trouble suche lucke and prosperite was in his hande Ptolomy the king of Aegipt would haue obtained Alexāders kingdome bee fraude and gyle 1. Mach. 11. but his enmite and malice was openly knowne Simon knewe that Triphon dissembled in his wordes 1. Mach. 13. when he demaunded Ionathas two sonnes and a hundred talentes of syluer yet cōmaunded he the money and the chyldren to be sente vnto hym leeste hee shoulde be the greater enemy against the people of Israell and saye because hee sente hym not the money and the chyldren therefore is Ionathas dead ¶ Of peace and concorde Cap. xlviii Gen. 1. IN the begynning god made all other beastes double that is male and female But he created man sole and of him are all other procreated and made and that to cōmende the vnite of peace and concord in man Riches and abundaunce of temporall thinges Gen. 13.26 are oftentimes the matter and occasion of strife and debate as it appereth in Abrahams and Lots herdsmen and Isaac and the shepherdes of Gerare Menne doo gladly make peace and frendshyppe with suche as be of great mighte and powre Gen. 16. And therefore Abimelech came to Isaac because he sawe him prosper Sumtimes a man must geue place and avoide the fury or hastines of his better Gen. 17.18 As Iacob did departing from his brother Esau vntill his fearsnes and wrath was swaged The Gabaonites hearinge what Iosua hadde done at Ierico and Hai Iosu. 9. came vnto hym and made a good peace and agrement with them Whan Phinees and the other legates that wer sent vnto the children of Iosu. 22. Ruben had heard theyr excuse they were appeased and gladly receaued theyr answere Althoughe Absolon hadde doone to 2. regu 18. wickedly againste his father yet Dauid more desyred peace then the death of his sonne for he sayd Is the yong man Absolon safe Notwithstanding that Dauid was holy 2. regu 7. and suche a one as pleased god yet our lord would not that he should buylde hym a house but that Salomon his peasible sonne should enioye and be honored and haue that priuiledge Our lord is much to be lawded and praysed when he geueth his people a peasable and a quiete estate 3. regu 5 as was in Salomons time the whiche sayd The lorde my god hathe geuen mee rest on euerye syde so that there is neyther aduersarye nor anye euyll plage Then there foloweth blessed be oure lorde Good and blessed menne haue loue and amite one to a nother 3. regu 14. But the euyll fyghte agaynst the good and other that are euyll As there was war contynually betweene Roboam and Ieroboam It was declared and shewde vnto Helias that oure lorde was not in the mighti strong winde 3. regu 19. nor in the earth quake nor in the fyre But in a small styll voyce that is in tranquilite and peace And the people blessed and thanked all those 2. Esd. 11. that wer wyllinge to dwell at Ierusalem Ionathas sente ambasidoures vnto Bachides for to make peace wyth him 1. Mach. 9. and yet the selfe Bachides was capytane of the hooste in the whyche Iudas Machabeus Ionathas brother was slayne King Demetrius sent letters vnto Ionathas with louynge wordes and praised him greatly for he sayde we wyll firste make peace with him 1. Mach. 10. before he bynde him selfe with Alexander against vs elles he shall remember the euyll that we haue doone agaynst him his brother and his people The cause of the peace that was in Onias time 2. Mach. 3. was his wisdome and goodnes and the goodnes of his subiectes After that Iudas Machabeus had ouerthrowen Lisias 2. Mach. 11. he wyllinglye and gladlye made peace with hym For he perceyued that the Hebrues beinge defended by the healpe of almightie God could not be ouercome Wherfore he sente them worde and promised that he would consent to all thinges whiche were iuste and resonable and to make the kinge their frende Oure Lorde woulde vs to haue so muche peace and concorde with oure neighbours Mat. 18. that he said vnto Peter that we should not forgeue our brother yf he sinne against vs tyll seuen tymes but seuentye tymes seuen tymes The Angelles in oure Lordes natiuitie brought tidinges of peace and commaunded them to haue peace amonge them selues Luke 2. Luke 10. Iohn 14. that they should shew it forthe Luke 24. Forther more he leaft them peace and after his resurrection he offered them peace He that desireth to kepe peace and to haue the quietnes of minde muste abstayne from discursions and troubles of the minde Iohn 11. and at sometymes cease from that that is honest and laufull For when Martha hearde that Iesus was come she wente and met him Mary sat styll at home nor moued not thence vntyll she was called of oure Lorde by her sister althoughe that Mary parauenture was not ignoraunt of oure Lordes commynge when that Martha knewe it before Howe greate that the goodnes of peace is it may be pondred by Paule that discrete iudge the whiche moste diligentlye in all hys Epistles dothe wyshe it to all those that he writeth vnto excepte in hys Epystle to the Hebrewes in the whyche for certayne causes he nether setteth to his name nor premytteth anye salutation Note yet that when he sayeth peace be vnto you he premytteth grace Sayinge Grace bee with you and peace Roma 1. Wher by it is manifestely vnderstanded that true peace cannot be hadde wythoute the grace of god Esa. 48. And therefore Esaye saythe As for the vngodlye they haue no peace ¶ Of vnite and common consent Capi. xlix De. Ci li. 12. Capi. 22. GOD made mākynde of one mā to cōmende declare vnto men how pleasant a thing the vnite of many is vnto hym Wherevppon Saint Augustine doth say Man was made one but not lefte alone There was neuer thinge that humayne nature spake of so commodius for mankynde so full of discorde through vice so geuen to feloshippe so naturall agaynst the vice of discorde other to be taken hede of if it be not or to be holpen and healed if it apeare as the remembraunce of oure fyrste parent whome god would creat alone that of him many other shuld spring that by thys admonition a concordiall vnitye myght be obserued and kepte in many The people of Israell was of one consent and minde in the desarte Exo. 19. and willing to receiue the law For after they had hard of Moses the wordes of the law they answered all wyth one voyce all that our Lord hath said we wil do The people to make and performe the worke of the tabernacle of oure Lord Exo. 35. and the holy uestmentes of the ministers did bringe in offer with most readiest deuout minds all that was necessary to performe the same All the children of Israell wer gathered and knit
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
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
compassion he bound vp his wouÌ„des and poured in oyle and wine It is declared that S. Steuen had a meruelous great loue to his neighbours the which praid more deuoutly for those that stoned hym to death Act. 7. than for hym selfe For them he kneled downe and cryed wyth a loude voyce But for him self he spake thus simplye Lorde Iesu receiue my spirite Paule did loue his neighbours inestimablye for he was to them as a mother that is in trauel Gala. 4. For he sayd vnto the Galathians My lyttle chyldren of whome I trauel in byrthe againe Item Paule is to his neighbour as a father that correcteth 1. Cor. 4. In Christ Iesu I haue begotten you thorowe the Gospel And a litle after Shal I com vnto you wyth a rod And to the Thessalonians Ye are wytnesses how that we haue prayed 1. Thes. 2 you comforted you as a father doth vnto his children And as a nourse the chearysheth and flattereth her chyldren And in a nother place Euen as to babes in Christ 1. Corin. 3 I gaue you milke to drynke And as a master and a Doctor instructing I am apoynted a preacher 2. Timo. 1 and Apostle and a teacher of the gentiles in faith and veriâ—y And as a labouring and a helpyng brother Phil. 4.1 My brethren dearly beloued and longed for I beseche Germaine my yoke felow And in a nother place I haue you the companyons of my ioye in the defendinge and stablyshyng of the Gospel And againe we be not Lords ouer your faith 2. Corin. 1. but are helpers of your ioy And as it were a Legate to those that be reconciled 2. Corâ—n 5. Now are we messeÌ„gers in the roume of Chrisâ— And Apostle bringing good tidinges ye know that I wold kepe backe nothinge that was profitable vnto you Act. 20. but to shew you teach you openly throughout euery house And in a nother place Act. 17. whome ye ignorauntlye worshyp him shew I vnto you 1. Corin. 3 And as a builder buyldynge As a wise builder haue I laid the foundatyon And yet neuerthelesse it maye be said that Paule by other wayes and meanes shewed him self to be a most feruent louer of his neighbours Because he did many thinges for them For he ether sustained them or eâ—sse he gaue them and procured for the power that he had not to geue them of those that had it Paule him selfe doth testify that he counselled and did for the vtility profit of hys neyghbors saying Act. 20. These handes haue ministred vnto my necessities to them that were wyth me For it is more blessed to geue then to receiue and al though it was a worke of supererogation considring he might haue receiued somwhat of them yet he did it to spare those he preached vnto I am ready saith he 2. Corin. 12 to come vnto you and yet wil I not be chargeable vnto you for I seke not yours but you Secondarely he toke nothynge that he myght cut of from the Pseudapostles the occasion of gloryfying In all things I kept my self so that I should not be chargeable to any man 2. Cor. 11. and so wyl I kepe my self What I do that wyll I do to cut away occasyon from them which desire occasioÌ„ that they might be found lyke vnto vs in that wherin they reioyse And again he procured that thereby he shoulde haue the greater rewarde We haue not vsed thys power to receiue any reward of you 1. Cor. 9. What is my reward then Uerely that when I preach the Gospell I make the Gospel of Christ fre Paule procured also of the congregatyon of Achaia to dystrybute geue to the pore that were in Iewry and therefore he caused collectyons 1. Cor. 16. 2. Cor. 9. to be gathered and induced the faythful effectuously to the same Item he that soweth lytleâ— shal reape lytle And he distributed vnto his neighbours the word of God wherwith he plentifullye abounded Ye and gaue him self to be profitable vnto his we woulde haue dealte vnto you not the gospel only but also our own soules because ye were dear vnto vs. ii Thes. ii And again he saith ii Cor. xii I will very gladlye bestowe and wyl be bestowed for your soules Furthermore Paule euen wyth hys owne body did meruelous thynges to conuert hys neighbours to the faith and to spiritual health by preaching disputing and iournyinge froÌ„ Damasco to Arabia and Ierusalem and to Antioche And then by the coÌ„maundement of the holy ghost wyth Barnabas he wente from Antioche to Cipers and from thence they sayled by Cicill and came to Persida Iconium Lycaoniam and ordeyned prestes and elders in euerye congregation And after that they had done muche good they retourned to Antioche Afterwardes Paule purposing to visite his brethren vnto whom he had preached the word of god he toke Sila with him and went to Siria Cilicia and from thence to Phrygia and Galatia and came to Mysia and after that beinge called he sailed into Macedonia And when he had done muche good at Thessalonia and in many other cities of that regyon he went to Athens and ther he disputed with certayn curious Philosophers And from thence he wente to Corinthum and there he conuerted muche people to our Lord. And then he toke his iourny to Ephesus and entred in to the sinagoge and dysputed wyth the Iewes And from thence he went to Cesaria Act. xvii and from Cesaria he cam to Antioche and after hee had taryed there a certaine time he tooke hys iourny towardes the country of Galatia and Phrigia and confirmed stablished al the disciples And when he had wandred ouer all the hye partes of the country he came agayne to Ephesus and taried there two yere disputing of the kingdome of God did so much that all they that dwelte in Asia both heathen and Iewes dyd heare the worde of God From theÌ„ce he returned by Macedonia Troyade and Miletum passing by manye other cities and Iles he came to Tire and from Tire he toke his iorney by Ptolomaidem and Cesaria came from thence to Ierusalem And there the Iewes toke hym drew hym bet him and falsly accused him before diuers iudges and manifestlye greued was constraind to appele vnto Cesar He was deliuered vnto the captain after the shyppe was broken many other pearyls he being bouÌ„d with chaines came to Rome ther beyng geuen to preaching and teachynge purposed to go into Spain Behold now how he loued those for whose sakes he suffred such and so manye paynes and pearils And Paule sayth we do all thynges dearly beloued for your edifying ii Cor. xii Also the sygnes of loue appeare when a man wil sustaine and suffer that is greuous for his frendes sake For it is wrytten Thou shalt not be ashamed to salute or defend thy freÌ„d and if any euill or hurt chaunce vnto
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.
the woorde and reporte of Siba that gaue him gyftes gaue an vniust sentence against Mephiboseth beynge absent 2. re 16.19 But yet after he knew the truth of the matter he was wyllynge to reuoke the vntrue sentence agayne Salomon gaue iust iudgemeÌ„t of the two women 3. re 3 the whiche contended to be the mother of one childe Iosaphat the king of Iuda set iudges in the lande and commaunded them saying 2. Para. 19. Take hede what ye do For ye execute not the iudgementes of manne but of God For al that ye shall iudge shall redounde vnto you againe Let the feare of oure Lorde be vpon you and do all thinges wyth diligence At Amans suggestion kinge Ahasuerus spake vniustly of the people Esther 3. saying vnto Aman do with that people as it pleaseth thee Esay said thus by the iudges of Israel Thy princes are wicked companions of theues Esa. 1 They loue gistes altogether and gape for rewardes They help not the fatherlesse to hys right nether wil they let the widowes causes come before them In as much as Ieremy prophecyed from our LORD that Babilon Iere. 38 shuld be taken of the Chaldâ—es The princes and rulers of the people said vnto Kynge Sedechias Syr wee beseeche you lette thys manne bee put to death He answered then saying Lo he is in your handes for the kyng may deny you nothing Nabuchodonozor the king of Babilon commaunded that all the wyse men of Babilon should be destroyed Dani. 2. because they coulde not declare the dreame he had sene Although Darius the king of Persia knew right wel that Daniel was an innocente Dani. 14 yet at the instaunce of his lordes and princes he caused him to be caste into the lake and denne of Lyons Daniel did discreatly examin those two olde iudges Dani. 13 that bare false wytnesse against Susanna When Menclaus was accused in the iudgement hall before Antiochus for mony 2. mach 4. which he promised was discharged and his accusers wrongfully put to death The Iewes made theyr complaint before king Antiochus of the vniuste deathe of Onias 2. Mach. 4. the whyche Antiochus althoughe he was wicked was sory therfore and commaunded that Andronicus should be stripped out of hys purple clothing and slain wher he slue Onias Herodes iudgement was to vniust when he sent forthe men of war math ii and slue all the children that wer in Beth leem At the peticion of a damsel that dauÌ„sed Herode the Tetrarch caused IhoÌ„ the Baptist to be beheaded in prison mar vi and yet he knewe that he was a iuste man and a holy Nicodemus said vnto the pharises Doth your law iudge anye man Ihon. vii before it heare him and know what he hath done This iudgement was most vniust when Pilate losed Barrabas the homicide math xxvii thefe and seditious persone delyuered vnto the wil of the Iewes our Lord Iesus The Apostles answered the prestes and magestrates of the temple Act. 4. commaundinge Peter and Ihon not to teach any thing in the name of Iesus saying whether is it right in the syght of God to harken vnto you more theÌ„ to God iudge ye When Paul had cast the deuel out of the maid which had a sprite that prophesyed Act. 16 her masters vnto whome by Prophesying she brought muche luker and vauntage accused hym the magestrates caused Paule and Silas to be beaten with rods and to be cast into prison When the Iewes accused Paule Gallie the proconsul and ruler of the countrye saide Act. 18 If it were a matter of wrong or an euil dede O ye Iewes reason would that I should hear you But if it be a question of woordes or of names or of your law looke ye to it your selues for I will be no iudge of such matters The hie priest commaunded them that stoode by Act. 23 to smyte Paule on the mouth Then said Paule vnto hym God shal smite the thou painted wal syttest thou and iudgest me after the law and coÌ„maundest me to be smitteÌ„ contrary to the law Act. 24. Althoughe Paule had reasonablye wel excused him self before Felix the ruler yet Felix hauinge in mynde to please the Iewes left Paul to Festus his successor bound in pryson Festus the president said It is not the manner of the Romaines to condeÌ„pne any man Act. 25. before that he which is accused haue the accusers before hym and haue lycence and place to answer for him selfe concerning the crime laid against him Festus not agreinge to the Iewes which desired that Paul might be seÌ„t to Ierusalem said vnto Paule wylt thou go to Ierusalem and there bee iudged of these matters Then said Paul I stand at Cesars iudgement seat Act. 25 wher I oughte to be iudged I appeale vnto Cesar. Then spake Festus with deliberatyon and answeared Thou hast apealed vnto Cesar vnto Cesar shalt thou go When they had heard Paules reasons kinge Agrippa Festus spake together Act. 26. saying This man hath don nothing worthy of death Then said Agrippa vnto Festus Thys manne might haue bene let lose if he had not appealed to Cesar. ¶ Of penaunce Ca. lxi SO long as Marie taried with out the host Num. xii the children of Israell remoued not For it is nether good nor profytable to go or to pason by the deseart and wyldernesse of this life withoute the bitternesse of penaunce Nu. xiiii The people of Israell hearynge that our Lorde was angrye for theyr murmuring toke great sorowe And in the mornyng they wold haue don more then our Lorde had commaunded them Iudi. ii At the voyce of the aungel layinge the benefites of God vnto the synfull people they cried out and wept The children of Israell saide vnto our Lorde Iudi. 10. We haue sinned do vnto vs whatsoeuer please thee And they put away the straunge Goddes from them Then there doth folow he had pity on the misery of Israel Dauid did sone repente when Nathan did reprehend and rebuke hym of his faut 2. regu 12. Achab the most wicked kyng of Israel rente his clothes put on a cilice about hys flesh 3. regu 21. and fasted and lay in sackclothe went barefote and helde downe hys heade and the payne and punyshment that he for hys offences had worthely deserued was delaied Manasses the kyng of Iuda beyng bounde wyth chaynes ii Pa. xxxii was caryed to Babilon he did great penaunce and humbled hym self exceadingly before God and he broughte him agayne to Ierusalem into his kingdome It was said vnto Esdras lameÌ„ting the synnes of the people i. Esd. x If there bee penaunce in Israel for thys thyng I wyll make a couenaunte wyth oure God The people hearyng of the fearful and terrible power of Holofernesse cryed earnestlye Iudith iiii and humbled theyr soules with fastinges and Prayers they and theyr wiues the Priestes put on
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
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
to the Corinthians Some saye that our epistles are greuous but our bodely presence weake and our spech and communication rude ¶ Of Treason Capitu. lxviii SAule beynge vered wyth the deuel Dauid sung and plaied before him 2. Cor. 10. and Saule wente aboute to nayle him to the wall with the iauelynge that hee helde in hys hande Saul promised to geue Dauid his daughter in mariage 1. Re. 18.19 that throughe occasion the Philistians myghte kyll hym Dauid saued and defended the inhabitours of Seely froÌ„ the philistines 1. regu 18. hooste that besieged them And yet they would haue betrayed and delyuered him vnto Saul his enemy 1. regu 23. that euen to death did persecute him After that Saule had lamented the persecution of Dauid 1. regu 24. and that Dauid was sworne vnto him he persecuted and folowed Dauid as wrongfully and as sharpely as euer he dyd before Urias caried from Dauid to Ioab letters of hys owne death Amnon Dauids sonne caulde vnto hym his syster Thamar as thoughe he would haue eaten meate at her hand 2. regu 11. 2. regu 13. and afterwardes defiled her Absolon called his brother Amnon to a banket 2. regu 13. and slewe him When Ioab had saluted Amasam and hadde taken hym by the chyn as thoughe he woulde haue kyst him 2. regu 20. he smote him in the side and he shed out his bowels to the grounde zambry the capitayne of halfe the horsmen 3. Re. 16. slewe Hela his Lorde and mayster and did raigne after him seuen dayes onely He was besieged and he burnt him selfe and the kings palace Selum Iabes sonne conspired against zacharias the kinge of Israell his lorde and master 4. regu 15. and slewe him and after hym he raigned in his slede one moneth onely As Sennacherib was praiyng and woorshippinge his god in the temple 4. regu 19. hys two sonnes smote hym wyth the sweard But yet neither of his sonnes raigned after hym Certayne of Nehemias ennemyes would maliciusly haue made a confederation wih him 2. Esd. 6. thought to haue done him a displeasure gaue money that he might be brought to synne Two of kyng Ahaswerus porters or chamberlaines that sate at the comynge in of the Palace Esth. 2. would haue layed handes on the kynge and haue slaine him Ismael the sonne of Nathania came and many moe with him to dine with Godolia 4. regu 2â— whome the kyng had made capitayne ouer the men of Babilon whiche were in Iewry And after diner they rose and slew him that wold not haue thought nor beleued no such euel in them King Antiochus sent his chefe treasurer into the cities of Iuda 1. Mach. 1 whyche came to Ierusalem and spake peaceably but yet deceitfull woordes vnto those that were wythin For when they had geuen him credence hee fell sodenly vppon the citye and smote it sore and destroyed muche people of Israell When kynge Antiochus Eupator besieged Ierusalem and coulde not take it 1. Mach. 6. He sent vnto those that were wythin to be at peace with them and they receyued it He sware vnto theÌ„ and sone after brake his othe that he had made Ptolomeus the king of Egipt weÌ„t about through disceit to obtain Alexanders his Nephews kingdom 1. Mach. 11. And entring into the cities of Alexandria with a great host of men and receyued by the kings commaundement in to them very honourably he left meÌ„ of war to kepe them When Triphon saw that Ionathas came with so great an hoste he commaunded him to kepe but a few with him 1. Mach. 12. and to send away the reast and when he had done so he was taken and a thousand that were with hym and the other returned home again As Triphon went forthe to walke wyth the yonge kyng Antiochus hys Lord and master 1. Mach. 13. he slue him trayterously and raigned in his stede Ptolomy the sonne of Abobus the hie priestes sonne in lawe 1. Mach. 16 made a banket for Simon and his ii sonnes And when they had dronken well he slue them When Apollinus was come to Ierusalem fainingly he kept hym selfe quiet and stil vntyl the Saboth daye 2. Mach. 5. And then when the Iewes kept holy day he slue a great multitude of theÌ„ Iudas Machabeus hearing that they which besieged the towers where in theyr ennemies the Gentiles were 2. Mach. 10 had taken mony and let part of their ennemies goe he slewe them as traytoures and sellers of theyr brethren And went in hand and toke the tours The treason that the most wycked Iudas vsed against his Lorde Mat. 26. passed al other treasons in iniquity and peruersity LuKe. 22. the which sold his Lorde and master for a litle mony Iohn 18. and deliuered him with a kisse into the handes of his ennemies Certaine of the Iewes came to the chefest of the priestes and elders Act. 13. desiring them to do so muche as to cause Lysias the Tribune that had Paule in hold to bring him forth amoÌ„g theÌ„ as though they would haue knownâ— somthing more perfectly of him And they were euen readye by and by to kill him ¶ Of adulation anf flatery Cap. lxix WHen Chore and his companioÌ„s sâ—ode vp against Moses AaroÌ„ they said Num. 16 it is sufficient inough for vs that all the multytude are holye and that oure LORDE is amonge theym In the whych wordes if appeareth that they flattered and sought for the beneuolence and fauor of the people The yong man that brought Dauid tidinges of Sauls death and his soÌ„nes was slain by Dauids commaundemeÌ„t yet he thought that he hadde brought prosperous and good tidinges 2. reguâ— 1. The two theues that slew Isboseth Sauls sonne 2. regu 4. and brought hys heade vnto Dauid thought to please hym But he declared wel vnto them that it displeased him for he commaunded them to be slain and theyr hands and fete to be cut of and hanged ouer the poole in Hebron Absolon said vnto the maÌ„ that had matters before kinge Dauid 2. regu 15. thy wordes and communication seme to me good and iust But there is no maÌ„ deputed to heare thee The euell and false Prophets told Achab the kynge of Israell that hee should prosper in hys wars 3. regu 22. for they knew that he would be glad to heare such tidinges After the death of Ioiada the priest the lordes of Iuda came and made obeisaunce to the king 2. Para. 24. the whiche beinge pleased with their adulation harkned vnto them And so they lefte the house of our Lorde serued groues and Idols The Iewes ennemies that edifyed the temple after theyr returne out of captiuity 1. Esd. 4 wrote thus vnto the king We remembring the salt that we haue eaten in thy palace thoughte that it was against reason to se thy damage and losses c. Iudith 2
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
the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul A certain woman named Lidia a seller of purple Act. xvi beinge baptised by Paules predication prayed Paul very deuoutly and liberallye and compeld him and his felowes to remaine and abide in her house When Paul and his companions were scaped in the wynter out of the brokeÌ„ ship the barbarous straunge people shewed them no litle kindnes for they kindled a fire Act. 28 and refreshed euery one of them because of the present rain and cold Publius the prince of the Islande called Mytilene Act. 28 vnto the which Paul and his felowes after the tempest arriued receiued vs and lodged vs thre daies curteously whose father Paule dyd heale of a feuer and of a bloudye flixe It appeareth that Paule was very liberall to the pore whose busynesses he so diligently procured 1. Corin. 16 as it is manifest in the gathering for the poore 2. Corin. 9 the which he caused to be done moste carefully And he saithe if it be mete that I go also they shal go with me And he which soweth litle shall repe litle And he that soweth largely and frely shal reape plenteously There was in Paule an ensample of a wonderfull liberality and gratitude the whyche wrote so affectuous letters for one Onesimus a fugitiue seruaunt of Philemons as it is euident in his epistle to philemoÌ„ If thou counte me a felowe saithe Paul receiue him as my selfe Capi. 1. If he haue done the any hurte or oweth the oâ—ghte that laye to my charge ¶ Of Couetiousnes Capitu. lxxiii IN that that Cain slewe his brother Gen. 4. because he sawe his brothers goodes increase may be noted greate auarice and a greate desyre of money We reade that Cain was the fyrste that builte any citye Gen. 4. and not Abel For good holy menne haue heare no contynuynge citye Heb. 13. but they seke one to come Because of the greate substaunce that Abraham and Lot had thei could not inhabite and dwell together Gen. 13â— And theyr herdsmen began to striue one with a nother The abundaunce of teÌ„poral goods Gen. 13. is oftentymes the occasion of greate sinne as it is enident by the Sodomites whyche were of all other synners the wurst After that Isaac grew to be ryche his shepeherdes and his neghboures began to braule and chyde Gen. 26. Iudges and prelates ought to hate auaryce more then any other vice Exo. 18. And therefore Iethro spake notablye of Iudges Thou shalt seke out those that hate couetousnes There are fewe preastes in these daies that forbid or let the superfluite of oblations Exo. 36. as thei did that were rulers ouer the workes of the tabernacle Balaacs messengers wente vnto Balaam hauinge money and rewardes in their handes Nume 22. and so he was corrupted with couetousnes The tribe of Ruben and Ead. And halfe the tribe of Menasses Nume 32. because thei hadde greate substance of cattail woulde not goo ouer Iordane But were contente for their portion to inhabite and dwell in the countrei apte and meate to fâ—de and bring vp their cattayle Achior seduced by couetousnes toke of the excomunicate thinges of Iâ—richo But for that lucre and gayne Iosu. 7. he had and sufferd greate losse and dammage Dalida for money that was promised her of the philistians Iudi. 16. delyuered Samson her husband vnto them It is written of Samuels sonnes that they tourned a syde after lucre 1. regu 8. and toke rewardes and peruerted the righte Couetousnes semeth to be the chefest cause or occasion that Saule was reproued for 1. regu 15. I mene the cupidite that he hadde to Amalechs pray For Samuel sayed vnto him wherfore haste thou not harkened vnto the voyce of our lorde but hast turned to the pray and haste done that is wicked In the sight of oure lorde Nabel was to strayte laced against Dauid demaunding somwhat of him Whervpon 1. regu 25. but for Abigail his wifes sake he had welnye lost both his substance and him selfe to Semei against the kinges prohibition and commaundement went oute of Ierusalem to seeke his seruauntes that were runne their wayes 3â— regu 2. And for that Salomon caused hym to be slayne Nabothes vyneyarde the whiche Achab desyred 3 regu 21. was the occasion that two false wytnesses were broughte forthe against him and that he was commaunded to be stoned Forasmuche as Gihezi tooke that thing of Naaman that Eliseus refused 4. regu 5. he was striken with Leprosy In Nehemias time there were certayne of the noble men and rulers so oppressed with vâ—ury 2. Esd. 5. that the were wyllyng to sell their sonnes daughters vnto bondage but Nehemias did muche rebuke them After that Nabuchodonozor had gotten the victory of Arpharat the kyng of Medes Iudi. 1. by and by he occupied and subdued all other kyngdomes Iudas Machabeus saied vnto hys people companions 1. Mach. 4. be not gredy of the spoyles we haue yet a battaile to fight for Gorgias his hoste is heare by vs in the mountaynes Ptolomi the kyng of Aegipt slaundren Alexander his sonne in lawe 1. Mach. 11. because he would haue had his realme And yet Alexander had honorably receiued him Simon of the tribe of Beniamin styrde Appolonius and kyng Antiochus against Onias the holye cytie 2. Mach. 3. sayinge that the treasury was full of innumerable money Menelaus through the money that he promised Antiochus obtayned the hie prichode 2. Mach. 4. And at length by menes of the golden vessell that he stale oute of the Temple the whiche he gaue Andronicus he caused Onias to bee slayne And beynge acoused to Ptolomi he corrupted hym with money and caused hym to geue sentence of death agaynst his accusers And the selfe Menelaus throughe the couetousnes of them that were in powre remayned styll in aucthoritie increasynge in malyce to the greate hurte of the cytezins When that certaine Iewes at Machabeus â— Mach. 10. commaundement had besieged two towers in the whyche theyr enemies were 2. Mach. 10 certayne straungers intreated for money let some of them escape the whiche Machabeus caused to be slayne as traitours and sellers of theyr brethren After that the warre against Gorgias was ended Iudas Machabeus and his company came 2. Mach. 12 to burye the bodies of them that were slayne Under the cotes of certayne Iewes that were slayne they founde money and Iewels of ydols whiche thinge was forbidden the Iewes by the law And therefore menne beleued it to be the cause that they were slayne The yonge manne that inquired of oure lorde how he myghte haue eternall life Mar. 19. hadde greate and ryche possessions and therefore when he harde the counsell of perfection he went a waye soâ—ye The preastes wyllinge and desyrynge that the people shoulde oftentimes offer mat 21.23 did suffer that suche thinges as mighte
did manfullye when he slew two kinges and Ochozias brethren the children of Achab and when hee kylde a greate multitude of Baals Prophets Ioiada with great strennuitye and force pluckt the kingdom of Iuda out of the handes of Athalia 4. regu 11. and crowned the kinges litle sonne of the kynred of Dauid Ioab the sonne of Seruia was the prince and head captain of the hoste 1. Para. 11 because that he before all other smote the Iebusites that dwelt in the citye of Ierusalem and so dyd Dauid appoynt it Nehemias said vnto the noble men and iudges Let vs aryse and buyld and theyr handes were strengthed to good 2. Esd. 2. The children of transmigratioÌ„ dyd build the wall of Ierusalem round about 2. Esd. 4 and wyth one hand dyd euerye one worke and wyth the other helde his weapon The ennemies of the chyldren of transmigration did diuers maner of waies put them in feare 2. Esd. 6 thinckynge that there by they woulde cease from theyr woorke But Nehemias sayde That therfore he strengthed his handes the more When the chyldren of Israel hearde of Holofernes myghte and power Iudith 4 they prepared most diligentlye to resist him for they tooke in and occupied all the toppes of the mountains and walde theyr Townes and prepared Corne for them agaynste the battayle Iudith 13 Iudith had in her self a meruelous strenuity corage when she went to Holofernes and slue him in his tent Daniels companions saide to Nabuchodonozor the kinge of Babylon Dani. 3 our God is able to keepe vs from the hote burninge ouen And if he wyll not yet shalt thou knowe O kynge that we wyll not serue nor worshyp thy Gods Dani. 6 Daniel left not of for all the kings decre to pray vnto his God 1. mach 2 Mathathias and his children had a wonderful fortitude and streÌ„gth that so withstode kyng Antiochus so oft preuailed against him Iudas Machabeus with good hope and very manfully and boldly passed ouer the riuer to his ennemyes 1. macha 5 the which had pitched their tents beyond the water Eleazar the sonne of Saura ranne boldly and with a courage to an Elephant 1. mach 6 and gat vnder him and slue him then fel the Elephant down vpon him and there he died Eleazarus saide vnto the tormentors If I die manfully and as it becommeth mine age 1. mach â— I may parauenture leaue an example of stedfastnes for such as be yonge if I with a ready minde and manfullye die an honest death for the moste worthye and holy lawesâ— Machabeus and thei that wer with him went promptly and willingly to battaile againste Lysias hauinge an helping from heauen 2. mach 11. and our Lorde was mercifull vnto them They fell mightely vpoÌ„ their enemies like Lyons they brought down xi M. fotemeÌ„ xvi C. horsmen and put all other to flight many of them being wounded and some got away naked And wyth greate power gaue the Act. 4. Apostles wytnesse of the resurrection of our Lord Iesu Christe and greate grace was in them all Steuen ful of grace and power did great wonders and miracles among the people Act. 6 His fortitude dyd mooste appeare in that that moste constantly he resisted the Iewes and toke hys most cruel death most pacientlye Fortitude as Cicero doth say is a preconsiderate susception and taking vpon of pearils and daungers And a sufferaunce or bearinge of laboures And in that it is verye euydent that Paule was Christes moste strongest Apostle and souldioure the whyche for Christes sake sustained so greate pearils and dangers Capi. 11 as it appeareth in thâ— Actes of the Apostles Capi. 11 he doth recite and nomber them in the secoÌ„de to the Corinthians ¶ Of Confydence and magnanimity Ca. lxxviii Exo. 5 MOses stode often before Pharao and constantly reproued hym Nathan the Prophet constantlye and yet reuerentely dyd reproue Dauid after he hadde committed aduoutrye and murther 2. regu 11. Helias sayde to Achab. It is not I that haue troubled the house of Israel 3. regu 18. but thou and thy fathers house in that ye haue forsaken the commauÌ„dementes of our lorde And after that he caused CCCC prophetes to be slayne Item he sayde to Ochozias the kynge of Israel 4. regu 1. Thou shalt not come down of the bed on which thou art gone vp but shalt dye the death Achab the kinge of Israel sayd vnto Helias 3. regu 21. hast thou founde me thine enemye he answered I haue founde the for thou art euen solde to worke wickednesse in the sight of oure lord Eliseus spake maruelus frely and boldlye to Ioam the kinge of Israell his host standinge about him 4. regu 3. What haue I to doo wyth the Gat the to thy fathers prophetes and to thy mothers Our lorde was with Iosaphat 2. Para. 7. because he walked in the wayes of his father Dauid Then foloweth When hys hart had taken boldâ—es by the wayes of oure lorde c. The spirite of our lorde came vpon zacharia the son of Ioiada the preast 2. para 24. whiche stode in the syghte of the people sayinge why transgresse ye the commaundementes of oure lorde the whyche thynge shall not be for your profite Hezechias comforted his menne of warre sayinge 2. Para. 32. Plucke vp your hartes and be strong Be not afraied nor discouraged for the kinge of the Assirians nor for al the multitude that he hath with him for there be mo with vs then wyth hym wyth hym is an arme of flesh But with vs is the lord oure god for to helpe vs and to fight oure battayls Sanabalat and other enemyes beynge sory that the walles of Ierusalem were a buylding 2. Esdras 4 endeuerd them selues to resiste and diuers waies to feare Nehemias but they could not Iudit 10.13 Iudith was a womaÌ„ of a maruelus great magnanimity the which vnarmed went to Holofernes tent slue him Mardocheus dyd boldely refuse to worshippe proude Aman althoughe he knew that the king had commaunded it And also he spake vnto the Quene seuerely and frelye Esther 3.4 sayinge Thinke not to saue thine owne lyfe while thou aâ—te in the kynges house for yf thou holdest thy peace at this tyme then shal the Iewes haue helpe and delyueraunce oute of an other place and thou and thy fathers house shal be destroyed Ananias his felowes said stoutly to kyng Nabuchodonosor Daniell 3. oure God whom we serue and worshyp is able to delyuer vs out of thy handes Daniell lytle regarding kyng Daâ—ius decree Daniell 6. or coÌ„maundemente dyd worshyp and pray vnto his lord God â—s he was wont accustomed to doo Matathias his sonnes dyd strongye and boldly rebell and resist kynge Antiochus 1. Macha 2 Eleazar Saures sonne ran boldlye 1. macha 6 â—o the Elephant wher he coniectured that the kyng was and gat hym vnder him and
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
my self alone Esa. 63. and of al people ther is not one with me My louers and frendes hast thou put awaye fro me Psal. 87. And on the crosse he lacked seruauntes his Dyscyples left hym Psal. 87. and went from hym And I am made as a man wythout helpe Act. 10. When Peter came into Cesaria Cornelius met hym and fel downe and worshypped hym But Peter taking him vp said I my self also am a man Paule and Barnabas hearing that they of the city of Listra said that they wer Gods Act. 14. and wold haue done sacrifyce vnto them rent theyr clothes ran amonge the people saying Syrs why do ye thys we are mortall men lyke vnto you c. And yet scarse refrained they the people that they had not done sacrifyce vnto them Paule the Apostle labourde wyth hys owne handes to get that was necessary for hym self and hys felowes Act. 18. and therefore he drue to Aquila and Priscilla the whyche were tent makers as he hym selfe was And in an nother place hee saithe These handes haue mynystred vnto my necessityes Act. 20. and to them that wer wyth me And Paule dyd iudge and think of hym self 2 Cor. 1. but meanely and lowly the whiche trusted to the prayers of hys brethren saying by the helpe of your prayer for vs. He desired very diligently the praiers of other men Roma 15. sayinge I beseeche you brethren for oure Lorde Iesus Christes sake and for the loue of the holye sprite that ye healpe me wyth your prayers And Paule dothe inwardlye wyth hys owne wordes declare true humilitye when he saith I am the leaste of the Apostles 1. Cor. 14 which am not worthye to be called an Apostle Thes. 3. And agayne he saithe 1. Cor. 15. Iesus came into the worlde to saue sinners 1. Timo. 1. of whom I am chefe Yea he exhorteth men most diligentlye to humilitye sayinge Be not hye mineded Roma 12. but make your selues equal to them of the lower sort And again in mekenesse of minde Philip. 2. let euery man esteme another better then him selfe ¶ Of Pryde Cap. xcviii EUe for the appetite and desyre that she had to excell Gen. 3. after she hadde hard ye shal be euen as Gods did eat of the tree which she was forbidden to eat of It was geuen graunted to man to eat fish Gen. i. foule and other beastes ye shall haue rule of the fish of the sea foule of the aire and cattell c. And the fear and dread of you shal be vpon al the beastes of the earth Gene. 9. Theyr pride which wolde buylde a tower vnto heauen Gen. 11. was condemned by the confusion of languages When Agar saw that she had conceyued Gen. 16. she despised her mastresse Againste those that glorifye them selues that they are first born Gen. 4.15 is that Cain was borne before Abell Esau before Iacob Gen. 29. And Iudas was that forth amonge the children of Israell And Manasses Iosephes sonne was borne before Ephraim Gen. 48. and yet he obtained the benediction and blessynge of the right hand 1. Re. 16. And Dauid was the least and yongest of all his brethren 2. Re. 3. And Adonias was born before Salomon And so forth of many other Pharao answered to proudly Exodi 5. wheÌ„ he said I know not the Lord nether wil I let Israel go The rebellion that Chore other made against Moses came of pride Nume 16. for Moses said vnto theÌ„ ye are very haut make much to do ye childreÌ„ of Leui. Abimelâ—ch beyng smytten of a woman called vnto hys harnesse bearer and sayed vnto hym Iudi. 9. Slaye me that menne saye not of me a woman slue him Saule desired Samuel to honoure hym before the elders of the people 1. regu 15 before Israell The sinne of elatioÌ„ and pryde was greuouslye punyshed 2. regu 24. when Dauyd caused hys subiectes and people to be numbred The pleasure and luste that kynge Ieroboam had to beare a rule 3. regu 12. fearing that the people wold reuert and tourne to the house of Dauyd caused him to inuente golden calues and to make the people to worship them for he desired that they should rather depart and go from theyr God then froÌ„ theyr Lord. After that the victorye was obtayned agaynste Arphaxat the kynge of Iewes Iudith 1. then was the kyngdome of Nabuchodonozor the kynge of the Assirians exalted and hys harte was lyft vp Nabuchodonozor commaunded Holofernesse that he should rote oute all the Gods of the land Iudith 3. to thintent that he onlye myghte bee called and taken for the God of the nations whyche Holofernes wyth his power brought vnder hym When proude Aman sawe that Mardocheus woulde not worship him Esther 3. he counsayled the kynge to destroye all the Iewes That most proudest Aman woulde that men should bow their knees vnto him Esth. 3. and of men he would be worshipped But it is to be noted that the selfe same pride was the cause of so much euil in it self that he beyng angry disdaynful estemed al other thinges which he possessed as nothinge Oure Lorde by the prophet Esaye doth detest the signes and tokens of pride Esa. 3. saying Because the daughters of Sion are become so proude and haue waulked with stretched out neckes and with vayne wanton eies c. That sayinge of Esay Esa. 14. I wil clime vp into heauen c. and wyll be like the highest of all Is vnderstanded literaly of Nabuchodonozor Of Moab it is thus written We haue hard of the pride of Moab Esa. 16. he is very proude his pride his arrogancy and hys indignation is muche more then is his strength Because Nabuchodonozor kinge of BabiloÌ„s hart was proude his sprite or stomake set so fast to wilfulnes Dani. 5. he was desposed from his trone and his glory maiesty was taken from him Balthazar Nabuchodonozor the king of Babilons sonne Dani. 5. did not submit his hart but was eleuated againste oure Lord of heauen And therfore he was slayne and Darius the Mede succeded him in his kyngdome Antiochus came vp to Ierusalem wyth a mightye people 1. mach 1. and enterd proudely into the Sanctuarye and tooke awaye the golden aulter the candelsticke and all the ornamentes thereof c. They that Iudas Machabeus sente to kepe and defende the lande sayed when they shoulde go to fyghte i. Mach. v. Let vs get vs a name go fyght against the heathen that are rounde aboute vs. Alchimus that woulde haue bene made the hye priest 1. Mac. 7 and certain other wicked men went to kinge Demetrius and accused Iudas and the people of Israell When Nicanor harde of the burnte sacrifices that were offerd of the Iewes for the king i. macha vii he laughinge them to scorne mocked
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
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
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