hym before Pilate dyd not his aduersaries accusers lay to his charge that he sowed sedicion among the people that he corrupted and peruerted the commons wyth his doctrine that he forbad men to pay tribute to Cesar and that he sayd he hym selfe was Christ a kinge How vniustly Christ was here accused the holy scriptures aboundantly testifie How could he be the author of sedicion whyche came in to thys world to make peace How coulde he corrupt and peruert the people with his doctrine when he taught nothynge but that whiche he had hearde of his father Can heaueÌ„ly thinges corrupt y â— mindes of mortal men Forbad he to pay tribute to Cesar which him self paied tribute to Cesar coÌ„mauÌ„ded other so to do Boasted he him selfe a king which â—â—ed away from the people when they wolde haue made hym theyr kyng Sayd he not vnto Pilate my kyngedome is not of this world Was he disobedient to the temporal rulers whych disdayned not to be brought before them to be iudged of theÌ„ yea and to suffer death vnder them Moreouer was not the blessed martyr S. SteueÌ„ accused y â— he spake blasphemouse wordes against Moses against god when of God no man euer spake more godlye nor of Moses more reuerently Yet must SteueÌ„ to the pot and be condemned for an heritike wheÌ„ Steuen deserued rather praise and promocion But Steuen had offended inoughe seynge it was the chief priestes pleasure the other rauening rabines that Steuen shulde lyue no longer Agayn when s Paule Silas came to Tessalonica and S. Paul preached in the sinagoge the passion râ—surreccion of Christe howe dyd certeyne of the Iewes complain of them vnto the heades of the Citie and rushed into the house of Iason thapostels hoste and violentlye plucked him oute saiynge These that trouble the world are come hither also whom Iason hath receiued priuelie And these al do contrarie to the decrees of Cesar affirming another kinge one Iesus Here are thapostels accused both of sedicion and treason and yet wer they neither sedicious persons nor traitours They troubled not y â— world except the world here be taken for the deuelishe people of y â— world to whoÌ„ it is a trouble to hear any thing of Christ or to heare their abhominable liuing rebuked The good people of the world they quieted made theÌ„ mery in their coÌ„science for asmuch as they perswaded by y e word of god which thapostels preached y â— they had gotteÌ„ fre remisâ—ioÌ„ of al their sinnes thorow faith in Christes blud Thapostels did not coÌ„trary to the decrees of Cesar if they were not against goddes worde but rather taught meÌ„ to obei theÌ„ And though thei preached Iesus to be a kyng yet dyd this nothing derogate Cesars honor for they taught Christ not to be a temporal but a spiritual king not to rule with sweard or polare but with his spirit word not to reigne in Princes palaces but in the hertes of the faythfull Is not here great sedicion greate treasoÌ„ WheÌ„ s Paul was but sene at HierusaleÌ„ in the temple how cried the iewes out saiyng O ye men of Israel help this is the maÌ„ that teacheth al meÌ„ euery wher against the people â—he law this place violeÌ„tly drue him out of y â— teÌ„ple 〈◊〉 him wold haue slaine him if the hye captaine had not come What had Paule offended He spake nothing he did nothing buâ— as other Iewes dyd It was inough to kyll Paule because he was that Paule which had preached Christ to be the sonne of god At another time when he tolde the Iewes that god appointed hym to be a teacher of the GeÌ„tils how lifted they vp their voices saiyng Away wyth such a felow from the earthe for it is no reason that he shoulde liue Paule muste dye because at the coÌ„maundement of god he turneth the Gentiles from Idolatry to the true worshipping of god And as the wycked world linges cruelly entreated the Apostels of Christe so doe the worldly tirauntes haÌ„dle the good byshops and faythful ministers in the primitiue churche If any myschiefe plage or euyl chaunsed in the conâ—â—ey wher thei wer it was straight â—ay layd to their charge Euen so â—â—kewyse doth y â— world at this time â—eal w t the true preachers of y â— lorâ—es worde Dearth famine hoÌ„ger â—lage pestilence battel insurrecciâ—ns coÌ„mocions treasons heresies Epicurisme licencious liuing c. all is imputed to the preachers of Christes gospell They they and â—one but they are the occasion of al that naught is wheÌ„ no kinde of people is farther from doynge harme to a coÌ„mon weale theÌ„ they neither doth a coÌ„moÌ„ weale receiue mo benefites of any man then of the godlye preacher If the olde worlde had hearde and obeyed the sermons of Nohe they had not perished with waters If the Sodomites and gomorianes had harkened to the sermons of Loth they had not ben consumed with raine fyre and brymstone from heauen If the Israelites had geuen eare to the warninges of the Prophets they had not so ofte be plaged and led awaye into captiuitie If the iewes had receiued the doctrine of Christ and his Apostles they and their citie with all their posteritie had not come to such a destruccioÌ„ But when the lord rayseth vp his Prophets preachers to admonishe y â— people of their wickednes and to exhort them to repeÌ„taunce and yet they wyll not amende but cruelly entreat them sâ—launder theÌ„ persecute theÌ„ kyl theÌ„ then cometh destruccion The lord god of their fathers sayth the scripture sent to them by his messengers rising vp betimes sending for he had compassioÌ„ on his people on his dwellinge place But they mocked the messengers of god and despised his wordes and misused his Prophets vntyl the wrath of the lorde arose against his people tyl ther was no remedy And so broughte he on them the kinge of Chaldes which siue their yong meÌ„ with the swearde in their holye temple and spared neither yongman mayden olde man nor him y â— stouped for age Chr. The scholer is not aboue his master nor the seruauÌ„te better theÌ„ his Lord. If y e world hate you saith Christ ye know it hated me before it hated you If ye were of the world y e worlde wold loue the is his But for asmuche as ye are not of the world but I haue choseÌ„ you froÌ„ y e world therfore y e world hateth you Eus. Preachers are coÌ„maunded of god vnder pain of daÌ„nacioÌ„ to tel the people their fautes yet if they rebuke couetousnes theÌ„ the couetous worldlinges are mad If thei inuey against pride the proud are displesed If they coÌ„demne whoredome whores baudes and rufianes are woode Looke what soeuer sinne they reproue the gilty can not abide but maligne the preacher and seeke to do him displeasure The Gergesens had rather Christ
the fleshe of my people and flaye of their skinne ye breake their bones ye chop them in peces as it were in to a cauldron and as fleshe into a potte Theo. These gredy gripes and hongry horseleches by vsurpinge the name of gentlemen do muche obscure the renowne worship and honour of true gentlemeÌ„ and cause the name of a gentlemaÌ„ to be muche disdained amonge the coÌ„mon people as wee haue bothe heard and seene now of late daies And thoughe they chalenge to theÌ„selues neuer somuch the name of a gentlemaÌ„ by their goodes by their auncestoures by antiquitie by the worthines of their stocke and many god morowes yet if they do degenerate and growe out of kynde from the natural maners of a true gentleman they are no gentlemen in deede but carles churles yea and in hurtinge their neighbours they are tirantes and murtherers as the holy scripture calleth them and in pollyng and pyllyng them they are theues lions and wolues as the Prophetes terme them An ape shall be an ape though she be clad in purple and golde Esops crowe was styll a crowe euen wheÌ„ he had decked him selfe with the pleasaunte and goodly fethers of other byrdes It is vertue and not grosse fleshe bloud which thinge we all are that maketh the true noble and geÌ„tlemaÌ„ It is a minde disposed to do good yea doth good in dede when occasion serueth and not sumptuous aparell and goldeÌ„ cheines that setteth forth true nobilitie It is iustice mercy liberalitie kyndnes gentlenes hospitalitie for the poore and suche other godly gyftes of the mynd and not the multitude of ryches that declare who is a gentlemaÌ„ and who a churle who is noble who vnnoble He that can nyest approche vnto lady vertue and most liuelie set forthe her naturall disposicion in his conuersacion and behaueoure he is the beste gentleman be his parentes neuer so base and his kinred neuer so vyle in the iudgemente of the worlde Christo. Socrates the Philosopher beholding a man verye ryche and wealthy in deede but an assehead in the knowledge of goodnesse and notwithstandynge gorgeouse and galante in apparell sayde Beholde a golden slaue Socrates nothynge estemynge the ryche man for hys ryches and sumptuous rayement called hym a golden slaue meaninge that thoughe he were laden wyth neuer so manye golden cheynes golden rynges golden apparell yet so longe as he hym selfe is but fylthye in hys conuersacion and hathe a mynde subiecte to carnal lustes as couetousenes pryde ambicion cete he is but a verye slaue so farre is it of that he is a gentleman At an other tyme that same Philosopher seynge a man bothe ryche and galauntlye appareled sayde Here is a horse trapped in syluer Hys apparell shewed hym to be a gentleman but his maners and condicions declared hym to be but a horse and a beast Diogenes hearing a certeine man bragging and boasting of his kinred ryches beautie costuous aparel and such other worldly visars knowing not one pointe of nobilitie to be in him nor ought els worthy of prayse sayde loo here is a shepe with a golden flese Cato the elder was wont to saye that the lytle theues dyd weare fetters but the great theues went vp doune galauntly appareled with purple and golde I pas ouer diuerse other saiyngs of the wise meÌ„ which without any respect had to carnal nobilitie worldlye ryches gorgeous aparell c. called the wealthy worldlinges by suche names as theyr maners and behaueoure deserued Euse. Wolde god all they which wyll be taken for gentlemeÌ„ were gentlemen in dede Then shulde it go much better with this realme of England Christ. Thys endles encroching of worldly possessions shew euidently y â— they whiche vse it are not frindlye to the coÌ„mon weale seing thorow it y e poore coÌ„mons are brought to beggarie Salomon hath a notable saiynge and wold god all men wold learne it It is this The encrease prosperitie of the comons is the kynges honour but the decaye of the people is the coÌ„fusion of y â— prince Theo. Frindely to y e comon wealeâ— Mary syr they are not frindlye to the kynge by Salomons saiynge that enpouerysheth the comons if the comons encrease wealth and prosperitie bee the honoure of the kinge and if the decaye and enpoueryshement of the comons be the confusion and destruccion of the prynce then are they extreme enemies to the kynge which without any respect had to the comoÌ„ weale seke thorow their vnsaciable couetousenes to beggare the Kynges subiectes whereby they shall be the lesse able bothe to serue the kynge and to beare for their porcion the charges of the Realme when tyme requireth Philemon Certes a Kynge can neuer be poore so longe as hys subiectes be wealthye And better it is to haue many that shuld healpe in tyme of nede then fewe and easier is the burthen and the gladlier it is borne y t many beare then few Christo. If that same gentlenes and liberalitie were found at this present amonge the ryche men of this worlde that hath bene here to fore in men of lyke degre the commons shulde not only at all times be quiet but also the realme shuld floryshe wyth greate wealthe yea and that vniuersallye where as nowe it resteth in fewe mens handes Gentlemen to be enchrochers of Farmes notable shepemongers Grasiâ—rs Bochers Clothiers Weauers Brewers câ— as I maye speake nothyng of theyr parsonages vicarages prebendes c hauynge otherwyse whereof abundantly to lyue O vnworthy acte O vnsemely syght O abhominacion What is it to beggare the Realme to famyshe the Kynges subiectes to brynge slauery in to thys realme if thys be not Do they not sucke the poore mennes bloud that suffer them not to haue whereof to lyue The wyseman sayeth The breade of the nedy is the life of the poore he that defraudeth him of it is a murtherer Philemon Well neyghboures althoughe I doubte not but that the Kynges maiestie and his most honorable councel wyll se redresse in these thynges when they haue conuenient leasure yet if the world shulde go forth continue as it is the ryche worldlinges more miserably oppresse the pore then they heretofore haue done god forbyd that the comoÌ„ people or any kynd of people shuld reise vp tumultes styrre vp sedicions lyfte vp their hande againste the hye powers For that is a sinne whiche by no meanes can escape vnplaged yea they that so do runne into the dauÌ„ger of eternall damnacion as ye haue heard afore Chri. I say god forbyd also but ye know the comeâ— prouerbes the belli hath no eares honger is sharper then thorne necessitie is an harde darte nede maketh the olde wyfe trot Philem. Saint Paule had rather neuer to eate fleshe nor drinke wyne then he shuld offend his weake brother â–ª Wolde he then thinke you trouble an whole comon weale make vproures rayse vp commocions come armed in the felde assemble a sorte
as y e Psalmographe sayeth The eyes of all thynges loke and wayte vpon the O Lorde and thou geueste them meate in due tyme. Thou openest thy hande and replenishest all thinges lyuynge wyth thy blessynge Ageine They that feare the Lord shal haue no scarsenes Thei whyche seke the Lorde shall wante noâ— good thynge Chri. God shall soner cease to be God then such as vnfainedly trust in hym shal peryshe for honger Phil. As y e Israelites murmured for meat so likwise did they for water They came to Moses chide with him yea thei wer almost redye to stone him and saide Gyue vs water to dryncke Wherefore haste thou broughte vs oute of Egipte to kyll vs and oure chyldren and cattalle wyth thyrste The Lorde God styll conâ—â—derynge hys promyses and not weyinge their in fidelitie nor vnthanckefulnes woÌ„derfullye and agaynste all naturall and humayne expectacioÌ„ gaue them plentye of swete waters oute of the harde stonye rocke Euse. O the maruelouse worckes of God He is not called almyghtye wythoute a canse For he dothe what so euer hys good pleasure is It is truelye sayde of Dauid greate is oure Lord and greate is his power yea his wysdome is infinite Who wil now doubt of necessari foode seing God so meruelously fedeth the vnfaithful vnthaÌ„ckefull disobediente people Phi. At a nother tyme the rascall people y t was amonge them beinge wearye of the meate sent downe from heauen fell a lustynge and turned theÌ„ selfes and wept euen as did also y e children of Israel and sayde who shall gyue vs fleshe to eate We remember the fyshe which we did eat in Egipte for nought and y e cucuÌ„bers and melons lekes onions garlecke But nowe oure soule is dryed away for we can se nothing else saue Manna And oure soule lotheth thys lyghte breade Ye see that these people are styl like them selfes that is vnfaithful vnthaÌ„kefull disobediente O frowarde and croked generacioÌ„ sayth Moses do ye so rewarde the Lorde O ye folyshe people and vnwyse Chri. It is not without a cause that sainte Stephen called that nacion styfnecked vncircumcised hartes and eares and suche as alwaye resyste the holy ghost Phil. Wel yet note Notwithstandinge their infidelitie vnthanckefulnes and disobedience God continued styl iuste in his promises faythfull in his wordes true in his dealynges for accordinge to their desire for his promyse sake he wolde not suffer them to wante but gaue them whatsoeuer they lusted for Ther weÌ„t forth a wynde frome the Lorde saythe the scripture and brought quailes from the sea and let them fal about the host eueÌ„ a daies iournei rouÌ„d about on euery syde of y e hoste and they dyd flye in the ayer as it were two cubites hye ouer the earthe And the people stode vp all that daye and all that nyghte and on the morow they gathered quayles And he that gathered a litle gathered ten homers full And they spred them abrode rounde aboute the hoste Thus se ye how God for hys promyse sake cheryshed the Israelytes although vnfaythful vnthanckefull and disobedient euen as y e Nurse doth hir sucking babe and fedde them by the space of .xl. yeres in y e wildernes without their paine care trayuayle or laboure Theo. If God shewed such gentilnes to the vnfaithefull and disobediente for hys promyse sake howe much more wyll he shew hym selfe a gentle and louynge father to them that fear hym beleue in hym loue hym and for their powers laboure to walke in hys holye path-waies Phil. Such shal neuer waÌ„t Nowe marcke what followeth As god prouided meate for the Israelites so in lyke manner suffered he them not to go naked nor to peryshe for colde but all that tyme of fortye yeres when they were in the wyldernesse he so preserued their clothes that they waxed not olde and soo saued their shooes that they were not worne but both garmentes and shooes so whole at the fortie yeres ende as they were at their fyrste comminge into wildernes I haue led you forty yeres in the wyldernesse sayeth god and your clothes are not waxed olde vpon you neyther are the shooes of your feete worne Ye haue eaten no breade nor dronke wyne or stronge drynke that ye mighte knowe that I am the Lord youre god Moses also sayth god humbled the suffered the to honger fed the wyth Manna whiche neyther thou nor thy fathers knew of to make the to knowe that man dothe not lyue by breade onlie but by euerye word that procedeth out of the mouthe of the Lorde doth a man lyue Thy rayement waxed not olde vpon the neyther did thy foote swell those fortie yeres Here of maye ye perceaue howe bountifull God is in geuynge foode and apparell to them speciallye y t feare hym and kepe his holy commauÌ„dementes Who wyll nowe be careful eyther for the bellye or for the backe as they saye God made theÌ„ both God wyl nourishe them both Eus. These histories do so set forth the kindenes of God towarde maÌ„ that none excepte verye infideles haue iuste occasion to dispayre of Gods liberalitie if they cal on his name and trauaile accordinge to theire vocacion phil There is no thyng more certeine But leste any man should thyncke that thys kyndnes of god ceassed in them of whome I haue hitherto spoken I wyll rehearse one or two histories mo out of the olde testamente and then alledge certeine oute of the new wherof ye maye learne that other proued the lyke kyndenes at the hand of god euen as wel in the newe testament as in the olde that by this meanes ye maye be perfectlye perswaded god to be the Lorde of the same liberalitie now that he was afore alike kynde to his seruauÌ„tes in all ages Who knoweth not y â— Elias was an excellent Prophet of god feruent in spirit vehement in worde and ielous for the glory of god Chri. The scriptures testifie no lesse of him Theo. Elias stode vp as fyre saith the wiseman and his worde brent lyke a cresset Whyle he liued he was afrayed of no Prince and no man myghte ouercome him Of his prayse wryteth Iesus the sonne of Syrache Phil. Thys man of God lyued in the time of Achab kinge of Israel in whose dayes God sent a greate dearth into the world for it rained not vpon the earth by the space of iii. yeres and .vi. moneths In this plage of famine whereof innumerable wythoute dyed se howe God prouyded for hys seruaunt Elias Fyrste when the waters began to be dryed vp God sente hym to the brooke Cherith where he promysed to gyue hym drincke whyche thyng he vnfainedly performed so that wheÌ„ other perished for lacke of dryncke he hadde Gods plentye inoughe as they vse to saye Now as touchyng his meate behold the wonderfull power of God whyche commaunded the Rauens to fede him and to bringe him meate The Rauens saith y â— scripture brought hym
to our successioÌ„ with large teares lamenteth not The inferiour meÌ„bers to enuie the principall partes of the bodye O vnnatural disposicion The seruaunte to rule the master y â— inferiour to ryse against his soueraign y â— subiect to disobey his gouernour O comberous coÌ„fusion The brainsicke yea rather the brainles head to atteÌ„pt redres of matters in a comon weale vnsent vncalled O preposterous order Christo. It can not de denied but diuers of y e comons haue gone far beyond their limites takeÌ„ in hand that hath not become them for asmuch as thei coÌ„trary to 〈◊〉 callinge haue presumed to do the office of magistrates of men lawfullye called to rule in the coÌ„mon weale Theo. Those their rashe disobedieÌ„t behauiour caÌ„ bi no meanes please god Phil. Please yea it rather most highli displeaseth god which is the author of peace not coÌ„fusioÌ„ which wil al thinges to be done semely in comeli order whiche coÌ„mauÌ„deth the subiect to obey his superioure in all thinges not only for feare of punishmeÌ„t but also for coÌ„science sake How greatly god is euer hath ben offeÌ„ded w t disobedieÌ„ce rebellion with order breaking disturbauÌ„ce of a comoÌ„ weale y â— holy scriptures sufficieÌ„tly do shew Was not AdaÌ„ our graÌ„dfather throwen out of paradise for his disobedience toward his lorde god y e most high most excellente magistrate both he all we his ofspring daÌ„ned for euer if we had not ben redemed by the preciouse bloud of y â— vndefiled lambe Iesu Christ Thus froÌ„ the beâ—inninge se we howe greatly god abhorreth disobedieÌ„ce though y â— faute in our eies semeth verye lytle not to be passed of Euse. Truly therfore is it said of Samuel behold to obey is better theÌ„ sacrifice to harkeÌ„ is better theÌ„ the fat of raÌ„mes For rebellioÌ„ is as y e sin of whordoÌ„ stubburnes is as y e sin of idolatry Phi. But y â— I may declare to you how god in comoÌ„ weales hath euer punished disobedience rebellioÌ„ coÌ„spiracies insurreccioÌ„s coÌ„mocions c ageinst lawful magistrats I praâ— you geue eare marke what shall be sayd Chri. We gladly hear Phi Ye know ryght wel y â— wheÌ„ god determined to deliuer his people the Israelites out of Egipt y â— laÌ„de of boÌ„dage slauery he made Moses their gide ruler vnder him The. Ye sai trutâ— Phi. Here was Moses chosen and appointed of god to be the supreme magistrate and principal gouernour of gods people And as he had here by gods commaundemeÌ„t authoritie to rule eueÌ„ so were the Israelites bounde by gods worde to obey which thinge so long as they did they ryght wel prospered they liued quietly god fauored them Moses as a louing father cherished theÌ„ But wheÌ„ thei shoke of the yocke of obedience sought carnal libertie murmured against their magistrate troubled the comon weale oh how did god punishe and plage theÌ„ The lorde hath heard your murmurings saieth Moses which ye murmure against him For what are wee he speaketh of him selfe and Aaron your murmuriÌ„ges are not against vs but against the lorde The Israelites murmuring against Moses murmured against god whose officer Moses was Therfore sayeth the scripture behold the countenaunce of the lorde was moued against the people the lorde fiue the people w t an exceading greate plage And as Dauid sayeth the heauy wrath of god came vpoÌ„ theÌ„ and slue the wealthiest of theÌ„ yea and smot doune y â— chosen men that were in Israel For ther is no power sayth S. Paul but of god the powers y â— be are ordeined of god Whosoeuer therfore resisteth power resisteth the ordinaunce of god But thei that resist shal receiue to them selues daÌ„nacion With how greuous and horrible leprosy did god stryke Mir Iam for murmuring against Moses How plaged god y â— Israelites for murmuringe against him Moses his seruauÌ„t with fyrie serpentes which stonge them vnto death Corah Dathan and Abirom because they did not obeie Moses goddes magistrate but disdained that he shuld reigne ouer them although appointed of god wer they not swalowed vp of the earth bothe they their wyues their children al theyr goodes Went not they al that they had doune alyue vnto hell the earth closed vpon theÌ„ and they perished from among the coÌ„gregacioÌ„ Chri A mete plage for rebellioÌ„ Phi. On the morow after when the people of Israel murmured against Moses saying ye haue kylled the people of the lorde so vnreuerently rayled on him what escaped they vnpunished The scripture sayth there dyed in that plage .xiiii. M. and .vii. hundred besides theÌ„ that dyed about the busines of Corah Thus se we that in y â— beginninge of the Israelites publyke weale god by no meanes could abyde rebels sedicious persons but punyshed them with moste horrible notable plages Eus. If god so greuouslye plaged theÌ„ which dyd but murmure against his magistrate how extremely wyl he punishe theÌ„ y â— do not onely vnâ—cuereÌ„tly speake of the hye powers but also gather vnlawful assembles against them and enarme theÌ„ selues on such maner as though they shulde ryse against a comoÌ„ pestileÌ„ce of the publyke weale Surely y e ende of such must nedes be tomuche miserable The. These thinges were done to shew how greatly god approueth the office dignitie of a lawefull magistrate that he wyl be auenged of al suche as despise his holy ordinaunce agayne y â— we by these examples maye learne to feare the hye powers to honoure and obey them and by no meanes to resiste them excepte wee wyll proue the same or worse plages Philemon Well sayde Absolom Kynge Dauides sonne made an iâ—surreccion agaynste hys father and thorow the counsel of wicked Ahithophel wrought moste vilanie againste his fathers honoure What folowed was not AbsoloÌ„ miserably slaine Did not his vngodly councellour hang him self Wer ther not also .xx. M. meÌ„ slain in battell y e toke Absoloms parte Se to what poynte sedicion bringeth both the authors couÌ„cellors and mainteiners thereof Chri. It is therfore wisedom for all men to folow this councel of the wisemaÌ„ my sonne feare y u the lorde and the kynge kepe no company with sedicious persons for their distruccion shall come sodenly And who knoweth the aduersitie that maye come of them both Againe wishe the kyng no euyll in thy thought and speake no hurt of the ryche in thy priuie chamber for a byrde of the ayre shal betray thy voice and with hâ—â— fethers shal bewraye thy wordes Phil. Who knoweth not that Seba the soÌ„ne of Bichri whiche conspired also against Dauid and disswaded the people of Israel from obedience to their liege soueraign lord had his head cut of Euse. A mete death for a traitour Phile. Baasa the sonne of Ahâ—a coÌ„spired againste Nadab kynge of Israell sâ—ue him
raigned in his stead But what folowed though Baasa in the syght of the worlde died no shameful death yet died he in the displeasure of god afterward al his succession with al his freÌ„des kinsfolke were al destroied so that ther was not one left aliue Again zimri coÌ„spired against Ela kynge of Israell slue him reigned in his steade But shortly after he was driuen to such misery and strayte that he fâ—ed into y â— kinges palace at Thirza settinge it on a fyre brent him selfe so wretchedlye ended hys lyfe Theo. An ende worthy of such a beginninge Phil. What shall I rehearse vnto you the histories of the .ii. sedicious men Theudas and Iudas of Galile of whom blissed Luke writeth in his booke of the Apostels actes The one boasted to do great thynges and so allured much people to folowe him the other councelled the Iewes by no meanes to paye tribute to Cesar but to maintaine theyr olde liberties and by this meanes moued great sedicion amonge the people What became of theÌ„ were they not put to death and so many as folowed them eyther sâ—ayne or els scatered abroad and so brought to naughte Wee reade not in al the scriptures that any traytour or notable sedicious parson hathe at any tyme escaped wythout notable punyshmente God caÌ„ not suffer his magistrates to be disobeied his coÌ„mon weales to be disturbed his polltique or ciuile lawes to bee contemnedâ— hys godly and honest orders to be broken c. Who soeuer attempteth any such wickednes god wyl be auenged of him as it is euident not only in the holy scriptures but also in the prophane histories For god euen among the Heathen cannot abyde his ordinaunce to be dispised Chri. Wold god that al they which eyther were authors of sedicion or consented therunto at any time in this our realme had knowen these thinges then wolde not they so greatly haue forgotteÌ„ theÌ„ selues and theyr duetie Euse. If they had ben as wel trayned vp in learning suche godly histories as thei were â—ouseled in hearing popishe masses such other trifeling truÌ„pery thei had raised vp no such tragedies If there had bene but the tenth part of true and learned preachers y â— there were of popyshe priestes among them they had neuer fallen to such disorder But it is truly sayd of the wiseman wheÌ„ the preaching of gods worde fayleth the people runne out of order perishe and come to naught The. Yet haue I heard it reported that these new preachers as they call them thorow their vndiscrete sermons opened a large window vnto dissolucion of lyfe and by this meanes caused the coÌ„mon people to aspire and breath vnto carnall libertie which whyle they hunted they forgot bothe them selues and theyr duetie Phil. I wyl not excuse al preachers For some as I haue heard haue taken vpon them the office of preachinge vncalled vnsente and suche disordered preachers for the mooste parte brynge all thynges to a disorder yea to an vtter coÌ„fusion maske they wyth neuer so pleasaunt a visare and bable wyth neuer so paynted eloquence in the syghte and eares of the simple and ignorante people Howe shall they preache excepte they be sente sayeth Saint Paul I haue not sent the preachers sayeth the Lorde and yet they runne I haue not spoken to them and yet they preached But as I maye speake in the faythefull and discrete preachers behalfe whyche are lawfully sente of the hye powers and called thereunto by the secrete mocion of goddes spirite in theyr hertes howe soeuer they be reported certaine I am they neuer taughte suche doctrine as should minister occasion to godlye people to shake of the zeale of obedience or to breake any good order or pollityke lawe Chri. Yet haue I heard some preachers whom I knowe to be bothe prudent and faythful sclaundred that they by their preaching haue caused these vproures Philem. Ye sayde well sclaundred Were they preachers or rather massemuÌ„gers that caused y â— insurreccions in Deuonshyre Chri. Massemungers papiâ—tes as it is reported Phâ—lem Then are the godly preachers fre from geuinge any occasion of that sedicion Euse. But what of Norfolke Phil. Euen in Norfolke also or els where I am sure the veri rebels them selues wyl confesse as I haue partly heard and knowen that the preachers wer not the authors nor prouokers of theyr commocion Can the sermons of them which teache al obedience humilitie and pacienâ—e moue men vnto disobedience hautines of mynde and desyre of reuenginge Canne lyght be the occasion of darkenes or truth of salsehead But what is so prudently godly and circuÌ„spect lie spoken that enuy can not wrest and corrupt Neither is it strauÌ„ge for the christeÌ„ preachers to be misreported of the voluptuous world lynges and couetouse carles How earnest a setter forth of gods glorie was the Prophet Elias yet howe was he reported not only of the baser sort but euen of the king and of the Quene Art thou he saieth Kynge Achab that troubleth Israel As though he shuld saye art thou he which thorow thine vndiscrete and rashe sermons mouest the people to sedicion makest theÌ„ disobedient to me theyr kynge and to al my officers causest them vnlawfully to assemble together and to make hauocke of all thinges But y â— Propheâ— boldly answered It is not I that haue troubled Israell but thou and thy fathers house in that ye haue forsaken the coÌ„maundementes of the lord and folowed the waye of Baall as though he should haue answered Doest thou O kynge laye to my charge y t I troubled thy realme which teache thy subiectes to obey the in all those thy coÌ„maundementes that fyghte not wyth goddes worde Then vntruly thou accusest me There is I graunt in thy realme sedicion and muche hurlye burly what then Impute not the faute to me but corie thy selfe on the head saye I my selfe and my wycked progenitors which haue not teÌ„dered the glorie of god nor loued to heare his blessed worde nor to maintaine y e preachers therof but rather haue slayne them and folowed the way of that foule Idole Baall and nouryshed hys priestes at oure owne table and haue not ruled the Realme wyth such iustice and equitie with suche clemency aud gentlenes as becommeth ryghteous and godlye rulers but haue polled and pylled oure subiectes oppressed the widdowes and fatherlesse receyued brybes condemned the gyltelesse for gyftes and shedde innocente bloud lyke vnmercyful Bochercyke tirauntes we we are only the occasion of al these tumultes sedicions conspiracies c. wherewith thys my Realme at this preseÌ„t is so greatly dis quieted As I maye let pas the other Prophetes whiche for their godly sermons susteyned the like displesure at y â— worldly tirauntes handes how was the self master of truth the wysedome of the father I meane Iesu Christ our Lorde in whose mouthe was found no guyle no disceate haudeled for hys Sermons When they broughte