Newes out of heauen both pleasaunt ioyfull lately set forth to the great coÌ„solacion â–ª coÌ„forte of all christen meÌ„ By Theodore Basille ✚ Roma 10. ¶ O how beautyful are the feete of theÌ„ which briÌ„g y e glad tydiÌ„ges of peace shewe good and mery newes Ioan. 7. ¶ My doctryne is not myne but his that sent me If any man wyll do his wyll he shall knowe of the doctryne whether it be of God or whether I speke of my selfe â–ª He that speaketh of him selfe seaketh his owne prayse But whosoeuer seketh his prayse y t sent hym he is true no vnryghteousnes is in hym Ioan. 8. 〈◊〉 that is of God heareth the wordes of God Ioan. 18. Euery one that is of the truth heareth my voyce ¶ To the ryght worshypful Maister George Pierpount Theodore Basille wissheth continual health and prosperous felycite IF wyth studious atteÌ„t myndes we reade y â— moost sacred scriptures markyng wel such thiÌ„ges as make to our informacion learnynge erudicion â—nâ—â—ease of deuyne knowledge we shal easely without any difficulte perceaue that among al other vertues fruytes of y e spirite Christe â—ur LORDE Sauiour exhortethe â—s vnto none so moche as to loue â—harite In thys thynge sayeth he â—hal al meÌ„ know that ye are my dysâ—iples yf one of you loue another â—s though he should say other meÌ„s â—eruauÌ„tes are knoweÌ„ by theyr maysters cognisauÌ„ces I wil also y â— you whych are my disciples be knowne by my cognisaunce in lyke maner whych is loue comminge oute of a pure herte and a good coÌ„sieÌ„ce and a fayth not fayned And as Christ hym selfe dyd inculke beate in nothyng so moche as pure loue and ferueÌ„t charite so dyd the Prophetes Apostles in al theyr sermons wrytinges aboue all thinges exhorte men to mutual loue yea y t vnfayned as we maye se in theyr prophecies Epistles in somoch that S. Paule sayth that though he could speake w t the tonges of meÌ„ aungles yet had no loue he were eueÌ„ as souÌ„dyng brasse or as a tinglyng cymbal And though he could prophecie vndeâ—stond al secretes al knowledge and had al fayth so that he coulde moue mouÌ„taynes oute of theyr places had not loue he were nothiÌ„g And though he bestowed al his goodes to fede the poore yea though he gaue his body euen to be burnt yet had no loue it profyteth hym nothynge The excellencye of thys christen loue muste nedes be great inestimable seynge that w tout it no thing is acceptable in the syght of God though it be iudged of the world to be a worke of neuer so hye and singulare meryte Of this loue christ dyd prophecy that it shoulde waxe colde in y â— hartes of many nowe these last dayes that wickednes should abound 〈◊〉 plentuous Certes accordyng to hys prophecy whyche euer is true â—n asmoche as he is the selfe trueth â— caÌ„ not lye is it come to passe For â—f we consyther wel the maners of â—â—en at thys present we shal w tout â—oubte easely perceaue that thys chrysteÌ„ loue towarde God and our neyghbour reygneth but in the hertes of a few And that they haue no thynge lesse than that true workyng fayth which the holy scriptures coÌ„meÌ„d so hyghly in euery place For the christen fayth worketh by charite sayeth saynt Paule Nowe in asmuch as the fayth wher of so many hoste nowe a dayes worketh not this charite or loue in them it is manifest an euident argumeÌ„t that theyr fayth as S. Iames calleth it is a dead fayth y e is a fayth in name but not in dede Yf there were true liuish fayth thaÌ„ would it worke loue in theyr hertes both toward God theyr neighboures Agayne if ther were such a law as is the fulfyllynge of the loue than wold it whan tyme requireth and an occasyon is gyuen shewe forth it selfe by eternall operacyon Who can iustly affyrme y â— he loueth God yet worketh not his wyll nor yet walketh not in y e waye of hys moost godly coÌ„maundementes he y â— sayth I knowe hym kepeth not his coÌ„maundement sayeth saynte Ihon is a lier the trueth is not in him But he that kepeth his worde truly in him is y e loue of God perfecte Agayne thys is y e loue of God that we kepe his coÌ„maundementes Beholde S. Ihon sayth that the loue of God is in none but in them only whiche do his wyll Neyther do Christes sayenges dyffer from this If ye loue me sayeth he kepe my coÌ„maundemeÌ„tes He that hath my coÌ„maundementes kepeth theÌ„ he it is that louethe me If ony man loueth me he wyll kepe my word He that loueth not me kepethe not my wordes If ye kepe my commauÌ„dementes ye shall abyde in my loue Ye are my freendes yf ye do theyse thynges y â— I coÌ„maunde you Christ sayeth here playnely that whosoeuer hath an herty precordial loue toward hym kepeth his coÌ„maundementes but yf any do the contrary surely he loueth not christ How than may theyse men be recounted iudged to loue Christ whan they go not about to fulfyll one poynte of his worde Hys worde is that they shoulde loue him w t all theyr herte mynde soule streÌ„gth but in y e stede of him they loue them selues theyr carnall pleasures wordely vanyties the ende wherof is dampnacion His word is that they should honour reuerence Gods moost holy blessed name but they omittynge the iuste honour of it blaspheme it rayle on it wickedly sweare by it to y e great defasynge of gods glory so muche as lyeth in theyr power For thorowe theyr wickednesse the name of god is styl blasphemed railed vpon euel spoken of as the holy scriptures saye Yf christen princes do not shortely fynde some remedy to exyle banysh thys moost detestable haynous abhomynable maner of swearyng out of theyr realmes Certes it is to be feared yea we may be certayne that God wyl powre out vpon vs his vengeauÌ„ce plage vs greuously although we haue not wanted nor yet dayly do dyuers tokens of hys fearce anger toward vs yet do we not repeÌ„t amend God is a ryghteous iudge God is euer threatenyng Yf meÌ„ wyll not turne he wyll whette hys sweard bend his bowe and make it redy He wyll prepare him the weapons oâ—â—ath orden his arrowes to 〈◊〉 Agayne his worde is that they shoulde sanctify the Sabboth day that is so to temperate theÌ„selues abstayne from wycked lustes that they maye quietly mediate in gods lawe read the holy scriptures giue them selues to deuyne conteÌ„placioÌ„ talke of serious matters praye to God for grace gyue hym thanckes for his benefytes visyte the sycke coÌ„fortles continually be gyueÌ„ to the
in suche miserable case were not alyke moued to helpe this maÌ„ The preest Leuite were mercylesse the Samarytane was mercyfull Uerely in the Samaritane was y â— loue of god whiche excited moued him agayn to shew loue towarde his neyghbour But in the preest Leuyte was ther no loue toward god therfore had they no pytie coÌ„passioÌ„ vpoÌ„ theyr neighbour So y â— where the loue of God wanteth ther can the loue of oure neyghboure haue no place And to saye y â— trueth I thynke surely that accordinge to Christes prophecy y â— loue of manye was neuer so colde For whan was there euer so many fayre wordes so much dissimulacioon who can at this daye vnfaynedly know his frende froÌ„ his 〈◊〉 al trueth is vtterly decayd among the chyldren of meÌ„ Euery one speaketh lyes to theyre neyghbour theyr lyppes are deceytfull they speake one thynge thynke an other In theyr mouthe they speake peace w t theyr frend yet secretely they lay in wayte for him They stretch out theyr tonge as a bowe of lying and not of trueth As the folowers lay snares to take byrdes so do they laye snares trappes to take men And as the trappe is full of byrdes so are theyr houses full of disceyte Nowe is the tyme come that Christ speaketh of in the holy gospel The brother sayeth he shall betray the brother vnto the deathe y â— father y â— sonne the chyldren shall aryse aagaynst theyr fathers mothers shal putte them to deathe Manye are become ryght Iudasies that is frendes in pretence extreme enemyes in theyr workes so y â— almoost no man knowethe whome he maye truste take for his frende It shall therfore become al meÌ„ to folow the admonicion of the Prophete Ieremy which sayeth Let euery maÌ„ be ware of his neyghboure put hys affyance trust iÌ„ none of al his brothers For euery brother wyll supplant deceyue euery frend wyll walke deceytfully so y t one brother shal mocke another and not speake trueth For they haue taught their tonge to speake lyes studyed very ernestly to do wyckedly Here to pertayneth the sayeng of the Prophete Miche Kepe the secretes of thy mouth from her that slepeth in thy bosome for y e sonne shall worke the father displeasure the doughter shall ryse agaynst her mother the doughter in lawe agaynste her mother in lawe a mannes owne houshold and familyars shalbe his mooste enemyes Thus se we what loue ther is nowe a dayes amonge men Agayne what vnmercyfulnesse reygneth amoÌ„g men at this tyme Howe slenderly are the poore members of Christ prouyded for nowe a dayes Howe do they go about froÌ„ dore to dore lameÌ„tyng expressyng with dolorous sorowful wordes theyr to muche wretched miserable state yet no man pitieth theÌ„ ter thefte whoredome haue ouerflowed the world bloud hath towched bloud But to be shorte in this behalfe let vs knowe that the iugement shalbe w tout mercy to hym y t wyll shew no mercy Let vs also be assured that as the mercyefull shall obtayne mercy so shall the vnmercifull receyue euerlastyng daÌ„nacion Moreouer what couetousnesse raygneth amonge men at this present tyme Howe ioyne they house to house londe to londe ferme vnto ferme pasture to pasture so longe as any is to be gotten as thoughe they shoulde dwell vpon the earthe alone From the leest to the mooste they hange all vpoÌ„ couetousnesse froÌ„ the Prophete to the preest they go all about with falsehode lyes They are shameles dogges that be neuer satified Euery one foloweth his owne couetous appetyte euen froÌ„ the hyghest to the lowest They receyue gyftes to shed bloud They take vsury encrese They oppresse theyr poore neyghbours by extorcion They are lyke raueniÌ„g wolues to shed bloud to destroy soules for theyr couetous lucre They heape vp other mens goodes They lade theÌ„ selues with thycke claye They couetouslye gather togyther euell gotten goodes into theyr houses y t they maye set theyr neste on hye to escape froÌ„ y e power of mysfortune The are rycthe not to God but to the world They heape vp treasure and yet knowe they not for whome they gather it They do so abound in all kynde of rytches y t theyr goodes be corrupte Theyr garmentes are motheaten theyr golde theyr syluer are caÌ„ckred the rust of theÌ„ shalbe a wytnes agaynst theÌ„ shal eate theyr flesshe as it were fyre And yet for all theyr greate aboundans mercy shewe they none to the poore people but y â— more they haue the more they couyte For they are proud they put theyr hope in vncertayne rytches not in y â— lyuing God which gyueth vs aboundantly all thynges to enioye theÌ„ They do no good they be not rich in good workes they do not distribute and gyue with a good wyll they gather not vp treasures for them selues which should be a good foundacion agaynste the tyme to come y t they maye laye hande on eternall lyfe Therfore to all suche it is not with out a cause sayde Wo be vnto you rytch men which haue your consolacion Wo be to you y t are full for ye shal huÌ„ger Wo be to you y t laugh nowe for he shall wepe and wayle Agayne It is more easye for a Cammell to go thorowe the eye of a nedle than a rytch man to enter into the kyngedome of God What loue I praye you can there be to a mans neyghbour where such couetous affectes insatiable lustes do reygne God turne awaye this pestilence out of the earth Furthermore what detestable fylthye stynkynge and abhominable whoredome reygnethe in the worlde nowe a dayes yea and that so frely and wythout punisshment that it is accounted no synne at all among many but rather a sporte a good felowlike dalyauÌ„ce a tokeÌ„ of loue a touch of lusty youth The holy scripture coÌ„maundeth y e fornicacioÌ„ adultry whoredome al vncleanes shoulde not once be named among vs muche lesse perpetrated done Yet to deflour maydens to corrupt wyues to defyle wydowes is now iudged and taken but for a playe tryfelynge matter Yea many are growen into such vnshamefastenes that they vse to enterlase theyr talke at the tyme of theyr repast w t such fylthy coÌ„municacion nothyng fearyng to declare before other how valeant champioÌ„s they haue shewed theÌ„ selues in Uenus court Thus do they reioyce whan they haue done euel make a sport â—t vnfyttynge thynges O detestable abhominacioÌ„ This maketh as the Prophet sayeth that there are so many adulterers This maketh that they fal to whoredome hauÌ„t harlottes houses This maketh theÌ„ lyke stoned wyld horses to ney at theyr neighbours wiues Yea thys maketh chast matrimony to be despysed and whores to be set more by than
clypper shal he hold his peace nether shal he once opeÌ„ his mouth Thus because it is his pleasure shall he offer hym selfe vpon the altare of the crosse by hys moost precious bloude paye our rauÌ„some By this his glorious passion shal he take vpon hym your infyrmities beare awaye youre synnes By his moost blessed woundes shal al your iniquities be putte awaye Al your synnes shalbe layd on his backe His bloud shall make you cleane from al your synne By his bloude shal ye haue remission of your synnes By y e precious bloude of this Christ as of an immaculate and pure lambe shal ye be redemed from the tyrany of Satan By y â— oblacion of Christe shall ye be made free from al wyckednes delyuered from the power of darkenes caried into the gloryous kyngedome of God For he is the lambe of GOD whiche taketh awaye the synne of the worlde This is that sonne of man which is come to saue that which was lost not to destroy the soules of meÌ„ but to saue theÌ„ And al this shall come to passe by the oblacion offryng of his owne moost precious blessed body For he shal by your Bysshop not suche one as also shall haue nede to offer for hys owne synnes but for youres onely nether shal he be like y â— bishoppes of y â— old law which offer dayly for y â— sinnes of y â— people suche sacrifyces as can neuer take away sinne nor yet make men perfecte But this your Bysshop shalbe godly innoceÌ„t fautles segregated from synners and made higher then y e heaueÌ„s whiche shal not nede as the other Bisshoppes do dayly to offer sacrifices first for hys owne synnes afterwarde for the synnes of the people For he beynge without al synne shall once for all offer hymselfe And this one sacrifyce or oblacion of hys mooste blessed bodye shal be able to saue so many as beleue in him euen to the vttermoost Christ beynge the Bysshop of good thynges to come shall enter into y â— holy place by hys own bloud fynd euerlastyng redeÌ„pcioÌ„ He thorow the holy Ghoste shall offer hymselfe immaculate to God pourge your conscience from deade workes to serue the lyuynge God HeÌ„ once for al offeryng vp him selfe shall take awaye the synnes of many By the oblacion of the bodye of Iesus Christ done once for all shall you be sanctifyed With one oblacioÌ„ shall he make perfecte for euermore theÌ„ that are sanctifyed Here se you of what iÌ„estimable pryce the sacrifyce of Christ your bysshop is The vertue of it neuer ceaseth but endurethe in perfecte strengthe for euer euer y â— the sinnes of y â— faythful repentant maye be forgyuen at all tymes by it Christes bloud shall not crye for vengeauÌ„ce as y â— bloude of Abell dyd but for mercy grace fauour Yea by Christes bloud shall all thynges both in heauen eâ—the be pacifyed apeased set at a stay reconcyled to God the father abouÌ„daÌ„tly So that nowe ye shalbe purged of al your synnes by this one omnisufficiente oblacion of Iesus Christe your Bisshop For he alone shal treade downe the wynepresse take vpon his backe the great importible burden of your synnes all He by his death shall slaye death ouercome SataÌ„ synne hel desperacion all y â— euer maye be agaynste you So y â— nowe ye shal be made so cleare as though ye had neuer offeÌ„ded Ye shall now be so set at liberty as though before ye had neuer ben in captiuite And all this shall come to passe by the deathe alone of thys yonge chylde nowe borne whose body shall be the alone sacrifyce of all your synnes vnto the which as vnto an holy ancker ye muste alwaye ronne for ayde refuge succoure trustynge assuredly that his death â—s youre whole hope youre meryte youre refuge helth lyfe resurreccion For youre meryte is the compassion excedyng mercy of Christ your LODRE ye are not w toute meryte so longe as y â— LORD of mercyes doth not fayle And yf the merytes of the LORDE be many than are ye plenteous in merites The more able y â— he is to saue the more safe and w toute dauÌ„ger are ye Thus se you what a great occasioÌ„ ye haue to reioy se in the deathe of the LORDE Christ your alone sauyour wherby so many synguler great commodities shall chaunse vnto you God forbydde therfore that ye should reioyse in ony thynge at all saue only in the crosse death of your LORDE Iesus Christ. Syrtely but in asmuch as it is not sufficient that this youre newe hynge Iesus Christ do dye for your synnes except he also ryseth againe for youre iustificacion therfore do I also declare vnto you these moost ioyful coÌ„fortable newes y t after he be once dead buried he by y â— power of his deite shall gloriouslye ryse again y â— thyrd day froÌ„ deth to life for your iustificacioÌ„ accordiÌ„g to y â— holy scriptures For God his father shal make him alyue after two dayes vpon the thyrde daye he shall rayse hym vp he shal lyue in his syght As Ionas was iÌ„ y e belly of a whale thre dayes thre nightes so shall y e sonne of man be in the herte of the earth thre dayes and thre nightes And as Ionas by y â— power of God came out of y â— whalles belly y e thyrd daye so in semblable wyse shall this Christ by y e puissauÌ„ce of God his father ryse agayne y â— thyrd daye from deathe to lyfe By this glorious resurreccion of Iesus Christ shall ye gette the victory of Satan synne death hell desperacion c. By this glorious resurreccioÌ„ of Iesus christ shall ye be made ryghteous in God the fathers sight By this glorious resurreccioÌ„ of Iesus Christ shal heauen gates be opened for you which so longe haue ben sparred By this glorious resurreccioÌ„ of Iesus christ shall ye also ryse agayne enter iÌ„to euerlastyng lyfe By this glorious resurreccioÌ„ of Iesus christ shal god of his excedynge mercy beget you a new into euerlastyng hope an immortall heritage which is kepte for you in heaueÌ„ For Christ is y â— resurreccioÌ„ lyfe he y â— beleueth in him al though he be dead yet shall he lyue euery one that lyueth beleuethe in hym shall neuer dye Here se you in howe ioyfull and mery a state ye shall be set by Christes moost glorious resurreccion What is here but that moueth styreth vs to ioye gladnesse To muche brutall is he which at the heryng of these moost swete delectable newes dothe not seriously reioyse Furthermore after that thys LORDE Iesus Christ is risen agayn from death to lyfe hath continued here vpoÌ„ the earth certayne dayes
workes of y â— spiryte But what do they lesse the moost sacred holy Byble thankes be to God which hath brought these thiÌ„ges to passe by hys dearely beloued seruaunt our kynge HeÌ„ry the eyght a prince of famous renowne mortall glory whose graces hyghnes I mooste humbly beseche almyghtye God in whose handes the harte of â—uerye kyng is lyke as are y â— ryuers of water to turne it whyther so euer it shall be his pleasure to beutyfye w t the benefyte of ê‘petuall helth that his moost excellent maiesty liuing here among vs his faythfull subiectes the yeares of auncient Nestor or sage Tythonus maye styl continually auaunce promote let vp Christes moste blessed gospel to the glorye of God the saluacion of hys subiectes soules the immortalytye of hys graces mooste noble renowne the vtter confusyon of Antechrist and his kyngdome the moost sacred holy Byble I saye is nowe had amonge vs in our vulgare tonge frely permytted to be read of all men vniuersallye at tymes conuenieÌ„t wythout any let or perturbacion eueÌ„ in the churches but howe many reade it Uerely a man may come into some churches se y â— Byble so enclosed and wrapped about with dust eueÌ„ as y â— Pulpet in lyke maner is bothe w t duste coppe webbes that with his fynger he maye wryte vpon the Byble this Epitaphe Ecce nunc in puluere dor mio So lytle plesure haue these fylthy swyne currish dogges in that mooste sweate synguler treasure which is the meate of the soule the swearde of y â— spirite the tree of lyfe the lanterne to our fete the lyght to our pathes whiche also turneth soules gyuethe wisdome euen vnto babes reioysethe the herte gyueth lyght vnto the eyes is able to saue the soules eyther of the readers or hearers yf they seriouslye folowe it O cruell murtherers of theyr owne soules Uerely this is the coÌ„deÌ„nacioÌ„ that y e lyght is come into the world meÌ„ loue the darkenes more then the lyghte for theyr workes are euell Who so euer doth euell hatethe the lyghte and commeth not to the lyghte y â— his dedes should not be reproued but he that doth y â— trueth coÌ„meth to y â— lyghte y â— his workes maye be knowen y â— they are done by God Uerely I thynke the wrathe of god to be so whot agaynst vs y â— excepte we shortely repent receyue this glorious lyght of christes most blessed gospel which nowe is come amonge vs w t more thaÌ„kefull hertes thaÌ„ we haue done hytherto God wyll surely take it away againe froÌ„ vs throw vs iÌ„to more blynd darkenes than euer we were inuolued wrapped iÌ„ before He loued cursyng sayth y â— Psalmographe it shal come vnto him He would not haue the blessing therfore shal it be farre from hym The kyngdom of god shalbe taken from you sayeth Christ shalbe gyueÌ„ to such as shal brynge forth the fruytes of it Suche as thus wyckedly despyse Gods word are lyke to the old ydolaters vngodly rebellyoÌ„s the Iewes whiche had rather be in Egypt among y â— gresy flesh pottes than to be in the seruyce of god eatyng Manna y â— celestial Aungels foode But as they for theyr disobedient vnthaÌ„keful hertes were extremelye punyshed so shall theyse wycked Hypocrites except with al hast they repent turne And as they are necligeÌ„t in reâ—dyng y â— holy scriptures so are they also in deuout meditacion ferueÌ„t prayer They are coÌ„maunded they say to pray iÌ„ secret verely many of theÌ„ pray so secretly y â— neyther God nor maÌ„ knowe any thynge at all of theyr prayer o new kind of prayeÌ„g Howe they vysite the poore coÌ„fortles according to Gods precept theyr dayly maners do shew for to the ale house tauernes roÌ„ne they as flockes of shepe vpoÌ„ y â— SoÌ„dayes and other holy dayes so sone as seruyce is done yea many before it is begone because they are loth for to come to late wher they eate driÌ„ke swyl gul baÌ„ket ly swere tyl they be more lyke bruite beastes theÌ„ meÌ„ Yf they haue a ghostly learned curate which accordynge to his office would be glad to teach theÌ„ y e wyl of God hym do they hate they wysshe the pulpyt a colepyt They thynke it a huÌ„dreth yeare yf he preachethe but halfe an houre so litle pleasure haue these asse heades in hearynge the gloryous blessed word of god And wher as they should speÌ„d al theyr talke on godlynes suffer no fylthy comunicacioÌ„ to procede out of theyr mouthes theyr whole talk is nothiÌ„g els thaÌ„ lasciuious waÌ„toÌ„ vncleanly wordes hurting greatly the chaste eares of other And as for theyr pastymes they are such as rather moue entise to dishonesty than honesty What shal we nowe saye Is not the loue of many colde accordinge to Christes prophecy All seke theyr owne not that which is Iesus christes They loue the glory of men more theÌ„ the glory of God Thus se we that they haue no loue towarde GOD. For though they say y â— they knowe god yet w t theyr dedes they denye hym for so much as they are abhominable disobedient and vnmete to all good workes Nowe seynge that theyr loue is so colde toward God what is to be thought of theyr loue toward their neyghbour which necessarely folowethe of the loue of God Can floudes of water coÌ„tinually flowe oute of a place where there is no heade sprynge Neyther can y e true christen loue towarde our neyghboure be in that herte whiche is w tout all loue of God S. Ihoâ—Ì„ sayeth whoso euer loueth hym that begat loue hym also whyche was begotten of hym It foloweth therfore that for asmuch as they loue not god as we haue heard before neyther do they loue his creature For yf they dyd loue the creature of God I meane theyr neighbour surely they would expresse it by externall operacion outward dedes Colde is that fyre yea rather there is no fyre which coÌ„tayneth not in it y â— vertu streÌ„gth of burnyng SeÌ„blably cold is that loue yea rather it is no loue whiche contayneth not in it the vertu and strength of workynge The preest Leuyte as we read in the gospel of Luke sawe a man which was robbed wouÌ„ded so greuously that he was left half dead yet they moued with no coÌ„passion toward him passed by helped nothyng his miserable state But a Samaritane commyng that waye seynge the wouÌ„ded maÌ„ in so great misery sorowe payne was streyght wayes moued with pitie commynge vnto hym bounde vp hys woundes tenderly powred in oyle wyne layd hym vpon his beaste brought hym into an Inne and made prouyson for hym Nowe chaunsed it y â— all they thre seynge this man