that bost so much of faythe yet are wicked in all theyr workes They professe to knowe god as the Apostle sayth but wythe theyr dedes they denye hym seynge they are abhominable disobedient and vnapte to all good workes Such bosters of fayth do not only slaunder the true christeÌ„ fayth whiche worketh by Charite but also they deceaue them selues seynge they hope frely only to be iustified by thatfayth which is barren vnfruytfull voyd of all good workes Let them crake so muche as they lyste of theyr faythe loue towarde God yet are they wicked gospâ—llers For y e loue of god sayth saynt Gregory is neuer ydle For it worketh great thynges if it be the loue of god in dede but if it ceaseth to worke than it is no loue Chrysostome also saythe The sonnes of GOD are not content to syt ydle but the spirite prouokethe them to take some great and commendable worke in hand Uerely as impossible as it is for a good tre tobe wtout a good fruyte whaÌ„ the tyme of the yeare cometh so impossible is it for true fayth to be wythout good and christen workes And as the spirite of God can none otherwyse but do those thynges that are pleasauÌ„t before God so in lyke maÌ„ner a faythful maÌ„ which is the son of god can not cease froÌ„ workyng y e wyl of god Let these rude raylynge readers of the Gospell therfore be once ashamed of theyr fayth spirite wherof so greatly they crake seynge they are altogyther vnfruytfull and wtoute all good workes If ony man be in Christe he is a newe creature He that abydeth in me I in hym sayth Christ bryngeth forth moche fruyte And he that beleueth in me as the scripture sayth floudes of lyuysh water shall flow out of his bely Euery good tree bryngeth forth good fruyte He y t hath not a lust feruent desyre to worke the wyll of God and to fasshon his lyfe in all partyes accordyng to the holy law of God vndoubtedly he hath not y â— christen fayth neyther pertayneth he vnto Christe though he bablethe neuer so muche of faythe of God of Christ of all the diuine misteries For the kyngdome of God is not in word but in power Not euery one that sayth vnto me LORDE LORDE sayth Christ shall enter into y e kingdome of heauen but he that doth y â— wyll of my father whiche is in heauen Many shall saye vnto me at y â— daye LORDE LORDE haue not we prophecyed in thy name cast out dyuels by thy name and wrought miracles by thy name But than shal I saye vnto them I know you not Departe from me ye workers of iniquite He that hathe my commaundementes kepethe them he it is y t loueth me If ony maÌ„ loueth me he wyl kepe my worde my father wyll loue hym we wyl come vnto hym dwell with hym But he that loueth me not kepethe not my wordes God hathe not shewed to vs his manifolde kyndnes that we should lyue dissolutely and with oute all good order for so were we vnworthy ony kyndenes at all but that we should earnestly wyth all diligence eÌ„ploy our selues to worke his wyl to satisfy so much as lyeth in our power his godly mynd and to walke in all our conuersacion lyuynge as his derely beloued son w alked If he dyd not spare his only begotten Sonne but gaue hym for vs all euen vnto the death how vnkynde creatures myght we righteously be recounted if we shoulde not study with herty myndes to accomplysshe his holy preceptes Are they worthye to be called chyldren which neglecte theyr fathers wyll so greatly dissent from theyr Fathers manners Oure celestiall father is holy shall we his chyldren be prophane and vnholy Our celestiall father is good godlye mercyfull pacient all spirite shall we his chyldren be euell wycked rygorous impacient all flesshe Be ye holy saythe he for I am holy Certes god hath not called vs vnto vncleannes but vnto sanctificacion Nether hath he delyuered vs from Satan his army that we should lyue wyckedly but practyse pure iÌ„nocency true godlynes in all oure lyfe as Zachary the Preste father to S. IohnÌ„ Baptist sayth He hath performed the othe which he sware to our father Abraham for to giue that we delyuered oute of the handes of our enemies myght serue hiÌ„ without feare all the dayes of oure lyfe in such holines righteousnes as are acceptable before hym Thus se ye that if we wyl walke before God we maye not onlye beleue in God feare loue God but also lead a pure innocent lyfe be pleÌ„teous in good workes altogither studious of tru godlines Chri. But I pray you why doth y e scripture vse thys terme VValKe rather than ony other Phil. It is not with out a cause Ye knowe he that stondeth styl moueth nothing forward nor hasteth not vnto the end of his iourney But he that walketh is euer goynge draweth alwaye nerer and nerer vnto hys iourneyes ende In consideracion wherof the holy Scripture vsethe this worde VValKe to put vs in remembraunce that if we haue begun well in oure professioÌ„ we should not there cease stonde styll but go forthe froÌ„ vertue to vertue from fayth to fayth vntyll at the laste we attayne vnto y e perfeccioÌ„ of pure innoceÌ„cy For he y t coÌ„tinueth vnto ende sayth christ shal be saued AgeÌ„ be faythfull vnto the death and I shall gyue the the crowne of lyfe This word we read in diuers places of the holy Scriptures Christ sayth walke whyle ye haue lyght that the darkenes doth not ouerwhelme you For he that walketh in darkenes knoweth not whyther he goethe S. Paule also sayth walke as the childreÌ„ of light prouyng what is acceptable to the LORDE Agayne loke that ye walke circumspectly not as vnwyse but as wyse redemynge the tyme for y â— dayes are euell Hytherto pertayneth y e sayenge of S. Iohn he that sayeth leth in Christ ought to walke euen as he hath walked These places w t all other suche lyke declare to vs y t we ought so to walke in our profession by encreasynge dayely in vertues that at the last we may be perfecte as S. Paule sayth make euery man perfecte in Christ Iesus And this is it that followeth iÌ„ the latter ende of the senteÌ„ce And be perfecte For we ought so to walk that is encrease in all godlynes vertu honeste that we might be perfecte as Christe saythe be ye perfecte as youre heauenly father is perfecte Also Saynte Paule Reioyse and be perfect It is one degre of vertu to loue my neyghbour but it is an higher degre to loue myne enemy but the moost excelleÌ„t degre aboue all is so to loue oure verye
enemyes that we can be contented not only to do them good but also euē to gyue our lyues to wynne them vnto Christ. It is a poynte of mercy◠to helpe my poore neyghbour with my superfluous goodes but it is a poynte of perfeccion to sel all that euer I haue to gyue it to y e poore as Christe sayde to the rytche man If thou wylte be perfecte go and sell all that thou haste and gyue it to the poore thou shalte haue treasure in Heauen and come on thy waye followe me It is a poynt of godlynes to beare an honeste herte towarde the worde of God yet it is much more openly to cōfesse it boldly before men but the very perfecte poynte of godlynes is not only to loue confesse it but also manly to abyde by it euē vnto y e very death if nede so requireth Nowe therfore euē vnto y e moost greatest perfeccion in all thynges ought we to contend labour that we maye walke before God and be perfecte Euse. I thyncke there be but fewe that attayne come vnto this perfeccion Phil. This youre floure is in dede to the carnall man of a bytter and vnpleasaunt sauour but to the spirituall truly regenerate it smelleth sweter thā ony rose Theo. God graunt that we maye once be auncient in Christ. Phile. Labour God wyl helpe Enter in at the streyght gate For wyde is the gate broad is the waye that leadethe vnto destrucion and many there be which go in therat But streyghte is the gate narowe is the waye whiche leadethe vnto lyfe fewe there be that fynde it If ye wyll lyue and reygne in glory with christ ye must suffer with Christe ye muste take y ◠Crosse of Christ followe hym Ye must cast awaye all the vayne pleasures and pompes of the world the concupiscences lustes of the fleshe ye must mortifye Satan all hys subtile suggestiōs ye must māfully resist Ye must dye vnto synne and lyue vnto ryghteousnes For christ dyd not enter into glory before he had suffered thyncke ye the gates of heauen to be opēned for you if ye lyue in this world in ioy pleasure after y e flesh Na verely ye maye be sure For y e Apostle sayth yf ye lyue after the flesh ye shal dy But if ye mortify the dedes of y e body in y e spirite ye shal liue And this is it that remayneth of your flour And I vvyll make my couenaunte betvvene me and the and vvyll multiplye the beyonde all measure God commaundynge Abraham to walke before hym and to be perfect addeth this promyse aforefayde hath vndoutedly accōplyshed it Let vs also work before God be perfecte and y e promyse also shal be fulfylled in vs. God wyll multiply vs beyond all measure both in this worlde and in y e worlde to come as Christ sayth ther is no man y ◠hath forsaken house or father mother or brothers or wyfe or children for the kyngdome of heauē but y ◠shall receaue moche more in thys tyme and in y e world to come euerlastyng lyfe Chri. GOD graunte vs so to walke that we maye be founde worthy this eternal lyfe Phil. wel neighbours seynge that God is almyghty plenteous in power abundant omnisufficient ful of all good nedy of nothynge liberall gentle mercifull redy to helpe at euery houre wholly bente to beatifye and make welthye so many as call on hym in spirite and verite whome would it not delyght to do seruyse vnto such a LORDE to walke before him and to be perfecte seynge that for oure seruyse doynge he wyl encrease and multiplye vs that is to saye gyue vs in thys worlde abundans of all thynges necessary for this our lyfe in the worlde to come euerlastyng glorye Euse. This is a swete floure that ye haue nowe gyuen vs. Theo. I beseche God that we maye smell well of it Chri. Yea and that the sauour maye longe continue in vs. Phil. To that I say Amē For if this cōe to passe ye maye be sure to haue the fauour bothe of God and man whiche of all treasures is the greatest And of this shall ye not fayle if ye labour to walke before God and be perfect which I cal Pure Innocēcy He that is pure from synne and innocent or harmeles in his conuersaciō he muste nedes fynde grace and fauour in the eyes both of god and of all men Therfore dere brothers cleaue stedfastlye to this one verye God almyghty by true faythe as y e onlye Author of all good thynges feare him reuerently as a beneficiall LORDE loue hym tenderlye as a gentle Father and so walke accordynge to his moost diuine pleasure in clennes of lyfe and pure innocēcy without ony faynynge dissimulacion or Hypocrisye that ye maye in this worlde be gouerned of hym in al your Actes thorow his moost holy spirite in the worlde to come enioye the glory eternall Euse. Amē good LORDE Phil. Your duties learned towarde youre selues god I wil now declare how ye ought to be haue your selues toward our moost Christen excelente Kynge and all other rulers that are sent of hym And this shall be the thyrde floure of your Nosegay Theo. Neuer in better tyme. It commeth wel in place Let vs se it I praye you ¶ The thyrde floure called Faythfull Obedience Philemon YE remēber I am sure y ◠name of your thyrde floure Theo. Ye named it Faythfull Obedience Phil. Wel remembred Hold here it is Let euery soule be obediēt to the pouers that beare rule For ther is no povver but of God The povvers that be are ordened of GOD. Therfore vvho so euer resistethe the povver resistethe the ordinaunce of God And they that resist shall gette to them selues damnacion c. Howe doth the aspecte of this flour please your eies Chri. It is not only pleasaunte to the eye but it also gyueth a goodly odoriferous confortable sauour to so many as smel on it with purged noses For it sheweth howe we ought to behaue our selues bothe towarde our moost redoubted Kynge all other rulers which are sēt of hym vnto y e prayse of them that do well but vnto the punishement of them that do euell They therfore y t are faythful subiectes must nedes reioyse ī this flour vnfaynedly Phil. Wel sayd Althogh neighbours I do not doubte but that in your conscience ye are assuredly perswaded that the christen magistrates and hyghe powers do reygne rule haue dominion euery one in theyr kyngedome not of theyr owne tyrannye cruell violence and extorte power butte of the authorite of Gods worde the iust appoyntment of the hygh celestiall kyng for the great consolacion and cōforte of his people and for the innumerable cōmodities of the Christen publique weale which of theyr no lesse vertuous than ryghteous regiment
¶ A pleasaunt newe Nosegaye full of many godly and swete floures lately gathered by Theodore Basille Eccle. 24. ¶ As the Uyne haue I broughte forthe fruyte of a swete sauoure and my floures are as the fruytes of honour rytches ¶ The Nosegaye speaketh What meanest thou my frende to gather Floures which sone perysh and decaye Theyr sauours wyll not laste eueâ— As by experience se thou maye For a lytle tyme they seme pleasaunt But streyght do they vanysh awaye Lyke thynges which to vanite graunt As by experience se thou maye Leaue therfore thynges transitory And enhalse godly thynges alwaye Which shall auaunce the vnto glory As by experience se thou maye Receaue me into thy bosome If thou doste desyre a nosegaye My floures are full of delectacion As by experience se thou maye To knowe thy selfe thou mayst learne here God and thy kynge truely to obeye â–ª And to thy neyghbour to be dere As by experience se thou maye Take me nowd vnto the therfore Beare me in thy bosome alwaye Much pleasure haue I for the in store As by experience se thou maye â–ª ¶ To the right worshypful mayster George Whetenhall Esquyer Thodore Basille wissheth continuall health and prosperous felicite ALthough we haue mooste vrgent weyghty causes yea those iÌ„numerable to extoll magnify commend prayse the exceadynge goodnes bounteous liberalite of our moost mercifull father yf we perpend peÌ„sitate weyghe ponder coÌ„sider his inestimable benefites which he frely without our deseruynge dayely giueth vnto vs miserable creatures yet if we weyghe all thinges in a iust balaunce we shall easely and withoute ony difficulte perceaue y â— we are moost bounde to celebrate prayse his moost blyssed name for y e restorynge of his holy word at this tyme brought to passe by his true annoynted HeÌ„ry our moost redoubted Kynge as by another Iosias whose graces moste excellent maieste that LORDE of powers mought prosper in all his diuine affayres godly enterprises For before God restored to the world the Gospell ioyfull tydynges of his derely beloued sonne our LORDE Sauioure Iesus Christe incredulite as chefe rulare reygned in oure hertes Hypocrisye as a vayne gloryous Empresse bare dominion SupersticioÌ„ Idolatry false sectes mennes tradicions confidence reposed in humayne inuencions Pylgrimages Offringes Bulles Pardonnes dispensacions Masses of Scala celi marchaundyse for merytes workes byenge sellynge of the diuine misteries with an whole sea of euelles mo had creapte in vnto y e great perturbacion disquietnes of y e holy catholyke chyrch as I may passe ouer the blynde ignorancy ygnorant blyndenes into the whiche by this meanes we were cast and tombled Howe can it otherwyse be If the lyght of Gods word be obscured extincte or quenched which only is the lanterne to our feete a lyghte to our pathwayes what meruayle is it though the fearce outerageous floudes of Idolatry all kinde of supersticioÌ„ breake in and inuade the boundes of christianite yea and ouerflowe theÌ„ For as Fayth Hope Charite Peace Mercy Pacience longe sufferynge humilite sobriete iustice spirituall liberte obedience towarde the hyghe powers and all goodnes reygneth where the LORDES word bereth rule so in lyke maÌ„ner where y t is expulsed banysshed exiled Incredulite hatred enuy couetousnes veÌ„geaÌ„ce contencion Glotony dronckeÌ„nes rapacite immoderate lustes vncleane affectes carnal liberte disobedieÌ„ce iÌ„surreccion arrogaÌ„cy pryde ambicioÌ„ crudelite maÌ„slaughter thefte false witnes hypocrisy ignoraÌ„ce blyndnes sectes Heresye and all that is contrary to the commaundeme nt and wyll of God beareth dominioÌ„ and hath preeminence as SalomoÌ„ sayeth Where knowledge is not there is no goodnes for y â— soule Agayne whan the preachyng of Gods word â—ayleth the people peryshe runne cleane oute of order Therfore it is wryten by the Prophet make hast to the lawe witnes If they speke not accordynge to this word they shall not haue the mornynge lyght that is to saye the true knowledge of God Rebuked not Christ y e Saduces bycause they were ignorant in the holy Scriptures affyrming that they were deceaued for lacke of the knoweledge of them Ye are deceaued sayth he bicause ye know not y e scriptures Therfore in y e gospel of Iohn he exhorteth al men to serch y e scriptures sayeÌ„g serch ye y e scriptures for they are they y e beare witnes of me And y e Psalmograph calleth theÌ„ blissed which search y e testimonies of the LORDE meditate in his lawe both both daye nyght The worde of God muste nedes be an excellent precious treasure seinge it is the power of GOD vnto saluacion for so many as beleue seinge also it is profitable to teache to iÌ„proue to amend to instructe in ryghteousnesse that the man of God may be perfecte prepared to all good workes Who is able to expresse what a precious relique and high treasure the worde of God is Uerely it is that treasure wherof Christ speaketh in the Gospell that lygheth hydden in the felde which whan a man once fyndethe for ioye therof he goeth selleth all that he hathe byethe that felde And it is no lesse treasure to the soule than the corporall eyes are to the bodye as y e Psalmographe testifieth Thy worde O LORDE is a lanterne to my fete a lyght to my pathewayes For as that man that is depryued of his corporal syght knoweth not how nor wher to walke so lyke wyse heÌ„ that wanteth the lyght of Goddes worde seeth nothynge and therfore walketh he not aright but waÌ„dreth abrode lyke a shepe dispersed destitute of a shepparde But as he that hath the true perfecte syght of the eyes stoÌ„blethe not but walketh at all times without dauÌ„ger so in lyke maÌ„ner he y e is endued by Christes spirite w t the light of y â— holy Scriptures waÌ„dreth not froÌ„ that true way which sayth of him selfe I am the waye the truethe the lyfe but alwaye is preserued that he walketh continually in the kynges hygh waye declynyng neither on the right hand or on y e lyfte hand He is not caryed about with strauÌ„g doctryne His fayth is bylte on a sure rocke therfore abideth he fyrme immutable stedfaste sure constant what so euer kynde of teÌ„peste assaylethe hym The gates of hell can not preuayle agaynst him Satan with all his army are not able once to abduce remoue hym from the true waye For the lyghte of Goddes worde is continually before his eies wher vnto he gyueth diligent attendance which also he followeth earnestly in all his iourneyes and therfore muste he nedes walke the true waye neuer erre Yf he be blyssed fortunate happy that hath the naturall lyght of his body howe much more blyssed heueÌ„ly at ease is he that is illumined with y e lyght of the LORDES word wherof y e holy king Dauid
walke purely innocētly before God Phil. To walke before God is on such sort to īstitute our lyfe as he hath appointed ī his holy scripture not as carnal reasō imaginethe or good zeale wtoute knowlege deuiseth cōtrary to y e prescripte of Gods worde as we haue sene here to fore in our mōstruous Mōckes which laborīg to establish theyr own ryghteousnes were not made obedient to y e iustice of God That ye may walke before god certayn thīges are to be obserued first y t ye haue a sure cōstāt stedfast tru lyuysh fayth to beleue y t whiche y e holy scriptures tech of god of his workes Ye herd y e God is oīpotēt almighty plenteous in power abūdāt o◠sufficiēt full of all good nedy of nothing This must ye beleue vndoubtedlye yf ye wyll walke before God Ye herd also y t as God is able so wyll he healpe so many as call on him in spirite truethe Thisalso must ye beleue wtoute ony hesitaciō or doutyng For wtoute thys fayth no man can please god nor come vnto hym aryght For this fayth is y e foūdacion and grounde of the christen religion This fayth maketh a christen man Thys fayth makethe vs the sonnes of lyght This fayth prouoketh and callethe vnto God This Faythe trustethe not in her owne ryghteousnes and good workes but on the promyses of God Thys fayth maketh vs to be borne of God This fayth mitigatethe y ◠wrath of God Thys faythe obtayneth al good thynges of God as it is wryttē he that beleueth on him hath euerlastynge lyfe Beleue in y ◠Lord sayth the scripture ye shall be safe wtoute ony daunger Agē Euery one y t calleth on y e name of y e lord shal be safe For ther is but one LORDE of all sufficiently rytche for so many as call on him This fayth maketh vs the sonnes of God as y e Apostle sayth all ye are the sonnes of God bycause ye haue beleued in Christ Iesus Agayne So many as receaue hym he gaue them power to be made the sonnes of God in as much as they beleued in his name This fayth maryeth vs to God as he hym selfe testifyethe I wyll marye the vnto me in faythe and thou shalt knowe that I am the LORDE Thys fayth purifyeth our hartes This fayth ouercommeth Satan This fayth vanquissheth y e worlde This fayth makethe vs the Tēples of the lyuyng God This fayth wyl not suffer vs to be confounded This fayth bringeth to vs the mercy of God in al our aduersite This fayth is the fulfyllynge of Gods cōmaūdemētes This fayth makethe vs the enheritours of the earthe possessours of Goddes holy mountayne This fayth maketh vs to vnderstonde the truethe This faythe causeth that hell gates can not preuayle agaynst vs. This fayth iustifyeth vs. This Fayth bryngeth all good thynges vnto vs. This fayth as S. Austen saythe is the begynnynge of mans helth without this no man can reach or come vnto the nomber of the sonnes of God wyth out this all the labour of manne is frustrate voyde This Faythe as S. Ambrose saythe is the roote of all vertues and that thou byldeste on this foundacion that alone profyteth vnto y e reward of thy worke fruyte vertue This fayth sayth he is rytcher thā all treasures strōger thē all corporall power more healthful than all Phisicions This faythe as Chrisostome saythe is a lampe For a lampe lyghteneth the house so doth fayth the soule This faythe of the Catholyke religion is the lyght of y e soule the dore of lyfe the foundaciō of euerlastyng helth Thus se ye what an excellent treasure this christen fayth is without the whyche by no meanes ye canne walke worthely before the LORDE our God Moreouer thys your fayth must be conioyned wyth a reuerēt feare towarde God For the feare of the LORDE saythe the wyse man is the begynnynge of wisdome and expelleth synne Withoute this feare no man can purely walke before God For he that feareth God truely feareth also to displease hym yea he sekethe all meanes possible to accomplysh the wyl of god as the Psalmo graph sayth blyssed is that man y t feareth y e LORDE for all his delight pleasure shal be in his cōmaundementes Unto this feare of GOD dothe Dauid exhorte vs sayenge feare ye the LORDE all ye that are his seruauntes For they shall neuer wante y e feare hym The sonne honoreth the father the seruaūte his Lord yf I be your father wher is my honoure And yf I be youre LORDE where is my feare saythe y e LORDE of Hoostes But this feare ought not to be a seruile and bonde feare procedynge from an vnwyllynge harte but a reuerent gētle feare flowynge oute of loue Therfore wyth this your faythe feare must ye also haue a syncere pure loue towarde God cōbyned so that ye shall both truely beleue in God reuerently feare hym vnfaynedly loue hī And this is it that Moses wryghteth and now O Israel sayth he what doth the LORDE thy god require of the but that y u shouldest feare the LORDE thy God and walke in his wayes loue hym serue the LORDE thy God in all thy herte in all thy soule Nowe haue ye herd partely what it is to walke before God Euse. I praye you what remayneth there behynde Phil. After that ye haue conceaued in your hertes this faythe feare loue toward God thorow the operacion of the holy Ghoste so that ye haue entred the pathe waye of oure LORDE god nowe doth conueniēt tyme require that ye walke not only secretly but also openly before God tha◠is that ye do not only inwardly in your hertes beleue in God feare loue god but also that ye outwardly shew forth this your fayth feare loue buryed wythin you by externall workes that men seynge your godly conuersacion maye then glorify your father which is in heauē For this is to walke before god euē to beleue ī god to feare god to loue God and to lede an innocēt lyfe accordynge to his holy worde Without thys innocēcy purite of lyfe I se not what al fayth fear or loue profyt Followe your LORDE God sayth Moses feare hym kepe hys cōmaūdementes heare his voyce ye shall serue hym and cleaue vnto hī The Prophet Miche also sayth I wyll shewe the O man what is good what the LORDE requireth of the euen to do iudgement and to loue mercy studiously to walk w t thy God Here se you y t yf ye wyll walke before God ye muste do good dedes leade a pure innocent lyfe study to accomplyshe Gods wyll in all poyntes laboure to fasshyon your manners after the rule of goddes worde Farewel they
meanynge that they shoulde not be so bent to seke theyr owne auauntage that they should vtterly neglecte the profyt of theyr christen brother For y e very same mynd ought to be in vs that was in Christ Iesu whiche beynge in the shape of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God but made hym selfe of no reputacioÌ„ toke vpoÌ„ hym y â— shape of a seruaunt became like a nother man was founde in his apparel as a man He humbled hym selfe became obedieÌ„t vnto the death eueÌ„ the death of y â— Crosse. Here is youre floure Redy asistence Here is an example that ye shoulde be redy to assist helpe your neyghbour at al tymes Howe dyd our moost blyssed Sauiour Christe vtterly neglecte caste awaye as I may so speke his owne glory honour and worshyp to seke our health conforte saluacion This redy assistence helpe oughte also to be in vs yf we pertayne vnto Christ. For we oughte to haue y â— care for our neighbour that Christ had for vs or elles we walke not accordynge to Charite This redy assistence also se we in that Samaritane of the Gospell which seynge a certayne man spoyled robbed greuouslye wounded and halfe deade had pytye on hym came vnto hym bounde vp his woundes powred in oyle wyne layenge hym on hys beaste brought hym vnto an Inne made prouision for hym Here is a nother godlye example of redy assistence Here is a myrrour for all menne to looke in Here is a payre of spectacles for to shewe euery man what his dutye is toward his neyghbour Euse. As how I pray you for an example Phil. Certes as this Samaritane dyd To be bent at all tymes to healpe so manye as hath nede of our helpe to procure no lesse the helthe furtherance of other than of our selues As for an example Arte y u a Iudge a Iustice of peace a Constable a Baliffe or ony other coÌ„moÌ„ officer So hast y u y e lawe in thy hande Matters of contrauersye are broughte before the. Looke therfore that thou iudgeste all thynges accordynge to equite Be not parciall Fauoure not one parte more than another Shewe indifferency Do as ryght require Gyue no wronge sentence neyther for feare nor loue of ony parsonne Practise none iniquite Condemne not the innoceÌ„t for lucres sake Be not corrupt with gyftes Eate not the poore maÌ„ neyther deuour thou his substauÌ„ce but helpe to sustayne hym in his ryght agaynste the violence of the wicked Tyrantes and cruel oppressours accordyng to thy office yf thou doste this than haste thou this flour Redy assistence about the doste to thy neyghboure as y u arte bound by the commaundemeÌ„t of God If thou doste this that is iudge contrary to equite suffer the poore to be oppressed for fauoure or lucres sake or els bycause thou bearest a cruell harte and spytefull stomacke agaynst the parte so gettest thou the great displeasure of God hepest vp to thy selfe euerlastinge damnacion Arte thou a Bysshop prest or spirituall minister of Goddes worde looke than well to thy office RemeÌ„ber that it is thy dutye reuerently to minister y e moost blyssed Sacramentes of Christes Chyrche and to preach the worde of God to y â— flocke vpon whome the holy Ghoste hath made the ouerseare to gouerne the congregacioÌ„ of God whome he purchased with his bloude Remember that it is sayd vnto the Pasce Pasce Pasce fede fede fede Fede ther fore thy Paryshe with good exaÌ„ple of vertuous lyuinge Fede them w t the pure EuaÌ„gelion true Gospell of Christ. Fede theÌ„ also w t corporall foode thorowe the mayntenauÌ„ce of hospitalite Teache them to forsake all Idolatry supersticion only to cleaue to the true lyuing God the alone and omnisufficient sauiour Teache them to honoure call on the name of theyr LORDE God in all theyr aduersities and troubles Teach them faythful obedience toward theyr superiours Teache theÌ„ to loue theyr wyues as theyr owne flesh to brynge vp theyr chyldren familye in the feare nourtoure of the Lord. Teach theÌ„ to labour for theyr lyuiÌ„g not to takeaway ony mans goodes vniustly Teache theÌ„ to testify the truethe to beare no false witnes Teache them to be no manâ—lears but to loue al men with a pure harte Teache them to lyue of theyr owne not to couyt that which pertayne to other meÌ„ Teach them to walke streyght in the path wayes of the LORDE al the dayes of theyr lyfe vnlesse the fearce plages cruel veÌ„geaunce of God fall both vpon the them Crye cease not Shewe to the people theyr synnes offenses wickednesses CoÌ„maund the wicked to forsake hys iniquite Exhorte the rytche man vnto the glad redy distribucion of his goodes to y e poore people Fede y e flocke of Christ so muche as lyethe in thy power Be an example of the fayth full in word in coÌ„uersacion in loue in spirite in fayth in purite clennes of lyfe Gyue attendaunce to thy selfe to doctrine continew in these Reproue them that synne opeÌ„ly before all men that y â— other may be afeard Kepe thy selfe pure clene honest Suffer affliccioÌ„ trouble as a goodsouldiour ofIesus Christ Study to shewe thy selfe acceptable to God a workemaÌ„ that nedeth not to be ashamed deuydynge iustly the worde of trueth Flye the lustes of yongthe followe righteousnes fayth charite peace with them that cal on the LORDE wyth a pure harte Reproue the ennemyes of trueth fearsely that they maye be whole in faythe Speake y u those thiÌ„ges that become wholesome doctrine but aboue all thynges be an exaÌ„ple to other of good workes Be not absent from thy benefice Liue not dissolutely at the vniuersite or els wher Be not that Spheppard and Idol that forsaketh his flocke but gyue them meate in due tyme. Suffer not y e wolfe to deuour Christes shepe whome he bought wythe no lesse pryce than wythe his owne most precious bloud DefeÌ„d the glorye of GOD and not thyne owne dignite Striue for the helth of thy flocke not for thy rytchers possessions The synful of thy flocke exhorte vnto faythfull repentaunce The desperate prouoke thou vnto y â— trust of Gods mercy The weake make y u stronge The diseased looke thou heale The bloudye wounded looke thou cure The broken looke thou make whole The imperfecte loke thou make perfecte The stroÌ„g in Christ loke thou make auÌ„ciente To conclude if thou be a true Bisshop a faythful ouerseare a diligeÌ„t Curate a trusty shepparde rather gyue thy lyfe spend all the bloud in thy body than that one of y e least of Christes flocke should perysh thorowe thy faute So mayst thou be sure whan that Prynce of sheppardes shall appeare to receyue the immarcessible crown of glory if y u dost not these thynges
springeth and the feare of the LORDE For as the one is the begynnynge of wisdome â–ª so is the other of helth Euse. I pray God we may so knowe our selues that we may deserue to haue this moost excellent vertu engraffed in our brestes Phil. Neyghbours one worde wyth you than an ende of this your fyrst flour Remember that your floure is called Vnfayned humilite bycause ye may not outwardely pretend humilite and inwardely be inflated wythe Pharasaicall arrogancy puffed vp after the manner of the proud Hypocrites and supercibious Pharises whom Christ his Apostles rebuke so oft in y e holy scriptures for theyr fayned holynes Be no paynted sepulchres outwardely fayre and inwardly full of rotten bones and al fylthynes For many as saynt Ierome sayth followe the shadowe of Humilite but fewe the trueth Let all glosyng wordes be taken away let all faynynge gestures cease Pacience sheweth a maÌ„ to be truly huÌ„ble Let your humilite therfore not only be expressed wyth gesture and voyce but also let it procede from y e pure affecte of the herte So maye ye be sure to haue God gracious fauourable vnto you euer to prosper in all your honest trauayles godlye affayres Hytherto haue I spoken sufficientely of youre fyrste floure called Vnfayned humilite and I haue bene the longer aboute it bycause I would be glad to expell the poisonof Pryde out of your hertes which raygneth almoost vniuersally beyond al measure at this daye and to engraffe in you this goodly herbe which is so swete and wholesome that wythout it no medicine can ryghtly be ministred This beynge digested all other are y â— more easye to receyue Theo. Neyghboure Philemon thyncke not but y e your wordes are reposed euen in y e lowest parte of our hertes we trust that ye haue not sowen this seed of Goddes worde in ony stony grouÌ„d but in suche good earth as shall brynge forth some an huÌ„drethe folde some syxty folde and some thyrtye folde Phil. It doth me good to heare this to knowe your redy wyll vnto all goodnes vertu For in dede neighbours we had neuer more nede to worcke well and to do good dedes than at this tyme. The christen religion begynneth vtterly to decay Alas we speke much of Christe but manye lyue no part of Christ. Uice styl reygneth vertu hath no place Well I wyl gyue you your second floure Christo. I praye you lette vs haue it ¶ The second floure named Pure Innocency Philemon BEhold here is the second floure of your Nosegay I am the almighty GOD. VValke before me and be perfecte And I vvyll make my couenaunte betvvene me and the and vvyll multiplye the beyonde all measure Euse. Was not this the sayenge of God the father vnto AbrahaÌ„ Phil. Yies verely pertaynethe now vnto vs no lesse than it dyd at y t tyme to hym For what so euer thynges are wrytten are wrytten for our learnynge Ye shall receaue moche pleasure of this your floure yf ye marke the vertue of it well Fyrst ye shall note that God calleth hymselfe the almyghty God wherby we maye easely discerne hym froÌ„ those gods yea rather Idolles and dyuels whome the Hethen dyd worshyp call vpoÌ„ For our God is omnipotent that is to say almyghty plenteous in power aboundant oâ— sufficient ful of all good nedy of nothynge The Gods of the Gentiles are of no power puissauÌ„ce streÌ„gth full of all imbecillite weakenesse misery Our God made all thinges of nothing by y e power of his word The Gods of the HetheÌ„ make not but they are made of other and are none other thynge than wood stonnes syluer gold or wicked spirites Oure God is able to helpe so many as call on hym in spirite truethe The Gods of the Gentiles are not able for to helpe theÌ„selues neyther do they heare ony man that cal on them as we maye perceaue by the prestes of Baal Oure God lastethe for euer euer euen worldes worldes withoute ende The Gods of y e Hethen perysh and are more vayne than the smoke Thus se ye what a God we haue None eyther in heauen earth or hel is able to compare w t this our God He alone is good mercifull gentle pacient long sufferynge almyghty ryghteous omnisufficient plenteous of power full of all good In him all thinges abunde nothinge wanteth He is y e omnisufficient protectour valeaÌ„t defender for all them that repose theyr affiaunce and truste in hym Who therfore wyll not haue a pleasure to serue this God Who is so madde to forsake this God to folowe ony other Who beynge godly mynded wyll not seake the glory of this God euen froÌ„ the very harte Who hauyng but a carnell of Christen salte in his brest wyl not haÌ„ge wholy on thys God as alone altogyther sufficient for the faythefull abundantly in all thynges wherof they haue nede eyther pertaynyng to the soule or to the bodye Cursed be that maÌ„ that putteth his truste in man that takethe fleshe for his arme he whose herte departe the from the LORDE For he shal be lyke the Heath that groweth in the wildernes As for the good thyng that is for to come he shall not se it but dwell in a drye place of the wyldernes euen in a salte vnoccupyed londe O but blyssed is the maÌ„ that putteth his truste in the LORDE whose hope the LORDE is hymselfe For he shall be as a tree that is plaÌ„ted by the waters syde which spreadeth oute the roote vnto moystnes whom the heate can not hurte wheÌ„ it coÌ„meth but his leaues are grene in the tyme of drowte shall he not be carefull neyther shall he cease at ony tyme to bring forth his â—ruite Secondely ye shall note that after God hath described him selfe to be almyghtye that is passynge all other in power it is so greate infinite vnmeasurable he expresseth the duety of so many as wyll serue hym as they ought VValKe before me saythe he and be perfecte Loo here is your flour Pure Innocency He that obserueth this precepte of god canne not displease erre or offende butte worke pure innnocency before god WalKe before me sayth he be perfecte Theo. What meanethe God by that I praye you Phil. To walke before God is to serue hym according to his worde so purely and innoceÌ„tly as though GOD hymselfe were euer present before oure eyes Chri. This is a hard thiÌ„ge Phil. The yoke of Christ is swete y e burdeÌ„ is lyght neyther are his preceptes heauy For where the spirite of the LORDE is there is liberte And if the sonne hath made you free than are ye truly free And yf ye be endewed wyth streÌ„gth froÌ„ aboue than is nothyng harde but all thynges easy thorow the spirite that worketh in you Theo. I praye you declare vnto vs howe we may