Esther shuld speake vnto kinge Ahasuerus Esth. 4 she saide to Mardocheus Gather all the Iewes together that maye be founde and faste ye and pray for me but howe deuoutlye and howe humbly they praid howe Mardocheus praied for hym selfe and the people It is wrytten in the .xiiii. Chapter of Esther The praier of Ieremy was of great reputation with God Ihere 11. when our Lord said vnto hiÌ„ pray not for this people Azarias standing in the mydst of the fornace Dani. 3. praid thus Blessed art thou o Lord God of our fathers Daniel for al king Darius acte and decre Dani. 6. left not of kneling downe vpon his knyes to pray vnto the Lorde lyke as hys manner was to do afore time three times a daye See now how precious and howe profitable a thyng he estemed it to pray vnto our Lord. Daniel perceiuynge the tyme of the Captiuitye to be compleate and at an ende prayde the more instantly for the people that were in captiuite And note howe mekely and howe feruently he maketh his intercession and prayer Dani. 9. When Susanna perceiued that she lacked all humaine ayde and counsel Dani. 13. she made her recourse to the helpe of prayer and her prayer was heard Ionas prayed vnto our Lorde out of the fyshes bellye Ionas 2. and sayde in my trouble I called vnto our Lorde and he heard me The congregation were ready gathered to fight 1. Mach. 3. to pray to make supplication vnto God for mercy grace When that Iudas Machabeus should geue battayle with Gorgias he made his praier and said i. Mac. iiii blessed be thou O sauiour of Israel i. mach Vi. In other .ii. principal battaylles we rede not that he praied The one was against king Antiochus then he wanne not but departed his wayes i. Mac. ix The other was agaynst Bacchides Alchimus and then he was slayne in the battaille i. mach xi Ionathes perceiuing that al his coÌ„pany except a few left him fightinge against straungers he rent his clothes and praid and afterwardes obtayned the victory The Iewes beinge in tribulatyon praied vnto our Lord. The priestes hauing on them their priestly stoles and vestimentes fel downe before the aultare and called vpon God ii mac iii. whych had made a law concerning stuffe geueÌ„ to kepe that it might be safely preserued for such as deliuerd it to be kepte And al the wemen held vp their handes toward heauen and praid Onias the hie priest praid for Heliodorus that was greuously scourged by God for spoiling of the temple ii mac iii. oure Lord restored him to life again Iudas Machabeus they that wer with him iii. Mac. viii praid and besought our Lorde to deliuer theÌ„ from wicked Nicanor and though he wold not do it for theyr sakes yet for the couenaunte that he made with their fathers and because they called vppon his holye and gloryous name The wycked Antiochus praid vnto our Lord of whome he should haue obtained no mercy 2. Mach. 9. Nicanor and they that were wyth him 2. Mach. 15. drue nie with shaumes songes but Iudas and his company with praier and calling vpon God They buckled together with their handes they smote but with their hartes they praied vnto our Lord and slue no lesse theÌ„ 35. thousand men for thorow the present helpe of God they were gloriously comforted Mat. 8. The Leper had a short a profitable and an humble maner of praying Luke 5. the which knelinge before oure Lorde did worship him and saide Marke 1. master if thou wilt thou canst make me cleane The Centurion vsed as it wer by a certain insinuation Mat. 8. the like manner of prayer Luke 7. when he saide Master my seruaunt lieth sicke of the palsy Ihon. 11. And also Martha and Mary for Lazarus that was dead and buried Our Lord at times will be prayed for that Luke 10. that he purposeth to do praye ye the Lord of the haruest to send forth labourers into his haruest Mat. 9. Then there followeth immediatelye Calling together c. And when the people were sente away he weÌ„t vp into a mountaine to pray alone Mat. 14. Wherby we are taughte that when we inteÌ„d to pray we shuld fie the company of man lest we shuld be troubled Our Lord and sauiour in hys holye Gospels Mat. 6. hath taughte vs to praye by word of mouth saying Thus shall ye pray Our father c. Men oughte alwaies to praye Luke 18. not be weary Also our Lord hath animated vs to praye by his promise Luke 11. Ihon. 14. Aske saithe he and ye shall haue Item what soeuer ye aske in my name that wil I do He hathe lykewise informed and taughte vs to praye by hys example Mat. 14. For he that might commaund would pray And specially he did the same Mat. 26. for the persecution of this Passion beynge at hand he prayed and warned other to pray saying watch and pray When Mary Magdalen obtaind forgeuenes of her sinnes of oure Lord saying Luke 7. Thy sinnes are forgeuen the we rede not that she vsed anye loude prayer but that she wept only where by the efficacye of the inwarde desyre appeareth without any vocall or loud praier Our Lord doth induce vs to instant and coÌ„tinual praier by thexample of one that went to his frend at midnight Luke 11. Luke 18. And by thexample of a widow the which desired wyth great importunity of the wicked iudge to auenge her And to instruct vs to pray with huâ—mility without pride Luke 18. or any auaÌ„cement of our selues Our Lorde inducâ—th thexample of the proud pharisy and the lowly humble Publicane Act. 1. After our lordes assention into heauen the Disciples returned vnto Ierusalem and they al continuedâ— with one accord in prayer and supplication with the women and Mary Thapostles being minded and willinge to chuse one of the disciples in Iudas place Act. 1. apoynted two Ioseph and Mathias and when they praied they said Thou Lord which knowest the hartes of al men shew whether of these two thou hast chosen In the primitiue church al faithful people continued in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship Act. 2. and in breaking of bread and in prayers Peter Ihon weÌ„t vp together into the temple at the ninth hour of praier Act. 3. And assone as the disciples had praied the place moued Act. 4. where they were assembled together and they were all filled with the holye ghoste and they spake the word of God boldly The Iewes stoned Steuen callinge on Act. 7. saying lord Iesu receiue my spirite And he kneled downe and cryed with a loud voyce saying Lorde laye not this sinne to their charge Peter and Ihon prayed for them of Samaria Act. 8. that they might receiue the holy
of her lyfe Oure Lorde castyng those oute of the temple with a scourge that solde and bought Oxen Iohn 2. shepe and doues and the chaungers of money sayed make not my fathers house an house of marchaundise sekynge very often tymes in this and other thinges his fathers honoure It is written of the chylde Iesu that he wente downe with them Luke 2. that is with Mary and Ioseph and came to Nazareth and was subiecte and obedient vnto them Also in a nother place he sayeth Iohn 8. I honour my father And hangynge vppon the crosse he commended his mother to his welbeloued disciple Iohn 19. Whereby it appeareth what carefulnesse he hadde for hys mother that forgat her not at the poynte or laste Artycle of death ¶ Of thankes geuing for the benefites of God Capi. lxiii IAcob gaue thaÌ„ks vnto god most diligeÌ„tly Gen. 31. saiyng Lord I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and truthe whiche thou hast shewed vnto thy seruant Exo. 13. Our lorde woulde that the childreÌ„ of Israell shoulde neuer forget theyr deliueraunce oute of Aegipte And it shall be Sayth he a signe vnto thee vpon thyne hande for a remeÌ„brauÌ„ce betwene thyne eyes that the lordes lawe may be in thy mouth Moses and the chyldren of Israell sange this songe vnto our lord Exo. 15. said Let vs singe vnto our lord This was after they had so wonderfully passed ouer the red see After thei hadde obtained and gotten a wonderfull greate victorye of theyr enemyes Nume 31. the prynces of the hoste of Israel came to Moses saiyng that there was not one of the children of Israell slayne in the battayle And yet they hadde taken of men and cattayle a greate number And for that cause they offerde vppe great gyftes vnto our Lorde Our Lord commaunded that after the myraculus goyng ouer Iordan they should pitche Iosu. 3. and set vp twelue stones in and for a perpetual monument and memory of the same After the victory obtained by Barath Tebora of Sysara they saÌ„ge gaue â—hankes to our Lord. Iudi. 5. Anna praid and praised our Lorde for her sonne Samuel the which our Lord had geuen her 1. reg 2. Although the children of Israel in suche battailes as they wanne dyd fyghte stoutlye and stronglye Iudi. 20. Yet they said that it was oure Lorde that smote theyr ennemyes that the laud and praise myght be geuen vnto oure Lorde When Dauid heard of the reuelation that God made by the Prophet Nathan 2. reg 7 of the continuaunce of hys kyngdom he gaue God thankes most humbly and deuoutly Oure Lorde is muche to be lauded and praysed that geueth hys people a good prince and prelate 3. regu 5. Blessed be our Lord saith scripture which hath geuen vnto Dauid a wyse sonne ouer this mighty people 1. Esd. 1. Cyrus the kynge of Persia proclaymed thorowe oute all hys Empyre Oure LORDE God of heauen hathe geuen me al the kingdoms of the earth and hathe commaunded me to buylde hym a house at Ierusalem Whosoeuer now among you is of hys people oure Lord hys God be with him and let hym go vp to Ierusalem and build the house of our lord God of Israel Tobi. 11. When Tobias had recouered hys sighte he and his wife and all that knew him before that he was blinde praised and glorified God Iudi. 16. After the victorye of Holofernes host was obtained all the people resorted and came to IerusaleÌ„ to prayse and pray vnto our Lord. Dani. 2. After that the vision of Nabuchodonozor king of Babilon was reueled opened vnto Daniel He blessed oure Lord God of heauen and sayde The name of our Lord be blessed for wisdome and strength are his The iii. childreÌ„ being deliuered froÌ„ the burning fire and flame of the fornace Dani. 3. praysed our lorde well and deuoutly And not they only gaue thaÌ„kes vnto god for that thing but Nabuchodonozor did also cause the wonderful thinges of our lord to be proclaymed thorow out al his kingdome After that the temple vnder Iudas Machabeus was erected and purifyed 1. Mach. 4. they worshypped and gaue thankes to the GOD of heauen that hadde prospered and geuen them the victorye Iudas Machabeus and the people of IerusaleÌ„ wrote vnto Aristobolus 2. Mach. 1 saying we being deliuered by god froÌ„ great daungers and pearils magnifyceÌ„tly do geue thankes vnto hym When the blessed virgin had herd the laude and praise that Elizabeth gaue her LuKe. 1. saying Blessed art thou amonge women she praysed and lauded God for the benefytes geuen to her and to all the worlde wyth these wordes My soul magnyfyeth the lord We reade in the gospel that when our Lord purposed to do some greate miracle Iohn 6.11 that oftentimes he loked vp to heauen gaue thankes Mat. 26. as it manifestly appeareth in the multiplicatioÌ„ of the loues In the resuscitation of Lazarus and in the institucion of the blessed and holy sacrament After Ihon the Baptist was born LuKe. 1. and that zacharias had recouered his speache he prophesying praysed our Lord saying Blessed be oure Lorde God of Israel Simeon toke the child Iesus vp in hys armes Luke 2. and blessed our Lord. When the people saw that our Lorde had healed the man of the palsy Mat. 9. they meruailed and glorified god whyche had geuen such power to men And likewise when the widowes son was reuiued Luke 7. ther came a fear on theÌ„ al and they magnified god and gaue vnto him the glory saying A greate prophet is rysen vp among vs. One of those x. lepers that which wer clensed at Goddes commaundement turned backe againe Luke 17. and fell downe on hys face at hys feete and gaue hym thankes After that our Lord had supt with his disciyles Mat. 26. and had said grace they went out vnto mount Oliuer The halt that was healed by Peter Act. 3.4 entred with the Apostles into the temple walkinge and leapinge and praisyng God Then ther followeth All men praised God because of that which was done for the man was aboue xl yere old on whom the miracle of healing was shewed Paule gaue thankes for the benefits to him and other exhibited 1. Timo. 1. To hym self in his conuersyon I thancke my Lord god that coÌ„forted me in Christ wheras before I was a blasphemer a persecutor contumelious but yet I obtained merrye because I did it ignorauntly through vnbelefe And in his coÌ„uersation thankes be vnto god 2. Cor. 2. which alwais geueth vs the triumph and victory in Christ Iesu. And deuoutly he geueth thaÌ„kes for the benefites exhibited to his brethreÌ„ First verely I geue God thankes for you all Roma 1. that youre Faythe is spoken of in all the world 1. Thes. 2. And to the Thessalonians What thanckes can we recompence to God again for you ouer
verity and openeth the sauor of hys knowledge by vs in euery place i. Timo. 2. 2 Cor. 2. Also a good prelate ought to dispose and orden his offices among his subiectes Exo. 18. as Moses did the which by the counsell of Iethro made amonge the people rulers ouer hundreds ouer fifty and ouer ten Paul dyd the lyke in the church i. Cor. 11 Other thinges wyl I set in order when I come And for that thyng he said vnto Tite For thys cause left I thee in Creta that thou shouldest reforme the thinges that are vnperfect Tite i. and shouldest ordayne elders and priestes in euery city as I had apoynted thee Item a good Prelate must animate and comfort the weaklings and fearful exo 14. as Moses did when he saide vnto the fearful people feare not our lord shal fyght for you And Paul did that thing very wel sayinge Be stronge and of good comfort in our Lord Ephe. 6. and through the vertue and power of hys might put on al the armor of god c. And again Consider how that he endured such speaking against hym of synners Heb. 12. least ye should be wearyed faint in your mindes A good Prelate should defende the oppressed as Onias the hie priest did the which did constantly resist Heliodorus going about to spoyle the temple 2. mach 3 and how valiantly Paule wythstode the false Prophets 2. Cor. 11. it is manyfest in the Actes And he saith wher in so euer any man dare be hold I dare be bold also And therefore he sayde that he fought So fight I. not as one that beateth the ayre And I haue fought a good fyghte 2. Timo. 4. I haue fulfylled my course A good Prelate shoulde be a comforter of thafflicted as Eliachim did when Holofernes besieged Bethelia And Paule was equal wyth hym in this part and saithe Blessed be God the father of our Lord Iesus Christe which is the father of mercy and the God of all comfort 2. Cor. 1. which comforteth vs in all our tribulation in so muche that wee are able to comforte them whiche are in any maner of trouble And againe I beseche you brethren suffer the worde of consolation or exhortation Heb. 13. And such wordes of consolation he vsed specially to the Philippians and Thessaloniās as it is manifest to those that wyl searche loke for it It good prelate must stirre vp those that be flouthful and colde Gen. 42 As Iacob the Patriarch did the which hearing that there was vitailes and corne to be sold in Egypt said to his children Whye do you neglecte it And that thyng could that noble Paule do full well It is nowe time sayeth Paule that we should awake oute of sleape And he saythe Awake thou that sleapest and stande vp from deathe Roma 13. and Christe shall geue thee lyghte And againe Ephe. 5. I warne thee that thou stirre vppe the gyfte of GOD whiche is in thee by the puttynge on of my handes A good prelate in as muche as hee maye 2. Timo. 1. muste helpe the neady to haue that that is necessarye for them We haue an ensample of that in Elizeus the whyche dyd distribute to the children of the prophets twentye loues 4. regu 4 The whyche thynge Paule dyd fulfyll moost diligentlye hauyng in remembraunce these words It is more blessed to geue Act. 20. then to receyue as he saithe And when he had not what to geue he procured it of other mē as it doth wel apeare to the Corinthians 1. Cor. 16. Concerning the gathering c. and againe He whiche soweth lyttle 2. Cor. 9. shall reape little It pertaineth to a good prelate to brynge those lowe that are proude And Moses purposing to do the same sayed rebukyngly Nume 16. Ye make much to doe ye children of Leuy And Samuell sayde vnto Saule Wherfore hast thou not harkened vnto the voyce of our Lord. And Paule was very well learned in this art saying Some swel as thoughe I wold come no more to you i. regu 15. but I wil come to you shortly if God wil and wil know not the words of them which swell 1. Cor. 4. but the power And in another place Charge them whyche are riche in this worlde that they be not proud and hie mineded 1. Timo. 6. Againe a good Prelate ought personally to viset those which are farre of i. regum 7 and are not able to come vnto him the which thing Samuel dyd fulfyll For he went about Bethel Calgala and Masphat and iudged the people And who at anye time exercysed that thing as Paule did the whyche from Ierusalem to the latter sea Roma 15. fylled all places wyth the Gospel of Christ and so that he named hys lyfe a certayne course i. Cor. 9. I therfore so run not as at an vncertaine thing 2. Timo. 4. And I haue fulfylled my course Also a good Prelate oughte to punish transgressors exo 31. as Moses did whē they worshipped and prayed vnto the molten calfe Nor Paul was not neglygente in this parte but sayde The weapons of oure warfare are not carnall thinges 2. Cor. 10. but thinges myghty in God Then there foloweth And are ready to take vengaunce on all dysobedyence And also i. Cor. 4. Shal I come vnto you with a rod or elsse in loue and in the spryte of softnesse A good Prelate oughte to extirpe wede oute the stubburne and pestyferous from amonge the people as Moses did with Chore and hys whyche claue vnto hym Nume 16. Seperate sayeth he and stand thou and all the congregation alofe And then vnto thother he sayd Depart from the tentes of these wycked men And Paule saith of him that kept hys mother in lawe I haue determined to deliuer him vnto Sathan for the destruction of the fleshe 1. Cor. 5. And afterwardes Pourge ye the old leuen And he deliuered vnto Sathan Hymeneus and Alexander 1. Timo. 1. to learne not to blaspheme And to make an end this good prelate must pray for all men Exodi 32. as Moses dyd the whych prayed vnto our lord And as Samuel did God forbid that I should synne againste oure Lorde 1. regu 12. and cease praying for you And Paul did fulfil this thyng most diligently Roma 1. wythout ceasing I make mention of you in my prayers And againe We praye alwaies for you that oure God wyl make you worthy of his calling 2. Thes. 1. c. And he exhorted that it mighte be done I pray you that aboue all thynges prayers may be had for all men i. Timo. 2. and kynges ¶ Of euil princes and prelates Capi. Cii OUr Lord commaunded Moses saying Nume 15 Take all the heades of the people and hange them vp before the Lord against the sonne Moses said vnto Aaron what dyd this people vnto
afterwardes to their pain Nabal vsed hiÌ„ self vnliberally towardes Dauid that desired him to geue hym somwhat 1. re 15. After that Dauid had obtained the victorye of the Amelechites 1. reg 30 he sente giftes and part of the praye vnto the elders of Iuda and to hys frendes neighbors sayinge see here is a blessyng for you Dauid commaunded that Mephibo seth should eat bread alway vpon his table 2. re 9. And he gaue him all that pertained to Saule Soby Machir and Berzillai dyd profer vnto Dauid flyinge from the face and presence of Absolon 2. re 17 manye necessarye thinges for his hoaste as wheat barly and flour This Berzillai did aid Dauid wheÌ„ he fled from his sonne Absolon 2. re 19 And after that Dauid hadde obtained and won the victory he retained Chymeam his sonne as one of his family The Quene of Saba gaue SalomoÌ„ manye thinges 3. re 10 And Salomon gaue her according to her desire what so euer she asked besides that he gaue her of a fre wil with his owne hand Certaine good men of Israell clothed the naked prisonners 2. Para. 28 and set all that were feble vpon horses brought them to their brethren King Cyrus brought forth the vessel of the temple of our Lord 1. Esd. 1. whych Nabuchodonozor had taken and sent them again to Ierusalem al the vessels of gold siluer were 5000. and 400. The children of Iuda returnynge from Babilon 1. Esd. 2 offred willingly to the building of the house of God gaue gold after their hability King Darius commaunded that the house of God should be builded in Ierusalem 1. Esdâ— 6 that the charges should be taken oute of the kinges cofers Although ther were some enuious persons that by theyr letters laboured to let and hinder the worke 1. Esd. 7 King Artaxerzes gaue a glorious a liberal epistle to Esdras the priest that came to Ierusalem to coÌ„fort the Iewes 2. esd. 2. King Artaxerzes vsed him self liberallye to Nehemias comminge into Iewry and gaue him euen suche letters as he required Nehemias was a very liberall Legate the which did not greue the people with vitall exactions 2. esd. 5. he dyd much good to those that he was seÌ„t vnto Tobias did study how to deuide all that euer he had among his brethren that wer prisoners Tob. i. and of his kin he fed the hungry and clothed the naked Raguel deliuered to yong Tobias with his daughter the half of all hys substaunce Tob. 10 Tobias the yonger was very kind vnto Raphael Tob. 12 whom he toke to be a man and well acknowledged the benifites that he had done vnto hym where vpon bothe he and hys father did offer him most liberally the moity of al theyr goodes Kinge Ahaswerus commaunded a greate feast to bee made for Esthers mariage Est. 2. caused the landes to be in quietnesse and gaue giftes as it became the royalty of a king WheÌ„ king Ahasuerus saw Quene Esther Esth. 5 he safd vnto her what wilt thou Esther what is thy peâ—icion if it bee euen the halfe of my kingdome thou shalt haue it Esth. 6 King Ahasuerus enquired what honour or rewarde Mardocheus had gotten for the fidelity that he had shewd vnto him And when he vnderstode that he was vnrewarded hee caused hym magnificently to be honoured Iobs sonnes made bankets eche of them on the daye that he made hys feast Iob. 2 sent for theyr sisters to eate and to drinke with them Blessed Iob doth declare that he was merciful to the poore Iob. 29.31 saying I comforted the widowes harte and I was a father vnto the pore Again he saithe If I haue eaten my meat alone For mercye hathe growne wyth me euen from my childhode The chefe captain of Babilon gaue Ieremy meat Iere 40 and rewardes and let him go whether so euer he wold promising him great humanity kindenesse if he wold go with him to Babilon and yet he gaue him free leaue and licence to cary Seleucus the kinge of Asia in the time of Onias the hie priest â— mach 2 payed al the charges pertaininge to the minysterye of the Sacrifices of his owne rentes and heritage The wise men opening their treasures not their litle purses with half pence Math. 2 offred vnto a pore Lord gold frankensence and mirrhe Our Lord is a liberall and a large rewarder math 19 the which to those that leaue these temporal goodes for hys cause dothe geue an hunderfolde in thys worlde and life euerlastynge in the world that is to come It came of a benigne and a gentle liberality that our Lord defended the disciples math 12 whiche vppon the Saboth day did plucke the eares of corne Lu. 6 and chafed them with theyr hands to eat against those wicked Pharises And also of the Publicanes synners that came to heare him Lu. 15.19 And of zacheus math 26 And there is an ensample of Mary Mar. 14 that kissed oure Lordes feete And of Iudas for the which signe of gentlenesse the vnhappye and wycked manne oughte to haue the soner repented The people folowed our Lord on fote into the desert and left the cities and when the euen drue on Mat. 14 his disciples said vnto him Let the people depart that they may go and bye them vitailes But hee as a liberall Lorde master answered geue ye theÌ„ to eat Zacheus in distrybutyâ—ge of hys goodes Lu. 19 and makynge of restitucyon was verye large and liberall Thus hee sayde vnto oure Lorde Beholde Lorde the halfe of my goodes I geue to the poore and if I haue done anye maÌ„ wrong I restore hym four fold The gift of the pore wydow which cast two miâ—es into the treasurye Lu. 21 is preferd of our Lord aboue the giftes of the rich Our Lord was very bountiful and liberal to the thefe that hanged asked sayinge Lu. 23 Lorde remember me when thou commest into thy kingdome And Iesus saite vnto him verelye I saye vnto thee to daye shalt thou bee wyth me in paradise Our lord vouchsaued to shewe hys benignitye and liberalitye Iohn 2 when that he beyng called to the pore maryage went thether and ther turned water into wyne to chere the poore that were there at dyner The great liberality of God apeareth in the parable of the vngratious seruant math 18. vnto whom our lord saide I forgaue the all the debt because thou desyredst me Ioses whose syr name was Barnabas had land sold it Act. 4 broughte the price and laid it downe at the Apostles fete When the disciples that wer at Antioch hard say that ther shuld be great dearth throughout al the world Act. 11 thei purposed to send socour vnto the brethreÌ„ which wer in Iewry The which thing thei also did and sent it to
Nabuchodonozor that all the wise men at Babilon should be put to deathe Dani. 2. they calde to theyr felowes to seke mercy at gods hand Then was there a vision shewed vnto Daniel by nyght And so the kyng by the occasyon of hys seruant Daniel spared the wyse men of Babylon After the death of Iudas Machabeus wycked men came vp 1. mach 6. and there was a great dearth in the lande and Bachides made the vngratious lordes in the land And there came great tribulation in Israel the whiche perauenture should not haue chaunced yf they had had Iudas to theyr lord and master When the fyrst of those vii brethreÌ„ was fryed in the cauldron 2. Mach. 7. the other with theyr mother exhorted one another to die strongly and manfully Iudas Marchabeus went to take the city of Chytopolis 2. Mach. 12. But for the Iewes sake which were within it the which they intreated louingly he dyd them no euil but gaue them thanckes exhorting them to be frendlye vnto hys kindred As longe as Peter remained wyth the Apostles Math. 26. he was stedfast sure but when he was in the hye pryestes court warming him selfe by the fyre wyth his seruauntes he began to deny our Lord. Iohn 9. Anon after that our Lorde had geuen him his sighte that was blynde from hys byrthe the Phariseys caste him out of the sinagoge But the beninge Lord Iesus receiued him amoÌ„g his faithful When all the disciples were wyth one accord together Act. 2. the holye ghoste came vpon them and inestimably did teach them and strengthen them It is thus wrytten of the faythfull the which wer in the primitiue churche Al that beleued kept them selues together Act. 2. and had al things commen Then followeth They did eat theyr meate together wyth gladnesse and singlenesse of hart praising our lord and hande fauoure wyth all the people Saule after his conuersyon came to Ierusalem and assaide to couple him self to the disciples but they wer al afraid and fled from hym and beleued not that he was a disciple But Barnabas tooke him Act. 9. brought him to the Apostles The men which were wyth Paule in the ship when the greate tempest raged Act. 27. were all saued because Paule was in theyr company For the aungel of our Lord saide vnto hym Loe God hathe geuen thee all theym that saile with thee ¶ Of the society and fellowshyp of euell men Capi. Cxx. ABraham departed wel from the Caldees Gen. 11.15 where men were infected with Idolatrye so that oure Lord remembreth that as a benefite saying I am the Lord that broughte the out of Hur of the Caldees A man shuld forsake and leaue his country not only in body but also in thought and affection Gene. 12. Where vpon our lord sayde vnto Abraham which was gone out of his countrye in body Get thee out of thy countrye c. And note the promises whiche were made there We rede not that our lord appeared vnto Abraham as long as he was in companye wyth euill men in Hur of the Caldees Gen. 13.15.17.18 it is not red that the lord apeared to him although he was taken for a good man But after hee departed thence we reade that he was oftentymes visyted wyth deuine apparitions Gen. 13.19 Lot by the occasyon of the wycked Sodomites with whome he inhabyted and dwelt suffred great iniuryes and wronges It appeareth by Lot how harde it is to leaue the accustomed companye of the euel Gene. 19. the which could eueÌ„ scarcely be drawen away by the angell froÌ„ the Sodomites Gen. 21. Ismaels play and pastime with Isaac dyspleased Sara Gen. 28. Our Lord many diuers manner of wayes dyd comfort Iacob auoidyng the companye of his wicked brother Iacob wold not go on wyth his vngratious and euell brother Gene. 33. although he had pacified him with giftes Not withstanding his brother instantlye desired hym and hadde shewed hym signes and tokens of dilection loue Moses said to the congregation of Israel Nume 26. depart from the tents of these wycked men and touch nothynge of theyrs least ye pearyshe in all theyr synnes Our Lord sayd to Moses coÌ„maund the children of Israel that they when they enter into the lande of Canaan Nume 33. destroy al the inhabitors of the land but if ye wyl not destroy them they the remayne shall be as it were prickes in youre eyes and Dartes in youre sydes By the occasyon of Acham whyche toke wyth him of the excommunicate thynges of Iericho Iosu. 7. the people were ouerthrowne in battayle Through certaine chyldren of Beliall the whych had commytted a detestable dede against the Leuites wife Iudi. 19.20 al the children of Beniamin fewe excepted were slaine The chyldren of Israel would not destroy the inhabyters of the land Iudi. 1.2 as the Lord commaunded them therefore theyr chaunce was vnfortunate and euell The familiaritye and amitye that Amnon Dauids sonne hadde wyth Ionadab 3. regu 13. gaue hym an occasion and a waye to enforce Thamar hys syster Many simple persons drue vnto Absolon rebellyng agaynste hys father 2. regu 15 the whych would neuer haue conspired against Dauid if they had contynued with good and peaceable men at Ierusalem For certain which were yet alyue of the house and family of Saul 2. regu 21. ther fel a great hunger in the land vntyll that they at the peticion of the Gabanites were hanged Iosaphat the king of Iuda was almost slaine goynge to warfare wyth Achab 2. Para. 19. and was reproued by the lordes prophet saying Thou helpest the vngodlye and louest them that hate the lord and therefore thou deseruest the ire and anger of the lord Ochozias king of Iuda walked in Achabs wayes 4. reg 8. and did euill before the lord The cause foloweth for he was Achabs sonne in law Elizeus the prophet said vnto Iosaphat king of Israel 2. Pat. 20. because thou hast ioyned thy self wyth Ochozia the lord hath broken thy workes and destroid thy shyps The man of God came to Amasia king of Iuda 2. para 25 and said O king let not the armye of Israel come wyth thee for the lord is not with Israel But if thou thinke that the battayl doth consyst in the strength of the hoast God shall make thee fall before thy ennemye When the chyldren of Israel aftâ—r theyr comming agayne from Babylon 1. Esd. 3.4 were a buildinge the Temple their aduersaries wold haue builded with them but they vsing good counsail refused them When all the other wente to the golden calues Tob. 1. which Ieroboam â—ad made Tobias alone fled al their coÌ„panies and went to Ierusalem to worshyp the lord God of Israel Blessed Iob sayd I am the brother of Dragons Iob. 30. and the companyon of Estriches esa 6. When Esay hadde sayde I am a man of vncleane lyppes he