Newes out of heauen both pleasaunt ioyfull lately set forth to the great coÌ„solacion â–ª coÌ„forte of all christen meÌ„ By Theodore Basille ✚ Roma 10. ¶ O how beautyful are the feete of theÌ„ which briÌ„g y e glad tydiÌ„ges of peace shewe good and mery newes Ioan. 7. ¶ My doctryne is not myne but his that sent me If any man wyll do his wyll he shall knowe of the doctryne whether it be of God or whether I speke of my selfe â–ª He that speaketh of him selfe seaketh his owne prayse But whosoeuer seketh his prayse y t sent hym he is true no vnryghteousnes is in hym Ioan. 8. 〈◊〉 that is of God heareth the wordes of God Ioan. 18. Euery one that is of the truth heareth my voyce ¶ To the ryght worshypful Maister George Pierpount Theodore Basille wissheth continual health and prosperous felycite IF wyth studious atteÌ„t myndes we reade y â— moost sacred scriptures markyng wel such thiÌ„ges as make to our informacion learnynge erudicion â—nâ—â—ease of deuyne knowledge we shal easely without any difficulte perceaue that among al other vertues fruytes of y e spirite Christe â—ur LORDE Sauiour exhortethe â—s vnto none so moche as to loue â—harite In thys thynge sayeth he â—hal al meÌ„ know that ye are my dysâ—iples yf one of you loue another â—s though he should say other meÌ„s â—eruauÌ„tes are knoweÌ„ by theyr maysters cognisauÌ„ces I wil also y â— you whych are my disciples be knowne by my cognisaunce in lyke maner whych is loue comminge oute of a pure herte and a good coÌ„sieÌ„ce and a fayth not fayned And as Christ hym selfe dyd inculke beate in nothyng so moche as pure loue and ferueÌ„t charite so dyd the Prophetes Apostles in al theyr sermons wrytinges aboue all thinges exhorte men to mutual loue yea y t vnfayned as we maye se in theyr prophecies Epistles in somoch that S. Paule sayth that though he could speake w t the tonges of meÌ„ aungles yet had no loue he were eueÌ„ as souÌ„dyng brasse or as a tinglyng cymbal And though he could prophecie vndeâ—stond al secretes al knowledge and had al fayth so that he coulde moue mouÌ„taynes oute of theyr places had not loue he were nothiÌ„g And though he bestowed al his goodes to fede the poore yea though he gaue his body euen to be burnt yet had no loue it profyteth hym nothynge The excellencye of thys christen loue muste nedes be great inestimable seynge that w tout it no thing is acceptable in the syght of God though it be iudged of the world to be a worke of neuer so hye and singulare meryte Of this loue christ dyd prophecy that it shoulde waxe colde in y â— hartes of many nowe these last dayes that wickednes should abound 〈◊〉 plentuous Certes accordyng to hys prophecy whyche euer is true â—n asmoche as he is the selfe trueth â— caÌ„ not lye is it come to passe For â—f we consyther wel the maners of â—â—en at thys present we shal w tout â—oubte easely perceaue that thys chrysteÌ„ loue towarde God and our neyghbour reygneth but in the hertes of a few And that they haue no thynge lesse than that true workyng fayth which the holy scriptures coÌ„meÌ„d so hyghly in euery place For the christen fayth worketh by charite sayeth saynt Paule Nowe in asmuch as the fayth wher of so many hoste nowe a dayes worketh not this charite or loue in them it is manifest an euident argumeÌ„t that theyr fayth as S. Iames calleth it is a dead fayth y e is a fayth in name but not in dede Yf there were true liuish fayth thaÌ„ would it worke loue in theyr hertes both toward God theyr neighboures Agayne if ther were such a law as is the fulfyllynge of the loue than wold it whan tyme requireth and an occasyon is gyuen shewe forth it selfe by eternall operacyon Who can iustly affyrme y â— he loueth God yet worketh not his wyll nor yet walketh not in y e waye of hys moost godly coÌ„maundementes he y â— sayth I knowe hym kepeth not his coÌ„maundement sayeth saynte Ihon is a lier the trueth is not in him But he that kepeth his worde truly in him is y e loue of God perfecte Agayne thys is y e loue of God that we kepe his coÌ„maundementes Beholde S. Ihon sayth that the loue of God is in none but in them only whiche do his wyll Neyther do Christes sayenges dyffer from this If ye loue me sayeth he kepe my coÌ„maundemeÌ„tes He that hath my coÌ„maundementes kepeth theÌ„ he it is that louethe me If ony man loueth me he wyll kepe my word He that loueth not me kepethe not my wordes If ye kepe my commauÌ„dementes ye shall abyde in my loue Ye are my freendes yf ye do theyse thynges y â— I coÌ„maunde you Christ sayeth here playnely that whosoeuer hath an herty precordial loue toward hym kepeth his coÌ„maundementes but yf any do the contrary surely he loueth not christ How than may theyse men be recounted iudged to loue Christ whan they go not about to fulfyll one poynte of his worde Hys worde is that they shoulde loue him w t all theyr herte mynde soule streÌ„gth but in y e stede of him they loue them selues theyr carnall pleasures wordely vanyties the ende wherof is dampnacion His word is that they should honour reuerence Gods moost holy blessed name but they omittynge the iuste honour of it blaspheme it rayle on it wickedly sweare by it to y e great defasynge of gods glory so muche as lyeth in theyr power For thorowe theyr wickednesse the name of god is styl blasphemed railed vpon euel spoken of as the holy scriptures saye Yf christen princes do not shortely fynde some remedy to exyle banysh thys moost detestable haynous abhomynable maner of swearyng out of theyr realmes Certes it is to be feared yea we may be certayne that God wyl powre out vpon vs his vengeauÌ„ce plage vs greuously although we haue not wanted nor yet dayly do dyuers tokens of hys fearce anger toward vs yet do we not repeÌ„t amend God is a ryghteous iudge God is euer threatenyng Yf meÌ„ wyll not turne he wyll whette hys sweard bend his bowe and make it redy He wyll prepare him the weapons oâ—â—ath orden his arrowes to 〈◊〉 Agayne his worde is that they shoulde sanctify the Sabboth day that is so to temperate theÌ„selues abstayne from wycked lustes that they maye quietly mediate in gods lawe read the holy scriptures giue them selues to deuyne conteÌ„placioÌ„ talke of serious matters praye to God for grace gyue hym thanckes for his benefytes visyte the sycke coÌ„fortles continually be gyueÌ„ to the
in suche miserable case were not alyke moued to helpe this maÌ„ The preest Leuite were mercylesse the Samarytane was mercyfull Uerely in the Samaritane was y â— loue of god whiche excited moued him agayn to shew loue towarde his neyghbour But in the preest Leuyte was ther no loue toward god therfore had they no pytie coÌ„passioÌ„ vpoÌ„ theyr neighbour So y â— where the loue of God wanteth ther can the loue of oure neyghboure haue no place And to saye y â— trueth I thynke surely that accordinge to Christes prophecy y â— loue of manye was neuer so colde For whan was there euer so many fayre wordes so much dissimulacioon who can at this daye vnfaynedly know his frende froÌ„ his 〈◊〉 al trueth is vtterly decayd among the chyldren of meÌ„ Euery one speaketh lyes to theyre neyghbour theyr lyppes are deceytfull they speake one thynge thynke an other In theyr mouthe they speake peace w t theyr frend yet secretely they lay in wayte for him They stretch out theyr tonge as a bowe of lying and not of trueth As the folowers lay snares to take byrdes so do they laye snares trappes to take men And as the trappe is full of byrdes so are theyr houses full of disceyte Nowe is the tyme come that Christ speaketh of in the holy gospel The brother sayeth he shall betray the brother vnto the deathe y â— father y â— sonne the chyldren shall aryse aagaynst theyr fathers mothers shal putte them to deathe Manye are become ryght Iudasies that is frendes in pretence extreme enemyes in theyr workes so y â— almoost no man knowethe whome he maye truste take for his frende It shall therfore become al meÌ„ to folow the admonicion of the Prophete Ieremy which sayeth Let euery maÌ„ be ware of his neyghboure put hys affyance trust iÌ„ none of al his brothers For euery brother wyll supplant deceyue euery frend wyll walke deceytfully so y t one brother shal mocke another and not speake trueth For they haue taught their tonge to speake lyes studyed very ernestly to do wyckedly Here to pertayneth the sayeng of the Prophete Miche Kepe the secretes of thy mouth from her that slepeth in thy bosome for y e sonne shall worke the father displeasure the doughter shall ryse agaynst her mother the doughter in lawe agaynste her mother in lawe a mannes owne houshold and familyars shalbe his mooste enemyes Thus se we what loue ther is nowe a dayes amonge men Agayne what vnmercyfulnesse reygneth amoÌ„g men at this tyme Howe slenderly are the poore members of Christ prouyded for nowe a dayes Howe do they go about froÌ„ dore to dore lameÌ„tyng expressyng with dolorous sorowful wordes theyr to muche wretched miserable state yet no man pitieth theÌ„ ter thefte whoredome haue ouerflowed the world bloud hath towched bloud But to be shorte in this behalfe let vs knowe that the iugement shalbe w tout mercy to hym y t wyll shew no mercy Let vs also be assured that as the mercyefull shall obtayne mercy so shall the vnmercifull receyue euerlastyng daÌ„nacion Moreouer what couetousnesse raygneth amonge men at this present tyme Howe ioyne they house to house londe to londe ferme vnto ferme pasture to pasture so longe as any is to be gotten as thoughe they shoulde dwell vpon the earthe alone From the leest to the mooste they hange all vpoÌ„ couetousnesse froÌ„ the Prophete to the preest they go all about with falsehode lyes They are shameles dogges that be neuer satified Euery one foloweth his owne couetous appetyte euen froÌ„ the hyghest to the lowest They receyue gyftes to shed bloud They take vsury encrese They oppresse theyr poore neyghbours by extorcion They are lyke raueniÌ„g wolues to shed bloud to destroy soules for theyr couetous lucre They heape vp other mens goodes They lade theÌ„ selues with thycke claye They couetouslye gather togyther euell gotten goodes into theyr houses y t they maye set theyr neste on hye to escape froÌ„ y e power of mysfortune The are rycthe not to God but to the world They heape vp treasure and yet knowe they not for whome they gather it They do so abound in all kynde of rytches y t theyr goodes be corrupte Theyr garmentes are motheaten theyr golde theyr syluer are caÌ„ckred the rust of theÌ„ shalbe a wytnes agaynst theÌ„ shal eate theyr flesshe as it were fyre And yet for all theyr greate aboundans mercy shewe they none to the poore people but y â— more they haue the more they couyte For they are proud they put theyr hope in vncertayne rytches not in y â— lyuing God which gyueth vs aboundantly all thynges to enioye theÌ„ They do no good they be not rich in good workes they do not distribute and gyue with a good wyll they gather not vp treasures for them selues which should be a good foundacion agaynste the tyme to come y t they maye laye hande on eternall lyfe Therfore to all suche it is not with out a cause sayde Wo be vnto you rytch men which haue your consolacion Wo be to you y t are full for ye shal huÌ„ger Wo be to you y t laugh nowe for he shall wepe and wayle Agayne It is more easye for a Cammell to go thorowe the eye of a nedle than a rytch man to enter into the kyngedome of God What loue I praye you can there be to a mans neyghbour where such couetous affectes insatiable lustes do reygne God turne awaye this pestilence out of the earth Furthermore what detestable fylthye stynkynge and abhominable whoredome reygnethe in the worlde nowe a dayes yea and that so frely and wythout punisshment that it is accounted no synne at all among many but rather a sporte a good felowlike dalyauÌ„ce a tokeÌ„ of loue a touch of lusty youth The holy scripture coÌ„maundeth y e fornicacioÌ„ adultry whoredome al vncleanes shoulde not once be named among vs muche lesse perpetrated done Yet to deflour maydens to corrupt wyues to defyle wydowes is now iudged and taken but for a playe tryfelynge matter Yea many are growen into such vnshamefastenes that they vse to enterlase theyr talke at the tyme of theyr repast w t such fylthy coÌ„municacion nothyng fearyng to declare before other how valeant champioÌ„s they haue shewed theÌ„ selues in Uenus court Thus do they reioyce whan they haue done euel make a sport â—t vnfyttynge thynges O detestable abhominacioÌ„ This maketh as the Prophet sayeth that there are so many adulterers This maketh that they fal to whoredome hauÌ„t harlottes houses This maketh theÌ„ lyke stoned wyld horses to ney at theyr neighbours wiues Yea thys maketh chast matrimony to be despysed and whores to be set more by than
and Sauiour with the holy Ghost one very God worldes without ende to whome alone be all honour glory for euer and euer Amen ¶ A brefe rehersall of all those thynges that go before THus haue I declared vnto you the moost swete moost confortable moost plesauÌ„t moost meri newes out of heaue at the coÌ„maundement of the hyghest puissauÌ„t God Ye se iÌ„ how miserable a case ye are redacted and fallen by the synne of AdaÌ„ howe that by hym ye are all damned and made y â— sonnes of wrath Ye se that of your selues because of youre imperfeccioÌ„ ye are not able to do any good thyng that maye satisfy y â— deuyne wyll apease Gods wrathe Ye se that y â— workes of the lawe can not make you fre in y â— syght of god neyther are ye able of youre owne strenth free wyll so pureâ—y so spiritually to do theÌ„ as the law requireth that you may obtayne remissyon of youre synnes by doynge of them Ye se also that the sacrifyces of the olde lawe can neuer putte away synne as for workes of your owne inuencioÌ„ are mooste of all imê‘fecte mooste vnapte to purchase grace fauoure Thus se you that of youre owne selues of your owne polecy of your owne righteousnes ye are not able to escape the dauÌ„ger of daÌ„nacion yea rather daÌ„nacioÌ„ it selfe Therfore dyd I declare vnto you the coÌ„fortable newes out of heueÌ„ shewyng you that God not for the workes of righteousnes that ye haue done which in dede are none but of his owne free great mercy hath vouchedsaufe to preserue and kepe you from the dauÌ„ger of SataÌ„ sinne death hel yea and y t by this his welbeloued sonne Iesus Christ which this daye is borne in the cytie of Dauid to be the sauioure of y â— world So that for Iesus Christes sake God is well pleased with you Ye haue heard that y â— lawe hath condeÌ„ned you in asmuch as ye are traÌ„sgressours of it and hath made you accursed FroÌ„ this cursse of the lawe shal christ delyuer you not froÌ„ the lawe it selfe that you shoulde lyue vngodly after a remisse and dissolute maner for such haue no in heritauÌ„ce in y â— kyngdome of Christe of God but from the curse seruitude bondage damnacioÌ„ of y e lawe For he shall fulfyll y â— whole law eueÌ„ to the vttermoste And hys fulfyllynge shall be accepted before God the father for the fulfyllynge of so many as beleue in him And he settyng you at libertye from the curse of the lawe shall gyue you a newe herte put in you a newe spirite he shal take away your stony herte gyue you a fleshly that is a softe gentle herte redy to enclyne to y â— accoÌ„plyshment of Goddes wyll He shal gyue his lawes into your myndes wryte them in your hertes y â— you maye euer after franckely and with a free spirite fulfyl them Ye haue hearde how this Christ shall brynge you oute of the darkenes into the lyght of trueth by the syncere declarynge of hys fathers wyll For he is the lyght of y â— world God hath gyuen hym to be a witnes vnto the people a captayne a mayster amonge the heythen And this his doctryne shall he confyrme with such miracles as shall euydeÌ„tly shew proue that he is that true Messias whiche was promysed to come Agayne ye haue hearde y â— all his good dedes are youres For with hiÌ„ hath God the father also gyueÌ„ you all thynges so that he is your wysdome your righteousnes your saÌ„ctificacion and redempcion Ye haue herde also that he shall offer himsele for you to God the father an oblacion swete swellynge sacrifice vpoÌ„ the Altare of the crosse that by this one oblacion sacrifyce of his mooste blessed body done once for all all your synnes shall be put away ye shal be made perfecte and wasshed from all deformitie so cleane by christes bloud as though ye had neuer offended heretofore Ye haue hearde agayne that as christ shal dye for your siÌ„nes so shal he ryse agayne for your iustificacion obtaynynge for you the victory of synne death and hell y â— that his moost glorious resurreccion Ye haue heard y â— after he is once rysen agayne he shal here remayne certayne dayes than ascende corporally into heauen sytte downe on the ryght hande of God y e father sendynge downe the holye Ghoste which shall lede you into all trueth Ye haue hearde also that Christe syttynge on the ryght hand of God the father shall not be ydle but styll prouyde seke youre helth He shall be your mediatoure aduocate He shall make contynuall intercessyon for you He shall pleate youre cause before God his father He shall auaunce your matter before the deuyne presence Yf ye at any tyme excite or styre vp gods wrath against you thorowe your iniquitie he shall streyght wayes apease it and make God the father styll youre louynge father which elles would be to you an extreme reuenger Ye haue herde agayne y â— Christe at y â— laste daye shal come gloriously froÌ„ y â— right haÌ„d of his father to iuge the quicke the deade howe that after the iudgemente is once done ye shall enter into glory with hym lyuynge for euer after in such ioye pleasure gladnesse as can not by any meanes eyther be expressed by tong or coÌ„ceyued in herte All these coÌ„modities pleasures profyttes shal ye haue by this your new kiÌ„ge sauiour Iesus Christ which this day is borne in Bethleem a citie of Dauid What more pleasaunt and thanckeworthye newes coulde be brought to you then theise What coulde haue set suche a ioye in your hertes as the hearynge of these newes CaÌ„ any thyng lyke vnto these chaunse vnto you so great so welcome so acceptable so ioyful Uerely yf ye seriously coÌ„syder the misery wherwith ye were obruted ouerwhelmed before ye shall easlye perceyue that ye haue an earnest cause to reioyce No prisoner no captiue no bond slaue was euer in so great captiuite thraldome as ye were before these news were brought to you Iâ— a prisoner reioysethe for his delyuerance oute of pryson whiche once muste nedes haue an ende yf none otherwyse yet at the leest by death howe great a cause theÌ„ haue you to reioyse for your deliuerauÌ„ce which were captiues prisoners to that horrible monsture and pestiserous serpent euen SataÌ„ hymselfe yea and that not for certayne yeares but for euer worldes wythout ende Neyther was it youre body alone that was in captiuite and boÌ„dage but your soule also both your body soule were captyue to hym so that yf this your newe kynge redemer