ten commaundementes ¶ A general preface to be rehersed in the begynnynge of euery sermon made vpon the articles of our Faith commonly called the Crede YHe holy apostle saynct Paule good childern writteth expressely that withoute faith it is vnpossible to please God Also Christ himselfe saieth He that beleuethe and is baptised shall be saued Now I trust ther is none among you but he is desirous to please God and enioye euerlastynge lyfe Then yf you wyll attayne therto you must chiefely and most diligently applye youre myndes to learne the christian faythe and the articles of the same For you haue hearde that without it there is nothing able to reconcile vs to God y e father to pacifie his wrath and to bringe vs to the lyfe euerlastyng For althoughe the tenne commaūdementes are an excellēt godly and heauenly doctrine yet we can not be saued or iustifyed by theym For we be not able of our owne strength and power to fulfyll the lawe and goddes holy commaundementes But by theym we onelye do learne what God requireth of vs and so be brought to the knowledge of our synne For this is the office of the lawe as saincte Paule sayeth to teache vs our offences and to set before our eyes the great feare of God and the indignation whiche we haue deserued by breakynge his commaundementes to the intent that we acknowledgyng our owne weakenesse shoulde flye to Goddes grace and mercye This feare of God is learned in the ten commaundementes and it is the begynnyng of wysedome But the holy christian fayth is a muche more hyghe and excellente knowledge and wysedome as sayncte Paule wytnesseth saying We speake wysedome amonge theym that are perfecte such wisdome as is not of thys worlde nor of the rulers of thys worlde whiche be mortall but we teache the wysedome of God whiche is secret and hyd which God ordeyned before the worlde vnto oure glorye whiche wysedome none of the rulers of this worlde dyd knowe These be the wordes of sayncte Paule whereby he declareth that the science of fayth passeth al other sciences and teacheth heauenly and eternall wisedome that excedeth all mennes philosophye For by faythe we learne to knowe God what he is and what loue he beareth towarde vs and howe great benefites he hath heaped vpon vs. For by fayth we be made y e childrē of God and he giueth vnto vs the holy goost whiche doeth lyghten and kyndle our hartes that we maye begynne to kepe hys lawe whiche els of our owne strengthe we were not able to kepe and fulfyll Wherfore good children it is necessarie for you to learne y e doctrine of faithe for without it we can not be iustified or brought agayne into gods fauour For no man is iust or rightuous before God that hath not the holy gost and he that will receyue the holy gooste muste beleue in Christe for by faith we receyue the holy goost therefore by faith we be iustified Agayne yf we wyll be saued we must knowe God and our Lord Iesus Christ as it is written Iohn the .xvii. But we can not knowe God and his sonne Iesus Christ but by faith therfore faith iustifieth vs and bringeth lyfe euerlastyng Wherfore good children applye your selfes dylygently to learne ▪ the Christian faith the which nowe I wil shortely reherse vnto you The Apostles Crede I Beleue in God the father almighty maker of heauen and erth And in Iesus christ his only sonne our Lord which was conceiued by the holye goost borne of the virgin Marye Suffred vnder Ponce Pylat was crucified dead and buried he descended into hel And the third dai he rose againe from death He ascended into heauē and sitteth on the ryghte hande of God the father almightye From thence he shal come to iudge the quicke and the dead I Beleue in the holy gost The holy Catholyke churche The communion of saintes the forgiuenes of sinnes The resurrection of the bodye And lyfe euerlasting Amen This is the summe of oure christian faith wherein God hath shewed vnto vs what he is how great benefites he hath gyuē and daily doth gyue vnto vs to thentent that we should cast y e anchore of our faith vpon him take sure holde of his mercye and goodnes and comforte oure selues with the same bothe in oure lyfe tyme and also at our death Wherfore good children be dilygent not onely to saye by rote the wourdes of your Crede but also to vnderstande what is ment by the same so y t whē you be asked any question therof you maye be able to make a direct answere and also in tyme to come to teache y e same to your children For what thīg can be more shame to a Christen man then to professe the relygion of Christ and yet to be ignorant in the chief pointes of Christes faith and his doctrine Considering that euery Christen man is bounde openly to declare his faith whē nede shal so require and to instruct his children in the same y t they maye come to the true knowledge of Christ. This generall begynnynge muste go before euery sermon of the Crede The first sermon of the Creation TO thentent good children that you maye the better vnderstande the true Christian faythe and doctrine you muste fyrste of all learne and knowe that God is a spirituall or gostly substance as Christ sayth Iohn the .iiii. God is not a bodily thing whiche maye be sene and felte He is present in euery place he seeth and beholdeth all thinges whiche we do speake or thynke and yet he is not measured with any ende tyme or place And forasmuche as mannes witte coulde not serche or fynde out the knowlege of thys highe misterie of the substaunce of God Christ himselfe the sonne of God dyd open to vs that beleue in hym what God is That is to say that there is God the father God the sonne and God the holy goste three persones and yet one true and euerlastyng God And it is your boūdē dutie good children diligently to learne thys lesson And although these thinges passe all mennes capacities and is a doctrine harde for you to learne yet in tyme to come you shal heare more of this matier In the meane season beare awaye I praye you thys one lesson that there is one true and euerlastinge God and yet three persones the father the sonne and the holy gost And this we call the Trinitie because these thre the father the son and the holy goost are one godlye substaunce And it is a great shame for you that be christē children not to learne this lesson For all you were baptised in the name of the father and of the sonne and of the holy goost and thereby you were made christen and the childrē of God and obteyned remission of youre synnes Wherfore it is your dutie to learne knowe in whose name you ar baptised that so you maye truly know God and youre father which you
any office in the commen wealth beware that you gyue no cause nor occasion to othes not necessarie For whatsoeuer sinne is committed by suche othes that God doethe impute to thofficer whiche exactethe the same and not to the subiectes whiche are bownde to obey not onelye for feare of punyshemente but also for conscience sake Thirdely we abuse the name of God not onely in vayne but also very vngodly when with horrible cursyng bannynge by the name of God we wyshe to other the vēgeaunce of God The whiche syn now in our time is moche vsed Insomuche that now a dayes you shall heare not onely men but also womē and childrē outragiouslye curse and banne bothe themselfes and other sayinge after this wise By goddes soule I woulde I hadde neuer been borne or I woulde the grounde shoulde open and swalowe me vp By Goddes body I woulde thou wert hanged by goddes passion I woulde the deuell had the by goddes woundes I woulde it were on a wylde fire or suche other lyke deuylyshe cursiges wishīges which offence is not onelye abominable before god but also so shamefull before the worlde that it abhorreth good christen eares to heare suche haynous blasphemie For sainct Paul in the seconde chapter of thepistle to the Philippians writeth thus In the name of God all knees do bowe downe bothe in heauen in earthe and vnder the yearth that is to saye Not onelye Aungelles and men do wourship oure Lorde and God Iesus Christe but also the damned spirites and deuelles in hell do quake at his name and by their trēblyng do declare that they most reuerently acknowlege the name of hys maiestye But these more then deuylishe swerers banners and cursers without reuerence to the mooste honorable name of God without curtesye or bowing to him who with a becke maketh all the worlde to shake do blowe bluster oute of theyr vngodly mouthes suche blasphemies as by the same they do not onelye hyghly dishonour God but also do wyshe to their neighbours all kinde of miseries plages and aduersities that can be imagined whereas oure dutye is to loue our neyghbour wishe wel to him as to ourselfes Nowe consyder what a great wickednesse it is to wyshe euyll thinges to men by the name of God seyng that by thys name we ought to desier and praye for all good thinges bothe to oure selues and to oure neyghbours Wherfore when ye heare ani man vsing suche spytefull curses and blasphemies of gods name doute not but y t he in y t deede is wurse then the deuyll himselfe For the deuil when he heareth god named trembleth therat and dateth not so vnreuerently behaue hymselfe to that moste holy mane where as these wretched and most vngodly persones do shewe no feare nor reuerence thereto at all But ye good children take hede for gods sake that you accustome not your selfes to suche kynde of blasphemies And when you shall heare other outragyng with suche horrible curses flye frome theym as frome pestilence and thynke this with youre selfe I wyll conuey me out of this naughtie companye leste peraduenture I also maye be infected with this contagious custome of swearynge and cursing and so maye be made at the lengthe more abhominable in this poynt than is the deuill hym selfe Fourthly the name of God is taken in vayne when men do abuse the worde of God purposelye makynge false expositions vpon holy scripture and wrestynge the same frō the true sense to their euil purpose or whan men make a trifle or a lawghynge sporte of the wordes of holy scripture as these papistes do whiche say that thys verse of y e Psalme He shall drinke of the broke by the way and therfore he shall lyft vp his hedde is verefied of the gose and the gaundre This abuse doth brede a contempte of the worde of God and it doeth corrupt or mynishe the authoritie of Gods doctrine Fyftly they do misuse the name of God whiche do abuse it to charmes witchcraft sorceries nicromācies inchaūtemētes cōiuringes And this is not onely a great syn but a thynge of hys owne nature moste vayne and folishe For perswade your selfes this thynge for a suertie good chyldren that all kynd of witchecraft is of hys own nature nothing elles but lies gyles and subtilenes to deceaue ygnoraunt and simple mē as manye haue proued by experiēce to theyr great losse and vtter vndowynge Wherfore beware of them beleue them not do not learne them neyther feare that an nother mans inchauntementes are hable to hurte you For they be nothing els but the deuils instrumentes by the whiche he doeth prouoke men to horrible synnes that the name of God may be blasphemed dyuerse wayes y t we may defile our soules with detestable ydolatrie that one man may suspecte an other that anger enuy and hatred myght be sowen amonge men and that out of thys roote myght sprynge vp backbytyng slaūderyng al myschief This vice pleaseth well the deuyll but God hath forbid it and cōmaūded in y e olde lawe that whitches sorcerers and cōiurers should suffre punishmēt of death Wherfore good childeren feare the Lorde and take not hys holy name in vayne beware of ydolatrye forsware not absteine from othes and curses refrayne your tongues from al vntruthes raylynges skoffes and iestes whē you talke of holy scripture or matiers concernyng religion flye frō all kynde of wytchecrafte and inchauntementes For to this commaūdemēt god hath added a speciall threatenynge saynige thus He shall not be giltles before the lord that taketh his name in vayne Beleue surely good children that these be veray weyghty wourdes and of great importaunce and thinke not thus with your selfes what is this so great a mater I spake not these wourdes in ernest but in borde I pray you for Christes sake do not defende your fault with such excuses but beware that you take not in vaine the name of God ▪ nether in ernest nor in sport For the holy name of God is to be wourshipped with all honor and religion and he that doth not obey thys commaundemente hym the lorde shall not count gyltles but shall punishe him greuously And when God punisheth he sendeth amonge vs sycknesses pestilence hungre derth battel robberies sedition manslaughter suche lyke with these plages he taketh vēgeance on oure sinnes Therfore we ought to feare his wrath and not to take his name in vayne Hither to you haue hearde fyue wayes wherby we may take the name of God in vaine nowe it shall be declared vnto you howe you shoulde rightly and duely vse the name of God Considre that we be professed in to our religion and baptised by y e name of God wherfore good childerne listen diligently to this lesson and lerne that we ought to vse the name of God thre wayes by inuocation and callynge vpon him by cōfession of his name and his wourd by thankes gyuyng As touchinge the firste we be bounde in all our necessities and parrels to
of our parētes therfore we ought chiefely to thanke theym for all these benefites And this is the fourth benefite that God by oure parentes doth teache vs the trewe knowledge of him and his worde Now these be the chiefest causes good children why God hath commaunded vs to honoure oure parentes And suerly they be cruell children y t do not this seynge that they haue receyued of their parētes so great an heape of benefites And trewly they wer wourthye to be stoned to deathe as stubburne childrē wer wont to be in the olde testamente Wherfore good childrē obserue diligently this cōmaūdement that you be not disobedyent nor vnkynde but honor your fathers and mothers And here you muste not thynke that you owe this subiection onely to your fathers and mothers but the same obedience and honor is dewe also to all thē whose helpe and labour your parentes doeth oftentymes vse in gouernyng and teachynge you Of the whiche sorte be youre tutors scholemasters preachers pastors curates youre masters that teache you your craftes and also the magestrates and commō officers For y e holy scripture doth call all these fathers And therefore when God sayth honour thy father and mother he comprehendeth within the boundes of thys commaundemente all those parsons before rehersed And this is done for these consideracions For when the parentes do ley on theyr death bed then in theyr laste wil or testament they assigne and appoynt to theyr chyldren y t be of nonage tutors gardians or gouernours to whō they resigne all theyr iurisdiction which they had of God gyuen vnto theym ouer theyr children To suche tutors or gouernours children ought to be obedient and honor them For suche be lefte vnto theym in the steade of theyr parentes and they nouryshed theyr pupylles or wardes and make much of them se that they be honestly brought vp in vertue and lernynge and shall make a rekenyng for y e same both before God and the worlde Furthermore when that oure parentes eyther be not able sufficientlye to teache vs in their owne parsons or haue not conuenient leysure to do the same then they committe vs to scholemaisters preachers pastors and curates and make theym theyr deputies Therfore it is the deutie of children reuerently to obey theyr teachers and curates For saynt Paule sayeth The elders that rule well are worthye of double honour specialli they that labour in the worde and teaching And saynt Peter sayeth Obey them that are appoynted to gouerne you for they do wake and watche for your soules as men that shall make an accompt for the same Also it happeneth oftentymes that parētes do put theyr children to other either because they themselues are not able to fynde them or teache theym handye craftes or the arte of marchaūdyse and when this chaunseth then it is the offyce of chyldren to obey in all thynges and to honour euen as theyr parentes those to whō they be thus cōmitted with whō they dwel For vnto such theyr fathers and mothers haue geuen theyr power and autoritie Therfore saynte Paule sayeth Seruauntes be obedient vnto youre maysters as vnto God and so forth But when children grow to mannes age and then refuse to be ruled by their parētes masters teachers and curates and begynne to waxe wyld and wanton to hurte other thē the cōmē officers ought to chastise them And the Magistrates superiour powers ought to be honored and feared euen as our fathers and mothers For by theim we be defēded from our enemies of theim we receaue lawes and statutes wherby we may liue in peace and quietnes wherefore we ought to be glad and willynge to paye to thē tribute taxes tollages subsidies whereby they may be the better able to maintaine the tranquillitye of y e commen welth Learne therfore good childerne that they be not onely called oure parentes of whō we are begotten and borne but they also be called to the honor tytle of this name whiche helpe them to bryng vs vp in vertue and learning Suche be they whom we cal our tutors or gardians teachers masters curates and officers Also this worde honor doth not onely containe the outwarde gesture of making cursey and puttyng of y e cap but they do trewly honour their parentes whiche do feare and loue them highly esteme them gyue place to them and rendre vnto theim all kynde of gentilnes liberalitie yet do not obbrayd them or cast their gyftes in their teath but do cōfesse y e stil thei be in their parentes dette and as yet do owe them greater thinges And this is a great poynt of wisedome yea in worldly pollicie to acknowlege y t of bounden deutie we owe to these persons aboue rehersed honor and reuerence and that God is highly pleased with this kynde of sacryfice And that he doth sende vnto vs by these mē innumerable benefites wherefore yf you wil be coūted good and godly childerne and please God then kepe this commaundement obey your parentes and euery commen officer feare them be obedient to their lawes and statutes be subiecte vnto thē in all thinges Notwithstandyng yf the commen officer do byd you do any thinge expressely agaynst god thē you may not obey hī but say with y e Apostle Peter we must obey god rather then men And beware good children y t you dispise not your parentes or vncurtesely entreat thē because perchaūce thei be simple men rude vnlerned poore weake feable and impotēt by y e reason of their olde age For of what soeuer state condition or qualitie they be yet by them God hath gyuē vs our lyfe he hath ordained them to be our gouernors as I haue declared heretofore by theym he hath sent vs infinite benefites wherfore we ought to honor them obey them to be willyng and redy both to learne and do that whiche they commaunde vs to eschew those thīges which they forbid vs. For this obedience pleaseth God and is a most acceptable honoring of him Take hede also y t you refuse not nor grudge to do such thinges as thei shal cōmaunde you nether that you play the truantes or runne away from your teachers maysters or other artificers into whose house tuition and custodie your fathers and mothers shall committe you For this is a great synne before God the which shal not escape vnpunished But specially you must eschew this most detestable kynde of disobediēce which now a daies is very cōmen that you intangle not your selues w t mariage without the knowlege and consente of your parētes For this is a pointe not only of notable dysobedience but also of great folyshenes For what is more myserable or can trouble a mā more in this world then a mariage euel matched and vnmetly coupled This is that grefe and punishement that dayly troubleth scourgeth vs all oure lyfe tyme from the whiche there is no meanes to escape but by death onely And it is to be feared
in heauen All these are the wordes of Christ. And yf perchaunce we haue donne any manne wronge or prouoked oure neyghboure to angre then with great diligence we ought to laboure that in al hast and spede we maye be reconciled For Christ saieth Yf thou offrest thy gyft at the aulter there remembrest that thy brother hath any thīg against the leaue there thyne offering before the aulter go thy waye first be reconciled to thy brother then come offre thy gyft Oblations and sacrifices wer in tholde testament a very commendable and an highe kynde of worshipping god For asmuche as he hymselfe dyd appointe and commaunde them And yet Christ here teacheth that God is better honoured with kepyng his commaūdementes than with our offeringes And to be reconsiled to our neighbour is a sacrifice more acceptable vnto him then to offer oblacions Furthermore the keping of these commaūdementes helpeth muche to mayntayne the tranquillite peace and quietnes of the commē wealth For Christe sayeth Agree wyth thyne aduersarie quickely whiles thou arte in the waye with him y t is to saye we must refrayne our selfe from discorde variance hatred contencion and asmuche as lyeth in vs seke peace concord and quietnes ▪ lest we be caste into prisō from whence we shall not be deliuered except we pay y e vtmost farthynge And in these ciuile and worldlye courtes althoughe oure cause be good and rightfull yet is it possible that iudgemente be gyuē against vs. And in case that at the length we haue sentence on our side yet the sute therof shal be so chargeable vnto vs y t we shal for the moste parte spende more mony in waginge of the law than we shall gayne by the sentence Wherfore ther is nothyng better or more profitable then to seke for concorde and peace as muche as is possible And as it is our parte to lyue in peace with all men so it is our dutie also to make them at one which be at variaunce For Christ saieth Blessed be the peace makers for they shal be called the children of God Wherfore good children printe wel in your remēbraunce that God hath commaūded Thou shalt not kyll and that we can not offer a more acceptable sacrifice to God then to kepe his cōmaundemētes Make your selfes strong therfore patiently to suffre all thynges reuenge not your selues but leaue al punyshement to God and he wyll reuenge your quarrelles Be not inflamed wyth angre hatred or enuye against your neighbor do no wrōg to hym beare with his weakenesse and forbeare hym hurte hym not but rather defēde him from hurt sow and norishe vnitie peace and frendshyp betwene all men make agrementes loue daies betwene them that be fallen at discorde auoyde all occasyons of angre or displeasure as braggynge boastyng reuilynge tawntynge scornynge dicynge bankettyng riote and suche lyke offences And contrariwise loue your neighbour do good to all men as farre as youre abilitie wil serue you speake well of euery bodye and laboure with all youre power to saue the lyfe of youre neyghbour For this is the dutie of all godlye menne to preserue and defende their neyghbour frendely to admonyshe him of his faultes to instruct him and to comforte him For we be bound to healpe oure neyghboure in hys necessitie to lende hym money to gyue to him when he asketh to refreshe his hunger with meate and drynke to clothe his nakednes to receaue into oure house the harbourles to comforte hym when he is sicke For all these offices and effectes of trew humanitie loue and charitie God commaunded when he said Thou shalt not kil And this is the trew meanyng of the fifth precepte Wherfore good children marke it well and when you be asked howe vnderstande you the fifthe commaundemente you shall aunswere we oughte to loue and dreade oure Lorde God aboue all thinges so that for hys sake we hurt not our neighboure nether in his name goodes cattel life or body but that we aide comforte and succoure hym in all hys necessities troubles and afflyctions ¶ The syxte sermon ¶ An exposition of the syxte commaundement ¶ Thou shalte not committe adultery IN y e last sermon ye were taught how we should behaue ourselfes towarde oure neyghboure that we kyll hym not neyther in wil word nor dede neyther hurte hym in hys goodes or bodye Now a man yf he be a man in dede and no monster next after his owne bodye doeth moost dearely loue hys wyfe wherefore nexte foloweth the syxte commaūdement Thou shalt not committe adulterye the whiche teacheth vs howe we shoulde order our selues towardes oure wyfes that we shoulde loue theym not forsake theym or breake the promyse of wedlocke with theim but louingly kepe theym companye Also that we should not luste after an other mans wyfe neyther wyth faire wordes or gyftes intyse her away from her husbande but laboure with all diligence that wemen both maried and vnmaryed maye kepe their chastitie vndefyled For God himself did institute and ordeine mariage did halow it with his awne blessyng Wherfore we maye be sure that this state of lyfe pleaseth god and that it is his wyll to haue it kept with out pollucion or dishonestie For god after that he had made Adā he sayde thus It is not good that Adam shoulde be alone lette vs make for him an helpe And when Adam was a sleape y e lorde toke one of his ribbes and made a woman of the Rybbe whiche he had taken from Adam And he brought her to Adam and Adam sayd This is now bone of my bones fleshe of my fleshe For thys cause a mā shall leaue hys father and mother shall be ioyned with his wife they shall be twayne in one fleshe And the Lorde God blessed theym sayeng Growe and increace and replenishe the earth tyll it By this you maye learne good children that God hymselfe dyd institute mariage wyth hys owne worde Wherefore there is no doubte but that thys kinde of lyfe is holy and doeth hyghlye please God As thapostell Paule writeth to y e Hebrues Wedlocke is honourable the bed therin is vnspotted but adulterers and fornicatours god doth cōdemne Furthermore god saith Grow increase Here he declareth y t the fruyt of wedlocke that is to say children are y e gifte of God For yf he had not commaunded thys thing by his worde then maried folkes could haue had no childrē Wherefore ye shall by these wordes chefely learne that there is a great difference betwene wedlocke and the vnlawfull cōpanye betwixt man and woman For in mariage the acte of generatyon betwene the husbande and y e wife is no synne for God hath ordayned it it pleaseth him but fornication adulterye be sin which God hath forbid and thei highly displease him To maried folkes he hathe sayed Growe increase and fill the earth but to horemōgers harlots he hath not sayed so but hath cōdēned thē Childrē begotten in
mariage please God but y e generatiō of bastardes dyspleaseth him lacketh his blessyng wherfore it is muche for the profit of y e commen wealth that wedlocke shoulde be kept purely and chastely out of the whiche springeth the fruite of vertuous and honest children which may proue honest men and be mete to beare office in their cities and countreys But where adulterye raigneth wher yought doth both heare and see vnchastnes there the infection of vncleanes spreadeth abrode and doth poyson the multitude and God at the length doth punyshe suche synnes with hunger famyne battayle pestylence suche lyke vntill he hathe vtterly destroyed y e whole realme or citie Furthermore marke thys also diligently y t the Lorde saieth Growe increace replenyshe the earth digge it Manye absteyne from mariage because they be to careful how they shal liue yf they wer maried Therfore oure Lorde God doth here plainly shewe that he wyll minister plentyfullye to maried folkes all thynges necessarie to the maintenaunce of their lyfe yf they put their trust in him and apply their labours diligently For he saieth dygge plowe or tyll the earth as who shoulde say I haue made for youre sake all thynges that growe vpon the earthe I haue gyuen to you all kyndes of heastes fishes foules that lyueth in the worlde onely laboure you that you maye purchase and possesse those my ryches truely and honestly Nowe good childrē consider this that it is not in youre awne lybertie whether you wyll be maried or not And thus I speake for thys purpose that you should be the more dilygent to learne in tyme some craft way or science wherby you might kepe your house and get youre lyuing honestli both for yourselfes your wife your childrē for god wylleth all those to vse mariage that can not lyue continētly And Christ speaketh in the ghospell of saincte Mathewe of .iii. sortes of people that lyue withoute maryage There are some chaste which are so borne euen frome theyr mothers wōbe Some ther be whiche are made chast by menne Other there be to whome God by a syngular gift hath gyuen the gyft of chastite which lyue vnmaried for this purpose and entent that thei myght the better knowe and set furth the kingdome of God And they that haue this excellent gift let theim thanke God for it for they maye lyue vnmaried And Christ also doth praise this kynde of chastitie sayinge All men can not take this he that can let hym take it To all other God hath commaunded to vse the helpe of mariage sayinge Growe and multiplye And saincte Paule saieth He that can not lyue continētly let him marie for it is better to marie then to burne Nowe forasmuche as mariage is a kind of lyfe so holy godly and honest and y t also it perteineth so muche to y e profit of the commē wealth that the promyse therein made shoulde be faythfullye obserued for y e causes aboue rehersed therfore God with this commaundemēt as with a stronge bulwerke or fortresse hathe defended wedlocke saying Thou shalte be no wedlocke breaker And to thentēt we mighte the better vnderstāde what our Lorde God meante by this commaundemēt Christ him selfe did expounde it saying Ye haue hearde howe it was sayd to them of tholde lawe Thou shalt committe no adultery But I say vnto you He that loketh vpon a woman to lust after her hath alredy committed adulterye in hys hart For it is not ynough to absteyne from carnal copulation w t an other mans wyfe but we must absteyne also frome all wanton communicacion all vncleane affections and thoughtes Wherfore this commaundemēt Thou shalt committe none adulterie is asmuche to say as thou shalt not offende with thy neyghboures wife neyther in acte nor vncleane wourdes nor in lokes wynkes beckes or other vnhonest gestures and sygnes neyther in affection priuie motion of thy harte But I cōmmaūd the saieth God that y u be shamefast chast pure vndefiled whether thou be a virgin wydow or maried For these thre states of lyfe be holy pure Herein also we be commaunded that we giue none aide nor counsel cause or occasion to other to cōmit adulterie nor gyue house-rome harbour or lodging to such offenders but as we ought to kepe our awne soules cleane from all suche vyces so it is our deutie also to monyshe and dissuad al other from suche shameful interprises both with threates punyshmentes and all meanes possyble to stoppe and let them from so great abomination And thinke not good children that in this commaundemente only wedlocke breakyng is forbyd that other whordome or lecherie is not forbyd as some frantike mē do thinke that single fornication betwene vnmaried parsons is not forbyd because God in this cōmaūdement speaketh in expresse wordes onely of adulterers or wedlocke breakers But take hede good childrē that ye erre not with these vngodlye wicked parsons but know ye for a suertie that fornication whoredome lecherie and all kynde of vncleanes by what so euer name or title it be called is synne and highly displeaseth god For Moses sayeth There shalbe no whore among the daughters of Israel Also he sayeth There shall be no whormonger among the children of Israel And sainct Paule saieth in expresse wordes Fornication and al vnclēnes let it not be ones named among you as it becommeth sayntes For this know for a suertie that no whoremonger ether vncleane persone hath any inheritaunce in the kyngdome of Christ and God Let no man deceaue you with vaine wordes for suche thinges commeth the wrath of God vpon disobedient childrē By these wordes you maye easely perceyue good children how greuouslye God doeth punyshe whores and whormongers Wherfore flye whoredome as the pestilence and the deuels poyson For God dyd forbyd whoredome and all kynde of vncleanes when he sayde Thou shalt not committe adultery And he that is a whore haunter he shall hardelye escape wedlocke breakynge For he that in his hart excheweth adultery shall also exchewe fornicatiō Wherfore if you wyl kepe this commaundemēt trewly you must order yourselues after this maner Fyrst of all and chefelye you must beware that you committe not lecheri in acte and dede but you muste lyue chastely and continently vntyll suche tyme as by the healpe of God consente of youre parentes and counsell of your frendes you may be maried lawfully And then see that you obserue truly the fayth and promise made in matrimony Wowe not other mēnes wyfes but kepe companye with youre owne with all dewe loue and fauoure For saynt Paule sayeth The woman hathe not power or lybertie of her owne bodye but her husbande lykewyse the husbande hathe not power or lybertie of hys owne bodye but the wyfe And let not one maried person be absent from the other wythoute an vrgente and weyghty cause neither let the husbande suffer hys wife in peril and daungier to sytte alone wythout his company or comforte nor the
and the thyrde heyre doth scasely enioy theim And when it chaūseth that suche vntrusty and slouthfull seruauntes as I haue heretofore spoken of shall kepe house of their owne then God scourgeth theim with the same rodde with the whyche they whipped other For he sendeth theim vnfaithfull and neglygente seruauntes whiche runneth awaye from theim and serueth them as they were wonte to serue other Wherfore good children kepe well this commaundement Absteine frome all kyndes of thefte steale no thinge from no man hurte no bodye gyue and rendre to euery man that whiche is due vnto him accordynge to his degre state and callynge And when you be put in truste with other mennes gooddes handle them faithfully You oughte to be muche better nowe than whan we were vnder the Byshoppe of Rome for asmuche as we haue nowe receyued the ghospell and haue newely professed the pure truth of Goddes worde Therfore yf we be now not better then we were before surely God wyll more greuously punishe vs than he did before when we were in ignorance For the Lorde sayeth in the ghospell The seruaunte that knoweth his maysters wyll and doeth it not shalbe beaten wyth many strypes Now good children ye haue heard how this seuenth commaūdement forbyddeth you to hurte youre neyghbour eyther in acte worde or thoughte it commaundeth you neyther pryuely nor openly to steale or take awaye an other mannes goodes agaynste his wyll it willeth you to commit no theft in wordes that is to say to beware that neyther with lyes swering forswering nether w t flatterie fayre wordes craftye cōmunication we defraude circumuent or begyle our neyghbour neyther by threatnyng we cause him to depart from any portion of his goodes or other wayes to noy him Also it prohibiteth vs to commit theft in heart or thought whiche we doo when thorow the counsell of couetousnesse we studie compasse and in agine howe we maye deceaue our neyghbour and by hoke or by croke to get that thing whiche we couet to haue But contrarywise this commaundemente chargeth vs to gyue and rendre to euery man that whiche is due vnto him wyllyngly to serue and profyt all menne to defende oure neighbour from al maner of hurt losse and damage asmuche as it shall lye in vs so to ordre oure wordes and communication that therby asmuche as shalbe possible we maye healpe and comforte oure neyghboure hertely to loue and fauour all men and to enuye no man Also thys precepte wylleth vs to be so farre absent from takynge awaye an other mannes good that it byddeth vs to gyue parte of oure owne riches to them that lacke and desire it according to the commaundement of Christ whiche sayeth Giue to euery man that doeth aske the. And agayne he sayeth Gyue almes and all thynge shalbe cleane vnto you And in an other place That whiche you do to one of the lest of myne sayth Christ that you do to me Wherfore good children when you shall be demaunded howe vnderstande you the seuenth commaundement you shall answere We ought to feare and loue our Lord God aboue al thinges and for hys sake willingly to absteine from our neyghbors goodes and cattell to take nothing from him but to helpe him in his neede and to defende and augment his ryches and commodities The eyght sermon ¶ An exposition of the eyghte commaundemente Thou shalt beare no false wytnesse agaynste thy neyghbour YE haue hearde how ye ought to vnderstande the seuenth precepte by the whiche ye haue learned y t by no meanes we shoulde take awaye our neyghbours goodes agaynst his wyll And when he committeth any thyng to our custodye eyther wyllyngly or constrayned by necessitie then it is oure dutie to kepe and saue the same as we woulde do in case it were oure owne And forasmuche as our riches standeth not onelye in possession of landes tenementes cattell or money but also in our good name fame and estimation whiche farre passeth al gold syluer and precious stones therfore foloweth this commaundement Thou shalte beare no false witnes agaynst thy neyghbour For this commaundemēt teacheth vs howe we shoulde behaue oure selues in defendyng oure neyghbours good name that we dishonest hym not wyth lyes false accusations or witnesse bearyng that we slaunder him not but studie to defende increase and maintayne hys good name and fame euen so as we would wyshe other men to do towarde vs. And here you shall dylygently marke and bear away how excellēt a treasure it is to haue a good name For Salomon sayeth A good name is better then muche riches and more precious then balme or other straung oyntementes And forasmuche as God so ernestlye forbiddeth other men to hurt our good reporte and estymatyon whiche menne haue conceyued of vs it muste needes folowe that muche more he forbyddeth oure selues to do that hurt to oure selues whiche he chargeth other not once to offer vnto vs but he requireth of vs that we with all diligence should studye to get vs a good name and to kepe the same vnspotted and vndefiled This we shall do yf we applye our mindes to true vertue and vnfayned religiō that our lyfe may be foūd fawteles and men maye haue no matier against vs wherwith they maye wourthely charge vs. For it is not sufficient only to abstein from syn but we must also auoid all occasyon of the same and as saynte Paule counselleth vs we must refrayne from all outwarde apperaunce of euyll Wherfore good children liue vertuously kepe Gods cōmaundementes obey your parentes elders that you may be wel spoken of and be takē for honest persons For this doeth not onelye please God but also is verye profitable for you For this is the high wai that shal brynge you to riches honor and promotion to haue a good report and credit amonge youre neyghbours and in no wise folowe you not y e example of some lyght and shameles vnthriftes whiche care not what men saye of theym and passe not yf all men speake euyll by them For they be ashamed of no kynde of myschiefe But such God wyll punyshe and commonly they shall haue an euell ende But ye good children shall endeuour your selfes to preserue both youre owne good name youre neghbours also to beware y t ye beare no false witnes agaynst other mē y t is to say that ye diffame not thē or impaire their good name by your lyes slaunders For this worde wytnes in this place betokeneth all that thing which is spoken of our neyghbours whē they go to law or contende aboute any matier As when one doth arrest an other and sayeth I lent this felowe so muche monie now he denyeth the same Then yf any third parson come in and saye I was present and did see when this man lent him this summe of monye wheras he saw no suche thinge in deade then this false witnesse doth to his neyghboure double iniurye For first he causeth that his neyghboure is
that it wer for my welthe to haue it he woulde haue sente it to me aswell as to my neyghboure For surely good chyldren these rauenynge woulfes that be euer thryftynge after other mennes goodes lacke the benediction of God and therefore they can not long prosper no not in this world For other they bryng nothyng to passe wyth all theyr gapyng glenyng and carefulnesse or yf they obteyne theyr purpose yet verely all thynges accompte theyr losse is greater then theyr gaynes For in this worlde they lese y e fauoure both of God and man they lese their good name fame ar called of euery man extorcioners brybers pollers piellers deuourers of widowes houses oppressers of fatherles and motherles children And what a gaynyng is it I praye you by purchasynge of a lytle lande herein this lyfe to purchase therwithal euerlastynge damnacion in hel What profyteth it a man sayeth Christ yf he wynne all the worlde and lese hys awne soulle what dyd Dauid wynne when he lusted after the wyfe of Urie had his pleasure of her did not God therfore so punyshe him that he hymselfe lost all his awne wifes For his sonne Absolon in the sight of al the people entred vnto his fathers wyfe and defloured them all in his fathers owne house and after dyd purswe his father Dauid euē vnto death What did it profit Achab that he slewe Naboth toke possession of his vyneyarde Ueryly God did punyshe him therfore in such sorte that he caused him to be slayne in the next battayle that he went vnto and toke the kyngdom from al his succession destroyed all hys lynage and lefte not one man alyue and beside all this the dogges licked Achabes bloude in the same place wher he caused Naboth to be slayne What gayned Iudas when he solde oure Lorde Iesus Christ for thirtie peaces of syluer verilye he was punyshed of God therefore and was so tormented with the horrible feare of cōscience that he ran to the halter for succour and hanged himselfe Wherwith as he ended y e miseries of this life so he began the paines of the other lyfe Lykewyse God euen nowe a dayes doth punyshe these glyerynge keytes that seke their pray in euery place for commonly either they be deceaued of theyr expectacion for all their gapyng and pryenge or yf they obteyne their praye they purchase to themselfes therwith great mysfortune and euel endes Wherefore good children let this commaundement deapely synke into youre hartes and considre wel that it is no mā nor creature but God himselfe y t saith vnto you Thou shalt not desier thy neyghbours wyfe his man seruant woman seruant oxe asse or any other thing that is hys For to desier these thinges is a very heynous synne God will not suffre it to escape vnpunished And althoughe men now a dayes take it but for a trifle whan a man hath a true and diligent seruant to entice him awaye by all craftes and meanes yet surely God wyl punishe the same sharpely For as they entice their neyghbours seruaūts from theim so god suffreth other men to alure their seruantes awaye lykewise And moreouer this inconuenience cōmeth herby that whē seruantes perceaue men to sue for thē they waxe so hawte and stubburne that they wyll be contēt with no meane wages and be so proude that they regarde not their maysters nor stande in awe of theim but whan so euer theyr olde maysters do displease theim by and by they wil seke for a newe And when they be not contēt with their olde wages they desiermore And this cōplaint of seruantes is now a dayes al most in euery mās mouthe and yet it is not redressed because it is the iust punyshment of God wherewith he scourgeth theim that allure their neyghbors seruantes from thē And God doth not punyshe onely suche as entice other mennes seruātes from them but also all those that go about to gette anye other parte of their neyghbours goodes or cattel For yf thou take thy neyghbors house ouer his hed or put him out of his house by any crafty conueyance then manye tymes God taketh vēgeance with syckenes or losse of thy goodes Yf thou conuey awaye his cattell commonly they prosper not but dye of some kynd of moirrein And whatsoeuer thinge we thus purchase and possesse cōtrarie to godds commaundement it lacketh the blessynge of God wherfore it can not long endure or prosper Therfore I pray you good childē frame your affections and lyues accordyng to this rule Be content that euery man may enioy and kepe to hymselfe that thing which God hath giuen him When gods pleasure shall so be he wyll also sende to you that whiche you desier And he is able so to gyue it you that your neighboure therby shal suffre no losse or damage Couet not youre neyghbours wife house seruaunt or any thynge that is his except it be by his wil and consent And yf it shal chaunce any of you to be couenant seruaunts with any man then let no craftye or malicious felowes persuade you to forsake youre maysters but do them faythfull seruice as youre dutie is And trust not suche flateryng or slaunderous tongues as go aboute to entice you frō your maysters For suche men are the dyuels messengers which entende nothing elles but to allure you to synne and to brynge you into miserie And beleue this good children as a moost sure article of your faith that our God is the true lorde of all thing he is the gouerner and maister of all the worlde and all is but his owne householde He first made vs and from tyme to tyme doth daylye nouryshe vs. He doth set all thinges in ordre in his familie he it is that doth cal euery man to that office state ordre degre and kynde of lyuyng in the whiche it pleaseth hym to set theim He wyll gyue to euery man y e thing which he hath nede of so that we with all our hartes obey him Wherefore ther is no cause whythou shuldest couet thy neighbors goods or by any subtyl conueyance get them into thy handes For this thinge wanteth the blessyng of God yea it deserueth his curse maledycciō For scripture saith Cursed is he that doth not abide in all thinges that be written in the lawe And nowe ye haue hearde good chylderne a plaine brief and true exposition of the tenth commaundement the whiche although it be last in number yet I pray you let it not haue the last place in youre memorye but one of the first and chefest seates of thesame That as sone as you be demaunded thys questiō how vnderstande you the tenth commaundement you may be prompte and redie to answere we ought to feare loue our Lord God aboue al thinges and for his sake willyngly to absteyne frō our neighbours wife familie goodes cattel to helpe hym as muche as lyeth in vs that he may kepe and possesse the same ¶ The ende of the
hertofore declared therfor our master christ which forbyddeth vs to vse many wordes in our prayers hath as it were knyt vp together in one ferdel al y e plages aduersities y t cā happen vnto vs in this worlde and hath taught vs to say this short prayer Good Lord delyuer vs from euel As though he shoulde saye thus Be not dyscoraged from praying although you perfectely knowe not all the kyndes of euels from the whiche you desyer to be delyuered but only saye these fewe wordes delyuer vs from euel and by and by your heuenly father knoweth frō what thynge he ought to delyuer you and wyl gladly do it Now good children you see howe good and merciful is God our heauenly father who so much loueth vs and hath so fatherlye a care for vs that he seeth what we lacke what euils he should deliuer vs frome before we begyn to aske And he requireth not y t we should vse many wordes but only that from the depenes of oure hartes we shoulde cal vpon him and do to him this honour that is to say to aske all thynges of him to take him for our only God and to truste assuredly y t he wil heare vs. Therfore good children lerne perfytely thys lesson that God wylleth and requireth of vs that we in all necessities and daunger that may chaunce vnto vs should cal of hym for helpe and to putte our trust and confidence in him alone and in no mā or creature besydes him For y e prophet Hieremye sayeth Cursed be he whiche doth put his trust in man maketh hī his defēce And althoughe mē do oftentimes helpe succour vs yet it is not men that do it but it is God that worketh these thinges by men as by his instrumentes whom he hath chosen for that purpose But when God wil not helpe vs then is ther no man that is able to delyuer vs. If we haue any wrong done vnto vs then yf it please God to succoure vs he doth it by his iudges and comen officers whome he hath ordeyned for that purpose But yf he be not mynded to delyuer vs then al the men in y e world can not helpe vs. Lykewyse when we be sycke yf goddes pleasure be not to make vs hole what can all phisicians medycynes auayle vs But yf he be willing to make vs hole again he worketh this thīg by phisitiās and medicines whiche he hath or dened for y e same vse Our deuties is therfore in all our nedes to call vpon God to aske helpe of hym to confesse y t all goodnes cōmethe from hym and to make him onely the authour and chyefe gyuer of al the good thinges that we haue and to thanke him for the same Neuertheles we muste also gyue due honour to gods instruments and meanes by whom he worketh his benefites in vs. Forthermore good children marke dylygentlye thys lesson also that we be not taught to say in this petitiō kepe vs from euel but deliuer vs from euel And in desirynge God to delyuer vs from euel we do confesse as the truthe is in dede that as long as we lyue in this myserable worlde we be wrapped and subiect to all kyndes of euels that we be not able to delyuer oure selues there from And the wel and heade out of the which al these euyll do sprynge is original synne in the whiche we were conceiued and borne in oure mothers wombes whereby mans reason is so blynded that of hymselfe he can not knowe God nor his worde And mans will also by this synne is so poysened that he doth not obey the wyl of God nor keape his commaūdements Now because mans reason is blynded it is easy for the deuel to led mā to all errores as Idolatry heresies wytchecraftes inchauntementes and to all kynde of superstitious and false doctrine And these offēces God doth punish with diuerse and greuous plages as w t pryde enuye contencyon detraction slaunderyng lying raylyng trouble and vnquietnes of conscience feare and pensiuenes of the minde suche like which vices so tormēt gnaw our hartes that they dayly wast consume vs. And hereof ensue dyuerse dyseases sykenesses and infirmities and at lengthe death it selfe Also when mans wil is not ruled by gods lawe but foloweth his awne affections lustes then he runneth hedlonge into all kynde of grosse and horrible synne as to treason sedition adulteryes theft extorcion brybery begylyng and deceyuyng his neighbour to pryde enuye anger glotonye brawlyng fyghtynge and manslaughter And because God of his iustice can not suffer suche heinous synnes vnpunished therfore he suffereth y e deuil some time to infect y e aier some time to sturre vp greate and daungerous tempestes and stormes some tyme he permytteth hym to destroye oure houses catel and riches wyth fyre or water Agayne God suffereth hym some tyme to haue suche power ouer vs for our sinnes y t some he maketh to runne madde some he causeth to drowne theimselfes some to burne themselfes some to cut their owne throtes some hang theymselues For this is Satans chiefe studye to dryue mē to suche feare trouble anguishe of mind that thorow pensiuenes heuines of harte he maye brynge theym to desperation And this is his onely entēt and study to bring as many as he cā to euerlasting damnatiō Nowe you haue heard good children into how great and horrible euelles we be brought vnto by original synne so that euery momēt we be in daunger to be drowned with the ragyous floodes thereof Wherefore surely we haue moste nede cōtinually to crie to our heauenly father desyryng him to deliuer vs from so great perels and euels For we can not offer vnto God a more acceptable sacrifyce then by callynge vpon his holye name to acknowlege him for oure God and to gyue him this praise that he it is whiche is bothe able and wyllynge to delyuer vs from all oure myseries Furthermore good children you shall yet lerne here another lesson worthye to be noted and remembred whiche is this that in this request we desier not God vtterly to destroye all those euels that do vexe trouble vs so to put theim cleare awaye whych for a tyme we muste suffre for our sinnes y t they mai remaine no longer in this worlde but we desyer God to deliuer vs frō the sayde euel that is to saye that after we haue suffered euel by some space of time in this life and haue ben proued and tryed by the fyre of aduersite that then whē it shal seme good to our moste mercyfull father he wil delyuer vs from the sayd euyls that we peryshe not in them For seing that we haue brought our selues into these myseryes we muste patientlye suffer them for a tyme because they by punyshementes due for our sinne which we most worthely haue deserued And althoughe oure heauenly father doth most mercyefully forgyue vs our offences yet he dothe not take synne cleane awaye
howe ye maye contynually abyde and growe in Christ the whiche thing is taught you in the vse of the Lordes supper Ye shall therefore dilygentlye learne the wordes by the whiche oure Lorde Iesus Christ did institute and ordeyne his supper that ye maye repet them word for worde and so prynt thē in your memoryes that you may beare them away with you home to youre fathers houses and there oftentymes reherse them And these be the wordes of oure sauioure Christe Our Lorde Iesus Christ the same nyghte that he was betrayed toke bread gyuyng thākes brake it gaue it to hys disciples saide Take eate this is my bodye whiche is gyuen for you Do this in remembraunce of me Lykewyse he toke the cuppe also after he had supped giuyng thankes gaue it to them and sayd Drynke of this al ye This is my bloude of the new testamente whiche is shed for you for many for the forgyuenes of synnes Do this as often as ye drynke in remembraunce of me Nowe ye shall dilygentlye laboure not onely to say without boke these wordes of our sauiour Christe but also to vnderstande what oure Lorde Iesus Christe mente by the same that ye maye make answer when ye be asked any question herein and that also in tyme to come ye may be able to teache your children as ye youre selfes are now instructed For what greater dishonestye can ther be eyther in the sighte of God or man then to professe youre selues to be Christian people and to receaue the sacramētes yet not to know what Christes sacramētes be wherfore they wer ordeyned For saint Paul sayth y t he whiche eateth and drynketh the supper of the Lorde vnworthely doth eate and drynke his awne damnation Nowe therfore good children that ye may truely vnderstāde the wordes of the lordes holy supper and that ye receyue not this sacramente to youre owne damnation learne here dylygentlye that the true vnderstandyng and vse of y e Lordes supper standeth in two thynges The fyrste is to do that whiche our lord himself hath commaunded The seconde is to beleue y t which he hath promysed Of these two I wil speake in order wherto I pray you gyue good eare First our sauiour Christ taketh breade in his hand he giueth thākes he breaketh it and gyueth it to his dysciples and sayeth Take eate Lykewyse he taketh the cup and sayeth Take drynke Wherfore we ought to obey those wordes to do that which our Lord commaundeth vs. For although Christ prescribeth no certen tyme when we ought to come together to his supper althoughe also he appoynte no certen noumber of dayes howe often in the yeare we ought to receaue this supper yet this is his holy godly wyl that at some tyme we shoulde receaue this sacrament And this to do is for oure great commoditie profite for elles our Lorde wolde not haue commaunded vs so to do who knoweth better thē we what helpe and comforte we haue nede of Wherfore if we wil be christes trew disciples then we must do as he himselfe commaundeth his discyples to do Let vs therefore go to this godly supper let vs eate drinke therof let vs not absteine frō the same w tout a great cause Secondarily Christ saieth of the breade this is my bodye and of y e cuppe he sayeth this is my bloud Wherefore we ought to beleue y t in the sacrament we receyue trewly the bodye and bloud of Christ. For God is almyghtye as ye hearde in the Crede He is able therefore to do all thynges what he wil. And as saint Paul writeth he calleth those thinges whiche be not as yf they were Wherefore when Christe taketh breade and saieth Take eate this is my body we ought not to doute but we eat his veray bodye And when he taketh the cuppe and sayeth Take drynke this is my blod we ought to thynke assuredly y t we drynke his veray blode And this we must beleue yf we wil be counted Christē mē And wher as in this perellous tyme certayne deceitful persons be founde in manye places who of very frowardnes wil not graunt that there is the body and bloude of Christe but denye the same for none other cause but that they cannot cōpasse by mans blynde reason howe this thinge shoulde be broughte to passe ye good children shall with all dilygence beware of suche persons that ye suffer not your selues to be deceaued by them For suche men surely are not trew Christyans nether as yet haue thei lerned the first article of y e Crede whych teacheth that God is almightye whiche ye good children haue alredy perfectely lerned Wherfore eschewe such erroneous opinions and beleue the wordes of our lord Iesus that you eate and drynke his veray body blode although mans reason can not comprehend how and after what maner y e same is ther present For the wysedome of reason must be subdued to the obedience of Christ as the apostle Paule teacheth Thirdly he sayeth that his body was gyuē to death for vs that his blod was shed for vs. Wherfore we muste beleue and confesse this thing that all we are conceaued and borne in syn as we haue learned in the ten commaundemētes and chiefely in the two last We are therefore by nature the childrē of gods wrath shoulde be damned for euer yf Christ had not redemed vs by his holy passiō For he was made mā for vs and dyd all thinges for vs whiche we were bound to do and coulde not do that is to saye he fulfylled the lawe for vs and toke vpon hym all that crosse whiche we moste rightuously had deserued for our iniquities and offenses and he shed his bloude for vs that oure synnes might be forgyuen vs. All these thinges we oughte stedfastly to beleue Wherfore they be in a great errore whiche wyll make satisfaction for their synnes with fastyng prayer almes dedes and suche lyke good workes For althoughe we are boūde to do these good workes yet they be not a sufficient price raunsome or satisfaction for oure synnes but onely the death and bloude of our sauyoure Christ was a sufficient and worthy sacrifice to take away our synnes and to obteyne for vs forgyuenes of oure offenses as it is written in the seconde chapter of saincte Iohn his firste epystle Christ is that sacryfice that pacyfyeth Gods dyspleasure obteyneth pardon for oure synnes and not for our synnes onely but also for the synnes of all the worlde Fourthly Christ sayeth do this in the remembraunce of me Here also it is oure dutye to obey the worde of Christ and to do y t thing which he hath cōmaūded vs to do Wherefore good children doubt not but ther is the bodye bloud of our Lorde which we receaue in the lordes supper For he hath sayed so and by the power of his worde hath caused it so to be Wherefore seyng Christ saieth do this as
be my dysciple And this is not a token of gods angre when he sendeth vs afflyetion or aduersitie but rather a signe of his loue toward vs. For he chasteseth euery childe whome he loueth as the wyse man Salomon witnesseth And they that fele not his rodde be not his true children but rather bastardes as sainte Paule writeth in thepistle to the Hebrues Wherefore good children larne patience that you may gladly suffer aduersitie For correction is a teachyng and whē God shall trye your faith with sycknes pouertie persecution or any other kynde of aduersitie reioyce and be glad For these be euident tokens of gods fatherly loue towarde you and that he wil kepe you cleane from synne and corruption of this worlde and brydle your wyll that you maye learne to knowe gods holy wyll whiche is a wonderful wisdome And therefore sayncte Paule so many tymes repeteth in his epystles these wordes that is to say that you maye knowe the wyll of God For this knowledge is a most high and heauēly wysedome and obedyence most lyke to the obedience and holines of thangels in heauen And you be bounde to obey God in sufferyng his rodde and crosse For God in our baptysme hath made this couenaunt with vs that we must dye and be buryed with Christe be grafted in his passion and death if we wil ryse againe and be glorified with him in the kyngdome of heauen whereunto he is rysen and assended Wherefore good children marke wel these lessons that you maye learne pacience in all afflictions and aduersities whether you suffre sycknes pouertie reproches or persecution for the gospel And what soeuer kynde of aduersitie troubleth you perswade your selues for a suertye that it is Gods wil that you should suffer and be tryed And therfore Christ sayeth One heare shal not fal from your headde without the wyll of your father whiche is in heauen Therfore yf perchaunce at any tyme you shalbe moued to impacience in your trouble and aduersitie then with all your hertes call vpon God for his ayde and succour desyre hym to sende you the gyfte of pacience and saye Thy wyll good Lorde be done and not ours For so oure sauyour Christ hath not onely taught vs to pray but he himselfe also dyd vse the lyke prayer not longe before he suffered his passion And this is the playne meaning of this thirde petition concernyng y e fulfyllyng of Gods wyll Nowe I pray you good children applye your willes and mindes to learne y e same that whē you be demaunded how vnderstād you y e thirde petition you may answer after this maner Althoughe Gods holy wyll be done w tout our praier yet we pray that it maye be done in vs and fulfylled among vs here in earth Which is done whan God doeth ouerthrow and destroy the wicked counsels of the deuell of worldlye people and of oure owne fleshe whiche do all that lyeth in theim to let and hynder the kyngdome of God and the halowynge of his name and doeth kepe vs in the true knowledge of his worde in the lyuely faithe of Christ in hys loue and obedyence of hys commaundementes For this is the holye and perfecte wyll of God whiche God graunte vs to keape nowe and euer Amen Gyue vs this daye our dayly breade YE haue herd how in the former petitions we desyer of God to gyue vs al thinges that belong to the fulfyllynge of hys holy commaundementes that we maye leade a godly lyfe aswell towardes God as also towarde oure neighbours Wherby we be euidently taught that we be not able to fulfyll the lawe and commaundementes of God without the grace of Christe and Goddes healpe Nowe foloweth the other four peticions in the whiche we praye God that he wyll vouche safe to gyue vs all those thinges whiche be promysed vnto vs in the gospell and whiche our Crede teacheth vs to loke for And first in this fourth petition we sue to God to graunte vs all those thinges which we be taught to beleue in the first parte of oure Crede concernyng our creation For when we saye Gyue vs thys daye oure daylye breade we praye to God that as through his great mercye and goodnesse he dydde create vs so he wil lykewyse nouryshe and feade vs. Wherefore good children yf you wyll vnderstande this peticion you must call to your remembraunce those lessons which wer taught you in the first article of oure belefe intreatyng of the creation For seynge that God hathe made heauen and earth he is lorde and mayster of al creatures in heauen or erthe and all be vnder his wil and pleasure And forasmuche as he made them all for vs he hath appointed them all to serue vs and to healpe and releue our necessities Wherefore let vs not be carefull for meate or drincke or other thinges necessary for oure lyuynge But lette vs put oure confidence in God oure father whiche hath made vs and giuen vs our lifes and we may be sure that he wyll also sende vs all thinges necessarie for the preseruation and maintenaūce of the same For seyng that he made al creatures of nothing it muste nedes be that all creatures muste obey hys wil and commaundemente And in case ther were not in the world creatures sufficient to nourish vs yet we shoulde not mistrust hym for he is able to make newe creatures to gyue vs all thinges necessarie And to the intent that no man shoulde truste in hymselfe thynkynge that by his owne wysdome or laboure he is able to get all thynges necessarye to the maintenaunce of his lyfe Christe hathe taught vs to aske these thynges of oure heauenlye father whiche onely is able to preserue and feade vs. Of him therefore oughte we hertely to aske the same saying Gyue vs this daye oure daylye breade For this thinge tendeth to the glorie of god and syngulerly pleasethe him whan we aske of hym al thynges necessarie for vs. And for this cause God hath commaunded vs to praye contynually wythout ceasynge And our sauyour Christ hath promysed vs that he wyl gyue vs all thynges whiche we shall aske in his name And it is euident by the wordes of this petition that we ought oftentymes to praye For Christ hath not taught vs to aske our sustinaunce for fyfthy or thre score yeare nor yet for one yeare no nor for one moneth or weake but he hath wylled vs to aske our dayly breade And he saieth Be not carefull for to morowe for to morow bryngeth care enough of it selfe Now yf we shal not be careful for to morow but onely require of God sustinance necessarye for the present daye it is manyfest hereby that it is gods wyll that we shoulde aske agayne of him to morow For we shal haue asmuch nede of meate and drynke to morowe as we haue this presēt daye yet we praye not for to mrowes fode but for this dayes sustinance onli Wherefore good children accustome
youre selfes frome youre tender age to pray gladly and often for that pleaseth God and he is veray redy to giue you al thinges that you nede so that we giue him his due honoure and aske of hym as our dutie is But specyally they that be godly muste vse to praye whan they go to bedde whan they ryse whan they go to the churche or syt doune at the table For these times are chiefly appoynted to prayer as scripture doth witnesse in many places And forasmuch as we be not able to get our dayly breade by oure owne wit laboure and dylygence except God giue it vs let vs therfore before all thynges seke his kyngdome and studye to please him that he may gyue vs al thinges necessarye for vs. And although many men in this worlde get their lyuyng and ryches by crafte and deceipte yet let vs absteyne from such vnlawful meanes For they do rather bryng pouertye to a man then ryches And althoughe brybers extorcyoners vsurers and craftye deceauers of their neighbours do prosper for a while in this worlde yet they seldome establyshe theyr thynges For it is written that scasely the thyrde heyre shal enioy goods yll gotten And God doth only wynke at theim suffryng thē to floryshe for a tyme that afterwarde he maye y e more greuouslye punyshe and sodenly destroy thē And when we desyer God to gyue vs our dayly breade thynke not Good children that our heuenly father wyl gyue vs only a morsell of bread and nothyng besyde but vnder the name of breade be all thinges conteyned whiche be necessarie to the maintenance of our lyfe as meate dryncke apparell house landes cattell and monye accordyng to the saying of sainct Paule God gyueth all thynge to our vse richely and aboundantly But Christe teacheth vs in this petition to aske only for our dayly breade for this entent that we shoulde be content with suche a meane as oure dayly vse and necessitie doth require and that we should not by ouermuche eatyng and drynkynge wastfully spende those thynges wher w t poore people myght be relyued For sayncte Paul doth commaunde vs to laboure and worke that we maye eate our awne breade also gyue to thē that haue nede The which commaundement we shall easely kepe yf we wyll be contente with a meane dyet and kepe a measure in our apparell But they that delyght in superfluitie of gorgyous apparel and deynty fare make pleasure the ende of their eatynge and drynkyng ▪ and not necessitie they be not wont to gyue muche to the poore but commenly suche do deceaue the nedye brybe and pyle from thē and oftentynes by plaine robberies force do steale other mens goods that they maye haue wherwith to mainteyne their charges and sumptuous expēses As we see by daily experience that couetous persons and the ryche men of this worlde that be gyuen to ryot superfluitye vse to gyue lytle or nothyng at all to y e poore Furthermore in this petition we do not only desier our bodily fode and sustinance but also all thyng necessarye to the same wherby we maye vse and inioy suche as God hath sent vs that is to saye we praye for seasonable wether and holsomenes of the ayer for helthe of bodye for peace and quyetnes of the commen welthe for trustye and faithful seruantes and suche lyke For except God sende a faire and seasenable wether all the fruites and corne growyng vpon the earth are lyke to peryshe and so all our laboure in plowyng sowyng and plantyng shall be bestowed in vaine Also he y t hath not his helth he can haue no pleasure in his riches or greatly ioy in his meat or drinke be it neuer so deinty Furthermore in warre time all thoughe God sende vs great plētye of corne and wyne yet all is destroyed of oure ennemyes somuche that we maye scante truste our frendes from spoilyng of vs. For than all is full of robbynge burnynge beatyng kyllynge and wasting with fire sworde And yf we haue any thinge lefte vs in the tyme of warre yet we can not quyetly haue y e vse of it for feare care and trouble of the warres And yf it be a tyme of peace yet yf thou haue an enemye within the walles of thyne awne house that is to saye yf thou haue an vnkynde or vnfaythful wyfe vnthryftye children vntrustye and neglygente seruauntes then by them thy lyuynge is wasted and cōsumed For al these do defraude the of thy dayly breade and by y e occasion of thy greate losse and hynderance The principal cause of all these aduersities is the deuel For he is so mortal an enemie to mankynde that he is desyrous not onli to destroy our souls with false doctrine and erroneous opinions but also throughe tempestes infection of the ayer dyuerse kyndes of sykenesses by famyne batteyl by the malyce and falsehed of oure owne householde and of our neyghbours he wolde fayne cōsume our lyfe helth house and goods clerely destroy them And this wicked spirite woulde ouerthrowe in a momente of an houre whole realmes commen welthes yf God dyd not let hym Wherefore we must ernestly pray to God that he wil staye this wycked spirite and gyue vs our daily bread that he wil preserue vs frō all sycknes that hauynge helthe of our bodyes we may vse inioy our substance And that also he wil sende vs godly and dilygente rulers to defēde vs from our enemyes and to prouide that nether our goodes be stollen from vs by thefes or robbers neyther lost or conuayed from vs thorowe the vntrustynes or falsenes of oure householde seruauntes Furthermore you shall note good childrē that our Lorde Iesus Christ hath not taught vs to saye father gyue me my dayly breade but gyue vs oure dailye breade and lykewyse in all the petitions that folowe no man prayeth in the synguler noumber for himselfe alone but in the plurel noumber aswel for other as for himselfe By y e whiche lesson we be admonyshed of the brotherly charitie whiche one of vs shoulde beare towardes an other For we be all offenders and from our birth the children of yre Neuertheles God so loued vs that he gaue his only sonne Iesus Christ to suffer deathe for vs to obteyne for vs remyssion of oure synnes to reconcile vs to him to make vs his children Therefore nowe is God our father Christe oure brother and we be goddes children and heyres and coinheriters with Christ and amonge oure selues we be brethren and all brethrē to Christ. And therefore we ought to ioyne altogyther in one prayer and to be glad one to healpe another bothe in worde and dede to the vttermost of our power Furthermore this is a great comforte for vs to know that all the church and congregation of Christ doeth praye for vs and that all the treasurs of Gods riches that is to say Christ himselfe the kyngdome of heauen the holy gospell the sacramentes and the prayers of al