threatenynges which should certifye them that as thei do ouer boldely presume of gods mercy and liue dissolutely so doeth God still more and more withdrawe his mercie from theim and he is so prouoked thereby to wrathe at lenght that he destroyeth suche presumers many tymes sodainly For of suche saincte Paule sayed thus when they shall saye it is peace there is no daunger then shall sodayn destruction come vpon theim Let vs beware therfore of suche naughtie boldenesse to synne for God whiche hath promised his mercie to them that bee truely repentaunte although it bee at the latter ende hath not promised to the presumpteous synner either that he shall haue long life or that he shal haue true repentaunce at the laste ende But for that purpose hath he made euery mannes deathe vncertayne that he should not put his hope in thend and in the meane season to Gods highe displeasure lyue vngodly Wherfore let vs folowe the counsaill of the WisemaÌ„ let vs make no tariyng to turne vnto the lord let vs not put of from daie to day for sodainly shal his wrath come and in tyme of vengeaunce he shal destroye the wycked Let vs therefore turne betymes and when we turne let vs praye to GOD as Ozee teacheth saiyng Forgeue vs all oure synnes receyue vs graciously And if we turne to him with an humble and a very penitent harte he wil receiue vs to his fauor and grace for his holy names sake for his promise sake for his truthe and mercies sake promysed to all faithefull beleuers in Iesus Christ his onely naturall sonne To whoÌ„ the onely sauiour of the world with the father and the holy ghost bee all honor glory and power world without end Amen ¶ An exhortation agaynst the feare of Death IT is not to be marueyled that worldly men do feare to dye For death depriueth them of all worldly honors riches and possessions in the fruition whereof the worldely man compteth hymself happie so long as he maye enioye theim at hys awne pleasure and other wyse if he be dispossessed of thesame without hope of recouery then he can none other thinke of himself but that he is vnhappie because he hath loste hys worldely ioye and pleasure Alas thinketh this carnall man shall I now depart for euer froÌ„ all my honors all my treasures from my countrey frendes riches possessioÌ„s and worldly pleasures whiche are my ioy and hartes delight Alas that euer that daie shal come wheÌ„ all these I muste bid farewell at once and neuer to enioye any of theÌ„ after Wherfore it is not without greate cause spoken of the wiseman O death how bitter and sower is the remembraunce of thee to a man that liueth in peace and prosperitie in his substaunce to a man liuyng at ease leading his life after his awne mind without trouble is therwithal well pampered and fed There be other men whom this world doth not so greatly laugh vpon but rather vexe and oppresse with pouertye sickenesse or some other aduersitie Yet thei do fear death partly because the fleashe abhorreth naturally his awne sorowful dissolucion whiche death doth threaten vnto theim and partely by reason of sickenesses and paynfull diseases whiche be moste strong pangues and agonies in the fleshe and vse commoÌ„ly to come to sicke men before death or at the leaste accompany death whensoeuer it commeth Although these twoo causes sâ—me great weightie to a worldly man wherupoÌ„ he is moued to feare death yet there is another cause much greater then any of these afore rehersed for whiche in dede he hath iuste cause to feare death and that is the state and coÌ„dicion wherunto at the last ende death bryngeth all them that haue their hartes fixed vpoÌ„ this world without repentaunce and amendemeÌ„t This state condicion is called the second death whiche vnto all suche shall insue after this bodily deathe And this is that death whiche in deede ought to be dread feared for it is an euerlasting losse without remedy of the grace fauor of God and of euerlastyng ioy pleasure and felicitie And it is not onely the losse for euer of all these eternall pleasures but also it is the condempnacion both of body soule without either appellacioÌ„ or hope of redempcion vnto euerlastynge paynes in hell Unto this state death sent the vnmercyfull and vngodly richeman that Luke speaketh of in his Gospell who liuyng in all wealthe and pleasure in this worlde and cherishyng himself daily with daintie fare and gorgeous apparel despiced poore Lazarus that lay pitifully at his gate miserably plagued and full of sores and also greuously pined with hunger Bothe these twoo were arrested of deathe whiche sent Lazarus the poore miserable man by aungels anone vnto Abrahams bosome a place of rest pleasure and consolacion But the vnmerciful rich-man descended doune into hel and beyng in tormeÌ„tes he cried for comforte complainyng of the intollerable payn that he suffered in that flamme of fire but it was to late So vnto this place bodily death sendeth all them that in this world haue their ioye and felicite all them that in this world be vnfaithfull vnto God and vncharitable vnto their neighbors so diyng without repentauÌ„ce hope of Gods mercie Wherfore it is no maruaile that the worldly man feareth death for he hath muche more cause so to do then he himself doeth considre Thus we se thre causes why worldly men feare death One because thei shal lose therby their worldely honors riches possessions and all their hartes desires Another because of the painfull diseases bitter pangues which commonly men suffre either before or at the tyme of death but the chiefe cause aboue al other is the dread of the miserable state of eternall dampnacion bothe of body and soule whiche they feare shal folow after their departyng out of the worldly pleasures of this present life For these causes be all mortall men whiche be geueÌ„ to the loue of this world both in feare state of death through syn as y e holy apostle saith so loÌ„g as thei liue here in this world But euerlasting thaÌ„kes be to almighty God for euer there is neuer one of al these causes no nor yet thei altogether that caÌ„ make a true Christian man afraied to dye whiche is the very membre of Christe the temple of the holy Ghoste the sonne of God â–ª and the very inheritor of the euerlastyng kyngdom of heauen but plainly contrary he conceiueth great and many causes vndoubtedly grounded vpon the infallyble and euerlastynge truth of the woorde of God whiche moue hym not onely to put away the feare of bodiely death but also for the manifolde benefites and singuler commodities whiche ensue vnto euery faithfull person by reason of thesame to wish desire longe hartely for it For death shall be to hym no death at all but a very deliueraunce from death froÌ„ all paynes cares and sorowes miseries
striken from their bodyes The Athenians punyshed whoredome by death in lyke maner So lykewyse dyd the Barbarous Cartarians Emong the turkes euen at thys day they that bee taken in adultery bothe man woman are stoned streightewayes to death without mercy Thus se we what godly actes were deuised in tymes paste of the high powers for the puttyng awaye of whoredome for the mainteynyng of holy matrimony pure cōuersaciō And the aucthors of these actes were no christians but Heathen Yet were they so enflāmed with the loue of honestye and purenes of lyfe that for the maintenaūce conseruaciō of that they made godly statutes suffering neyther fornicaciō nor adultery to reigne in their realmes vnpunished Christ sayde to the people The Niniuites shall ryse at the iudgement with thys naciō meanyng the vnfaythful Iewes and shal condempne them For they repēted at the preachyng of Ionas but beholde sayeth he a greater thē Ionas is here meanynge hymselfe yet they repent not Shall not thynke you likewise the Locreusians Arabians Athenians with suche other ryse vp at the iudgement and condempne vs for asmuche as they ceased from whoredome at the commaundement of man and we haue the law and manifest preceptes of God and yet forsake we not our filthy conuersacion Truly truly it shalbe easier at the daye of iudgement to these Heathen then to vs except we repent and amende For althoughe death of body semeth to vs a greuous punyshment in this worlde for whoredome yet is that payn nothynge in comparison of the greuous tormentes whiche adulterers fornicatours and all vncleane persons shall suffer after thys lyfe For all suche shalbe excluded shut out of the kingdome of heauen as s. Paule saieth Be not deceiued for neyther whoremongers nor worshippers of Images nor adultrers nor softelinges nor Sodomites nor thefes nor couetous persons nor dronkards nor cursed speakers nor pyllers shall inherite the kyngdō of God And S. Ihon in hys reuelacion saieth that whoremongers shall haue their parte with murderers sorcerers enchaunters liars ydolaters such other in the lake whiche burneth with fyre brimstone which is the seconde death The punyshmēte of the bodye although it be death hath an ende but the punishment of the soule which s. Ihon calleth y e secōd death is euerlasting there shalbe fyre brimstone there shall be wepinge and gnashing of tethe the worme that shall there gnawe the conscience of the dampned shall neeur dye O whose hart distilleth not euen droppes of bloud to heare and consydre these thinges If we tremble and shake at the hearyng and naming of these paynes oh what shal they do that shall feele them that shall suffer theim yea and euer shal suffer worldes without ende god haue mercy vpon vs. Who is now so drowned in synne past all godlynes that he wyll set more by a fylthy and stynkyng pleasure whiche sone passeth away then by the losse of euerlasting glory Againe who will so geue himselfe to the lustes of the fleshe that he feareth nothynge at all the paynes of hell fyre But let vs heare howe we maye eschewe the synne of whoredome and adultery that we maye walke in the feare of God and bee free from those moste greuous and intollerable tormentes whiche abyde all vncleane persons To auoyde fornicaciō adultery and all vnclennes let vs prouide that aboue all thynges we maye kepe oure hartes pure and cleane from all euill thoughtes and carnal lustes For if that be once infected and corrupte we fall hedlonge into all kynde of vngodlynes Thys shal we easly do if when we fele inwardly that Sathan oure olde enemy tempteth vs vnto whoredō we by no meanes consente to hys craftye suggestions but valiauntly resiste and withstande hym by stronge fayth in the woorde of God obiectinge agaynst hym alwayes in oure harte this commaundemente of God Scriptum est non moechaberis It is written thou shalt not commit whoredome It shall be good also for vs euer to lyue in the feare of God and to set before oure eyes the greuous threateninges of God agaynste all vngodly synners and to consider in oure mynde howe fylthye beastly and shorte that pleasure is wherunto Sathan moueth vs And agayn how the payne appoynted for that sinne is intollerable and euerlasting Moreouer to vse a temperaūce sobrietie in eatyng drynkyng to eschewe vncleane cōmunicaciō to auoyde al fylthy company to flee ydlenes to delight in readynge holy scripture to watche in godly prayers vertuouse meditacions and at all tymes to exercise some godly trauayles shall helpe greatly vnto the eschewynge of whoredome And here are all degrees to be monyshed whether they be maryed or vnmaryed to loue chastitie and clennes of lyfe For the maryed are bounde by the lawe of God so purely to loue one an other that neyther of them seke any straunge loue The man muste onely cleue to hys wyfe and the wyfe agayne onely to her husband they muste so delighte one in an others companye that none of them couit any other And as they are bounde thus to lyue together in al godlines and honesty so likewyse is their duetye vertuously to brynge vp their chyldren and to prouide that they fall not into Sathans snare nor into any vnclennes but that they come pure and honeste vnto holy wedlocke when tyme requyreth So likewyse ought all masters and rulers to prouide that no whoredome nor any poynte of vnclennes be vsed emonge their seruauntes And agayne they that are single and feele in theim selfes that they cannot liue without the company of a woman let them get wifes of theyr awne and so lyue Godly together For it is better to mary then to burne And to auoyde fornicacion saieth the Apostle lette euery man haue hys awne wyfe and euerye woman her awne husbande Finally all suche as feele in themselfes a sufficiency and habilitie throughe the operacion of Gods spirite to leede a sole and contynent lyfe let them prayse God for his gifte and seke all meanes possible to maynteyne thesame As by readyng of holy scriptures by godly meditations by continuall prayers and suche other vertuous exercises If we all on this wyse wyll endeuour our selfes to eschewe fornicacion adultery and all vnclennes and leade oure lyfes in all Godlynes and honestye seruynge God with a pure and cleane harte and glorifiynge hym in oure bodies by leadynge an innocente lyfe we maye be sure to bee in the numbre of those of whome oure sauioure Christe speaketh in the Gospell on this maner Blessed are the pure in harte for they shall see God to whome alone be all glory honour rule and power worldes withoute ende AMEN ¶ An Homelie agaynst contencion and braulynge THys daye good christen people shalbe declared vnto you the vnprofitablenes and shamfull vnhonesty of contencion stryfe and debate to the entente that when you shall se as it were in a table paynted before your eyes the euilfauorednes
be the lesse to be passed vpon so that the rest maye profite which wil be more desirous to know the truth then when it is playn enough to contende aboute it and with cōtencious and capcious cauillacions to obscure and darkē it Truthe it is that out awne woorkes doo not iustifye vs to speake properly of our iustificacion that is to saie our workes do not merite or deserue remissiō of our synnes and make vs of vniust iuste before God But God of his mere mercie through the onely merites and deseruynges of his sonne Iesus Christ doth iustifie vs. Neuerthelesse because fayth doth directely sende vs to Christe for remission of our synnes that by faithe geuen vs of God we embrace the promise of Gods mercie and of the remission of oure synnes whiche thyng none other of oure vertues or woorkes properly doth therfore scripture vseth to say that faith without workes doth iustifie And for asmuch that it is al one sentēce in effecte to saye Faithe without woorkes onely fayth doth iustifie vs therfore the olde auncient fathers of the Churche from tyme to tyme haue vttered our iustificacion with this speache Onelye faythe iustifieth vs meanyng none other thing then sainct Paule meant whē he sayd faith without workes iustifieth vs. And because al this is brought to passe through the onely merites and deseruinges of our sauior christ not through our merites or through the merite of any vertue y t we haue within vs or of any worke that cōmeth frō vs therfore in that respecte of merite deseruyng we renoūce as it wer altogether agayn faith workes and all other vertues For our awne imperfeccion is so greate through the corrupciō of original synne that al is imperfect that is within vs faithe charitie hope dreade thoughtes wordes workes and therefore not apte to meryte and deserue any parte of our iustificacion for vs And this forme of speakyng we vse in the humblyng of oure selfes to God and to geue all the glory to our sauior Christ whiche is best worthy to haue it Here you haue heard the office of God in oure iustificacion and how we receyue it of him frely by his mercie without our desertes through true and lyuely faythe Now you shall heare the offyce and duetie of a christian man vnto God what we ought on oure parte to rendre vnto God agayne for his greate mercye and goodnes Oure offyce is not to passe the tyme of his present lyfe vnfruictfully and idlely after that we are baptised or iustified not caryng howe fewe good workes we do to the glory of God and proffite of our neighbors much lesse it is oure office after that we be once made Christes mēbres to lyue cōtrary to thesame makyng our selfes membres of the deuil walking after his inticementes and after the suggestions of the world and the fleshe wherby we know that we do serue the world and the deuill and not God For that faythe which bryngeth furth without repentaunce either euyll workes or no good workes is not a right pure and liuely faithe but a ded Deuilishe counterfeit and feyned fayth as sainct Paul sainct Iames cal it For euen the deuilles know and beleue that Christ was borne of a virgyn that he fasted forty dayes fortye nightes without meate and drynke that he wrought all kynde of myracles declaryng hymself very God They beleue also that Christe for oure sakes suffered moste paynfull death to redeme vs from eternal death that he rose agayn from death the thyrde daye They beleue that he ascended into heauen and that he sitteth on the right hand of the father and at the laste ende of this world shal come agayne and iudge bothe the quicke and the deade These articles of our faith the deuilles beleue and so they beleue all thinges that be writtē in the new and old Testamēt to be true yet for all this faith they be but deuilles remainyng styll in their dampnable estate lackyng the very true christian fayth For the right and true christiā faith is not onely to beleue that holy scripture all the forsaied articles of our fayth are true but also to haue a sure trust confidence in Gods mercifull promises to be saued from euerlastynge dampnacion by Christe wherof doeth folowe a louyng harte to obey his cōmaundementes And this true Christian faythe neyther any deuyll hath nor yet any man which in the outwarde profession of his mouth and in his outward receiuyng of the Sacramentes in commyng to the churche and in all other outward apparaunces semeth to be a Christian man yet in his liuyng and deedes sheweth the cōtrary For how can a man haue this true faith this sure truste and confidence in God That by the merites of Christe his synnes be remitted and he reconciled to the fauor of God and to be partaker of the kyngdom of heauen by Christ when he liueth vngodly and denieth Christe in his dedes Surely no suche vngodly man can haue this faith trust in God For as they know Christe to bee the onely sauior of the worlde so they knowe also that wicked men shall not possesse the kyngdō of God Thei know y t God hateth vnrighteousnes that he will destroye all those that speake vntruly that those that haue doen good workes whiche can not be doen without a liuely faythe in Christe shall come forth into the resurrection of lyfe those that haue doen euill shall come vnto resurrectiō of iudgement and very well they know also that to them that be contencious to them that will not be obedient vnto the truth but wil obey vnrighteousnes shall come indignacion wrathe and affliccion c. Therfore to conclude considerynge the infinite benefites of God shewed and exhibited vnto vs mercifully withoute oure desertes who hath not onely created vs of nothyng from a pece of vile clay of his infinite goodnes hath exalted vs as touchyng our soule vnto hys awne similitude and lykenesse but also wheras we were cōdempned to hel death eternall hath geuen his awne natural sonne beyng God eternall immortall and equal vnto himselfe in power glory to bee incarnated and to take our mortall nature vpō oim with the infirmities of the same and in the same nature ▪ to suffre moste shamefull and paynful death for our offences to thintent to iustifye vs to restore vs to lyfe euerlastyng so makyng vs also his dere beloued chyldrē brethren vnto his only sonne our sauior Christ inheritors for euer with him of his eternall kyngdō of heauē These greate and mercifull benefites of God if they be well considered do neither minister vnto vs occasiō to be idle to liue without doyng any good workes neither yet stirreth vs ▪ by any meanes to do euill thinges ▪ but contrarywise if we be not desperate persones and oure hartes harder then stones they moue vs to rendre our selfes vnto God wholy with all
and wretchednes of this world and the very entry into rest and a beginnyng of euerlastyng ioye a tastyng of heauenly pleasures so great that neither toungue is able to expresse neither eye to se nor eare to heare them no nor for anye earthly mans hart to conceyue them So excedinge greate benefites thei be whiche God our heauenly father by his mere mercye and for the loue of his sonne Iesus Christe hathe layed vp in store and prepared for theim that humbly submitte themselfes to Gods wil and euermore vnfainedly loue him from the botome of their hartes And we oughte to beleue that death beyng slayne by Christe cannot kepe any man that stedfastly trusteth in Christ vnder his perpetuall tirāny and subiection but that he shall ryse from death agayne vnto glory at the last daye appoynted by almighty God lyke as Christ oure head did ryse agayne accordinge to Gods appoyntement the thyrde daye For sainct Augustine saieth The head goynge before the mēbres trust to folowe come after And sainct Paule saieth if Christe be rysen from the dead we shall ryse also from thesame And to comforte all Christen persons herein holye scripture calleth this bodiely death a slepe wherin mās senses be as it were takē from hym for a ceason and yet when he awaketh he is more freash then he was when he went to bed So althoughe we haue our soules seperated from our bodyes for a ceason yet at the general resurreccion we shalbe more freash beautifull and perfite then we be now For now we be mortall then we shal be immortall now infect with diuers infirmities then clerely voyde of all mortall infirmities now we be subiect to all carnall desyres then we shalbe al spirituall desiryng nothynge but Gods glory thinges eternal Thus is this bodiely death a doore or entrynge vnto lyfe and therfore not so muche dreadfull if it be rightly considered as it is comfortable not a mischief but a remedy of all mischief no enemy but a frende not a cruel tyraūt but a gētle guide leadyng vs not to mortalitie but to immortalitie not to sorow and payne but to ioye and pleasure and that to endure for euer if it be thankefully taken and accepted as Gods messenger and paciently borne of vs for Christes loue that suffered most paynfull death for oure loue to redeme vs from death eternall Accordynge hereunto saincte Paule saieth our lyfe is hidde with Christ in God but when our lyfe shall appere then shall we also appere with hym in glorye Why then shall we feare to dye consideryng the manifolde and comfortable promises of the Gospell and of holy scriptures God the father hath geuen vs euerlastynge lyfe saieth S. Ihon thys lyfe in is hys sonne he that hath the sonne hath lyfe he that hath not y e sonne hath not lyfe And this I wrote saieth S. Ihon to you that beleue in y e name of the sonne of God that you maye knowe that you haue euerlastynge lyfe and that you do beleue vpō the name of the sonne of God And our sauior Christ sayeth he that beleueth in me hath lyfe euerlastynge and I wyll rayse him frō death to lyfe at the last day Sainct Paule also sayeth that Christe is ordeyned and made of God oure righteousnes our holynes and redemption to the entent that he which wyll glory should glory in the Lorde Sainct Paule did contemne and set litle by all other thynges estemynge them as dunge whiche before he had in very greate pryce that he might be found in Christ to haue euerlasting lyfe true holynes righteousnes and redēpcion Finally S. Paule maketh a playne argument in this wise If our heauenly father woulde not spare his awne naturall sonne but dyd geue hym to death for vs how can it be that with him he shoulde not geue vs all thynges Therfore if we haue Christ then haue we with him and by him all good thinges whatsoeuer we can in our hartes wish or desire as victorie ouer death sinne and hel we haue the fauor of God peace wyth hym holynes wysedome iustice power lyfe and redempcion we haue by hym perpetuall health wealth ioye and blysse euerlastynge All those therefore haue great cause to be full of ioye that be ioyned to Christ with true faythe stedfast hope and perfyt charitie and not to feare death nor euerlastynge dampnacion For deathe cānot depriue them of Iesu Christ nor any sinne can cōdempne them y t are graffed surely in him which is their onely ioy treasure and lyfe Let vs repent our synnes amend our lyfes trust in hys mercy and satisfaction and death can neyther take hym from vs nor vs from hym For then as s. Paul saieth whether we lyue or dye we be the Lordes awne And agayne he sayeth Christ did dye and rose agayne because he should be Lord both of the dead quicke Then if we be the Lordes awne when we be dead it must nedes folowe that suche temporall deathe not onely cānot harme vs but also that it shall muche be to our profit and ioyne vs vnto God more perfectly And thereof the christian hart may surely be certified by the infallible truth of holye scripture It is God sayeth sainct Paule which hath prepared vs vnto immortalitie and thesame is he which hath geuen vs an earnest of the spirite Therfore let vs be alwaies of good comforte for we knowe that so longe as we be in the body we be as it were farre from God in a straunge countrey subiect to many perils walkyng without perfite sighte and knowledge of almighty God onely seynge hym by faythe in holy scriptures But we haue a courage desire rather to be at home with God and oure sauior Christe farre from the body where we maye behold hys Godhead as he is face to face to oure euerlastyng comfort These be saincte Paules wordes in effecte wherby we may perceyue that the lyfe in this world is resembled to a pilgrimage in a straunge countrie far frome God and that death deliuerynge vs from our bodyes doth sende vs straight home into our awne countrey and maketh vs to dwell presently with God for euer in perpetuall rest and quietnesse So that to dye is no losse but profite and winnynge to all true christē people What lost the thefe that hanged on the crosse with Christ by hys bodiely death Yea how much dyd he gayne by it Did not our sauiour say vnto hym thys daye thou shalt be with me in Paradyse And Lazarus that pitifull person that lay before y e richemans gate payned with sores and pined with hungre did not death highlye profite and promote hym Which by the ministery of Aungels sent hym vnto Abrahās bosome a place of rest ioye and heauenly consolacion Let vs thinke none other good christen people but Christ hath prepared thesame ioye and felicitie for vs that he prepared for Lazarus the thefe Wherfore let vs sticke vnto his
vs for oure goodnes shewed to them as if he him selfe had receyued lyke benefite at oure handes as he witnesseth in the Gospell saiynge Whatsoeuer ye haue done to any of these symple persones whiche do beleue in me that haue ye doen to my selfe Therfore let vs diligently forese that our fayth and hope whiche we haue conceyued in almightie God and in oure sauioure Christe waxe not faynte nor that the loue whiche we pretende to beare to hym waxe not coulde but let vs studye dayly and diligently to shewe oure selfes to be the true honorers and louers of God by kepynge of his commaundemētes by doyng of good dedes vnto our nedy neighbors releuynge by all meanes that we can their pouertye with our abundaunce their ignoraunce with oure wisedome and learnynge and comforte their weakenesse with oure strength and aucthoritie calling all men backe from euill doynge by Godly counsayll and good example perseuerynge styll in well doynge so longe as we lyue So shall we not nede to feare death for any of those three causes afore mencioned nor yet for any other cause that can be imagined But contrary consideryng the manifold sickenesses troubles sorowes of this present lyfe the daungers of this perilous pilgrimage and the greate encombraunce whiche oure spirite hath by thys synful fleshe and frayle body subiect to death considerynge also the manifolde sorowes and daūgerous deceiptes of this world on euery side the intollerable pride coueteousnes and lechery in tyme of prosperitie the impacient murmurynge of them that be worldly in tyme of aduersitie whiche cease not to withdrawe and plucke vs from God oure sauioure Christe from oure life wealth or eternal ioy and saluacion considerynge also the innumerable assaultes of oure Ghostly enemy the deuill with al his fiery dartes of ambicion pryde lechery vain-glory enuie malice detractiō with other hys innumerable deceiptes engines and snares whereby he goeth busely aboute to catche al men vnder his dominion euer lyke a roreynge Lyon by all meanes searchynge whome he maye deuoure the faythfull Christian man which considereth al these miseries perilles and incommodities whereunto he is subiecte so longe as he here liueth vpon earthe and on the other part considereth that blessed and comfortable state of the heauēly lyfe to come and the swete condicion of them that departe in the Lorde howe they are deliuered from the continuall encombraūces of their mortall and synfull bodye from all the malice craftes and deceiptes of this world from al the assaultes of their ghostly enemy the deuil to liue in peace reste and perpetuall quietnes to liue in the felowship of innumerable Aungelles and with the congregacion of perfecte iuste mē as Patriarches Prophetes Martyrs and Confessors and finally vnto the presence of almighty God and oure sauior Iesus Christe He that doeth consider all these thinges and beleueth theim assuredly as they are to be beleued euen from the botome of his harte beynge established in God in thys true faythe hauynge a quiete conscience in Christe a firme hope and assured trust in Gods mercy through the merites of Iesu Christe to obteyne thys quietnes reste and eternall ioye shal not onely be without feare of bodiely deathe when it commeth but certainlye as saincte Paule did so shall he gladly accordynge to Gods will and when it pleaseth God to call hym oute of thys lyfe greately desyre in hys harte that he maye be rid from al these occasions of euil and liue euer to Gods pleasure in perfecte obedience of hys will with our sauior Iesus Christe to whose gracious presence the Lorde of hys infinitie mercye and grace brynge vs to reigne with hym in lyfe euerlastynge To whome with oure heauenly father and the holy Ghoste be glorye in worldes without ende AMEN ¶ An exhortacion concernyng good ordre and obedience to rulers and magistrates ALmightie God hath created appointed all thinges in heauē yearth and waters in a moste excellent and perfect ordre In heauē he hath appoynted distinct orders and states of Archangelles and Angels In yearth he hath assigned kynges princes with other gouernors vnder them all in good necessary ordre The water aboue is kept and raineth doune in due time and ceason The sunne mone sterres rainbow thūder lightning cloudes and al birdes of the aire do kepe their ordre The yearth trees seedes plantes herbes corne grasse and all maner of beastes kepe thē in their ordre All the partes of y e whole yeare as winter somer monethes nightes dayes continue in their ordre All kyndes of fishes in the sea riuers and waters with all fountaynes sprynges yea the seas themselfes kepe their comely course and ordre And mā hymself also hath al his partes both within without as soule harte mynd memory vnderstandyng reason speache withall and singuler corporall mēbres of his body in a profitable necessary and pleasaunt ordre Euery degre of people in their vocacion callyng office hath appoynted to them their duetie ordre Some are in high degre some in lowe some kynges princes some inferiors and subiectes priestes and laimen masters seruauntes fathers chyldren husbandes and wifes riche and poore and euery one haue nede of other so that in all thinged is to be laudes praysed the goodly ordre of God without the whiche no house no citie no cōmon wealth can continue endure For where there is no right ordre there reigneth all abuse carnall libertie enormitie syn babilonicall cōfusion Take awaye kynges princes rulers magistrates iudges and such states of Gods ordre no man shal ride or go by the high waie vnrobbed no man shall slepe in his awne house or bed vnkilled no mā shall kepe his wife children possessions in quietne sall thynges shal be cōmon and there must nedes folow all mischief and vtter destructiō both of soules bodies goodes and common wealthes But blessed be God that we in this realme of England fele not the horrible calamities miseries wretchednes which al thei vndoubtedly fele suffre y t lacke this godly ordre And praised be God that we knowe the great excellēt benefite of god shewed towards vs in this behalfe God hath sente vs his high gifte our most dere souereigne lord king Edward y e sixt with godly wise and honorable coūsail with other superiors and inferiors in a beautifull ordre Wherefore let vs subiectes do our bounden duties geuing hartie thankes to God and praiyng for the preseruaciō of this Godly ordre Let vs al obey euen from the botome of our hartes al their Godly procedynges lawes statutes proclamacions and iniunctiōs with al other Godly orders Let vs considre the scriptures of the holy ghost whiche perswade cōmaunde vs all obediently to be subiect First chiefly to the kynges maiestie supreme had ouer all next to his honorable counsail and to all other noble men magistrates and officers which by Gods goodnes be placed and ordered for almightie God is the
to be dissolued and losed frō hys body and to be with Christ which as he sayde was much better for him althoughe to them it was more necessary y t he should liue which he refused not for their sakes Euen like as sainct Martyn sayde good Lorde if I be necessary for thy people to do good vnto them I will refuse no labor but els for myne awne selfe I beseche the to take my soule Now the holy fathers of the olde lawe and all faythful and righteous men which departed before our sauior Christes ascencion into heauen dyd by death departe from troubles vnto rest frō the handes of theyr enemies into y e hādes of God frō sorowes sickenesses vnto ioyful refreashing into Abrahās bosome a place of al cōfort cōsolaciō as scriptures do plainly by manifest wordes testifie The boke of Wisedō saith y t the righteous mens soules be in the hand of God no torment shal touche thē They semed to the eyes of folishe men to dye and their death was cōpted miserable and theyr departing out of this worlde wretched but thei be in rest And another place saieth that the righteous shall liue for euer and their rewarde is with the Lorde their myndes be with God who is aboue al. Therfore they shall receyue a glorious kyngdome and a beautifull croune at the Lordes hand And in another place thesame boke saieth y e righteous though he be preuented with sodain death neuerthelesse he shalbe there where he shalbe refreshed Of Abrahās bosome Christes wordes be so playne that a christē man nedeth no more profe of it Now then if thys were y e state of y e holy fathers righteous mē before the cōminge of our sauior and before he was glorified how much more then oughte all wee to haue a stedfast faith a sure hope of this blessed state cōdicion after our death Seynge that oure sauior now hath perfourmed the whole worke of oure redempcion and is gloriously ascended into heauen to prepare oure dwellinge places with hym saied vnto hys father Father I will that where I am my seruauntes shalbe with me And we knowe that whatsoeuer Christe wyll hys father will the same wherfore it cannot be but if we be his faythfull seruauntes our soules shalbe with hym after oure departynge out of this present life Sainct Stephin when he was stoned to death euen in the middest of hys tormentes what was hys mynde moste vpon When he was full of the holy Ghoste sayeth holye scripture hauynge hys eyes lifted vp into heauen he sawe the glory of God and Iesus standinge on the righte hande of God The which truth after he had confessed boldely before the enemies of Christ they drewe hym oute of the citie and there they stoned hym who cried vnto God saiynge Lorde Iesu Christe take my spirite And doeth not oure sauior saye playnely in saincte Ihons Gospel Uerely verely I saye vnto you he that heareth my woorde beleueth on hym y t sente me hath euerlastynge lyfe and commeth not into iudgemēt but shall passe frō death to lyfe Shall we not then thinke that death to be precious by the whiche we passe vnto lyfe Therfore it is a true saiynge of the Prophete the death of the holy and righteous mē is precious in the Lordes sighte Holy Simeon after that he had hys hartes desire in seynge oure sauior that he euer longed for all hys lyfe he embraced hym in his armes and sayde Now Lord let me departe in peace for myne eyes haue beholdē that sauior which thou haste prepared for all nacions It is truthe therefore that the death of the righteous is called peace and the benefite of the Lord as the Church saieth in y e name of the righteousnes departed out of this world My soule turne the to thy rest for the Lorde hath bene good to the and rewarded the. And we se by holy scripture and other auncient Histories of Martyrs that the holy faithfull and righteous euer syns Christes ascencion in their death did not doubte but that they went to be with Christe in spirite whiche is oure lyfe healthe wealth and saluacion Ihon in his holy Reuelaciō saw a C.xl. and .iiij. M. virgins and innocentes of whome he saide These folow the Lābe Iesu Christ wheresoeuer he goeth And shortly after in thesame place he saieth I heard a voyce frō heauen saiyng vnto me Write happye and blessed are the dead whiche dye in the Lorde from hencefurthe surelye saieth the syirite they shall reste from theyr paynes and labours for their woorkes do folow them So that then they shall reape with ioye and comforte that whiche they sowed with labors and paynes They that sowe in the spirit of the spirit shall reape euerlastynge lyfe Let vs therefore neuer be wery of well doynge for when the tyme of reapynge or reward commeth we shal reape without any werines euerlastynge ioye Therfore whyle we haue time as saincte Paule exhorteth vs let vs doo good to all men not lay vp our treasurers in earth where ruste and mothes corrupt it whiche ruste as sainct Iames saieth shall beare witnes against vs at the great daye condempne vs and shal like most brennynge fyre tormente oure fleashe Let vs beware therefore as we tendre oure awne wealthe that we be not in the numbre of those miserable coueteous men whiche sainct Iames biddeth mourne and lament for their gredy gatherynge and vngodly kepynge of goodes Let vs be wise in time and learne to folowe the wise example of the wicked Stuarde Let vs so prudently dispose oure goodes and possessions committed vnto vs here by God for a ceason that we maye truely heare and obeye this commaundement of oure sauior Christes I saye vnto you sayeth he make you frendes of the wicked Mammon that they maye receiue you into euerlastynge tabernacles Ryches he calleth wicked because the worlde abuseth them vnto all wickednes which are otherwise the good gifte of God and the instrumentes whereby Gods seruauntes do truely serue hym in vsynge of thesame He commaunded them not to make them ryche frendes to get hyghe dignities and worldly possessiōs to geue great giftes to ryche men that haue no neede thereof but to make theim frendes of poore and miserable men vnto whome whatsoeuer they geue Christe accepteth it as geuen to hymselfe And to these frendes Christe in the Gospell geueth so greate honor and preeminence that he sayeth they shall receyue theyr benefactors into euerlastynge houses Not that men shalbe oure rewarders for our well doyng but that Christ will rewarde vs and take it to be done vnto hymselfe whatsoeuer is doone to suche frendes Thus makynge poore wretches oure frendes we make oure sauioure Christe oure frende whose membres they are whose miserie as he taketh for hys awne misery so theyr reliefe succour and helpe he taketh for hys succoure reliefe and helpe and will asmuche thanke vs and rewarde
stricken with a foule leprosy Other wer stinged to death with wonderful straunge firy serpentes Other wer sore plagued so that ther was killed in one day the numbre of fourtene thousand and seuen hundred for rebellion agaynst them whoÌ„ God had appoynted to be in aucthoritie Absalon also rebelling against his father king Dauid was punished with a straunge and notable death And lette no man thynke that he can escape vnpunished that coÌ„mitteth treason conspiracy or rebellion agaynste his souereigne Lorde the Kynge though he commit thesame neuer so secretly either in thought woorde or dede neuer so priuely in hys priuie chambre by hymselfe or openly communicatyng and consultyng with other For treason will not be hid treason will out at the length God will haue that moste detestable vice bothe opened and punished for that it is so directly against hys ordinaunce and agaynste hys hygh principall iudge and anoynted in yearth The violence and iniury that is committed against aucthoritie is coÌ„mitted agaynste God the common weale and the whole realme whiche God wyll haue knowen and condignely punished one way or other For it is notably wrytten of the Wiseman in Scripture in the boke called Ecclesiastes wishe the Kyng no euyll in thy thought or speake no hurt of hym in thy priuy chaÌ„bre for a byrde of the aire shall betraye thy voyce and with her fethers shall she bewraye thy wordes These lessons exaÌ„ples are writeÌ„ for our learnyng Let vs al therfore feare the moste detestable vice of rebellioÌ„ euer knowyng and remembring that he that resisteth commoÌ„ aucthoritie resisteth God and his ordinaunce as it may be proued by many other mo places of holy Scripture And here let vs take hede that we vnderstaÌ„d not these or suche other like places whiche so streightly commaunde obedience to superiors and so streightly punisheth rebellion and disobedience to thesame to be meant in any coÌ„dicioÌ„ of the pretensed power of the bishop of Rome For truely the scripture of God alloweth no suche vsurped power full of enormities abusions blasphemies But the true meanyng of these and suche places be to extol and set furthe Gods true ordinaunce and y e aucthoritie of Gods anointed kynges and of their officers appoynted vnder them And concernyng the vsurped power of the bishop of Rome which he most wrongfully chalengeth as the successor of Christe Peter we maye easely perceiue how false feined and forged it is not onely in that it hath no sufficient grounde in holy scripture out also by the fruites and doctrine therof For our sauior Christ s. Peter teacheth most earnestly and agreably obedience to kynges as to the chief supreme rulers in this world next vnder God but the bishop of Rome teacheth immunities priuiledges exempcioÌ„s and disobedience moste clearly agaynst Christes doctrine and s. Peters He ought therefore rather to be called Antichriste the succcssor of the Scribes Phariseis then Christes vicar or s. Peters successor seyng that not only in this poynt but also in other weightie matters of Christian religioÌ„ in matters of remission of synnes of saluacion he teacheth so directly agaynst both s. Peter against our sauior Christe Who not onely taught obedieÌ„ce to kynges but also practised obedience in their coÌ„uersacioÌ„ liuyng For we rede that they both paied tribute to the kyng And also we rede that the holye virgyn Mary mother to our sauior Christ and Ioseph who was taken for his father at the emperors coÌ„maundemente went to the citie of Dauid named Bethleem to be taxed emoÌ„g other to declare their obedience to the magistrates for Gods ordinaunces sake And here let vs not forget y e blessed virgin Maries obedience for although she was highly in Gods fauor and Christes naturall mother was also great with chylde that same time so nigh her trauaile that she was deliuered in her iourney yet she gladly without any excuse or grudgyng for coÌ„science sake did take that cold foule winter iourney beyng in the meane ceason so poore that she lay in the stable and there she was deliuered of Christ. And according to thesame lo how s. Peter agreeth writing by expresse wordes in his first Epistle submit your selfes saieth he vnto kinges as vnto the chief heddes or vnto rulers as vnto them that are sent of hym for the punishment of euill doers for laude of theÌ„ that do well for so is the wil of God I â—ede not to expouÌ„d these wordes they be so plain of theÌ„selfes S. Peter doth not say submit your selfes vnto me as supreme hed of the Churche neither he saith submit your selfes froÌ„ time to time to my successors in Rome but he saith submit your sels vnto your kyng your supreme head and vnto those that he appoynteth in aucthoritie vnder hym For that ye shal so shew your obedience it is the wil of God God will that you be in subiection to your hed and king That is Gods ordinaunce Gods coÌ„maundement Gods holy will that the whole body of euery realme and al the membres partes of thesame shalbe subiect to their hed their kynge and that as S. Peter writeth for the Lordes sake and as S. Paule writeth for conscieÌ„ce sake and not for feare onely Thus we learne by the worde of God to yeld to oure kyng that is dewe to oure kyng that is honor obedience paimentes of dewe taxes customes tributes subsidies loue and feare Thus we knowe partly our bounden dueties to commoÌ„ aucthoritie nowe let vs learne to accomplishe thesame And let vs moste instauntly and hartely praye to God the onely aucthor of all aucthoritie for all them that be in aucthoritie according as S. Paule willeth writyng thus to Timothe in his first Epistle I exhort therfore that aboue all thynges prayers supplicacions intercessions and geuing of thankes be doen for all men for kynges and for all that bee in aucthoritie that we maye liue a quiete and a peaceable life with al godlines and honestie for that is good and accepted in the sight of God our sauior Here s. Paule maketh an earnest and an especiall exhortacion concernyng geuyng of thankes and praier for kynges and rulers saiyng aboue al thynges as he might say in any wise principally chiefly let prayer be made for kynges Let vs hartely thaÌ„ke God for his greate and excellent benefite and prouideÌ„ce coÌ„cernyng the state of kynges Let vs pray for theÌ„ that they may haue Gods fauor and Gods proteccion Let vs pray that they may euer in al thinges haue God before their eyes Let vs pray that they may haue wisedom strength iustice clemeÌ„cie zeale to Gods glory to Gods veritie to christian soules and to the common wealth Let vs praye that they maye rightly vse their swourde and aucthoritie for the maintenaunce defence of the catholique faith conteined in holy scripture and of their good and honest subiectes and for the feare and punishement of