father had better hope and comforte then he had before and declaring the great desyre of his minde with teares and weping sayed I beleue lorde and yf my belefe be vnperfite healpe thou my weakenesse ¶ When Iesus sawe that the people came â—unnyng together vnto him he rebuked the soule spirite saying vnto hym Thou dumme and deafe spirite I charge the cum oute of him and enter no more into hym And the spirite when he had cryed and rent hym soore came out of hym and he was as one that had beeâ— deade in somuche that many saied he is deade But Iesus caught his hande and lift him vp and he rose And when he was cum in to the house his disciples asked him secretly why could not we caste him out And he saied vnto them this kynde can cum forth by nothyng but by prayer and fastyng In the meane season the people came runnyng together on euery syde to see this sight When Iesus sawe they were come for his wyll was to haue them all to bee witnesses of the miracle then putte he furthe that almyghtie voyce wherwith he calletth to life again when it pleaseth him euen the dead He threatned the foule spirite to handle hym accordyngly vnlesse he would incontinente departe saying Thou deafe and dumme spirite I charge the to gette the out of the man and that thou neuer from henceforthe enter into him again Iesus is in a fume with the spirite because he may shewe mercye vpon the man geuyng vs a lesson what we ought to doe in healyng of sinners A man must so rebuke vice that he may seme to loue the soule health of the person And because we should knowe that man laboureth speaketh in vayne vnlesse Iesus speake with hym by his secrete vertue and power the disciples commaunded the spirite to go out but all was in vayne because Iesus was awaye He is awaye so oft as our fayth is colde and wauering by the which fayth his wyll is that we obtayne all thynges What was doen at the emperious voyce of Iesu By and by the spirite went out But to the entent it should appeare that he wente out agaynste his wyll he cryed and vexed the sely wretche very sore at his departure For nowe laye he vpon the grounde for dead in somuche that many sayed he was dead in dede Thou seest here a figure of a peniteÌ„t person and him who turneth from great and accustomed synnes to amendemente Nowe hathe the hatred of synne delyuered hym from synne howbeit he is at the next doore to desperaâ—ion whoso both knowleageth his owne filthinesse also hath gods iustice in remembraunce But yet lyeth he happily deade that is deade to synne For then remaineth there nothyng elles but that he begyn to lyue agayne to righteousenesse And this benefyte geueth also our most bounteous sauioure Iesus without whome there is no safetie He caught the felowe by the hande and lifted hym vp as he laye in this traunce and furthwith the same who before seemed deade recouered hys former strengthe and throughe the benefite of Christe rose vp stronge and lustie But vnlesse Iesu had nowe geuen hym newe grace to leade a godlye lyfe it had been to no purpose that he was deliuered from the dyuell at the contemplacion of his fathers fayth Nowe heareth this deafe manne whiche before had his eares stopped with worldely lustes agaynst the doctryne and woorde of the gospell Nowe speaketh this dumme felowe who before was tongue tyed speachelesse by reasoÌ„ of the passions and wilfull pangues of the fleshe Nowe is the same at rest and quiet who before styred with the furious rages sumtime of sensualitie and pleasure of the body sumtime of ambicion â–ª desire of worldly aduauÌ„cemeÌ„t others whiles of wrath nowe of enuy nowe then of couetousnesse was as it had been rauished and caryed by the constraynte of sum vncleane and violente spiriâ—e All these thinges saw the Apostles and saied nere a worde for that they durst not interupt the lorde The Scribes also helde their peace being now assured by the thing selfe howe it was not by reason the name of Iesu was vneffectuall and vertulesse that this felowe was no sooner ryd of the spirite but for the weakenes of fayth And as it chaunced vnto this yonge manne bodely so chaunced it to the Pharise is spiritually They were not healed of their sinnes bicause they beleued not the woorde by the onelye vâ—rtue wherof they mighte haue been healed But when Iesus was cum into the house the disciples now beyng with him alone asked him what was the cause why they could not cast out the deuyl syth they had afore cast out so many in his name For they were disquieted in mynde with a certayne humayne carefulnes leste they had vnwares offended the Lorde and by that meanes loste the power whiche he once gaue them to worke miracles Iesus who is not wont to take awaye agayne what he hath once geuen but to encreace the same yet wyll not he haue his gyftes negligently kepte and after a rechelesse sorâ—e and nowe hath he sufficiently declared in the father of hym that was healed how weaknesse of fayth was the only impediment why the deuyl wente not forthe the whiche faythe was not as yet so strong in the disciples as it ought of congruence to haue been Iesus I saye aunswered that there was a certayne speciall kinde of dyuels which coulde not otherwyse be expelled then by praier and fastyng For these be the two engynes which are of moste force agaynst wicked spirites For by prayer the strength of fayth is renued and quickned as it chaunced vnto the yonge mannes father who sayed Lorde helpe my vnbeliefe And by fasting bycause it contayneth a certaine forbeatyng of all carnall pleasures the rebellion of the fleshe is subdued He muste haue a cleane spirite himselfe whoso goeth about to caste out vncleane spirites of other Iesus and the thre disciples were newly retourned from prayer The reste of them kepte compaynie with the multitude and dyd neyther faste ne praye and for that cause were not able ynoughe to caste out a dyuell whiche had so faste holde and was so familiar The more the trust of our selues encreaseth in vs the more the power to worke miracles decreaseth The more the power of the fleshe is mortified in vs the stronger is the holy goste by whose onely power soule spirites are expelled We muste therfore ofte tymes praye that the strength of fayth may in vs be encreased we muste also mortifie our fleshe continually to th entent that the spirite of Iesu Christe may liue in vs. To be shorte Christe doethe nowe prepare his disciples againste that houre when they shall be commaunded to watche and praye leste they fal into temptacion But because they toke a nappe after supper the weake fleshe had the vpper hande ¶ And they departed thence toke their iourney thorow Galile and he would not that any man should know
his haÌ„des vnto heaueÌ„ beseching his father that he would vouchesafe that this matter of sauing mankinde which he toke in hande might be happy and fortunate to all men that he would commend and set forth his sonne vnto the world with his fatherly auctoritie and lest Iohns auctoritie should be of smal estimacioÌ„ albeit this for the time was profitable for the grosse rude people And behold the father did manyfestly auctorise his soÌ„ne in the presence of suche a multitude of people The heauens opened and shewed furthe a certayne wonderful light Iohn also sawe the heauenly spirite in the visible lykenes of a doue to descende out of heauen and to sytte vpon his holy head from thence came the voyce of the father soundyng to all mennes eares saying this is my derely beloued sonne the delight of my mynde in whoÌ„ I haue a singuler pleasure heare hym the expouÌ„der of my mynde and the distributer of my goodnes towardes you And because at that time Iesus was vnknowen to the multitude which had a great opinion of Iohn lest the voyce whiche cuÌ„ming froÌ„ aboue poynted no man certaynely to theyr vnderstandyng should be thoughte to perteine vnto Iohn therefore there was added a visible signe of the heaueÌ„ly doue whiche sitting vpon Christes head showed nowe playnely vnto al meÌ„ as a man would poynte with his fynger to whome that voyce dyd perteine With the whiche signe also Iohn hymselfe was playnely and certaynly monished that he was the sonne of God And after he did openly testifye that this sygne and token was promysed him before of the father to the intente that in suche a multitude of people he might certeynlye knowe him that afterwarde should baptyse all men in the spirite and fyer And with these ceremonyes the Lorde Iesus was declared and consecrated oure mayster whose diuinitie and heauenly doctrine who so wyll followe he shall be truly blessed The .iiii. Chapter ¶ Then was Iesus led of the spirite into wyldernes to be tempted of the Deuyll And whan he had fasted forty dayes and forty nyghtes he was at the last an hungred And whaÌ„ the â—emptoure came to hym he sayd If thou he the sonne of God commaunde that these stones be made bread But he aunswered and sayde It is written MaÌ„ shal not lyue by bread onely but by euery worde that procedeth out of the mouth of God ANd yet these entries beginninges made he lepeth not furth byanby to preache although auctoritie wer giueÌ„ him from heauen but sodenly he withdraweth himself froÌ„ the sight of the people into wildernes because that departure froÌ„ the coÌ„pany of people both increaseth auctoritie and prouoketh a desyre Now the spirite that is the prouoker of the yll doeth specyally assaulte them which leauyng the desyres of the world do fall into meditacion of the pure and heauenly life Therfore Iesus secretly teachyng vs thesame goeth into wyldernes And this he doeth not by the mocion or instigacion of any maÌ„ but moued of his own spirite For he that is baptised hath now cast of carnall affeccions being made spiritual by regeneracion is led and moued by the couÌ„sell of the holy ghost he remembreth not Bethleem he retourneth not to Nazareth he goeth not again to his mother or to his foster father but by the vehemeÌ„cy and rauishing of the spirite he goeth into deserte folowyng the exauÌ„ple of the olde prophetes Solytarines doeth quicken make lusty the mynde of a Christian souldier some tyme it is more sure for a man to commit himself to the wylde beastes than to men Baptisme taketh awaye all synnes of the former lyfe but for all that no man is sure from the assaultes of Sathan whiche lyueth sluggyshly But yet the naughty desyres endeuour to spryng agayne chiefely in them that be rude and young and lately entered and cummen to Christ. And that frowarde Satan enuying as muche mannes saluacion as Christe is desyrouse of the same styrreth and prouoketh him with merueylouse engins and sleyghtes to fall awaye and departe insomuche that he possesseth and vseth him that is relapsed with more tyranny then he dyd possesse and vse hym whan he had him before Agaynste these perilles and daungers Christe sheweth chiefelye three remedies often and harty prayers forsakyng of company auoyding of excesse and kepyng abstinence not without diligent meditacion of holye scriptures for otherwyse there maye be daunger in ydle solytarines And because the deuill goeth about to deceyue them chiefly whiche do endeuour to attaine vnto this streyght and Angelicall lyfe Christe hymselfe lyke a good captayne encounteryng with him hath taught his champions by what meanes that maliciouse and crafty olde syre maye be ouercome howe lytle he can do against them that be sober and vigilant and with all their harte do leane to the godly scriptures And this also the Lorde Iesus in the meane tyme wente aboute that this misterie mighte by litle and litle appere vnto the worlde after suche sorte that Sathan whiche desyred for none other purpose to knowe certaynly whether he were the sonne of God whome he heard that the father did honour with this tytle and name but to lette the redempcion of mankynde might bee holden in suche doubte that he might not certeynlye knowe this to be Messias before he sawe his owne tyranny vtterly subuerted ouerthrowen Christ also putteth vs in remembraunce of this that no manne is mete to preache the gospell but he that hath tryed hymselfe and is fyrme and strong agaynst worldly desyres agaynst excesse and her companions that is bodily luste ambicion auarice and suche lyke diseases of the minde wherewith oure enemye beateth and shaketh the myndes of the symple and weake as it were with most violent engyns of warre Therefore whan Christ had fasted fortye dayes folowyng Hely and Moyses whiche thing was in suche wyse aboue mannes power that yet the Iewes beleued that it was doen of men at laste to shewe a manifeste token of mannes imbecillitie in himselfe he made no couÌ„sayle but shewed playne signes that he felte the tediousnes of hungre For after the common nature of mannes bodye the lacke of humour greued and payned the stomacke Whiche thyng whan the crafty temptoure perceyued â–ª thynkyng hym to be nothyng but a man althoughe in dede a notable and a wonderfull man he casteth his hooke bayted with the enticement of vayne glory for therwith chiefly they be taken whiche seme to endeuour to the hyest perfeccion If thou bee the sonne of God ê™ he what nedest thou to be greued and piened for hungre Commaund rather these stones to be turned into bread for thy behoufe Thou canste perfourme thy desyre with a becke Ye maie well know of olde that this is thesame lyer in wayte or teptour whiche did entice that firste Adam into the snares of death by the vayte or trayne of gluttony But Christ the latter Adam beyng in spirite heauenly so auoided with his wordes this craftie
froÌ„ Endor And whan he thyther wente his disciples folowed hym of whome by this tyme there was a great noÌ„bre and besides theÌ„ there weÌ„t also a great multitude of the common people of all sortes and degrees And whaÌ„ the Lord was now not ferre from the gate of the citie beholde an occasion of an other newe miracle There came a dead corpse carried on meÌ„nes backes towardes buriâ—ng with a great coumpanye of people And a doulful matier it was first because it was a very young man that was dead and taken froÌ„ his lyfe euen in the very floure of his age secondarily because it was the onely sonne of a wedowe who beeyng depriued of the coumforte of an housebande had sette all the hope and staye of her lyfe in the same her soonne This wedow therfore testified the woful tormenting of her hert both with weping teares and also with many piteous woordes of lamentacion suche as extreme raging dolour doth commonly putte in folkes myndes to speake The great wailyng of the wedowe together with the vnripe deathe of the yong strieplyng caused the reste of the coumpanye also to wepe as many as for kyndenes and bonde of neighbourhode went folowyng the corpse Whan the Lorde Iesus beeyng mostefull of mercie and pitie had seen this sight he toke compassion on the wedowe and shewed himself an effectuall comforter vnto her that had none els to bee hir comforter he holpe her bothe in wordes and also in dede WomaÌ„ saith he make no more weping And whan he had so said he came vnto the biere wheron the dead maÌ„ was carried and put his hand to it And immediatly they whiche carryed the corpse stayed Here bothe coumpanies earnestly herkenyng aswell they that accoumpanyed the wedowe as also they that came with the Lord Iesus turnyng to the yong maÌ„ that was dead young man ê™ he I saie vnto thee Arise At this worde immediatly the yong maÌ„ euen as it had been one newly awakened reysed out of his slepe sate vpright on the biere and to the entent that it should be the more euideÌ„t a token that his life was restored hym he begoonne to speake And this speakyng dyd ferthermore also declare the lustye freashenesse and heartynesse of spirite in him And when he had now lept doun from the biere and cleuyng faste vnto Iesus by whom he perceiued that his lyfe had been restored vnto him was stil rendryng thankes for it the Lorde deliuered hym vnto his mother to haue him home with her goyng now on his own feete whom she had caused after he was dead to be carryed towardes burâ—yng on fower mennes shoulders And thus truely was the matier doen as touching the story but not without a significacion of ghostly doctrine The wedow beyng a mother represeÌ„teth the churche Forsooth euen this is thesame wedow whoÌ„ the prophete Esaye doeth coÌ„forte saiyng Be glad thou barain that bringest not foorth chyldren reioyce thou the art nothyng towardes bearyng for mo are the children of the forsaken than of her that hath an husbande The synagogue trusteth altogether in her spouse Moses it maketh great vauntes of the children of AbrahaÌ„ beyng equall in noumber to the sande that lieth on the sea shore The churche after the estimacion of the worlde semeth destitute of her spouse who hath conueyed hymselfe vp into heauen at the first she semed barain and without hope of any issue or successioÌ„ the Iewes also the prices of this world labouryng that al memorie of Iesus whom they supposed to be vtterly destroyed and dead might vtterly be takeÌ„ away and abolished for euer This wedow doth daily bring forth not children of this world but childreÌ„ of the lyght neyther dooeth she bryng them foorth to Moses who taught thinges earthly but vnto Christ who teacheth and also promiseth thinges heauenly She bryngeth them foorth not to death but to immortalitie She groneth daily in bringing forth childreÌ„ yet vnshapen vnperfite vntil thei haue receiued the spirite of the gospel and vntil Christ be brought to perfite shape in theÌ„ A true mother she is singularly doth she loue her childreÌ„ whoÌ„ with gret carefulnesse she frameth and trayneth vntill they may growe to full age and may bee brought vp to the strength of perfite men For loue and deuocion towardes god also hath it infaÌ„cie it hath it cumming forward in growthe of age That if at any tyme it fortune any of her chyldren to dye she wepeth and can not be coumforted nor wepeth any lesse for hym then if she had had none but hym alone whom she loste Innocencie whiche is geuen through euangelical fayth is life and sinne is death We see with howe great affeccion mothers do mourne for the bodily corpses of their children but muche more tenderly doeth the churche wepe and waill for one that after baptisme is fallen again to any deadly synne and more pensife she is for the death of one sinner theÌ„ the Synagogue is glad of fourescore and nynetene ryghteous Well than forth is the dead maÌ„ borne of foure carriers that is to say of the inordinate desires of this worlde which hauing the dead corpse on theyr shoulders benng now destitute of the holy ghost lackyng now all felyng of himself beyng now dead aslepe in his ownnaughty vices carrye hym down streighte to the graue of euerlastyng despaire The church ferthermore hath gates by which she casteth out dead folkes lest that with the stinkyng of the dead corpse the others also that are yet whole maye bee infected She hathe other gates also by whiche to receiue in suche as are called to life agayn of the Lorde As she bringeth not foorth into life but by the spirite of Christe so doeth she not receiue into life again but whom Christ doeth call backe again The porters that carry the dead neuer stop ne stay vntill they cum euen to the graue For whoso hath made al his restyng place here in this worlde whoso hath once let himself at large to be ledde with sinfull affeccions ceasseth not with damnable proceding to fail coÌ„tinually into wurse wurse vntill he cum to the mayne depth of euils and is deliuered to his lustes abominable And all the while naught doeth the mother but wepe yea and all the coumpanye of his couÌ„treimen do wepe sorowyng that the deade is cast out whom they wishe to returne to life again And these verilye are the prayers of our mother the churche these been her teares and these are the sighes and grouynges of the godly persones makyng mone and sorowe for the death of a synner This young strieplyng was dead not beeyng yet confirmed with the spirite of the ghospel and so muche the more worthye of mercie because that thesame maÌ„ whoÌ„ they had hoped trusted should through the spirite of Christ haue prospered and growen foreward vnto the highest degree of euangelical godlynesse hym they see now past life and void of any spirite and by most merciles
drinkyng of my bloude bringeth this thyng to passe And therefore my flesh is truelye meate whyche geueth immortalitie and my bloude is truely drynke which doeth procure eternal life not only to the body but to the whole man both bodye and soule And as the lyfe of the bodye whiche is nourished with dayly sustenaunce lest it shoulde perishe before the tyme is common to all the membres of the body by reason of the indiuisible felowshippe that all the partes of the bodye hathe togetherwardes in so muche that though the membres of the bodye be diuerse and sundrye yet there is but one bodye because that one soule geueth lyfe to euerye parte of the bodye so he that eateth my fleshe and drynketh my bloude is in suche sorte coupled and ioyned to me that neither can I be seperate from hym nor he from me For I am in hym by my spirite by whoÌ„ I wyll geue lyfe to hym And he is in me as a membre in the bodye and as the braunche is in the vyne by suche a participacion as cannot bee dissolued ¶ As the liuing father hath sente me and I true for the father Euen so be that eateth me shal liue by the meanes of me This is the bread which came downe from heauen not as your fathers did eate Manna and are dead He that eateth of this breade shall liue euer These thinges sayed he in the sinagogue as he taught in Capernaum Many therefore of his disciples when they had heard this sayd this is an hard saiyng Who can abide the hearing of it The father that sent me is the principall fountaine of al life Whosoeuer is ioyned to hym is made partaker of life And therefore as the father is in me geueth me life and also power to geue life vnto other euen likewyse to him that eateth me and is so annexed to me by reason of that misticall eatyng and drinkyng that he is made one with with me doe I geue lyfe not to endure for a shorte tyme but eternall life What thyng soeuer is of earthly nature thesame dooeth continue but for a time and is of small efficacie Manna whiche stylled downe from heauen for you then beyng vnder Moses tuicion and conductyng because it was foode pertainyng to the bodye it coulde not geue eternall lyfe to your elders for whereas all men did eat therof they neuertheles dyed neyther did any one of so great a numbre remain vndead yea more part of theÌ„ died also in soule because they prouoked god manye waies to wrath But certes this bread that vndoubtedly came downe from heauen hath a celestiall vertue in it and geueth eternall lyfe to the eater thereof The Lorde Iesus did instruct the ignorant and grosse multitude with such wordes very desirous to stirre them vp from the loue of vysible and corporal thynges to the loue and desire of heauenly and eternall thynges And he spake these woordes in the Sinagogue amoÌ„gest a great assembly of people exercising the office of a teacher Howebeit the grosse people was so farre of from the capacitye of these heauenlye mystiries that a great sorte of his disciples also beyng offeÌ„ded herewith wer about to fall from theyr maister murmuryng amongest themselfes and whisperyng this saiyng This is an harde cruell saiyng saye they concernyng the eatyng of a lyuyng mannes fleshe and drinkyng his bloude whose eares can abyde to heare such doctryne Iesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it he said vnto them doeth this offend you What if ye shal se the sonne of maÌ„ asceÌ„d vp thither where as he was before It is yâ— spirit that quickeneth the flesh â—rosueth nothing The wordes that I speake vnto you are the spirit life But there are sum of you yâ— beleue not For Iesus knew froÌ„ the beginning which thei wer yâ— beleued not who should betraie him And he said Therefore said I vnto you that no man can cum vnto me excepte it wer geueÌ„ vnto him of my father Iesus vnderstandyng what they murmured at secretly among themselfes labored to remedie the thing that they were offeÌ„ded with geuing knowledge beforehand vnto them that they shoulde see greater thinges with their iyes then that they heard hym at this tyme speake of hymselfe And he shewed them that the wordes whiche he had spoken as touchyng the eatyng of his fleshe and to drinke his blood was no incoÌ„uenieÌ„t thing nor to be abhorred but a right pleasaunt graciouse and fruitfull saying in case it were taken and vnderstande not after their course and grosse intelligence but after a spirituall sence Nowe therfore being turned towardes his disciples whom it had behoued to haue further consydered and to haue been wyser then the base sorte of people by reason of the acquaintance and familiaritie whiche they had with Iesus and also for the myracles which they had seen hym worke Iesus I say loking vpon his disciples rebuked theyr dulnes in this wyse saying Doeth it offend your eares to heare me saye that I am the breade which came out of heauen to geue lyfe to the worlde whether is it a greater difficultie after the grosse vnderstandyng of mannes wit to haue descended from heauen or to ascend vp into heauen What then yf hereafter ye do see the sonne of man whom ye nowe see to haue the natural body of a man ascende into heauen where he was before he came downe thence and before he had this mortal bodye This is doen and graunted by reason of your senses not that ye shoulde bee alwaye carnall and vnderstand all thinges fleshly but that ye shoulde leaue the fleshe and go forwarde to the spirite The spirit descended from heauen and was incarnate the fleshe beeyng now made spirituall shal be carryed awaye vp into heauen leste ye should all waye loue the fleshe and be carnall but yet beeing first instructed by the flesh ye ought to profit and go forward toward heauenly thinges For the flesh alone of himselfe profiteth nothing it is the spirite that geueth life For what is bodily substance of men if the spirit lacke euen so my woord carnally vnderstand shall not geue life vnles ye take it as an heauenly thing and vnderstaÌ„d it spiritually By my fleshe and blood I meane my doctrine and so I tearme it whiche doctrine yf ye do by true faith receiue it desyrously and effectuously and than conueigh it into the bowels of your minde and retaine it there it will quicken and make your mindes liuely and cause you and me to be al one so that ye shal through my spirite liue euerlastingly like as the membres of one bodye lyueth by one common spirite so long as they do adhere and cleaue fast together And I shall leaue vnto you my fleshe and blood as a hid secret mystery and mistical token of this copulacion and felowship which selfe thing although ye do receiue it yet will it not profit you vnles ye receyue it spiritually Therfore do not
in him I speake of a thing not vnknowen to you for the fame of his miracles is not alonely blased wide abrode thorough out all Iewry but is come vnto other cities also bordering nyghe vpon the same For why He himselfe wente on wayfaryng from place to place ouer all this region healyng euery where the sicke with hys woorde restoryng the lame and impotent to their strength agayne geuing syghte to the blynde clensyng the leprye casting out deiuils a great sorte of you hathe seen the thynges that I reherse None of all these miracles was doen but God before purposed the same And it was the wyll of god thus to saue the worlde After that ye had taken this man not by chaunce or at aduenture but as one delyuered by the determinate wyll or counsell of God and hys foreknowledge for the saluacyon of hys people of Israell ye crucyfyed hym by the handes of the vnrighteous souldiers and slewe hym For the souldiers were nought els in doyng that haynous fact sauynge onely your ministers But he slayeth the manne that procureth hys death The matter is to playne for to be denyed This manne whome ye haue slayne as God woulde haue it who had deliuered hym for to bee slayne the veray selfe same god accordyng to the soothe saying of hys Prophetes hathe called vp the thyrd day to lyfe agayne that all whiche truely shall beleue the ghospell shoulde hope for the same thyng to bee doen hereafter in themselues whyche was by the power of God once dooen in hym For he in obeyinge hys fathers will suffered the spitefull reproche of the crosse pacientlye puttyng hys whole affiaunce trust of saluation not in mans ayde and defence but in the mercyfulnes of God and therfore was he delyuered by him of all deadly sorowes and paynes infernall whiche truely he myghte by reason that he was man haue tasted or felt But as he was cleane without synne so he coulde be kepte in no wyse in their bondage For death and hell hath no perpetuall authoritie and power but vpon theym that are subiecte vnto synne Wherefore lyke as death was of might to swallow hym so was it not able to holde hym beyng once deuowred but caste hym vp as it was thereto constreyned the thyrd day euen as dyd the whale reuomet the prophete Ionas Than was it the wyll of God that this innocent should suffre all these iniuries to thintent that he woulde delyuer vs all by hym both of synne deathes tyranny yf that we accordyng to Iesus example of Nazareth put our whole trust affyaūce in God What I haue tolde you nowe my brethren of Israell ye oughte not to thynke it incredible sens that Dauid beeyng enspyred wyth the celestyall spirite of prophecie tolde you longe heretofore that it shoulde euen thus come to passe For in his fiftenth psalme he speaketh of Iesus of Nazareth whome we preache to you in this manier Aforehande haue I set the Lorde alwayes before me for he is on my ryght hande that I shoulde not bee moued Therfore dyd my herte reioyce and my tongue was glad moreouer also my fleshe shall reste in hope beecause thou shalte not leaue my soule in hell neyther shalte thou suffer thy holye to see corruption Thou haste shewed me the wayes of lyfe thou shalte make me full of ioye wyth thy countenaunce Ye see howe euidently hath that kynge and prophete Dauid described and as it were in a lyuely picture sette beefore youre iyes that whiche ye knowe well ynough is dooen and paste in Iesus of Nazareth He had made God alone hys fortresse of defence and trustyng to hys onely helpe suffered he wyllingly and gladlye all those peynes whyche he as you dooe knowe hath suffered And in sufferyng bodyly peynes he reioyced inwardely Hys toung for ioy neuer ceased to speake neuer kept in silence the wyll of God He was contented for to bee buried although he nothing mistrusted but that his father woulde call him vp to lyfe agayne the third day and woulde not suffer hym who had put his whole trust in god beeyng in no poynt giltie to purrefye in his graue For whosoeuer trusteth to be saued by his owne woorkes or putteth his trust in worldely succoure he shal be founde far vnmete to suffre the paynful dolours of death paciently neither shal he be hable whan he is once entangled to looce hymselfe out of deathes snare But he that continually fixeth the inwarde iye of his soule to godward whiche to al people is mercyful he knoweth alredy the wayes of lyfe and although god semeth to turne away his countenaunce from him for a time yet shall he againe or it be long disclose to hym the beames of his mercy and requite him for his tormentes whiche endureth but for a time with ioyes eternall and for death yelde euerlastyng lyfe for yearthely reproche the glory of heauen Wherefore than we also are taught by him and his example the way to lyfe euerlastyng ¶ Ye men and brethren let me frely speake vnto you of the Patriarke Dauid For he is bothe dead and buried and his sepulchre remayneth with vs vnto this day Therefore seyng he was a prophete knew that God had sworne with an othe to him that Christe as cōcerning the fleshe should come of the fruite of his loynes and should sit on his fear he knowing this before spake of the resurreccion of Christ that his soule should not be left in hell neyther his fleshe shoulde see corrupcion This Iesus hath God araysed vp ▪ whereof all we are witnesses Some peraduenture shall suppose that this prophecy doth perteine to Dauid himselfe and not to Iesus I am not ignoraunt howe highlye ye esteme Dauid the Patriarke and that not without a cause are ye in suche an opinion of him For he was blessed and derely beloued with god but frankelye to speake the trueth to you welbeloued brethren we muste not set so muche by Dauid the Patriarke as to ascribe to him that as his owne which is due vnto Messias The thing trewly it selfe declareth that this prophecy agreeth neyther with Dauid ne with any other Patriarke or prophete For Dauid as eche one of you knowe full well is dead and buryed and neuer came afterwarde to lyfe agayne seeyng that his sepulchre is with vs vnto thys present day conteynyng noughte in yt els but dead drye bones wythout any lyfe at all in theym Wherefore Dauid who knewe that he hymselfe shoulde bee as other were buryed and as touching his bodye shoulde rotte in his graue disclosed not this prophecye of hymselfe But where as he was enspyred with the spyryte of prophecye and knewe ryghte well that that shoulde come to passe whiche god had assured to hym vpon an othe that is to say that Christ as touching his humanitie shoulde be borne of his progeny and after the spirituall vnderstanding shoulde sit vpon his throne to reigne for euer prophecied as one that
apostles doctrine and feloweship and in breaking of bread and in prayers And feare came ouer euery soule and many woonders and sygnes were shewed by the apostles at Ierusalem And all that beleued kept them selues together had all thinges in common and sold their possessions and goodes and parted them to al men as euery man had nede and they continued dayly with one accorde in the temple brake bread from house to house and did eare their meate together with gladnesse singlenes of herte praysing God and had fauour with al the people And the lorde added to the congregacion dayly suche as shoulde be saued Than such as kept themselues in company with the disciples folowed on continually the apostles teachinges for thereby came moste profite and lykewyse continued still in receiuing a token of a couenaunte that shall neuer bee broken which they called communion That token of couenaunt which the lord taught and committed to vs of trust was doen in this maner The bread was broken and dealed to euery man a pece thereof they in their practising of this in a remembraunce of the lordes passion gaue thankes to god for his bountifull goodnes that had clensed them from sinne by the innocent bloud of his owne sonne alone had chosen them for the deathes sake which he suffered on his parte vndeserued to enherite life euerlasting They offered vp also their prayers with clenes of herte whose peticion was that the kingdome of Iesus mighte bee made to spreade euery daye further abrode than other that his glory might throughout all the worlde bee knowen that his wyll euery where might bee folowed that suche as had once professed the fayth of the gospell might through the holy woorde and grace celestiall profit euery day and procede better and better and so might liue in concorde one with an other eche one in peace with his brother forgeuing all iniuries if any faute were doen by mans frayltie being at one with god whiche is mercifull to them that bee mercyfull to theyr neyghboure and that they beeyng dayly strengthned by the goodnes of god myght stedfastly abyde all the assautes of Satan vntill they myght after long bickering with the sayde Sathan at laste receiue eternall rewarde These were than the sacrifices that christen men vsed This wonderfull miracle of tongues Peters exhortacion so liuely made the sodaine mutacion of so many men so great puritie an clennesse of lyfe of the same menne wrought suche an effect in all theyr myndes whiche were giltie and priuie to theyr owne offences that they were sore afrayed of some eiuell to come towarde them For they sawe playnely that this thing was not broughte about by mannes conspyracy but by some celestiall power And for because thapostles did not alonely speake in all mennes languages but wrought also at Hierusalem many wonderfull miracles at thinuocacion of Iesus name in healyng diseases in putting deiuils to flyght in reising the dead to lyfe This tremblyng feare that they were in encroched and grew stil more and more vpon theim This was some beginning in the people towardes theyr amendement But the celestiall spirite wrought in theyr hertes whome secretly he inspired aboue all other thinges in mutuall good wyll and concorde For this truely is the very cognisaunce that Iesus woulde haue his disciples knowen by And as many as beleued the gospell assembled vnto a place ordinately together for theyr consolacion exhorting one an other in mutuall communycacions They were than many in numbre and men of al sortes were admitted without accepcion of persons young olde menne women free bonde poore and ryche The loue of Christe beeyng planted in theyr hertes dyd in so greate conformitie of myndes and mutuall concorde knyt and ioyne together them all beyng otherwise so ferre odde eche to other that all thinges were common emōgest them whiche is a thing seldome sene yea emong brethren that came all out of one belly And to thintent that eche of them might the better departe somewhat of that he had to an other suche as had manoures of theyr owne or other possessions solde them and of the money or prise thereof made a common dole as euery mannes nede required so that neyther they wanted whiche had noughte of theyr owne nor they had more than was sufficient whiche before had muche in possession And so made they theyr dole not as it were of theyr owne proper goodes but as of thinges in common For perfite charytie chalengeth no goodes as her owne and emong them whiche bee all of one mynde no man is accoumpted a lorde of his owne goodes and where eche man is content with litel thereit wyll bee harde to find lacke of thinges necessary But the distribucion of the common was made to euery man accordinge to his necessitie and not to his sensualitie The apostles prescribed none of all these thynges for them to doe but charitie did more among them without compulsion than any lawe of Moyses durst require And euery day were they also in the temple in muche vnitie of minde stedfast in prayer rendryng thankes to god and exhortinge theimselues together and entising other to that peace of conscience whiche the gospel requireth all that euer they were hable to coumpace Moreouer whan they had thus spent the whole daye in suche godly excercises they brake in euery house theyr breade and eate their meate together with ioy that herte cannot thinke and eche one with other in perfecte clenlynes of herte gaue prayse to god through whose goodnes they had gotten them so muche loue and fauour They were in fauour and good estimacion with all the people For who is he that woulde not loue suche persons that hurt no man and be ready to do euery man good in whom also appered manyfestly so muche godly power so great sobrenesse and mekenes withall Here mayest thou well marke Theophilus howe the churche had at her beginning by reason of ioy in mens hertes and vnitie with all luckie tokens well to prosper There muste nedes bee conformitee of myndes and vnitie where that spirite is whiche is the pacifier of all troubleous hertes there cannot be but ioy and gladnes where is a cleane conscience without any dystruste of the promises whiche are made in the gospell But as the bishopes Pharisees Scribes and chiefe auncientes or head men among the people wer euery where alwayes redy to slea Iesus so here at the luckye beegynnynges of this young churche no mencion is made of theim Noe persone was enforced to come to this feloweship no violente authoritie kept theym together in league Suche as thither came abode there still with other of theyr owne ientle courage and the lorde allured to theim whom he had appoincted to bee saued euery day more and more whyle the smale musterd-seede was by litell and litell springyng whiche shoulde afterwarde spreade his braunches abrode through al the worlde The .iii. Chapter ¶ Peter and Iohn
the gospel increased and waxed stronger aswell by aduersitie as by prosperitie Wherefore Paule Barnabas continued a long space in this fyghte at Iconium valiantly settyng foorth the matter by the helpe of god whiche bare witnesse whiche was greater than any testymony of man to thys hys free gift that he exhibited to al men through his ghospell For power he gaue to these his preachers of the ghospel that were but weake persons and out of reputacion to woorke signes and wonders to th entent that it mighte bee knowen therby to bee the very handye woorke of god So by meane of the Iewes the citie Iconium was diuided in two partes of whiche thâ—ne fauoured the vnfaythfull Iewes the other thapâ—stles Whan there was an assaulte made bothe of the Gentiles and also of the Iewes with their rewlers to do them violence and to stone them they were ware of it and fled vnto Listra and Derba cities of Licaonia and vnto the regyon that lieth rounde aboute and there preached the gospel And all the multitude was moued at their doctrine but Paul and Barnabas taried stil at Listra And at the last whan they that were of the gentiles adioyning themselues to the Iewes and gouernoures of the citie went about to laye violent handes on thapostles that they might punish and stone them they hauing knowlege of the matter fâ—ed to Listra a citie in Licaonia whiche is parte of Pamphilia and from thence to Derba In the meane space they walked ouer all coastes of the countrey that were neare sowing in euery place seede of the ghospell so that in this their flyght the apostles dyd not so muche procure their owne health as spreade abrode the ghospel ¶ And there sate a certaine man at Listra weake in his feete beyng a creple from his mothers wombe and neuer had walked The same heard Paul preache Who beholding him and perceiuing that he had faith to be whole said with a loude voice stand vpright on thy feete And he stert vp walked And whan the people saw what Paule had doen they lift vp their voyces saying in the speche of Licaonia Goddes are come down to vs in the likenes of menne And they called Barnabas Iupiter Paul Mercurius because he was the preacher Than Iupiters prieste whiche dwelt before their citie brought oâ—en and garlandes vnto the porche and would haue doen sacrifice with the people There was the same time in Listra a certaine manne whose legges were so feble and impotent that he continually satte still nothing hable to walke and was lame euen from his mothers wombe neyther could he go of all the dayes in his life before This man among the other multitude hearde Paule speakyng of Christe and Paule looking vpon this man perceyued by his countenaunce howe earnest and desirous he was to heare hym because he trusted that by the name of Iesus whiche he had hearde preached he shoulde obtayne health of his limmes and said vnto him with a loude voyce Stande vp on thy feete and with that worde this lame man leaped vp and was wel hable to go But whan the multitude saw this woâ—â—â—e for there was no man but he knew this lame creature and that with one woorde he was restored vnto his health they spake with loude voyces in their owne countrey language of Licaonia and said doubtlesse the gods haue taken on them the likenes of men and haue descended from heauen vnto vs. And the people of Licaonia did so muche more perswade themselues that it was so because there went commonly certaine talkes of Iupiter and Mercurius how they being gods tooke on them the lykenesse of men and were receiued as gestes of Licaon of whome it appereth that they were called Licaonians Wherefore they called Barnabas by the name of Iupiter because he shewed in hys countenaunce great grauitie and auncientnes and Paule they called Mercurie because he was the spokesman for the Gentiles were of this opinion that Mercurius was the messengier of the goddes and the president of eloquence And Iupiters prieste who dwelled in the subburbes of the citie of Listra brought oxen and garlandes to the gate of the house where the apostles were lodged to thintente that he woulde haue dooen sacrifice vnto them For they supposed that Iupiter was most delighted with sacrifising of oxen And aswell the priestes as also the beastes that were killed in sacrifice had wont to weare garlandes And a great number of all estates indifferently one with an other folowed hym Whiche whan the Apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of they rente their clothes and ran in emong the people crying and saying Syrs why dooe ye this We are mortal men like vnto you and preache vnto you that ye should tourne from these vanities vnto the liuing God whiche made heauen and earth and the sea and al thinges that are therin the whiche in times past suffered all nacions to walke in their owne waies Neuerthelesse he left not himselfe without witnesse in that he shewed his benefites from heaueÌ„ in geuing vs cayne and fruitful seasons filling our hertes with foode and gladnes But whan Paule and Barnabas had enquired what the matter ment and learned how they were taken as goddes and that the priest hastened to sacrifice vnto them they woulde no longer abyde so greate blasphemye against god to haue that same honoure that was due to god onely applyed to manne but cuttyng their garmentes as the Iewes manner was in sorowe they with haste came foorth to the multitude cryinge and sayde syrs what meane ye Why doe you thus We are no goddes but mortal men as ye bee ready and apte to fall into lyke mischaunces as you are and we dooe not onely not desire thus to bee honoured of you but rather we came hyther to you for this purpose that by oure counsell ye maye turne to the true lyuyng god that made heauen and yearth and the sea and all thinges whatsoeuer is conteyned therein leauing these false goddes whome ye haue hytherto with heathen sacrifice woorshipped whiche in dede are nothing els but eyther men that be nowe dead or els ymages voyde of lyfe or finally euil spirites For there is but one god the maker and gouernour of al thinges His wyll is now to be knowen and worshipped of all nacions in the worlde that all men through him maye obtaine lyfe euerlasting For in times paste he winking as it were at mennes factes permitted all nacions to lyue euery one after his owne trade to the ende that after it were once euidente that man coulde not be saued by his owne meanes all men might bee saued if they would beleue in god the ghospel taught by his sonne And although the moste parte of menne through erroure hath lefte the true God wurshipping ymages of diuerse thinges in stede of God or thinges that were created in stede of their creatoure yet he by and by dyd not reuenge hymselfe on them as he iustly might haue done nor
Phariseis and the Herodians whiche dissented in doctrine among themselfes but in hatyng of Iesus agreed all in on Oh folysh wysdome of this worlde They that haue been so oftymes put to the worse dooe ofte tymes cumme again and assayle hym to th entent it may appeare that they are at all sayes vanquished and in conclusion depart their waye as vnequal matches to cope or encounter with Goddes wysdom For nowe was it tyme that Satan who of late assayled the Lorde but went away with losse of victorie should by his garde and mynisters bring forth all his artyllary and engins against him Therfore they that are set vp to playe this parte goe vnto Iesus and propoune vnto him a capcious question because to seke some occasion of his wordes and answeres therevnto â–ª whereby they maye haue hym condemned before themperours deputie They begin with a very flatering proheme as thoughe he could be deceiued with faire wordes who so ofte times declareth howe there is nothyng that he knoweth not Maister say they we knowe right well that thou art a teller of trouthe and fearest no man but frankely speakest the truthe without regarde of persone Neyther art thou any whyt moued with the dignitie or hygh auctoritie of any manne as many other bâ— that flatter and coury fauoure with potentates and great menne but menne contemned thou trewly teachest what god hathe commaunded Therefore tell vs also we praie the Is it lawfull for vs to pay tribute vnto themperour or is it not lawfull The phariseis helde stifly that the Iewes beyng a people dedicated vnto god ought not to be tributories vnto Heathen Emperours and worshyppers of Idolles On the other syde the herodians defended themperous right This deceitfull proheme tended hereunto that yf he had geuen sentence for the pharyseis then should he haue been accused of the Herodians for an authour of rebellyon or insurreccion againste themperour Iesus vnto whom theyr craft and wylines was not vnknowen beyng not contented with them for that they came not to learne but to tempt him aunswered Why doe you tempte me bring me forthe a peny that I maye see it And byanby it was brought him Theyr seruice was not to seke in making of the traine whiche came purposely to take him in a trippe Then loked he on the peny and sayd whose is this Image and superscripcion They answered themperours What is this knewe not Iesus vnto whome nothyng is vnknowen the Image or title of themperoure and did the Phariseis and Herodians knowe it Yes verily he knew it well ynoughe and that before he loked thereon But he sought an occasion to make a conuenient answere vnto theyr deceitful question Here was an ensample geuen to declare howe they ought to knowe nothyng of princes affaires whose duetie it is for asmuche as they professe themselfes to be Christes vicars in earthe to preachâ— and teache heauenly matters Now heare an answer worthy to cum out of Christes mouthe Yelde ye saith he those thinges that pertaine to themperour to themperour and those thinges that belong to god vnto god He disaloweth not if suche as are dedicated vnto god giue vnto themperour be he neuer so vngodly and wicked a prince that whiche is due vnto hym for gouerning of the common weale or what he otherwise violently exacteth because that losse of money doth not make men vngodlye but he monisheth vs occasion seruing him of a thyng whiche is more to the purpose that is howe all ought to be yelden to god that is due vnto god A vile piece of coyne had grauen in it a title and ymage of themperoure If thou knowest this title and art content to geue vnto him his duetie howe muche more then oughtest thou to yelde vnto almighty god whose Image euery manne beareth what he ought of duetie to haue When thou receyuedst Baptysme Goddes image was printed and grauen in thy soule Why doest thou then geue it vnto the deuell Thou gloryest in the name and tytle of a Chrystian manne Why yeideste thou not vnto Christe that thou â—west hym by reason of thy profession All that were there present maruayled at this discrete and wyse aunswere Two sectes of the Iewes were nowe put to sylence with one saying ¶ There came also vnto hym the Saduceis whiche say that there is no resurreccion And they asked hym saying Mayster Moyses wrote vnto vs yf any mannes brother dye and leaue his wyfe behynde hym and leaue no chyldren that his brother shoulde take hys wyfe and rayse vp seed to his brother There were seuen brethren and the fyrst toke a wife and when he dyed left no seede behynde hym And the seconde toke her and dyed neyther lefte he any seede And the thirde in likewyse And seuen had her and lefte no seede behinde them Laste of 〈◊〉 the wife dyed also In the resurreccion therefore when they shall ryse againe whose wife shall she be of them for seuen had her to wife And Iesus answered and sayde vnto them Doe ye not therfore erre because ye vnderstande not the Scriptures neyther the power of God For when they shall ryse agayne from death they neither marrye nor are marryed but are as the aungels whiche are in heauen As touchyng the deade that they ryse agayne haue ye not rede in the booke of Moyses howe in the bushe God spake vnto hym saying I am the god of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Iacob he is no god of the dead but the god of liuing Ye are therfore greatly deceyued Then came the secte of Saduceis who denied the resurreccion of bodyes auouchyng manne wholy to peryshe after deathe Neyther beleued they that there was any spirite or Aungell wherein they dissented in opinion froÌ„ the Phariseis These grosse felowes had also a capcious question wherwith to tempte goddes wisdome Iesus did then take vpon him the person of an vnlearned and ignoraunte person but that thyng whiche in hym was loweste was hygher and of more excellencye then that whiche in menne is hygheste They assayled hym on this wife Mayster Moises in the booke entitled deuteronomium hath lefte vs this lawe that yf any maried manne dye without issue his next brother in age should marry the wydow and of her beget chyldren to beare the dead mans name And yf he deceasse without chyldreÌ„ to then the next vnto hym should succede in his place or roume It chaunced that of seuen brethren the eldest maried a wyfe he dyed without issue Then came the nexte brother in age according to the prescripcion of the lawe and maried the widow and he beyng lykewyse departed without children the thyrde brother succeded and after hym all the other by course vnto the seuenthe and last manne Eche of them one after another marryed her and eche of them deceassed without issue At the length the woman also dyed herself Therefore when the tyme of resurreccion shall cumme and the seuen brethren and the woman shall
porters to be euen in carriyng out toward the derke pitte of the graue But yet neuerthelesse the mother al the while foloweth the folke of the toune also do folow for charitie caÌ„ scarcely by any meane despaire with teres with fettyng sighes with wofull lameÌ„tacions they declare what thyng they wish But the thyng that they wishe lyeth not in their power to geue neither be they able to kepe him stil whan lyfe was once departed nor yet of power to reise hym vp again after he was dead To mans power he was dead and past all possibilitie of callyng again to life But al is welinough At the weping teres of his churche Iesus cumeth and meteth them luckie and blessed at al tymes is the metyng of our sauiour with any body He casteth an iye on his wedowe luckye and blessed at all times is the merciful lordes beholdyng of any body He casteth no iye on the dead bodye who because he thought not hymselfe to be in any nede of mercy did not yet seme woorthy the mercy of Iesus but the earnest affeccion and zele of the churche dooeth that obteyne whiche the synner beyng desperate and past all grace dooeth not so muche as wishe The Lord biddeth the mournyng to be ceassed bringyng them in hope of ioye to folowe after he putteth his hande to the biere The porters of the dead corpse dooe stand stil. The first poynt of hope that one is in the way of amendyng again towardes innocencie is not to go any ferther in naughtines He that ceasseth to be wurse theÌ„ he was geueth yet sum token of hope on himself that he wil one day were better And yet doeth this not so fortune onlesse Iesus vouchsafe with his mightifull hande to touche the biere The hande of Iesus setteth an end vnto all wicked desires or appetites that the partie shal now ceasse from all naughtines which was in cariyng to the graue The church in dede praieth she maketh great intreatyng she exhorteth she chydeth suche persones as dooe offende because she would haue them to amende and bee in perfite reste from their viciousnesse But all this in vayn onlesse Iesus with his secrete vertue and power should touch the soule of the sinner being dead For Iesus is the lyfe of euery man yea euen of the dead too And good hope there is that lyfe wil cum again whan Iesus vouchesalueth to touch the biere but the hertines of lyfe doeth not yet retourne onlesse the Lorde do speake vnto the dead At the voice of whom only and none els the dead do reuiue agayn yea although they haue been laied in graue yea and haue lien of fower daies continuaunce there to the entent that no man shoulde thynke any synners to bee so ferre past grace of whose recouerye to grace again the charitye of the churche shoulde despaire Lazarus was carryed oute he was buryed he laye stynkyng already in his graue yet was there wepynge and wayliynge made for hym all the whyle and at the voice of Iesus callyng hym he came foorthe of hys sepulchre And in dede Lazarus was with sumwhat more a dooe reysed to lyfe For Iesus at that present dyd as it wer rore out in his spirite he wept and was sore troubled in himselfe not for that it was any harder for him to reise one that had lien fower daies buried then one whose lyfe departed but euen nowe oute of his bodye but to shewe howe hardely suche personnes cum to amendemente as haue of longe continuaunce accustomed themselfes vnto viciousnes Iesus caste an iye on the wedowe she leaft weepyng he shall lykewyse caste an iye on the dead persone and he shall begynne to lyue The moste mercifull Lorde therefore turned himself to the partie that laye there dead thou young man ê™ he I saye vnto thee Aryse He cannot choose but reuiue againe to whom any woordes shall bee spoken out of Iesus mouth yea although he were dead For the wordes he speaketh are al spirit life What folowed of al this He reuiued again to innoceÌ„cy that was dead in sinnes he setteth himself vpright who afore laie still hauyng no felyng of himselfe and the whiche is the moste euident token of a mynd corrected to goodnes he beginneth to speake coÌ„fessyng his own synnes geuyng thankes to the mercie of God He is restored to his mother aliues man againe and where he was afore in carriyng to his graue with great mournyng of many people he is nowe with muche greatter ioye of them all brought home again For this propertie hath true godlines that it loueth such men muche the better whiche haue ameÌ„ded froÌ„ greate enormities to the ernest endeuour of ledyng a better life For in these dooeth the goodnesse of god more better appere theÌ„ in suche as haue neuer falleÌ„ into any greuous crime or enormitie The mother reioyceth that she hathe receyued her soÌ„ne again And thei which afore did mourn for the corpse do now reioyce and not only do thei reioyce but also euery one of theÌ„ as many as wer preseÌ„t at this sight were taken with a certain feare For suche as are opeÌ„ly eiuill and vncurable the churche casteth out of her felowship as dead corpses to the end that by the exaumple of one many may be afeard to sinne But yesame cumpany doe praise and magnify the mercye of God â–ª by whose power the dead retourne to life again For so notable a miracle seen yesame people said A great prophete is there sprong vp emongest vs god hath taken regard to his people For the Iewes did as yet deme ne suppose no higher thynge of Christe but that he was sum notable prophete And of this act also did the fame of the Lord Iesus growe the bruite of the matter being spred abrode not only throughout al Iewry but also throughout all the coastes on euery side that lyeth about fluime Iordane where Iohn had afore baptised aswel the other people as also Iesus self And the disciples of Iohn shewed hym of all these thinges And Iohn called vnto him twoo of his disciples and sent them to Iesus saiyng Art thou he that should cum or shal we loke for another When the men were cuÌ„ vnto him they sayd Iohn Baptist hath sent vs vnto thee saying Art thou he that should cum or shall we awaite for another And in thatsame houre he cured many of their infirmities and plagues and of euill spirites and vnto many that wer blind he gaue light And he aunswered and said vnto them Goe your waies and bring woord again to Iohn what thynges ye haue seen and heard how that the blynd see the halt goe the lepres are clensed the deafe here the dead rise agayn to the poore is the glad tidynges preached and happy is he that is not offended at me Than certain of Iohns disciples halfe enuiyng at so great successe of the thinges that were wrought and doen by the handes of Iesus and hauyng a certain
goe in peace and this my benefyte bee with the for euer with this saying he touched and nipped the pharisees and Scribes who put more hope in their owne workes then in the goodnesse of God ¶ While he yet spaâ—e â–ª there came one from the rewlees of the Synogogues house whiche sayed to him thy daughtâ—r is dâ—ade disease not the mayster But whan Iesus hearde that woorde he aunswered the father of the damosell feare not beleue onelye and she shall bee made whole â—nd whâ—n hâ— came to the house â–ª he suffered no manne to go in with hym saue Peter Iames and Iohn and the fathâ—r and the mother of the marden Euery body wepte and folowed for her And he sayed wepe not The damosell is not deade but slepeth And they laughed hym to skorne knowyng that she was dâ—ade And he thruste them all oute and caught her by thâ— hande and cryed saying mayde aryse And hir spirite came agayne and shâ— aroâ—est reyghâ—waye And he commaunded to geue hir meate And the father and the mother other hir were astouned But he warned them that they should tell no man what was doen. The lorde Iesus had not yet ended speakyng these woordes whan one of the mayster of the Synagogues house came rennyng and sayed Sir neuer trouble ne disease ye the Lorde any feâ—ther who is now lyke to come in vayne for thy daughter is already dead The felow that brought this worde thought ne had no greater ne higher opinion or beliefe of Iesus then of some other especiall good phisician who coulde haue holpen her beeyng sicke and alyue but to reyse her agayn beeyng dead that were he by no meanes hable to dooe Whan Iesus sawe Iairus deadly astouned and amased at this newes he conforted hym saying be not afrayed onely haue thou a feithfull beliefe and the gierle shal be safe Whan they were come to the Maister of the Sinagogues house Iesus woulde not suffre any moe of the multitude to goe in at the doores with hym but Peter Iames and Iohn and with them also the father and mother of the gierle Whan he came in he found the house all full of mourning For the dead mayden was wept for and bewayled of all her frendes and kinsfolkes whiche dewtie and office of mournyng is commonlye dooen to the great ryche folkes at theyr deathes for a pryde and honour more then for any sorowe For they do make and appoynte certayne for the nonce to make lamentacion to syng doulfull songes of mourning and to shewe an outwarde countenaunce of sorow by wepyng and wryngyng of theyr handes and beatyng or tearyng themselues All this pompe and vayne shewe did Iesus refreigne and forbid saying make none of you no wepyng for the mayden is not deade but she slepeth And they had hym in derision for his so saying because they knewe certaynely that she was dead in dede Than Iesus entreyng with a veraye fewe persones into the Inner chambre where the dead corpse of the mayden laye he toke her by the hande muche like as though he should but awake her out of her â—lepe saying with a good loude voyce mayden arise And what folowed No creature a liue doeth more lightlier awake from slepe at the voyce of any that calleth him vp then this mayden arose agayne from death to lyfe as soone as Iesus spake vnto her For not onely her soule and lyfe retourned agayne into the tabernacle of hir body from whens it had tofore departed but also she arose vp and walked about the house as mery and lustie as euer she was before And Iesus to th entent that it shoulde bee a more certayne and euident declaracion of life perfectely restored vnto hir wylled meat to be geuen vnto hir whiche thyng whan the father and mother of the gierle saw they wer greatly astouned And Iesus gaue them a great charge that they shoulde make no wordes to no creature of the thyng that had happened as though he had been veray fayne that this miracle shoulde bee knowen but to a fewe partelye to teache vs that we ought not to hunte for the glory and prayse of our well dooynges at the handes of men and partely to signifie by this figure and exaumple that in light faultes a rebuke secretely geuen may be sufficient For the gierle beeing deade dooeth betoken a man throughe weakenesse and frailtie fallen into syn The deathe was yet freashe the corpse had not come abrode into open fight Therfore the multitude beeing shut without doores the matier was al ended and but a fewe persons made priuie vnto it But happie and blissed are they whome Iesus doeth so vouchesalue to take by the hande The .ix. Chapter Iesus called the twelue together and gaue them power and autoritie ouer all deiuils and that they might heale diseases And he sent them to preache the kyngdome of God and to heare the sicke And he sayed vnto them Take nothyng to your iourneye neyther staffe nor scâ—ip neyther breade neither money neither haue two coates And whatsoeuer house ye entre into there abyde and thence departe And whosoeuer wyll not receiue you whan ye goe out of that citie shake of the veray dust from your feete for a testimonie agaynst them And they departed and went through the tounes preachyng the ghospell and healyng euery where ANd hitherto did Iesus execute and administre the office of preachyng the ghospell in his owne persone framyng by all the meane space and traynyng his twelue apostles many soondrye wayes as men that should after the receiuing of the holy ghoste succede him in tyme to come in the office of preachyng And for that veâ—aie cause it was that he would in any wyse haue them continuall witnesses of his actes and preachyng But to the entent that in the meane season they themselues also might shewe some paterne and saumple of themselues towardes the executing of so great an office and euen the lord beyng yet alyue they might assaye and proue how well they coulde dooe he called them euery one together into one place for a lesson and token that there ought to bee no discorde ne disagreyng emong them in theyr preachyng And to thentente that the preachyng of suche poore meane felowes and vnlearned persones shoulde not vttrely altogether lacke autoritie he gaue vnto them moreouer the vertue and power to cast out all kynde of deuils and to heale al kynde of diseases For it was mete that they whiche shoulde preache the kyngdome of God should haue power ouer wicked deuils the enemies of god and also that suche as shoulde be preachers of that doctrine whiche healed al diseases of the mind should not lacke vertue to heale all manier diseases of the bodye yea and ferthermore conuenient it was â–ª that the people should be allured and woonne to the profession of the ghospell by good turnes and benefites rather then by thynges of terrour Accordyng to the exaumple sayeth he that my selfe haue geuen you
haue coniectured that himselfe was Iesus in that he did with such a long processe so meruailously tell vs so many thinges of Iesus Whan he did in talkyng familiarly with vs on the waie expoune vnto vs out of the scriptures the mysticall derke speakinges of the figures and prophecies did not we fele a certain woondrefull feruentnesse of herte suche as the talke of the Scribes and the Phariseis doeth not engeÌ„dre the like in the hertes of the hearers But euen of such lyke sorte as this are the lorde Iesus woordes woont to bee vnto suche folkes as heare them with a simplicitie His woordes or sermons would pricke the conscience it would moue the myndes with affeccions it would rauishe it would burne it would enflame and it woulde leaue certaine sparcles and stynges or priccles behind it in the hertes of the audience And whan they had bothe the one to the other confessed plainly that they hadde bothe of lyke sorte been strieken in their hertes did not now any thing doubte but that he was veray Iesus self returned again to life they streight waie lefte Emaus although the daie did nowe growe fast awaie with greate spede they gotte them backe again to Hierusalem to th entent that they mighte make the other disciples also partakers of so great a ioye and that by mutual conferring one with another the feith of all the cumpanie might be confirmed For the lord hath a great desire to haue the benefites of his free gift in suche wyse to be spred ferther and ferther abrode emong men that through their mutuall doyng of good one to another aswell charitie maie growe emong them as also good desertes maie encrease in them whiche God maie rewarde They were slowe whaÌ„ they leaft Hierusalem because Iesus beyng one that kept talke with them beguyled them of felyng any werinesse of the waie and plucked out of theyr mindes all desyre of beyng in theyr hosterie But the gredinesse aswell of bearyng tydynges backe agayn of that that had happened as also of knowyng againe on the other syde what had befalleÌ„ to the others made them as light as though they had had wynges on their fete whan they returned backe again to Hierusalem Whan they were come thither they founde the eleuen Apostles for now had Iudas ben abated from the noumbre of the twelue And with these eleuen there were many disciples mo present who not tarying vntill these twoo had reported all theyr tale leapyng of theyr owne mocion for ioye made relacion to thesame that after the vncertain hope whiche the women had fyrst of all creatures made vnto them of the lordes arisyng again from death to lyfe there was present knowlage come that he was arisen in veray true dede For they sayed he had appeared vnto Symon Peter The woordes of this Peter because he was of a principall estimacion emong the Apostles had more credite with the disciples then the wordes of women afore For it pleased the lorde Iesus to cuÌ„forte this Peter first and to confirme him with his presence whoÌ„ he knewe besydes the euill of vnbelief whiche was in the rest also aswell as in hym to bee greued with the priuie knowlage in his conscience of forswearyng his maister The twoo disciples aforesaied beyng glad men of these newes doe sembleably on theyr parte also make relacion howe whan thei were on the waye goyng towardes Emaus there came a certaine man beyng of none acquaintaunce with them and ioyned hymselfe together with them in coumpanie in the lykenesse of a wayfaryng man who by takyng an occasion had tolde and recited manye thynges of Iesus repeatyng out of the bookes of Moyses of the Prophetes whatsoeuer thyng had been foreshewed concernyng Iesus and also recityng what had fortuned and what was afterward to happen and how they had no knowlage of hym by any token till at last by the peculiar and speciall custome that he had euermore tofore vsed to blisse to breake and to geue bread vnto theÌ„ ¶ As they thus spake Iesus hymselfe stood in the middest of them and sayeth vnto them Peace bee vnto you It is I feare ye not But they were abashed and afrayed and supposed that they had seen a spirite And he sayed vnto theÌ„ why are ye troubled and why do thoughtes arise in your hertes Beholde my handes and my fete that it is euen I my selfe Handle me and see for a spirite hath no fleashe and bones as ye see me haue And whan he had thus spoken he shewed them his handes and his feete And whyle they yet beleued not for ioye and woondred he sayed vnto them haue ye here any meat And they offred him a piece of a broiled fishe and of an honey combe And he tooke it and did eate before them Whyle they with suche holy talkes as these do on bothe parties counforte and glad themselues some of them beleuing and some yet still doubting the Lorde Iesus sodainly entred in whan the doores were all shutte and was not seen commyng thither but sodaynly was standyng euen in the middes emong them For in suche lyke sorte do the angels soodainly appere visible whan theÌ„selues will and again soodainly vanishyng awaie whan them lyketh And as good spirites whaâ— they appere are accustomed with frendly and amiable speakyng vnto men to take all feare out of them to the entent that the weakenesse of mannes nature maye not bee any thyng dismayed or troubled righte so the Lorde because he shewed himselfe visible bothe sodainly commyng in and also in the euentide being now weâ—ed verai darke he speaketh vnto them with an amiable salutacion saying Peace be vnto you It is I feare ye not This speaking although it ought of good cause to putte awaye all feare yet neuerthelesse so great was the weakenesse of some of the disciples that hauyng theyr herte at theyr verai mouth for feare they dyd not belieue that it was Iesus but supposed themselues to see some spirite They had seen hym not long afore dead and buiryed they sawe hym not to had entred at the doore but to had appered sodainly Wherfore it coulde in no wyse synke in their hertes that it was Iesus bodye that they sawe but some spirite For the common people reporte suche manier fables howe that the gostes of dead folkes doe oftentimes appere to suche as they wyll and to represent to mortall mennes iyes a certain lykenesse of verai naturall bodyes and yet not to haue any materiall and veraye body in dede Emong these was Thomas who vnto the disciples reportyng that they had seen the Lorde had sayed playnly that he would neuer belieue it except by puttyng his fingers into his syde he hadde serched all the prientes and holes of the nailles and of the speare Iesus therfore to shewe an vndoubtable trueth vnto them all that bothe he was aliue and also bare aboute with hym a veray reall body in dede and not any other bodye then thesame whiche
house Then sayde Martha vnto Iesus Lorde if thou hadste bene here my brother had not dyed neuerthelesse now I know that whatsoeuer thou askest of god god will geue it the. Iesus sayth vnto her thy brother shall rise agayne Martha sayeth vnto him I knowe that he shall rise agayne in the resurreccion at the last day Martha that diligently bestirred her wente about all thinges with diligence when one had tolde her that Iesus was come nyghe at hande she with spede went out to mete hym Marie kept still the house Martha therefore when she was within the sight of Iesus vpon ryght good hope that she had conceiued of her brother to be called to life again with a doleful voice she sayd vnto him lord if thou hadst bene here my brother had not bene dead for thou couldeste soone haue healed him with a woorde Although in dede the thing is not yet euen at this present vtterly without hope For I know that what thyng soeuer thou askest of God he will deny the nothing although thou wouldest aske life in hym that is dead and buried These sayinges were spoken of Martha with a minde that neither did vtterly despayre nor yet fully beleue Therfore to confirme her beliefe Iesus sayed vnto her be of good coumforte thy brother shal ryse agayne Neither did this promise satisfye Marthaes minde who because she had but a siely piteouse hope of her brothers rysing agayne coulde not but feare the matter She was afrayd verilye that lyke as he aunswered the messengers saying that the sickenes was not deathlyke and with that doubtefull aunswere beguiled them so was there nowe lykewise some mistery in his wordes that should disapoynt and deceiue her hope I knowe sayeth she that my brother shal ryse agayne but that shall bee in the laste daye when we shall all ryse agayne for some Iewes namely they that were of the Phariseis secte beleued that there should bee a generall resurreccyon Iesus sayeth vnto her I am the resurreccion and the lyfe he that beleueth on me yea though he were dead yet shal he liue and whosoeuer liueth and beleueth on me shall neuer dye Beleuest thou this She sayde vnto him Ye Lorde I beleue that thou arte Christ the sonne of God whiche should come into this worlde Iesus therefore to further the womans affiaunce and opinion of hym by litle and litle to greater thynges and that he might declare himselfe to be very he that not onely could obteyn by prayer of God lyfe to the dead a thing that is redde ofte to bee dooen of other holy men but to be the very fountayne selfe and authour of lyfe both already geuen and to bee geuen to all thynges nor that any death is to be feared of them that putteth theyr confidence and hope in him forasmuche as thoughe deathe chaunce it can nothyng hurte hym that cleaueth fast to the fountayne of all lyfe Iesus I saye vpon these consideracions aunswereth Martha on thys wise Thou beleueste Martha that with my prayers I may obtayne of my father lyfe for thy brother whiche is deade thou beleueste that thy brother shall bee restored to lyfe agayne as other shall be in the last day Yea but thou must beleue this also that they which shal ryse in the last daye shall haue lyfe by me nor that any man hath lyfe at all but by my gifte neyther is any restored to lyfe agayne but by me not onely touchyng death of body which is not muche to be feared but as concernyng the death of the soule also whiche is most of all to be feared And the soule that liueth liueth by me And the reuiuing soule reuiueth by me for I am the very fountayne of resurreccion and lyfe He that cleueth to me by fayth although he bee dead in bodye yet shall he lyue And take not thys saying to be onely spoken of thy brother but generally what man or woman soeuer hath faythful affiaūce in me he shall not dye euerlastingly although his body lyuelesse lye at rest for a tyme. Martha beleuest thou the thyng that I saye Martha beeyng at thys tyme altogether myndeful to haue her brother reuiued againe geueth no very apre aunswere to Iesus saying but yet she did confesse generally how hiely she iudged of him saying Lorde I doe beleue I beleue that thou arte Messias the sonne of the liuing God who beeing promised of the Prophetes and many hundreth yeres looked for art come into the worlde And assone as he had so sayd she went her waye and called Marie her sister secretly saying The maister is come and calleth for the assone as she heard that she arose quickly and came vnto him Iesus was not yet come into the towne but was in that place where Martha met him The Iewes then which were with her in the house and comforted her when they sawe Marie that she rose vp hastely woure out and folowed her saying She goeth vnto the graue to wepe there Martha vpon these wordes being commaunded to returne home agayne and to call her sister Marie her lamentable mourning already aswaged doth nowe leaue Iesus and goeth al chearefull and full of good hope home to her sister and calleth her secretly out of the throng of suche as were sette rounde about her and prieuely telleth her in her eare the ioyfull thyng saying The master is come and calleth for the. Assone as Marie knew that Iesus was come and saw her sister chearefull and of good coumfort she her selfe also conceiued some good hope although Iesus semed to haue come alredy to late on whome therfore they dyd not often call by messenger because they thoughte it inoughe if he once knewe his frendes perill committyng all other thynges to hys arbinement And so Marie supposing that his cūming was not for nought without delaye rose vp to goe mete him before he should entre into the house And so it was expedient for the better bestowing of that miracle that was to be shewed for fitte it was that many Phariseis shoulde be present which although they came of very duetie for priuate frendeship sake to se Marie yet dyd they hate Iesus These surely woulde not haue folowed Marie in case they had knowē howe that she went to mete Iesus But therefore the Iewes that were with Marie in the house to coumfort hir when they saw that with so great hast she arose vp and wente furth of the house they folowed hir suspectyng that vpon a soden pangue and brunte of heuynesse she woulde haue gooen to the graue and there to wepe hir belly full to saciate her sorowful harte with teares Then when Marie was come where Iesus was and sawe him she cummeth nye vnto his feete and sayth vnto him Lord if thou hadst bene here my brother had not bene dead When Iesus therfore sawe her wepe and the Iewes also weping which came with her he groned in the spirit and was troubled in himselfe and sayd where haue ye laied him They sayd
the continuall â—â—alcion of this my conuersacion among you but I had leauer speake to you of thinges that do profite then which doth delyte you would leauer haue you vpoÌ„ knowelage of the trueth to be in heauinesse for a time than not to procede to the sure constancie that shoulde be fitte for the storme to cum And for this cause I do open vnto you what shall chaunce hereafter Uerily thus I must leue you and after that I be taken away from you ye shall suffer many thinges that ye may be the more apte to beare the same more paciently it is expedient for you that I be had out of your â—ight For vnlesse by takyng from you the sight of the fleshe ye ware spirituall that comforter the spirite which shall make you strong and not to be vanquished shal not cum vnto you And because I haue prepared you for him he shall perfourme finish that which I haue begonne in you Finally through that spirite I shall alwaye continue with you yea and that more presently after I be gone than I am nowe in this kynde of presence For the purpose of my cumming was not to dwell still with you in the worlde but the cause why I did abase my selfe to your state and infirâ—â—tie was to enhaunce you to heauen It hath so semed good to my fathers wysedome as processe of tyme shoulde serue to aduaunce you litle by litle and by certaine degrees to thinges of perfeccion and it is but reason that ye on your behalfes do accommodate your mindes and good willes to my fathers order and disposicioÌ„ of thinges ye shall haue al thing of our gifte but your parte is to endeuoure your selfe to be mete to receiue our benefite for if ye should alway coÌ„tinue thus affect as ye be now that heaueÌ„ly comforter wil not cum to you as yet vnable to receiue his giftes But if I goe my waye and that you not regarding this corporall presence will frame your mindes to hier giftes whiche that spirite shall geue you then shall my father sende hym vnto you neuer to forsake you nor to leue you succourlesse whether you lyue or dye Nor he shall be no frutelesse spirite but when he cummeth he shall worke more by you than I nowe doe not that but our power is all â—ne but becauâ—e to appointe to euery busynes his tyme is a thing expedient for maâ—nes saluacion I haue reproued the worlde the same thing shall he doe more fully and more plainly for he shall sore charge the world that excepte it do for thinke and amende it selfe geuyng faithe to the ghospell it shall be without all excuse for in dede lyke as the infirmitie of our fleshe offendeth the worlde euen so doeth it seme to minister matter why the sayed world maie pretende an excuse of his infidelitie They haue seen this outward man very hungrie and a thurst they haue seen me poore and had in contempt within a while they shall se me sore afflicted taken of mine enemies al to beate and curryed and in conclusion die But when all thinges be finished that the flesh hath here to do that they shall se this body after it be dead liue againe and ascend vp into heauen and shall se the holye ghoste sent and make you so dainly vnfearefull preachers of my name and shall also perceiue wonderfull power vertue and strength shewed by calling vpon my name as deuils to go so dainly out of men the halte lame to be restored to their lymmes the sycke to be healed the dead to lyue againe and moreouer euery thing to cuÌ„ to passe whiche the Prophetes had prophecied shoulde folowe and be than I say no manner of excuse shal be left to the wicked and misâ—reantes for than the worlde shall be adiudged and condeÌ„ned of thre pointes and can not be excused firste of synne after of rightuousnesse and thirdly of IudgemeÌ„t he shal rebuke the worlde of the greatest and suche a synne as doeth include in it all other sinnes a synne inexcusable and whye because seing they perceiued the prophecies of Gods owne Prophetes take effect many thousandes professe my name they that beleued in me after they had receiued the holy goste speake straunge languages much noted for their miracles forsake the supersticion of Moses lawe imbrace the holy gospel deteste theyr forefathers Idolatrie and yet wurshippe the father of heauen in true godlynesse of life nothing regarding worldly commodities but haue their mindes wholye sette vpon heauenlye thinges the worlde 〈◊〉 saye perceiuing this what excuse shall it make for his lacke of belefe If there shal be no lacke on my fathers behalfe that hath sent me nor of myne whiche was sent to haue had all men saued and yf the holy ghoste shall omit nothing whome both we shall sende neyther ye whome that heauenly spirite shall vse as his instrumentes what resteth but that al may vnderstand howe that they perishe in the synne of vnbelefe And whan they shall see the prophane Gentiles to haue the sinnes of their olde former lyfe washed away and themselues endued with innoceÌ„cie thorowe baptisme and profession of my name it shal be manifeste that wittingly and willingly they abyde still in their filthines and adde sinne vpon synne And the worlde also shall bee reproued of falsely vsurped righteousnes for nowe they sum waie pretende the kepyng of the lawe they sumwhat glory in obseruing the ordinaunces of their progenitors they pretende religion whiche their forefathers gaue them the feastes the sabboth dayes the prayers the woorkes of mercie their wayes of honouring God and suche other lyke whiche hath the pretence of righteousnesse but after that they shall see the wonderfull power of that spirite not to bee geuen but to those that haue professed my name and that it shall bee their chaunce whiche were Idolatres to haue it without kepyng of the lawe what than shall they say thereby whiche challenge to themselfes righteousnes by kepyng of the lawe All in vaine do they glorye before menne in a false righteousnes whiche haue refused hym by whome onely true righteousnesse cummeth And all this to bee true shall then be more open to the worlde whan that spirite shall declare me not to bee dead whom they had fastened to the crosse and had burâ—ed but that I dyd returne agayne to my father from whom I came to lyâ—â— with hym and than being inuisyble withdrawen out of mens syght to do greater thinges by you being inspired with my spirite than I dyd beâ—ng with you lyâ—yng in the worlde Thus it shall cum to passe that through these thinges the vnrighteousnes of them shall be rebuked which haue put their hope of righteousnesse other where than in me and the iustice of God made more notable whiche faithfully hath perfourmed the thing which many yeares agoe he promised to mankynde by his Apostles and Prophetes â–ª and within a while the thing shal be put in vâ—e and take
the roote and I the stocke the spirite beyng distribute thorowe out al the membres and both these braunches and the other that shall be brought to the fayth by these beyng dispersed thorowe out the whole worlde farre neare I can do nothing withâ—â—t thee these coulde do nothing without me The same thing that I receyued of thee haue I poured into them by the spirite whiche is common to all that as thou extendest foorth thy power and strength in me and I inseparably do cleane vnto the euen so bothe we maye extende foorth our power in these cleaning vnto vs and will not be disseuered to thintent that the worlde being prouoked with these meÌ„s vniforme doctrine miracles and honest chaste maners maye beleue that I am come from thee that whatsoeuer I haue doen may redound to the glory of thy name and that the worlde also may vnderstande and perceyue our spirite to bee in these persones shewyng foorth and bryngyng to light his force and power by miracles and other diuers proufes For as I haue not chalenged to my selfe the prayse and glorie whiche the miracles that I haue wroughte haue gotten me amongest men but I haue translate surrendred and put it ouer to thee o father whome I haue confessed to be the auctor thereof so the glorie whiche these shall prepare by theyr great acres for the tyme to come shall be altogether ours because they shall do nothyng in theyr owne name but shall referre all thynges to the commendacion and glory of our name And so therfore the world shall perceyue suche a concorde betwene them and me as is betwene thee and me I wil worke in them by my spirite as thou hast set abroche thy trueth in me And so it wyll come to passe that they also as membres of one bodye cleaning to one heade and quickened with one spirite maye by mutuall concorde sticke together among themselues that on all parties there maye be a consummate and a very perfite concorde in heauen and in yearth The â—iscencion in opinions doeth take awaye the beliefe of doctrine If they agreyng one with another shall teache thesame that I haue taughte yf lyfe agre with doctrine doubtles the world shall perceyue it is no worldlye or humayne doctrine but to be come from whome thou sendeste into the worlde It shall also vnderstande that they be beloued of thee obeying thy will as I am beloued of thee one that no where declineth or swarueth from thy mynde and purpose Father my desyre is that as these whom beyng disseuered from the world thou haste geuen to me shall be folowers of myne affliccions and crosse so they maye be partakers with me of glorie that like as they haue bene beholders of my base and meane state and witnesses of my payne and tormentes so they maye likewyse see and beholde the glorye whiche thou shalte giue me after I haue passed thorowe these euils and haue finished my whole passion that also they maye learne by affliccions to go to the eternall ioye and by reproche and ignominte to go to immortall glorye For it is no newe glory whiche thou shalâ— geue me nor newe charitie wherwith thou louest me but therfore thou shewest tokens and argumentes among menne of thy loue towardes me to the intente that those whiche wyll be myne shoulde by lyke waye and meane cumpasse and seke for thy loue and by lyke dedes laboure to be promoted vnto the glorye of heauen They whome thou hast vouchesafed to loue and shalt alowe them as wurthy thy glorye haue been loued of the before the creacion of the worlde O righteouse father the worlde also hath not knowen the but I haue knowen the and these haue knowen that thou haste sent me and I haue declared vnto them thy name and wil declare it that the loue wherwith thou haste loued me maye be in them and I in them O righteouse father nothyng hath been ouerslipt or omitted of me whereby thou shouldest haue been brought to be knowen of all folke but the worlde beyng for the more parte blynded in the sinne faultes therof would not know thee because it would not beleue me whiles I taught thee vnto the worlde But I beyng pure from the worlde haue knowen thee and haue taughte thee beyng knowen vnto me Neyther hath my preachyng been altogether in vaine They whome thou specially diddest chose for that purpose haue knowen thee by me they knewe that I came from thee although the Phariseis with open clamoure sayeth that I came from Beelzebub the prince of deiuils But as thy goodnes had sent me to haue saued all folke if it could by any waye haue been brought to passe so thy righteousnesse will not suffre the desires of the faythful to be frustrate and voyde for the infidelitie of some that be vnfaythfull The learned the potentates the chiefe heades of religion haue contemned thy doctrine but these rude ignoraunt meke and vnlearned persones haue by me receyued the knowleage of thy name and I shall cause it to be more and more knowen vnto them that thou mayest with the same great charitable loue wherwith thou enbracest me lykewise enbrace them and so they beeyng more fully taught by my spirite maye on theyr behalfe agayne bothe loue vs and one of them by mutuall gentlenes nourishe cherishe and defende eche one the other For so shall they be strong agaynst all the troublesome hurly burlies of this worlde and shall persist vnuanquished The. xviii Chapter When Iesus had spoken these wordes he went foorth with his disciples ouer the brooke Cedron where was a gardeyne into the which he entred and his disciples Iudas also which betrayed hym knewe the place for Iesus oft tymes resorted thither with his disciples Iudas then after he had receyued a bande of men and ministers of the hye priestes and Phariseis came thither with lanternes and fyre brandes and weapons And Iesus knowyng all thynges that shoulde come vpon hym went foorth and sayed vnto them whom seke ye They aunswered hym Iesus of Nazareth Iesus sayeth vnto them I am he Iudas also whiche betrayed hym stoode with them Assone then as he had sayed vnto them I am he they wente backewarde and fell to the grounde WIth this kynde of talke our Lorde Iesus did confirme stablishe and bolden the hertes of his and after he had so doen and commeÌ„ded his flocke to his father he departed thence of his owne voluntary wyll to go mete them that shoulde apprehende hym therein declaryng playnly to his disciples that he woulde willynglye and gladly suffer whatsoeuer payne shoulde be put vnto hym for it was midnight and except it had been a well knowen place he could not haue been taken Therfore he departed out of that place whereas he had thus spoken to his disciples And when he was goen ouer the brooke whiche the Hebrewes call Cedron because many Cedre trees growe there he and his disciples wayting on hym wente into a gardeyne not
downe flat worshypped hym And beyng warned of god c Aryse and take with thee the child That it myghte bee fulfilled c In those dayes came Iohn the Baptiste Preachyng in the wyldrenes of Iewry For this is he of whoÌ„ the prophet Esay spake And were baptised of hym in Iordane â–ª c He sayd vnto them O generacion of vipers I baptyse you with water c Whose faÌ„ne is in his hand Then cummeth Iesê° But Iohn forbad him Iesus answereth â–ª c And lo heauen was opeÌ„ vnto him And whaÌ„ he had fasted forty dayes The temptour came But he answered ThaÌ„ sayeth Iesus vnto hym Then the deuil leaueth hym And behold the angelles came Whan Iesus hadde hearde â–ª c. He went aparte into Galile That it myght bee fulfilled c. And those that had the palsey â–ª c. And there folowed hym â–ª c. Blessed 〈◊〉 the poore 〈◊〉 spirite Ye be the salte of the yearth But if the salte be vnsauâ—ry c Ye be the lyght of the worlde A citye that is set on a hyll can not be hyd Let your lyghte so shine before men Who so is angry with hys brother c. But whosoeuer sayeth thou foole c. Therfore if thou offer thy gyfte at the aulter c. And than come offer thy gifte Agre with thyne aduersarie Thou shalt not cum out thence c Thou shalt not commit aduoutry Who soeuer loketh on an other mans wyfe c. Then that thy whole body should be cast into hell And if thy right hand hinder the. But I saye vnto you yâ— whosoeuer putteth away hys wyfe c. But youre communicacion shall be yea yea nai nay Geue to hiÌ„ that asketh thee But I saye vnto you c. Do good to them that hate you For he maketh his sunne c Yf ye loue them which loue you Take hede that ye geue not almes in yâ— sight c. Let not test pets blowe before thee And thy father which seeth in secrete They haue theyr rewarde Our father which arte in heaueÌ„ c Geue vs this day c Ye can not serue God and maÌ„moÌ„ What ye shall eate or drinke c. No not Salomon in all his royaltie c. Sâ—he ye firste the kyngdom of god c Be ye not carefull for to morowe Iudge not that ye be not iudged Thou hipocrite firste cast oute â— And cast not your pearles before swine Aske and it shal be geueÌ„ you c â–ª If ye then being yll caÌ„ geue your childreÌ„ good gyftes c. And fewe there be that fynde it Beware of false prophetes Ye shall know them by their frutes A good tre caÌ„ not beare yll fruites Therfore by their fruiâ—tes ye shall knowe theÌ„ Many wyll say vnto me c. Depart froÌ„ me ye that woorke iniâ—quitie Because 〈◊〉 was grounded vpoÌ„ the rocke For he taught theÌ„ as hauyng power And not as the scribes Lord if thou will the mayest make me cleane And Iesus put forthe has haÌ„de c â–ª But go 〈◊〉 thy selfe to the prieste c. Lorde my seruaunte lieth at home sicke of the palsey c. And is sore vexed c. There shal be weping gnasshynge of teeth And he touched her hande the feuer lefte her â–ª And healed all that wer sicke The foreâ— haue holes But the sonne of maÌ„ hath not wher to rest his head Let the dead buryâ— theyâ— dead Lorde saue vs O Iesu the sone of god what haue we to dooe with the They brought vnto him a maÌ„ sicke of the palsey This man blasphemeth Arise take vp thy bed go home â–ª And it came to passe c. Beholde manye Publicanes c. And whâ—n the Phariseis saw it c. Bo ye rather learn what that meaneth And Iesus sayed vnto them Can the brydegromes c Neither do meÌ„ put new wyne into olde bottelles And Iesê° arose folowed him c For she said within hee selfe yf I may c. And whaÌ„ he saw her c. Thy faithe hath saued the. For the mayde is not deade but slepeth Beleue ye that I am hable to do this â–ª He casteth oute deuels through the prince of deuils He was moued with coÌ„passion on them The haruest is plenteoê° but the laborers ar few He gaue them power against vncleane spyrites But go rather to the loste sheepe of the house of Israel Goe and preach saying the kingdoÌ„e of heaueÌ„ is at hande Freely ye haue receyued geue freely For the worke man c. And there abide tyl ye go thence â–ª Beholde I sende you furth but beware of those meÌ„ For it shall be geueÌ„ you c. But he that endureth to the ende shall be saued The teâ—te The disciple is not aboue his maister c Feare them not therfore For there is nothyng c For I am come c. He that loueth father or mother c. He that findeth his life c. And he that loseth his lyfe c. He that receiueth you receyueth me Go shewe Iohn againe what ye haue hearde and seen What weÌ„t ye out into wyldernes to see c. Beholde they that we are softe clothing c I sâ—ye vnto you c. From the daies of c For all the Prophetes c. The sonne of man c. Wo be to the Chorazin Wo be to thee Bethsaida But I sayâ— vnto you c. Uerely father so it was c. And I will ease you For I am meke lowly of herte Haue ye not redde what Dauid did c. Or haue ye not â—ed in the lawe c. But I saye vnto you c. Wherfore yf ye wâ—ste what this meaneth c. And behold there was a maÌ„ne hauyng a withered haÌ„d And they asked him c. Who emong you shall haue a shepe Than saieth he to the manue And the people folowed hym he healed them all And charged theÌ„ c. That it myght bee fulfilled which was spoken by â—say c. This felowe driueth out deuils c. But whan Iesus knew their thoughtes c. And yf I cast out deuils c. Therfore they shal be your iudges Eyther make the â—re good hys fruite good c. The euyll and aduoustetous c. For as Ionas was thre dayes â–ª c. The men of Niniue shal aryse c. The quene of the south shal rise â–ª c And he spake to theÌ„ many thynges in similitudes But he that receiued the seede â–ª c. He also that receyued c. Whiche also beareâ—â— c. Therfore euery scribe c â–ª A Prophete is not without fauoure sauâ— in hys owne countrey For Herode had taken Iohn c. And wheÌ„ he would haue put hym to deathe â–ª c Geue ye theÌ„ to eate c. And he coÌ„mauÌ„ded the people to sit downe c. Peter aunswered and sayed c. O thou of little fayth c. Euery plaâ— whiche my heaueÌ„ly father hath not