte and commeth not to the lyghte y â— his dedes should not be reproued but he that doth y â— trueth coÌ„meth to y â— lyghte y â— his workes maye be knowen y â— they are done by God Uerely I thynke the wrathe of god to be so whot agaynst vs y â— excepte we shortely repent receyue this glorious lyght of christes most blessed gospel which nowe is come amonge vs w t more thaÌ„kefull hertes thaÌ„ we haue done hytherto God wyll surely take it away againe froÌ„ vs throw vs iÌ„to more blynd darkenes than euer we were inuolued wrapped iÌ„ before He loued cursyng sayth y â— Psalmographe it shal come vnto him He would not haue the blessing therfore shal it be farre from hym The kyngdom of god shalbe taken from you sayeth Christ shalbe gyueÌ„ to such as shal brynge forth the fruytes of it Suche as thus wyckedly despyse Gods word are lyke to the old ydolaters vngodly rebellyoÌ„s the Iewes whiche had rather be in Egypt among y â— gresy flesh pottes than to be in the seruyce of god eatyng Manna y â— celestial Aungels foode But as they for theyr disobedient vnthaÌ„keful hertes were extremelye punyshed so shall theyse wycked Hypocrites except with al hast they repent turne And as they are necligeÌ„t in reâ—dyng y â— holy scriptures so are they also in deuout meditacion ferueÌ„t prayer They are coÌ„maunded they say to pray iÌ„ secret verely many of theÌ„ pray so secretly y â— neyther God nor maÌ„ knowe any thynge at all of theyr prayer o new kind of prayeÌ„g Howe they vysite the poore coÌ„fortles according to Gods precept theyr dayly maners do shew for to the ale house tauernes roÌ„ne they as flockes of shepe vpoÌ„ y â— SoÌ„dayes and other holy dayes so sone as seruyce is done yea many before it is begone because they are loth for to come to late wher they eate driÌ„ke swyl gul baÌ„ket ly swere tyl they be more lyke bruite beastes theÌ„ meÌ„ Yf they haue a ghostly learned curate which accordynge to his office would be glad to teach theÌ„ y e wyl of God hym do they hate they wysshe the pulpyt a colepyt They thynke it a huÌ„dreth yeare yf he preachethe but halfe an houre so litle pleasure haue these asse heades in hearynge the gloryous blessed word of god And wher as they should speÌ„d al theyr talke on godlynes suffer no fylthy comunicacioÌ„ to procede out of theyr mouthes theyr whole talk is nothiÌ„g els thaÌ„ lasciuious waÌ„toÌ„ vncleanly wordes hurting greatly the chaste eares of other And as for theyr pastymes they are such as rather moue entise to dishonesty than honesty What shal we nowe saye Is not the loue of many colde accordinge to Christes prophecy All seke theyr owne not that which is Iesus christes They loue the glory of men more theÌ„ the glory of God Thus se we that they haue no loue towarde GOD. For though they say y â— they knowe god yet w t theyr dedes they denye hym for so much as they are abhominable disobedient and vnmete to all good workes Nowe seynge that theyr loue is so colde toward God what is to be thought of theyr loue toward their neyghbour which necessarely folowethe of the loue of God Can floudes of water coÌ„tinually flowe oute of a place where there is no heade sprynge Neyther can y e true christen loue towarde our neyghboure be in that herte whiche is w tout all loue of God S. Ihoâ—Ì„ sayeth whoso euer loueth hym that begat loue hym also whyche was begotten of hym It foloweth therfore that for asmuch as they loue not god as we haue heard before neyther do they loue his creature For yf they dyd loue the creature of God I meane theyr neighbour surely they would expresse it by externall operacion outward dedes Colde is that fyre yea rather there is no fyre which coÌ„tayneth not in it y â— vertu streÌ„gth of burnyng SeÌ„blably cold is that loue yea rather it is no loue whiche contayneth not in it the vertu and strength of workynge The preest Leuyte as we read in the gospel of Luke sawe a man which was robbed wouÌ„ded so greuously that he was left half dead yet they moued with no coÌ„passion toward him passed by helped nothyng his miserable state But a Samaritane commyng that waye seynge the wouÌ„ded maÌ„ in so great misery sorowe payne was streyght wayes moued with pitie commynge vnto hym bounde vp hys woundes tenderly powred in oyle wyne layd hym vpon his beaste brought hym into an Inne and made prouyson for hym Nowe chaunsed it y â— all they thre seynge this man
honest wyues Oh the fearce wrathe of God that hangethe ouer our heades yf this hygh abhominacion be not shortly exiled frō amōg vs. Howe greatlye this vncleanes was punisshed in y ◠old law at gods cōmaundement it is not vnknowē to thē that w t attent myndes read the holy scryytures Yea God hym selfe oftentymes toke vengeaunce of y e fornicatours adulterers for theyr vncleanes What caused all the world sauynge eyght persones to be drowned but vnclenes what made Sodome Gomorme w t certayne other cytyes to be burnte w t fyre brīstone frō heauē but vnclenes What moued god to sley ī one day .xxiiij. M. of y ◠Israelytes but vncleanes Yf God at y t tyme dyd so cruelly punyssh this vncleanes let vs not thynke that we shall escape vnpunysshed nowe For he is styll that God that reioyseth not in wickednes Neyther can any vngodly person dwell w t hym nor the vnryghteous before his eies for he hatethe al y t worke iniquite More ouer this word abydeth euer true Neyther fornicatours nor adulterers nor weakelynges nor abusers of them selues w t mankynd shal in heryte y ◠kyngdom of God Agayne wedlocke is honorable amonge all mē the bed vndefyled But fornicators adulterers God shal iuge Therfore can not we escape except we repent leaue this great abhomynacion of fylthye vncleane lyuynge Thus se we euydentlye that the loue of oure neyghbour is colde in y ◠hertes of many euē as we hearde before of the loue of God For who can loue his neyghbour dissemble with him be vnmercyful vnto him couyt his goodes abuse his wife doughter or mayd These be manyfeste tokens not of loue but of hatred So y t we maye perceyue y ◠prophecye of Christe to be true whiche sayth that in the last dayes iniquite shal abound or be plenteous and the loue of many shall waxe colde Some men wyll meruayle peraduenture howe it cōmeth to passe y t the loue both towarde God our neyghboure shoulde thus decaye in these last dayes seyng that God is nowe no lesse beneficial gentle boūteous and mercyfull to vs than he hath ben in tymes paste to our predecessors And lyke gentlenes they saye deserueth lyke loue Certes so ofte as I consyther with my selfe y e great decaye of christen religion y e better subuerciō almoost of al godly lyuīg me thīke y t two thīges are the chiefe principall causes The fyrst is the want of y t knowledge of our selues The second the want of the knowledge of God For the first poynte of wisdom by the cōmon cōsent of all learned men is y e knowledge of our selues Nowe yf we do not knowe what we are of our selues verely we can neuer know god arighte nor yette haue anye delectacion or pleasure in hym And yf we do not delyght in hym how can we loue hym For who loueth that thyng wherin he hath no pleasure Therfore y e next moost redy way to make vs for to loue GOD is to lerne to knowe our selues Who felyng hymselfe sycke sette in great daunger of his helth desyrethe not the helpe of a Phisicion Yf we dyd knowe y ◠so many of vs as be borne of the seed of Adam be borne verye flesshe of flesshe vnpure vnhalowed abominable before GOD the sonnes of wrath wrapped in infynite errours set round about with corrupt affecciōs not able to thīke a good thought of our selues moch les of power to worke any goodnes breathing nothing but the fruytes of synne vnable eyther to thynke lust or employe oure selues to any good thynge but that is vngodly croked vnequall vnpure so that we se nothyng but y e fearce wrath the greuous iudgement y e extreme vēgeaūce of God sinne deth hel desperaciō laid out prepared for vs accordīg to our desertes yf we had this knowledge I saye of oure selues thā would we moost hūbly fal downe before our LORDE God comfessyng how beggerly miserable we are of our selues sekynge at his goodnes grace fauoure peace remission of synne tranquilite of conscience all confortable thynges y t shoulde make vnto oure saluacion yea than would we cōfesse that our destruccion commeth of our selues and that all our helpe commethe of God only Nowe in asmuch as the moost parte of mē wāt this knowledge of them selues therfore stand they well in theyr owne conceyte please them selues well make much of theyr owne actes be they neuer so vnpure These Iusticiaries thīk themselues ryghteous as y ◠proude arrogant Pharise dyd in the gospell of Luke therfore haue they no part of christes deth For Chryst sayeth I came not to call the ryghteous that is such as iustify them selues thīke y t they be made sufficientlye ryghteous by theyr owne good dedes merytes and desertes but synners to repentaunce And this want of the knowledge of thē selues makethe that they can not feale the goodnes of God nor perceaue wherfore christ serueth wherfore he was borne why he dyed for what cause he rose agayne And therfore is the loue of God colde in thē For yf they dyd knowe thē selues perfectely were perswaded y t theyr whole saluacion dependeth altogither of the goodnes of God the father thorowe Iesus Christe oure LORDE sauiour thā woulde they with all theyr herte loue God plese God delyte ī God seke y e glory of god aboue al thing Yea thā should this theyr loue towarde God be so feruent mighty in operaciō that euen of very loue agayne with a wyllynge spirite they shoulde loue theyr neyghbour euen as them selues employe al theyr diligence to accōplysshe Gods moost holy wyll that not of feare but of loue For perfecte loue casteth out feare And would God that al prechers woulde vse this trade maner in theyr sermons that is to saye fyrst teach men to know thēselues that they maye perceyue theyr owne misery wretchednes and damnacion Secondly declare vnto them that ther is no way to escape this great daunger but only to flye to Gods mercye there to seke remedy thorow Iesus christ Yf they dyd thus surely it would kyndle in mens hertes a meruaylous feruente loue towarde God an vnspekable redynes to walke in the LORDES pathe wayes and so hertely to loue theyr neyghbour that they would wyshe no lesse kyndenesse to theyr neyghbours thā to thē selues in al thinges do for them what soeuer lyeth in theyr power They woulde vndoutedly do all thynges for loue For whan they consithered y ◠great boūty of God toward vs perceyued that whan we were in a dampnable state he freelye of hys owne mere goodnes saued vs made vs heyres of eternall glory they could none otherwyse do but loue hym agayne employ them selues to accomplysshe that thinges that he cōmaundeth
whiche is to loue oure neyghboure and to walke in a new lyfe For what naturall man sheweth vnkyndnes for kyndnes Who hateth where he is loued MeÌ„ therfore hearynge this vnspekable loue of God towarde them muste nedes loue him agayne out of this loue orderly bryng forth a true vnfayned loue toward theyr neyghbour and an herty desyre to walke wythouâ—e spotte in the syght of so gentle and louynge a father Yf we marke wel the Epistles of the blessed Apostle saynt Paule we shall esely perceyue that he in lyke maner vsethe this trade aforesayde almoost in all his Epistles but chefely to the Romaynes Galathians and Ephestans I therfore ponderyng with my selfe but latelye y e great decaye of y â— christen religioÌ„ the vtter destruccion almooste of all godly lyuynge thoughte w t my selfe that I coulde not at this present bestowe y e smale talent that God hath credited and lent vnto me better more aptely to the auauncement of gods glory ediâ—icacion of his church than to compyle some lyâ—â—e treatyse oute of the holy scriptures whiche shoulde contayne in it these thynges aforesayd paint out as it were in a certayne table fyrst the knowledge of our selues and afterward the benefytes of God the father toward vs by Iesus Christ that men perceyuyâ—ge theyr owne abhominacion maye make the more haste to Gods goodnes whan they haue once tasted of that endeuour theÌ„ selues to walke worthy the kyndnes of god Thys thynge haue I done in thys worke folowynge accordynge as I trust to the pure vayne of the holy scryptures I haue entyteled the boke Ne. wes of heauen because it shewethe to vs the plesaunte ioyful confortable newes of Christe It openeth to vs aboundantly the syngular incomperable benefytes that we receyue of God thorowe Christ. The Ebuccinatour shewer declarer of these newes I haue made Gabriel the auÌ„gell Embassadour of God because that he fyrste of all brought tydinges of Christes incarnacion to the mooste pure cleane virgyne Marye I wyll not prayse the boke vnlesse I shoulde seme to hunte after vaynglory neither wyl I dispraise it vnlesse I myght seme rasshely without a cause to condeÌ„pne that which is worthy prayse coÌ„mendacioÌ„ of it selfe I leaue it therfore to y e iudgemeÌ„t of other that be ghostly learned taught of God Thys I dare boste y â— it contaynethe more true and christen learnyng than a great sorte of volumes y t we haue hyghly estemed in tymes paste He that shall make this boke his coÌ„pagnion shal here fynd in fewe leaues that the whole Byble coÌ„meÌ„taries of the auncient doctors do teach of christ in many so y â— it might well be called y e treasure house of christeÌ„ knowledge Neyther can any man iustely condempne or reiecte thys boke excepte he also wyl coteÌ„ne set at nought the moost sacred and holy Byble with the aucthorities wher of this lytle treatyse is sufficiently plenteously fortressed defensed agaynste the boryshe tethe serpeÌ„tlyke tonges of these crakyng caluÌ„niatours subtyle SycophaÌ„tes which after the maner of Momus are redy to carpe repreheÌ„de coÌ„dempne euery mans worke enterprise be it neuer so godlye whaÌ„ they themselues brynge for the nothyng at all that is worthy eyther the redyng or the hearynge except men haue pleasure to read or heare blasphemes Yf any man shal thynke that I set out Christ Christes benefytes to largely which I am sure no maÌ„ wyll do excepte he be a very Antechrist and a wicked Papist let hym knowe that I set for the Christe no more than the holy Scriptures do beare The argumente also of my matter requyrethe no lesse than I haue wrytten Christ must be declared otherwyse then Moyses For Christe is a sauyoure And he bryngeth ioye peace fauour tranquilite of conscience free remission of synnes Therfore as a Sauyoure must he be declared and not as an extreme reuenger At Christes byrthe the Aungell sayd to the shepeherdes Feare not for beholde I shewe vnto you great ioye which shalbe to all people For this day is a sauyour borne which is Christ the LORDE in the cytie of Dauid And Christ hymselfe after his resurreccion sayde to his Apostles Go ye into y e vniuersal world preach the Gospel that is to say good mery tydinges to euery creature He that shal beleue be baptised shalbe saued But he y â— shal not beleue shalbe condeÌ„pned Here may all men se that both the auÌ„gell and Christ are on my syde agree with me in facte Neyther is y e preching of christ his benefytes a wyndow to all kynd of carnal liberte dissolute lyuyng as the vngodly Papistes with vnshamefaced forheades dolye but rather a prouocacion sterynge vp of men vnto true godlynes which when they se the exceadyng goodnes of God toward theÌ„ take streyght wayes an occasion to loue God agayne a valcaunt courage to do his moost godly wyll He that readeth this my worke to the ende shall easelye perceyue that I go not aboute to plucke men from good workes but rather animite encourage them vnto the doyng of good workes prouynge with manifest euydent scryptures y â— Christe is no sauyour but to such as wyth a contryte herte and an huÌ„ble spyrite confesse theyr sinne repent theÌ„ of theyr wyckednes call to God for grace amend theyr wycked conuer sacioÌ„ correcte theyr synful maners walke in a newe lyfe go from vertue to vertue and serue God theyr maker all the dayes of theyr lyfe in holinesse in righteousnes For god dyd chose vs in christ as S. Paule sayeth thorowe loue before y e fouÌ„dacion of y â— worlde was layde y â— we should be sayntes w tout blame in his sighte And although by grace we are made safe thorow fayth and that not of oure selues for it is the gyfte of God coÌ„meth not of workes vnlesse any man shoulde boast hymselfe yet are we his workemaÌ„shyp created in Christ Iesu to good workes which God hath prepared that we should walke in them But I wyl make an end vnlesse the preface of the worke maye seme to be longer then the worke it selfe Nowe for asmuch as in the begynnyng of a new yeare men vse customably to sende one to another gyftes tokens whereby they declare the beneuolens and good wyll that is betwene them I for my parte knowyng howe greatly I am bouÌ„d to your ryght worshypfull maystershyp couetynge by some meannes to declare agayne my good wyl obse quious herte to youre moost bounteous gentlenes do send vnto you this lytle treatyse at this tyme for a newe yeares gyfte moost humbly desyrynge youre ryght worshypfull maystershyp to accepte and take in good worth this my lytle gyfte although not worthy youre graunde munificence yet as a memosynon memoriall of my studious mynde towarde