shulde be estemed among Christen men of so small pryce that for the valoure of a lytyll temporall auauntage and worldely lucre men shulde abuse it and vaynely take it Wo be to that man whyche for hys owne priuate lucre dothe blaspheme the name of God or ony of hys creatures There oughte to be so great sincerite and fayth among Christen men that there shulde nede no othes in theyr bargaynes and worldly businesses A Christen mannes worde oughte to be better and surer than ony obligacioÌ„ God graunt that we maye once se thys come to passe in Englonde Let them that sweare Swearers of custome because it is the custome so to do leaue theyr swearyng and no more followe the wycked custome but the truethe of Gods worde whiche saythe sweare not at all Math. v. Let your communicacioÌ„ be yea yea naye naye Lette them that glory reioyse so muche in theyr swearyng Swearers for pryde that they wyll take vpon them to mayntayne it by yâ— scripture abstayne froÌ„ theyr idle oothes and wreaste no more the holy scripture vnlesse they folowing the manners of SataÌ„ receaue a rewarde worthy theyr wyckednesse Math. iiii Let them that saye though they sweare Swearers meanynge no euyll yet we thyncke no harme Math. â—iii leaue theyr swearyng and remember that they shall gyue accouÌ„tes at the dredeful daye of iudgement for euery idle word that they haue spoken Swearers yâ— they may be beleued so that they shall not escape vnponished for theyr idle oothes Let them that saye fewe or none wyll beleue vs except we sweare rather meddle wyth fewe or none thaÌ„ they shuld transgresse the commauÌ„dement of God bryng damnacion vpon theyr owne heades To conclude let all oothes be taken away from the myndes of Christen menne excepte they be taken for those causes whiche I haue expressed before If we wyll thê° do we shal easely exchewe the moost detestable vice of periury and frendely lyue togyther in all truethe sincerite and fayth as it become the saynctes so many as professe Christ. For he that wyll not sweare wyll not lyghtelye falsely sweare and be forsworne And that we maye be the more encouraged to forsake all vayne idle oothes The conclusion of the booke let vs remember that God which is the euerlastyng truthe hath promised that he wyll glorify them whiche honoure hym and haue hys name in reuerence Agen that they shall come vnto dishonour a shamefull ende that despyse hym and blaspheme hys moost holye name Nowe if we wyll that God glorify vs God to glorify vs what it is that is to saye be our good Lord defend preserue kepe gouerne vs blysse vs lyghten hys gracious couÌ„tenaÌ„s vpon vs sende vs all thynges necessary for our lyuynge in this present worlde and after thys lyfe gyue vs eternall glory than is it conuenient that we do not abuse yâ— name of god by our vayne vnrighteous othes but alwayes laude prayse coÌ„mend magnify blysse it caull vpon it fly vnto it as vnto an holye anchore in all our aduersite and neuer to haue in our mouthes What euylles shall chaunse vnto vs if we vaynly swere but wythe hygh reuerence and great honour If we do the contrary that is to saye blaspheme hys moost holy name than shall we vndoubtedly come vnto dishonoure a shamefull ende In thys worlde the plage and veÌ„geauÌ„ce of God shall not go awaye from oure houses we shal be stryken wyth many greuous diseases in our bodyes oure goodes and cattell yea and all that euer we haue shal come to noght our kynde of lyuyng shall be despysed wyth all good men our death shall be paynefull miserable and wretched after these so great and manifold plages we maye be sure for our wycked sweryng to be cast into hell fyre where the flames of it shall neâ—er be quenched where wepyng and gnashyng of tethe shall be Esa. lâ—vi where the worme that shall gnawe oure consciences shall neuer dye Math. xxiii Therfore I beseche al Christen meÌ„ by the tender marcyes of God and by the moost precious bloud of oure sauiour Iesus Christ wherby alonâ— we are redemed made pure and deliuered from al our synnes that they from hensforth leaue theyr abhominable swearyng ether by God or by ony of hys creatures Let them neuer take God to wytnes excepte it be in a necessarye and earneste matter I meane suche a matter as maketh vnto the glorye of God Let theyr coÌ„municacion be yea yea nay naye Let so great syncerite truthe and faythe reygne among theÌ„ that one maye beleue another wythoute an oothe euen by a worde Let theÌ„ haue God in suche reuereÌ„ce and honoure and so order theyr tonges in thys worlde vnto the glory of God that after this lyfe thorowe the mercy of God they maye be found worthy to be in the nomber of those blissed spirites which without ceasyng syng perpetual prayses to the moste holy name of God on thys manner Great and maruelous are thy workes Apoca. xv O Lorde God almyghty Apoca. iiii ryghteous true are thy wayes o kynge of saynctes Who shall not feare the O Lorde and magnifye thy name For thou arte worthy O Lorde to take the glory and honour power for thou haste made al thynges and for thy wyll they are and were made Apoca. v. To him that sytteth in the throne and to the lambe be blyssynge and honour and glory power worldes wtout end AmeÌ„ ¶ Saye not but that ye are warned ¶ Gyue the glory to God alone ¶ Actes agaynst customable swearers made in tymes past by dyuers excellent Prynces and theyr honorable councell ¶ Kynge Henry the fyfte KYnge Henry the fyste made a statute for swearers in his owne Palace Vvaldenus in quo dam sermone that if he were a Duke yâ— dyd swere he shuld forfyt for euery tyme xl sÌ„ to the aydyng of poore people Wolde god thys statute were obserued and keptâ— now adayes not only in the courte but also thorowout EngloÌ„d If he were a Lorde or Barone xx sÌ„ If he were a Knyght or an Esquyer x. sÌ„ If he were a Yeman xl d If he were a Page or a Lackey or a slaue to be scourged naked eyther wyth a rodde or els wyth a whyppe ¶ Kynge Edmunde KYnge EdmuÌ„de made thys law that they whyche were proued once falsly forsworne shuld for euer be seperated froÌ„ Gods coÌ„gregacioÌ„ ¶ Donaldus Kynge of Skottes DOnaldus Kynge of Skottes made thys acte wtin hys lond 〈◊〉 Botius in historia Scotorum that all Periurers common swearers shulde haue theyr lippes feared wyth a burnyng whot yron ¶ Sayncte Lodowycke Kynge of Fraunce THys lawe aforsayd dyd Saynt Lodowycke Kynge of Fraunce enacte also A godly prâ—clamacion god send 〈◊〉 many 〈◊〉 and put it once in execucioÌ„ at Paris vpon a Cytezyn there for blasphemyng the name of Christ vnto the
also sayth Pâ—o. xxix Whan yâ— preachyng of Gods worde fayleth than perysh the people come to nought We fynd thys true euery daye more more For the longer we lyue the more wyckednes do we se reygne It pytyeth a Christen mannes hert to beholde yâ— face of thys worlde What vngodlynes supersticion Hypocrisye dissimulacion swearynge pryde enuye dronkenshyp glotony fornicacion adulterye whoredome couetousnes an whole sea of euelles hath ouerflowed the world And all this is come to passe thorow the sleapye negligence of Curates nether can ther as yet be perceuedony amendment The Prestes go forthe styl to neglecte yâ— office of preaching Gods worde and yâ— people remayne styll in theyr old blyndenes not carynge much though they neuer heare one word of the holye Scripture preached vnto them in al theyr lyfe so lytyll pleasure haue the poore selye soules in it because they knowe not what a precious tresure yâ— most holye worde of God is What than remayneth but that one of vs moâ—yshe Colos. iii teache and exhorte another as S. Paule byddeth teache monyshe ye one another For if one laye man were no more mercyefull to a nother than yâ— Preastes are for the moste part surely the greatest part of the world shuld philâ— ii I thyncke ronne hedlonge vnto the deuel for want of knowlege Wherfore I exhort al meÌ„ of what degre â—orte soeuer they be charitably to monyshe one a nother whan they se ony man offende and rebuke hym by the Scriptures of God yâ— we maye shyne in the myddes of a froward croked nacion as greate lyghtes in the worlde pure fauteles Rom. vi â–ª such as noman can complayne of holdynge fast the word of lyfe Let vs suffer no synne to reygne in thys our mortal body but mortifye all thynges yâ— stryue agenst the spirite Let vs so watch gyue diligence to our selfes yâ— nether Satan nor the world nor yet the flesh may haue ony interest in vs. Math. v. Let vs hate deteste abhorre synne Iacob v. as yâ— mooste greuous pestilence and pestiferous poyson that can chaunse vnto vs. But aboue al thynges as Christe Iames monysheâ—he vs lette vs not sweare at all nether by heauen nor by earth nor yet by ony thyng that is contayned in them If one of vs at onye tyme shall chaunse to heare a nother sweare pollute yâ— name of our Lord God by vayne idle vnlaful othes let vs charitably monishe the offeÌ„der exhorte hym to cease froÌ„ hys swerynge and moue hym vnto yâ— prayle of God and of hys moste holy blessed name For surely if ther were no mo synnes committedde in Englond but only yâ— blasphemynge of God of his creatures by vayne swearyng it were ynoughe to bring final destruccion vnto thys Realme from yâ— which I besech God longe to preserue it and gyue the InhabitauÌ„tes thereof grace to correcte and amende theyr synful manners And to the intent that men may knowe how great offence it is before God vaynly to sweare I haue made this Inuectyue agaynste swerynge which here foloweth wherin as in a clere myrrour they shal vnfaynedly perceue and se what great dampnacion hanggeth ouer the heades of all swearers and that it is not possible for them to escape yâ— moost greuous vengeauns of God excepte wyth al haste they repent for sake theyr detestable maÌ„ner of swearyng earnestly fal vnto the harty praises of God Thys myne Inuectyue I dedicaâ—e to your good Master shyppe to whoÌ„ I confesse my selfe more endeâ—ted bound than my poore beggary shal euer may be able to recompeÌ„ce your moost kynd free geÌ„tylnes desiring you for your accustomed humanite to accept this my litle gift with yâ— mind wherwyth I haue offered it to you and to take it as a testimomy of my faythefull and seruiseable harte towarde you I was the gladder to dedicate this my lytyll treatyse to you because I haue in times paste perceaued and styl daylye do howe greatly ye desyre that al menne shulde lyâ—e accordynge to theyr profession at Baptime that thorowe theyr good workes they maye garnysh the doctrine of oure Lorde and Sauyoure Iesus Christ. Nether is it vnknowne vnto me what a ferueÌ„t and godlye affeccion you beare towarde the holy scripture howe desyrous ye are that the worde of Christ shuld dwell in Christen men ritchely with all wysdome as saynt Paule sayth Ioan. x â–ª Chele be the singulare great gyftes of God which he hath wrought in you by his holye spirite and are manifest â—â—gâ—es tokeÌ„s that ye are the child of saluacion â–ª eâ—heri toure of eternall glory one of Christes flock seynge ye are â—o earnestly bent both to heare practyse the word of god in your dayly maners Titus iâ— For Christe sayth Loâ—o. iii. He that is of God hearethe yâ— wordes of God Agen My shepe heare my voyce God mought vouchsafe to encrease these his gyftes in you dayly more Ioan. viii more vnto yâ— glory of hys most blyssed name and the saluacion of your soule in whome I desyre to yourâ— ryghte worshypful Mastership and to the good Gentle womanne youre wyfe all good luckye and prosperous thynges AMEN Yours at coÌ„maundement and wyll Theodore Basille Leuit. 24. VVho soeuer curseth hys God shall beare hys synne And he that blasphemethe the name of the Lorde he shall dye for it All the multitude shall stone hym to death Whyther he be Cytezyn or Straunger if he blaspheme the name of the Lord let hym dye the deathe August in Math. THey synne no les whyche blaspheme Chryste reyguyng in heauen than they whych crucifyed hym walkyng in earthe ¶ The Inuectyue WHense shall I take my beginnyng whyle I lament the corrupte maÌ„ners of thys moost wretched world more aptely and fytter for the purpose than of the Prophet Ieremy and with wepyng teares and sorowfull harte cry oute wyth hym Hiere lx sayeng Oh who shall giue my head water ynoughe a well of teares for myne eyes that I may wepe nyght and daye for the slaughter of my people The Prophet dothe not here bewayle them that haue theyr bodyes slayne wyth swearde or with ony other kynde of violence but he lamenteth the to muche wretched and daÌ„nable state of suche as are slayne in theyr soules withe the multitude of synnes for what so euer the sweard is vnto the body euen the very same is synne vnto the soule as it manifestly appeareth by his wordes that followe For he calleth them adulterers and a company of wycked traÌ„sgresâ—ours They bend theyr tonges lyke bowes Veâ—itasodium parit sayth he to showte ouâ—e lyes As for the trueth they maye nothyng awaye wyth all in the world For they go from one wickednes vnto another holde nothyng of god They are so false and crafty thaâ— euery one had nede to kepe hymselfe from another No man maye safely trust hys owne brother for one brother
An Inuectyue agenst the moost wicked detestable vyce of swearing newly coÌ„piled by Theodore Basille Eccl. 23. A man that vseth muche swearing shall be fylled with wyckednes and the plage that is to say the veÌ„geance of god shal not go away froÌ„ his house ¶ The Inuectyue speakethe LAmentably do I nowe procede Of myn Author sent at this season In a sadde and lamentable wede To make my complaynte lamentacion Lament I must bothe daye and nyghte To beholde the greatâ— abhominacion Whych thorow swearyng in all mennes syght Is now vsed wythout lamentacion Lament all christen hartes do I am â—uâ—e To heare God and hys â—reaturâ—s eâ—he one So wyckâ—dly blasphemed wythout â—ure And yet noman maketh lamentacion Lament oâ—ye Swearers lament lament And looke ye cease from thys great abusion For yf to do thus ye be not now bent In hell shall ye make full sore lamentacion Lament your synnes take me to you For to leaue your great abhominacion I wyll teache you yea all thyng true That ye maye be fre from lamentacion Lament yf ye wyll not in hel fyre But enioye the diuine fruicion Looke that ye accomplyshe my desyre So shall ye be fre from lamentacion To the right worshypfull Master Rycharde Skotte Theodore Basille wysheth loÌ„ge lyfe coÌ„tinual helth and prosperous felicitie ✚ GOD the father saythe by hys Prophete Esa. lviii Crye cease not Lyfte vp thy voyce as a trompe and shew to the people theyr wickednes and to yâ— house of Iacob theyesynnes That this is chefelye spoken to them that are Prechers Ministers of Gods worde Ther is no maÌ„ that is but meanely learned ignoraunt therof For it is theyr dutye to crye not to cease It is theyr dutye to exalte lyft vp theyr voyce as a troÌ„pe It is theyr duty to shew vnto the people theyr wyckednesses synnes It is theyr duty to preach the Gospel to euery creature It is theyr duty to preach Repentaunce remission of synnes in the name of Christ vnto al nacions â—at xxviii It is theyr dutye to gyue meate to the Lordes family household in due tyme. It is ther duty to fede Christen people with doctrine knowledge â—uke xxiiii It is theyr duty to conforte the weake â—at xxiiii to bynd vp that is broken â—uke xii to bryng agayne that is caste awaye Timo. v to seake vp that is loste â—zec xxxiiii to cheryshe all the slocke of Christ. It is ther duty to cast away vngodly olde wyues fables Tim. iiii and to exercyse themselues vnto godlynes It is theyr dutye to be an example of the faythfull in worde in conuersacion in loue Tim. v in spirite in fayth in purite It is ther duty to rebuke theÌ„ that synne before all menne that other may haue â—eare It is theyr dutye to shewe them selues coÌ„mendable to God worke men yâ— nede not to â— Tim. ii be ashamed iustly dyuyding yâ— word of truth It is ther duty not to stryue but to be gentle peaseable toward all men redy to teache sufferyng the euyll wyth mekenes enformynge them that resiste if God at ony tyme gyue them repentaunce to knowe the truthe ii Tim. iii It is theyr dutie to preach the word to be feruent both in tyme out of tyme to reproue to rebuke to exhorte with al foftnes and doctrine Titus i. It is theyr duty to watch iÌ„ al thynges not to shrinck in affliccions to do the worcke of an Euangeliste to make theyr ministracion commendable euen vnto the vttermost It is theyr duty to be fautles as the stewardes of God not hyghe mynded not angrye not droneken not â—yghtyng not gyuen to fylthy lucre but mayntenyng Hospitalite â–ª studious of good thinges soâ—er ryghteous godly temperate holdyng fast that faythful word which is accordyng to doctrine that they may be able to exhorte by wholsome doctrine 1. Pet. v. to ouercome them that speake agaynst it It is theyr dutye to fede yâ—â—locke of Christ somuch as lygheth in theyr power To be short it is ther duty to shewe themselues dispeÌ„satours of the diuine misteries on such maÌ„ner that they may seme appere vnto all menne to haue taken ther power to edifye not to destroye For they are the lyghte of the world to shew men how they ought to walk They are the salt of yâ— earth to sauoure such as be vnsauerye But alas the lyght of the worlde I mean Prestes is now so do dymme yâ— it shewethe almoste no â—yght at al. Menne yâ— walke in darknes can not perceaue how to walke the Prestes are so wrapped about wyth the workes of darkenes The salt of yâ— earth I meane the Prestes is so vnsauery that it can not sucke out the corrupte humores The people that are diseased can not be healed yâ— preastes themselues are so fâ—ble weake infirme sycke wounded on euery part Morouer yâ— Prestes Esay lvi which shuld be ouersears of yâ— people are al blind as the Prophet sayth they are all with out knowlege they are dumme dogges not able once to barke they haue a pleasure to looke vpon vayne thynges they gyue them selues to sluggyshenes they lyghe snortynge all daye yea they are vnshamefaced dogges that haue neuer ynoughe The sheppardes themselues are wtout all knowledge All follow theyr owne wayes euery one of theÌ„â—s giueÌ„ into couetousnes Esa. lviii euen from the hyghest to the lowest God sayth Crye cease not But they turne caâ—te in the panne saye Cease crye not God sayth Lyfte vp thy voyce as a troÌ„pe But they saye whyst not a word vnles we be suspecte to be fellowes of the new lerning God sayth show vnto the people theyr wyckednesses and rebuke theyr synneful lyuynge Na by saynt Mary say they al thiÌ„g saue that It is good sleapyng in an whoâ—e skynne He is not wyse that wyll cast hymselfe into trouble whan he maye lyue in reste O Lorde haue marcy vpon vs. By thys meanes is it come to passe that vertue is so lytyll regarded vice so vniuersallye vsed Wo be to those prestes whiche neglecte theyr office flatter the people suffer them to lyue in al wyckednes For they are the Authors of all euell They are the occasion that so many soules perysh They cause yâ— so much myschyfe abhominacion reygneth now a dayes Theyr negligence ther sileÌ„ce theyr dissolute lyuing cause yâ— God 's worde is so euyll regarded among many and yâ— so great wyckednes suppresseth yâ— honour of the christen religion Is it ony maruell We se that yâ— bodye wythereth awaye perysheth and decayeth if it wanteth corporal sustenaunce Is it thaÌ„ to be thought yâ— the soule caÌ„ be in salue estate if it waÌ„teth her meat I mene yâ— word of God Matth. iiii Christ sayth Man shall not lyue wyth breade alone but wyth euery worde Deut. viii that coÌ„meth forth from the mouth of God Salomon
weale they maye also entreate of thys thynge in theyr Sinodes Congregacions Parliamentes councelles c. that God maye be glorifyed hys moost blyssed name exalted of all nacions from the Easte to the Weaste By this meanes shall they not onely expulse vice and make theyr Realmes to florish with vertu vnto the great glory of God and the hyghe consolacioÌ„ of all the faythfull but also they shall acquire and get to them selfes a crowne of immortal glory for euer and euer Amen Agayne Bysshops Parsons Vicars c let all Bysshoppes Parsonnes Vicares Curates Paryshe prestes so many as are ministers of Gods word in all theyr SermoÌ„s other exhortacions vnto the people aboue all thynges rebuke thys abhominable synne of swearyng â— declare vnto them how great an offence it is 〈◊〉 xxiii howe the plage of God and hys veÌ„geaunce shal not departe from the houses of them yâ— vse thys moost detestable synne of swearing Let them consyder that they haue hene the chefe occasion both of thys synne and of all other seynge they haue not accordynge to theyr office diligently watched vpon the Lordes flocke preached Gods worde rebuked the wickednesse of the people tolde theÌ„ theyr fautes exhorted theÌ„ vnto repentaunce amendment of lyfe Pro. xxiâ— Math. ix For whaÌ„ the preachyng of gods worde fayleth sayth Salomon thaÌ„ doth the people perysh and go to hanocke Christ had moch pytie on the people whan he saw that they were destitute and dispersed as shepe not hauynge a shepparde For as shepe whan they be without a shepparde wander they can not tell whyther Mark this comparison hang on euery bushe are rent wyth euery bryer and in dauÌ„ger to be denoured of the rauenyng wolfe at all tymes euen so lykewyse those people that are wythoute a Preacher teacher of Gods word runne astray wtout order hear the voyce of euery straunger faull in all kynde of vicious abhominacion are rent torne wyth wycked spirites redy at euery houre to be swalowed vp of Satan our olde aduersary whiche sleapeth not but watcheth diligently walketh about lyke a roryng Lyon 1. Pet. v seakyng whome he maye deuoure Surely great is the damnacioÌ„ that hangeth ouer the hedes of these sluggyshe sheppardes Christ the hyghe preste sayde mar â— iiiâ— Oportet me euangelizare nâ— in hoc missus sum I must preach the gospell saythe he for I am sent for this purpose What shall the baser sorte of prestis do than I praye you shall they lyue in pleasure and idlenes in delicious fare sluggyshnes Doth not Oportet also pertayne vnto theÌ„â— Certes if they wyll not meddle with Oportet euangelizare they are lyke to haue no parte of Miserere S. Paule also that good Byshop sayd Vae mihi sinoÌ„ euangelizauero i. Cor. ix Wo vnto me if I preach not the Gospel And shal our Rabines thynke to escape wythout pouyshment though they preach nothyng at al I feare that if they wyl not medle wyth Euangelizare they are lyke to crye another daye Vae Vae Vae quantae sunt tenebrae Wo wo wo howe great are these darkenesses God the father God the sonne God the holy Ghost wythe all the Prophetes and Apostles crye oute vpon prestes for to preache the holy scriptures exhortyng theÌ„ to be diligent in that matter Cry sayth God the father cease not Esa. lviii Lyfte vp thy voyce as a troÌ„pe Shew the people theyr synnes and declare vnto them theyr wickednes Agayne he saythe Esa 〈◊〉 O Ierusalem I haue set watche men vpon thy wanâ—les they shall not holde theyr peace nether nyght nor daye Christ sayde to hys Apostles go thorowe out the world and preache the gospel to euery creature S. Paule saythe take hede to your selfes and to all yâ— flock vpon whome the holy Ghoste hathe made you ouersears Luke xxiiii to fede the congregacion of God whom he purchased wyth hys bloud Act. xâ— For I knowe yâ— after my departure greuous wolfes shall enter in amoÌ„g you not sparing the flock And euen among your selfes shall there aryse men speakynge peruerse thynges yâ— they maye lede awaye the disciples after theÌ„ Therfore watche and remember that by the space of thre whole yeares I dyd not cease to monish euery one of you both daye and nyght euen with teares Agen he sayth gyue atteÌ„daunce to thy selfe to doctrine â— Ti. iiii contine we in these For if thou doste so yâ— shalte both saue thy self them that heare the. Preache the word be feruent be it in tyme or oute of tyme reproue rebuke Titus ii exhorte wyth all softenes doctrine Speke those thynges that become wholesome doctrine S. Peter also saythe i. Pet. v ye Prestes se that ye fede christes flocke which is among you takynge the ouersyght of them not as though ye were coÌ„pelled ther to but wyllyngly not for the desyre of fylthy lucre but of a good mynd not as thoughe ye were Lordes ouer the paryshes but that ye be an ensaÌ„ple to the flocke And whaÌ„ the chefe shepeheard shall appeare ye shall receaue an incorruptible Crowne of glory These textes of the holy scripture declare manifestly how feruent The preachynge of Gods word causeth yâ— Christen religioÌ„ to floryshe busy studious and diligeÌ„t all true prestes ought to be in the preachyng of Gods worde The men godly enspired knewe ryght well that so longe as Goddes worde is preached to the people it must nedes go well wythe the Christen religion but if it once cease than farewell all godlynesse farewell all vertue and goodnes Of thys thynge alas for pitie haue we hadde experience many a yere vnto our great discomfort and yet lytyll redresse For many of the prestes go forth to be as sluggysh as euer they were neyther haue they ony godly care for Christes flocke coÌ„mitted vnto theÌ„ So they maye haue the profytes they care for no more Bo nusest odor lucriexre qualiber So yâ— by thys meanes the shepe are lyke to dye for meate But alas howe shoulde they teach other whan they them selues knowe nothynge They are euen as the Prophet saythe â—sa lvi dumme dogges not once being able to barke Many agayne of them there are which are learned and knowe theyr duty and yet I knowe not wyth what spirite moued they holde theyr peace they speake nothyng they se theyr shepe runne astraye before theyr faces walke in all kynde of wyckednes yet haue they no pitie I wonder with what forheades these men wyll appere before the hygh prest and great Iudge Christ at the dredefull day of iudgement I pray God they be not Epicures bothe in lyuyng iudgement But let vs heare what the holy and catholyke Doctors saye vnto thys matter S. Ierome sayth In Leuit. Dist. xxxvi CaÌ„ Siquis if ony maÌ„ wyll be a Byshop not onely in name but also in deseruynge let hym followe Moses and let hym follow Aaron
lyke vnto the but I wyll reproue the come face to face agaynst the. O vnderstonde these thynges ye that forget God vnlesse he plucke you awaye there be none yâ— can delyuer you Sayncte Paule also sayth Rom. ii thou that teachest another teachest not thy self Thou that preachest that men shulde not steale stealest thy selfe Thou that sayste that whoredome shulde not be committed playest the whoremonger thy selfe Thou that abhorrest Images robbest God of his honour thy selfe Thou that gloryest of the lawe thorowe breakyng of the law dishonorest God For the name of God is euell spoken of among the Gentiles thorowe you Of these thynges it is euident yâ— it is not sufficient for prestes to preache Goddes worde except they also leade a vertuous godly lyfe Math. v. Who so euer doth and teacheth he shal be called great in the kyngdom of heauen sayth the scripture Christ doth not onely call prestes the salte of the earth but also the lyght of yâ— world Wythe theyr preachyng they season the people Prestes are not only called the salte of yâ— earthe but also the lyght of the worlde but wythe theyr lyght of godly conuersacion they shewe men howe they ought towalke and lyue Therfore immediately is it subioyned lette your lyght so shyne before menne that they maye se your good workes glorify your father i. Tim. iiii which is in heauen i. Tim. â— Be an example of the faythfull sayth Paule ii Tim. iâ— in worde in conuersacion in loue in Spirite in faythe Kepe thy selfe pure Study to shewe thy selfe commendable to God a worke man that neadeth not to be ashamedde He that preacheth Christ In serm deieiunio sayth S. Ambrose ought to shewe hym selfe wholly estraunged from all kynde of vices S. IohnÌ„ Chrisostome also sayth In Math. it is a great shame for Prestes and for so many as be of the Clergy whan laye men be founde faythfuller more ryghteous than they are Howe canne it otherwyse be than a shame for them to be inferioure to the laye people whome to be lyke vnto them it is also a shame AgeÌ„ S. Gregory sayth the lyght of the flocke is the flame of the shepparde In Pastora For it becoÌ„methe the Lordes shepehearde and a Preste to â—hyne in manners and lyuyng that in hym as in yâ— glasse of theyr lyght the people that is committed vnto hym maye bothe discerne what they shulde follow and also se what they shulde correcte and amende Hereof is it euident what great purite and innocency of lyfe ought to be in prestes that theyr lyfe may correspond and in all poyntes answere to theyr preachyng But here is an answer to be made to the vnsauery talke of certen men nowe a dayes which because they se the manners of the Preachers not agreable in all poyntes to theyr sermons faull at defyaunce with gods worde blaspheme it as heresy rayle vpon the preachers and absent them selfes from the hearyng of all godly exhortacions warnynges and couÌ„cels These parsons hynder no man so moche as them selfes They may well be compared to a folysshe man Mark well whyche cometh vnto the market for to bye meate But whaÌ„ he beholdeth the butcher and perceaueth hym to haue some deformite in his face as one of his eyes to be out or to be balde or elles to holde his necke awrye gothe streyght home agayne chosethe rather to dye for honger than he wyll bye meate of suche a butcher although the meat be neuer so pure Math. xxâ—â—â— clene commestible wholsome But let vs heare what the holy scripture saythe In the chayer of Moses syt Scribes and Phareses All theâ—fore that they commaunde you to kepe loke that you kepe and do but accordyng to theyr workes do ye not For they say but they do not Here christ commaundethe vs not to abstayne from the hearyng of Goddes worde though they be neuer so wicked and euyll that preache it For who were more vngodly and greater enemies to Christ than the Scribes Phareses yet Christ commaundethe to heare them so longe as they sytte in the chayer of Moses What it is to syt in the chayer of 〈◊〉 To syt in the chayer of Moses is truely syncerly to preach those thynges that Moses dyd to enterpret the lawe accordyng to the ryght vayne of the holy scripture and only to seake the glory of God the profyt of the faythfull So long as they that are preachers do thys they are to be hearde though theyr lyfe be neuer so abhominable For it is not the preacher to whome we must haue pryncipall respecte but to the word of God Nother do we come into the Temple to gase vpon the Preacher but to hear the holy scriptures declared and so lerne to lede a godly lyfe If he were one of the ministers of Satan yea Satan hymselfe that preacheth so longe as he bryngethe in Scriptum est so long as he teacheth purely the diuine scripture wythout wreastyng Euerye maÌ„ yâ— preachethe the scripture trulye is to be hearde be hys lyfe neuer so wycked or corruptynge of the same he is to be hearde We ought not so greatly to marke the teacher as that which is taught If he teachethe well it is ours we haue that we came for if he lyueth well it is his owne and he shal receaue the rewarde But lette vs heare what Chrisostome sayth to thys matter In Math Cap. xxiii If the presteâ— lyue wel sayth he it is theyr auauntage but if they teache well it is yours Be not curioê° to boulâ—e out that which pertayneth vnto another man For oftentymes good learnyng comethe forthe from an euyll manne as vyle earth bryngeth forth precious gold Is precious golde despysed for the vile earth Therfore as the golde is chosen and the earth forsakeÌ„ so lykewyse take you the learnyng leaue the manners Agayne he saythe let vs take the doctrine but not the maÌ„ners Herbes are not necessary for the bees but the floures are So you lykewyse gather the floures of doctrine and leaue theyr fashons of lyuyng Here this holy Doctore wylleth vs not to despyse yâ— word thoughe the Preacher be euell Lette vs take that is oures and let go that is hys The doctrine is oures yâ— lyfe is hys I had rather haue a syncer preacher of Gods worde which shal declare Christ vnto me purely rebuke my synful lyuyng conforte me wyth the swete promises of GOD shewe me howe I ought to institute my lyfe according to yâ— wyl of god c although hys maÌ„ners be somewhat corrupte and dissent from his preachyng thaÌ„ to haue a wicked Papist a pestileÌ„t Pharese a supersticious Hypocrite whiche shall outwardely lyke a crafty foxe preteÌ„d a certayne grauite and a popeholy manner of lyuynge and yet corrupte the holye scriptures confounde Gods worde wyth mens tradicions lede the people into supersticious errours flatter the herers preach for lucre