forthe theyr mouthe vnto heauen and theyr tonge goeth thorowe the worlde Therfore fall the people vnto thē therout sucke they no smal aduauntage Tush say they howe shoulde God perceyue it Is there anye knowledge in the moste hygheste Lo these are the vngodlye these prospere in the worlde and these haue ryches in possession Againe the Apostles of Christe euen Christe him selfe beinge wyth them were sumtime so hungry destitute of al kinde of vitaile y t as they wente by the waye they were cōpelled euen for very hūger to plucke y e eares of corne and to eat it And doth not S. Paul in these wordes declare the miserable state boeth of hym selfe and of hys felowaposties Euen vnto thys tyme sayeth he we hunger and thyrste and are naked and are buffeted wyth fystes and haue no certayne dwellynge plase and laboure worckynge with oure handes Wee are reuyled and yet we blesse We are persecuted and suffer it We are euyll spoken of and we praye We are made as the fylthynes of the worlde the ofscourynge of all thynges euen vnto thys daye At the maryage in Cana Galile wher Christe hym selfe was present w t the blessed virgin Mary hys Mother and hys disciples was there not suche scarsenesse that they wāted wyne before the weddynge feaste was done And yet it is to be thought that both they whych were maried and the other ther assembled were Christes frendes and dearly beloued of Christ. What shal I rehearse the historye of the ryche manne whych was gorgeously appareled fared daintilye euerye day and of the pore Lazar whych died for hunger The riche gluttō lyued pleasauntly and was dam ned in hel the pore Lazar lyuing in all kinde of worldelye miserye after the death of his body reigneth in glory with god The enemy of God hathe after hys owne carnal luste all thynges the frēd of God wanteth that should suffice the necessary appetite of nature Phile. I confesse that for the mooste parte the wycked in thys worlde haue more aboundaunce of temporall goodes and lyue a thousande tymes more pleasaūtlye in the face of the worlde then the true christians do God thorow his vnsearcheable wisdome so appoyntinge whyche afore seeth much better then we what is necessarye for vs. Notwythstandynge thoughe God doeth not customably send to hys seruātes suche abundaunce of worldelye treasures as voluptuous world lyngs do possesse lest theyr mindes snarled wyth the loue of thē shoulde be withdrawen from the true euerlastynge goodnes as it cometh to passe in mani yet ve ry seldon or neuer doeth he leaue theim socourles but sēdeth them what so euer is necessarye for the sustentation of theyr ◅eadye and pore lyfe accordynge to hys promyse as he sayed vnto hys disciples When I sent you wythout wallet and scrippe and shou◅s lacked ye anye thynge And they sayed No. Truely no more shall we lacke any necessarye thynge if we loue God obey hys word The fayethful maye perchaunce sometyme fele the dart of pouertie yet wyll not God leaue theim socourles and destitute of helpe For God sendeth pouertie sumtyme to the ryghtuousse for to proue hys fayeth and to styrre hym vp to call on hym whych is the geuer of al good things that he maye knowe by the exercise of hys fayeth y t they be the gyftes of God as the wyse man sayeth Good and euyll lyfe and deathe pouertye and riches are of God Truste in God and abide in thy place For it is an easye thyng in the syght of God quickely to enriche a pore man Disconfort not yourselues therefore deare brethren thoughe sumetyme ye fele the crosse of pouerty but be on a good confort ioye and reioyce in God For God hathe promised that he wyl not leaue nor forsake you but gyue you all good thynges abundauntlye for your presente necessitie Hys delaye is onelye to proue your fayeth and to prouoke you to fle vnto hym by teruent prayer and to require of hym al thinges necessary for your lyuynge If ye do thys so ye be not idle but worcke accordynge to youre callynge the earthe shall soner cease to gyue forth hir fruit then ye shal wāt your honest necessaries Reioyce therfore in the lorde alwai once again I sai reioyce Chr. The Lord of heauē giue vs al grace so to order our life accor dyng to hys holy worde so to repose our affiaunce in hym so to call on hys mooste blessed name in al oure aduersitie and so to be thankefull for hys exceadynge goodnesse towarde mankynde that we be not found altogyther vnworthy the recepte of hys benefites The. So be it Phile. Fi nallye as I woulde haue you to reioyce in the Lorde when so euer he sendeth you syckenes pouerty or any other crosse to nurture you to mortifye olde Adam to slea your carnal lusts to make your bodies subiect to the spirite that they maye be a liuynge and holy sacrifice to God so woulde I exhorte you to reioyce also in the Lorde if at any tyme he rayseth vp tyrants to persecute you for the feruent zeale and Godlye loue that ye beare toward the ve ritie and trueth of hys moste blessed word For as it came to passe in the tyme of Moyses the prophetes in y e daies of Christ hys Apostles euē so hathe it bene frō theyr tyme vnto thys daye that the bealyed hypocrites wicked wordelynges haue euer hated styl vnto the worldes ende shall hate the glorious lyght of Gods worde Neyther is it any meruel For as concernynge the bealied hypocrites Gods word condemneth their hypocrisie superstitiō fayned holines newe founde religion carnall ceremonies outwarde sanctimonie and all the whole glitterynge face of theyr popishe solemnitie It cryeth out vpon theym that they are so idle and do not onely not preache thē selues but also forbyde other y t woulde boeth gladlye and frelye set forth y e glory of Christes gospell vnto the exceadynge conforte and greate Ioye of all true christiās yea they persecute thē blaspheme them enpryson them burne theim c. It crieth out vpon thē that haue so greate multitudes of worldelye possessions and yet make no prouisiō for the poore people for the vertuousse bryngynge vp of youthe in good letters and vertuousse maners but spende it vpon gorgeousse buildinges lusty horses delicate fare idle lubbers yea vpon haukes dogges and whores It crieth out vpon them that wheras they ought to be the lyght of the worlde and to gyue example of vertuouse lyuynge to all menne they are become of all men most abhominable moste leude moste vngodly moste geuen to idlenes moste drowned in voluptuousenes and altogyther sworne to do mischiefe Howe can these bealygods and swynyshe Hypocrites whose lyfe is ouerwhelmed with the darcke cloudes of syn abide the gloryous lyghte of Christes gospell Howe can these gluttonyshe Epicures suffer theyr Hypocrisy and fayned holines to be rebuked of the
the most wicked kinge I passe ouer many other of the olde testamēt which were vnmercifully persecuted and slayne for gods trueth Some as the blessed Apostle say eth were tried wyth mockynges scourginges wyth bondes prisonment some were stoned some were hewen a sunder some were slayne with swerde al were troubled and vexed Theo. These are they of whom the wise man spea keth god proued thē and founde thē meete for him selfe yea as the golde in the fornace dyd he trye thē and receyued thē as a brunte offeringe c. Phi. As I may at y e last come to the newe testament to whō is it vnknowne that Iesus Christ our Lorde sauioure after mani blasphemies rebukes slaunders and bitter tormentes suffred the most spiteful death of y e crosse so entered in to glorye Holye Iohn Baptist that blessed priestes sonne for trueth tellynge to king herod for reprouing hym of his abhominable liuing was cast into prisonne and beheaded Iames the brother of Iohn had his head striken of for preaching Christ to be son of y e liuinge god The holy martirs Stephē was stoned vnto deth because he prea ched Christ affirmed that God dwelleth not in temples made w t mans hād What kindnes Peter and Paule w t the other apostles foūd at y e hādes of thē whose saluaciō they most diligētly sought the histories make menciō Neyther do I heare speake of those blissed martirs which syns their dayes haue died for the confessiō of gods trueth so that the Gospel of Christe is not without a cause called of sainct Paulle the word of the crosse For al that wyl lyue godlye in Christ Iesu sayeth he shal suffer persecution To consider these histories afore rehersed shall stablishe our fayeth greately and very much comforte vs in the tyme of oure tribulacion so that we shall not lyghtely slyde frome God and frome hys holye worde but reioyse in hym recoūtynge oure selues moste blessed fortunate and wealthy that god hath vouched safe not only that we shoulde beleue in him but also suffer for hym It shall be expediente for vs also to remember that Christe calleth them blessed which suffer persecution for righ tuousnes sake and sayeth that theirs is the kingdome of heauē Agayne that the seruaunt is not greater thā hys Lord but if they persecuted Christ our Lorde and maister thei wil also persecute vs his seruauntes Disciples If they haue called the father of the houshold Belzebub much more they wyl cal them so that are of hys housholde If we were of the worlde the worlde woulde loue vs but for asmuche as we are not of the worlde but Christ hath chosen vs out of the world therfore doth the world hate vs. And did not Christe tel vs afore that we should lament and wepe that is to saye be oppressed of tirauntes but the worlde shoulde reioyse and that in the world we should haue affliction and trouble Agayne are we not taughte y t by many tribulations we must enter into the kingdome of God Chri. The fleshe abhorreth trouble persecution namely whan death is like to folow phile The spirite as Christ sayeth is redye and of a good courage to suffer al thinges for the glorie of God but the fleshe is weake The outward man is loeth to dye but the inward man wisheth to be losoned out of this corruptible body and to be wyth Christ. But if the good wil of our heauēly father so be y t we muste nedes suffer death for Christes sake let vs set thys saying of S. Paule before oure eies and stedfastli beleue it if we die with christ we shal liue with him If we suffer w t him we shall also reigne with him And our sa uioure Christ sayeth whosoeuer shall lose his life for my sake and for y e Gospel he shal kepe it Here to agreeth the saying of s. Peter detelye beloued maruaile not that ye are proued bi fire whiche thyng is to trie you as thoughe some straūg thing happened vnto you but reioyse in asmuch as ye are partakers of christes passion y t when his glory appereth ye may be mery glad If ye be railed vpō happie are ye For y e glory the spirite of god resteth vpō you Againe if any mā suffer as a Christen man let hym not be a shamed but let him glorifie God on this behaulfe And let thē y t are troubeled accordinge to y e will of God cōmit ther soules to him w t wel doing as vnto a faythful cre ature They y t suffer trouble for y e lordes sake for the gospell shal stande before the glorious seate of God and before the lambe Christe and they shall be clothed wyth longe whyte garmentes and palmes in their handes They shal euer be in the presence of the seat of God and serue him daye and nyghte in hys temple and he that sitteth in the seate shall dwell amonge them They shall honger no more neyther thyrste neyther shall the sunne lyghte on thē neyther any heate For the lambe whyche is in the middes of the seate shal fede thē and lede them vnto fountaynes of liuynge water and God shall wype awaye al teares from their eyes Furthermore it shall be greate comforte for vs also to remember wyth what wyllynge hertes Christ and al the blissed martires suffered death for the glorye of God Christe oure Lorde and sauioure whan the tyme of hys bytter passion beganne to drawe nyghe and perceyued that Iudas wente aboute to betraye hym to the Byshopes and priestes sayde that thou entendeste to do do it quickelye and out of hand And whan the Byshoppes seruauntes came to laye hande on hym where as he myght haue escaped their cruell handes he wyllyngely offered hym selfe vnto them whereby we maye se that he wente vnto hys death wyth a merye and ioyefull herte Christofor These hys wordes which long before his passion he spake to y e Iewes do also testify and wytnes his redy bente good wyll to suffer for the saluacion of mankynd Therfore doeth my father loue me because I gyue ouer my lyfe that I maye take it agayne No manne taketh it away frō me but I gyue it ouer euē of myne own good wil I haue power to gyue it ouer I haue power to take it againe Theo. Of the willinge oblacion of him selfe it was prophecied by the holy Prophetes The prophet Esai sayeth he was offered because it was his good pleasure Dauid also saith in the parson of Christ I wil offer sacrifice vnto the willingly He speketh of the sacrifice of his body Againe Christe hym selfe sayeth by the forsayde Prophet vnto his heauēlye father as for sacrifice and offerynge thou wouldest none therfore madeste thou me a bodie As for burnte offeringes for synne thou hast not alowed them Than sayed I
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
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
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
ascen cion a preparer of a heauenli and glorious mansion for vs againe a purchaser of the holye goste to comforte vs and to lede vs into al trueth but also an intercessour mediatoure and aduocate where by he obtayneth for vs all good thynges and putteth a backe frō◅s what so euer shoulde hinder ◅e obtaynynge of gods fauoure and the heauenly enheritaunce Christe purchaseth for vs of hys father thoroughe his intercessiō so aboūdantly and so altogether sufficiently al thinges necessarye for the conseruacion boeth of our bodie and soule that we nede not to praie vnto any sainct in heauē as the papistes haue taughte vs neither vnto mary Iohn Peter Iames nor any other to be oure intercessoure mediatour or aduo cate It is Christes office alone to be a mediatonree betwene god and vs as blessed Paulle teacheth vs in his Epistle vnto Timo the. I doubte not neygheboures but so many as are fayethful are replete wyth exceadynge ioye to consider howe manifolde and diuers benefites gyftes and graces chaunce to vs by the wonderfull ascencion of Christ our Lord and sauioure Theo. Who so euer considereth depely in hys minde those thynges that ye haue taughte vs hitherto shall be occasioned vnfainedly to obeye thys commaundemente of the blessed Apostle he that reioyceth let hym reioyse in the Lorde so swete and full of all heauenly pleasure are these commodities whyche wee receyue of God thorowe Christ oure Lord. Philemon But let vs make haste vnto an ende concernynge thys matter that we maye learne in fewe wordes what so euer remai neth of gods goodnes towarde vs in Christe I meane so muche as oure wyte can comprehende and we be taughte in the holye scripture that we maye earnestely reioyse in the Lorde oure God We haue hearde heretofore manye vrgente and wayghtie causes why we shoulde of very right and boūden dutie reioyse and be mery in the Lorde Nowe it remayneth orderlye to declare the finall and laste cause whye wee ought to be glade and reioyse in God Christ. I praye you lette vs heare Phile. As Christ was borne for vs wrought al good thinges in hys manhode for vs suffered for vs died for vs rose againe for vs ascended into heauen for vs purchaised the holy goste for vs prayeth for vs obtayneth al best thynges for vs so likewise at the laste daye shall he beynge oure heade come agayne frō the right hande of his father to fet◅ vs hys membres and to enunite vs w t him in the same glori ther euer to remayne And althoughe to the wycked he shall come as a ter rible and ryghteous iudge to revenge and not to pardonne to punishe and not to forgiue to cōdeme and not to saue yet to the fayethfull shall he come in hys glorious maiestye and all the blessed Angeles wyth hym lyke a mooste louynge and Gentle sauioure sayeynge to them on thys manner come ye blessed of my father possesse ye the kyngdome prepared for you from the begynnynge of the worlde O whooe is able to expresse what ioye and comforte thys afore sayed sentence shal bringe to the hertes of the fayethfull But to the vnfayethfull it shall be sayede gette ye hence ye cursed into euerlastinge fire which is prepared for the deuil and hys Angeles Euse. O that daye shall be to the wycked a bitter daye a daye of wrath a daye of tribulacion and anguishe a day of calamitie mise ry wrechednes a daye of darcknes and miste a day of cloudines boistuousnes a day of feareful trompettes and shawmes blowynge Philemon I graunte notwythstandeynge to the fayethefull it shall be a swete daye a daye of fauoure a daye of quietnes and peace a daye of wealth and felicitye a daye of clearenes and lyghte a daye of comforte and solace a daye of heauenly myrth ioye and pleasure For as blessed Paulle fayeth the eye hathe not seene nor the eare hathe not hearde neyther canne the herte of manne thynke what thynges God hathe prepared for them that loue hym They shall be as Angelles of God in heauen They shall shyne as the clearenes of the firmament and as starres for euer and euer They shall be counted amonge the sonnes of god and their lot shal be among the saynctes They shall receyue of the Lordes hande an honorable kyngedome and a beautifull diademe They shall be clad with longe whighte garmentes Thei shal be be fore the throne of God and serue hym day and nyght in his temple They shal hōgar and thyrste no more neither shall the sonne or any heate faul vpon thē for the lambe Christe whyche is in the middes of the throne shall gouerne them and lead thē vnto the fountayues of the water of lyfe and God shal wype a waye euery teare from their eies Thei shall dwell in a citye that nedeth neyther sonne nor mone to shyne in it For the clerenes of God shal illumine it They shall beholde the glorious face of god presently and hys name shall be written in their foreheades They shall eate of the tre of lyfe whych is in the paradise of God To conclud they shal haue a crowne of glory and syt wyth Christe their elder brother in hys throne euen as he sitteth wyth hys father in hys throne and shall lyue wyth God and hys holy angelles in al kind of honoure and glorye ioye and pleasure worlde wythout ende O what can a Christen man desire more of the Lorde hys God then these thinges which I haue heretofore rehersed Come of tell me nowe I praye you if we haue not many yea and innumerable boeth vrgent and wayghtie causes why we shoulde reioyse in the Lorde our God I doubte not I doubte not moste dere brethren but by the hearynge of these thin ges ye are nowe so rapte into the loue of God for the moste hyghe and singulare pleasures whyche thorowe Christe Iesus ye haue allredye receyued and here after shall receyue a thousand tymes more abound a untlye that from hēceforth al worldly thinges shal waxe vile vnto you and ye shall euen from the verye herte endeuoure youre selues at all tymes to repose all youre ioye comforts pleasure and felicitie in the Lord oure God alone alone so that ye shall reioyse in none neyther in heauen nor in earth but in hym alone alone Chri. Neyghboure Philemō we all are kindled with so feruente and so hertye loue towarde God for these hys moste singulare and inestimable benefites that we do not onely defye the world and all the vayne plea sures of it but we also are redye for our stedfast loue in God and for the perfecte reioysinge in him gladly to saye wyth the blessed A postle who shall seperat vs from the loue of Christe Shall tribulacion or anguishe Or famine Or nakednes Or parel Or persecution Or swerde I am sure that neyther death nor lyfe nor angels nor soueraignties nor powers nor thinges present nor thynges to come nor strenghte
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