he is ignoraunte in the sacramentes he vnderstandeth not his owne offyce he onely loueth dyrth he embraceth donge he is delyted with bloode Why then what hathe this boore done o Lorde God He hath rooted vp thy vineyarde he hath put it out of thy bondes out of thy preceptes and cōmandementes out of thy instructyons teachinges of the primatiue fathers out of thy lawes hath he set it he hath replenyshed it with dirthe and dōge with excessiue pleasures and vnclea nelynes with gluttonie dronckardye The tyllars hath he slayne the yonge children hath he killed the women hath he desloured the braunches hath he drawē to the grounde the vynes hath he plucked vp by the roote hath torne alto gyther wyth his tethe with his pride hath he trode the trees vnder his feete and caste them forthe of the vineyarde This boore comming out of the woode hath broken the bondes of it and a singulare wilde beaste hath deuoured it Lo what pryde is here He wil nedes be singular he wil haue no superior he wil haue no peas he loketh not to haue felowes but seruauntes subiectes he coueteth to possesse al singularly he seketh euermore to ascende he is delyted with a singularite he regardeth not Christe his charyte he wil not be a ministre nor sheparde nor father nor mother nor partaker of tribulacyon nor euery mannes seruaunte to the entente for to winne euery man but a lorde but a wolfe but a cruel a sturdye ruler to destroye the vineyarde to plucke vp the rootes vtterly to waste it holly to eate it bring it to noughte Is not also this wilde boore and syngulare beaste an euil Prince a proude tyraunte al togyther vncleane al togyther cruel Whiche commeth out of the wilde woode of beastes from ministers lyke himfelfe fylthye ryottous arrogāte cruel that ar beastes and no men Whiche hateth the worshypping of God banysheth holy men out of the cyte persecuteth the goode punysheth the wyse detesteth and can not abyde the trouthe reioyceth in lyes is delyted with flatering tales driueth awaye concorde norisheth debate breaketh matrimonie putteth vertues to exyle cōmendeth vrces chaseth awaye chastyte enhaunseth vngracious persones fynally causeth al noughtynes to be at the ful flynge He hath burste the bandes of the vineyarde for that he hath stande by euery waye that is not good hath not behated the contrary trade to vertue honestye Is not this boore percase singular wilde beaste also the deuil A fowle spyrite a cruel mankyller puffed vp with pryde that sayde Into heuen wil I clyme aboue the sterres of the firmament wil I exalte my scate I wil be lyke vnto the hyest He also hath fed de vpon the vineyarde hath eaten the braūches hath swalowed the vines hath incorporat it wyth hymselfe he is becōme the head of myschief they his membres and Christe his vineyarde is becomme the deuylls vineyard for that a syngular wyld beast hath deuoured it Alas alas alas Lorde God wher is the vineyarde whiche thou diddest translate out of Egypte out of which thou diddest caste the Heathen which thou diddest set with thyne owne handes whose iourney thou diddest guyde which replenished the earthe with vertues whose shadow couered the moūtaynes and the vines the cedre trees of God whiche did stretche oute her braunches euē vnto the see her spredding boughes vnto the riuer Where bene her vertues where are the gyftes of the holy goste where ar the graces frely bestowed where is her loue where is her hope where is her fayth Arte not thou God with whome ther is no chaunge Arte not thou he that is to saye God which did dest worke mercy with our fathers Ar not we the workemnashyp of thy handes Doth not Christe cōtinew for euermore Haste not thou also suffred for vs Haste thou forgotten vs o Lorde Thou Lorde arte our father and Abraham knewe vs not nor yet Israel Thou Lorde arte our father and our re demer thy name hath bene from the be gynnyng Wherfore then haste thou turned thy face from vs We haue synned we haue done amysse we haue cōmitted naughtynes Lorde deale not with vs after our synnes nother rewarde vs according to our iniquyties Lorde remembre not our olde fautes lette thy mercye preuente vs anonne for we ar very nedy poore No nor yet our fathers wer founde ryghteous but synners worshippers of idoles murderers cursers couetous proude hye mindes not obedient to theyr parētes folysh blasphemyng thy name Yet haste thou delte with them euen accordyng to thy greate mercye For they posseded not the earthe in theyr swerde nether theyr owne powre saued them but thy ryght hande thy powre the lyghtenyng of thy countenaunce bicause thou werte pleased in them Go to therfore deale with vs after thy greate mercy turne not awaye thy face from vs. God of myghte be thou turned loke backe from heuen and beholde visit this vinciarde God of powers that arte a pure acte a power infynyte the power of powers gouerning al thynges doyng al thynges quickening al thinges creating the poures of al thynges ges gyuyng them strength drawing them to theyr worke goyng afore them turne vs o Lorde vnto the we shal be turned go thou before vs drawe vs after the gyue strength to our vertues and make vs lyuely Why doest thou not loke vpon vs Why haste thou turned thy backe Shewe vs thy coūtenaunce Be turned God of poures vnto vs and then shal we be turned vnto the. For to be conuerted vnto the to thynke vpon the to loue the it is thy gyfte Loke backe from heuen for thou arte gone farre hense thou haste ascended euen vp in to heauen thou arte departed from vs yet loke vpon vs from heuen although thou wilte not comme doune to the earth although our synnes doth otherwyse deserue regarde vs sende vs thy lyght from aboue from the deserte of compassions from the Christe frō the place where as thy blessed sayntes prayeth for vs. See how we ar made desolate comfortles beholde take pyte vpon our shame and reproche our herytage is traunslated vnto straungers our houses vnto forynars Where is Hierusalem Where is the holy lande wherin thou diddest worke so many myracles Where is thy graue Ar thy not in the handes of infydels Beholde Lorde with the eyes of thy mercye the hole worlde the fulnesse therof not the fulnesse of graces but plentyeth of synnes plentieth of ignoraunce plentieth of wretchednes Beholde thy vineyarde thy churche the common welthe thy Christian people beholde and haue pyte vpon them And visyt this vineyarde For yet to hath it rootes yet ther lyueth some braūches it beganne from the begynnyng of the worlde neuer fayled nor neuer shal fayle For thou haste promysed Lo with you am I al dayes euen vnto the worldes ende Then wel maye it be diminyshed but vtterly fayle it can not Now this vineyarde is the selfe same that
thou diddest plante Ther is one spirit one fayth one baptime or fullenīg one God Lorde of all which is al togyther in al thinges Visyte therfore this vineyarde for thy visitatyon shal kepe her spyryte visyte herwith thy grace with thy presence with thy holy spyrite Visyte it also with thy wande and with thy staffe For thy wāde thy staffe shal comforte it Visyte it with a scourge that she may be chastised and purged for the season of pluckyng awaye thinges superfluous wil comme Throwe forthe the stones make fagottes of the wythered braunches and drie sticks to be burned Rayse her vp cutte of the refuse set vnder stayes proppes make the grounde ranke plētiful buylde the wal vysyte this vineyarde lyke as thou haste al redy visyted the earth and inebryate it Visyt her I saye And make her parfecte whome thy ryght hande hath planted and that vpon the sonne of man whome thou haste made stronge for thyself Do not onely visyt her but also make her parfecte For she is very vnparfecte She wolde luye wel but she nolde suffre euil She hath ensamples set before her eyes she hath the Prophetes the Apostles the Martyres al the saintes of God yea she hath the very onely begotten sonne them wolde she folowe wel wolde she do for to get theyr glory but aduersytes wold she not abyde She is very vnparfyte Make her parfecte o Lorde Sende for the thy spirite and then shal she be made parfecte Peter before the comming of the holy goste sayde yea if I muste nedes be put to death with the I will not denye the. Neuerthelesse for as moche as he was vnparfecte at the voyce of one poore mayde he denyed the Christe The holy Goste camme fulfylled him with grace then he feared not kynges of the earth for that thou madest hym parfecte thā did he bring forthe frute than did he turne an exceding sorte of people to the fayth than did he buylde churches and temples for the holy goste to dwel in Wherfore make her parfect and then wil she bryng forth frute and wil stretche out her braunches thorough the worlde For yet is she afrayde yet dare she not speake yet she feareth prynces rulers Make her parfecte whome thy ryght hande hath planted not her whō me thy lefte hande hath plāted For ther ar some Christianes as certayne pristes by name not in very dede vnto whome thou haste gyuen the ryches of this worlde and multiplyed theyr temporal goodes but of thy spiritual Goodes haue they none These therfore ar the vineyard which thy lefte hande hath planted I desyre the not to encrease this vineyarde or to make it parfecte but that whiche thy ryght hād hath planted which beareth braunches that is to saye the faythful to whome thou hast gyuen thy grace and thy gostly gyftes whych ar thyne elected Amonge whome euery one sayeth His lefte hande vnder my hedde and hys ryght hande shal embrace me Make therfore this vineyarde parfecte make her parfecte I saye vpon the sonne of man whome thou hast cōfirmed for thy selfe Who is this sonne of man For we ar the sonnes of men bicause we haue a father a mother here in the worlde But Christe is the sonne of mā for that he is the sonne of a mayde which in heauē hath a father with out a mother in earthe a mother without a father This sonne of man therfore haste thou made stedfaste in the hartes of mēne haste also confirmed hym for thyselfe that is to thy honour glory The lande of Iewrye fought agaynst hym and thou madest hym sure vnto the tyrauntes hath foughte agaynste hym thou madest hym sure vnto the heretykes hath foughte agaynst hym and thou madest hym sure vnto the Philosophers logitians the wyse me of this worlde hath foughte agaynste hym and thou made hym sure vnto the false bretherne hath foughte agaynst hym and thou madest hym sure vnto the the deuyl the hole worlde foughte agaynst hym preuayled not but thou haste made the sonne of mā faste sure in mēnes hartes to thy honour glory Therfore make parfecte this vineyard vpō hym so that she by faythe loue planted rooted vpō Christe maye cōme to parfectnesse out of that redde earthe out of that entyer zeale of Christe his charyte out of the merites of his passyon maye bringe forthe very good wyne rauyshyng mannes hartes Albeit for that she is vnparfecte for that she is fallen for that the worlde is agaynst her this semeth vnpossible in the eyes of menne yet Lorde nothyng is impossible nor nothyng harde vnto the. Thou openest thy hande fyllest euery lyuely creature with blessing Al thynges loketh that thou shouldest gyue them food in season When thou gyuest them they wil gather whē thou openest thy hand al thinges shal be fylled with goodnesse But whan thou turnest awaye thy coūtenaunce they shal be troubled thou shalte take awaye theyr spirite and they shal faynte and be retourned into theyr duste How moche more then whan thou rebukest shal al stoppes be taken awaye and al destroyers be destroyed They kyndled with fyre and dygged vp at the rebuke of thy countenaunce shal perysh For the kindled and halfe burned stycks and vynes dygged vp and vnfruteful trees disparsed thorough the vineyarde the younge braunches coūfounded doth marre the lyuyng vynes letteth them to bringe forthe frute Them therfore kindled and dygged vp rebuke with thy countenaunce with that countenaunce wherof is spoken But the Lordes countenaūce is ouer al euil doers and forthwith the vnfruteful trees shal perish they I meane which nether entereth themselfe in to the kingdome of heauen nor yet sufferet other to enter So that these kinled trees ar vncleane synners fyred with the heate of carnal luste turned in to coles walking in darkenesse knowing not whyther they go For the fyre hath sytte ouer them they haue not soene thy sonne This woode kindled with fyre ar couetouse men gredy in the desyre of monye inflamed with the inordinat fyre of auaryce which neuer sayeth ynough ynough or whoe whoe These trees kindled with fyre are men prowde desyrons of honour and enuious men which burneth lyke as fyre brandes ar incended with couetyng of al thinges This fyre hath wasted al vertues hath raysed al wanton lustes is the cause of al vngraciousnes For pryde is the foundacion of al naughtynes and vehement desyre of wilful appetite is the roote of al vnhappynes that for the turning awaye from God thys for the turning vnto creatures Now who ar the trees dygged vp but Hypocrites nohter hote nor colde which outwardly certesse semeth not to be burned with the fyre of luste or pryde or couetyse yet inwardely ar they drye bicause they ar dygged vp they haue no rootes in the earth of the lyung trees in the charite of Christe in the grace of God Wherfor euen as a tree if it hath
AN OTHER meditatiō of the same Hieronimus Sauanorola vpon the .lxxx. Psalme of Dauid Qui regis Israel intende Thou that haste Israel in thy gouernaunce thou that leadest Ioseph as he were a shepe haue regarde vnto vs. FOr as muche as we knowe thee Lorde by workes brought to passe thorowe thy power then do we say that thou art bente to dispose and ordre thinges when as thou doste brynge them to their ful ende and parfytnes Contrarywyse yf thou sufferest them to fall from their parfyt ende then do we playnly pronounce that thy gouernement is withdrawen Consideryng therfore howe that all the worlde is as touchynge true ghostly worshipping of thee in great daunger both bycause the moste parte lyeth in darcknes of mystrust or infidelitie or also bycause the faythful forte is almost holly corrupted so that now a dayes this maye be truely spoken They haue al swarued out of the right waye they are all become vnprofitable none there is that doth good no not so muche as one Flee to thee for so cour not doutyng but maruelynge humbly besechyng that thou wilt not be lyke as men whych when they are earnestly set on thinges that they loue wel they take no hede or very lytle vp on other whome they haue not in so great store Thou therfore O Lorde whiche arte ruler of Israel that is to saye of them that beholdeth the in lyfe euerlastyng to whose gouernaunce thou semest muche to gyue thy selfe take also regarde vnto oure ayde and mayntenaunce For in that heauenly region where as thy blysfull sayntes doth se thee after a maruelous ordre excedynge glorie of the inhabitauntes it appeareth vnto them as yf thou were so occupied in preseruynge and kepynge them that thou myghte be thought to haue vtterly forgotten vs amongest whome all thynges are troubled confoūded and putte out of ryght ordre For whiche cause we hertelye praye thee that haste dominion ouer heauen and earth in quyetnesse do not so attende onely to the blessed company there aboue that thou wilt leaue dysamayde and comfortlesse thy faythfull assembly here beneth Wherfore haue regarde vnto oure helpe and furtheraunce O Lorde that haste Israel in thy gouernaunce haue regarde good Lorde that leadest Ioseph euen lyke as a shepe is ledde For by Ioseph whiche betokeneth increase what is mente but thy faythfull and deuoute people Albeit a yonge forte of people whome thou begotte in thyne olde age that is in thys oure laste and unfortunable tyme whych abydeth haynous persewynges and reuengynges of hys bretherne and is nyrnamed of them a dreamer Thys Ioseph as he groweth from day to daye in more greuous combraūce and trouble so doest thou leade hym thorough fyre and water euen as a meke or gentle shepe vnto the shambles beyng continuallye tamed brought lowe so that by fetters and prisons he maye passe forth vnto that kyngdome and those pastures whiche are freshe and floryshyng for euer and euer Wherupon thou that in these wyse leadest lyke a shepe Ioseph arte mysdemed of the vnfaythful to passe nothynge of oure matters and therfore be present Lorde and redy to reliefe and defende vs that the wycked ianglers mouthes maye be stopped For we do not craue golde nor ryches nor yet prontotions of this worlde but we couet thy lyght we earnestly desyre to knowe thee Thou that syttest vpon Cherubim be opened and sette before the eyes of Ephraim Beniamin and Manasse Therubim betokeneth plenteousnesse of knowledge Ephraim bringynge for the frute Beniamin the sonne of thy ryghte hande Manasse forgytfulnesse Thou therfore that syttest and arte at reste in thy selfe frō eche worke that thou haste ordeyned and arte fastened in the seate of thy euerlastynge mansyon and doest cōtinue in the heyghte of thy Maiesties trone as the Kynge as the Lorde as the Iudge and mayster of all thou I saye that syttest vpon Therubim that is vpon the plenteousnes of knowlege farre surmountynge and passyng all knowledge and all vnderstanding for that thou arte vndoutedly a secrete God and vnsearcheable be opened and appeare I beseche thee hartelye vnto Ephraim that is to saye vnto thy people whyche nowe bryngeth for the frute to thy honoure so that they maye knowe the fully and parfectlye For who so knoweth thee he loueth thee he forgetteth his owne selfe he loueth thee better then hymselfe and dothe wonderfully profyte the congregacion Be reueyled also afore Beniamin that is afore all thy chosen and marked forte abydynge here or elles where whyche no doute euen for thy verye choyse and appoyntement are made worthye to be called the chyldren of thy ryghte hande so that thy people maye encrease and that thy chyldreu sparsed abrode maye comme together and that there maye be one shepe house and one shepeherde Open thy selfe also to Manasse to all the Infidelles whome thou semest to haue caste out of remembraūce bycause they haue forgotten thee for so muche as thou haste so longe wythdrawen from them the foode of lyfe Shewe thy selfe at the laste vnto all the worlde that menne may comme out of darkenes and the shadowe of deathe into lyghte and maye sette strayghte theyr steppes into the waye of peace But yf the stubbourne secte wyll vnnethes be amended and yf the nombre of those fooles be excedyng great Rayse vp thy power and come that thou mayest make vs safe Lo the ryche oppresseth the poore the rulers despoyleth the symple flocke the vngodlye perseweth the ryghteous wythout anye petie thy faythfull fyndeth fewe fatherlye helpers they haue no maynteyners Full manye a one alasse is drawne to hell thorough the euell ensamples of priestes and the cleargye whyche is cleane wythout hope of recouerye towarde amendement There are a passynge meany of noysome Phariseis a great rable of harmefull hypocrites wyth whose poysoned exhortacions and lessons the whole worlde is infected They wyll not heare the wordes of trouthe no man maye correct them wherby thy faythfull dare not ones lyfte vp theyr heade What doest thou O Lorde Why sleapest thou Wherfore doest thou wytholde thy myght Styrre vp thy power I humblye beseche thee and comme Thou that arte euery where wyth thy scourges and wyth thy strength stryke these false and myschieuous deprauers of thy worde destroye these craftye and malicious accusers of thy seruauntes condempne these obstinate and deuelyshe despysers of thy grace I do not saye thys I do not wyshe it I do not aske thys as and I were delyted to se them punyshed but that thou maye saue vs thyne elected and chosen seruyng thee continually louynge thee aboue all these thynges euermore obeynge thy decrees and commaundementes Thou aunswerest me perchaunce in thys wyse Yt I shall caste in my swearde of vengeaunce yf I shall sende pestilence amonge them yf I shall pyne them wyth honger thynkest thou then that thou thy selfe canst continue in so muche and so greuous trouble O good God do thou turne vs and shewe vs thy face and we shal then be in sauegarde
rootes in the earth it bryngeth forth frutes at the heate of the sunne but if it hath no rootes in the earth but in the ayer it wythereth awaye at the heate of the sunne Semblably a man if he hath the rootes of fayth and loue in Christe comyng to the auitre to the sacramentes of the churche and godly dutyes to hear Goddes worde to the reading of scriptures to prayer bringeth forth maruelous and wonderful frute and profyte But if his onely studye be for thynges apparteynyng to his owne selfe and is rooted in his owne loue in the ayre in the spyrite of arrogance alwaye about what so euer he goeth he wythereth more and more and is made worse and worse Hypocrytes therfore ar trees dygged vp ar drye trees ar fyrewoode but certesse the very trees that ar dygged vp bene also kindled the trees kindled ar also as the trees dygged vp For manyfest and open syners ar dygged vp and plucked awaye and rooted out from the grace of God and those Hypocrytes ar kindled with the fyre of the loue of them selfe of pryde of ambytyon of couetyse of pryuye or secrete luste or pleasure Thus al theyse Lorde God dysparsed thorough the vineyarde and heaped to gyther wil not suffre it to bring forthe frutes bicause the yonglynges and simple folke ar ceduced and ouerthrowen with theyr euil ensamples and exhortatiōs Rebuke thē therfore rebuke them roughly for that they ar styffe-necked rebuke thē with the swerde pestylence and hongre Thoroughe the reprofe of thy countenaunce shal they perysh and shal be caste out of the vineyarde the braunches shal be lyfted vp other vynes shal be put therto they shal growe and fructyfye they shal extend theyr ofspryng euen vnto the see and shal reache vnto the ryuer Why sleapest thou Lorde Aryse Lorde and Let thy power be shewed vpon the man of thy ryghte hande and vpō the sonne of man whome thou haste made sure for thyne owne selfe Comme Lorde do not thou tarye O God gyue thy iudgement to the Kinge and thy iustyce to the Kynges sonne For he is the man of thy ryght hande which sytteth at thy ryght hande But which is thy ryght hande For thou arte inuisyble and with out any body Where is then thy ryght or thy lefte hande Thy glory is thy ryght hāde Namely therfore of Christe was it spoken that he sytteth at thy ryght hande bicause he reioyseth in better felicite aboue al domynyon and power and strength and aboue euery name that is recyted not onely in this worlde but also in the worlde to comme And what is thy hande but thy power If thou then haste a ryght hāde why haste thou not lykewysse a lefte hand For power haste thou to punish and to gloryfye For the Lorde doth quicken and mortifye doth cōuey to hel and recarye doth bring lowe and exalte Powre therfore to punish is thy lefte hande powre to gloryfye is thy ryght hande Let thy hande therfore let thy powre comme vpon thy man of the right hande How so Hath not he had powre gyuen hym from the begynnyng For euen he sayde to his dyscyples Al powre in heauen and in earth is gyuē vnto me How canst thou then saye let thy hande comme vpon the man of the ryght hande Gyuen hym it is but it appeareth not bring to passe therfore that it maye appeare Beastely carnal men doth perceyue see how that thy seruauntes ar mocked despysed sclaundered and ar euermore in trouble and aduersyte and then do they saye Fayth is not true purueyaūce of God is ther none deceyued ar the Christians and so doe they blaspheme thy name To be breue they see proude men vnryghteous couetous blasphemers lecherous and vngracious men to go forwarde to haue no aduerse chaunce so that they saye Other ther is no God or elles he doth not regarde mortal mennes matters other els he is iniuste and vnequal Thou then haste powre and doste contynually exercyse thy iudgementes but they do not apeare alwaye and for that cause doth mē speake in thy despite and reproche Let thy hande therfore be made to apeare vpon the man of thy right hande Graunte hym iudgement that maye apeare Bidde hym exercyse the power that he hath in the syght of menne For thou haste ordeyned hym iudge of the quicke and the deade Let thy hāde therfore comme vpon hym Which hande the righte or the lefte hande Let thy lefte and also the ryght hand comme vpon hym The lefte vpon the euil the ryght hande vpon the good Let thy iudgement apeare and let thy mercye apeare that men maye leaue of cursynge and blasphemynge Doutlesse thy lefte hande is weaker than the ryght bycause thou doste execute iudgement with mercye and art lothe for to punishe But thy ryght hand is strōge for that thou art a large and a lyberal gyuer Thou openest thy hande euen thy ryght hāde and fyllest euery lyuing creature with blessing Let it come therfore vpō the mā of thy ryght hād Let thy left hāde be to punish the wicked that they maye be scourged and so conuerted And if they wil not be turned vnto the that they maye be cleane putte out of thy vineyarde and maye be punished in the fyre of hel for euer For why do they occupye the earth in vayne But let thy ryght hand be vpon the man of thy ryght hande to coneforte thy faythful that in a plenteous blessing they maye be fylled with the grace of the holy goste that the wal of the vineyarde maye be buylded vp to holde out them that passeth by the waye and not to suffre the boore of the woode and a syngular wylde beaste to entre in to the entente that the vinebraunches maye growe and bring forth frute Yea is it not trowe ye profytable that both thy handes also be vpon the man of thy ryght hande for thy faythful Yes vndoutedly For thy lefte hande thy hande holding the scourge thy hande that is wonte to stryke wil cause them to tary at the ryght hande For the rodde in the scholes kepeth the chylde in awe the wāde maketh hym to lerne For as yet are we yong chyldren bicause as longe as we ar in thys mortal lyffe we ar infantes we had nede of the rodde we ar fedde wyth mylke But when that shal cōme whyche is parfecte the prepertyes of a yonglyng shal we laye apart for al togyther thā shal the scourge leaue of Thy scourge therfore is good and holsome let thy scourge therfore comme let it comme soone let the powre quickly comme vpon the sonne of thy ryght hande that the goode maye be purged that the iust maye be made parfecte that the euil maye be expelled that the destroyers of the vineyarde maye perysh And vpon the sonne of man let the vinebraunches be grafted whom thou hast made sure to thy self whome thou haste confyrmed in the congregacion to thy honour For yet is he not hollye gone frō the