springeth and the feare of the LORDE For as the one is the begynnynge of wisdome â–ª so is the other of helth Euse. I pray God we may so knowe our selues that we may deserue to haue this moost excellent vertu engraffed in our brestes Phil. Neyghbours one worde wyth you than an ende of this your fyrst flour Remember that your floure is called Vnfayned humilite bycause ye may not outwardely pretend humilite and inwardely be inflated wythe Pharasaicall arrogancy puffed vp after the manner of the proud Hypocrites and supercibious Pharises whom Christ his Apostles rebuke so oft in y e holy scriptures for theyr fayned holynes Be no paynted sepulchres outwardely fayre and inwardly full of rotten bones and al fylthynes For many as saynt Ierome sayth followe the shadowe of Humilite but fewe the trueth Let all glosyng wordes be taken away let all faynynge gestures cease Pacience sheweth a maÌ„ to be truly huÌ„ble Let your humilite therfore not only be expressed wyth gesture and voyce but also let it procede from y e pure affecte of the herte So maye ye be sure to haue God gracious fauourable vnto you euer to prosper in all your honest trauayles godlye affayres Hytherto haue I spoken sufficientely of youre fyrste floure called Vnfayned humilite and I haue bene the longer aboute it bycause I would be glad to expell the poisonof Pryde out of your hertes which raygneth almoost vniuersally beyond al measure at this daye and to engraffe in you this goodly herbe which is so swete and wholesome that wythout it no medicine can ryghtly be ministred This beynge digested all other are y â— more easye to receyue Theo. Neyghboure Philemon thyncke not but y e your wordes are reposed euen in y e lowest parte of our hertes we trust that ye haue not sowen this seed of Goddes worde in ony stony grouÌ„d but in suche good earth as shall brynge forth some an huÌ„drethe folde some syxty folde and some thyrtye folde Phil. It doth me good to heare this to knowe your redy wyll vnto all goodnes vertu For in dede neighbours we had neuer more nede to worcke well and to do good dedes than at this tyme. The christen religion begynneth vtterly to decay Alas we speke much of Christe but manye lyue no part of Christ. Uice styl reygneth vertu hath no place Well I wyl gyue you your second floure Christo. I praye you lette vs haue it ¶ The second floure named Pure Innocency Philemon BEhold here is the second floure of your Nosegay I am the almighty GOD. VValke before me and be perfecte And I vvyll make my couenaunte betvvene me and the and vvyll multiplye the beyonde all measure Euse. Was not this the sayenge of God the father vnto AbrahaÌ„ Phil. Yies verely pertaynethe now vnto vs no lesse than it dyd at y t tyme to hym For what so euer thynges are wrytten are wrytten for our learnynge Ye shall receaue moche pleasure of this your floure yf ye marke the vertue of it well Fyrst ye shall note that God calleth hymselfe the almyghty God wherby we maye easely discerne hym froÌ„ those gods yea rather Idolles and dyuels whome the Hethen dyd worshyp call vpoÌ„ For our God is omnipotent that is to say almyghty plenteous in power aboundant oâ— sufficient ful of all good nedy of nothynge The Gods of the Gentiles are of no power puissauÌ„ce streÌ„gth full of all imbecillite weakenesse misery Our God made all thinges of nothing by y e power of his word The Gods of the HetheÌ„ make not but they are made of other and are none other thynge than wood stonnes syluer gold or wicked spirites Oure God is able to helpe so many as call on hym in spirite truethe The Gods of the Gentiles are not able for to helpe theÌ„selues neyther do they heare ony man that cal on them as we maye perceaue by the prestes of Baal Oure God lastethe for euer euer euen worldes worldes withoute ende The Gods of y e Hethen perysh and are more vayne than the smoke Thus se ye what a God we haue None eyther in heauen earth or hel is able to compare w t this our God He alone is good mercifull gentle pacient long sufferynge almyghty ryghteous omnisufficient plenteous of power full of all good In him all thinges abunde nothinge wanteth He is y e omnisufficient protectour valeaÌ„t defender for all them that repose theyr affiaunce and truste in hym Who therfore wyll not haue a pleasure to serue this God Who is so madde to forsake this God to folowe ony other Who beynge godly mynded wyll not seake the glory of this God euen froÌ„ the very harte Who hauyng but a carnell of Christen salte in his brest wyl not haÌ„ge wholy on thys God as alone altogyther sufficient for the faythefull abundantly in all thynges wherof they haue nede eyther pertaynyng to the soule or to the bodye Cursed be that maÌ„ that putteth his truste in man that takethe fleshe for his arme he whose herte departe the from the LORDE For he shal be lyke the Heath that groweth in the wildernes As for the good thyng that is for to come he shall not se it but dwell in a drye place of the wyldernes euen in a salte vnoccupyed londe O but blyssed is the maÌ„ that putteth his truste in the LORDE whose hope the LORDE is hymselfe For he shall be as a tree that is plaÌ„ted by the waters syde which spreadeth oute the roote vnto moystnes whom the heate can not hurte wheÌ„ it coÌ„meth but his leaues are grene in the tyme of drowte shall he not be carefull neyther shall he cease at ony tyme to bring forth his â—ruite Secondely ye shall note that after God hath described him selfe to be almyghtye that is passynge all other in power it is so greate infinite vnmeasurable he expresseth the duety of so many as wyll serue hym as they ought VValKe before me saythe he and be perfecte Loo here is your flour Pure Innocency He that obserueth this precepte of god canne not displease erre or offende butte worke pure innnocency before god WalKe before me sayth he be perfecte Theo. What meanethe God by that I praye you Phil. To walke before God is to serue hym according to his worde so purely and innoceÌ„tly as though GOD hymselfe were euer present before oure eyes Chri. This is a hard thiÌ„ge Phil. The yoke of Christ is swete y e burdeÌ„ is lyght neyther are his preceptes heauy For where the spirite of the LORDE is there is liberte And if the sonne hath made you free than are ye truly free And yf ye be endewed wyth streÌ„gth froÌ„ aboue than is nothyng harde but all thynges easy thorow the spirite that worketh in you Theo. I praye you declare vnto vs howe we may
¶ A pleasaunt newe Nosegaye full of many godly and swete floures lately gathered by Theodore Basille Eccle. 24. ¶ As the Uyne haue I broughte forthe fruyte of a swete sauoure and my floures are as the fruytes of honour rytches ¶ The Nosegaye speaketh What meanest thou my frende to gather Floures which sone perysh and decaye Theyr sauours wyll not laste eueâ— As by experience se thou maye For a lytle tyme they seme pleasaunt But streyght do they vanysh awaye Lyke thynges which to vanite graunt As by experience se thou maye Leaue therfore thynges transitory And enhalse godly thynges alwaye Which shall auaunce the vnto glory As by experience se thou maye Receaue me into thy bosome If thou doste desyre a nosegaye My floures are full of delectacion As by experience se thou maye To knowe thy selfe thou mayst learne here God and thy kynge truely to obeye â–ª And to thy neyghbour to be dere As by experience se thou maye Take me nowd vnto the therfore Beare me in thy bosome alwaye Much pleasure haue I for the in store As by experience se thou maye â–ª ¶ To the right worshypful mayster George Whetenhall Esquyer Thodore Basille wissheth continuall health and prosperous felicite ALthough we haue mooste vrgent weyghty causes yea those iÌ„numerable to extoll magnify commend prayse the exceadynge goodnes bounteous liberalite of our moost mercifull father yf we perpend peÌ„sitate weyghe ponder coÌ„sider his inestimable benefites which he frely without our deseruynge dayely giueth vnto vs miserable creatures yet if we weyghe all thinges in a iust balaunce we shall easely and withoute ony difficulte perceaue y â— we are moost bounde to celebrate prayse his moost blyssed name for y e restorynge of his holy word at this tyme brought to passe by his true annoynted HeÌ„ry our moost redoubted Kynge as by another Iosias whose graces moste excellent maieste that LORDE of powers mought prosper in all his diuine affayres godly enterprises For before God restored to the world the Gospell ioyfull tydynges of his derely beloued sonne our LORDE Sauioure Iesus Christe incredulite as chefe rulare reygned in oure hertes Hypocrisye as a vayne gloryous Empresse bare dominion SupersticioÌ„ Idolatry false sectes mennes tradicions confidence reposed in humayne inuencions Pylgrimages Offringes Bulles Pardonnes dispensacions Masses of Scala celi marchaundyse for merytes workes byenge sellynge of the diuine misteries with an whole sea of euelles mo had creapte in vnto y e great perturbacion disquietnes of y e holy catholyke chyrch as I may passe ouer the blynde ignorancy ygnorant blyndenes into the whiche by this meanes we were cast and tombled Howe can it otherwyse be If the lyght of Gods word be obscured extincte or quenched which only is the lanterne to our feete a lyghte to our pathwayes what meruayle is it though the fearce outerageous floudes of Idolatry all kinde of supersticioÌ„ breake in and inuade the boundes of christianite yea and ouerflowe theÌ„ For as Fayth Hope Charite Peace Mercy Pacience longe sufferynge humilite sobriete iustice spirituall liberte obedience towarde the hyghe powers and all goodnes reygneth where the LORDES word bereth rule so in lyke maÌ„ner where y t is expulsed banysshed exiled Incredulite hatred enuy couetousnes veÌ„geaÌ„ce contencion Glotony dronckeÌ„nes rapacite immoderate lustes vncleane affectes carnal liberte disobedieÌ„ce iÌ„surreccion arrogaÌ„cy pryde ambicioÌ„ crudelite maÌ„slaughter thefte false witnes hypocrisy ignoraÌ„ce blyndnes sectes Heresye and all that is contrary to the commaundeme nt and wyll of God beareth dominioÌ„ and hath preeminence as SalomoÌ„ sayeth Where knowledge is not there is no goodnes for y â— soule Agayne whan the preachyng of Gods word â—ayleth the people peryshe runne cleane oute of order Therfore it is wryten by the Prophet make hast to the lawe witnes If they speke not accordynge to this word they shall not haue the mornynge lyght that is to saye the true knowledge of God Rebuked not Christ y e Saduces bycause they were ignorant in the holy Scriptures affyrming that they were deceaued for lacke of the knoweledge of them Ye are deceaued sayth he bicause ye know not y e scriptures Therfore in y e gospel of Iohn he exhorteth al men to serch y e scriptures sayeÌ„g serch ye y e scriptures for they are they y e beare witnes of me And y e Psalmograph calleth theÌ„ blissed which search y e testimonies of the LORDE meditate in his lawe both both daye nyght The worde of God muste nedes be an excellent precious treasure seinge it is the power of GOD vnto saluacion for so many as beleue seinge also it is profitable to teache to iÌ„proue to amend to instructe in ryghteousnesse that the man of God may be perfecte prepared to all good workes Who is able to expresse what a precious relique and high treasure the worde of God is Uerely it is that treasure wherof Christ speaketh in the Gospell that lygheth hydden in the felde which whan a man once fyndethe for ioye therof he goeth selleth all that he hathe byethe that felde And it is no lesse treasure to the soule than the corporall eyes are to the bodye as y e Psalmographe testifieth Thy worde O LORDE is a lanterne to my fete a lyght to my pathewayes For as that man that is depryued of his corporal syght knoweth not how nor wher to walke so lyke wyse heÌ„ that wanteth the lyght of Goddes worde seeth nothynge and therfore walketh he not aright but waÌ„dreth abrode lyke a shepe dispersed destitute of a shepparde But as he that hath the true perfecte syght of the eyes stoÌ„blethe not but walketh at all times without dauÌ„ger so in lyke maÌ„ner he y e is endued by Christes spirite w t the light of y â— holy Scriptures waÌ„dreth not froÌ„ that true way which sayth of him selfe I am the waye the truethe the lyfe but alwaye is preserued that he walketh continually in the kynges hygh waye declynyng neither on the right hand or on y e lyfte hand He is not caryed about with strauÌ„g doctryne His fayth is bylte on a sure rocke therfore abideth he fyrme immutable stedfaste sure constant what so euer kynde of teÌ„peste assaylethe hym The gates of hell can not preuayle agaynst him Satan with all his army are not able once to abduce remoue hym from the true waye For the lyghte of Goddes worde is continually before his eies wher vnto he gyueth diligent attendance which also he followeth earnestly in all his iourneyes and therfore muste he nedes walke the true waye neuer erre Yf he be blyssed fortunate happy that hath the naturall lyght of his body howe much more blyssed heueÌ„ly at ease is he that is illumined with y e lyght of the LORDES word wherof y e holy king Dauid
walke purely innocētly before God Phil. To walke before God is on such sort to īstitute our lyfe as he hath appointed ī his holy scripture not as carnal reasō imaginethe or good zeale wtoute knowlege deuiseth cōtrary to y e prescripte of Gods worde as we haue sene here to fore in our mōstruous Mōckes which laborīg to establish theyr own ryghteousnes were not made obedient to y e iustice of God That ye may walke before god certayn thīges are to be obserued first y t ye haue a sure cōstāt stedfast tru lyuysh fayth to beleue y t whiche y e holy scriptures tech of god of his workes Ye herd y e God is oīpotēt almighty plenteous in power abūdāt o◠sufficiēt full of all good nedy of nothing This must ye beleue vndoubtedlye yf ye wyll walke before God Ye herd also y t as God is able so wyll he healpe so many as call on him in spirite truethe Thisalso must ye beleue wtoute ony hesitaciō or doutyng For wtoute thys fayth no man can please god nor come vnto hym aryght For this fayth is y e foūdacion and grounde of the christen religion This fayth maketh a christen man Thys fayth makethe vs the sonnes of lyght This fayth prouoketh and callethe vnto God This Faythe trustethe not in her owne ryghteousnes and good workes but on the promyses of God Thys fayth maketh vs to be borne of God This fayth mitigatethe y ◠wrath of God Thys faythe obtayneth al good thynges of God as it is wryttē he that beleueth on him hath euerlastynge lyfe Beleue in y ◠Lord sayth the scripture ye shall be safe wtoute ony daunger Agē Euery one y t calleth on y e name of y e lord shal be safe For ther is but one LORDE of all sufficiently rytche for so many as call on him This fayth maketh vs the sonnes of God as y e Apostle sayth all ye are the sonnes of God bycause ye haue beleued in Christ Iesus Agayne So many as receaue hym he gaue them power to be made the sonnes of God in as much as they beleued in his name This fayth maryeth vs to God as he hym selfe testifyethe I wyll marye the vnto me in faythe and thou shalt knowe that I am the LORDE Thys fayth purifyeth our hartes This fayth ouercommeth Satan This fayth vanquissheth y e worlde This fayth makethe vs the Tēples of the lyuyng God This fayth wyl not suffer vs to be confounded This fayth bringeth to vs the mercy of God in al our aduersite This fayth is the fulfyllynge of Gods cōmaūdemētes This fayth makethe vs the enheritours of the earthe possessours of Goddes holy mountayne This fayth maketh vs to vnderstonde the truethe This faythe causeth that hell gates can not preuayle agaynst vs. This fayth iustifyeth vs. This Fayth bryngeth all good thynges vnto vs. This fayth as S. Austen saythe is the begynnynge of mans helth without this no man can reach or come vnto the nomber of the sonnes of God wyth out this all the labour of manne is frustrate voyde This Faythe as S. Ambrose saythe is the roote of all vertues and that thou byldeste on this foundacion that alone profyteth vnto y e reward of thy worke fruyte vertue This fayth sayth he is rytcher thā all treasures strōger thē all corporall power more healthful than all Phisicions This faythe as Chrisostome saythe is a lampe For a lampe lyghteneth the house so doth fayth the soule This faythe of the Catholyke religion is the lyght of y e soule the dore of lyfe the foundaciō of euerlastyng helth Thus se ye what an excellent treasure this christen fayth is without the whyche by no meanes ye canne walke worthely before the LORDE our God Moreouer thys your fayth must be conioyned wyth a reuerēt feare towarde God For the feare of the LORDE saythe the wyse man is the begynnynge of wisdome and expelleth synne Withoute this feare no man can purely walke before God For he that feareth God truely feareth also to displease hym yea he sekethe all meanes possible to accomplysh the wyl of god as the Psalmo graph sayth blyssed is that man y t feareth y e LORDE for all his delight pleasure shal be in his cōmaundementes Unto this feare of GOD dothe Dauid exhorte vs sayenge feare ye the LORDE all ye that are his seruauntes For they shall neuer wante y e feare hym The sonne honoreth the father the seruaūte his Lord yf I be your father wher is my honoure And yf I be youre LORDE where is my feare saythe y e LORDE of Hoostes But this feare ought not to be a seruile and bonde feare procedynge from an vnwyllynge harte but a reuerent gētle feare flowynge oute of loue Therfore wyth this your faythe feare must ye also haue a syncere pure loue towarde God cōbyned so that ye shall both truely beleue in God reuerently feare hym vnfaynedly loue hī And this is it that Moses wryghteth and now O Israel sayth he what doth the LORDE thy god require of the but that y u shouldest feare the LORDE thy God and walke in his wayes loue hym serue the LORDE thy God in all thy herte in all thy soule Nowe haue ye herd partely what it is to walke before God Euse. I praye you what remayneth there behynde Phil. After that ye haue conceaued in your hertes this faythe feare loue toward God thorow the operacion of the holy Ghoste so that ye haue entred the pathe waye of oure LORDE god nowe doth conueniēt tyme require that ye walke not only secretly but also openly before God tha◠is that ye do not only inwardly in your hertes beleue in God feare loue god but also that ye outwardly shew forth this your fayth feare loue buryed wythin you by externall workes that men seynge your godly conuersacion maye then glorify your father which is in heauē For this is to walke before god euē to beleue ī god to feare god to loue God and to lede an innocēt lyfe accordynge to his holy worde Without thys innocēcy purite of lyfe I se not what al fayth fear or loue profyt Followe your LORDE God sayth Moses feare hym kepe hys cōmaūdementes heare his voyce ye shall serue hym and cleaue vnto hī The Prophet Miche also sayth I wyll shewe the O man what is good what the LORDE requireth of the euen to do iudgement and to loue mercy studiously to walk w t thy God Here se you y t yf ye wyll walke before God ye muste do good dedes leade a pure innocent lyfe study to accomplyshe Gods wyll in all poyntes laboure to fasshyon your manners after the rule of goddes worde Farewel they
which god spake vnto Samuell This shall be y e lawe or right of y â— kyng sayth he that shall reigne ouer you Your sonnes shall he take for his charettes for horsemen to ronne before his Charettes and to be rulers Captaynes to be plowe men to tyll his londe to be repers in his haruest to make hys harnesse such thynges as belong to hys Charettes As for your doughters he shal take them to be Apoticaries Cookes Bakers Your best londe vyneyardes and oylegardeÌ„s shall he take gyue vnto his seruauÌ„tes Of youre seedes also vineyardes shal he take the tythes gyue vnto his Chamberlaynes seruauntes And your seruauntes your maydes your best yonge men youre Asses shall he take do his busines w t all Of your flockes shall he take the tythes ye shal be his seruauntes Are not theise wordes manifest and playne inough to declare what ryght tytle power by the worde of God our moost excellent Prynce hath to chalenge and require of vs suche costes charges as he sustaynethe for the common weale that all that euer we haue is at his commaundement that we oughte by no meanes to resist or say him nay Chri. They are more clere than the Sonne more open theÌ„ the lyght Theo. Yet haue I hearde some saye that we are made free by Christe ought to serue no manne nor to be charged with paymeÌ„tes to ony parson but all thynges ought to be coÌ„mon amonge christen men Phil. To aunswere vnto euery parte of thys your sentence requireth many wordes asketh much tyme. But to be short know that who so euer mayntayneth that kynde of doctrine dissenteth muche from the christen religion corrupteth the word of God soweth false teachynge huntethe a carnal liberte and desyreth to lyue in al kynd of synne without punishmente Trueth it is y â— we are made free by Christ but this oure liberte is spirituall and not temporal By Christ we are delyuered from y e daÌ„nacion of the law but not from the obseruauÌ„ce ofit By Christe we are made free from the power of SataÌ„ synne deathe desperacion and hell but not from the power of y â— ciuile magistrates By Christ haue we receaued our manumission fredomâ— from the condemnacion of all those thinges iÌ„to the which we were cast by the siÌ„ne of our fyrste father AdaÌ„ So that by Christ we are spiritually made free if we abyde in his wordes as we rede iÌ„ y e Gospel of IohnÌ„ iÌ„ diuers other places of y â— holy scripture But this spiritual liberte maketh vs not free from our obedieÌ„ce dutye towarde the temporal power to whome we owe both oure selues and al that euer we haue as ye â—eard before For this were a thing of to much absurdite contrary to all good order the teachyng both of Christe of his Apostles Yea so should God be the Author of confusion not of order of dissension and not of concorde S. Austen saythe if ony man thyncketh that because he is a christen maÌ„ he ought to pay no custome or tribute nor shew ony honour to the hygh powers he falleth into a great erroure is very muche deceaued S Ambrose also sayth yf the temporall gouernoure asketh tribute we deny it not lette the londes of the Chyrche paye tribute If the rulare desireth the londes he hath power to chalenge theÌ„ let him therfore take theÌ„ yf he wyl I gyue them not to the Emperour but nether do I deny them Agayn he sayth it is a great special document or poynt of teachyng wherby christen men are taught to be subiecte to the higher powers bycause that no man should thyncke that y â— constitucioÌ„ or ordinauÌ„ce of an erthly kynge ought to be losoned or broken For yf the sonne of God payde Tribute of what greate authorite arte thou whiche thiÌ„kest that thou oughtest not to pay Theophilacte also sayth that we corporally obey hym that hath power on our bodies whyther he be kyng or TyrauÌ„t it hyndrethe vs no thynge that we shoulde spirituallye well please the God of spirites For Christ saythe paye vnto the Emperour y e whiche is the Emperours pay vnto god that whiche is Gods Marke that he sayth not gyue but paye It is saythe he dette Paye therfore thy dette Thy Prynce kepethe the froÌ„ thyne enemies he causethe that y u lyueste in quiet Thou therfore for these thinges owest tribute to him Thus se you proued both by the holy Scripture the auÌ„cient Doctors y t they which professe Christe are not so made free but that they are bounde to be subiecte obedieÌ„t to the high powers in al godly and decent matters Agen that al thinges ought not to be commoÌ„ among them or that they be excepted from such corporall charges as y e rulers require of theÌ„ but that they ought to paye tribute custome taske subsidye or ony thynge els that is required of them by the temporal gouernours seyng chefely it makeâ—he so greatly vnto theyr owne auauÌ„cement profit coÌ„modite They therfore y t denye these thiÌ„ges or grudge to paye them whan time requireth occasion is gyuen verely they are farre from true Christen men and shall for theyr disobedience receaue damnacioÌ„ excepte they repent and amende Euse. God forbyd but that euery man should paye with a wyllynge harte what so euer is required of hym for the mayntaynauÌ„ce and conseruacion of the publique weale Theo. Certes we were vnworthy to lyue vnder the dominion of so puissaunte a Gouernoure yf we should not in all poyntes satisfy euen vnto the vttermoost his godly and reasonable requestes seyng we haue styll dayly do receaue innumerable coÌ„modities pleasures at his graces hande Phil. The charges whiche the Kynges graces maieste sustayneth dayly for the welth of al vs his subiectes are infinite far exceade y e vnexperte capacite of the rude simple people as we may se before oure eyes learne by the constant fame common reporte of all men as I may leaue of to speaâ—e of y â— byldyng of many Castels Blocke houses strong holdes Bulwarkes fortresses c. of men appoynted vnto the defence of the same wythe all thynges pertaynyng thervnto agayne of the common Scholes the techers of theÌ„ of sendyng forth Preachers into euery parte of hys Realme of procurynge learned magistrates of gyuynge exhibicion to many vertuous lerned men of a thousande thynges mo which his moost gracious maieste dothe for y e wealth of vs for the conseruacioÌ„ of this his mooste florysshynge Realme therfore ought we to suppeditate and minister agayne vnto him abundantly what so euer his grace requireth of vs at ony tyme or els we greuously offende God walke not accordinge to the order of Charite but are manifest traÌ„sgressours of Gods moost holy wyll which
which hytherto I haue rehearsed than looke thou for none other but wythe that vnprofitable seruaunt to be cast into vtter darkenes where wepynge gnasshynge of teth shal be Arte thou a ritch man So hath God set the in a perillous state excepte thou be ware To auoyd ther fore all daūger loke that with thy possessions rytches thou helpeste thē that haue nede For vnto this ende hath God indewed the wyth y ◠goodes of this world Be not proud for thy rytches sake nor putte not thy truste in vncertayne rytches but in the lyuynge God Be rytche ī good workes Be redy to minister vnto the necessite of other y t wante For God loueth a cherfull gyuer Breake thy bread to the hongrye lead in the nedy poore wayfaring into thy house whā thou seest a naked man couer hym thou shalte not despyse thy flesh Geue to euery one that askethe from hym that wyll borowe turne not awaye thy face but lende hym thy monye yea that without ony vsurye Ioyne not house to house nor lond to lond Couytte not to reygne alone in a towne Suffer other mē to lyue by the yea that of theyr owne Helpe them to make prouision for theyr family y t they may kepe the better hospitalite be the more able to helpe the confortles Let not oute thy lōdes houses on such price that the fermers shall neuer be able to paye the or els to do no good vpon them So let them hyer thy fermes that they maye not be empoueryshed as they are now a dayes for the moost parte but rather enryched y t they maye be the more able vertuouslye to bryng vp theyr chyldren in good artes godly sciēces to helpe theyr poore neyghbours to kepe hospitalite to beare the charges of the cōmon weale for theyr porcion whan tyme requireth For this shal make a florysshynge wealthye Realme abundāt in al thynges Thus shalt thou also greatlye please God he agayne for this thy boūteous liberalite shewed towarde thy neyghboures wyll open his hande blysse the all that pertayne vnto the fauoure the make the to be plenteous in all thynges So that what so euer thou goest about shall prosper come vnto a fortunate good ende Neyther shalte thou nede to doubte of theyse thynges For God hath so promised which can not ly but is faythefull in all his wordes If thou doste contrary hereunto abusest the ritches which god hath put into thy hande of whome he hath only made the his steward so that thou art vnmercyful hydest vp thy treasure knoweste not for whome wylte by no meanes bestow them as God hathe appoynted the than be thou certen sure that lyke an vnmercifull thefe and cruell bloudye Bocher thou shalte be hanged in hell The fyre wherw t thou shalt be tormented shal neuer be quenched The worme that shal gnawe thy conscience shall neuer dye The paynes shal be infinite nether shalte thou at ony tyme be releued of thē but with that vnmerciful rytche gloton in the Gospel of Luke lyghe cryenge waylyng in perpetual tormentes worldes with out end Therfore beware betymes saye not but y t thou arte warned To be shorte consider withe thy selfe in what state condicion God hath set the vse that euer vnto y e glory of God and the profyt of thy neyghboure For knowe that what so euer God hath gyuē the he hath gyuen it the for the profytte of thy neyghbour also Hathe God gyuen the strength than must thou helpe the weakenes of thy brother Arte thou wyse eloquent So muste thou make good that whiche wanteth of them in thy neyghbour Art thou rytche So muste thou conforte the nedy Arte thou learned So must thou instructe and teache the ignoraunt Arte thou a rulare So must thou be fauourable to thē of the inferioure sorte Arte thou a mā of nobilite So muste thou not despyse thē of ignobilite Hast thou creditours and detters So muste thou not draw thē cruelly streyght wayes into the lawe but fauoure them entreate them gentylly and gyue thē respyte vntyll they may◠paye the conueniētly without daūger or losse of theyr substaūce Haste thou receaued ony talente or gyfte at all of God Use that same to the profyt of thy neyghbour so shalt thou well please God To make an ende be the very same to thy neyghbour that God is to the. Consyder what kyndnes God sheweth to the shewe thou the very same agayne to thy Christē brother And wylt y u heare me Be euen another Christe to thy neyghboure Thus much dere brothers haue I spoken concernynge thys youre floure Redy assistence of the which ye maye easely learne to knowe youre duty toward your neyghbour and howe ye ought to behaue youre selues in all poyntes toward hym accordynge to the wyll of God Theo. Undoubtedly neighbour Philemō ye haue gyuen vs many godlye lessōs I besech God we may so walke in our conuersacion in all our actes towarde our neyghboure that we maye in al thynges followe and practyse this your moost godly doctrine be redy at all tymes bothe in thoughte worde dede redely to assist helpe oure neyghboures no lesse thā we desire that god should assist help socoure vs whā we haue nede P. It is very godly spokē God gyueyou grace no lesse to do work Nowe remayneth your laste floure to be gyuen to you Chri. I woulde very gladdely se it Euse. The verye same also do I desyre ¶ The fyfte floure called Christen Charite Philemon AT hande it is euen here redy ▪ Take it I pray you Let Vs not loue in vvorde nor tonge but in vvoke and trueth Theo. This floure maye be called Christen Charite in dede aright Phil. It is not without a cause that I haue gyuen you this floure For the sauour of all your aforsayd floures profyteth without this but lytle This floure is the very same to your Nosegay that a precious stone a costious pearle a goodly owch is to a ryng or ony other Iewel With out this floure all y e other wyll sone wyther awaye come to noughte But so longe as the beauty of this your flour lasteth so longe can not your Nosegaye decaye perysh Cā ony thynge be good godly where loue Charite wantethe And bycause ye shoulde knowe y t I meane none vnfayned loue I haue named your floure Christen Charite For our Charite loue ought not to be carnall fleshly beastlyke worldly fayned vncleane flyttynge but spirituall ghostly christē heauēly true pure abydyng for euermore And this is that Christē Charite wherof your floure speketh Let vs not loue in vvorde nor tonge but in VVork trueth Withoute this Charite S. Paule affirmethe in his Epistle to the Corinthiās that no worke seme it neuer so
good godly profyteth onye thynge at all Rede y â— Chapter whaÌ„ ye come home Certes this Charite christen loue must nedes be an excellent thynge seynge it is the ende of the CoÌ„maundement the fulfyllynge of all the law seyng also that Christ in his last sermon whiche he made to his Disciples a litle before his passhon exorteth vs with so many wordes vnto it S. IohnÌ„ fereth not so greatlye to auauÌ„ce and commende Charite y t he affirmeth God to be Charite sayeng God is Charite he that abydethe in Charite abydeth in God God in hym Unto thys true and Christen Charite S. Peter also mouethe vs on thys manner Before all thynges saythe he haue ferueÌ„t charite among you For Charite couereth y â— multitude of synnes And S. Paule saythe aboue al thiÌ„ges haue Charite which is the bonde of perfeccion For he y â— hath this christeÌ„ Charite can none otherwyse but loue God wythe all his harte mynde strength power soule He can none otherwyse but forsake the worlde the dyuell the flesh cleue to God alone as a true and faythfull wyfe doth to her husbond He wyl by no menes swere by y â— name of his lord god but reuereÌ„ce honour worship prayse it He wyl not breake the Sabbothe daye but sanctify it accordyng to the worde of God Agayne he that loueth his neyghbour sincerly wyl by no meanes hurte hym nor worke any euel agaynst hym He wyll not disobeye his superiours He wyl commyt no manslaughter whoredome thefte nor beare ony false wytnes nor yet couyt that which shoulde be hynderauÌ„ce to his neyghbour but he wyl gladly with a free spirite do vnto the vttermooste of his power what so euer the Scripture requireth of hym as Christ sayth yf ony man loueth me he wyll kepe my word and my father shall loue hym we wyl come to hym dwell with hym He that loueth not me kepeth not my wordes He that hath my CommauÌ„dementes kepeth theÌ„ he it is that loueth me he that loueth me shall be loued of my father I wyl loue hym shewe my selfe vnto hiÌ„ How dothe this youre floure please you Euse. I neuer smelled a sweter and more pleasaunt odoure in my lyfe Theo. I praye you rehearse it once agayne Phil. Let Vs not loue in vvord noâ— tonge but in vvorke and trueth Theo. Is not this the sayenge of S. Iohn in his Epistle Phil. Yies verelye Theo. Me thynketh that he gyueth here a coÌ„maundemente that we shoulde not loue in worde nor tonge but in worke trueth Phil. Ye saye trueth Theo. It is not lawefull than for vs to eâ—presse the loue that we beare in oure hartes towardes oure neyghboure by manifeste open euident wordes as to speake gentylly to coÌ„mon frendely to wysh wel with louynge wordes to all men Phil. S. Iohn in this place forbyddethe no more gentle speache louynge communicacion thaÌ„ S. Paule in your other flour dyd forbyd to make prouision for you and yours But his mynd is this they which wyl crake boste by outwarde wordes y t they loue God theyr neyghbour yet shew it not in workes and truethe they are lyers haue not in theÌ„ the christen Charite which the Scripture coÌ„mendeth so greatly in euery place Such are lyke theÌ„ of whome S. Paule speaketh on this maÌ„ner they saye they knowe God but w t theyr dedes they denye it playnely seynge they are obhominable disobedient and mynded vnto no good workes He that hath the substance of the world sayth S. Iohn seeth his brother haue nede is moued with no compassion towardes him howe doth the loue of God abide in hym As though he should say albeit a maÌ„ craketh neuer so much y t he loueth God yet yf he fulfylleth not that which God coÌ„maundeth him howe dare suche one boste that he louethe God A man loueth so muche as he worketh If he worketh no thynge nother doth he loue any thing For as S. Gregory sayth in a certayne homely the loue of GOD is neuer idle For he worketh great thinges yf it be loue but if it seaseth to worke than is it no loue in dede Loue sayth S. Paule is pacient curtious Loue enuiethe not loue dothe not frowardely Loue is not puffed vp dealeth not dishonestly seaketh not her owne Loue is not prouoked to anger thynketh not euell reioysethe not of iniquite but reioyseth in the trueth suffereth al thinges beleuethe all thynges hopethe all thynges abydethe all thynges What a poynt is this of loue to say that I loue God yet run a whorehuntynge after straunge Goddes Agayne what a poynte of loue is this to saye that I honour y e name of God and yet blaspheme it withe mooste shamefull abhominable othes What loue is this toward my neyghbour to saye that I loue him and yet wyll do no thynge for hym whan I se him in necessite Is this loue Peryshe moughte suche loue Agaynste these wicked Hypocrites open dissemblers dothe S. Iohn in this place thonder whaÌ„ he sayth let vs not loue in worde nor tonge but in worke trueth There were in the tyme of the Apostles manye false Christians whiche by wordes pretended muche loue both towardes God and theyr neyghbour and yet dyd they expresse shew none at all by theyr outward dedes Such haue we nowe a dayes also among vs which styffely affyrme that they loue God his worde yet do theyr workes proue the contrarye The scripture reiecteth that loue which is fayned and is not in spirite and trueth that is to say fyrst engraffed in the harte afterwarde declared by manifeste euident workes worthy such a loue Therfore neighbours yf ye wyll smell aryght and to your conforte of this your floure Christen Charite prouide that youre loue benot fayned Let it not only be in worde and tonge but also in worke and trueth Fyrst as concernynge youre loue towarde God it shall appeare in nothynge more manifestly than yf you laboure wythe all mayne in al your workes to seke the glory of God the honour of his moost blyssed name the promocioÌ„ of his holy worde Agayne as towchynge your neyghbour your loue shallnot be fayned towardes hym yf ye helpe hym in all such thynges as he hath nede of as for an example If ye perceyue hym ignoraunt in the lawe of God teach hym Goddes worde bryng hym vnto Christ teache hym where of whom and by what meanes he shal obtayne helth saluacion Declare to hym what y â— true christeÌ„ faythe is of what great strength vertue efficacy and power it is Exhorte hym vnto the true good workes which god approueth by his worde leueth not vnrewarded Charge hym to flye vnto y â— name of God as vnto a strong Bulwarke in all his aduersite and trouble Furthermore yf ye
ê‘ceyue that he is gyuen altogyther to wickednes and wyll not gladlye heare anye wholesome admonicion yette cease not to praye for him as Abraham dyd for the fylthy Sodomites and Moses for the disobedient Iewes Yea thogh he be your extreme enemye and seaketh youre lyfe yet wysh wel vnto hym praye for him and desyre God to forgyue him as Christ and Steuen dyd Agayne yf ye perceyue that he is poore hath nede of your helpe fayle not to succoure his miserye and to helpe hym in his nede euen to the vttermoost of youre power to make an ende yf ye perceyue that youre neyghboure hath nede of any thyng that ye are able to do for hym I charge you in Goddes behalfe that ye with al expedicion helpe and conforte hiÌ„ If ye do this thaÌ„ do ye smel aright on this your flour ChristeÌ„ Charite shal receyue rewardes abuÌ„daÌ„t for your good dedes but if ye do it not know y t though ye bost neuer so muche in word and tong of your loue towardes god your neyghbour yet shal ye go to the dyuel headlong lyke abhominable Hypocrites and wycked dissemblers shall receaue greater damnacion than they which neuer knewe truelye no parte of God seing your loue is only in worde and tong but not in spirite and trueth Euse. As concernynge oure loue towarde God we wyll employe al our industrye and laboure to haue that loue toward hym which Peter had whan he sayde vnto Christ LORDE thou knoweste that I loue the as towchynge our neyghbour we wyll labour no lesse hartely to loue him than Ionathas dyd Dauid which as the Scripture sayth loued him as his owne lyfe Phile. Theyse are goodly exaÌ„ples vndoubtedly neighbours Loke therfore that ye folow them If ye bryng out of your loue suche dedes as Peter dyd thaÌ„ may ye be bolde to say that ye loue God vnfaynedly Agayne yf ye shew by youre outwarde workes suche loue towarde your neyghbour as Ionathas dyd to Dauid thaÌ„ nede ye not feare to saye y t ye loue youre neighbour in worke truethe so are ye perfecte and true christen men and maye be certayne after the departure oute of this transitorye lyfe yf ye so continue vnto the ende for to receaue the crowne of life which the LORDE hathe promised to them that loue hym as S. Iames sayth Here is nowe your Nosegay perfecte For I haue gyueÌ„ you al your fyue floures as I promised you at your fyrst coÌ„mynge Chri. We thaÌ„ke you right hertely for this Nosegay Euse. I thynke such a Nosegay was neuer gyuen before of onye man to his frende as you haue nowe gyueÌ„ vs. Theo. I beseche GOD gyue vs grace so to smell on this Nosegaye that the sauoure of it maye euer abyde in vs neuer departe nor go awaye from our hartes So maye we be sure neyther at onye tyme to offende our selues God our Kyng nor our neyghbour but leade suche a lyfe as wherwith bothe God and man shall be well pleased Phil. All this that ye haue hytherto spoken is true For I haue taughte you no thyng of myne owne brayne fantasye but onelye the pure worde of God the sentences myndes of y e holy and catholyke Doctors Therfore I pray you hertely good neyghbours be as diligent to obserue and kepe these floures as I haue ben studious to gather them togyther for you so shall I both thyncke my laboure well bestowed ye also of all pleasures shall do me the greateste Well I wyll nowe rehearse to you in fewe wordes what youre whole Nosegaye contayneth in many Your fyrst floure is called Vnfayned Humilite Hereof haue ye learned y e true knowledge of youre selues that ye ought not to be proud of ony thynge but enbrasynge Humilite lowlines of mynd alwayes coÌ„fesse that what so euer ye haue be it neuer so good precious it is the gyfte of GOD commynge downe froÌ„ the father of lyghtes and that therfore ye oughte studiously to laboure aboue all thynges that it be bestowed accordynge to the wyll of God that is vnto the glory of God the profitte of youre neyghboure the saluacion of your owne soules Your seconde flour called Pure Innocency Of this ye haue lerned your duty toward God howe ye ought to walke before hym accordynge to his worde and be perfecte Of your thyrde floure which is Faythfull Obedience Ye haue learned your duty toward our moost puissaunt excellent kynge all those ciuile magistrates heade officers which are appoynted to rule gouerne the matters of the publique weale vnder his graces maieste Ye learned also that by the worde of GOD ye owe to them obedience feare honour and tribute Your fourthe floure called Redy assistence â–ª taught you your dutye towarde youre neyghbour howe ye oughte to serue hym accordynge to the rule of the Gospell seakynge no lesse his profyt than your owne Your fyfte laste floure called Christen Charite declared to you that withoute this true christen pure loue all youre other floures profyt but lytle neyther can any worke beinge done of a malicious harte and out of Charite please God Agayne ye hearde that your loue bothe toward God your neyghbour was declared to be vnfayned yf ye dyd expresse it outwardly in suche workes as are prescribed of God in the holy Scriptures this is the whole summe of your Nosegaye Nowe deare brothers I beseche you by the great mercyes of God y t ye wyl by no meanes suffer y e smell odoure sauour of these herbes to faull oute of your brestes but that you alwaye beare this youre Nosegay about w t you smel on it at al tymes wtout ceasyng For these are those floures whiche shall preserue you from all pestiferous and contagious ayres from all perelles and daungers from al mischauÌ„ces and euell fortunes They also shall enspire and breath into you such confortable odoures swete sauours that ye shall by no meanes be so infected that ye maye eyther offende your selues God the kyng or your Neygheboure but what so euer ye worke shall be accceptable bothe to God and man What wyll ye haue more Thus muche haue I done nowe for you neyghbours and am redy at al tymes to do what soeuer lyethe in my power whan occasion shall be gyuen desiryng you fauourably to accepte this my good wyll towarde you as of one which wyssheth no lesse well to you thaÌ„ to him selfe tendereth your health no lesse than his owne seakethe youre true knoweledge in Christe Iesus euen as his owne to conclude whiche is redy at all tymes both to gyue him selfe and all that he hath so that ye may be in the moost gloryous bowels of oure Sauioure Christe and therin continewe vntyl the daye oâ— his tryumphant apperyng Which thynge moost deare brothers that it maye come to passe I wyll not cease neyther night nor daye to