lesse vntyl the body of death be whole and clene put awaye Be not moued at the small Babylonyans that is the worldly thoughtes or hys pleasures but knocke them agaynst the trew corner stone Chryst wherby ye shal be saued What do we loke for after thys lyfe What pleasaunt thynge perceaue ye in it that myght cause you to desyre a longe lyfe What is thys lyfe saue a contynuall battayll and crosse a deadly enemyte and continuall hatred What is it but a preson of synne For the euell that we hate that we do and the good that loue that we do not The grace and mercy through Iesu Chryst must delyuer vs orels shall we styck fast by the fete We haue here no abydynge cyte but seke and longe for another that is commynge For we know yf at the least we be beleuynge that yf the earthy dwellynge place of oure body be corrupte and destroyed we haue a buyldynge ordeyned of God an house not made with handes but euerlastynge in heauen ii Corinth v. That we now therfore sygh and grone lokynge about before we can be ryd of this body that is because we wolde faynese and couet to be clothed with the heauenly duellynge place wythout puttynge of and auoydynge of thys earthy cloth and dwellynge place We wolde fayne retayne thys fylthy sack because of the company that we haue had wyth it so that it which is mortall myght be swaloued vp of the lyfe immortall wythout assayeÌ„ge of death But that can not be Seynge it is ordened for man once for to dye And that we shulde leaue herein earth by partynge of the soule that which we haue receaued of the earth And well is vs that God seynge oure mysery hath pytyeth vs makynge our death safe through his death For he is become a death vnto death so that death hath no fearfulnesse in her saue onely hyr vysure to fray them that be chyldysshe in fayth and vnderstondynge But vnto the faythful and them that haue vnderstondynge is she depryued of hyr stynge and venyme Yf ye auoyde youre mynde of the grymnesse and vtter appearaunce of her than shall ye fynde no death more in her Go boldli to death breake open hys yawes loke what is in hym Yow shall fynde no lyfe no power or strength in hym to byte you Prouoke hym boldely to mete you in the fyghtynge place and he shall flye from you Defye death with all them that can holde wyth hym for they can not harme you they can not mynysshe one heer of you Saye hardely wyth the prophet Ose O death where is thy stynge O hell where is thy gloriation or reioycenge The death is swalowed vp in Christes victory And therfore is death called in scripture a slepynge more thaÌ„ death Of this haue you a goodly fygure The brasen serpent that Moses made Numeri xxi semed afarre of to haue ben a serpeÌ„t in dede but yf ye dyd aproche vnto yt than might ye perceaue welynough that it was a dead serpent and that it had no venym that it coulde nother byte nor stynge Euen so is it w t death outwarde it hath a fearfull visage but the power of it is take awaye by Christ For he hath ouercome him y t had power of death y e deuyll as ye shall heare more herafter Lazaarus Youre declaration that ye haue shewed here is very spirituall I beleue it be all as ye saye yee I am well pleased there with Yet do I perceaue that goodmen which haue such felynge and knoledge in themselues that is to wete that the death of Christ is death vnto y e natural death as well as the euell and bad do shrenke wrenche at y e poynt of death as though death had yet power vpoÌ„ them Tobias Treuth it is that the waye which bryngeth vs to lyfe is strayght the porte of death narowe Wherfore we caÌ„ not passe vnto death by sufferinge wtout strayghtnesse pearsynge but what is y t vnto the lyfe health The body must fulfyll hys naturall course it ought not nor can do otherwyse it caÌ„ but wrenche pinche shouer kyke Let y e asse beare y e trushe hardely it maketh no matter yet for all this wyl not we feare death Yf death can do nought more what awayleth much repinynge wrenchynge it is light to be ouercome thys wreÌ„chinge may be permitted him welinough al is for one euell houre Let y e fleshe ê‘ceaue in it self y e testameÌ„t of AdaÌ„ vnto y e last houre We haue nought now to walke in saue hope this hope abydiÌ„g of y e life tocome shal cause vs rightwel to ouercome y e sorow wo of death haystely to forget it It is but y t bytiÌ„ge of a fle y t hurteth not y e soul The death is better for vs thaÌ„ we can thynke she loseth vs of al misery she ioyneth vs to god sendeth vs forth to euerlastynge lyfe Let HeytheÌ„ and Turkes feare death which haue no fayth of the lyfe tocome But oure conuersacion and thoughtes are in heauen for from thence do we abyde our Lorde Iesu Christ which shall restore oure castawaye body agayne makynge it coÌ„formable vnto his glorifyed body Yf we hadde not this hope of the partynge of the body trustinge no lenger in Christ than durynge thys lyfe than ware we as sayeth Paul i. Corint xv the moost abiecte and refuse of al meÌ„ But now is Christ dead rysen agayne y t we shuld also ryse again in hiÌ„ in a new life Death is oure last enmy y t holdeth vs froÌ„ the lyfe thys must once be ouercome me in vs also Christ dyed for nought yf he hath not anulled the power lawe of death Christ is not rysen from death yf we must abyde in death Yf Christ be not rysen than is oure fayth vayne than abyde we damned in oure synnes than is scripture a lye than be the apostles also and y e prophetes false wytnesses of God That be farre For Christ dyed and is rysen agayne that he shulde haue dominion ouer quycke and dead Wherfore as we all dye in Adam so shal we be relyued agayne in Christ of which relyuyng agayne Christ hath made a profe in him selfe Therfore sayeth Paul If the sprete that hath raysed vp Chryst from the dead dwell in you thaÌ„ shal y e same sprete relyue youre mortall body by the spirite that dwelleth therin Lazarus Than wyll not I be moued though the fleshe do somtyme sygh and mone because of death and the fayntnesse of payne but wyll abyde alwaye the redemption tocome with a lyfted vp heade that is w t a mery spirite For yf I shulde consydre all thynges what els is in this valley of teares saue payne and anguishe synne and wyckednesse Tobias The poetes and Phylosophers estymed death to be a good thynge because yt is the ende of all wrechednesse and a rest of all euell Many Heythen haue beÌ„ lesse abassed for the death
rather do them afore all other Beholde now we ther thys rebuke which oure spyritualty applyeth to theyr excusation doth aptly serue to warne and to rebuke them Seynge they be cursed with the aforesade ypocrytes curse For they curse and yaule more vpon them in theyr pulpet that withdraw them theyr offerynge dayes or prouent dewtyes which notwithstondynge God hath not graunted them in y e new testament as he dyd in y e olde wyth the tythes than they curse those that transgresse Gods commaundement in aduoutry in dronknesse and onmercyfulnesse So that they maye well be lykened vnto the oxe in the prophet which go in the pastures of Samaria and eate vp the poore These be the prophetes which deceaue the people â–ª shewynge peace and bytynge with theyr teth in whose mouth yf ye cast not a pece of meate they rayse an holy warre agaynst yow that is They saye ye be a cursed heretyke and that ye ought to be persecuted and to be condemned As though such warre and controuersye were acceptable vnto God Therfore sayeth the prophet Micheas your vision shal be turned to nyght â–ª your prophecienge to darknesse the sonne that go vnder ouer these prophetes But thy people of God â— saue you forgeue you your synnes saye ye prosper ryght well they deceaue you for there is no saluacion in man These ye 〈…〉 deuoure medowes houses which in their 〈◊〉 mawes â—â—â—â—rgest al that cometh to them golde many â–ª houseâ— gardens londe sonde rentes grauntes pardons These be they that iustify the vngodly for gyftes denuncynge peace and all is for theyr belys pleasure Tobyas Soft brother Tymothe conceaue not such raÌ„cour agaynst the wicked seynge theyr iudgment doth not tary let them go They be blinde and leaders of y e blinde We maye endeuoure vs to exhorte theÌ„ to come to the knowledge of God to the loue of theyr neghboure yf peraduenture they wolde geue eare to vs and knowledge theyr synnes Tymotheus I praye the how wilt thou exhorte them seynge they saye to the seinge se not to the vnderstoÌ„dinge perceaue not yf they knoledged theyr blyndnesse they shulde haue no synne as Christ saieth But now they saye we se wherfore theyr synne remayneth with them As namely whan we laymen begynne to exhorte these anoynted laynge scripture afore them then will they heare by no meanes takynge great scourne to be admonished of vs. Tobyas Surely I beleue yt be euell ynough whearfore me semeth it best for vs to walke hensforth in the waye of the Lorde discretely Tymotheus Yow saye south Yf we can do better than oure curates do seynge they be slak in theyr dewty shall we not do the same For a seruaunt that knoweth hys maysters wyll and doth yt not shal be beaten much What is then your aduyse that we shall do Tobyas Verely that oure eye be not so sore fyxed vpon another mans faulte but endeuoured to folowe the Lorde wherunto he calleth vs by a lyuely sterynge of our hart w t hys sprete Now yf oure guydes of the churche do not rule wel the flocke as ye do saye yet wyll not we leaue them and forsake them as though they were not pertaynynge vnto vs. For God hath charged euery man with hys neghboure as scrypture testyfyeth Therfore let vs ayde oure neghboure comforte hym counsell hym as we se hys moost nede Thynke ye not thys to be the best brother Tymothe Tymotheus Ye verely And to this doth the parable of the gospell featly agre where the Samaritan which is an abiecte in the sight of the Iewes is praysed of Chryst aboue the Leuyte or Prest because he shewed mercy vpon the poore mamed which also was therfore the Samaritans neghboure because he chesfly had nede of him Although we laymen be reputed amonge the anoynted and Leuytes as vyle as the Samarytans yet ought we neuerthelesse take cure of the poore and shew all the seruyce necessary whan all Leuytes Prestes Monkes Freres do forsake and despyse them The dedes of charyte ought we to charge none other maÌ„ withal accordynge to youre sayenge Tobyas Now is the tyme that we ought to dysperse the grace which god hath geuen vs and poure yt out vpon oure neghboure in helpinge comfortynge and unselynge hym As Christ hath geuen hymself for vs he beynge in fourme of God and equall with God Yt is now tyme to bestowe oure talent which God hath geueÌ„ vs to the intent that we shuld brynge it agayne with increace and not to hyde yt in the grounde He that is ryche ought to make the poore ryche also for to that intent hath he receaued his chesse He that is wyse ought to teache the folysshe and to brynge hym to vnderstondynge for to such intente hath he receaued hys wysdome He that is great of abylite ought to ayde hym â–ª that is vnabell as the wedowe fatherlesse and motherlesse boninfances for to that intent hath God geuen hym superiote Lo in such lyke cases ought we the one to be an helper comforter sauioure to y e other as oure fayth is that Christ is oure sauioure comforte and health Therfore also doth Christ commaunde that we shall so shewe the lyght of oure fayth before men that they seinge oure good workes maye prayse and glorifye the father which hath geuen such mynde â–ª and godli purpose in our hartes through his holy goost that is that we be gladde to serue oure neyghboure not for thankes nor for prayse but of very loue For who so euer seyth hys brother in necessite and withdraweth hys hart from hym how can the loue of God remayne in hym Tymotheus He that loueth not his brother beynge present in hys syght how can he loue God whom he seyth not We Christen men haue none other declaracion or boastinge that we be trew Christians but onely loue Christ sayeth In that shall men knowe that ye be my disciples yf ye loue one another Wherfore the lyfe of a Christian is not a lyfe of pleasure offleshe of wylthynesse or of sensuall ap petyte Nor it is no lyfe of ceremonies church goynges or lyke supersticions but it is a lyfe of the sprete of treuth of loue and mercy yt is a lyfe of mortifyed lustes and peace of the sprete in God onely Tobyas That is the eternall Sabbath and holy daye which is left to goddes people which also they must kepe perpetually by the layenge down of theyr owne lustes and sensualyte but all the trouble labour carefulnesse and bodely seruyce outwardly done with wordes or dede ought to be redressed to nothinge els but to y e glory of God and to the profyte of oure neghboure for els is not God oure kynge and we do not seke the welth of oure neghboure then but oure owne which is agaynst the nature of the trewe onfayned loue which Paul teacheth Tymotheus Ye saye treuth for though we haue the name of Christ and though we be baptysed iÌ„ the same though we go to church and receaue
hym be content therfore wyth his godly will and youre burthen shall fall the lichter for you Lazarus I must nedes be content the rewith for I can not remedy yt nor yet auoyde it Timothe Although you coulde remedy it agaynst gods wyll wolde ye do it I thynke not for you wolde not wrestle with the wyll of God Lazarus I shall tell you the very treuth yf I coulde be red of this payne I wold not kepe it one houre longer Timothe Wolde ye then rather be an enemy of God than to suffre a lytle for hys sake Lazarus I can tell you nothinge els but that I wolde fayne be ryd of this passion for yt is to heuy for me Timothe So longe as ye suffre of compulsion not wyllingly than do ye lese youre rewarde of sufferinge ye stryue agaynst God lyke a rebellious childe that disobayeth his louynge father Lazarus I must suffre be yt wyllingly or not wyllyngly Timothe Ye suffre grefe and payne but without deseruynge for yt and therfore the more one a flyer for ye suffer onwyllingly vnfaithfully ye suffer of coÌ„pulsion eueÌ„ as a seruaunt stondeth in awe of hys mayster by y t reason of his rod or wande that he castiseth hym withall A seruaunt remayneth not is his maysters house but must voyde Ihon in the .viii. Chapter But y e sonne remayneth as a trew eyre Yf ye now therfore were a sonne of y e heauenly father ye wolde receaue this correction of his wyllingly and with trewe loue in a sure fayth and vnderstonde yt to be his loue towarde yow seynge he caÌ„ sende to his chyldreÌ„ nothinge but y e best nor ê“cure ought els for theÌ„ but good Lazarus This soundeth very straunge in myne ears that God punisheth me thus greuely of very loue sendeth me this for y e best gifte that he can geue me I wolde rather thynke yt to be a horsly loue Timothe Alas brother how fearcely do you runne agaynst the stone that is Christ How straunge be Gods worde and workes for you to heare and vnderstonde mans wyt can not attayne yt that is spoken of God The worde of God is as it were an haÌ„mer that bruseth the stones Therfore must ye submitte and captiue youre wyt and mans wysdome wholy tyll yt be clene presoned and subdued to the wyll of Christ and pacifie yt self in hym afore ye can perceaue how great good mercy y e inwarde maÌ„ receaueth in depressinge mortifynge y e outwarde carcase Lazarus O Timothe youre wordes be to hyghe pythie for myn vnderstoÌ„diÌ„g my memory wyt is greatly swaged w t this syknesse of myn wherfore you must ordre you otherwyse yf I shall learne ought of you Timothe Yf ye huÌ„ger Gods worde can satle you so y t ye may heare yt I wyll so shewe yt yow y t ye shall easely perceaue yt of me Lazarus Yee verely and that gladly reache my another cussyne and laye yt to my backe for gods sake that I maye syt easlyer to heare and answere you Timothe Are ye well so or wyll ye syt hygher Lazarus No I syt now easly I can not wel suffre much tossinge and wrenchinge My tonge is the wholest and lythyest of all my membres beginne whan ye please Timothe That I may shewe you y e better y e meanynge of myne aforesaide wordes I wil rote out youre infidelite and shew you it afore youre eyes that ye maye se how farre a man is separate froÌ„ God trough hys infidelite out of the which all other synnes do sprynge as braunches and twigges out of an euel roote For infidelite is y e chefe synne wherof y e holy goost shall iudge the worlde as Christ sayeth IhoÌ„ xvi Therfore is thys now my question wether ye do vse to rede youre pater noster Lazarus What a question is that thynke you I be a Turke shulde not I rede my pater noster Timothe How rede you yt in latin or engly she Lazarus I rede yt as I haue learnt yt of my father pater noster qui es Timothe Ye ought to rede it in englyshe that ye maye vnderstonde it the better seynge ye can no latin Tell my then that I shall axe of you yf ye please Beleue ye wel y e fyrst worde Pater that is father Lazarus Shulde I not beleue that Christ hymself hath taught vs so to praye Timothe If ye beleue God to be youre father thaÌ„ must you beleue youre self also to be his sonne and eyre els ye dissemble praynge contrary to youre harte and not iustly Seynge then ye call hym youre father with which louely name you admonish hym to heare you his sonne and you haue not such a lyuely perceauynge of hym as a good chylde ought for to haue than saye you youre Pater noster wythout fayth Lazarus Without fayth how so what is fayth Timothe Fayth is a gyft of God which is not geuen to euery man without which RomaÌ„ is acceptable to God Lazarus Haue not all Christen men fayth then Timothe There is two sortes of ChristeÌ„ meÌ„ lyke as there is two sortes of chyldren of Israel some be Israelites after the fleshe some by promesse euen so be some ChristeÌ„ meÌ„ by name some by y e dede by reason they be gyfted with the beleuynge sprete of Christ These christians haue al faith Lazarus What is y e faith than wherby we Christen men be called beleuynge Tymothe Fayth is a sure and lyuely felynge in oure hart that we be acceptable vnto the father and that he is mercyfull vnto vs thorowe his soÌ„ne Iesu Christ in al what soeuer can betyde vs or that we do wether it be in lyfe or death This fayth is better perceaued inwardly of them that beleue treuly than it can wel be expressed outwardly Lazarus Is it a hydde mystery can not I perceaue inwardly by no token whether I haue fayth or not Timothe Yes verely I shal declare that vnto you by a symilitude or ensample A chylde hath no perceauynge inwarde nor sheweth outwardly ony behaueoure wether he haue a sure confidence towarde his father or not vnto the tyme he is assayd in thys hyd fayth But whaÌ„ this chylde is ether beateÌ„ or misdealt of a strauÌ„ger thaÌ„ lyfteth he is voyce in hys anguysshe preassinge to his father through the myddes of his enemyes with a sure fayth coÌ„fidence to be delyuered and saued Yee in his flyght hastynge for rescue which he shall surely optayne there his mynde is certified that he shall be rescued and this is a greate quietnesse of conscience and a speciall ease at hys hart that hys enymyes shall nomore reioyce ouer him After thys maner also is the matter wyth the chyldren of God Oure heauenly Father hath geuen vs power to be y u children of God that through beleuynge in his name which by the fathers commaundement is become man for vs and hath chosen vs to be eyres w t him Now we belyuinge this and
knoleginge yt through the sprete of trueth we wayte for all ayde comforte and subsidie of oure heaueÌ„ly father in what so euer temtacion can assault vs. So that yt is sure token and specialte that we be in the fauoure of God yf we abyde stedfast in praysinge the name of God and reioyce inwardly whaÌ„ we be in troubel or anguishe though God seme to haue vtterly forsaken vs. Here lo must the Christen faith fyrst apeare The sauegarde quietnes of conscience which we haue inwardly in the myddes of troubell is a frute of the holy goost sustaynynge vs lest we fall into mysbeleue or blaspheminge of God y e which oure punishmeÌ„t myght cause ryghtwell Wherfore we nede not to shreÌ„ke or to drede our Lorde God whan he stryketh vs as a seruaunt doth feare auoyde his master For God nother caÌ„ be nor is a scourger or tyrant vnto his children It is oure dewty to reyoice in him and to prayse hym in al his godly workes knowenge that he is oure sauegarde in the daye of troubell Paul wrytinge to the Romanes in the .viii. chap. sayeth We haue not now receaued the sprete of bondage to feare ony more but we haue receaued the sprete of adoption wherby we call Abba deare father w t a lusty corage a sure faith For y e sprete of God which worketh such faith in vs geueth wytnesse vnto oure sprete that we be the children of God Seynge then we be the childreÌ„ of God oure mercyfull father hath such a delyte in vs as in his welbeloued children So y t where the moost feare and yeopardy is there is he moost nearest present It is surely the nature of a good father to be more ferueÌ„ter in loue towarde hys children where the moost nede is Now whan ye consydre this diligently with a hartyfull lust towarde God the father than maye you beleue and say truely that God is youre heaueÌ„ly father yf not you say your Pater noster faynedly as al other ypocrites do whose hart is farre from their mouth although ye sayde youre Pater noster a thousande tymes Lazarus Is this the sayenge of Pater noster thaÌ„ dyd I neuer saye yt dewly in all my lyfe I haue oft sayde the .xii. artikles of oure fayth after the prest in the pulpet But I coulde neuer heare so much concerninge the pyth of them as I haue done now Timothe Such hystoricall fayth as ye be taught in the pulpet haue y e deuels also for they beleue that God is almyghty that y e sonne of God is become man that he is crucified and rysen agayn but they beleue not that he is ordeyneth to their saluacion The deuell beleueth and trembleth but a Christen man beleueth and reioceth in it The fayth or knoleginge of the deuyls which they haue of God causeth them to feare and tremble but oure fayth causeth vs to reioyce and be gladde in God whom we knoledge euer to be oure father Lazarus If he be our father why sendeth he such greueous paynes to vs then Timothe You re aforesayde fayth must be tryed trough sufferynge syknesse and aduersite as yt is written That we shall not maruayll nether be moued that we be tryed trough the fyre of sufferynge for yt is done to proue vs. The lorde proueth al the electes after this maner that their fayth may be founde â—ore precious than the golde that is tried through the fyre And the ende of oure fayth whiche is not anulled is the health of our soul Wherfore as ye beleue that God is youre mercifull father euen so must ye beleue also and by fayth be assured that all that be tydeth you is hys fatherly wil and pleasure Thynke not that hys eyen be wythdrawen from vs for so greatly are we accepted before him that he sayeth Whoso toucheth you toucheth the very appell of myn eye Yee we be so earnestly and tenderly cared for and kepte of God oure heauenly father that there is not the least heâ—r of our heade but yt ys tolde no a sparowe doth not fall on the grouÌ„de without the consent of oure heauenly father How much lesse can thys syknesse come vpon you without the consent of the heauenly father which hath sanctified all troubell and sufferinges By the crosse and humblinge dyd yt please God to exalte and glorify his owne sonne He y t dyd take care thought for you before ye were borne shall lykwyse prouyde for you beynge here seynge he wolde you to be here Wherfore all those that suffre accordinge the wyll of God ought to coÌ„mitte the charge of their soules vnto the good creator of all creatures in whose handes we are as the claye is in the potters hande Praye therfore vnto the father with youre whole hart that his name maye be halowed in you lyke as it is halowed and glorified thorow y e death and depression of his sonne But as for oure name it is full of dishonesty shame daÌ„nacion Lazarus By the meaninge of youre wordes I perceaue yt not nedefull for me to desyre these paynes of myne to be auoyded and to be healed other in soule or body Timothe I coulde shewe you welinough that this praynge doth come nother of the sprete of God nor yet out of fayth but of proper loue which seketh rather hir owne ease and profite than the glory of God But I feare lest it wolde be to tedious for you also I reken ye can not wel suffre many more wordes Lazarus No hardly it shall not be tedious vnto me for euen now haue I a great desyre to it wherfore shewe me why I may not pray so Timothe A trew fayth wyll not cause you to praye so for it is certified alwaye of the good will of God what so euer doth chaunche All that is not of fayth is synne sayth Paule Searche the grounde of youre harte and ye shall perceaue that ye desyre to be healed for none other cause but only to be at ease Therfore seyng that through this wyked nature ye set more pryce by youre self than by God ye had leuer youre sensualyte and wyll were accomplysshed in optayning of health than that God in this syknesse shulde do in you and with you accordinge to hys pleasure Wherfore I praye you what els do ye but rebelle agaynst God correke him in his iudgmeÌ„t because he worketh not accordynge your ymaginacion Where is youre pater noster do not ye praye and saye Father thy wyll be fulfylled in earth as it is in heauen that is in the earthy bodye as it is in the soule which is an heauenly body How lytell doye rest hetherto in the workes of God Heare how fully the kyngly prophet Dauid was mortifyed entyerly and near in excesse of mynde vpon all y t which God wolde sende hym he beynge dryuen out of his kyngdome by his owne beloued sone Absalon dyd saye Yf I shal fynde grace before the Lorde he shall fetch me agayne and let my se it againe
meanynge the arke and the house of it But yf he saye thus I haue no pleasure in the beholde here am I let hym do with me as yt pleaseth hym Here was a mortifyed sprete which kept the trew Sabbath that is the euerlastynge restynge daye from this be ye farre wyde for all youre prayenge and flatterynge Lazarus What good can I optayne by this wrechednesse wherfore I shulde not desyre to be ryd of it Tymothâ—us It is styll the olde trade ye wyll not suffre but for auauntage ye wyll vse batterynge with God God wyll haue no marchauntes nor exchaungers in hys holy temple wherin he resteth as ye shall heare more herafter yf we reason larger As concerninge the good which we optayne by sufferinge we must vnderstonde that God hatheth synne in that he seÌ„deth mercy and loue to hys chyldren whych he doth chastyse Whan ye praye God than to take awaye thys chastenynge from you than be not ye content that he shall shewe thys hys ryghtwysnes in you and herein ye declare and vtter you to be a frende of synne and enemy to the ryghtuousnes of God Be not you very blynde and peruerse harted louynge theÌ„ that hate you and hatynge those that loue you To that inteÌ„t sendeth God payne anguysshe yee and death vnto vs that the body of synne and death shulde be roted out in sufferynge and slayenge of the olde Adam with all hys carnall concupiscences and desyres This worke wyll not ye to procede in you which notwithstondinge must be accomplysshed yf we wyll be acceptable before God Paule sayeth Knowe ye not that all we which are baptysed in to Christe Iesu are baptysed in to his death The chyldren of Israel myght not optayne the londe of promes excepte they fyrst hadde passed the reed see Euen so we also must come to the hyghe Ierusalem through passinge the reede see that is troubell and syknesse For this cause we must cleue to the faythfull wordes of God as the Israelytes dyd which beynge opprest before of the read see and behynde of Pharaos army so that death was at hande wither soeuer they turned theyr syght Wherfore Moses comforted them biddynge not to doubte in Gods behestes saynge Feare you not stond styll and beholde what a saluacion the Lorde shall shewe vpon you this daye Thus haue they wentured it vpoÌ„ Gods worde passed through the read see wythout blemysshe Be ye also a trew Israelyte goynge thorow thys sufferynge with a sure fayth and ye shal surely be delyuered of iâ— with a valiaunt power For he is faythfull that hath so promysed you Ceasse of your owne wyl and despyse not that which commeth of God Whan the waters of troubell sometyme be to greueous vpoÌ„ you so that thorow them ye begynne to waxe feble than praye the heauenly father to geue you your daylye breade strenghtynge you with hys holsome worde wherby your soule must be sustayned Lazarus But brother this payne endureth to longe for my thynketh it wyll neuer haue an ende It hath so his recourse Tymotheus Be not moued at that for Christ hymself dyd suffre before he came in to hys glory Is than a disciple greater than hys mayster is a seruaunt aboue hys Lorde Yf ther hadde bene another way to come to the trew glory and lyfe Christ wolde haue rather chosen it but now hath he fyrst trodden and chosen thys waye of sufferynge hymself that we shulde folow hym in yt Lo thys is to take vp the crosse of Christ and to folowe hym dayly to be mocked despised depressed lyke as he hath boren his crosse with all despysyng payne and reuylinge We be crucifyed with Christ whan we mortifye oure pleasures and affections which ought to be durynge oure lyfe Now yf we be equall wyth Chryst in sufferynge and dyenge whe shall also be equall wyth hym in reioycynge and rysinge to y e new lyfe Certifyed that oure olde man is crucifyed with hym to the intent the body of synne shulde be destroyed Yf we then be dead with Christ we beleue that we shall also lyue with hym Paul sayeth Roman vi For a grane of corne cast in to the grounde can not brynge forth frute huÌ„dreth folde without it be mortifyed fyrst and auoyded his harde huske euen so we also beynge here in earth must first dye and refuse the corrupcion of oure flesshe yf we wyll lyue with Christ and brynge forth frutes of lyfe For this cause is the lyfe of a Christian here in earth counted to be nothynge els nor is none other saue a continual crosse death and deynge as Paul doth specifie .ii. Cor. ix saynge That we which lyue are alwayes delyuered vnto death for Iesus sake that the lyfe also of Iesus myght appeare in oure mortall flesshe for as longe as we lyue we are delyuered vnto death for Iesus sake that the lyfe of Chryst be declared in oure mortall body Dauyd also sayeth For thy sake we are kylled all the daye longe and are counted as shepe appoynted to be slayne Yf ye wyll saye thys trewly wyth Dauyd then must you be content with your punysshement yee vntyll the death as the shepe is which openeth not his mouth in y e slaghting I praye you how can ye desire God to take from you this payne yf ye beleue surely y t although your outwarde maÌ„ be corrupte and perysshe yet your inwarde man is renewed daye by day Paule sayeth that this troubell and sufferynge which lasteth but y e tuynklyng of an eye in comparyson of the glory for to come prepareth maruaylously for vs the eternall glory yf we haue not oure syght fyxed vpon y t which is visible but vpon that which is inuysyble and euerlastynge yee all that we can suffre here in this transytory worlde is not to be coÌ„pared vnto the glory which shal be declared in vs. By thys ye perceaue that all those which suffre w t a sure fayth ought also to reioyce in theyr troubell euen as Paule and other electes haue done Lazarus Me thynketh ye preasse the meteyarde harde on How can I reioyce in troubell which is nought but waylynge and yaylynge It is harde to laugh and to wepe Tymotheus I shall enfourme you of it with a grosse ensample ye lye here now sycke and dysseased ye wolde be fayne cured of some goode phisician now maketh he a drinck for you which is very bitter and mispleasaunt to receaue neuerthelesse thorow his informacion and promesse of health therby ye ouercome the bytternesse of it drynkynge yt with shoueringe chauÌ„gging of couÌ„tenauÌ„ce though y e tears ruÌ„ne down w t drynkiÌ„ge of yâ— yet endeuoure ye yourself to retayne a corage Were it not a folyshe felowe y t wolde be displeased w t the phisician because he doth minister so bitter drinke vnto him which he geueth you not for ony hatered or euell wyll y t you shulde fele the bitternesse of yt but that ye myght recouer Who wolde be so madde to desyre the phisician to auoyde the
thē so longe as it shall be his Godly wil to suffre you to be a carer or prouyder for thē But now doth death discharge you of this office sorowfulnesse Rendre god y e charge ioyfully Go you forth now w t Abraham in straūge coūtryes leauynge youre kynne fathers house come in y e londe y e God shall shew you Obey gods callinge He y t loueth more father mother wyfe chyldrē lōdes or possessions than my is not worthy of my saieth Christ As longe as ye were able you haue shewed loue and good wyll vnto your housholde Of this maye be boaste right wel that because ye wolde passe y e bondes of your cōmission of loue But what mysbelefe is y t that ye do not trust god w t the kepenge of his owne chyldren What was youre helpe care and kepynge wythout hys ouersyght yf the Lorde do not buylde the cyte they laboure in vayne that buylde it Put ye your confydence in God that he shall helpe you and trust ye him not the kepynge of your children Though it seme that your children departe from you in dyenge and ye of them yet do they kepe theyr heauenly father which taketh more care for them than euer you coulde This will I tell you your fayth may be such that God wyll rayse ten fathers or weldoers in steade of you of whom w t partynge of death they be depryued Dauid sayeth I neuer sawe a ryghteous mā forsaken nor hys sede seke breade Auoyde now all sensualyte out of your mynde Commytte youre wyf thylderen and all that ye loue vnto God who onely shall kepe them best The mystrust murmurynge of parentes is of tymes correcte and punyshed in the chylderen as namely whā they myspēde y e goodes in ryot or suffre losses and domages in them the which theyr frendes busyed to leaue thē great plenty of and to prouide them substancialy of them Lazarus Let it be so God graunte that I maye yelde both me and mine willyngly in the hondes of God My thynketh my tyme doth aproche Oh I longe so sore to be embraced of my brydegrome Chryst Cantic ii His left hande is vnder my heade and hys ryght hande shall clespe my necke I desyre with Paul to be lowsed and to be with Chryst Heale my Lorde and I shal be healed Tobias That is well Chrystenly prayed God sende you hys stronge spryte which shal strength you in all sufferynge yee and also in death But now brother yf I perchaunce shall se you nomore in this lyfe Haue ye ony quarell with ony man or haue ye ony thynge that greueth your mynde shewe on Lazarus What occasioneth you to aske the same haue ye herd ought therof Tobyas The cause of my questyon is that yf ye haue ony variaunce or ony skyll wyth your brother before all other thinges ye ought to dispach thesame and to be recōcyled agayne w t hym In thre thinges sayeth Sydrac haue I pleasure which also be alowed before God and mē The vnite of brethren the loue of neghbours and man and wyfe agreynge well together And that ye maye forther and sett forth such loue and vnite ye ought to be ware lest ony variaunce come after your departyng by reason of the goodes amōge youre frendes and kynred Lazarus I haue dispached and prepared all this lōge before so neare as I might I trust there shall ryse no stryfe betwen my frendes or chyldren I was mynded to haue geuen vnto the church or temple to the iiii orders of stronge valeaunt beggers and vnto our vicare and parisheprest of such as shulde haue ben ouerplus But that mynde is altered for God hath geuen me a better mynde I thanke hym hyghly therof Tobias All testamentes that be made to the fortheraunce of the loue of oure neghbure are good There be of tymes churches founded masses great doles to Gods great dishonoure For God is not honoured with such thynges but only with y t he hath cōmaunded himself Some thinke to do an hygh pleasure vnto God yf they disheret their chylderen frendes kynred amonge whom afterwarde ther aryseth a great strife They bequiet their goodes to founde holydayes trentals masses of requiem wherwyth they fede the spiritualty They thynke to please God with such foundations and make an atonement with such goodes as they haue skrapen and raked together by wronge falsede gyle vsury and such lyke wayes spared them Where as God hateth in hys offerynge al such robbery They founded also altares and monumentes and costly graues to haue theyr names in estymation amonge the people and to lyue longe in their mouthes be praysed for these dedes To thys entent be tabels and such memorials hanged vp in euery churche as a byrders net is spred O tabel of exchaungers cast out of y e tēpel by Christ O yeartyde O Corbam corbam how dewly arte thou practysed yet dayly of oure scribes pharises which lyke paynted graues deceaue the onwyse and symple For they saye it is offered vnto Gods honour seruice that which is withdrawē from the poore chyldren and heires Now brother is it not tyme for me to departe my thynketh I haue ben longe ynough here I must also go yet to the poore house or hospital for so haue I promysed Lazarus I thanke you hartely good brother for youre kynde vysitinge of me and louely teachyng me Come agayne to se how it is with me at your leasure Tobias I wyll do so And now I cōmitte you to God which I praye to be youre guyde vnto the lyfe euerlastynge Yf ye haue nede of me sende for me and I wil be glad to come vnto you Lazarus The Lorde be blessed and thanked ouer all foreuer Tobias Feare well good brother Lazarus Fare well good Toby God kepe vs all and be oure guyde and counceler vnto lyfe eternall Tobyas Amen The ende of thys treatyse ¶ The summe and intente of this treatyse NOw hast thou sene good reader the maruelous worke of God in hys two electes namly Tymothe Toby which to theyr power haue planted and watered the sede of Gods worde in theyr neghboure Lazarus beynge at scole wherin is the wyll of god taught that is adfliction syknesse and subieccion of the flesshe vnto the sprite They now beynge occasyoned by knoledgyng their deuty to theyr neghboure endeuour to make hym to dye in the Lorde and make hym apte vnto the ioye euerlastinge after his troubell Wherin I praye the to marke the ordre and waye Fyrst Tymothe commynge the one daye instructynge him to take his troubelous syknesse paciently in the which admonitiō he doth treuly and pythfully declare the seuen petitions of the Pater noster reprouynge by the waie his impaciency mysbeleue and superstitiousnesse wherin he was so drowned that it semed to haue bene impossible he shulde euer bene come out of But the Lorde which kylleth relyueth again ledeth to hel bringeth vp again hath also shewed his maruaylous power w t this sykmā whō he hath called to hym by repētaūce as he wyll also do the moost synner and mysdoer of vs yf he repente treuly Secondarly Tobias commynge the secōde daye as hys promyse was instructeth hym how to take his death paciētly And in the meane season expoundeth certayne of the artikles of oure fayth namely the power of God in creatynge al thynges y e frute of Christes sufferynge death resurrecciō ascensyon of the holy goost which be the treu churche of communiō of sayntes of remyssion of synne of rysynge agayne of the flesshe and of the lyfe eternall or euerlastynge And fynally he sheweth what be oure enemyes death synne and hell and how we maye best withstonde them This with other superstitions and abuses doth he so featly and scripturly declare and teacheth to eschue as in myne opynion no rabby magister noster or puffet vp doctor coulde do though he had spent the beste parte of hys lyfe ī searchyng Chryst at Paris Take therfore this treatyse oft in thyne handes loke diligently vpon it and vse it as it is offered vnto thy I wyl not busy my selfe greatly in praysynge of it for the commune prouerbe is veryfied in it that is good wyne nedeth no garlande for yf thou rede it diligently and folowe it so neare as God wil lēde y e grace thā shalt thou receaue the profyte that is sought both in dytynge and translatynge of it namly y e health of youre soul and herafter lyfe euerlastynge which graūte you god the father sonne holy goost Amen ¶ Prynted in Southwarke By My Iames Nicolson for Ian Gough Cum Priuilegio Regali