he cured the olde Toby of his blindenesse and replenished his house wyth all goodnesse Oure Lorde semed as it were to be afraide to offend Ieremye when that he did vtterly purpose to destroye the people for theyr sinnes Iere. 7. for he sayde I shall thrust you oute of my syghte Therfore thou shalt not pray for this people thou shalt nether geue thaÌ„kes nor prayer for them nor thou shalt not let me nor make no intercessyon to me for them For in no wise wyl I heare thee This thing is plain and manifest that GOD is with his seruauntes in their tribulation Daniell 3. For Nabuchodonosor sawe one in the burnynge fornace with Azaria and his fellowes like the sonne of God When Daniell was in the Lyons den at Babilon Daniel 5. Daniel 14. Our Lord sente him his dinner from a far of that is from Iewry by the prophet Abacucke Daniell 13. Our Lord hard the voyce of Susanna because she was vniustly condemned by thold and vnchast elders likewise by the iust iudgement of a continent and a chast childe she was delyuered Our Lord prepared a great fishe to swallow vp Ionas Ionas 2. the which semed yet for his disobedience iustly to haue deserued pain and punishment Machabeus and they that wer with him fightinge against Timothe 2. Mach. 10 had manifestlye healpe from heauen for there appeared fiue men vpon horsebackes with bridels of golde c. And afterwardes in a nother place 2. macha 11 they goynge to battaile against Lystas there appeared before them vpon horsebacke a man in white clothynge wyth harnesse of gold shakynge hys speare There was a greate benignitye in oure Sauioure Math. 4. For he wente aboute healynge all manner of Sickenesse and all manner of dyseases For if he had not so don many sick persons could not haue come vnto him Oure Lord answered the Leaper that sayde vnto him LORDE if thou wilte Math. 8. thou mayste and canste make me cleane verye meekelye and gently for Iesus puttinge forthe hys handes touched him saying I wyll be thou cleane But the Priestes abhord all suche men Oure Lord incontinent after Mathewes vocation dynde in hys house with him Math. 9. After that oure LORDE was departed and gone into the desarte math 14. he sawe muche people and was moued wyth mercye towarde them and he healed of them those that wer sick And when the euen drew on his disciples saide vnto him let the people departe Iesus as one moste liberall sayde vnto them Geue ye theym to eate When Peter begaÌ„ to sincke he cried saying Math. 14. Lord saue me And immediatlye Iesus stretchynge forthe hys hand caughte him Oure LORDE did gentlye defende Marye Magdalen agaynste the pharisy that thought euil by her Luke 7. and agaynste her owne Sister complaininge of her Mar. 14. yea and agaynste hys Disciples that for the effusyon of the oyntment Luke 10. fumed against her The vnspeakeable goodnes of god is muche declared in the example of the prodigal sonne where it is written But when he was yet a great way of Luke 15. hys father sawe hym and moued wyth compassion ranne and fell on his necke and kissed him He desyred to be one of hys hired seruauntes but yet his father interruptinge his communication receyued hym as hys sonne This was a meruelous benignity and gentelnesse of Christe Luke 19. when that he inuited and badde hym selfe to the Publicans house the whych was desirous to see him and also he blessed the same When our LORDE hadde indistinctlye spoken these wordes Ihon. 13. One of you shall betray me It followeth when Ihon leaned on Iesus breaste he sayde LORDE who is it Lo what a benignitye and familiarity was this Actes 2 Our sauioure promised his Disciples being heauye that he shoulde depart from them that his father shuld sende them a nother comfortoure the whyche thynge was well fulfilled at Whitsontide when that the holy spirite did so mightely strengthen comfort illuminate and teach them Ihon. 18. The bishops ministers commynge to take our Lord he said vnto them if ye seke me let these go theyr waye For he knew ful wel that they were not ready to suffer martirdome And therfore mekely condesceÌ„ding to their infirmity he would that they shoulde spare them Ihon. 23. The thefe desired our Lorde to remember him when hee came to hys kingdome But our LORDE dyd graunt him more then he demanded saying To day shalt thou be with me in paradise Luke 22 This was the great mekenesse and gentlenesse of Christe the which refused nor Peter that denied him thrise but beningly beheld him nor he lefte not Thomas in his doutfulnesse Ihon. 20 but did exhibite him selfe manifestly to be touched And he made Paule blinde Actes 9 folowing the act of his persecution He cast him to the earth called him and conuerted him Steuen when they stoned him Actes 7 saw oure Lorde standinge in heauen as though he had bene ready strongly to haue defended him Our Lord shewed great gentlenes to blessed S. Ihon Apoca. 1. being banyshed in to the yle of Pathmos when he appeared and sent his angel vnto hym the which with diuers reuelatioÌ„s did comfort hym ¶ Of deuine consolation ¶ The fourth chapter AFter that Abraham at the commaundement of God Gen. 12.15 went oute of his country Oure Lorde dyd comfort him wyth apparitions and reuelations Genesis 18 Iacob flyinge from the face of hys brother and sleaping vppon a stone our Lord appeared and repleanished him with great consolation Exod. 3. Oure Lorde appeared to Moses beinge exiled and kepinge sheepe the whiche thinge for the time that he was in Pharos house chaunced not vnto him Exodus 16 It rained Manna from heauen in desert to the children of Israell yea often he gaue theÌ„ miraculously fleshe and water Exodus 34 Moses beynge in the mounte For the space of fortye dayes and fortye nyghtes dyd nether eat nor dryncke but was refreshed wyth the deuyne word of God Iosu. 1. Our Lorde saide vnto Iosua be of good chear and strong for I wyll not faile thee nor forsake thee 3. regum 17 Oure Lorde commaunded the raâ—ens twise a day to bear Elias bread and flesh Afterwardes oure Lorde appeared to Elias flying from Iezabell iii. Reg. xix whose Prophettes he hadde caused to bee slaine Our Lorde did comforte kinge Hezechias effectuously 4. regum 19 both by his prophet and by his aungell the whyche smote and slue in the host of the Assiri ans an 185000. Euen at the selfe same time Saras and Tobias prayers were hard To. 3.8.11 and the angell of our Lord was sente to cure and deliuer them both that is Sara from the Deuyl that had slaine her husbandes and the elder Tobias from pouerty and blindnesse Oure Lorde vouchsafed wonderfullye to comforte his people of Israell by the
blesse and praise ye the Lord. It is saide that Dauid after the victorye that God gaue hym against Goliah the Philistian 1. regum 17 made this psalm Blessed be the Lord my God Psal. 144 whiche teacheth my handes to warre and my fingers to fight When Hyram had hard the words of Saloman 3. regum 5. he reioysed greatly and said Blessed be God which hath geueÌ„ vnto Dauid a wise sonne ouer thys people The Temple being finished Salomon in the presence of all the people 3. regum 8. sayd Blessed be the LORDE GOD of Israell whyche spake with his mouthe vnto Dauid my father Dauid did appoynt chefely Asaph and his brethren to thanke our Lord. 1. Par. 26 It foloweth then blessed be the Lord God of Israel for euer and euer and let al the people say Amen King Dauid was very pleasaunt and ioyful 1. Para. 16 and blessed our Lorde before the vniuersall multitude Esdras perceiuinge Arthaxerses to be wel minded towards the Iewes said 1. Esdras 7 Blessed be the Lord God of oure fathers whiche so hathe inspired the kinges harte to garnishe the house of our Lord that is at Ierusalem When Esdras hadde opened the boke of the lawe Es. 2. ca. 7. all the people stode vp and Esdras blessed our Lord god with a loud voyce and all the people answeared Amen 2. Esdras 9 After that the wall of the citye of Ierusalem was finyshed vnder Esdras and Nehemia the Leuites said Stand vp and blesse the Lorde foreuer and euer When Sara the doughter of Raguel had made an end of her prayer To. 3. she saide Blessed is thy name o God of our fathers Tobias instructinge and teachyng his sonne Tob. 4. Amonge all other thinges he said vnto him Blesse thou and be alway thanckful vnto God beseche him that he will order and direct thy waies Raguell and his wife perceiuynge that Sathan had not hurte nor touched yonge Toby Tob. 8. sayde Blessed bee thou o Lorde God of Israell for it is not hapned vnto vs as we thoughte Raphaell dyd diligentlye monyshe Tobye and his sonne Tob. 12 that they shuld blesse and be thanckefull vnto God and tell oute al hys wonderous workes After that Tobye hadde recouered his sighte Tob. 13 and had harde Raphaels communication he opened hys mouthe and praised our Lord and sayde Greate arte thou O Lorde for euermore Osias the chefe ruler of the people of Israell Iudi. 13. seing Iudith with the hed of Holofernes sayde Blessed bee oure Lorde the maker of heauen and earthe A mistery was reueled in the night to Danyell by a vision and he praysed our Lorde of heauen saying The name of God be blessed for euer and euer Dani. â— for wisdome and strength ar hys owne and he chaungeth the tymes and ages Ananias and his fellowes beynge cast into the burning ouen did walke in the myddest of the fyre Dani. 3. praysyng blessing our Lorde And kyng Nabuchodonoser afterwardes perseuynge and seinge so greate a myracle sayd blessed be the God of Sidrach Misach and Abednago After they had obtayned of their enemies the victorye 1. Mach. 4. and had builded an aulter the children of Israel worshypped gaue thankes to God that he had prosperd them and geueÌ„ them the victory Forasmuche as Heliodorus that woulde haue spoyled the temple of oure Lorde 2. macha 3. was through the vertue of God moste terribly scourged they praysed our Lord that had magnified his place and temple Whan Machabeus and suche as were with hym perceyued that God had sent them ayde 2. Mach. 11. they blessed and praised our Lorde altogether whiche had shewed them mercye and were comforted in their myndes When Iohn the baptist was borne zacharis mouthe was opened Luke 1. And he prophesied saying Blessed be the Lorde God of Israel When Mary Ioseph had brought the childe Iesus into the temple Symeon toke him vp in hys armes Lu. 2. and blessed oure Lorde God saying Now lettest thou thy seruaunte departe in peace And after Christes ascention Lu. 24. there were in the temple that praysed and lauded God And Paule suffering tribulacions 2. Corin. 1. sayd blessed be God the father of our Lorde Iesus Christ. 1. Pet. 1. And lykewyse Peter To blesse god is as it were a heauenlye worke and office Apoca. 5. And I hearde them all saye blessinge honoure glorye and power be vnto him that sitteth vpon the seate and vnto the lambe for euermore ¶ Of the benediction and blessing wherwith man doth blesse man ¶ The viii chapter MElchisedech kinge of SaleÌ„ met Abraham and blessed him Gen. 14 saying Blessed be Abraham vnto the high God Genesis 27 Isaac blessed Iacob sayinge God geue the of the dewe of heauen and of the fatnesse of the earth and plenty of corne and wine When that Esau cried oute aboue measure Genesis 17 Isaac sayde vnto hym Thy blessinge shall be the fatnesse of the earth and of the dew of heauen from aboue And with thy swerde shalt thou lyue and shalt be thy brothers seruaunt And Ioseph broughte in Iacob his father to Pharao Genes 47. And Iacob blessed him And Pharo asked him how olde he was Iacob blessed his sonne Ioseph and sayde Genes 48. God before whom my fathers did walk blesse these laddes He spake of Manasses and Effraim whom Iosephe desired that hys father shoulde blesse Gene. 49 For after this Iacob blessed euery one of his children with proper and seuerall benedictions Our Lorde spake vnto Moses sayinge On this wise ye shall blesse the chyldren of Israell Numer 6. Our Lorde blesse thee and kepe thee Our Lorde make his face shyne vpon thee And Aaron lyftynge vp his hande ouer the people Leui. 9. blessed them Balaam the sonne of Beâ—r sayde vnto Balach Numer 23. I am brought and conueyde hether to blesse and it is not in me to alter it The poore mannes pledge shal not remayne with thee all the nyght but thou shalt deliuer hym the pledge againe or euer the sunne goe downe Deuter. 24 that sleping in his owne raiment he may blesse thee Moses the manne of God blessed the children of Israell before hys deathe Deuter. 33. and said our Lord came from Sinai and shewed his beames from Seir vnto them Iosua called the Rubenites the Gaddites and the halfe tribe of Manasses Iosue 22. and saide vnto them Haue ye kept all that Moses commanded you so he blessed them sent them away In the songe and thankes geuynge for the victorye againste Sisara we read Iudi. 5. Blessed be thou Iahel the wyfe of Haber the Kenite amonge all women and blessed shall she be in her teÌ„t and tabernacle Noemi perceiuinge Ruth his doughter in law to be honored of Boom ruth 2. said blessed be he of our Lorde for the lyke fauor grace that he
wept together 1. reg 20. Saul hering Dauids voyce that had spard him 1. reg 24. lifted vp his voyce wept When Dauid sawe that Sicelag was burnt 1. reg 30. and that the men wer takeÌ„ prisonners and caried away He and the people that were with him wept vntil they coulde wepe no more Dauid mourned and wept for Saul and Ionathas 2. reg 1. and for the other that were slaine Dauid and all the people did mourn and wepe for Abner 2. reg 3 whom Ioab murdred Dauid would not wepe for his little sonne that was deade 2. reg 12. and yet he wept for him when he was sicke NotwithstaÌ„ding AbsoloÌ„ shewed him self very naughtes wicked towards his father 2. regu 18. yet his father king Dauid bewayled his death most pyttefully Elizeus seing Azael before him begaÌ„ to wepe 4. regu 8. for the euyl that he being king of Siria shuld do to the childreÌ„ of Israel Hezechias wepte very sore praying our lorde for the death the whiche he verely estemed to be at hande 4. reg 20. When Iosias the king of Iuda herd the thretnyngs for sinne writteÌ„ in the boke of the law of god 4. regu 22. he rent his clothes wept greatli pleased our lord When the temple was reedified be those that came froÌ„ Babilone 1. Esd. 3. a man could not know or discerne the ioyful voyce or sound of those that were mery glad froÌ„ the noyse of weping amonge the people When that Esdras prayed wept for the coÌ„mixtion of the Iewes the gentiles 1. Esd. 9. a greate numbre of men and women beinge gathered together resorted vnto him wept very sore When Nehemia heard of the miserable estate and condition of the cytie 2. Esd. 1. of Ierusalem he wept mourned certaine daies fasted and prayed before the face of god of heauen Toby did eat his meat with mourning feare Tobi. 2. for he had the dead coarâ— of hys neyghboure in hys house the whiche he would bury in the night And when Toby had heard the inturius wordes of his wyfe Tobi. 3. he sighed and with teares began to make his prayer After that Sara Raguels doughter had heard her maydes contemelius greuous words Tobi. 3. she prayd besought god with teares that he would delyuer her from that rebuke When yonge Tobi was departed gone froÌ„ his parentes Tob. 5. his mother began to wepe sayd The staffe of our age haste thou taken and sent awaye from vs. When Gabelus came into Raguels house Tobi. 9. and saw yonge Toby sitting at the table He wept and blessed him Blinde Toby arose ran to mete his sonne returning homewards Tobi. 11. He receaued him he and his wife kissed him they began to wepe for ioye And wheÌ„ Achior had plainly declared all the Holofernes had sayd Iudi. 6. all the people with a coÌ„men lameÌ„tacioÌ„ pourd out their praiers together vnto oure Lorde And afterward the whole congregacion with great murning weping made their prayers together all the night longe saying we haue sinde with our fathers Iudith stode before Holofernes bed making her prayers with teares Iudi. 13. that god wolde vouchesafe to make perfect the thinge that in her thought she had deuised When Mardocheus had herd of the wicked and vniust sentence that was geuen agaynst the Iewes Esth. 4. he rent his clothes besprincled hys head with ashes and put on sakâ—loth with loud and lamentable cryinge declared the bitternes sorowfulnes of his mynd And in al landes countries as farre as the kynges cruell worde and commauÌ„dement extended ther was great lamentation amonge the Iewes fastynge weping and mourning After that Haman saw that Mardocheus Esth. 6. was so magnified and honored he gat him home in all the haste mournynge and bareheaded Holy Iob wept lameÌ„ted his owne miseries Iob. 30. saying my harp is turnd to sorow my pipe to wepinge whose vehement weping sorow dothe appere by his words before spoken Iob. 16. My face is swoln wich weping my eies ar the shadow of death he also lameÌ„ted wept for other meÌ„s sorowes trouble I wept sayth Iob with him that was in trouble Iob. 30. my soule had compassion vpon the poore psal 6. Kinge Dauid the prophete had a bathe euen of his owne teares I wyl wash my bed euery night water my couche with my teares His teares wer vnto Dauid as meat drinke psal 41. psal 69. psal 101. My teares haue beÌ„ my meat day night Thou shalt geue vs plenteousnes of teares to drincke And in a nother place He sayth I myngled my drincke with weping And Dauid remembring his owne lyfe did wepe psal 55. O God I haue opened my lyfe vnto the and thou hast set my teares in thy sight And hauing heauen in remembraÌ„ce he saide psal 136. By the waters of Babylon we sate downe and wept And in his prayer to our Lorde psal 38. he saith Heare my prayer Oâ— Lord and with thine eares receiue my teares psal 94. And in a nother place let vs wepe be fore the Lord our maker Esaias perâ—eiuing the dâ—structyon of his people Esa. 22. said Get ye hence from me for I wil weepe and make bytter lamentation Nor go not about to coÌ„forte me vppon the destructyon of the daughter of my people Ieremy said Be obedient geue ear take not disdaine at it Iere. 13. For it is the Lorde him selfe that speaketh Then there followeth But if ye wyll not heare me that geue you secreat warnyng I wil mourne from my whole hart for your pride and stubbernes Piteously wil I wepe and the teares shal gushe oute of mine eies for the lords flock shal be caried away captiue The copyous complainâ—e and bewailing that is in Ieremy Iere. 9. are signes and arguments of many teares who wil geue my hed water inoughe and a wel of teares for mine eyes Iere. 6. that I may wepe night and day for the slaughter of my people And the manifold lamentatioÌ„s therfore I do wepe Thre 1. and mine eyes gushe out of water Then foloweth for my sorow is very great and my harte is heauy And the clamerous and loude sobbinges Mine eies runne and can not cease Thre 3. Mine eies breake myne heart tourne not thy face from my syghing and cryinge And for the failing and losse of eies Mine eies Thre 2. saith Ieremy begin to fail me thorowe wepinge and my bodye and bowels are disquieted I Daniel mourned for the space of iii. wekes Dani. 9. so that I had no lust to eat bread as for â—lesh and wine ther cam none within my mouth When that Susannes frendes saw that the prestes should bear witnesse against her Dani. 13. thei weptâ— and she loking vp toward heauen
escape tyll all be fulfylled And the scripture cānot be losed or broken And the new Testamente is of no lesse aucthoryte Ioan. 10. but rather of more then the olde Of the whiche oure Lorde sayth◠Mat. 14. Heauen and earth shall passe but my wordes shall not passe Oure Lorde oftentymes ouercame the hie priestes mat 21. Scribes and Pharisees euen by Scriptures the whiche reproued him Oure Lorde reproued the Saduces of ignoraunce mat 22. saying Ye do erre not knowyng the scriptures Peter in his firste sermon after the holye sprite was sent Act. 2. conuerted vnto Christ bi the declaratiō of the prophet Iohels auctorite .3000 men The Enuche or chamberlaine the whiche comming oute of Ethiopia to Ierusalem Act. 8. red the prophete Esay sitting in his charette is muche cōmended praised And Philip by the commaundement of God toke an occasion to preache the gospell of Christ vnto him that by the auctoryte of Scripture that he found him reding whom beyng fast in his belefe he christened Act. 17. Paule cōminge vnto Berrheham entred into the Iewes Sinagoge Certein of them receyued the worde very gredely Dayly searching the Scriptures whether it were so or not And many honest good women of Grece beleued of the cheife men not a few Apollos an eloquent man mighty in the scriptures Act. 18. helped them muche whiche had beleued throughe grace For he ouercame the Iewes myghtely and openly shewing by the scriptures that Iesus was Christ. Our Lorde sent the lawyer that inquired of him what he should do to obtain life euerlasting LuKe. 10. to the scrypture saying what is wrytten in the lawe how readest thou ¶ Of good exhortation and predication of the word of god Cap. xxvii CAine being admonyshed by the exterior voyce of God Gen. 4. lefte not of hys pretenced iniquitye And by this it is patent and manifest that the exterior exhortation withoute the interior is of very litle smal efficacy The iust man Lot dyd mekelye admonyshe and exhorte the Sodomites saying Nay for gods sake my brethrē do not so wickedly Gen. 19. Do not thys euyll vnto whō they answered very contumaciously get the hense Thus it appeareth that peruers people are hardly cured and corrected It happened and chanced wel with Iacob Gen. 27. for as much as he agreed vnto his mothers exhortation counsels Ruben hearynge the wycked wordes of his brethren againste Ioseph Gen. 37. sayde Lette vs not kyll him nor shedde hys bloude and Iudas gaue counsell not to slaye but to sell hym that so the lesse hurte myghte ensue and followe Moses sister perswaded Pharaos doughter euen wel Exo. 2. that an Hebrues womā might be cald to nurse the child Iethro for the vtility of the people and to alleuiate and lyghten Moses burden gaue him good counsell Exo. 18. that he shoulde appoynt and orden meane iudges for the people Dauid by the good exhortatyon of Abigaile 1. regu 25. was tourned and drawne from his intent and purpose that is from shedding of Nabals blud Abner gaue good counsell to Asaeli that followed after hym 2. regu 2. sayinge folowe me not leaste I be compelled to smite thee to the grounde But because he woulde not heare hym hee slue him The olde menne gaue Roboam Salomons sonne good Counsell 3. regu 12. but he to hys greate hurte and dammage ensued the counsel of the yōger sortes of men When Naaman the Syrian because of Eliseus answer 4. regu 5. was departing with displesure his seruauntes counselled and perswaded him to accomplish and fulfil the prophets commaundement and he did so As long as Ioiada the bishop liued whiche instructed and exhorted Ioas the king of Iuda 4. regu 12. so long he was good but after that hee was departed hee waxed very euil The postes wente wyth letters by the commaundement of Ezechiell the king 2. Para. 30. and of hys Lordes and prynces thorowout all Israell and Iuda And saide Ye children of Israell tourne againe vnto oure Lorde God of Abraham Isaac and Israel and let euery one retourne to the remnaunte that are escaped oute of the handes of the Assirians When the Iewes were buyldyng the temple 1. Esd. 5. they that were retourned from Babylone were exhorted and Aggeus and zacharias dyd healpe them Nehemia desyring to build a wall in Ierusalem sayde to the noble men and rulers 2. Esd. 2. Let vs get vp and builde and they strengthened theyr hands to good At Nehemias exhortation they that toke vsury of the people cōsented both to restore it againe 2. Esd. 5. and also from thence forth to take no more Tobias being in captiuitye wente vnto all them that were in prysone Tobi. 1.4.14 and gaue them wholesome exhortations Also he preached verye wel vnto to his sonne It chaunced wel with Toby that he obeyed the counsels of Raphaell Tobi. 6. whome he estemed and toke for a man and specially in drawynge out of the fyshe in demaundynge and askyng a wife and whether he shoulde marrye her or no. The parentes of Sara yonge Tobies Tobi. 10. wife did monysh and exhorte her to honoure her father and her mother in law to loue her husbande to rule well her housholde to kepe her house in good order and to shewe her selfe fautlesse Iudith made a good exhortation vnto the people Iudi. 8. reprouinge that that was vndiscretely ordeined and teachynge them what oughte to bee doone Mardocheus efficacelye perswaded Esther Esth. 4. to go into the kynge wyth danger and pearel of her life to pray for the wealth of her people After that Esay had sene the wonderfull vision Esa. 6. he hym selfe saide wo is me because I holde my peace but after that he perceyued that hys lyps were cleansed with the stone or hote coale that was taken from the aultar he said vnto our Lorde that inquyred whome he shuld send vnto the people here am I send me Oure Lorde sayde vnto Esaye Crye as loude as thou cansie leaue not of Esa. 58. Lyft vp thy voyce lyke a trompette and shewe my people their offences and the house of Iacob their synnes Ieremy fyrst execused hym selfe frō preachinge Iere. 1. and after he graunted folowed the wyl of God Abimelech the Mortan sayde vnto king Sedechias Iere. 38. My Lord the kynge All thy seruauntes that haue cast Ieremye the Prophet into the dongyon or lake haue done euel And the king commaunded that he shuld be drawn out of the lake before he died Our Lord spake vnto Ionas saying Arise Ionas 1.2 and get the to Niniue and preache there vnto them the predication that I shall speake and declare vnto thee Daniell gaue Nabuchodonozor the kynge of Babylon good Counsell Dani. 4. Sayinge be contente with my counsayle and redeame thy synnes wyth almesse When that Mathathias should die he exhorted his sonnes to do
Hebrues The children of Israell sufferynge penurye and scarsnes in the deseart Exo. 16. sayed that in Egypt they sat by the fleshe pottes but they made no mention of the greauous and cruell bondage that they wer troubled and vexed with all The people in the deseart sayed we remembre the fyshe whyche we dyd eate in Egypte for naughte And yet they wer ouerprest with greuous seruitude and bōdage And now beyng at liberty and in fredome they were norished wyth angels fode Nume 11. that is with most sauery meats geuen thē from heauen wythout any labor When the spies and searchers did declare and open the condityons and goodnesse of the lande of promise Nu. 13.14 the people contrary to Gods wyll would haue retourned into Egipte and by no meanes go no further And euen shortly after againste the wil of oure Lord they woulde haue made but to great hast When Moses had called Dathan Abiron Nume 16. they saide we will not come vp Is it a small thyng that thou hast brought vs out of a land that floweth with milk and hony to kil vs in the wildernes and to raign ouer vs also Moses desyred of kinge Edom saying We pray thee that we maye goe now thorow thy country Nume 20. we wil not goe by the Fieldes nor Uyneyardes neyther wyll wee dryncke of the water of the Fountaines we wyll goe by the kinges hie way Edom answered him Thou shalt not goe by mee least I come out against thee with the sweard The like thing chaunced of Seon the kyng of the Amorytes But in as much as he woulde not graunte that was litle Nume 21. he lost that was much Balaam would not curse the people whome he beleued to haue Gods benediction But there are manye which speake more euill of the good then of the naughtye Nume 24. And maruell it was that he which would not cursse them woulde harme them For notwythstandynge that oure Lorde had shewed hym that the people of Israel were blessed yet finally he gaue euyll counsaile by the whiche women deceiued him The children of Israel hearing our Lordes commaundementes Iudi. 2. dyd all thinges cleane contrary Iephthe desired the men of Ephraim to goe to battaile with him And they wold not But after that he had wonne the victory Iudi. 12. and was come agayne they as thoughe he hadde not cald vpon them began to quarel and to chide with him Dauid plaide before Saule beinge vexed with the deuel 1. reg 18.19 and serued him profytably and yet Saule wold haue naild Dauid to the wal wyth a iauelyng the which he held in his hande Saule would haue slayn hys sonne Ionathas 1. regu 10. because he excused Dauyd the innocent Saule sayd that hys seruants had conspired againste him 1. regu 22. and that Dauid lay await for him Whose death he soughte for but he coulde neyther fynde hym nor take hym The king of the children of Amnō perceiuing that he had done iniurye vnto Dauid 2. reg 10. would fyght wyth hym when that he should rather haue gon about to haue pleased hym Amnon Dauids sonne caused Thamar his sister 2. regu 13. whome he had forced to be expeld and put from him Absolon Dauids sonne moued him self malitiouslye againste his father and went in vnto his fathers concubines in the sighte of all Israell 2. reg 15.16 And would haue depryued his father both of hys lyfe and of his kingdome When our Lord had exalted Ieroboam vpon ten tribes of Israell by by he cōuerted and turned the people from worshipping of God 3. reg 12.13 and monished by the Prophet he commaunded hym to be taken Achab king of Iuda toke away our Lordes aultare and caused a nother to be made lyke vnto that whyche he had sene in Damasco and commaunded burnt offerynges to bee offred vp vpon it The Idolatry sorcery murther other diuers crimes cōmytted by Manasses are sufficientlye declared .iiii. Reg. xxi 2. Para. 33. After that Amasias had ouercomde and slain the Edomites and the men of Seir 2. Para. 25. and had brought away theyr Gods he worshypped them and burned incense vnto them Wherfore our Lord was wroth and rebuked him by his prophet sayinge vnto him whye hast thou worshipped those Goddes which were not able to deliuer theyr owne people out of thy hand Achaz king of Iuda offred sacrifices vnto the Gods of them of Damasco which bet hym and sayd The Gods of the kynges of Siria helpte them 2. Para. 28. therefore wyll I appease them wyth Sacrifices for then wyll they healpe me also But contrariously they were his destruction and the destruction of al Israel Because that Mardocheus only dyd not worshippe proud Aman Esth. 3. he procured with the king of the Assirians that all the Iewes should be putte to death When Ieremy rebuked the people because thei did sacrifice vnto straūge Gods Iere. 44. they answered sence we lefte of to do sacrifyce vnto the Quene of heauen we haue had scarcenesse of al thynges and pearysh wyth sweard hunger The lordes great estates of Darius the king of Persia did accuse Daniel Dani. 6. because that thre times a day he made hys prayers vnto hys God The two old priestes that saw Susan to be of a constant chastity should haue loued her Dani. 13. greatlye haue praised her But contrarilye they slaundred her and went about to condemn her to death but our Lorde dyd moste wonderfully deliuer her by an abstinent and a chast childe The wycked Alchinus whiche oughte to haue loued Iudas and his brethren 1. Mach. 7. with other vngodly men went to king Demetrius sayinge Iudas hys brethren haue slaine thy frendes and dryuen vs oute of oure owne lande ◠Mach. 9. When Antiochus was mineded to robbe the city of Pentapolis he whē the people ranne together to theyr weapons was faine to flie the which iniury he thoughte to aduenge vpon the Iewes They of Ioppa committed a verye cruell and a shamefull deede 2. Mach. 12. for they prayed CC. Iewes to enter and go in to the shyppes with them but when they were gone forth into the deape they drowned them Nether the austere and sharpe lyfe of Ihon Mat. 11. nor yet the temperate comly eating of our sauior coulde please the Iewes When the Pharises saw that our Lorde caste oute deuels Mat. 12. and that the people were amased they blasphemed saying Thys felow dryueth the deuels no otherwyse oute but by the healpe of Belzebub the chief of the deuils There was to much peruersitye in Iudas Mat. 26. that solde hys master for xxx syluer pence ¶ Of the wickednesse of tirauntes Ca. Cix PHarao inuented dyuers wyckednesses to extinguyshe Exo. 1. or to reduce the chyldren of Israell to a smaller nomber Fyrste of all he commaunded to punysh theym wyth harde laboure Secondarelye he
may dye with him doubted of our Lordes resurrection whereof it came that Peter was the more meke and gentle to sinners and that the faithfull and they that stackard in the faithe were the better stablished there in And of this it is gathered that no manne should presume vpon his stedfastnes And that no man whether he be fallen from his faith or doubteth therin should despair of the mercye or of the forgeuenesse of God And by this that Iudas the Apostle and dispensator of God did slide into suche an eanorme crime nor rose not againe al presuÌ„pteous security is deminished and broken by the whiche no manne for the state condition that he is in nor for the dedes that he hath done oughte to be hie mineded but in fear For why the Apostles wer the faithful leaders of the people and yet they were kept in prysonne wythal diligence It might seme to such as be weake that God shuld not haue suffred such thinges to haue bene done in the beginning of the faith Actes 4â— But yet the faithful therby wer maruelously comforted and the aduersaries of our faithe confuted Actes 12. The like thing chaunced in Peter alone when he was taken by Herode put in prison and broughte forth and miraculouslye deliuered by the Angell It was great iniquity to stone Steuen to death Actes 7. and yet many good thinges throughe the prouidence of God came therof For Steuen was gloriously crowned in heauen and aboundauntly honoured in earthe his oration and prayer that he made there brought Paule vnto vs and left vnto al our posterity an example of a maruelous paâ—ience and charitye Actes 8 Steuen beynge thus stoned there followed a greate persecution in the Churche and congregation that was at Ierusalem For they were all sparkled abrode through out al the regions of Iewry and Samaria except the Apostles so that â—t semed to be a great detriment or hinderaÌ„ce to the honour of the christiane religion But the Discyples that were scattered abroade dyd so preache and sette forthe the worde of God that the Churche there by was a greate deale the more enlarged Actes 13. For as much as the Iewes when Paule and Barnabas preached the woorde of God vnto them refused it and put it from them they tooke an occasyon to preache vnto the Gentyles There was a dissentyon betwene Paule and Barnabas for IhoÌ„ whose sirname was Marke whome Paule woulde not receyue because he wente from theÌ„ but Barnabas toke Marke wyth hym Actes 15. and so they departed a sunder one from the other Where by shoulde haue folowed as it was thoughte some greate rebuke and shame But God disposing the matter there ensued greate frute and profite For the worde of God was opened preached to manye They committed a verye haynous deede and faute that putte that excellente doctoure Paule in prison coÌ„pellynge hym to cease from Preachinge the whyche thynge myghte seme to many a great inconuenience and that God should not haue suffred it And yet it is to bee greatly noted that the deuine prouidence by suche impedimentes and losses hath shewed and caused greate frute and profyte For as the merites of Paul did therby increase so likewise he left the mo examples of vertue and taughte muche better by his woorkes then before time by his wordes For beynge in prison he wrote to those that were absent and in farre countries nether was he so profitable vnto the church by his preachinge as he was by sending of his Epistles And therefore if he in any one city or prouince had ben honoured of all men and gladly hardt he should not yet haue had such occasions to haue gone and visited so diuers and many nations as he visited Therfore when that the Iewes or any other did persecute him froÌ„ towne to towne he preached the woorde of God to manye And when he was in hold he wrote his Epistles and when the Iewes resisted him Actes 13. he turned him self to the gentiles And againe because that in Syria he founde Festus and Felix vnrightfull Iudges Actes 25. hee was enforced to appeale to Cesar and so hee came to Rome and throughe his predication and doctrine was greatly illustred and luckelye by hys passion made mooste famous ¶ Of the benignitie of God to hys seruauntes ¶ The third Chapter ABraham commynge and speaking with our Lord Genesisâ— 28 desired him to spare the Sodomites vsed suche a maruelous boldnes that men might haue iudged him very importune But yet our Lord answered him all wayes gentlye and graunted him his request Our Lord moste gentlye appeared vnto Iacob flying and eschuynge hys brothers anger Gene. 31. and deliuered hym from his father in lawes insecution returning again to his brother Iacob vsed a greate audacitye and bouldnes in his prayer to our Lorde Gene. 38. saying I wyl not let thee go excepte thou blesse me And oure Lorde saide vnto Moses I haue seene this people Exodus 32. and behold it is a stiffe necked people suffer me that my wrath may wax hot against them As thoughe he wold saye thou holdest me nor I cannot consume these wicked sinners excepte thou let me go And our Lord spake vnto Moses as a man speaketh to his frende Exodus 33. and did defend him from his enemies and detractours Oure Lorde obeyed vnto Iosuas voyce Iosue 10. saying Sunne stand thou styll vpon Gibeon Balack called Balaam for to curse the children of Israell Iosu. 24. but our Lorde cleane contrarye blessed them by Balaam Nume 22 Gedeon demaunded twise of oure Lorde a signe in the fiece Iudi. 6. whether he shoulde obtaine the victorye of his enemies This was to be maruailed at that oure LORDE when he hym selfe was abiected and refused 2. regum 7. disdayned not there at but in the contempte of the seruauntes of GOD he estemed him self to be contemned As it is manifest and plaine in Samuel 1. regum 8. They did not reiecte thee but me saithe oure LORDE Note also howe courteouslye oure LORDE spake vnto Nathan 2. regum 7 of Dauid and of his house in time to come Notwithstandynge that the posteritye of Dauid did sinne greuouslye and manye manner of wyse 4. regu 19. yet hys good deedes are oftentymes remembred and because of them oure Lorde doth verye ofte spare and forgeue the sinnes of the people At the Commaundemente of God the rauens broughte breade and flesh to Helias 3. reg 17.19 And afterwardes the angell of God shewed hym breade and water Ezechia the kinge of Iewry sayde Oure LORDE wyll be mercifull 2. Para. 30 vnto all those that seeke hym withall their hartes nor shall not impute vnto them that they are not sufficiently inough sanctified Our LORDE sente his Aungell the whyche ledde for the yonge Tobias and broughte him agayne he draue the deuill from hys wife he made hys parentes glad and ioyfull To. 5.8.11
the tresuary and violently to take awaye such thinges as were laide there to be kepte was be the diuine power greuously scourged afterwardes made whole through the prayer of Onyas he offred vnto god made great vowes and so returned to the kyng again After that our Lorde had smytten Antiochus wyth a greuous plague which no man could heale 2. Mach. 9. he promised the Iewes to garnysh the temple with great gyftes Luke 1. It semeth that the blessed virgin made a vowe of her virginite forasmuche as she sayd How shall this be seyng I knowe not a man Those Iewes made a cruell and a wycked vowe Act. 23. that commynge to the hie rulers sayd we with deuocioÌ„ haue made a vow that we wyl nether eate nor drincke nor tast any thing tyl we haue kylled Paule ¶ Of Prayer Ca. xvi ABraham most humbly discretelye Gen. 18. constantly and mekely dyd praye oure Lorde to spare the Sodomites At some tyme we must praye oure Lord for such thinges Gen. 25. as he hath purposed to doe As Isaac made intercession vnto our Lorde for his wife because she was barren And yet oure Lorde purposed that she should conceaue and bring forth chyldren It is greatlye to be thought vpon How thankeful Gen. 32. how lowly and how importune that Iacobbe was in hys prayer saying Lord I am not worthy of the least of all thy mercies And afterwardes how he sequestrated him selfe from his wiues and all his familye and remayned there alone in the nyghte Moyses prayde our Lorde oftentymes Exo. 7.8.9.10 that he would remoue the plagues from Egipt and was heard notwithstaÌ„ding that the people wer euil Moyses in the warre that the chyldren of Israel made against Amelech Exo. 17. dydde more by prayer than Iosua by fyghtynge The onelye prayer of the mynde doth cry and ascende vnto God as it well appeareth when our LORD saide vnto Moses that spake nothyng vnto him Exo. 14. wherefore cryest thou vnto me After the adoration made vnto the caulfe Exo. 32. Oure Lorde as it appeared would haue vtterly destroied the people but Moses by reason of instante prayer abtained theyr pardone But yet note the manner of hys praying ether quoth he forgeue them theyr sinne or wipe me out of thy booke After Moses intercession and praier Nume 11. the fyre that had deuoured the hostes of the murmurers and those that were heauy and sory of theyr labour quenched Our Lorde beinge euen yrâ—full against the people that demauÌ„ded flesh in wyldernesse Nume 11. graunted them theyr peticion whereby it appeareth that the extudicion and hearinge of mans prayer is not alwais a sign of deuine and godly dilection Mary by the intercession and prayer Nume 12 of Moses was healed of her leprosy The people beynge sore afflycted wyth firy serpentes said vnto Mosesâ— Nume 21 pray for vs and he made intercession for the people Anna being troubled in her minde prayed vnto oure Lorde 1. regum 1. and wepte sore and vowed a vowe she spake in her hart and her voyce was not hard at all When the children of Israel should fighte againste the Philistines 1. regum 7. they sayde to Samuel It is necessary that thou pray and cry to our Lord for vs that he may saue vs out of the hande of the Philistines It pleased not God that the childreÌ„ of Israell shoulde require a kinge to raigne ouer them 1. regum 8. And yet our Lorde saide vnto Samuell heare the voyce of the people in all that they say vnto thee Samuell saide vnto the people GOD forbid 1. regu 12â— that I should synne against our Lorde and cease prayinge for you Dauid saide 2. reg 7. that he had founde in his hart to pray to our Lord. Dauid prayed and besoughte God for the childe 2. regu 12. and fasted and went in and lay vpon the earth Thys was a very good maÌ„ner of praying but Dauid was not then worthy to be hard Helias praying for raine saide to his seruaunt 3. reg 13. loke toward the seat for from thence he trusted that some rainy cloude woulde arise but vntill the seueÌ„th time nothing appeared wherby the instancye and continuaunce of prayer is commended King Iosaphat smitten with feare gaue him self wholy to pray vnto our Lord. 2. para 20. For he heard say that a greate multitude of people was comming agaynst him Hezechias after he had hard the king of Assiryans messengers vsed verye good counsel 4. reg 19 when that he sent vnto Esay the Prophet saying make thy prayer for the remnaunt that are found and left And the kinge tourned hym to pray vnto our Lord. And note ther how faithfully and how prudently he made his prayer Hezechias that he mighte praye the more attentiuely turned hys face to the walle iiii reg xx and prayde our lorde saying I beseche thee now O Lorde remembre howe I haue walked before thee in truth and with a perfyt heart and haue done that whiche is good in thy sight and Hezechias wepte sore Manasse the kyng of Iudas prayer was very humble ii Paâ— xxxiâ—i deuoute and effectuus as men may se in the later ende of the boke Who fasted and praide our Lord to haue a sure and a ryght waye i. esd. 8. and it chaunsed prosperously And whan he gaue the kynge drincke he made hys prayers to God of heauen Nehe. 1. and whan he should answere to those thynges that were askt hym he prayde moste humbly When Tobi had heard his wiues euyl and naughtye coÌ„munication Tob. 2.3 he toke it heuely and with teares began to make his prayer When Sara the doughter of Raguell had heard the great reproche rebuke of her mayden tobi 3. she went into an hie chambre of her house and continuinge iii. dayes in prayer she besought God with teares that she myght be deliuered from that rebuke Tob. vi Raphael the aungel that the deuyl might haue no power vpon Toby the yonger warnd him that when he had taken Sara to his wife and was come into the chamber that he should with hold him self from her thre dayes and geue his diligence vnto nothynge but vnto prayer with her Iudi. 4. When the children of Israell heard of the power of Holofernes they cried vnto our Lord. But Eliachim the hie priest put them in remembrance how that Moses ouerthrew Amalech that trusted in his mighte and power not with weapoÌ„s but with holy prayers Iudit 8. Iudith did truste greatlye in other mennes prayers and therefore she purposing to go to Holofernes sayde vnto thelders pray ye vnto god that he will stablishe and bring my counsel to good ende And after followeth Do ye nothing els but pray vnto our Lord for me Iudith 13 In like mannerâ— when she shoulde smite of Holofernes heade she made her prayer with teares standynge before the bed And when
Esther shuld speake vnto kinge Ahasuerus Esth. 4 she saide to Mardocheus Gather all the Iewes together that maye be founde and faste ye and pray for me but howe deuoutlye and howe humbly they praid howe Mardocheus praied for hym selfe and the people It is wrytten in the .xiiii. Chapter of Esther The praier of Ieremy was of great reputation with God Ihere 11. when our Lord said vnto hiÌ„ pray not for this people Azarias standing in the mydst of the fornace Dani. 3. praid thus Blessed art thou o Lord God of our fathers Daniel for al king Darius acte and decre Dani. 6. left not of kneling downe vpon his knyes to pray vnto the Lorde lyke as hys manner was to do afore time three times a daye See now how precious and howe profitable a thyng he estemed it to pray vnto our Lord. Daniel perceiuynge the tyme of the Captiuitye to be compleate and at an ende prayde the more instantly for the people that were in captiuite And note howe mekely and howe feruently he maketh his intercession and prayer Dani. 9. When Susanna perceiued that she lacked all humaine ayde and counsel Dani. 13. she made her recourse to the helpe of prayer and her prayer was heard Ionas prayed vnto our Lorde out of the fyshes bellye Ionas 2. and sayde in my trouble I called vnto our Lorde and he heard me The congregation were ready gathered to fight 1. Mach. 3. to pray to make supplication vnto God for mercy grace When that Iudas Machabeus should geue battayle with Gorgias he made his praier and said i. Mac. iiii blessed be thou O sauiour of Israel i. mach Vi. In other .ii. principal battaylles we rede not that he praied The one was against king Antiochus then he wanne not but departed his wayes i. Mac. ix The other was agaynst Bacchides Alchimus and then he was slayne in the battaille i. mach xi Ionathes perceiuing that al his coÌ„pany except a few left him fightinge against straungers he rent his clothes and praid and afterwardes obtayned the victory The Iewes beinge in tribulatyon praied vnto our Lord. The priestes hauing on them their priestly stoles and vestimentes fel downe before the aultare and called vpon God ii mac iii. whych had made a law concerning stuffe geueÌ„ to kepe that it might be safely preserued for such as deliuerd it to be kepte And al the wemen held vp their handes toward heauen and praid Onias the hie priest praid for Heliodorus that was greuously scourged by God for spoiling of the temple ii mac iii. oure Lord restored him to life again Iudas Machabeus they that wer with him iii. Mac. viii praid and besought our Lorde to deliuer theÌ„ from wicked Nicanor and though he wold not do it for theyr sakes yet for the couenaunte that he made with their fathers and because they called vppon his holye and gloryous name The wycked Antiochus praid vnto our Lord of whome he should haue obtained no mercy 2. Mach. 9. Nicanor and they that were wyth him 2. Mach. 15. drue nie with shaumes songes but Iudas and his company with praier and calling vpon God They buckled together with their handes they smote but with their hartes they praied vnto our Lord and slue no lesse theÌ„ 35. thousand men for thorow the present helpe of God they were gloriously comforted Mat. 8. The Leper had a short a profitable and an humble maner of praying Luke 5. the which knelinge before oure Lorde did worship him and saide Marke 1. master if thou wilt thou canst make me cleane The Centurion vsed as it wer by a certain insinuation Mat. 8. the like manner of prayer Luke 7. when he saide Master my seruaunt lieth sicke of the palsy Ihon. 11. And also Martha and Mary for Lazarus that was dead and buried Our Lord at times will be prayed for that Luke 10. that he purposeth to do praye ye the Lord of the haruest to send forth labourers into his haruest Mat. 9. Then there followeth immediatelye Calling together c. And when the people were sente away he weÌ„t vp into a mountaine to pray alone Mat. 14. Wherby we are taughte that when we inteÌ„d to pray we shuld fie the company of man lest we shuld be troubled Our Lord and sauiour in hys holye Gospels Mat. 6. hath taughte vs to praye by word of mouth saying Thus shall ye pray Our father c. Men oughte alwaies to praye Luke 18. not be weary Also our Lord hath animated vs to praye by his promise Luke 11. Ihon. 14. Aske saithe he and ye shall haue Item what soeuer ye aske in my name that wil I do He hathe lykewise informed and taughte vs to praye by hys example Mat. 14. For he that might commaund would pray And specially he did the same Mat. 26. for the persecution of this Passion beynge at hand he prayed and warned other to pray saying watch and pray When Mary Magdalen obtaind forgeuenes of her sinnes of oure Lord saying Luke 7. Thy sinnes are forgeuen the we rede not that she vsed anye loude prayer but that she wept only where by the efficacye of the inwarde desyre appeareth without any vocall or loud praier Our Lord doth induce vs to instant and coÌ„tinual praier by thexample of one that went to his frend at midnight Luke 11. Luke 18. And by thexample of a widow the which desired wyth great importunity of the wicked iudge to auenge her And to instruct vs to pray with huâ—mility without pride Luke 18. or any auaÌ„cement of our selues Our Lorde inducâ—th thexample of the proud pharisy and the lowly humble Publicane Act. 1. After our lordes assention into heauen the Disciples returned vnto Ierusalem and they al continuedâ— with one accord in prayer and supplication with the women and Mary Thapostles being minded and willinge to chuse one of the disciples in Iudas place Act. 1. apoynted two Ioseph and Mathias and when they praied they said Thou Lord which knowest the hartes of al men shew whether of these two thou hast chosen In the primitiue church al faithful people continued in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship Act. 2. and in breaking of bread and in prayers Peter Ihon weÌ„t vp together into the temple at the ninth hour of praier Act. 3. And assone as the disciples had praied the place moued Act. 4. where they were assembled together and they were all filled with the holye ghoste and they spake the word of God boldly The Iewes stoned Steuen callinge on Act. 7. saying lord Iesu receiue my spirite And he kneled downe and cryed with a loud voyce saying Lorde laye not this sinne to their charge Peter and Ihon prayed for them of Samaria Act. 8. that they might receiue the holy
vow a vow to be sāctified Nume 6. or did consecrate or appoint thē selues vnto oure lorde they abstained from all suche kyndes of dryncke as myght caste them into dronckennesse The Aungel appearinge vnto mānas wife which should conceaue him Iudi. 13. that shoulde deliuer the people commaunded her to abstayne This maketh muche to the cōmendation of sobriety the which doth stande in the vse of fishe and in the abstinence from flesh that our lord in his gospel doth euen often times multiply fishe Luke 5. and not flesh And at oure lordes commaundement the disciples in closed a great multitude of fishes Marke 6. furthermore we reade that he twyse multiplied bread fishes Luke 9. And of .v. loues Ihon. 6. ii fishes in Marcke Math. 15. Luke Iohn And of .7 loues a few fishes the which our lord multiplied Marke 8. mentiō is made ī Mat Marke Peter purposinge to shew that the disciples Actes ◠which wer replenished with the holy ghost wer not drunken saied that it was not yet the thyrd houre of the daye Geuynge vs to wyt that it was not conuenient to drincke before the thyrd houre The people of Israell were a hungerd there was hony in the fyeld 1. regu 14. but no man eat thereof but Ionathas the sonne of Saul When Dauid desyred water of the well or cesterne of Bethelem it was broughte hym 2. regu 23. but yet he woulde not dryncke thereof because he longed to greadely after it A small and a slender sustenaunce contented Elias 3. regu 17. the which asked only of the wyddow Sereptane a lytle water and a morsell of bread Ieroboās wyfe goynge to Helias the prophet 3. regu 14. toke with her .10 loues and a cruse of hony There is no mētion made of any flesh For he supposed that the prophet dyd eate no suche meate And it is notable that the rauens fed Helias wyth fleshe twyse in one daye 3. regu 17. 3. regu 19. And how that the Aungell of oure Lorde shewed him bread and a vessell of water onely Achab hearinge after he had put Naboth to death 3. regu 21. our Lordes cōminatiō and threatning declared vnto him by Helias the prophet put a shyrt of here vppon his fleshe and fasted and laye in sackcloth and went barefote and helde downe hys head And therfore oure Lorde did temper the payne and punyshmente the whyche hee threatned Esdras proclaimed a fast and caused all men to afflicte and humble thē selues 1. Esd. 8. for they desyred of oure Lorde that hee woulde geue them a ryghte waye Then there foloweth So we fasted and besought our lord for this and he hearde vs. The children of Hely of Amnon wyth certayn of the Amonites gathered them selues together 2. Para. 20. to fyghte against Iosaphat the king of Iuda And when he hearde it he set hym selfe to seke and to praye our LORDE and proclaimed a fasting throughout all Iuda And there foloweth that he obtayned the victorye When Paule and Barnabas had ordained elders and priestes in diuers cities Act. 14. and in euery cōgregation had prayed and fasted they cōmended thē to our Lorde on whom they beleued When Nehemias shuld praye Arthaxarses for the holy citie 2. Esd. 1. and that the walles thereof might be repaired He sayeth of hym selfe I fasted and prayed before the God of heauen It is sayed of yonge Tobias and of his father in lawe ToBi 8.12 other his frends that wyth the feare of God they helde the feaste of the marriage And the Aungel sayed afterwarde to both the Tobias prayer is good with fastinge and almes When the chyldren of Ierusalem hearde of the terryble and fearefull power of Holofernes Iudith 4. they humbled theyr soules wyth fastinge and prayers Also it is sayed of Iudyth that she ware a smocke of heere and fasted all the daies of her lyfe Iudith 8. excepte the Sabothes and newe mones and the solempne dayes of the house of Israell When Esther shoulde speake vnto king Ahaswerus she saide to Mardocheus Go and gether all the Iewes together that are founde at Susan Esther 4. and pray ye for me Loke ye eate not nor drinck not in thre dayes neyther day nor night I and my maids wyll fast likewise Our Lorde commendeth the abstynence of the Rachabites Ieremy 35. because they would drink no wine as their father had commaunded them Our Lord caused Ezechiel the prophet to keepe an harde diet Ezechiel 4 sayinge Take vnto the wheat barly beanes gromel sede Millium and fitches Daniel was at a poynt wyth hym self that he would not be defiled thorow the kinges meat Daniell 1. There followeth God gaue those springaldes conninge and learninge in all scripture and wisdome Daniell for the space of iii. wekes eate no bread as for fleshe and wyne there came none within his mouthe Daniel 10. And our Lorde shewed him a maruelous vision Sainte Gregorye in hys Homely of Pentecost saithe that the holy ghost did fil the abstinent childe and made the Prophet iudge of the old men Our Lord sente to Daniell by the prophet Abacucke Daniell 14. bread and potage beinge in the denne of Lyons but he sent hym no fleshe nor no other delycate meates Eleazar an aged man had rather die a cruell death 2. Mach. 6. thē contrary to the lawe to eate or to faine to eate anye swines flesh It chaunced the vii brethren wyth theyr mother to be compelled by the king against the law 2. Mach. 7. to eate swines flesh but they chose rather to sustaine and suffer most cruel torment It is wrytten of Ihon the Baptist that his meat was Locustes wylde hony Math. 2.11 and liued so as though he neyther eat nor dranke Anna the prophetisse the doughter of Phanuell is among other thinges commended Luc. 2. that she departed not frō the temple but serued GOD wyth Fastynges and prayers nyghte and day Our sauioure after he was baptysed by and by was led into the wyldernesse and there he fasted tyll hee hōgred Luc. 4. which thing maketh against those that faste with a filthye conscience nor will not for the tyme of fasting suffer nor sustain no honger The children of Israel which were of the xii Tribes Iudi. 20. were twyse ouerthrown by the children of Beniamin afterward they wept before our lord and fasted the same day and so ouercame theym and preuayled agaynste theym In the tyme and daies of Hely the Philistines◠1. regu 4.7 preuayled agaynste the children of Israell once or twise and the Arke of oure Lorde was taken Thirdly the Philistines gathered together in Samuels daies but the chyldren of Israell fasted the same day saide we haue synned agaynste oure Lord. And it foloweth that the chyldren of Israell destroyed them After oure Lordes resurrection he manyfestlye shewed hym selfe to the .vii.
my self alone Esa. 63. and of al people ther is not one with me My louers and frendes hast thou put awaye fro me Psal. 87. And on the crosse he lacked seruauntes his Dyscyples left hym Psal. 87. and went from hym And I am made as a man wythout helpe Act. 10. When Peter came into Cesaria Cornelius met hym and fel downe and worshypped hym But Peter taking him vp said I my self also am a man Paule and Barnabas hearing that they of the city of Listra said that they wer Gods Act. 14. and wold haue done sacrifyce vnto them rent theyr clothes ran amonge the people saying Syrs why do ye thys we are mortall men lyke vnto you c. And yet scarse refrained they the people that they had not done sacrifyce vnto them Paule the Apostle labourde wyth hys owne handes to get that was necessary for hym self and hys felowes Act. 18. and therefore he drue to Aquila and Priscilla the whyche were tent makers as he hym selfe was And in an nother place hee saithe These handes haue mynystred vnto my necessityes Act. 20. and to them that wer wyth me And Paule dyd iudge and think of hym self 2 Cor. 1. but meanely and lowly the whiche trusted to the prayers of hys brethren saying by the helpe of your prayer for vs. He desired very diligently the praiers of other men Roma 15. sayinge I beseeche you brethren for oure Lorde Iesus Christes sake and for the loue of the holye sprite that ye healpe me wyth your prayers And Paule dothe inwardlye wyth hys owne wordes declare true humilitye when he saith I am the leaste of the Apostles 1. Cor. 14 which am not worthye to be called an Apostle Thes. 3. And agayne he saithe 1. Cor. 15. Iesus came into the worlde to saue sinners 1. Timo. 1. of whom I am chefe Yea he exhorteth men most diligentlye to humilitye sayinge Be not hye mineded Roma 12. but make your selues equal to them of the lower sort And again in mekenesse of minde Philip. 2. let euery man esteme another better then him selfe ¶ Of Pryde Cap. xcviii EUe for the appetite and desyre that she had to excell Gen. 3. after she hadde hard ye shal be euen as Gods did eat of the tree which she was forbidden to eat of It was geuen graunted to man to eat fish Gen. i. foule and other beastes ye shall haue rule of the fish of the sea foule of the aire and cattell c. And the fear and dread of you shal be vpon al the beastes of the earth Gene. 9. Theyr pride which wolde buylde a tower vnto heauen Gen. 11. was condemned by the confusion of languages When Agar saw that she had conceyued Gen. 16. she despised her mastresse Againste those that glorifye them selues that they are first born Gen. 4.15 is that Cain was borne before Abell Esau before Iacob Gen. 29. And Iudas was that forth amonge the children of Israell And Manasses Iosephes sonne was borne before Ephraim Gen. 48. and yet he obtained the benediction and blessynge of the right hand 1. Re. 16. And Dauid was the least and yongest of all his brethren 2. Re. 3. And Adonias was born before Salomon And so forth of many other Pharao answered to proudly Exodi 5. wheÌ„ he said I know not the Lord nether wil I let Israel go The rebellion that Chore other made against Moses came of pride Nume 16. for Moses said vnto theÌ„ ye are very haut make much to do ye childreÌ„ of Leui. Abimelâ—ch beyng smytten of a woman called vnto hys harnesse bearer and sayed vnto hym Iudi. 9. Slaye me that menne saye not of me a woman slue him Saule desired Samuel to honoure hym before the elders of the people 1. regu 15 before Israell The sinne of elatioÌ„ and pryde was greuouslye punyshed 2. regu 24. when Dauyd caused hys subiectes and people to be numbred The pleasure and luste that kynge Ieroboam had to beare a rule 3. regu 12. fearing that the people wold reuert and tourne to the house of Dauyd caused him to inuente golden calues and to make the people to worship them for he desired that they should rather depart and go from theyr God then froÌ„ theyr Lord. After that the victorye was obtayned agaynste Arphaxat the kynge of Iewes Iudith 1. then was the kyngdome of Nabuchodonozor the kynge of the Assirians exalted and hys harte was lyft vp Nabuchodonozor commaunded Holofernesse that he should rote oute all the Gods of the land Iudith 3. to thintent that he onlye myghte bee called and taken for the God of the nations whyche Holofernes wyth his power brought vnder hym When proude Aman sawe that Mardocheus woulde not worship him Esther 3. he counsayled the kynge to destroye all the Iewes That most proudest Aman woulde that men should bow their knees vnto him Esth. 3. and of men he would be worshipped But it is to be noted that the selfe same pride was the cause of so much euil in it self that he beyng angry disdaynful estemed al other thinges which he possessed as nothinge Oure Lorde by the prophet Esaye doth detest the signes and tokens of pride Esa. 3. saying Because the daughters of Sion are become so proude and haue waulked with stretched out neckes and with vayne wanton eies c. That sayinge of Esay Esa. 14. I wil clime vp into heauen c. and wyll be like the highest of all Is vnderstanded literaly of Nabuchodonozor Of Moab it is thus written We haue hard of the pride of Moab Esa. 16. he is very proude his pride his arrogancy and hys indignation is muche more then is his strength Because Nabuchodonozor kinge of BabiloÌ„s hart was proude his sprite or stomake set so fast to wilfulnes Dani. 5. he was desposed from his trone and his glory maiesty was taken from him Balthazar Nabuchodonozor the king of Babilons sonne Dani. 5. did not submit his hart but was eleuated againste oure Lord of heauen And therfore he was slayne and Darius the Mede succeded him in his kyngdome Antiochus came vp to Ierusalem wyth a mightye people 1. mach 1. and enterd proudely into the Sanctuarye and tooke awaye the golden aulter the candelsticke and all the ornamentes thereof c. They that Iudas Machabeus sente to kepe and defende the lande sayed when they shoulde go to fyghte i. Mach. v. Let vs get vs a name go fyght against the heathen that are rounde aboute vs. Alchimus that woulde haue bene made the hye priest 1. Mac. 7 and certain other wicked men went to kinge Demetrius and accused Iudas and the people of Israell When Nicanor harde of the burnte sacrifices that were offerd of the Iewes for the king i. macha vii he laughinge them to scorne mocked
yet he obeied hys father sending him with vitayles vnto his brethrē notwithstanding he was elected chosen aboue al his brethrē Our lord foretold Salomon 3. regu 9. that if he wold do fulfil al thinges that he had cōmaunded him to do that thē he wold stablish the throne of his kingdōe in Ierusalē for euer But if he turned away 2. Para. 7. wold not kepe his preceptes and commaundementes that than he wold wede Israel out of the lād for euer 3. regu 20. Obedience at some times is also cōmended in such thinges as seme to be commaunded withoute any reason therfore a Lion slue him that beynge commaunded wold not smite one of the Prophets children The man of god that foretold Ieroboas the destructiō of his aultar 3. regu 13. was killed and slain by a Lion because the contrary to Gods commaundemente he did eat bread drynke water in an other prophets house When that Naaman disdaining the prophet Elizeus commaundemēt 4. regu 5. departed from him with displesure hys seruants said vnto him father if the prophet had bidden the do som great thing surely thou shuldst haue don it Toby the yonger after he had hard his fathers exhortations Tobi. 5. answered said father al that thou hast cōmaunded me wil I do and diligently Whatsoeuer Mardocheus cōmaunded that did Esther obserue keepe Esth. 2. did all thinges so euen as she was wont to do when she was yonge and vnder hys gouernaunce The Recabites are much commended of our Lord because that they wold drinke no wine Iere. 35. obeying folowyng their fathers commaundemente saying ye shal drinke no wine Ionas 1.2.3 Ionas did refuse vn wiselye to obey our Lord commaundinge him to go and preach at Niniue but comminge backe againe He came to the place that God sent him 1. Mach. 2. Mathathias saide vnto Antiochus messenger Though all nations obey the king yet I and my sonnes wil obey the lawes of our fathers 2. Mach. 7. One of the seuen brethren said we are ready rather to suffer death then to offende the lawes of God and the fathers And the childe Iesus went downe wyth Mary and Ioseph LuKe. 2. and came to Nazareth and was subiect and obedient vnto them Mat. 4. Those Apostles did spedelye perfectly obey the which being called of our lord straight way left the nets folowed him Luke 5. Likewise Mathew lefte all and followed him Mat. 21. Of those that obey in word not in dede or in dede more than in worde Our lord putteth an example of two sonnes of the which two th one said that he woulde go into hys fathers vyneyarde and woorke and wente not The other sayde I wyll not and wente Our Lord doth commaund vs to obey euē those prelates that bear rule Mat. 23. They shall sit in Moses seate what so euer they bid you obserue that obserue and do Our sauiour and lord of the lawe Luke 2. would obey the law in circumcisyon Mat. 26. and oblatyons made in the Temple and also in eatynge of the Paschall Lambe The Apostle dothe put vs an ensample of obedyence in our sauyour Philip. 2. sayinge hee became obedyente vnto deathe whome he also declareth the frute of obedyence Then there followeth Wherefore God hath exaulted him c. The chefest of the priestes threatned and commaunded Peter and Act. 4. Ihon that they shoulde speake nor teache no more in the name of Iesu. They answered and said whether it bee righte to harken vnto you more then to God Act. 4. iudge you For we can not but speake that whiche we haue sene and hard And afterwards when the Apostles were reproued agayn of the hye prestes because they had not obserued theyr Commaundemente Peter and the other Apostles aunswered Act. 5. we ought more to obey God then men Saule lyinge prostrate vppon the earthe Act. 9. and hearynge Iesus of Nazareths wordes saide euen promptlye Lord what wilt thou haue me to do Cornelius said vnto Peter Nowe are we al here in thy presence Act. 10. readye to here al thinges that are commaunded vnto the of God Paule chose Silas to be hys felow and wente throughe Siria and Cilicia Act. 15. stablyshynge the congregatyon and Commaundynge to keepe the Preceptes of the Apostles and Elders ¶ Of holy scripture Ca. xxvi WE oughte to haue greate reuerence vnto holye scrypture Exo. 31. the which God hym self did wryte deliuer and teach Moses retourned from the Mounte bearing two tables written with the finger of God Exo. 31. Our Lord Iesus doth say that he was sent to Euangelice and preach mat 10. and he sent forthe his disciples to doe the same If it may be said then that the olde law was geuen Moses by god by the meanes of angelles as saythe the Apostle and S. Steuen doth testify the same Act. 7. Ye haue saithe he the lawe of God by the ministration of aungels The reast of the old Testament was geuen by the inspiratyon of the holy Ghoste as saith S. Peter The scripture came neuer by the wyll of man 2. Pet. 1. But holy men of God spake as they were moued by the holy ghoste The new Testamēt doth contain the wordes dedes of the Lord Iesu Christe in the Gospelles the woordes of the Apostels in the Epystels and in the Apocalipses the deades of the Apostles in the actes Christ very God and man spake parte of the Gospell by him selfe and the holye ghost and by him other wordes the whiche the Apostles the Euangelistes by him instructed did speake They wer all filled with the holy ghoste Act. 2. and began to speake with diuers other tongues A wise man seketh out the wisdom of them of the olde tyme exercyseth him selfe in the prophetes Eccle. 39. As though he would saye A wyse man must exquire and seke the wysdome of wyse men but specially he must giue his diligēce to the scriptures of the prophets Notwithstandynge that Ionathas the hie priest the elders of the Iewes were occupied in maters of warre 1. Mach. 2. yet they were vnto the Spartianes vndre this maner But as for vs we reade no such mater for why we haue the holy boke of scripture in our handes to our comfort And our Lord answering by scripture defēded his disciples against the Pharises Haue ye not read quoth he what Dauid did when he was an hōgred Mat. 12. Oure sauiour being tempted of the deuyll Mat. 4. answered by scriptures and by the auctoryte of scripture confounded him And he sayde that the scripture was fulfylled at his comminge This daye is this scripture fulfylled in your eares LuKe. 4. Oure Lorde gaue greate auctoryte to the olde Testament when he sayd Tyll heauen and earth passe Mat. 5. one iote or one tytle of the law shal not