man of greate possessioÌ„s of a viâ—…e condition a maÌ„ of hygh noble renoume Euse. Trulye the goodnes of God towarde man can not be expressed Phile Yet are these benifites whych one man geueth to an other more vyle then dust if they be compared to y e precious giftes heretofore rehearsed whiche God gaue to man But marcke what foloweth Theo. Saye on we besech the. Phile. Satan that old subtile serpent perceiuing man to be made of God for this enteÌ„te y t he should enherite that glory frome the whyche for hys intollerable arrogancye he was moste worthely deiecte and caste downe craftelye subtilly lyke him selfe w t manye swete proâ—…ses and faire flaterynge wordes at the laste allured oure grandmother Eue to the traunsgression of Gods commaundemente and she lykewyse hyr 〈◊〉 so that by this meâ—…s 〈◊〉 they and theyr posteritie were not onely depriued of those pleasurs and commodities whyche I rehearsed heretofore but also vtterli daÌ„ned for theyr disobedieÌ„ce And al this came to pas thorow the enuy of SataÌ„ as y e wise maÌ„ saith God created mâ—… to be vnde stroâ—…ed yea after y e image of his own liknes created he him Neuertheles thorow enuâ—… of the deuyl death entred into the world Christo. O lamentable chaunce Nowe is man become of the Image of God the Image of the deuill of the heyre of glorye the enheritour of euerlasting paine of immortall mortall of good Godly wicked and deuillishe of fre a bonde slaue wyth all hys powers to Satan sinne death hell desperation c. Euse. But what enioied that rauenynge woulfe his pray Phile. Nothynge lesse for God whych is gentle and the self gentilnes moued wyth louynge compassion tender zeale and fatherly pity towarde man forgettyng the displesure y t maÌ„ had done to him thorow hys disobedieÌ„ce castyng al hys sins behind his backe enflamed w t no lesse loue towarde maÌ„ coÌ„cernyng hys saluatioÌ„ beholde what grace mercy doth then he was before the traunsgressioÌ„ minding to shew hym selfe of no lesse puissaunce and streÌ„gth to recouer saue maÌ„ theÌ„ Satan was to destroy coÌ„deÌ„ne maÌ„ came into Paradice sought hym vp made garmeÌ„tes for him to couer hys nakednes seÌ„t hym into thys world made him Lord ouer all and promised hym that the sede of a woman euen Iesus Christ hys owne sonne borne of Mary the vyrgin shoulde deliuer him from the power of Sathan reconcile hym to his Godly fauoure satisfye for hys wyckednes make hym a newe man endue hym wyth hys holye spirite fynallye thorowe hys merites and good workes bring him vnto the celestiall enheritaunce from the whyche Satan at that presente had exiled hym Thys promise was so fayethfull for God hym selfe spake it which is the selfe trueth whyche can not lye which is iuste in al his wordes agayne so coÌ„fortable that so manye I meane Adam hys posteritie as did apprehend and laye hand on that wyth earneste fayeth were fre from that miserable thraldome wherinto they were cast thorow Satans willnes receyued into fauour taken as moste deare chyldren and recounted perfectly rightuous for the assured perswation and vndoubted faith y t they coÌ„ceiued in the blessed sâ—…de Iesus Christe at the tyme promised of God the father So that so longe as they liued in thys present world they liued in the fauour of God and when they departed from hence God appointed theyr bodies to reaste in the earth placed theyr soules where hys good pleasure was vnto the commynge of his sonne theÌ„ to receiue that blessed ioye and heauenly felicitie that they had loste thorow their disobedience Iesu Christ that most blessed sede workynge thys saluation for maÌ„ noâ—… for any good dedes that we had done but of his own mere mercy and tender pity Theo. O here is the good shephearde that soughte vp the loste shepe when he had fouÌ„de it layed it louyngelye vpon hys shoulders â—…eÌ„derly brought it home agayne to the shepefolde O here is y e most swete louing tender father which w t so greate ioy embrasing armes receiued home againe the lost son O here is y e merciful SamaritaÌ„ whych pyâ—…ying the wouÌ„ded man being half dead poured wine oileinto his wouÌ„ds bound theÌ„ vp laied him vpoÌ„ his beast caried him to an inne paid for his healiÌ„g O here is that moste puisaunte kynge whyche of his owne liberalitie forgaue hys seruaunt the ten M. taleÌ„tes which he ought O here is y e mighty Loâ—…d which trode downe the wyne pâ—…sse alone alone neyther was there anye at all that holpe hym O here is that moste louyng sauiour that saueth his people froÌ„ all theyr synnes O here is that diligente Phisitian that is ready at all tymes to healpe the diseased to refreshe theym that labourâ—… and are laden O here is that myghty Dauid that slewe Golias and deliuered the Israelites from the cruel PhilistiaÌ„s O here is that mooste valiauÌ„te Emperour whych for our sakes hath coÌ„quered SataÌ„ â—…el death synne desperation damnation wyth al the powers infernal O here is that tender herted louer that can no more forget vs then a mother can forget the chyld of hyr wombe and though she forget hyr chyld yet can not he forget vâ—… For he hath written vp vs in his handes so that we are alwayes in his sight To whom is not here opened an exceading greate and large windowe to reioyce in the Lorde oure God except we be estraÌ„ged froÌ„ al that is God or Godly Phile. I am glad brother Theophilus to heare you speake on thys maner But lette vs go forth After so many pleasures shewed to man which all thorowe hys owne faulte he so wyckedly loste after so greate a synne committed agaynste the diuine maiestie so frelye to forgeue man so to accepte hym into hys fauoure so to loue hym that he promiseth to send downe from hys moste glorious throne hys owne dearly beloued son to make a perfect recoÌ„ciliation euerlastynge agremente betwene hym and man that they may for euer and euer dwell togyther in ioyefull glorye Oh what a feruente charitie and vnmeasurable loue of God is this Who canne worthelye either by herte thynke or by tonge expres or yet by penne sette forth the exceadynge greatenes of Goddes kynde hertye loue towaâ—…d man The Kynge of all Kynges the Lorde of all Lordes yea that Lord to whose maiestye al thinges are obediente boeth in heauen earth and Hell so to set his mynd on man beyng but a pore vile and miserable creature yea of all mortall Creatures moste synneâ—…ull mooste disobediente mooste frayle and readye to fal so to loue and tender hym that to do hym good to brynge hym vnto glorye and honoure he dis dayneth not but mooste wyllyngelye vowchesafeth to sende downe hys onelye begotten and dearelye beloued sonne yea and that into thys synnefull vale
geue you is called the Iewell of Ioye not wythout a cause For in it you shall receyue muche true Ioye perfecte solace muche Godlye pleasure and spirituall conforte In it ye shal se in what thyng alone ye oughte to reioyce and howe vaine and transitory those thinges are wherin the foleishe and phantasticall worldelynges repose their chiefe pleasure and de lectation Thys Iewel haue I borowed of y e blessed apostle S. Paul and it is among his treasures cowched in y e fourth chap. of hys Epistle to the Philippiās Chri. I pray you what is it◅let it be brought forth Phile. Lo here it is Reioyce in y e Lorde alway and agayne I say reioice How like you this Iewell Is it not boeth goodlye and preciouse Is it not worthe y e lokynge on as they saye Is it not a Iewel worthye to be worne of euerie true herted christiā man Euse. It is a Iewel in dede not onely amiable and pleasaunt in aspecte but also very confortable and holsome to a Christian mannes conscience Theo. It is no apte Iewell for the wicked worldelinges bellied hypocrites which lyke to E soppes cocke set more by a barly corne then by all the preciouse stones in the world of thys sort chiefely Phile. Truth it is For if menne estraunged frome the publique weale of the true Israelites car nallye mynded vncircumsed in herte disobedient to the yoke of Christ not regenerate bi the spirite of God nor renewed by the holy baptisme but in all poynts led captyue at the deuilles pleasure w t the affectes of the world shoulde heare thys aforesayed sentence of the holy apostle recited to them chiefly of such one as is enprisoned fettred bound in chaynes as blessed S Paul was what tyme he wrote thys Epistle vnto the Phillyppians which are instrumētes to the vo luptuouse worldelynges of no gladenes but of sadenes of no ioye and pastaunce but of sorow and greuaunce they woulde no lesse then maruaile at hys fondnes yea it is to be thought that they would laugh him to scorne as a person transposed and far set beyond the limites of wyttye reason and reasonable wytte seynge he exhorteth vnto y t whiche in so greate stormes and tempestes of troublous aduersitie no herte led w t humaine wisedome can easily approue so blinde foleishe ignoraunte and of no capacitie felynge or vnderstāding in spiritual thynges is the wisedome of this world as S. Paul sayeth A naturall man doth not perceyue those thinges that pertaine to y e spirit of god For they are foleishenes to hym neyther can he come to the knowledge of them bicause they are spirituallye iudged The heade rulers amonge the Iewes the byshops the priests the scribes the Phariseis y e Saduces the Lawiers wyth manye other whyche were in christes time proue this thing euidently true inoughe whyche although in theyr owne conceite puffed vp w t the excellent know ledge of Gods misteries perceyuynge nothynge at all of Christes blessed doctrine so trulye is it saied of the holy Apostle The wisdome of thys world is foleyshnes before God Neyther wāt we exemples at thys present Euse. To knowe Christe Christes doctrine aright is the singu ler gifte of God wrought in our hertes by hys holye spirite as Christe hym selfe testifieth sayinge No man cā come vnto me except the father which sent me draw hym and I wyll rayse him vp in the laste daye It is written in the prophetes all shall be taughte of God therfore euerye one y t hathe hearde of the father and hathe learned he cometh to me Theo. In the Gospel of blessed Mathew our sauiour Christ geueth thankes to his heauenly father bycause he hathe hydden the knowledge of hys misteries frome the wyse and prudente of thys worlde whyche gloried in theyr owne wysedome and hath reueyled them to the lyttle ones that is to saye to theym that be humble mynded meke in spirite lowly in herte and euen such as ascribe al glory and honoure to God and not to thēselues Forsoth father sayth he euē so was it thy good pleasure All thyngs are geuen ouer vnto me of my father And no mā knoweth the son but the father nether knoweth any man the father saue the sonne and he to whome so euer the sonne wyll open him phile But thys oure Apostle fayethfull Embassadoure sente from god the father to be a doctour to the gentyls in fayth and veritie a true citizyn of the newe celestial Hierusalem abundantlye replete wyth the fruites of y e holye Goste and plentuouselye endued wyth wysedome from aboue to vnderstand and declare the excellente misteries of Goddes moste hyghe prouidence hid in y e bosome of his diuine secrets frō euerlastīg now in this last age reueiled published sette abrod to y e great cōfort of al faithful penitent sinners thorow hys son Iesu Christ our Lord. This our apostle I saye euē in y e mids of his chaynes setters writeth to the Philippiās and by theim to all other true christians and exhorteth thē to be merye and to reioyce in y e Lord. He is nothing dismayed nor yet abashede of hys bōdes chaines and fetters of his enprifonnyge lockynge stockyng but beyng of a franke courage and lusty stomake not onely to suffer chaynes but also death if the good wil of God so be he wyth a vehemencye of spirite and stoutenes of herte commaūdeth vs not to be discouraged wyth what so euer kynde of aduersitie we be assailed but va leantly and vnfainedli to repose fyxe set the eies of oure mynd on y e Lord in him in him alone to reioyce at all tymes Reioyce in the Lorde alwaye sayth he once againe I say reioyce Euse. Euery man moueth other to delighte in that thynge speciallye wherin he him self hath reposed his chefe delectation The couetuouse man hath his greatyst de lighte in temporall possessions and as he is only bent to the accumulatynge and heapynge vp togyther of worldely goodes so in like maner doth he exhorte so many as he tenderlye loueth to set theyr myndes on gatherynge togyther the Goodes of thys world beynge not vnlike them whiche are euer criynge Adfer adfer Bringe hyther bryng hyther The papist hath hys mind altogither set on papistry therefore laboureth he to the vttermoste of hys power to allure other vnto hys pernitiouse dānable sect Phil. Truth it is that you say Therfore the blessed Apostle haueynge hys principall ioye in the Lord our God exhorteth moueth flyrreth vs earnestly to reioyce in the lord that we may be partakers w t hym of one the same glorye He is not con◅ente him selfe onely to be in the fauoure of God excepte he haue other also to be in the bowels of Iesus Christe Chri. In the Epistle vnto the Romayns he wysheth him selfe to be cursed from Christ so that his brethren the Israelites
he coulde hunte wel folowe get his praye was muche made of but when he beganne to waxe olde and coulde catche no more he was no more loued of his maister but rather hated despised beaten Nothynge nowe adayes is deare where profit is absēt If these thynges were well pondered menne woulde not so headlonge and wythout consideration runne vnto seruice there to spend the flour of their youth whē crocked olde age cometh eyther to go a begging or els to be put in some almes house But howe so euer the matter goeth of thys am I sure y t no man ought to reioyse neyther in men nor yet in mennes seruices seinge that nothing is more vncerteyne then their fauour seing also that cruel fortune doeth oppresse so sodenly noble mē many tymes that they being turned to a base state haue neither to succoure them selues nor yet to healpe their pore seruauntes Philemon Well thus haue we searched the principall thinges that perteyne vnto man outwardly wherein the folyshe world doeth most chiefly reioyse and we haue found among them all not one thynge wherein we maye worthely glorie and repose oure delectation Theo. Trueth it is but what saye you to the inwarde natural gyftes ' of man as wysedome strength knowledge and suche other gyftes of the mynde Philemon Heare what God sayth by the Prophet Let not the wyse man reioyse in his wysedome nor the strong mā in his strength neither the ryche mā in his ryches but who so wyl reioyse let hym reioyse in thys that he vnderstandeth and knoweth me for I am the Lorde whiche do mercie equitie and rightuousnesse vpon the earth Therefore haue I pleasure in suche thynges sayeth the Lorde Whether we haue respect to the body or to the mynde if we fynde any good thyng in them it is the gift of god as S. Iames sayth Euery good gift euery perfecte gifte is from aboue and cometh downe frō the father of lyghtes and therfore ought no mā to glo ry neither in hym selfe nor in the g◅ftes but in God alone the gyuer as S. Paul sayth what hast thou that thou hast not receiued If thou haste receyued it wherefore dost thou reioyce and glory as thoughe thou haddest not receyued it But wherefore do we tary longe before we come to our matter whyle we labour to shew y t there is nothyng in the worlde wherein we maye worthily reioyse seinge that man hym selfe whiche is the principall creature y t euer God made in thys worlde is but vanitie and not worthie wherein any true and perfect delectation ought to be se◅ Are not these the wordes of the holy scrip ture ▪ Euery man that lyueth is altogether vanitie What is the body of man cometh it of neuer so noble house but earth duste and asshes Or as S. Barnard sayeth a stynckynge sperme or seede a sacke of dounge and the meate of wormes Who wyl re ioyse in such a body to garnish suche a bodye wyth golde siluer pearles precious stons owches galaunte apparell sumptuous garmēts c What other thing is it then to couer a dunghyl w t clothe of golde Nowe as towchynge ou◅e inwarde manne I meane the soule what are we What haue we receyued of Adam In what case hath he sette vs before wee be regenerate by Christe Are we any other thing then flesh and f◅eshely minded As Christe sayeth That whiche is borne of the flesh is flesh And sayth not blessed Paule that we are the children of wrath Is not our herte vncleane lewde wycked and vnsearcheable Are not our senses Imaginations and thoughts euen from our infancye euyll and noughte Are not al our rightuousnes like a cloth defiled with mēsture Are we not all hypocrites liynge chyldren workers of iniquitie vnprofita ble seruauntes synners vngodly and of our selues al y t nought is What haue we then either of oure selues or in oure selues I meane before our regeneration wherof we mai worthely reioyce Chri. Truly nothing at al. Phile. It is conuenient therfore seyng hitherto we haue found nothing wherin we mai worthely reioice to sequester our ioye our mirth oure delectation from worldely thynges and to traunsfer it vnto the Lord our God accordyng to thys admonicion of the holye Apostle Reioyce in the Lorde alwaye yea once agayne I saye Reioyce Theo. But we woulde gladly heare what earnest occasion we haue to reioyce in God Philem. My desyre is to declare thys thynge aboundauntly vnto you if ye will heare Euse. We all wyll gladlye geue eare Phile. God in whom we are so instantly mocioned to reioyce euē frō the begynning had such fauour to mā y t whē the Angels for theyr disobediēt prid proud disobedience were worthely cast downe headlonge into hell ther perpetually to remayne in most greuouse intollerable paynes he wyllynge agayne to furnishe the celestiall mancions wyth other Creatures made manne not lyke vnto other bruite beastes but accordynge vnto hys owne Similitude lykenes and Image not to be a fyre brand of hell but heyre of his most glorious and regal palaice not to perishe for honger but to enioy all kinde of pleasures most aboundantlye not to be subdued of other but as Lorde chiefe ruler vnder God his creator maker to haue y e dominiō of all beastes fyshes and foules of all landes medowes pastures of al trees herbes flowers and what soeuer other thynge is comprehēded in thys greate and vnmeasurable worlde Yea the hygh element the sunne the mone the starres the daye the nyghte the water the fyre the colde the heat the rayne the wynde and what so euer other thyng ye canne reken besides did he make not only to shew forth his glory might and power but also for mannes conforte wealthe ioye and pleasure Chri. O the vnoutspekeable goodnes of god toward mā Phile. Haue we not here a greate occasion vnfaynedlye to reioyce in the Lorde our God and for euer and euer to glorify celebrate and magnify hys most glorious and blessed name To make vs lyke to hys owne similitude to appoynt vs heyers of his moste glorious mansion to ◅due vs wyth the fruition of so manye goodlye and swete pleasures to make vs rulers and Lords ouer al hys creatures in the worlde to prepare all thynges for oure solace ioye and conforte Who is so flynte herted that melteth not at the hearynge of these thin ges so pleasaūt and swete Who is so estranged frome God that he applieth not w t all mayne to embrace so gentle so kind so louinge a Lorde yea suche a Lord as is altogyther set to magnify man to exalt hym vnto the high heauens to place hym amonge the holye Angelles and blessed spirites to kysse and kull hym as his dear dearling welbeloued heyer Canne that man reioyce inoughe in his Lorde and maister whyche of a base slaue maketh hym a man of honoure of a begger a
wyth Itemissa est Well thys maye ye easly perceyue howe greatly the Popysh masse differeth from the true institutiō of the Lords supper and that they agre togyther as Christe and Beliall lyghte and darcknesse trueth and falsehode ce Christo. It shall therfore be conuenient for all true christian hertes no more to repose the trust of theyr saluation in the Sacrifice of theyr Popeyshe masse nor in anye thynge apperteynynge to the same but onely in the blessed passion in the precyouse bloude gloryouse death of oure Lorde and sauiour Iesus Christ which by the alone Sacrifice of hys mooste holye body hath euen vn to the vttermoste and at the full payed our raunsome broughte vs euerlastynge healthe Theo. Thys is a confortable hea rynge for all fayethfull penitent synners But I praye you neighboure Philemon remayne there no mo causes of reioysyng in the Lorde oure God Philemon Yesse verilye For thys oure Lorde and Sauioure Iesus Christe dyd not onelye boeth wyllyngely and frelye gyue him selfe vnto the deathe of the crosse for oure synnes and wyckednes and by thys meanes paye oure raunsome to God the father for oure offēses that Satan might haue no power ouer vs but he al so thorowe the might of his godhead rose agayne gloriously and triumphantlye on the thyrd day accordynge to the scriptures for oure iustification as the Apostle sayeth He was betraied vnto the death for our synnes and rose agayne for oure iustification For as by the death of Christe oure raunsome is payed the diuine wrath is pacified oure synnes are washed away in Christes bloude a reconciliacion perfect atonemēt is made betwene God the father and vs the obligation of oure dette is rased oute the law is fulfilled the curse of goddes wrath is takē away al thynges both in heauen and in earth are pacified so in lyke maner by the Resurrection of Christe wee are made ryghtuousse accepted into Goddes fauoure recounted for iuste holye and vertuousse sette at libertye from the tyrannye of Sathan admitted into the celestiall courte of the newe Hierusalem and become felowe cityzyns of the houshold of God wyth the Saynctes and blessed spirites Euse. O inestimable treasures broughte to vs by the gloryouse resurrection of our moste blessed sauiour Iesu Christ. Phile. Yea lette vs marke thys also by the waye that as oure moste valeaunt Lorde and Emperoure Iesus Christe by his resurrection gatte the vyctory ouer Sathan Synne Deathe Hell Desperation and all that is enemye to Mannes healthe so in lyke condicion haue we in hym and thorowe hym goten a glorious victorye ouer Sathan and all hys kyngdome that we maye wyth a ioyeful voyce saye death is swalowed vp into victo rye O death where is thy vyctorye O death where is thy styng The stynge of death is sinne the power of synne is the lawe But thanckes be to God whiche hath geuen vs the victorye thorowe oure Lorde Iesu Christe Christo. O what a ioye and comforte is this to a Christen mans herte to se hys enimies whiche before so greately soughte hys distruccion thus vanquished subdued and troden vnder his fote This haue we gotten as ye very truly haue sayde by Christes resurrection as Christe hym selfe testifieth sayeinge nowe is the iudgemente of the worlde nowe shall the prince of thys worlde be caste oute Agayne be of good comfort I haue ouercome the world By the Prophet Ose he also sayeth I wyl deliuer them from the power of death yea from deathe it selfe wyll I redeme them O death I wyll be thy death O hel I wyll be thy destruccion Phile. Moreouer by Christes resurrection haue we obtayned not only Iustification victory ouer our enemies but also resurrection of bodye and euerlastynge immortalitie For as oure Lorde and sa uioure Iesus Christe dyd put of the mortalitie of hys bodye and became immortall at hys resurrection so by the power of that hys moste glorious resurrection shall we also at the greate day of iudgemente in oure resurrection receyue immortall and incorruptible bodyes euen lyke vnto the glorious body of oure moste myghtye and valeaunt captayne Iesu Christe The. Oh who cā expres the worthines excellency of these heauenly gyftes whiche we obtaine by the mooste victorious and triumphante Resurrection of Iesus Christe oure Lorde and sauioure Philemon Lette these thynges therefore dearelye beloued brethren make you to reioyce in the Lorde Lette these thyngs prouoke you to wythdrawe your mynde from transitory thynges and stedfastly to fyxe it on thynges cōstaunt and euerlastinge Lette these thynges sequester youre Ioye and pleasure frome the swete entisynge moremaydes of thys worlde and allure to the alone delectation in celestiall treasures Christ. O blessed is that man to whōme it is geuen frome aboue truely to sauoure these thynges fayethfullye to beleue theim and earnestly to reioyce in that Lord whyche is the alone geuer of thē Sure m◅◅at man be that hys name is written in the booke of lyfe Philemon But lette vs go forthe to declare moe benifites of God towarde man that oure ioye in the Lorde maye be vnfayned cōsummate and perfecte After this mooste noble conqueste and victorious triumphe whyche oure moste mighty Emperour Christ Iesus hadde ouer Sathan and hys infernall ministers he taried here in thys worlde certayne dayes wyth hys Disciples eatynge drynkeynge and talkyng wyth thē of the kyngdome of his heauenly father and confirming them in the waye of trueth And thys dyd he not only to make thē stronge in the article of his resur rection but also by the instruction of them to corroborat fortifye and strength vs in the same seekynge no les oure health then the saluacion of them For as the Apostle sayeth if thou doste confesse wyth thy mouth the Lorde Iesus beleue wyth thyne herte that God raysed hym vp frome the dead thou shalt be saued Cer tayne dayes paste from his resur rection Christe our Lorde by the power of hys godhede in y e sight of his Apostles ascēded into heauen God and man Haue we no cause to reioyce in this behaulfe Hath this his marueylouse ascēsion brought no commoditie and profite to vs Haue we a iuste cause to reioyce in hys natiuitye preachynge miracles good workes crosse passion bloude death resurrection whych al are ours not in hys ascention also We reade that the Apostles were very sadde when Christe told theim that he shoulde ascende vnto his father But Christe sayed vnto them I tel you trueth it is expedient and profitable for you that I go ascende vnto my father Christe tolde the Apostles that it was expediente profitable for theim that he shoulde go vp into heauen If it were expedient for them it is euē so like wyse for vs. For we are saued by y e very same waye whereby they receyued saluation Let vs therfore consider what commodities and profites the Apostles had by Christes ascention and let vs w t
a constaūt fayth and hope loke for the same For there is but one Lorde of all ryche inough for so many as call on hym Euse. I praye you let vs heare that our ioye maye be ful Phile. Fyrste that we maye truely reioyce in Christes ascētiō I wil labour to shew you some of the cō modities of it as we are taught in the sacred scriptures Christ in hys laste sermon sayed vnto hys disciples I go to prepare a place for you If I gooe my waye and prepare I wyl come agayne and take you vnto my self that wher I am ye maye be also Here haue we one vrgente cause whye wee oughte earnestelye to reioyce in Christes ascention For of thys aforesayed sentence we learne y t Christe is ascended vnto hys father to prepare a place for vs in heauen Can anye thynge sound more pleasaunt and thanke worthy to oure eares then to heare that the son of God came downe frō hys heauenly throne became man suffered death rose agayne for oure sake and is nowe ascended very God and very man into heauen to prepare a gloryous mācion for vs in the kyngedome of heauen What is more cōfortable for a Pilgrime then after long traueling by straunge contries at the laste to come home to hys owne house and ther to find all thyngs wel prouided for him Are not we straungers and pylgrimes in thys worlde Do wee not wāder frō place to place vncertainly loke for an other mācion more quiet mery to come If ther were not such a dwelling place to be loked for after thys presēt life of al creaturs the true christiās were most miserable But ther is vndoubtedli an heauēly palaice prepared for y e faithful yea and y t bi Christes ascētiō Theo. Certise here haue we I cō fesse one great occasiō to reioice in the ascention of Christe seynge by it he hathe prepared for vs a dwellynge place among the holy sayntes blessed angels promiseth y t he wyl come againe take vs vnto hym and place vs euen there where he him selfe is Phile. An other commoditie that we haue by Christes ascention is the gyfte of the holye Goste For Christe him selfe sayeth If I go not awaye the confortou◅e shall not come vnto you But if I goe my waye I wyl sende hym vnto you By thys confortoure he vnderstandeth the holy gost whych conforteth and maketh stronge wyth Godly puissaunce yea and leadeth into al truth y e hertes of so many as he inhabiteth What an inestimable treasure the gyfte of the holy Gost is no mā knoweth but he that is endued wyth wysdome from aboue Whence come al these backe slyders from God and hys worde but onely of the lacke of the holye Gooste Whence come so manye Heretikes scismatikes anabaptistes sacramentaries papistes with al the whole rable of sedicious sectaries but onelye that thei are destituted of thys cōfortoure of thys holy spirite whiche shoulde comforte thē in fayeth and leade them into all truethe Dauid knewe full well what a singular and greate treasure to a fayethful man the hauynge of the holy Goste is agayne what an vtter decaie and extreme destruction it is to y t man that whanteth thys confortoure whan he prayde on thys maner create in me a pure herte O God and a right spirite renewe thou in my inwarde partes Caste me not awaye frome thy face and thy holy spirit take not awaye from me Thys holye spirite do the fayethfull receyue from God the father thorowe the ascention of Christe Is thys a small gyfte to haue the holy gost geuen vnto vs to dwell wythin oure breastes and wyth hym all the heauēly fruites of the spirite fayeth loue hope pacience ioye longe sufferyng meakenes temperaunce iustice goodnes gētlenes modestie honest behauioure peace with an whole sea of good thynges mo yea and at the laste euerlastinge life Who reioyseth not in thys moste excellente gyft purchaised for vs by the ascencion of the Lorde Christe our God and sauioure Christo. That such giftes shoulde be geuē vnto men of Christe after Christes ascention it was longe before prophecied of the holye Psalmographe thou arte gone vpon hye thou haste ledde capptiuitye captiue and receyued gyftes for menne ▪ Euse. Of the gyfte of the holye goste plenteously to be geuen after Christes ascencion God hym selfe speaketh by the Prophete Ioell sayeinge it shall be in the laste dayes sayth God of my spirite I wyll powre out vpon all flesh And your sonnes and your doughters shall prophesye and your young men shall se visions and your olde men shall dreame dreames And on my seruau◅tes and on my hande maydens I wyll powre oute of my spirite in those dayes and they shall Prophesie Philemon Neyther do here cease the commodities and profites that wee enioye by the ascension of Christe For besydes the preparacion of the heauenly mansions and the gyfte of thi holy Goste whiche withoute doubte are moste highe and syngulare treasures Christe by hys ascension is become oure intercessoure mediatoure and aduocate He sitteth on the ryght hand of God the father makyng intercession for vs. If we wyl obtaine any thynge of God the father he is straight wayes redye to be an aduocate and to plead our cause before his father and easelye obtayneth what so euer he desireth so greate is hys dignitie and exce◅ncye Agayne if at any tyme we offende God as we all do amysse in manye thynges and by oure offence prouoke the wrath of God vnto vengeaunce Christ oure aduocate and mediatoure is at hande immediately to pacifie the i◅e and wrath of God to reconcile vs vnto hym to purchaise remission of oure synnes and to recouer the fauoure that we had loste thorowe oure weake nes as S. Iohn sayeth if anye man synne we haue an aduocate wyth the father Iesus Christe that ryghteouse one And he is a mercie stocke for oure synnes not for oure synnes onely but for all the worlde 's also For the bloude of Christe is not lyke the bloude of Abell For the bloude of Abell crieth for vengeaunce vpon hys brother Cayne which vniustely slewe him as the bloude of al innocences and martyrs do in like maner call for vengaūce against thē that haue oppressed thē shed their bloud vniustly but y e bloud of Christ crieth for grace fauour and mercy crieth for pardon forgyuenes and remission of synnes crieth for ioye quietnes and euer lastyng life God sayeth Sainct Paull setteth forth his loue won derfully towarde vs for if when we were yet synners Christe died for vs muche more than we beynge nowe iustified in his bloud shal be saued from wrath by him If when we were enemies we were recōciled to God by y e death of hys sonne muche more we beyng reconciled shall be made safe thorowe hys lyfe No man can sufficientlye expresse the worthynes of thys cōmodite that Christ is not onely become by his
the Romains and wold serue none but Christe alone the sonne of almighty God y e blessed martyre with a lusty courage and me ry hert braste out into these wordes sayinge I thanke almyghty God whyche voucheth safe to losen me from the baÌ„des of this body And so died When Maximianus that moste cruell Empe roure commaunded hys souldiours to worshyppe false Goddes and to slea so manye as professed Christ hys blessed word Mauricius w t his felowes answered that eyther in worshypping false Goddes or in sleaynge the true Christians they by no meanes would obeye the Emperour We are sayd they thy souldidurâ—… O Emperour but yet we frely confesse that wee are the seruauntes of God which gaue vs thys our life We can not folowe the Emperour so that we shoulde denye God our maker yea and thy ma ker also whether thou wylte or wylte not We are christian men therefore maye wee not persecute such as professe Christe We are readye rather to dye then to kyll suche And wee are more desierousse to dye innocentes then to lyue wycked and synfull Know thou that the mindes of thys army by no meanes can be ouercome These wordly weapons we caste awaye Oure breaste is enarmed wyth the fayeth of Christ which is oure shylde bucler and defeÌ„ce agaynste the fyrye dartes of the deuil of al his souldiours Therfore slee thou kil thou mur ther thou minister what kynd of payne thou wylte we w t a bolde courage offer our selues to suffer for the glory of God And shortly after y e holy man of God wyth a greate nuÌ„bre of blessed martyrs mo were slaine w t the swerd Eus. These be notable exeÌ„ples worthy to be practised of al faythfull christiaÌ„s if God at any time calleth theÌ„ vnto this conflicte w t the worldely tyrauÌ„tes fained holy hypocrites for the coÌ„fessioÌ„ of hys blessed trueth Philem I could rehearse many mo godly hystories to declare w t what a readye wyll wyth howe reioysing an hert the blessed martyrs of Christ suffred all maner of bitter tormentes for the Lords sake but these at this presente shall suffice For hereof maye ye learne to practise thys word of the Apostle Alway I mean to reioyce in the Lorde our God not onely in prosperitie but also in aduersitie be it in sycknes losse of goodes pouertie persecution or anye other crosse y t god our father laieth vpoÌ„ vs. For this the duty of a true christen maÌ„ to coÌ„ceyue that same fayeth hope and ioye in God when he is assayled in tribulation that he had before when all thynges were moste prosperouse to him So meaneth the Apostle when he sayeth Reioyce in the Lorde alwaye And bycause he woulde haue vs earnestlye to reioyce in the Lorde at al tymes be it in prosperitie or aduersitie he doubleth this word Reioyce saiyng Reioyce in the Lord alway yea once agayne I saye reioyce Piththye and full of efficacye is thys sentence of the Apostle and comprehendeth in it many Godly misteries as ye haue hytherto partely hearde S. Paule desiereth nothyng more then that we shoulde reioyce in the Lord. His ioye is altogyther in God therefore would he that yours should be so lykewyse And vnto thys doeth that princelyke prophet ex hort you also saying Be ye glad reioyce in the Lord O ye rightuous and al ye that are true her ted be mery in the Lord. Agayne Let so mani as trust in y e O lord be meri yea thei shal be ioyful for euer and thou shalt dwel among them And al that loue thy name shall reioyce in the. Therefore if we loue the name of God if wee truste to be saued by hys mercye if we loke for good thynges at y e hand of our heauenly father thorowe Iesus Christ let vs sequester our ioye frome all worldelye thynges whyche are but vanitie as ye haue hearde before and repose it only in the Lord our God Chr. That Lorde whyche is the father of mercies and the God of all consolation mought grauÌ„t vnto vs hys most holy spirite to worcke in vs suche a swetenes delectation in spiritual thynges that what so euer is of the world may waxe vile vnpleasaunt and bitter vnto vs and that wee by thys meanes maye vnfaynedlye and euen from the very bottome of the herte reioyce in the Lorde our god alone alone Theo. The Lorde myght brynge thys thinge to passe in vs. Philemon Well neyghbours Nowe accordynge to my promisse haue I geuen you this Iewell of Ioye not so conningelye and worckemanlyke I confesse handeled as some other of better knowledge and more rype iudgmeÌ„t in y e misteries of God coulde haue done it notwythstandynge truely and fayethfully wroughte accordynge to the pure vayne of the holye scriptures But what so euer thys youre gyfte is I praye you take it to good worthe and accepte my louynge herte towarde you Thoughe possibilitte fayleth yet good wyll shall neuer wante in me but what so euer the Lord shall geue at all tymes I wyll bestowe it vpon you and vpon hys holye congregation and by no meanes suffer the talente geuen vnto me of my Lorde God to lye Idle by me but for my power I wyll so employe 〈◊〉 that it maye turne to the glorye of God and to the profite of hys blessed churche For the hystorye of the vnprofitable seruaunte whyche hydde vp the money of hys Lord in the ground therefore was coÌ„deÌ„ned caste into vtter darckenes where wepyng gnashyng of teth shal be ought to make al meÌ„ afrayed that haue receyued any gyfte at al of God and to prouoke theim not to be sluggyshe and idle but to vse theyr talentes accordynge to the commauÌ„demente of God whyche sayeth Occupye youre selues tyl I come Euse. Blessed is that man whych so occupieth hys talent that God therwith is glorified and hys neyghbouredifted Sure maye he be at that great and dreadful day of iudge mente to heare of hys Lord God thys most swete and ioyfull senteÌ„ce O myne own good seruauÌ„te and fayethfull Thou haste bene faythful in little I wyl make the ruler ouer muche Enter in into thy Lordes ioy Philem. Neyghbours I wyll disease you no lenger but as I haue geuen you a spirituall Iewell ioyful and coÌ„fortable for the soule so wyll I in like maner at this my coÌ„ming home and returne into mi natiue contrye bestowe somewhat vpon you that shall not be vnprofitable for y e body For I wysh good boeth to your soule body And woulde God it laye in my power to gratifie you in both alyke But that whych shall wante in worldely thinges shall if I lyue be recompensed in spiritual thin ges But as I maye at the laste make an ende remember brethreÌ„ remembre what ye haue hearde of me at thys present Remembre that all thynges in thys worlde be subiect vnto vanitie yea they them selues are mere vanitie as the preacher sayeth Al