epistle of Ioh. the. v. cha fol. j. The Gospell on the fyrste sondaye after Easter the xx chapiter of Iohn fol. iij The epistle on the seconde sondaye after Easter the fyrst epistle of Peter the ij chapâ— fol. vâ— The gospel on the seconde sondaye after Easter the x. chapiter of Iohn fol. viiâ— The epistle on the thyrde sondaye after Easter the fyrst epistle of S. Peter the. ij chapi fol. x. The Gospell on the thyrde sonday after Easter the xvi chapter of Iohn fol. xv The epistle on the fourthe sonday after Easter the fyrst chapiter of Iames fol. xviii The Gospell on the fourthe sonday after Easter the xvi chapiter of Iohan fol. xxi The epistle on the. v. sondaye after Easter the fyrste chapter of saynt Iames fol. xxvi The Gospell on the. v. sonday after Easter the. xvi chapter of Iohn fol. xxviii A sermon in the Rogacion weke fol. xxxii The Epistle on the Ascension day the fyrste chapter of the actes of the Apostles fol. xxxv The Gospell on Ascension daye the. xvi chapiter of saynt Marke fol. xxxviii The epistle on the sonday after the Ascension daye the. i. epistle of Peter the. iiii chap. fol. xlv The Gospell on the sonday after the Ascension daye the. xv chapiter of Iohn fol. xlvii The Epistle on whyâ—sonday the seconde chapiter of the actes of the Apostles fol. L. The Gospell on whytsondaye The. xiiii chapiter of Iohan fol. liii The epistle on the seconde daye of Pentecoste the. x. chapiter of the actes fol. lix The gospell on the seconde daye of Pentecoste The thyrde chapi of Iohan fol. lxi The Epistle on the thyrde day of Pentecost the. viii chapiter of the actes fol. lxiiii The gospell on the thyrde daye of Pentecoste the. x. chapiter of Iohn fol. lxvi The Epistle on the fourthe daye of pentecost the. iâ—â— chapiter of the actes fol. lxvii The gospell on the fourthe daye of pentecost the. vâ— chapiter of saynt Iohn fol. lxix The epistle on Trinitie sonday the fourthe chapiter of the Apocalyps fol. lxx The Gospell on Trinitie sonday the thyrde chapter of Iohan fol. lxxiii The Epistle on Corpus Christi day the fyrst epistle to the Corinthyans the. xi chapiter fol. lxvii The gospell on Corpus Christi day the. vi chapiter of Iohan fol. â—odem The epistle on the fyrst sonday after trinitie sonday the. i. epistle of Iohn the. iâ—â—i chap fol. lxxvi The Gospell on the fyrste sonday after Trinitie the xvi chapiter of Luke fol. lxxviii The epistle on the seconde sondaye after trinitie the i. epistle of Iohn the. iii. chapi fol. lxxxi The gospel on the seconde sonday after Trinitie the viii chapiter of Luke fol. lxxxiii The epistle on the thyrde sondaye after Trinitie the i. epistle of Peter the. v. chapiter fol. lxxxvi The gospell on the thyrde sonday after Trinitie the xv chapiter of Luke fol. lxxxviii The epistle on the fourthe sonday after trinitie the viii chapiter to the Romaynes fol. xâ—i The gospell on the fourth sonday after trinitie the vi chapi of Luke fol. xcv The epistle on the fyfthe sonday after trinitie the. i. epistle of saynt Peter the. iii. cha fol. xcviii The gospell on the fyfth sonday after trinitie the. v. chapi of Luke fol. xcix The Epistle on syxte sondaye after Trinitie the syxte chapiter to the Romaynes fol. ci The gospell on the syxte sonday after trinitie the. v. chapiter of Marke fol. cvi The epistle on the seuenth sondaye after triâ—itie the vi chapiter to the Romaynes fol. cix The gospell on the seuenth sonday after trinitie the viii chapiter of Marke fol. cx The epistle on y e eyght sonday after trinitie the. viii chapiter to the Romaynes fol. cxii The Gospell on the â—yght sondaye after trinitie the vii chapiter of Marke fol. cxiiii The epistle on the. ix soâ—daye after trinitie the fyrste epistle to the Corin. the. x. chap fol. cxvi The gospell on the. ix sonday after trinitie the. xvi chapiter of Luke fol. cxviii The epistle on the. x. sondaye after trinitie the fyrste epistle to the Corin. the. xii chapi fol. cxxviii The Gospell on the. x. sondaye after trinitie the. xix chapiter of Luke fol. cxxx The epistle on the. xi sonday after trinitie the fyrste epistle to the Corin the. xv chap fol. cxxxii The gospell on the. xi sondaye after trinitie the. viii chapiter of Luke fol. cxxxiiii The epistle on the. xii soÌ„day after trinitie the second epistle to the Corin. the. iii. chapi fol. cxxxv The gospell on xii sonday after trinitie the seuenth chapiter of Marke fol. cxxxix The epistle on the. xiii sondaye after trinitie the. iii. chapiter to the Galathians fol. cxlii The gospell on the. xiii sondaye after Trinitie the. x. chapter of Luke fol. cxliii The epistle on the. xiiii sondaye after trinitie the. v. chapiter to the Galatians fol. cxlviii The gospel on the. xiiii sonday after trinitie the. xvii chapiter of Luke fol. cl The epistle on the. xv sonday after trinitie the. v. vi chapter to the Galathians fol. cli The gospell on the. xv sonday after trinitie the syxte chapter of Matheu fol. cliii The epistle on the. xvi sondaye after trinitie the. iii. chapter to the Ephesians fol. clvi The gospell on the. xvi sonday after trinitie the. vii chapter of Luke fol. clviii The epistle on the. xvii sonday after trinitie the. iiii chapiter to the Ephesians fol. clix The gospel on the. xvii sonday after trinitie the. xiiii chapiter of Luke fol. clx The epistle on the. xviij fondaye after trinitie the. â— epistle to the Corin. the. i. cha fol. clxii The gospell on the. xviii Sonday after trinitie the xxii chapter of Matheu fol. clxiii The epistle on the. xix sondaye after trinitie the. â—â—â—â— chapter to the Ephelians fol. clxv The gospell on the. xix sondaye after trinitie the. ix chapter of Matheu fol. clxvi The epistle on the. xx sonday after trinitie the fyfthe chapter to the Ephesians fol. clâ—viii The gospell on the. xx sondaye after trinitie the. xxii chapter of Matheu fol. clxix The epistle on the. xxi sondaye after trinitie the. vi chapter to the Ephesians fol. â—lxxii The gospell on the. xxi sonday after trinitie the. iiii capter of Iohn fol. â—lxxiii The epistle on the. xxii sonday after trinitie the fyrâ—â— chapter to the Philippyans fol. clxxiiii The gospel on the. xxii soÌ„day after trinitie the. xviii chapter of Matheu fol. â—ixxvi The epistle on the. xxiii sonday after trinitie the. iii. chapter to the Philippians fol. clxxvii The gospell on the. xxiii soÌ„day after trinitie the. xxii chapiter of Mathewe fol. clxxviii The epistle on the. xxiiii sondaye after trinitie the. i. chapter to the Colossians fol. clxxx The gospel on the. xxiiii sonday after trinitie the. â—x chapter of Matheu fol. clxxxi The epistle on y e. xxv sonday aâ—ter trinitie the. xxxiii chapter of Ieremias fol. clxxxiii The gospell on the. xxv sonday after trinitie the. vi chapter of Iohn fol.
we do fynde for god maketh vs here aboundauntly in this behalfe to enioye our requestes and desyres and doth minister al thynges to the bodye wyth a large blessynge whyche thynge neuerthelesse is moost present poyson and pestilence to the soule and it is the occasion of great myschefe For doubtles surfettynge and ydelnes of all nough tynes be the rotes and the fountaynes of all euels But alake alake thys goostly infection we nothing at all regarde we passe not of it The pestileÌ„ce which noyeth the body we eschue it with great care and we study to dryue it awaye wyth often prayers and sup plications laynge vnto it all the medicines and remedies we can deuyse But in thys spirituall pestilence we go styll on and procede wythout care or thought and euen for thys purpose as it semeth we desyre of God large sustentacion and aboundaunce of â—l thynges and to be delyuered from the corporal pestilence and infections that we maye the more frely and aboundauÌ„tly endure after a delicate sorte in y t spirituall infection But assuredly my frendes almyghty god the sercher of hartes whyle he seyth vs slepynge in such careles wyse and that we nothynge regarde thys so pestilent a pestileÌ„ce he also winketh at our destruction accordynge to our owne vowes requestes he graunteth vs copye and aboundaunce of all thynges and so blyndeth vs wyth the prosperous successe of all thynges and drowneth vs in the synke and puddell of synnes tyll at last oure synnes by longe vse runne into a custome and that the name of synne be forgotten Wherfore moost dearely beloued brethren and systers albeit euery day we ought to exhibite suppli cations and prayers to the Lorde wyth a rough cha stisement of our body to dryue awaye froÌ„ vs so horrible floudes of all myschefe namely in thys region moost addict and gyuen to coÌ„messacions to bankettynges to reuelynges to surfettynges to ydelnes to the vyces that â—nsue of them to thintent that god ones at laste maye lyghten vs wyth hys grace that we maye vse his gyftes to the helth of our soule and to the holsomnes of our body in suche sorte as these goodes of the contrey I meane our corne and cattel myght be auaylable aswell to the tuicion and defeÌ„ce of our body as to our soules health But as I haue sayd and saye agayne God hath made vs so blynde and so vnsauery that we are waxen playne Epicures vtterly voyde of all feare or care of God mooste shamefully abusynge hys gyftes to the ryot of the body and destruction of the soule And for asmuche as thys our detestable wickednes and abuse of this godly institucion is not amended but waxeth yerly worse and worse therfore God hath gyuen vs vp in to a disalowed mynde so y t we make these letanyes and rogation dayes by our synnes vtterly vnprofy table and vnfrutfull vnto vs. Beholde how angrye and how sore displeased God is wyth vs neyther is there any to aswage and appeace hys fury syth our letanyes our supplications processions prayers wherewyth we rather mocke god thaÌ„ worshyp hym spendynge our tyme and abusynge hys benefites in thys wyse be rather kyndlynges and nouryshmentes of goddes indignation and vengeaunce thaÌ„ mitigacions and swagynges therof God graunt therfore and be presently at haÌ„de assystent to vs good people that ones at last we may come home againe to our selues and to returne to the hart and that we may beynge instincted and kyndled wyth ernest and sure fayth put from vs hys wrath and displeasure to whome be prayses and glory in secula seculorum Amen The epistle on the Ascension daye The fyrst chapter of the actes of the Apostles Thargument ☞ Christes Ascension into heauen is here described IN the former treatyse Deare Theophylus we haue spoken of all that Iesus beganne to do and teach vntyll the daye in whych he was taken vp af ter that he thorow the holy goost had gyuen com maundemente vnto the Apostles whome he hadde chosen to whom also he shewed hymselfe alyue af ter hys passion and that by many tokens appearynge vnto them fourtye dayes and speakynge of the kyngdome of God and gathered them to gether and commaunded them that they shulde not departe froÌ„ IerusaleÌ„ but to wayte for the promise of the father wherof sayth he ye haue herd of me For â—hon truly baptysed with water but ye shalbe baptised wyth the holy gost after these few dayes Whan they therfore were come together they asked of hym saynge Lorde wylt thou at this tyme restore agayne the kyngdom to Israel And he said vnto them It is not for you to knowe the tymes or the seasons whych the father hath put in hys owne power but ye shall receaue power after that the ho ly goost is come vpon you And ye shalbe wytnesses vnto me not only in Ierusalem but also in all Iewry and in Samary and euen vnto the worldes ende And whaÌ„ he had spokeÌ„ these thynges whyle they behelde he was taken vp an hye and a cloude receaued hym vp out of theyr syght And whyle they loked stedfastly vp toward heaueÌ„ as he went beholde two men stode by them in whyte apparell whych also sayd ye men of Galilee why stande ye gasynge vp into heauen Thys same Iesus whyche is taken vp from you into heauen shall so come euen as ye haue sene hym go vp into heauen WElbeloued brethren and systers in our Sauiour Christe thys daye is called the Ascension daye because that as thys daye Christe our Sauiour and redemer mounted or styed vp to heauen after hys resurrection leauynge hys Apostles and disciples vpon the earth whych thynge is one of the ar ticles of our Crede or beleue And albeit saynt Luke the holy EuaÌ„gelist doth ascertayne vs of this thing in the ende of hys Gospell whych he wrote of the actes and lyfe of Christ yet for asmuche as he touched the thynge but brefly and lyghtly there therfore he doeth here in the lesson of thys daye whych is the be gynnynge of an other boke that he wrote for our instruction of the dedes and actes of the Apostles intreate the mater more at large Fyrst therfore ye shall marke and obserue good people that the Euangelical histories do paynt out Christ vnto vs as yet couered wyth the burthen of y e fleshe as yet not glorifyed how be it in the meane season he declared hymselfe aswell by hys heauenly doctrine as by many hys myracles which he shewed that he was very God But in the actes of the Apost lâ—s he is described and set forth vnto vs as one that nowe raygneth is glorifyed Thus therfore saynt Luke begynneth hys description In the former treatyse or boke whych I wrote dearly beloued freÌ„d Theophilus whych by interpretation sygnifyeth a louer of God we haue spoken of all that Iesus beganne to do and teache He sayeth not of all
Christe quyckeneth wyth hys worde the false Apostles kyl mens soules wyth wycked doctrine For the thefe coÌ„meth not but to steale to kyll and to destroye Hytherto I haue brefly and playnly declared the parable of the shepe herde Now it shalbe your partes good people so to acquaynte youre selues wyth gods worde that ye maye knowe the voyce of the shepeherde from the voyce of the thefe and murtherer accordinge to our Sauioure Christes wordes here So doynge ye shall at laste be conducted to the moost swete pleasaunt groundes of the lyuinge and shall syt wyth Abraham Isaac and Iacob and wyth the aungels in heauen where ye shall se God face to face and haue fruicion of all ioye wyth God To whome be al honour and glorye worlde wythout ende AMEN The Epistle on the. iiij daye of Pentecoste that is to saye on the wednesdaye in wytsonweke The. ij chapter of the Actes Thargument ☞ The sermon of saynt Peter conteynynge the prophecye of Iohel PEter stepped forth wyth the eleuen and lyft vp hys voyce and sayd vnto them Ye men of â—urye and al ye that dwell at Ierusalem be thys knowen vnto you and wyth your eares heare my wordes For these are not droncken as ye suppose seyng it is but the thyrde houre of the daye But thys is that whych was spoken by the prophete Iohel And it shall be in the last dayes sayeth God of my spirite I wyll poure out vpon all fleshe And your sonnes and your daughters shall prophecye and your yonge men shal se visions and your olde meÌ„ shall dreame dreames And on my seruauntes and on my hande maydens I wyll poure out of my spirite in those dayes and they shall prophecye And I wyll shewe wonders in heauen aboue and tokeÌ„s in the earth beneth bloude and fyre and the vapor of smoke The Sonne shalbe torned into darckenes and the Mone into bloude before that greate and notable daye of the Lord come And it shall come to passe that whosoeuer shall call on the name of the Lorde shalbe saued IN the lesson of thys present daye good Christen people is conteyned the ryght godly sermon of y e holy Apostle saynt Peter wherin he soberly coldly and lernedly maketh answere and defense to the vn reuerent talkynge and hurly burly of the people of all nations whyche when they herde Christes disciples speake wyth new tonges the great workes and wonders of god were partly abashed and wondered therat and partly gested vpon them and sayde they were dronken and full of newe wyne Saynt Peter therfore which of a fysherman is now become a great byshop and pastor ryseth vp not alone yet but the. xi apostles standyng vp wyth him leste as Erasmus doth full well note he myght be thought to vsurpe any tyrannye or raygne ouer hys felowes He only spake y e wordes but he spake them in the name of all hys felowes euen as he alone dyd also before Christes passion in the name of al his felowes confesse Iesus Christ to be the sonne of the ly uynge God Who wolde haue thought that so simple a creature and that a fysherman shuld haue had suche audacitie ones to haue loked vpon so great a multitude Oftentymes great Oratours when they brynge theyr oration that they haue longe studyed for before to speke in a great audieÌ„ce of people or be fore a great ruler chauÌ„ge colours be astoÌ„nyed vtterly dismayed Truly thys was that heauenly droÌ„kennes whych they had caught of that heuenly cup wherof the prophete sayeth Calix meus mebrians qÌ„ praeclarus est Thys fysher man I saye stode before so great a multitude he ioyned w t hym in coÌ„mission the eleuen Apostles not to ayde hym but to accompany hym he fixed hys eyes vpon the people whych were vnknowen vnto hym he lyfted vp hys voyce and wythout any premeditacion at al he spake vnto them accordynge as the Lorde had commaunded hym to do Neyther speaketh he for himselfe but beynge the shepherde he defendeth the flocke whyche thynge he doth not wyth humane craft or eloqueÌ„ce but w t the ayde of holy scripture Now y e hole multitude awayteth to heare what he woll saye Let vs al so attende for asmoche as these thynges be spoken to all Fyrst after he hadde ones wyth mouynge hys hande assuaged the murmuryng of the people he be ganne wyth such a proheme as myghte make them attente and desyrous to heare wythout any rhetoricall flattery at all O ye men sayeth he of the Iuysh nation whome it behoueth not to be ygnoraunte of the lawe and of the prophetes and namely you whych be inhabitauÌ„tes of the cytie of Ierusalem where the heade of our religion and knowlege of the lawe is Ye haue cause perchauÌ„ce to wonder but ye haue no cause to sklauÌ„der Wherfore so many of you as be here gyue atteÌ„tiue eares a lytle whyle vnto me and knowe y e matter as it lyeth For it stande you all vpon so to do For these men of Galilie whome ye se here wyth me be not dronken nor full of new wyne as some of you thinke syth it is now mornynge but y e thyrd houre froÌ„ the sonne rysynge at whych tyme nomaÌ„ is wont to be dronke But in these men ye se now the thynge accomplyshed whyche God longe ago promysed by Iohel hys prophete shulde come to passe Harken to the prophecye and consyder whether the thynge be fulfylled or not Sklaunder not bycause ye se a thynge vnwont but receyue rather the grace whych almyghty god offereth vnto you For Iohel beynge inspyred wyth the holy goost and seynge that the ty me shulde come that God whych at sondry tyines be fore had unparted hys spirite to Moses and to many prophetes for your coÌ„forte and instruction wolde ones at laste whan hys onely begotten sonne shulde come poure out moost plentefully the same spirite not vpon one or two as hertofore but vpon all nations of the worlde euen as many as wyth syncere fayth shulde receyue thys glad tydynges whyche at hys coÌ„maundement we brynge now vnto you thus vttered the heuenly prophecye It shal come to passe in the last dayes sayeth the Lorde I shal poure out plentefully of my spirite vpon all flesh and sodenly your soÌ„nes and your doughters shal prophecie and your yonge men shall se visions and your olde persons shall dreame dreames And truly vpon my seruauÌ„tes my handmaydens I shal poure out of my spirite and they shal prophecie And I shal gyue woÌ„ ders in heauen aboue and tokens in earth beneth bloude and fyre the vapoure of smoke The sonne shalbe conuerted into darkenes and the moone into bloude before that great and renowmed daye of the Lorde come And whosoeuer shall call on the name of the Lorde shalbe saued Thys my frendes hath y e prophete Iohel so longe ago prophecied vnto vs. And hetherto goeth the lesson of thys presente dayâ— whych conteyneth the fyrst parte of S. Peters sermon
thynge For as the eternall father knoweth al in lyke maner he knowith all As the father eternal knowyth al in gyuing him all in lyke maner he knowyth his shâ—pe in gyuinge them all For he gyueth them liefe wisdome myght Yea and such liefe wisdom and myght as is aboue the world For those that be according to the worlde be but shadowes of theÌ„ And by this wisdom whych surmountyth the world hys shepe doth knowe him This is the good herdman gyuing liefe to al know ing all which is alinyghty But the hyred shephard is none such He doth not dye for his shepe He doth not gyue them liefe And when the wolfe commyth he doth leaue them They be not his owne He hath nother made them nor yet bought them agayne He connyth awaie He letteth them be lost and suffereth them to be deuoured wyth the wolfe and fynally to go into eternall damnation He is vnmyghty He is ignorant cleane vnlyke vnto the good herdman The hyred shepherd hath but a lytle and a particuler flocke But y e good herdmaÌ„ hath a greate flocke he hath the flocke of y e nation of Israel of al other nations He hath the vniuersall flocke the whych from daye to daye he leadyth gatheryth together for to here hys swete voyce and hys holy doctryne whych is the doctryne of the gospell vnto the tyme that all the worlde shalbe but one flocke and that there shulde be but one herdman which is our Lord Iesu Christe as it is sayde here And there shalbe made one shepecote and one herdman Now by this parable good frendes we be taught and enformed of the true office of Christ and wherfore he came into thys worlde Hys office whervnto he was sent of hys father was to teach vs and also to saue vs. As touchynge hys doctrine and teachynge who euer in fedynge of hys flocke was more vigilant more busy more paynfull than he was Who euer ministred to hys shepe more diligently the fode of the euange licall veritie All that herde hym speake and preach were astonnyed vpon hys doctrine For he taught them not after the fashion of the scribes and pharisees whych neuertheles were the greate doctours learned men of the lawe but as one hauynge a won derfull grace and authoritie Yea euen his very ene myes were coÌ„pelled to testifie of hym that he taught the waye of God in trouth as appeareth in the .xxij. thapter of Matheu Neyther dyd Christ only teach hys shepe that is to saye those that folowed hym lyke shpe that were well nere lost but he also healed them bestowynge euen hys very lyfe for them For I praye you dyd he not dye for our synnes Was it not he only which with his bloude wasshed awaye the fylthynes of oure synnes Yea doubtles But who be these hyrelynges whyche whan they se the wolfe come to deuoure the shepe they ruÌ„ne theyr waye Surely these be those whych preach y e worde and that also purely and syncerely but they prech it for lucre for honoure for glorye or for the belyes sake These I saye be no true herdmen but hyrelynges for these dryue not awaye the rauenous wolues that is to saye the deuyll and hys lymmes I meane the Antichristes whych persecute deuourâ— Christes flocke but as soone as persecution trouble for the worde commeth anone they are gone Of these do the prophete Ieremy speake sayenge Wo be vnto the shepeherders that destroye and skatter my flocke I wyll therfore vysite the wyckednes of theyr ymaginations It is true that the Apostle wry teth Qui episcopatuÌ„ desiderat bonuÌ„ opus concupiscit that is to saye He that desyreth an ouersyght or a cure ouer a flocke whych after the greke worde is called a byshoprych coueteth a good worke Lo sayeth saynt Ierome wrytynge to Oceanus the Apostle calleth a byshopryke a worke and not a digni tie a laboure and not a deyntenes a worke wherby through humilitie he muste be lowly not to swelle in pryde For a byshop or curate must be fautles sobre full of good doctrine not gyuen to foule and fyl thy gaynes but meke diligent full of charitie accor dynge to thexemple of Christ the hygh and supreme shepeherde of all and the shepeherde of shepeherdes whych as thys Gospell sayeth gaue hys owne lyfâ— for the sauegarde and health of hys shepe that is to saye of all vs that folowe and beleue on hym Wheâ— fore my brethren and systers to conclude how happy be we for to haue suche a herdman for to know to loue to folowe to heare hys swete voyce that gyueth lyfe to heare hys doctrine to be refectioned fedde wyth the meate whyche gyueth euerlastynge lyfe to haue wysedome and myght that surmouÌ„teth the worlde by the sayd our herdmen lyghtenyng vs in hym by fayth drawynge vs to hym by hope inflamynge vs by charitie Unto hym therfore be glorye in all the nations wythin the compasse of y e erth for euer and euer Amen The Epistle on the .iij. sonday after Ester The fyrst epistle of saynt Peter the .ij. Chapter Thargument ☞ Peter exhorteth to laye asyde all vyce to absteyne from fleshly lustes and to obeye worldlye rulers DEarely beloued brethreÌ„ I besech you as strauÌ„ gerâ— and pylgrems abstayne froÌ„ fleshly lustes which fyght agaynste the soule and se that ye haue honest conuersacioÌ„ among the Gentils that where as they backbyte you as euyll doars they maye se your good workes and prayse God in the daye of visitation Submytte youre selues therfore vnto al maâ—er ordinauÌ„ce of man for the Lordes sake whe ther it be vnto the Kynge as vnto the chiefe heed other vnto rulars as vnto theÌ„ that are sent of hym for the punyshemeÌ„t of euyl doars but for the laud of them that do well For so is the wyll of God that wyth well doynge ye maye stoppe the mouthes of folysh and ignoraunte men as fre and not as hauyng the libertye for a cloke of maliciousnes but euen as the seruauÌ„tes of God Honoure al men Loue brotherly feloshyp Feare God honoure the Kynge Seruauntes obey your masters wyth feare not onely yf they be good and courteous but also thoughe they be frowarde For it cometh of grace in Christ Iesus our Lorde THys Epistle good christian brethern systers is very excellent and notable For in it is handeled the second part of Christianitie that is to wit how in thys liefs after we haue ones receyued and taken the euangell or glad tydynges of oure saluation whych thyng we call commonly in englyshe a gospell we ought to lyue In the processe that goeth before thys epistle saynt Peter taught and shewed y e other parte of Christianitie whych is of fayth and howe we ought to beleue the gospell and also how we be edified and buylded vpon Christ the corner stone wheras before that tyme we were the chyl dren of vengaunce and as abâ—ectes and
castawayes in gods syght but nowe we be made the chyldren of God by Christ. Whyche treasure truly saynt Peter doth extolle and lyfte vp wyth prayses aboue measure so that it were well with vs if after the knowlege of so greate ryches we myght be lycenced forth with to departe out of thys miserable lyfe But for asmoch as we dye not by and by after the receyuing of so greate commodities felicities therfore nowe doth saynt Peter teache vs how and by what meanes we shuld lyue here in erth that we dye not eternally For Satan our mortal ennemy neuer slepeth but euer watcheth that he maye eyther quite and cleane plucke vs frome gods worde or at lest waye that he myght wery vs and make vs slauthful and negligent in doyng of good workes For assuredly it commethe so commenly to passe that forthwyth when we heare by the preachyng of the gospell that we be set at pear wyth God iustified in hys syght by only faith in him then noman wil do any longeâ— any goodnes at al whych thynge no doubte chaunced euen in saynt Peters tyme. By reason wherof he toke occasion to wryte these thynges concernyng the institution of the christian liefe As though this holy Apostle Peter wold say Good brethern syth ye haue now receyued the gospell and syth ye be iustified by fayth in Christ now it shalbe very good and necessarie for you to goo about to redresse your maner of lyuing and to absteyne from carnal and flesshely desires and lustes But it is an horrible thyng to be spoken that fleshly disires and lustes do not cease no not in the iustified persons Yea we se by daily experience that then more and more carnall desires do breake forth not bicause this faulte commeth by the gospel as many ennemyes of the Gospell and 〈…〉 es blasphemously do allege but bycause Satan is the ennemy of the gospel and of the iustice whych the gospell teacheth He doubtles neuer slepeth though we slepe neuer so souÌ„dly carelesly but lyke a roryng lyon he runnyth and leapeth about seakyng whome to deuoure as thapostle S. Peter doth testifie in the ende of this firste epistle But forasmoche as the power of desires and lustes is so greate yea that after iustification receyued saynt Peter vseth certein warlyk wordes wherwith he expresseth the strength and power of these carnal worldly desires which he sayth do warâ—e againste vs and as the greke worde purporteth do dayly exercise with vs a pyched felde whych thing the scripture otherwhyles calleth the conflycte of the fleshe and of the spirite agaynst whych no outwarde workes can do any good As the holy fathers also haue confessed and complayned of themselues For saint Hierom hymselfe when he sought euery where a pre sent remedy agaynst the desyres of the fleshe at last after longe delyberation departed into the woode trustynge that by thys meane he shulde eschue and shake of from hym hys carnal and fleshely desyres but it wolde not be for euen in his very mysery and vexation of hys body whych he toke vpon hymselfe for that purpose he yet thought he satte at Rome amoÌ„ges the Romane ladies and fayre wenches and that he daunced wyth them Wherfore syth here in thys lyfe it is not in our powers vtterly to do awey carnall desyres the holy fathers and prophetes desyred wyth hygh lamentation that they myghte be lycenced to departe out of thys vale of teares to the heauenly and perfyte ioyes For here they thought themselues onely straungers and as pylgrimes or wayfarynge men Whych thynge thapostle Paule in hys seconde epistleto the Corinthians doth wonderfully well declare wrytynge on thys wyse We knowe sayeth he that yf our erthy mansion of thys dwellynge were destroyed we haue a buyldynge of God an habitation not made wyth handes but eter nall in heauen And therfore sygh we desyrynge to be clothed wyth our mansion whych is from heuen so yet yf that we be founde clothed and not naked and so forth Now suche straungers S. Peter here wyllâ—th vs to be whyche ought continually to loke vp to contende and laboure thyther settynge asyde all earthly thynges all cares and worldly desyres and euer to stande redy in hope to be delyuered out of thys our earthly tabernacle or hostrye and to en ioye the euerlastynge inheritaunce Howbeit yet in the meane season good people we teache not as do these Anabaptistes that he that hath ryches shulde cast them awaye but that he cleaue not in harte vnto them lyke as other places of holy scripture do teach vs and namely thys present epistle of S. Peter whych by a similitude of straungers or pylgrimes doth declare vnto vs that in y e hostrye of thys present worlde we shulde be in loue with nothynge we shulde vaynly ambiciously require nothynge that is in our hoostes house whych is the worlde euen none otherwyse than a straunger a pawmer or wayfarynge body doth whych knoweth y t nothinge in hys ynne or lodgynge doth pertayne vnto hym but only maketh hast homewarde into hys owne coÌ„ trey Now they whych be in loue admiration with any thynge in thys worlde they can not be called forenners straungers or pylgrimes but cytizens and inhabitauntes of thys worlde Wherfore it is great folly now amonges christen men to be in loue wyth the thynges of the worlde to seke pleasure in carnall desyres syth suche thynges belonge nomore to christians But I praye you what vyces doth saynt Peter cal here desyres Surely not only those grosse faultes but also y e inwarde croked affections which doubtles be the very causes of those outwarde and grosse vyces Saynt Peter therfore wrytyng especy ally to the Iewes whych were disperpled abrode in dyuers countreyes and by them vnto vs Englyshe men and to all others ryght teÌ„derly exhorteth them callynge them hys moost derely beloued brethren to absteyne as forenners and pylgrymes from all fleshly lustes that is to wit all vices whyche of nature do stycke to the fleshe whych vices do kepe con tinuall warre and batell agaynst the soule and spirite of maÌ„ that euer more tendeth and laboureth to do the wyll of God And he wylleth them that they haue honest conuersacion amonges the Gentyls or payâ—ems whych worshipped false Goddes amonge whome at that tyme when saynte Peter wrote thys â—pistle the christen men lyued Saint Peter therfore wyll not that christen men shulde departe from the panyms but that they shulde lyue honestly amoÌ„ges them to thiâ—tent that where as they backbyte them as â—uyll doers they myght se theyr good workes myghte prayse and glorifye God in the daye of visitation that is to saye that the paynyms beynge more ryghtly instructed and taught by the honeste lyfe of the christians myghte by gods visitation be called also to the Gospell and so to haue a better opi nion and iudgement of gods worde whych thynge in dede came to
passe in the primatiue church by the godly exemple of the good Apostolicall fathers and christen people in Rome and els where Where as now the paynims and infidels as be turkes Iues be rather plucked frome the Gospell then allured vnto it by theâ—emple of those that woll neuertheles be called the successours of Peter and Paule and y e vicares of Christ. Wherfore it is to be feared leste God wyll visite them not by heapynge vpon them hys benefytes and graces whych they refuse neglecte but by pourynge vpon them hys iuste yre and vengeaunce accordynge to theyr desertes Be you subiecte therfore good christen people to the worde of God Obeye hys commaundementes prescribed in the same Let your lyght shyne before meÌ„ and namâ—ly before the proude Pharisees infidels whych thynke there is no God that they may se your good workes and honest conuersacion and glorifye your father in heauen Submytte your selues according to Peters counsayle here vnto euery humane creature that is to saye vnto all maner ordinaunce or power whych humane creatures do administer and that euen for the Lordes sake For it pleaseth the Lorde ye shulde so do lest your conscience shulde be polluted and defyled wyth synne through disobedience And euen here maye ye lerne good people that when ye obeye the publyke ruler and magistrate ye do please God by thys obedience Be obedient therfore â—ayth S. Peter whether it be vnto y e kynge as vn to y e chefe head or vnto rulers as to theÌ„ y t are sent of hym for the punyshmeÌ„t of euel doers And surely as wytnesseth S. Paule whosoeuer resysteth power resysteth the ordinauÌ„ce of God For he is the minister of God to take vengeaunce on them that do euell Wherfore ye must obeye sayth Paule not only for feare of vengaunce but also bycause of conscience For as it foloweth here in the text so is the wyll of God that with well doing ye may stoppe the mouthes of folyshe and ignorant persons whych oftentymes iuge such thinges as they vnderstand not and whych esteme the gospell and the worde of god by the maners of the gospellers whych of humayne frayltie â—nay tymes do fal into fowle vices and do not esteme it by the owne proper nature Wheras in very dede it is the power vertue of God to the helth and saluation of al them that beleue Let vs then good christen brethern so be free and vse the libertie of the gospell that we haue it not for a cloke of maliciousnes workyng vnder the pretence of it all naughtynes accordyng to our foule lustes and desires as many gospellers and euangelicall brethren do which be in dede no gospellers but bablerâ— no trewe brethern but false brethern no christians but antichristes and sklauÌ„ders to gods holy worde Let vs then be no feyned christians but ryght christians and seruauntes of God Let vs honoure and haue in reuerence all men Let vs loue fraternitie not fraternitie of monkes fryers nunnes and such other â—â—oystered disguysed people whych vnder y e cloke of fraternitie deuoured pore wydowes houses the lyuinges of other in their fratryes of whom the christen people were fowly mocked and seduced while they perswaded them that they could not do better then be of their brotherhode or fraternitie whych in dede was nothyng elles but a swarine of ydle dranes that lyued not by the swette of their face as gods commaundement wylled them but by other mens labours vnder the pretence of longe prayer but let vs loue such brotherhode and fraternitie as gods worde alloweth whych is y t we shulde loue one an nother after a gentle and christian maner al lordlines and proude lokes layde downe and when we make a dyner or feast not to call the ryche whych may quyte vs agayne but our poore christen brethern and systers whych cannot acquite vs but our father in heuen shal acquite it vs. This is the fraternitie or brotherhode that Christ alloweth and that saynt Peter doth here speake of Let vs then feare God whych doth prospere our obedience and helpeth vs that we maye truly honour all men that we may loue brotherhode and gyue due honour to our kynge whych is our supreme hedde next vnder Christe none excepted neyther bishop of Rome nor other For if there were saynt Peter wold not haue passed it ouer w t silence Neyther is it to be thought that Peter which was one of Christes Apostles and that of the chefest knewe not the bisshop of Romes power or his own power He aganized no such supremacie as the bishoppe of Rome doth chalenge vnto him as S. Peters successour Saint Peter byddeth vs here feare god and honour the king If the bisshop of Rome were to be honoured next God and before kynges why doth saynt Peter set the kynge nexte God Yea why doth he speake nothynge at all of the byshop of Romes authoritie So ye se good christen people that saynte Peter maketh nothynge wyth the byshoppe of Rome and yet he sayeth he is hys successour But what shulde I speake more of thys mater I doubt not but loÌ„ge age there is none of you but regardeth the byshop of Rome none otherwyse then an other byshop in hys byshopryche ought to be regarded Let him medle with his owne flocke with vs he hath no thing a do any otherwise then one christen man hath to do with an other Let vs therfore charitably pray for him that he may execute his office in his owne diocese and not entre into other mens officies Let vs thaÌ„ honour our kinge next vnto God as our supreme hedde according to S. Peters counsayle in this epistle and according 〈…〉 pâ—aâ—e before alleâ—â— Let also seruauntes obey theyr maisters not only it they be good courteouse but also thoughe they be froward not doynge seruice to the eye as Paule sayth wryting to the Ephestans and as they do that go aboute to please men but as the seruauÌ„tes of Christ doing the wyll of God from the harte with good will seruinge the Lord and not men For it is then thanke worthy sayth saynt Peter Hitherto haue I brefly declared vnto you the meanyng of this Epistle Now therfore good people if ye wol be true christians if ye woll be true feithfull persons boost not of your feyth in wordes only but declare in youre dedes and workes that ye haue the feith of Christ. Shewe your beleue in such workes as thys Apostle saynt Peter doth here exhort you vnto and then shal we beleue that you haue the right belefe fayth in Iesu Christ which in whom so euer it is in can not but fructifie and brynge forth fruct euen as sede doth that is sowne in the good grounde some an hundreth folde some syxty fold some thyrty folde And this feyth shall iustifie you and make you the chyldren of god and inheritours of his heuâ—ly kyng dome which was prepared for you before
of our iustifyeng fayth and that we do vnderstande ryghtly and truly gods worde For as saynt Augustine affirmeth fayth ought to go before workes Yea he declareth playnly y t workes wythout fayth can not be good and he allegeth for hys purpose that texte of saynte Paule Omne quod non est ex fide peccatum est That is to saye what so euer is not of faythe the same is synne Herevnto also agreeth Chrysostome where he sayeth Fayth ought to shyne before workes and workes muste be the handmaydes or waytynge seruauntes and folowers of fayth SecoÌ„de in thys epistle saynt Iames doth teach vs good people what the ryght and perfyte religion of a christian man or woman is Yf any man say eth saynt Iames woll seme to be religiouse amonges you not refraynynge hys tonge but seducynge and deceyuynge hys owne harte thys mans religion is vayne Pure and vndefyled religion before God the father is thys to vysite the fatherlesse and wedowes in theyr aduersitie to kepe thy selfe vnspotted in the worlde Lo good people here ye haue a true definicion of religion It is not to be locked vp in stone walles and to departe from the company of the worlde as those disguysed and false religi ouse persones lately in thys realme dyd buâ—â—t is to be conuersaunt amonges men wythout spotte or re proufe it is to vysite orphanes and fatherlesse chyldren to go and succour the poore wydowes to go aboute and to wynne y e people to Christ to fysh mens soules and to brynge them into the kyngdome of Christ out of the tyranny and raygne of Antichriste I call Antichrist whosoeuer teacheth other deuotions and holynesses then Christ dyd ordeyne For he that is not wyth Christ is agaynst Christ. Wherfore good brethren and systers let vs be accordynge to saynt Iames monition here not onely hearers but also doers of the worde but of what worde â–ª of the bishop of Romes worde of Antichristes word which is contrary to Christes vnspotted syncere worde no but of gods worde to thintent we maye loke into the persyte lawe whych breaketh out of fre spirite fayth into workes of charitie Let vs imbrace y e true religioÌ„ that is here prescribed and set forth vnto vs Let vs vysite the orphanes the desolate wydowes our poore neyghbours that be destitute of comforte and relyfe Thys let vs do of a fre and franke harte not as constraynedly but wyllyngly and gladly Thys doynge we shall declare by our dedes that we haue the lyuely fayth that shall iustifie vs in gods sight In these our dedes but not by these our dedes nor through these our dedes we shall as saynt Iames assureth vs be happy and so happy that nomaÌ„ shalbe able to take our ioye and blysse from vs. For we shall not onely lyue here in thys worlde in peace of conscience and in the kyngdome of Christ but we shall also in an other worlde inherite the vnspeakable ioyâ— and felicitie of heauen where lyueth rayg neth the father the soÌ„ne and holy goost perpetually Amen The Gospel on the. v. Sondaye after Ester daye which is the next sonday before the crosse dayes the. xvi Chapter of Ihon. Thargument ☞ Prayers are hard through Christ. IEsus sayd to his disciples after a whyle ye shall not se me and againe after a while ye shal se me for I go to the father ThaÌ„ sayd some of his disciples betwene them selues what is this that he saith vnto vs after a while ye shal not se me and againe after a whyle ye shal se me and that I go to the father They said therfore what is this that he saith after a whyle we can not tell what he sayth Iesus perceyued that they wolde aske him and said vnto them Ye inquyre of this betwene youre selues because I sayd after a while ye shall not se me and agayne after a whyle ye shall se me Verely verely I saye vnto you ye shall wepe and lament but contrary wise the world shall reioyse Ye shal so rowe but your sorowe shalbe turned to ioye A woman wheÌ„ she traueyleth hath sorowe because her hour is come But as sone as she is deliuered of the child she remeÌ„breth no more the anguyshe for ioye that a man is borne into the worlde And ye nowe therfore haue sorowe but I wyll se you agayne and youre hartes shall reioyse and youre ioye shall no man take from you IN the first parte of the Gospel of this daie good people is a commauÌ„demeÌ„t and promise set forth vnto vs wherby we be allured and sturred to praye And surely sith a christian person can no wheâ— haue better coumforte in such thynges as he is troubled in and in tyme of necessitie and aduersitie then instantly to pray and to open his affliction and grete with ardent peticion and humble sute to God who onely wyll and can helpe him in his distres gyue him comforte vndoutedly it is ryght necessary that we throughly perceuie knowe the institucion and intent of this present gospel to the intent we might be the more inclined and disposed vnto prayer For who wolde reiecte and despice prayer as a thyng lytie necessary seyng it is so muche auaunced and coÌ„maunded by Christe vnto vs Yea this coÌ„maundement dothe as straytly bynde vs as the fyrste commaundemeÌ„t of the Decalogie doth This to be true we may se in another place where Christe byddeth vs alwayes to pray and that without ceasing or intermission Marke that it is necessary then and con uenient that we shulde pray Wherfore as we be by speciall word and coÌ„maundement of Christe draweÌ„ and inforced to pray So also this gospell allureth vs to the same with a speciall promise For it is here promised vs by Christe that our prayers that is to weâ—e the prayers of christen ê‘sons shal not be vaine ne frustrate but that we shalbe surely herde shall obteyne our sutes For why elles wolde Christ haue bounde this his worde and promise with an othe sayeng verely verely What so euer ye aske the father in my name he shall gyue it you Also aske and it shalbe gyuen you Do ye not heare how our prayers shal not be vayne nor frustrate Who then wold nowe be slouthfull to pray seyng Christe by his â—â—â—ciall coÌ„maundement hath wylled vs to the same Forthermore ye shal here vnderstande that bycause we shuld not thynke that the labour of our prayers shuld be in vayne therfore doth Christe here in this place allure vs with a notable and special promyse as is before remembred But herin are two thinges to be considered pondered of vs. The one is y t we shuld pray in none other name theÌ„ in only Christes name Now we pray in the name of Christ when we approche to god in the faythe of Christ and do comforte our selues with the trust and affiaunce in him that is to were that he only is our mediatour or
that Ie sus began to teache do For our Sauiour Christe fyrst dyd practyse and worke such thynges as he afterwarde taught He wente to Ihons baptisme He wythdrewe hymselfe for a season out of the company of the worlde afore he wolde take vpon hym to preache and to teach other The spirite led hym into wyldernesse where he fasted fourty dayes and four ty nyghtes He suffred there moost sharpe honger to arme hymselfe wyth abstinence and pacience He there endured the mooste bytter assaultes and temtacions of our goostly enemye the deuell as appcareth manyfestly in the fourth chapter of Mathewe Al thys he dyd to shewe vs an exeÌ„ple how we ought to do We haue many teachers but fewe doers Thou sayeth Paule whyche teachest another teachest not thy selfe Thou preachest a man shulde not steale and thou stealest thy selfe Thou that sayest a man shulde not commytte adultrye coÌ„mytteit horedome thy selfe Thou abhorrest ymages yet thou doest robbe God of hys due honour Christ byddeth hys Apostles and preachers that theyr lyght shulde shyne before men He wolde haue them to be the salt of the earth But yf the salt sayeth he be vnsauery wherewith shal it be sauered it is good for nothyng but to be cast out of the dores and trodeÌ„ vnder fete And in conclusion he sayeth in thys wyse Whosoeuer doth and teacheth the same shalbe called greate in the kyngdome of heauen Yea he furthermore assureth vs that onles our ryghtuousnes do passe the ryghtuousnes of the scribes and pharisees we shall not entre into the kyngdome of heauen But wol ye knowe good people what be scribes and pharisees Herken what Christe sayeth in the. xxiij chapter of Mathew The scribes and pharisees syt in Moses chaire All therfore that they byd you obserue that obserue and do but do not ye after theyr workes for they saye and do not Yea they bynde together heuy burtheÌ„s and greuous to be borne and laye them on mens backes but they themselues wyll not heue at them wyth one of theyr fyngers But let vs now se whether there be any suche scribes and pharisees amoÌ„ges ChristeÌ„ men as were in olde tyme amonges the Iues. Origene that auncient doctour wrytynge vpon thys place of Mathew sayeth that those be scribes whych depart not from the letter of the law These be such persons as teach nothynge but the outwarde obseruynge and as who shulde saye the barke of the lawe where as accordynge to saynt Paule the lawe kylleth and the spirite quyckeneth For as saynt Austine doth very well declare the letter of the lawe wythout the spirite is not ynough It is the spirite that quyckeneth of whome onles a maÌ„ be borne agayne he can not entre into the kyngdome of God Thys spirite is wont to lede men into al trouth he discloseth and openeth vnto vs the pyth of the lawe that is to say the lyuely and ernest fayth in Messias that was pro mysed so longe before by the prophetes euen our sa uiour Christ Iesus for whose loue we ought frelye to fulfyll and worke the lawe and not constrainedly lyke slaues and bondmen forasmuch as the spirite of God hath infranchised vs and made vs Christes freemen They than whych teach not thys fredome and enfranchisement of christian men that is to wit whych teach not the pyth or karnell of the lawe but the barke or houske be no better than scribes Now I pray you what other be al papistes but euen such worse for they can skant abyde to teache so muche as the letter of gods law whych neuertheles beyng taught nakedly and alone doth but kyll it quyckeneth not Yea they wol teach welnere nothynge but theyr owne traditions customes and beggerly elemeÌ„tes I haue brefly shewed you my frendes which be scribes accordynge to the definition of the auncient doctour Origene Let vs now se what he calleth a Pharisee Such as professynge sayeth he some greater thyng do diuide themselues as better from the multitude and coÌ„mon sorte of men be called pharisees which by interpretacion be as much to say as diuisi or segregati that is to wyt diuided or seuered persons For Phares in Ebrue is called a diuision Now accordynge to thys definicion whether there be any pharisees in Christendome I reporte me to your selues Lorde God what diuisions what sectes what suÌ„dry sutes of holy holy persons haue we had in EnglaÌ„de now of late whych thought themselues better and holyer than the rest of people yea whiche wolde suffer none to be called religiouse but themselues where as after the diffinitioÌ„ of saint Iames they were as farre wyde and differed as much from religiouse persons as an â—â—e differre from an owle But let vs retourne to our lection These scribes and pharisees dyd teach but they dyd not y e thinges whych they taught Christ as saynt Luke doth here wytnesse fyrste dyd the thynges and after he taught them And of all these thynges sayth Luke whych Iesus began to do and teache vntyll y e tyme of hys ascension haue we spoken in the former treatyse Thys treatyse we call coÌ„monly the Gospell of saynt Luke Now than whan the Apostles were as on thys daye assembled and come together they asked Christ sayenge Lorde wylte thou at thys tyme restore agayne the kyngdome to Israel Lo good people here ye haue a ryght notable exemple of the Apostles infirmitie and weakenes For albeit they had herde oftentymes that Christes kyngdome or raygne shulde be spirituall yet they continued styll to dreame of a certaine corporal Monarchy or rule But nowe what doth Christe vnto them Albeit they thought spake foolyshly yet he reiected them not but ryght gently he plucketh them awaye from those carnall thoughtes saynge It is not for you to knowe the tymes or the seasons which the father hath put in hys owne power as who shulde saye medle ye wyth your office wherevnto ye be appoynted Your office is to testifye of me of my doctrine Ye shalbe wytnesses sayeth Christ vnto me not on ly in Ierusalem but also in all Iury and in Sama ry and euen vnto the worldes ende And here is to be noted that Christ woll not haue hys preachers cu riouse vpon ydle questions or vayne philosophie For theyr only office and feate is to preache Christe and hys doctrine that is to wyt to set forth and pro powne only such thynges as Christe hath taught done to be beleued of the ignorauÌ„t people for which cause also the holy goost was gyuen vnto them eueÌ„ to thintent to make the Apostles mete to teache and vs to receyue theyr teachynge Now whan Christe had spokeÌ„ these thynges whyle hys Apostles beheld hym lo sodenly he was taken vp on hygh a cloud receyued hym vp out of theyr syght Here my brethren ye shall marke the frute and profyte of our sa uiour Christes Ascension For by hys styenge
in better vnitie and concorde Then accordyng to euery mās gyfte and as Paule sayeth euen as God hath allot ted euerye man accordynge to the measure of hys fayth so let hym serue in hys callynge As good ste wardes or dispensours let them behaue themselues in executynge theyr office I praye you is not he a foolysh stewarde whych of other mēs goodes wold glorie and take a pryde where he is but onely y e stewarde and not the owner of them Nowe they be good stewardes whyche be faythfull and prudente whych knowe what how to whome and what tyme they oughte to preache and laye out the treasure of gods worde the treasure I saye of the manyfolde grace of God accordynge to the sundry and manyfold gyftes He that speaketh let hym speake the ser mons and wordes of almyghtye God let hym not preach hys owne gloses hys owne inuencions hys owne dreames and fausies And to what so euer ministracion he be called and appointed in the church let hym do it sayeth saint Peter as of the vertue po wer and abilitie whyche God ministreth vnto hym and not as though he were able by hys owne wyt prudence to execute hys ministerie It foloweth That God in all thynges maye be glorifyed tho row Iesus Christ. Here saynt Peter declareth the principall ende of all our gyftes offices and good workes whych is that by them shulde ryse contentions stryfes debates and discordes Nowe God is glorifyed by oure gyftes offices duties and workes when we so vse them that the congregacion may take profyte edificacion therby and may take occasion by the good distribution of the same to glorifye God by Iesus Christe For oure Sauiour Christe Iesus ascendynge vp to heuen distributed and gaue gyftes vnto men as the prophete sayeth To whome be all glorie al prayse all imperie and dominion aswel to saue as to rule and gouerne hys faythful ones together wyth the father and the holy goost foreeuer and euer AMEN The Gospell on the sondaye after the Ascension daye The. xv chapter of Ihon. Thargument ☞ The holy goost is promysed to be sente by Christ to hys Apostles IEsus sayd vnto hys disciples But whan the com forter is come whom I wyll sende vnto you frō the father euen the spirite of trouth whych procedeth of the father he shall testifye of me And ye shall beare wytnesse also bycause ye haue ben with me from the begynnynge These thynges haue I sayd vnto you bycause ye shulde not be offended They shall excommunicate you yea the tyme shall come that whosoeuer kylleth you wyl thinke that he doth god seruice And such thinges wyl they do vnto you bycause they haue not knowē the father neyther yet me But these thynges haue I told you that whan the tyme is come ye may remēber them that I tolde you FOr asmuch as our Lorde Christ in his maundie good people wyth many promyses had bequethed and deputed the holy goost to his Apostles he doth now at last name hym more playnly wyth hys proper name of office declarynge therby what profyte and commoditie he shall brynge to the worlde He sayeth whan the comforter is come Thys propre and true name he gyueth the holy goost callyng hym paracletum that is saye a comforter For who els certifyeth our conscience that we shulde beleue y t by Christ we be the chyldren of God and crye Abba father but thys only comforter I praye you who maketh vs both desyrefull and also hardy to cōfesse thys fayth Who comforteth vs in all such mysfortune and afflictions as we suffre in thys worlde for thys confessions sake Surely the same selfe good spirite whych procedeth from y e father doth al thys thys is hys feate and offyce For thobteynynge of whych spirite the prophet Dauid so busely prayeth in the. l. psalme But ye maye more lyuely beholde the nature and workynge of thys holy goost or spiryte in the apostles whyche before the commynge of the holy goost in tribulation fledde from the Lorde and vtterly denyed hym For they hyd themselues in corners some here some there But wha thys spirite thys comfortour was ones confirmed in them then they confessed Christ frely and hys resurrectiō in so much that they also toke pleasure and delyte in the crosse or affliction that was layde vpon them as appeareth playnly in the Actes Now thys comforter bycause by the vertue of hys offyce he maketh men trouthe tellers yea and comforteth and strengtheneth the faythfull in the confession of the trouth by the vertue also of hys office he shall testifie of Christ. So ye must here marke that y e holy goost ought to beare wytnesse of Christ. But what shall he testifye what shall he teache of Christ Undoubtedly none other thyng but y t which Christ preached and taught before that is to say he shall make them whyche before coulde not perceyue Christes doctrine now to vnderstāde it by wrytyng the gospel in theyr hartes A mans owne wysedome can here do nothynge it muste be thys holy spirite comforter whych must do the dede euen as Ieremy the prophete in the. xxxi chapter sayeth I shal plant my lawe in the inwarde partes of them and wryte it in theyr hartes and wylbe theyr God and they shall be my people And from thence forth shall noman teach hys neyghbour or his brother and saye know the Lorde But they shall all knowe me from the lowest to the hyghest sayeth the Lorde Of all these thynges it is gathered manyfestly that wythout the holy goost we neyther can know the truth nor beare wytnes vnto Christ Iesus Seconde ye may espye here good people verye playnly thoffice of Apostles or Christes messangers That is to wyt that they ought to beare wytnesse of Christ. For to testifye or beare wytnes in scripture sygnifyeth to teach and speake not the thynge that pleaseth vs but the thinge that almyghty god hath cōmaunded After thys sorte is Christ named in the psalme a faythfull wytnes in heauen Also Esay the prophete speaketh of Christ in the persone of the father I haue set hym for a wytnes to the people for the prince and mayster of the gentyls Wherfore syth the recorde and wytnes of Christ and of hys apostles ought to be egall and agreable togethers surely they muste haue one tenure of theyr testimonies and furthermore it must nedes folowe that the holy goost executed his testimonie and recorde by y e apostles as in the. x. of Mathew it appeareth It is not you sayth Christ whyche speake but the spirite of my father whych shall speake in you Where be nowe these felowes whyche here tofore haue cryed that the holy goost haue reuelated and disclosed to thapostles and fathers certaine secreter and hygher thynges whych be not comprised in the gospell To whome wyll ye gyue more credence To Christe or to these vayne tryflers Christe sayeth that the holy goost