Apo. 19 he said vnto him Se thou do not for I am thy fellowe seruaunt worship God ¶ Of Idolatry Ca. xxii ANd when the people saw that it was long or Moses came downe from the mountaine Exo. 32. they gathered them selues together againste Aaron said Make vs Gods to go before vs. The people of Israell commytted Whoredome with the doughters of Moab Nume 23. whiche called them vnto the sacrifice of their gods And the people did eat and worshipped theyr gods When Iosua the son of Nun was dead Iudi. 2. the children of Israell dyd wyckedly in the sight of oure Lord serued Baalim and Astraroth and forsake the Lord God of their fathers All Israel went a whoringe in Ephod that Gedeon made Iudi. 8. which thing became a ruine vnto Gedeon and to all his house Salomon was old women depraned and turned his hart to folowe after other Gods 3. regu 11. and his hart was not perfect After that Ieroboam hadde taken counsel 3. regu 12. be made two calues of gold and saide Beholde Israel these are thy Gods whiche broughte you oute of Egipt It suffised not Achab king of Israell to walcke in the sinnes of Ieroboam 3. regu 16. but furthermore he serued Baal and worshipped him Iuda made them altares Idolles and groues on euery hie hil 3. reg 14 and vnder euery thicke tree Achaz king of Iuda walked in the way of the kinges of Israell 1. regu 16. and Iuda yea and consecrated his soÌ„ne and made him to go thorow the fire after the abhominations of the heathen wheÌ„ the children of Israel wer translated and caried amonge the Assirians diuers natyons and stronge people wer brought and put into the cyties of Samaria 4. râ—gu 17. And euerye natyon made them gods of their owne And when they shuld serue our lord they serued their goddes also after the custome of the people Sennacherib being confounded and put to rebuke and shame 4. regu 19. retourned from the impugnatyon of Esechia kynge of Iuda to Niniue And as he was praying and worshippynge hys Nefrach in the temple Adramelech Sarasar his ii soÌ„nes smote him with the sweard and escaped Manasses king of Iuda rered vp altares for Baall 4. regu 21. worshipped all the host of heauen and serued them Iudi. 6. Holofernesse taking great indignation against Achior that setforth and much coÌ„mended the power of the god of the Hebrues Said that he woulde shew him that there was none other God but Nabuchodonozor Dani. 3. Nabuchodonozor made a golden Image and commaunded that al people kinreds and tounges should fall downe and worship it Darius king of Pers made and put forth a commaundement Daui 6. that no maÌ„ within 30. daies should require anye peticion of God or man but onely of king Darius There was at Babylon an Idoll called Bell Dani. 14. hym the kynge dyd worship and honor dailye But after that Daniel had destroied him they of Babilon worshipped a dragon Antiochus coÌ„manded idols to be worshipped 1. Mach. 1. that they should edifye set vp altares aâ—d temples and offer vp swines flesh and that meÌ„ shuld leaue their children vncircumcised When Paul was abiding at AtheÌ„s his sprite Act. 17. when he saw the city geueÌ„ to worshippinge of Idols was moued in him Of blasphemy against God Ca. 23. THe Israelitish womans sonne was stoned to deathe by Gods commaundemente Leui. 24. because he blasphemed the name of our Lord. Hely saide vnto his sonnes 1. regu 2. If one man sin against an nother our Lord maye be pacified and pleased but if a man sinne against the Lord who shal pray for him Nathan the Prophet did agrauate the sinne of Dauid 2. regu 12. sayinge because thou hast geuen the ennemies of the lord a cause to rail and to blaspheme his name The manne of God said vnto Ahab kinge of Israel 3. reg 20. Because the Sirians haue said Our Lorde of hilles is but theyr Lorde and he is not god of valleis therefore will I deliuer all thys greate multitude into thy hand and ye shal know that I am the Lord. 3. reg 21. It semeth that wicked Iezabel could not excogitate nor inuent a more greuous or a greater synne to cause Naboth shortly to be stoned to death theÌ„ blasphemye where wyth she falsly accused him 4. regu 19. The blasphemies that Sennacherib king of the Assirians seruauntes spake and vsed did greatlye displease God And therfore the anger of oure Lord smote in the hoste of the Assiryans an C.lxxx and .v. M. It is not expedient for symple men to dispute agaynst the blasphemies 4. regu 18. of infidels And for that cause kyng Hezechias forbad that the vnlearned people should not aunswere the blasphemies of Rabsaâ—is the Assiriane Holofernes disdayning that Achor had commended the powre of the god of heauen Iudi. 6. said vnto him for so muche as thou haste prophecyed that the people of Israell shal be defended of their god I wyll shewe the that their is no god but Nabuchodosor ye wheÌ„ we slay them all as one man When Hieremy rebuked the people because they dyd sacryfyce vnto straunge goddes Iere. 44. they answered we wyll in no wyse heare the worde of God but we wyll do sacryfyce vnto the quene of heauen like as we oure forefathers haue done For then were we in prosperitie nor no misfortune came vpon vs. Nabuchodonosor kyng of Babilon said vnto Daniell and his companions that woulde not worshyppe the golden Image Dani. 3. what god is ther that may deliuer you out of my handes In the daies and time of Antiochus certen wicked people of Israell gaue counsell sayinge Let vs go and make a couenaunte wyth the Heathen 1. Mach. 1. for sence wee departed frome them wee haue had muche sorowe Iudas Machabeus laying siege to a certen stronge holde 2. Mac. 20. A companye of the Hethen that were within it craked spake manye blasphemous and cursed wordes But within few dayes after they were burnt and consumed with fyre The Iewes saying vnto Nicanor There is a mighty Lorde in heauen 2. Mac. 15. that commaundeth the seuenth daye to be kept The wicked Nicanor said And I am myghtye vpon earthe to commaunde them for to arme them selues to performe the kings busines After that our Lord had healed and caste the deuyll oute of the blinde and the dumme man Mat. 12. LuKe. 11. The people were a mased but the Pharises blasphemed saying This fellowe driueth the deuyls no otherwise out but by the help of Belzebub the cheif of the deuyls Our Lord hanging vpoÌ„ the crosse Mat. 27. they that passed and went by reuyled and blasphemed him waggyng their heades c. The Iewes spake agaynste those thinges that Paule spake Act. 13.18 blaspheming and rayling against it ¶ Of Goddes preceptes
God 4. reg 17. and made theÌ„ Gods of metal serued Baal There foloweth Israel was translated caried away out of theyr owne land The word of God was against Iuda to put him out of hys sight 4. reg 24. for the sinnes of Manassesâ— the which he had commytted and for the innocent blud that he shed Ierusalem and all the cityes of Iuda are desolate Iere. 44. and no man dwelling in theÌ„ because of theyr greate malice and sinne which they commytted to prouoke me to anger No that they had any cause to do so but vpon a custom The burden and grefe of sinne is so great that Ieremy dothe saye That our Lord might no longer suffer Iere. 44. because of the malitiousnesse and inueÌ„tions of your studyes MaÌ„ through sin is febleshed IerusaleÌ„ sinned and therfore it was made vnstable 3. regu 11. yea and Salomous seruaunte was so bolde as to rise agaynste hys Lord after he had trespassed After that our Lord had healed the manne that lay sicke in his bedde Ihon. 5. he founde hym in the temple and sayde vnto hym Beholde thou arte made whole Sinne no more least a worse thing happen vnto thee Our lord said vnto the womaÌ„ that was apprehended in aduoutrye Iohn 8. and accused of the Iewes before him Go and synne no more ¶ Of confession of sinnes Capi. Cvi OUr lord monished Adam after he had sinned to knowledge to confesse his faut but he in a manner reiected and laide his faut to God and to the woman Gene. 3. the woman to the serpent And said The woman whom thou gauest to be my felow c. And the woman said yonder serpent begiled me and I did eat Cain did knowledge his faute Gen. 4 sayinge My iniquitye is more then that it maye be forgeuen Pharao saied I haue synned against God and you Exodi 9. And again I haue now synned oure Lorde is righteous and I and my people are vngodly Saule sayed 1. regu 26. I haue synned I haue playde the foole and haue erred excedynglye And Iudas sayed Mat. 27. I haue synned betrayinge the innocent bloud And yet none of all these obtayned forgeuenesse because thei spake it not with a true harte Dauid spake the lyke wordes with an humble lowlye harte 2. regu 12. and deserued to heare our Lord hath put away thy synne The people beyng afflycted and stonge wyth fyerye serpentes Nume 21. came to Moses and sayed we haue synned for we haue spoken agaynst our lord and agaynst the. The children of Israell were vehemently and sore oppressed by the Philistines and the children of Amnon And they sayed vnto oure Lorde we haue sinned Iudi. 10. do thou vnto vs what soeuer please thee deliuer vs only this day Dauid beynge reprehended of Nathan the prophet for hys excesse and synne committed agaynst Urias and his wyfe 2. regu 12. did humblye recognise and confesse his faute Dauid when he had nombred hys people 2. reg 24. did so humblye and mekely recognise his faute that he offerd him selfe to be punished in stede and place of the innocent people 2. Esd. 1. Nehemias saied I knowledge and confesse for the synnes of the children of Israel which we haue sinned against the And I my fathers house haue synned haue bene vaynly seduced Tobi. 3. Although Tobias feared God euen from his infancye and obserued his preceptes and coÌ„maundementes yet he most humbly confessinge saied we haue not done accordinge to thy commaundements neyther haue we walked innocently before thee Daniels three felowes which lyued so holyly among the Chaldes Dani. 3. and foâ— whose sake our Lord shewed so great a miracle in the fornace neuer murmurd against our Lorde asthoughe they had sufferd suche thinges iustly But Azarias sayed we haue synned we haue offended and done wickedlye And Daniel in his prayer to God confessed his synnes Dani. 9. and the peoples sayinge We haue synned we haue offended we haue done wyckedly The syxte of those seuen brethren whyche beganne to dye 2. Mach. 7. sayed We suffer these thynges for oure owne sakes for we haue synned against our Lorde God There came to Iohn Baptyst all Iewrye Mat. 5. and all the regyon rounde aboute Iordane confessynge theyr synnes As Paule was preachinge in Asia Act. 19. many that beleued came and confessed and shewed theyr woorkes ¶ Of the hardnesse and obstinacye of the wicked Capitu. Cvii CAin after that our Lorde hadde reproued him was worsse Gen. 4. and slew his brother The harte of Pharao neyther by fayre wordes Exo. 5.6.7 8.9 which Moses spake froÌ„ our lorde nor yet by dure and sharpe punishemente coulde be mollified Oure Lorde dothe call the chyldren of Israel Exo. 32. a styfnecked people as it appeareth in diuers places in Leuitici 1. regu 2. Hely corrected his chyldren wyth woordes but it profyted theym but a little Samuell foretoulde the people the sore and greuous conditions of their kynge i. regu 8. and that it dyspleased oure Lorde And yet they would not leaue of theyr purpose Saule neyther by Ionathas wordes nor yet by the benefytes whyche he receyued of Dauid 1. regu 18. coulde be prouoked or induced to loue Dauid 1. regu 25. It is sayed of Nabal that he was harde very euyll and malitious â—saell persecuted Abner but to obstinatlye 2. reg 2. Oure Lorde sente prophets to the men of Iuda 2. Para. 24. that thei should returne vnto him But they would not heare of it Ye they kilde zacharia the sonne of Ioiada most cruelly because he rebuked them Hezechias the kinge of Iuda sente messengers through oute all Israel 2. Para. 30. sayinge But ye not styfnecked like as wer your fathers theÌ„ foloweth that they laughed theÌ„ to scorne mocked them Their hartes were very hard that came to take our lorde Luc. 22. that which when that he with a worde had smitten them prostrate to the earth Iohn 18. had healed the seruauÌ„tes eare that was smitteÌ„ cut of wer not moued to mercy neither by the manifestatioÌ„ of the miracle nor yet bi the mekenesse or gentlenes of the benefite Saint Steuen rebuking the Iewes vehementlye and sharpely Act. 7. sayed O ye styfnecked of vncircuÌ„cised hartes eares ye haue alwaies resisted the holy ghost as your fathers did so do ye ¶ Of the peruersity of certayne menne Capitu. Cviii. THe fyrst woman peruerted the ordre of nature Gen. 3. when she gaue her husbande of the frute that was forbiden and he eate it when that the man ought rather to haue taught the woman what she shuld haue eaten or what she shoulde haue a voyded The lord enrychd the Hebrues with the spoyles of the Egyptians althoughe there bee many nowe as vsurers and such lyke Exo. 12. the whyche enryche the Egiptians wyth the spoyle of the
ye the man in whom the euil sprite was ran on them and preuailed against them so that they fledde awaye naked and wounded And vpon one of the sabboth daies Paule preached and continued the preachinge vnto midnight Actes 20. And ther satte in a windowe a certaine yonge manne beinge fallen into a deade sleepe And ouercome wyth sleape he fell downe from the thyrde lofte and was taken vp dead But when Paul went downe he fell on hym and embrased him And they broughte the yonge man a liue and were not a lytle comforted And in the Winter when Paule and his fellowes were scaped oute of the broken ship Actes 28. and were warminge them at the fire There came a viper oute of the heate and caught hym by the hande he shoke the viper into the â—ire and felt no harme How be it the menne of that countrye loked and beleued that he shoulde haue fallen down dead sodenly Paule by prayer and by laying his handes on the father of Publius Actes 28. deliuered him of a feuer and of a bloudye â—lixe So when this was done other also which had diseases in the I le came and were healed ¶ Of Goddes prouidence and secreat iudgementes ¶ The second Chapter OUr Lord knewe that man wold sinne Genes 1. yet he made him inclining there vnto when that he might haue made him wythoute anye suche inclinatyon or promptnesse to sinne at all But he knew how great profite and goodnesse should ensue begotten by the occasion of his fall Iacobs soÌ„nes did decre and purpose to extinguishe Ioseph theyr brother Genesis 27 but yet God disposinge the thinge otherwise they exaulted him farre aboue them selues Iacob wheÌ„ he blessed Iosephs children Ioseph wandering and beynge ignoraunt of the cause laid his right hand on Ephraims hed Genesis 48 and hys left hand vpon Manasses Exod. â— 3 After that Moises had smitten and slaine the Egiptian and by the way of rebultinge of a Iewe had offended him he fled from the face of Pharaâ—e and as a banished man dwelt manye yeares in the countrye of Madian so that it was thought that he durst appeare no more in the land of Egipte and yet by keping there his father in lawes shepe he had a more greater occasion to serue God and sawe that greate vision and was sente by God to the children of Israell and to Pharao Exod. 5.6 Our Lord knew ful wel that Pharao would not obey his commaundementes and yet he caused him to bee required and spoken to by Moyses Exod. â— Our Lord or euer he would bringe the children of Israel out of Egipte permitted and suffred them a longe time ofteÌ„ to be afflicted punished Pharaos wise menne and his enchaunters did throughe Gods sufferaunce Exod. 7 as great signes as touching certaine of them in Egypte as Moyses did Our Lord dothe permit and suffer the reproued to be indurate Exod. 9 and hys elected to be afflicted thereby to do that is wonderfull and to bee the better knowen and praised Our Lorde did oftentimes promise the children of Israel Nume xiiâ—â— a country that floweth with milke and honye and yet but two of them Saleph and Iosue of twenty yeres of age came thyther the reast came not thyther but their children only Moses the which did so often times reconcyle the synnefull people vnto oure Lorde did once sinne at the water of strife Nume 20 nor he obtained not for him selfe to enter the lande of promission In that that the children of Israell for their iniquity remained more theÌ„ xl yeres in the desert Oure Lorde was thereby greatlye magnified Deute 29. the which did feede them there so longe and kept their raimeÌ„t from wearing and at the last did woÌ„derfully bring them into the lande of promesse Of the people that did inhabite the lande of promesse Iosu. xi thys was our Lordes commaundemente and sentence that theyr hartes should be hardened and that they shoulde come agaynste Israell in battaile and vtterlye to be destroyed and that no mercy shoulde bee shewed them but that they shuld pearish and be brought to nought After that Gedeon hadde obtayned and wonne so maruelous a vyctorye of hys ennemyes Iudi. 8. and hadde refused to raigne ouer the people he made an Ephod the which dede was the decaye and ruine of him selfe and his housholde Oure Lorde was greued with the children of Israell for their iniquitye and wickednesse Iudi. 10. and said vnto them I wyll healpe you no more goe and crye vnto the Goddes which ye haue chosen And they saide vnto oure Lorde We haue sinned Then there foloweth that our Lorde had piâ—ye on theyr misery Sampson Iudi. 16 the aungell bryngynge the message was conceiued of his mother the whyche was barren And afterwardes he was often times deceyued by women and at the laste hee was destroyed by the ruine and fal of a house The children of Israel by the counsaile and will of oure Lorde Iudi. 20 foughte twise with the children of Beniamin and were ouercome but afterwardes they vtterly in a maner destroid them Our Lord suffred the Arke to be taken of the vncircumcised 1. regum 6. where hee shewed many miracles And when it was reduced brought home agayne the meÌ„ of Bethsames receiued it ioyfully and yet our Lord siue 70. of the Princes 5000. of the coÌ„men people Among al the people ther was none better then Saule 1. regum 15 when oure Lorde chose him yet afterwardes he synned and our Lord refused him Dauid was the least among al his brethren 1. regum 16 and as it wer of no reputatyon amonge theÌ„ So that when I sais children were called for this Dauid was neglected and contempned and yet our Lord gouerned all the people by him and for his cause extolled all his progeny and kindred 1. regum 28 This is much to be maruailed at that Samuel the prophet was called vp by a sorcerer Sainte Augustyne saithe in his boke de doctrina christiana that it was the similitude Image of Samuel but not the Prophet hym self nor yet his spirite for he appeared by the sacrilegious art and crafte of the deuil It is to be noted how expresly oure Lord spake vnto Nathan of the goodnes of Dauid and Salomon his sone â— regum 7. the which should build the temple yet bothe they fell into iniquitye and sinne most shamefully When Dauid should die he made a maruelous ordinaunce 3. regum 2. but for as muche as the scripture dothe so commend him it is to be supposed notwithstanding he was partlye cruell that yet he did it not without a iust a reasonable cause Our Lord gaue Salomon so great prosperity and peace 3. regum 11. that sathaÌ„ was not against him and he gaue him wisdome aboue all other kinges and yet at length our Lord suffered him to be in satuated
may dye with him doubted of our Lordes resurrection whereof it came that Peter was the more meke and gentle to sinners and that the faithfull and they that stackard in the faithe were the better stablished there in And of this it is gathered that no manne should presume vpon his stedfastnes And that no man whether he be fallen from his faith or doubteth therin should despair of the mercye or of the forgeuenesse of God And by this that Iudas the Apostle and dispensator of God did slide into suche an eanorme crime nor rose not againe al presuÌ„pteous security is deminished and broken by the whiche no manne for the state condition that he is in nor for the dedes that he hath done oughte to be hie mineded but in fear For why the Apostles wer the faithful leaders of the people and yet they were kept in prysonne wythal diligence It might seme to such as be weake that God shuld not haue suffred such thinges to haue bene done in the beginning of the faith Actes 4â— But yet the faithful therby wer maruelously comforted and the aduersaries of our faithe confuted Actes 12. The like thing chaunced in Peter alone when he was taken by Herode put in prison and broughte forth and miraculouslye deliuered by the Angell It was great iniquity to stone Steuen to death Actes 7. and yet many good thinges throughe the prouidence of God came therof For Steuen was gloriously crowned in heauen and aboundauntly honoured in earthe his oration and prayer that he made there brought Paule vnto vs and left vnto al our posterity an example of a maruelous paâ—ience and charitye Actes 8 Steuen beynge thus stoned there followed a greate persecution in the Churche and congregation that was at Ierusalem For they were all sparkled abrode through out al the regions of Iewry and Samaria except the Apostles so that â—t semed to be a great detriment or hinderaÌ„ce to the honour of the christiane religion But the Discyples that were scattered abroade dyd so preache and sette forthe the worde of God that the Churche there by was a greate deale the more enlarged Actes 13. For as much as the Iewes when Paule and Barnabas preached the woorde of God vnto them refused it and put it from them they tooke an occasyon to preache vnto the Gentyles There was a dissentyon betwene Paule and Barnabas for IhoÌ„ whose sirname was Marke whome Paule woulde not receyue because he wente from theÌ„ but Barnabas toke Marke wyth hym Actes 15. and so they departed a sunder one from the other Where by shoulde haue folowed as it was thoughte some greate rebuke and shame But God disposing the matter there ensued greate frute and profite For the worde of God was opened preached to manye They committed a verye haynous deede and faute that putte that excellente doctoure Paule in prison coÌ„pellynge hym to cease from Preachinge the whyche thynge myghte seme to many a great inconuenience and that God should not haue suffred it And yet it is to bee greatly noted that the deuine prouidence by suche impedimentes and losses hath shewed and caused greate frute and profyte For as the merites of Paul did therby increase so likewise he left the mo examples of vertue and taughte muche better by his woorkes then before time by his wordes For beynge in prison he wrote to those that were absent and in farre countries nether was he so profitable vnto the church by his preachinge as he was by sending of his Epistles And therefore if he in any one city or prouince had ben honoured of all men and gladly hardt he should not yet haue had such occasions to haue gone and visited so diuers and many nations as he visited Therfore when that the Iewes or any other did persecute him froÌ„ towne to towne he preached the woorde of God to manye And when he was in hold he wrote his Epistles and when the Iewes resisted him Actes 13. he turned him self to the gentiles And againe because that in Syria he founde Festus and Felix vnrightfull Iudges Actes 25. hee was enforced to appeale to Cesar and so hee came to Rome and throughe his predication and doctrine was greatly illustred and luckelye by hys passion made mooste famous ¶ Of the benignitie of God to hys seruauntes ¶ The third Chapter ABraham commynge and speaking with our Lord Genesisâ— 28 desired him to spare the Sodomites vsed suche a maruelous boldnes that men might haue iudged him very importune But yet our Lord answered him all wayes gentlye and graunted him his request Our Lord moste gentlye appeared vnto Iacob flying and eschuynge hys brothers anger Gene. 31. and deliuered hym from his father in lawes insecution returning again to his brother Iacob vsed a greate audacitye and bouldnes in his prayer to our Lorde Gene. 38. saying I wyl not let thee go excepte thou blesse me And oure Lorde saide vnto Moses I haue seene this people Exodus 32. and behold it is a stiffe necked people suffer me that my wrath may wax hot against them As thoughe he wold saye thou holdest me nor I cannot consume these wicked sinners excepte thou let me go And our Lord spake vnto Moses as a man speaketh to his frende Exodus 33. and did defend him from his enemies and detractours Oure Lorde obeyed vnto Iosuas voyce Iosue 10. saying Sunne stand thou styll vpon Gibeon Balack called Balaam for to curse the children of Israell Iosu. 24. but our Lorde cleane contrarye blessed them by Balaam Nume 22 Gedeon demaunded twise of oure Lorde a signe in the fiece Iudi. 6. whether he shoulde obtaine the victorye of his enemies This was to be maruailed at that oure LORDE when he hym selfe was abiected and refused 2. regum 7. disdayned not there at but in the contempte of the seruauntes of GOD he estemed him self to be contemned As it is manifest and plaine in Samuel 1. regum 8. They did not reiecte thee but me saithe oure LORDE Note also howe courteouslye oure LORDE spake vnto Nathan 2. regum 7 of Dauid and of his house in time to come Notwithstandynge that the posteritye of Dauid did sinne greuouslye and manye manner of wyse 4. regu 19. yet hys good deedes are oftentymes remembred and because of them oure Lorde doth verye ofte spare and forgeue the sinnes of the people At the Commaundemente of God the rauens broughte breade and flesh to Helias 3. reg 17.19 And afterwardes the angell of God shewed hym breade and water Ezechia the kinge of Iewry sayde Oure LORDE wyll be mercifull 2. Para. 30 vnto all those that seeke hym withall their hartes nor shall not impute vnto them that they are not sufficiently inough sanctified Our LORDE sente his Aungell the whyche ledde for the yonge Tobias and broughte him agayne he draue the deuill from hys wife he made hys parentes glad and ioyfull To. 5.8.11
said Moses that your hart be not deceiued Deu. 11. and that ye turne not aside from God and serue straunge Gods and worship them And then oure Lorde beyng wroth shut vp the heauen The children of Israel haue transgressed the couenaunte Iosuâ— 7. and haue vsurped the excommunicate thynges There followeth And the wrathe of our Lord waxed hot against the children of Israel for the sinne of Achan Our Lord was greued and angrye with Osa and smote hym 1. para 13. because he touched the arke Our Lord was wroth with Salomon because his minde was tourned from our Lord. 3. reg 11. The fury of our Lord was against Israel 4. reg 13. and he deliuered them into the handes of Hazael kinge of Syria because of their Idolatry for they worshipped the calues that Ieroboas made Our Lord was wroth againste Israell and he moued Dauid agaynste them 2. reg 24 in that he saide to Ioab go and nombre Israel and Iuda After Idolatry witchcraft enchaÌ„tmentes and other diuers synnes and wickednesse 4. reg 17 the Children of Israell prouoked oure Lorde And our Lorde was exceading wroth and angri with Israell and putte them oute of hys syghte The Prophet Iehu sayde vnto Iosaphat the kynge of Iuda 2. Para. 19 that came to battaile with Achab the king of Israell Thou helpest the vngodly and dost loue those that hate oure Lorde Therfore yre and wrath come vppon thee from oure Lorde Neuerthelesse there are some good actes founde in thee Ioas the kinge of Iuda his rulers serued groues and Idols 2. para 24. then came the wrath of God vpon Iuda for this their trespasses sake Amasias kinge of Iuda ouercame in battayle throughe the healpe of GOD 2. para 25 the Edomites and broughte theyr goodes awaye and bowed hym selfe before them wherefore oure LORDE was angrye and wrothe with him Hezechias did not again vnto God according to the benefites that he had shewed him 2. para 32 for hys harte arose and there came wrath vpon him and vpon Ierusalem Iosias king of Iuda when he had hard that was wrytten in the boke of the lawe 2. para 34. sayde great is the fury and anger of our LORDE that is fallen vppon vs because your fathers haue not kepte the woordes of oure Lorde They did eat Esd. 2.9 and wer filled and became fat and liued in wealth thorow thy great goodnesse and they prouoked the to anger And Artaxerzes the gentle commaÌ„ded that all thinges shoulde be done to the mooste highest 1. Esdras 7 after the lawe of God Least his anger arise against the realme and against the king and his children Our Lord said to Eliphas the Themanite I am angrye and displeased with thee Iob. 42. and thy two frendes for ye haue not spoken before me the thing that is right Thus it is wrytten of Babilone be Iere. 50. hold she shal be the least set by among the nations voyde wasted and dried vp no man shal be able to dwel there for the fear and anger of oure Lorde but she shal be whole desolate When Machabeus had gathered a multitude together 2. Mach. 8. he was to mighty for the heathen for the wrathe of our Lord was turned into mercy And it is written in the parable of the vngratious seruaunt that would not haue compassioÌ„ on his fellow Mat. 18. his Lord was wroth and deliuered hym to the â—aylers Also it is wrytteÌ„ against those that excused them selues that they coulde not come to supper Luc. 14. Then was the good man of the house displeased and said vnto his seruaunt c. He that beleueth on the soÌ„ne hath euerlastinge life Iohn 3. he that beleueth not the soÌ„ne shall not se life but the wrathe and anger of God abideth on him The ire anger that shal be shewed at the day of iudgement is greatly to be feared Apoca. 6. Of the which it is wrytten in the reuelation of Sainte Ihon. Kinges of th earth the great men c shall say to the hils and rockes fal on vs hide vs from the presence of him that sitteth on the seate and from the wrathe of the lambe ¶ That God dothe more regard the intent of the doer then the worke it self ¶ The .xii. Chapter CAine brought of the frute of the ground an oblatyon vnto our Lorde Gen. 4. Abel also broughte of the firstlinges of his shepe Then folowâ—th Our Lord had respect vnto Abel and to hys oblation but vnto Caine and to his offering he had no respect After that promys was made to Abraham that he should haue a child by Sara Gen. 8. he laughed and so did Sara Whose laughing our Lord reproued but not Abrahams We rede that when Moses Aaron shewed wonders before Pharao Exo. 6. that Pharaos wise men and enchaunters dyd in like maner with their sorrerye Chore and his companye had euen suche censers as Aaron had Nume 16. and perchaunce of as good metall or rather better and yet god did not equally accept their censing The Bethsames lifted vp their eyes and spyed the Arke and reioysed 1. regu 6. and offered a burnt offering vnto our Lord. And although they semed to do a good worke yet oure Lorde plaged them with a greate plague because they had seene the Arke the whiche they should not haue seene 1. regu 19. Whan Saul was amonge the prophetes he strypte of hys clothes and began to prophecye but it auayled him but lyttle Oza putte foorthe hys hande to houlde the Arke that it shoulde not faull 1. para 13. and oure Lorde smote him incontynently and there he dyed Notwythstandynge it is a verye good thinge to offre incence vnto our Lorde 2. para 16. yet it pertayneth notte to euery man to doe the same For Ozias the kynge of Iuda was smytten with the leper because he would burne insence vppon the aulter of insence Oure LORDE dothe reproue by hys Prophete Esay the oblations Esa. 1. that he hym selfe dyd institute to be offerde and that because of the wickednesse of those that offerde Why offer ye so manye sacryfyces vnto me sayeth our Lord Then there foloweth Your handes are full of bloude Oure Lorde preferd the offering of the widdowe which cast two mites in to the treasury Luke 21. aboue the offeringes of the riche menne Herode desired very greatlye to see Iesus And when he saw him he was exceading glad but yet he gate no profit therby LuKe. 23. thoccasion and cause where of was nother pitye nor charitye but curiosity and vanity ¶ That God at times doth tempt and proue man The .xiii. chapter GOD did proue Abraham and said vnto him Gen. 22. Take thi sonne c. Our Lord saide vnto Moses behold Exo. 16. I will raine breade from heauen to you and the people shal go out and gather There foloweth that
wept together 1. reg 20. Saul hering Dauids voyce that had spard him 1. reg 24. lifted vp his voyce wept When Dauid sawe that Sicelag was burnt 1. reg 30. and that the men wer takeÌ„ prisonners and caried away He and the people that were with him wept vntil they coulde wepe no more Dauid mourned and wept for Saul and Ionathas 2. reg 1. and for the other that were slaine Dauid and all the people did mourn and wepe for Abner 2. reg 3 whom Ioab murdred Dauid would not wepe for his little sonne that was deade 2. reg 12. and yet he wept for him when he was sicke NotwithstaÌ„ding AbsoloÌ„ shewed him self very naughtes wicked towards his father 2. regu 18. yet his father king Dauid bewayled his death most pyttefully Elizeus seing Azael before him begaÌ„ to wepe 4. regu 8. for the euyl that he being king of Siria shuld do to the childreÌ„ of Israel Hezechias wepte very sore praying our lorde for the death the whiche he verely estemed to be at hande 4. reg 20. When Iosias the king of Iuda herd the thretnyngs for sinne writteÌ„ in the boke of the law of god 4. regu 22. he rent his clothes wept greatli pleased our lord When the temple was reedified be those that came froÌ„ Babilone 1. Esd. 3. a man could not know or discerne the ioyful voyce or sound of those that were mery glad froÌ„ the noyse of weping amonge the people When that Esdras prayed wept for the coÌ„mixtion of the Iewes the gentiles 1. Esd. 9. a greate numbre of men and women beinge gathered together resorted vnto him wept very sore When Nehemia heard of the miserable estate and condition of the cytie 2. Esd. 1. of Ierusalem he wept mourned certaine daies fasted and prayed before the face of god of heauen Toby did eat his meat with mourning feare Tobi. 2. for he had the dead coarâ— of hys neyghboure in hys house the whiche he would bury in the night And when Toby had heard the inturius wordes of his wyfe Tobi. 3. he sighed and with teares began to make his prayer After that Sara Raguels doughter had heard her maydes contemelius greuous words Tobi. 3. she prayd besought god with teares that he would delyuer her from that rebuke When yonge Tobi was departed gone froÌ„ his parentes Tob. 5. his mother began to wepe sayd The staffe of our age haste thou taken and sent awaye from vs. When Gabelus came into Raguels house Tobi. 9. and saw yonge Toby sitting at the table He wept and blessed him Blinde Toby arose ran to mete his sonne returning homewards Tobi. 11. He receaued him he and his wife kissed him they began to wepe for ioye And wheÌ„ Achior had plainly declared all the Holofernes had sayd Iudi. 6. all the people with a coÌ„men lameÌ„tacioÌ„ pourd out their praiers together vnto oure Lorde And afterward the whole congregacion with great murning weping made their prayers together all the night longe saying we haue sinde with our fathers Iudith stode before Holofernes bed making her prayers with teares Iudi. 13. that god wolde vouchesafe to make perfect the thinge that in her thought she had deuised When Mardocheus had herd of the wicked and vniust sentence that was geuen agaynst the Iewes Esth. 4. he rent his clothes besprincled hys head with ashes and put on sakâ—loth with loud and lamentable cryinge declared the bitternes sorowfulnes of his mynd And in al landes countries as farre as the kynges cruell worde and commauÌ„dement extended ther was great lamentation amonge the Iewes fastynge weping and mourning After that Haman saw that Mardocheus Esth. 6. was so magnified and honored he gat him home in all the haste mournynge and bareheaded Holy Iob wept lameÌ„ted his owne miseries Iob. 30. saying my harp is turnd to sorow my pipe to wepinge whose vehement weping sorow dothe appere by his words before spoken Iob. 16. My face is swoln wich weping my eies ar the shadow of death he also lameÌ„ted wept for other meÌ„s sorowes trouble I wept sayth Iob with him that was in trouble Iob. 30. my soule had compassion vpon the poore psal 6. Kinge Dauid the prophete had a bathe euen of his owne teares I wyl wash my bed euery night water my couche with my teares His teares wer vnto Dauid as meat drinke psal 41. psal 69. psal 101. My teares haue beÌ„ my meat day night Thou shalt geue vs plenteousnes of teares to drincke And in a nother place He sayth I myngled my drincke with weping And Dauid remembring his owne lyfe did wepe psal 55. O God I haue opened my lyfe vnto the and thou hast set my teares in thy sight And hauing heauen in remembraÌ„ce he saide psal 136. By the waters of Babylon we sate downe and wept And in his prayer to our Lorde psal 38. he saith Heare my prayer Oâ— Lord and with thine eares receiue my teares psal 94. And in a nother place let vs wepe be fore the Lord our maker Esaias perâ—eiuing the dâ—structyon of his people Esa. 22. said Get ye hence from me for I wil weepe and make bytter lamentation Nor go not about to coÌ„forte me vppon the destructyon of the daughter of my people Ieremy said Be obedient geue ear take not disdaine at it Iere. 13. For it is the Lorde him selfe that speaketh Then there followeth But if ye wyll not heare me that geue you secreat warnyng I wil mourne from my whole hart for your pride and stubbernes Piteously wil I wepe and the teares shal gushe oute of mine eies for the lords flock shal be caried away captiue The copyous complainâ—e and bewailing that is in Ieremy Iere. 9. are signes and arguments of many teares who wil geue my hed water inoughe and a wel of teares for mine eyes Iere. 6. that I may wepe night and day for the slaughter of my people And the manifold lamentatioÌ„s therfore I do wepe Thre 1. and mine eyes gushe out of water Then foloweth for my sorow is very great and my harte is heauy And the clamerous and loude sobbinges Mine eies runne and can not cease Thre 3. Mine eies breake myne heart tourne not thy face from my syghing and cryinge And for the failing and losse of eies Mine eies Thre 2. saith Ieremy begin to fail me thorowe wepinge and my bodye and bowels are disquieted I Daniel mourned for the space of iii. wekes Dani. 9. so that I had no lust to eat bread as for â—lesh and wine ther cam none within my mouth When that Susannes frendes saw that the prestes should bear witnesse against her Dani. 13. thei weptâ— and she loking vp toward heauen
When proud Aman saw that Mardocheus would not worshyp hym he through that occasion counsailed the kyng by false surmising and lyes to destroy all the Iewes Iob. 1. Because that Sathan could by no meanes deny before our Lord Iobes vertues he imagyned deceytfullye to depraue hys intentyon saying Doth Iob feare God for nought Note likewyse how that vpon one day the deuyl depryued hym of all that euer he had and caused messengers to come vnto hym that throughe manifolde sorowes he myghte weaken breake him be impacâ—ence The great estates of the realme of Perâ—ia procured that Darius should put out such a decre or coÌ„maundemeÌ„t the whiche they estemed and thought that Daniell would not obserue nor kepe Dani. 6. that be suche subteltie and craft they myghte wynde hym oute of the kinges fauour Two olde preastes inuented a detestable deceyte Dani. 13. to deceaue Susan and afterwardes cruelly to be reuenged of her Alcimus beinge full of malignite 1. mach 7 came to Demetrius accused Iudas Machabeus of many thinges And after that hee presented hym wyth a crowne of golde and with other gyftes as that day he helde his tonge 2. Mach. 14. but afterwardes he did and spake so muche that the king gaue him the hie preesthode Iason sent Menelaus with money vnto king Antiochus 2. Mach. 4. but Menelaus beinge commended and praised of the kyng turned the preesthode vnto him selfe laying vp .300 talentes of syluer for Iason When Herode priuely called the wise men enquired diligently and learned of them what time the starre appeared Math. 2. sending theÌ„ to Bethleem sayd Go your way thither searche diligently for the childe But for what intent he dyd so it appeared by the murthering of the chyldren The Pharises wyllyng to tangle oure Lorde in his woordes sent oute vnto hym their discyples Mat. 22. with Herodes seruauntes saying Master we knowe that thou art true Is it lawful that tribute be geuen vnto Cesar or not The hye preestes and chefest of the Iewes gaue large moneye vnto the keepers of the Sepulchre Mat. 28. that they should say how that Iesus was stolen awaye by night The Pharyses sought manye cyrcutes and wayes to cause the blinde man that had receyued his syghte to confesse and say Iohn 9. that he receaued not his sight of Christ. Ananias his wife Saphira hauing knowledge thereof defrauded kept away parte of the price of the lande Act. 5. The Samaritanes regarded much Simon Magus because that of longe tyme he with hys sorceryes had bewitched them Act. 8. The Iewes perceiuinge that the worde of God was sowen and published throughe all the countreye bye Paule and Barnabas Act. 13. steered vp and moued the deuoute and honeste wemen and the chefest of the citie of Antioche and raised persecution against them and expelled them oute of their coostes When Paule and Barnabas were at Listra Act. 14. and in so greate fauoure that men would haue doone sacrifyce vnto them as vnto Goddes There came certaine Iewes the whiche perswaded the people so that Paule was stoned and drawen oute of the cytie supposing he had bene dead Certaine craftes men with a damsell possessed with a spirite that prophesied which were minded and willynge to complayne of Paule sayed not that through him they loste their gaines Act. 16 but lyingly they sayd These men trouble oure cytie and preache ordinaunces whiche are not lawfull for vs to receiue neither to obserue seynge that we are Romaines The Iewes malitiouslye did purpose to desire the Tribune that Paul might be brought forthe Act. 23. as thoughe they would haue knowen something more perfectly of him but many layd waite to kyll him had bounde them selues with a vowe that they would eate nothing tyl they had slaine him ¶ Of the erudition of Chyldren Cap. lv IAcob seynge and marking Iosephs dreames Gen. 37. rebuked hym least he shoulde stere vp the indignation and enuye of his brethren against him Iacob hearing that ther was corne and sustinaunce to be solde in Egipt Gen. 42. reproued the negligence of his children The blasphemer and cursed speaker was stoned to deathe in the wyldernesse his father was a manne of Egipie Leui. 24. and his mother an Israelitishe woman Suche chyldren are oftentimes euyll instructed Our lorde commaunded by Moses that the children of Israel shuld teach Deu. 4. theyr chyldren suche thinges as they hadde sene A contumacius a stubburne child that will not obeye the commaundement of his parentes Deu. 21. but contemne them is coÌ„maunded by Moses to be stoned to deathe Holy the preaste corrected hys children but slenderlye 1. re 4. and therefore aswell he as they wer punished of our lorde Aâ—onias was but meanelye corrected of his father Dauid 3. Re. 1.2 And therfore he beynge pufte vp in pryde exalted hym selfe sayinge I wyll raygne and be kynge But at length kynge Salomon hys brother caused him to be slayne Dauid approchinge and drawinge nye vnto hys deathe did diligentely instruct Salomon his son the which shoulde raygne after him 1. Para. 28 Tobias the elder taught his sonne from his infancye and tender age to feare oure lorde Tobi. 4.13 to abstayne from all synne and when he beleued that he shoulde dye he holsomely instructed him And likewyse when he shoulde departe and dye The parentes of Sara yonge Tobias wyfe did suffer theyr daughter to departe and to goo wyth her husbande Tobi. 10. Exhortinge her to honoure her father and mother in lawe to loue her husbande to rule well her housholde to gouerne and kepe her house in good order and to shewe her selfe fawtlesse Iob had greate solicitude and care for his children for when they hadde eaten and banketed to gether Iob. 1. dailye he offered for euery one a burnt offerynge leste peraduenture they hadde done some offence The parentes of Susanna beynge iust and godlye people taughte theyr Dani. 13. doughter accordynge to the lawe of Moses When the time drew faste on that Mathaâ—hias should die 1. Mach. 2. he healthsomly instructed his sonnes and animated and encouraged them against the wicked That mother more theÌ„ meruelous the which saw her 7. soÌ„nes suffer and dye in one day 2. Mach. 7. exhorted euery one of them with godly wordes and said I canne not tell howe ye came into my wombe c. ¶ That it is a pearillous thing not to agre to good counsell Ca. lvi THe aungels that appeared vnto Lot gaue hym thys good counsel that he shoulde depart from Sodome and take his sonnes in law wyth hym and that they should not loke behynde them but saue theÌ„ selues in the hyll The which Lot said vnto hys sonnes in lawe that they shoulde bee goyng but hee seemed to them as though he hadde mocked Gen. 19. And therefore Lotte sonnes in lawe that woulde not departe from that wycked
people â—awe that it was long or Moses came down out of the mountaine Exo. 32. they gathered them selues together against Aaron said vnto him Up and make vs Gods to go before vs. The people as though they hadde ben heauy and wearied with much labor Nume 11. began to murmur agaynste oure Lord and the fire of our Lord burnt among them and deuourd the vttermoste part of the hoste And note the peruersity of them that said We remember the fish we did eat in Egipt for noughte And yet they boughte it ful dearly After the terrible death of Chore his fellowes Nume 16. the multitude murmured agaynste Moses and Aaron saying ye haue kylled the people of our Lorde Againe they murmured and chode wyth Moses at the waters of stryfe Nume 20. for faut of drinke and frute Achitophell perceiuinge that they did not after his Counsaile 2. regu 27. was so moued and so impacyent that he departed from Absolon and wente home and hanged hym self Because that the Chyldren spake roughlye wyth those of the tenne tribes 2. regu 20. Israell wente from Dauyd and followed Seba the sonne of Bichri When Tobias spake of the kydde whyche he heard cry Tobi. 2. sayinge Looke that it be not stolne his wife dyd answer him impaciently When Sara Raguels daughter rebuked one of her maydens for her faut Tobi. 3. she answered her again to iniuriously saying God let vs neuer see sonne or daughter of thee more vppon earthe thou kyller of thy husbandes When worde came to Holofernes that the children of Israell prepared them selues to make resistaunce Iudith 5 hee was exceading wroth Iudith 6 When Achtor had left of speaking Holofernes toke sore indignation Because Mardocheus woulde not worship Aman Esther 3. he toke suche indignation and was so impaciente that he seemed to procure not his deathe onlye but the death of al the Iewes Elihu the sonne oâ— Barachel perceiuing that Iobs frendes Iob. 32. the which disputed with him coulde not ouercome him shewed by his wordes many tokens of impaciency Daniell 3. Nabuchodonozor hearynge that Daniels felowes would not worship the golden Image whyche he madeâ— In anger and furiousnes caused theÌ„ to be brought before him When Herode hearde that there was borne a kinge of Iewes Mat. 2. he was troubled and all the citye of Ierusalem with him Our lorde syttinge at meat in Mathews house Luc. 5.15 the scribes and pharises murmured sayinge vnto his disciples Why do ye eate with publicanes and synners And at zacheus thei murmurd sayinge He is gone in to tary with a maÌ„ that is a synner Luc. 19. And the elder brother of the prodigall sonne Luc. 15. hearinge of the feast that his father made for hys yongest brothers cominge home disdained at it and woulde not go in When the chefe preastes and Scribes sawe the wonderfull myracles that he did Mat. 21. and the children cryinge in the temple Hosanna to the sonne of Dauid they disdayned When the pharises saw that thei wer with effectuous wordes confuted by Iohn 9. him that was borne blinde and restored by oure lorde to his sight againe they cursed him and sayed Be thou hys discyple Thou art all together borne in synne dost thou teache vs Ther arose a murmur and a grudge among the Grekes and the Hebrues Act. 6. because their wydowes were dispised in the dayly ministration ¶ Of Pusillanimity Capitu. lxxxiii WHen the Angels had saied vnto Lot Gen. 19. Saue thy selfe in the mountaine he answered I caÌ„not be saued in the mouÌ„tain lest some misfortune fal vpon me yet a worse chaunce chauÌ„ced euen then vnto him When the children of Israell saw the Egiptians behynde theÌ„ Exo. 14. they wer sore afrayde although thei had sene so many miracles done for them by the diuine power of god As Moses was speakynge wyth oure lorde in the mounte Exo. 20. the people hearde the thunder and the noyse of the trumpe and saw the lyghtninge and the mountayne smokinge And beynge very feareful they stode a far of and saied vnto Moses Talke thou with vs and we wil heare but let not god talke with vs least we dye After that the conditions and estate of the lande of promise was reueled opened Nu. 13.14 the which hadde mighty and stronge inhabitours whose cities wer walled exceading great Deu. 1. The whole congregation saied woulde God that we hadde dyed in the lande of Egipt And they sayed agayn The messengers haue feared and discouraged vs. Balaac seynge al that the children of Israel had done vnto the Amorites Nume 22. and that his people were sore a frayde he trustinge more in wordes then in armes sent vnto Balaam to come and cursse the children of Israell Rachab sayed vnto the spies that came from Iosue Iosu. 2. I know that our lorde hath geuen you the land for the feare of you is fallen vpon vs and the inhabitoures of the lande faynt at the presence of you After that Achior had taken of the excoÌ„municate thynges of Ierico the menne of Hay put the chyldren of Israell to flyght Iosu. 7. and slew .36 menne The hartes of the people wer a fraid and melted a waye lyke water And Iosue rent his clothes When the Gabaonites heard what Iosue hadde done vnto Ierico Iosu. 9. and Hai they feared and comminge to Iosue they euen as he woulde made a grement with him Gedeon hauing .3200 menne in his hoost Iudi. 7. made a proclamation that if any dyd dreade or were afrayde he shoulde returne And there departed and retourned of the people .2200 menne When Saul and all Israell hearde the wordes of Goliath the philistine askinge a man to fight with him 1. regu 17. thei were euen a stoned and discouraged Saule gathered all Israell together and came to Gelboe 1. regu 28. And when Saul sawe the host of the philistines he was a frayed and hys hart was sore astonyed 2. Para. 3. Roboam beynge rude and fearfull of hart coulde not resyste the hooste that Ieroboas had gathered against him When all the hoost of the Assirians hearde that Holofernes was headed Iudi. 15 theyr mynde and counsell fell from them and beynge moued and styrde with feare defended theÌ„ selues with their feet It was declared vnto the house of Dauid that the kinge of Israel the king of Siria wer coÌ„federated to fight agaynst Ierusalem Esa. 7. Dauid and hys people hartes were moued as the trees of the wode before the face of the winde And Esay descriuinge the burden of Tyre sayed fearfulnesse the pit and the snare vpon the. Esa. 24. O thou that dwellest on the earth When that Ieremy by goddes commaundemente dyd prophesie that Ierusalem shoulde be taken Iere. 38. The princes and rulers of the people sayed vnto the kinge Sir we beseache you let this maÌ„ be put
and fought saying We fynde no euell in thys man Though a spryte or an angel hath appeared and spoken to him let vs not striue against God When that Paule after the shypwracke that happened in the wynter was warminge him selfe at the fyre ther came a viper out of the heat and caughte him by the hande when the straungers saw that they sayd amōg them selues Act. 28. No doubte this man is a murtherer whome though he haue escaped the sea yet vengaunce suffreth not to lyue Paule shoke of the viper into the fyre and felt no harme But when they sawe no harme come to him they chaunged their mynds and said that he was a God ¶ Of good operations and workes ¶ Capitu. Cxv. OUr Lord put man in the garden of pleasure to dresse and keepe it Gen. 2.3 In the sweate of thy face shalt thou eat thy bread And after that our Lord put hym out of the garden of pleasure to labor the groūd of the whyche he was taken made And so note thou that oure LORD woulde manne to laboure bothe in the state of innocencye and also after hys fal Dauid when other kynges were wonte to goe forthe to battayle 1. regu 11. tarryed at home and in that idlenesse commytted bothe aduoutry and treason Salomon did build our lords house and his owne 3. regu 6.7 But yet note that hee builded our Lordes house fyrste And although the worke was much greater yet he accomplyshed all in a lesse time The workmen wrought industriously 2. Para. 24. and sette vppe the house of our Lorde in as good estate and condytyon as it was before and strengthened it Hezechias the Kynge of Iuda wrought it that was good 2. Para. 31. right and true before our Lord and sought hys God and that did he withal his hart and prospered In the second yere that the children of Iuda wer returned from Babilon 1. Esd. 3. they began to lay the foundation of the temple Iosue the sonne of Iosedech and his brethren ouer loked the work men that laboured 1. Esd. 6. Kinge Darius commaunded that our Lordes house shuld be buylded in Ierusalem that the expences shuld be geuen out of the kinges cofers for hindring of the worke 1. Esd. 4. Note that the workes the whyche the children of transmigration made as concerninge the foundation of the temple and the wals of the city had many hinderers Iona. 3. God beheld the workes of the Niniuites and had mercy on them Mat. 20. Idle workmen if they bee called to wages are reproued Our Lord commendeth the seruāt whiche receiued fiue talentes and vsing them Mat. 25. gaind other fiue And him likewise that receiued two and gayned other two But he reproued hym which receiued one talent and encreased it not but kept and reserued it vnprofitablye The two disciples which constrained our Lord to abide with thē Luc. 24. knew him not by hys woordes as longe as they wer wyth him But by his work of hospitality and breaking of breade they knew him Our Lord approued the woorke of Mary Magdalen when she anoynted him euen as he sat at meat Mar. 14. notwithding that his disciples grudged with in them selues there at Christ dothe declare that chyldren should ensue and follow the laudable workes of theyr fathers Iohn 8. saying If ye bee the children of Abraham do the dedes of Abraham Paule the Apostle doth cōpare good workes to sede 2. Cor. 9. of the whyche a man soweth litle inough and yet reapeth plenteously for he which soweth little shal reape little Paule reprehended the Thessalonians for theyr idlenesse verye sharplye 2. Thes 3. althoughe in a nother place hee commendeth them And saythe that if anye woulde not woorke the same should not eat Tabitha was Christes dysciple the same was full of good workes and almes dedes Act. 9. which she did And therfore when she was dead many were moued to praye Peter for her and he reuiued her againe In all people he that feareth oure Lord Act. 10. and worketh righteousnesse is accepted with him Paule beinge at Corinthe abode with Aquila and Priscilla Act. 18. because he was of the same craft wrought Their craft was to make tentes ¶ Of mans true intention in doing of his workes Cap. Cxvi CAin kild his brother Abel Dauid Goliath Ioab Abner and Amasia Herode Antipas Ihon the Baptist. Agrippa Iames. Peter wyth a word slew Ananias and Saphira but consider their diuers intentions and causes Abraham when our Lord promysed him a childe laughed and Sara laughed within her selfe Gen. 17.18 But Abrahams laughing was commēded and Saras reprehended Pharao sayd I haue sinned Ex. 9. Dauid said I haue trespassed .ii. Re. xii Manasses said the same .2 Par. 33. Iudas saide also that he had synned Math. 27. But the affections and intentions of theyr heartes were verye diuers Moses in a maner spake like words at Raphidi Exo. 17. when the people asked water to drink And at the waters of strife But at the fyrste tyme he was in no doubt as he was in the second As it appeareth by the payn that followed Nume 20. The chyldren of Ruben and Gad and halfe the trybe of Manasses Iosu. 22. builded an aultare but in an nother intent then the children of Israell beleued Our Lord cōmended the good will 2. regu 7. of Dauid intending to buylde hym a temple although he woulde haue no temple of his buildinge Dauid sent not for Urias whyche was in the host to exalte hym 2. regu 11. but to cloke his synne the which he had committed with Urias wife Iudith decketh her self very curyously but all that deckinge came not of voluptuousnesse Iudi. 10. but of vertue to deliuer the people of God oute of the handes of theyr most enemy That Mardocheus wold not worshyp Aman Esth. 3. nor bowe bys knee vnto hym he did it not vpon any disobedyence or contempt but that he woulde not as hee saythe geue the honoure due vnto God to anye mortall creature Herode said vnto the wisemen that when they had found the childe Math. 2. they should send hym word that he might worshyppe hym also But hee intended one thynge and pretended an other Our Lord charged the two blynde men to whome he restored their sight that no man shoulde know of it mat 9. Yet there followeth that they spreade abrode hys name in al the land wtthout the reproch of any transgression Our Lord dothe adde notablye the end and intention whych euery man ought to haue doyng wel or suffryng euill Blessed are ye Mat. 5.10.19 when mē reuile you c. For mee or for my names sake And who soeuer shal geue a cup of colde water c. Or who so leaueth hys house c. Our Lord commaunded that men should geue almes and faste Mat. 6. but not for the loue and fauour
the wrathe anger of our Lord. Proud Aman cald his frendes vnto him Esth. 5. and told them of the glorye of his richesse and of the multitude of his children and with what glory the king had exalted him aboue all other his princes and seruauntes When Iobs thre frendes hard of al the trouble Iob. 2.6 that had happened vnto him they came euerye one from hys own place to viset and to cōfort him Yet afterwardes he saide of these ye go about to subuert your frend The wicked traytor Alchimus stirred vp king Demetrius against Iudas Machabeus 1. Mach. 7. of whome he said vnto the king Iudas and hys brethren haue slain thy frendes King Alexander sent a letter to Ionathas with these woordes 1. Mach. 10 we haue hard of thee that thou art a myghtye and a valiaunt man and meete to be our frend Ionathas toke gold and syluer and dyuers presentes and gaue it to the king 1. Mach. 11. and found him gratious and he made him the head and prynce of all hys frendes Ionathas seing that the time was mete for him ◠Mach. 12. chose certayne men and sent them vnto Rome for to stablisse and renue amite and frendeship wyth them After that Alexander hadde slayne Demetrius 1. Mach. 10. he sente Ambasadors to Ptolome the kynge of Egypte that they might haue amite and frendship to gether and he woulde geue hym hys daughter to wife For the olde amite that certen men whiche stode by hadde to Eleazarus they brought such fleshe as might be lawefully eaten 2. Mach. 6. and willed hym to make a coūtenaunce as thoughe he had eaten of the fleshe of the sacrifice for so he might haue bene delyuered from deathe Lisias perceuinge that the Iewes beinge defended by the healpe of Almightie god 2. Mach. 11. were inuincible sente them woorde and promysed that he woulde make the king their frende Our lorde cōmended the vniust steward Luke 16. because he had done wisely in gettinge of frendes with his masters monye concludinge thereby that we shuld make those men oure frendes that may at the time and hour of death receiue vs into the euerlastinge habitations Our Lorde putteth an example by him that goeth to his frende at midnight Luke 11. to aske somwhat of him At the time of our Lordes passion Luke 23. Herode Pilate wer made frendes The cytie of Ephesus beynge moued and troubled Act. 19. certaine of the chefe of Asia whiche were Paules frendes sent vnto him desiring him that he woulde not prease into the commen hall Of enmite and hatred Capi. xlvii AFter the trespasse synne of our first parentes Gen. 3. by and by god put enmite betwene the serpent the woman betwene bothe their seedes The hearde men Gerare did striue with Isaacs heardmen for a well Gen. 26. that they digged And therfore Isaac calde it the well of enemies And Esau hated Iacob continually because of the blessing that his father blessed him withal Gen. 27 And he saide in his harte The daies of my fathers sorow are at hand and I wil slay my brother Iacob Iacob said to Simeon and Leui ye haue troubled me Gen. 34. and haue made me odious to the Cananite and the Pheresite thinhabitors of the land When Iosephes brethren sawe that theyr father loued him more thā al his brethren Gen. 27. they hated hym nor coulde not speake peaceablye vnto hym The Egiptians hated the children of Israel Exo. 1. and did so mock them and punished them that their lyfe was bitter vnto them And our Lorde spake vnto Moses saying Num. 25. Let the Medianites feele that ye be their enemies and smite them for they haue done againste you lyke enemies and haue deceitfulli begiled you by the Idoll Pheor Adonizedech kinge of Ierusalem other iiii kinges Iosu. 10. besieged Gabaon because that the Gabanites fled and were gone to Iosua and to the chyldren of Israell and had made peace with them The Elders of Gaba wente to fet Iephthe Iudi. 11. and said vnto him come and be our captaine to whome he answered dyd not ye hate me and expell me out of my fathers house How happeneth it then that you come vnto me nowe in tyme of necessitie and tribulation Dalida wept before Sampson and complained saying Iudi. 14. thou hatest me and louest me not and therfore thou wylt not declare and tell me the ryddle Saule perceyuing that the people set muche by Dauid 1. regu 18. and that he shewed him selfe wyse and bolde in all thynges became alwaye Dauyds enemy The two theues that slewe Isboseth sayed vnto Dauid 2. regu 4. lo here is the head of Sauls sonne thy enemy But yet they were but euyll rewarded for their laboure When Thoi king of Hemath hard that Dauid hadde smitten and ouerethrowen Adadezer his enemy 2. regu 8. he sent Ioram his sonne to thanke him and to intreate him for peace After that Ammon Dauids sonne had forced Thamar Absolons sister 2. regu 13. he hated her exceadingly so that the hate wherewyth he hated her was greater then the loue wherewyth he before loued her After that Salomon was gon from god throughe synne 3. regu 11. oure lorde styrred vp three aduersaries vnto Salomon that is hadde ad the Edomite Rason the sonne of Heliada and Ieroboam his seruaunt 3. reg 18.18 Wycked Iezabel persecuted Helias the prophete for the deathe of Baals prophetes the whiche he caused to be slayne When that Helias reproued Achab for the vniust deathe of Naboth 3. regu 21. Achab sayed vnto Helias hast thou founde me thyne enemye He answered I haue founde the. Achab sayed vnto Iosaphat kinge of Iuda There is yet one man of our lordes prophetes Micheas the sonne of Ierala 3. regu 22 by whō we maye ask coūsel of the lord but I hate hī for he doth not prophecie good vnto me but euil The aduersaries of Iuda and Beniamin hard that the children of captiuitie buylded the temple vnto our◠lorde god of Israel 1. Esd. 4. And they woulde not buylde with them Then Raguel and Anna his wife praysed oure lorde Tobi. 8. because he hadde delte mercifully wythe them and had put away from them the enemy that persecuted them After that Holofernes headde was smitten of Iudi. 13. and that euery man now helde his peace Iudith sayd O praise ye the lorde our god for he hathe not dispised nor forsaken theim that put their trust in him and in my hande he hath slaine the enemy of his people with that she toke forth the heade of Holofernes and shewed it them Esther complayninge of proude Aman sayd vnto Ahasnerus Esth. 7. Our enemy aduersary is this wicked Aman. It is thus written of Iudas machabeus His enemies fled for feare 1. Mach. 3. and all the workers of vngodlynes were put to
thee Exodi 32. that thou haste brought so great a sin vpon them as though he wold say the prelate should sin greatly against his subiects that would incline to theyr euil wyll and purposes Elye corrected hys sonnes but slenderlye the whyche thynge dyspleased oure Lorde verye sore 1. regu 2. and yet wyth wordes he corrected and reprehended them but he did it but softely and not profitably nor sharply what shall we then say of those that fauour men in mischefe or of those that geue men an occasion of euyll The whole wayt of the battayle tourned vppon Saule and so he fell and was slayne i. regu 31. For Dauids synne that he comitted wheÌ„ he nuÌ„bred his people 2. reg 24. there dyed of the people seuenty thousande men Because Roboam wold ouerpresse and charge his people 3. regu 12. he lost the greatest parte of them Ieroboam gaue an occasion to the people to departe leaue God 3. regum 12. when he made calues of golde and coÌ„maunded the people to adore worship them Subiectes by the occasion of euyll prelates and rulers are at some times temporallye punished 3. regu 18. Wherevpon Helias saied to Achab. Thou troublest al Israel and thy fathers house The kinge of Siria commaunded the captaines of his Charettes 3. reg 22. thus Fight neyther with small nor great saue only against the kyng of Israel And that was only against that most wicked Achab. Manasses made Iuda and the inhabiters of Ierusalem to erre 2. Para. 33. and to do worse then the Heathen whome our Lord destroyed before the chyldren of Israel Esay hathe exprest the synnes and fautes of the euel rulers and prelates that dwelt in Ierusalem esa i. saying Thy princes are wicked and companyons of theues They loue gyftes all together and gape for rewardes And of Nabuchodonozor a verye euel prynce and gouernour esa 14. it is sayd Thou hast wasted thy lande and destroyed thy people Sobna the ruler of the temple beleued that he should lyue long in Ierusalem and when he shoulde dye to be honourably buried But oure Lorde sayde thus vnto hym What hast thou to do here and whome hast thou here And a non after there foloweth I wil dryue the from thy station and dwellynge place Esa. 22. And hee semeth to be of those the whiche sayed a lytle before Let vs eate and drynke for to morow we shal dye Sedechias sayed vnto hys estates that desyred the death of Ieremy Iere. 38. Lo he is in youre handes for the kynge maye denye you nothinge Our Lorde by his prophet Ezechiel speaketh agaynst euyll prophetes and prelates Ezechi 13. Ye ascended not against them neyther made you a wall for the house of Israell that ye maye abyde the better in the daye of our Lord. Our lord most terribly doth threaten euil and naughty prelates by his prophet Ezechiell sayinge Wo be vnto you shepheardes of Israell that fede your selues shoulde not the shepheardes fede the flockes By and by he discryueth the dedes of yll pastors Ye haue eaten vp the mylke Ezech. 34. ye haue clothed you with the woll the best fed haue ye slayne The sicke haue ye not healed the broken haue ye not bound When the head preaste sawe that the Apostles dyd many sygnes and wonders Act. 5. he rose vp and al they that were with him and layed handes on the Apostles and put them into the common prison But the Aungel of oure lorde by nyghte broughte them forthe Then wente the Magistrates with ministers and broughte them agayne And after manye and longe counsailes thei calde the Apostles vnto them beate them and coÌ„maunded that they shoulde not speake in the name of Iesu. The Iewes caughte Steuen and brought him to the counsell and wheÌ„ the chefe preastes hadde obiected and layed many thynges vnto hym Act. 6.7 then sayed they is it euen so When he hadde truly faithfully defended him selfe and sharply reproued them they stoned him to death Certaine menne hauinge a damsel whome Paule delyuered of a spryte whyche Prophesied Act. 16. accused hym in suche wyse and Silas hys companion that they troubled all the cytye The Magistrates and Iudges with out any probation there of coÌ„maunded theÌ„ to be beaten and to be thruste into the hard and inner prison When Paule was broughte into the counsell he beganne to speake resonablye but euen at the fyrst worde that Paule spake Act. 23. the hye preaste coÌ„maunded hym to be smytten Then sayed Paul God shall smyte the thou paynted wall Syttest thou and iudgest mee after the lawe and commaundest me to be smitten contrarye to the lawe Paule had euyll and wycked Iudges Felyx and Festus Act. 25. the whyche would please and gratify the Iewes and therefore Paule was constrayned to appeale ¶ Of ambitious persons Capitu. Ciii MAry and Aaron spake against Moses Nume 12. and sayed hathe not our Lorde spoken also by vs But these wordes semed ambitiously to desyre the leadinge of the people Chore and his company desyringe to come to the gouernaunce of the people condemned Moses and Aaron and accused them sayinge It is sufficient for vs Nume 16. seynge all the multitude is holy and that our lorde is amonge them Why heue ye youre selues vp aboue the congregation and people of oure Lorde Abimelech Gedeons sonne did craftely procure by his mothers frendes that he was chosen kinge Iudi. 9. but yet afterwards it chaunced very vnluckely vnto them bothe The parable that Ionathas propounded how that the olyue vyne and figge tre wold not take the superiority and kingdome vpon them Iudi. 9. and that the fyrre bushe a small and a vile tree presumed to vsurpe the rule there of maye be aptlye ascryued vnto those whiche are ambitious Gad the son of Obed saied wold God this people were vnder my hand Iudi. 9. the I myght take Abimelech out of the way Absolon when meÌ„ came to the king for iudgement 2. regu 15 flatteringlye backbytingly and ambitiouslye sayde Thy wordes and matter seme to me to be good and iust but there is no man deputed of the king to hear the. Oh that I were made iudge in the land 2. re 17.18 But note what chanced vnto him afterwards Adonias the sonne of Hagith exalted him self 3. regum 1. saying I wyl raygne I wyl be king Achias the Selonite saide vnto Ieroboam Raigne according to al that thy soule desireth 3. regu 11. But after that he had obtained the kingdom vpon x. tribes he vsed hym self most wyckedly Zambry perceiuinge that Hela the kyng of Israel hys Lorde was dronken 3. reg 16. smote hym and kylled him And he raign vii daies only after him Athalia the mother of kinge Ochozias saw that her sonne was dead she had such an ambitious and burnyng â—ust to rule 4. reg 11. that she destroyed all the kinges seede Ioas
excepted the whiâ—he by Ochozias syster was taken away by stealth Sellum the sonne of Iabes conspired against Zacharias the king of Israel his master 4. regu 15 and slue him and he raigned a month in Samaria Nabuchodonozor the kynge of the Assirians Iudith 3. called vnto him hys Captains and men of war and told them hys thoughte and that hys purpose was to bryng the hole earthe vnder his dominion Ambitious and proud menne are more troubled with a few that excell them Esther 5. or that wil not obey them then they reioyce of many that followe theÌ„ and obey them For proud Aman the which was next vnto the kyng had many children and greate richesse estemed hym self to haue nothynge as longe as he sawe Mardocheus before the kinges gate When Seron hard say that Iudas had gathered the congregatyon and church of the faythful 1. macha 3. he sayd I wyl get me a name and a prayse thorowe out all the realme And I will fyghte and ouercome Iudas And yet Iudas sone ouercame him Alchinus that wold haue bene hye priest 1. Mac. 7 and other wicked and vngodly men of Israel came to king Demetrius saying vnto him Iudas and hys brethren haue slain and destroied thy frendes and hathe dryuen vs oute of our owne land Ptolomeus the king of Egipt weÌ„t about through disceit to obtaine and destroy Alexanders kingdom 1. macha 11 And at leÌ„gth Alexander being ouerthrowne and chased into Araby he obtaind it And zabdiel the Arabian smote of Alexanders head And sent it vnto Ptolomy the which had but litle ioy ther of For the third day after dyed kyng Ptolomy him self Ptolomy the sonne of Abobus had aboundaunce of siluer and gold 1. Mach. 16. and waxed proud and stately in his mind and thoughte to conquere the lande And by that occasyon traiterously he slue Simon the hie Priest and hys two sonnes Iason aboue all other coueted most ambitiouslye to be the hie priest And for that he came to kinge Antiochus the noble and promised him 360. talentes of Syluer And manye other thinges 2. macha 4 whych when the kynge had graunted him he had the vse therof but for a small time For Menelaus whome he sent to Antiochus gat the priesthode and was sone discharged therof and his brother Lysimachus came and was placed in hys stead When Simon saw that throughe laying on of the Apostles handes Act. 8. the holy ghost was geuen he offred them mony saying Geue me also thys power that on whom so euer I put my haÌ„des he may receiue that holy gost But Peter said vnto him Thy mony pearish with thee ¶ Of the deuels temptation Ca. Ciiii. THe serpent being crafty to teÌ„pt ye the deuel in the serpent approched the feblest part of maÌ„kinde and the most prompest to sinne for hee tempted not Adam firste Gene. 3. but Eue. And began searchynge a far of for he counseld them not euen sodenly to eate of the forbidden frute And he denyed that there should follow any paine for the transgressyon of the commaundemente Yea he affyrmde that great goodnesse shoulde followe that only eating of the apple The lying spirite doth oftentimes lie in his temptation Gene. 3. for he sayd vnto Eue ye shall not dye the deathe And he sayde vnto our Sauior when he shewed hym all the kyngdomes of the worlde Luc. 4. They are deliuered vnto me and to whome I wil I geue theÌ„ And furthermore he alledgeth holye scripture peruersly and falsly saying vnto the LORDE of aungelles He hathe geuen hys aungels charge ouer thee Math. 4. And Sathan stode vp agaynste Israel and prouoked Dauid to nombre Israel 1. Para. 21. Sathan required of our Lord that Iob might be touched in hys goodes Iob. 1.2 children and body Wherin maye be noted the subtelty malignity infirmity of our ennemy It is not expedient to dysclose our temptations to any such man whom we beleue to haue bene tempted with like sinne But rather to some dyscreat and holy man that would comfort vs in goodnesse Wherfore wheÌ„ the two old men did reuele and open their concupiscence one to a nother Dani. 23. they were prouoked to that that was worse The Lordes temptation doth teach vs to ouercome al kyndes of temptation Luc. 4. He was tempted in thre things vnto the which all other temptatioÌ„s may be reduced And note that he ouercame not temptation by power but by scripture Our Lord his passion beyng euen at hand Luc. 22. said to Simon Peter SathaÌ„ hathe desired to sifte you as it were wheat But I haue prayed for thee that thy Faithe faile not And when thou art conuerted strength thy brethren Luc. 13. The deuil put into the hart of Iudas to betray our Lord Iesus Christ. Peter said to Ananias Act. 5. howe is it the Sathan hathe filled thine harte that thou shouldest lie vnto the holy ghost and keepe away parte of the pryce of the land ¶ Of synne in generall and of diuers paines which follow sinne Ca. Cv. THat sinne doth cause shamfastnesse in man it is euident for when our first parentes in the state of innocencye were bare Gene. 3. they were not ashamed but after they had trespassed by and by they made them selues aprons Sinne dothe defame a sinner And therfore Adam after that he had trespassed Gene. 3. thought to haue hid him selfe from the presence of our Lord. Sin likewise maketh a man fearful for after the Adam had sinned Gene. 3. he sayd I was afraide because I was naked and hid my self The enormity of sinne dothe crye to the eares of our Lord for veÌ„gance Gene. 4. As the voyce of thy brothers bloude And in a nother place The cry of the Sodomites At some tymes our Lord dothe punyshe synne wyth temporal payne and punyshmente As it is euydent in Adam and Eue. Ge. 3.4.19 In Cain In the Sodomytes And often in the chyldren of Israell And Christ sayd Synne no more Ihon. 5. least a worse thynge happen vnto thee Pharao knowledged and confest that he was scourged and punished of our Lord for synne Exo. 10. saying I haue sinned against our Lord and agaynst you The children of Israel did euyll in the syght of our Lord. And oure Lord was angry Iudith 2. deliuered them into the handes of raueners that toke spoyled them and sold them into the haÌ„ds of theyr enemyes Synne doth not suffer the sinner to be in quiet 2. reg 24. For Dauids harte smote hym after that he hadde nombred the people Eccle. 47. Synne did infatuate Salomon the wyse and stayned hys honoure and worshyp After that Ioram the kinge of Iuda began to walk in the wicked wais and steps of the kinges of Israell 4. reg 8. Edom went from him wold not pay hym the accustomed tribute The chyldren of Israell left the coÌ„maundements of