herte vnto God he was hearde For the LORDE God sayd vnto him â–ª What cryest y u vnto me â–ª His cryeng was not the voice of the mouth but the affeccion of the herte He cryed w t a pure mynde to God therfore was he hearde though the mouthe kepte sylence In lyke maner Anne the wyfe of Helcana when she had ben long baren w tout fruyte prayed God that he woulde take awaye from her opprobry and shame and gyue her chyldreÌ„ wich thynge she obtayned And yet sayth the scripture she spake in her herte Her lippes only moued but her voyce was hearde nothynge at all Mary Magdalene also prayed not wyth her lyppes mouthe when she wasshed Christes fete w t y â— teares of her eyes wyped them with the heere of her head kyssynge annoynted theÌ„ full tenderly in the house of Symon the Pharyse she only lameÌ„ted in her herte her synfull lyuynge dissolute coÌ„uersacion desyryng in her mynde to haue remission of her synnes she hearde this swete voyce of Christ. Her synnes are forgyneÌ„ her bicause she hath loued much â—ea immediatly after Christ sayde to her Thy fayth hath saued the go thy way iÌ„ peace ChristeÌ„ also the selfe trueth wisdom of his father sayd to the woman of Samaria whan they talked togyther of worshyppyng God Woman beleue me the hour coÌ„meth whan neyther in this mountayne nor yet at Ierusalem ye shall worship the father â—e worshyp that ye knowe not we worshyp that we knowe For helth is of the Iewes But the houre coÌ„meth nowe it is whan the true worshyppers shall worshyp the father in spirite trueth For the father sekethe such y t shoulde worshyp hym God is a spirite they that worshyp hym must worshyp hiÌ„ in spiryte trueth Here christ which is y â— very trueth can not lye sheweth vs two notable thynges One that God his father is a spirite another that as he is a spiryte so wyll he be worshypped in the spirite who perceyueth not thaÌ„ that it is the Spirite the herte the mynde I meane the inwarde spirituall man that must worshyp God â–ª It is a common sayeng among vs lyke wyll to lyke And euery one desyreth suche as he is hiÌ„selfe Trueth it is Now is God a spirite therfore requireth he a spirituall manner of worshyppynge which doubtles procedeth from the herte not from y â— steÌ„toreous voyce of the mouth The pure affeccion of the herte not the whysperynge noyse of y â— lyppes doth God requyre God which is the searcher of the herte seaketh to be worshypped in the herte as he sayth by SalomoÌ„ sonne gyue me thy herte Moreouer S. Paule sayth God is my witnes whom I worshyp in my spirite In my spirite sayth he and not in the vnfruytefull bablyng of my lyppes Agayne Speake amoÌ„g yourselues in Psalmes Hymnes spirituall songes syngyng and makynge melody in youre hertes to the LORDE Lostyll he maketh mencion of the herte wyllynge y â— all prayses songes melody be done in our hertes to y e LORD our God As though he shoulde saye all that euer is done w tout the herte is vayne vnfruytefull yea playne abhominacion before God rather workynge daÌ„nacioÌ„ then saluacion to the doers of it as Christ sayeth This people honoure me w t theyr lyppes but theyr herte is farre from me Uerely they worshyp me in vayne Thus se we proued by the scripture that Prayer is the worke of the herte of the spiryte of the mynde not of mouth lyppes But let vs heare what the Doctors saye to this matter ¶ The fyfte Chapter SAynt Cipriane y â— blessed martyre sayth which Fulgentius also recyteth that God is not the hearer of the voyce but of the herte neyther is he to be admonysshed w t exclamacions outecryes whiche seeth the thoughtes as the LORDE proueth sayth what do ye thinke wyckednes in youre hartes â–ª in another place All congregacions shall know that I am the searcher of the raynes and harte that is to saye of the inward parte Also S. Ambrose sayeth take hede that thou doste not babble out rasshely the mysteries of the Crede or of the LORDES prayer Doste thou not knowe howe greuous a thynge it is to heape vppe synne in Prayer where thou trusteste to haue remedy â–ª Certes y â— LORDE taught by the Prophet y e this is a greuous cursse sayeng His praier is becoÌ„e eueÌ„ very synne Excepte peraduenture thou recouÌ„test it but a tryfle to mistrust It is surely a great incredulite and vnfaythfulnes to thynke thus of y â— power of God y â— thou canste not be heard excepte thou cryest oute Let thy worke crye let thy fayth cry let thy mynde crye let thy passions and suffrynges cry let thy bloud as the bloud of holy Abell cry wherof god sayde to Caym the voyce of thy brothers bloud cry vnto me For he heareth in secrete which maketh cleane in secrete We can not heare a maÌ„ excepte he speaketh vnto vs but vnto God not wordes but thoughtes do speake Agayne S. Gregory sayth vndoubtedly true prayer consysteth not in the voyce of the mouthe but in the thoughtes of the herte For our wordes do not make the voyces the more pythethy and valeaunt to come vnto the moost secrete eares of God but our desyre and affeccions Therfore sayth the LORDE in y â— Gospell Enter into thy closet sparre thy dore He sparreth y â— dore prayeth in his closet whiche holdeth his peace w t his mouth powreth oute the affeccioÌ„ of his mynde in y â— syghte of God aboue Moreouer S. AusteÌ„ â—ayeth Thou knowest I am sure y â— â—t is commaunded vs for none other thynge that we should praye in our closettes â–ª being sparred wherby the secrete partes of the mynde are signifyed but that God seaketh not to be monyshed or taught by oure speakynge of that thynge whiche we coâ—uyt that he shoulde gyue vs. For he that speaketh gyueth outwardely a sygne or token of his wyl by some articulate playne euidente sounde But God is both to be soughte to be prayed vnto euen in the very secrete partes of a reasonable soule whiche is called the inward maÌ„ For he wylleth that these be his TeÌ„ples Wherfore we nede no speakyng wheÌ„â—â—e praye that is to saye no wordes that shall make any sounde excepte peraduenture as y â— prestes do for to vtter theyr mynde not y â— God but that man shoulde heare theÌ„ wyth a certayne consent be drawen to coÌ„teÌ„placion by remeÌ„brynge theÌ„ Hereâ— to agreeth the sayeÌ„g of S. Jeromeâ— we ought sayth he to syng to make melody to prayse y e LORDE rather in mynde then in voyce And this is it that is sayd syngynge makyng melody to the LORDE â— your hertes Let yong men heare these thyrâ—ges
shall be done to you In another place also he sayth Uerely verely I say to you what soeuer ye shal aske the father in my name he shall gyue it you Nytherto ye haue asked nothynge in my name Aske ye shall receyue that your ioye maye be perfect Thus so we y t in Christes name we must aske all thynges For there is none other name gyuen vnto meÌ„ vnder heueÌ„ wheriÌ„ we must be saued but onlye this name of iesus christ Euerye one y t calleth on thys name shalbe saued For the name of the LORDE is a stronge tower valeauÌ„t Bulwarke vnto that doth y e righteous that is the faythefull man flye Blessed is that man which trusteth in the name of the LORDE and hath no respecte vnto vanities and false madde fantasies Moreouer Dauid although God prayseth him greatly sayeth that he hath founde Dauid his seruauÌ„te euen after his owne herte yet dyd not he whan he prayed desyre to be hearde for his owne name for his owne ryghteousnes vertu but he prayed on this maner LORDE heare my prayer heare my request for thy truthes sake yea fauourablye heare me for thy righteousnes Agayne in the O LORDE haue I trusted let me neuer be coÌ„fouÌ„ded but deliuer me in thy righteousnes My streÌ„gth and my refuge arte thou and for thy names sake shalte thou lede me forth norish me For thi names sake LORD shalte thou be merciful to my sinne for it is much O god for thy names sake saue thou me in thy vertu delyuer me Helpe vs O God our sauyour for the glorye of thy name O LORDE delyuer vs be mercyfull to our synnes for thy names sake Beholde he desyreth not the fauoure of God for his owne sake for his owne name righteousnes trueth vertu but for Goddes name for Goddes ryghteousnes trueth and vertue Nowe who is the ryghteousnesse of God but Iesus Christe the sonne of God whiche alone is founde righteous among men As Paule wytnesseth he is made of God our wisdom ryghteousnes sanctificacion redeÌ„cion that as it is wrytten he that reioyceth maye reioyce in y â— LORDE Who is the trueth of GOD but he which sayth of himselfe I am y e way the trueth the lyfe No man commeth to the father but by me Who is y e vertue of God but he that hath done no synne nor in whole mouth ony gile was fouÌ„d which is Christ â— AusteÌ„ wryteth of Christ on this maner I am sayth he y e way trueth lyfe No man coÌ„meth to the father but by me As though he should say wylte thou walke I am the waye Wylte thou not be deceyued I am the trueth Wylt thou not dy I am y e lyfe This doth thy Sauyour say to the ther is none other to whome thou mayst go but vnto me There is no waye that thou canste go but by me So that for Christes sake not for his owne dyd Dauid althoughe both godly vertuous yea dearly beloued of God dâ—â—â—re to be hearde to haue the peticions of his herte graunted But it maye be obiected Dauid also prayeth on this maner Heare O LORDE my ryghteousnes gyue attendance vnto my prayer Let my iudgement come forth from thy face lette thyne eyes se equite Thou hast proued my hert visited it in the nyght thou haste tryed me w t fyre yet hath there none iniquite be found in me Agayne I wyl be w tout spotte w t him I wyll kepe me from iniquite the LORDE shall rewarde me accordynge to my righteousnes accordynge to the puritie of my haÌ„des in the syght of his eies Also in another place Iudge me O LORDE for I haue walked in my innoceÌ„cy In these such lyke Dauid layeth oute his owne innocency purite ryghteousnes ' semeth to desyre to be heard for them I answere if Dauid desyred to be heard for his owne ryghteousnes than should he fyght w t himselfe wherin many and diuers places he coÌ„fesseth his synne cleueth only to the mercy of God desyreth to be hearde for the righteousnes trueth vertue of God and not for his owne sake Enter not in to iudgement O LORDE sayeth he with thy seruaunt for no man that lyueth shalbe iustifyed in thy syght Nowe thaÌ„ could he set out his owne ryghteousnes before GOD that he myghte be iustifyed by it What shall we then saye to this matter I aunswere yea that not wythoute the authoritie of the holy scriptures the mynde of the aunciente Doctors that as in dyuers other places of the Psalmes so in these and such lyke he speakethe in the parsonne of Christe and not in his owne He speketh of Christes innocency puryte ryghteousnes vertue not of his owne He representeth Christes parson not his owne Whan he speaketh in his owne parson he graunteth hymselfe alwayes a synner seketh helth of God desyreth not to be heard for his owne ryghteousnes but for Gods ryghteousnes whiche is Iesus Christ. So that iÌ„ Christes name he offered vp his prayers vnto God the father as all the faythfull ought to do For Christ is the lambe w tout spotte Christ is that lambe of God which taketh away y e synne of the worlde Christ is that dearly beloued sonne for whose sake God the father is well pleased with men Christ is that Byshop which is godly innocente vndefyled segregate from synners Christ is the dore by whome alone we muste come to the father Christ is that sauiour which saueth his people froÌ„ theyr synnes Christ is he by whome grace verytie is shewed vnto vs. Christe is he which by his moost precious bloude hath reconciled vs to Gody e father Christ therfore is he in whose name that is in whose dignite ryghteousâ—nes innocency vertue purite we must offer vp our prayers to God y e father For all our ryghteousnesses â—ampared to the iustyce of God are â—yke a cloth polluted with meÌ„strue That we are not able to obtayne any thynge of God for our owne righteousnes it is manifest by these wordes which God himselfe speaketh by his Prophet Esaye I am I am he which putteth awaye thyne iniquities yea that for myne owne sake Marke y e he sayeth for myne owne sake And wyll remeÌ„ber thy synnes no more Put me in remembrauÌ„ce let vs be iudged togyther Tell me yf thou hast ony thing wherby thou mayst be iustifyed Agayne For my names sake wyll I put away myne anger For myne owne sake yea for mine owne sake wyll I do this that I may not be blasphemed euel spoken of In the name of Christe therfore let hym aske that enteÌ„denth to obtayne onye thynge of God the father as S. Paule sayeth whatsoeuer ye shall do in word dede do
not only coulde be content with all theyr hertes to lose one of theyr eyes so that he whome they hate myght lose both but also put theyr owne lyues in iopardy to brynge deathe vnto other O cruell tyranny Such peticions be detestable are to the desyrers therof not only much pernicious but also very damnable in asmuch as they stonde not with the order of Charite This also is to be iudged of them whiche curse and banne such as they hate Let vs therfore aske nothynge but that maketh to the glory of God the auauÌ„cemeÌ„t of his moost holy worde the encrease of vertue the destruccion of vyce y e helth of our soules the conseruacion of the publigue weale the profytte of our neyghbour In all our peticions let vs submyt our selues to the wyll pleasure of God nothyng doubtyng but that he wyl graunt vs that we aske or els thynges of more weyghtye importaunce more profitable for our saluacion For it is not alwaye coÌ„uenient that we shoulde obtayne what soeuer we aske of God He knowethe muche better what we haue nede of then we our selues do It is many tymes more expedient for vs to haue scasenes than abouÌ„dauÌ„ce to be vexed w t warres persecucions thaÌ„ to enioy carnall securite flesshely quietnes to be sick thaÌ„ to be whole to be teÌ„ted thaÌ„ to be w tout teÌ„tacioÌ„ Paule at diuers tymes desyred God y t he myght be delyuered froÌ„ y e prych of y e flesshe but it was answered my grace is sufficieÌ„t for the he reioyced in his in â—yrmite weakenes Therfore in al thynges let vs praye for godly honeste thynges beynge alwaye contented to receyue as it shall be Gods moost holy pleasure to gyue ¶ At what tyme we oughte to praye ¶ The. xxxii Chapter IF we consyder the inexplicable manifold miseries wherwith in this vale of calamite we are inuolued wrapped and iÌ„closed about on euery syde we shall w tout ony great difficulte perceyue y â— we haue nede of nothyng so much as of prayer yea and that feruente assiduous continuall For the dyuell goeth about lyke a roaryng Lyon sekynge whome he maye deuour The world also with his vayne pleasures is redye at euerye houre to seduce lede vs awaye froÌ„ our professioÌ„ yf we take not hede Agayne the flesshe is so domesticall and nygh enemy vnto vs that we can neuer be w toute it It euer assaylethe vs. It allwaye fyghteth lusteth contrary to the spirite It turneth as they saye euery stonne to make vs enemies w t God The soldiour of Christ sayth a certayne Doctor oughte not to put awaye from him the shelde of prayer so longe as the battayle endurethe But the battayle endureth so longe as this preseÌ„t lyfe endureth as Iob sayth the lyfe of a man vpoÌ„ y â— earthe is a warfare perels do neuer fayle therfore haue we nede continuallye of Gods helpe Miserye dothe neuer want in this lyfe therfore haue we euer nede of Gods mercy continuall prayer Wherof it followeth y t we haue greate nede of prayer at all tymes yf we wyll be saued For no man shalbe crowned excepte he warreth valeauntly To him that ouercommeth sayth God wyll I gyue to eate of the tree of lyfe whiche is in â— myddes of the Paradyse of GOD. Our sauiour Christ therfore knowynge our imbecillite weakenes to be no lesse than oure miserye wretchednes exortetth vs principallye aboue all thynges to praye Watche praye sayth he that ye faul not in to tentacioÌ„ And in as much as our enemies cease not to fyghte agaynst vs by theyr craftye subtyle assaultes therfore oughte we not to cease for to fyght agaynst theÌ„ w t continuall prayers For the prayer of a righous man sayethe S. Iames auayleth muche Christe in the Gospell of Luke proponeth a certayne parable of an vnrighteous Iudge of a wydowe wherin he teachethe that we ought to praye alwaye and neuer to cease nor once to be werye Read the Chapter A Christen man oughte to praye at all tymes neuer to desyst and cease from prayenge Therfore sayth S. Paule CoÌ„tinue in prayer wacth in it with thankes giâ—yng Agayne Reioyse alwaye pray with out ceasyng in all thynges giue thaÌ„kes Hereto agreeth y e sayenge of S. Peter be ye sober watch vnto praier For continuall prayer causethe y t our enemies can not haue the vpper hande ouer vs. Yea continuall prayer makethe that the loue of celestiall goodes doth euer encrese iÌ„ vs which excepte it be oftentymes suscitated stored vp with ardent desyres and ferueÌ„t prayers as fyre is w t wind it fyrst abateth afterward by lytle lytle it is vtterly quenched and put clene out For as he is vnworthy to receyue ony thynge whiche gyueth not thanckes for those thynges y â— he hath alredy taken y t is whiche doth not knowledge magnify the beneficence of God so dothe not he deserue to enioy so great felicite ioye pleasure which eyther doth not desyre it or els desyreth it coldly Who ferueÌ„tly loueth a thinge doth not coÌ„tinually wish y ey â— thyng which he loueth maye chauÌ„se to hiÌ„ So y â— it is manifest of these thynges aforsayde y t we ought to praye at all tymes neuer cease in asmuch as we haue at all tymes moost vrgeÌ„t weyghty necessary causes ¶ The. xxxiii Chapter BUt it wyll be obiected howe is it possible for a man to praye at all tymes neuer to cease This is a thynge not onlye of impossibilite but also contrary to the coÌ„maundement of Christ whiche sayeth whan ye praye speake not manny wordes I answere Christe in this aforsayde place doth not forbyd the assiduite continuance of prayer but y e multiloquie manner of bablyng in prayers which the Ethnickes Infidels dyd vse trustyng by y â— theyr to much bablynge they shoulde the sooner be hearde as we reade of those wycked Prophetes which cried on the name of Baal from mornynge tyll nyght sayenge none other thynge but this only O Baal hear vs O Baal hear vs. But the prophet Helias mocked them sayenge crye withe a loweder voyce For he is a God but peradueÌ„ture he talkethe with some bodye or is occupied in pursuynge his enemies or is gone some iourney or happely he slepeth would be waked reysed vp w t your cryinge They cryed therfore w t a great voice cutte theÌ„selues after theâ—r old maner w t sweardes and botkyns vntyll they were al on gore bloude But all in vayne The wordes of Christe are these whan ye praye speke not many wordes as the Ethnyckes do For they thynke it should come to passe that thorowe theyr bablynge they should be heard Be not ye therfore lyke theÌ„ For youre father doth knowe what thynges ye nede before ye aske oâ—
deserued eternall daÌ„nacion he dydde not streyghtwaye with the same rigoure fearcenesse wherwith he condeÌ„ned the Aungels for theyr disobedient arrogaÌ„cy caste vs awaye into the fyre of Hell but full gentely sent vs into this vale of misery for to repeÌ„t that afterward he myght saue vs yet constitutyng appoyntynge vs styll Lordes rulers oueral lyuyng creatures ¶ The. xliii Chapter MOreouer whaÌ„ it was not possible bycause of the great enormite of our synne that we coulde of our owne power strength merytes deseruynges good workes saue wynne our selues agayne into y e fauour of God howe louyngly w toute ony desertes of our parte eueÌ„ of hys owne mere goodnes and free mercy did he promise to saue vs by his derely beloued sonne oure LORDE Iesus Christ at his tyme predefined and appoynted from euerlastynge sente him downe in â—â—his worlde Which for our sake vnfaynedly by the wonderfull operacion of the holy Ghoste toke flessh of the moost blessed moost pure vndefyled virgyn Marye became very man lyke vnto vs in althynges sinne alone excepte Which also after he had lyued here certayne yeares eueÌ„ of his owne free wyll w tout any compulsion for the feruent vnspekable loue that he euer bare towarde vs gaue hymselfe vnto the very 〈◊〉 yea euen the moost spite full 〈◊〉 deathe of the Crosse. He offered 〈◊〉 â—oost blessed bodye a swete smellynge Sacrifyce to God the father for oure wyckednesse He suffred his moost precious bloude to be shed vpoÌ„ the Altare of the Crosse to paye the rauÌ„some for our synnes He refused no kynd of paynful grefe greuous payne to apease Goddes wrath to reconcyle vs vnto his celestiall father O good Iesu sayethe S. Bernard howe greatly were we endetted to the yet dost thou paye oure dette We haue synned thou arte punysshed This is a worke w tout exaÌ„ple a grace without meryte a charite without measure Uerely verely not the prodicioÌ„ betrayenge of Iudas not the furye cruell malyce of the Pharises and Bysshops not the wycked and false witnesses not the vnryghteous accusers not the cruell vnmercyfull iudges dyd put Christ to death but we our selues our synne our iniquite our vngodlynes our abhominacion our corrupte maÌ„ners dyd slaye hym put hym to that moost cruell deth We are they that dyd kyl him We soughte his deathe We dyd betray hym We dyd falsely accuse him We nayled him vpon the Crosse. We scourged his moost blessed body We shed his moost precious bloude We dyd cleue asunder his moost blessed herte with a speare oute of y t which raÌ„ne both water bloude We gaue hym Eysell Gaull to dryncke We scorned him we mocked him we dyd spit on his moost swete face We buffetted hym we brused hym we were the Authors of all y t tyranny which was wrought agaynst hym Yet for y â— loue that he bare towarde vs dyd not he disdayne to suffer all these in tollerable paynes by whose passioÌ„s suffrynges we are perfectly made whose by whose moost blessed bloud all oure synnes are wasshed awaye by whose deth euerlasting lyfe chauÌ„seth abundantly vnto vs. O vnmesurable kyndnes What a loue hath God to vs that he spared not his only sonne but gaue hym for vs all y t so many as beleue in hym maye not peryshe but haue euerlastynge lyfe And as God the father gaue hys sonne Christ vnto death for our synnes so dyd he rayse hym vp agayne by his moost puissaunt power from death for our iustificacioÌ„ He is oure peace howe than can we be sadde heuy He is our Sauiour howe theÌ„ can we despayre He is oure waye howe than can we erre He is oure trueth howe than can we be deceyued He is our lyfe howe thaÌ„ can we dye He is oure Resurreccion howe thaÌ„ can we slepe in synne He is our Phisicion how thaÌ„ caÌ„ we be sycke diseased He is our lyght howe than caÌ„ we walke in darkenes He is our bread howe thaÌ„ can we be hungrye He is oure defender howe than can we be afearde He is oure wisdome howe than can we be ignorante He is our righteousnes howe than can we be vnrighteous He is our sanctificacion howe than can we be prophane vnholy He is our redeÌ„cion howe than can we be damned He is our rytches howe than can we be pore He is oure beautye howe than can we be deformed yll fauoured He is our mediatour and aduocate howe than can oure matters be vnhearde He is oure head howe than can we his members perysh He is our Bysshop Curate of our soules howe than can we wante spirituall doctryne He is our dore how than can we but enter into the kyngdom of heauen To conclude he is altogither oures all that euer he hathe how than can we but sayle in a safe quiette hauen Howe than can we but haue all thynges prosperous fortunate Thus se we what an hye treasure Christ is to vs. Yf any maÌ„ desyreth to knowe more of Christ what benefites we haue receiued by let hym read my worke of y e Newes out of heaueÌ„ where he shall se Christ truly lyuyshly paynted as alone perfecte redemer a plenteous and an omnisufficient sauiour for al theÌ„ that faythfullye repente and lede a newe lyfe Would not all these so great commodities large benefytes whiche we receyue of God y t father thorowe Iesus Christ moue ony christeÌ„ hert in the worlde to be thankful and to syng perpetuall prayses vnto God For we haue lerned here that al our saluacion coÌ„meth only from God y e father thorow Iesus Christ that he saued vs mercifully wheÌ„ we were loste miserablye But let vs beholde more of Goddes kyndnesse that we maye learne that thankes ought to be gyuen vnto hym seriously ¶ The. xliiii Chapter ALthough by Christ we be sette agayne at lybertye receyue our manumissioÌ„ fredome froÌ„ that captiuitie wherunto we were made honde by the synne of Adam so sone as we are regenerate borne a new by y e honorable Sacrament of Bapâ—tisme and the holy Ghost yet in as much as afterward thorow our fragilite weakenes we fall agayne in to synne deserue therby also to beâ— cast from the fauour of God to be dampned perpetuallye yf God dyd not also healpe vs in this behalfe Oâ— LORDE God in how miserable a casâ— are we What should it profytte vs by Christ to be delyuered from that wretchednes into the whiche Adam dyd caste vs yf there were not also a remedy to expulse that daunger into the which we cast our selues thorowe synne after Baptisme Therfore here also dothe the goodnesse of God appere very large bountious toward vs. For though we synne after baptisms neuer so greuously yeâ— doth not he streyght wayes take
almoost slayne thorow the decrees of that Bysshop Howe greatly was the Christian lybertye enclosed stopped vp so that no maÌ„ could enioye y e vse of those thynges which the word of God determined free withoute his lycense dispensacion Howe were the singulare merites of Christes death the inestimable price of his moost precious bloud adnihilated set at nought and the Bysshop of Roomes pardoÌ„s trusted vnto perfecte affiaunce reposed in theÌ„ for remission of synnes eternall saluacion What a sorte of Hypocritical supersticious workes creptin thorowe oute ChristeÌ„stome almoost which only were beleued to be thealone good workes and the true good workes whiche are commaunded of God in his holy scriptures vtterly neglected despysed set at nought Who thought it not a more meritorious acte to gylde an Image than to cloth a poore naked manne Who thought it not a better dede to ruÌ„ne gaddynge a pylgrimage into diuers countrees for to seke dead Images than to tary at home to visyte the poore members of Christ which laye bedrede sycke lame feble impoteÌ„t O extreme blyndnes Agayne what an infinite monâ—â—â—res Monckes I woulde haue sayd other religious parsons and God wyll as they desyre to be called dyd there aryse in his kyngedome Who thoughte it not a better dede to put his chylde into an Abbay there to lyue ydlely swinyshly irreligiously pampred vp with all delicious fare that should prouoke vnto Iewdnes than to lette him lyue abroad in the worlde there to practyse some honest arte occupacion that myghte turne to the commodite mayntaynance of the common weale What blyndenes hadde inuaded this Realme Dyd not we thynck it rather our duty to obey y â— proude Bishop of Rome than our owne natyue kynge Dyd not we esteme his faÌ„tasticaâ— decrees aboue the edictes lawes and actes of our own kyng were we not more redy to followe his sensuall lustes beastlyke pleasures than to obeye y â— coÌ„maâ—dementes of our owne kynge ruler Into what perels woulde not we caste our selues to do y t rammysh Byshop pleasure Yea woulde God that certayne of this Realme in tymes paste had not rather had a mynde to dye for the mayntenaunce of the false vsurped power of y t Bysshop than to lyue with obedient and faythfull hertes to our moost Christen kynge O LORDE God what a blyndnes was this where was this doctryne of Christe his Apostle become that all men should be subiecte obedieÌ„t to the hygh powers This sentence of S. Paule laye buryed Let euery soule be subiecte to y â— high powers For there is no power but of God All powers are ordayned of God He therfore y t resisteth resisteth the ordinaunce of God And they y t resist shall take to theÌ„ selues damnacion Also S. Peter Be subiecte to to euerye humayne creature for the LORDES sake whither it be vnto the kynge as supreme head or to the rulers that are sent by hym to the punyshment of the euell doers but vnto the prayse of them that do well The Christen prynces were not had in reuereÌ„ce honour as they ought o miserable case detestable abusioÌ„ ¶ The. xlvii Chapter FUrthermore what ygnorancy blyndenes was in this Realme concerninge the true christeÌ„ knowledge Howe many sauoured Christ aryght Howe many walked in the streyght pathe wayes of Gods ordinauÌ„ces Howe many beleued Christ to be the alone Sauiour Howe many trusted to be saued only by y â— merites of Christes death y e effusion sheddynge of his moost precious blessed bloude How many ranne to God alone eyther in theyr prosperite or aduersite Howe many amplered Christe for theyr sufficient medsa toâ—r aduocate vnto God y e father Howe many felte the efficacye power of the true christeÌ„ fayth wherby a christeÌ„ maÌ„ is frelyiustified How many could discerne the fayned and the true workes asunder Howe many dyd know what they professed at Baptisme Howe many had knoweledge what theyr Pater noster meÌ„t wherfore they prayed Howe many dyd perfectly vnderstand the articles of the Christen faythe Howe many dyd knowe what the ceremonies of the chyrche mente as holye bread holy water and suche other Howe many hearde the Euangicall doctryne euer preached purely and syncerly O good Iesu be mercyful vnto vs. If I shoulde go forth to reherse all the abuses all the ygnoraÌ„cy blyndenes wherwith this now moost free and florysshynge Realme hath ben oppressed thys many hundred yeares thorowe the tyranny of that Babilonicall stroÌ„pet it woulde vndoubtedly make a worke much loÌ„ger then the Iliades of Homere But nowe are theise enormities yea deformities of this Realme of Englond vtterly exiled banyshed All false Religion is exterped plucked vp by the rootes The miserable captiuite wherwith we were oppressed in the Popes kyngdome is turned into delectable liberte Dur conconscieÌ„ces are restored to theyr olde fredome Christes deth is beleued to be a sufficient Sacrifyce for them y e are sanctified All supersticious fantasies inuented of ydle braynes are full godly put downe The famous Images wherwith the symple people coÌ„mytted sornicacion I meane Idolatry are iustly plucked downe conueyed oute of the waye All the monasticall sectes haue put of theyr cowles monstruous garmentes Our moost Christian kynge is now accordyng to y e verite of Gods word his iust right title recognised to be supreme head of y e chyrch of Englonde nexte vnto Christ immediately here in earth He is honored of vs his subiectes as we ought by y e lawe of God had in reuerence aboue all creatures mortall Not onlye his moost noble grace but also so many as he appoyntethe to rule ouer vs we obey w t all submissioÌ„ humilite of mynd ¶ The. xlviii Chapter MOreouer ygnorancy blyndenes are exiled and banysshed Gods lawes are manifestly declared vnto vs. So that we maye yf we wyll kepe his moost godlye commaundementes The moost sacred Byble is freely permytted to be red of euery man in the Englysh tonge Many sauour Christ aright dayly the noÌ„ber encreaseth thanckes be to GOD. Christ is beleued to be the alone Sauiour We nowe faythfully truste to be saued by the deathe of Christ that the bloud of Christ maketh vs cleane from all synne Christ is beleued to be our sufficient mediatoure aduocate The true christen fayth whiche worketh by charite is plenteous in good workes is nowe receyued to iustify The good workes that are appoynted in y e holy scriptures are nowe only vsed put in exercyse among the faythful What we professed when we were baptised many nowe knowe ryghte wel The twelue Articles of the christeÌ„ fayth the LORDES prayer called y e Pater noster the teÌ„ coÌ„mauÌ„dementes are nowe rehearsed in y e Englyshe tonge both of yonge olde so that nowe all vnderstonde theÌ„ Many of