the fleshe of my people and flaye of their skinne ye breake their bones ye chop them in peces as it were in to a cauldron and as fleshe into a potte Theo. These gredy gripes and hongry horseleches by vsurpinge the name of gentlemen do muche obscure the renowne worship and honour of true gentlemeÌ„ and cause the name of a gentlemaÌ„ to be muche disdained amonge the coÌ„mon people as wee haue bothe heard and seene now of late daies And thoughe they chalenge to theÌ„selues neuer somuch the name of a gentlemaÌ„ by their goodes by their auncestoures by antiquitie by the worthines of their stocke and many god morowes yet if they do degenerate and growe out of kynde from the natural maners of a true gentleman they are no gentlemen in deede but carles churles yea and in hurtinge their neighbours they are tirantes and murtherers as the holy scripture calleth them and in pollyng and pyllyng them they are theues lions and wolues as the Prophetes terme them An ape shall be an ape though she be clad in purple and golde Esops crowe was styll a crowe euen wheÌ„ he had decked him selfe with the pleasaunte and goodly fethers of other byrdes It is vertue and not grosse fleshe bloud which thinge we all are that maketh the true noble and geÌ„tlemaÌ„ It is a minde disposed to do good yea doth good in dede when occasion serueth and not sumptuous aparell and goldeÌ„ cheines that setteth forth true nobilitie It is iustice mercy liberalitie kyndnes gentlenes hospitalitie for the poore and suche other godly gyftes of the mynd and not the multitude of ryches that declare who is a gentlemaÌ„ and who a churle who is noble who vnnoble He that can nyest approche vnto lady vertue and most liuelie set forthe her naturall disposicion in his conuersacion and behaueoure he is the beste gentleman be his parentes neuer so base and his kinred neuer so vyle in the iudgemente of the worlde Christo. Socrates the Philosopher beholding a man verye ryche and wealthy in deede but an assehead in the knowledge of goodnesse and notwithstandynge gorgeouse and galante in apparell sayde Beholde a golden slaue Socrates nothynge estemynge the ryche man for hys ryches and sumptuous rayement called hym a golden slaue meaninge that thoughe he were laden wyth neuer so manye golden cheynes golden rynges golden apparell yet so longe as he hym selfe is but fylthye in hys conuersacion and hathe a mynde subiecte to carnal lustes as couetousenes pryde ambicion cete he is but a verye slaue so farre is it of that he is a gentleman At an other tyme that same Philosopher seynge a man bothe ryche and galauntlye appareled sayde Here is a horse trapped in syluer Hys apparell shewed hym to be a gentleman but his maners and condicions declared hym to be but a horse and a beast Diogenes hearing a certeine man bragging and boasting of his kinred ryches beautie costuous aparel and such other worldly visars knowing not one pointe of nobilitie to be in him nor ought els worthy of prayse sayde loo here is a shepe with a golden flese Cato the elder was wont to saye that the lytle theues dyd weare fetters but the great theues went vp doune galauntly appareled with purple and golde I pas ouer diuerse other saiyngs of the wise meÌ„ which without any respect had to carnal nobilitie worldlye ryches gorgeous aparell c. called the wealthy worldlinges by suche names as theyr maners and behaueoure deserued Euse. Wolde god all they which wyll be taken for gentlemeÌ„ were gentlemen in dede Then shulde it go much better with this realme of England Christ. Thys endles encroching of worldly possessions shew euidently y â— they whiche vse it are not frindlye to the coÌ„mon weale seing thorow it y e poore coÌ„mons are brought to beggarie Salomon hath a notable saiynge and wold god all men wold learne it It is this The encrease prosperitie of the comons is the kynges honour but the decaye of the people is the coÌ„fusion of y â— prince Theo. Frindely to y e comon wealeâ— Mary syr they are not frindlye to the kynge by Salomons saiynge that enpouerysheth the comons if the comons encrease wealth and prosperitie bee the honoure of the kinge and if the decaye and enpoueryshement of the comons be the confusion and destruccion of the prynce then are they extreme enemies to the kynge which without any respect had to the comoÌ„ weale seke thorow their vnsaciable couetousenes to beggare the Kynges subiectes whereby they shall be the lesse able bothe to serue the kynge and to beare for their porcion the charges of the Realme when tyme requireth Philemon Certes a Kynge can neuer be poore so longe as hys subiectes be wealthye And better it is to haue many that shuld healpe in tyme of nede then fewe and easier is the burthen and the gladlier it is borne y t many beare then few Christo. If that same gentlenes and liberalitie were found at this present amonge the ryche men of this worlde that hath bene here to fore in men of lyke degre the commons shulde not only at all times be quiet but also the realme shuld floryshe wyth greate wealthe yea and that vniuersallye where as nowe it resteth in fewe mens handes Gentlemen to be enchrochers of Farmes notable shepemongers Grasiâ—rs Bochers Clothiers Weauers Brewers câ— as I maye speake nothyng of theyr parsonages vicarages prebendes c hauynge otherwyse whereof abundantly to lyue O vnworthy acte O vnsemely syght O abhominacion What is it to beggare the Realme to famyshe the Kynges subiectes to brynge slauery in to thys realme if thys be not Do they not sucke the poore mennes bloud that suffer them not to haue whereof to lyue The wyseman sayeth The breade of the nedy is the life of the poore he that defraudeth him of it is a murtherer Philemon Well neyghboures althoughe I doubte not but that the Kynges maiestie and his most honorable councel wyll se redresse in these thynges when they haue conuenient leasure yet if the world shulde go forth continue as it is the ryche worldlinges more miserably oppresse the pore then they heretofore haue done god forbyd that the comoÌ„ people or any kynd of people shuld reise vp tumultes styrre vp sedicions lyfte vp their hande againste the hye powers For that is a sinne whiche by no meanes can escape vnplaged yea they that so do runne into the dauÌ„ger of eternall damnacion as ye haue heard afore Chri. I say god forbyd also but ye know the comeâ— prouerbes the belli hath no eares honger is sharper then thorne necessitie is an harde darte nede maketh the olde wyfe trot Philem. Saint Paule had rather neuer to eate fleshe nor drinke wyne then he shuld offend his weake brother â–ª Wolde he then thinke you trouble an whole comon weale make vproures rayse vp commocions come armed in the felde assemble a sorte
hym before Pilate dyd not his aduersaries accusers lay to his charge that he sowed sedicion among the people that he corrupted and peruerted the commons wyth his doctrine that he forbad men to pay tribute to Cesar and that he sayd he hym selfe was Christ a kinge How vniustly Christ was here accused the holy scriptures aboundantly testifie How could he be the author of sedicion whyche came in to thys world to make peace How coulde he corrupt and peruert the people with his doctrine when he taught nothynge but that whiche he had hearde of his father Can heaueÌ„ly thinges corrupt y â— mindes of mortal men Forbad he to pay tribute to Cesar which him self paied tribute to Cesar coÌ„mauÌ„ded other so to do Boasted he him selfe a king which â—â—ed away from the people when they wolde haue made hym theyr kyng Sayd he not vnto Pilate my kyngedome is not of this world Was he disobedient to the temporal rulers whych disdayned not to be brought before them to be iudged of theÌ„ yea and to suffer death vnder them Moreouer was not the blessed martyr S. SteueÌ„ accused y â— he spake blasphemouse wordes against Moses against god when of God no man euer spake more godlye nor of Moses more reuerently Yet must SteueÌ„ to the pot and be condemned for an heritike wheÌ„ Steuen deserued rather praise and promocion But Steuen had offended inoughe seynge it was the chief priestes pleasure the other rauening rabines that Steuen shulde lyue no longer Agayn when s Paule Silas came to Tessalonica and S. Paul preached in the sinagoge the passion râ—surreccion of Christe howe dyd certeyne of the Iewes complain of them vnto the heades of the Citie and rushed into the house of Iason thapostels hoste and violentlye plucked him oute saiynge These that trouble the world are come hither also whom Iason hath receiued priuelie And these al do contrarie to the decrees of Cesar affirming another kinge one Iesus Here are thapostels accused both of sedicion and treason and yet wer they neither sedicious persons nor traitours They troubled not y â— world except the world here be taken for the deuelishe people of y â— world to whoÌ„ it is a trouble to hear any thing of Christ or to heare their abhominable liuing rebuked The good people of the world they quieted made theÌ„ mery in their coÌ„science for asmuch as they perswaded by y e word of god which thapostels preached y â— they had gotteÌ„ fre remisâ—ioÌ„ of al their sinnes thorow faith in Christes blud Thapostels did not coÌ„trary to the decrees of Cesar if they were not against goddes worde but rather taught meÌ„ to obei theÌ„ And though thei preached Iesus to be a kyng yet dyd this nothing derogate Cesars honor for they taught Christ not to be a temporal but a spiritual king not to rule with sweard or polare but with his spirit word not to reigne in Princes palaces but in the hertes of the faythfull Is not here great sedicion greate treasoÌ„ WheÌ„ s Paul was but sene at HierusaleÌ„ in the temple how cried the iewes out saiyng O ye men of Israel help this is the maÌ„ that teacheth al meÌ„ euery wher against the people â—he law this place violeÌ„tly drue him out of y â— teÌ„ple 〈◊〉 him wold haue slaine him if the hye captaine had not come What had Paule offended He spake nothing he did nothing buâ— as other Iewes dyd It was inough to kyll Paule because he was that Paule which had preached Christ to be the sonne of god At another time when he tolde the Iewes that god appointed hym to be a teacher of the GeÌ„tils how lifted they vp their voices saiyng Away wyth such a felow from the earthe for it is no reason that he shoulde liue Paule muste dye because at the coÌ„maundement of god he turneth the Gentiles from Idolatry to the true worshipping of god And as the wycked world linges cruelly entreated the Apostels of Christe so doe the worldly tirauntes haÌ„dle the good byshops and faythful ministers in the primitiue churche If any myschiefe plage or euyl chaunsed in the conâ—â—ey wher thei wer it was straight â—ay layd to their charge Euen so â—â—kewyse doth y â— world at this time â—eal w t the true preachers of y â— lorâ—es worde Dearth famine hoÌ„ger â—lage pestilence battel insurrecciâ—ns coÌ„mocions treasons heresies Epicurisme licencious liuing c. all is imputed to the preachers of Christes gospell They they and â—one but they are the occasion of al that naught is wheÌ„ no kinde of people is farther from doynge harme to a coÌ„mon weale theÌ„ they neither doth a coÌ„moÌ„ weale receiue mo benefites of any man then of the godlye preacher If the olde worlde had hearde and obeyed the sermons of Nohe they had not perished with waters If the Sodomites and gomorianes had harkened to the sermons of Loth they had not ben consumed with raine fyre and brymstone from heauen If the Israelites had geuen eare to the warninges of the Prophets they had not so ofte be plaged and led awaye into captiuitie If the iewes had receiued the doctrine of Christ and his Apostles they and their citie with all their posteritie had not come to such a destruccioÌ„ But when the lord rayseth vp his Prophets preachers to admonishe y â— people of their wickednes and to exhort them to repeÌ„taunce and yet they wyll not amende but cruelly entreat them sâ—launder theÌ„ persecute theÌ„ kyl theÌ„ then cometh destruccion The lord god of their fathers sayth the scripture sent to them by his messengers rising vp betimes sending for he had compassioÌ„ on his people on his dwellinge place But they mocked the messengers of god and despised his wordes and misused his Prophets vntyl the wrath of the lorde arose against his people tyl ther was no remedy And so broughte he on them the kinge of Chaldes which siue their yong meÌ„ with the swearde in their holye temple and spared neither yongman mayden olde man nor him y â— stouped for age Chr. The scholer is not aboue his master nor the seruauÌ„te better theÌ„ his Lord. If y e world hate you saith Christ ye know it hated me before it hated you If ye were of the world y e worlde wold loue the is his But for asmuche as ye are not of the world but I haue choseÌ„ you froÌ„ y e world therfore y e world hateth you Eus. Preachers are coÌ„maunded of god vnder pain of daÌ„nacioÌ„ to tel the people their fautes yet if they rebuke couetousnes theÌ„ the couetous worldlinges are mad If thei inuey against pride the proud are displesed If they coÌ„demne whoredome whores baudes and rufianes are woode Looke what soeuer sinne they reproue the gilty can not abide but maligne the preacher and seeke to do him displeasure The Gergesens had rather Christ
tari any longer in hir house but caused Abraham to put them both oute Eusebi Ye saye truethe Phi. Abraham rose vp earelye in the morenynge and toke breade and a bottell of water and gaue it vnto Hagar puttyng it on hir shulders with the ladde also and sent hir away Nowe marcâ—â— Hagar is put oute of hir masters house wyth hir childe She knoweth not whither to go She hathe no house wherin to hide her head but wandreth vp and downe in y e wyldernes of Ber Seba. To conforte her no man is bente For no man is presente As touching her vitaile it is al spent The breade is eaten the water is drunke vp There remayneth now in sight no more but vtterly to despayre of soucoure and miserablye to dye Which thinge Hagar considering casteth the ladde Ismael vnder a bushe goeth her waye and sitteth on the other syde a greate waye as it were a bowe shote of because she wolde not se the deathe of the chylde Wyth howe great sorowes her herte was stuffed whaâ— plentie of teares gushed out of her eyes what careful fayntenes occupied her whole bodie no man is able to expresse A chylde to dye for honger the mother knowinge of it yea and as it were in her syghte in her bosome O dolour vnspeakeable The mother lykewyse to bee pearsed wyth the same darte O in comparable payne Al thinges are brought here to extreme desperacioÌ„ There is no waye to escape this present mischiefe The childe cryeth the mother wepeth Both loke for presente death But what Is god vntrue vniust false in his promise Stoppeth he his cares that he may not heare the lameÌ„table coÌ„plaintes of the to much wretched Despiseth he the teares of the mother and the cryinges of the child Yea rather when no remedie is loked for god is present god conforteth god helpeth because he wyll be founde a god which is faythful in all his wordes whych is the self trueth and can not lye whiche leaueth no maÌ„ socurles that calleth on him He sendeth his holye angel to the miserable womaÌ„ when no mortall creature is present to help He conforteth her and biddeth her not feare for god hath heard saith he the voice of the chylde where he lyâ—th He sheweth her a well of water to confort both her her childe withal and afterwarde prâ—miseth that the lad Ismaell shall be a noble man and greate multitudes of people shall ryse of hym Theo. O historie ful of most swete consolacion This is a confortable pleasaunt mirrour for all people to beholde specially for them that are maried and yet se not suche and so great is theyr pouertie howe they maye bee able to noryshe them If the maried folke liue according to their vocacion and trauaile in their estate in the feare of the lord though they haue neuer so manye childreÌ„ and great familie yet shall the sea soner be without water and fyshe and the land without grasse and cattell then any of them shall perishe for honger If god prouided for Ismaell and his mother in the wyldernes wher no sustenauÌ„ce was to be gotten wher no maÌ„ was present but brute beastes foules of the ayer wyl he leaue theÌ„ socourles that put their trust in him be-being in cities townes and villages and coÌ„uersant with men wher all thinges do abouÌ„d Chri. If the pore maried meÌ„ dyd earnestly wey and diligentlye ponder this moste swete and confortable historie they shulde neuer dispaire of a liuinge neither for theÌ„ selues nor for their chyldren and familie neither wold they seke any vnlawefull meanes as by stierring vp coÌ„mocions makynge insurreccions spoylynge other mens goodes c how to auoid their misery but rather laboure to answere their vocacion and without ceassing call on the name of the lorde which wyl deale no lesse fauorably wyth theÌ„ then he dyd w t Hagar and Ismaell Putte thou thy truste sayeth Dauid in the lorde and do good so shalte thou dwell in the earthe and be fedde wyth the beste daynties thereof Delyghte thou in the lorde and he shal geue the thy hertes desyre Committe thy waye to the lorde and put thy truste in hym and he shall brynge it to passe He shal make thy ryghteousenes as cleare as the lyghte and thy iuste dealing as the noone daye Holde the styll in the lorde and abyde pacientlye vpon him c Agayne Put your truste in God alwaye O ye people powre oute your hertes before hym for he is oure hope Philemo In the dayes of Isahac Abrahams sonne there fell a greate dearthe in the lande where he dwelte in so muche that he remoued frome that place and tooke his iourneye towarde Abimeleche Kynge of the Philistines euen vnto Gerer And whyle he was yet in hys iourney god spake vnto hym and sayde Go not doune into Egipte but abide in the land which I shal shew vnto the soieorne in this land and I wyl be wyth the and wyll blesse the. For vnto the and to thy sede I wyl geue al these contreis Behold goddes carefull prouidence for his seruauntes Isahac wyshing to escape the cruell daries of honger hunteth aboute where he and hys maye conuenieÌ„tlye dwell And rather then he wolde die for honger he after the example of his father AbrahaÌ„ determineth to go doune into Egipte God which is able to fede and to saue his people in euery place for the earth is the lordes and al that is conteined therin for biddeth Isahac to go doune into Egipt wylleth him to tary styll in the contrey and promiseth to blesse hym yea to geue to him and to his sede all the contreis of that lande Isahac obeying the voyce of god taried in that coÌ„trey waxed exceâ—ding myghty wealthy ryche For god gaue him greate abundaunce of corne of shepe and of oxen yea wyth a myghtie household dyd the lorde blesse hym insomuch that the kinge him selfe came vnto him desired to make acouenauÌ„t of peace and amitie with him vnto suche so great power was Isahac growen He which afore knew not wher coÌ„modiously to lyue and in y â— contrey which he wolde haue forsaken for penurie and honger euen he nowe is become so ryche that the kynge him selfe is glad to come to hym and to desire his fauour Eus. O wonderful workes of god Chri. Here finde we that true whiche is spoken by the wyseman Put thy truste in god and abide in thine estate for it is an easye thinge in the syght of god to make a poore man ryche yea and that sodenlye The blessinge of god hasteth to the rewarde of the ryghteous and maketh his frutes sone to florishe and prosper Theo. This in dede was proued true in Isahac phil Not in Isahac onlye but in so many as euer obeyed the voyce of God and liued according to their vocacion God is the same god to vs all that he was to Abraham and Isahac if we by stronge faythe hange on hym
and on his fatherlye prouidence as they dyd if the same integritie of maners and innocencie of lyfe apeareth in vs that shined in them Euse. This beneficence and liberalitie of god towarde Isahac ought to encourage al men to tary at home in their own contreis and houses to be contente wyth theire estate callinge and not to stray a brode for liuinges as many idle braynes do nowe a daies leauinge theyr wyues and theire children in greate care and miserie and manie of them neuer returning vnto theÌ„ Neyther ought men to doubte but that god whiche is almyghty and able to do what soeuer hys good pleasure is wyl as wel prouide for them at home in their poore cotages as in the haulles of Princes The blessinge of the lorde maketh men ryche as for carefull trauaile it doth nothing therto Phil. When Isahac sent his soÌ„ne Iacob to Mesopotamia y â— he might take to wife one of y â— doughters of LabaÌ„ Iacob as he passed forthe on his iourney made a vow sayd If god wyl be with me wil kepe me in this iourney which I go and wyll geue me bread to eate clothes to put on so y â— I come againe vnto my fathers house in safetye theÌ„ shal y â— lorde be my god this stone which I haue set vp an ende shall be gods house and of all that thou shalte geue me wyll I geue the tenthe vnto thee Here Iacob desireth gods assisteÌ„ce in his iourney that he may go and come safe And as touching worldly goodes he desireth no more but foode and raiment And so nothing douting of goddes helpe he goeth forward on his iourney according to the coÌ„maundemeÌ„t of his father Nowe behold the louing kyndnes of god toward Iacob God which neuer leaueth them socourles that calle on hys holye name appeareth vnto Iacob in his slepe and promiseth that he wyl geue him his seede the lande that he slepeth vpon and that his posteritie shall be great and many that they shall be as the dust of the earth and shal spread abroude to the weaste to the easte to the north and to the south yea and that in his sede all kinreds of the earth shall be blessâ—d Chri. Here are mo benefites promised to Iacob then he asked Phil. Yea mo then he durst haue required of god Euse. But what of the requestes coÌ„cerninge his iourney Phil. Ye shal heare Wher as Iacob desired god to be with him and to kepe him in his iourney god sayd vnto him on this maner Behold I am with the and wyll be thy keper in all places whither thou goest and wyl bring the againe into this lande neither wil I leaue the vntil I haue made good al that I haue promised the. According to goddes promise Iacob had a prosperous iourney trauailynge into Mesopotamia Of whose coÌ„minge when LabaÌ„ heard vnto whom he was sente of his father Laban for very ioye ranne to mete him enbrased him and kissed him and brought him to his house Theo. Thys was good lucke Chri. Good lucke in dede Phi. So worketh god for hys seruauntes which hath all mens hartes in his hande Theo. But what entertainement had Iacob afterwarde Phil. Iacob taried wyth Laban twenti yeres in the which tyme God dyd not only sende him bread clothes accordinge to hys requeste but also such wiues as his harte desired wyth manye goodly children Yea God so blessed Iacob that he was excedinge ryche in gold and siluer in maide seruauntes and men seruauntes in shâ—pe Camels Asses goates kyne c. And afterwarde God brought him home again into his contreye bothe saffelye and wealthely Who will now distrust the promyse of suche a Lorde so liberall so bounteous so beneficial Euse. This historie is greatlye coÌ„fortable for al godly trauaâ—lers by coÌ„treies hereof may they learne y â— god wil not forsake theÌ„ nor leue theÌ„ socourles but seÌ„d theÌ„ al things necessary in their iourney defeÌ„d them frome theire ennemies and safely bryng them whoÌ„ agayn if they cal on his holy name caste their care on hym Chri. So sayth the Psalmographe he shall giue his Aungels charge ouer the to kepe the in al thy wayes They shal beare the in theire handes that thou hurte not thy foote against a stone God shall defende the vnder hys wynges thou shalt be safe vnder hys fethers His faithfulnes trueth shal be thi sheld buckelar Thou shalt not be afraid for ani terrour by nyght nor for y â— arrowe y â— flyeâ—th by y â— day Againe my helpe cometh euen from y â— lord which hath made heaueÌ„ earth He wil not suffer thi foote to be moued he that kepeth the will not sleape Behold he that kepeth Israel shal neither slomber nor sleape The Lorde hym selfe is thy keper the Lorde is thy defence vpon thy ryghte hande So that the sunne shall not burne the by daye neither the moone by nyght The Lord shal preserue the from all euyl yea it is euen he that shal kepe thy soule The Lord shal preserue thy goinge oute and thy comminge in from thys time forth for euermore Theo. Thesâ—e be swete and comfortable scriptures Phil. I graunt to the faithefull whiche depend altogether on God and on hys fatherlye prouidence But the vnfaithfull whiche truste on them selfes on their owne wysdome and pollicy fele no sauour nor swetnes in them as saynt Paule saith a naturall man perceaueth not the thinges that beloÌ„g to the spirit of god for they are folyshnes vnto hym But let vs beholde mo histories which shal declare set forth goddes hiâ— prouidence singular liberalite toward his seruauntes y â— we mai learne perfectli to haÌ„ge on the lorde our god Ye reade in the first boke of Moses that in the time of Iacob whom we spake of a litle afore there was a great dearth in al contreis in somuch that in the laÌ„de of Canaan there was no vitaile to be gotten for money Now behold the prouidence of god God aforeseyng this plage of famine to the entente that his seruauntes shulde not peryshe in tyme of honger for lacke of fode wonderfully sent Ioseph afore into Egipte And although his brothers solde him in to a straunge land by this meanes sekyng his destruccion yet god turned thys his seruitude vnto his honour and the euel that they dyd to theyr brother vnto their profite wealthe and commoditie For god exalted Ioseph and set vp his honour aboue all the lordes and princes of Egipte euen nexte vnto the Kynge was he in dignitie in somuch that he hadde the rule of all the kynges dominions did what semed him good in his owne eyes such fauour founde he in the syght of the kynge thorow goddes working Now when this dearth was also felte in the lande of Canaan and Iacob w t his familie in great daunger thereof Iacob hearinge that corne was to be sold in
as y e Psalmographe sayeth The eyes of all thynges loke and wayte vpon the O Lorde and thou geueste them meate in due tyme. Thou openest thy hande and replenishest all thinges lyuynge wyth thy blessynge Ageine They that feare the Lord shal haue no scarsenes Thei whyche seke the Lorde shall wante noâ— good thynge Chri. God shall soner cease to be God then such as vnfainedly trust in hym shal peryshe for honger Phil. As y e Israelites murmured for meat so likwise did they for water They came to Moses chide with him yea thei wer almost redye to stone him and saide Gyue vs water to dryncke Wherefore haste thou broughte vs oute of Egipte to kyll vs and oure chyldren and cattalle wyth thyrste The Lorde God styll conâ—â—derynge hys promyses and not weyinge their in fidelitie nor vnthanckefulnes woÌ„derfullye and agaynste all naturall and humayne expectacioÌ„ gaue them plentye of swete waters oute of the harde stonye rocke Euse. O the maruelouse worckes of God He is not called almyghtye wythoute a canse For he dothe what so euer hys good pleasure is It is truelye sayde of Dauid greate is oure Lord and greate is his power yea his wysdome is infinite Who wil now doubt of necessari foode seing God so meruelously fedeth the vnfaithful vnthaÌ„ckefull disobediente people Phi. At a nother tyme the rascall people y t was amonge them beinge wearye of the meate sent downe from heauen fell a lustynge and turned theÌ„ selfes and wept euen as did also y e children of Israel and sayde who shall gyue vs fleshe to eate We remember the fyshe which we did eat in Egipte for nought and y e cucuÌ„bers and melons lekes onions garlecke But nowe oure soule is dryed away for we can se nothing else saue Manna And oure soule lotheth thys lyghte breade Ye see that these people are styl like them selfes that is vnfaithful vnthaÌ„kefull disobediente O frowarde and croked generacioÌ„ sayth Moses do ye so rewarde the Lorde O ye folyshe people and vnwyse Chri. It is not without a cause that sainte Stephen called that nacion styfnecked vncircumcised hartes and eares and suche as alwaye resyste the holy ghost Phil. Wel yet note Notwithstandinge their infidelitie vnthanckefulnes and disobedience God continued styl iuste in his promises faythfull in his wordes true in his dealynges for accordinge to their desire for his promyse sake he wolde not suffer them to wante but gaue them whatsoeuer they lusted for Ther weÌ„t forth a wynde frome the Lorde saythe the scripture and brought quailes from the sea and let them fal about the host eueÌ„ a daies iournei rouÌ„d about on euery syde of y e hoste and they dyd flye in the ayer as it were two cubites hye ouer the earthe And the people stode vp all that daye and all that nyghte and on the morow they gathered quayles And he that gathered a litle gathered ten homers full And they spred them abrode rounde aboute the hoste Thus se ye how God for hys promyse sake cheryshed the Israelytes although vnfaythful vnthanckefull and disobedient euen as y e Nurse doth hir sucking babe and fedde them by the space of .xl. yeres in y e wildernes without their paine care trayuayle or laboure Theo. If God shewed such gentilnes to the vnfaithefull and disobediente for hys promyse sake howe much more wyll he shew hym selfe a gentle and louynge father to them that fear hym beleue in hym loue hym and for their powers laboure to walke in hys holye path-waies Phil. Such shal neuer waÌ„t Nowe marcke what followeth As god prouided meate for the Israelites so in lyke manner suffered he them not to go naked nor to peryshe for colde but all that tyme of fortye yeres when they were in the wyldernesse he so preserued their clothes that they waxed not olde and soo saued their shooes that they were not worne but both garmentes and shooes so whole at the fortie yeres ende as they were at their fyrste comminge into wildernes I haue led you forty yeres in the wyldernesse sayeth god and your clothes are not waxed olde vpon you neyther are the shooes of your feete worne Ye haue eaten no breade nor dronke wyne or stronge drynke that ye mighte knowe that I am the Lord youre god Moses also sayth god humbled the suffered the to honger fed the wyth Manna whiche neyther thou nor thy fathers knew of to make the to knowe that man dothe not lyue by breade onlie but by euerye word that procedeth out of the mouthe of the Lorde doth a man lyue Thy rayement waxed not olde vpon the neyther did thy foote swell those fortie yeres Here of maye ye perceaue howe bountifull God is in geuynge foode and apparell to them speciallye y t feare hym and kepe his holy commauÌ„dementes Who wyll nowe be careful eyther for the bellye or for the backe as they saye God made theÌ„ both God wyl nourishe them both Eus. These histories do so set forth the kindenes of God towarde maÌ„ that none excepte verye infideles haue iuste occasion to dispayre of Gods liberalitie if they cal on his name and trauaile accordinge to theire vocacion phil There is no thyng more certeine But leste any man should thyncke that thys kyndnes of god ceassed in them of whome I haue hitherto spoken I wyll rehearse one or two histories mo out of the olde testamente and then alledge certeine oute of the new wherof ye maye learne that other proued the lyke kyndenes at the hand of god euen as wel in the newe testament as in the olde that by this meanes ye maye be perfectlye perswaded god to be the Lorde of the same liberalitie now that he was afore alike kynde to his seruauÌ„tes in all ages Who knoweth not y â— Elias was an excellent Prophet of god feruent in spirit vehement in worde and ielous for the glory of god Chri. The scriptures testifie no lesse of him Theo. Elias stode vp as fyre saith the wiseman and his worde brent lyke a cresset Whyle he liued he was afrayed of no Prince and no man myghte ouercome him Of his prayse wryteth Iesus the sonne of Syrache Phil. Thys man of God lyued in the time of Achab kinge of Israel in whose dayes God sent a greate dearth into the world for it rained not vpon the earth by the space of iii. yeres and .vi. moneths In this plage of famine whereof innumerable wythoute dyed se howe God prouyded for hys seruaunt Elias Fyrste when the waters began to be dryed vp God sente hym to the brooke Cherith where he promysed to gyue hym drincke whyche thyng he vnfainedly performed so that wheÌ„ other perished for lacke of dryncke he hadde Gods plentye inoughe as they vse to saye Now as touchyng his meate behold the wonderfull power of God whyche commaunded the Rauens to fede him and to bringe him meate The Rauens saith y â— scripture brought hym
breade and fleshe in the morning and likewise bread and fleshe in the eueninge he dronke of the broke Behold marke well howe god prouideth for his seruauÌ„t He maketh the foules of the ayer to be Elias cookes to bring him meat and god him self is butler geuith him drinke at y e broke Cherith O what a god haue the faythful how tender gentle howe louinge and kynde is he to al theÌ„ that put their truste in him Rather then his seruaunt shulde die for meate he maketh the foules of the ayer to bring him thinges necessary for the sustenauÌ„ce of his bodie O behold diâ—â—gently marke y e fatherli care which the lord god hath for his seruauÌ„tes Euen as a father pitieth his owne childreÌ„ eueÌ„ so is the lorde merciful to theÌ„ y â— feare him It is trulie sayd of y â— Psalmograph The lord is at hand to all theÌ„ that cal on him yea to all theÌ„ that call on him in truth Theo. Elias myghte ryghte well saye as Dauyd wrytethe of hym selfe The Lorde fedethe me therefore can I lacke nothinge He shal fede me in a greâ—e pasture leade me for the besyde the waters of conforte Eus. As God dealte wyth Elyas and Dauid so wyll he deale with vs if we labour to please him as they dyd Chri. So I truste for there is no respecte of parsones w t God And what so euer is written is written for our learnyng y t thorow pacience comfort of y e scriptures we may haue hope Phil. Ye saye truethe Neyther dyd the care of God cease for hys seruaunte Elias wyth that benefyte wherof ye haue hitherto hearde For God is no chaungelinge whom he loueth he loueth to the end Therfore wheÌ„ the brooke was dryed vp because there fell no rayne vpon the earth God whych neuer leaueth his seruauntes socourles â–ª sayd to Elias vp and get the to Sarepta whyche is in Sidon and dwel ther beholde I haue commaunded a widowe there to sustayne the. So he arose and went to Sarepta And when he came to the gate of the citye the wydowe was there gatheryng styckes And he called to hir and sayd fet me I praye the a lytle water in a vessel y t I may drincke And as she was goyng to fet it he cryed after hir and sayd Brynge me I praye the a morsell of breade also in thyne hande She sayd As trulie as the Lord thy God lyueth I haue no breade redye but euen an handefull of meale in a barrell and a lytle oyle in a cruse And beholde I am gatherynge two styckes for to go in dresse it for me my sonne that we may eate dye And Elias sayde vnto hir feare not come and do as thou hast said but make me thereof a lytle cake fyrste of al and bringe it vnto me and afterwarde make for the thy sonne For thus sayeth the Lorde God of Israel the meale in the barel shal not be waked neyther shal the oyle in the cruse be diminished vntyl the Lord haue sent raine vpon the earth And she dyd as Elyas sayd And she and hyr house did eate a good space and the meale wasted not out of y â— barrel neyther was the oyle spent out of the cruse accordyng to the word of the lord whych he spake by the hand of Elyas Here agayne ye se what prouysyon God made for Elyas and howe benefycyall he also was to Elyas hostesse and to her householde because she entertayned him so gentyllye dyd what so euer he commaunded Theo. These be coÌ„fortable hystories Euse. And written for oure conforte Phil. At another tyme when he fled frome wicked Iesabel kynge Achabs wyfe which sware that she wolde surelye sley him because he had kylled all Baals priestes whom she ful deintely nouryshed at her owne table howe dyd god euen when he was a slepe sende his Angell vnto him wyth a loafe of broyled bread and a vessel of water and bad him eate For thou hast yet sayth he a great iourney to go And in the strength of that meate sayeth the scripture walked he fortie dayes and fortie nyghtes euen vnto Horeb the mounte of God Here se ye that when we sleape god watcheth and careth for vs euen as he cared for Peter and sente his Aungell to deliuer him oute of pryson when Peter was in a sounde sleape and thoughte nothynge at all of the matter Beholde sayeth the Psalmographe he that kepeth Israell shall neyther slomber nor sleape Note agein that wyth one meales meate God is able to preserue vs fourty dayes and fourty nyghtes as he dyd the Prophet Helyas yea all our lyfe tyme if it be his pleasure so that it is trulye sayde man shall not lyue wyth breade alone but wyth euerye worde that commeth out of y â— mouth of God And as God made prouysion for Elias euen so stoored he vp Abdia Gouernour of wycked kynge Achabs house to petye hys Prophets and to prouyde for them whyche when diuilishe Quene Iesabel destroied the Prophetes of God toke an huÌ„dred of them and hyd them fyfti in one caue and fyftye in a nother prouided bread and water for theÌ„ suche and so great is the care whiche the Lorde taketh for hys seruauntes vniuersallye Chri. It is therefore truly sayd of the Princelyke Prophet thei y â— seke the Lord shal want no good thyng Ageine I haue bene younge and am waxen olde and I haue not sene y e righteous forsaken nor hys chyldren beggynge theyr breade on the earthe Theo. These be comfortable histories for christeÌ„ and Godli preachers whom for the moste part the wycked and vnthanckefull world neglecteth despyseth set noughte by yea and maketh les prouision for them then for theire malte horses and bandedogges Here maye the true Prechers se y t althoughe the world regardeth them nothing at all and suffereth them so muche as in them is not onlye myserable to lyue but also to peryshe for honger yet God whose ministers they are whose worde they preache wyl not suffer them extremelye to waÌ„t but wyll eyther wonderfullye fede them hym selfe as he dyd Elyas or elles store vp some good Abdie to make prouision for theÌ„ as this Abdi dyd for the Prophetes of the Lorde when they hyd them in the caues from the tiraÌ„ny of quene Iesabel prouided thinges necessary for their liuinge Phil. We reade also that a certeine womaÌ„ of y â— wiues of the Prophetes came vnto Heliseus the Prophet declaringe vnto him that her husband was dead that for dette which she ought and was not able to paye the creditour was come to fet her .ii. sonnes to be his bond men This woman was a Prophetes wyfe Her husband is dead which lefte her both pore and in dette Comforte hathe she none but only the coÌ„pany of her .ii. soÌ„nes which also the creditour wold take awaye and