reliue which of them all shall chalenge her for his wyfe for in her lyfe tyme she was like wyse maryed vnto them all seuen The Saducies thought they woulde by thyncoÌ„uenience that they inferred of this case make the resurreccion of the dead to apeare a very fonde thyng and disagreable to reason specyally yt there shoulde then ryse strife and debate among the brethren for the wyfe whiche was common vnto them all Iesus grutched not to teache those grosse felowes saying Doethe not thys question playnly declare that you be in a wrong belefe and altogether out of the waye for asmuche as ye neyther vnderstand the Scriptures nor yet perceiue the power of almighty God The Scripture is spirituall God who made manne of naught canne rayse hym agayne at his pleasure from death to lyfe He wyll not onely make the deade aliue agayne but also rewarde them with lyfe euerlastyng Nowe wedlocke was inuented among menne for this purpose because the thyng I meane mankynde whiche of it selfe and owne propre nature contyneweth not for euer myght by procreacion and encreasyng of the worlde be multiplied preserued and contynued But whereas menne neyther dye nor be borne after the common course of the world what nedeth there any matrimonye For after the resurrection of the dead neyther shall any manne mary nor any manne geue his daughter in maryage to an other but as the angels of god in heauen because there is among them no mortalitie knowe not the vse of matrimony so shall they that shall be relyued in the generall resurreccion be made lyke vnto the aungells theyr bodies beynge all spyrytuall and immortal Furthermore why do you thinke it disagreable to reason to beleue that the dead shall aryse agayne Haue ye not redde in holy scripture the auctoritie wherof is counted among you holy and inuiolable what god sayed when he spake vnto Moyses out of the bushe I am saied he the god of Abraham the god of Isaac and the god of Iacob they were then dead and yet doth he call himselfe theyr god Therfore euen the dead do verily lyue because their soules remayne styll aliue And if it be so that theyr sowles remayne what great maystrye is it then for God to call them agayne into theyr olde bodyes wherein they dwelt before But yf the dead be vtterly perished so that nether bodye nor soule remayneth alyue then standeth it not with reason that he is called the God of the deade As no man glorieth that he is a king of those that are not so is God the God of the liuyng and not of the deade Wherefore you Saduceis are farre deceiued imagyning that there shall be nothying in the lyfe to cum otherwise then you see in this present life Those thinges no doubt haue a more true and blessed beyng whiche are not vnder mans corporall light then those whiche are seene with bodelye iyes There is nothyng that more truly is then god and yet he is not seene but felte or perceyued ¶ And when there came one of the Scrybes and hearde them disputyng together and perceyued that he had aunswered theâ— well he asked hym whiche is the fyrste of all the commaundementes Iesus answered hym The fyrste of all the commaundementes is Beare O Israell The Lorde oure God is lorde onely and thou shalte loue the lorde thy God with all thy hatte and wyth all the soule and with all thy mynde and with all thy strength This is the fyrste commaundement And the second is like vnto this Thou shalte loue thy neybour as thy self There is none other commaundement greater then these And the Scribe sayde vnto hyme well Mayster thou haste sayde the trueth for there is one God and there is none â—ut he And is loue hym with all the harte and with all the mynde and with all the soule and with all the strength and to loue a mannes neyghbour as hym selfe is a greater thynge then all burnte offerynges and sacryfices And when Iesus sawe that he answered discretely he sayde vnto hym Thou art not ferre from the kyngdome of God And no man after that durst aske hym any question Yet for all this these wicked felowes made not an ende to teÌ„pte Christ. After the Saduceis came the Pharyseis and the Scrybes who were encouraged to take hym in hand because he hit the Saduceis in the teethe with ignorauÌ„ce of the law For the Scribes and the Phariseis auaunt themselfes more then other for the great knowledge they pretende to haue in the same and dissenting in opinion from the Saduceis do beleue there are angles and spirites and that mens soules remayne aliue after the bodyes be dead and finally that the dead shall ryse agayne These felowes beyng right glad that the Saduceis were put to a foyle blancked and that Iesus had aunswered to their mindes dyd lyke learned men propoune and putte forthe vnto hym by one of the scribes set vp for the nones to playe this parte a notable question out of the moste inward misteries of the law They asked hym what was the chief and greatest commaundement in the whole lawe Iesus straightwayes answered them out of the boke entyled Deuteronomium where as it is written on this wyse Heare O Israell the lorde thy God is one god and thou shalt loue the lorde thy God with all thy harte and with all thy soule and with all thy mynde and with all thy strength This is the chiefe and greatest commaundement next vnto this is that that foloweth Thou shalt loue thy neyboure none otherwise then thyselfe There is no other commaundement greater then these two because they comprise the summe and effect of the whole law WheÌ„ the Scribe heard him saye so he sayde againe Thou hast wel truly answered how there is one God and none other but he and that to loue him with all the harte and with all the vnderstandyng and with all the soule and with all the strength is a thing whiche passeth all burnt offrynges and other sacrifices Iesus perceyuyng that he had ryght discretly aunswered sayd vnto him Thou arte not far from the kyngdom of God For the euangelyke godlynes standeth not in sacrifices of beastes but in cleannes of spirite He is not farre from this meaning whoso preferreth that commaundement whiche is spirituall simple or plaine before all other preceptes whiche be rather figures and tokens of true godlines then the thyng selfe But the coÌ„mon sorte of the Iewes beleue verely that the chiefest parte of vertue and godly lyuing standeth in visible thinges as in washinges in kepyng of the sabboth daye in choyce of meates in offred giftes in sacrifices in holy dayes in fastinges and in long prayers Whoso with all his harte loueth god for gods self the whiche can neuer be loued enoughe and his neybour for goddes sake thesame hath made sufficient sacrifice After that Iesu had thus with his wisdome euery where confouÌ„ded and ouercum them that ceassed they to
vpon whome he had bestowed that benefite of health he sayed vnto hym beholde thou hast obteyned health and art deliuered from the bodelye sickenes whiche came to the by reason that thy soule was sicke I haue cured thee of bothe those diseases Take thou good hede hereafter that thou fall not agayne into thyne olde former synnes and therby cause thy selfe to haue some wourse disease Therfore after the man that was made whole knewe that this was he whiche before had commaunded him to carrye awaye his couche and whiche nowe also hauyng testified himself to be the authour of health did monish and warne hym to beware leste he shoulde fall agayne into some sorer and wurse disease by committing and renewyng synne also perceyuyng that his name was Iesus the sayed manne went to the maliciouse and slaunderous Iewes and tolde them howe it was Iesus whom he might thanke for his health thinkyng that it should be profitable for manye to haue hym knowen to all menne whiche with a woorde could so helpe a desperate disease And here nowe againe the Iewes peruerse and damnable frowardnes sheweth it selfe for wheras the Samaritanes had honourably receyued Iesus by the reporte of one woman whereas the people of Galilee beeyng euill spoken of commonlye among the Iewes for theyr basenes ignoraunce of the lawe had geuen credite to Christ when a great ruler also beyng a gentile and an heathen man with all his familie and householde for one onely miracle had confessed Iesus to be the sauioure of the worlde yet the citizens of Ierusalem beyng proude as well of the noblenesse of theyr citie as also of the wholy religion of theyr temple and in lykewise auauntyng themselues to bee menne exactely learned in the lawe picked quarels to Iesus of suche purposed malice that albeit the benefite of healthe was so euident that it coulde not be denayed and so holy that it coulde not be found faulte with for what thyng is more holy then freely to geue healthe of body to a manne miserablye afflicted yet dooe they laye to Christes charge as a faulte that without regard of the Sabboth daye he hath commaunded hym to carye awaye his couche as who saye man had be made for the Sabboth daye and not rather the Sabboth daye ordeyned for manne or as though the ceremonies of Moses lawe oughte not euerye where to geue place to more holye preceptes and dueties But what great blyndnes was this to disdayne Iesus because he hadde healed a piteouse creature vpon the Sabboth daye when they whiche thoughte themselues moste precyse kepers and obseruers of the lawe were not afrayed to helpe vp theyr asse beyng fallen into the ditche vpon the Sabboth daye They falsly say that in helpyng the manne God was offended without whose helpe the man coulde not be cured but in helpyng vp the asse they thought not the religion of the Sabboth day be broâ—â—n This is the ouerthwart and disordered religion of the Iewes imbracyng outwarde apparaunce of religion and therby subuertyng the very perfeccion of true religion styffely obseruing the shadowes of the lawe and with obstinate mindes persecutyng hym who was the cause that the lawe was wrytten For they did not onely slaunder Iesus but also persecuted him because he had doen an holy and good dede vpon the Sabboth daye And Iesus aunswered them My father worketh hytherto and I worke Therfore the Iewes sought the more to kyll hym not onely because he had broken the Sabboth but sayed also that God was his father and made hymselfe equall with God But Iesus to shewe that he was maister of the Sabboth day and not bonde the verye auctor and not subiecte to it therewithall declareth that the thyng wherof the Iewes slaundred hym beyng sonne to the father of heauen and one that did worke whatsoeuer he did by his fathers auctoritie dyd also redounde to his fathers dishonour Iesus I saye went about to represse and put awaie the Iewes false reporte of him with these woordes My heauenly father saieth he whose religiouse wurshippers ye would seme to bee who also made the sabboth daye for you when after he had made the whole worlde in sixe daies he rested the seuenth daye and wroughte not he I saye did not so bynde hymself to rest and quiet but that he maye worke whatsoeuer he wyll as ofteÌ„ as it pleaseth him For althoughe the sabboth daye dooeth yet stil endure neuerthelesse he ceasseth not from his worke wherby he gouerneth all thynges whiche he hath made wherby also he causeth from tyme to tyme by procreacion one thyng to succede of another and finally wherby he restoreth thynges decayed Therfore lyke as he doeth not cease dayly to do good both to men all other thinges that he hath create notwithstanding the religion and obseruaunce of the Sabboth day wherin as scripture saieth he ceassed from the creacion of thynges so I who am his sonne hauyng both power and exaumple of hym to worke suche thinges as perteineth to mans saluacion am not letted by the religious obseruacion of the Sabboth day but I maye perfourme those thynges whiche my father hath commaunded me But yf ye blame me for breaking of the Sabboth daye by thesame meanes ye condemne also my father who geueth me both exaumple and autoritie to do these thynges But yf ye thynke hym faultlesse and glorifie hym for restoryng health to a desperate creature wherfore do ye laye to my charge the fault of breaking the Sabboth daie and do not rather acknowledge the vertue and power whiche is greater than the keping of the Sabboth daie I haue restored lyfe to a miserable man And you craftely go about to procure my death for doyng so good a dede These moste sacred wordes which Iesus spake dyd so litle asswage the fury of the Iewes that they were thereby the more sharpened and vehemently styred against hym sekyng occasion to putte him to death because that nowe he dyd not only breake the Sabboth daie but also dyd as they sayed wrongfullye take god to be his owne father makyng himselfe equall with god both in his woorkes and auctoritie to do whatsoeuer he would ¶ Than answered Iesus and sayed vnto them Uerely verely I say vnto you the sonne canne do nothyng of hymselfe but that he seeth the father doe For what soeuer he doeth that doeth the sonne also For the father loueth the sonne and sheweth hym all thynges that hymselfe doeth and he will shewe hym greater workes then these bycause you shoulde meruayle â—or lykewyse as the father rayseth vp the dead and quickeneth them euen so the sonne quickeneth whom he wil. Neyther iudgeth the father any man but hath coÌ„mitted all iudgemente vnto the sonne because that all men should honour the sonne euen as they honour the father He that honoureth not the sonne thesame honoureth not the father whiche hath sent hym But after our Lord Iesus had perceiued their malice he procedeth further with them and openeth more manifestely vnto
to disproue him with wordes The Phariseis and suche as were of Herodes retinue were not louers and frendes together and yet for to destroy the author of helth they agreed all in one O mischieuous concorde O blyndnes muche in deede to be lamented What shall the priuey traynes of worldly deceite preuayle againste him vnto whome nothyng is vnknowen The Lorde teaching vs by his ensample that we ought many tymes to gyue place for a season to the vncurable obstinacie of the euill leste through farther prouocacion they becum more mischieuous conueyed hymselfe thence and wente asyde agayne vnto the sea The goyng asyde of Iesu is no kinderaunce to the ghospell but an encreasyng and furtheraunce of thesame For yf so be that the Pharise is had not driuen hym awaye he woulde not haue cum to the multitude of the gentiles Therfore after that Iesus had forsaken the enuious and narrowe synagoge and was gone vnto the sea there came vnto hym out of euery quarter a great numbre of people not onely out of Galile but also out of Iewry yea and from Ierusalem selfe from Idâ—â—ea and all the countreys lying beyond Iordane and moreouer from suche places as bordered on the cities of Tyre and Sydon For here was made a foreshewe of the churche that shoulde be gathered together of the Gentiles because the synagoge did through her vnbeliefe repell the Gospel Out of all these places there came a great multitude of people whiche moued by the bruite that was spred abrode of the marueylouse doctrine and mighty dedes of Iesu drewe theÌ„ selues together assembled at the sea syde The lorde who is bothe bounteous and riche towardes all men secluded no man neyther from his doctrine nor fro receyuing the benefite of healthe The people were so eagre and hasty by reason of the great desyre they had to be cured of theyr syckenesses that one of them thruste another out of place by force preased in where Iesus was to the intente they might at the leaste wayes but touche hym because that by the onely touchyng of his garmente diseases were also cured and put away There was no difference neyther betwene disease nor person with this mightie and liberall physycian For whosoeuer they were that were troubled with any maner of euils or infirmities thesame were furthwith deliuered therof yf it chaunced theÌ„ to go to Iesu. And the selfsame thing wee se spiritually done euen in these dayes How many be there out of all the nacions of the whole worlde what detestable vices are they subdued vnto whiche flye vnto him for succour by touche of faythe are healed Furthermore the vncleane spirites after they had sene Iesus coulde not abide his puissaunt vertue but fel downe at his knees and cried out saying Thou art euen that selfsame sonne of God whiche was promised to cum Iesus who in no wise woulde suffre the wicked spirites to disclose him strayghtly coÌ„maunded them to kepe silence and in no case to discry hym before the tyme were cum His will was to be knowen vnto the world by humble and poore persons vnto whom he said He that heareth you heareth me He willeth vs to geue no credence at all to wicked spirites no not so muche as then when they speake the trueth For this busynes was not done at all auentures but God by his high wisedom ordered euery thing with certaine degrees and procedinges for our saluacion ¶ And Iesus commaunded his disciples that a ship should wayte on him because of the people lest they should throng him For he had healed manye in so muche that they preased vpon him for to touche hym as manye as had plages and whan the vncleane spirites sawe him they fel downe before him and cryed saying thou arte the sonne of God And he strayghtly charged them that they should not make him knowell Wherfore when Iesus was thrust with the prease of people anon he commaunded his disciples to prepare hym a ship because he woulde not be disquieted with the disordered clamorous multitude which rather desyred bodely health then the health of theyr soules and thronged hym rather then touched hym Suche as confessing theyr disease go to Iesu with a syncere fayth do touche hym and are made whole Againe they whiche troubled as yet with worldly lustes and desyres cum rushing in with noyse hurly burly do greue and greatlye disquiete hym Therfore the disciples who were wonte to be familiarly conuersaunt with the Lorde prepared hym a ship of a more pure congregacion Iesus is better pleased with a fewe cleane and quiet persones then with a great many that are troublesome and vnquiet But yet he so gat him away that he neuertheles taught the multitude out of the ship When thou seest Iesus teaching oute of the shippe vnderstand hereby a bishop preaching to a multitude of all sortes whiche contayneth christian nouices and suche as haue not as yet the spirite cast out by baptisme both of the Iewes and Gentiles Happy and blessed are they that do spiritually touch Christ. None toucheth him so but those whome he first toucheth For whomsoeuer he toucheth the same are healed of all theyr sinnes and nowe being of vnquiet persons made quiet they shall be receyued into the ship of the Churche there to haue the continuall fruicion of his companie and alwayes to sit at his table The shippe wherin Iesus preacheth is very narrowe and roumles to vncleane and sinfull persons and contrarily moste wide and large vnto suche as are in cleane life and purged of theyr sinnes The Lord refused the publicacion of deuils and auoyded the sinfull and vnquiet multitude of people And yet these thinges euidently shewed that the kingdome of God was cum into the whiche both worthy persons and vnworthy weÌ„te about violeÌ„tly to enter Therfore he prepared himselfe certaine capitaines whiche shoulde ayde hym in claymyng this heauenly kingdome so many in numbre as should be sufficient to teache so many nacions as anon after shoulde come full and whole oute of all partes of the world to professe the Philosophie and doctrine of the ghospell So haue the princes of this worlde bene wont to chose them certaine head rulers and capitaines to clayme wynne enlarge gouerne and defend theyr empires kingdomes by It is requisite that the sayde rulers be ryghte trusty wyse polytique and diligent and in especiall that they knowe the king theyr maisters will and pleasure ¶ And he wente vp into a mountayne and called vnto hym whome he woulde and they came vnto him And he ordayned the twelue that they should be with him that he might send them furthe to preache and that they might haue power to heale syckenesses and to cast out deuils And he gaue vnto Symon to name Peter And he called Iames the sonne of zebede and Iohn Iames his brother gaue them to name Bonarges whiche is to saye the sonnes of thunder And Andrewe and Philip and â—arthelmewe and Mathewe and Thomas and
without delaye retourned againe into the house that it went out of The more sorowfull that her death was by reason of her yong age for she was but twelue yeare olde the greater was the myrthe and ioye which was made for her relyuyng Her father and mother were greatly amased with this straunge wonderfull syght Iesus who neyther required reward or mede of them nor yet thankes for his laboure onely commaunded them to geue her meate bycause it myght thereby more certainely appeare how she was restored to life For catyng is not onely a sure token of lyfe but also of welfare and good healthe He lykewyse charged them that they shoulde not blase this thyng abrode whiche was priuely done and in the presence of a few persons eyther because he would haue it rather published by suche as he putte out a doores then by the ruler of the Sinagoge who should haue bene more enuyed but lesse beleued if he had bene the publisher hereof eyther because in that he commaunded them to kepe the thyng secrete whiche he knew ryght well they would not do his will was to teache vs how that in all the good dedes we dooe we ought vtterlye to exchewe all vayne glory and worldly prayse If a man wade deper herein and serche what secret learning lyeth hid in this miracle for euen the very doinges of Iesu be parables it shall appeare that this dead mayden of twelue yeare olde and scarcely yet mariable sygnifieth a man whiche by frayeltye of nature hathe fyrste fallen to the committing of some priuie cryme or synne and therfore because he is not yet past regarde of honestye nor by long custome rooted in synne maye with the medicine of shame easlye be holpen and cured therof When any suche offendeth it becoÌ„meth the Curates and pastours to folow the gentle demeanour of Iesu who without makyng any great a doe raysed the mayden at home in the presence of a fewe witnesses It shall be sufficient to rebuke suche as haue thus offended and done amisse secretly leste theyr faulte beyng once disclosed they eyther sette all shame aparte or els pyne awaye throughe ouermuche sorowe and heauinesse The fyrst offence if it happen throughe frayltie and weaknesse is very sone amended It is muche harder to cure hym whose wickednesse is once cum to the knowledge of the people and hardest of all to heale suche a one as is hardened and rooted in synne by long custome of synnyng And therfore he rayseth the mayden by vertue of his bare worde in her fathers seuerall house sufferyng fewe to be present thereat But he maketh more a doe when the young springalte whiche was borne out vpon mennes shoulders to be buryed is restored to lyfe agayne His mother and all the people that go with her make great mene and lamentacion The yong man is had out to burying and fyrst his mother heareth Christ saye wepe not Then Christ toucheth the coffin and causeth the porters to staye Anon he calleth the dead man with a loude voyce saying How I say to the aryse Then fyrst he rayseth himselfe and sitteth in the coffin afterward he begynneth to speake at the length he whippeth out of the coffyn and is deliuered vnto his mother But Christ commaundeth Lazarus graue to be shewed hym as thoughe he knew not where it were he wepeth once or twyse He is troubled and groneth in spirite He commauÌ„deth the graue stone to be remoued and calleth out Lazarus with a loude voyce The dead man cummeth out but bounde At the length he is vnbound and falleth to his meate It was no more maisterie for Christ to rayse vp the karkas whiche had layne fower daies deade then the bodie newly deade who at the daye of dome will by the voyce of thaungell rayse and call to lyfe agayne all mennes bodies that haue bene buryed in so many thousand yeares before but by thys fygure his wyll was to shewe vs howe muche a doe it is for them to turne from sinful lyuing who of long tyme haue bene accustomed to vices not to the ende that we should despayre of suche persons but because we should endeuoure to amende oure lyues in season and more earnestly goe about to bryng all that are in suche case to amendement Moreouer I thynke it also here worthye to be noted that where as Iesus woulde haue hys benefyte publyshed of the Gerasyte possessed of the deuyll yet commaunded he the ruler of the Synagoge to kepe sylence For the enuyous Synagoge went aboute by al meanes to ouerwhelme and oppresse the glorye of the Lorde Iesu the whiche Synagoge did also afterward beate the Apostles and charged theÌ„ that they should not be so hardy as once to speake of his name But theyr enuye preuayled nothyng at all The more they went aboute to oppresse his holsome name the more was it preached amonge the Gentyles The priestes holden theyr peace The Phariseis crye out and speake agaynst him The Scribes rayle vpon him Herod laugheth him to skorne but wurshyppers of Idolles theues extorcioners and such as are attached with the vyces of inceste and aduoutry sodainly delyuered by the grace of the ghospell from theyr olde synnes as from most fell and cruell dyuels doe magnifye and prayse hym The .vj. Chapter ¶ And he departed thence and came into his owne countrey and his disciples folowed him and when the Sabboth day was cum he begaÌ„ to teache in the sinagoge And many that heard him were astonied and sayde From whence hath he these thinges And what wisdoÌ„ is this that is geuen vnto hym and suche vertues as are wrought by his handes Is not this the carpenter Maries sonne the brother of Iames and Ioâ—es and of Iuda and Symon and are not his systers here with vs â–ª And they were offended with hym Iesus sayed vnto them a Prophet is not despised but in his owne countrey and among his owne kinne and in his owne housholde And he could there shewe no miracle but layde his handes vpon a fewe sycke folke and healed them and merueled because of theyr vnbeliefe WHat occasyon soeuer Christ haue to goe any whyther he is alwayes after one fashyon and lyke hymselfe that is he euer bryngeth healthe to teache his disciples that accompany hym how we christians ought neuer to cease to doe the busynesse of the ghospell but still to goe aboute whensoeuer occasion serueth thereunto to make of euell men good and of good better whether it happen vs to continew and leade our lyues at home in our owne houses or els in foreyne and straunge countreys in publyke place or in pryuate Moreouer he that is vnfaynedly indewed with suche vertue and goodnesse as belongeth to christian profession â–ª whether it chaunce hym to be in shyppe or in wagan or to haue familiar talke and communicacion or els to be present at feaste or at banket yea to make shorte tale euen when he bourdeth to or maketh any game or pastyme he so demeaneth hymselfe that euer
fyerbrand in a bright sunnie day of purpose to helpe augment the clerenes of the sunne and partly superâ—luous because that on the one syde all men doe already know your incomparable vertues and do with one accord magnify thesame and on the other side for that your highnes doth so muche teÌ„dre and seke gods glory that ye euidently declare yourself nothyng lesse to mynde or desire theÌ„ the vaine prayses or commendacion of this worlde Yet lyke as the shadow doth remedilesse folowe and accumpanie the bodye in the sunne lyght so glory and renoume doeth ineuitably folowe and associate excellent vertue And where the desertes of true vertue are so great and so iust it caÌ„not be chosen but that glory and renoume must aryse and so much the more because your highnes as muche as in you lyeth doeth flee it For glory sayeth the phylosophical pâ—isee is of the nature of a Crocodile whiche beeing a beast in the floud of Nilus in Egipt hath this propertie that if one pursue him to suppresse him he fleeth will not aâ—ide and yf ye flee than will the Crocodile folowe and ouertake you And forasmuch as glory is by the phâ—losophâ—ers dâ—â—â—ined to 〈◊〉 constaunt and perpetual praise geuen to any partie by a common consent of good people for â—he excelleÌ„cie of vertue euidently shewyng it selfe in the 〈◊〉 partie as in dede vertue cannot be hidden but will appere how caÌ„ it be possible that your renoume should dye whose manifold excellente vertues do from day to day more and more encrease How can your prayse deâ—â—y whose artes monumentes are consecrated to immortalitie as thinges not builded vpon the sand of ambicious fekyng nor like bubles in the rayne water puffed vp with aâ— vnceâ—tain blast of worldly vanitie but founded vpon the sure rocke oâ— Gods worde from whence issueth the lyuelye and the same euerlastyng fountayn of true glorye in dede Neyther may your highnesse in this case refuse any mannes woordes of prayse and commendacion for as muche as it is a matter as lâ—â—dable to aâ—knowelage the good thynges whiche in dede are in vs praise worthy as it is vncommeÌ„dable through vayne arrogancie to take vp on vs that we haue not And though your grace is so farre froÌ„ all ambicion and also affecâ—ion of this worldes rewarde that ye haue no iye to any mortall maÌ„nes recompence yet cannot good folkes but extolle and magnifye the inestimable noumbre of diuine gyftes of grace so plentiousely heaped and couched in so noble a Princesse Though ye would haue your well doynges hydden and vnspoken of yet cannot the gratitude of the people hold the peace or passe it with silence Though your gracious benignitie require no thankes yet cannot the honest hertes of the people forbeare or refrayne by open protestacion to acknowelage by whom they daily receyue incoÌ„parable benefites Though your modestie nothyng lesse seketh then the fame of your good actes to be blowen abrode yet caÌ„not our duties but brast out into woordes of testifiyng howe muche we thynke our selues bound vnto your highnes so that although the great and manifold benefytes whiche I haue priuately receyued at your graces handes dyd not now moue me yet could I not in this most iust occasion of the publique gratulacioÌ„ hold my peace For your vertuous liuyng â—ueÌ„ from your teÌ„dre yeres enbraced folowed and still continued your pregnaunt wictines ioyned with right wonderful grace of eloquence your studious diligence in acquirynge knowelage aswell of other humaine disciplines as also of holy scriptures not only to your own edifiyng but also to the most godly ensauÌ„ple enstâ—uctioÌ„ of others your incoÌ„parable chastitie which as a moste precious iewell yâ— haue by auoiding all occasions of idlenes by conteÌ„nyng prouocacyons of all vayne pastimes kept not only froÌ„ al spot but also from al suspicion of stainyng your singular modestie coupled with passyng great integritie and innocency of all your behauiour your other manifold vnestimable giftes of grace and among them most principally your studious seekyng to promote the glory of God and of his most holy ghospell haue been the thynges that haue moued the most noble the most renoumed and the moste godly Prince of the vniuersall worlde our most gracious soueraigne Lord kyng Henry the eight to iudge and esteme your grace a meâ—e spouse for his maiestie and among so many women of nobilitie of honour and of muche high pryce and worthinesse you alone to picke out to be his moste deere beloued and moste lawfull wyfe Neyther do we doubte moste gracious ladie but that as the prouidence of god hath fourmed and aptised your grace to be a worthy and mete spouse for suche an housbande so hath it by a speciall eleccion deputed and preseâ—ued the same to sum high and notable benefite of the coÌ„moÌ„ weale and to be an instrument of his glory The towardnes and likelyhode wherof lyke as in mens opinions vndoubted so doeth it already begin to shewe it selfe in a noumbre of thynges whiche otherwise were not to bee loked for to procede from any woman muche lesse from a woman of nobilitie brought vp in the courte of a kyng where Fortune commonly noureeth cockereth pampereth hir derlinges suche as by hir wil she myndeth and laboureth to corrupt with wealth idlenesse and vanitie and leaste of al from a Quene being set in place where if she would becum fortunes wanton she might without controllement swimme in the delices of all such prosperitie as might occasion hir to dote on worldely felicitie and to forget god But the Psalmes and conteÌ„platife meditacions on which your highnesse in the lieu and place of vayne courtely pastimes and gaming doeth bestow your night and daies studie and whiche ye haue set forth as well to the incoÌ„parable good exaumple of al noble women as also to the ghostly consolacion and edifiyng of as many as reade them doe well declare not onely the thyng to be true whiche Socrates affirmed that is to weâ—e â–ª that women yf they doe so apply theyr myndes are no lesse apt no lesse wittie no lesse hable no lesse industrious no lesse actiue no lesse frutefull and piththy in the acquiryng or handlyng of all kyndes of disciplines then men are but also how godly ye bestow your time howe littell ye set by the worlde how muche ye thirst righteousnesse howe carefully ye seke the kingdom of god in the middes of a thousand occasioÌ„s whiche otherwyse might withdrawe your high estate therefrom And because ye so muche tendre the gâ—ory of God that accordyng to the lesson of Christe ye doe first of all other thynges and principally seke yâ— kingdome of heauen â–ª therfore hath he according to his promesse in thesame place conteyned and doeth and still will of his owne prouision encrease vnto you all kyndes of necessary coumforte and consolacion in muche better wise then your grace could deuise in muche larger maner them your own self woulde wishe and in ferre other
kyngdome but they returned into the countreye of Galyle vnto the cytye of Nazareth where the babe was firste conceyued in hys mothers woumbe For his minde was to liue in a corner out of the way for a time and in dede keping himselfe in the poore citie of Nazareth â–ª it was an easy thing for him to beguile the crueltie of them that dredde the arising of a newe king And thus hitherto that same oure heauenly soueraigne lorde and prince who had for oure sakes adbassed and humbled hymselfe downe euen to swadlyng cloutes to the cradle to crying in his swathing bandes as other children doe to the strengthlesse babehoode of the bodye was preached and declared to the worlde by the onelye testymonie of other folkes talkyng But hys age by litle and litle growing vp dyd from tyme to tyme encrease the bygnesse of hys stature and the strength of his body in whiche body as in a tabernacle there clearely appered a certayn wonderful towardnesse and natural inclinacion to vertue euidently declaring that somewhat there was in him more then a man The strength also of the spirite continuallye encreased in hym daylye more and more shewing it selfe foorthe in hys countenaunce in hys passe in hys talke and in hys doinges in all whiche there was not so muche as any one poincte but it was euen full of the spiryte of myldenesse and humylytie of chastytie of amyablenesse and of godlye zeale For he was nothyng subiecte to those vices whiche the yeres of childehood is commonly woonte to bee encoumbred with that is to wete fondenesse of speaking and doyng thinges wantonnesse inconstauncie and foly but the heauenlye wysedome wherwith he was replenyshed not tarying for the yeres and age that discrecion oughte to bee in dyd euen than already in such wise shewe it selfe that wheras he was afore commended and set furthe by the testimony of others nowe by his owne vertues and giftes of grace being suche as fewe other men had he was made bothe wonderful to all persones and also worthy to be loued Wisedome holynesse perfeccyon of liuing ripenesse of discression being in hym suche and so greate as cannot in any other man of right aunciente yeres be founde made him wondrefull vnto all men and the delectable swetenesse of his conuersacyon his ientle familiare facyon towardes all folkes and hys humble softenesse made hym vnto all men amâ—able Neyther was the fauoure that men dyd beare hym fauoure of the common sorte or for a lytle season suche as that same age of chyldehoode doeth ofte tymes gather through humayne qualities as in exaumple for the respect of beautie and welfauourednesse or otherwise for aptitude and quickenesse of taking that is taught them whiche is in some chyldren beefore theyr time but in hym there shined a certayne godlye and wondrefull grace mightily drawing all men to the loue of hys vertuousenesse ¶ And his father and mother wente to Hierusalem euery yere at the feaste of Estur And whan he was twelue yere olde they wente vp to Hierusalem after the custome of the feaste daye And whan they had fulfilled the dayes as they returned home the childe Iesus abode still in Hierusalem and hys father and mother knewe not of it but they supposyng him to haue bene in the compaygnye came a dayes iourney and soughte hym emong theyr kinsfolke and acquaintaunce And whan they founde him not â–ª they went backe agayn to Ierusalem and sought hym And it fortuned that after three dayes they founde him in the teÌ„ple sitting in the middes of the doctoures hearyng them and opposing them And all that hearde him were astouned at his vnderstandyng and aunswers And although Nazareth was somewhat ferre in dystaunce from Hierusalem yet neuerthelesse the parentes of Iesus beeyng folkes of muche deuocion wente thither euery yere once and that was at the festiuall daye of Estur whiche feaste was emong the Iewes kepte highe and holy with al possible deuocion and solemnitie And this was the daye at whiche that same lambe not knowing any manier spotte of synne was marked and appoynted to be offred vp in sacrifice at his due tyme. The chylde also beeyng vnder the guydyng of his mother and his fosterfather euen than as younge as he was accustomed himselfe to deuout seruing of god for our ensaumple putting all fathers and mothers in remembrauÌ„ce of theyr dueties who are bounde to restreigne theyr children that are come of them from all wantonnesse euen at the first daye yes euen in theyr veraye cradles and the same to enure to holye conuersacion and to earneste applying of true godlynesse whyle theyr age is yet tender and theyr naturall disposicion yet ientle softe and plyaunte vnto all manier traynyng in vertue The childe Iesus neded not the scoolyng or ordreyng of anye other persone but it was an exaumple ordeyned for other parentes howe to bryng vp theyr chyldren chastelye and vertuouslye and also a fourme or trade shewed vnto all young chyldren how they oughte to vse themselues obedient to theyr parentes whan they are by the same exhorted and aduertysed to thynges that are holye and godlye But whan hys chyldehood by reason of a more noumber of yeres was nowe growen to a litle more strength and begoon to drawe wel towardes the stature of a younge strieplyng he beeyng of the full age of twelue yeres olde and hys patentes accordyng to the auncyente custome had gone to Hierusalem at the day of Estur and the chylde awaytyng on them in theyr compaygny as soone as al thinges were finyshed that to the solemne obseruyng of that feaste dyd appertayne and the dayes throughlye expired in whiche due attendaunce muste bee geuen to the dyuyne seruice in the temple whereas his mother and Ioseph were returned homewarde towarde Nazareth the childe Iesus remayned styll at Hierusalem euen than beefore his full age shewing hymselfe glad and ready to accomplyshe the commaundemeÌ„tes and message of his father for the doyng wherof he had bene sent into the worlde But hys parentes knewe nothyng of hys tarying behynde But whan they sawe that he came not home agayne to Nazareth they accordyng to the common rate of care that other parentes take for theyr children greatly mused and wondred what had befallen And in dede at the firste they demed that he had hanged on the compaignye of some of his felowes and kinsfolkes and by reason therof had bene the slacker in cumming They geat them therefore backe agayn euen the same way that they had come to the mountenauÌ„câ— in manyer of one whole dayes iourneye makyng searche for hym emonge theyr acquayntaunce and kinsfolkes in coumpany of whome suche litle chyldren are often times woonte to make taryaunce and lyngeryng because the affeccionate desire of theyr kinsfolke or alliaunce doth commonlye kepe them backe and maketh them to tary But emongst al these was Iesus not found who taughte men euen than alreadye as young as he was that suche an one as is willing to
of his father was contente to be made as a foole for our sakes to the ende that we might be made wise in him Through pryde came our fall and through humilitie came our settyng vp agayne Adam being through the serpent made bare of all the good qualities of the mynde couered hymselfe with leaues plucked from the tree Christe being riche in giftes celestiall desired no maner thing at all of this worldes The figures also of the olde Testament do veray well accorde with the storie of the ghospell Moses guided and led the Israelites out of Egypte and Christe hath deliuered them from the derkenesse of ignorauÌ„ce and from the boÌ„dage of vice They had their passage there through the water and we here through baptisme haue a ready waye to saluacion and freedome There was a pilour of a cloude and of fyer and here the father sendeth a voyce downe through a cloude and our spirite is baptised with fyer Through the first lawe is occasion of death through the lawe of the ghospell we are called agayne to lyfe But the olde lawe dyd with throundreynges and lyghtenynges make them sore afeard and the lawe of the ghospell doeth with ientilnesse and benefites call vs forth to saluacion Moses was terrible to be seen but in such wyse that constreyned he was to couer his face Christe is mylde and full of courteous humanitie and puttyng hymselfe in companie emong the thickeste of the people Moses went vp to the hill to talke with God and Christe came downe to vs to the intent that God should speake to vs by hym The fyrste Adam while he coueteth to be equal with God is compared to brute beastes voyde of vnderstandyng The seconde Adam whan he humbled himselfe from his godly maiestie downe to the bassenesse of our humaine nature wheras we were more abiecte and vile then euen the brute beastes are helyfâ—ed vs vp to the participacion and brotherhood of his godhed Nowe to conclude through Iesus the sonne of Naue was their returnyng into the lande flowyng wyth mylke and honey and through Iesus the sonne of a virgin is our returnyng agayne into paradyse Let vs therfore goe awaye from the disposicion of our first parentes and duely folowyng the lyfe of our Lorde Iesus let vs wyth pure myndes enbrace his benefite and let vs with al godly zele and endeuour folowe his exaumple to the best of our powers hymselfe will ayde vs therto with his helpe the whiche of his goodnesse hath geuen the example let vs enbrace the merciable and vnwrathfull maker of the lawe euangelicall Lette vs folowe our guide who only and none but he is hable to bryng all nacions of the whole worlde home vnto that same lande whiche continually without ende doeth moste plenteously flowe with all kynde of ioyes ¶ The .iiii. Chapiter ¶ Iesus beeyng full of the holy ghoste returned from Iordan and was ledde by the spirite into wildernesse and was fowerty daies tempted of the deuill And in those daies did he eate nothyng And whan they were ended he afterwarde houngred And the deuill sayed vnto hym If thou be the sonne of God commaunde this stone that it bee breade And Iesus aunswered him saying It is wrytten Man shall not lyue by bread only but by euery woorde of God ANd Iesus vpon whose head the doue had lighted before at his baptisme beeyng not a voyde signe but the holy ghoste hymselfe in that lykenesse although he were nowe full of the holy ghoste yet before he would enterpryse the office of preachyng the ghospell because he would be in all thinges approued and tryed euen to the vttermoste ere he woulde take suche an office in hande he departed from Iordan geuyng therby a lesson that after baptisme menne shoulde endeuoure themselfes to the more higher exercises of godly lyuyng he withdrewe himselfe from the coumpanie of people with whom to be familiar and muche conuersaunte doeth many tymes corrupte a manne and also doeth cause the autoritie of a teacher to be the lesse estemed and regarded And by the spirite of God wherwith he was wholy rauished and possessed he was moued and led furthe into wildernesse from whence Iohn had to fore come furthe emong the people And this did Iesus euen as one that mynded to bidde the enemie of mankynde quickely to come of and make readie all hys craftes and ingiens verayly of purpose both to shewe and declare vnto vs that the deuyll who had hitherto been as a conquerour ouer mankind had holden them captiue maye bee vanquyshed and subdued and also as it were with his fynger to poynte vnto vs the waye howe to wynne the victory ouer hym A place was sought and found apte mete for the temptours purpose and that was wildernesse and occasion was ministred by the meanes of hounger For Iesus to doe the parte that Moses did in this behalfe nowe that he went about to geue vnto the worlde a newe lawe that is to were a doctrine of grace which is the ghospell he fasted as Moses had doen fowertie dayes and in all this tyme of the sayed fowertie daies he touched no maner of meate but passed ouer all this tyme with holy prayers vnto God geuyng laude and glorye to thesame and with geuyng continuall thankes vnto his heauenly father And this was a paterne and a saumple or president of a certayne rare and vnwoonte vertue in manne Neyther was he ignoraunt of the craftes and subtilties of Satan who by all meanes possible neuer more earnestely pitcheth and setteth his snares and grinnes then whan he perceyueth the mynde and soule of man with notable endeuour to encline and drawe towardes heauenly lyuyng And Satan had heard that one there shoulde come whiche shoulde discoumfeight and destruie his puissaunce and whether that mightie conquerour were now alreadie come or no he stoode in doubte and what manne Iesus should be he could not tell For Satan who had beguiled mankynde to fore by his subtile craftes and wyles was nowe contrarywyse to bee beguiled by the politique wysedome of God He had heard Iohn openly confesse and saye I am not Christe Wherfore seeyng and perceyuyng many thynges in Christe whiche ferre surmounted the compace of mans power and on the other syde agayne seeyng hym to bee an houngred and to be in great affliccion through defaulte of takyng bodily susteinaunce wheras it is not read that Moses and Helias after the fastyng and absteinyng from meate by the space of lyke noumbre of dayes were an hungred he supposed Iesus to be nothyng els but a manne yea and suche a manne as by his craftie conueighaunce myght be corrupted Nowe the wilie and subtill deuyse of the temptour was this that is to wete eyther to ouercome and wynne hym in dede or at the leaste wyse to hunte out whether he were that Sonne of God or no whiche had been promysed by the Prophetes Whiche thyng yf he myght haue perceyued so to bee than would he bende all his
for and he aunswered and sayed Goe youre wayes beare woorde agayne to Iohn of the thynges whiche ye haue hearde and seen The blynd see the haulte goe the lepres are clensed the deaf heare the dead arise agayne and to the poore is the glad tydinges preached And that the chiefe rewlers of the synagogue woulde bee with these benefites yet stil wurse and wurse incensed did not Esai after a goodly sorte peinte out vnder the parable of a vyneyarde which beyng with excedyng many poyntes of diligente cure and good housebandyng occasioned to bryng forth good fruite dyd not aunswere the expectacion of his tiller I looked saieth he that it should haue brought forth grapes and it hath brought forth wylde grapes I looked that it should haue doen iudgemente and beholde wickednesse that it should haue doen righteousnesse beholde crying and misery And doeth not the parable iustely agree with thesame sentence of prophecie whiche ye haue heard of Iesus hymselfe concerning a vineyard enclosed and fensed with a toure and furnished with a wyne presse and a gutter whiche vineyard neuerthelesse through defaulte of the housebandmen yelded not condigne fruite to the Lord and owner Thesame thyng also was noted by thatsame figtree whiche would not begynne to be fruitfull no not than neyther whan much doungyng and cherishyng had been doen to it Neyther was there any thyng els mente by the parable of the sede that was cast vpon ill grounde He founde thesame selfe fault els where also in the Prophetes I haue all the daye long euermore holden out my handes to an vnfaithful people that goe not the rightway but after their owne imaginacions to a people that is euer defying me to my face The menne of power had enuy at his vertue and slauÌ„dreously surmuised those miracles to be wrought by the supportacion of Beelzebub But the weakenesse of his body the meannesse of his degree and the affliccions whiche he suffred was a matter of offence and slaundre of conscience to the weake though they were no euyll men For whan he was taken of the Iewes euen those same twelue specially chosen Apostles fled and ranne euery man his waye See ye whether the Prophete Zachary leaft euen this poynte vnspoken of too I shal strieke the shepeheard saieth he the shepe of the flock shal be scattred abrode Wherunto accordeth the song of the eightie seuenth psalme Thou hast put awaye myne acquaintaunce ferre from me and made me to bee abhorred of them For dyd not Petur with a detestacion forsweare his mayster and the other Apostles ready to doe thesame if lyke perill had bloustreously come vpon them And that this would so come to passe Christ had foresaied to Petur before it came to passe in dede He was betrayed by Iudas who was one of the noumbre of the twelue CoÌ„sider ye whether the propheticall psalme did not foretell of the also For if mine enemy sayth he had spokeÌ„ ill of me I would verayly haue paciently borne it and yf he that hated me had spoken great thinges vpon me I would peraduenture haue hidden my selfe froÌ„ him But thou a maÌ„ of myne owne minde my guyde my familiar Now if ye haue learned the Christe whan Iudas comyng of purpose to betray the lord vnto the souldiers by meane of a deceiptfull kisse did thus speake vnto him Frende for what purpose art thou come Betraiest thou the sonne of man with a kisse Did he not manifestly lay vnto him in his veray teeth the saying of the prophete he calleth him a guyde because this Iudas semed in maner as one made a rewler ouer the Apostles because he had the charge of doyng all affaires abrode coÌ„mitted vnto him Again an other psalme speaketh yet more clerly For the maÌ„ of my peace in whoÌ„ I haue trusted who eate my loanes hath magnified supplanting ouer me And see I pray you howe the wordes of Christe whiche he spake to his disciples of the betraier at his last supper with them doe iustely agree with this prophecie He that eateth breade with me saith Christ shal lift vs his foote sole against me An other psalme again sayth My frendes and my next neighbours haue approched nere and haue stande against me Yea and an other psalme yet again his woordes are suppled aboue honey and they be very dartes And is it not a woorde softer theÌ„ honey to say haill maister being spoken with a kisse geuing And was it not a darte infected with deadly poison to say Thatsame is he hold ye him fast Thus might ye haue heard of his Apostles or in case ye haue not yet heard it ye may yet learne it in time to come Iudas demauÌ„ded of couenaunt of the bishops the chiefe rewlers the suÌ„me of thirtie pens or denaries of siluer with which deadly suÌ„me of money there was forthwithall a piece of ground bought for the buriall of poore folkes And both these poyntes did the Prophete forespeake of in his prophecie As concerning the pryce that he was sold for thus did one of the Prophetes say And they toke thirtie plates the pryce of him that was valued whom they bought of the children of Israel gaue them for the potters field These thinges thus executed Iudas ouerlate repenting him of his facte honge himselfe diminishing therby the nouÌ„bre of the twelue chosen making a roume for an other to bee supplied into the ordre of the Apostles Neither was this vnspokeÌ„ of by the Prophetes For thus sayth the processe of the misticall psame Let their abyding be made to lye waste let there not be he that dwelleth in it and his shepeherdship let an other body take And as for the deuilishe conuocacioÌ„ for the putting of Iesus to death which was solemnely kept in the house of Caiphas beeyng the highest bishop by the Scribes the Phariseis the rewlers of the people the coÌ„mons being sworne to thesame marke ye whether thesame poynte also hath not been wrytten declared by the prophecie of the psalme which sayth Why doe the heatheÌ„ so furiously rage together why doe the people imagine vaine thinges The kynges of the earth stand vp the rewlers take couÌ„cell together against the Lorde against his enoincted Ye heare the namyng of the heathen ye knowe that Iesus was crucified by Pilates seruauntes of his crue ye heare the woorde peoples ye knowe that the multitude of all â—ortes of the Iewes cryed crucifie him crucifie him ye heare the name of kinges ye know the Pilate was the rewler gouernour of Iewry in Ceasars behalfe by whose senteÌ„ce Iesus was coÌ„deÌ„ned ye heare this woorde the rewlers of the earth ye vnderstaÌ„de the headmen of the people of Iewry who not vnderstaÌ„ding the lawe spirituall sought earthly thinges while they will in no wise be pulled froÌ„ thesame they put the king of heaueÌ„ to death Yea Esai also doth fore
sorte that neyther his free talke was to any man reprochefull neyther of his softe and ientle speache appered any feare to bee in hym or flattery but his endeuour was with all his wel decked eloquence this to perswade that Iesus was the authour of mannes saluation Than Peters woordes that he spake to them were these ye that are princes the Rulers of the people and elders gyue eare vnto me trewly muche maruell had I wherfore and why we were commaunded to pryâ—on seyng that we knowe of none haynouse cryme that we commytted and because prynces are not wont to impryson men but for theyr wycked doynges Now yf 〈◊〉 haue no cryme as I can heare to bryng in against vs neyther any mischeuous dede to laye to our charge but that ye wyll examyne vs of a good turne whiche this man hath gotten beyng now whole and sounde who was before weake and shronke together I wyll not stycke to declare to you the cause manner therof For it belongeth to our office gently to make accoumpte or declaration of Christes fayth to all that be desyrouse to learne Wherfore be ye all well assured of this not only ye that are the chiefe and head menne but all ye also which be the commons of Israell for the doctryne that we teache pertayneth to al mennes saluacion whether they be prynces and of the nobilitie or els of the comminaltie that this man whome ye see stande by vs in lymmes both whole and sounde who was wonte before as it is not vnknowen to you to be caryed of porters nowe hath obtayned this benefite of health neyther by magikes art nor by mans power neyther yet through our deseruynges but by inuocation of the Lord Iesus Christ of Nazareth whom ye but few dayes agoe vpon sentence gyuen of Ponce Pilate nayled fast vpon the crosse But God hath raysed hym from death and freely geuen him rule ouer all in life euerlastyng Therefore the strength vertue of his name worketh now effectually thesame thyng in healyng men and sauyng theym that he hymself was wunte here on yearth to woorke No doubt this is it that the Prophete Dauid heretofore spake in his psalme of a stone that man should reiecte but God shoulde see it highly exalted This Iesus of Nazareth is the very same stone whiche ye in buyldyng of your Synagogue refused From the whiche buyldyng ye threwe hym awaye as an outcaste but God hath made him the heade corner stone to holde streight together by his diuine strength and power the whole churche whiche is for to be sette vp and buylded both of Iewes and Gentiles For this persons sake our father of heauen profereth all men saluacion and there is no hope at all for any manne to be saued but thorowe Iesus I knowe well that Moyses the patriarches and prophetes are in holye and auncient authoritie with you But so was it thoughte good to the father of heauen that his sonne alone should woorke all mennes saluacion whereof he would him to be called Iesus Any other name haue not we already vnder heauen nor in tyme to come shall haue whereby we must be saued Than haue ye no cause to meruayle that this creple was hable so muche to obtaine at thinuocatioÌ„ of this name seyng that he hath worthely merited and deserued health euerlastyng for all persones that calleth vpon him Whan they sawe the boldenes of Peter and Iohn and vnderstoode that they were vnlerned and lay men they marueyled and they knewe them that they had beene with Iesu and beholdyng also the man whiche was healed standyng by them they coulde not saye agaynste it but commanâ—ded them to goe asyde out of the counsell counselled among themselues saying what shall we do to these mâ—n For a manifest sygne is doen by them is openly knowen to all them that dwell in Ierusalem and we cannot deny it But that it be noysed no farther abrode among the people let vs threaten charge them that they speake hence forth to no man in this name Whan Peter had spoken these woordes as many as were in that counsell beholdyng both in Peter and Iohn free courage and stedfastnes of mynde whiche appered to their very countenaunce and perceyuyng also that they were of the comens men vnlearned wundered greatly wherupon they should beare themselues so bolde howe they came by suche eloquence and so perfyte vnderstandyng of the prophetes In conclusion they came into remembraunce of theym â–ª howe they had kepte company with Iesus whome they theymselues knew certaynly to be slayne of enuy They were in a great perplexitie by reason that they beyng of the base sorte of men and vnlearned were so bolde spirited so free of â—ong and liberall who neither for the deadly paynes whyche theyr mayster suffred neither for the honour authoritie of so famous assembly were troubled any thyng at all in mynde They behelde the man hymselfe present well knowen with all the people who beyng borne notably lame than myght walke cherefully Sodaynly was this myracle wrought not in any secrete place but before the temple doore not by magikes arte but at the inuocacion of Iesus name whom they supposed deade The facte was so euident that they could not well deny it And occasion had they none to finde faulte with them For what is more worthy the fauorable reporte of many than to make a wretched lame creature whole wythout rewarde None aunswere therfore make they to the apostles for nought had they to aunswere as for that whiche was alreadye done they coulde not disproue and to allowe the same they would not Wherfore vpon commaundement geuen to the apostles that they with the healed person also shoulde departe out of theyr assembly they fell in consultacion and layed theyr heades together saying what shal we doe with these men although but rude and rascall for why This notable miracle which was set forth by them is better knowen withall that dwell in Ierusalem then we shal be haâ—le to disafirme If we deny the facte we shall gaine vs nought els therby but shame and dishonestie yf we condemne and punyshe them we shall seme voyde of all mercye and cleane wythout iustice and the more shall we styrre vp the people agaynst vs. There is none other counsell for vs to take but some more quiet waye muste we folowe and prouide that this euill howe soeuer it hath sprong creape no further abrode neyther bee published among the people For all suche maner sores or poyntes of infeccioÌ„ whan they are once sprong in a cominaltie be wonte yf a man vexe and anger them to waxe stronger and with a violent rage further to go abrode than yf they were made lyght of It semeth therfore a good waye for vs to holde of our handes from them but let vs make them afrayed with sharpe and cruell threatnynges that they make from henceforth no mencion of Iesus name to no manne on lyue whether he be Iewe