heyght nor depth nor anye other creature shall be able to seperate vs from the loue of God whyche is in Christe Iesus oure Lorde Philemon I am gladde to heare these youre wordes and I am fully persuaded y t thys youre ioye shall encrease vnto an excedynge and perfecte reioysynge in the Lord our god vnto the great and syngulare comforte boeth of youre bodies and soules But ye shall note that the holye Apostle doeth not onely bydde vs reioyse in the Lorde but he addeth vnto it Alwaye Reioyse in the Lorde Alwaye sayeth he Theo. What meaneth the blessed Apostle by thys worde Alwaye Phile. Uerily he wyll that oure ioye and reioysynge in the Lorde be not flittyng transitory and of small con tinuaunce as the pleasure that is conceyued of worldly thynges is the ende whereof is bytter and sorowfull as Salomon say eth the ende of worldelye ioye is heauines mornening and lamen tynge but constante stedfaste inmutable not diminishinge but encreasynge vnto an hyghe perfection of godly mirth ioye felicitye pleasure For he that conti nueth vnto the ende sayth Christ shal be saued It is not ynoughe to begynne well and to continue in the same a certayne space excepte we perseuer euen vnto the end of our lyfe The wyfe of Lot began well when she came oute of synfull Sodome but bycause she dyd not goe forthe but loked backe agayne vnto it she was turned into a salte pillar The wyse menne that came frome the East parte of the worlde to worshyppe Iesus Christe the newe borne kynge of the spirituall Israelites were cōmaunded of god no more to returne to the mooste blouddy and wycked kynge Herode Iudas begā well and was one of Christes disciples very earneste in settynge forthe the kyngedome of God for a certain space but seynge he dyd not perseuer in that Godly purpose but became of a preacher a treytour of a disciple a thiefe of a minister a murtherer he is now the sonne of perdition and dampned for euermore He is not y e true sonne that promiseth hys father that he wyll worcke in hys viniyarde doeth not but he that māfully worketh in it indede so perceue teth to y e ende he shal inioy y e enheritaunce of his father For the kingdome of god shal be takē away frō idle lubbers geuen to theym that worcke and brynge forth the fruits therof Not they whych whē they heare the word fyrst of al do ioyfully receyue it beleue it for a tyme talke of it in the time of tentation go away slide backe and become other mē shall possesse eternall lyfe but they whyche with greate ioy and gladnes of mynde heare it receyue it beleue it cleaue faste vnto it in the tyme of persecution and perseuer in the same euē vnto the very last breath No man is crowned saith saynte Paule excepte he fyghte lawefullye that is vntyll he haue goten the victorye by resistynge the worlde the Deuyll and the flesh thorowe Christe oure Lorde And the Lord hym selfe sayeth No manne that putteth hys hād to the plough and loketh backe is meete for the Kyngedome of heauen Hereto agreeth the sayinge of Saynt Peter If after they haue forsaken the vncleannesse of the worlde by the knoweledge of the Lorde and Sauiour Christ Iesus they yet againe beyng wrapped in theym are ouercome the laste is worsse then the fyrste to theym For it had bene better for thē not to haue knowen the way of ryghtuousenes thē after theyr knoweledge to turne away from that holy commaundement that was geuen theym But that it chaunced to theim that is wonte to be spoken in a true prouerbe The dogge is returned vnto his vomit and the sowe cleane washed vnto the wallowinge in the myre Of these thyngs aforesaid maye wee learne that it is not inoughe to begyn well except we perseuer and continue euen vnto the geuynge vp of the Goste as they vse to saye He that continueth to the ende saieth Christ shall be saued Agayne he sayeth If ye abyde in my worde truelie ye shall be my Disciples and ye shall knowe the trueth and the truth shal deliuer you We must abyde in the worde of God or els we can not be Christes disciples We are deliuered frō the rule of our enemies saieth holy zachary the prieste father to that mooste excellente Prophete of God S. Iohn Baptiste that we beynge wythout feare shoulde serue god in holines and rightuousnes before him all the dayes of our life Note that he saieth all the daies of oure lyfe muste we serue God in suche holines and ryghtuousnes as is acceptable before hym The holye scripture requireth of vs a continuall progresse and an vnletted perseueraūce in y e waye of Godlines In consideration wherof the blessed Apostle doeth not onely exhort vs to reioyce in the Lorde but he addeth vnto it Alwaye requirynge of vs not a flyttynge and transitorye reioysynge but a constaunte stedfast sure continual and vnchaungeable reioysynge in the Lord. Reioyce in the Lorde alwaye saieth he Euse. It is but a trifle to ioy and reioyce in the Lorde in hys worde and ordinaunces so longe as prosperitye endureth and the worlde laugheth vpon vs but to reioyce in the Lorde in hys word and ordinaunces when we be assayled wyth troublous aduersitie whē we be visited wyth greauouse sicknes when we be empouerished thorowe miserable misfortunes whē we be hated blasphemed persecuted oppressed en prysoned punished of worldelye tyrantes for God for hys worde and ordinaunces thys is a perfecte ioye and christian reioysing to beare the crosse of Christe to suffer patientlye all kynde of aduersitie to cleaue faste to God in the tyme of temptation to be cōtente so well to abyde troubles as prosperouse thynges thākfully to take what so euer plages or punishmentes God shall laye vpon vs eyther by hys owne louynge visitation or by the crueltye of the wycked worldelynges whyche are alwaye enemyes to Goddes trueth and to al true louers of the same thys is in mine opinion to reioyce alwaye in the Lorde and to acknowledge hym to be our most gentil father and louinge sauiour whether he send prosperitie or aduersitie Phile. Truth it is y t ye 〈◊〉 brother Eusebius If therefore anye of you at anye tyme be visited wyth sickenes or diseases of the body murmure not nor grudg not against God blaspheme hym not nor speake not vnreuerently of hym nor yet wyshe not that syckenes to be taken frome you otherwyse then hys Godlye pleasure shall be whyche knoweth muche better what is expediēt or profitable for you then ye youre selues do but wyth hyghe patience most herty thankes geuynge receyue that louynge visitation of youre heauenlye father as an holy enplasture holsome salue to heale all those pockye diseases wherw t your soules are infected thorowe the stynkynge corruption of olde synfull Adam We are corrected and punished of
ascen cion a preparer of a heauenli and glorious mansion for vs againe a purchaser of the holye goste to comforte vs and to lede vs into al trueth but also an intercessour mediatoure and aduocate where by he obtayneth for vs all good thynges and putteth a backe frō◅s what so euer shoulde hinder ◅e obtaynynge of gods fauoure and the heauenly enheritaunce Christe purchaseth for vs of hys father thoroughe his intercessiō so aboūdantly and so altogether sufficiently al thinges necessarye for the conseruacion boeth of our bodie and soule that we nede not to praie vnto any sainct in heauē as the papistes haue taughte vs neither vnto mary Iohn Peter Iames nor any other to be oure intercessoure mediatour or aduo cate It is Christes office alone to be a mediatonree betwene god and vs as blessed Paulle teacheth vs in his Epistle vnto Timo the. I doubte not neygheboures but so many as are fayethful are replete wyth exceadynge ioye to consider howe manifolde and diuers benefites gyftes and graces chaunce to vs by the wonderfull ascencion of Christ our Lord and sauioure Theo. Who so euer considereth depely in hys minde those thynges that ye haue taughte vs hitherto shall be occasioned vnfainedly to obeye thys commaundemente of the blessed Apostle he that reioyceth let hym reioyse in the Lorde so swete and full of all heauenly pleasure are these commodities whyche wee receyue of God thorowe Christ oure Lord. Philemon But let vs make haste vnto an ende concernynge thys matter that we maye learne in fewe wordes what so euer remai neth of gods goodnes towarde vs in Christe I meane so muche as oure wyte can comprehende and we be taughte in the holye scripture that we maye earnestely reioyse in the Lorde oure God We haue hearde heretofore manye vrgente and wayghtie causes why we shoulde of very right and boūden dutie reioyse and be mery in the Lorde Nowe it remayneth orderlye to declare the finall and laste cause whye wee ought to be glade and reioyse in God Christ. I praye you lette vs heare Phile. As Christ was borne for vs wrought al good thinges in hys manhode for vs suffered for vs died for vs rose againe for vs ascended into heauen for vs purchaised the holy goste for vs prayeth for vs obtayneth al best thynges for vs so likewise at the laste daye shall he beynge oure heade come agayne frō the right hande of his father to fet◅ vs hys membres and to enunite vs w t him in the same glori ther euer to remayne And althoughe to the wycked he shall come as a ter rible and ryghteous iudge to revenge and not to pardonne to punishe and not to forgiue to cōdeme and not to saue yet to the fayethfull shall he come in hys glorious maiestye and all the blessed Angeles wyth hym lyke a mooste louynge and Gentle sauioure sayeynge to them on thys manner come ye blessed of my father possesse ye the kyngdome prepared for you from the begynnynge of the worlde O whooe is able to expresse what ioye and comforte thys afore sayed sentence shal bringe to the hertes of the fayethfull But to the vnfayethfull it shall be sayede gette ye hence ye cursed into euerlastinge fire which is prepared for the deuil and hys Angeles Euse. O that daye shall be to the wycked a bitter daye a daye of wrath a daye of tribulacion and anguishe a day of calamitie mise ry wrechednes a daye of darcknes and miste a day of cloudines boistuousnes a day of feareful trompettes and shawmes blowynge Philemon I graunte notwythstandeynge to the fayethefull it shall be a swete daye a daye of fauoure a daye of quietnes and peace a daye of wealth and felicitye a daye of clearenes and lyghte a daye of comforte and solace a daye of heauenly myrth ioye and pleasure For as blessed Paulle fayeth the eye hathe not seene nor the eare hathe not hearde neyther canne the herte of manne thynke what thynges God hathe prepared for them that loue hym They shall be as Angelles of God in heauen They shall shyne as the clearenes of the firmament and as starres for euer and euer They shall be counted amonge the sonnes of god and their lot shal be among the saynctes They shall receyue of the Lordes hande an honorable kyngedome and a beautifull diademe They shall be clad with longe whighte garmentes Thei shal be be fore the throne of God and serue hym day and nyght in his temple They shal hōgar and thyrste no more neither shall the sonne or any heate faul vpon thē for the lambe Christe whyche is in the middes of the throne shall gouerne them and lead thē vnto the fountayues of the water of lyfe and God shal wype a waye euery teare from their eies Thei shall dwell in a citye that nedeth neyther sonne nor mone to shyne in it For the clerenes of God shal illumine it They shall beholde the glorious face of god presently and hys name shall be written in their foreheades They shall eate of the tre of lyfe whych is in the paradise of God To conclud they shal haue a crowne of glory and syt wyth Christe their elder brother in hys throne euen as he sitteth wyth hys father in hys throne and shall lyue wyth God and hys holy angelles in al kind of honoure and glorye ioye and pleasure worlde wythout ende O what can a Christen man desire more of the Lorde hys God then these thinges which I haue heretofore rehersed Come of tell me nowe I praye you if we haue not many yea and innumerable boeth vrgent and wayghtie causes why we shoulde reioyse in the Lorde our God I doubte not I doubte not moste dere brethren but by the hearynge of these thin ges ye are nowe so rapte into the loue of God for the moste hyghe and singulare pleasures whyche thorowe Christe Iesus ye haue allredye receyued and here after shall receyue a thousand tymes more abound a untlye that from hēceforth al worldly thinges shal waxe vile vnto you and ye shall euen from the verye herte endeuoure youre selues at all tymes to repose all youre ioye comforts pleasure and felicitie in the Lord oure God alone alone so that ye shall reioyse in none neyther in heauen nor in earth but in hym alone alone Chri. Neyghboure Philemō we all are kindled with so feruente and so hertye loue towarde God for these hys moste singulare and inestimable benefites that we do not onely defye the world and all the vayne plea sures of it but we also are redye for our stedfast loue in God and for the perfecte reioysinge in him gladly to saye wyth the blessed A postle who shall seperat vs from the loue of Christe Shall tribulacion or anguishe Or famine Or nakednes Or parel Or persecution Or swerde I am sure that neyther death nor lyfe nor angels nor soueraignties nor powers nor thinges present nor thynges to come nor strenghte
geueth meate to the hungrye Beholde the eys of the Lorde are vpon them that feare hym and vpon them that truste in his mercye that he maye deliuer their liues from death and nourishe thē in the tyme of honger They that feare the Lorde shall haue no scarsenes They which seeke the Lord shall want no good thynge Feare not my sonne sayeth Tobias we leade a pore lyfe notwythstandynge we shal haue plentye of al good thin ges if we feare the Lorde depart from all synne and do well God gyueth vs aboūdantly in al thin ges to enioye them sayeth sainct Paule God him selfe sayeth I wyll not fayle the nor yet forsake the. Christo. Who beynge a fayethfull manne althoughe neuer so muche oppressed wyth pouertye wyl not reioyse in the lord which hath promised and wil no les per fourme that he wyll not forsake so manye as truste in hym Philemon And that ye may be thorow ly perswaded of hys faythfulnes concernyng thaccomplishement of his promes consider I praye you howe frendly and fayethfully he dealt in tymes paste wyth his seruauntes and wyll no les fauorably handle vs if we haue lyke fayeth in hym Dyd he not fede the people of Israell wyth meate from heauē and gaue thē drincke out of the rocke Dyd he not sende meate twise a daye by the rauens to the Prophet Helias and so miraculously fed him whā the vnfaythful perished for hōger Did not Christ turne wa ter into wyne at the mariage in Cana Galile Dyd not Christe wyth fyue barlye loues and two fyshes fede fyue thousande men besydes womenne and children and yet there of remained xii baskettes full of the fragmentes Do not all these histories teache vs to haue fayeth in God and to beleue that God hath a father lye care for hys seruauntes What so euer thynges are wryten are writtē sayth blessed Paul for oure learnynge that thorowe pacience and cōforte of the scriptures we shoulde haue hope It is not to be passed ouer at thys presente that Christe hath in the gospel of Mathewe Be not care full for youre lyfe what ye shall eate or what ye shall drincke nor yet for youre bodye what ye shal put on Is not y e life more worth than meate And the bodie more of valure than rayment Behold the foules of the ayer for they sowe not neyther reape nor carye into the barnes and youre heauenly father fedeth them Are ye not much better thā they Which of you by takyngr thoughte can put one cubite to hys stature And why care ye thē for raiment Consider the lylies of the felde howe they growe They laboure not neyther spinne and yet I tel you y t Salomon in al his rialtie was not arayed lyke vnto one of these Wherfore if god so cloth y e grasse whyche is to daye in the felde and to morowe shall be cast into y e fornace shal he not muche more do the same to you O ye of litle fayeth Take therefore no thoughte sayinge what shall we eate or what shall we drincke or wherewyth shall we be clothed After al these thynges seake the heathen For youre heauenly father knoweth that ye haue nede of all these thynges But seke ye firste the kyngdome of heauen and the ryghtuousnes thereof and all these thynges shal be cast vnto you The. O swet comfortable scriptures Lette the heathen take thought for their liuinge which knowe not God as for the fayth full Christians thei haue a lorde whiche wyl prouyde for them aboūdauntly Let adulteres forni cators theues Dronkardes swe rers and suche other wycked par sonnes take care wherewith they shall be fedde and cladde as for the seruauntes of God they haue an almyghtye Lorde in heauen whiche wyll sende them plentye of all good thynges If ye be louynge and obediente sayeth the Prophet Esay ye shal enioye the beste thynge that groweth in the lande But if ye be obstinate and rebelious ye shall be deuoured with the swerd For thus the lord hath promised wyth hys owne mouth The wicked therfore and not the faythfull shall want and be oppressed wyth famyne Euse. If God taketh such fatherly care for hys seruauntes howe than commeth it to passe manye tymes that those whyche seeke most of al hys glory lede in this worlde the most base miserable lyfe and often are found socourles and destitute of all mannes healp Whan they whych be vnfayethfull regarde neyther God nor any thynge that is godly dis pise hys most blessed worde persecute the true preachers thereof oppresse theyr pore neyghboures deale vniustly wyth all men c haue ouer flowyng aboūdaunce of al thinges lyue lyke voluptuous Epicures in al kind of pleasure possesse whatsoeuer theyr hertes can wishe or desire Thys thing se we presentely before our eyes and as it may be gathered of the holye Scriptures manye good menne in tymes paste haue complayned of this thynge vnto god and almooste as it were accused God of vnryghtuousnes Are not these the wordes of the holye and paciente man Iobe◅ When I consider my selfe I am a trayde and my fleshe is smitten wyth feare Wherefore do wycked men lyue in health and prosperite come to ther olde age and increase in ritches Their childrē lyue in their syghte and their generacion before their eyes Their houses are safe from all feare and the rodde of God doth not smyte them Their bullocke gendereth and that not oute of tyme their cowe calueth and is not vnfruiteful They send forth their chyldren by flockes and their sonnes leade the daunce They beare wyth them tabrettes and harpes and haue instrumen tes of musicke at their pleasurs Thei spend their daies in wealth thynes c. The holy Prophet Ie remye maruelynge greatelye at the prosperitie of y e wycked speaketh to God on thys maner O Lorde thou art more ryghtuous then I should dispute wyth the. Neuertheles lette me talke wyth the in thynges reasonable How happeneth it that the way of the vngodli is so prosperous that it goeth so wel wyth them which wythout any shame offende and lyue in wyckednes Thou plantist them and they take rote they growe and brynge forth fruite Are not these the wordes also of the blessed Psalmographe truely God is louynge vnto Israell and vnto suche as are of acleane herte Neuertheles my fete were almost gone my treadinges had welnigh flypt And why I was greued at the wicked I do se also the vngodly in such prosperitie For they are in no parell of death but are lusty and stronge they come in no misfortune lyke other folke neyther are they plaged lyke other men And thys is the cause why they be so holden wyth pryde and ouerwhelmed wyth crueltye theyr eyes swel for fatnes and they do euen what they luste They corrupte other and speake of wycked blasphemy theyr talking is against the most higheste For they stretche
the most wicked kinge I passe ouer many other of the olde testamēt which were vnmercifully persecuted and slayne for gods trueth Some as the blessed Apostle say eth were tried wyth mockynges scourginges wyth bondes prisonment some were stoned some were hewen a sunder some were slayne with swerde al were troubled and vexed Theo. These are they of whom the wise man spea keth god proued thē and founde thē meete for him selfe yea as the golde in the fornace dyd he trye thē and receyued thē as a brunte offeringe c. Phi. As I may at y e last come to the newe testament to whō is it vnknowne that Iesus Christ our Lorde sauioure after mani blasphemies rebukes slaunders and bitter tormentes suffred the most spiteful death of y e crosse so entered in to glorye Holye Iohn Baptist that blessed priestes sonne for trueth tellynge to king herod for reprouing hym of his abhominable liuing was cast into prisonne and beheaded Iames the brother of Iohn had his head striken of for preaching Christ to be son of y e liuinge god The holy martirs Stephē was stoned vnto deth because he prea ched Christ affirmed that God dwelleth not in temples made w t mans hād What kindnes Peter and Paule w t the other apostles foūd at y e hādes of thē whose saluaciō they most diligētly sought the histories make menciō Neyther do I heare speake of those blissed martirs which syns their dayes haue died for the confessiō of gods trueth so that the Gospel of Christe is not without a cause called of sainct Paulle the word of the crosse For al that wyl lyue godlye in Christ Iesu sayeth he shal suffer persecution To consider these histories afore rehersed shall stablishe our fayeth greately and very much comforte vs in the tyme of oure tribulacion so that we shall not lyghtely slyde frome God and frome hys holye worde but reioyse in hym recoūtynge oure selues moste blessed fortunate and wealthy that god hath vouched safe not only that we shoulde beleue in him but also suffer for hym It shall be expediente for vs also to remember that Christe calleth them blessed which suffer persecution for righ tuousnes sake and sayeth that theirs is the kingdome of heauē Agayne that the seruaunt is not greater thā hys Lord but if they persecuted Christ our Lorde and maister thei wil also persecute vs his seruauntes Disciples If they haue called the father of the houshold Belzebub much more they wyl cal them so that are of hys housholde If we were of the worlde the worlde woulde loue vs but for asmuche as we are not of the worlde but Christ hath chosen vs out of the world therfore doth the world hate vs. And did not Christe tel vs afore that we should lament and wepe that is to saye be oppressed of tirauntes but the worlde shoulde reioyse and that in the world we should haue affliction and trouble Agayne are we not taughte y t by many tribulations we must enter into the kingdome of God Chri. The fleshe abhorreth trouble persecution namely whan death is like to folow phile The spirite as Christ sayeth is redye and of a good courage to suffer al thinges for the glorie of God but the fleshe is weake The outward man is loeth to dye but the inward man wisheth to be losoned out of this corruptible body and to be wyth Christ. But if the good wil of our heauēly father so be y t we muste nedes suffer death for Christes sake let vs set thys saying of S. Paule before oure eies and stedfastli beleue it if we die with christ we shal liue with him If we suffer w t him we shall also reigne with him And our sa uioure Christ sayeth whosoeuer shall lose his life for my sake and for y e Gospel he shal kepe it Here to agreeth the saying of s. Peter detelye beloued maruaile not that ye are proued bi fire whiche thyng is to trie you as thoughe some straūg thing happened vnto you but reioyse in asmuch as ye are partakers of christes passion y t when his glory appereth ye may be mery glad If ye be railed vpō happie are ye For y e glory the spirite of god resteth vpō you Againe if any mā suffer as a Christen man let hym not be a shamed but let him glorifie God on this behaulfe And let thē y t are troubeled accordinge to y e will of God cōmit ther soules to him w t wel doing as vnto a faythful cre ature They y t suffer trouble for y e lordes sake for the gospell shal stande before the glorious seate of God and before the lambe Christe and they shall be clothed wyth longe whyte garmentes and palmes in their handes They shal euer be in the presence of the seat of God and serue him daye and nyghte in hys temple and he that sitteth in the seate shall dwell amonge them They shall honger no more neyther thyrste neyther shall the sunne lyghte on thē neyther any heate For the lambe whyche is in the middes of the seate shal fede thē and lede them vnto fountaynes of liuynge water and God shall wype awaye al teares from their eyes Furthermore it shall be greate comforte for vs also to remember wyth what wyllynge hertes Christ and al the blissed martires suffered death for the glorye of God Christe oure Lorde and sauioure whan the tyme of hys bytter passion beganne to drawe nyghe and perceyued that Iudas wente aboute to betraye hym to the Byshopes and priestes sayde that thou entendeste to do do it quickelye and out of hand And whan the Byshoppes seruauntes came to laye hande on hym where as he myght haue escaped their cruell handes he wyllyngely offered hym selfe vnto them whereby we maye se that he wente vnto hys death wyth a merye and ioyefull herte Christofor These hys wordes which long before his passion he spake to y e Iewes do also testify and wytnes his redy bente good wyll to suffer for the saluacion of mankynd Therfore doeth my father loue me because I gyue ouer my lyfe that I maye take it agayne No manne taketh it away frō me but I gyue it ouer euē of myne own good wil I haue power to gyue it ouer I haue power to take it againe Theo. Of the willinge oblacion of him selfe it was prophecied by the holy Prophetes The prophet Esai sayeth he was offered because it was his good pleasure Dauid also saith in the parson of Christ I wil offer sacrifice vnto the willingly He speketh of the sacrifice of his body Againe Christe hym selfe sayeth by the forsayde Prophet vnto his heauēlye father as for sacrifice and offerynge thou wouldest none therfore madeste thou me a bodie As for burnte offeringes for synne thou hast not alowed them Than sayed I
The Iewel of Ioye ⧠Philemon Eusebius Theophile and Christofer talke togither Philemon SO ofte as I call to remeÌ„brauÌ„ce which for the most part I do eueri hour this commaundemente of our Lord and maister Occupy your selues til I come wherbi we are admonished diligently to emploie our taleÌ„t committed vnto vs euery one accordyng to oure vocation in the auauncemente of Gods glory and in the edification of oure christian brethren whose health and saluation not onelye wyth the losse of our temporal possessioÌ„s but eueÌ„ of our life also if nede so require we are bounde vnder payne of damnation to seeke leynge that God as the wyse man testifieth hath geuen to euery man charg ouer hys neighboure agayne seynge that accordyng to the doctrine of blessed Iohn as Christe gaue hys lyfe for vs so lykewise are we bounde to bestowe oure lyfe to wynne oure Brethren to Christe forasmuch as we all are membres of one bodye are coÌ„maunded without dissimulation to loue our neyghboure as oure selfe and to seke his commoditie profit furderaunce in al Godlines no lesse then oure owne I can none otherwise then reproue and accuse myne own sluggishnes whyche almooste these fyue yeres past haue omitted my butye towarde my neyghboures not goynge forth as I began in my Christemas bankette in my Potation in my Nolegaye and in my Neweyers gyfte to exhort theÌ„ to godlines to encourage theÌ„ valeauntly to go forth in the same to perseuer vnto the end but traneing my life in other exercises I trust not altogither vngodlye nor vnprofitable to the christen publique weale I haue neglected the neighbourly office which I ought to haue practised toward theÌ„ Yea I feare lest thorow the neglectyng of my dutye toward my neighbours I haue not shewed my selfe an obedient seruauÌ„t in al pointes coÌ„cernyng the diligeÌ„te accoÌ„plishmeÌ„te of my Lord maisters precept whych straightly chargeth me not only to occupye my selfe priuately in vertuous studies godli exercises but also opeÌ„ly that his holy glorious coÌ„gregatioÌ„ mai be edified brought to y e true perfect knowledge of his most godly wil. Certes the omissioÌ„ leauing of this my duty toward my neyghbours doth not a little disquiet me seing y e so long tyme I haue had no familiar talke with theÌ„ of Godly matters no nor yet once sene them sence I gaue theÌ„ a newe yeres gyfte beynge vnwillynglye thorowe the furious and Nerolike cruelty of certaine persons whose tyraÌ„ny sens that tyme God hath not left vnpunished dreueÌ„ awaye from them to the greate and continual disturbaunce of my minde for lacking the company of so louing neighbours and swete frendes But I haue sent my seruauntes for them that I may talke wyth theÌ„ after myne olde sorte renewe our acquayntaunce and be merye togythere For it is a swete thynge when fryndes mete and mery when olde acquayntaunce flocke togitherward I maruail that they tarye so longe I feare leste my seruaunte doeth not his message expeditelye or els that they haue some greate lettynge For I am well assertayned that if they once haue knoweledge of my returne into the contrye no worldly affaires can withdrawe them longe from my companye But beholde where they come flockyng togyther Oh pleasauÌ„t and confortable syghte Teares distyll out of myne eyes for very ioye yet can I not withhold my selfe from them but must nedes wyth mâ—…ting armes embrace theÌ„ louingly salute them and swetely kisse theÌ„ O most deare neighbours christen brethreÌ„ so hertelye welcome as herte can thinke Blessed be God which hath preserued vs alyue vnto thys daye that we maye yet once agayne se one an othere talke one wyth an other frely reioyce in the Lord our God Come come vnto me Let me embrace you kisse you once againe did you hertely welcome Euse. O moste true herted frende and vnfained brother we praise God for your salfe return into the countrye Theo. This day moste swete neighbour hath replenished vs al w t ioye vnspekeable forasmuch as it hath offe red you againe to our syght Chri. O deare brother Philemon your reparing into this couÌ„trie your sight your company your taâ—…ke hath eueÌ„ nowe sodainly so reuiued vs that we seme to haue put on a certain kind of immortalitie And as for all other hys benifites so likewyse for this ' do we render to the immortal God moste hertye thankes and wyth oâ—… voyce we all byd you moste hertely welcome home pâ—…le I know dere neyghbours your vnfayned loue and readye bent goodwyl towarde me And you do not more reioice at mi returne then I am entierly glade that I haue founde you all in good health Euse. But I praye you tell vs of good felowshippe brother Philemon in what parties of y e world haue ye traueyled so long tyme For neither by letters nor yet by reporte of anye credible persons sence your departure coulde we learne where you trayned youre lyfe Wee feared leaste in so perellouse tyme ye hadde bene swalowed vp of the greadye cormorantes and insasiable Locustes whyche are neuer satisfied nor fylled wyth the sheadynge of innocente bloude Neyther was the libertye of your speache nor the swyftenesse of youre penne vnknoweÌ„ to vs which y e swarme of Antechristes secte sence you fyrste of all traueiled in the Lordes haruest coulde neuer abyde but extreÌ„ly persecute blaspheme and coÌ„demne Philemon What gentilnes I found for my Godly trauailes at the haÌ„ds of some menne in these parties ye know ryght well Therfore when neyther by speaking nor by writing I coulde do good I thoughte it best not rashly to throwe my self into the raueneynge pawes of these greadye wolues but for a certaine space to absent my selfe from theyr tyrannye accordynge to the doctrine of the Gospell For as there is a time to speake so is ther a time to kepe scilence When the poore are oppressed and troden vnder the fote then shal the wyse man sayth the prophete holde hys peace for the time is euyl And we haue a manifeste commaundement of oure sauiour Christe that we shoulde not geue that whych is holy vnto dogs nor caste pearles before swyne leste they treade them vn der theyr feete and they turne againe and al to rent vs. For ther be some kynde of men so greatly infected w t the nature of Suffenus and accombred wyth the properties of Menius two foleish vayne gloriouse Poetes that they thynke nothynge well spoken nothynge truly wrytten excepte they theym selues be the authours doers thereof they are those same very hypocrites whych find fault at a little mote in an other mannes eie but they caÌ„ not perceiue a great â—…eame in theyr own eyes They are those same Pharises which sparre vp the kingedome of heauen before meÌ„ They are those same sawiers which take awai the key of know ledge thet theÌ„ selues enter not in nether suffer they other y t wolde to enter in
They are those same Babilonical backslideds â—…yng childreÌ„ which wyll not heare the lawe of the Lorde but daily cry Loquimini nobis placentia Tel vs pleasaunt things prouide vs of errours care not for the ryghte way but away w t the holi one of Israell from oure face they are those same faulse christians of whom sainte Paule prophecied which shoulde be louers of them selues couetuouse hye minded proude euyll speakers disobedient to their elders vnthankeful vngodlye vnkind false of theyr promise false accusers riatours fearce despisers of them that are good traitours heady standing in their own conceite louers rather of pleasures then louers of God hauynge an outwarde apperaunce of godlines but deuyinge the power thereof Lyke as Iannes Iambres wythstode Moyses eueÌ„ so do they also resist the trueth Men are they of corrupt mindes and leude as coÌ„ cerning the faieth but they shall preuaile no lenger For theyr foleishnes shall be manifeste vnto all men as theyrs was Where thynges be so ordered that the truth can beare no place nor the professours therof be thaÌ„kfully receyued but rather blasphemed persecuted enprysoned and vngentillye handeled what should men do but shake of the dust of theyr fete for a wytnes agaynst thé at y e dai of iudgmeÌ„t depart into some other place wher they may do good as Christ y e Apostles did quietli to abide y e pleasure of god as the prophet saith It is good to loke for y e sauing health of the Lorde with scilence After thys sorte dyd I appoynte my selfe and leauyng mine own natyue contrye I traueiled into suche straunge places as were vnknowen to me and I to them And yet I thanke the Lorde my God whyche neuer leaueth hys seruauntes succourlesse I although an vnprofitable seruauÌ„t in that exile and banishmeÌ„t waÌ„ted no good thynge Let the voluptuouse worldelynges take though for the bealâ—… and be carefull for thys present lyfe I haue learned in that my iorney to cast my care vpon the Lord my God whyche aboundauntlye feadeth so many as trust in him and depeÌ„d on his liberalitie and goodnes For one house I founde xx and for one frende an hundrede I coulde wysh nothynge for the prouision of thys my lyfe but I had it plentuously God so afore seynge for me hys vnprofitable and wretched seruaunt Theo. The promise of God is euen so Euery one saieth he that forsaketh house or brethrene or sisterne or father or mother or wyfe or chyldren for my names sake and for the kyngedome of God that is to saye for the loue that he beareth toward the Gospell of Christe he shall receyue an huÌ„dred folde as much in this presente tyme and in the worlde to come lyfe euerlastinge Chri. Trueth it is but you haue not yet declared to vs in what contryes ye haue beene here in Englande sence your departing from hence Philemon After I departed from you and had takeÌ„ my leaue of my moste swete mother of mâ—… other deare frendes I traueyled into Darbyshere from thense into the Peke whither I appointed my bokes and my clothes to be brought Euse. Into the Peke Lord God what made you ther Phile. Mine entent was by exercising the office of a schole maister to engrafte Christe and the knoweledge of hym in the breastes of those scholers whome God shoulde appointe vnto me for to be taught Theo. I thinke you found there very peakeish people Phile. Not so I coÌ„fesse to you that I fouÌ„d ther very good wittes apt vnto learnyng Chri. But how fauour they christen religioÌ„ in those parties Philemon I will tell you Comming into a little village called Alsoppe in y e dale I chauÌ„sed vpon a certaine gentilmanne called Alsoppe Lord of that vilage a maÌ„ not onely auncieÌ„t in yeres but also rype in the knoweledge of Christes doctrine Theo. By what meanes had ye knowledg of hys Godly disposition Phile. After we had saluted one an other and take a sufficient repast for that presente he shewed me certayne bokes whiche he called hys Iewels and principall treasures Eusebius I praye you what bokes were they Phile. To rehearse theÌ„ al by name I am not able but of this am I sure that amonge all other there was the newe Testamente after the translation of the Godly learned maÌ„ Myles couerdale whyche seamed to be as well worne by the diligente readynge thereof as euer was anye portas or masse boke amonge the papistes CHri A rare thynge and almoste a miracle to fynde an olde man namelye in those parties where Christe I thynke as yet was neuer trulye preached to be so well affected towarde the readyng of the sacred scriptures Euse. Yea and a gentylman also For gentylmen now adaies for the most parte delite so much in readinge the worde of God as a true christian doeth in readynge the Popes decretals they are all togyther so addict to the vaine pleasurs of this world Theo. Many thinke it to be an vnsemly thing for a man of nobilitie to be studiouse of holy letters haukes and dogs dise and cardes as I may speake nothynge of theyr seruise to lady Uenus is theyr pastime and delectation If they reade any thynge it is some vaine trifle of loue or when they be beste occupied an history or cronicle Phile. I graunt many geÌ„tilmen litle answer their vocatioÌ„ nether are they studious of gods word as they ought notwythstaÌ„dinge praysed be God for it I know many both meÌ„ womeÌ„ of nobilitie which greatli delite in readiÌ„g the holy scriptures do not onely loue but also lyue the Gospel Euse. I praye God encrease the numbre dayly For then shall it go well wyth christian religion when noble men shal be learned in those bokes whiche are fountaynes and head sprynges of all true perfecte and christian religioÌ„ Notable is y e seÌ„tence of Plato which affirmeth that the publique weale is mooste fortunate greatly auauÌ„ced if such as be the gouernours therof be either wyse or studiouse of wysedome Therfore doeth the scripture in so many places exhort the ciuile magistrates to be learned in the lawe of god But I pray you tel vs had the geÌ„tilman none other bokes but only y e new testameÌ„t Phi. Yes verily I remeÌ„bre ryght wel y t he had many other godlye bokes as y e obedieÌ„ce of a christeÌ„ maÌ„ the parable of y e wicked MaÌ„ moÌ„ y e reuelatioÌ„ of Antichrist the sum of holiscripture the boke of Iohn Frith against purgatory al y e boks published in the name of Theodore Basil w t diuers other learned mens worckes In these godly treatises this auÌ„cieÌ„t geÌ„tilmaÌ„ amoÌ„ge the mouÌ„tains rocks occupied him self both diligeÌ„tly and vertuouslye Chri. I would not lightly haue beleued that such a maÌ„ coulde haue bene fouÌ„de in so barbarouse and rude a couÌ„try nor y t so fruitful works had bene placed in so vnlearned a regioÌ„ Phile. Neyther