euer wordes a mischeuous caytiue is wont to be rebuked callynge hym churche robber mankyller backebiter poller poysoner he toke it most paciently and bewayled him selfe that he was suche one An other tyme whan his felowe asked him why he â—oÌ„pelled hym to make so many lies vpon an innoâ—eÌ„t for none of al these thyÌ„ges were iÌ„ him he answered Thou dost nat lye for al these had I ben yea moche more nere that the mercy of god kept his seruant froÌ„ those synnes And the mercy of god doth nat only preuent prouoke vs to goodnes but also helpeth vs entprisynge accoÌ„panieth vs goyng forth and in conclusion gyueth vs puissance that we may ê‘fourme that mannes strengthes coude nat do Me semeth the apostle Paule signifieth suche a maner of mercy in many places but specially in gretynges besechyng grace and peace In pistils to Timotheus also he addeth mercy And certes without preiudice of a better sentence if any haue it to shewe I thynke grace ê‘teyneth to callynge of vs for we be called by fayth that is beleue This fayth is the free gyfte of god and therfore they to whom it happeth are for it bonde to the diuine mercy Mercy ê‘teyneth to dyuers gyftes distributed to eche after the measure of his faythe Peace longeth to the innoceÌ„cy of all the lyfe with out whiche freÌ„dship with god can nat he had nor true coÌ„corde with our bretherne Ueryly as oft as we be deliuered froÌ„ iuels that we be greued with we shulde nat repute it to the sterres to Fortune nor to our prudeÌ„ce but we ought to ascriue it al to the mercy of god No man tangled in the boâ—des oâ— syn can be deliuered excepte he be holpe by diuine mercy This teacheth the psalme Cxxix For our lorde hath great mercy and in hym is plentyfull redempcion and he wyll redeme Israel froÌ„ all iniquities theroâ— Farther that the mercy of god delyuereth vs also froÌ„ bodily harmes Paule declareth writyng to the PhilippeÌ„ses Epaphroditus was sicke yea nere deed but god saythe he pitied hyÌ„ nat only hym but also me lest I shuld haue had sorowe vpon sorowe Nor there is no differeÌ„ce bitwene mercy helpyneg and coÌ„fortyng saue that we be holpe whaÌ„ the yuels be takeÌ„ away that greued vs but mercy coÌ„forting is at hande as oft as in the myddes of afflictions iâ— tempereth the grefe of aduersite with mynglyng of ioyâ—ull thyÌ„ges causing frute with teÌ„ptation as Paule sayth wherby we may susteyne hit And the same yuels ofte tymes are sente of god pitâ—ynge wherby we may â—ither purge our yl dedes coÌ„mytted orels withdrawe vs that we commytte no mo or to mynistre vs matter to exercise vertue In suche wyse AbrahaÌ„ was teÌ„pted so Iob was exercised in dyuers troubles so who so euer lyued well in Iesu Christe werein this worlde proued by dyuers aâ—flictioÌ„s as golde is by the fyer Where be they that murmure agaynst god as oft as to them happeth bodily sickenes or deth of theyr children or wyfe or as ofte as they haue losse of householâ—e stouffe or as ofte as theyr felde frutes fayle nat vnderstandynge these to be the most certeyne tokens of god piteyng vs Let vs rather here what SolomoÌ„ monisheth vs My sonne caste nat awaye the teachynge of our lorde nor leaue hym nat whan he correcteth the For hym that our lorde loueth he correcteth and deliteth in him as a father in his childe Paule to the Hebrewes repeteth this sentence changyng somwhat the wordes For whom our lorde loueth he chastiseth he scourgeth forsothe euery childe that he admytteth Therfore mooste welbeloued brethernÌ„ as oft as the storme of aduersite assaileth you coÌ„tinue in discipline as Paule couÌ„saileth knoweyng that god offreth hym vnto you as vnto childreÌ„ here the voyce of the father mercifully correctyng his children in the psalme lxxxviij If they violate my iusticis and kepe nat my coÌ„mandementes I wyll visete theyr iniquites by the rodde and their synnes by beatynges But I wyl nat throwe my mercy froÌ„ hym nor I wyl nat hurt in my trouth And lyke wyse Paule thretneth the chyldren that he loueth sayeng What wolde ye shal I come to you by the rodde or in the spirite of hyndnes and mekenes But the same Paule saythe What nedeth me to iuge of them that be without No voyce is more bytter and sharpe vnto chyldren than to here theyr father saye Do what ye wyll I care nat For thus sayth he that myndeth to disherite Surely this fatherly hyndnes is sharper than any chydynge Therfore as sufferance is cruell so correction is mercifull The iuste man saythe He shal correct me in his mercy and shal rebuke me but the oyle of the synner shall nat grece my heed Paulus Emilius the Romayn capitayn whiche being prosperous in all his dedes diuined that some great iuel was coÌ„mynge And Polycrates the tyraÌ„ of Samiens went alway about to redeme the enuy of fortune flateryng with losse of a ring most precious Howe moche more ought we drede lyuyng wickedly lest the iuste vengeance of god hange ouer vs whan the prosperite of temporall goodes flater vs longe For whan god in the prophecies wyll expresse his vnpeasable anger he thretneth to take away his rodde from them and that by afflictioÌ„s he wyl nat redresse their sinnes God kepe vs most dere bretherne from suche felicite But rather if the mercy of our father vouchesafe vs ought of welth we must thaÌ„ke hym be carefull lest we any where shulde abuse his liberalite And if aduersite greue vs we shuld no lesse thankyng hym submit vs holly to his arbitremeÌ„t To haue helth of body thou submittest the to the phisician a maÌ„ thou sufferest the surgian to bynde cut and burne wylte nat submyt the to thy maker lorde father and sauiour that thou maist haue thy soule helth euerlastynge Thou darst nat lymyt to the leche thus and by this reason heale me and shal we coÌ„dicion with god howe he shulde ê“uide for our soules helthe Paule thapostle suffâ—ed thangel of the deuyl to assayle hym and gyue hym blowes for so it was expedieÌ„t to reteyne the gyftes that he had receyued Whan I am weake sayth he than am I stronge And he glorifieth gladly in his infirmites that he myghte possesse the vertue of Christe dwellynge in hym What be we that refuse this mercy of god by dyuerse afflictions as hit were with bytter playsters procurynge our helthe The coÌ„mon people whaÌ„ they se one that is desceÌ„ded of high linage hauing abuÌ„daÌ„ce of riches helth of body heaped in honors are wont to say Howe moche is he bouÌ„de to god Thus iuge they that esteme felicite in those thing is ytâ—e seen outward But he that examyneth the thynge after the iugemeÌ„t of god shall fynde ofâ—eÌ„ tymes the lowe byrth poore sickely the out cast amoÌ„ge men more bouÌ„de to the mercy of god than these ioly felowes that the grosse multitude maketh egall to goddis Heape to gether as moche of
our lordes voyce stoppe theyr eares lyke the deâ—â—e edder that stoppeth her eares for the noneâ— lest a shulde here the voyce of the enchanter wysely To day sayth the psalme if ye here his voyce be nat harde harted To day is ours as longe as we be in this lyfe whiche all the while hit lasteth our lorde cesseth nat to speke to vs steryÌ„g vs to do penance offryng forgyuenes ppared What sayd I forgyuenes The mercy of god is more whiche promiseth to them that returne a precious gyfte For thus we rede in Iob If thou wylt returne to almyghty god thou shalte be edifyed and shalte voyde wickednes far froÌ„ thy tent for erth he shall gyue the a flynt stone for a flint stone golden ryuers Let vs here the mercy of our lorde in Esaie steryng vs to repentaÌ„ce If ye seke saith he seke returne and come if ye seke th ende of yuels seke hit nat in children of men in whom is no saluacion nor of eÌ„chantours nor by hangyng your selfe but aske it of me that alone both may and am redy to forgyue Only returne from those thynges that ye fylthily haue loued turned come to me Agayne in the same ê“phet eÌ„tysyng al mankynde to hym he sayth Am nat I a lorde and there is no more god but I God iuste and holy is none besyde me returne to me and ye shal be â—aued al the costis of the erth for I am god and there is none other These wordes our lorde speketh to gentils idolworshippers to maÌ„kyllers churche robbers â—echers blasphemers thou wretche by dispeyre woldest turne away from our lorde In olde tyme whan synne vnpunished rayned amoÌ„ge folke the merry of god semed to be drawen within the narow bouÌ„des of Iudee But by the gospell mercy spred ouer all costes of the worlde In Ieremye also he thretneth the obstinate but he offereth them forgyuenes prepared that repent ameÌ„de If that folke sayth he wyll do penaÌ„ce for theyr synne that I haue spokeÌ„ agaynst them I wil also do penaÌ„ce vpon the harme that I thought haue done them And he that a lyttel before thretned distruction pluckyng vp by the rotes sparklyng about promyseth thynges coÌ„trary and sodaynly sayth I wylâ— speke of the people realme that I may edifie it and that I may plant it Like wyse in Ezechiel he nat only ê“miseth hym ê‘doÌ„ that turneth agayne but also that he wold forget all the synnes that he had done before For whan he had afore remeÌ„bred euery kynde of myschefes and daÌ„nable dedes he addeth If the wicked man wyl do penaÌ„ce for al the synnes that he hath wrought and wil kepe al my coÌ„mandementes and wyl do iugemeÌ„t and iusticeâ— he shal lyue and shall nat dye I wyll nat remeÌ„bre al the iniquitees that he hath wrought Is it my wyll sayth our lorde that a synner shulde dye and nat rather that he shulde be coÌ„uerted froÌ„ his sinnes lyue And a lytell lower Be ye coÌ„uerted and do penaÌ„ce for all your synnes and your wickednes shal nat distroye you throwe away all your offences wherby ye haue traÌ„sgressed and make you a new hart and a newe spirite And why die ye the house of Israel Bicause I will nat the deth of the dyeng treature sayth our lorde turne agayne and come Why despeyrest thou wretche sith god for this seÌ„t downe his son in to this worlde yâ— yâ— shuldest haue good hope He hym selfe vndouted is the mercy of god of whom Dauid syngeth O god we haue receyued thy mercy in the myddis of thy churche Be thou iÌ„ the churche and enbrace mercy He rysyng crieth I wyl nat the deth of a synner but rather that he shulde be coÌ„uerted lyue Here this voyce thou vnhappy synner shake of deedly slepe rise agayne with Christ that thou mayst lyue in hym For he reuiued to th ende the deth of syn shulde nat alway possesse the. And if any body suspect that this mercy of god is nat ppared nor redy but for these that coÌ„myt fewe lyght syns let hym here what our lorde with a clere voyce promiseth Whan so euer a synner bewayleth his synnes I wyll forget al his iniquitees He excepteth no kynde of synne he poÌ„dreth nat the greatnes or multitude of offences Be sory only and forgetfulnes of all thy syns past is redy For small offences without whiche maÌ„s frailte lyueth nat we call dayly vpoÌ„ the mercy of god sayeng Dimitte nobis debita nostra c. For gyue vs as we forgyue them that offeÌ„de vs And we be herde if we here our neyghbour prayenge that we shuld forgyue him And also amoÌ„ge deedly synnes is a certeyne order as amonge meÌ„ some slepe nat very souÌ„dly so that with a litel whistryÌ„g they awake there be that slepe more depely that one must speke loude to wake them there be that slepe most depely that vneth with great tuggyÌ„ge they wyl awake so with god som be lighter deed some more greuously and some moste greuously But no kynde of dethe is so desperate and deedly that he with his voyce dryueth nat awaye at whose voyce also they rise agayne that were deed iÌ„ theyr graues and no man is takeÌ„ with so depe slouÌ„bre of deth that is nat by hym reysed This threfold difference of synners the deuout interpreters of holy scriptures suppose signified to vs by thre corses that we rede were reysed from dethe to lyfe by our lorde Iesu. The maister of the sinagogis daughter a mayde .xij. yere of age he reysed in the house a fewe admytted to se it he forbade to tell abrode that was done These be they that fyrste nat of purposed malice but eyther by sleprenes of age or by mans frailnes be so slyden in to som synne that they be nat yet obstinate in yll nor yet no foule rumour ruÌ„neth of that mysdede Our lorde Iesus lightly reyseth those with his hande put for the hydynge theyr fylthynes and prouidynge for theyr shamefastnes But he reysed vppe the wyddowes sonne with more busynes Nowe the carkeys was caried to the graueâ—and in goyng our lorde met them he moued with the sely womaÌ„s weping bade them stande styl that bare the biere he reysed the yonge maÌ„ Fyrst he sittech vp soone aft he speketh shortly after he skyppeth out of the coffyn is deliuered to his mother agayne These be they vndouted that be so fer iroÌ„ne in synne that they be infamy can nat be reclaymed froÌ„ synnyng they by open penance lytell lytell be reised agayne to life He sitteth vp whiche forsakyng syn lyfteth vp hyÌ„ selfe to the purpose of a better lyfe He speketh that coÌ„fessyng his foule synnes aknowlegeth the mercy of god He is yelded to his mother a lyue that aft al remedies accomplished is restored to the coÌ„munion of the churche agayne Lazarus truly nowe stanke in his graue He is bewayled onely of his deâ—perate systers and freÌ„des here Iesus byddeth to shewe hym the graue he wepeth
foles rather than heretickes that of one make two goddis one of the olde testament that was onely iuste nat good the other of the newe that shuld be onely good and nat iuste coude they nat at leest wise here this songe that is so often tymes rehersed in the psalme Cxvij Aknowlege to god that he is good and that his mercy is in all worldes Where is mad Manicheus that taught in his bokes that he that speketh to vs so louyngly by his prophettes and that dyd ordeyne Moyses lawe was no veray god but one of the wycked dyuels The selfe same is god of both the lawes the same trouth the same mercy by Iesu Christ our lorde saue that in Moyses lawe be shadowes in the gospell trouth in the other was promyse in this is ê‘fourmance in that was moche and great mercy towarde the Iewes here is the holle well of mercy or rather the see that hath flowen ouer all nacions of the holle worlde by whiche flode the syns of al mortal creatures are washed and skoured away Surely this was the happy flode of mercy the olde flode a fewe saued distroyed the synners this holsome flode washeth away the syns saueth al that beleue in the sonne of god He that in bokes of the olde testament promyseth the Hebrewes repeÌ„tyng ameÌ„dyng forgyuenes the same present in the gospel crieth to euery maÌ„ Come to me al that labour be loden and I wyll refreshe you Take my yocke vpon you and ye shal fynde rest for your soules For my yocke is swete my burtheÌ„ light Rede the lyfe of Christe ouer ouer what thynge els se ye therin but coÌ„tinuall mercy toward euery body He healed sicke folke frely he fed the huÌ„gry he succoured them that were in perill he made lepers holle clene he gaue the blynde their sight restored the lame theyr lymmes he droue away dyuels he reysed deed meÌ„ to lyfe he assoyled them that were repeÌ„taÌ„t Agayne serche out al his techyng what other thing doth it sauer thaÌ„ excedyÌ„g great mercy of god By howe many parables printeth he the same in our myÌ„des that we shulde slyde no wayâ— For what other thyng sheweth the parable of the shepe brought agayne on the sheperdis shulders of the pece of money lost fouÌ„de of the holle folke that nede a phisicioÌ„ of the seruant to whom all his duyte is gyuen agayne of the vserer that forgaue both the dettours of the publican pharisee of the pylgrym hurt whom the samaritan healeth of the curâ—ese stewarde to his dettours of the disceiuer of his maister of the ryottous childe receyued agayne And the very cleapynge of the gospell doth it nat by by promyse mercy What promiseth hit To blinde sight to prisoners ê‘don to the brokeÌ„ holnes shortly to speke a yere acceptable to our lorde that desireth none other thynge but mans saluacion Nowe the same name of Iesu that is of a sauiour what other thynge ê“myseth it but saluacion mercy If he had proclaymed hym selfe a iuge it had beÌ„ somwhat why one shuld haue beÌ„ afrayd nowe thou herest sauiour and despeyrest of saluacion And so forthe to th ende the truste of saluacion shuld seme more certaine bicause it wold seme vnlykely that so great a lake of synnes that all maÌ„kynde was defiled with shulde be purged cleÌ„sed with the blud of gottis calues he the son of god got vp on the auter of the crosse and for our synnes he offred hym selfe most effectuall sacrifice to cleÌ„se all our synnes And hangynge on the same crosse he prayed for them that crucified hym for them yâ— reuile rayle vpon hym thynkest thou aknowlegyng thy syn sorowfully besechyng his mercy he wyll deny the forgyuenes Trust to hym merciful thou shalt fynde mercy what thyng is it the faith opteyneth nat of Christe He that mistrusteth the phisicioÌ„ is his owne let that he can nat haue his helth agayne Truely so moche god inclyneth to the prayers of wretches cryenge to hym that he gyueth mercy at one other mans prayer if he haue a good hope with hym The Canane crieth to him and her daughter is made holle the Centurion trusteth and his seruant is restored to his helth the maister of the Synagoge prayeth his daught is reliued the father desireth his son is deliuered of a wicked dyuel The apostles crie O lorde saue vs we perishe and they be al saued In many folkes he â—aried nat the prayers of the mouthâ— he seeth the fayth of the cariers sayth to the man sicke of the palsey Trust son thy synnes be forgyueÌ„ the. The mother only they that went with her wept the yonge maÌ„ that was deed ariseth Martha and Mary do nothyng but wepe and Lazer relyueth Mary the synner wepeth she annoynteth kysseth hym she hereth Thy synnes be forgyuen the. He prayeth inough that knowlegeth his sickenes he prayeth vehemeÌ„tly that wepeth and hopeth The womaÌ„ diseased with the blody flixe priuely toucheth the garment of Iesu and forth with she felt the power of mercy coÌ„ming forth Like wise we rede that many other were cured by touchyÌ„g the garmeÌ„tes of Iesu. So redy his mercy is euery where at euery occasioÌ„ he succoureth wretches If thou darste nat call vpon Iesus if thou canst nat touche Iesus at lest touche priuely the skyrt of his garmeÌ„t go to som holy maÌ„ in whom this vertue shyneth that with his prayers he may coÌ„mende the to our merciful lorde For by them ofteÌ„ tymes he putteth forth his power beyng redy on euery syde to gyue saluacion to euery maÌ„ For that enteÌ„t he came this was the food wherwith he was fedde that he might drawe synners to repeÌ„taÌ„ce And in the boke of Genesis also whan wicked folke by theyr mischeuous dedes ê“uoked the wrath of our lorde yet at the prayer of AbrahaÌ„ our lorde had forgyueÌ„ many cities appoynted to be distroied if he coude haue founde .x. good men amonge the people The peple of Israel had deserued to be distroied our lorde at the prayers of Moyses restrayneth the sworde of vengeaÌ„ce O blinde vnkynd folke that regarde nat the mercy of our lorde that is so metyng so redy euery where but more vnhappy be they that wyllingly despeyre of that the frely is offered them He is lightly pleased whiche nat willing is reueÌ„ged For what other thyÌ„g souneth this voyce And why dye ye the house of Israel Agayne in an other place he bewayleth that he al the day had spred abrode his handes to the people without beleue striuyng agaynst him Agayne in Micheas My people what haue I done to the or wherin haue I greued the answere me Lyke wyse in Esaie What is hit that I ought to haue done more to my vyne and haue nat done it Our lorde doth euery thynge that he myght saue vs and shal we wylfully cast away hope of saluacion In the gospell
none all ought to watche that they despise nat the goodnes of god but if they hap to slide agayne by and by they shulde hast to remedy before the disease by coÌ„tinuance waxe vncurable Some iÌ„ olde tyme with right great peril forbare baptisme eueÌ„ to the last day of theyr lyfe whom some called bad christiens and some yll watered as christieÌ„s nat very true but with more ieê‘dy the synner ê“loÌ„geth the remedy of penance that is euery where redy The christener is nat alway present but lyeng in thy bed thou mayst coÌ„fesse thyn vnrightousnes to our lorde and purpose to amende thy lyfe One is nat alway present to washe thy body teares be alway present with whiche thou mayst washe the fylthes of thy soule And nat without a cause a dout is whether the baptisme be effectual wherby whaÌ„ ther is no hope of life and were in paÌ„ges of deth were rather spryncled with water than baptised For they shewed that they wolde a synned coÌ„tinually if they myght haue lyued styll But moche more southly great lerned men doute whether penaÌ„ce be fruteful that is ê“loÌ„ged a purpose nowe deê‘tyng heÌ„ce they take it and wold nat take it except deth coÌ„pelled them For lyke as grouÌ„de ofte moysted with heueÌ„ly raine bryÌ„geth forth naught els to his tyller than thornes wydes is cursed caste in to the fyre so god other while for his goodnes obstacly despised endueth them with a peruersed mynde Wherfore the surest way most dere brethernÌ„ is nat to ê“longe the mendyng of the lyfe but by by at the voyce of our lorde callyng vs to do of the old maÌ„ with his dedes and desyres lest our lord so oft nat herde wyll nat here vs agayne callynge to hym Dredeful is the voice wherwith he thretneth them that wyll nat here him mercifully callyÌ„g Bicause sayth he I called you ye turned away I reched forth my haÌ„de ther was none that wold se it ye despised al my couÌ„sayle and set naught by my rebukes I also wyl laugh and scorne iÌ„ your distruction whaÌ„ it shal fall on you that ye drad Whan sodayne calamite ouerthroweth ruine as a teÌ„pest dassheth downe whan trouble greffe assayleth than they wyll call on me I wyl nat here them They shal arise yerly and they shal nat fynde me bicause they hated my lernyng and wolde nat coÌ„ceyue the drede of their lorde wolde nat rest vpoÌ„ my couÌ„saile and wold withdrawe froÌ„ al my correctioÌ„ God punisheth diuers wayes that he might correct vs. At last whaÌ„ our obstaclenes hath ouercoÌ„e al remedies he forsaketh vs as desperate and leaueth vs with our owne fre wyl Like as a phisicioÌ„ assaynge al that his crafte can to put away the disease whan he seeth the pacient forsake all medicins at last he leaueth hym with his sickenes as he that wyll nat lyue Mercy sayth the psalme iugemeÌ„t I wyl synge to ye. The day of iugemeÌ„t abydeth al after they shal be departed this lyfe As longe as this lyfe lasteth there is hope of mercy Therfore while thou lyuest beseche our lorde mercy But they that lie dyeng or they that extreme olde age opresseth nowe in a maner lyue no more Here the couÌ„sayle of the wyse Hebrewe what euer thou be that from day to day drawest the lynde of wickednes and makest no ende of synnynge Turne the to our lorde saith he and forsake thy sinnes Pray the face of our lorde and mynishe thyn offences Returne to our lorde and turne away froÌ„ thyn vngratiousnes and hate cursynge and knowe the iustices and iugementes of god and stande in the lot of proposicion and speche of almyghty god go in to the partes of the iuste worlde with the lyuyng gyuyng confession to god Thou shuldest nat abyde in the errour of wicked folke coÌ„fesse yâ— before dethe The confession of one deed perisheth as nothyng Thou shalt confesse the liuyng Alyue and in helth thou shalt confesse preyse god and glorifie in his mercies o howe great is the mercy of our lorde and his fauour to them that returne to hym Thou herest the great mercy of god is redy but that is if thou aliue in heale wylt be coÌ„fessed to our lorde But what shal we say of them whose bodyes be vnable to synne yet the mynde putteth nat away the synfull appetite and whan by reason of age the body is nere deed that they can nat do wycked and fylthy actes yet they leaue nat to speke leudly Howe shulde they be confessed to our lorde alyue that leaue sooner to lyue thaÌ„ to synne But thou yonge maÌ„ in thy flowryng age why ê“loÌ„gest the meÌ„dyng of thy lyfe dayes monethes yeres If thy body were diseased with the dropsy and thou haddest before the redy a certayne sure remedy for that disease woldest thou say The next yere I wyl heale my sickenes I knowe wel thou woldest nat be so mad but thou woldest haste most gredily to be healed And iÌ„ the diseases of the soule moche more perillous tariest driuest forthe froÌ„ day to day froÌ„ that day to that yea thou defferrest thy saluacion to the day of thy dethe And who is thy surete that thou shalt lyue tyl to morowe But these thinges be nat spokeÌ„ to th ende that any shulde despeyre of forgyuenes but to th enteÌ„t we wold wrest froÌ„â—che the careles continuance in synne There is synne that neither in this worlde nor in the worlde to come is forgyueÌ„ God forbyd that any of vs shulde swarue so far wyde And therfore the most sure thyng is to eschewe synne The next is that by by we put it away by penance that is wrought vnskylfully A good man falleth .vij. tymes on a day but he riseth agayne al though this be spoken by veniall syns And therfore our lorde ofte tymes thretneth vs sharply in holy scripture lest on trust of forgyuenes redy we shuld walowe in to the myer of vngratious dedes And therfore the plaister of penaÌ„ce is nat gyuen that we wylfully shulde continue in our disease but lest he whiche perchaunce falleth shuld be lost for euer In Amos our lorde oft thondreth agaynst thre or foure wyckednessis Shall nat I abhorre them It is wyckednes to thynke yll Here by by we shulde take repentance but 〈◊〉 is greatter wickednes to wyl to ê‘fourme it that thou dyddest mynde at lest froÌ„ the grice yâ— fote shuld step to better But the greuoust offence is fylthyly to ê‘fourme it that thou dyddest wickedly purpose And here we be neither sory nor amende but we put to it the fourth wickednes accustomyng vs in â—yns heapyng syns vpoÌ„ syns Nowe at this poyÌ„t may nat our lord wel abhorre vs Yes truly nere that his mercy passed his iustice Beholde what foloweth after so sharpe thretnyÌ„ges in the same ê“phet This sayth our lorde to the house of Israel Seke ye shal fynd me seke your lorde come Let vs here our lorde thretnyng
lest we shuld syn let vs here our lorde reclaymyng vs that we despeyre nat Orels wo to vs if he shuld do to vs that he thretneth by the ê“phete and after the thyrde or fourth wickednes he shulde turne away froÌ„ vs his mercy leaue vs alone to our wyl Yea with many of vs it shulde go yuel if our lorde shulde turne his face away after the thousande wickednes But by by as his rightousnes beginneth to waxe rigorous Mercy steppeth forth sayth O lord god be merciful I pray the who shal lyft vp Iacob for he is a babe And agayne O lorde god I pray the cesse who shall reyse vp Iacob for he is a babe Thus Mercy our best defender pledeth the cause of our frailnes Nowe here howe redy forgyuenes is to one repentyng amendyng Our lorde sayth he hath had pite vpon hym It shal nat be sayd our lorde Ye se howe soone he thretnynge vengeance repenteth if we truly wolde repent our misdedes It shall nat be sayd our lorde I praye you what mother is so lightly pleased with her child Therfore syth we haue a lorde so easy to please an aduocatrice so effectual what thing is there why any despeyryng of hym selfe shulde eyther coÌ„tinue in sinnes or with Iudas flee to hange hym selfe Euen for the same purpose our lorde by al meanes myndyng our saluacion suffered most excellent most approued meÌ„ to fall in greuous synnes that by theyr example he myght corage coÌ„forte vs to hope of perdone What thinge in holy scripture is more laudable thaÌ„ kynge Dauid He was a kyng he was a ê“phet he was a maÌ„ to goddes mynde of his linage Christe was ê“mised But into howe foule in to howe many folde a synne dyd so great a maÌ„ fall He hereth of Nathan the rebuke and cruell thretnynges of our lorde But Dauid with two wordes turneth all this anger of god in to mercy He sayd I haue offended agaynst my lorde And forthe with Nathan sayde Our lorde also hathe transported thy syn thou shalt nat dye The thretninges be of a length that he may correct but howe swyft is the voyce of mercy Thou shalt nat dye Like wise by Esaie Ezechias heâ—eth Thou shalt dye shalt nat lyue Ezechias wept made great lamentacion The ê“phet the messanger of dethe was nat yet gone halfe the kynges court but the mercy of our lorde called him agayne sayeng Returne backe and say to Ezechias capitayne of my people This sayth our lorde the god of Dauid thy father I haue herde thy prayers haue seen thy wepyng and I haue healed the. The thyrde day after this thou shalt go in to the teÌ„ple of our lordeâ— The thyrde boke of kynges wytnesseth the same of Achab. There was nat suche an other as Achab whiche was solde to th enteÌ„t he might do mischife in the sight of our lorde And he hereth Thou hasâ— kylde more ouer hast possessed As whaÌ„ he had slayne Na both he occupied his vineyarde but aâ— last he was so afrayde with the cruel thretnynges that he reÌ„te his clothes ware a sherte of heare he faâ—sted slept in wollen wandred haÌ„gynge downe his heed Aâ—hab was froward he had oft despiseâ— our lorde rebukyng hym he had heaped syns vpoÌ„ syns and at last he was rather feared with drede of mischefes hangyng ouer hym than myndyng to repeÌ„t amende and yet our lorde of excedynge mercy speketh to Hely Hast nat seen how Achab hath huÌ„bled hym before me bycause he hath huÌ„bled him â—elfe for my sake I wyl bringe in no mischiefe in his days If that might of false repeÌ„taÌ„ce bâ— so great that it can wrest the reueÌ„gyng sword out of the haÌ„de of god what shal the mynde do truly changed in to a coÌ„trary affection and nowe nat for drede of punishemeÌ„t but for the loue of god abhorreth that he miswrought For that entent he suffred Peter whiche he had apointed chiefe of his churche opeÌ„ly to fall He wept only opteined mercy Whan he delyuered his shepe to hym to fede for whiche he suffred deth dyd he cast in his tethe yâ— offence of thrise forsakyng our lorde No forsothe for nowe al that was so washed away with teares that there remayned nat a steppe in our mercifull lordes remeÌ„brance Paule the ê‘secuter of our lordis churche was ouerthrowen was made the teacher of nacioÌ„s We haue great examples of them that synned and eke of them that repented we ought nat by example of any to be ê“uoked to synne lest we shulde teÌ„pte our lorde but if any shulde hap to be attrapped by synne he hath examples of repeÌ„taÌ„ce lest he shuld despeire But they do waywardly that wyll nat folowe hym in repeÌ„tyng whiche they folowed in synnynge Howe many princes be ther that smyle at theyr auoutres and maÌ„slaughters for the example of Dauid Al though in Dauid were so many excellent vertues that this offence myght haue ben forgyueÌ„ in recoÌ„peÌ„ce of them but wolde to god lyke as they folowe hym offendyng they wold so folowe hym eke repentyng He spred abrode his synne through al nacioÌ„s of the worlde and despised the delectacions of the court for purpul he weareth a sherte of heare and as bread he â—ateth ashes mingleth his drinke with wepyÌ„g euery night he wassheth his bed with teares and moysteth his couerled with weping And he was nat ashamed to say and synge this verse of penaÌ„ce to al synners Haue mercy vpoÌ„ me lorde after thy great mercy And after the multitude of thy mercies put awaye my wickednes He was iuge and gaue senteÌ„ce of deth agaynst hym selfe For greatly disdaynyng he saythe Our lorde lyueth for he is the childe of dethe that hath done this thynge He coude nat more euidently be condemned than by his owne worde God was iuge and yet as the ê‘sone were changed he coÌ„mitted the iugement to hym that was gylty The iuge was taken with a trip and he ouercame that coÌ„mitted to hym the iugemeÌ„t Dauid was happily ouercome god ouercame mercifully whaÌ„ he shewed the synner to hym selfe that had forgot hym selfe Before as a coÌ„querour and droÌ„ken with vnhappy prosperite he accomplished his pleasure with the womaÌ„ that he loued he delited in his moste swete childe but whan he was conuerted to our lorde than at laste he sawe where he was and what difference was bitwene a rightous maÌ„ an vnrightous like as an other prophecy teacheth WhaÌ„ a sinner with al his hart aknowlegeth his fylthynes coÌ„fesseth hym selfe worthy of punyshemeÌ„t thaÌ„ our lorde is iustified and ouercometh whan he is iuged that is whan he offreth the iugemeÌ„t to man as to be iuged him selfe But they that ordeyne theyr owne rightousnes make god in a maner vniuste a lier whiche wyl that his mercy shuld be knowen in euery maÌ„ and reioyceth to turne our vnrightousnes iÌ„ to his glory seyng where synne was plentiful there his fre liberalite abuÌ„deth The olde Adam dyd