he shuld not prease into the commoÌ„ hal Wher also appeareth the wysdome of the Scribe that pacified the people being so moued and how he sent euery maÌ„ to his owne house And when the Tribune had commaunded that Paule shuld be beaâ—en and scourged Act. 22. Paule saide vnto the Centurion that stode by hym Is it lawful for you to scourge a Romain and vncondempned Then they whiche should haue punished and examyned him departed from him When Paul purposed to sayl out of Greece into Syria Act. 20. and hearde saye that the Iewes laid wait for hymâ— he wisely returned through Macedonia nor refused not the companye of hys brethren which wer of diuers cities Paule vnderstanding that th one part was Pharises He cryed oute I am a Pharisey And certayne of the Phariseis stode vp and foughte for hym Act. 23. And after when hee harde saye that some of the Iewes had made a vowe not to taste nor eate nothynge vntil they had slaine him he caused the to be shewed to the Tribune that which sent him with armed men to Felix the ruler of Syria When Festus the president would haue sente Paule at the instaunce of the Iewes to Ierusalem He wiselye perceiuing their malice Act. 25. appealed to Cesar. ¶ Of deceit and subtlety Capi. liiii Gen. 3. IT is manifest that the deuel in the forme of a Serpent was the fyrst master of al craftines lies and deceitfulnesse the which beynge more subtyll then all other beastes deceyued the fyrst woman he would not borde the fyrste man because he knewe that he had more discreatyon then the woman Laban Iacobs father in law went very ofteÌ„times about to deceiue him Gen. 29.30 now in his wife now in his wages But our Lord in the fraud and guyle of those that wold haue circumueÌ„ted him was with him and aided hym WheÌ„ Laban searched Iacobs houshold stuffe Gen. 31. and cam to search Rachels tent she craftely deluded his carefull searching Iacobs sonnes being as it wer in a madnesse fury for the inforcemente rape of their syster Dina Gen. 34. counsaild Sychem the people and inhabytors of the Citye to be circumcised where by they sodenly rushed in vpon them and easely slue them Iacobs Chyldren woulde haue deceiued their father Gen. 37. when they dipped Iosephes coate in the blud of a Gote and sente that shoulde say vnto him we haue found this see whether it be thy sonnes coate or no. Pharo the king of Egipte bethought him of diuers craftes and subtleties Exo. 1.5 vtterly to extirpate the children of Israel and destroy them in Egypte and by no meanes suffer them to depart the country Pharaos wise men and enchaunters did by their sorcery Exo. 7. as touchyng the fyrste two signes euen as Moses dyd Chore and his felowes spake maliciously when they stode against Moses and Aaron Nume 16. saying Ye make muche to do It is sufficiente for vs that all the multitude are holy euery one of them and our Lord is among theÌ„ Whye heaue ye your selues vp aboue the congregation of our Lord Balaach king of the Moabites perceiuinge that he coulde not ouercome the children of Israel by fortitude and strength Nume 23. wold haue ouerthrown theÌ„ with Balaams cursse The Gabaonites hearynge what Iosua had done at Iericho and Hai Iosu. 9. thought craftely how they might do that they shoulde not be vtterlye destroyed The Philistines toke good hede that ther shuld no smith be found thorow out all the land of Israell least haply the Hebrues shuld make theÌ„ swerdes or Speares 1. regu 13. Saule disdaining the prosperity of Dauid 1. regu 18. spake of his daughter Michol whome Dauid desired to haue I wyl geue her vnto him that it maye be to hys rebuke and shame and that the hand of the Philistines may be vpon hym Wherfore Saule said vnto Dauid thou shalt this daye be my sonne in law in two thynges Dauid by greate subtletye woulde haue cloked his iniquyty 2. regn 11. when he seÌ„t for Urias to the entent he should go and slepe wyth Bersabe hys wyfe Ionadab Semnas sonne taughte Ammon the sonne of Dauid a wicked deceytfulnesse or subteltye 2. regu 13 when hee said vnto hym lay thee downe on thy bed and make thy selfe sycke For so thou maiste haue Thamar Absolons syster alone the which tempted him When Absolon was purposed to reuenge the iniurye done to his sister Thamar 2. regu 13. whom Ammon her brother had forced he made a great banket inuited hys brother and euen when he was meary with wine and banketing he caused him to be slaine Absolon ambitiously couetinge hys fathers kingdome 2. regu 15. began malitiously to flatter and dispraising his fathers factes and dedes bosted and said that he would do good iustice Ieroboam thoughte in hys hearte 3. regu 12. nowe shall the kingdome retourne to the house of Dauid if thys people go vp and do sacrifice in the house of our Lord at Ierusalem wher vppon the kynge tooke counsell and made two calues of gold 3. Re. 20. Achab the kynge of Israell sayde certayne generall wordes to the messengers of Benadab the kyng of Siria offeringe vnto him mooste lyberallye both hys men and hys goodes By the whych he descending to more specyall thinges would haue burdened him very sore Sedechias the sonne of Chanaam Baals prophet made him self hornes of Iron as thoughe he hadde bene a true Prophet saying vnto kynge Achab Thus saithe oure Lorde 3. re 22. with these hornes shalt thou push the Syrians At lengthe he deceiued hym caused him to go to battail Gehezi runnynge after Naaman did coloure his peticion verye craftelye and subtellye 4. re 5. sayinge my master hath sent me and saithe Se. there be come to me two younge men geue them one Talent of syluer and two chaunge of garmentes Iezabel that mischeuous woman vsed a very cruel deceitfulnes and gile to obtaine Nabothes bineyarde for her husband 3. re 21. Athalia the mother of Echozia king of Iuda saw that her sonne was dead she destroyed al the kinges seede 4. re 11. and raigned vi yeare Rapsaces Sennacherib king of Assirians messenger spake with a loude voyce 4. re 18. that the people whyche were vpon the wal might here and feare Whilst Abia the kyng of Iuda dyd comforte hys hooste and rebuked his aduersaryes Ieroboam the kynge of Israel went about to lay deceites and to conuey men priuelye behynde hym 2. Para. 13. And when his enemies stode euen before him he compased the Iewes not taking hede therof bothe behinde and before wyth hys host The chyldreÌ„ of Israels neighbors the whiche were retourned from the captiuity of Babilon 1. Esd. 3.4 inuented many guiles and deceites 2. Esd. 4.5 to let them from the edification and buyldynge of the temple and wall of Ierusalem Esth. 3.
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
yet afterwardes he made an vndyscreate vowe Iepthe dyd wyttely perceyue who were Ephraites Iudi. 12. and who were Galaadytes by the pronouÌ„syng of thys word Schibbolech that is an eare of Corne when they sayde Schybbolech For they coulde not so pronouÌ„ce it The chyldren of Israel fyghtynge agaynste the Beniamites by policie craft fayned them selues to flye Iudi. 20. and by that meanes drewe theym oute of the City and vtterly destroyed them Saule when certayne menne dispised him 1. regu 10. and sayed how canne thys manne healpe vs dissembled the mater and made as thoughe he had not hearde them It was a poynte of greate wysedome when Dauyd beynge armed wyth Saules armour 1. regu 17. proued whether he coulde so go agaynst Goliath or no. Dauid went oute to all thynges whythersoeuer Saule sent hym 1. regu 18. and behaued him selfe wisely Dauid in the presence of Achis fained hym selfe madde 1. regu 21. and as though he hadde bene in a furye so to scape from him Abigail dyd wiselye pacifie Dauyd beinge angery wyth Nabal her husbande 1. regu 25. 2. regu 12. Nathan goinge aboute to reproue the Prophete Dauyd of hys excesse and fautes doone to Urias and hys wyfe toke and vsed wysely the manifest parable of the rich manne that tooke a shepe from a pore man Ioab vsed a wise cautel 2. regu 17 when that by a wise woman he caused Absolon to be reuoked A wise woman of Abel 2. regu 20. retourned Ioab from the obsidion and seige of the citye Bersaba hearinge that Abdonias woulde raygne for his father 3. regu 1. spake wisely vnto Dauid for her selfe and her sonne Salomon Salomom desired ofâ— god discreation and wisedome 3. regu 3â— the whiche thinge pleased god exceadyngly and wyth wisedome he graunted him many other thinges Salomon iudged wysely betwene two wâ—men that conteÌ„ded and stroue for one childe 3. regu 3. Kinge Roboam answered his people very hardely 3. regu 12. and forsakinge the good and discreate counsell that hys sadde and olde Senators gaue him he spake after the counsel of yong meÌ„ and did vnwisely When Achab king of Israel should be rebuked 3. regu 20. a certayn man of the children of the prophetes discretely proponed a parable of a man that was comended and euil kepte and saued By the whiche the king might easely perceiue his synne and wickednesse Iehu did studiuslye and prudentlye when he fayned that he would do reuerence and honoure vnto the prophetes and preastes of Baall 4. regu 10. And yet afterwardes he slewe them and destroied Baals aulter Ezechias kinge of Iuda 4. regu 18. did studiously and discreately forbyd that hys people shoulde make no answer vnto blasphemus messengers of the kinge of the Assirians For it is not expedient for faythfull people to haue vnfaythfull disputations wyth and against litigious persons Ioiada the hye preast purposing to make Ioas the sonne of Ioram kinge of Ierusalem 2. Para. 23. vsed hym selfe bothe warely and wisely Ezechias vnderstandinge that the kinge of the Assirians would come againste Ierusalem 2. Para. 32. did sâ—oppe all the well headdes without the citye and reparde the walles of the citye and couraged his menne wyth confortable wordes and at length turned him selfe to praise oure lorde Nehemias with greate discreation dyligence 2. Esd 2.3.4 solicitude and care dyd buylde a wall aboute Ierusalem The worde that zorobabel spake was a woorde of greate wisedome 3. Esd. 3. and woorthelye approued that is women haue yet more strength But aboue all thinges the truthe beareth a waye the victorye Tobias beleuinge that he shoulde dye shortelye Tob. 4. he gaue his sonne documentes and Preaceptes of greate wysedome And amonge all other he sayde Aske euer counsell of the wyse Iudith shewed greate wysedome in her woordes Iudith 11 And all Holofernes seruaunts marueled at her wisedome and sayed one to another There is not suche a woman vppon earth in bewtye contenaunce and discreation of wordes Mardocheus required Esther with greate wisedome to helpe the Iewes Esth. 4. Sayinge yf thou holdest thy peace at this time the Iewes shal be otherwise deliuered and thou and thy fathers house destroyed And who knoweth whether thou art come to the kyngedome for this causes sake God gaue vnto Daniel and his felowes connyng and learnyng in all scripture and wisedome Dani. 1. but to Daniell speciallye he gaue the vnderstandinge of visions and dreames Daniell did expounde Nabuchodonosors dreames most wisely Dani. 2.4.13 And afterwardes we do reade although it chaunced before of two olde preastes the whiche hadde geuen as he moste wyselye perceyued false testimonye and wytnes agaynste the Innocent Susanna It was tolde Iudas that Nicanor came vnto him but vnder deceyt 1. Mach. 7 and that he would take him wherfore he gate him wisely away from him and would se his face no more Simon knew that Tryphon disseÌ„bled in his wordes 1. Mach. 13 yet commaunded he a hundred talentes of syluer and Ionathas two sonnes to be deliuered vnto hym least he should be the greater enemy against the people of Israel and say because he sent him not the monye and the children therefore is Ionathas dead The vii brethren with their good mother 2. Mac. 7 by theyr words whych they had one to another and to the tirant declared that they had great wisdom There was a certain day appoynted when Iudas shoulde speake secreatlye alone wyth Nicanor 2. Mach. 14 Neuerthelesse Iudas commaunded certaine menne of armes to be set and to wait in conuenient places least ther shuld sodenly arise any euil thorowe the enemyes It appeareth by the coÌ„munication that the blessed vyrgin had wyth the aungel that she had great discresyon and wisdome Luke 1. For she casting in her minde what maner of salutatioÌ„ that shuld be said how shal this be seyng I know not a man And when the childe Iesus of xii yeare old taried at Ierusalem was founde in the temple sitâ—ynge in the middest of the doctors LuKe. 2. hearinge them and posing them al that hearde hym were astonied at his wisdom vnderstanding and answers Our Lord commended the vniust steward Luke 16. because he had done wisely Our Lord verye well deluded the curious interrogacion of the priestes and elders askinge him Luke 20. by what authority he did those miracles he said I also wil aske you one thing From whence is the baptime of Iohn When Paul and Sylas wer put in prison the Magestrates sente the next day after Act. 16. and commaunded that they should be losed Paule said wisely They haue beaten vs openlye vncondempned Notwithstandyng that we are Romaines and haue caste vs into prison and now wold they send vs away priuely When the citye of Ephesus was sore moued and in a confusion Act. 19. Paul did wisely and humblye agree to the counsaile of his frendes that
heary clothes withall theyr hartes cried vnto oure Lorde that he would viset hys people And in the prayse of Iudyth it is wrytteÌ„ that she ware a smock of heer and fasted all the dayes of her life except the Sabothes Iudith 8. and new mones and the solempne dayes of the house of Israell Notwithstanding that Iob was a simple Iob. 1.42 a true and a iust man such one as feared God and eschued euyll yet he sayeth I do penaunce in duste and ashes The captiuity of Ierusalem beyng at hand Esaias said Esa. 22 Our Lord God cald men in that day to wepynge and mourning to bauldnesse and gyrding about wyth sackcloth The Niniuites at Ionas preching beleued GOD Ionas 3 and Proclaimed fastynge and arayd them selues in sack cloth as well the greate as the small of them Timotheus host drawynge neare Machabeus and they that were wyth hym 2. mach 10. prayed vnto our Lord sprinkled ashes vpon their heds beinge gyrded with heary cloth about theyr loynes fel downe before the aultare and besought our Lord that he woulde bee mercifull to them and an ennemye to theyr ennemyes Ihon the Baptist was sanctified or euer he came out of his mothers woÌ„b math 11. and nourished with his holy parents and fled into the desart whâ—re he led so austere and so hard a life that as it is sayd he nother dyd eat nor drinke ye and adde thys to that he was not clothed for Camels heere is no mete garment for man How gladly our Lord receiued the sinneful to penaunce math 4. it appeareth by this Lu. 5. Lu. 7 that he began hys preaching with penaunce Also he saith that he came for that math 9. math 26 And declared the same by hys workes and by the example of Mary And of zacheus Lu. 15 Luk. xix And by the example of Peter And by diuers symylytudes the whyche hee wrote of the Sheape that was loste in the desarte And of the groate that the woman loste in her house And of the Prodygall chylde whome the Father thoughte was deade and after reuyued Mary Magdalen the example patrone of penance came vnto our lord vncommaunded Lu. vii nor was not ashamed of those that were at table wyth hym she stode at hys fete behind him weping And to brynge menne to penaunce he put an example of certain vppon whome fel the tour in Siloe and slue them Lu. xiii And then he saith Except ye repent yee shall al likewise perysh And as touchynge the example of the sheape that pearyshed and the grote that the woman lost and afterwardes was found Our Lord dothe say Lu. xv that there is in heauen more ioye ouer one synner that repenteth and doth penaunce then ouer ninety and nyne iust persones whyche neade no penaunce Oure lorde gaue vnto the woman that was taken in aduoutry Ihon. viii a lyttle and a short penaunce saying Go and synne no more Iudas seynge that oure lorde was condempned Math. xxvii repented hym self and brought againe the xxx plates of syluer saying I haue synned betraying the innocent bloud Truely he sayde the truth but inasmuch as he dispeared he deserued no forgeuenesse Peter denying his master in the hie preastes courte dyd synne Math. 26. but when hee was willynge to wepe and to do penaunce Luke 22. he went oute And note that Luke dothe ad to this that our lorde turned backe and loked vppon Peter Certaine Iewes which were compuncte and prycked in theire hartes Act. 2. sayed ye menne and brethren what shall we do Peter sayed vnto them Do penaunce and be baptised euery one of you When they hearde Peters reasons wherefore he came to Cornelius Act. 11. and that he hadde baptised hym the brethren helde they re peace and gloryfied god sayinge Then hath God also to the gentyles grauÌ„ted repentauÌ„ce and penaunce to life ¶ Of the honoure due vnto our parentes Capitu. lxii Sem and Iaphet deserued theyr fathers blessinge Gen. 9. in asmuche as they dyd theyr dewtye vnto hym beynge bare But his sonne Cain was cursed because he deryded the nakednesse of his father The fathers blessinge was a thing of greate estimation amonge oure elders Gen. 27. As it appeareth in Iacob and Esau for they carefully soughte for the same Although Esau was a wicked man reproued of god and hatinge his brother Iacob Gen. 27. yet hee woulde not kyll him duringe the lyfe of his father Isaac For he sayed The dayes of my fathers sorowe will come In that he honoured his father beinge a frayde to offende him Iudas bounde him selfe to a greate paine Gen. 42.43 When he saied to his father If I bringe not Beniamin againe and deliuer him vnto the. Then lette me beare the blame for euer And yt is to be noted that wheÌ„ Ruben said slaye my two soÌ„nes if I bring him not to the again that he agreed not vnto him But yet he agreed vnto Iudas sayinge the other forsayde wordes The selfe same Iudas desiring Ioseph to sende Beniamin again to his father amonge other things he repeted the forsaide wordes by the whiche he bounde him selfe to his father Gen. 44. And saied more ouer I caÌ„not go vp to my father if the childe be absent onelesse I would se and be a witnes of the calamite wretchednes that shall come on and oppresse my father Iacob blessinge his chyldren spake thus against Ruben Gen. 4â— Thou art caste out vnstable as water Thou shalt not growe and be cheafeste because thou wentest vp to thy fathers bedde and dydest defile it Our lorde commaunded by Moses that if a man haue a son that is stubburn and disobedient Deut. 21. that the people of the citye shoulde stone him to death Our lord recompenst the euell that Abimilech did vnto his father in sleynge his .lxx. brethren Iudi. 9. The childreÌ„ of Hely wold not heare theyr father rebukinge corrâ—tynge them 1. Reg. 2.4 and therefore they felt the Uegeaunce and punishment of god Because that Ionathas tasted a litle honye against his fathers inhibition 1. Regu 14 his father iudged him to death but yet the people deliuered him that he dyed not Dauid flâ—ing from the presence and face of Saule beinge in great necessite remembred his parentes 1 Regu 22. and diligentlye commended them to king Moab Absolon labored to expel his father Dauid oute of his kingdome 2. regu 15 but yet his chaunce was not good Salomon rose to mete hys mother comming vnto him and bowed him selfe vnto her 3. regum 2. And there was a seate set for the kinges mother Two of Sennacheribs sonnes slew hym 4. regu 19. and yet nether of them raigned after him Olde Tobias instructing his soÌ„ne amonge other things he saied Tobi. 4. When God taketh awaye my soule burye thou my bodye and holde thy mother in honoure all the dayes
to death The kinge that was weke harted fearfull answered theÌ„ Lo he is in your handes For the kinge may denye you nothinge Darius the king of Persia ordained by the counsell of his great estates a certain cruel decre and law Dani. 6. the which Daniell obserued not and therefore he was put into the Lions denne and it dyspleased the kynge yet he durst not manfully resyste hys estates and lordes When Iudas Machabeus saw that his hoost fayled him and that he must nedes fight 1. Mach. 9. it brake his hart and he was slaine in the battaile And yet we reade not that Iudas was ether in war or any other where a frayde before Nicanor made peace amity with Iudas Machabeus the which thinge displeased kinge Antiochus 2. mach 24 And he sent vnto Nicanor to seÌ„d him Iudas And although he did it muche against his wyll yet he coulde nor durst not withstande the kinges wyll and commaundement so that if he had coulde he hadde fulfilled the kinges euell intent and minde Peter walkinge vpon the sea came vnto oure lorde mat 14. But when he sawe a mighty winde he was a frayde Nicodemê° semed to be a weak sprited man Iohn 3. that he came to Iesus by night as though that by daye he durste not come vnto him When the disciples saw that oure Lord was taken and bound they forsoke him and fled mat 26. But Peter folowed him a farre of because he durst not approche neare Our Lorde reproued the weaknes of mind of his disciples because they feared the commotioÌ„ of the sea mat 8. he being present saying vnto theÌ„ why are ye fearful O ye of litle faith Peter was to feble sprited when that he after so bold wordes mat 26. at the onlye voyce of a wenche denied hys Lorde and master Likewise that yong man clothed with linnen mar 14. when the ministers caughte him he chose rather to leaue his lynnen garment and flye awaye naked then to tary there any longer The parents of him that was born blind Iohn 9. again resâ—ored to his sight by our Lorde did fearfully answere the Phariseis because they feared to be excoÌ„municate out of the sinagoge ¶ Of Fortitude and strength to do euel ¶ Ca. lxxxiiii CAine was stronger then Abell when he rose vp against hym and slue him Gen. 4. The foure kinges did trauel and labour very sore which after so greate a slaughter of men ouercam the kyng of Sodome with many other Gen. 14. and led a waye Lot Abrahams nephewe as a prisoner Abimelech Gedeons soÌ„ne sustained great fatigation and labor when he slue lxx of his brethren Iudi. 9. afterwards by stronge hande tooke Sychem the which euen sone after was slain most miserably Saule put him self to many greate pearels and trauail 1. reg 18.19 to persecute Dauid and coulde neuer obtain his purpose 2. regu 15. Absolon being mineded to expell driue his father out of his kingdom toke a great businesse vpon hym but yet his chaunce was but euil Ieroboam both by thought dede 3. regu 12. trauailed very sore to auert and turn the people of Israell from the house of Dauid once turned so to retaine and kepe them Holofernes paste ouer and wasted many countries to bring them vnder the yoke of his dominion Iudi. 1.16 But yet at the last one woman or euer he coulde accomplyshe hys purpose behedded hym Antiochus Epiphanes tooke and sustained great laboures to destroye the worship and honor of god in Iewry 2. Mach. 9. and yet at leÌ„gth brought to pouerty and confusion he died a most miserable and wretched death in a strange and a foren country The children of this world in their generation are oftentimes not onlye more prudent and wise then the children of light Luc. 16. but also of greater power for when the disciples tooke theyr reast and slept Iudas procuring hys prodition and treason watched moste diligently The chefe priestes did weary them selues with great â—are and labour to extinguish and bringe to naughte the name of Christ Mat. 28. for they corrupted the kepers of the Lordes sepulchre with great summes of mony to saye that his disciples toke him away Againe they did cast and bind his disciples in prison Act. 3.4 and now and then they monished them with wordes nowe wyth stripes and did them great iniuryes to the entent they should not speake nor teache in the name of oure Lorde Iesu. When Lysias the Tribune hadde Paule in bondes there were aboue forty Iewes which had made a vowe that they would eat nor tast nothing Act. 23. till they had killed Paule And therefore they desired that he myghte bee broughte forthe that sodenlye they myght inuade him and kil him ¶ Of Murther Capi. lxxxv OUr Lord did greuously punyshe the murther that Cain commytted Gen. 4. and yet there was no law wrytteÌ„ that did forbid it Exo. 1. 1. regu 17. Caine slue his brother Abell 2. regu 20. Moses the Egiptian Dauid Goliath 3. regu 2. Ioab Abner and Amasam Salomon Abdomam Maâ— 6. Ioab and Semet Act. 5. Herod Ihon the Baptist. Peter Ananias Saphira Gen. 9. but in theese consider the variety of intentioÌ„s and causes God would that man should vehemently much abhor murther therfore he said flesh in the life therof and in the blud therof shal ye not eat A murtherer shuld be reputed and estemed as dead And therfore Rebecca saide Gen. 27. why should I be depriued or desolate of both my soÌ„nes in one day For if Esau had slain Iacob she iudged that she had lost both If zebee and Salmana had not slain Gedeons brethren Iudi. 8. Gedeon had not afterwardes slain them Abimelech the sonne of Ieroboam slue thre score and ten of his brethreÌ„ to the entent he might raigne alone Iudi. 9. and yet he ruled not longe there but sustained great misfortune and made an euill end For because the Abimelech the priest comforted Dauid flying from Saule 1. regu 22. Saule the persecutor of Dauid slewe him with many other priestes wemeÌ„ and children Dauid caused the yong man which confest that he murthered Saul 2. regu 1. to be slain 2. Re. 11. And procured Urias deathe by the hand of Ioab Absolon slue his brother Amnon whome he inuited to the banket 2. Râ— 13. eueÌ„ as he was eatinge and mearye wyth wyne The effusion and shedding of mans bloude is so horrible 3. Re. 7. that althoughe Dauid was other waies a very good manne yet our Lord would not that hee but that Salomon hys Sonne should build him his temple Notwithstanding that Ioab was a worthy man of armes verye faithful to the Lorde hys master 3. Re. 2. yet in as much as he deceitfully slue two men all that euer he had done before was coumpted as nothinge
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
siluer smyth which made syluer shrynes for Diana called together the workmen of like occupation and styrde vp a great number of people agaynst Paule whome he sayed dyd tourne muche people from the worshippinge of the goddes When they hearde these sayinges they wer full of wrathe and cryed oute sayinge Greate is Dyana of the Ephesians As Paule was saylynge oute of Grece into Siria the Iewes layed wayte for him Act. 20. and he was counseled to retourne thorowe Macedonia And there accompanyed hym many brethren of dyuers and sondrye places When certayne Iewes of Assyria hadde seene Paule in the Temple they moued all the people and layed handes on hym cryinge Menne of Israel help And they toke Paul and drewe him out of the temple Act. 21. And as they went about to kil hym tydinges came vnto the hye capitayne that all Ierusalem was moued the whyche toke soudiers and ranne vnto them When they sawe hym and the soudyers they lefte smytynge of Paule Then the captayne toke Paule and commaunded him to be bounde with two chaynes As the Iewes cryed against Paul and caste of theyr clothes and threw duste into the ayer Act. 22. the capitayne commaunded hym to be broughte into the castell and bad that he shoulde be scourged and examyned that they myght knowe wherefore they cryed so on hym When the hye captaine had Paule in holde mo then fortye Iewes sayd vnto the hye priest We haue made a vowe that we wyll taste nor eate nothinge vntyll we haue slayne Paule Cause hym therefore to be broughte forthe For wee are readye or euer hee come near Act. 23. to kyll hym But the Capitayne beynge monyshed of thys by Paules systers sonne caused him wyth stronge hande and warelye to bee conueyed vnto Felyx the hye debitye Paule standinge before Felyx the Debity the Iewes accused him that he was a pestilente felowe and a seditious Ac. 24.25 and when he had oftentymes harde hym and the Iewes and that the tyme was sore spente and that Festus should succede him in Cesaria Act. 27.28 hee wyllynge to shewe the Iewes a pleasure lefte Paule bounde the whiche perceyuinge that Festus dyd hym wronge appealed vnto Cesar After this appeale he suffered shipwrack and at Rome was bound with chaynes and sufferd great anguyshe and tribulation Act. 14. Paul and Barnabas exhorted them to continue in the faythe affirminge that we must thorow muche tribulation enter into the kingdome of God 2. Corin. 1. The Apostle wrytinge of him selfe sayeth Brethren I woulde not haue you ignorant of oure trouble which happened vnto vs in Asia Where with we were greued out of mesure passinge strength so greatlye that it yrked vs to lyue When we were come into Macedonia our fleshe had no rest 2. Corin. 7. but we wer troubled on euery syde outward was fightinge inwarde was feare And the Apostle commendinge the Thessaloniās sayd Ye became folowers of vs 1. Thes. 1. and of our Lord receauinge the worde with much affliction with ioye of the holy ghost There was aboute a fytye yeares from the tyme of the cōminge of the holy ghost vnto the disciples Apo. 1.5 Per totum and the time that Domitian exyled Iohn the Apostle And yet we rede not that he hadde in all that tyme so many dyuine consolations as hee hadde in the lyttle tyme of his tribulation As it is euident in the fyrste of the Apocalipse ¶ Of the multitude of euyll menne Capi. Cxii WHen the floude was ther were saued onely but .viii. persons For all fleshe had corrupte hys waye vpon earth Gene. 6. The children of Israell were mo then the children of Isaac Gene. 25. and Abraham had mo chyldren by Agar then by Sara In the .v. cytyes of Sodome were not founde .x. iust persons Gen. 18.19 so there was a multitude of euyll menne and fewe good Amonge al Iosephs brethren there wer but two Gene. 37. Ruben and Iudas that labourd to saue him but yet the euyll preuailde Moses sente spyes to consyder and search the lande of promise Nume 13. but there were but two of them good Caleph and Iosue Sixe hundred thousand fyghtynge men were nombred Nume 1. of the which two only Caleph and Iosue dyd enter into the land of promise There were mo wyth Absolon going about to vsurpe his fathers kingdome 2. regu 15 then wyth Dauid that raigned wel and iustly The greater parte of the children of Israel was in the kingdom of Samaria 3. reg 12. for there were ten tribes and the worst sort of people and the least part in the kingdome of Ierusalem for there were but two tribes 3. regu 20. The nomber of the king of Siriās fighting men that fought against Israel was so great that the king said The dust of Samaria is not ynough for all the people that followe me to take euery man an handful There was so greate a nomber of fighting mē in Holofernes host Iudi. 2. that they couered the ground of the lande like the grashoppers All the inhabitours of Egipte and the wemen the which stode in a great multitude Iere. 44. did sacrifice to straunge Gods There abode no moe wyth Iudas Machabeus then 800. men 1. Mach. 9. but in Bachides and Alchinus the traitors host were 10000. men and two thousand horsmen Ther was at Ierusalem when our Lorde suffred a greate multitude of people Iohn 19. yet was there not a manne found that woulde manifestly wythstand our Lordes death so falslye and wickedly procured But euerye man cryed delyuer not Iesus but Barrabas Certaine Iewes the whych Paule found at Rome at hys fyrst comming thither Act. 28. said vnto him As concerning this sect of Christiās we knowe that euerye wher it is spoken against ¶ Of good men which lurked and were as vnknown among the euyll Cap. Cxiii ALthoughe it be wrytten that all flesh had corrupt his way vpon earth Gene. 6.7 yet our lord said vnto Noe the haue I sene righteous before mee in thys generation The iust man Lot did inhabyte among the Sodomites Gene. 13. Ioseph did lead a chast and a faithful life in Egipt Gene. 39. Our Lord appeared vnto Moses in the lande of Madian Exod. 3. when he kepte Ietros hys father in lawes sheepe in the desart Samuel euen amonge the wycked children of Hely 1. regu 2. was holy and innocent Helias iudged all that were vnder Achab and Iezabell to be Idolaters hym self excepted 3. regu 19. but our Lord saide vnto hym I shall leaue me 7000. of whiche neuer man bowed hys knees vnto Baall Roma 11. Tobias was of the tribe of Neptalim and vnder the kingdome of Samaria Tob. 1. in the whych al were estemed to be Idolaters and wyth diuers vyces infected And yet being in captiuity he forsoke not the way of truthe Wheras al in a māner worshipped proud Aman Esther 3. only
depraued and manye aduersaries to bee stirred vp agaynste hym Ieroboam by our Lordes commandemente spoken and declared by the Prophet Esay 3. regum 1â— was ordained made chefe ruler of ten tribes the whyche afterwardes yet induced the people malitiously to Idolatry ALyon slue the manne of God 3. regum 13. the whiche foretolde Hieroboam the destruction of the aultare nor he did not eate nor yet touch the carkase of the dead Notwithstandyng that Achab was a man mooste wycked iii. Reg. xxi and had harde say that he should be afflicted and punished for his trespasses yet he began outwardlye to repent and our Lorde deferd his paine and punishment 4. regum 1. This was verye terrible and fearful that Helias caused the ii captains and their l. men to be consumed deuoured vp with the Fire that came downe from heauen 4. regu 10. Iehu king of Israel with most feruent zele did so persecute the worshippers of Baall that oure Lorde dyd commend his doinges and yet he departed not froÌ„ Ieroboams Idolatry Kynge Manasses did many terrible and euil deedes in Ierusalem 2. Para. 33 afterwardes he was bound with chaines and caried to Babilon and doing penaunce he called vpon our Lord and was heard After that king Iosias had ledde a most holy life 1. Par. 35 he went forth to fighte against Necho the king of Egipt sayinge vnto him leaue of to meddle against god which is with me least he destroy thee but he harkned not vnto the words of Necho out of the mouth of god and his chance was but euyl for he being pearced and shot thorow with dartes and arrowes pearished and died Our Lord suffred the holy elect specially beloued city and his peculiare people the which he brought woÌ„derfully by the desert out of Egipte into the lande of promise Tob. 13. to be ouer â—â—nd and takeÌ„ by the Chaldeans and Assirians And it semed that he lyttle estemed theÌ„ for it is wrytten O geue thankes vnto our Lorde ye children of Israell For amonge the heathen which know him not hathe he scattered you to thintente that ye shoulde shew forthe his maruelous workes and cause them to know that there is none other God but he Tobias after such holy and mercyful woorkes in whiche he was verye carefull and diligente Tob. 2 waxed blinde and his kinsfolkes and frendes offended therwith and not perceiuing the cause therof derided and laughed him to scorne It might be reputed thought very meruailous Iudi i. ii why the oure Lord suffred that wicked Holofernes to subdue so many realmes and kingdomes Also of Aman the whiche of all other was mooste proudest and mooste crueltest Esth. 3. and yet nexte vnto the king he was exalted aboue all other prynces Iob. 1. â— Iobes frendes wondred and were euen ashamed that they sawe hym so greuously afflicted and punished The deuine iustice doth punishe euel meÌ„ at somtimes by those that are worse then they them selues Esay 10 as he punished the chidlren of Israell and Iuda by Nabuchodonozor and the Cauldes As the prophet Osay wryteth wo be vnto Assur whiche is a rod of my wrath Romayn 13. Our Lorde dothe not sette princes and prelates vppon those onlye that are faithfull and good but vppon all people For there is no power but of God Ionas â—â—â— Our Lorde commaunded Ionas to preache There are yet xl daies and then shall Ninâ—ue bee ouerthrowen And yet our Lord knew that the Niniuites would do penaunce and that they shuld not be so punished Our Lorde suffred that Antiochus shuld make that venerable and reuerent temple prophane 1. macha 1. burne the holy citye and make greate slaughter of Innocentes In the daies and time of Antiochus Epiphanius 1. Macha 6 the which destroyed the Temple and made it Prophane did cruelly handle many of the Iewes and slue them It mighte apeare and seme to manye that the whole world was in a confusion and euil ordained and ruled But for all that our Lorde out of those euils could bring the punishmente of the wicked and the corruption of certain other And againe the vertue and merites of manye of those that were slaine were diuersly increased I pray those that heare this to consider howe that Iudas Machabeus Ionathas 1. Macha 9. 1. Mach. 10 and Simon hys brethren were men towardes God and menne most valiaunt and most faythful and yet they died but miserably For Iudas was slaine in battayle agaynste Bacchides Triphon slue Ionathan his two soÌ„nes 1 Macha 16 Ptolomeus the sonne of one Sabolde slue proditoriously Simon and his two sonnes which were dronken It is to be wondred at 2. Mac. 6.7 that GOD when Eleazarus being so old a man and the vii brethren suffred such cruell tormentes for the law of God dyd shew no vengaunce ther against the tyrauntes Math. 2. Our Lorde beynge yet but a child would be conueyed from the presence and face of Herode and suffred the Innocentes to be slaine in hys place But in that he prouided well for the infantes for they shoulde neuer haue had so much profite if herode had indeuerd him self to haue honoured theÌ„ as they had by that that he commauÌ„ded them to be slaine Our Lord when he hard the faith of the Centurion he maruailed and saide to them that followed him math 8. Many shal come from the East and west and shall reast with Abraham and Isaac and Iacob in the kyngdome of heauen but the Chyldren of thys kingdome shall be caste oute into vtter darcknesse A certaine Scribe offred hym selfe to followe oure Lorde math 8. and was not admitted Luke 9. He inuited an nother to followe hym the whyche semed not to bee willynge For he sayde Suffer me fyrste to goe and burye my father Our Lord did miracles in Chorasin and Bethsaida Math. 11 where they profited but litle But he did none in Tire or Sidon where if he had done them they shuld haue ben profitable haue done much good God suffred Ihon Baptist thexample of all holinesse to be beheaded of Herode the moste vilest aduouterer mar 6. But it encreaseth the astonishmente of man for as much as it was done at the instance of an harlot nor we read not in the gospel that there insued any variaunce neither against the daÌ„sel nor against the aduoutrer nor yet against Herode the Tetrarche In our Lordes passion God as coÌ„cernynge the redemption of maÌ„kind fulfilled his most benigne will by the moste celerate and wicked iniquity of men Actes 3 For scripture saith God whych before had shewed by the mouthe of all hys Prophettes how that Christe shoulde suffer hathe thus wyse fulfilled Ihon. 18. Peter the Prince of the Apostles and heade of the Churche denied his master thryse Christe sufferinge the same Ihon. 11. Thomas the whiche saide so confedently Let vs go that we
Hebrues 2. Cor. 11. Heb. 1. ¶ Of vndiscrete zele Capit. lii WHen Iosue Moses seruant saw two menne in the hooste that Prophesyed Nume 11. he sayde mayster Moses forbyd them And Moses saide vnto hym what enuyest thou for my sake Abisai the sonne of Seruia was willing to haue cut of Semeis head 2. regu 19. because he cursed Dauid that suffred Absolons persecutiō but Dauid wold not suffer that he shoulde haue anye harme or dammage The children of the Prophets constrayned Elizeus to sende menne to seeke hys mayster 4. regu 2 leaste happely the spirit of our Lord had taken him vp and cast him vpon some mountain or into some valey Ionas fled from the face and sight of God when hee commaunded him to preach to the Niniuites And afterwardes he was sorye and discontent Ionas 1.4 that the city pearyshed not as he had preached When oure LORD had shewed hys Disciples howe that he shoulde suffer manye thinges of the hye priestes and elders of the Iewes Mat. 16. and bee killed Peter began to rebuke hym sayinge Mayster fauor thy selfe this shal not happen vnto the. The Pharises did greatly contend for the obseruation of the Sabbothe Mar. 2. when they saw oure Lorde heale the sycke LuKe. 6. and hys disciples pluck the cares of the corne and rubbe them in theyr handes on that day The Pharises contended more for the traditions of man Mat. 15. than for the cōmaundementes of God And the people contēded more for the gould of the Temple Mat. 23. then for the temple and for the giftes of the aultare then for the aultare They brought children to our Lord that he should laye his handes vppon them Mar. 10. and pray And his disciples rebuked those that brought them But Iesus said suffer the children to come vnto me for bid them not for of suche is the kingdome of God When Mary had poured the pretious oyntment vpon the Lordes hed some of the disciples disdained Mar. 14. wer not content with her for the wast and losse of the oyntment Ihon forbade a certain mā that casted out deuils in our Lorde Iesus name Luke 9. because he folowed not them with other Disciples And Iesus saide vnto him forbid him not for he that is not against vs is with vs. LuKe. 9. When Iames and Ihon hard that the Samaritans wold not receiue the messengers of our Lorde they sayde Lord wilt thou that we commaunde fire to come downe from heauen and consume them Iesus turned about rebuked them sayinge ye wotte not what manner sprite ye are of Luke 22. Our Lord reproued Peter because he had stroken of the eare of the high prestes seruaunt For it was not christes time then to shew his power but his patience It appeareth that Ihon the Baptist Disciples bare no great good zeale towardes oure Lorde Iohn 3. when they sayde vnto Ihon their master Rabby he that was wyth thee beyonde Iordan the same baptiseth and all men come to him Ihon answered them rightwel and said a man can receiue nothyng except it be geuen him from heauen When that many sick folkes were brought out of the city Act. 5. and wer healed of Peter the chefe priest rose vp and all they that were with him wer ful of indignation Paule was a great folower of hys fathers traditions againste manye of his owne felowes when he made hauocke of the congregation Act. 8.9 entrynge into euery house and drawynge oute both men and women and thrustyng them into prison Likewise he obtayned letters of the hie Priest to the sinagog◠that was at Damasco that he if he found any ther that cald vpō the name of Christ might bringe thē bound vnto Ierusalem Act. 13. The Iewes perceiuing that almost the whole city came together to hear the worde of GOD that Paule and Barnabas dyd preache they wer ful of zeale and indignation and spake rayling wordes against those things which were spoken of Paule When Paule was come to Ierusalem the brethren saide vnto hym Act. 21. how manye thousandes of Iewes be there that beleue and are earnest folowers of the law And of such speaketh Paule Roma 10. sayinge I bare them record that they haue a zeale and a feruent minde to Godwarde but not according to knowledge ¶ Of prudency and discretion Capitulo .liii. ABraham comming into Egipt dyd wysely and warely Gen. 12.20 as touchynge hys wyfe for he cloked the truthe and yet affirmed no falshode saying She is my sister He did the like when he came to Abimelech And Abraham did prudently seperate hym self from Lot Gen. 13. because theyr herd menne shoulde not stryue together Abraham discretelye while he yet liued Gen. 25. did deuide and geue euery child hys portion least that they after hys deathe shoulde stryue and hee at debate Rebecca did wiselye enstructe her sonne Iacob Gen. 27. how he should obtayne and come by his fathers blessing and prudently she caused hym to departe from those partyes vntyll hys brothers fearsnesse wer swaged Iacob by crafte dyd euen very wel begyle Labans craftinesse Gen. 30. when Laban denyed to geue hym competente wages for hys seruyce Iacob dyd prudently that he whē he shoulde meete wyth hys brother Gen. 32. sente hym Presentes and when hee deuyded hys Substaunce leaste that hee euen at one brounte shoulde lose al and put such thinges as he loued best in daunger Gen. 41. Ioseph spake prudētly before Pharao expounding the dreame vnto him and geuing him counsell againste the famine that was to come Gen. 44. Ioseph did warely and wiselye deprehend and accuse his brethren and put them in feare Iethro gaue Moses good counsaile saying Exo. 18. prouide thy selfe men of power and such as feare God true men such as hate couetousnesse Or euer Moses inuaded the land of promise Nume 13. he sent spies thither to consider the state and condition therof The spies that Iosue sente lurked and wisely kept them selues close Iosu. 1. vntil they that sought for them were returned to theyr owne agayn Iosue vsed greate policye and wisdome when he laide awaite vnto the towne of Hai Iosu. 8. and afterwards made as though he had fled his way The Gabaonites thinking by craft and subtlety to beguile Iosue by hys discretion were broughte into seruytude and bondage Iosu. 9. Phinees and other messengers that were sent to the children of Ruben Iosu. 22. spake discreately vnto theym and wyth wyse communication appeased them Ahud bringinge a present vnto Eglon kyng of Moab Iudi. 3. craftely deceyued hym Gedeon did smite and destroye the hoost of his enemies Iudi. 8. the whiche beinge wythoute care dyd cast no peryls Iephthe like a wyse man dyd signifye Iudi. 11. by messengers vnto the kynge of the chyldren of Ammon that he dyd wrong to warre agaynst him but
of her lyfe Oure Lorde castyng those oute of the temple with a scourge that solde and bought Oxen Iohn 2. shepe and doues and the chaungers of money sayed make not my fathers house an house of marchaundise sekynge very often tymes in this and other thinges his fathers honoure It is written of the chylde Iesu that he wente downe with them Luke 2. that is with Mary and Ioseph and came to Nazareth and was subiecte and obedient vnto them Also in a nother place he sayeth Iohn 8. I honour my father And hangynge vppon the crosse he commended his mother to his welbeloued disciple Iohn 19. Whereby it appeareth what carefulnesse he hadde for hys mother that forgat her not at the poynte or laste Artycle of death ¶ Of thankes geuing for the benefites of God Capi. lxiii IAcob gaue thaÌ„ks vnto god most diligeÌ„tly Gen. 31. saiyng Lord I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and truthe whiche thou hast shewed vnto thy seruant Exo. 13. Our lorde woulde that the childreÌ„ of Israell shoulde neuer forget theyr deliueraunce oute of Aegipte And it shall be Sayth he a signe vnto thee vpon thyne hande for a remeÌ„brauÌ„ce betwene thyne eyes that the lordes lawe may be in thy mouth Moses and the chyldren of Israell sange this songe vnto our lord Exo. 15. said Let vs singe vnto our lord This was after they had so wonderfully passed ouer the red see After thei hadde obtained and gotten a wonderfull greate victorye of theyr enemyes Nume 31. the prynces of the hoste of Israel came to Moses saiyng that there was not one of the children of Israell slayne in the battayle And yet they hadde taken of men and cattayle a greate number And for that cause they offerde vppe great gyftes vnto our Lorde Our Lord commaunded that after the myraculus goyng ouer Iordan they should pitche Iosu. 3. and set vp twelue stones in and for a perpetual monument and memory of the same After the victory obtained by Barath Tebora of Sysara they saÌ„ge gaue â—hankes to our Lord. Iudi. 5. Anna praid and praised our Lorde for her sonne Samuel the which our Lord had geuen her 1. reg 2. Although the children of Israel in suche battailes as they wanne dyd fyghte stoutlye and stronglye Iudi. 20. Yet they said that it was oure Lorde that smote theyr ennemyes that the laud and praise myght be geuen vnto oure Lorde When Dauid heard of the reuelation that God made by the Prophet Nathan 2. reg 7 of the continuaunce of hys kyngdom he gaue God thankes most humbly and deuoutly Oure Lorde is muche to be lauded and praysed that geueth hys people a good prince and prelate 3. regu 5. Blessed be our Lord saith scripture which hath geuen vnto Dauid a wyse sonne ouer this mighty people 1. Esd. 1. Cyrus the kynge of Persia proclaymed thorowe oute all hys Empyre Oure LORDE God of heauen hathe geuen me al the kingdoms of the earth and hathe commaunded me to buylde hym a house at Ierusalem Whosoeuer now among you is of hys people oure Lord hys God be with him and let hym go vp to Ierusalem and build the house of our lord God of Israel Tobi. 11. When Tobias had recouered hys sighte he and his wife and all that knew him before that he was blinde praised and glorified God Iudi. 16. After the victorye of Holofernes host was obtained all the people resorted and came to IerusaleÌ„ to prayse and pray vnto our Lord. Dani. 2. After that the vision of Nabuchodonozor king of Babilon was reueled opened vnto Daniel He blessed oure Lord God of heauen and sayde The name of our Lord be blessed for wisdome and strength are his The iii. childreÌ„ being deliuered froÌ„ the burning fire and flame of the fornace Dani. 3. praysed our lorde well and deuoutly And not they only gaue thaÌ„kes vnto god for that thing but Nabuchodonozor did also cause the wonderful thinges of our lord to be proclaymed thorow out al his kingdome After that the temple vnder Iudas Machabeus was erected and purifyed 1. Mach. 4. they worshypped and gaue thankes to the GOD of heauen that hadde prospered and geuen them the victorye Iudas Machabeus and the people of IerusaleÌ„ wrote vnto Aristobolus 2. Mach. 1 saying we being deliuered by god froÌ„ great daungers and pearils magnifyceÌ„tly do geue thankes vnto hym When the blessed virgin had herd the laude and praise that Elizabeth gaue her LuKe. 1. saying Blessed art thou amonge women she praysed and lauded God for the benefytes geuen to her and to all the worlde wyth these wordes My soul magnyfyeth the lord We reade in the gospel that when our Lord purposed to do some greate miracle Iohn 6.11 that oftentimes he loked vp to heauen gaue thankes Mat. 26. as it manifestly appeareth in the multiplicatioÌ„ of the loues In the resuscitation of Lazarus and in the institucion of the blessed and holy sacrament After Ihon the Baptist was born LuKe. 1. and that zacharias had recouered his speache he prophesying praysed our Lord saying Blessed be oure Lorde God of Israel Simeon toke the child Iesus vp in hys armes Luke 2. and blessed our Lord. When the people saw that our Lorde had healed the man of the palsy Mat. 9. they meruailed and glorified god whyche had geuen such power to men And likewise when the widowes son was reuiued Luke 7. ther came a fear on theÌ„ al and they magnified god and gaue vnto him the glory saying A greate prophet is rysen vp among vs. One of those x. lepers that which wer clensed at Goddes commaundement turned backe againe Luke 17. and fell downe on hys face at hys feete and gaue hym thankes After that our Lord had supt with his disciyles Mat. 26. and had said grace they went out vnto mount Oliuer The halt that was healed by Peter Act. 3.4 entred with the Apostles into the temple walkinge and leapinge and praisyng God Then ther followeth All men praised God because of that which was done for the man was aboue xl yere old on whom the miracle of healing was shewed Paule gaue thankes for the benefits to him and other exhibited 1. Timo. 1. To hym self in his conuersyon I thancke my Lord god that coÌ„forted me in Christ wheras before I was a blasphemer a persecutor contumelious but yet I obtained merrye because I did it ignorauntly through vnbelefe And in his coÌ„uersation thankes be vnto god 2. Cor. 2. which alwais geueth vs the triumph and victory in Christ Iesu. And deuoutly he geueth thaÌ„kes for the benefites exhibited to his brethreÌ„ First verely I geue God thankes for you all Roma 1. that youre Faythe is spoken of in all the world 1. Thes. 2. And to the Thessalonians What thanckes can we recompence to God again for you ouer
Nabuchodonozor saied vnto the elders and captaines of his wars that this was his thought and purpose to bring the hole earth vnder his dominion Nowe when that thynge pleased them all c. Kinge Ahasuerus beinge wrothe with Quene Uasthi questioned with his wise counsellers Esth. 1. what senteÌ„ce or law shuld be executed vppon the Quene The which counsellers did not coole the kinges furye nor excuse her that was absent but one answered wyth indignation saying The kinges indignation is iust Amans frends Esth. 5 his wife not perceiuyng the cankerd and euel minde that he had towardes Mardocheus did not reproue nor rebuke hym but said Commaund thou a hye payre of galowes to be framed and made The princes and hie estates of Darius the king of Perse Dani. 6 hauing a desire that the king shuld make an vniust decree dyd purpose a thinge that semed to pertain to his honor Alchinus that wicked traytor willing to be made the hie priest i. mach 7 said vnto kinge Demetrius Iudas and hys brethren haue destroyed thy frendes after ther foloweth the the king made Alchinus the hie priest commaunded him to be reuenged to punyshe the children of Israel After that Ihons disciples wer departed and gone Mat. xi oure Lorde began wonderfully to praise him the which thynge maketh agaynste those that doe openlye prayse menne and seacreatly detract and backbite them The Pharises going about to take Christ in his wordes Mat. 22 began to praise and to flatter him saying Master we know that art thou true and teachest the way of God truely Herode Agrippa that greate kyng perceiuing that he pleased the Iewes because he had taken certaine of the congregation Act. 12. and had killed Iames the brother of Ihon proceaded further to haue taken Peter Act. 12 The people gaue a shout to Herod that wicked king the which had slain Iames and incarcerated Peter saying It is the voyce of a God and not of a man Act. 24. Tertullius the orator whyche was brought in against Paul by the president Felix did at the beginnynge of his oration flatter Felix ¶ Of derision and contumelious reprofe Ca. lxx THe men of Sadoch and Phanuel derided Gedeon persecuting Zebee and Salmana Iudi. 8. but of that folowed mischaunces For afterwardes he intreated them very rigorously and euel Nabal contemned contumeliously the woordes of Dauids messengers saying 1. regu 25. what is Dauid And what is the sonne of Isai Ther is plentye of seruauntes now a dayes that breake away from their masters Michol seing king Dauid dansinge before the Arke of the Lord 2. regu 6. despysed him because she sawe him bare And afterwardes deriding mocking him she said O how glorious was the king this day Wicked Iezabell spake scornfull mocking wordes vnto Achab. 3. regu 21. Thou art a man of great authority and dost gouern thy kingdom well For as muche as the children deryded and mocked Elizeus the prophet 4. regu 2. saying Go vp thou bald head Two beares tare and deuoured xlii of theÌ„ King Hezechias postes went swiftly from city to city 2. Para. 30. warnyng the chyldren of Israell to retourne vnto oure Lord. But they laughed theÌ„ to scorn and mocked them 2. Para. 36 Our Lord sent his prophets daily vnto them warned them to spare his people and his dwellinge place But they mocked the messengers of god and litle regarded hys wordes misused his prophets When Sanabalat Tobias hard say that the walles of Ierusalem wer a buildinge 2. Esd. 4 they mocked the buylders When Tobias was blynde hys frendes kinsfolk laughed his liuing to scorn Tob. 2. sayinge where is nowe thy hope for the which thou hast done almes and buried the dead Nicanor seing the burnt sacrifices that wer offred for the king laughed them to scorn with comtempt 1. mach 7 spake proudly and disdainfullye ye swore in his wrath Antiochus that cruell tiraunte beinge kindled in anger by the wordes of the seuenth brother 2. Mach. 7. was more cruell vpon him then vpon all thother and toke indignation that he was so lightly regarded Oure lorde was dyuers maner of wayes derided as it shall afterwards apeare in the chapiter of pacience Certayne Iewes Act. 2. when they sawe that our lordes disciples after the infusion of the holy goost spake diuers languages and tongues sayed mockingly These menne are full of new wyne When the Athenienses had hearde Act. 17 of the resurrection of the deade that Paule preached Some mocked And other sayed let vs heare the agayne of this matter ¶ Of Detractors and euel speakers Capi. lxxi IOsephs lady and mestres spake wickedly to her husband of him beinge Innocent and chaste Gen. 39 Pharo sayed who doubteth but that ye haue some mischefe in hande Exo. 10 wherby it appeareth that euell men doo affirme and at sometymes doo laye to good mennes charges wyth vniust boldenes the thinge whiche is vniust and false Mary and Aaron vpon a light occasion spake against Moses Nume 12. but quickly after ther folowed a pain and punishment that reuenged the matter Nume 14. The children of Israell dispraysed the lande of promise to theyr greate pain and punishment Nume 16. By the occasion of Chores and his felowes sedition many were mooste fearfully slain And yet after that the multitude murmured against Moses and Aaron saying ye haue kylled the people of our Lord. Although Balaam was euell yet he said Num. 23. that he in no wise wold curse the pâ—ople which our Lorde had blessed And as touchinge that there are many worse found then be the which do gladly and more oftentimes curse and backbite the good then the peruerse and euel Saul at the beginning was exceading gooâ— 1. regu 10. but yet the children of Beliall said how can he saue vs By the occasion of Doeg the Idumite declaring vnto Saule that Abimelech â—he priest had comforted and refreshed Dauid 1. re 22. he slue .lxxxv. men that did weare a linnen Ephod And many mo wemen and children The lords of the Philistines caused Achis the kynge of Seth 1. reg 19 to remoue Dauid the which by his iudgemente was good from his honest office and place that he had preferd him vnto Dauid commauÌ„ded the yonge man that shewed of kinge Saule and his sonnes death 2. reg 1 to be slayne And yet he thoughte that he hadde brought him prosperus and glad tydinges The chefest of the children of Ammon saied vnto theyr lorde 2. re 10 Tâ—inkest thou that Dauid for the honour of thy father hath sent comfortours to the And so they peruerted the simple and pure intention of Dauid Absolon ambitiusly desyringe the kingdome 2. regu 15 saied vnto one that hadde busynesses before hym There is no man deputed of the king to heare the. Siba Mephiboseth seruant did wickedly bacbyte
afterwardes to their pain Nabal vsed hiÌ„ self vnliberally towardes Dauid that desired him to geue hym somwhat 1. re 15. After that Dauid had obtained the victorye of the Amelechites 1. reg 30 he sente giftes and part of the praye vnto the elders of Iuda and to hys frendes neighbors sayinge see here is a blessyng for you Dauid commaunded that Mephibo seth should eat bread alway vpon his table 2. re 9. And he gaue him all that pertained to Saule Soby Machir and Berzillai dyd profer vnto Dauid flyinge from the face and presence of Absolon 2. re 17 manye necessarye thinges for his hoaste as wheat barly and flour This Berzillai did aid Dauid wheÌ„ he fled from his sonne Absolon 2. re 19 And after that Dauid hadde obtained and won the victory he retained Chymeam his sonne as one of his family The Quene of Saba gaue SalomoÌ„ manye thinges 3. re 10 And Salomon gaue her according to her desire what so euer she asked besides that he gaue her of a fre wil with his owne hand Certaine good men of Israell clothed the naked prisonners 2. Para. 28 and set all that were feble vpon horses brought them to their brethren King Cyrus brought forth the vessel of the temple of our Lord 1. Esd. 1. whych Nabuchodonozor had taken and sent them again to Ierusalem al the vessels of gold siluer were 5000. and 400. The children of Iuda returnynge from Babilon 1. Esd. 2 offred willingly to the building of the house of God gaue gold after their hability King Darius commaunded that the house of God should be builded in Ierusalem 1. Esdâ— 6 that the charges should be taken oute of the kinges cofers Although ther were some enuious persons that by theyr letters laboured to let and hinder the worke 1. Esd. 7 King Artaxerzes gaue a glorious a liberal epistle to Esdras the priest that came to Ierusalem to coÌ„fort the Iewes 2. esd. 2. King Artaxerzes vsed him self liberallye to Nehemias comminge into Iewry and gaue him euen suche letters as he required Nehemias was a very liberall Legate the which did not greue the people with vitall exactions 2. esd. 5. he dyd much good to those that he was seÌ„t vnto Tobias did study how to deuide all that euer he had among his brethren that wer prisoners Tob. i. and of his kin he fed the hungry and clothed the naked Raguel deliuered to yong Tobias with his daughter the half of all hys substaunce Tob. 10 Tobias the yonger was very kind vnto Raphael Tob. 12 whom he toke to be a man and well acknowledged the benifites that he had done vnto hym where vpon bothe he and hys father did offer him most liberally the moity of al theyr goodes Kinge Ahaswerus commaunded a greate feast to bee made for Esthers mariage Est. 2. caused the landes to be in quietnesse and gaue giftes as it became the royalty of a king WheÌ„ king Ahasuerus saw Quene Esther Esth. 5 he safd vnto her what wilt thou Esther what is thy peâ—icion if it bee euen the halfe of my kingdome thou shalt haue it Esth. 6 King Ahasuerus enquired what honour or rewarde Mardocheus had gotten for the fidelity that he had shewd vnto him And when he vnderstode that he was vnrewarded hee caused hym magnificently to be honoured Iobs sonnes made bankets eche of them on the daye that he made hys feast Iob. 2 sent for theyr sisters to eate and to drinke with them Blessed Iob doth declare that he was merciful to the poore Iob. 29.31 saying I comforted the widowes harte and I was a father vnto the pore Again he saithe If I haue eaten my meat alone For mercye hathe growne wyth me euen from my childhode The chefe captain of Babilon gaue Ieremy meat Iere 40 and rewardes and let him go whether so euer he wold promising him great humanity kindenesse if he wold go with him to Babilon and yet he gaue him free leaue and licence to cary Seleucus the kinge of Asia in the time of Onias the hie priest â— mach 2 payed al the charges pertaininge to the minysterye of the Sacrifices of his owne rentes and heritage The wise men opening their treasures not their litle purses with half pence Math. 2 offred vnto a pore Lord gold frankensence and mirrhe Our Lord is a liberall and a large rewarder math 19 the which to those that leaue these temporal goodes for hys cause dothe geue an hunderfolde in thys worlde and life euerlastynge in the world that is to come It came of a benigne and a gentle liberality that our Lord defended the disciples math 12 whiche vppon the Saboth day did plucke the eares of corne Lu. 6 and chafed them with theyr hands to eat against those wicked Pharises And also of the Publicanes synners that came to heare him Lu. 15.19 And of zacheus math 26 And there is an ensample of Mary Mar. 14 that kissed oure Lordes feete And of Iudas for the which signe of gentlenesse the vnhappye and wycked manne oughte to haue the soner repented The people folowed our Lord on fote into the desert and left the cities and when the euen drue on Mat. 14 his disciples said vnto him Let the people depart that they may go and bye them vitailes But hee as a liberall Lorde master answered geue ye theÌ„ to eat Zacheus in distrybutyâ—ge of hys goodes Lu. 19 and makynge of restitucyon was verye large and liberall Thus hee sayde vnto oure Lorde Beholde Lorde the halfe of my goodes I geue to the poore and if I haue done anye maÌ„ wrong I restore hym four fold The gift of the pore wydow which cast two miâ—es into the treasurye Lu. 21 is preferd of our Lord aboue the giftes of the rich Our Lord was very bountiful and liberal to the thefe that hanged asked sayinge Lu. 23 Lorde remember me when thou commest into thy kingdome And Iesus saite vnto him verelye I saye vnto thee to daye shalt thou bee wyth me in paradise Our lord vouchsaued to shewe hys benignitye and liberalitye Iohn 2 when that he beyng called to the pore maryage went thether and ther turned water into wyne to chere the poore that were there at dyner The great liberality of God apeareth in the parable of the vngratious seruant math 18. vnto whom our lord saide I forgaue the all the debt because thou desyredst me Ioses whose syr name was Barnabas had land sold it Act. 4 broughte the price and laid it downe at the Apostles fete When the disciples that wer at Antioch hard say that ther shuld be great dearth throughout al the world Act. 11 thei purposed to send socour vnto the brethreÌ„ which wer in Iewry The which thing thei also did and sent it to
And so Salomon caused hym to bee slaine Notwithstandinge he helde the corner of the aultare Naboth by the procurement of wicked Iezabell was cruellye stoned to death 3. Re. 21. Ioas the kinge of Iuda commaunded zacharias the sonne of Ioiade the priest to be stoned to deathe 2. Para. 24. and yet his father restored him the kingdom and slue Athalia The ii old priestes Dani. 13. which thought to put Susanna most wrongfully to deathe conuicted by Danyell were slain by the people Tryphon slue Ionathas and hys two sonnes 1. Mach. 13. and yet he had receyued of Symon for Ionathas raunsome deliueraunce a C. talentes of syluer and his two sonnes for ostages and pledges Ptolomy the sōne of Abobus made the hie priest and hys two sonnes a banket 1. Mach. 16. and when they were mery and had dronken well traiterously he slue them Of diuers slaughters of men Capi. lxxxvi THere was a maruelous greate slaughter of men other beastes when that all men Gen. 7. except viii perished in the flud called Noes flud The four kinges which ouer thrue fyue kinges made comminge thither and fyghting againste them a greate murther of men Gen. 14. althoughe the nomber of them be not wrytten It cannot be wel known by scrypture how many mē by diuers plages dyd pearysh in Egipt or howe many were drowned in the red sea but yet it is to be thoughte that the nombre was very great Of vi hundred and 3000. fyghting menne whyche were nombred from twentye yeares vpwards Nume 1.26 there came not one into the land of promyse except Caleph and Iosue but pearyshed and dyed by diuers calamytyes in the desert The children of Israell by Moses commaundement slue a greate nombre of the Medianits the which thing may be proued by the pray that they toke Nume 31. For of virgins ther was found 320000. Al theyr wemen wer corrupted and theyr men slain In Iosues time at the entring and going into the land of promyse Iudi. 7.8 there was founde as well in the Cities as in the fieldes a great nombre of dead persones In the time of Debora Gedeon Iephtha iudges of Israel wer many men slain althoughe they cannot be certainly numbred By thoccasion of the Leuites wyfe whiche was slaine Iudi. 20. there was kylled 7000. fighting men besydes wemen and children the which all wer of the tribe of Beniamin In the daies of Heli when the arke of our lord was taken 1. regu 4. ther was slain of the Israelites iii. M. fotemen Saule whych destroyed Amalech slew manye of theym 1. Re. 14.17 And afterwardes whan Goliath the Phylystyan was slayne there were manye of the Philistians destroyed When Saule and his childrē wer slain 1. Re. 31. ther fel many and a great nomber of the Israelites wer destroyed Dauid slue many of his owne and of Amnons children 2. regum per totum and manye of the Philistians as it appeareth in diuers places For Dauids elation and pryde in the nombringe of his people 2. Re. 24. there dyed 70000. of hys men When the xxxii kings wyth an exceading nombre of men were gathered together 3. Re. 24. Benadab the kynge of Siria were twise put to flight by Achab the kyng of Israell and at theyr next metinge there was slaine of the Assirians a hundred thousand footemen in one day Abia the kynge of Iuda and hys host 2. Para. 13. slue 50000. of Ieroboams strong and mighty men Asa the kyng of Iuda hadde in hys host fiue hundred and lxxx thousande men 2. Para. 14. The blacke Mores were tenne hundred thousande the whyche were vtterly destroyed for oure LORD fought agaynst them Phacee the kinge of Israell Ramelias sonne 2. Para. 28 slew in Iuda an hundred and twentye thousande in one daye which were all fyghtinge men that because they had forsaken oure lorde When Salmanassar tooke Samaria and brought the children of Israell amonge the Assirians Ieremy 39. And when Nabuchodonozor toke Ierusalem and the kinge of Iuda it is very lyke that there dyed many a man although the numbre be not certayne By the occasion of proude and cruel Aman the whiche for Mardocheus sake onely woulde haue destroyed all the Iewes Esther 9. The Iewes slew in Ahasuerus kingdome .75000 men that which they estemed to be their ennemies Ionathas sent Demetrius to Antioche .3000 mē to ayd hym against the citizens 1. Mach. 11. the which woulde haue slain Demetrius And there was killed vpon one day a hundred thousand men There was so greate a slaughter of men in Ierusalem 2. Macha 5 that when Antiochus Epiphanes tooke the citye in thre dayes there were slayne .8000.4000 put in prison and no lesse solde Against the Galathiās .6000 only slew a C. and .xx. M. throughe the helpe that was geuen them from heauen 2. Mach. 8. Besides the battailes that Iudas Machabeus made against Apolonius and Seron the chefe capitaine of the Assiriās host of the which it is written in ye. 3. Ca. of the first booke of the Machabees we reade that he specially hadde other .xii. battels as it appeareth frō the .viii. Ca. of the .ii. boke vnto the ende In the whiche were slaine .9000 men of those that wer with Nicanor And .20000 with Timothe and Bacchides .25000 of the Idumites and again .24000 of the same people the which were in two towers Furthermore .2000 that wer with Timothe .2000 with Lisia And also .10000 in a certayne ground or felde of Timothese And again .30000 of his mē afterwards .250000 in the stronge city of Carmon And in the city calde Ephrō◠25000. And in Antoichus Cupators host he slew .14000 mē at the last Nicanor was slain with 25000. fightinge men The sum of al is two hundred 56000 men besydes those that were slaine of Iudas host those that perished in fortresses and battailes of the whiche there is no certain number Nor they are not cōpted here the fell in Iudas last battayle againste Bacchides and Alchimus where they fought from mourninge tyll euenynge in the whyche Iudas perished the other fled their wayes ¶ Of abstinence and sobriety Capi. lxxxvii OUr lorde commaunded Adam sayinge Gen. 2. Eate thou of all the trees of paradyse but as touchinge the tree of knowledge of good and euell thou shalt not eate of it In the which prohibition abstinence is commēded in that he would not the mā in paradise shuld eat of all māner of meat Moses was in the mounte wyth oure lorde .40 daies 40 nightes Exo. 24. he nether did eat nor drincke Abstinence is a ryghte good dysposition to receaue diuine reuelations And manne refreshed wyth diuine reuelations is wont to abhorre bodely delyte pleasure Yea Leuiti 15 and our Lorde cōmaunded the chyldren of Israel to abstain from dyuers meates Whē either man or womā did
and feare was for the holy temple Our Lord speaking vnto the people one saide vnto him Mat. 12. beholde thy mother and thy brethren stand wythout seking thee But he aunswered who is my mother or who are my brethren whosoeuer doth the will of my father which is in heauen the same is my brother sister and mother Our Lorde dyd aunswer hys aunt after the fleshe Mat. 20. desyringe that her two sonnes myghte sytte by hym in hys kyngdome so rigorouslye and hardlye as thoughe she hadde beene a straunger And so he is as readye to sell heauen as good cheape to thee as to them Although blessed Saint Ihon and the two Iames were menne of great holinesse and imperfectionâ— Yet hee Ihon. 21. commytted not the generall cure of the Churche to anye of themâ— but dyd ordaine Peter the whiche was nothing kin vnto hym to be the heade the Prince and the pastoure of hys Church Our sauioure approuynge and alowing Peters confession whyche he made of hym when he saide Thou arte Christe the sonne of the liuynge God Math. 16 did consequently say fleshe and bloude hathe not opened that vnto thee Meanynge there by that fleshe is wonte to make but euill reuelatyons The Apostle Paule commendinge his Gospel doth saye It pleased hym which seperated me froÌ„ my mothers wombe Galat. 1. and called me here vnto by hys grace c. I by and by communed not of the matter wyth flesh and bloud ¶ Of the Ire and anger of man throughe zeale and loue Capi. xcv WHen Moses spake vnto Pharao Exo. 11. that Pharao woulde not hear him he went oute from Pharao very angry Moses commaunded the children of Israel Exo. 16. that no man shuld leue ought remain of Manna tyll the mornyng that notwithstanding they harkened not vnto Moses but some of them left of vntyll the mornynge and it waxed and craulde full of Wormes and stanke and Moses was angrye wyth them Moses returning and coÌ„ming nye vnto the â—oste Exo. 32. sawe the calfe and the daunsing and being angrye he caste the tables out of his handes brake them beneath the hill When Moses sought for the Goate that was offred for sinne Leui. 10. he founde that it was burnt being angrye wyth Eleazar and Ithamar the sonnes of Aaron he saide Wherefore haue ye not eaten the sinne offering c. Nume 16. Moses beholdinge the rebellyon of Chore his company and being very angry said vnto our lord Turne not thou vnto their offering 1. Re. 20. Ionathas Sauls soÌ„ne considring the iniquity of his father against Dauid arose from the table in great anger and did eat no meat that day 2. regu 13. When Dauid had hard the parable of Nathan the Prophet he was dysdainful and exceding wroth with the man and said As surely as our Lord liueth the man that hathe done thys thing is the child of death Elizeus was angry with Ioas the kinge of Israel 4. regu 13. because he hadde not smitten the ground with the arrowe v. or vi times that he myghte haue destroyed all Siria Nehemias hearynge the peoples clamor and complaint for the vsury that the rulers nobles exacted 2. Esd. 5. was sore dyspleased and angry Esth. 7. After that king Ahaswerus hadde hard Quene Esthers coÌ„plaint against Aman the which sought the death of all the Iewes he arose from the common seat in displeasure and anger Our Lord loked rouÌ„d about him on the Iewes with anger mar 3. and mourned on the blindnesse of theyr hartes ¶ Of the anger of man through vice Ca. xcvi OUr Lord had respecte vnto Abell and to his oblation Gen. 4. And Cain was exceading wroth hys countenaunce abated Balaac being angry wroth wyth Balaam Nume 24. smote his handes together and said I sent for the to cursse mine enemies and thou hast blessed them Saule hearynge that Dauid after the victory was commended 1. regu 18. was exceading wrothe and the sayinge dyspleased hym c. When Ionathas had excused Dauid vnto his father 1. regu 20. Saule being angry with Ionathas said Thou rebel do not I know that thou dost loue the sonne of Isai vnto thyne owne rebuke and confusyon Achab the king of Israel came home to his house heauy and euil apaid because of the word which Naboth the Israelite had spoken vnto him 3. regu 21. After Elizeus easy and holsom couÌ„sel Naaman was wrothe 4. regu 5. and went away and said I thoughte wyth my self he wold surely come out to me call on the name of his God Hanai the prophet came to Asa and reproued him 2. Para. 16. that he had putte hys trust in Benadab the kinge of Siria And Asa was wroth with the seer commaunded him to be tied and put into a prison Amazias seuered the host whyche came out of Ephraim to aid and help him 2. Para. 25. But they wer exceading wroth with Iuda and retourned home into their country in great anger The priestes reproued Ozias the king of Iuda 2. Para 26. whych went aboute to burne insence and beinge angrye he held the censare and threatned them When Sanallat hard that the wal of Ierusalem was a building 2. Esd. 4. he was very wroth and beynge sore moued mocked the Iewes When Sennacherib retourned againe and fled out of Iewry Tobi. 1. because of the plage and punishmente of God for his blasphemy in his wrathe and anger he slue many Iewes When Tobias spake of the kid that cried Tobi. 2. loke that it be not stoln c. Hys wife was angry and said Now is thy hope become vaine openly It was shewed Holofernes that the children of Israel prepared them selues to make resistance againste hym Iudith 5. then was he exceading wroth When Achior had shewed them that the power of the God of Israell was great and mightye Iudith 5. the greate men of Holofernes were wroth and thought to slay him When Aman hard say and had proued by experience that Mardocheus wold not bow his kne vnto hym Esth. 3. nor worship him he was exceadinge angrye Elihu the bussite disdained was angrye at Iob Iob. 32. because he called hym self iust before God The princes of Iuda thinckinge that Ier. 37. Ieremy wold haue rund to the Caldees were angry with him bet him and cast him in prison Nabuchodonozor in his great fury and anger Daui 2.3 commaunded to destroye all the wise men of Babilon because they coulde not declare and open hys dreame vnto him and in hys anger he commaunded the three men to bee brought before him Ionas 4. Our Lord reproued Ionas because he was angry for the wilde vine 1. Mac. 3 When king Antiochus hard of Iudas battailes and victories he was angry in his minde and gathered an hoaste 2. Mach. 6. The tormentors of Eleazar hearing his constant wordes
selfe theame that Iohn the baptyste beganne wyth all Do pennaunce For the kyngedome of heauen is at hande The blessed virgin Mary whyche was so reuerentlye saluted of the Angel and calde the mother of the hyest Luc. 2. waxed not proude there with nor she cald not her self the mother of God but the hande maide of God Nor she sent not for Elizabeth her kinswomaÌ„ but mekely went vnto her And when the Elisabeth replenyshed wyth the holy ghost knew what was done theÌ„ Mary commended the dyuine mercy and power sayinge My soule magnyfâ—eth the Lord Luc. 1. for he hath loked on the humility of hys hande mayden The CeÌ„turion answered mekely faythfully sayinge vnto oure Lorde being minded to go and heale his seruaunte mat 8. Lorde I am not worthy that thou shouldest come vnder my roofe When Peter sawe that he at oure lordes coÌ„maundement had inclosed a greate multytude of fyshes Luc. 5. hee fell downe at his knees sayinge lorde go from me for I am a synfull man Oure Sauioure did forbyd them to publishe his miracles Mat. 8. to learne vs to flie a voide the vice of pride vanity and to grue vs an ensample of humilitye As it appeareth in the leaper which was cleansed And in the two blind meÌ„ that wer restored vnto their sight And again in the deft and dum which were healed And in his transfiguration he said Math. 17. shew the vision to no man When our Lord had said to the womaÌ„ of Canane It is not mete to take the childreÌ„s bread mat 15. to cast it to dogs She answered Truth Lorde for the dogges eat of the crummes whyche fal from their masters table The disciples askinge Christe who is the greatest in heauen Mat. 18. he answered whosoeuer humbleth him self as this childe the same is the greatest in the kingdome of heauen Our Lord induced an ensample or a parable of humble and meke ciuility Luc. 14. saying When thou art bydden to a wedding syt not downe in the hiest roume Then sample which our Lord bringeth in of the proudeâ— Pharisey Luc. 18. the huÌ„ble Publican is very good to auoid pride and to follow and ensue humility The humility of Ihon the Baptist doth diuersly apear Iohn 2. For he did iudge but meanely of him self when that the people perchaunce estemed him to be Christe I am not Christe Also hee spake lowly Iohn 1. I am a voyce crying in the desarte He denied hym selfe to be Christ or a prophet And he was but meanely araide with Camels heereâ— And he chose but a simple a meane habitation Iohn 1. He was in the desart We read that Mary Magdalen did sit most humbly and very oftentimes at Iesus fete Luc. 7.10 and harde the worde of God Peter answered our Lorde mooste humbly Iohn 21. askinge him whether he loued hym more then the other dyscyples and said ye Lord thou knowest that I loue thee We may and ought to take the most notable examples of humility of our sauiour Iohn 7. For he would be conceyued in a despised country that is in Galile Of the which it is wrytteÌ„ Search and looke for oute of Galile aryseth no prophet And Nathanaell wondering said Can there come anye good thing out of Nazareth Iohn 1. Item he was borne of an humble and a meke mother the which said Luc. 1. Luc. 2. he beheld the humility of hys hand mayden And in a small cotage and a low place for she laide him in a maunger And for the space of xxx yere he was in the world in a manner as vnknowne so that there is nothing red of hys doynges but that he when he was xii yere of age Luc. 2. remained at Ierusalem was found in the temple hearynge questionyng determinyng The which thing maketh against those presumptuous persons Luc. ii that take vpon them to hastely the office of a teacher And then he went downe with Mary and Ioseph and was obediente and subiect vnto them Then beyng about a xxx yere of age he came to Ihon Baptist to be baptised of him But he seÌ„t not for him The which thynge maketh sore against those mat 3. that disdayne to go to theyr inferiors Likewyse he chose him lowly and pore disciples wtal humility was conuersaÌ„t among them and taughte them to be meeke humble mat 11. saying learn of me for I am mecke lowly And he cald him self more often the son of man than the son of god although they wer bothe two after the two natures which were in him Yet moste commenly he woulde name hym self after thinferiour and lowest nature He was conuersant with men Ihon. 2. and wold be present at pore mariages where they lacked wyne He went to no costly and riche mariges in the whyche there is mooste commonlye enorme and great excesse And when he knew that they would come and take him vp to make him a king Iohn 6. he fled vp into a mountain Mat. 17. and he paid as a seruaunt or as an aliene the tribute monye Luc. 9. Nor he hadde not wheron to lay his head And going about to castels and villages he went continually a fote so that he beynge weary of his iourny Iohn 4. set on the well and desyred the woman of Canane to geue him drinke And when he came to Ierusalem he had no horse to ride vpon but an asse And departing froÌ„ this world vnto his father mat 21. he lefte a speciall example of humilitye when he washed his disciples fete and wyped them with the towel Ihon. 13. wherwyth he was girded But in hys passyon he most chefely humbled hym selfe euen to death Philip. 2. and not to all kyndes of death but to the death of the Crosse the which kinde of death was mooste shamefulst as it appeareth in all the Gospelles Of this it maye be noted that proud men and such as loue the world are wont to be occupied about vii thinges and to desire the same or specially to glory in thinges obtained the whiche thinges Christe hanginge on the crosse lacked and hadde the contrarye They maye be called these earthly aboundaunce Worldly wisdome Carnal plesure The fame and praise of the people A rought of seruauntes The fall of theyr ennemyes A nomber of frendes But our Lord Christ Iesus vppon the Crosse was most poorest Ihon. 19. for he was spoyled of his garmentes He was taken for a fole and vnwise For the preachinge of the crosse is to them that pearish folishnesse 1. Cor. 1. Item he was diâ—famed and called a deceauer of the people For the hye Pryestes sayd by hym we remember that this deceiuer said c. And beyng vpon the crosse he was wel nie ouercummed inclinynge of hys heade gaue vp the ghost And ther he had no frendes I haue troden the presse
them and spake proudly and disdainfully Antiochus estemed and thought in his pride 2. Mach 5. that he mighte make men saile vpon the drye land to go vpon the sea suche an hye mynde had he Nicanor coÌ„minge to fyghte agaynst Iudas his fellowes thought him so sure of the victorye 2. Mach. 8. that he solde the Iewes or euer he saw theÌ„ in the fielde Antiochus beynge put to flyghte most shamefully and wyth dyshonour by Porâ—is spake proudly saying 2. mach 9. that he woulde come to Ierusalem and make it a graue for the Iewes But our Lorde smote hym wyth an vncurable dysease and plage When the Iewes sayed There is a mighty Lord in heauen that which hath coÌ„maunded the seuenth day to be kept TheÌ„ sayed Nicanor And I am mighâ—y vpon earth to commaunde theym for to arme them selues 2. Mach 15. and to performe the kinges busines And eleuated wyth greate pride he deuysed to ouercome Iudas and to brynge a waye the victorye Luc. 10 When the disciples had saied Lord euen the verye deuels are subdued to vs through thy name Our lord refrained theÌ„ saying I saw Satan as it had bene lightning falling down froÌ„ heaueÌ„ neuerthelesse in this reioyce not Luc. 18. The pride of the Pharisey the which bosted him selfe and condempned his neighbour is dysalowed Herode vpoÌ„ a day appoynted araied him in royall apparell and set him in his seate and made an oration vnto the people Act. 12. And the people gaue a shoute sayinge It is the voyce oâ— a god and not of manne And immedyately the Aungell of oure Lordâ— smote hym because hee gaue not God the honoure And he was eaten of wormes and gaue vppe the ghost ¶ Of vayne bostinge and crakinge Ca. xcix GAall Odebs sonne sayed vnto hys felowes what is Abimelech and what is Sichem that we shoulde serue hym Iudi. 9. Woulde God thys people were vnder my hande that I myghte take Abimelech oute of the waye Sampson wyth hys bare handes tare a Lion Iud. 14. neyther tolde his father nor his mother what he had done Goliath the Philistine defyed the hooste of the Israelytes 1. regu 17. and demaunded that one shuld come to fight with hym hande to hande Adonias the sonne of Hagith exalted hym selfe sayinge I wyll be kynge 3. reg 1. But hys kyngedome dured not longe Benadab the kynge of Siria sente messengers vnto the king of Israel 3. regu 20. saied Thus thus doo the goddes to me If the duste of Samaria be ynnoughe for all the people that folow me To take euery man an handfull But he was well answered that he whych putteth on hys harnesse shuld not boast hym selfe as he dothe that putteth it of 4. regu 18 Rapsaces spake hye proude wordes in the kinge of Assirians name sayinge haue they delyuered them oute of the lande of the king of Assirians c. Iudi. 6. Holofernes sayed to Achior when we slaye them all as one man then shalte thou also peryshe wyth them through the swearde of the Assirians al Israel shal be destroyed wyth the. Aman beynge immitted and calde to Esthers banket sent for his frends and hys wyfe Esther 5. and tolde them of the glory of his rychesse and of the multitude of hys children that he the king onely shuld dine with the Quene And yet note that he the next daye after was hangde vpon the galous that which he had prepared for Mardocheus Esay hath dysclosed the wordes of the king of the Assirians Esa. 10. Thus haue I done through the power of mine owne hand through my wisedome I vnderstode it And there was no man that durst moue a feather or opeÌ„ his mouthe or once whysper This saying of the prophet Esa. 14. I wyl clyme vp into heauen set my seat aboue the starres of God and will be lyke the hyghest of al is literally vnderstanded ment by Nabucho c. Ieremy saith of Moab I know her stoutnesse Iere. 48. her boasting her arrogancy and the pride of her stomacke and that vertue is not by her Nabuchodonozor said vnto Danyels thre fellowes Dani. 3. that wold not worshyp hys golden Image What God is there that may deliuer you out of my handes Nabuchodonozor walkyng in hys haule Dani. 4. sayd Is not this the great city of Babilon whyche I my selfe haue made a kynges court wyth my power and strength for the honour of my maiesty whyle these wordes wer yet in hys mouth there fell a voyce from heauen c. When Sereon hard say that Iudas had gathered vnto him the congregatioÌ„ of the faithful he said I wyl get me a name 1. Mac. 3 and ouercome Iudas the whiche contrariwise did ouercome hym sone after Demetrius the sonne of Demetrius sent vnto Ionathas saying come downe to vs into the plain field â— Mach. x. and there let vs proue our strength together thou shalt find that I haue valiant men of warre with me aske and know whom I am And yet his chaÌ„ce was but euill Nicanor purposing to fight against the Iewes 2. Mach. 8. cald marchaunt men vnto hym promising that he would geue them lxx Iewes for one talent The multitude of armed men comminge together 2. mach 9. Antiochus was put to flighte from Persepolis a citye of Persia with shame and dyshonoure And yet he spake proudly saying that he wold come to Ierusalem and make it a graue for the Iewes Nicanor did ask of the Iewes whether there were a mighty one in heauen 2. mach 15 that commaunded the Sabothe day to be kept And when they said the mighty Lord in heauen coÌ„maunded the seueÌ„th day to be kept he said And I am mighty vpon earthe Peter said verye boldlye vnto oure Lorde mat 26. Thoughe all men be offended because of thee yet wil not I be offended And yet afterwardes it chaunced farre otherwise They that boast and crake moste of them selues Mat. 4. do chaunce to lye they follow specially the deuyll the which when he had shewed our Lord all the kingdomes of the world said al these thinges are deliuered vnto me Luc. 4 and I geue them to whome I wil. Our Lord against those that be bosters and arrogante Luc. xviii dothe brynge in the example of that Pharisey saying I am not as other men are or as this Publicane The Phariseis spake woordes of greate arrogancye to him that was borne blynde Iohn 9 and restored agayne to his sight by oure Lorde and he wyth good reason confounded them Thou art all together borne in synne and dost thou teach vs Pilate but to arrogantly said vnto oure Lorde Iohn 19 knowest thou not that I haue power to crucify thee and haue power to lose thee ¶ Of elections Capitu. C. MOses vsing Ietros the priest of Madians counsel Exo. 18. did elect and chuse vnder iudges or
prelates men of actiuity and power and suche as feared God true men and hatyng couetousnesse Our Lord commaunded Moses to take xii rods after the nomber of the tribes of Israel Nume 17. the name of Aaron was in the tribe of Leui. And when he had put thē in the tabernacle on the morow he found Aarons rod budded Moses purposing to reuenge Israel of the Madianites Nume 31. said Let ther be chosen a M. out of euerye tribe of Israel to the warres When Moses which had disobeied the wil of God Nume 27. shuld die he praid our Lord deuoutly saying Let the Lord of the sprites of all flesh set a man ouer the congregation and our Lorde ordained that Iosue the sōne of Nun should be his successor and guyde of the people in his steade After the death of Iosue the childrē of Israel asked counsel of our Lorde saying Iudith 1. who shal go vp before vs and be the captain of the warre And our Lord said Iudas shal go vp When the men of Israel saw that Gedeon had fought strongly and māfully for them Iudi. 8. they said al vnto him raign thou ouer vs. The elders of Galaad wente vnto Iepthe Iud. 11. sayd vnto him come and be our prince and captaine and fight against the children of Amnon Ther was a man of Beniamin named Eis 1. regu 9.10 the same had a sonne called Saule a chosen and a good man nor there was not a better in all Israell Oure Lorde disclosed vnto Samuell that he shuld be chosen and anoynted vpon the people of Israel Samuel at the special commaundement of our Lord went to Bethleem 1. regu 16. and anoynted Dauid the son of Isai king vpon Ierusalem and Israell Saule being dead the menne of the tribe of Iuda came and anoynted Dauid king ouer the house of Iuda 2. regu 2. after that 2. regu 5. al the tribes of Israell came vnto him and anoynted him king ouer all the people of Israel And therfore he saith in his Psalmes he hathe chosen his seruaunt Dauid And in a nother place 1. Para. 28. It hath pleased our Lord to chuse me kynge ouer all the people of Israel And Dauid drawynge towardes hys deathe 1. Para. 28. saide vnto the elders of Israel Of all my sonnes our Lorde hath chosen Salomon my sonne to sit vpon the seat of the kingdome of our Lord in Israel Ieroboam by the terrible iudgement of God was chosen and taken to be king ouer ten tribes of Israell 3. regu 12. And yet he was the occasion that the people departed and went from god Iehu wrote letters and sent to Samaria vnto the rulers and best of the city 4. regu 10. Of all our masters sonnes chuse the best and him that shal please you and set him on his fathers seate and fight for your Lordes house All Iudas frendes came together and said vnto Ionathas 1. mach 9. for so muche as thy brother Iudas is dead ther is none like him to go forth against our ennemyes Wherefore we thys daye chose thee for him to be oure Prynce and captaine to order and to fyghte our battaile Our Lorde called his disciples and of them he chose twelue Luc. 6. whom he called apostles After the assention of our Lord the disciples appoynted two Ioseph and Mathias Act. 1. and when they praied they said Thou Lord whiche knowest the hartes of all men shewe whether of those two thou hast chosen to take the ministration of thys apostleshyp vpō hym The sayinges of the apostles pleased the whole multitude Act. 6. And they chose Steuen a manne full of fayth and full of the holye ghost and Philippe c. As the Discyples minystred to our Lord and fasted the holy ghost saide Seperate me Barnabas and Saule Act. 13. for the worke where vnto I haue called them ¶ Of good Princes and Prelates Ca. Ci. MOses the good prelate wente in oftentimes to Pharao to deliuer the people from the Egipeiacal seruitude and bondage Ex. 67.8.9 Moses did comfort the people that wer afraid saying Fear ye not stād stil Exo. 14. our Lord shall fight for vs and ye shal holde your peace He spake wyth his mouth but praid our Lorde with hys hart as it appeareth there Exo. 15 Moses cried for the people vnto our lord whē they murmured agaīst him A good prelate must refer all thinges to our Lord. Exo. 16 And so Moses sayde your murmuringes is not agaynste vs but against our lord Moses when Israel fought against Amelech went not to the battail but sent his seruaunt Iosue only and yet as touching his part the warre was iust Exo. 17. But he standinge in the toppe of the hil applied and turnd him to prai vnto our lord When Moses should depart from the people Exo. 23 and ascend vp to the moūtaine he left them two good vicares and gouernoures that is Aaron and Hur. Our lorde semed to be willynge to confound and destroy the synfull people Exo. 32 and promised vnto Moses greate dignity and honoure And yet Moses did pray instantly for the people And note with what seueritye he punyshed the people for whome he prayed our Lord so instantly Moses gaue vnto the Leuites xii oxen and vii charettes Numer 7. the whyche the lordes of the tribes of Israell had offred But he gaue nothing to the children of Caath althoughe they were nearer of kin vnto hym because their office was to heare all thynges vpon their shoulders Moses wished and desired that all the Lordes people could Prophecye Notwithstanding that his honor as it semed Nume 11. should therby haue bene deminished After that the spies were retorned our Lord said to Moses Nume 14 how long do thys people prouoke me how long will it bee or they beleue me I wyll smite them therefore with the pestylence and wyl make of the a prince of a greater nacion and mightyer then this is But Moses wold be preserde no hier The people pearishing for the tumult murmuringe that they made againste Moses and Aaron Nume 16. Moses saide to Aaron Take a censare and put fire therin out of the aultare and pour on cense and goe quicklye vnto the congregacion that thou mayste praye and obtayne the forgeneuesse for them When Moses shuld dye Nume 27. he prayed our Lorde mooste diligentlye that he woulde prouide the people of a meete and a good captain But yet in speciall he would name none Israell serued oure Lorde all the dayes of Iosue c. Iosu. 24. For why a good prelate is very mete to direct the people in the waye of our Lorde Samuel iudged al Israel and went about Bethel Calgala 1. regu 7. and Masphat that they whiche hadde nede of hym might the easlyer come vnto hym Samuel saied vnto the people God kepe me from this synne 1.
thee Exodi 32. that thou haste brought so great a sin vpon them as though he wold say the prelate should sin greatly against his subiects that would incline to theyr euil wyll and purposes Elye corrected hys sonnes but slenderlye the whyche thynge dyspleased oure Lorde verye sore 1. regu 2. and yet wyth wordes he corrected and reprehended them but he did it but softely and not profitably nor sharply what shall we then say of those that fauour men in mischefe or of those that geue men an occasion of euyll The whole wayt of the battayle tourned vppon Saule and so he fell and was slayne i. regu 31. For Dauids synne that he comitted wheÌ„ he nuÌ„bred his people 2. reg 24. there dyed of the people seuenty thousande men Because Roboam wold ouerpresse and charge his people 3. regu 12. he lost the greatest parte of them Ieroboam gaue an occasion to the people to departe leaue God 3. regum 12. when he made calues of golde and coÌ„maunded the people to adore worship them Subiectes by the occasion of euyll prelates and rulers are at some times temporallye punished 3. regu 18. Wherevpon Helias saied to Achab. Thou troublest al Israel and thy fathers house The kinge of Siria commaunded the captaines of his Charettes 3. reg 22. thus Fight neyther with small nor great saue only against the kyng of Israel And that was only against that most wicked Achab. Manasses made Iuda and the inhabiters of Ierusalem to erre 2. Para. 33. and to do worse then the Heathen whome our Lord destroyed before the chyldren of Israel Esay hathe exprest the synnes and fautes of the euel rulers and prelates that dwelt in Ierusalem esa i. saying Thy princes are wicked and companyons of theues They loue gyftes all together and gape for rewardes And of Nabuchodonozor a verye euel prynce and gouernour esa 14. it is sayd Thou hast wasted thy lande and destroyed thy people Sobna the ruler of the temple beleued that he should lyue long in Ierusalem and when he shoulde dye to be honourably buried But oure Lorde sayde thus vnto hym What hast thou to do here and whome hast thou here And a non after there foloweth I wil dryue the from thy station and dwellynge place Esa. 22. And hee semeth to be of those the whiche sayed a lytle before Let vs eate and drynke for to morow we shal dye Sedechias sayed vnto hys estates that desyred the death of Ieremy Iere. 38. Lo he is in youre handes for the kynge maye denye you nothinge Our Lorde by his prophet Ezechiel speaketh agaynst euyll prophetes and prelates Ezechi 13. Ye ascended not against them neyther made you a wall for the house of Israell that ye maye abyde the better in the daye of our Lord. Our lord most terribly doth threaten euil and naughty prelates by his prophet Ezechiell sayinge Wo be vnto you shepheardes of Israell that fede your selues shoulde not the shepheardes fede the flockes By and by he discryueth the dedes of yll pastors Ye haue eaten vp the mylke Ezech. 34. ye haue clothed you with the woll the best fed haue ye slayne The sicke haue ye not healed the broken haue ye not bound When the head preaste sawe that the Apostles dyd many sygnes and wonders Act. 5. he rose vp and al they that were with him and layed handes on the Apostles and put them into the common prison But the Aungel of oure lorde by nyghte broughte them forthe Then wente the Magistrates with ministers and broughte them agayne And after manye and longe counsailes thei calde the Apostles vnto them beate them and coÌ„maunded that they shoulde not speake in the name of Iesu. The Iewes caughte Steuen and brought him to the counsell and wheÌ„ the chefe preastes hadde obiected and layed many thynges vnto hym Act. 6.7 then sayed they is it euen so When he hadde truly faithfully defended him selfe and sharply reproued them they stoned him to death Certaine menne hauinge a damsel whome Paule delyuered of a spryte whyche Prophesied Act. 16. accused hym in suche wyse and Silas hys companion that they troubled all the cytye The Magistrates and Iudges with out any probation there of coÌ„maunded theÌ„ to be beaten and to be thruste into the hard and inner prison When Paule was broughte into the counsell he beganne to speake resonablye but euen at the fyrst worde that Paule spake Act. 23. the hye preaste coÌ„maunded hym to be smytten Then sayed Paul God shall smyte the thou paynted wall Syttest thou and iudgest mee after the lawe and commaundest me to be smitten contrarye to the lawe Paule had euyll and wycked Iudges Felyx and Festus Act. 25. the whyche would please and gratify the Iewes and therefore Paule was constrayned to appeale ¶ Of ambitious persons Capitu. Ciii MAry and Aaron spake against Moses Nume 12. and sayed hathe not our Lorde spoken also by vs But these wordes semed ambitiously to desyre the leadinge of the people Chore and his company desyringe to come to the gouernaunce of the people condemned Moses and Aaron and accused them sayinge It is sufficient for vs Nume 16. seynge all the multitude is holy and that our lorde is amonge them Why heue ye youre selues vp aboue the congregation and people of oure Lorde Abimelech Gedeons sonne did craftely procure by his mothers frendes that he was chosen kinge Iudi. 9. but yet afterwards it chaunced very vnluckely vnto them bothe The parable that Ionathas propounded how that the olyue vyne and figge tre wold not take the superiority and kingdome vpon them Iudi. 9. and that the fyrre bushe a small and a vile tree presumed to vsurpe the rule there of maye be aptlye ascryued vnto those whiche are ambitious Gad the son of Obed saied wold God this people were vnder my hand Iudi. 9. the I myght take Abimelech out of the way Absolon when meÌ„ came to the king for iudgement 2. regu 15 flatteringlye backbytingly and ambitiouslye sayde Thy wordes and matter seme to me to be good and iust but there is no man deputed of the king to hear the. Oh that I were made iudge in the land 2. re 17.18 But note what chanced vnto him afterwards Adonias the sonne of Hagith exalted him self 3. regum 1. saying I wyl raygne I wyl be king Achias the Selonite saide vnto Ieroboam Raigne according to al that thy soule desireth 3. regu 11. But after that he had obtained the kingdom vpon x. tribes he vsed hym self most wyckedly Zambry perceiuinge that Hela the kyng of Israel hys Lorde was dronken 3. reg 16. smote hym and kylled him And he raign vii daies only after him Athalia the mother of kinge Ochozias saw that her sonne was dead she had such an ambitious and burnyng â—ust to rule 4. reg 11. that she destroyed all the kinges seede Ioas
excepted the whiâ—he by Ochozias syster was taken away by stealth Sellum the sonne of Iabes conspired against Zacharias the king of Israel his master 4. regu 15 and slue him and he raigned a month in Samaria Nabuchodonozor the kynge of the Assirians Iudith 3. called vnto him hys Captains and men of war and told them hys thoughte and that hys purpose was to bryng the hole earthe vnder his dominion Ambitious and proud menne are more troubled with a few that excell them Esther 5. or that wil not obey them then they reioyce of many that followe theÌ„ and obey them For proud Aman the which was next vnto the kyng had many children and greate richesse estemed hym self to haue nothynge as longe as he sawe Mardocheus before the kinges gate When Seron hard say that Iudas had gathered the congregatyon and church of the faythful 1. macha 3. he sayd I wyl get me a name and a prayse thorowe out all the realme And I will fyghte and ouercome Iudas And yet Iudas sone ouercame him Alchinus that wold haue bene hye priest 1. Mac. 7 and other wicked and vngodly men of Israel came to king Demetrius saying vnto him Iudas and hys brethren haue slain and destroied thy frendes and hathe dryuen vs oute of our owne land Ptolomeus the king of Egipt weÌ„t about through disceit to obtaine and destroy Alexanders kingdom 1. macha 11 And at leÌ„gth Alexander being ouerthrowne and chased into Araby he obtaind it And zabdiel the Arabian smote of Alexanders head And sent it vnto Ptolomy the which had but litle ioy ther of For the third day after dyed kyng Ptolomy him self Ptolomy the sonne of Abobus had aboundaunce of siluer and gold 1. Mach. 16. and waxed proud and stately in his mind and thoughte to conquere the lande And by that occasyon traiterously he slue Simon the hie Priest and hys two sonnes Iason aboue all other coueted most ambitiouslye to be the hie priest And for that he came to kinge Antiochus the noble and promised him 360. talentes of Syluer And manye other thinges 2. macha 4 whych when the kynge had graunted him he had the vse therof but for a small time For Menelaus whome he sent to Antiochus gat the priesthode and was sone discharged therof and his brother Lysimachus came and was placed in hys stead When Simon saw that throughe laying on of the Apostles handes Act. 8. the holy ghost was geuen he offred them mony saying Geue me also thys power that on whom so euer I put my haÌ„des he may receiue that holy gost But Peter said vnto him Thy mony pearish with thee ¶ Of the deuels temptation Ca. Ciiii. THe serpent being crafty to teÌ„pt ye the deuel in the serpent approched the feblest part of maÌ„kinde and the most prompest to sinne for hee tempted not Adam firste Gene. 3. but Eue. And began searchynge a far of for he counseld them not euen sodenly to eate of the forbidden frute And he denyed that there should follow any paine for the transgressyon of the commaundemente Yea he affyrmde that great goodnesse shoulde followe that only eating of the apple The lying spirite doth oftentimes lie in his temptation Gene. 3. for he sayd vnto Eue ye shall not dye the deathe And he sayde vnto our Sauior when he shewed hym all the kyngdomes of the worlde Luc. 4. They are deliuered vnto me and to whome I wil I geue theÌ„ And furthermore he alledgeth holye scripture peruersly and falsly saying vnto the LORDE of aungelles He hathe geuen hys aungels charge ouer thee Math. 4. And Sathan stode vp agaynste Israel and prouoked Dauid to nombre Israel 1. Para. 21. Sathan required of our Lord that Iob might be touched in hys goodes Iob. 1.2 children and body Wherin maye be noted the subtelty malignity infirmity of our ennemy It is not expedient to dysclose our temptations to any such man whom we beleue to haue bene tempted with like sinne But rather to some dyscreat and holy man that would comfort vs in goodnesse Wherfore wheÌ„ the two old men did reuele and open their concupiscence one to a nother Dani. 23. they were prouoked to that that was worse The Lordes temptation doth teach vs to ouercome al kyndes of temptation Luc. 4. He was tempted in thre things vnto the which all other temptatioÌ„s may be reduced And note that he ouercame not temptation by power but by scripture Our Lord his passion beyng euen at hand Luc. 22. said to Simon Peter SathaÌ„ hathe desired to sifte you as it were wheat But I haue prayed for thee that thy Faithe faile not And when thou art conuerted strength thy brethren Luc. 13. The deuil put into the hart of Iudas to betray our Lord Iesus Christ. Peter said to Ananias Act. 5. howe is it the Sathan hathe filled thine harte that thou shouldest lie vnto the holy ghost and keepe away parte of the pryce of the land ¶ Of synne in generall and of diuers paines which follow sinne Ca. Cv. THat sinne doth cause shamfastnesse in man it is euident for when our first parentes in the state of innocencye were bare Gene. 3. they were not ashamed but after they had trespassed by and by they made them selues aprons Sinne dothe defame a sinner And therfore Adam after that he had trespassed Gene. 3. thought to haue hid him selfe from the presence of our Lord. Sin likewise maketh a man fearful for after the Adam had sinned Gene. 3. he sayd I was afraide because I was naked and hid my self The enormity of sinne dothe crye to the eares of our Lord for veÌ„gance Gene. 4. As the voyce of thy brothers bloude And in a nother place The cry of the Sodomites At some tymes our Lord dothe punyshe synne wyth temporal payne and punyshmente As it is euydent in Adam and Eue. Ge. 3.4.19 In Cain In the Sodomytes And often in the chyldren of Israell And Christ sayd Synne no more Ihon. 5. least a worse thynge happen vnto thee Pharao knowledged and confest that he was scourged and punished of our Lord for synne Exo. 10. saying I haue sinned against our Lord and agaynst you The children of Israel did euyll in the syght of our Lord. And oure Lord was angry Iudith 2. deliuered them into the handes of raueners that toke spoyled them and sold them into the haÌ„ds of theyr enemyes Synne doth not suffer the sinner to be in quiet 2. reg 24. For Dauids harte smote hym after that he hadde nombred the people Eccle. 47. Synne did infatuate Salomon the wyse and stayned hys honoure and worshyp After that Ioram the kinge of Iuda began to walk in the wicked wais and steps of the kinges of Israell 4. reg 8. Edom went from him wold not pay hym the accustomed tribute The chyldren of Israell left the coÌ„maundements of
he was coÌ„pelde to flie to his vncle LabaÌ„ The Egiptians hated the chyldren of Israel Exo. 1. and deludinge them did so afflicte them that theyr life was bytter vnto them Abimelech ambitiouslye couetinge the kingdome Iudi. 9. slew .70 of his brethren Dauid serued Saul both faithfully and profitablye 1. reg 17. and yet he soughte longe after his death Absolon did so moue the people a gainst Dauid 2. regu 15 that he was enforced to auoyde Ierusalem althoughe he was eftsones reuoked and calde agayne Wicked Iezabel did so threaten and go aboute to slaye Helyas 3. reg 19. that he beynge in feare of hys lyfe fledde whether so euer his mynde dyd leade hym When that wicked kinge of Israel Ioram hearde saye that there was greate famyne and hunger in the cytye 4. reg 6. he sent one of his men to smite of Helizeus heade Azarias Ioas sonne 2. Para. 14 at Ioas the kinge of Iuda commaundement was stoned to deathe because he reproued the kynge and his people that serued and honoured ydoles Nabuchodonozor commanded Holofernes that he shoulde rooâ—e out all the goddes of the lande Iudith 2.3 to the intent that he only might be called and takeÌ„ for God And therefore he destroyed many regions and the people of God which was returned from the captiuitye of Babilon he afflicted and punyshed very sore The proude cruell and wicked Aman was so mighty Esth 34. that he little estemed it to procure the deathe of all the Iewes but yet the deuine prouidence withstode his attemptinges Iere. 20. Phashur the priest smote Ieremye the prophet put him in the stockes Iere. 29. Ananias did prophesye cleane contrary to that that Ieremy sayd and toke the chayne of wodde from Ieremyce necke and brake it And Ieremy weÌ„t whome to his house as a maÌ„ confused of the liyng false prophet Da. 3 13.14 Nabuchodonozor the king of Babilon commaunded Azarias and his coÌ„panions to be cast into the fornace because they woulde not worshippe the golden ydol the which that wicked Idolater hadde erected And Daniell was twice cast into the lake of Lions by the laboure and procurement of wycked menne Antiochus ascended proudly to Ierusalem with a greate multitude 1. macha 1. and made there a terrible slaughter of meÌ„ Bacchides and Alchimus the traytoure sente by kynge Demetrius 1. macha 9. brought forth so great an host against Iudas Machabeus that Iudas was slain in battail the reast of his men fled Triphon that traytour and full of all guyle Act. 13. which by deceite slew kinge Antiochus his Lord and master slew also Ionathas and his two sonnes Herode that most vyle aduouterer beheadded at the peticion of one harlot Iohn the Baptist math 14. the patrone and ensample of all holynesse Oure Lorde Iesus sauioure of the world was smytten math 28. deluded of Anna Caipha Iohn 19. of Herode the Tetrarch at the last iudged crucified by Pilate the presideÌ„t yea and of the theues blaâ—phemed The chefe priest and all they that were with him Act 5. laid handes on the Apostles and put them in the common pryson and afterwards they wer beaten and commaunded that they shuld not speake in the name of Iesu. Certaine Iewes moued the people and the elders Act. 6.7 and the scribes they caught Steuen and brought forth ii false wytnesses againste him and so stoned him Herode Agrippa sent forthe a company to afflict and vexe certain of the congregation Act. 12. And he kylled Iames Ihons brother with the sweard And furthermore he imprisoned Peter The Iewes moued the deuout wemen and chefe men of the city Act. 13. and raised persecution against Paule Barnabas and expelled them out of their coastes When that Paule and Barnabas were so honoured at Listris that they would haue done sacrifyce vnto them as vnto Goddes Act. 14. there came certayne Iewes which when they had perswaded the people and had stoned Paul drue him out of the city supposing he had bene dead Certain men leading about a woman possessed with a spirite that prophesied Act. 16. did so stirre vp the rulers and Magistrates of the city of Philippes that Paule and Silas his companyon were commaunded to be beaten caste in pryson and sette faste in the stockes ¶ Of tribulation and the vtilitye there of Capi. Cxi IOseph beinge exiled increased more in the land and country of hys pouerty Gen. 41. then he shuld haue increased with his brethren in the country of his natiuity Iosephes brethren said one to an other We haue wel deserued thys for we haue synned against our brother Gen. 42. and therfore is this trouble come vpon vs. Exo. 1. The chyldren of Israell throughe Pharaos oppressioÌ„s and tribulation encreased for the more he vexed them the more they multiplyed and grew The chyldren of Israell beynge affâ—ycted and stinged wyth the fyerye Serpentes Nume 21. said vnto Moses we haue synned for we haue spoken agaynsâ—e our Lord and agaynsâ—e thee But or euer our Lord sent the serpents they nether knew theyr faut nor yet calde to God for healpe We reade not that the chyldren of Israell Iudi. 2. as longe as Iosue ruled and that they were occupyed in warfare and battayle dyd euer depart or left GOD But after that they were at quyet and in wealthe they sone forsoke hym The chyldren of Israell harde that the Philistynes wer gathered to com vppe agaynste theym 1. Reg. 7. And beynge afrayde they sayde vnto Samuell Cease not to cry vnto the LORDE oure GOD for vs that hee maye saue vs oute of the hand of the Phylistines When Dauid fledde from the face and presence of Absalon 2. re 15.16 18.24 and when Sâ—mei hys seruaunt cursed hym hee was verye pacient But after he had obtained the victory he waxed proud and commaunded hys people to bee nombred Dauid perceiuing our Lorde to be wroth and angry because of hys elation and pryde 2. Reg. 24. dyd mooste humblye knowledge hys faut and desyred that he might be punished and the people spared The aungell of oure LORD dyd comfort Helias flying from Iezabell the Quene that persecuted hym 3. regum 10 and he shewed hym bothe breade and water Micheas the prophet was coÌ„maunded to be fed 4. reg 22. in prysoÌ„ wyth the bread of affliction and water of trouble because hee woulde not aunswer Achab after hys owne wyl and pleasure It was oure Lordes wyll that the Iewes should be afflycted punyshed by the king of Egipt and so to learne and know 2. para 12. what difference ther is betwene the seruice of God and the seruice of the kingdomes of the world After that Manasses was in tribulation and bound with chains in Babilon he humbled hym self excedingly before our Lord 2. Para. 33. and God hard his prayer In the time
sheweth the cause why For I dwell amonge people that hathe vncleane lyppes also It was said vnto Ezechiel vnfaithfull and subuerters are wyth thee eze 2. and thou dost dwel amonge Scorpyons The wycked hurt one another for the two old men toke audacitye and boldnesse of thys to accuse Susanna Dani. 13. because they both agreed to one myschefe So longe as Iudas Machabeus fought for hys people 1. mach 8.9 trusting to the ayd and healpe of God al thyng prospered wyth hym but after that he made amitye and societye wyth the mooste puissaunt Romaines sone after hee was ouercumd and slaine in battail The like thing chanced to Ionathas Iudas brother 1. mach 12. Peter being with the disciples at the supper of oure Lorde was verye bolde and sure mat 26. but when he came to the hie priestes courte he at the voyce of a wenche denyed our Lorde The blynde manne that sat by the waye syde begginge Luc. 18. cryed vnto our Lorde Iesus And they that went before rebuked hym that hee shoulde holde hys peace He that was borne blynde whome oure Lorde restored vnto his syghte agayne Ihon. 9. was not counted amonge the faythfull of christ vntyll the Pharysees hadde thrust hym oute of the synagoge At tymes many euyll and wicked persons drawe to one euil society and felowshippe Nume 22. to hurte those that bee good So came Balaac and Balaam together to cursse the people of Israell Adonizedech king of Ierusalem and other foure kinges came together against the Gabaonites Iosu. 10. because they had made peace with Iosue Also Iabin the kinge of Asor and other .30 kinges came against Iosue and the chyldren of Israell Iosu. 11. And the fyue princes of the Philistines of Canane of Sydon and Euei Item Madian Amalâ—ch and other natioÌ„s of the East And thus is that sayinge of Esay vnderstanded Siria rested vpon Ephraim that is the ten tribes Esa. 7. and the kinge of Siria agreed in one vtterlye to extirpate and destroye the king of Iuda Luc. 23 Agayne at the tyme of oure Lordes passyon Herode and Pilate were made frendes Panle doth commende the Philipians sayinge In the myddes of a croked and a peruerse natyon Philip. 2. amonge whome ye shyne as lyghtes in the worlde Act. 2. Peter the Apostle sayed vnto certayne Iewes which harde the worde of God Saue your selues from thys vntowarde generation Paulus Sergius the ruler desired to heare the worde of God But he had with hym one Elimas the sorcerer Act. 13. a pseude prophet a Iewe the which withstode Paule and Barnabas sekinge to turne the ruler away from the faith The men of Listria were of suche simplicity that they estemed Paule and Barnabas to be gods and come downe to the earthe in the likenes of menne And when Paule had euen skarsely apaysed them and had begonne to shewe theÌ„ the way of truth thether came certayne Iewes the whiche perswaded the people so that they stoned Paule and lefte him for dead When that our Lordes worde did stronglye encrease and growe in Ephesus and the god did many myracles there by Paule Act. 19. Demetrius whiche made siluer shrynes for Diana called together workemen of like occupation and moued a greate sedytion against Paule ¶ Of good prosperity Capitu. Cxxi THe aboundaunce of temporall thinges is oftentymes the occasion of muche synne as in that regyon and countrey the whiche was watered and lyke the garden of our Lord Gen. 13. and like the land of Egipt as thou coÌ„mest vnto zoar the whiche the wicked Sodomites dyd inhabite When Gedeon was litle and threshed wheate Iudi. 6.8 hee was good and the Aungell of oure Lorde did visite him But after he had obtayned the victorye against the Madianites he mysbehaued hym selfe Saule or euer he was made kinge was good 1. regu 15. but after he toke vpon him to rule he waxed proude and brake oure Lordes commaundement After that Dauid had made greate war and had gotten many victoies of hys ennemies 2. regu 11. he remayninge in quietnes at Ierusalem coÌ„mitted aduouterye and afterwardes ensued murther Dauid by the occasion of the multitude of his subiectes 2. regu 24. waxed proud and caused his people to be numbred But yet note how greuously he was punished In Salomons tyme siluer was of no valure 3. reg 10.11 For in Ierusalem syluer was as plenteous as stones But note how maruelus and how terrible a thinge it was that his abundaunce of thinges hurte him more then hys wisedome auayled him Or euer Ieroboam had dominion and rule ouer the .x. tribes 3 regu 12. we rede not that he was euyl but that he was a good yong man and a deligent but sone after he had obtayned the kyngdome he made golden calues and leaste hee shoulde bee tourned oute of hys domynion and rule hee auerted and tourned the people from GOD. Amasias the kynge of Iuda made warre against Edome 4. reg 14 Where vpon hys hart became proud and intended to fight against Ioas the kinge of Isell but he prosperd not When Roboams kingedome was fortified 2. Para. 11. and comforted he forsoke the lawe of oure Lorde and all Israell wyth hym When Osias the kinge of Iuda became myghtye 2. Para. 20. hys harte arose to his destruction for hee wente into the temple to burne incense vppon the aulter of incense Manasses kinge of Ierusalem was exceadynge euyll 2. Para. 33 But afterwardes being bounde in Babilon and in tribulation he prayde vnto oure Lorde and dyd exceadinge greate penaunce before our Lord. They dyd eat and were fylled and became fat 2. Esd. 9 and lyued in wealth thorow thy greate goodnes And prouoked thee to anger Wordly prosperity doth somtimes multiplye and muche encrease and bringe carnall frendes together Tobi. 2.11 the whiche aduersitye dothe auoyde and flye for Tobias kinsmen and frends after he had recouered his sight and was enriched came vnto him the whiche thinge is not redde that they dyd as longe as he was blynde and that hys wyfe went to the weauinge worke After that Nabuchodonozor hadde ouercomde Arphaxat the king of Medes his kingdome was exalted Iudith 1. and his hart was lyfte vp Although Aman was next vnto the mighty and puissaunt king Ahaswerus Esth. 3.5 and had great richesse children and frendes yet he was troubled and vexed that Mardocheus woulde not bow hys kne vnto him as though he had had nothyng Note the shortnesse of this prosperity As long as the plage of the lorde was ouer Iob althoughe certayne frendes came vnto hym yet they wer onerous and heauye comfortors nor it is not red that they gaue hym any thing But after the lorde had geuen Iob twise as much as he had before then came there vnto hym al his brethren and all that had bene of his acquaintance before Iob. 42. and dyd comforte him
it vnto her frendes although it was to the hindraunce of her husband Iudi. 16. Dalida by great importunitye obtayned that Sampson tolde wher in his mighty strength did reast Anna Samuels mother wepte and coulde take no sustinaunce 1. Reg. 1. for the greate desyre she hadde to haue Chyldren 3. Reg. 3. She was verye greadye to haue a Chylde that tooke awaye an nother mannes Iezabel was so desirous and greadye to delyuer vp Nabothes vineyard to her husband 3. reg 21. that she brought forth false witnesses and thrise procured and caused Naboth to be stoned most cruelly When that the Sunamite woulde go to Elizeus 4. reg 4. and that her husbande would not fullye consent there to she said I wil go so immediatly she prepared an asse and sayde vnto her seruaunt by the waye looke thou by no impedimeÌ„t or let vnto me but do that I commaund thee Athalia Ochozias mother coneting to raign ouer the land 4. reg 11. destroyed al the kinges sede except Ioas thinfant the which was secreatly hidden and taken away Anna Tobias wife daily loked went about the stretes Tob. 10. where by she thought there shoulde be any hope of his comming that she might see hym comming a farre of Esther was not contente that the kinge had geuen her Amans house Esther 9. that he had destroyd and slain in Susan the chefe city 500. men But also the next day folowing she caused 300. mo to be slain The woman of Canane obtayned her doughters healthe throughe importune Math. 15. prayer The mother of Zebedes children taried not that our lord shuld reward her children after thexcelleÌ„cy of theyr merits Mat. 20. But preuenting the time she desyred that the one mighte be set on his righthand in his kingdome the other on his left Herodias laid such wait and so hated Ihon the Baptist that she chose that her doughter should rather ask his body Mat. 14. then the half of Herodes kingdoÌ„ Our lord doth put an ensample of a widow Luc. 18. the whiche was so molestious and greuous vnto a iudge which feared not God nether regarded man that at the last he aduenged her of her aduersary Act. 12. A maid named Rhoda perceiuinge that Peter knocked at the doore dyd not open it but for gladnesse leauing hym wythout ran in and told theim that were wythin ¶ Of the deceitfulnesse of wemen Ca. Cxxviii ADam by the occasion of Eue was deceyued although he was not seduced in that Gen. 3. that Eue was but then onely when he by her perswasion and counsell did eate of the tree forbyden Sara hearing the promise that she shoulde conceyue a chylde Gen. 18. laughed within her selfe But when she was reproued of her mystrust with a lye she excused her selfe Whilst Lothes ii doughters desiring to haue childreÌ„ by theyr own father Gen. 19â— durst not induce him there vnto with wordes but with wyne they accomplished their purpose They woulde sone haue deceaued an other when they spared not their owne father Rachel with a proper inuention beguyled her father Gen. 31. seekynge hys Idoles Iosephs lady and mestres to excuse her selfe Gen. 39. accused him vniustlye to her husbande and afterwards at her husbandes handes reuenged her selfe of Ioseph most wickedly Al be it the Hebrues mydwyues hadde a good and a deuout intente in reseruynge of the chyldren Exo. 1. yet by the fyndinge oute of a lye they deceiâ—ed Pharao the king of Egipte The wemen of Moab deceyued the children of Israell Nume 25. when that Balaam the sothesayer wyth all hys magicall crafte coulde doo nothinge against them Rathab the harlot hyd Iosues spyes and caused those that inquyred for them Iosu. 2. to runne and pursue after them vnto the ferye of Iordan sayinge that they wente forthe at the shuttinge of the gate Iahel wente forthe to mete Sisara and sayed vnto him Iuhi. 4 tourne into me my LORDE and feare not and yet at length she kylde hym beynge a sleape Sampfons wyfe wept before him and sayed Surelye thou hatest me and therefore thou hast not tolde me the ryddle Iudi. 14. And he reuelde it vnto her to his owne destruction Dalida was continuallye molestius vnto Sampson Iudi. 16. and sufferde him not one daye to be at rest and quyet so that his soule was faynte and incombred euen vnto death thus strong Sampson was ouercomde and folishlye opened all thynges vnto her When Michol vnderstode that Saule her father soughte Dauid 1. regu 19 her husbande to slaye him she caused him to departe and layed an Image vpon his bed The men that should haue brought worde vnto Dauid of Absolons estate and condition 2. Re. 17. were let downe into a well and a certayne woman spreadinge a couerlet ouer it as thoughe she had bene dryinge furmenty corne thereon fayned that they were departed and gone Iudith al be it she dyd it of a good zele and intente Iudith 10. deceyued Holofernes of whome all the earthe stode in awe and feare Herode feared Iohn the Baptist knowinge that he was a iust manne Mar. 6. and yet Herodias labourd the mater so that she causde him to be beheaded in prison Saphira and Ananias her husbande dyd lye vnto Peter as concerning parte of the price of the land Act. 5. But Peter punyshed that lye mooste greuouslye ¶ Of the folyshe and vndiscrete coÌ„munication of wemen Ca. C.xxix WE reade that Eue spake fyrste with the serpente or euer she spake with god how to worship him Gen. 3. or wyth her husband to receaue any erudition of him Sara when our Lorde did promise that she should haue a childe mistrustinge it dyd laughe Gen. 18. and afterwardes denyde that she laughed When Rachel sawe that she was vnfrutfull and baren Gen. 30. she sayed vnto her husbande Geue me children or els I am but deade asthoughe it had bene in Iacobs power to make the baren frutfull Assone as Sampsons wyfe knewe her husbandes obscure and darke riddle Iudi. 14. she disclosed it to her cityzens to the greate hynderaunce of her husbande Assone as Dalida saw that Sampson had coÌ„fessed and opened his hole minde vnto her Iudi. 16. how he mighte be depriued and lose his strengthe she caulde his ennemyes vnto her and eftsones dysclosed the thynge vnto them Because Dauid vpon greate deuotion did daunce before the arke of our Lorde 2. regu 6. Michol Saules doughter sayd scornefully vnto hym O how gloryous was the kynge of Israell thys daye When Tobias spake of the kydde Sayinge Take hede and looke that yt be not stolen Tob. 2 Anna his wife being angrye answered Nowe is thy hope become vayne openlye When Sara the doughter of Raguel dyd iustlye rebuke her mayden she answered her impaciently and verye iniuriouslye Tobi. 3. sayinge God let vs neuer see sonne or doughter of
the more vpon earth Of the two harlottes whyche contended and pleated before Salomon 3. rgu 3 shee spake folyshelye and wyckedlye that sayed of the intante Let it bee neyther myne nor thyne but denyde it When Amans wyfe hard the complaynt that her husbaÌ„d made of Mardocheus Esth. 5. she answered and sayed commaunde a loftye galous to bee made that he may be hanged thereon As Iob was sytting vpon the dunghyll and scrapinge of the fylth of his sores with a potshard Iob. 2. hys wyfe sayde vnto him Cursse God and dye But he made her a good and a dyscreate answer sayinge Thou speakest lyke a folyshe woman Shall we receyue prosperitye at the hande of GOD and not receyue aduersitye Our Lord approued not the chyldren of Zebedes mothers peticyon Mat. 20. when she said Graunt that these my two sonnes may sytte the one on the right hand and the other on the left in thy kingdom Peter at the voyce of a maid denied our Lord. mat 26. The woman of Samaria spake manye symple wordes vnto our Lorde Iohn 4. or euer she stumbled vpon the truth ¶ Of the superfluous ornamentes and raimente of wemen Capi. cxxx THamar Iudas doughter in law Gene. 38. beinge mineded to intice her father in lawe that by him she might be conceyued put her widowes garments from her and couered her self with a cloke When the comming of Iehu whiche slue Ioram the kynge of Israell was hearde of 4. regu 9. Iesabell payneted her eyes starched her face and tired her head Iudith dothe testify that her ornamentes and apparell whych she toke deceiued Holofernesse Iudith 16. She putte on the apparell of gladnesse she anoynted her face wyth oyntmentes shee bounde vp her here in an houe to beguile him We read of Esther that when she should come into the king Esth. 2. she requyred no ornamentes as other wemen did And threatninge it is wrytten Esay 3. In that day our Lorde shall take awaye the gorgiousnesse of their apparell spanges chaines partlets Colers Bracelets Houes the goodly floured wide and broydred raiment broches hedbandes ringes garlandes holye day clothes vales kerchers pinnes glasses cipresses bonets and taches Salomon describeth the reprehensible garmentes of an euill woman Prouer. 7. saying I spied a yong fole and there mette hym a woman decked lyke an harlot prepared to intrap the soul of man ful of words wandering hither and thither and vnquiet The wise man not without a cause doth monish vs Eccle. 9. when he saith Turn away thy face from a wel decked and a beautiful woman For such womeÌ„ intice and prouoke men to synne Wemens apparel shall not be outward wyth broydred hear 1. Peter 3. hanging on of gold ether in putting on of gorgyous apparell ¶ Of deathe in generall Cap. Cxxxi THe sentence of God wherwith he said vnto man Gen. 2. In what dai so euer ye shall eate thereof shalt dye the deathe It is playne and euident that man assone as sinne is committed doth die So that the liuing man doth die as it were continuallye As Sainte Augustine sayth in hys fourtene booke of the Citye of God Notwithstanding that men before the floude liued so manye yeares gen 9. yet scripture after the descriptioÌ„ of their liues saith And he died It was no maruaile that oure fore fathers feared to die and desired to be longe liued For they as yet coulde not ascende vp into heauen nor haue the fruition of the deuine vision vntyll the commyng of our sauyour the which opened the gates of heauen And therefore holye Lot was monyshed to saue him self in the mouÌ„taine Gen. 19. He feard to go thether least some misfortune should fal vpon him and that he should die there The wycked also do desire to dye wel Nume 23. I pray God that my soule may die the death of the ryghteous that my last end may be like his said Balaam Althoughe Moses would not obey our Lordes commaundement Deutâ— 24 which woulde he shoulde haue passed ouer Iordan Yet it seemeth that he wold gladly haue lyued longer if it hadde pleased our Lord. For he sayth Our LORDE is angry with me Lo I must die in this land and shal not go ouer Iordan A great part of the rewarde of Moses lawe semed to consist and stande in long lyfe Deute 32. Set your haries vnto al the woordes whyche I testifye vnto you for if ye fulfill and do them ye shal prolong your dayes in the lande whether ye go to coÌ„quere and to possesse it Zebee and Salmana desired rather to be slayne wyth the hand of worthy Gedeon Iudi. 8. then wyth the hande of Iether his yongest sonne Dauyd whych wept for hys childe beynge sycke and dyseased 2. re 12. woulde not weepe for hys chylde which was departed When Helyas sate vnder the Iunyper tree 3. re 19. he desyred for hys soule that he myghte dye And sayde It is nowe ynoughe o LORDE take my soule for I am not better then my fathers Hezechias kyng of Iuda did walk before oure Lord in truthe and was good Yet whan Esaye brought hym word that he should die Esay 38. he prayd our Lord with sorowful teares to proloÌ„g his life for a while Tobias being much prouoked with his wiues answer Tobi. 3.4 tooke it heauilye and with teares began to make hys prayer sayinge O Lorde thou arte righteous commaâ—â—de my spirite to be receiued in peace for more expedient were it for me to die then to liue So when he thoughte hys prayer to be hearde hee called vnto hym hys sonne After that Sara Raguels doughter was iniuried by her maid she praied vnto our Lord Tob. 3. and amonge all other thinges sayde I beseche the o Lorde lose me oute of the bondes of thys rebuke or els take me vtterlye awaye from of the earthe Ieremy praied king Sedechia most humbly that he wold not slaye hym Ieâ—e 38. nor commaund hym to be led agayne to that pryson where he laye before least he die there After the death of the crosse which oure Sauyoure woulde susâ—ayne and suffre Math. 27. he apertlye and manifestly declared that a iust man ought not only to dye but to suffer euen readily anye kynde of deathe for to obey oure Lord. Before the commynge of the holye ghoste math 26 the Apostles feared death exceadingly the which when our Lord was taken lefte hym and fledde from hym But after that they were fortyfyed and had receiued strengthe from aboue they beynge sette before princes and tyrants spake faithfully and chearely Paule feared but little yea he feared not death which saide I am ready not to be bound onlye Act. 21. but also to dye for the name of oure LORDE Iesu. If the Iewes knowe that I haue hurte theym Act. 25. or commytted anye thynge worthy of death I refuse not to die And this is
house with fyre Achab beinge wounded in battayl dyed at euen and the dogges licked vp Nabothes bloud 3. Re. 21.22 the which Achab dissemblinge the thyng that he shuld and myght haue voyded was stoned and he dyed 4. regu 1. When Eliseus went vp to Bethel a sorte of yll taughte chyldren mocked hym And there came oute two beares and tare .42 of them One of those two which were present wyth the kinge of Israell 4. regu 7. would not credit Heliseus wordes for speakynge of the abundaunce that was to come The next daye after the people that ranne to the spoyle trode hym downe and so he dyed Benadab kinge of Siria whiche dyd the children of Israel much woo 4. regu 8. was at the laste strangled of Asahell hys sonne Iehu beholdinge wicked Iezabell the whyche was the cause of muche euyll 4. regu 9. commaunded her to be caste down hedlyng the which was so trotrodeÌ„ with horses that she albeit she was a kings doughter was not buried for there was nothinge left but her skul her fret and the palmes of her hands Athalia Ochozias mother destroyed all the kynge seede that she might raygne ouer the people 4. regu 11. afterwardes by Ioiada the preastes coÌ„maundement she was slayne mooste fylthelye Ioas that euyll and vnkynde kinge of Iuda 4. regu 12. the whiche caused Zacharias Ioiada the preaste sonne to be stoned was slayn after that of his own seruants Senacheryb that proude kinge of the Assyrians 4. regu 19. and blasphemer of God of heauen auoyded and fledde oute of Iewry wyth shame ynoughe hys owne sonnes flewe him Sedechias kynge of Iuda beynge euyll to God and man was taken as he fled and wente hys wayes 4. regu 25. The kynge of Babylon flewe hys sonnes before hys eyes And after that hys owne were put oute he was caryed to Babilon and there he dyed wretchedlye Holofernes toke and destroied many conntreys Iudith 13. and at lengthe beynge a sleape and dronken a woman smote of hys head Proude Aman the whyche caused men to worshippe him Esther 7. was hanged on the galowes that he had made for Mardocheus Balthazar the king of BabiloÌ„ was nothing amended by the ensample of his father Nabuchodonozor Dani. 3.5 the whiche euen before him was changed into a beast And being at his banket he saw a wryting in the wall Mane Thetel Phares and the very same night he was slain and his kingdome translated to the Medes and Perses Dani. 6. Danyels accusers by Darius the kinge of Perses commaundemente were cast into the Lions den and deuoured The like chaunced in the xiiii chapter It is said that Alexander after that he went vnto hys bed 1 Mach. 1 knewe that he should die as though that before that time he neyther had remembraunce nor knowledge of death Alchinus the traytor was to smytten with the palsy 1. Mach. 9. that he coulde not speake nor coÌ„maund any of his house concerning his businesse and so he died in great misery Antiochus was sorye in his minde that Andronicus had vniustly put Onias the hie priest to death 2. mach 4. And commaunded that Andronicus should be slayne in the same place wher he coÌ„mitted to great impiety and wyckednesse When Lysimachus had commytted many great sacrilegis in the temple 2. Mach. 4. the multitude gathered them together againste him and killed hym beside the treasury Wicked Iason that toke his owne brother prisonner 2. Mach. 5. and had expelled many out of theyr country peryshed from home and was throwne out vnburyed no man mournyng for hym Antiochus whiche had martired other mens bowels suffred an horryble and greuous payne of hys bowels 2. Mach. 9. and he died a miserable and a meruelous death vpon the mountaines Menelaus the whiche for a time had gotten the dominion and rule 2. Mach. 13. was cast headlonge oute of a hie tower among the ashes The riche manne whose grounde brought forth plentiful frutes thought to destroy hys barnes Luc. 12. and builde greater he trusted to liue longe But the Lord said vnto him Thou foole this night thou shalt die The example of the rich glutton is very terrible Luc. 16. he died was buried and brought into hell Because that Ananias and his wife Saphira craftely kept away parte of the price of the land which was sold Act. 5. they at Peters increpatyon fearfully gaue vp the ghost Herode arayed in royall apparell fate in hys iudgement seat Act. 12. and made an oration to the people And they gaue a shout sayinge It is the voyce of a God and not of a man And immediatly the angell of the LORDE smote hym because he gaue not God the honoure and he was eaten of wormes and gaue vp the ghost ¶ Of the pretious deathe of the iust Cap. Cxxxiiii WHen Caine and Abell were in the field Gen. 4. Caine rose vp against Abel and slue hym Ihon dothe shewe the cause for hys woorkes and doynges were euel and hys brothers iust Enoche walked wyth God Gen. 5. and he was no more sene for God toke hym awaye Abraham dyed in a lustye age Gen. 25. verye olde and was putâ—e to hys people The dayes of Isaac were an 180. yeares Gene. 35. he died euen for very age and was put vnto his people beyng olde and ful of dayes When Iacob hadde commaunded all that he would vnto hys sonnes Gene. 49. he plucked vppe hys feete vnto the bed and dyed and was putte vnto hys people After that Ioseph hadde taken an oth of hys brethren Gene. 50. and hadde sayde GOD wyll visytte you carye my bones hence wyth you he died Nume 20. Moses and Aaron as the LORD commaunded them went vppe into mount Hor in the syght of al the multitude And whan Aaron had put of his clothes and put them vpon Eleazar his sonne he died there Moses the seruaunt of God dyed at Gods commaundement in the lande of Moab Deut. 34. The Lord buried hym but no manne knoweth of hys sepulchre vnto this day 1. Para. 29. Dauid after he had instructed hys sonne Salomon and made hys oratyon vnto God for him and al the people he died in a good age ful of dais richesse and honor 4 re 2. As Helias and Helizeus were walking together a charet of fyre horses of fyre departed them a sondre and Helias went vp thorow the whirlwinde into heauen 2. Para. â—4 The spirit of God came vpon Zacharia Ioâ—adas sonne Whiche sayde vnto the people Why transgresse ye the commaundementes of the Lord that ye can not prosper And they gathered them selues agaynst hym and stoned him at the commaundemeÌ„t of the king and so he dyed Thobias in the hour of his death Tobi. 14. called hys sonne vnto hym and seuen spryngaldes hys sonnes Children and sayde vnto them My deathe is at hande And a little after it is sayde of hys sonne that when he was ninety yeare of age and had fulfylled them in the feare of the LORDE wyth ioy and gladnesse they buried him Iob after his afflyctyons lyued an hundred and fortye yeares Iob. 41. and sawe his childers children into the fourthe generation and so died beinge olde and of a perfect age Dauid whyche lamented for hys sonne beyng sicke 2. re 12.18 woulde not weepe for hys innocente Chylde that dyed But hee wepte sore for Absolon the paricide Matathias after he had instructed comforted his Children 1. mach 2. gaue them his blessynge and dyed and was put vnto hys fathers 1. Mach. 9. When Iudas Machabeus saw the multitude of hys ennemyes and so fewe of hys owne men he sayde If our time be come let vs die manfully for our brethren Eleazarus after manye tormentes dyed 2. Mach. 6 leauinge to all the people a remembraunce of hys deathe for an example of vertue and manlinesse 2. Mach. 7. The seuen brethren wyth their deuout mother made a wonderfull and a laudable end And there may be noted many examples of vertue Mar. 6. Ihon the Baptist for the truthe and honesty of mariage was beheaded of Herode the Tetrarch It is wrytten thus of Lazarus that famous poore man And it fortuned that the begger dyed Luc. 16. and was caryed by the aungels into Abrahams bosome Dauid after he had instructed hys sonne Salomon 1. Para. 29. and made hys oratyon vnto God for him and al the people he died in a good age ful of dais richesse and honor How so euer the thefe lyued vnto whome Christe sayde Luc. 23. This day shalt thou be wyth me in Paradise He died happely When Sainte Steuen was stoned hee called on the LORDE saying Act. 7. LORDE Iesu receaue my spirit And hee knealed downe and cryed wyth a loude voyce and saide Lorde laye not thys synne to theyr charge And when he hadde thus spoken hee fell a sleape Lette vs geue dylygence that oure deathe maye bee lyke vnto hys And oure Sauyoure and LORD IESUS CHRISTE by hys syngulare deathe Li. 4. de tri Lib. 14. de ciui dei as sayth Saint Augustyne destroyed oure dowble Deathe and graunted vnto vs as saythe the selfe Augustyne so greate grace of faythe that hee was and became the instrumente of deathe the whyche is as it manyfestly appeares contrary to lyfe by the whyche wee should come to lyfe The which life the true author of eternall healthe that is the waye the truthe and lyfe and hathe the dominyon ouer death and lyfe Graunt vs. The whyche wyth the father and the holye ghoste lyueth and raygneth one God worlde without end So be it FINIS
his lorde vnto Dauid 2. re 16 his euell wordes wer sone beleued As the chyldren of Israell whiche were retourned from Babilon were buyldinge of the temple i. Esd 4 their enemies sente a wicked and an vntrue epistle to king Artaxarses to cause him to let and to hynder the buyldinge When that Sara Raguels daughter reproued one of her maydens for her faute Tob. 3 she answered her sayinge God let vs neuer se son nor daughter of the more vpon earth then kyller of thy husbandes By the onely occasion of Mardocheus that would not worship nor bowe to proude Aman he informed the kinge Ahasuerus that the Iewes condemned his coÌ„maundemeÌ„t Esth. 2 and that they sowed discorde and debate throwoute all his kingdome And vpoÌ„ reporte the wer condemned all to dye but yet the diuine mercy prouided for theyr deliueraunce Because that Ieremy preached that the Caldes should take the city of Ierusalem Iere. 38. The princes and rulers of the people saied vnto kinge Sedechias This maÌ„ laboureth nor seketh not for peace of the people but for mischefe The Caldes came and accused the Dani. 3 Iewes saiyng vnto Nabuchodonosor the king that Daniels felowes did not worship his gods and that they were transgressors breakers of the kings decrees and lawes The princes and lordes of Darius the king of Persia Dani. 6 enuyinge and beringe hatred to Daniel accused him to the king that he prayed and worshipped another god theÌ„ king Darius These two olde prestes went about filthely to defame Susan Dani. 13 but yet god by an abstinent and a chast childe did wonderfully deliuer her Alchimus which would haue bene the hie preast and certayne other saied vnto kinge Demetrius i. mach 7 Iudas and his brethreÌ„ haue destroyed thy frends haue scatered vs out of our couÌ„trey There came together against Ionathas certaine pestilent and wicked men of Israel i. mach 10 to prouoke king Alexander against him But the kinge regarded them not Simon of the tribe of Beniamin a ruler of the teÌ„ple 2. mach 3 came to Appolonius and tolde him that the treasury was full of innumerable money This Symon of whome we spake before 2. mach 4 reported and spake the worste of Onias the prouisor of the citye And was bolde nothyng ashamed to call hym an enemy of the realme whiâ—he was so faithfull a defender of his people and so feruent in the lawe of god 2. Mach. 24 Alchimus comminge to kinge Demetrius amoÌ„ge al other things saied As longe as Iudas lyueth it is not posible for men to be in quiet mat 9. When the pharises sawe that oure lorde sat at meate in Mathews house the saied vnto his disciples why eateth your master with PubblicaÌ„s sinners Lu. 19 The like chaunced be zacheus For thei murmurd that he was gone in to tarye with a man that is a synner math 11. And of Iohn the baptist that was a greate faster they saied He hath the deuell And of our lorde Iesu that did eate with sinners they sayed Behold a glutton an vnmeasurable drincker of wyne a frende vnto Pubblicans and sinners After that the pharises had sene the miracle of him that was borne blind Iohn 9 and how that he was restored to hys sight by our lorde Iesus thei bacbited oure lorde saiynge we knowe that this man is a sinner and they curssed the man saied Be thou his disciple The Scribes and pharises bacbited oure lorde callinge hym a Samaritane a demoniach A blasphemer a sinner a glutton a drunckard a liar and one that forbad to paye tribute to Cesar a subuerter of the people A seductor the which all may be had and found in diuers places of the gospell The Iewes beinge-vnable to resist the wisedome of Steuen Act. 6 and the spirite that spake by him brought into the counsel two false witnesses saiyng This man ceaseth not to speake blasphemus words against this holy place and lawes Certain men beinge in sorow that they hadde loste theyr gayne Act. 16 because that Paule had caste oute of a mayde of theyrs a sprete that prophesyed sayed vnto the magistrates These meÌ„ trouble our city through their euel wordes the people ran against them and theyr clothes beinge rent they wer commaunded to be beaten wyth rods and to be cast into prison When Gallio the proconsull was ruler of the couÌ„try of Acaia the Iewes made an insurrectioÌ„ with one accord againste Paule Act. 18 and broughte him to the iudgement seat saying This fellow doth counsel men to worship god contrary to the law At Ephesus when diuers waxed hard hearted Act. 19 beleued not but spake euel of the way of oure Lorde that before the multitude Paule departing froÌ„ thence separated the disciples When certain Iewes which were of Asia Act. 21 saw Paul in the temple they cried o ye men of Israel helpe This is the man that teacheth all men euerye wher against the people and the law Furthermore he hathe broughte the gentiles into the temple and hathe polluted this holy place Act. 24 The orator Tertullius propunded for the Iewes before Felix the debâ—ty agaynste Paule saiynge We haue founde this pestilent felow mouinge sedition debate vnto all the Iewes in the whole worlde and a maintayner of sedition of the secte of the Nazarites whiche hath also enforced to pollute the temple Paule disputinge at Athens Act. 17 certayue philosophers of the Epicures and of the Stoyckes saied what will this babler saye Other sayed he semeth to be a tydinges bringer of new deuels When the straungers sawe the viper hange on Pauls hand Act. 28 thei saied no doubte this man is a murtherer Whome thought he haue escayed the see c. But shortely after the chaunged their opinion ¶ Of Liberalite mercye and largenes Capi. lxxii REbecca Batuels daughter did most liberally answer Abrahams seruant Gen. 24 saying Drinck my lorde Exo. 2. Moses did very liberallye when he defended Iethroes daughters froÌ„ the shepheardes that woulde not suffer them to water theyr shepe When Moses hard that Iethro his father in law was comming to hym Exo. 18 he went out to mete him and did diuersly honor him The children of Israel wyth moste prompe and deuout minds did geue to the worke of the tabernacle Exo. 36 the holy vestments al thing that was necessary And the artificers wer enforced to say vnto Moses The people bring to much and more then inough Moses desired of kinge Edom saying we pray thee that it may be lawfull for vs to go thorow thy land Nume 21 we will not tourne in to the fieldes nor vineyardes neyther drinke of the waters of the wels c. GedeoÌ„ desired bread of the lords of Sochot Phanuel for his coÌ„panions an men that wer weary Iudi. 8. but they wold geue him none the which thing was
commaunded the male children to be kylled but afterwardes he commaunded that they should be cast into the riuer and that the wemen children shoulde be saued First Pharao said euen simply I know not the Lord nether wil I let Israel go Exo. 5. And again he graunted it vnto them saying go ye and do sacrifyce vnto the Lord in this lande And yet afterwards he would let theÌ„ go to do sacrifice vnto our Lord in the wildernesse so that they went not far of Exo. 10. And after that he was conteÌ„t that the men should goe so that they lefte their shepeâ— theyr cattel behinde theÌ„ Exo. 5. After that Pharao vnderstode that the children of Israel would do sacrifice vnto our Lord he afflicted and vsed them more hardly Iudi. 1. Thre score and ten kinges hauing theyr thombes and great toes cut of gathered the fragmentes vnder Adonibezechs table Abimelech GedeoÌ„s sonne vsurping the superiority and dominioÌ„ Iudi. 9. ouer the people slue seuenty men his brethren vpon one stone Saule after that he hadde receyued many benefites by Dauid 1. regu 22. sought his death and slue 85. men that dyd wear a lynnen Ephod Ieroboam commauÌ„ded the man of God to be taken 3. regu 13. the whiche rebuked hym for the sacrilegious altare that he set vp and builded Iesabell sought Helias death in as muche as he had caused Baals Prophets to be slayne 3. regu 19. Naboth the Israelite by the procurement of Iezabel 3. regu 21. was stoned to death for she caused false witnes to be brought out against hym Achab king of Israel caused Micheas the prophet to be cast into pryson 3. reg 22. and to be sustaynd and fed with bread of affliction and wyth water of trouble When the word of our Lord came against Baasa that kyng of Israel 3. regu 16. his house by the haÌ„d of Iehu the prophet he slue the foresaid prophet Manasses the king of Iuda 4. regu 21. shed innocent bloud and replenyshed Ierusalem wyth the bloud of innocents When Sennacherib came agayn fled out of Iewry what tyme as God punyshed hym for hys blasphemy Tobi. 1. In his wrath he slue many of the children of Israel Nabuchodonozor saide vnto Holofernes Thou shalt spare no realme Iudith 2. Afterwardes we reade of Holofernes that there came such a fear vpon the countryes Iudith 3. that the indwellers of all the cities went forth to mete hym as he came and receaued hym wyth garlandes and torches wyth dances tabrets pipes Neuertheles though thei did this yet could thei not swage hys rigorous stomacke Because that Mardocheus woulde not bowe hys knee to proude Aman Esth. 3. he chose rather to procure the deathe of all the Iewes then to forgeue hym alone Sedechias kyng of Iuda commauÌ„ded at the peticion of the rulers of the people Iere. 38. that Ieremye the prophette should be caste into the lake or dongion where there was neyther water nor light The kinge of Babilon slue Sedechias the kinge of Iuda children before hys face at Reblatha Iere. 19. and made his eyes to be put oute and bounde hym wyth fetters and sente hym to Babilon Nabuchodonozor kinge of Babilon in a furye coÌ„maunded to destroye all the wise menne at Babilon Dani. 2. because they could not interpretate the dreameâ— whiche he dreamed and sawe It was an exeadinge and a maruelous greate cruelnes of Nabuchodonozor the kynge of Babilon Dani. 3. when he caused Daniels felowes to be cast into the burninge fornace Antiochus wente vppe to Ierusalem and made a greate slaughter of menne 1. macha â— and shedde innocente bloude on euery syde of the Sanctuarye at Ierusalem Demetrius toke Antiochus the son of Antiochus and Lisias 1. Mac. 7 and brought them to Demetrius the which wold not see them so the hoost put them to death Tryphon tooke Ionathas traytorousllye And when he had him he asked for his deliueraunce .200 talents of siluer 1. Mach. 13. and his two sonnes for ostagees And when he had them he most wickedlye slew the father his sonnes Andronicus beynge desired of Menelaus and by hym throughe gyftes corrupted 2. macha 4 slew Onias the hye priest Kinge Antiochus absolued that sacrilegious manne Menelaus accused of many crymes 2. Mach. 4. and condempnde his accusers to deathe The tirauntes sente by Antioche did excercise and vse to muche cruelnes agaynst Eleazarus 2. mac 6.7 and likewise agaynst those .vii. brethren and theyr mother When Herode sawe that hee was mocked of the wyse men he was exceadinge wroth Math. 2. and sente forth men of warre and slewe all the chyldren that were in Bethelem and in al the coastes as many as were two yeare olde and vnder Herode the Tetrarche knew that Iohn the Baptist was a iust and a holye manne Math. 14. mar 6. and yet at the peticion of an harlot hee caused him to be beheaded in prson Pilate knew that the Iewes for enuye hadde deliuered oure Lorde and coulde fynde no cause whye and yet at theyr clamoures Math. 27 and fearynge least he shoulde lese the fauour of Cesar he delyuerd him scourged to their wyll and pleasure There came vnto our Lord certain Pharises Luc. 13. and sayed vnto hym Get thee out of the waye departe hence for Herode wyll kyll thee Herode the Tetrarch was desirous to see Iesus of a longe season when he saw him he was exceadinge glad Luc. 23. And yet he with his men of war des +pised him and when he had mocked him he arayed him in white clothing and sent him agayne to Pilate Herode the kinge sent a company to vexe certayne of the congregation Act. 12. And he kylled Iames the brother of Iohn â—nd because hee sawe that it pleased the Iewes he wente aboute to take Peter also Paule was of certaine men falsely accused Act. 16. because that he had cast oute of a certayn mayde a spirite that prophesied The magestrates sente him and Sylas hys felowe to be beaten with roddes and to be cast in prison and to make theyr feete faste in the stockes Felyx the president hoped that money shoulde haue bene geuen him of Paule Ac. 24.25 whome he helde bounde in prison Wherefore he called him the oftner coÌ„moned with him Festus succeded him And Felix wyllinge to shewe the Iewes a pleasure to hurt Paule lefte him in pryson bounde and Paule appealed to Cesar. ¶ Of the oppression of the good by the euil Capi. Cx. THe wicked and enuious Cain preuaylde agaynste Abell the iust Gene. 4. and slew him The Sodomites did diuersllye and manifolde maner of waies afflict and torment the lyfe and soule of Lot Gene. 19. Esau hated Iacob continuallye and sayed in his hart Gen. 27.28 The dayes of my fathers sorowe are at hande and I wil slay my brother Iacob So that