Charitie all members are made perfite 2 And the peace of God maie triumphe and haue vyctory in youre bodies That is the peace of God maie ouercome in you al ire enuie hatred or malice iniury or wronges and let hym thynke he hath victorie that is in peace with his enemies and aduersaries that hath doen him iniurie or wrong not desiryng any vengeaūce of him but praiyng to God that he maie repent and amend his naughtie life remittyng all iniuries frely from his harte and this is the peace not of this world nor of the flesh but it is the peace of God whiche God worketh in peaceable men whiche shal be called the childrē of GOD. Math. v. And to this peace we bee called of God that we should thinke al one thing that after Iesus Christe that wee should bee one thankefull kynde and louyng to another The worde of GOD maie dwell in you abundauntly with al wisedō Teache and monish one another with sōges and praisynges and spiritual Psalmes with thankes syngyng in youre hartes to the Lorde And what soeuer you shall dooe in worde or in deede do all thynges in the name of our Lorde Iesu geuyng thankes to God and the father by hym The Apostle moueth theim that thei should receiue the doctrine of God and that it should not onely of theim bee learned but also that it should dwell in them abundauntly and be surely fixed in harte and memorie that one of thē should teach another And here Lyra saieth that it is required of vs that we should haue all vnderstandyng of holy scriptures Glosa interlinia But how or when will thei haue the vnderstandyng of holy scriptures that will not rede holy scriptures nor yet here them red or skarse can suffre that other rede holy scriptures This place reproueth theim that would not haue laye men to rede holy scriptures that thei might vnderstande them If it be not lawfull for laye menne to rede the holy scriptures nor yet to study them when shall the worde of GOD dwel in them abundauntly For the true knowlege of scripture is gotten by readyng studiyng hearyng thē rede and declared and here he speaketh aswell to laye menne as to priestes for he would haue all menne perfite in the knowlege of the truthe that thei might liue after the truth 2 In all wisedō teachyng and monishyng thēselfes and other in all wisedom necessary for saluacion Here note what diligēce the Apostle requireth that one should teach another in the true wisedome and euery one accordyng to his vocaciō with great reuerēce honor and Godly feare The worde of God is to bee intreated handeled with greate wisedome and sobernes and not rashly foolishly boldly or vndiscretly and therfore he addeth with all wisedom bothe of God and of man the woorde of God seyng it is holy and sheweth vnto vs the eternall will of GOD it requireth a man all dedicated to God whiche maie vse ofte tymes feruent praier to God and the whiche hath the feare of god before his iyes alwaie willyng at no time to do that thyng that should displease God in woorde or in deede Twoo thynges the apostle requireth of vs doctrine and monicion but there be some that bee called and appoynted and thei openly maie teache and monishe exhorte in publique cōgregacions of men Other there bee that bee not openly called to be preachers or teachers thei priuatly may teache and admonishe and opēly in their priuate houses to their wife childrē and seruauntes 3 Teache and admonishe one another Those thynges saieth S. Ambrose should be taught whiche sounde Christe whiche smell Christe and setteth furthe his glory and doctryne and this not onely sung or said by mouth but also in the harte with a feruent zeale to GOD and that in songes praisynges and in spirituall hymnes with thankes geuyng to God for his benefites But how should laye men syng spirituall songes laudes Psalmes and Hymnes to GOD in their hartes excepte thei should learne them or rede the holy scriptures theimselfes This place sheweth that it is lawful for lay men to rede holy scriptures and to learne that thei might reherse spiritual songes whē thei worke vpon their handie labors and it condēpneth all them that thynketh it is not lawfull for laye men and laie women to rede holy scriptures and haue theim by hart that thei might syng laude praise and thankes to God 4 What soeuer you do in word or in deede do all thynges in the name of our lorde Iesus Now is declared for what end should all our woordes and deedes bee dooen that thei muste be for the glory of God that the name of God might bee glorified in all men and thankes geuen to God for his benefites This place reproueth all hypocrytes and dissemblers that seketh their awne glorye more then the glorye of God that study to please menne more then God You wiues obeye your awne husbandes as it is mete in the Lorde You mē loue your wifes and be not bitter again to thē Of the mutuall duetie betwene man and his wife I haue spokē at large Ephe. v. What bee the causes of Godly Matrimonie and what is the duetie of either of them to the other Now sainct Paule saieth it is the office or duetie of the wife what estate or degree so euer she bee to be obedient to her husband in al lawfull and honest causes and that willyngly and gladly studiyng alwaie to please hym in the lord withoute all murmuryng or grudging against him and that for the ordinaunce of God whiche hath ordeined that wifes should be obedient to their husbādes whatsoeuer thei be poore or riche noble or vnnoble If any would thynke to be Master ouer their husbandes by reason of their noble stocke and kynred of their riches landes or possessiōs let them knowe that Gods lawe and ordinaunces byndeth theim to obedience to their husbandes and he that resisteth the ordinaunce of God taketh vnto hymself iudgement Roma xiii Therefore let euery one beware that thei breake not Goddes ordinaūce for thei that breake his ordinaunce thei shall not escape vnpunished if thei here in this worlde do not repent and cal to God for mercie and forgeuenes of their synnes in true faithe 2 You menne loue your wifes and bee not bitter in ire against thē The duetie of the husband is to loue his wife as his awne body and as Christ hath loued vs then no man should hate his wife for he hateth not his awne body not to hastie angry or checke or bitter in woordes or deedes or dooe that thyng that should iustly anger or displease her and to ouer se and wynke at many fautes in his wife study with gentlenes to reforme that he proueth to be amisse for so he would his wife should dooe to hym and so to beare the infirmities of the weaker vessels not to be churlishe frowarde ouerthwarte or with bitter woordes soundyng to the dishonestie
some will aske a question whether we should do good deedes for hope of eternall life or no To this question maie be made answer thus that we must do good workes appoynted vs of GOD to do principally for God and for his loue because we are his creatures made to do good woorkes and to walke in them lookyng for that rewarde that he hath bothe frely promised will frely geue accordyng to his promise to all thē that with a sure faith and constaunt hope do perseuer and continue in the wayes of the Lorde kepyng his commaundementes Secondely for the rewardes sake promsed vs of God we must do good workes so that in all oure workes we muste moste chiefly and aboue all thynges looke to the will pleasure loue and glory of GOD. Thirdely to our profite glorie or life to come wee muste so in all our workes loke for the glory of God that skarce once wee should remembre oure profit or glory to come for if we seke more our awne profite and glory then the glory of God we bee but mercemarii hirelynges vnworthy that glory immortall life in the worlde to come with Christ whiche glory cānot bee bought by woorkes of vs but we muste come to it onely of the free gifte of God and of his mercie and grace Roma vi Of the whiche before you harde by the true word of the Gospel whiche is come to you as to all the worlde and as it fructifieth throughout the whole worlde so it doeth emonges you since that daie you heard and haue knowen the grace of God by the truthe And as you haue learned of Epaphras our welbeloued seruaunt whiche is for you a faithfull minister of Christ which shewed to vs youre loue in the spirite The Apostle shewed before their mercifulnes to the poore sainctes and faithfull in Christ for hope of reward layed vp for them in heauen now he sheweth how thei gotte that hope that it was by the true preachyng of the Gospell whiche Epaphras preached vnto thē Learne here how hope of heauenly rewarde and life commeth that it commeth by preachyng of the Gospell of Christe whiche is called here the true woorde of the Gospell and the truthe it self If hope of heauenly rewarde commeth by the preaching of the Gospell as it dooeth in deede then what hope of heauenly rewarde can thei haue where as the word of the Gospel is not peached or what hope of heauenly life haue thei that will not here the worde of God preached That contempneth and despiseth it and estemeth it no better then a foolishe tale of Robyn Hoode Guye of Warwicke or Beuis of Hampton surely no hope at al. Learne here also how necessary a thyng for our saluaciō is the preachig of Gods worde that without it seldom be geuen faithe hope or charitie For faithe commeth by hearyng hearyng by the word of God Roma x. And hope commeth by the true woorde of the Gospell as here is shewed and Charitie spryngeth out of true faithe and sure hope The Apostle garnisheth the Gospell with his due laude and cōmendacion callyng it the true woorde that deceiueth no man the truthe it self that none should doubt of it but that euery man that loueth the truth should be glad to here the Gospell preached or taught because it is the truth and putteth away all falsed lies errors and heresies 2 And as it fructifieth throughout the whole worlde so it doeth emōges you He saith the Gospell to fructyfye and encrease throughout all the whole world as emōges thē that thei should more reioyse and be glad as all good menne reioyseth when the Gospell gooeth forwardes and fructifieth and euill men be sory that the Gospell is purely and sincerely preached receiued and beleued but thei geue thankes to God for it Here we learne to be our office to bee glad to here the Gospell of God to bee preached sincerely and to geue God thankes for it 3 Sence that daie you harde and haue knowen the grace of God by the truthe He sheweth how long the Gospell hath fructefied emōges them euen sence that daie thei heard the grace of God and knewe it by the true preachyng of the Gospell And here we maie lerne diuerse good lessons First that faithe is sure and firme that commeth by the worde of truthe Secondly that the sincere preachyng of the gospell not to bee vain or frustrate although it is not knowen how it dooth fructifie and in whō at the first to hym that preacheth yet it goeth not away in vain as the Prophet Esaie saieth Thirdely the benefites or the grace of God bee knowen by the pure preachyng of the Gospell of truth and not of mē or of a multitude of men that call theimselfes the church when it maie be doubted of whether thei bee any membre of the churche or no seyng their workes be so contrary to Christes true Churche Fourthely learne that the grace of GOD and his benefites is surely knowen by the truth of gods word And here it semeth that saincte Paule would haue vs to learne and know Christ and the grace of God by no other thyng but by the truth and to iudge euery thyng by the truthe of Goddes holy worde for the holy ghost is the moste surest declarer of hymself Learne also that Christ and the grace of GOD and Gods benefites is there vnknowen where as the woorde of God is not preached and how can God be loued feared or dread where as he is not knowen Or howe can there be any health or eternall saluacion where as is no loue feare ne dread of God And if it bee life eternall as it is in deede witnes sainct Ihon. xvii to knowe GOD the father and his sonne Iesus Christe then it muste nedes followe that it is death not to knowe God the father and his sonne Iesus Christ and Gods benefites to vs for Christes sake these benefites be vnknowen where as the worde of God is not taught therfore se how necessarie it is for oure saluaciō to haue the worde of God plenteously preached and truly taught that God might be knowē loued feared and dread and his wil and pleasure fulfilled of al men Finally learne here how farr be thei from health life and saluacion that will not here the worde of God but contempneth to here it ye dispiseth it and the true preachers of it slaunders backebites persecutes and as muche as in them lieth goeth aboute to let hinder and vtterly to stoppe and quenche the word of God and to bryng to deathe the faithfull ministers of Gods holy worde the necessarie foode of our soule and yet of the ignoraunt it is thought poyson and death of the soule God turne the hartes of suche and make theim his seruauntes 4 And as you haue learned of Epaphras our welbeloued seruaunt whiche is for you a faithful seruaunt of Christ Now he sheweth who it was that firste preached the gospel to these Colossians not Paule hymself but
not in merites of sainctes departed not in masses of Scala caeli but in Christ alone our sauior 3 That wee should make euery manne perfite in Christe Iesu Loke to what ende sainct Paules doctrine doth extende that it was to make euery manne as muche as in hym lied perfite in Christe Iesu that thei should lacke nothyng that perteined to eternall life and felicitie that thyng to be doen by the woorde of GOD that he preached and taughte This place maketh against all them that would kepe men still in their infirmitie and weakenes and would haue thē alwaies weakelynges and not perfite men ye not to increase to perfite men but to bee children waueryng with euery blaste of doctryne nowe ready to receiue this doctryne now that and not able to iudge themselfes in manifest truthes cōtrary to the doctryne of saincte Ihon biddyng vs to proue the spirites whether thei be of God or no 4 For the whiche I labor with al might The Apostle labored with all his power and diligēce to bryng al men to perfeccion in Christ to a full perfite knowlege of Christe and of his benefites that al men should knowe perfitely their health life saluacion to come to theim onely by Christ and that there was no health without Christ And this he did by the mightie power of God workyng in hym or by the ministracion of that woorkyng Godly woorde whiche he preached for God by his worde purely and sincerely preached doth worke therefore it is called a liuely woorde for it geueth life And here wee maie learne that the doctryne of saincte Paule and of other that wrote the holy scriptures not to bee of man although thei that wrote or preached them wer men but of God and of his holy spirite by whose inspiracion thei wrote as Peter saieth ii Peter .i. Learne to attribute to God all thynges that be dooen well of vs and not to our selfes as Paule did here to God workyng in hym and by hym ¶ The .ii. Chapiter FOR I woulde you knew what care I had for you and for thē that are of Laodice and as many as hath not sen my persone in the fleshe that their hartes mighte take cōfort seyng thei be ioyned in charitie in al riches of certain perswasion of vnderstanding in to the knowlege of the misterie of God and the father and of Christe in whō are hid all the treasures of the wisedō and knowlege of God The Apostle here getteth the fauor of these Colossians and of the Laodicenses shewyng his hartes desire was to confort the hartes of them that had not sene hym corporally by the spirite of God and that thei should agre and cleaue together as mēbres in the body surely by a true faith knowyng that all treasures of wisedom and knowlege of God are laied vp in Christe whom if thei should haue thei should lacke nothyng whō if thei lacked thei should haue nothyng whatsoeuer they had wythout Christ This place teacheth one of vs to be carefull for another that we might haue cōforte by the holy ghost and by Gods worde as Paule was for these Colossians and Laodicenses and it reproueth all theim that care not for other whether thei flete or sinke whether thei haue knowlege of Gods worde or no whether thei bee saued or dampned Ye this place reproueth al them that bee haters of Gods worde that care not for it but contēpne and despise it that bee contencious and vncharitable caryng not what chaūce to other so thei be well theimselfes liue in welth and pleasure Learne it is the office of a true pastor to edifie not to destroye to feede not to bryng to deathe to conforte mennes hartes in Christe not to discomfort and discorage theim from Christe or from his holy worde and Gospell 2 When thei shal bee ioyned in Charitie In these woordes is shewed how their hartes shal be cōforted that is when thei shall be compacted and knit together so in charitie that one of theim cannot bee seperated from another that thei be as sure one coupled to another as membres in the body bee ioyned together that thei all thynke and saie one thyng and that also when thei bee ioyned together with a true faithe whiche he calleth here riches of the sure perswasion in the knowlege of the misterye of GOD. And here me thynketh saincte Paule declareth what faithe is that it is riches of sure perswasiō in knowlege of Goddes woorde and that knowlege to bee so sure that it cannot bee false or brought in doubte for faith knoweth the truth of goddes woorde and promises to the whiche it staieth surely and will not be moued from it And here he sheweth that those men that bee doubtfull in their doctryne inconstaunt or waueryng haue not faythe For true faythe commeth of sure knowlege of Gods worde and hath annexed to hym hope and charitie and obedience to do Gods cōmaundementes al respectes of worldly riches fauor or pleasure well or wo set a parte example in Abrahā Isaac Iacob and other holy fathers 3 In Christ bee all treasures of wisedome and knowlege laied vp in score As he would say he that hath Christ he hath al thynges necessary for his saluacion as all wisedome knowlege vertue holines health and life he wanteth nothyng he hath a well of all goodnes euer spryngyng and flowyng ouer he hath treasures that cānot be spent or wasted Here the Apostle reproueth arrogant men and proude Philosophiers that thynketh humain learnyng and knowlege of mannes learnyng to bee preferred aboue the learnyng of Christe Ye here he checketh all theim that bee more studious of humain sciences then thei bee of Gods holy diuinitie Ye all thei be reproued that will spend dayes nightes yeres in the studie of humain Philosophie and will not geue more studie to the knowlege of Gods holy worde by the whiche Christe is gotten by faithe and keped by faithe and he that hath Christ hath all thinges he that lacketh Christ hath nothyng haue he neuer so muche humaine learnyng Philosophie or Poetrie as Tully and Demostenes was found in th ende as thei had had no learnyng because thei lacked Christ and Godly doctryne for al learnyng muste geue place to Christes doctryne as moste chief far excellyng all other learnynges This I saie that none should deceiue you with entisyng woordes although I am absent frō you in the flesh yet in the spirit I am present with you ioyyng seyng your ordre and stedfastnes of your faithe in Christe Now he sheweth for what end he said all treasures of wisedom and knowlege of God to be hid in Christe that it was that thei should not suffre theimselfes to be deceiued by no intisyng wordes of Rethorique or of mannes lernyng or by no other doctrine had it neuer so greate pretense of holines or apparaunce of wisedome and by it to be brought to the degrees of humain Philosophy from the pure clere spring and
you by Philosophy and vain deceipt after the tradicions of men after the elemētes of the world not after Christ For in hym doth dwel al fulnes of the godhed corporally and you are in hym fulfilled whiche is the hed of rule power Now Paule sheweth thē what thei should escheue and flee that thei should escheue all psudoapostles false deceiuers which by subtile crafte went aboute to deceiue theim and to plucke thē from Christ and from true faith in Christ to errors heresies euil and pernicious doctryne that by probable reasons and perswasions taken of mannes doctrynes of the wisedome of the fleshe of tradicions of menne of Ceremonies and of other vain thynges so wee knowe it is the office of a good pastor not onely to teache good thynges and to exhorte to the same with all perswasions but also to monish men to be ware of euill thynges as of euill doctors and euill doctrine As first he willeth to take hede that no man catche theim as their praye and steale vpon them as vnwarned of false deceiptfull iugglers that by craftie and subtile meanes go about to deceiue theim and by carnall wisedome bryngeth theim from the truth to falshed form veritie to fables and lies errors heresies euill opinions and corrupte iudgementes and so plucke you from Christe to the deuill from light to darknes from life to death And here the Apostle alludeth to suche as lye priuely in watche to take and snare other vnwares and so thei take theim and cary them awaie and make theim their praye and bonde men or prisoners euen so do these false teachers seducers of other deceiue the symple by faire flatteryng wordes pretendyng greate holines but the truth knowen they teach no holines at all but muche Idolatry and supersticion false trust and vain hope lies for truthe and death for life sekyng health and saluacion where none is to bee founde suche were thei that did not ascribe to Christe fully our whole iustificacion sanctificacion redēpcion remission of synnes and life euerlastyng that made men to runne hether and thether to seke sauiours redemers and helpers not to God alone and suche be all thei that seke to come to the father of heauen by another waie then by Christe alone 2 Lette no man deceiue you by Philosophie vain deceiuyng after constitucions of men after the elementes of the worlde and not after Christe Now he sheweth foure thynges specially by the whiche pseudoapostles false preachers deceiued theim The firste he saieth it was by Philosophie of the Heathen Philosophiers inuented and excogitated by manne contrary to Gods Lawe and will measuryng all thynges by naturall reason and worldy witte and that to bee of no truthe that naturall reason could not attein vnto And here he dooth not reiecte all Gentile Philosophie for there is many thynges in Gentile philosophie that bee not repugnaunt to holy scriptures but agre very well to it and those doctrines are not to be cōtempned but that doctryne is to be refused and contempned that is contrary to holy scriptures that plucketh mē frō Christ and from the studie of holy scriptures and from the true iudgement of holy scriptures The Apostle would wee should forme our iudgemētes after holy scriptures and our maners to folowe holy scripture and not that we should iudge after the Heathen Philosophiers haue maners like to the Heathen but he would haue vs rectifie our iudgementes after Christe and his doctryne to gather good maners in al veritie and truthe iustice and righteousnes of the veritie it self and not of that doctryne where as falsed is And therefore I thynke thei do euill and not after the counsaill of sainct Paule whiche thei theim selfes do and willeth other to do so specially studious youthe first to rede and studie humain Philosophie by statutes byndeth all youth to studie three or foure yeres Philosophie then after to geue their study to diuinitie but this is a preposterous order in study and doeth muche hurte to many young men studious and peruerteth their iudgementes and maners and maketh Heathen and Gentile maners to bee so graffed in youth that scarse thei can bee plucked our again and some will neuer forget their Gētile maners thei haue learned of the Gentile philosophy in their youth and some be so geuē to the loue of Philosophie that for it thei contēpne diuinitie and thynke the knowlege of Gods holy woorde but a rude knowlege and nothyng so greate learnyng as is the learnyng of Philosophie for the whiche thei forsake all other learnyng sticketh still to Philosophie and in it cōsumeth all their life as some be drouned in Tully some in Plato some in Seneca some in one Philosophiers doctryne some in another that no learnyng sauoreth in his mouth but that smelleth of this or that philosophier in whose learnyng he hath been brought vp in studie of it and will scarse by plucked from the sauor of his wyne put first in newe and young bottelles and this is the cause of muche inpietie error and heresie corrupt iudgement ignoraunce and blyndnes in the knowlege of Gods worde For if the studious youthe of the Vniuersities were as diligently vnder sober sad discrete and learned menne brought vp in the earnest studie of Gods holy woorde as thei be in Aristotiles Plato and Ciceros woorkes there should bee muche more Godly learnyng better iudgementes and better maners and muche more better liuyng then there is What is the cause of errors but ignoraunce of scripture as Christ said to the Sadduces Math. xxii Ye erre not knowyng the scriptures so do many erre because thei know not the holy scriptures and the truthe of Goddes will and the cause is thei bee brought vp frō their youth not in the true knowlege of Gods woorde will and pleasure Therefore me thynke that hye Maiestrates and Rulers to whō perteineth as wel to procure the health of the soule as of the body of their obedient subiectes not onely that they should bee learned in holy scriptures to beare good affeccion and mynde to holy scriptures and to see these thynges to bee doen bothe in themselfes and in their subiectes that holy scripture willeth euery man to doo in his vocacion but also that their subictes should haue sufficient knowlege in holy scriptures that thei might iudge rightely and liue Godly and that at no tyme thei should declyne from Goddes woorde and commaundement whiche euery man muste kepe that shal bee saued and come to saluacion and life by Christ The secōd to beware thei be not deceiued and that is vain decepcion what learnyng so euer it be that deceiueth men and bryngeth them frō the truth of Christe and from the veritie of Gods worde that doctrine is called vain deceipt for it bringeth into errors heresies false doctryne whether it be Logique Philosophie Rethorique or any other wisedom of the fleshe or of the world that hath appearaunce of truthe or of holines
greedy Wolfes clothed in shepes skynnes that thei might by that meanes the soner deceiue the simple as the deuill trāsfigureth hymself into an Angell of lighte that he should deceiue the soner the simple so the Wolfe commeth clothed in a shepe skinne and so soner deceiue the shepe then if he came openly as a Wolfe in a Wolfe skynne So fained holines and pretensed sanctite deceiueth many Also pseudoapostles went about to deceiue these Colossians by religion of Angels as the olde translacion hath Erasmus by supersticion of Angels What saincte Paule meaneth here I cannot well tell excepte he meane that false Apostles phantasied some hye honor and worship to be geuen to holy Angelles if thei kepte the lawe geuen by the ministracion of holy Angels and those to displease the Angelles that kepte not the lawe geuen by Angels and holy Angels to honor thē that obserued the Lawe so thei taught the Angelles of God to venge their iniuries and displeasures in thē that did not kepe the lawe of Moses So these pseudoapostles taught it to bee a worshippyng of Angelles to obserue the lawe and the workes of the law as necessarie to saluaciō whiche thyng sainct Paule coumpteth here no honor nor worshippe of Angels but supersticion of Angels a pretense to honor Angels and do dishonor them and most rebuke to Angels that can bee doen. Or els this place maye be otherwise expounded after this maner that some pseudoapostles emong these Colossians studied to deceiue them saiyng thei were the Angelles of God sente from God aboue and that thei had receiued certain visiōs of angels and of holy spirites in some oracles wherein thei were shewed the will and pleasure of God and what god would haue doen of menne in the yearth and that was that thei muste nedes kepe the lawe of Moses and the woorkes of it or els thei saied thei could not bee saued whiche thyng sainct Paule improueth in all his Epistles but moste plainly it is improued and condēpned of the Apostles of Christ Act .xv. Suche pseudoapostles was emōges vs some tyme that said holy Angels holy spirites and soules of men departed to haue appered vnto thē that thei should goo this pilgrimage or that pilgrimage to this Image or that image in suche a place that thei should cause to bee saied or song so many Diriges so many Masses found suche a foūdaciō for Masses for prescript praiers purchase suche pardons suche indulgences and many like Reuelacions hath been shewed to men as pseudoapostles saied by the whiche meanes thei deceiued many of a long tyme but thankes be to God their deceipte is knowen in a maner to all men how vain and foolishe it was how vngodly and how perilous and cōtrary to mannes saluaciō and how it came not of God but of the deuill was inuented of men mainteined for lucre sake 3 In those thynges whiche thei haue not sene As he would say this deceiuer feineth hymself to haue sene in vision many thynges whiche he hath not sene and to haue heard many thynges whiche he hath not heard and to haue larned many thynges whiche he hath not learned as some haue feined them to bee in a traunce and in it to haue sene the ioyes of heauen the peines of purgatorie as thei liyng called it and of hell and by what meanes men should haue been deliuered out of purgatory whē thei did see or heard none suche thynges And for this ende thei feined suche sightes for lucre sake and that thei should bee coumpted of men not as mortal men but rather as Goddes and men worthie that holy Angelles should come to theim and speke to theim Goddes will and pleasure and that thei were worthie to be canonized for sainctes and of all menne estemed holy men and yet sainct Paule calleth thē here deceiuers and to go proudly as those that plaie in stage plaies Princes or Kynges or Goddes beyng no suche thyng as thei pretende to bee In this place the Apostle semeth to me to make an answere to the saiyng of pseudoapostles seeyng that thei bee the Angelles and messengers of god and that thei do exhorte men to those thynges that God commaundeth by his holy Angelles that is to the kepyng of the lawe and of workes of the Lawe and that thei that kept the law did honor Angels and the breakers of the lawe did not honor but dispised Angels and God also whose messengers the Angelles was and that thei were sure their doctryne to bee true because thei had it of the Angelles of GOD To this sainct Paule answereth saiyng that thei exhorte men vnto that thyng thei knowe not whiche thei nether haue seen nor harde for thei knowe not saieth he the law and the workes of the law to be shadowes and figures geuen for a tyme till the body and veritie did come then to cease and to bee no more as necessarie to saluacion now the body and veritie is come whiche is Christ our sauior whiche these shadowes and figures did represente Therefore the lawe is not now to be kept of necessitie to saluaciō and that is the chief matter that sainct Paule here laboreth so diligently to teache to haue it perswaded to al men Se how earnestly euill men went aboute in Paules tyme to teache false doctrine and how thei saied thei had it of Angelles and the true worship of God and of Angels to be in it and God and his holy Angelles to bee dishonored if their doctryne were not kepte Paule saith thei knew not what thei spake and that thei walked vainly and to no profit and yet thei were proude men proude of their doctryne auauncyng them selfes of it Like to theim hath been in oure daies teachers of pilgrimages of Masses of scala caeli patrons of purgatorie mainteiners of worshippyng of Images defenders of them thei wer thei of whō Paule speaketh i. Timo. i. Thei knewe not what thei spake and affirmeth to bee true which thei knewe not to be true nor of what foundacion it hath his truthe all suche deceiuers sainct Paule here sharpely reproueth He saieth thei goo proudly bearyng an hye countenaunce as all the worlde were theirs as all learnyng should hang at their sleues thei onely and none els to be defenders of faith and of al godly learnyng and yet sainct Paule saieth thei go in vain thei profite neither thēselfes nor other thei be pufte vp with the wisedō of the fleshe and thynke thēselfes to haue all learnyng when thei do not vnderstande those thynges they speke of and affirme with great audacitie boldnes as thei wer in Goddes bosome thei seke not the glory of God but their awne glory and profite and thei fein them to haue had visions of angels of holy sainctes reuelacions for pilgrimages Pardons paintyng of stockes and blockes suche was the holy maide of Kent whose craft and deceipt is knowen almoste to all menne how she deceiued many 4 Thei doo not obtein the hed
it was Epaphras a disciple of Paules and a true minister of Christe in the sincere preachyng of Christes Gospel and this Epaphras returnyng agayne to Paule in prison for the Gospelles sake shewed to Paule of the faith hope and of the charitie of these Colossians for the whiche thynges Paule commēdeth thē not that thei should bee proude but that thei should increase daily more and more in these holy vertues and giftes with thākes to God Nā uirtus laudata crescit Vertue commendeth increases Learne here what seruauntes or chapilaines should Bishoppes haue aboute thē surely suche as this Epaphras was to Paule one that loued his Master in al goodnes and Godlines and for the truth sake a man that loued God and his woorde that was glad when he hard the worde of God to bee purely preached abrode and to bryng furth Godly fruites as faithe hope and charitie and of greate gladnes shewed these fruictes to other that other mighte glorifie God and geue thankes to GOD for the Gospell preached to make other to followe these Colossiās in faithe hope and charitie and in other Godly vertues I feare me that all Bishoppes and noble men hath not alwaie suche seruaūtes or chapilaines about them and with theim that be fauorers and louers of Gods holy word but rather enemies and aduersaries to it ye haters of it slaunderers liers and euill reporters of faithfull ministers of Gods woorde reportyng suche euil vpō preachers as the preachers neuer did speake nor thoughte ye parauenture suche thynges as true preachers hath and dooth euer abhorre and detest Ye parauenture suche thynges as the preachers hath spoken again and forbiddyng to be doen spoke or thought and such euill toungues liyng to please their Maisters by their false liyng hath broughte many good and faithfull preachers to bee had in hatered and euil estemed of many Bishoppes and noble men whiche of ignoraunce hath persecuted ye parauenture put to death faithfull ministers of Christes Gospell whose innocēt bloud shed for Christes Gospel sake God will punishe excepte thei repent and amende and to cal to God for mercy and grace Therefore lette bishoppes and al noble men and noble women bee not hastie of credence to report euill or preachers and monishe their seruaūtes to beware what thei reporte of preachers and that thei reporte no other thyng of them then that thei can proue by honest menne as thei would haue their masters fauor or profites by their Maisters then should euill reportes and false slaūders cease of true preachers of Goddes woorde then should faithefull Ministers of Christes Gospell bee knowen frō the false ministers and true preachers fauored and estemed of men as thei bee worthie then should God bee the more glorified his word better trusted and beleued God better knowē and loued and so come into health to eternall saluacion by Christ whereas now the contrary doen and suffred many worketh their awne and euerlasting death and dampnacion persecutyng Christes faithfull Ministers thynkyng parauenture then to do a sacrifice pleasaunt to God whē thei do persecute Christe in his membres as Paule did before he was conuerted as it is written Actes ix Philip. iii. I praie God thei maye be cōuerted with Paule to plaie Paules parte that thei maie be preachers teachers and setters furth of Gods holy woorde as earnest as euer holy sainct Paule was and seke Gods glory and the saluacion of other as Paule did Therfore and we sēce the daie wee harde haue not ceassed do praye for you to desire that you might bee fulfilled with the knowlege of his will in all sapience and wisedome spirituall vnderstandyng that ye mighte walke worthelye pleasyng God in all thynges fructifiyngi al good workes and increasing in the knowlege of God strengthened with all strēgth after the power of the glory of hym to all tollerance and pacience with ioye geuyng thankes to the father Nowe the Apostle goeth forward in his praier he had begō and saieth that he geueth thankes to God and hath not ceased to praie to God for theim that thei might be fulfilled with all godly wisedō spiritual knowlege that thei might walke worthily pleasyng God and bryng furthe all good workes increasyng in the knowlege of God In this praier the Apostle teacheth vs one to praie for another and to geue thākes to God for his benefites geuen to men and specially for faith hope and charitie as here Paule did Secondly here we maie learne not to ceasse from praier to God for other Thirdely this place teaceth vs what wee should desire to other aboue al thynges surely this thyng that thei mighte haue knowlege of God and of his benefites whiche is so necessary that no man can bee saued without it Fourthly hereis shewed for what ende and purpose Godly wisedō is necessary that it is ordeined for this ende that men should walke worthily accordyng to their vocacion euery man in his state and degre that he is called vnto of God Alway studiyng to please God and not hymself the worlde or the fleshe the multitude of the people but God alwaye For he that seketh to please men high or lowe hymself or the worlde he cannot please God Non potest quisquā duobus dominis seruire No man can please twoo Masters of cōtrary affecciōs and myndes Finally Godly wisedome is ordinated that men should fructifie in all good workes that is doo all good workes whiche thyng thei cānot do till thei be taught which are the good woorkes that pleaseth God how thei should do thē and for whose sake for what ende good workes should be dooen This place reproueth al thē that bee sory that there is so muche knowlege of gods holy worde had emonges the people as is saiyng it was a merie worlde when euery manne woman or child could not prate of Gods word and sence that time there was neuer no mery world curssyng and banning and wisshyng to the Deuill suche as brought in this newe learnyng as thei call it so by theimselfes you maie see and by their awne wordes it is plain thei cal gods woorde newe learnyng and the preachers and setters furth of it heretiques worthy fire and a fagotte to burne them saiyng thei would go .xx. mile bare foote to burne suche heretiques so by ignoraunce thei speake worke their awne dampnaciō And as Christe saied to the Sadduces Math. xxii So maie men saie to them erratis ignorantes scripturas you erre and fal into errors and heresies deceiuyng your selfes and other because you are ignoraunte of the holy scriptures althoughe you call other heretiques and deceiuers yet you bee the heretiques in deede and deceiuers of the people worthy that punishement that you wisshe to other excepte you repent and amende and reforme your iudgementes wordes and deedes and call to God for mercy and grace and seke for better more truer knowlege in Gods veritie and truthe and haue a better mynde to it and to
the true preachers and setters furthe of it This place also reproueth all thē that do abuse Godly knowlege and vse it for their carnall libertie sensuall pleasure worldly honor and dignitie ease reste profite and for their belie sakes such do not serue God but their belies whose ende is deathe and their glory here shal bee in tyme to come to their confusion shame and euerlastyng death Phili. iii. if thei do not repent and amend for Godly wisedom is geuē that thei should serue and please god and not theimselfes or their belies And suche bely beastes bee the cause that the worde of God is euill spoken on because thei doo abuse their knowlege and turneth it to their carnall pleasures proffites or glory But suche let theim put awaie ignoraunce and take vnto thē Godly wisedome and knowlege and study to liue after Godly knowlege or els their knowlege shal be to their more condempnaciō as Luke sayeth the seruaunte knowyng the will of his Maister and not doyng it is worthy greate punishement and many plagues to bee laied vpon his backe 2 Fructifiyng in all good workes Godly wisedō here desired willeth vs to fructify in al good woorkes that is It would wee should bryng furth al maner of good workes not one worke alone as some there bee that thynke it sufficient for theim to haue doen one good woorke as some to haue builded a Chaūtry some an Abbay some a house of Fryers some a Nunnery some an Hermitage some a Guylde some a Candle some a Torche euer to burne in suche a churche before this Image or that Image whiche be workes not cōmaunded of God nor yet required of man to the which no promise of rewarde is promised of God but Godly knowlege takē out of scripture teacheth mē not onely to do one good worke but to do all maner of good workes appoynted in holy scripture to be doen. This place doeth seme to declare that holy scripture is able to shewe all maner of good workes that there is no worke to bee called good excepte it bee commended and also commaūded to be doen in holy scripture And this saiyng of sainct Paule reproueth those men that thynketh the holy scriptures cannot teache all necessarie truthes sufficient for our saluacion those men sainct Paule .ii. Timothe iii reproueth saiyng the holy scriptures to be able to instruct mē in righteousnes that he maie be made perfite and ready to do al maner of good workes He excepteth none If the holy ghost had thought other workes then holy scripture speaketh of to haue been necessary for our saluacion and that suche workes of necessitie ought to be doen he would not haue said I thinke the holy scripture to instructe vs and to make vs ready to doo all good workes 3 Increasyng in knowlege The Apostle would wee should bee fulfilled not onely with all wisedome and spirituall vnderstandyng but also he would we should increase in knowlege euery daie bee better and better learned and haue more more knowlege of Gods holy worde Here we maie se that euery man bee he neuer so well learned before yet he maie learne more wisedome and knowlege of Gods holy worde Ye we se it is euery mannes duetie euery daie to learne of Gods holy word more and more knowlege and to increase in the same This place sharpely reproueth all men that wil not learne knowlege of goddes holy woorde and specially priestes that will not learne but rather spend their tyme idlely at Cardes or Dise then thei will loke vpon the newe Testament or of the old Testament and wil bee no better learned then thei wer the first daie thei wer made priestes Ye this place reproueth all them that will not heare sermons Lectures of diuinitie in Englishe or in Latyn or in that tongue thei vnderstand ye this place cōdempneth all them that thynke it is enough for the rude people to saie their Pater noster and Aue Maria and the Credo and with them to bee contented and needeth to learne no more knowlege when saincte Paule would we should euery daie increase more and more in knowlege and spiritual wisedom and as thei increase in knowlege of God so he would thei should increase in Godlines in vertue that thei might be strengthened with al Godly power strength able to beare all aduersitie paciently geuyng thankes to God in their state liuyng vprightly in their vocacion whiche hath made vs able to the felowship of sainctes in light whiche hath deliuered vs from the power of darkenes and hath trāslated vs into the kyngdō of his wel beloued sonne by whom we haue redempciō and by his blood forgeuenes of synnes Now the Apostle turneth hym to the chief matter and cause for the which he wrote this Epistle that it was to shewe health and eternall life to be geuē to vs all frely by Christ without respect merite or dignitie of our woorkes or of any thyng that is in vs. And first he sheweth part of the benefites that we haue receiued by Christ Firste that when we wer vnable to thinke to will or to do any good worke or deede he made vs able and did geue vs power to thynke will and do good Of the whiche wee maie learne that all power to thynke will or do good commeth not of our selfes but of GOD the aucthor of all goodnes as saincte Iames saieth Iames .i. Second we be made partakers of the inheritaunce of sainctes in lighte that is of that heauenly inheritaunce that holy sainctes be of in light and in glory and thus wee bee made not by our selfes but by Christ when we were before farr frō it hauyng no right ne title to chalenge or clayme the heauenly glory for our inheritaunce Now by Christ we haue right title to claime it for our inheritaūce He addeth in light as he would saie our inheritaunce was before in darkenes now it is in light of the father of light by Christe Thirdly God hath deliuered vs from the power of darkenes and translated vs into the kingdō of his welbeloued sonne Iesus Christe for whose sake alone we wer deliuered frō all power of darkenes that is of the deuill the aucthor of darkenes and from al workes of darkenes as from synne death hell and from euerlastyng dampnacion also the father of heauen hath takē vs awaie frō all darkenes and blyndnes of ignoraunce of Gods holy word and brought vs into his truthe and into the lighte of the veritie of Gods holy woorde now openly preached and shewed thankes be to God We wer some tymes as saieth sainct Paule Ephe. ii The children of the Ire of God and of darkenes but wee are now made the children of God by adopciō and of light as children of light let vs walke in all iustice veritie and goodnes before wee were in darkenes and did walke in darkenes in much Idolatrie supersticion and feined holines thynkyng that wee pleased God very well when we highly
and doo not bryng truthe with it This place reproueth all errors heresies lies falsed and all supersticious doctryne that prouoketh men alwaie from Christes doctryne and from the truthe of Gods woorde The third thyng to bee ware of that by it thei bee not deceiued is the tradicions of men by the whiche pseudoapostles went aboute to deceiue men saiyng tradicions of men are either to be preferred aboue Gods word commaundementes or at the least equall with theim Ye thei would haue mennes lawes and decrees kepte and obserued aboue Gods lawes and for the obseruacion of mānes lawes thei breake Goddes commaundementes to whō Christe threatneth woo euerlastyng Math. xv Saiyng woo be to you Hypocrytes that haue broken Gods commaundementes for your tradicions Secōdly thei taught tradicions as necessary to saluacion that without the kepyng of theim thei could not bee saued Thirdly thei thought it dedly synne to omit mannes tradicions and Ceremonies and as like offence to breake mannes tradiciōs as to breake Gods commaundementes Fourthly thei thought tradicions of men to purge menne frō sinne ye to satisfie for sinnes and to bee full satisfaccions for synnes Fiftly thei compted tradiciōs and ordinaunces of men to be holines to make men holy and good to take awaie synne to deserue the grace of GOD to bryng holines to the doers ye life and saluacion Thus deceiuers and pseudoapostles wente about to deceiue these Colossiās and other by tradicions of men which are not to be obserued as necessary for saluacion purgers of synne or satisfaccion for sinne bringers of holines or of eternal life But as thynges indifferent not to bee compared with Gods commaundemētes but to be obserued as far as thei bee helpers to the keping of Gods cōmaundementes and the fulfillyng of Gods will and pleasure and for good ordre and quietnes The fourthe thyng to bee ware of is the Elementes of the worlde by the Elementes some vnderstāde the Sūne the Mone the Sterres or the other elementes thinkyng that there was emonges the Colossiās some that did worship these Elementes as Gods and desired health and salucaiō of theim puttyng trust and confidence in them praiyng to them and desiryng of thē prosperous thynges and of the dispocicion of these Elementes Prophesied thynges to come The Apostle here biddeth them bee ware thei phantasie none suche thyng by these Elementes whiche are no Gods nor are not to be worshipped as God but as the creatures of God made and ordinated for the behaulfe and commoditie of man in this world Other some vnderstandeth by Elementa mundi the Ceremoniall and Iudiciall lawes of the old Testament thynkyng thē to be necessary for saluacion that none could be saued without the obseruyng of theim as some thought Act. xv And emonges the Galathians Gala. iiii But Peter and Iames and the residue of the Apostles of Christ thought legall Ceremonies and sacrifices not necessarie for saluacion but saluacion mighte well enough bee had without them ye without al Ceremonies For Ceremonies now vsed in the Churche bee no holy thynges of themselfes thei make no manne holy thei bee no workers nor workes of our saluacion thei be ordinated to signifie and represēt other thynges signified by theim And here the Apostle biddeth them beware of suche as did call thē to the lawe and not to Christe to the Ceremonies or woorkes of the lawe and of man decreed and not of God commaunded and here he willeth theim to beware of all theim that exhort men to Ceremonies old customes voluntarie woorkes lawes statutes decrees tradicions of men rather then Gods commaundementes 3 For in Christ dwelleth al fulnes of the Godhedde corporally Now he sheweth the cause why he moued theim too followe Christ and his doctryne alone and none other doctryne contrary to this doctrine it was because all fulnes of God as of holines vertue wisedom grace mercie peace goodnes iustice and of al perfeccion did remain in Christ abundauntly and perfitely that it should not nede to require of any other any goodnes holines iustice or righteousnes but of Christe onely and alone of whom is all goodnes by whom and in whom equall to the father in substaunce deite might and power By whō thei are fulfilled with all goodnes iustice and righteousnes that thei haue no neede to seke any good thyng of the lawe of woorkes of the lawe of Ceremonies or of tradicions of men for thei haue Christ in their hartes rooted by true faithe in the whiche is all the treasures of the wisedom of God the father laied vp for vs and in hym doth dwel all fulnes of God the father and he hath fulfilled all thynges bothe the law and the imperfeccion of the law he hath taken it awaie and made it perfite and vs by hym to performe the lawe By whom you are circumcised with circumcision not made by handes when you put awaie the bodye of synnes of the fleshe by the circumcisiō of Christe buried together with hym by Baptisme in the whiche also with hym you haue risē by faith of the woorke of God whiche hath raised hym from the dedde The Apostle sheweth these Colossians although thei were Gentiles to be Circumcised by Christe not after the Circumcision of the fleshe but by the circumcision of the spirite of God without the handes of manne whiche he thought not necessary for theim but that without the exterior Circūcision of the fleshe the Gentiles might be saued as well as the Iewes that was circumcised in the fleshe And here he sheweth two circūcisions the one outwardes made in the flesh by mennes handes cuttyng awaie a round pece of the skynne of the secrete members and this circumcision was not necessarie to saluacion after the Gospell was opēly preached after Christes passion but was abrogated and left as indifferent not necessary to saluaciō theother circūcision was the inward circumcisiō by the spirit of God by the whiche the whole body of synne was mortified put awaie clerely by the spirit and by faith in Christ and this circumcision is necessarie to saluaciō that is by the spirite of God to dye from synne and no more to returne again to synne as Christe died once and dieth no more so wee should dye from sinne and sinne no more but walke alwaies in a newe life and put on Christ veritie truthe iustice and holines and walke alwaie in these vertues followyng Christe in all goodnes and Godlines in veritie and iustice and in cuttyng awaie from the harte all euill desires thoughtes carnall affeccions lustes and concupiscenses whiche did arise of the flesh and not of the spirite of GOD and this is the Circūcision of Christ whiche is our Baptisme by the whiche we bee wasshed from all our sinnes by the workyng of the holy Ghoste in it accordyng to the promise of God and therfore baptisme is called the wasshyng of regeneracion and renewyng of the holy ghoste to Tite .iii. In the whiche baptisme we be purged from all our synnes
of his wife and of hymself to prouoke his wife to anger to greue or vexe her or otherwise to dooe not his duetie to her to put her awaie and take an whore and vse company with a drabbe and a harlot contrary to Gods lawe and will whiche thyng God wil not suffre long vnpunished bee thei neuer so stoute or hye in the world But of the duetie of man and wife one to another I haue babled very largely accordyng to Gods woorde Ephe. v. as I truste and therefore I passe it lightly here in this place Children obeye youre fathers and mothers in all thinges this pleaseth God Fathers discorage not your children not to muche least thei be amased and can geue you no answere for feare He teacheth the duetie of childrē to their parentes and again of parentes that is of fathers mothers to their childrē It perteineth to childrē to be humble lowly gentle and obediēt to fathers and mothers in all thynges lawfull and honest and in all thynges that be not contrary to Goddes law and in nowise to resist to speake again thē except parētes require vnlawful thynges it is the duetie of children to honor their fathers and mothers to help succour them and releue theim if thei maie better then father or mother when any occasion shal bee geuen to their children to be an helper and cōforter to their fathers and mothers and this thyng pleaseth God better then al pilgrimages makyng giltyng of Images ye better then all the Bishoppe of Romes liyng Pardons for this is the commaundement of God the other bee not of God but of members of Goddes aduersary that is of the deuill 2 Fathers discorage not youre childrē to muche It is the duetie of fathers mothers not to discorage their childrē to muche or by their threatenyng wordes beatyng bunchyng knockyng vpon them to dawe their childrē and to make theim dawe pates so fearfull and amased that thei dare not speake a woorde nor geue a right answere and all for feare of their parentes to fearse ouer their children For as to muche pamperyng cherishyng of parentes bee the destruccion to their children so bee destruccion to children to muche fearsenes of parentes to their childrē therefore fathers and mothers must vse a moderate meane not to fearse nor yet to softe but if their children do offende theim or do a faute let them be corrected with admonicions and promises of rewardes if thei will amende and faute no more for if children should not be corrected for their fautes thei would be to wanton to shrode curssed and vnhappie and full of all euill therefore it is true that Salamon saieth Qui parcit uirge odit filium He that spareth the rod hateth the child And the Philosophier saith that an euil in the beginnyng maie sone bee remedied but if it haue long continued oft tymes it is vncurable therefore resist an euil at the beginnyng of it and so it maie the soner be healed but of these dueties that is of the parentes to their children and of children to their parentes I haue shewed my mynde more largely in the Commentarie to the Ephesiās Ephe. vi Seruauntes obey by al thynges them which are Masters after the fleshe not with seruice lowely before their iyes as you studie to please men but with simplenes of harte fearyng God And what soeuer you shall do do it of an hartines as you serued God and not manne knowyng that you shall receiue of God a reward of inheritaunce for you serue our Lorde Christe Furthermore he that hath synned shall beare his synne and there is no respect of persones before God Masters geue equitie and equalnes to your seruaūtes knowing that you haue a Lorde in heauen In the former parte of this texte is taught the duetie of seruauntes to their Masters whō thei serue in this life whom thei serue whether it bee for meate drynke apparell and wages or for those for learnyng of some honest science or for other necessary causes And in this latter part is declared thoffice of Masters to their seruauntes The duetie of seruauntes is to obeye their Masters in all lawful and honest thynges to vse them lowly and mekely to their Masters and to haue their Masters in reuerence with all diligent seruice studie to please theim not onely in their iye sight with faithfull trustie and profitable seruice studie to please their Masters but also in their absence when their Masters dooe not ouer see them This place reproueth many negligent seruauntes which will bee faithfull iuste true and diligēt in their Masters labors and busines as long as their Master is presēt and doth loke on them but if their Masters be absent or awaie from theim or do not ouer se them thei care not how litle worke thei do thei care not who dooe more then thei ye thei will bee pickyng and stealyng and liyng all suche be here reproued by the holy ghost speakyng here in saincte Paule and Ephe. vi More at large suche negligente seruauntes deceiue not onely their Masters but also theimselfes for thei displease GOD highly for seruauntes should serue their Masters here in this worlde as faithfully iustely and truely as if thei serued God for in deede thei serue God that serue their Masters as here is commaunded that is to serue theim in all veritie and truthe faithfulnes and iustice with all diligence in all humblenes of harte and mynd in woorde and deede fearyng GOD and their Masters dooyng alwaie their Masters busines to the mooste profite pleasure of their Master in GOD knowyng surely that thei so doyng serue GOD and if thei dooe not so that thei displease God when thei do not their busines as thei should do but parauenture will murmure and grudge to dooe that their Master commaundeth theim or will geue hym again a froward answere and make ouerthwarte wordes froward and stubburne or when thei go from their Masters with a dogs pater noster murmuryng with theimselfes I cannot tell what against their Master patteryng thynkyng their Master to put thē to great peines labors suche euill seruaūtes there be with other that will picke steale and lye haue many naughtie cōdicions whiche all are to be amended in seruauntes that seruauntes might serue and please GOD doyng their Masters lawful commaūdementes and receiue of God areward better then any gold or siluer landes or possessions life eternal Whiche God geueth as well to seruauntes as Masters without respecte of persones 2 For you serue youre Lorde God This thyng should make all seruauntes to thynke all labors or peines that thei bee put to in their Masters seruice to be easy that thei seruyng their master and doyng with al gladnes and faithful diligēce their Masters commaundement that thei serue God the father of our lord Iesu Christe what tyme soeuer it bee by daie or by nighte And who should bee werie in the seruice of God this is his true seruice as for the other