Nume 28. and vppon other daies but one except in solempne feastes kalendes And that to declare that in festiual daies men shuld honor god more reuerently and aboundauntlye then other daies The man that was takē gathering of stickes vpon the Saboth day Nume 15. was by Goddes commaundemente stoned with stones of all the people Nehemias saw some treading wine presses 2. Esd. 13. and bringing of burthens to be solde vpon the Saboth day and he rebuked them as breakers of the Sabothe The gentiles which held with Antiochus appoynted to fighte vpon the Sabboth daies against certen Iewes that were fled out of Iewry 1. mach 2. but they casted not one stone at thē nor made faste theyr preuy places but said we will die all in oure innocencye But yet it is to be obserued and noted that notwythstandynge that in thys thing they shewed a Deuotyon towardes Goddes commaundemente yet inas much as they perceiued afterwardes that therby Gods people myghte be scattered and loste they toke better counsel sayinge What soeuer he be that cometh to make battell wyth vs vpon the saboth day we wil fight against him for why to fighte for the defēce of mans life or for the lawe of God is no seruile worke or labour Iudas Machaheus his companye fought against Nicanor his hoste 1. mach 7. slue 5000. men put the rest to flit◠But yet they followed not the chase because it was the day before the saboth Nicanor thought withal his power to strike a field vpon a Sabboth day Neuerthelesse the Iewes that were compelled to go with him 2. mach 15. said O do not so cruelly and vnkindlye but halow the Saboth daye The Pharisies saide vnto the Disciples that did plucke and eat the eares mat 12. of corne 1. regu 21. ye do that which is not law full to do vpon the Sabboth day But the Lorde saide vnto them haue ye not read what Dauid did c. Then followeth The sonne of manne is also LORDE euen of the Sabbothe daye We do read that oure sauioure dyd many miracles vppon the Sabbothe day Mat. 12. as it is manifest thorow oute all the Gospell and for that ther may be assigned thre causes Fyrste to shewe hym self to be the Lord. Mat. 12. The seconde to open the true vnderstanding of the precept and commaundement for mē oughte not to cease from all woorkes vpon the Saboth Luke 6. Whether is it lawful on the Sabboth dayes to do good or to do euel Luke 12. to saue ones lyfe or to destroy it The thyrde that he myghte edifye and profet all that sawe hym and hard him When Christe had healed the woman which was bowed together the ruler of the Sinagoge disdayned Luc. 13. because that he had healed on the Sabbothe daye and saide There are syxe daies in which men ought to worke in them come that ye maye be healed and not on the Sabboth day But the Lord answered hym and said Thou hipocrite doth not eche one of you on the Sabboth day lose his Oxe or hys Alfe from the stal and lead him to the water And ought not this doughter of Abraham whome Sathan hathe bound lo 18. yeares be loosed frō this bonde on the Sabboth day And when he thus sayd all his aduersaries were ashamed all the people reioysed on all the excellent deedes that wer done by him The holy women which had prepared swete odours Luke 23. to anoynt our lords body kept the sabboth day so strictly that on that they would not anoynte so precious and holy a bodye So they rested the Sabboth daye according to the commaundement Oure Lorde laye in the Sepulchre on the Sabboth daye Ihon. 1◠The Sabboth day was moste apte and conuenient to heare the worde lawe of God Act. 13. and the prophetes The whiche are read euery Sabooth day ¶ Of the reuerence that ought to be done exhibited to Gods Temple ca. xx OUR Lorde spake vnto Moyses saying Exo. 30. Thou shalt make a lauer of brasse to washe withall and putte water therin Aaron and hys sonnes shall washe their handes and theyr feete therin euen when they goe into the tabernacle of wytnesse Nume 4. It was lawfull but for a fewe to entre into the tabernacle or to touch the vessell 3. regu 6.7 Salomon was muche more dylygente and feruente in the edification and buyldynge of Goddes Temple then in buildynge of hys owne house For he accomplyshed Goddes house in seauen yeares and hys owne in thyrtene Yea he began soner to build the Temple than his owne house 3. regu 8. Salomon made greate solemnite in the buyldyng of the Temple 4. regu 11. Ioiada the byshoppe commaunded that Athalia shoulde be brought oute and not to be slayne in oure Lordes Temple Oure Lorde semed to haue greate cure and care for the Temple when that he commaunded Sirus the kyng of Percia Esd. 1. ca. 1. Esd. 45. to buylde hym an house at Ierusalem And it is vnderstanded of a materyall Temple As the texte dothe declare And Esaye declared the same two hundreth yeares before After that the Iewes were returned from the captyuite of Babilone they beganne to buylde the Temple 1. Esd. 3. or euer they edified or made the walles of the Citie notwythstandynge that they hadde manye ennemyes whome they feared bothe daye and nyghte Tobias is muche coōmended which wente to Ierusalem vnto the Temple of our Lord Tobi. 1. and ther worshypped and prayd vnto the Lorde After that they had optayned the vyctorye of theyr enemyes the which had defyled the Temple 1. Mach. 4. Iudas and hys brethren or euer they made any mention of theyr owne houses sayd beholde oure ennemyes are dyscomfyted Let vs nowe go vp to clense and to repayre the Sanctuary Kynge Demetrius ordayned that who soeuer fledde vnto the Temple at Ierusalem or within the liberties or coste thereof 1. Mach. 10 shoulde as thoughe they wer fallen into the kinges daunger for anye maner of busynesse be pardoned The Iewes goynge to make battayle agaynste Nicanors hoste 2. Mach. 15. hadde pryncipally more solycitude care and feare for the holye Temple then for theyr wyues chyldren brethren and kynsfolkes At the fortie dayes ende Our lorde woulde be broughte and offerd in the Temple Luke 2. And when he was twelue yeares olde Luke 2. he was founde disputing in the Temple Afterwardes he droue oftentymes the byers and sellers out of the Temple Ihon. 2. Luke 19. And manye times he taughte and did miracles in the Temple Oure Lord doth reproue the Pharises whiche sayde that the golde of the Temple was more holy Mat. 23. than the Temple After that the Apostles had receyued the holye ghoste Peter and Iohn went vp into the Temple Act. 3. at the nine houre of prayer And euen then was the fyrste myracle of healthe shewed
and proue man xiiii That maÌ„ should not teÌ„pt god xv Of vowes xvi Of prayer xvii Of wepyng and wayling xviii Of swearing xix Of the obseruation kepynge of the saboth day xx Of the reuerence that oughte to bee done and exhibyted to Gods temple xxi Of the adoration and worshippyng of God xxii Of Idolatry xxiii Of blasphemy againste God xxiiii Of Gods preceptes and commaundementes and of the obseruation keping of theÌ„ xxv Of obedience disobedyence xxvi Of holy scripture xxvii Of good exhortation and predication of the word of God xxviii Of euel counsels perswasioÌ„s xxix Of hearing the word of God xxx Of apparicions and vysyons shewed in the old time xxxi Of good angels xxxii Of euil sprites xxxiii Of the immortality of the reasonable soule xxxiiii Of the faith that man shoulde haue vnto God xxxv Of the fidelity that oughte to be kept to man xxxvi Of quietnesse and illustration of the mynde xxxvii Of longanimity xxxviii Of the feare of God xxxix Of feare where wyth the euel fear those that be good xl Of the loue of God xli Of the loue that man ought to haue to hys neighbor xlii Of enuy xliii Of brotherly reprehention xliiii Of the compassyon that man should haue to his neighbor xlv Of hospitality xlvi Of amity and loue xlvii Of enmity and hatred xlviii Of peace and concord xlix Of vnity and common conseÌ„t l. Of discord strife and debate li. Of good zeale against sinners lii Of vndyscreate zeale liii Of prudency and dyscretion liiii Of deceyt and subtelty lv Of the erudytyon of chyldren lvi That it is a pearillous thyng not to agre to good counsel lvii Of suspition and falscredulity lviii That holy and good men suffer certaine thinges to be done but not gladly lix Of iustice and equity lx Of the good and euell iudgementes of men lxi Of penaunâ—e lxii Of the honor of parents lxiii Of thankes geuing for the benefites of God lxiiii Of gratitude for the benefites of man accepted lxv Of ingratitude lxvi That truth engendreth hatred lxvii Of lies and leasyuges lxviii Of treason lxix Of adulatyon and flatery lxx Of derysyon and contumelyous reprofe lxxi Of detractors euil speakers lxxii Of liberaliti merci 〈…〉 lxxiii Of couetusnes lxxiiii Of pouertye lxxv Of hipocrisie dissimulatioâ— lxxvi Of the receate of gyftes aâ—â— rewardes lxxvii Of fortitude and. lxxviii Of coÌ„fidence magnanimity lxxix Of pacience and mekenes in Iniuris and tormentes lxxx Of constancy continuaunce in purposes lxxxi Of bodely warre victorye most commenly obtayned lxxxii Of impacience murmuring lxxxiii Of pusillanimitye lxxxiiii Of fortitude and strengthe to do euyll lxxxv Of murther lxxxvi Of diuers slaughters o men lxxxvii Of abstinens and sobrietye lxxxviii Of gluttonye dronkennesse lxxxix Of matrimony lxxxx Of chastity xci Of luxuriusnes incoÌ„tinency xcii Of vnwyse lookes xciii Of silence and clatterynge xciiii Of carnall affection cxv Of the ire and anger of man thrugh zele and loue xcvi Of the anger of man through vice xcvii Of humilitye xcviii Of pride xcix Of vayne hosting crakinge C Of elections Ci. Of good prynces prelates Cii Of euyll prynces prelates Ciii Of ambitious persons Ciiii. Of the deuels temptation Cv. Of sinne in generall of dyuers paines whiche folow sin Cvi Of confessyon of synnes Cvii Of the hardnesse and obstinacye of the wycked Cviii. Of the peruersity of certen meÌ„ Cix Of the wyckednes of tirantes Cx. Of the oppression of the good by the euyll Cxi Of tribulation and vtility c Cxii Of the multitude of euyl men Cxiii Of good men whych lurked wer as vnknown amoÌ„g the euil Cxiiii Of the nobility inconstancy of the people Cxv. Of good operations workes Cxvi Of mans intention in doyng of hys workes Cxvii Of slothfulnes and negligeÌ„ce Cxviii Of the good towardnesse of chyldren Cxix Of the societye and felowshyp of good men Cxx. Of the societye and felowshyp of euell men Cxxi Of good prosperity Cxxii Of worldly curyosyty Cxxiii Of the great faith of wemen Cxxiiii Of the wisedome of wemen Cxxv. Of the pietye compassion of of wemen Cxxvi. Of the fortitude and strength of wemen Cxxvii Of the auidity gredynesse of wemen cxxviii Of the deceytfulnes of wemen Cxxix Of the folyshe and vndiscreate communication of wemen Cxxx. Of the superfluous ornaments and rayment of wemen Cxxxi Of death in generall Cxxxii. Of sepultures and buryals cxxxiii Of the horrible death and c cxxxiiii Of the pretious death of c. Imprinted at London by Ihon Tisoale dwelling in Knyght Riders streat Cum priuilegio ad imprimendum solum Of Miracles shewed by the deuine power of God ¶ The first Chapter THe creatyon of thynges was so meruelous that the knowledge thereof coulde not come to man but by reuelation For after the minde of S. Gregory Greg. super zac homeli 1. Moses prophecied of those thinges that wer past saying In the beginninge God created heauen and earth Genesis 1. Nor that because he forspoke the thinges that were to come but because he disclosed those thinges that were seacreat At the time of Noyes floude Gene. 6.7 oure Lord saued Noah his wife his three sonnes with their wiues and in the Arke he saued the male the female of all other beastes Our Lord repressed the presumpteousnesse of men Gene. 11. that would builde a tower vnto heauen confoundinge their language Genesis 22 Isaac was wonderfully born and wonderfully deliuered when that he the ram being caught by the hornes in a thicket shoulde haue bene offred vp for a sacrifice Exod. 7.8.9 and .10 It is euidente and playne inoughe how many miracles our Lord shewed by Moyses when he broughte the Children of Israel out of Egipt Exodus 13. It was a greate miracle that the Pyllare of the cloude departed not from the Children of Israell goynge oute of Egipte towardes the land of promesse neither by daye nor yet by nighte Exodus 14 It was a terrible and a Myracle worthye to be spoken of that the red sea was deuided and so dried vp that the children of Israel went ouer drye footed and the Egyptyans ouerwhelmed in the myddest of the sluds Exodus 15 By the woode or tree shewed vnto Moyses the waters were made sweete Numer 11. Oure Lorde sente quailes to the murmuring people Nume 20. and afterwards it rained Manna for them to eat and oute of the rocke he sent them water plenteously to drincke Our Lorde sent fleshe to the chyldren of Israel Numer 20 the whiche in the wildernes murmured and desired to eat flesh euen aboundauntly Through thoccasion of Chore and his fellowes sedition Nu. 16.17 many miracles chaunced and was shewed The people wer smitten or stinged with fiery serpentes Numer 21. and loking vpon the serpente of brasse they were cured and healed Our Lorde led the children of Israell in the wildernesse fortye
were fainte and weary of their iourny and laboure And they said wherfore hast thou brought vs out of Egipt Acham the sonne of Charmi pearished with all that euer he had Iosu. 7. because he tooke of the excommunycate thinges of Iericho For the crime committed agaynste the Leuites wife Iudi. 20. the whole trybe of Beniamin excepte sixe hundreth men pearished by Goddes Commaundemente Hely corrected hys Children that hadde trespassed but meanelye 1. regum 2. and therefore he was punyshed for them and wyth theym What shal we then saye of those that do not correct their children but intice them to euil both by word and dede 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For as muche as Saule dyd offer burnt at sacrifice contrary vnto Samuels commaundemente he was reproued And likewise because he reserued kynge Agag 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Amalech and hys shepe and oxen For Saules offences they of hys owne house and familye were punyshed euen after his deathe 2. regu 21. and because of them there fell a great hunger in the land As Dauid was bringing our Lordes Arke vppon a carte 2. regum 6. Oza put hys hand to the Arke and helde it 1. para 13. for the Oxen beinge a litle wilde stombled and our Lord smote him for his fault and ther he died For the elation and pride of Dauid causynge hys people to be nombred 2. regu 24. there dyed two and seuenty thousand men The manne of GOD that came out of Iewrye 3. reg 13. and declared vnto Ieroboas the successe of the office of hys priestes was slaine with a Lion because that he contrary to Gods commaundemente did eate breade in the house of a certen prophet There were two and forty children deuoured of two beares 4. reg 2. because they mocked Elizeus saying Go vp thou bald head If Echezis sinne be so greuouslye punished 4. reg 45. because he tooke giftes and rewardes of Naaman geuen him with good will what shall be said of those that eract many thynges fradulently or extort them violentlye Ozia king of Iewry tooke the censar and woulde haue burnt insence like as the priestes were wont to do â— para 20. and by and by the leprosy sprange in his forehead For as muche as Ezechias shewed the messengers of the kinge of Babilon al his treasures 4. reg 20. he lost them and yet they came out of farre countries and as it semed they should haue ben muche made of ioyfullye receiued Our Lorde deliuered his peculiare and well beloued people into Nabuâ—hodonosors handes 4. reg â—0 the whiche dyd captiâ—ate the people most cruelli burnt the holy city destroied the Temple Because the daughters of Sion are become proude c. In steade of good smell there shal be stinke among theÌ„ and thy goodly and mighty men 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shal hearith with the swâ—â—â—de in battaile The kinges of Babilon cruelly entreated the children of Israel afterwardes they them selues also with their noble city wer destroied Esa. 14. euen as our Lorde threatned Io. 30.51 Heliodorus was greuouslye scourged because he was willinge to conuey away the stuffe and goodes of widowes and peoples committed to the priestes custody 2. Mach. 3. King Antiochus was smitteÌ„ wyth so greuous a plage that the wormes scrauld oute of his wicked bodye and his hoaâ—t was greued with the smell 2. Mach. 9. and stinke of him Our Lord being wroth deliuered the vngracious seruant Mat. 18. the which wold not forgeue his fellow the C. pence to the saylers vntill he had paid all the was due vnto him Our Lord commaunded the vnprofitable Mat. 25. seruaunt that would not study to multiplye the Talent deliuered vnto him to be depriued of that he had to be caste into vtter darknes That fraud and guile that Ananias coÌ„mitted act 5. his wife Saphira knowing of the same was sore punished Herode arayed with royall apparel set him in his seate and made an oratioÌ„ vnto the people Actes 12. the which lifting vp their voices saide It is the voyce of a God and not of a man And immediately the aungell of oure Lorde smote him because he gaue not God the honoure and he was eaten wyth wormes and gaue vp the ghost ¶ Of the anger and fury of God NOte and take hede that the anger of God De ciuitate dei Lib. 15 Capitu. 25. after the mind of S. Augustine is not the perturbation or motyon of his minde but his iudgement by the whiche paine is appoynted to synne his cogytatyon and recogytation of thynges mutable is hys immutable reason and iudgemente Nor GOD dothe not so repente hym of hys dede as the yrefull manne dothe whose sentence of all thinges is as fixed and stedfast as his prescience foreknowledge is certaine But if Scrypture vse no such wordes yet it doth not insinuate it selfe familiarly to all kynde of menne vnto whome he woulde it shoulde be knowen and that to feare the proud sturre vp the negligente exercise those that inquire and seeke and nourishe those that vnderstande the whiche thinge he woulde not do if hys wyll were not fyrste to bowe and incline him self and as it were to descend and come down to those whiche are weake and feble Our Lord was angry with Moses Exo. 4. that so oftentimes he refused to take vpon him the gouernaunce and leading of the people God commanding the same Our Lord was angry with the Egiptians that kepte Exo. 15. and afflicted hys people and woulde haue persecuted them goynge theyr wayes Then it followeth Thou haste sente thy anger Moses prayed vnto oure Lord saying Exo. 32. why doth thy wrath O lord waxe hote against thy people For the calfe made of molten metal to the whyche they offered burnt offeringes By the occasion of Corah sedition and his companions Nume 16. Moses and Aaron said vnto our Lord. O most mighty God of the sprites if one man hath sinned wilt thou be wroth and angri with all the multitude The people both sittinge and wepinge were muche desirous of fleshe Nume 11. Then it followeth The fury of oure Lorde was prouoked vnto wrath exceadinglye Al the multitude of the children of Israell murmured against our Lord Nume 16. Moses and Aaron sayinge ye haue killed the people of our Lorde Then there foloweth There is wrath gone oute from oure Lorde and the plage waxeth fearce and cruell The people beganne to commytte whoredome with the Doughters of Moab Nume 25. It followeth And oure Lorde beynge angry said vnto Moses Take al the heads of the people and hange them Because of Moses vnbelefe doutfulnesse at the water of stryfe Nume 20. Oure Lorde was wrothe with him as it is wrytten Our Lord was angry with me Moses for your sakes and said vnto me Deu. 1. Thou shalt not go in thither that is into the land of promise Beware
and commaundemeÌ„tes of the obseruation and kepinge of them ca. xxiiii OUr Lorde gaue vnto our fyrst parent Adam a lyte and a easy coÌ„maundement to be fulfilled Gen. 2. Saying Thou shalt eat of euery tree of the garden but as touching the tre of knowledge of good and euyll thou shalt not eate of it But he kepte this coÌ„maundement but euyl and therfore he fel into a great and greuous paine and punyshement Notwithstanding the commaundementes seme at some tymes to bee of lyte slender maters Gen. 2. yet they oughte and with no small diligence to be obserued in asmuch as the transgressors are greuously punished For our Lorde sayde vnto Adam In what day or houre soeuer thou eatest of the tree of knowledge of good and euel thou shalt dye the death Noe dyd euery thynge euen as the Lord commaunded him Gen. 7. When the people of Israel should receyue the Commaundementes of God Exo. 19. they were commaunded to bee sanctyfyed Goe vnto the people and sanctyfy them to day and to morowe And therfore he commaunded the chyldren of Israell to make them gardes of yellow sylke in the quarters of theyr garments Nume 15. to haue a contynual remeÌ„brance of the celestyal coÌ„mandemeÌ„ts Oure Lorde when he made Iosue ruler ouer hys people Iosu. 1. gaue hym a specyall monytyon of the medytatyon and obseruatyon of hys lawe and commaundementes Balaam the sorcerer sayde vnto Balach the kyng Nume 23. Tolde not I thee saying Al that the Lord commaundeth that must I do Beholde nowe what reuerence thys euyl man had to gods commaundement Iosua omytted nor mynyshed no word of all that our lord coÌ„maunded Iosu. 11. Saule the whych was specyallye chosen 1. regu 15. was vtterly reiected and caste away for the trangressyon and breakyng of Gods commaundement Dauid instructynge and teaching Salomon hys son 1. Para. 22. the whych shoulde raygne after hym sayde Then thou shalt prosper when thou fulfillest the statutes and lawes whych our Lord gaue to Moses After the ordynaunce of Ioiada the byshoppe 2. Para. 23. they brought oute the kynges sonne and put vpon him the crown and gaue hym in hys hande the lawe that was to be kepte and made hym kynge Syrus kynge of Persia and Monarch of all the worlde 1. Esd. 1. was not ashamed to saye Oure Lorde God of heauen and earth hath commaunded mee to buylde hym a house at Ierusalem Our Lord eueÌ„ complaining doth say The commaundements of Ionadab the sonne of Recchab the whych he commaunded his children to kepe and that they should drincke no wine preuailed and were better kepte then mine Iere. 35. For they obeyed theyr fathers commaundement I haue spokeÌ„ vnto you and yet haue ye not bene obedyent vnto me Susanna putting her life and good name in pearell and daunger Dani. â—3 iudged it better to fal into the hands of man then to forsake and leaue the lawes of God Ther were two wemen accused to haue circumcysed theyr sonnes 2. Mach. 6. whoÌ„e when they had led rounde aboute the city the babes hanging at their brestes they cast them down headlinges ouer the wals Eleazar an aged maÌ„ sustayned greuous pains of the body 2. Mach. 6. and at length he was put to deathe because that he against the law of god wold nother eat swines flesh nor yet fain or dissemble that he had eaten it For the law of god the vii brethren with their mother suffred greuous intollerable pains vnder Antiochus 2. Mach. 7. Other creatures that obey the lord do induce vs to obserue his commandementes 2. regu 24. of good aungels ther is no doubt the which are his mynysters doynge hys wyll and hys worde Of euell angels 1. Para. 21. He commaunded the euell sprite to go oute of the man Luke 8. He commaunded the Rauens to fede Helias and they did so 3. regu 17. And the Psalme doth say generallye He hathe geuen them a law which shal not be brokeÌ„ Fire and haile Psal. 148. snow and Ise winde and storme fulfyll his word Iob. 9. He commaundeth the Sunne and it ryseth not The parentes of Ihon the Baptist walcked so in all the lawe Luke 1. ordinaunces and iustyfications of oure Lorde that no manne could fynde faut wyth them Our Lord answered the yong maÌ„ that axst him Mat. 19. what good he should do to haue euerlastinge life sayinge If thou wilte enter into life keepe the commaundementes ¶ Of obedience and disobedience Ca. xxv GOD willing that man beyng in the state of innocency should liue vnder obedience Gen. 2.3 bounde him wyth preceptes and lawes and punished him right sore and greuously liuing disobedyently Noe spedely obeyed our Lord in althinges that he Gen. 7. at the instant time of the floud commaunded him Notwithstanding that Gods commaundement of the circumcisioÌ„ was a greuous and an vnwont thing Gen. 17. yet Abraham made no procrastinatyon nor no delay to fulfill and accomplish the same For euen in the self same day that god coÌ„mauÌ„ded it he fulfilled it Abraham without any stop or delay offred vp his only soÌ„ne in a sacrifice Gen. 22. Beholde and consider his meruelous and wonderfull obedyence Ioseph did spedely obey his father that sent him to his brethren Gen. 37. although he had accused them wher vpon he and not without a cause might a feared to haue gone vnto them Moses obeyed our Lorde that made Exo. 3.4 him the capitayne and guyde of hys people But marke yet wyth what difficultye For he excused hym selfe fiue times The children of Israell promysed greate obedience Exo. 24. saying Al the wordes whiche oure LORDE hathe sayde wyll we doe But yet afterwardes they did the contrary in their deedes The children of Israell walkyng in the wlldernes at Gods commaundement pitched their tentes Nume 9. and at hys coÌ„maundement they toke theÌ„ downe Also the children of Israell were afraid to ascende and to go vp into the land of promise Nume 14. when God commanded them but wheÌ„ God forbad them they stroue to goe vp but it was to their paine Manye of the chyldren of Israell that went to warre againste the commaundement of God and Moses Nume 14. Nume 31. wer ouerthrown of a fewe but whan they foughte by obedience and commaundement a few ouerthrew a multitude and wan the victory In as much as Achan transgrest the commaundemente of Iosua the people wer ouercome in battaile Iosu. 7. and all Israell stoned him with stones 1. regu 13. Saule offeringe burnte sacrifyce againste the commaundemente of Samuel was reproued And likewise because he spared Agag the king of the Amalakites and theyr sheepe and other pretious chefest of their goods which shuld haue bene destroied 1. regu 15. and then Samuel saide vnto him Better is obedience then sacrifice Althoughe Dauid was annoynted king by Samuel 1. regu 17.
yet he obeied hys father sending him with vitayles vnto his brethrē notwithstanding he was elected chosen aboue al his brethrē Our lord foretold Salomon 3. regu 9. that if he wold do fulfil al thinges that he had cōmaunded him to do that thē he wold stablish the throne of his kingdōe in Ierusalē for euer But if he turned away 2. Para. 7. wold not kepe his preceptes and commaundementes that than he wold wede Israel out of the lād for euer 3. regu 20. Obedience at some times is also cōmended in such thinges as seme to be commaunded withoute any reason therfore a Lion slue him that beynge commaunded wold not smite one of the Prophets children The man of god that foretold Ieroboas the destructiō of his aultar 3. regu 13. was killed and slain by a Lion because the contrary to Gods commaundemente he did eat bread drynke water in an other prophets house When that Naaman disdaining the prophet Elizeus commaundemēt 4. regu 5. departed from him with displesure hys seruants said vnto him father if the prophet had bidden the do som great thing surely thou shuldst haue don it Toby the yonger after he had hard his fathers exhortations Tobi. 5. answered said father al that thou hast cōmaunded me wil I do and diligently Whatsoeuer Mardocheus cōmaunded that did Esther obserue keepe Esth. 2. did all thinges so euen as she was wont to do when she was yonge and vnder hys gouernaunce The Recabites are much commended of our Lord because that they wold drinke no wine Iere. 35. obeying folowyng their fathers commaundemente saying ye shal drinke no wine Ionas 1.2.3 Ionas did refuse vn wiselye to obey our Lord commaundinge him to go and preach at Niniue but comminge backe againe He came to the place that God sent him 1. Mach. 2. Mathathias saide vnto Antiochus messenger Though all nations obey the king yet I and my sonnes wil obey the lawes of our fathers 2. Mach. 7. One of the seuen brethren said we are ready rather to suffer death then to offende the lawes of God and the fathers And the childe Iesus went downe wyth Mary and Ioseph LuKe. 2. and came to Nazareth and was subiect and obedient vnto them Mat. 4. Those Apostles did spedelye perfectly obey the which being called of our lord straight way left the nets folowed him Luke 5. Likewise Mathew lefte all and followed him Mat. 21. Of those that obey in word not in dede or in dede more than in worde Our lord putteth an example of two sonnes of the which two th one said that he woulde go into hys fathers vyneyarde and woorke and wente not The other sayde I wyll not and wente Our Lord doth commaund vs to obey euē those prelates that bear rule Mat. 23. They shall sit in Moses seate what so euer they bid you obserue that obserue and do Our sauiour and lord of the lawe Luke 2. would obey the law in circumcisyon Mat. 26. and oblatyons made in the Temple and also in eatynge of the Paschall Lambe The Apostle dothe put vs an ensample of obedyence in our sauyour Philip. 2. sayinge hee became obedyente vnto deathe whome he also declareth the frute of obedyence Then there followeth Wherefore God hath exaulted him c. The chefest of the priestes threatned and commaunded Peter and Act. 4. Ihon that they shoulde speake nor teache no more in the name of Iesu. They answered and said whether it bee righte to harken vnto you more then to God Act. 4. iudge you For we can not but speake that whiche we haue sene and hard And afterwards when the Apostles were reproued agayn of the hye prestes because they had not obserued theyr Commaundemente Peter and the other Apostles aunswered Act. 5. we ought more to obey God then men Saule lyinge prostrate vppon the earthe Act. 9. and hearynge Iesus of Nazareths wordes saide euen promptlye Lord what wilt thou haue me to do Cornelius said vnto Peter Nowe are we al here in thy presence Act. 10. readye to here al thinges that are commaunded vnto the of God Paule chose Silas to be hys felow and wente throughe Siria and Cilicia Act. 15. stablyshynge the congregatyon and Commaundynge to keepe the Preceptes of the Apostles and Elders ¶ Of holy scripture Ca. xxvi WE oughte to haue greate reuerence vnto holye scrypture Exo. 31. the which God hym self did wryte deliuer and teach Moses retourned from the Mounte bearing two tables written with the finger of God Exo. 31. Our Lord Iesus doth say that he was sent to Euangelice and preach mat 10. and he sent forthe his disciples to doe the same If it may be said then that the olde law was geuen Moses by god by the meanes of angelles as saythe the Apostle and S. Steuen doth testify the same Act. 7. Ye haue saithe he the lawe of God by the ministration of aungels The reast of the old Testament was geuen by the inspiratyon of the holy Ghoste as saith S. Peter The scripture came neuer by the wyll of man 2. Pet. 1. But holy men of God spake as they were moued by the holy ghoste The new Testamēt doth contain the wordes dedes of the Lord Iesu Christe in the Gospelles the woordes of the Apostels in the Epystels and in the Apocalipses the deades of the Apostles in the actes Christ very God and man spake parte of the Gospell by him selfe and the holye ghost and by him other wordes the whiche the Apostles the Euangelistes by him instructed did speake They wer all filled with the holy ghoste Act. 2. and began to speake with diuers other tongues A wise man seketh out the wisdom of them of the olde tyme exercyseth him selfe in the prophetes Eccle. 39. As though he would saye A wyse man must exquire and seke the wysdome of wyse men but specially he must giue his diligēce to the scriptures of the prophets Notwithstandynge that Ionathas the hie priest the elders of the Iewes were occupied in maters of warre 1. Mach. 2. yet they were vnto the Spartianes vndre this maner But as for vs we reade no such mater for why we haue the holy boke of scripture in our handes to our comfort And our Lord answering by scripture defēded his disciples against the Pharises Haue ye not read quoth he what Dauid did when he was an hōgred Mat. 12. Oure sauiour being tempted of the deuyll Mat. 4. answered by scriptures and by the auctoryte of scripture confounded him And he sayde that the scripture was fulfylled at his comminge This daye is this scripture fulfylled in your eares LuKe. 4. Oure Lorde gaue greate auctoryte to the olde Testament when he sayd Tyll heauen and earth passe Mat. 5. one iote or one tytle of the law shal not
excepted the whiâ—he by Ochozias syster was taken away by stealth Sellum the sonne of Iabes conspired against Zacharias the king of Israel his master 4. regu 15 and slue him and he raigned a month in Samaria Nabuchodonozor the kynge of the Assirians Iudith 3. called vnto him hys Captains and men of war and told them hys thoughte and that hys purpose was to bryng the hole earthe vnder his dominion Ambitious and proud menne are more troubled with a few that excell them Esther 5. or that wil not obey them then they reioyce of many that followe theÌ„ and obey them For proud Aman the which was next vnto the kyng had many children and greate richesse estemed hym self to haue nothynge as longe as he sawe Mardocheus before the kinges gate When Seron hard say that Iudas had gathered the congregatyon and church of the faythful 1. macha 3. he sayd I wyl get me a name and a prayse thorowe out all the realme And I will fyghte and ouercome Iudas And yet Iudas sone ouercame him Alchinus that wold haue bene hye priest 1. Mac. 7 and other wicked and vngodly men of Israel came to king Demetrius saying vnto him Iudas and hys brethren haue slain and destroied thy frendes and hathe dryuen vs oute of our owne land Ptolomeus the king of Egipt weÌ„t about through disceit to obtaine and destroy Alexanders kingdom 1. macha 11 And at leÌ„gth Alexander being ouerthrowne and chased into Araby he obtaind it And zabdiel the Arabian smote of Alexanders head And sent it vnto Ptolomy the which had but litle ioy ther of For the third day after dyed kyng Ptolomy him self Ptolomy the sonne of Abobus had aboundaunce of siluer and gold 1. Mach. 16. and waxed proud and stately in his mind and thoughte to conquere the lande And by that occasyon traiterously he slue Simon the hie Priest and hys two sonnes Iason aboue all other coueted most ambitiouslye to be the hie priest And for that he came to kinge Antiochus the noble and promised him 360. talentes of Syluer And manye other thinges 2. macha 4 whych when the kynge had graunted him he had the vse therof but for a small time For Menelaus whome he sent to Antiochus gat the priesthode and was sone discharged therof and his brother Lysimachus came and was placed in hys stead When Simon saw that throughe laying on of the Apostles handes Act. 8. the holy ghost was geuen he offred them mony saying Geue me also thys power that on whom so euer I put my haÌ„des he may receiue that holy gost But Peter said vnto him Thy mony pearish with thee ¶ Of the deuels temptation Ca. Ciiii. THe serpent being crafty to teÌ„pt ye the deuel in the serpent approched the feblest part of maÌ„kinde and the most prompest to sinne for hee tempted not Adam firste Gene. 3. but Eue. And began searchynge a far of for he counseld them not euen sodenly to eate of the forbidden frute And he denyed that there should follow any paine for the transgressyon of the commaundemente Yea he affyrmde that great goodnesse shoulde followe that only eating of the apple The lying spirite doth oftentimes lie in his temptation Gene. 3. for he sayd vnto Eue ye shall not dye the deathe And he sayde vnto our Sauior when he shewed hym all the kyngdomes of the worlde Luc. 4. They are deliuered vnto me and to whome I wil I geue theÌ„ And furthermore he alledgeth holye scripture peruersly and falsly saying vnto the LORDE of aungelles He hathe geuen hys aungels charge ouer thee Math. 4. And Sathan stode vp agaynste Israel and prouoked Dauid to nombre Israel 1. Para. 21. Sathan required of our Lord that Iob might be touched in hys goodes Iob. 1.2 children and body Wherin maye be noted the subtelty malignity infirmity of our ennemy It is not expedient to dysclose our temptations to any such man whom we beleue to haue bene tempted with like sinne But rather to some dyscreat and holy man that would comfort vs in goodnesse Wherfore wheÌ„ the two old men did reuele and open their concupiscence one to a nother Dani. 23. they were prouoked to that that was worse The Lordes temptation doth teach vs to ouercome al kyndes of temptation Luc. 4. He was tempted in thre things vnto the which all other temptatioÌ„s may be reduced And note that he ouercame not temptation by power but by scripture Our Lord his passion beyng euen at hand Luc. 22. said to Simon Peter SathaÌ„ hathe desired to sifte you as it were wheat But I haue prayed for thee that thy Faithe faile not And when thou art conuerted strength thy brethren Luc. 13. The deuil put into the hart of Iudas to betray our Lord Iesus Christ. Peter said to Ananias Act. 5. howe is it the Sathan hathe filled thine harte that thou shouldest lie vnto the holy ghost and keepe away parte of the pryce of the land ¶ Of synne in generall and of diuers paines which follow sinne Ca. Cv. THat sinne doth cause shamfastnesse in man it is euident for when our first parentes in the state of innocencye were bare Gene. 3. they were not ashamed but after they had trespassed by and by they made them selues aprons Sinne dothe defame a sinner And therfore Adam after that he had trespassed Gene. 3. thought to haue hid him selfe from the presence of our Lord. Sin likewise maketh a man fearful for after the Adam had sinned Gene. 3. he sayd I was afraide because I was naked and hid my self The enormity of sinne dothe crye to the eares of our Lord for veÌ„gance Gene. 4. As the voyce of thy brothers bloude And in a nother place The cry of the Sodomites At some tymes our Lord dothe punyshe synne wyth temporal payne and punyshmente As it is euydent in Adam and Eue. Ge. 3.4.19 In Cain In the Sodomytes And often in the chyldren of Israell And Christ sayd Synne no more Ihon. 5. least a worse thynge happen vnto thee Pharao knowledged and confest that he was scourged and punished of our Lord for synne Exo. 10. saying I haue sinned against our Lord and agaynst you The children of Israel did euyll in the syght of our Lord. And oure Lord was angry Iudith 2. deliuered them into the handes of raueners that toke spoyled them and sold them into the haÌ„ds of theyr enemyes Synne doth not suffer the sinner to be in quiet 2. reg 24. For Dauids harte smote hym after that he hadde nombred the people Eccle. 47. Synne did infatuate Salomon the wyse and stayned hys honoure and worshyp After that Ioram the kinge of Iuda began to walk in the wicked wais and steps of the kinges of Israell 4. reg 8. Edom went from him wold not pay hym the accustomed tribute The chyldren of Israell left the coÌ„maundements of
God 4. reg 17. and made theÌ„ Gods of metal serued Baal There foloweth Israel was translated caried away out of theyr owne land The word of God was against Iuda to put him out of hys sight 4. reg 24. for the sinnes of Manassesâ— the which he had commytted and for the innocent blud that he shed Ierusalem and all the cityes of Iuda are desolate Iere. 44. and no man dwelling in theÌ„ because of theyr greate malice and sinne which they commytted to prouoke me to anger No that they had any cause to do so but vpon a custom The burden and grefe of sinne is so great that Ieremy dothe saye That our Lord might no longer suffer Iere. 44. because of the malitiousnesse and inueÌ„tions of your studyes MaÌ„ through sin is febleshed IerusaleÌ„ sinned and therfore it was made vnstable 3. regu 11. yea and Salomous seruaunte was so bolde as to rise agaynste hys Lord after he had trespassed After that our Lord had healed the manne that lay sicke in his bedde Ihon. 5. he founde hym in the temple and sayde vnto hym Beholde thou arte made whole Sinne no more least a worse thing happen vnto thee Our lord said vnto the womaÌ„ that was apprehended in aduoutrye Iohn 8. and accused of the Iewes before him Go and synne no more ¶ Of confession of sinnes Capi. Cvi OUr lord monished Adam after he had sinned to knowledge to confesse his faut but he in a manner reiected and laide his faut to God and to the woman Gene. 3. the woman to the serpent And said The woman whom thou gauest to be my felow c. And the woman said yonder serpent begiled me and I did eat Cain did knowledge his faute Gen. 4 sayinge My iniquitye is more then that it maye be forgeuen Pharao saied I haue synned against God and you Exodi 9. And again I haue now synned oure Lorde is righteous and I and my people are vngodly Saule sayed 1. regu 26. I haue synned I haue playde the foole and haue erred excedynglye And Iudas sayed Mat. 27. I haue synned betrayinge the innocent bloud And yet none of all these obtayned forgeuenesse because thei spake it not with a true harte Dauid spake the lyke wordes with an humble lowlye harte 2. regu 12. and deserued to heare our Lord hath put away thy synne The people beyng afflycted and stonge wyth fyerye serpentes Nume 21. came to Moses and sayed we haue synned for we haue spoken agaynst our lord and agaynst the. The children of Israell were vehemently and sore oppressed by the Philistines and the children of Amnon And they sayed vnto oure Lorde we haue sinned Iudi. 10. do thou vnto vs what soeuer please thee deliuer vs only this day Dauid beynge reprehended of Nathan the prophet for hys excesse and synne committed agaynst Urias and his wyfe 2. regu 12. did humblye recognise and confesse his faute Dauid when he had nombred hys people 2. reg 24. did so humblye and mekely recognise his faute that he offerd him selfe to be punished in stede and place of the innocent people 2. Esd. 1. Nehemias saied I knowledge and confesse for the synnes of the children of Israel which we haue sinned against the And I my fathers house haue synned haue bene vaynly seduced Tobi. 3. Although Tobias feared God euen from his infancye and obserued his preceptes and coÌ„maundementes yet he most humbly confessinge saied we haue not done accordinge to thy commaundements neyther haue we walked innocently before thee Daniels three felowes which lyued so holyly among the Chaldes Dani. 3. and foâ— whose sake our Lord shewed so great a miracle in the fornace neuer murmurd against our Lorde asthoughe they had sufferd suche thinges iustly But Azarias sayed we haue synned we haue offended and done wickedlye And Daniel in his prayer to God confessed his synnes Dani. 9. and the peoples sayinge We haue synned we haue offended we haue done wyckedly The syxte of those seuen brethren whyche beganne to dye 2. Mach. 7. sayed We suffer these thynges for oure owne sakes for we haue synned against our Lorde God There came to Iohn Baptyst all Iewrye Mat. 5. and all the regyon rounde aboute Iordane confessynge theyr synnes As Paule was preachinge in Asia Act. 19. many that beleued came and confessed and shewed theyr woorkes ¶ Of the hardnesse and obstinacye of the wicked Capitu. Cvii CAin after that our Lorde hadde reproued him was worsse Gen. 4. and slew his brother The harte of Pharao neyther by fayre wordes Exo. 5.6.7 8.9 which Moses spake froÌ„ our lorde nor yet by dure and sharpe punishemente coulde be mollified Oure Lorde dothe call the chyldren of Israel Exo. 32. a styfnecked people as it appeareth in diuers places in Leuitici 1. regu 2. Hely corrected his chyldren wyth woordes but it profyted theym but a little Samuell foretoulde the people the sore and greuous conditions of their kynge i. regu 8. and that it dyspleased oure Lorde And yet they would not leaue of theyr purpose Saule neyther by Ionathas wordes nor yet by the benefytes whyche he receyued of Dauid 1. regu 18. coulde be prouoked or induced to loue Dauid 1. regu 25. It is sayed of Nabal that he was harde very euyll and malitious â—saell persecuted Abner but to obstinatlye 2. reg 2. Oure Lorde sente prophets to the men of Iuda 2. Para. 24. that thei should returne vnto him But they would not heare of it Ye they kilde zacharia the sonne of Ioiada most cruelly because he rebuked them Hezechias the kinge of Iuda sente messengers through oute all Israel 2. Para. 30. sayinge But ye not styfnecked like as wer your fathers theÌ„ foloweth that they laughed theÌ„ to scorne mocked them Their hartes were very hard that came to take our lorde Luc. 22. that which when that he with a worde had smitten them prostrate to the earth Iohn 18. had healed the seruauÌ„tes eare that was smitteÌ„ cut of wer not moued to mercy neither by the manifestatioÌ„ of the miracle nor yet bi the mekenesse or gentlenes of the benefite Saint Steuen rebuking the Iewes vehementlye and sharpely Act. 7. sayed O ye styfnecked of vncircuÌ„cised hartes eares ye haue alwaies resisted the holy ghost as your fathers did so do ye ¶ Of the peruersity of certayne menne Capitu. Cviii. THe fyrst woman peruerted the ordre of nature Gen. 3. when she gaue her husbande of the frute that was forbiden and he eate it when that the man ought rather to haue taught the woman what she shuld haue eaten or what she shoulde haue a voyded The lord enrychd the Hebrues with the spoyles of the Egyptians althoughe there bee many nowe as vsurers and such lyke Exo. 12. the whyche enryche the Egiptians wyth the spoyle of the