of fine linnen clothe and therin wrapped the bodye and layed it in a newe sepulchre hewed out of free stoone and then rolled a great stone to the doore or entry of the sepulchre that no man should lightly conuey awaye the body by stealth But of the women whiche behelde the lorde when he dyed two folowed hym vnto the sepulchre that is to wete Mary Magdalene Mary Ioseph markyng where the body was layde to th entent that they might at time conuenient thither repaire and honorably perfourme the solemnities and ceremonies belonging vnto burials accordyng to the manour and vsage of that nacion The .xvj. Chapter And when the Sabboth was paste Mary Magdalene and Mary Iacob and Salome bought swete odoures that they might cum and anoint hym And early in the mornyng the first daie of the Sabboth they came vnto the sepulchre when the Sunne was risen and thei sayde amoÌ„g themselues who shall rolle vs awaye the stone from the doore of the sepulchre â–ª And when they loked they sawe howe that the stone was rolled awaye For it was a very great one And they went into the sepulchre and sawe a yong man sitting on the right syde clothed in a long garment and they were afrayde BEcause that on the preparyng daye on the which daye the lord was buried a litle before the euentide immediatly after the Sunne setting it was not lawful to do any worke for the reuerence and highe solemnitie of the Sabboth these women ceased for that time to make further prouision for spices as they began to do awaytyng for the ende of the nexte daye folowing And anon as the Sunne was gone to glade and the time come agayne when men might lawfully returne to theyr businesse then came Mary Magdalene Mary of Iames and Salome with spices readie prepared to enoint Iesus And early in the mornyng vpon the fyrste daye of the sabbothes the whiche folowed next after the sabboth was ended and was the thyrd daye from the preparing daie these well disposed women came to the sepulchre what tyme the element waxed now faire bryght about the Sunne rysing sayde one of them to another Who shall rolle vs awaye the stone froÌ„ the dore of the sepulchre The stone was great and houge it passed womans strength to remoue it And they loked aboute yf they could get any body to helpe them in the meane while that they thus loked backe they sawe the stone already remoued to theyr handes TheÌ„ anone as they were entred into the doore of the sepulchre they sawe a yong man sitting on the right syde of it clothed with a long white garmeÌ„t With this sight though it were a right ioyfull syght and a token of good lucke yet because it appeared sodainly at vnwares they were amased And he sayth vnto them be not afrayed ye seke Iesus of Nazareth which was crucified He is rysen he is not here Beholde the place where they had put hym But go yonte waye and tell his disciples and Peter he goeth before you into Galile there shall ye see hym as he sayed vnto you And they went out quickly and fled froÌ„ the sepulchre For they trembled were amased neyther sayed they any thyng to any man for they were afrayed But byanby an Aungell recomforted them with swete and pleasaunt wordes saying you haue no nede to be afrayed You seke Iesus of Nazareth who was nayled on the crosse He is risen he is not here Beholde the voyde place where they had put his body Therfore all this that you haue prepared to honour and reuerence hym with all is superfluous Get you hence rather to shewe vnto his disciples beyng greatly dismayed with their Lordes death but especiallye vnto Peter who because he denied hym thryse is twyse as sory as the rest Get you hence I saye to shewe them how Iesus wyll go before them into Galile Thither let them folowe There shall you see hym alyue whome ye nowe bewayle as dead But these wemen what for great ioye and gladnes and what for the feare they were in by reason of this straunge sight fled out of the Sepulchre and spake not one worde as long as they were there so greatly were they afearde ¶ When Iesus was rysen earlye the fyrste daye after the Sabboth he appeared fyrste to Mary Magdalene oute of whome he had caste seuen dyuels And she went and tolde them that were with hym as they mourned and wept And they when they hearde that he was alyue and had appeared vnto her beleued it not After that appeared he vnto two of them in a straunge figure as they walked and went into the countrey And they wente and tolde it to the remnaunt And they beleued not these also As yet Iesus had not appeared to any bodye but after he was rysen he appeared fyrst of all to Mary Magdalene out of whome he had caste seuen diuels and this appering was the fyrste daye after the great Sabboth early She incontinent shewed the disciples who wept and mourned for theyr lordes death what she had sene But when they heard her tell howe he was aliue and that she herselfe had sene him and hearde hym speake they gaue no credence vnto her wordes So cleane out of memory was the thyng which he had so ofte tymes promised that is to saye howe he would ryse againe on the thyrde daye The same daye that he appeared vnto Mary Magdalene he appeared also vnto two disciples in the likenesse of a straunger and wayfaryng man as they went from Hierusalem into the countrey But they knowyng at the length that it was the Lorde retourned to Hierusalem and shewed vnto the resydew of the disciples what they had sene Neyther was suche thynges as they tolde beleued of the moste parte ¶ Afterwarde he appeared vnto the eleuen as they sat at meate and caste in theyr teeth theyr vnbelefe and hardnesse of hart because they beleued not them which hadde sene that he was rysen againe from death And he sayde vnto them Go ye into all the worlde and preache the gospell to all creatures he that beleueth and is baptised shal be saued But he thaâ— beleueth not shal be damned Laste of all when he was readye to departe hence and returne into heauen he appeared vnto the eleuen Apostles as they sate at meate for Iudas was then dead and hit them in the teeth with their vnbelefe and hardenesse of harte because they woulde not beleue those persons who had sene that he was rysen agayne from death For it was not requisite that all should se his death and resurreccion but sufficient for the fayth and certaintie of the gospell that the thyng was â—nce proued by mete and conuenient witnesses Els how shall the heathen geue credence to those thinges that were doen yf they would likewyse discredite the apostles reporte as Thomas and some other of them did at the begynning And Iesus sayed vnto them After all those thinges are now at the
And blessed is he vnto whose mynde suche great successe of the ghospell geueth not occasion of yll Iesus spake this also notyng modestly the enuy of Iohn hys disciples but in suche wyse that they should not be putte to shame before the multitude but should knowe theyr faute secretely with themselues temperyng his answere by all meanes both that he myght auoyde suspicion of arrogancy and that the disciples myght beleue hym the better and also that he myght rather heale theyr affeccion than openly to reproue them And as they departed Iesus began to speake vnto the people concerning Iohn What went ye out into the wildernes to see a reede that is shaken with the winde go to what went ye out to see a man clothed in soft rayment beholde they that weare soft clothyng are in kinges houses But what went ye out to see a Prophete verely I say vnto you and more than a Prophete For this is be of whom it is written Beholde I sende my messenger before thy face who shall prepare thy waye before thee Uerely I say vnto you emong them that be borne of women arose not a greater than Iohn the baptist Yet he that is lesse in the kingdom of heauen is greater than he From the dayes of Iohn Baptist vntill this day the kingdom of heauen suffereth violence and the violent plucke it vnto theÌ„ For all the Prophetes and the lawe it selfe prophecied vnto Iohn And yf ye will receyue it this is Delâ—es whiche was for to come He that hath eares to heare let him heare Then when they were departed Iesus turnyng vnto the multitude leste they shoulde surmyse anythyng of Iohn otherwyse than were conuenyent supposyng that he demaunded these thynges as though he had been in doubt himselfe and not rather to heale the weakenes of his disciples he beganne to setfurth the prayses of Iohn very largely but yet in suche wyse that he woulde not geue hym the prayse of Messias but the nexte prayse onely and yet he woulde that Iohn his testimony concernyng hym shoulde be of weyght For it is expedient that the people shoulde haue a very good opinion of Iohn whiche had testified so notably of Iesus that he was the sonne of God that he was the lambe whiche shoulde take awaye the synnes of the worlde that it was he that shoulde baptise in fier and spirite For neither vanitie nor lying coulde be suspected in suche a manne as though he had falsely so praysed Christe before nor waueryng or inconstancye as though beeyng chaunged afterwarde he shoulde haue begonne to doubte of Christe Letter o man ê™ he suspecte Iohn of inconstancie For yf ye thynke hym suche a one that he wyll chaunge his minde after the maner of mutable men and doubte of that thyng whiche he before affirmed for what cause dyd ye lately flocke together in wildernes to gase and loke on To see a reede shaken with the windes For suche maner of manne should he be yf he would nowe swarue and dissente from hymselfe and should become much vnlike vnto himselfe But the continuall hardnes of his whole lyfe doth lightly deliuer him from this suspicion What I saye ranne ye together in to wildernes for to see A manne gayly appareled with silkes This was a sight nothyng mete for wildernes For they that be clothed with fine lynnen and silkes be in kynges palaces vnto whom doth agree excesse and riot and delicate liuyng And emong them inconstancye and flattery hath place He that liueth with locustes and wylde honye he that is clothed with Camels heare he that is gyrded with a letheren gyrdle is not thus suspected nor misdemed And the familiaritie of the kynges courte coulde not alter his ordre The pryson doeth declare and shewe that he coulde not flatter But it must nedes he some great spectaâ—le and sight whiche drewe you so thicke into the deserte Therfore what came ye to beholde Any Prophete for they be commonly wunte to leade theyr lyues in deserte Here truly ye be not frustrate of your hope For ye haue not seen onely a Prophete but a more excellent thing than a Prophete For it is he of whom Malachias once prophecied that he should come before Messias as beeyng nowe at hande that he should not onely by his oracle and tent saying promise him to come long after buâ— also poynte hym with his finger to be at hande Thus is the prophecie Lo sayeth he I sende my Aungell before thy face to prepare thy waye for thy cummyng at hande This I assure you so great is the excellencie of Iohn that none is greater than he emong them all that hath been borne of a woman Yet he whiche is at this present estemed lesse of many in preaching of the ghospell onely is greater than he for he promised not with doubtfull prophecies that Messias once should come but he shewed him appoynted him nowe cumming and preached that the kyngdome of heauen was nowe at hande Hitherto the heauenly doctryne was looked for whiche the figures of the Patryarkes whiche also the oracles of the Prophetes had darkely promised Nowe Iohn so excited and stirred the hartes of many to the desire of euangelicall doctryne that from the begynnyng of his preachyng vnto this daye they breake in vnto it through the violence of faythe both sinners and heathen people and wyll we nill we they plucke it and rauishe it violently They wyll no longer be excluded they wyll no longer be detayned in shadowes darke riddles of the olde lawe perceiuing that the light of the euangelicall trueth is at hand and that the thyng is nowe present whiche was shewed and signified in the former bokes perceyuyng also that none other prophecie ought to be loked for touchyng Messias that shoulde come For all fygures by the whiche the lawe poynted Messias to come and all prophecies of the Prophetes which promysed that Messias should come as soone as Ihon came left of to promyse the thyng to come For it is folishnes to loke for the thing that is presente as though it were to come There is no more to do but feruently and gredely to teache and take that which agreablyte the true sayinges of the Prophetes is nowe presently offered And to the intente that ye maye playnly see that hereafter there is none other Prophete which shall shewe you of Messias to come this is that Iohn whome Malachias vnder Helias name whome he folowed in austeritie and hardenes of lyuyng and apparell whome he folowed also in franke reprouing â—f kinges prophecied before should come before that Christe did come Wherfore yf ye receyue hym beleue ye that Messias so long loked for is nowe at hande ye haue seen his lyfe ye haue hearde his testimony ye heare also what I will saye vnto you Yf any haue eares to receyue the trueth let hym heare yf any wyll stop his eares let hym thanke hymselfe of his owne vndoyng There is nothyng omitted of vs that may
money but that they paye more for the laboure of the lyers than of the traytoure keepe close ê™ they the thynges that ye haue seene but make a brute abrode that hys disciples came in the night stale him away whan ye were aslepe And if thys inuencyon and fleyght be brought vnto your president we will perswade hym and deliuer you from all daunger of this matter Therefore the souldyers receyuyng money dyd as they were instructed and thys trieflyng and vayne sleight was beleued of the people For thys rumoure is bruted abrode vnto this day emong the vnbeleuing Iewes ¶ Than the eleuen disciples wente away into Galile into the mountayne where Iesus had appoynted them And whan they sawe hym they wurshipped hym But some doubted And Iesus came and spake to them â—â—ying all power is geuen to me in heauen and yearth Nowe the eleuen discyples monished of the women wente forewarde into Galile and went vp vpon the hyll whiche Iesus had appoynted them There he shewed hymselfe They saw and knew hym to be theyr Lord and honoured him as now being on high and in heauen Notwithstandyng some yet doubted vntil they were made to beleue with many and very certeyn argumentes Albeit theyr doubting was profitable for the certaintie of oure belyefe Therfore Iesus drawyng nere vnto them dyd not onely offer hymselfe to bee seene and touched presently but also spake vnto theÌ„ with hys knowen and accustomed voyce declaring that by his death he had obteyned a kingdome authoritie both in heauen and in earth In heaueÌ„ where euer he reigned with the father in earth where hereafter he shoulde reigne not by tirannical powers and aides but thorough fayth of beleuers and that he shoulde dispose the office of this euangelicall kyngdome vnto his disciples who shoulde folowe his steppes committing vnto them the office to preache the Ghospell not onely to the Iewes but also to all nacions and also authoritie to baptise and by the holy ghoste to forgeue synnes to all menne that wyll professe an euangelycal lyfe with a sincere hearte and to enstructe and frame them not after the lawe of Moyses nor after the constitucions of the Phariseis but after his preceptes â–ª vntyll they wexed and grewe vp vnto the perfeccyon of the wysedome of the ghospell And that they should nothing dystrust for that he should not be continually conuersaunt with them he promiseth that theyr felowship shal neuer fayle and that he will neuer forsake hys but be alwayes presente with hys in spirite and power vnto the laste ende of the worlde All power ê™ he is geuen me in heauen and earth Ye haue sene me by the reason of the weakenes of the flesh hungrie thyrstie weary nedy despised taken bounde spetted vpon condemned beaten crucifyed couered with all kyndes of spytefulnes and in maner deiect vnder the loweste sorte of menne Because I haue suffered all these thinges willingly and of myne owne accorde for the health of man my father hath raysed me from deathe and rewarded me with the glory of immortalitie and hath lifted me vp to the felowship of hys kyngdome and hath submytted vnto my power and rule all thinges that be in heauen and earth Ye haue an authour whome ye ought not to distrust ye haue a Lorde of whome ye ought not to repente Goe ye therefore and teache all nacyons baptise them in the name of the father and the sonne and the holye ghoste teaching them to kepe all thinges whatsoeuer I haue commaunded you Lyke as I dyed for the healthe of all men so there is no nacion whiche belongeth not to my righte It shall be youre parte to get vnto me as muche as lyeth in you all kinde of men But ye shall not gette them by weapons or war but by the same meanes that I got vnto me this right by wholsome doctrine by a lyfe woorthy and meete for the ghospell with free well doyng with pacyent suffering of illes Goe ye therfore as trustie Ambassadoures trusting me your authour teache firste the Iewes than the nexte neighboures vnto them afterwardes all the nacions of the whole worlde Teache what they ought to beleue of me and what they ought to trust of me First to knowledge the heaueÌ„ly father the maker the orderer and the restorer of al thinges visible and inuisible Whose power no man can resist because he is almightie whose knowledge no man doeth deceiue because hee seeth all thynges whose iudgemente no man shall escape From whome as from the fountayne cummeth all goodnes in the worlde To whome is due all honour prayse and thankes geuing They must knowledge also his sonne Iesus by whome through hys eternall and vnsearchable counsell he hath purposed to deliuer mankinde from tiranny of sinne and deathe and by the doctryne of the ghospell to open the waye vnto euerlasting felicitie Who for this cause by his will came downe into the earth and was borne very manne of the virgyn Marie and beyng man long conuersaunt emong menne taught the heauenly philosophy which only maketh menne blessed And being an innocent was afflicted and punished for the sinnes of the whole worlde and put to death vpon the crosse And layde in his graue the third day he arose agayne according to the prophecies of the Prophetes After that beyng conseruaunt many dayes with his disciples and the trueth of his resurreccion delared by sure argumentes he wente vp agayne into heauen whereas partaker of the kyngdome and glory of his father he sitteth on the righte hande of his father almightie Once he shall come agayne into the worlde not lowe and abiecte as before but with the diuine maiestie not a sauioure but a iudge bothe of those whome that day he shall finde aliue and of those whome nowe being dead the trumpe of the ghospell shall sodainly call agayne to life that by his ineuitable iudgemente euery man may receiue rewarde woorthy and mete for his doinges They must knowledge also the holy ghoste whome I haue nowe partely geuen vnto you and will geue more plentiously after that I come into heauen whose secrete inspiracion shal coumforte teache and strengthen the mindes of them that trust in me and being powred into the hartes of all men shall glue and confeder them together with mutuall charitie as many as professe hartely the fayth of the ghospell of what nacyon soeuer they come of And if a man doth sinne any thing through the weakenes of maÌ„ he shal obteyne forgeuenes of his sinnes so that he doth not seuer himselfe froÌ„ the league felowship of the holy cumpany And whosoeuer ioyneth himselfe vnto this league all the sinnes of his former life shall be forgeuen him freely Finally lest any man shoulde thynke the rewardes of good dedes to be desyred in this life or shoulde goe aboute vengeaunce agaynst yll doers let them knowe that this hereafter shall come to passe in them whiche ye see dooen in me The dead shall liue agayne and euery soule shall
leste at any tyme they should tourne theyr synnes should be forgeuen them And he sayd vnto thē knowe ye not this parable And how then will ye know all other parables When the Lorde had spoken these wordes then to the intent they should not be forgotten but that euery man should searche out with himselfe the meaning of the parable he sayed moreouer He that hath eares to heare let hym heare declaring vndoubtedly hereby that they all heard not that thing whiche they heard Nowe when not those twelue specially chosen disciples themselfes vnderstode well by reason they were as yet raw and ignoraunt what this similitude meant yet durst they not openlye aske hym any question But after they had once gotten him alone then were they holde to desyre hym that he would vouchesafe the expounde them the misterie and secrete meaning therof Then Iesus putting vs in remembraunce how all thinges are not to be disclosed to all persons but that the doctrine of the ghospell ought to be dispensed according as time serueth the capacitie of the hearers can away withall sayed vnto his disciples The princes of this world make few priuie vnto theyr secretes none but suche as are pycked felowes tryed persones whome they maye safely make of theyr counsayle If they haue any secrete thyng that kepe they from the knowleage of the comminaltie It is geuen vnto you whom I sorted and piked out from among the commune people to knowe the misterie or priuitie of the kyngdome of heauen because you are familiarlye conuersaunt with me But vnto the commune sorte and suche as are not familiar companions of my courte whether I doe or speake anye thyng all is in parables For they neyther haue meete eares nor meete iyes What they heare they beleue not what they see they depraue and fynde faute with And so is verified in them that the prophete sayed before shoulde cum to passe that when they see best yet see they not and when they heare best yet they heare not because they vnderstand not Truly he vnderstandeth not whoso beleueth not Nowe sinnes are not released but to suche as beleue that sinnes are freely released by vertue of the gospell Therfore through their vnbelefe it cummeth to passe that they are not turned to God because they tourne themselfes away from God nor are deliuered from theyr synnes because they refuse the medicine wherewith all synnes are healed By these wordes Iesus signified those persons whome a litle before he vnderstoode by the grounde that for sundrye causes is barrayne vnfruitfull And to make his disciples more apt to receyue his doctrine he chideth them a litle for theyr dulnesse Doe you not yet sayeth he gesse what is mente by this parable sith the sence therof is easie to be coniectured And howe then will you boulte out the true meaning of all the rest since that I neyther speake nor do any thyng that hath not in it a significacion of sum secrete matier I wyll expounde vnto you this parable to the intente that you maye lykewyse accustome your selfes to searche out the secrete meanyng that lyeth hyd in other ¶ The sowier soweth the worde and they wherof sum be rehersed to be by the way syde are those where the worde is sowen and when they heare Sathan cummeth immediatly and taketh awaye the worde that was sowen in theyr hartes and likewise the other that receiue sede into the stony ground are they whiche when they heare the worde at once receyue it with gladnesse yet haue no roote in themselues and so endure but a ryme Anon when trouble and persecucion ariseth for the wordes sake they falle immediatly There be other also that receyue sede into thornes and those are suche as heare the worde the cares of this world and the deceiptfulnesse of riches and the lustes of other thinges entee in and choke the worde and it is made vnfruitefull And other there be that haue receyued sede into a good ground they are suche that heare the worde and receyue it so that one corne doth bryng forth thirtie sum sixtie sum a hundreth The fielde is the worlde wherein are very many vnmete hearers of the doctrine of the gospell The sowier is the sonne of man who came downe frō heauen into earth The sede is the woorde or doctrine of the ghospell by the whiche the will of God is declared vnto the worlde His will is this that all men distrusting their owne strength do trust with all their harte minde the promises of the ghospell that is to saye that through fayth all mens sinnes are forgeuen if after the trueth once knowen they giue themselfes to the studie of true vertue and godlinesse Therfore by the seede whiche as I saied fell by the hie way side they are vnderstand signified who slightly and as mē otherwise occupied heare the ghospell like as they woulde heare anye fable or phantasie of mans inuenciō And amōg all none heareth goddes worde with lesse profit then they do For anon as they haue heard it cummeth Satan and putteth other thoughtes imaginacions in their mindes and by that meanes plucketh out the sede before it haue gotten roote be fastened therin so that they do not so muche as remembre what they haue hearde Nowe the sede that is receiued into a stony ground betokeneth those persones who gredely ynough heare the ghospel gladly deuoure thesame perceyuing it to be both true and holsum but because they ley it not vp in theyr hartes by depe cogitacion for they are letted so to do by other affeccions which wholy possessing theyr mindes will in no wise geue place vnto the worde of God they continue not in that they feruently couragiously began neyther do they bring forth any fruite of euangelike or christian godlinesse but suche fruite alonely as lasteth but for a season and all is because they haue no rootes And so cummeth it to passe that in prosperitie they beleue the gospell as grasse newly sprōg vp cause men to haue a good opinion of theym that they wil proue well But assone as anye aduersitie or persecucion for the profession of goddes worde doeth arise and assaulte them byanby they offended therwith do vtterly forsake their former purpose The seede that fell vpon the thornie grounde signifieth those that diligently heare and beare in mynde the wordes of the ghospell But the loue of deceitfull riches and the inordinate desyres of other thinges whiche allure and toile men vnto them with a false apparaunce of vertue do enter into their myndes and there dayly as theyr propertie is encreasyng at the length ouergrowe the seede so that it can neuer spring vp and cum to be corne Finally the sede that light vpon a good ground betokeneth those that geue good eare vnto the doctrine of the ghospell and beleue all that they heare and conuey it into the moste inwarde corners of theyr hartes vntill that it
Apostles must nedes be troubled when the comforter of all men Iesus is awaye how can it be chosen but contrary wyndes must nedes staye and hynder the successe of mans diligence if Iesus helpe not forward He is many times awaye but yet doeth he not forsake sucke as be his vnto th ende He semeth sumtymes to forsake them for a season because to exercise them in aduersyties and to learne theym to haue sure beliefe and confidence in hym For now was he cum doune from the mountayne now stode he on the sea banke but alone without any company The disciples sawe hym not neuerthelesse he sawe them Wherfore we muste not despayre what trouble or distresse soeuer we be in but in oure hartes conceyue this stedfaste belefe that the Lorde although he no where appeare and shewe hymselfe vysyblye wyll not fayle to helpe hys when tyme requireth Nowe standeth he on the shore and seeth what laboure and payne they take in rowing For the wynde was against them When therfore they had thus striuen a pretye whyle with the waues and bousteous wyndes of this worlde and were at the next doore to desperacion about the fourth watche of the nyght that is a litle before the daunyng of the daye Iesus came vnto theim not in a shippe but quietlye walkyng on the water for the element knewe it maker and made semblaunt as thoughe he woulde haue passed by them For so doeth he other whiles suffer his to continue in aduersytie and tribulacion as thoughe he passed not vpon theim at all whereas in dede he neuer stynteth to care for them The Apostles after they had spyed him in the darke walking vpon the water forgetting so many miracles as they had sene hym worke before and beleuing it to be vnpossible for the liquid clement to beare the massy bodye of a man supposed he had been sum spirite or ghost whiche had deceyued theyr iye sight with a vayne and phantasticall illusion Wherefore they were sore afrayed and for feare cried oute For they all sawe the verye shape and likenes of Iesu and yet beleued not it was he The Lord is euer terrible vnto those that beleue he is an auenger and knowe him not to be a sauiour Neyther is it possible for him to be knowen in the great darkenes of this worlde vnlesse he brynge himselfe into our knowledge Wherefore he suffered not his disciples to be any lenger dismaide with feare but straigth waies spake vnto them with the voyce whyche they knewe right well and sayed Be of good chere it is I feare ye not And then came he vnto them into the shippe and furthwith the tempest ceased Nowe after their feare was past and gone then beganne they to maruayle howe a mannes body might walke vpon the water They were so dull so rude and forgetfull that they remembred not so muche as the miracle whyche they sawe hym worke a litle before when he filled so manye thousand folkes belies with fiue loaues and two fishes And theyr hartes were so blynded that they thought it a thyng muche to bee wondred at to see Iesus walke vpon the water wheras in deede it was a muche more wonderfull facte to suffice so muche people with so litle meate The Lord suffered this brutishe dulnesse to continue in his disciples to the entent they also should enure themselues to beare with the dulnes and simplicitie of weaklynges till they were cum to more perfeccion ¶ And when they were ouer the water they came into the lâ—nd of Genazareth drew vp into the hauen And assone as they wer cum out of the ship strayght waye they knewe â—â—m and â—anne furth throughout all the region rounde aboute and began to cary aboute in beddes those that were sicke when they heard that he was there and whither soeuer he entred into tounes cittes or villages they layed the sicke folkes in the streates and prayed him that they myght touche and it were but the hemme of his vesture and as manye as touched hym were safe In the daunyng of the daye they came vnto the shore and arriued at the hauen where they appoynted to arriue in the lande called Genazareth Iesus was scarcely entred the lande but thither were cum diuers of the inhabitauntes that knew him For now was the sunne disclosed the night gone whiche had darkened the myndes of the disciples and manye there were who marked him whithersoeuer he went Besyde this he was now knowen vnto very many euen by the phisnamye but a great mayny mo knewe hym by the fame of his doctrine and miracles Now those that sawe him and knew who he was byanby as though they had cum as spyes departed awaye from hym and wente throughe all the region and shewed howe Iesus was landed As sone as this rumour was once noysed abrode very many beganne to cary aboute sicke folkes in beddes And whithersoeuer Iesus went whether it wer to the countrey tounes or cities there was euer present a greate number of importune and vnquiet people more carefull to be delyuered of theyr bodily diseases then to be cured of the diseases and maladies of theyr soules whiche layed out in the stretes pitifull sightes of sicke folkes diseased with diuerse sickenesses and besoughte Iâ—sus as he passed by that they might touche euen but the hem of his garmente For there was suche a busines and hurly burly amonge them that harde and scarce any one could be suffred so to do It came not of any daungerousnes or difficultie on his behalfe that they coulde not touche him who grutched not to touche and handle the Leper but the ensample of theyr fayth highly pleased him the whiche his pleasure was to haue set forth and commended to all men and good cause why it should so be As manye as touched him were healed what diseases soeuer they were payned withall They with perfite beliefe touched the hemme of his garment whiche afterward those persons chauÌ„ced to haue who crucified him and put him to death and by touching therof were rid of theyr corporall diseases How muche more then ought all men to endeuour themselues to touche Iesus himselfe with harte and minde to the intent they maye be healed of the infirmities of their soules Touchynge auayle the nothing without faith The cruell Iewes that buffeted him that bound him that scourged him that nayled him on the crosse touched his bare bodye but that they so touched him did nothing profite any of them at all Thou readeste the ghospell and in so doynge thou toucheste Iesu but thou readeste it to this ende to disproue it or els thou readest it negligentlye and takest no heede therâ—unto and therefore thou touchest Iesus in vayne Reade it with a pure and a syncere fayth and then shalt thou anon be healed â–ª But thou must sue vnto Iesus by prayer and peticion that thou maiest touche him That man is neuer the better for touchyng hym whome he hath not foretouched If thou
deare then life will you then despayre that there shal be sum who will set lesse by their riches then by the gospell â–ª These thinges seme vnpossible to humaine affeccions But al this is easily brought about by goddes helpe God requireth hard thynges and suche as be farre aboue the strengthe and power of man but thesame putteth to his helping hande that man may be able to accomplishe his commaundementes And so cummeth it to passe that man can do that by god almighties helpe whiche of himselfe he is in no case able to do Whoso with all the harte of his body trusteth him shal be able to do all thynges by hym Therfore he that passeth not vpon his goodes for the kyngdome of god sustaineth no losse therby but hath great profite and vauntage And to know this is a thing pertainyng not to mans wisdom but to faith geuen vs from heauen For whosoeuer he be that with harte and minde beleueth that for the goodes forsaken whiche hindred vs from doyng the busynes of saluacion a hundreth fold so much is geuen vs here in this world and in the world to cum lyfe euerlasting the same will with right good wyll make suche an exchaunge ¶ And Peter began to say vnto him Lâ—e we haue forsaken all and haue folowed the. Iesus answered and said verely I say vnto you there is no man that hath forsaken house or brethren or systers or father or mother or wife or children or laâ—des for my sake and the Gospels but he shall receiue an hundreth folde nowe in this life houses and brethren and sisters and mothers and children and landes wiâ—h persecucions and in the world to cum eternall lyfe But many that are first shal be last and the last first And they were iÌ„ the way going vp to Ierusalem Iesus went before them and they were amased and folowed and were afrayed Of these wordes wherby Iesus broughte his disciples out of despaire the same receyued more courage and boldenesse â–ª then they shoulde haue done For nowe Peter by coÌ„paryng himselfe to the yong man who departed away all heauy and mourning began to stand muche in his owne conceipt saying Loe we haue forgoÌ„ne all that euer we had for thy sake and folowed the. We haue done what thou while ere requiredst of the yong man To him thou promisedst treasure in heauen what rewarde then ought we to hope after If a man regarde the valuacion of the Apostles goodes they forsoke not muche especially Peter who was a fysher man with muche a doe gate his lyuing with his daily trauaile labour But vnto euery man his owen propre substance is greatest And he forgoeth very muche whiche so forsaketh all his goodes and ryches that he hathe no mâ—nde neyther to restore nor to encrease the same agayn He that hath cleane put away all affeccion and gredy desyre of riches thesame hath forsaken not onely so muche as he was worthe but also so muche as he myght haue desyred The lorde after this rule estemyng the goodes forsaken of the Apostles who with right good will did also forsake suche thynges as were muche dearer vnto them as theyr parentes theyr wyues and theyr kynsfolkes answered in this wyse I tell you this for a suretie Not onely you shall not be defeated of your reward but also there shall be none who for my sake the loue of the gospel hath forsaken house brethreÌ„ or sisters or father or mother or children or landes but he shall receiue for euery of these thinges so forsaken a hundreth folde so muche and that euen in this presente life be the stormes of persecution neuer so great For muche more shall encrease through the charitie of the gospell then was taken awaye by the crueltie of persecutours For one carnal brother or sister forsaken he shall haue so many brethren and systers as felowes in professing of the ghospell The affeccions of the spirite be more behemeÌ„te pleasanter withall then are thaffeccioÌ„s of nature For one father and mother he shall haue so many fathers as teachers for one house forsaken he shall haue euery where a house whersoeuer theuangelike and christen charitie shall raigne which doubtles maketh al thinges common For a litle piece of land forsaken he shal be partaker of all the landes whiche the true professours of the ghospell haue possession of And if these thinges came not to passe yet the losse of temporall goodes shal be sufficiently recompenced with the ghostely giftes of the soule so that a man had a huÌ„dreth times leueâ— haue the thinges receiued then the thinges forsaken There is no comparison betwene such thinges as be transitory will sone perish although no maÌ„ take them away and the riches of the soule whiche no man can geue but god alone no maÌ„ can take away but he that geueth them And if this seme but a small gaine there shal be added therto the possession of eternall life in the world to cum With these sayinges the lorde stayed the weake mindes of his disciples leste they should eyther forthynke that they had forsaken suche thinges as thy forsoke or els fall againe in time to cum to the loue of worldly riches goyng about to be enriched with vile thinges waxe miserable poore as touchyng the goodes and riches of the soule It is a naughtie chauÌ„ce wheÌ„ a man falleth againe from the loue of the goodes of the soule to the desyre of the goodes of the body from true riches to vayne and deceiuable riches from euerlasting commodities to fading and transytory Now leste that by praysyng of his disciples for forsaking theyr goodes and maisterynge theyr affeccions he should haue geuen them occasion to be careles he spake further a litle sentence of lyke tenour as here ensueth But many that nowe seme first shall once be last Neither are they to be despayred of who be not yet able to perfourme what the vertue and strength of christian perfeccion requireth neyther ought suche to truste themselfe as haue profited to a certain degree therin For there are sum who haue done the like as you haue and yet for all that they shall fall againe to a more mischieuous couetousnesse And there be sum who at this presente cannot contemne and set naught by their goodes of the whiche sorte that yong man was one the whiche in tyme to cum shall excell suche as appeared to haue forsaken all the worlde Finally it shal be found that those were poorest of all who after the iudgement of the worlde semed richest and contrarily suche as appeared to contemne al worldly thinges were moste gredy and desyrous therof For this prayse and commendacion standeth not in thinges but in affeccions He is the poorer man of both who possesseth suche goodes as fortune hath lente hym as though he had them not ready to departe therwith so ofte as his neyghboure is to be holpen not reioycynge ouer muche yf anye encrease be nor pynyng awaye for sorowe
to aryse and begynne of suche reporters and publishers as wer men of suche simplicitie and plainnes that no man would suspect or mystrust any of them eyther of fablyng and lying or els of clokyng and counterfeycting They hadde no suche wit as to inuent a lye of theyr owne braines they could no skylle to deuise or to put any thyng more theÌ„ trueth to â—hat that they had seen but the thyng that they had heard and seen euen as they had heard and seen it euen so and none otherwyse dyd they shewe tidinges of it vnto meÌ„ of good heartes and disposicions And among no smal number of menne did the wordes of the shepeherdes fynd credence inso muche that it made a great maynie veraye desirouse and fayne to haue a syght of the chylde And here in thys behalf marke thou and consider the wise sobernes and demurenes of the holy tender virgin Mary She learneth of the shepeherdes what newes the Aungels tolde them and what song the quier of the heauenly souldiers did syng and she alone on her owne partie holdeth her peace keping close in her brest and with diligente consideracion weighing and conferring in her owne hearte all these thynges that had fortuned aswell now at this present as also afore whan the Aungell appered vnto her selfe She kepeth secret vntyl the due tyme should come to open it all the misterye of her beeyng conceyued with chylde she was yet a pure virgine she maketh no vauntes ne bragges in coumpanye emong other folkes of her happy fortune She hadde afore vnto the Aungell Gabriel promysed herselfe a readye handemayden for God to worke hys wyl vpon and euen lyke an humble handmayden she vseth herselfe She maketh no woordes at all but depelye considereth in her mind the straunge course of Goddes weorkyng and drift in thys matter She considereth all thynges to bee full of straunge miracles she seeth in euery parte of it two extreme contraries myngled together that is to wete on the worldes behalfe exceadyng lownes pouerty and abieccion and on Goddes behalf vnestimable highnes and maiestie For a young babe is conceiued in the wombe but an Aungell was the messagier that so it should be and the holy ghost the worker of it A chylde is borne but the mother of it is a mayde it is laied in a mauÌ„gier but the Aungels beeyng full of all godly reioysyng doe syng from heauen in honor of it It lyeth vnknowen in a blynde corner of no regarde but all heauen bougheth downe to wurshyp the maiestye of it assoone as it is borne Nowe these thynges thus beyng done the sheperdes returne backe agayne to their flockes glorifyng and praysyng God as concernyng all the thynges that they had heard of the Aungels and for that they had truely found euery thing euen as they had heard afore of the same Aungels ¶ And whan the eyght daye was come that the chylde should be circumsised hys name was called Iesus which was named of the Aungel before he was conceiued in the wombe But assoone as the eyght daye after her deliueraunce was come at the whiche eyght daye the lawe of Moyses commaundeth euery man childe to be circumcised that is to say to haue the foreskynne of his flesh pared away rouÌ„d about for thys thyng form Abraham furthwarde it pleased God that it should be the sygne and the marke of all suche as shoulde bee reputed or taken to bee of hys sede and generacion the lawe was satisfyed in thys poynte also in consideracion that he was not come to breake or to fordooe the lawe but to fulfyll it Neyther dyd he disdeigne to take the accustomed remedye appoynted by the lawe euen as though he had been subiect to sinne as his parentes wer wheras he alone and none but he was fre and clere from all corrupcion of sinne and he alone that should take awaye al the synnes of the world and should chose vnto hym a newe people whiche should haue an hearte well clensed from all the desires of the fleshe and that not wyth kniues of blounte stone but with the sharpe sweorde of the woorde euangelical whyche purgethe and clenseth all thynges through fayth Yea and a name was geuen hym too as the custome and the manier was to do to others For he was called in Hebrue Iesus which souneth in Englishe sauiour And thys name was not by a casual thauÌ„ce at al auentures orels by mannes wylle geuen vnto thys childe but by the authoritie and commauÌ„dement of God it had bene appoincted and geuen him afore of the Aungel Gabriell ere he was conceyued in the virgins wombe whiche was done to the ende that men myght euen at the firste by the veraye woorde of his name be aduertised and doen to wete â–ª that thissame was veray he which should throughly geue vnto all persones true health and saluacion and should in suche wyse represent the true guyde capitayne Iosue that whan his people were cleane pourged from al filthines of vyce and synne he shoulde conueyghe and bryng them into the lande of heauen flowyng moste plentiouslye wyth ioyes euerlastyng ¶ And whan the tyme of theyr purificacion after the lawe of Moyses was come they brought hym to Hierusalem to presente hym to the Lorde as it is written in the lawe of the Lorde Euery manchilde that firste openeth the matrice shall bee called holy to the Lorde for to offer as it is sayd in the law of the Lord a payre of turtle doues or .ii. young pigions Hitherto that is to say vntyll the circumcision of Iesus the eyght daye after hys birthe all that was done was nothing but as it were making of signes and profers vnto the ghospell vnder certayne fygures the which gospell was of necessytie to bee preached fyrste vnto the people of the Iewes On the fifth day after the circuÌ„cisyon there came three Magians that is to say Philosophiers of hygh learnyng in the priuyties of Astronomie and the other scyences mathematical and these Magians had by the shewing poyncting of a certayne new sterre bene halfe enforced to come from a farre place out of the East countreys purposely to see thys childe They kneled downe and wurshipped the newe borne soueraigne of the worlde and honoured thesame with misticall presentes or gyftes signifying by a certayne shewe and semblaunce of thynges suche as myghte bee made that the Gentiles shoulde in tyme to come embrace the grace of the ghospell whan the Iewes being manquillers and murderers of Iesus had wilfully caste of and forsaken the same Agayne whan the .xl. day from Maries deliueraunce was come at whiche .xl. daye the law of Moses willeth and biddeth any manchylde being the first borne childe of a woman to bee presented vnto the Lorde and ferther appoynteth a gyfte or a presente to be offered for the purifying aswell of the chylde newe borne as of the woman that lay in because the common childbearing and deliueraunce that women haue is not
And a defence to maynteyne his fraude withall he stole out of the wholy scrypture albeit vnderstanded and taken in a wrong sence and not applyed to suche a purpose as it ought to be For by such lyke meanes doe the wieked persones and heritiques many tymes abuse the scrypture of God and deceyue the vnwarie whan they depraue and turne by a wrong sence the rule of goddes woorde to theyr owne affeccyons Here sayeth he declare thou whether thou be the sonne of God or not Cast thy selfe downe headlong and in case thou shalte haue no harme at all thereby it maye than bee open and euident vnto all creatures that thou arte the sonne of God Neyther is there any daungier of any misadueÌ„ture to befal thee For it is writen in the psalmes as touching the sonne of God that he shall geue charge tó his aungels concerning thee that they see thee preserued and that they shall with theyr handes beare thâ—e vp that thou mayeste not stumble with thy foote at any stone This prophecie was not shewed directly of Christe alone but of any godlye manne whateuer he bee that trusting boldelye on Goddes mightie helpe ought not to bee a fearde on his owne behalfe from anye eiuilles of this worlde according as the Lorde Iesus him selfe bidde his Apostles to bee oute of all feare or care in their hartes for not so muche as an heare of one of theyr heades shoulde peryshe contrarye to the mynde and pleasure of theyr heauenlye father But Iesus makyng no countenaunce all thys whyle that he was naturally the sonne of God onely made this aunswere folowing whiche myght haue bene made of any good man whateuer he had bene and with a texte of holy scripture rightly alleged he conuynced the texte of Scripture whiche Satan had falsely cyted as if one shoulde haue dryeueâ—out one nayle with an other in a bourde But contrarywise sayeth he it is written in the booke of Deuteâ—onomie Thou shalte not tempte the Lorde thy God His helpe shall bee readye whan anye casualtye or whan any mattier concernyng Goddes cause shall bryng them into daungier but not whan thou shalte for a vayneglorye or a bâ—agge prouoke and require the high power of God to bee shewed Neyther dooeth the tendrenesse of god towardes vs serue to mayntayne the glory of the carnall pleasure of manne but he at such times as his will is declaring his owne glory in man doth succour man being destitute of the ayde and helpe of the world But vnworthye is that persone of goddes helpe who for his owne vayneglorye dooeth wilfully caste hymselfe into a manifeste daungyer of hys lyfe Neyther is it the propertye of a true godlye man to appoynâ—te vnto God whan or howe he ought to deliuer vs from perils for asmuche as certayne we are that whether he delyuer vs or delyuer vs not that thyng is entendyd and wrought by hym that is moste for oure healthe and safegarde Oftentymes it is more for oure benefyte and good happe to bee sycke then to bee in health to dye then to liue to bee in affliccion then to haue prosperitie It is presente godlinesse to depende of him with a syngle hearte and a wieked thyng it is with mannes curyous searchyng to temple what hys power may extende to dooe For he is of power to doe all thynges but he will not dooe but what is beste With these and other wayes moe did oure head maister Iesus suffer himselfe to be tempted of Satan immedyately in maner after his baptysme to the ende that we shoulde not thynke it to bee sufficyente that all oure synnes haue bene forgeuen vs through the lauâ—cre of baptisme but that we muste take in hande and enter a sharpe battayle with oure enemie Satan who will leaue nothyng vnattempted for to drawe vs backe agayne into oure olde bondage At oure bapâ—ysme we monster to the behoufe of oure captayne and we promyse to watre vnder hys banners agaynste the armye of Satan And as for â—enne of thys worlde we haue nothyng to dooe withall in the waye of anye querell forasmuche as Christe â—ommaundeth vs to loue yea euen oure enemies too but we haue to dooe with the wicked spirites who fight agaynst vs from on hygh with fierie daries and with muche pollicie But Iesus oure soueraygne hath once discoumfeyghted all theyr powers and therfore hath delyuered them into oure handes easye enough to bee vanquyshed yea and will eftesoones subdue them in vs yf we will folowe the same trade of fyghtyng whereby Christe broughte them vnder subieccyon They assaulte vs some whyles by themselues putting vngodly thoughtes in oure hertes many tymes by eyuell menne as theyr souldyers they assayle vs whan they procure and make out messagyers that maye prouoke vs to all sensuall â—olupâ—â—ousenesse that with braullyng and with raylyng woordes maye moue and friere vs to wrathe and manslaughter And baytes wherwith to catche vs they somâ—whiles fette of thys worlde the promocions rychesse and pompes whereof they doe by heapes cast into oure iyes And many tymes euen out of our owne selfes they take baytes for vs. For there bee in vs certayne affeccionate pangues of nature whiche we are not able to cast awaye from vs onlesse we shoulde vtterly shake of our humayne nature as for exaumple appetite to meate and drynke desyre to fulfill the luste of carnall concupiscence after that nature hathe made vs of full age thereto And although moderately to vse carnall copulacion with the lawfull wyfe is none enormitie nor agaynste the high pleasure of God it is to allaie thirste and hounger with meate and drynke yet in this behalfe dooeth our subtill and wylye enemye lye in wayte for vs that eyther we maye geue these affeccions the bridle in takyng more then for the suffisaunce of nature is necessarie or els appeace the rage of them by suche wayes as is not conueniente Of whiche sorte for exaumple these that here folowe may bee as if one should touche an other mannes wyfe or vse his owne wyfe immoderately or doe the acte after facions vnsemely or yf one should with offending his ChristeÌ„ brother eate of thinges offered vnto Idolles whan he maye auoyde that slaundre and yet otherwyse well enough relieue the necessitie of the bodye There bee also in euery of vs certayne speciall inclinacions bothe of the bodye and of the mynde to certayne vices whether it so bee that thesame were firste taken of our parentes and so haue sticked still in vs or whether they haue been taken of a custome or els whether they haue by any other meanes come vnto vs. As for exaumple one manne is of nature more prone to couetise an other to glottonie an other to leacherie another to wrathe an other to ambicion Of all these doeth our enemie leaue not one thyng vnwatched whereby he maye drawe vs to damnacion But we must agaynste his lying in a waite bee bothe stoute and also diligent in watchyng The spirite of Christe shall
loue me through whose free mercy she hath been deliuered from her many fold synnesâ— So hath the greatnes of sinnes turned to a gracious and a blissed good end for her part And on the other side to whom lesse is forgeuen that partie doth not loue so greatly as for exaumple ye Pharyseis thinke your selues righteous for yâ— obseruyng of the lawe and not to haue any great thinges in you that nedeth Gods pardone and therfore your loue and affeccion is the colder towardes the geuer of remission The Lord whan he had spoken all this to the Pharisee sayed vnto the woman Thy synnes are forgeuen thee She had made no praiers in wordes she had made no confession at all in wordes but she dyd muche the more euidently confesse herselfe by her doinges and muche the more effectually did she praye with her teares And this is to Christe the moste acceptable confession of all And with this sorte of prayers is he moste soonest moued to shewe mercie Happie are those teares blissed is that waste losse of swete oyle blessed are those kysses which winne of Iesus to speake suche a worde as this Thy synnes are forgeuen thee For Christ is not one that forgeueth some and other some reserueth backe but he doeth freely pardone all sinnes together not imputyng any parte at all of the former naughtie liuing vnto any persone that is penitent from the botome of the herte ¶ And they that sate at meate with hym began to saye within themselues who is this whiche forgeueth synnes also And he sayed to the woman Thy fayth hath saued thee Goe in peace And now marke me agayne the pharisaicall holynesse True godlynesse doeth as veraily reioyce at an other bodyes good chaunces as at his owne But the Phariseis that sate there altogether at the table enuying the mercifulnesse of Iesus vnto the womanne beeyng oppressed with synne begoonne with secrete thoughtes to murmoure agaynst hym in theyr hertes saying what felowe is this whiche taketh so muche vpon hym that hauyng none other authoritie but his owne he remitteth sinnes too whiche power not one of all the prophetes or patriarkes hitherto hath vsurped No nor the priestes neither do take any ferther thyng vnto them then to praye for the synnes of the people But Iesus knowyng theyr secrete thoughtes because he would the more confirme the womans herte and sende her home agayne to her house a glad woman of a sorowfull sayed vnto her Thy feith and constaunt truste in me hath saued thee Goe thy wayes in peace The Phariseis had perswaded themselues that synnes were forgeuen through burnt sacrifices and through washynges And in dede those thynges had in them a certayne figure of thynges ghostly But the lorde Iesus playnly shewed vnto them that all synnes are throughe the feith of the ghospell full and whole forgeuen for euer to all suche as repente and emende And thus in these thinges whiche we haue made rehersall of hath as it were vnder a certayn shadowe been sette forth a certayne representyng of both peoples that is to wete the Iewes and the Gentyles of whiche two peoples the one that is to saye the Iewes did with kynde and louyng pretense of wordes call and bydde Christe vnto them crying by the space of many hundred yeres Come thou o Lorde and tarye not But whan he was come neyther did they on theyr owne parties receyue him as theyr bounden duetie was to haue doen because they beare themselues bolde on a false perswasion of holynesse whiche they had conceyued in theyr hertes throughe the outewarde obseruyng of the lawe and yet morouer did they murmoure and whine agaynst others that wer willyng to embrace saluacion whan it is offred For while they attempte and laboure throughe the oblacion of outwarde bodily thynges to establyshe their owne righteousnesse â–ª they were not subiecte to the righteousnesse of God which through feyth is freely geuen But the people of the Gentiles to whome Christe was not come forasmuche as besides ydolatrie which reigned in them they wer morouer altogether wedded to al kinde of vices ne had any affiaunce in the woorkes of the lawe in whiche they were altogether ignoraunte assoone as they had knowleage of Iesus did as ye might saie forceably breake in to him where he was and through the plain simplicitie of feith were made woorthie to haue remission of their grieuous offences and did withall possible earnest good myndes embrace kysse the fre gift of god whiche the Iewes did either set at naught or els at leste wyse did coldely and faintlye embrace Albeit there is in this woman an exaumple of repentaunce sette foorth vnto all creatures in generall whosoeuer shall begynne to lothe and hate synnefull dooynges that he turne not hymselfe to Moses or to the Phariseis ne vnto the philosophiers leat him make haste to Iesus onely and to none other None there is more mercifull then he none more enclined to pardone and to forgeue On Iesus leat hym poure oute that he hath tofore been accustomed wastefully to bestowe on his wicked sensualitee vnto the obedient seruice of Iesus leat hym consecrate al his membres whiche to fore did serue his filthy abhominable lustes The touchyng of Iesus shal take awaie all his synnes If he cannot come to touche Iesus head leat hym touche hym by the fete There is no parte of Iesus so basse but that it maye make hym whole from al his synnes A woman there was perfeictely cured and healed from a bloudy flixe whiche had no more but touched the skirtes of Iesus garmente And Iesus is wel contented that it bee imputed to himselfe whatsoeuer ientilnesse or pleasure hath been bestowed on the neighbours yea â—ueÌ„ of the moste lowest degree He will acknowelege any benefite that is doen to any membres of his Leate not therefore all the consideracion of a sinner bee howe muche he hath offended Leat hym not kepe any audite or accompte of his well doinges as though he would be at an euen poynte and rekonyng with Iesus in suche sorte as the Pharisees did But let him only with his veray hert thinke himself to bee naught with all his whole breste conceiue assured hope and truste on Iesus Leat hym begyn to hate that he did once after a naughtie facion loue let hym begyn to loue that once he wiekedly refused and cared not for Faythe shal at the moste mercifull Lordes handes obteigne that merites coulde by no possibilitie hope for And here emong al thynges o moste honeste Theophylus consider me three fold soondrie persones the firste of the woman beeyng a synner the second of the Pharisee and the third of the Iudge The Iudge onely and none but he is in veraye true dede pure from all staynyng or filthinesse of vice and synne or rather is the veray true fountayne of al puritie The woman a synner dooeth nothyng els but wepe wasshe wype kysse and enoynte Here haste thou the markes to knowe the
tyme and he wil defraude no man of his reward Ye in the meane whyle remembre youre selfes to bee none other but seruauntes oughyng all your woorke and labour of a bounden dutie And it chaunced as he wente to Hierusalem that he passed through Samaria and Galile And as he entred into a certaine toune there merte him tenne men that were lepres Which stood a fette of and putte forth their voices and sayed Iesu maister haue mercye on vs. Whan he sawe theim he saied vnto theim Goe shewe your selfes vnto the priestes And it came to passe that as thei went thei wer clensed And one of theÌ„ whaÌ„ he saw that he was clensed turned backe againe and with a loude voice praised God and fell downe on his face at his fete and gaue him thankes And thesame was a Samaritane And Iesê° aunswered and saied Are there not tenne clensed but where are those nine There are not found that returned again to geue God praise saue only this straungier And he saied vnto him â–ª arise goe thy waie thy faithe hath made the whole And so it befell that as the Lorde was goyng towardes Hierusalem he made his waye lye throughe the countreyes of Samaria and Galilee For he had oftentimes a fansy whaÌ„ he myght haue anye occasion to take Samaria and Galile in his waye that he myght enbraide the inhabitauntes of Hierusalem with their hardenesse of beleuyng whereas they abhorred the Samaritanes wurse then the heathen and reputed the Galileans for more then half Paganes miscroâ—auÌ„tes And as he was entreing into a litle village there met him teÌ„ne men beyng lepres euerye one of them Ye maie wel thinke that by these lepres are signified hereticall persones beeyng within foorth altogether defourmed and corrupted with eiuil affeccions the skinne withoutfoorth spotted speckled as by this reseÌ„blaunce to vnderstand that in heretical persones vnpure doctrine altogether entremedleth false thynges with the true An infectiue kynde of people and sore to bee abhorred and therefore be they streightly kepte from coumpaigniyng emong men yet no kinde of sore there is which Iesus dooeth not heale so that the diseased come in his sight and so that the disease be vttred vnto hym and perfecte affiaunce reste in the parties These lepres agnised and knowlaged their disease and therefore thei approche not nere to the persone of Iesus but standyng a ferre of they lifte vp theyr voice on high and crie aloud vnto the Lorde O Iesus our maister haue thou mercie and pietie vpon vs. Iesus hearde their crye whiche was a good witnesse of their affiaunce in hym and turned his iyes towarde theim Blissed is suche a criyng as maketh the Lorde earneste to geue eare and blissed is that castyng of the iye on them whiche moueth hym to shewe mercie But none other aunswere made Iesus vnto theim sauyng that they shoulde goe theyr waies and shewe theimselfes to the priestes For in the priestes rested the autoritie to discerne the lepre from a clene manne They dooe as he biddeth them and departe theyr waies replenished with faythe and assured truste in god for their health And euen in their goyng they were made all clene They hadde euerye one of them eguall fayth and affyaunce but they hadde not euerye one eguall thankefulnesse of herte for the benefite receyued The Samarytane onelye and no mo of theym whan he perceyued and felte hymselfe plainly in veray dede deliuered from his disease he made no counsail of the beneficial goodnesse of God towardes him but returned immediately vnto Iesus gloryfiyng god with a loude voyce and fallyng downe prostrate on his face he layed hymself at the fete of Iesus wurshippyng hym geuyng hym thankes But Iesus knowing well enough that the benefite of health hadde come vnto al the tenne but myndyng to checke the vnthankefulnesse of them who did as much as they could in theyr mynde by priuye stealth to enioye so great a benefite saied were there not tenne lepres made whole and nine of them where are they become For the Lorde knoweth none vnthankefull people and sheweth suche one 's to bee vnworthye a benefite receyued as doe not geue thankes to hym that hath dooen theim good For god cannot abyde to haue his benefites kepte secrete in hugger mugger Whan the Samaritane kept â—ilence being a man not onely thankefull but also full of humilitie sobrenesse as one yâ— was come thyther to dooe his owne duetye and not to accuse anye others Iesus turnyng to the coumpaignie whiche stood round about saied of all the tenne hath there not one beene founde that would returne backe again and glorify God but this one straungier beeyng a foremer borne in an other countreye But it had more become the others thus to dooe who because thei be Iewes haunte theimselfes to bee true seruers and wurshippers of God And yet in the veray thyng selfe this Samaritane passeth their deuoute holinesse And whaÌ„ the Lorde had thus muche sayed he spake to the Samaritane liyng prostrate on the ground Arise vp saied he and goe thy wayes assured that thys my benefite shall continue with thee for euer whiche benefite thy faithfull affiaunce in me hath purchased and obteined vnto thee ¶ Whan he was demaunded of the phariseis whan the kingdome of God should come he aunswered them and saied The kingdome of God shall not come wyth waiting for neither shal thei saie loe here or loe there For beholde the kingdome of God is within you Nowe for because Iesus hadde the kyngdome of god oftentimes in hys mouth the Phariseis who dyd not yet vnderstande the kingdome euangelicall to bee a ghostelye kyngdome but dreamed that it was some other kyngdome whâ—rein the nacion of the Iewes should haue dominion ouer other nacions came vnto hym demaunded whaÌ„ the kyngdome of god should come But Iesus who at all times whan anye mencion was made of the laste daye vsed euen of a custome to aunswer doubtefully saied The kyngdome of God will not come after the manier of a worldlye kyngdome in sorte that either the tyme therof or the place maie bee watched for and espied For it is not a kyngdome of the bodies but of the soules neither dooeth it stande by visible mayntenaunce but inuisible Therefore it shal not bee saied vnto you loe here or loe there For what nedeth it to awaite for any place seyng the kyngdome of God is within you why dooe ye looke without foorth for the thyng whiche ye haue within you and is carried aboute with you whereuer ye goe yf ye bee so disposed youre selfes Why dooe ye looke for the thyng as thoughe it were yet hereafter to come whiche is already present Wheresoeuer is a mynde or hert beeing maister ouer riches sensual pleasures dignitie and promocions of this world yea and finally a contemner of death whersoeuer is a mind strong and stout in feith burnyng in charitie enspired with the holye ghoste in thatsame place is the kingdom of God
go to his owne place And they gaue forth their loâ—tes the lot fell on Matthias and he was rounted with the eleuen Apostles The multitude approuing these saiynges appoynted two chosen out of the numbre of .lxx. disciples Ioseph otherwise named Barsabas whiche also for his vpright liuyng was called Iust and Matthias that of these two whiche wer of lyke godlines he whom the cumpanie liked better of the twain should take vpon him thoffice of an apostle But they mystrusting their owne iudgementes prayed to god with one voyce saying Men that iudge of thynges that they see and heare may be deceiued and fayle in their iudgemente but thou lord which onely lokest on the heart wherby man is in dede either good or bad vouchesafe thou to shewe vs thy seruauntes by sum token whether of these two persons thou hast chosen to make vp the numbre of .xii. apostles and to cum to the exercisyng of such an office whence Iudas fell to go to that place wherunto it was not vnknoweÌ„ to the who seest al thinges that he shoulde go For neyther was it long of the that he forsoke thy companye whiche dyddest what might be done to call hym to repentaunce neyther were thou deceyued in iudgement when thou diddest admitte hym that shoulde sone after shrinke from the but thy heauenly wysdome sawe that it was expedient so for vs that through his treason thy sonne should be sacrificed for vs and that we should take example by such a traitoure what dauÌ„ger it wer for vs negligently and recheles to execute thoffice whiche we take in hande After this prayer they caste their lottes accordyng to the custome of the Hebrues For so was Ionas by lot caste into the sea so Ionathas was perceyued to haue tasted of the hony so lykewise the priestes did execute their holy misteryes by lottes For the holy ghost was not yet cum downe and thapostles smelled styll of certain Iewish maners Albeit there was no daunger in drawing lottes for whiche soeuer of them were chosen was a good man and mete for the office And yet was not the whole mater commited to lottes For two of the moste approued persones were firste chosen by voyces And because they were in doubte whether of those two they myght take lots decided the doubtefulnesse whiche coulde not bee rashely done forasmuche as it was ruled by prayer Than this lot whiche was nothing els but an opening of the wyll of god chose Matthias whereas Ioseph besides the commendacion he had as appered by his name was also kin vnto Iesus And yet Matthias was preferred because it shoulde be a lesson to vs that in chosing of bishops to whose credite the dispensacion of the gospel must be committed we must so vtterly forbeare to leaue vnto mannes affection that if there bee equalles him we must prefer â—home no carnall propertie doeth set foorthe leste that whiche is doone for fauour bee an ill presidente to sum other There lyeth also in their names a certayne priuy misterye hydden Matthias whiche in Hebrue betokeneth the gift of god was preferred before Iust whiche name the Phariseis did chaleÌ„ge for their good woorkes And yet none more vnmete than they to preache the ghospell But he that recogniseth the free gift of god through fayth of the gospell and preacheth the same he is worthy to succede in place of thapostles Neyther dyd Iuste disdayne that his felow was preferred neyther dyd Matthias stande anye thing the more in his owne conceyte for that he was ioyned to the eleuen apostles for to make vp that same holy noumbre nor for that he being a verye speciall good man should succede in the roume of the naughtiest felowe that euer was The .ii. Chapter Whan the fyftie dayes were come to an ende they were all with one accorde together in one place And sodaynly there came a sounde from heaueÌ„ as it had been the cumming of a great wynde and it fylled all the house where they sate And there appered vnto them cloueÌ„ tounges lyke as they had been of fyer it sate vpon eche of them they were filled all with the holy ghost and began to speake with other tounges euen as the same spirite gaue them vtteraunce WHan nyne and fowertie dayes after Christes resurreccion were in this wyse ouerpassed that daie longe loked for of Penthecoste that is to saye Fyftyeth was come whiche the Iewes also kepte holye with myrthe and great solempnitie aswel for a remembraunce of the yere of Iubile whiche came aboute euerye fiftieth yere in course agayne as also because the lawe was deliuered in writing vpon the Mounte Sinay the fiftieth daye after the kyllyng of the Paschall lambe throughe whose bloude they departed safely out of Egipte Upon an high mountayne was the olde lawe geuen beeyng engrauen in tables of stone But the newe lawe the holye ghoste intituled in faythfull beleuyng hertes and in a high parlour it was disclosed In th one and eke in the other was highnesse of place on the one syde and like on the other was fyer But there is nought els for vs to considre but an hyghe mountayne whiche the people beyng veray carnall and worldlye and therefore vnapte to conceyue spirituall thinges were forbidden yea so muche as to touche Here vpon this mounte an house there is whereby maye we marke concorde and vnitee to bee in the churche There the mount was called Sinay a place conuenient for the setting forth of suche a lawe as shoulde for the great nombre of sondry preceptes that it conteyned kepe vnder a stubburne and rebellyous people For of precepte or commaundemente was that hyll called Sinai This mounte here is named Syon whiche worde with the Hebrewes betokeneth an high hill from the toppe wherof al thinges on yearth beneath are despised from whence heauenly thynges are seene far of through faith as though thei were nigh at hand On that mouÌ„te what is els seene but terrible fier smoke flames lightening and thundring on this mounte a spirite there is of greate vehemencie cherefull to man nothing dredful and fier not to burne the bodye but to lighteÌ„ the soule and richely to endowe the plaine tounged man with heauenly eloquence There the people beyng at square among themselues murmured against theyr captayne here be they quiete in one secrete chauÌ„bre making their praier with one assente for an heaueÌ„ly gifte whiche they wayted for This daye was chosen lyke as the place was also for a matter of heauenly comfort wherunto they had been woont often to repayre for nine dayes space before But whaÌ„ the fyftyeth daye was once come than came they altogether with ful consent into the selfe same parlour ready to receyue the heauenly spirite Where the minde is occupyed with vile and filthy cogitacions there is no conuenient place for the holye ghoste but in the parloure where the company was so godly occupyed it behoued hym to bee And where the mynde is troublous with discord
afterward vnto Pilate beyng than iudge and liutenaunt of the prouince to th entent he mighte be crucified And for as muche as his wyll was to dye for oure sakes no aunswer made he before him for his releasement but as he had bene a shepe suffred pacieÌ„tly al their mockes and al their punishementes But there hid he the puissaunce of his diuine power and submitted himselfe for mans sake to the lowest degree of humilitie The Iewes supposyng verely that he was none other thing at all than he seemed to be condemned hym and putte hym to death This is it vndoubtedly that the prophete speaketh of In his humblenes is his iudgement exalted An innocent is to death condemned whiche shall cum once agayne on hyghe and surmountyng all other and shall iudge the quicke and the dead But god the father hath called his sonne backe to lyfe againe the thirde daye After what tyme of his resurreccion was he the space of fowertie dayes conuersaunt on yearth bothe seen often and felte of his disciples corporally and than finally in syght of them all lyfte vp he was into heauen And the tenth daye after his ascencion sent he downe from heauen the holy ghoste who in suche wyse enspired the apostles hertes and their toungues also that they myghte without all feare publyshe vnto all people through out the world Iesus of Nazareth for the chiefe authour and founâ—ayne of lyfe and health euerlastyng not by any helpe of Moses lawe but by faythe and baptisme Of all these poyntes rehearsed none there is that Moses law hath not in figures sygnified that the prophetes haue not before spoken of yea that Iesus hymselfe hath not taught and promised The chamberlayne whiles that Philip was declaryng to hym these poyntes of the gospel with other many mo was ware by chaunce of a litle spring of water fast by the waye and sayde vnto Philip why prolong we so great and weyghtye a matter See where water is at hande Thou hast nowe enformed me and I am all ready What shall let but that I maye forthwith be christened Than aunswered Philip there is no let at all yf thou stedfastly beleue and kepe with all thy herte those thinges whiche I haue taught the. This promyse alone is made at baptisme Than aunswered the chamberlaine right gladly I beleue that Iesus is the very same Christ whoÌ„ the prophetes hath promysed I beleue that he is the sonne of god for whose sake al men haue profered theÌ„ health euerlastyng Philip caused the chariot furthwith to stand styll It was a noble carriage richely garnished semely for hym that was an head officer to a barbarous quene But downe alowe muste he come that shall be founde mete for baptysme and strip himselfe naked of all garmentes Bothe wente down into the water and there Philip christened the chamberlayne a poore man the riche a simple and an abiect the puyssauÌ„t and mightie a man in himselfe right perfect of all his lymmes the vnperfect that lacked parte of his meÌ„bres a Iewe the Ethiopian So litle regarde here was had to mannes personage There is no disagreaunce where is faith in Iesus Christe and consent of mynde together in one accorde After baptisme there was neyther chaÌ„berlayne nor Ethiopian but a newe creature And as for Philip as soone as he was come out of the water an aungel of the lord toke him away and more of him saw not this chamberlaine neyther after desyred he to haue his teaching being once inspired with the holy ghost in baptisme but as one righte glad at the hert that he had learned Christes fayth made an ende of his iourney that he might at home likewyse publishe the name of Christe among his countrey men of Ethiop Fynally the aungell set Philip downe in the nexte citie called Azotus whence he came and takyng thence his iourney in euery place where village or towne did lye in his waye he preached the gospell vntyll he came vnto Cesarea a citie in Palestine where his dwellynge was The .ix. Chapter ¶ And Saule yet breathyng out threatninges slaughter against the disciples of the Lord went vnto the hie prieste desyred of him letters to cary to Damasco to the Synagoges that if he found any of this waye whether thei wer menne or women he might bring them bound to HierusaleÌ„ And wheÌ„ he iourneyed it fortuned that as he was come nygh to Damasco sodeÌ„ly there shyned rounde about him a light from heauen he fel to the earth and hearde a voyce saying to hym Saul Saul why persecutest thou me And he sayde what arte thou lord And the lorde sayed I am Iesus whom thou persecutest It is harde for the to kycke against the prycke And he both tremblyng astoyned said lorde what wylt thou haue me do And the lord said vnto him arise go into the citie it shal be tolde the what thou must doe WHyle these thynges were in doing Saule in all his procedynges againste the Christians expressed muche crueltie not onely within the walles of Hierusalem but where els he perceiued that the disciples whiche were scattered abrode had spred also the worde of the gospell purposyng than more and more with himselfe not onely to threaten them and to enpryson but to kyll and murther them in sundry wyse went vnto the hygh Byshop to th entent that by maintenaunce of his authoritee he myght the sooner consume them desyred to haue his letters of commission not onely to cities nygh there about where he had already exercised his crueltie but vnto Damasco a citie in Phenicea far of from Hierusalem dyrected vnto the Synagoges of the Iewes there dwellyng for that ende that he might thorowe their ayde at commaundement of the high Byshop bryng fast bounde to Hierusalem whomesoeuer he had taken faultie in this heresye â—yther menne or women These and suche lyke thinges was Saule moued to doe of a plaine and no dessemblyng mynde supposyng with himselfe accordyng vnto the Lordes saying that his deuoure and seruice herein was pleasaunt to God And therfore God suffered not his handes to be polluted with innocentes bloude but called hym abacke in the myddes of his rage For whan he was almoste at his iourneyes ende not far from the citie Damasco a sodaine light from heauen shone about him and sodainlye as he was fallen for feare vpon the ground hearde he a voice saying vnto hym Saule Saule why doest thou persecute me ThaÌ„ Saule as one stricken with a great maruayle who he should be that on hygh aboue and so myghty complayned of wroÌ„g as it were done by his freÌ„de and in doubt whether he were some aungell or els God himselfe aunswered fearfully who art thou O Lorde Than sayed he I am thesame Iesus of Nazareth whome thou supposeste to be deade whereas I dooe liue reigne in heauen But thou in persecucioÌ„ of my disciples of my name doest persecute me also vnawares thereof But all thy labour
Cesar and so to encrease the hatred that he beareth agaynst them but to defende myne owne innocencie For I wyshe well to all men that with a pure herte wurshyp god accordyng to the lawe of my countrey And for this cause bearynge such good affeccion and zele towardes you yet by reason of these bandes beyng in suche case the I myght not come vnto you to visite you I willed you to be sent for that with the syght of you and coÌ„municacion withal I myghte be somwhat the more coÌ„forted And why do the Israelites so earnestly wurshippe god despising the Idolles of the Gentiles but because they trust at the fynall resurrection to be rewarded for theyr good dedes And for this hope which all my countreymenne as well as I are in am I nowe thus bounde as ye see in cheynes And other fault can not they laye vnto my charge And they saied vnto him we neither receyued letters out of Iewry pertaining vnto the neyther any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harme of the. But we wyll â—eare of the what thou thinkest For as concernyng this secte we know the euery where it is spoken against And when they had appoynted hym a daye there came many to him in his lodgyng To whoÌ„ he expounded testified the kyngdome of god preached vnto theÌ„ of Iesus both out of the law of Moises out of the prophetes euen froÌ„ morning to night And some beleued the thinges whiche were spoken and some beleued not Unto this the chiefe of the Iewes aunswered in this wyse Where as thou purgest thy self vnto vs as though some man had accused the be thou assured that no man hath so much as wrytten a letter vnto vs froÌ„ Iewrye concernyng any hurte done of thy parte neyther hath anye man come from thence hyther and spoken any hurte of the. Yet are we desyrous to heare thy mynde euen of thyne owne mouth For as coÌ„cernyng this newe secte of Iesus of Nazareth whiche arose to lyfe agayne assured we are that euery man constauntly cryeth out agaynst it as a vaine thyng Thou shalt therefore do vs a good pleasure yf thou enstruct vs certaynlye what thy mynde is therin Which thyng whan Paule had aunswered he woulde gladlye do vpon the daye appoynted the Iewes resorted vnto hym agayne in hys ynne where he taryed mo then hadde cuÌ„men vnto hym before vnto whom he expounded the doctrine of the ghospel witnessyng that the kyngdome of God was than come and the Messias ought no longer to be loked for forasmuche as Iesus of Nazareth was he and that he proued by the figures of Moises law and the foresaiynges of the prophetes euydently expressyng that whatsoeuer was shadowed in the lawe and spoken of before by Moyses and the prophetes was playnly and wholly fulfilled in in Iesus of Nazareth Whan Paul had very largely spoken of these matters from mornyng vntyll euenyng sum of the Iewes beleued the woordes of Paul sum beleued not And when they agred not among theÌ„selues they departed after the Paul had spoken one word wel spake the holy goste by Esay the prophete vnto our fathers saying Goe vnto this people say with your eares shall you heare shall not vnderstande with your iyes shal ye see and not perceiue For the hert of this people is wexed grosse with their eares haue they had no lust to heare their iyes haue they closed leste they should see with their iyes heare with theyr eares and vnderstande with their hertes shoulde be conuerted I should heale theÌ„ Be it knowen therfore vnto you that this saluacion of God is sent to the Gentiles they shal heare it And whan he sayd these wordes the Iewes departed from hym had great disputacions among theÌ„ selues And Paule dwelte two yeres ful in his lodgeyng receyued all that came in vnto hym Preaching the kyngdom of God teaching those thynges whiche concerne the Lorde Iesus with al confidence no man forbyddyng him And whan they were at variaunce among themselues they began to departe after Paul had once added vnto his long sermon a woorde or twoo wherein he reproued their hardenesse of belefe whiche coulde not finde in their hertes to beleue so manyfest testimonies of the lawe and prophetes beyng playnely fulfylled in Iesus The holy ghoste sayed he hath well prophecied of you by the prophete Esai speakyng vnto our forefathers whosâ— stubberne mysbelefe you resemble Goe sayd he vnto this people and saye vnto theim With eares ye shall heare not vnderstande and with iyes shall ye see and not perceyue For the herte of this people is wexed grosse and they haue hadde wyth theyr eares no lust to heare and theyr iyes haue they closed left they should see and heare with their eares and perceyue with their herte and should be conuerted that I myght heale them Wherfore be you well assured that this health whiche is offered vnto you of God by Iesus shal bee caried vnto the Gentyles for asmuche as you doe reiecte it For he reiecteth it that beleueth it not neyther is any man apte to receyue this fauour that beleueth not the gospell Unto you firste is the gyfte of god declared For so the lorde commaunded And ye ought chiefly to haue beleued whiche professed the law and the prophetes but ye kepe your iyes closed shut vp agaynst all these thinges your eares stopped and a hert hardened styll gaynesaying the euident light of the truth of the ghospell But the Gentiles whiche neyther knowe God nor haue the lawe or prophetes shall turne from theyr wourshyppyng of idols and through fayth shall obtayne this fauoure of God which ye refuse beeing frely profered vnto you Whan Paule had spoken these woordes the Iewes departed from hym beyng at great disputacioÌ„ among themselues And so continued he by the space of two yeares in the house that he had hyred ientylly receyuing al meÌ„ that came to him whether they were Iewes or vncircumcised preachyng vnto them the kyngdome of god and teaching with all boldenesse the doctrine of the gospell no maÌ„ forbidding or letting him alleging prophecies which were many yeres sence spoken of Iesus conferryng his dedes woordes promyses thereunto ¶ The ende of the first Tome of the Paraphrasis Printed at London by Edwarde Whitchurche Cum priuilegio Regali Ad Imprimendum solum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nume â–ª xxi iiii kyng xxi iiii kyng xxi iiii kyng xxi iiii king xxi iiii king xxii Exod xviii Deu. xxxi Iosua iii iiii c. i. king xvii iii. king xiii iii. king iii i. Par xiii iii kyng xâ— ii Parall xiiii xv ii Paraliâ— xâ—â—i xviii iiiâ— king xx ii parali xxvii iiii king xx Whan Iesus was borne c. Beholde there came c. For we saw his starre in the East c And they said to him At weâ—hiâ—â— in Iury. c. And whan thei sawe yâ— starre c. And fell