vse not to lye it hath been reporâ—ed vnto me as well that Charles the Emperour in case any vacaÌ„t tyme of leysure maye in so great vnquietnesse and troubleous state of the worlde bee gotten doeth gladly bestowe thesame in readyng the ghospell boke as also the moste renoumed Prince Ferdinando brother to thesame Charles muche and often to haue in his handes the Paraphrase vpon the ghospell of Saincte Iohn whiche not very long agon I dedicated vnto hym yea and furthermore that the right noble kyng of Denmarke Christieâ—e which thing maye to your highnes also be well knowen hath bokes of christian religion often tymes in his handes and that he with greate desyrefulnesse vseth to reade my paraphrase vpon the ghospel of Matthew Why than shoulde the ghospel seme to be vnaptly sent vnto those whiche are handlers and louers of the ghospel whiche ghospell certes is to be had and vsed in the haÌ„des of all persones as many as remembre and thinke themselfes to be Christyans Nowe although after the rate of worldely dealyng suche a thyng is moste chiefely to bee geuen as the partie hath nede of to whom it is sent yet after the rule of the ghospell whoso hath already to hym muste nedes be geuen that he may haue plentie Wherfore me thought I should do but as myght best stande with congruence to sende this Euangelical physicion vnto your highnesse for asmuche as thesame is so farre from disdainyng holy scriptures that as your owne writinges dooe testifye ye haue aboue the meane rate profited in the same so that yf a man geue vnto your grace any thing to holy scripture apperteinyng he shall not seme so muche to geue a gifte as to make amendes and recompence for a pleasure receyued Moreouer if this be a thyng specially aboue others in all haste prouided for that in the kinges Emperours courtes there may from tyme to tyme be physicions ready and prest at hande beyng men exactly learned and of approued fidelitie to take charge that the princes be dye be preserued and kept in health howe muche more doeth it stande with congruence that Luke the physicion should there be reslaunte who doeth not with scammony or ellebour preserue the healthful state of the body but doth with an heauenly pocion deliuer the soule froÌ„ diseases that violently hale men to death euerlastyng that is to were that vnknowyng of the truthe mistrustfulnesse vnbelefe towardes God the loue of this worlde ambicion auarice riottous excesse hatred enuye and suche others For these diseases is all the life of mortall men subiect vnto dayly in daunger of falling into them as Iohn thapostle sayeth where he bewayleth that all the whole worlde is set in naughtinesse neyther any thing els to reigne therin but coÌ„cupiscence of the flesh concupiscence of the iyes pryde of the lyfe And in so muche the more peril and hasard of the said diseases do the princes stand as they are more then others made wantons derelynges of fortune and haue lybertie withoute checke or controllemente to fullfyll their owne sensuall lustes and appetites But nowe me seemeth I shall not spende my labour in vayne but to good purpose if I shal in a fewe wordes commend and sette Foorth vnto your highnesse first Luke himself being the physicioÌ„ and then the pocioÌ„ or medicine that he bringeth with hym albeit I put no doubtes but that as well the one as the other is already as in dede they ought to be vnto your godly ze'e and deuocion in most best wyse accepted Forsoth this same is that excellent man Luke an Antiochian by the couÌ„trey nacion that he was borne in And Antioche is a citie whiche was in old tyme of so great fame and power that so muche parte of al the countrey of Syria as reacheth vnto Cicilie butteth vpoÌ„ it had the name geuen it thereof And the sayed Antioche was in this behalf more happie and fortunate then verye Rome it self that Peter the apostle had his first see here in this citie of Antioche and that Paule and Barnabas dyd in the same citie receiue their dignitie of the charge and funccioÌ„ Apostolical Now to our present purpose this Luke was of familiar acquaintaunce and comiersacion with all the Apostles but most specially a folower and disciple of Paule and also a companion of his in all his peregrinacioÌ„ neuer separated nor deuided from his coumpany By linyng in coumpany with the Apostles he wrote his ghospell and by the thynges whiche Paule wrought and did Luke beyng a presente witnesse of theim he wrote the booke whiche he entytled the actes of the apostles And that hystorie of the Actes he continued vntill the second yere of Paul abydyng at Rome that is to say vntill the fowerth yere of Nero the Emperour there Wherof men gather a consecture that the boke was writteÌ„ in the same citie and fully agreed it is amonge the learned men that this same verye Luke it is of whom Paul the Apostle doeth so often tymes make mencion as for eâ—aumple in his second epistle to the Corinthians where he thus saith We haue seÌ„t with him our brother whose lande is in the gospel throughout all the congregacions Again where he writeth to the CollosstaÌ„s he sayth dere Lukes the physicion greteth you And agayne in the secound epystle to Timothe For Demas hath forsaken me louing this preseÌ„t world is departed vnto Thessalonica Crescens is gone into Galacia Titus into Dalmacia onely Lukas is with me Yea and this point moreouer is leaft to vs by auncyent writers that as often as Paul calleth it by the name of his gospell as he doeth to Timothe where he saieth Remembre that Iesus Christ of the seede of Dauid arose again from death accordyng to my gospell c. he â—â—neth of the ghospel of Luke because that like as Marke wrote the history of the gospell at Peters woorde by his settying on so dyd Luke at the word and biddyng of Paule Hierome is of the opinion and iudgement that Luke was more expert in the greke tongue then the other were and by reasoasoÌ„ therof wrote the discourse and processe of the story after a more eâ—act and gromidely sortâ— then the others dyd that is to were takyng his entraunce at the first concepcion of Iohn the Baptist and makyng relacion of verye muche maâ—ter touchyng the natiuitie and concernyng the babehoode â—ea and certayne poyntes furthermore concernyng the childhood of Iesus making also rehersall of many parables and miracles whiche the other euaÌ„gelistes for loue of briefnes had let passe he any thing spoken of And where â—s not one of all the others went any whâ—t ferther then the tyme of the Lorde Iesus beyng assumpted into heauen this man alone did in an other seconde boke make a further continuacioÌ„ of the story concerning the churche howe it first sprang vp and how it grewe more and more to sprede and shew it self Thus muche moreouer the wryters affyrme
do not for any suche purpose wryte paraphrases because I would shake or strike the gospell out of mennes handes but to thentente it maye be read the more commodiouslye to a mannes mynde and with the more fruite lyke as meates are sauced to the ende they maye be taken with the better will and the more delectacion Yea and of one ferther poynte also must I here warne a reader that is somewhat grosse of vnderstanding whiche is that it bee not myne owne woordes that I do any where speake in the paraphrase leste the thyng whiche vnder the persone of the Euangeliste is humbly and truely spoken maye seme to bee arrogauntlye spoken vnder myne owne persone The lord Iesus geue his spirite vnto you moste noble kyng to the ende that vnder your proteccion beeyng a true Christian Prince in dede the veritie of the gospell maye from daye to daye more and more reigne and flourishe Yeuen at Basill the .xxiii. daye of August in the yeare of our Lorde M.D.xxiii The life of saynt Luke written by S. Hierome LUke a phisicion and borne in Antioche was not ignoraunte of the Greke toungue as his wrytynges do shewe he was a folower and disciple of the Apostle Paule and a companion of all his peregrinacion He wrote a volume of the ghospell of whome the same Paule sayeth in this maner We haue sent with him a brother whose praise is in the ghospell throughout all the congregacions And agayne to the Colossians Moste dere Luke the phisicion greteth you And to Timothie Luke is with me alone Be sette foorth also anotheâ— speciall goodlye booke whiche is entitled the Actes of the Apostles the storie wherof came euen full to Paules tyme beeyng and tarying two yeares at Rome that is to saye vntill the fourth yeare of Nero the Emperour there Whereby we do well perceyue that the sayde booke was made in the same citie Therfore as for the circuites of Paule and of Tecla the virgin and all the tale of Leo by hym baptised we rekon emong the scriptures that are called Apocrypha For what manier a thyng is it that a companion whiche neuer went from his elbowe shoulde emong his other matâ—ers bee ignoraunt of this thyng alone Tertullian whiche was nere vnto that tyme reporteth that a certayne priest in 〈◊〉 beeyng an affeccionate fauourer of the Apostle Paule was coÌ„uicte before Iohn for beeyng authour of thesame booke and that the priest confessed him selfe to had 〈◊〉 the thyng for the loue that he bare to Paule and the booke by reason therof to had escaped hym Some wryters deme that as often as Paule in his Epistles saieth accordyng to my ghospell he signifyeth of the woorke of Luke and that Luke learned the ghospell not onely of the Apostle Paule who had not been conuersaunte with the Lorde in the fleshe â—ut also of the rest of the Apostles whiche thyng Luke himselfe also declareth in the begynnyng of his owne worke saying As they haue deliuered them vnto vs whiche from the beginning sawe themselues with their â—yes and were ministers of the thynges that they declared The gospell therfore he wrote as he had hearde but the Actes of the Apostles he composed as he had seen He liued .lxxxiiii. yeares not hauyng any wife Buried he was at Constantinople vnto whiche 〈◊〉 his bones were remoued and conueyed out of Achaia together with the bones of Andrewe the Apostle in the .ix. yere of Constantius the Emperour The Paraphrase of Erasmus vpon the Ghospell of S. Luke The prologue ¶ For asmuche as many haue taken in hand to sette foorth the declaracion of the actes that are come to passe emong vs lyke as they deliueâ—ed them vnto vs that first sawe them themselues and were ministers of the woorde I thought good also now that I had gotteÌ„ the knowlege of all thynges from the begynnyng to wryte theÌ„ diligentlye vnto the in ordre good Theophilus to the ende that thou mightest knowe the trueth of those woerdes of the whiche thou art enfourmed IN the histories of worldly affaires vpon consideracioÌ„ that not a lytle aswel delectacion as also profite is takeÌ„ of the knowlege of thynges there is customably required an vpright trueth of reporting thesame But muche more oughte this vpright trueth to be in makyng relacion of the Ghospell the whiche not onely doeth muche delite the mynde hauyng litle els to do or is very commodious and profitable vnto this transitory lyfe but also is necessary vnto true godlinesse without the which no man atchiueth eternal saluacion and the blisse that neuer shal decaye of the lyfe euerlastyng For it were no matier of daungier thoughe a manne did not knowe what man Hannibal was or Alexander what actes Epaminondas or Scipio hath doen what matâ—ers Solon Lycurgus or Draco haue writen what doctrine Socrates Plato or Aristotle taughte albeit the knowleage of these thynges also after the rate of mans state and case in this world hath their fruite But whatsoeuer person shall not knowe the father the sonne and the holy ghoste whosoeuer shall not learne what actes the soonne of God Iesus Christe hath dooen on yearth for the saluacion of mankynde what he hathe taught what he hath promised vnto suche as doe constauntely cleue to the doctrine of the ghospell what he hath threatned vnto suche persones as doe either litle regarde or els doe playnely despise thesame suche an one shall not possibly bee hable to auoyde but that beeyng excluded out of the coumpanye of Gods children and shut out from the ioyes of the heauenly lyfe he shal bee adiudged with the wicked to the tormentes of the diepe pitte of hell whiche neuer shall haue ende And in dede at the first by meane of thapostles beeyng therunto chosen of our Lorde hymselfe and by the residue of his disciples beyng enspired with the holy ghost the ghospell in dede by liuely voice and by mouth onely but yet with moost vpright certaintye and assured trueth is begonne to bee spred abrode throughout all coastes and countreyes of the worlde and dooeth daylye yet still ferther and ferther renne abrode Yet forasmuche as the synceritie of reportyng the whiche goyng from man to man by mouth onely issueth successiuelye to a great noumber is more lightlye corrupted then suche reporte as is sette out and left from one to another in writyng therefore Mathew the Apostle one of the twelue whom our Lorde Iesus beeyng yet coÌ„uersaunte on yearthe had specially appointed and chosen to this office and also Marke the disciple of Peter the Apostle were by inspiracion of the holy ghoste admonished to put the summe of the whole story of the ghospell in writyng not myndyng ne goyng about by preuencion to take awaye from others any libertie to write of the same matiers but rather leste any person beyng craftilye deceiued by false Apostles shoulde folowe the Iewes facions or fonde fables in stede of the gospell Notwithstandyng lyke as not euery manne did at that tyme with eguall synceritie and
He deserued not to be buryed yet ought he thence to be remoued lest his dead body should infecte that pure and holy companie Here peraduenture some wyll meruayle at Peters sharpnes towardes Ananias that but late before so â—entily entreated them that had crucified Christe to receyue pardon for their offences ascribyng all that was doen to ignoraunce and proferyng the penytent person health of soule euerlastyng But here rebuked he this person so sharpely for witholdyng a small porcion of money contrarye to his lyberall promyse that there was no hope at all for him to come by pardone For why Iesus the Lorde that had geuen commaundement for all men to be called by meane of baptisme to their saluacion pardonyng theyr offences woulde teache by the example of violent death in a fewe persons howe muche the offence is more greuous to fall in synne after baptysme and lyght receyued of the ghospell not nowe of any vnaduisednes or ignorauÌ„ce but of a wilful dissimulacion And Peter knewe that the moste pestilent plague that the plaine simplicitie of the ghospell could haue should spring of dissimulacioÌ„ auarice and therfore euen at the begynnyng of the churche a notable example was openly set forth to admonishe all people the none should escape whosoeuer folowed the steppes of Ananias the vengeauÌ„ce of god although that his offence were not in this world forthwith punished As for the losse of the money was not here rekened vpon but his mystrust in God and mocking of his holy spirite Peter hymselfe punished not the person but for his soules health sharply he rebuked him But bycause he neyther brast out into wepyng nor expressed any woorde at all of repentaunce God toke vengeaunce on hym And thus of goddes wonderfull mercy towardes manne one was stricken that many might be saued An example of iustice was set forth towardes hym that dyed and mercy besydes was largely powred out on many one that toke heede at his example to eschewe synne And it fortuned as it were aboute the space of thre houres after that his wife came in ignoraunt of that which was doen. And Peter sayd vnto her Tell me sold ye not the lande for so muche And she sayed yea for so muche Than Peter sayed vnto her Why haue ye agreed together to tempte the spirite of the Lorde Behold the fete of theÌ„ whiche haue buried thy housband are at the doore and shall carry thee out Than fel she downe strayghtway at his feete and yelded vp the ghost And the young men came in and found her dead and caryed her out and buried her by her housbande And great feare came on all the congregacion and on as many as heard it And as it were about the space of thre howres after beholde the wyfe of Ananias not knowing what had chaunced to her housband as folkes knowe later almoste then other what euill is done at home in theyr owne house came in beyng priuy to that her housbandes craftie deceyte and in wyll ready also for her parte to gette vayne prayse vnto whose vngodly imaginacions Peter aunswered saying tell me woman solde ye the lande for so muche and for no more then this She muche lyke to her housbande aunswered without any shame yea verayly for somuche haue we solde it Than Peter sayed to her why hast thou with thy housbande together agreed to tempte wyth a lye not vs but the spirite of the lorde whom ye see workyng in vs But forasmuche as it liked thee to be felowe wyth thy housbande in this wicked dissimulacion thou shalt be lyke wyse partener with him in punishment Beholde they stande at the doore whiche buried thy housbande and the selfe same persons shall carry the out She than immediatly as these woordes were spoken fell downe and yelded vp the ghoste In went the young menne vpon thesame and founde the woman deade Than they carryed her foorthe and buried her by her housbande A sharpe example this was but yet profitble for manne and not ofter put in vre than once of thapostles And yet did not Peter the ientileste creature that than was lyuyng inflycte thys punishement but as he that was inspired with the holy ghost expressed it in woordes For Peter than knewe by secrete inspiracion of the holy ghost what was already doen and what was for to be doen. God to whom all thynges be knowen wyll see theÌ„ punished that vnder couloured falsehood doe mocke apostolyke persons though that they be suche as may be deceyued For all men hath not all tymes that gyfte of the holy ghost that Peter had at that tyme. Nowe marke howe happily of an euell occasion it succeded Wondrefull great feare sprang through the whole Churche of the faythfull by meanes of that deathe whiche these twoe persons ryght woorthyly suffered yea other also that than beleued not were stricken with feare of this example ¶ By the handes of the apostles were many signes and wonders shewed emong the people And they were altogether with one accorde in Salomons porche And of the others durst no man ioyne himselfe to them neuerthelesse the people magnified them The number of them that beleued in the lorde both of men and weomen grewe more more insomuche that they brought the sicke into the streates and layed them on beddes and couches that at the least way the shadowe of Peter when he came by might shadow some of them and that they myght all be deliuered from theyr infirmities There came also a multitude out of the cities round about vnto Ierusalem bringing sick folkes and them whiche were vexed with vncleane spirites And they were healed euery one Moreouer many and great myracles were wrought emong the people by the apostles wherby it myght playnly appere to all men that this notable effecte came to passe by some dyuine power aboue al strength of man And as many as sticked to the ghospell abode all with one accorde together in the porche called Salomons porche For than were not they desyrouse to be hyd in corners but the tyme requyred that the candle beeyng set vpon the candlesticke shoulde gyue lyght to all that entred into the house As for the others which had not yet by baptysme booked themselues as souldiers to fyght vnder the baner of Christes capitayne none durst company with them For they perceyued this sorte of people to be dedicate to God and holy and therfore of a certayne reuerent feare withdrewe themselues from theyr company lyke as the temporall sorte of men are wonte to drawe backe frome halowed thynges whiche be for euer dedicate to the temple For the people hated them not but had them in an honourable reuerence for the excellent vertue or giftes of god whiche clerely shone in them And notwithstandyng that the example of Ananias Saphira had made many one sore afrayed that none durst frame themselues after a counterfeyte fashion vnto their coumpanie yet after thys the multitude of the faythfull encreased euery daye in numbre
whome ye teache shall be vnkynde towarde you of whome they receyue farre greater thynges ¶ But to whatsoeuer citie or towne ye shall come enquire who is worthy in it and there abyde tyll ye go thence And whan ye come into the house salute thesame and if the house be worthy let your peace come vpon it but if it be not worthy let your peace returne to you again And whosoeuer shall not receyue you nor wil heare your preachyng whan ye departe oute of that house or citie â—â—ake of the dust of your feet Ueâ—ely I saye vnto you It shall be easyer for the lande of Zodoma and Gomortha in the daye of iudgement than for that Citie And ye shall be grieuouse to no man with begging nor no man shall caste you in the teeth with his benefit because he hath made a chaunge for better thinges rather than geuen any thing For it shall not be nedefull for you to tourne into common innes but into what citie or strete you entre into firste enquyre yf there be any honest man there desyrouse of the heauenlye kyngdome and wery of the worlde whiche with godlye desyres sygheth nowe and than after Messias that was promysed whiche sheweth a greate hope of greater increase by simplicitie and innocencie of lyfe by liberalitie towarde the poore For suche one will be a very mete hoste for you and again ye shall be meete gestes for him Whan ye haue founde suche an one turne into his house and chaunge not your inne vntyll youre busines aboute the gospell causeth you to remoue into another citie For it shall not be nedeful neyther comely for you oftentimes to chaunge your host as light persons or persons desyrouse of more deynty fare Euery house euery fare oughte to suffyse for men of the gospell Be ye curteous gentill of manners that ye appere neither proude nor â—atterers Whan ye enter into the house speake fyrste and saye Peace be in this house Youre prayer shall not bee in vayne For yf the house be worthy this prayer by and by withoute delaye it wyll receyue it but yf it refuse it your salutacion shall not be loste For that whiche they despise shall returne vnto you And truely I woulde not haue you bowyng and becking or flatteryng any man for your necessities that yf any house thinke muche to receyue you or yf anye citie thinke muche to haue you as geastes and wyll not of theyr owne accorde receyue the saluacion of the ghospell offred vnto them I will that ye shall leaue the house whiche ye saluted and leaue the citie whereunto ye entred and go into the stretes and shake of the dust from your feete declaryng openly that ye hunt for none of theyr worldly commodities who caste of the ghospell of God insomuche that ye shall not be caste in the teeth with the vile duste that sticketh vpon your feete Here haue in remembraunce that an holy thyng must not be geuen to dogges nor precious margarites caste vnto hogges Onely see that ye laye this to the vnkynde wyll they nyll they that the kyngdom of god is at hande to the greate commoditie of them that receiue it and to the great hurte of them that refuse it Auyse them whiche receyue the worde of the gospell Wo be to that citie wherein none shal be founde that doeth repent him of his yll lyfe and desyreth not to be amended This I assure you that the countrey of Sodom and Gormorre shal be more gently handled in the daye of iudgement than that citie though it be a citie of Israel The more that the clemency of god is to prouoke them to penaunce by so many myracles and so many benefites the more grieuously shall they be punished yf they reiect it ¶ Beholde I sende you furth as shepe among wolues be ye therfore wyse as serpentes and innocent as doues But beware of those men for they shall delyuer you vp to the counsels and shall scourge you in their Synâ—goges And ye shall be brought to the head rulers kynges 〈◊〉 my sake in witnes to them and to the Gentyles But whan they deliuer you vp take you no thought how or what ye shall speake for it shall be geuen you euen in that same boure what ye shall speake For it is not ye that speake but the spirite of your father which speaketh in you The brother shall delyuer the brother to death and the father the sonne and the children shall acyse against theyr fathers and mothers and shall put them to death and ye shal be hated of al men for my names sake But he that endureth to the ende shall be saued But leue ye the punishment of them to god be ye meke and pacient against all iniuries and so endeuour to profite all good men that whan ye be prouoked of yll men ye requiâ—e not iniuries It is sufficient for you to bee garnished with those thinges wherewith ye maye do good to all men Against the iniuries of men I wyll haue you vtterly without weapon and to ouercome with none other defence but with sufferaunce Otherwise I coulde make you terrible and to be feared but it is not expedient for the gospell For violence doeth not extinguishe violence nor iniury iniury nor pryde pryde but rather couldnes gentilnes and quietnes I know that the phariseis and men that â—e stoute with the succoure of this world will go about to do you sore displeasures But against all these there is none other buckeler but pacience Nor there is no cause to feare ye be sent lyke shepe without weapon simple innocent in the middes of wolues but ye be sent of me I would not that ye beyng prouoked by their naughtines shoulde he turned into wolues but to go about this by all meanes that the wolues asswaged by your gentylnes maye be turned into shepe It is no great matter to reuenge yll men but to turne their hertes to good is a veray great an harde matter Therfore ye must couple two certayne thinges together the policy of the serpente and the simplicitie of the doue The simplicitie of the doue shall cause you to desire to do good to al men and to hurt no man no though ye be prouoked The policy of the serpente shall cause you to geue none occasion wherby your doctrine might be reproued This is the chiefe point of your ambassade that the gospell maye entre into all mennes hartes Therfore ye must do vtterly nothyng which by any probable colour might withdrawe any mans harte from the doctrine of the gospell Your doctrine shall make great stirres and tumultes in the worlde the more therfore ye must beware leste any busynesse aryse through your defaulte Whiche can not be yf ye communicate your benefites freely vnto all men and kepe pacience also towardes the yll men and desyre to do them good Therfore with suche maner of men yea wolues rather ye muste worke warelye and nowe prepare
people mocked him and reuyled him he gaue health vnto others nowe he cannot preserue himselfe If he be the king of Israel as he woulde appere let him declare now what he can doe let him come downe from the crosse and we will beleue hym He trusted in god whome he craked to be hys father if he loue him let him nowe deliuer hym And that of euery side the most innocente Iesus mighte be arayed with reuylynges the theues also felowes with hym in punishmente in lyke manner rebuked hym The whiche all Iesus suffered with stiffe and strong pacience to bring to passe and offer for all meÌ„ that healthfull sacrifice He kepte still the diuine power and sette furthe the whole nature humane to al maner of paynes and tormentes And he did not requited or reuenge so cruell reuylyng bestowed vpon hym as he was dying beeyng more bitter then the crosse it selfe insomuche that he prayed vnto hys father for the souldyers and the Iewes that skorned hym and one of the theues repentyng himselfe he receyued into his paradise From the sixt houâ—e was there darkenes ouer all the lande vntill the .ix. houre And aboute the .ix. houre Iesus cryed with a loude voyce saying Hely Hely Lamazabathanye that is to saye my god my god why haste thou forsaken me Some of them that stoode there when they hearde that sayde This man calleth for Helias â–ª And furthwith one of them ranne and toke a sponge and whan he had filled it full of vyneâ—ce he put it on a reede and gaue it hym to drinke But other sayde let be let us see whether Helias will come and delyuer hym Iesus when he had cryed agayne with a loude voyce yelded vp the ghost The very Sonne felte the punyshment of the innocente and coulde not abyde to beholde so wycked a dede He couered hys face with a blacke cloude and all that countreye was couered with darkenesse from syxe of the clocke vntyll nyne And yet in the meane season the darkenesse of the Iewes hartes coulde not bee shaken of Further aboute nyne of the clocke Iesus cryed with a greate voyce saying thys sentence oute of the psalme Hely Hely Lamazabathany my God my God why haste thou forsaken me And certayne that stode by and hearyng afarre of Hely and supposyng that he had called to Hely for helpe sayde Thys felowe calleth for Hely Let vs see whether he wyll helpe hym Than Iesus to shewe that it was a true deathe whiche he suffered for all menne cryed I am athirste For thys is wonte to folowe vpon woundes and sheding of bloude whiche oftentymes is a punyshemente more sore and paynfull than death And one runnyng to hym put vnto his mouth as he hanged a sponge full of vineger putte vpon the toppe of a reede Iesus thirsted sore for the health of menne but the Iewes offered hym nothyng but vinegar and gall Therefore he dyd forbeare from it when he had tasted saying It is consummate and fynyshed sygnyfying that nothyng was omytted whiche did pertayne to the manner of the sacrifyce And anone to declare that he lefte his life of hys owne accorde after that he had commended hys spyryte vnto the father he cryed with a loude voyce and bowing down his head died And beholde the vayle of the temple did rente in two partes from the top to the bottom and the earthe quaked the stones dyd rente and graues dyd open and manye bodyes of saynctes whiche slepte arose and went oute of the graues after hys resurreccyon and came into the holy citie and appered to many Whan the Ceâ—â—â—urion and they that were with him watching Iesus saw the earthquake and those thinges whiche happened they feared greatly saying Truely thys was the sonne of god And furthwith all thinges dyd testifye the effectuall death of the lorde Iesus For the vayle of the temple whiche deuyded the holye place from the other parte of the temple of his owne accorde was cut in two partes declaring that the shadowes of Moyses lawe hereafter shoulde vanyshe awaye at the bryght light of the ghospell Furthermore the earth did quake and the stones brake a sunder reprouing the Iewes for theyr inuyncyble hardnes of hearte The graues did open and many bodyes of holy menne whiche were dead did reuyue and liue agayne and goyng out of the graues after the resurreccyon of Christe came into the holye citie of Ierusalem and appered vnto many beeyng the preachers and folowers of the resurreccyon of Iesus Furthermore the Captayne and hys seruauntes whiche were there to keepe Iesus perceyuing the earthquake the darkenesse the breakyng of the stones and other wonders were greatly afeard saying Truely this was the sonne of god ¶ And many women were there beholdyng a farre of whiche folowed Iesus from Galile mynystryng vnto hym among whiche was Marie Magdalene and Marie the mother of Iames and Ioses and the mother of the chyldren of Zebedee When the euen was come there came a riche man of Aramathia named Ioseph whiche also was Iesus disciple He wente vnto Pylate and begged the holy bodye of Iesus Than Pylate commaunded the body to be deliuered And whan Ioseph had taken the body he wrapped it in a cleane clothe and put it in his new toumbe whiche he had hewen out of the rocke and rolled a great stone to the doore of the sepulchre and departed And there was Marie Magdalene and the other Marie sitting ouer againste the Sepulchre There were also many women lookyng a farre of vpon the thynges that were doen whiche had folowed Iesus from Galile minystryng vnto hym necessaries among whome there was Marie Magdalene and Marie the mother of Iacob and Ioseph and also the mother of the sonnes of zebedee and diuers other with them And when the nyghte drewe nere a certayne ryche Captayne of Aramathia called Ioseph who also was the dyscyple of Iesus wente vnto the presidente askyng of hym the body of Iesus Pylate marueyling if that he were dead a man of lustie age and not hauyng hys legges broken as soone as he knew certaynely of the captayne that he was dead he commaunded the body to be geuen vnto him He receyued it and wrapped it in a cleane shete and layde it in a newe graue the whiche he had grauen in an whole stone And rollyng a greate stone to the doore of the graue he departed away And thys was done by the prouidence of God that they shoulde vse no crueltie vpon the dead karcas or that no man shoulde dygge vp the graue and steale hym awaye And when the other were departed Marie Magdalene and an other woman contynued there syttyng ouer against the sepulchre and markyng the place where they layde the body that at conuenient time they myght doe the dutie of annoynting to it and the lorde had styrred vp theyr great dilygence to this intente that the beliefe of his resurreccion might be more certayne ¶ The nexte daye that foloweth the Parasceue â–ª the hyghe priestes and Pharisâ—is came
made to whippe all those into the fyre of hell that be defilers of the holy temple ¶ And the scribes and hyé priestes heard it and sought howe to destroy him for they â—eared him because all the people meruayled at his docâ—eâ—â—e And when euen was cum Iesus went out of the citie And in the morning as they passed by they sawe the figge tree dryed vp by the rootes and Peter remembred sayd vnto him Maister beholde the figge tree whiche thou cursedst is withered awaye And Iesus answered and sayd vnto them Haue confidence in God And that it maye appeare what a great mischiefe the couetousnesse of priestes and phariseis is when the chief of the priestes and scribes who had the greatest porcioÌ„ of the gaynes saw these thinges they sought a meane how they might destroy Iesus Oh figge tree barayne and cursed in dede They boast and aduaunt themselues for the chiefe prelates of pâ—re religion and yet in the name of God be they sore displeased that the defilers of the temple are driuen out a dores There lacked not in them a wicked minde ready to commit haynous murdre but thei sought occasion how they might safely accomplishe theyr desyre They alone coulde not fynde in theyr hartes to loue that louely and amiable Iesus who hurt no body but did all men good They feared him onely because the people meruayled at his doctrine and conceiued an high opinion of him for the miracles they had seen him worke before Oh wrong shapen holinesse in them that were professours of holinesse After they had purposed to do so wicked a dede they were not afrayed leste God vnto whome nothing is vnknowen would be auenged and yet stode they in dreade of the people Why did they not at the leaste wise feare Iesus himselfe They had bothe seen and hearde tell of the greate numbre of miracles that he wrought which were an euident testimony that goddes power was presently with hym so oft as he would hymselfe He that iâ— able to chase away diuels and put them to flighte can muche easlyer put them in He that with the bare worde of his mouthe rayseth the dead and calleth them to life againe can with muche lesse difficultie take awaye the lyfe If they beleue he is so gracious and mercifull that though he be able yet wyll he hurt no body why then go they about to put suche a one to death If they beleue that he will also do what he is able to do why do they not euen for verye feare of punishment and vengeaunce refrayne from so wicked a purpose Doubtelesse this was that vncurable blinddenesse of them who thought in their owne conceytes none had iyes and could haue sene but they Now when the nighte eftsones approched Iesus who had bene all the daye in the temple fasting and without meate departed from Ierusalem So ofte forsaketh he the citie offended with the obstinate vnbelefe of the inhabitauntes so oft cummeth he thyther to find sum fruite if it would be in so goodly a shew of leaues But would to god this cursed figtre had bene nothing els but barain and not brought foorth deadly poyson Iesus the time of his death and passion being now at hand suffered no time to passe away fruitlesse He spent all the day in the temple and bestowed the nighte in praier and priuatelye animating and encouraging of his disciples Agayne whan early in the mourning they retourned from Bethany to Hierusalem and passed by the figge tree the disciples perceiued how it was withered euen from the very rootes to the highest top Peter called to remembraunce what Iesus had done the day before and knewe righte well howe he had cursed the tree and yet meruayling that it was sodainly withered in all partes from the very rootes sayd to the lord Maister Loe the figge tree that thou cursedst is now withered Peter meruayled here at not withstanding he had oft tymes before seen hym do farre greater thinges than this Surely he had forgotten this lesson howe there is nothing so harde that faith is not able to bring to passe Of fayth springeth all the fruite of the gospell And because the Sinagoge wanted this faith we see howe she is cleane withered The churche of the Gentiles blossometh brauncheth out with many crownes of Martirs with many precious stones of virgins with many ensamples of vertue On the other side what is further paste all grace and goodnesse more abiect vile and barayne then the Iewes are Where is the auctoritie of the law becum where is the merueilous shewe of religion or holynesse where is the temple where are the stately Scribes Phariseis Is not the figge tree all withered Therfore sayth he yf ye will blossome and bring foorth fruite put confidence not in your owne strength but in God ¶ Uerely I say vnto you that whosoeuer shall say vnto this mountaine remoue and cast thy selfe into the sea shall not doubte in his harte but shall beleue that those thynges which he sayeth shall cum to passe whatsoeuer he saieth he shall haue Therfore I say vnto you what thinges soeuer ye desyre when ye pray beleue that ye receyue them ye shall haue them And when ye stand and pray forgeue yf ye haue oughte againste anye mâ—â—ne that your father also whiche is in heauen maie forgeue you your trespaces I assure you of this one thing yf a man hauing a sure belefe in god commaunde this figge tree to wither whiche thing you meruayle at now it is done not onely that shall foorth with cum to passe but also yf he saye vnto this mountayne Auoyd out of thy place and cast thy selfe into the sea albeit it seme a thing very impossible yet yf he speake the worde nothyng doubting or mistrusting in his hart but haue conceyued a sure beliefe of mind that whatsoeuer he say shall in very dede cum to passe then vndoubtedlye whatsoeuer he commaundeth shall be done This beliefe towardes god shall cause that ye shall desyre nothing of him in vayne Therfore trust ye on my waâ—randise that whatsoeuer ye demaunde of the father not mistrusting but he will graunt you your request you shall obtain it so that your mindes be fre from desyre of reuengement and on condicion ye desyre but what shall be expedient for your soule health He that distrusteth obtaineth nothing For such a one beleueth that the father either cannot acomplish his desyre whereas in dede he his able to do all thinges with a becke or at the least wise will not let him haue what he lawfully asketh that man also obtaineth not his request and if he beleue his faith is a naughty shamlesse fayth whoso desireth the father to pardon the trespaces that he hath committed againste his maiestie whereas he will not againe for his parte release vnto his christian brother suche offences as his sayd brother had committed againste hym Wherfore when ye settle your selues to prayer forgeue with all
perishe Be ye not aâ—earde litle flocke for yours is the kyngdome of heauen Paule hathe meate wherewith he coumforteth and cherisheth suche as are but newlye conuerted to Christe that they maye not fal agayne into diseases forasmuche as they are yet weake he hath also sounde and substanciall meate that maye kepe theim in perfeicte strength growyng forewarde from daye to daye vnto the measure of the fulnesse of Christe Those persones had gathered perfeict strengthe of whome it is thus wrytten in the actes of the Apostles They went reioycyng oute of the sight of the counsell in that they had been reputed worthie to suffre reproche for the name of Iesus That man also had gathered perfeicte strength whiche layed I can dooe all thynges in hym that maketh me strong And for this consideracion the Lorde Iesus in the ghospell exhorteth menne to the eatyng of the breade that was come from heauen the eatyng whereof geueth immortalitie He exhorteth men to the eatyng of his fleshe and to the drinking of his bloude meanyng vndoubtedlye of his doctrine whiche beyng as breade to the soule dooeth make thesame lustie and strong and as effectuall strong wyne doeth inebricate men and bryng them in a godly kynde of drounkennesse euen to the contempte of this worlde in lyke maner as fleashe hath sound nourishemente for the bodye and lyke as bloude hath a vertue and effecte vnto lyfe And though all the scripture of god haue a medicinable vertue and power in it yet hath it none a more effectuall electualye or receipt then that pertaineth to the ghospel One and thesame spirite it is that is in all the Scriptures of God but yet in the ghospell especiallye his pleasure was that the thyng â—â—ould remaine wherin he might speciallye shewe foorth his owne power because there shoulde appere some difference betwene the seruauntes and the maister betwene the puddels or litle gutters and the spryng or fountaine And truely it is a labour well bestowed to considre how great a thyng the vertue of this medicine is Euerie common weale is as ye woulde saye a certayne body The pestilent diseases and sickenesses of a common weale are euil maniers Againste whiche diseases such men as haue excelled others in wysedome haue in soondrye regions or deyned and set lawes as it were certayne medicines and remedies for thesame as for exaumple emong the Atheniens Solon made lawes emong the Lacedemonians Lycurgus emong the people of Crete Minos emong the Romaynes the tenne Commissioners called in theyr toungue Decemuiti Yet not one of all these men was hable to bryng to passe that other nacions also would enbrace and receiue the lawes that he had made No neither dyd any of them so muche as attempte such a thyng leste besides spendyng of labour in vayne he shoulde also haue wonne an opinion of a shamelesse acte in his so doyng Solon was faâ— to liue tenne yeares a banished man for thrustyng his lawes into the citie of Athens alone to be vsed there Plato a man so well learned and so eloquent coulde neuer bryng the people of Athens in mynde to receyue his lawes And yet is there no doubtes to bee made but that euerye one of theim perswaded theimselues that the lawes whiche they hadde made were true and that they wisshed yf it myght possibly haue been brought to passe that all the world should haue enbraced and receyued thesame No nor the lawes of Moses neither were iprâ—d abrode or receyued any ferther then within onely one nacion although in dede the Pharisets did with great highe suyt hunte to wynne and geat vnto them a fewe proselites that is to saye foreyns and aliens wonne to their religion Fynally not the violent autoritie of the Emperours neither was hable by vyolence or compulsion to obteyne that theyr lawes might haue weight and force with all nacions And the thyng whiche all the sayed persones by the lawes that they made did endeuour to bryng about thesame did also the Philosophiers attempt by theyr morall rules and lessons with great iudgement and with incomparable diligence and labour wryten and published Of al which neuerthelesse not one hath there been so eloquente or so well learned that he hath been hable to bryng any one nacion in the mynde that he woulde haue theim in so werishe and vneffectuall was the vertue of the medicine of phisicke which they broughte Onelye the trueth Euangelicall dyd in processe of a fewe yeares possesse perswade and ouercome all nacions of the worlde full and wholle drawyng vnto it the Grekes and the barbarous peoples the learned and the vnlearned the inferiour common people and kynges and all So pithâ—hy and so effectuall was the electuarie of this trueth that so many thousandes of people forsakyng the lawes of their owne countreyes renouncyng the religioÌ„ that theyr forefathers had vsed â–ª leauyng aswell the sensuall pleasures and vices whiche from their cradels they had been accustomed vnto they enbraced a new and a forein doctrine and out of diuerse toungues and ordinaunces of contrarie sorte they did consente to the receyuyng of a certaine lowe and basse philosophie especiallye at suche a tyme as neuer was there any of the lyke sorte furnished nor armed either with the maintenaunce and supportacion of learnyng and eloquence or with the power and autoritie of princes and at suche a time ferthermore whaÌ„ al the worlde with al the strengthe that it had fought against the trueth of the ghospel beeyng vnarmed and naked yet neuerthelesse it could not possiblye bryng to passe but that the sayed trueth after that it firste â—ntred possession vpon the countrey of Grece inuaded also the citie of Rome and the veraye courte of Nerâ— and foorthwith spred it self abrode throughout all and singular the prouincies of the Empire of Rome euen vntill the Isles called Gades lying in the ferthest parte beyonde Spaigne and vnto the Indians vnto the peoples of Afrike and the Scithians and the Isle of Britannia now called Englande beyng a countrey vttrelye diuided and cutte of from all the rest of the worlde These nacions and peoples dyd verye muche differ one from another in theyr languages lawes rytes vsages ordeynaunces Goddes religion and facions and anon beeyng from suche great discorde broughte to a generall vniformitie they begonne to syng all one song extollyng with laudes and prayses Iesus Christe the onely lorde and salueour of the worlde And all this while the spoylyng of their goodes their banishementes empriesonynges tormentes deathes were none other thing but good procedyng and goyng forewarde of the ghospell What persone hath there euer been founde that hath been content to suffre death for the lawes of Solon or the morall preceptes of Zeno But for the simple and playne doctryne of Christ how many thousandes of men both olde young how many thousandes of matrones and vyrgins haue willyngly offered and holden out their neckes to bee chopte of And yet how muche more wondrefull and more abhorryng from commune reason are the thinges
to thintent thou shouldeste receiue thi sight againe and be replenished with the holy gost Ananias had vneth spoken these wordes but there fell from the iyes of Paule in the same place as it were certaine scales of a fishe so recouered he his sight And immediatly he stode vp and was baptised After that whan he had receiued sum foode he was well strengthned In this maner that excellent capitayne of Christes gospell he that shoulde soone after obscure the glory renowne of other his apostles receyued at the hand of Ananias a poore and huÌ„ble disciple the holy ghost before that he receiued baptisme But nothing is done out of ordre that is done at Iesus Christes coÌ„maundement whoÌ„ Paule hadde for hys teacher For so had he gyuen his apostles authoritie that he woulde neuerthelesse reserue vnto hymselfe the higheste authoritie of all the whole matter Than was Saule certayne dayes with the disciples which wer at Damasâ—o And streight waye preached Christ in the Synagoges howe he was the sonne of God But al that hearde him wâ—re amased and sayed is not this he that spoyled them which called on this name in Hierusalem and came hyther for that entent that he might bring them bounde vnto the highe priestes But Saul encreased the more in strength coÌ„touÌ„ded the Iewes whiche were dwelling at Damasco affirmyng that this was very Christe Than Saule beyng sodainly chaunged abode for certaine dayes in companye with the disciples whiche were at Damasco And without any further delaye he begonne furthwith eâ—en there contrary to the byshoppes commaundement to sette vpon the office that he was appoynted vnto by Christe And he went into the Iewes Synagoges and published openly and frankly affirming that Iesus of Nazareth was the sonne of god for whose sake alone all men shoulde haue profered them accordyng to the Prophetes foresayinges health euerlasting The Iewes which knew of Saules cruel fiercenesse agaynst the Christians by the rumoure that was bruted abrode reioysyng that they had gotten suche a valiaunt defendour of Moses lawe whan they had hearde that he did so earnestlye preache Iesus name of Nazareth they maruayled what had chaunced vnto the manne that he was so sodainlye quyte altered and sayde amongest themselues is not this the same Saule who of late did all that euer he could assaulte theim that called vpoÌ„ this name at HierusaleÌ„ whiche name he blaseth nowe abrode and famously publisheth and nowe but of late came hyther purposely to take all suche persons yf he myght fynde any here and to bryng them faste bounde to the highe Bysshoppes there to be punished at theyr wyll and commaundement Howe cummeth this to passe that he hathe so sodaynly caste of his Iewyshe condicions and forsaken Moyses and hathe become a professoure of the crucified But Paule whome that name in veray dede than better agreed with after that he once became of a troublesome person a teacher of sobernesse and quiet libertee so litle was afrayed at suche manier sayinges of the Iewyshe that he beyng euery daye the better strengthened with spirituall coumforte confounded and muche troubled the Iewes that were dwellynge at Damasco affirmyng constauntly and prouing by the testimonies of holy scripture that Iesus of Nazareth whome he had before of ignoraunce persecuted and dyd nowe preache was the trewe Messias that was promysed to the worlde and that none other should be borne hereafter at whose handes the Iewes ought to looke for euerlastyng health ¶ And after a good whyle the Iewes tooke councel together to kyll him But their laying wayte was knowen of Saule And they watched the gaâ—es daye and nyght to kil hym Than the disciples toke him by night and put him thorowe the walle and let him downe in a basket And wheÌ„ Saule was cumme to Ierusalem he assayed to couple himselfe with the disciples but they were all afrayed of him and beleued not that he was a disciple But Barnabas tooke him and brought hym to the Apostles and declared to them how he had seene the Lorde in the waye and that he had spoken vnto him and how he had done boldely at Damasco in the name of Iesu. And he had his conuersacion with them at Ierusalem speakyng boldely in the name of the lorde Iesu. Whan Paule had taken suche an enterpryse vpon him many dayes at Damasco no litle to the disciples ioy and comforte and not without a greate rumble and murmour of those that did not than beleue the Iewes at lengthe layed their heades in councell togither to thintent that they might by lying in wayte for him slaye hym O what a nacion is this that murthereth men Paule reasoned taught and vanquished the Iewes with testimonyes of their owne lawe as it were with their owne weapons But there was nothyng els with them but conspiracies stockes prisons stripes and sondry kyndes of deathe But this had the lorde by promisse assured his welbeloued seruauntes of that they shoulde not lose no not a heare of one of their heades excepte his father suffered it The tyme was not than come for that excellente warryoure to dye in the gospelles cause he had than many battels behynde to fyght for Christes people many daungerouse perylles were to come for him to sustayne in fyght of battell many cities and countreys wer lefte for him to subdue by goddes holy worde and to call vnto Christes yoke Wherfore Paule as it was goddes wil had warnyng that the Iewes laye in wayte for him insomuche that they kept the gates day and night in watche for him that he should not away escape but that they would kil him To bring this acte to passe they had procured them ayde of the Lieftenaunt of the citie who was the debytie of king Aretas to thintent that yf theyr priuey watche had not wel proceded to theyr purpose they would neuertheles openly by force slay him The disciples than conceyuing in their myndes how that the lesse the person cared for himselfe the more was he worthy to be saued woulde not suffer so valiant a warryer in Christes worde peryshe Wherfore they hydde him and by night let hym downe by a corde of the towne walles in a basket Euen so oftentymes yea bolde and valiaunt capitaines do runne awaye to thintent that they maye accordyng to the prouerbe be able to fyght againe O what a woondre is it to see the course of thinges turned vpside down Nowe lurketh he in corners starteth away who a litle before with many sore thretnynges persecuted and now prouide they to saue Paules lyfe whome he before inuented crafty meanes to slay After this whaÌ„ he was once come to Hierusalem and would haue accoÌ„panyed with the disciples with whome the olde Saule was to well knowen Paule as thaÌ„ vnknowen al were afraied of him as the shepe of the woulfe not trustyng his woordes that he was a disciple callynge well to their remembraunce what crueltie he was wonte to expresse in persecutyng Christes flocke
of skinne which yf he had styll kepte he had not bene the better nor yet the worse for lacke of it then by occasion thereof to turne awaye the Iewes myndes from the gospell whose stubbrenesse he knewe well enough The Gentiles were free from the burden of the lawe by the decree that the apostles had made at Ierusalem Paule beeyng present And circumcision was a profession made to obserue the lawe and as a token therof But the Iewes were not yet openlye delyuered from the yoke of the lawe whiche ought by litle and lytle to be abolisshed Wherfore seeyng that it was euident by al tokens that Timotheus mother was a Iewe borne and his father a paynym by occasion whereof he had not been hytherto circumcised Paule tyghte well perceyued that the Iewes woulde make sedicion yf they myght haue neuer so lytle a cause and speciallie yf Timothie whiche was halfe a Iewe borne were not onely made pertaker of the gospell without circumcision but also called to the office of a preacher Wherfore Paule in those dayes did beare so muche with theym hauyng euer respecte only to further the gospell and to kepe men in quietnes whiche had professed Christ the authour of all true peace As they went through the cities they deliuered them the decrees for to kepe that wer ordeyned of the apostles elders which were at Hierusalem And so wer the congregacions stablished in the fayth and encreased in numbre dayly And not only thus did he but whatsoeuer cities they wer that he wente by he commaunded those that of heathen wer becum christen to kepe those thynges that had bene decreed by the apostles and elders at Hierusalem for the whyche purpose Iudas and Sylas had been sente before to Antioche leste the Iewes should fynde any faulte therwith And god furthered Paule in all hys businesse For the congregacions of the disciples wer both establyshed in the fayth of the gospel and dayly also augmeÌ„ted many persons beyng day by day conuerted to the fayth Whan they had gon throughout Phrigia and the countreye of Galacia and wer forbydden of the holy ghost to preache the word in Asia they came to Mysia soughte to go into Biâ—hiâ—ia But the spirit suffred them not But whan they had goen through Mysia they came downe to Etoada And whan they had trauayled ouer Phrygia and Galacia with greate profite in wynnyng many to the fayth although thei were but a grosse and a rude people and were muche desyrous to take their iourneye towardes that parte whiche is properly called Asia the holy ghoste woulde not suffer theym to preache the gospell there And this the secrete and priuie wyl of God obeied they forasmuche as it is not sittyng that manne should withstand god And so chaungeyng their entent they turned to Mysia fast borderyng vpon that couÌ„treye which is properly called Asia Thence they attempted to take their iourney towardes Bithinia turnyng theym northwarde For that was a noble prouince of the Romaynes and therfore they hoped there to haue great auauÌ„tage But the spirite of Iesus whiche was theyr guide would not permit them to go thither the cause why is vncertayne Wherefore returnyng backe towarde the weste whan they had goen ouer Mysia they came to Troas That same is a citie of Phrigia ioynyng nere vnto the sea and otherwyse called Antigonia ¶ And a vision appered to Paule in the nighte There stoode a man of Macedonia prayed hym saying cum into Macedonia and help vs. After he had sene this vision immediatly we prepared to go into Macedonia beyng certifyed that the lord had called vs to preache the gospel vnto them WheÌ„ we loosed forth then from Troada we came with a strayght course to Samothracia and the next day to Naples from theÌ„ce to Philippos which is the chief citie in the partes of Macedonia a free citie We wer in that citie abydyng certayne dayes And on the Sabboth dayes we went out of the citie besides a riuer where men wer wont to pray And we sate downe spake vnto the women which resorted thyther There had Paule a visioÌ„ in his slepe which shewed him whither he should goe The vision was this There stoode by hym a certayne man appareled lyke a man of Macedonia which entreated hym and sayde Cum to Macedonia and helpe vs. And he that so appered was the Aungell that is defendout of that countreye And as soone as Paule had sene that vision â–ª whiche hadde once or twyse before bene forbydden by the holy gost to preache the ghospell we that were his cumpanions were very glad of it For I also that wrote thys was in that iourneye and by and by we prouyded al thinges to take our iourney to Macedonia beyng assured that God had called vs thyther to preache the gospell vnto theym the whiche we doubted not but God woulde prospet them wel And in thys wyse leauyng Troas and â—aylyng by Chersonesus we ariued at Samothrace the Yland whiche is situate directly against Chracia And from thence the nexte daye we came to Naples whiche is a citie on the sea syde in the marches of Thracia and Macedonia And from thence to the citie Philippos whiche is a free citie and the first that ye come vnto whan ye go from Naples In this citie abode we certayne dayes lookynge for a good tyme and occasion to begynne the matter wherfore we came And on the sabboth daie we walked foorth of the citie into a certayne place wythout the gates that was nere to a riuer where as a greate multitude of the people together did customably resorte assemble for to make their praiers And as we were there syttyng our talke was vnto certayne wemen that wer come thyther and we were preachyng vnto them Iesus of Nazareth ¶ And a certayne woman named Lydia a seller of purple of the citie of Thyatira whiche worshipped God gaue vs audyence Whose herte the lorde opened that she atteÌ„ded vnto the thynges whiche Paule spake When she was baptised her houshould she besought vs saying If ye thynke that I beleue on the lorde cum into my house and abyde there And she constrayned vs. Emonge theym was one whiche was veraye deuout whose name was Lidia a seller of purple and one that was borne in the citie Thyatira whiche is a citie in Lidia And emong all other that hearkened vnto Paules preachynge of Christe god opened her herte diligently to heare those thynges that Paule taughte And so after that she was Christened with all her housholde she desyred Paule and his companions saying If ye haue thought me one not vnworthye to be receyued by meane of baptisme your instruction as a partaker of the ghospel I pray you do so much also for me as to cum into my house and do it honour with youre presence and take not me as an Ethnicke as I was erewhiles but take me as I am nowe renewed by fayth of the gospell throughe your ministery By
whan we had gotten a shyp that would sayle vnto Phenyces we wente aborde into it and set furthe But whan Cyprus began to appere vnto vs we lefte it on the left hande and sayled vnto Siria and came to Tyre For there the shyp vnladed her burden AND after we had sette vp sayle wer goen out of syght of them that stoode on the banke lokinge after vs we sayled streight furth arryued at the Ylande called Chous and nexte day after at Rhodes thence furth tyll we touched at Patara whiche is a citie of Licia nere to the sea syde There founde we a shyppe that was redye to sayle towarde Phenice we toke shyppyng there sayled therein But whan the Ylande of Cypres appeared vnto vs we leauyng it on the lefte hande sayled towarde Syria arriued at Tyre whiche is a citie situate on the sea banke of Phenice as Sydon is lykewyse We desired rather to sayle streyght foorth to Palestyne but because Tyre was a marte toune the master of the shyppe woulde nedes set his marchaundyse on lande there ¶ And when we had founde brethren we taryed theâ—e seuen dayes And they told Paule through the spirite that he should not go vp to Hierusalem And when the dayes wer ended we departed and they all brought vs on our waye with wyues and children til we were come out of the citie And we kneled downe in the shore and prayed And whan we had taken our leaue one of an other we tooke shyp and they returned home againe But whan as we founde some dysciples there also we taried with them seuen dayes Emong them were some whiche beynge enspired with the spirite of prophecye counselled Paule that he should in no wyse go to Hierusalem But yet for all that when the seuen dayes were expired we departed from Tyre all the disciples with their children and wyues accompanying and bringyng vs out of the citie to the sea banke Where after we had kneled downe and made our prayers with one consent and had taken our leaue one of an other we tooke shyppyng and they returned home againe ¶ When we had full ended the course froÌ„ Tyre we went downe vnto Ptolomaida saluted the brethren and abode with them one day The next day we that were of Paules cumpany departed came vnto Cesarea And we entred into the house of Philip the Euangeliste whiche was one of yâ— seuen and abode with him The same had fower doughters virgins whiche dyd Prophecie From Tyre we sayled to Ptolomaida whiche is a citie on the sea nere to the hyll named Carmelus Here we saluted our brethren and remayned one daye with them Nexte daye after Paule and we wente furth on our iourney and came to Cesarea a citye of Palestine and entred into the house of Philip whiche firste of all had preached the ghospell to the chaumberlayne and to the Samaritanes and was one of the seuen deacons that the apostles had instituted and ordeyned at Hierusalem With him we abode This man had fower daughters all vnmaried whiche had aboundantly the spirite of prophecye accordyng to the prophecye of Iohel And as we tarried there a good many of dayes there came a certaine Prophete from Iewry named Agabus Whan he was come vnto vs he tooke Paules girdle and bounde his feete and handes and sayed Thus sayeth the holy ghoste so shall the Iewes at Hierusalem bynde the man that oweth this girdle and shall delyuer him into the handes of the gentiles And whan we had continued soiourning in his house certaine daies there came a Prophete from Iewry whose name was Agabus He takinge his lodgeing emong vs and bayting there tooke Paules gyrdle whiche after he had knotted about his owne legges accordynge to the custome of the olde prophetes whiche had wount to expresse before by some visible token that thing that they prophecied of thorough the inspiracion of the holy ghoste sayed Thus sayeth the holy ghoste He that oweth this gyrdle shall so be bounde of the Iewes at Hierusalem they shall delyuer him into the handes of the Gentiles When we heard this both we and other which were of the same place besought him that he would not go vp to Hierusalem Then Paul answered and sayed What do ye weping and vering myne herte â–ª I am ready not to be bound onely but also to dye at Ierusalem for the name of the Lorde Iesu. When we could not turne his mynde we cealed saying the wyll of the Lorde bee fulfilled We beeyng muche feared with â–ª these woordes and the dysciples also that dwelled there with many wepyng teres desyred him that he shoulde not committe ne put himselfe into the handes of the Iewes at Hierusalem This was the godly affeccion and zele of them that were lothe to haue so excellente a pastour to peryshe But Paule whiche had a more certaine aunswere of the holy ghost in his mynde and knewe that he should fyrste goe to Hierusalem and shoulde after that see Rome sayed vnto them wherefore do ye make my herte sory with your vayne teares For the daungier that the Prophetes warne me of doeth nothyng moue me but youre douloure and sorowe maketh me to be sory and pensyfe I am fully mynded to further that thyng whiche the holy ghost wylleth me namely the ghospell I nothinge feare bondes whiche I haue been well enured with For god forbyd that I for feare of enprisoÌ„ment should leaue of from furthering of the ghospell seeing that I am ready yea yf it were to dye at Hierusalem for my Lord Iesus sake Let Paule lye in chaynes so that the gospell maye haue free lybertie to passe Let Paul lese his lyfe so that the glory of Iesus name maye lyuely spryng and flouryshe emong all men I am desirous of lyfe for none other ende but that I maye profite the ghospell But otherwyse I woulde recken it great aduauntage gotten to be shortly ryd out of this lyfe for Christes sake Wherefore do not ye mourne for that thing that I my selfe am desyrous of yf it shall so please God and cease ye therefore to make my mynde pensyfe with your wepyng and waylyng for I cannot chose but be sad seynge my frendes sad To these his woordes whaÌ„ we had nothinge to aunswere and sawe him fully bent to go to Hierusalem we suffred hym to departe saying the wyll of the Lorde be fulfylled For these ought to be the woordes of true Christians and though they haue not the same woordes styll in their mouthes yet must they continually thinke them in their hertes so that in aduersitie as well as prosperitie styll muste they saye The wyll of the lorde be fulfylled After those dayes we toke vp our burthens and went vp to Hierusalem There went with vs also certayne of the disciples of Cesarea and brought with them one Muason of Cyprus an olde disciple with whome we should lodge And whan we were come to Hierusalem the brethren receyued vs gladly And on the morowe Paul