greater and a more pe◅fit tabernacle not made w t hands y t is to say not of this maner buildinge neyther by the bloude of Gotes or calues but by hys owne bloude entered he once for all into the holye place and founde eternall redemcion Agayne in the later ende of the same chapter Christe is not entred into y e holye places that are made wyth handes whyche are but similitudes of true thyngs but into the very heauen for to appeare nowe before the face of God for vs. Not to ofter hym selfe ofte as the hygh prieste entereth into the holy place euerye yere with strange bloude for thē muste he often haue suffred sēce the worlde began But nowe in the ende of the worlde hathe he appeared once for all to put syn to flyght by the offerynge vp of hym selfe And as it is appoynted vnto mē that they shall once dye and then commeth the iudg mente euen so Christe was once offered to take away the synnes of many Blessed Paule hath no shyfte of descante but singeth euer one songe nothinge lesse thē pleasaunte to the eares of these Sacrificers He affirmeth that Christe by hys owne bloude entered into heauen once for all found eternall redemption Where we maye learne y t Christ is so swete a smellynge sacrifice to God the father y t by the once offeryng vp of him selfe he hath founde euerlastynge redemption Redēption and remission of synnes is so plētuously purchased by the deathe of Christe that it remaineth for euermore The papisticall sacrificers do greately erre therfore whych take vpō thē daily to sacrifice for the sins of the quicke dead as though Christes sacrifice endured no lēger and were of no more effecte and vertue Christo. O blasphemouse hypocrites Phile. Againe he sayeth that nowe in the ende of the world Christ hath appeared once for all to putte synne to flight by the offering vp of hym selfe as though he shoulde say Many sacrifices were offered of the priestes of the olde lawe but none of theym coulde put synno to flyghte Therfore Christe the hyghe prieste in these laste dayes became manne and was not offered of anye other but he offered hym self yea and that once for all for the sinnes of so manye as vnfaynedly repente and trulye beleue and hys oblation for euer euer abydeth of so greate strength vertue and power that that alone none other chaseth awai putteth to flight the sins of many both of Iewes gētils if thei beleue Once again he sai eth We ar sāctified made holi bi y e oblatiō of christes bodi once for al. Are not these words plain inough How oft doth S. Paul resite the oblatio of Christes body yea that once for all stifly affirmeth that by that once offerynge vp of him selfe we are per fectly sanctified and made holy What nede thē haue we of y e sacrifice of y e masse to be made holye if there were any suche sacrifice as the papisticall sacrificers faine It foloweth also in y e same chapter Euery prieste is readye daylye ministerynge and often times offreth one maner of offerynge whyche canne neuer take awaye synnes But thys manne that is to saye Christe when he had offered for synnes one sacrifice whyche is of value for euer sate hym downe on the ryghte hande of God and from thenceforthe tarieth tyll hys foes be made his fote stole For with one offerynge hath he made perfecte for euer them that are sanctified thys one sentence maketh to fall flatte vpon the grounde al that euer the Papistes haue builded for the mayntenaunce of theyr Missall sacrifice Fyrste he sayth that all the sacrifices whych the other Priestes offer can take away no sinne Secōdly y e Christ offred one sacrifice for our syns whyche is of value for euer by the whiche one Sacrifice he excludeth all other Thirdely y e he sate hym downe on the ryghte hande of God the father there tarieth tyl the daye of iudgmēte Thē can he be offered and sacrificed no more what so euer the pedlerlyke Papistes chatter as S. Paule sayeth Christe raysed frō the deade dieth no more Death shal haue no more power ouer hym For as towchynge that he dyed he dyed as concernynge sin once but as towching that he lyueth he liueth to God Fourthlye that wyth one offerynge he hath made perfecte for euerthem y t are sanctified If we be made perfecte wyth one offerynge whych is the oblation of Christes body vpon the aultare of the crosse what imperfection remayneth there in vs that wee shuld haue nede of the missal sacrifice If one Sacrifice make vs perfecte for euer what neede wee to haue so manye sacrifices offered daylye in the Popeyshe masses All these scriptures tofore aledged shew euidētly that y e death of Christ is a sacrifice so omnisufficiēte so perfect so abso lute so cōsūmate so plētuous at the full y e it alone maketh cleane for euer the faythfull from their synnes wtoute any repeticion or renewing Euse. Curssed therfore are these papistical Sacrificers whyche so arrogantly dare presume to offer and sacrifice Christ agayne as though the fyrst oblation sacrifice were imperfect Phile. God amende them turne theyr hertes and geue thē grace to know hys trueth For what other thynge is it to set vp a new oblation then to anulle the olde to make God a lyar to denye Christe as Sainte Peter ryght well prophesied of suche subtyll Sacrificers For he that sayeth that synnes are forgeuen by the masse that the masse is a Sacrifice for the synnes boeth of the lyuyng and of the Deade he muste eyther graunte that the alone Sacrifice of Christe vpon the crosse is not sufficiente for the fayethful or els that the missal sacrifice is a mockeynge of Christe and a plain scorning of god the father O abhominatiō Why is Christ called an euerlastynge Prieste but that hys sacrifice once done on the aultare of the crosse endu reth for euer in ful strength and power for so manye as beleue though they synne neuer so ofte if they returne vnto God seke remission of theyr synnes in the precious bloude of oure alone sauiour Iesus Christ As sa◅ct Iohn sayeth If any man synne wee haue an aduocate wyth the father Iesus Christ the rightuous and he it is that obtayneth grace for our sinnes not for our syns onely but also for the sins of the whole worlde What nede we thē moe oblations S. Paul sayeth without effusion or sheadynge of bloude there is no remission of syns If the papistes therfore wyll haue theyr masse a sacrifyce so is it proued by the wordes of the Apostle that they crucifie Christ agayne and shede his bloude Christopho O bloudy sacrificers What Christen herte can byde to be presente where such ignominie is done to Christ the lord Phile. He that sacrificeth is greater than the sacrifice so doth it folow that the pristes
are greater than Christe the Kynge of glori He offered vs a sacrifice to God and go we aboute to offer hym Agayne he that sacrificeth oughte to be so pure as the sacrifice and whoe I praye you can be so pure as Christe our sacrifice Whoe is able to saye my herte is cleane and I am fre froÌ„ synne To presume to offer sacrifice for the synnes of the people is it anye other thynge than to make them selues Christes and sauiours and to saye wyth that moste proude Angel as it is writ ten by the prophet I wyll clyme vp aboue the cloudes and wil be like the highest of al Do not thei go aboute to shewe them selues equale to Christe yea Christ hym selfe which take vpon theÌ„ to offer sacrifice for the sinnes of the people What other thing did Christ but take awaye oure synne If our Massemongars do the same are they not Christs in dede And yet thys prerogatiue haue they a boue Christe that wher as Christ coulde not obtayne pardonne for our sinnes but by suffering great paines yea very death they do it wtout any paynes taking at al. Christ was mocked scorned thei be praised much made of Christ was accused of heresy and treasoÌ„ they be couÌ„ted good catholike meÌ„ and fulle deuote fathers Christe was pricked to the braynes with a crowne of thorne they haue a bald patch vpon their heades in stead of crownes some haue on their cappes miters for catching cold Christ was stript naked of all hys clothes they be clad in sylke saten damaske veluet and cloth of golde Christe bare hys owne crosse of woode vpon hys shulders whan he went to suffer they haue crosses of golde and syluer borne before them Christ was nayled vnto the crosse they stande at the altare wyth turne returne and halfe turne Christe hanging on the crosse prayde for his very enemies thei standinge at the altare praye for such as be their patrones Founders Bene factours and for suche as hyere them for monie Christe paciently suffered the blasphemyes and opprobrious wordes y t causeles were spoken agaynste hym they if any man offende them streight waies accuse condeme cursse and excommunicat them Christ with hys sacrifice soughte to do good to other they wyth their sacrifices seke to brynge men to superstition to wrap theÌ„ in Idolatry to graffe in them wycked opinions but aboue al thynges to enriche Corban Corban that they may haue plenteously wherwith to fede their idle and beastly bellies Christe at hys passion had vineger and gall geuen hym to drinke but thei haue bread of the fineste and wyne of the beaste to eate and drincke Christe offered hys owne blessed bodye a swete smellynge sacrifice to God the fa ther for the synnes of the people they offerre a wafer cake and 〈◊〉 sponefull of wyne makynge the people to beleue that it is a sacri fice whyche they offer pro salute uiuorum et requie omnium fidelium defunctorum For the health of them that be aliue and the rest of all the faythfull that are dead Christe after he had offered hys sacrifice sayd Consummatum est Euery thyng is done and pefectly finished that maketh vnto the saluacioÌ„ of man yea and that by this my one oblation They can not say so neither bring they any thyng vnto perfection For theyr sacrifices are so imperfecte that they are as redye to offer to morowe as to day and neuer the bet ter Christe after the oblacion of hys most blessed bodye commended hys spirite into the handes of hys heauenly father and died straight wayes they after they haue offered their newe founde oblation faull to bancketynge drinckynge gullynge and glossynge to huntynge whoring dis inge and cardynge and all the dayes of their life they liue dissolutely in moste vayne pleasures boethe of the fleshe and of the worlde What feloweshippe and agremente is there here I praye you betwene Christe and the Massemongers betwene the ob lacion of Christ the popish sacri fice betwene the Masse and the death of Christe Ye maie se into what absurdities and to muche inconueniences these pedlerlyke Papistes faulle whyle they stablish an Idole of their owne makynge How saye ye are they not goodly Christes and pretye sauioures Theo. Christes They are euen suche Christes as the true Christ hym selfe speaketh of in the Gospell of Sayncte Mathewe Ther shal aryse sayth he fals Christes and false prophetes Here they be called Christes but ther is added vnto it False so that they be false Christes fayned Christes liynge Christes deceyteful Christes Christo. Of suche Christes Christe gaue vs warnynge and bade vs take hede saying if any man shall saye vnto you Behold heare is Christ or there is Christ beleue hym not â—…f they shall say vnto you Beholde he is in the wyldernes go not out Beholde he is in the pixe beleue them not Lo I haue told you afore hand These popishe Masse mongers are the ministers of SataÌ„ which chauÌ„ge themselues into Angelles of lyght These are those men that haue corrupt mindes which are wythout all trueth whyche thyncke that lucâ—…e is godlines These are those false Prophetes and false teachers whiche sayeth Sayncte Peter shall priuelye brynge in damnable sectes euen deniynge the Lorde that hath bought them and brynge vpon them selues swifte damnacion and many shal folowe theyr dam nable wayes by whome the way of trueth shall be euyl spoken of and thorowe couetousnes shall they wyth fayned wordes make Marchaundise of you whose iudgemente is nowe not farre of and theyr dampâ—…acion sleapeth not Philemo We haue textes almost innumerable conteyned in the holye scriptures whyche declare that Christ alone by hys bloude hath perfectely wrought oure re demptioÌ„ satisfied for our sinnes pacified the wrath of God and brought vs agayn into fauoure But if ther were no mo places of the scripture to condeÌ„ne the sacri fice of the Masse but thys one whyche Christe hangynge vpon the crosse sayed Euery thynge is made perfecte it were sufficiete For if Christe by his death haue made all thynges perfecte than lefte he nothynge imperfect So doeth it truely folow that the papistical sacrificeynge for the synnes of the quicke and deade is damnable iniurious and despitful to the blessed passioÌ„ of christe seinge Christe made all thynges coÌ„suÌ„mate and perfecte by his pre cious death and by that alone ob tayned perpetuall remission for al the synnes of the faythful For his glorious death and bytter pa ssion is eueÌ„ now of as ful streÌ„gth and of as much vertue as it was what time he suffered and so shal coÌ„tinewe vnto the worldes ende as blessed Paulle sayeth Iesus Christ yesterday and to day the same continueth for euer Therefore is he called an euerlastynge priest because he doth al thinges perfectly requireth none other to healpe hym as he him selfe sayeth by y e prohet I am he that tea cheth rightuousnes am of power
delyghte in gorgeous houses buylte them tentes and in those safely dwelte considerynge wyth them selues that they were but straungers and pilgrimes and therfore prepared them houses not for thys world but for the worlde to come by couchynge there treasures in the bosomes of poore menne Euse. To buylde necessarye and conueniente houses for oure vse is not vngodly as I iudge but to repose oure delyght in them or so to spend oure goodes on buildynge that the poore people are y e les regarded socoured releaued and holpen thys is wicked this is vngodly CHri Buildynge is the daughter of phansye and maye in a maner be compared to the webbe of Penelope For that one setteth vp ano ther after the disbursinge of many powndes destroyeth and buil deth it vp againe with double ex pences the thirde succedeth and his phātasy not fully satisfied he agayne altereth the buildynge and addeth threfolde charge so that to build I spake of to much gorgeous and not necessary houses is nothyng else than to dalie wyth the worlde and to be led with fansy Theo. What was in tyme paste more gorgeous than Rome whan she was called the Ladye and heade of the worlde What was more sumptuousiye buylt than the tēple of Solomō yea and that at gods commaun demente as I maye passe ouer many aunciente and famous cities what is become of them Howe are they decayde Manye are come to suche and so greate downe faule and to so extreme tuine so deformed so destroyed so cōsumed to death that ther remaineth not somuche as a steppe neyther is there lefte of them any mencion at all Well were it wythe Christen religion if christen men woulde remember this sentēce of blessed Paul We haue no dwellyng place in thys world but we lobe for another to come Thā should the hea uenly mansion be more desired soughte after But nowe manye builde and they knowe not who shal enherite in y e mios of these their gorgious buildinges y e pore people are not cōsidered nor prouided for Euse. Woulde God all such as so greatly delite in costu ous buildinges would somtime set this sentēce of the wyseinā before theyr eyes If y u kepeste not thy selfe sayeth he in the feare of the Lord continually thy housse shal sone be subuerted topled ouer brought to noughte Chri. Me thinke y t thys curious buyldyng whych al moste vniuersalli is vsed now a daies among vs is a great tokē of the daye of iud gemente beinge at hande For Christe in the Gospel amonge other tokens reciteth buildyng to be one of y e cheife wherbi we may learne y t the commyng of the son of man vnto the teribleiudgemēt is at hād as s. Iames sayth Behold y e iudge standeth before the dore Phile. I perceyue now right ryght wel ye are fully persuaded that no man ought to reioyce in gorgeous buildynges wherein many delighte nowe a dayes Theo. Yea verely The history of the riche man in the Gospell maketh vs afraid which was a buil der also and whē he had finished hys buildinge and couched hys goods in his faire large houses thinking y t he should haue lyued many yeres sodenly it was sayed vnto hym y u fole thys nyghte shal they take away y e life frō the and thā whose shal these thinges be that y u hast gathered togither Phile. To enioye greate possessions in thys worlde semeth not to a fewe a singulare commoditie high profite but with how many cares troubles are they accōpa ned With what great labour at thei gotē scraped vp together With what carfulnes disquiet of mynde are they kept the hordets vp of them being at al houres in more feare left they should be taken awaie from them either by robbynge pollynge pillinge burning or by some other chaūce Howe shortly are they consumed and broughte to naught whiche were not gathered together with out long time and great sweate So vaine and transitorye be the goodes of the world Againe are not the wordly possessions many tymes lefte to suche heytes as spende them no lesse prodigally than their auncitours got them hardely and kept them niggardly What iuste cause also hath a ny man to reioyce in temporall riches seing that at the dreadful day of iudgemēt they shal render a straight accōptes of euery farthing to the high euerlastinge Iudge Christ how they haue bestowed them For God hath not endeued the rich men wyth their possessions that they should spēd thē at their pleasure and phansy but accordinge to hys most godlye commaundemente wyll and pleasure Syluer is myne and golde is myne sayeth the Lorde of hostes Hereto agreeth the say inge of the Psalmographe the earth is the Lordes and all that is contayned in it The Lorde hath committed hys goodes to the ritche men and he wyll cale them to accomptes a gaine to se how they haue bestowed thē and what thei haue won and gottē by the exercise of thē for the Lordes auauntage as we maye se in the Gospell If ther be foūd vnprofitable seruauntes and haue not bestowed them in settingeforth the glorye of God and in the hel pynge of theyr christen brethren but haue hid thē vp in the groūd that is to saye kepte them nigardly to their owne vse or spent them aboute vayne and wycked thynges they maye be sure to be bound fete and handes to be cast into vtter darckenes where shal be weping and gnashing of teth Chri. O that th◅se thynges were wel cōsidered pondered weighed in the iuste balance of resonable discression than shoulde the ryche men of thys worlde haue litle occasiō to glorie in their terrestrial and worldly possessions but rather recounte them moste happie wealthie and fortunat to whom least is committed For euery man shall rendre accountes of the talentes receiued be they fewe or many Theo. Blessed is the ryche which is founde wyth out blemishe say eth the wyse man hath not gon after golde nor put hys truste in monye and treasures Where is there such a one and we shal cōmend hym and call hym blessed For greate thynges doeth he among hys people Who so is tried and founde perfecte in suche thynges shal be commended and praysed Yea hys good shall be stablished and the whole congregacion shall declare hys almes Make you frendes sayeth oure Sauiour Christ of the vnryghtous Mammō that whē ye shal haue nede they maye receiue you into euerlastynge habitacions Euse. To se the inordinate affecti on insatiable desier whych the more parte of men haue vnto the goodes of y e world it is a world Aunciente Authours complaine of the couetuousnes vsed in their tyme but if they were now a liue they woulde maruell and wyth hyghe indignacion wete they re penne and wright Satyres and Inuectiues agaynste oure couetous worldlyngs For theyr coue tous affectes knowe no
man of greate possessioÌ„s of a viâ—…e condition a maÌ„ of hygh noble renoume Euse. Trulye the goodnes of God towarde man can not be expressed Phile Yet are these benifites whych one man geueth to an other more vyle then dust if they be compared to y e precious giftes heretofore rehearsed whiche God gaue to man But marcke what foloweth Theo. Saye on we besech the. Phile. Satan that old subtile serpent perceiuing man to be made of God for this enteÌ„te y t he should enherite that glory frome the whyche for hys intollerable arrogancye he was moste worthely deiecte and caste downe craftelye subtilly lyke him selfe w t manye swete proâ—…ses and faire flaterynge wordes at the laste allured oure grandmother Eue to the traunsgression of Gods commaundemente and she lykewyse hyr 〈◊〉 so that by this meâ—…s 〈◊〉 they and theyr posteritie were not onely depriued of those pleasurs and commodities whyche I rehearsed heretofore but also vtterli daÌ„ned for theyr disobedieÌ„ce And al this came to pas thorow the enuy of SataÌ„ as y e wise maÌ„ saith God created mâ—… to be vnde stroâ—…ed yea after y e image of his own liknes created he him Neuertheles thorow enuâ—… of the deuyl death entred into the world Christo. O lamentable chaunce Nowe is man become of the Image of God the Image of the deuill of the heyre of glorye the enheritour of euerlasting paine of immortall mortall of good Godly wicked and deuillishe of fre a bonde slaue wyth all hys powers to Satan sinne death hell desperation c. Euse. But what enioied that rauenynge woulfe his pray Phile. Nothynge lesse for God whych is gentle and the self gentilnes moued wyth louynge compassion tender zeale and fatherly pity towarde man forgettyng the displesure y t maÌ„ had done to him thorow hys disobedieÌ„ce castyng al hys sins behind his backe enflamed w t no lesse loue towarde maÌ„ coÌ„cernyng hys saluatioÌ„ beholde what grace mercy doth then he was before the traunsgressioÌ„ minding to shew hym selfe of no lesse puissaunce and streÌ„gth to recouer saue maÌ„ theÌ„ Satan was to destroy coÌ„deÌ„ne maÌ„ came into Paradice sought hym vp made garmeÌ„tes for him to couer hys nakednes seÌ„t hym into thys world made him Lord ouer all and promised hym that the sede of a woman euen Iesus Christ hys owne sonne borne of Mary the vyrgin shoulde deliuer him from the power of Sathan reconcile hym to his Godly fauoure satisfye for hys wyckednes make hym a newe man endue hym wyth hys holye spirite fynallye thorowe hys merites and good workes bring him vnto the celestiall enheritaunce from the whyche Satan at that presente had exiled hym Thys promise was so fayethfull for God hym selfe spake it which is the selfe trueth whyche can not lye which is iuste in al his wordes agayne so coÌ„fortable that so manye I meane Adam hys posteritie as did apprehend and laye hand on that wyth earneste fayeth were fre from that miserable thraldome wherinto they were cast thorow Satans willnes receyued into fauour taken as moste deare chyldren and recounted perfectly rightuous for the assured perswation and vndoubted faith y t they coÌ„ceiued in the blessed sâ—…de Iesus Christe at the tyme promised of God the father So that so longe as they liued in thys present world they liued in the fauour of God and when they departed from hence God appointed theyr bodies to reaste in the earth placed theyr soules where hys good pleasure was vnto the commynge of his sonne theÌ„ to receiue that blessed ioye and heauenly felicitie that they had loste thorow their disobedience Iesu Christ that most blessed sede workynge thys saluation for maÌ„ noâ—… for any good dedes that we had done but of his own mere mercy and tender pity Theo. O here is the good shephearde that soughte vp the loste shepe when he had fouÌ„de it layed it louyngelye vpon hys shoulders â—…eÌ„derly brought it home agayne to the shepefolde O here is y e most swete louing tender father which w t so greate ioy embrasing armes receiued home againe the lost son O here is y e merciful SamaritaÌ„ whych pyâ—…ying the wouÌ„ded man being half dead poured wine oileinto his wouÌ„ds bound theÌ„ vp laied him vpoÌ„ his beast caried him to an inne paid for his healiÌ„g O here is that moste puisaunte kynge whyche of his owne liberalitie forgaue hys seruaunt the ten M. taleÌ„tes which he ought O here is y e mighty Loâ—…d which trode downe the wyne pâ—…sse alone alone neyther was there anye at all that holpe hym O here is that moste louyng sauiour that saueth his people froÌ„ all theyr synnes O here is that diligente Phisitian that is ready at all tymes to healpe the diseased to refreshe theym that labourâ—… and are laden O here is that myghty Dauid that slewe Golias and deliuered the Israelites from the cruel PhilistiaÌ„s O here is that mooste valiauÌ„te Emperour whych for our sakes hath coÌ„quered SataÌ„ â—…el death synne desperation damnation wyth al the powers infernal O here is that tender herted louer that can no more forget vs then a mother can forget the chyld of hyr wombe and though she forget hyr chyld yet can not he forget vâ—… For he hath written vp vs in his handes so that we are alwayes in his sight To whom is not here opened an exceading greate and large windowe to reioyce in the Lorde oure God except we be estraÌ„ged froÌ„ al that is God or Godly Phile. I am glad brother Theophilus to heare you speake on thys maner But lette vs go forth After so many pleasures shewed to man which all thorowe hys owne faulte he so wyckedly loste after so greate a synne committed agaynste the diuine maiestie so frelye to forgeue man so to accepte hym into hys fauoure so to loue hym that he promiseth to send downe from hys moste glorious throne hys owne dearly beloued son to make a perfect recoÌ„ciliation euerlastynge agremente betwene hym and man that they may for euer and euer dwell togyther in ioyefull glorye Oh what a feruente charitie and vnmeasurable loue of God is this Who canne worthelye either by herte thynke or by tonge expres or yet by penne sette forth the exceadynge greatenes of Goddes kynde hertye loue towaâ—…d man The Kynge of all Kynges the Lorde of all Lordes yea that Lord to whose maiestye al thinges are obediente boeth in heauen earth and Hell so to set his mynd on man beyng but a pore vile and miserable creature yea of all mortall Creatures moste synneâ—…ull mooste disobediente mooste frayle and readye to fal so to loue and tender hym that to do hym good to brynge hym vnto glorye and honoure he dis dayneth not but mooste wyllyngelye vowchesafeth to sende downe hys onelye begotten and dearelye beloued sonne yea and that into thys synnefull vale
forthe theyr mouthe vnto heauen and theyr tonge goeth thorowe the worlde Therfore fall the people vnto thē therout sucke they no smal aduauntage Tush say they howe shoulde God perceyue it Is there anye knowledge in the moste hygheste Lo these are the vngodlye these prospere in the worlde and these haue ryches in possession Againe the Apostles of Christe euen Christe him selfe beinge wyth them were sumtime so hungry destitute of al kinde of vitaile y t as they wente by the waye they were cōpelled euen for very hūger to plucke y e eares of corne and to eat it And doth not S. Paul in these wordes declare the miserable state boeth of hym selfe and of hys felowaposties Euen vnto thys tyme sayeth he we hunger and thyrste and are naked and are buffeted wyth fystes and haue no certayne dwellynge plase and laboure worckynge with oure handes Wee are reuyled and yet we blesse We are persecuted and suffer it We are euyll spoken of and we praye We are made as the fylthynes of the worlde the ofscourynge of all thynges euen vnto thys daye At the maryage in Cana Galile wher Christe hym selfe was present w t the blessed virgin Mary hys Mother and hys disciples was there not suche scarsenesse that they wāted wyne before the weddynge feaste was done And yet it is to be thought that both they whych were maried and the other ther assembled were Christes frendes and dearly beloued of Christ. What shal I rehearse the historye of the ryche manne whych was gorgeously appareled fared daintilye euerye day and of the pore Lazar whych died for hunger The riche gluttō lyued pleasauntly and was dam ned in hel the pore Lazar lyuing in all kinde of worldelye miserye after the death of his body reigneth in glory with god The enemy of God hathe after hys owne carnal luste all thynges the frēd of God wanteth that should suffice the necessary appetite of nature Phile. I confesse that for the mooste parte the wycked in thys worlde haue more aboundaunce of temporall goodes and lyue a thousande tymes more pleasaūtlye in the face of the worlde then the true christians do God thorow his vnsearcheable wisdome so appoyntinge whyche afore seeth much better then we what is necessarye for vs. Notwythstandynge thoughe God doeth not customably send to hys seruātes suche abundaunce of worldelye treasures as voluptuous world lyngs do possesse lest theyr mindes snarled wyth the loue of thē shoulde be withdrawen from the true euerlastynge goodnes as it cometh to passe in mani yet ve ry seldon or neuer doeth he leaue theim socourles but sēdeth them what so euer is necessarye for the sustentation of theyr ◅eadye and pore lyfe accordynge to hys promyse as he sayed vnto hys disciples When I sent you wythout wallet and scrippe and shou◅s lacked ye anye thynge And they sayed No. Truely no more shall we lacke any necessarye thynge if we loue God obey hys word The fayethful maye perchaunce sometyme fele the dart of pouertie yet wyll not God leaue theim socourles and destitute of helpe For God sendeth pouertie sumtyme to the ryghtuousse for to proue hys fayeth and to styrre hym vp to call on hym whych is the geuer of al good things that he maye knowe by the exercise of hys fayeth y t they be the gyftes of God as the wyse man sayeth Good and euyll lyfe and deathe pouertye and riches are of God Truste in God and abide in thy place For it is an easye thyng in the syght of God quickely to enriche a pore man Disconfort not yourselues therefore deare brethren thoughe sumetyme ye fele the crosse of pouerty but be on a good confort ioye and reioyce in God For God hathe promised that he wyl not leaue nor forsake you but gyue you all good thynges abundauntlye for your presente necessitie Hys delaye is onelye to proue your fayeth and to prouoke you to fle vnto hym by teruent prayer and to require of hym al thinges necessary for your lyuynge If ye do thys so ye be not idle but worcke accordynge to youre callynge the earthe shall soner cease to gyue forth hir fruit then ye shal wāt your honest necessaries Reioyce therfore in the lorde alwai once again I sai reioyce Chr. The Lord of heauē giue vs al grace so to order our life accor dyng to hys holy worde so to repose our affiaunce in hym so to call on hys mooste blessed name in al oure aduersitie and so to be thankefull for hys exceadynge goodnesse towarde mankynde that we be not found altogyther vnworthy the recepte of hys benefites The. So be it Phile. Fi nallye as I woulde haue you to reioyce in the Lorde when so euer he sendeth you syckenes pouerty or any other crosse to nurture you to mortifye olde Adam to slea your carnal lusts to make your bodies subiect to the spirite that they maye be a liuynge and holy sacrifice to God so woulde I exhorte you to reioyce also in the Lorde if at any tyme he rayseth vp tyrants to persecute you for the feruent zeale and Godlye loue that ye beare toward the ve ritie and trueth of hys moste blessed word For as it came to passe in the tyme of Moyses the prophetes in y e daies of Christ hys Apostles euē so hathe it bene frō theyr tyme vnto thys daye that the bealyed hypocrites wicked wordelynges haue euer hated styl vnto the worldes ende shall hate the glorious lyght of Gods worde Neyther is it any meruel For as concernynge the bealied hypocrites Gods word condemneth their hypocrisie superstitiō fayned holines newe founde religion carnall ceremonies outwarde sanctimonie and all the whole glitterynge face of theyr popishe solemnitie It cryeth out vpon theym that they are so idle and do not onely not preache thē selues but also forbyde other y t woulde boeth gladlye and frelye set forth y e glory of Christes gospell vnto the exceadynge conforte and greate Ioye of all true christiās yea they persecute thē blaspheme them enpryson them burne theim c. It crieth out vpon thē that haue so greate multitudes of worldelye possessions and yet make no prouisiō for the poore people for the vertuousse bryngynge vp of youthe in good letters and vertuousse maners but spende it vpon gorgeousse buildinges lusty horses delicate fare idle lubbers yea vpon haukes dogges and whores It crieth out vpon them that wheras they ought to be the lyght of the worlde and to gyue example of vertuouse lyuynge to all menne they are become of all men most abhominable moste leude moste vngodly moste geuen to idlenes moste drowned in voluptuousenes and altogyther sworne to do mischiefe Howe can these bealygods and swynyshe Hypocrites whose lyfe is ouerwhelmed with the darcke cloudes of syn abide the gloryous lyghte of Christes gospell Howe can these gluttonyshe Epicures suffer theyr Hypocrisy and fayned holines to be rebuked of the
poore abiectes and vyllaynes of this worlde by the authoritie of Goddes worde It can not be it can not be For euery one that doeth euyll sayth Christ hateth the lyght neyther cometh he to the lyght least hys works should be reproued Now as cōcerninge the wicked worldlings thei cā fauour no more the truth of Gods word thē the bealied hipocrites For it condēneth their couetousnes theyr ambitio their vain glory their pride their whordome their pollynge their pillinge their falshode theyr oppression their vnmercifulnes theyr cruelty theyr tyrannye and what so euer ahomination they vse beside Howe can it otherwise come to passe but they whych rebuke these vices muste neades be hated persecuted enprisoned and slayne of the wycked worldlynges for tellynge thē the truth for rebukynge these theyr most abhominable and outragiousse synnes as the prophete sayeth They hate hym that reproueth them openlye and who so telleth them the playne trueth they abhorre hym Can lighte and darcknes agre Can Christ and Beliall be at vnitie No more canne the worckers of wyckednes and the rebukers of the same be ledde wyth one consente There muste nedes be dissētion betwen thē as was betwene Abell and Cayne Iacob and Esau Christ and the byshoppes the Apostles and the worldelye tyrantes And for as muche as the same impietie and vngodlynes the same wyckednes and abhomination reigneth nowe in the worlde that hathe bene vsed in tymes paste and it ought of veri duti to be rebuked at thys presente wyth no lesse libertye of speache then it hathe bene in tymes paste excepte wee wyll wyncke at so greate abhomination and wyth the wycked worldelynges and bealied hypo crites syncke downe to the deuyl for oure laboure it is not to be doubted but they that shall take vpon them that office shal proue fynd euen that same gentilnes at theyr handes that Moyses the Prophetes Christe and hys Apostles the holye martyrs and blessed sayntes receyued of their bluddy predecessours Therfore if the waues and surges of cruell persecution shal at any tyme rise againste vs the good wyl of our heauenlye father so prouidynge without whole sufferaunce al the hypocrites in the worlde can do nothynge agaynst vs let vs not despayre nor cast away our hope but styl go forth to reioyce in the Lorde oure God and manfullye abyde by the veritie of his word remēbring y t it is called the word of the crosse trouble persecutiō remembringe that no kynde of aduersitie chaunceth to vs but the same happened in times past to the Prophetes and Apostles yea to Christ hym selfe that pure Lambe of God remembrynge y t all whyche wyll lyue Godlye in Christe Iesus shall suffer persecution remembrynge that by the crosse awaye is prepared for vs vnto eternall lyfe And that we maye wyth the more free spirite and francke courage reioyce in the Lord when so euer the crosse or persecution is layed on oure backes for Goddes sake and for hys Gospell let vs enarme oure selues wyth the cōfortable textes of the holye scripture and call to remembraunce the hystories of the blessed menne of God whych also suffred like or greater pains for the glorye of the Lorde not forgettynge that euen frome the beginyng of the worlde the wicked begā to persecute the godly as we may see in Abel and suche other Euse. Unto this pacience and the folowing of the prophetes doeth blessed Iames exhorte vs saying Bepatient brethren to the cōming of the Lorde Behold the husband man waiteth for the precious fruite of the earth and hath long patiēce therupō vntyll he receiue y e yarelye later raine Be ye also patiente therfore and settle youre hertes for the commynge of the Lord draweth nye Grudge not one agaynste an other brethren leste ye be dampned Beholde the Iudge standeth before the dore Take my brethren the prophets for an exemple of sufferynge aduersitie of patience whyche spake in the name of the Lorde Beholde we counte them happye whyche endure Chri. Oure sauiour Christ sayeth also Blessed are ye when men reuile you persecute you and shall falselye saye all maner of euyll saying agaynste you for my sake Reioyce and be glade for great is your reward in heauen For so persecuted they the Prophetes whyche were before you Phile. What pleasures the holy prophetes of God found at the worldes hande it is not hard to expresse Esaie that moste excellente Prophet of God for hys libertie of speache in rebukynge the syn of the princes and of the people and for prophesyeng of the vengeaunce of god to fal vppō the cōtreie and people for not receiuing the word of god was cut in two partes a sūder wyth a sawe of wode Theo. O intollerable payne Phi. The prophet Ieremy was stoned vnto death of his people at Taphnes in Egipte because he rebuked them of their wicked liuynge and exhorted thē vnto repentaunce and amendemente of lyfe The Prophete Amos at the commaundemente of kynge Amasias for hys preachinge was cruelly beaten and greuously tormented and at the laste the Kynges sonne Ochosias caused hym to be thurste into the temples of the heade wyth a great naile oftrone so shortli af ter died The Prophet Micheas was cruelly beatē emprisoned fed w t breade water because he spake the trueth told the king what should chaunce vnto hym The Prophete Helias was greuously persecuted of quene Iesa ble kinge Achabes wife for speakinge agaynste Baall and hys chaplens The Prophet zacharie son of Barachias was stoned to death for telling the king truth The Prophete Daniell was cast into the denne of lions because that contrarye to kynge Darius commaundemente he prated vnto his Lord the God Israell Which of the prophetes escaped wythout persecution And as the wicked worldlynges and bellie◅ Hypocrites handled the prophetes of God for telling the trueth so handled they al other y t obeied not their wickedlawes and filthy requestes Were not Sidrach Misac Abednago caste into a firie fornace because they would not worship the golden Image that kinge Nabugodonoser had made but only y e God of Israel Was not Achimelech wyth certaine other holy mē of god slaine at kynge Saules commaundemente because he she wed kyndenes to Dauid the hertye beloued seruaunte of God Was not Io sephe caste into prisonne because he woulde not leane to the filthy requeste of hys Lordes wyfe Was not Susan that vertuous woman at the poynt to be stoned vnto death because she woulde not consente to the vnlaufull and fylthy requestes of the two Iudges Was not Eleazarus miserablye put to death because ◅e at the kinges comaundement would not eat swines fleshe contrarie to the lawe of God was not a certayne woman wyth her seuen sonnes most cruelly put to death because they would not obaye the wycked precepte of
behold I am at hand In the begin ing of the boke is it writtē of me that I should do thy wyl O God Phile. As the lord Christ willingly suffered for the health of man so likewise did the apostles suffer al kindes of tormentes ioyefully for the glorye of God for the settinge forth of his blessed worde for the name of Iesu Christe the lord as we rede in the actes of y e apostles They were whipped of the byshopes seruauntes as S. Luke testifieth because they prea ched Christ so sent awaye But whan thei came frō the councell they reioysed y t thei were counted worthy to suffer rebuke for the name of Iesu. How glad ioyeful and redie the blessed Apostle S. Paule was to suffer any kinde of torment for Christes sake these his wordes do aboūdātly shewe Beholde I beinge bound in the spirite go forth vnto Hierusalem not knowyng what thinges shall chaunce vnto me ther but y t the holy goste in euery citie doth testifie sayinge y t bondes troubles do abide me But I care not for thē neither is my life dere vn to me so that I maye finishe my course w t ioye y e office which I haue receyued of y e lord to testifithe gospell of the grace of God Againe whē Agabus y e prophet toke Paules girdel bound hys hādes fete ther w t saying thus sayeth the holye goste the man whose girdel this is shal the Iewes thus bind at Hierusalē and they shall deliuer hym into the handes of the heathen and whē they that were wyth Paule hearynge these thynges moste instātly desired him that he should not go vp vnto Hierusalem the blissed apostle answered saying what do ye wepyng and troubelynge my herte I am redye not only to be bounde but also to die at Hierusalem for the name of y e Lord Iesu. O faythful Apostle The lord Iesu christ was so dere vnto him y t for his sake for the anauncement of his glorye for y e setting forth of his most glorious gospel he feared neither chea nes nor death He alwayes had before hys eyes y e short paines of this world y e euerlastinge ioyes of y e world to come He euer remēbred this saying of y e lord Christ whosoeuer shall lose hys lyfe for my sake for the gospel he shall kepe it He neuer forgat these his maisters wordes whosoeuer shal be ashamed of me of my sayīgs in this whorishe sinful generacion the son of man shal also be a shamed of him whā he shal come in y e glory of his father w t y e holy angelles But whosoeuer shal cō fesse me before mē I shall cōfesse him also before my father which is in heuē We rede also y t the blissed martire Ignatius after many greuous tormētes was thratened if he wold not forsake christ hys word y t he shuld be cast vnto wilde beastes so be deuoured But he being nothinge abashed w t those threates but perceyuing his death to be differted whiche he so greatly desired to suffer for christes name wrot an Epistle to the Romaines desired thē that thei woulde kepe hym no lenger frō his martirdome but w t al expediciō bringe to passe y t thei had so long threatened In the which epistle amōg many other wordes which declare hys valiāt fayth mighti courage in god he wrigh teth on this maner O wholsome beastes y t are prepared for me Whā shall they come whan shal they be sente out whan shal they eate my fleshe I would wishe w t al my herte y t they might be more gredy I wil bid thē vnto y e deuourīg of me praie thē lest par aduēture as they haue done in many thei feare to touch my bodie Yea if they shal make any de lay I my selfe wil brast into thē offer my selfe to thē Gyue me liberty I besech you for I know what is expedient for me Nowe that I beginne to be the disciple of Christ let fyres galowes wild beastes breakyng of my bones rackynge of my membres payne thorowout all my bodye and all the punyshmentes of the world that can be inuented by the craft and subtilty of the deuyll be ministered vnto me I wyll refuse none of theim all so that I maye deserue to obtaine Iesus Christ. Theo. O blessed glorious martyre O valeant and noble souldi our of our most mighty capitain Christ Iesu. O what a myrrour glasse and spectacle is here offered vnto vs wherein we maye se and learne not onelye hygh patience but also an exceadynge desyre to suffer al kynde of tormentes for the glory of Christe Phile. Not onely the blessed martyre Ignatius shewed him selfe wylling and ioyfull to suffer all kynde of aduersitie yea verye death for the cōfession of Christ and of hys blessed trueth but other holye men innumerable as we reade in histories Whē Decius the Emperoure that mooste cruel tyraunte hadde spoyled the blessed martyre Hypolitus of his vestures bycause he woulde not do sacrifice to false Gods the mā of God spake boldely vnto him sayinge thou haste not spoyled me of my garmentes but thou haste rather begun to clothe me And when the aforsayde tyraunt cōmaunded that he should be clo thed agayne w t his own accustomed kynd of apparaile and said vnto hym Use thyne olde seruice whych thou hast euer had in our syght be our frende the blessed martyre w t a stoute courage answered my seruyse is thys faithfully to serue Christe and by seruyng him spedly to come vnto a frutefull victory Shortlye after the tirant seyng his stedfast and vnshakē cōstācy cōmaūded him to be depryued of all hys goodes and to be headed w t diuers other about y e nūbre of nintene whiche al wyth ioyfull courage suffered death for Christes sake The blessed martyre Tiburtius was apprehēded of y e cruel iudge Fabiā and cōmaūded either to offer sacrifice to y e Idols or els to go w t naked fete vpō the hote burning coles He boldly wēt on thē barefoted hauinge no harme saied to y e tyrante Lay away thine vnfaithfulnes learne that he is the God alone whō we cōfesse to haue power ouer all creatures For thorowe the myghte of my Lorde Iesus Christe me thynke that goyng vpon burnyng coles I walke as it were vpō red roses wtout fealynge of anye paine or hurt of my fete For the creature obeyeth the commaundement of the creatoure When the tyraunt sawe that the fyre dyd hym no harme he commaunded that he should be slayne w t the swerd The blessed martyre wente vnto hys deathe wyth a toyfull herte praysynge God that he woulde vouchsafe to gyue hym strength for to confesse his mooste blessed name holy word before worldly tyrantes When Galerius the Proconsull cōmaunded that S. Cipriā should be headed bicause he was an enemy to the Goddes of