shulde be estemed among Christen men of so small pryce that for the valoure of a lytyll temporall auauntage and worldely lucre men shulde abuse it and vaynely take it Wo be to that man whyche for hys owne priuate lucre dothe blaspheme the name of God or ony of hys creatures There oughte to be so great sincerite and fayth among Christen men that there shulde nede no othes in theyr bargaynes and worldly businesses A Christen mannes worde oughte to be better and surer than ony obligacioÌ„ God graunt that we maye once se thys come to passe in Englonde Let them that sweare Swearers of custome because it is the custome so to do leaue theyr swearyng and no more followe the wycked custome but the truethe of Gods worde whiche saythe sweare not at all Math. v. Let your communicacioÌ„ be yea yea naye naye Lette them that glory reioyse so muche in theyr swearyng Swearers for pryde that they wyll take vpon them to mayntayne it by yâ— scripture abstayne froÌ„ theyr idle oothes and wreaste no more the holy scripture vnlesse they folowing the manners of SataÌ„ receaue a rewarde worthy theyr wyckednesse Math. iiii Let them that saye though they sweare Swearers meanynge no euyll yet we thyncke no harme Math. â—iii leaue theyr swearyng and remember that they shall gyue accouÌ„tes at the dredeful daye of iudgement for euery idle word that they haue spoken Swearers yâ— they may be beleued so that they shall not escape vnponished for theyr idle oothes Let them that saye fewe or none wyll beleue vs except we sweare rather meddle wyth fewe or none thaÌ„ they shuld transgresse the commauÌ„dement of God bryng damnacion vpon theyr owne heades To conclude let all oothes be taken away from the myndes of Christen menne excepte they be taken for those causes whiche I haue expressed before If we wyll thê° do we shal easely exchewe the moost detestable vice of periury and frendely lyue togyther in all truethe sincerite and fayth as it become the saynctes so many as professe Christ. For he that wyll not sweare wyll not lyghtelye falsely sweare and be forsworne And that we maye be the more encouraged to forsake all vayne idle oothes The conclusion of the booke let vs remember that God which is the euerlastyng truthe hath promised that he wyll glorify them whiche honoure hym and haue hys name in reuerence Agen that they shall come vnto dishonour a shamefull ende that despyse hym and blaspheme hys moost holye name Nowe if we wyll that God glorify vs God to glorify vs what it is that is to saye be our good Lord defend preserue kepe gouerne vs blysse vs lyghten hys gracious couÌ„tenaÌ„s vpon vs sende vs all thynges necessary for our lyuynge in this present worlde and after thys lyfe gyue vs eternall glory than is it conuenient that we do not abuse yâ— name of god by our vayne vnrighteous othes but alwayes laude prayse coÌ„mend magnify blysse it caull vpon it fly vnto it as vnto an holye anchore in all our aduersite and neuer to haue in our mouthes What euylles shall chaunse vnto vs if we vaynly swere but wythe hygh reuerence and great honour If we do the contrary that is to saye blaspheme hys moost holy name than shall we vndoubtedly come vnto dishonoure a shamefull ende In thys worlde the plage and veÌ„geauÌ„ce of God shall not go awaye from oure houses we shal be stryken wyth many greuous diseases in our bodyes oure goodes and cattell yea and all that euer we haue shal come to noght our kynde of lyuyng shall be despysed wyth all good men our death shall be paynefull miserable and wretched after these so great and manifold plages we maye be sure for our wycked sweryng to be cast into hell fyre where the flames of it shall neâ—er be quenched where wepyng and gnashyng of tethe shall be Esa. lâ—vi where the worme that shall gnawe oure consciences shall neuer dye Math. xxiii Therfore I beseche al Christen meÌ„ by the tender marcyes of God and by the moost precious bloud of oure sauiour Iesus Christ wherby alonâ— we are redemed made pure and deliuered from al our synnes that they from hensforth leaue theyr abhominable swearyng ether by God or by ony of hys creatures Let them neuer take God to wytnes excepte it be in a necessarye and earneste matter I meane suche a matter as maketh vnto the glorye of God Let theyr coÌ„municacion be yea yea nay naye Let so great syncerite truthe and faythe reygne among theÌ„ that one maye beleue another wythoute an oothe euen by a worde Let theÌ„ haue God in suche reuereÌ„ce and honoure and so order theyr tonges in thys worlde vnto the glory of God that after this lyfe thorowe the mercy of God they maye be found worthy to be in the nomber of those blissed spirites which without ceasyng syng perpetual prayses to the moste holy name of God on thys manner Great and maruelous are thy workes Apoca. xv O Lorde God almyghty Apoca. iiii ryghteous true are thy wayes o kynge of saynctes Who shall not feare the O Lorde and magnifye thy name For thou arte worthy O Lorde to take the glory and honour power for thou haste made al thynges and for thy wyll they are and were made Apoca. v. To him that sytteth in the throne and to the lambe be blyssynge and honour and glory power worldes wtout end AmeÌ„ ¶ Saye not but that ye are warned ¶ Gyue the glory to God alone ¶ Actes agaynst customable swearers made in tymes past by dyuers excellent Prynces and theyr honorable councell ¶ Kynge Henry the fyfte KYnge Henry the fyste made a statute for swearers in his owne Palace Vvaldenus in quo dam sermone that if he were a Duke yâ— dyd swere he shuld forfyt for euery tyme xl sÌ„ to the aydyng of poore people Wolde god thys statute were obserued and keptâ— now adayes not only in the courte but also thorowout EngloÌ„d If he were a Lorde or Barone xx sÌ„ If he were a Knyght or an Esquyer x. sÌ„ If he were a Yeman xl d If he were a Page or a Lackey or a slaue to be scourged naked eyther wyth a rodde or els wyth a whyppe ¶ Kynge Edmunde KYnge EdmuÌ„de made thys law that they whyche were proued once falsly forsworne shuld for euer be seperated froÌ„ Gods coÌ„gregacioÌ„ ¶ Donaldus Kynge of Skottes DOnaldus Kynge of Skottes made thys acte wtin hys lond 〈◊〉 Botius in historia Scotorum that all Periurers common swearers shulde haue theyr lippes feared wyth a burnyng whot yron ¶ Sayncte Lodowycke Kynge of Fraunce THys lawe aforsayd dyd Saynt Lodowycke Kynge of Fraunce enacte also A godly prâ—clamacion god send 〈◊〉 many 〈◊〉 and put it once in execucioÌ„ at Paris vpon a Cytezyn there for blasphemyng the name of Christ vnto the
wytnes in vniuste and trifelynge matters vaynely to sweare by his moost blyssed name to take it in our mouthes wythoute a necessary vrgent cause and to obscure the glory of it thorow wycked vngodly othes All they that thus do shall not escape vnponysshed O Lorde God howe many are there at thys tyme that transgresse this holy precepte Howe many caull God a wytnes in vniust trifelyng matters Howe many pollute defyle yâ— in them is the glory of Gods moost blyssed name How many sweare coÌ„tinually not only by God al yâ— euer he made agayne not onely by his derely beloued son our Loâ—d sauiour Iesus christ but also with honour reuerence I speake it by all yâ— holy meÌ„bers of his moost glorioê° body How common an oothe nowe dayes is Gods flesh Gods bloud Gods hart Gods bodye Gods woundes Gods nayles Gods sydes Goddes guttes and all that euer maye be rehearsed of God O wickednes O abhominacion What parte of Christes moost blyssed body do these wycked abhominable swearers leaue vnreÌ„t and vntorne They are much worsse thaÌ„ the Iewes which cried Tolle tolle crucifige eum Awaye awaye to the gallowes wyth hym Ioan. xix crucifye hym torment hym leaue not one part whole of hym For they only cryed vpoÌ„ Pylate to haue hiÌ„ crucifyed but these swearers them selues crucify hym rent and teare hym The Iewes crucifyed hym but once and than theyr fury ceased In math but these wicked caytiffes crucify him dayly with theyr vnlawefull oothes neyther doth theyr malyce cruelnes cease at ony tyme S. Austen sayth They syn no lesse whiche blaspheme Christ reygnyng in heauen than they whiche crucifyed hym walkyng on the earthe Yea there want not which haue so great pleasure in swearyng yâ— they thinke theÌ„ selues no men excepte they face crake and bragge out theyr matters wyth large and shameles oothes They iudge it a poynte of elogancye ciuilite and good nourtoure to enterlase theyr talke wythe abuÌ„daÌ„s of oothes They recount him an asse a dastarde and an hobbe of the contrey that can not sweare valeauntly so greatly hath vice preuayled so greatly hath wickednes rooted herselfe in the hartes of men so lytle authorite bearethe vertue godlynesse nowe a dayes in the worlde MeÌ„ of occupacion The maÌ„ of occupacon feareth no thyng at al to sweare by God to call him a witnes in a vayne and triflyng matter whan he byeth or selleth ony thyng so that he maye gette but a peny by this means O Lorde what dothe it profyt a man to wynne all yâ— who le world to loose his soule How customably is this hearde dayely among them that be byers and sellers O â—â—treâ—e abhominacioÌ„ By Gods soule man take it vnto the say not but that thou haste a frendly peny worth For by the blyssed body of god thou hast it as good chepe as euer I bought it And yet are all togyther starke lyes But lette it be grauÌ„ted that theyr ooth were true is it therfore conuenient yâ— in worldly matters for euery lyghte trifle what 〈◊〉 and faythe oughte to reygne amoÌ„g christen men we shoulde thus abuse the name of god whom we ought neuer to haue in our mouthes without great reuerence and for vrgeÌ„t weyghty causes There ought to be so great sincerite faythfulnes trueth singlenes amonge Christen men that yea yea naye naye should be sufficient But alas there is so moch crafte deceate suttelty falshode and doublenes reygnyng in the worlde at this tyme that none dare trust another no thoughe they promyse neuer so fayre excepte they sweare Exulaâ— fides no nor than nether He that feareth notto blaspheme yâ— name of god wyl not let to deseaue his neyghbour excepte they haue them bound in blacke whyght as they saye O Lorde vnto what poynt are we come whan all trueth credence is so farre banysshed from the boundes of Christianite yâ— there is more fayth trust gyuen to an obligacioÌ„ or suche other trifle than to yâ— word and promyse of a Christen man It is euen as the Prophet sayth Oze iiii there is no trueth vpoÌ„ the earth Psal. â—x but swearyng cursyng lyeÌ„g Rom. iii Euery man is a lyare Luke xviii Euery man that lyuethe is nothyng but vanite nether is ther ony trust in hym Do ye thynke sayeth Christ that the sonne of manne shall fynde ony fayth on the earthe whaÌ„ he shall come Verely I thynke but a lytle which is an euident tokeÌ„ that the daye of the great terrible iudgement is not farre of Moreâ—uer howe is God rent and torne by blasphemous othes not only among men in bargaynynge Dysers and Cardâ—rs byeng and sellyng choppyng and chaâ—â—gyng c. but also in playeng yo le matters How wyl the diser sweare rather than he wyll loose one caste Howe wyll the carder teare God on peces rather than he wyll loose the profyt of one carde Howe wyl they that stonde by beholde forsweare them selues for the loue that they beare to one of the parties Agayn howe depely do menne of lawe sweare vnto theyr Clientes Men of lawe yâ— they haue laboured theyr matters earnestly to the Iudges whan many tymes they haue not spoken one worde but styl prolonge the matter that theyr auauntage maye be the greater Howe doth the prest sweare that if it had not ben for the loue of suche suche an honest man and for yâ— good Prestes benefyced men reporte that he hath hearde before of the Parysh he would neuer haue beÌ„ person of 〈◊〉 And yet it is not vnknowen that the moost part of the loue theyr paryshners so derely that after they be once â—ure of theyr benefyce they care not although they neuer se none of theÌ„ after so that they maye haue the auaÌ„untage of the benefice excepte peradueÌ„ture of theyr deuocion it be at haruest whan the tythe barnes are ful or elles at Easter to searche howe good the Easter boke wyll be that yeare This once done hense go they agayne leaue asyr Iohn Lack latin in theyr stead whyche teachethe not muche more than the hyll mouethe The wolffe maye come and easely rent Ioan. x. teare deuour the poore shepe For the shepparde hath gotteÌ„ the mylke wolle and he is gone He hathe lycked the fatte from hys paryshners berdes hath taken his iourney Take thought for the flock who lysteth O Pastor Idolum derelinquens gregem Zaâ—h xl O shepeparde Idolle that thus forsaketh his flocke But alas what consciences haue these menne which take so muche and do so lytyll If they wyll reape carnall thynges so must they sow spiritual thynges sayth the scripture The labouryng plow maÌ„ not the ydle lubber muste receaue of the frutes i. Cor xix sayth S. ii Tim. ii Paule i. Tim. v They that rule well are worthy double honour
but that which is good to edify with all whan nede is that it maye haue fauour with the hearers If no fylthy communicacion ought to procede out of our mouthes muche lesse ought ony vayn dothes vngodly swearynges blasphemies c. come forth out of them If our wordes ought to be good to edify wythe all thaÌ„ ought they not to be such as should destroy both our selues the hearers which many tymes chaunseth thorow wicked oothes Let not dome Ephe. v sayth he and all vnclennes or couetousnes or fylthynes or folyshe talkynge or iestynge be once named among you as it becommeth saynctes but rather thanckes gyuyng If these thynges maye not once be named among vs surely much lesse yea a M. tymes muche lesse oughte oothes swearynges blasphemies of Gods moost holy name be named among vs and hearde in our dayely speache If the wrath vengeaunce of God be wonte to faull vpon the chyldren of vnbeleue for these thynges aforesayd as S. Paule testifyeth certenly let all swearers be certenlye assured that they shall not escape the plages of Gods vengeasice and theyr damnacion shal be yâ— more greuous for asmuch as they professe godlynes and lyue nothynge accordyng thervnto What are they ony other than blasphemous mockers of God They saye that they knowe God but withe theyr dedes they denye hym seynge they are become abhommable and disobediente and enell mynded vnto all good workes as S. Paule writeth Titus i They are welles wythout water cloudes caryed about of a tempest to whom yâ— myst of darckenesse is reserued for euer They are trees without â—rute at gatheryng tyme ii Pe. ii twyse dead plucked vp by the rootes Iudas Epistle They are the ragyng waues of the sea somyng oute theyr owne shame Howe can they than escape the vengeaunce of god The Sodomites Gomorrians sinned agaynst nature therfore were they consumed wythe fyre brymestonne froÌ„ heaueÌ„ the swearers synne agaynst the God maker of nature is it to be thought â—e xviii that they shall escape vnponyshed If suche as committe the lessest synne be punysshed howe can they than escape which of sende in the greatest They maye be sure if they do not amend not only to be plaged with fyre brymestone but also to suffer all other kyndes of intollerable paynes yea and that in hell where is no redemcion nor marcy to be had The Lorde Psal. xi sayth Dauid seeth both the ryghteous vngodly but who so delyghteth in wickednes him his soule abhorreth Vpon the vngodly he shall reygne snares fyre brymestonne storme tempest this rewarde shall they haue to drynke For the Lorde is ryghteous and he loueth righteousnes his cosâ—tenauce beholdeth the thyng that is iuste Agayne he saythe God is a ryghteous Iudge Psal. vii and God is euer threatenyng If men wyl not turne he hath whet his swearde he hathe bent his bowe and made it redy He hath prepared hym the weapons of deathe ordined his arrowes to bestroye We rede in the forth boke of Moses that whan the chyldren of Israel were in the wyldernes they fouÌ„d a man gatherynge styckes vpon the Sabboth day 〈◊〉 .xv â–ª And they that found him gatheryng styckes brought him vnto Moses and Aaron vnto all the congregacion they put him inward For it was not declared what shoulde be done vnto hym And the Lorde sayd vnto Moses the manne shall dye Let al the multitude stone hym with stones without the hoost And all the multitude brought hym wythout the hoost stoned hym with stones and he dyed as the Lorde coÌ„maunded Moses If the man that gathered styckes vpon the Saboth daye for transgressyng that coÌ„mauÌ„dement whiche notwythstondynge was but a ceremoniall law seruyng but for a tyme and a figure of oure spirituall quietnes and reast which we ought to haue coÌ„tinually in our consciences toward God which precepte also is nowe abolyshed stond in none effect so that we are Lordes of the Sabothe daye and maye appoynte what daye it shall please the head rulers to cease from laboure yâ— we may the more coÌ„ueniently come togyther vnto the teÌ„ple for to pray to heare the holye worde of God to se the blyssed Sacramentes ministred c. If the man that gathered styckes I saye vpon the Sabothe daye was stoned vnto deathe by the commaundement of God for transgressynge that precepte howe maye these swearers than persuade themselues that they shal escape vnponished althoughe they sweare abuse God and all hys creatures by theyr vnlawfull oothes The other precepte was ceremoniall The Iewes at thys day accordiÌ„ge to theyr olde wont wyl teare there garmentes whan the heare Gods blessedâ—ame blasphemed for the drede of Gods feercewrath that is â—â—yred vp there by Butte who among vs ChristeÌ„ shewethe hiÌ„selfe by ony meanes to be displeased there wtal in whom ough to be the loue feare dreade of God so wel as in yâ— Iewes is nowe of no strengthe but this commaundement is morall and abydeth styll in perfecte strengthe and so shall do so longe as the worlde stondeth shall yâ— transgressioÌ„ of this than escape vnponyshed The other was punyshed by death and shall this escape fre wythout punyshment Let the wicked worldlynges laughe at the matter so much as they lyst there lyueth a god agaynst whome the offence is committed which wyl not suffer the blasphemies of his holy name and of his creatures to escape vnpunyshed And well were it wythe these abhominable swearers which go forth in theyr wyckednes wyll not amend if in this worlde they myght he consumed with fyre and brymestone froÌ„ heauen as the Sodomites were or stoned vnto death as the transgressour of yâ— Saboth daye was so that theyr plages and paynes myght on this manner ende they afterward enioye euerlastyng lyfe But it is to be feared that after thys lyfe they shall feale more greuous tormentes than euer the Sodomites dyd ether suffer in this world or where they be nowe God be marcifull vnto them and gyue them grace to amend Hytherto haue we hearde howe greuous an offence it is beâ—ore God for to sweare to take his moost blissed name in vayne or to abuse onye of his creatures by vayne vnlawfull oothes We haue heard also how God wyll not suffer by ony meanes them to escape vnponished that wickedly sweare and breake this godly commaundement Nowe seyng that GOD wyll so sharpely ponysh them that take hys name in vayne or feare not to sweare for euery lytle trifle by hym or by hys creatures what is than to be sayd of perâ—â—ry Of perâ—ury What is to be thought of them which bothe falsely and wyllyngely forsweare them selues Into howe great ponyshment shall they faull whiche feare nothyng at all to sweare in a false matter vpon the holy Euangely that moost â—lyssed worde of euerlastyng trueth yea to call God and all his holy saynctes to be wytnesses
reiecte as a thyng muche daungerous and hurtefull bothe to the body and soule Suche an othe Iud. xi promyse or vowe made Iepte that if God wolde delyuer the chyldren of Amnon into his handes whan he came home agayne in peace what so euer thynge commeth fyrst out of his dores shulde be the Lordes and he wolde offer it vp for a burnt offeryng At his returne it fortuned that his doughter being his only chylde came out agenst him wythe tymberelles and daunces Whan he sawe her he was much amased and greatly sorowful because of his vow that he had made to god Notwythstondyng he sayde God desyreth thanckes gyuyng and not bloudy sacrifices I haue opened my mouthe vnto the Lorde and canne not go backe So that to fulfyll his folyshe and wycked vowe he committed the greuous synne of manslaughter and cruelly â—â—ue hys owne doughter contrary to yâ— lawe of God whan it had ben better and muche more godly to haue brokeÌ„ his folyshe vowe and to haue kepte hys handes clene from the bloude of hys doughter and to haue gyuen God ryght harty thanckes for the victory that he had gotten ouer hys enemies Psal. i For it is the sacrifice of prayse that honourethe God Heb. xiii The calfes of oure lyppes are acceptable sacrifyce and welcome vnto god Psal. xlix I meane thaÌ„kes gyuyng For he delyghtethe not in the slaughter of ony creature but rather wylleth that they shuld lyue vnto that vse and end for the which they were made God the father by the Psalmograph sayth heare o my people let me speake let me testifye among you O Israel I am god yea I am euen thy God I wyll not reproue the bycause of thy sacrifices thy burnte offerynges are alway in my syght I wyll take no bullockes out of thy house nor goates oute of thy feldes For all the beastes of the felde are myne and thousandes of cattell vpon the hylles I knowe all the soules vpon the mountaynes the wylde beastes of the felde are in my syght If I be hongry I wyl not tel the for the whole world is myne all that therin is Thynkest thou that I wyll eate the flesh of oxen or dryncke the bloude of gotes Offer vnto god the sacrifice of prayse and pay thy vowes vnto the moost highest And call vpon me in the tyme of trouble so wyll I heare the that thou shalte thaÌ„ke me The Psalmograph hymselfe also sayth Psal. â—v in me o god are thy vowes which I shall paye vnto the euen very harty prayses thankes gyuyng Vowes ofentymes in the scripture are taken for prayses and thankes gyuyng He calleth the vowes yâ— we shulde offer vnto God for his benefites prayses thankes gyuyng and not the kyllyng and offryng vp of our chyldren or the performynge of such folysh wicked vowes which caÌ„ not be performed wythout synne and vngodlines Herode also made a promyse to the doughter of Herodias whaÌ„ she dauÌ„ced salyed so plesantly before hym and hys Lordes at a certayne banket that he wolde gyue her what so euer she wold aske euen vnto yâ— halfe of hys kyngdome She by the councell of her wycked mother asked the head of IohnÌ„ Baptiste So that the kynge because he wold not go backe of his worde suffered the holy Prophet of God to be slayne no cause why but only yâ— he thought it wolde not stonde with his honour royall dignite to breake his promyse Ah folysh vowe and more folysh kyng Ah wycked promyse and more wycked kynge Better had it bene for hym a thousaâ—d tymes to haue gone backe of his worde to haue brokeÌ„ his wicked vow and to haue loste al his royall dignite than so vertuous a man shulde haue bene slayne We â—e to all those vowes and promises whyche are not fulfilled without synne and wyckednes Agen we rede in thactes of thapostles that there were mo than forty men which had conspired agenst Paule Act. xxiii and made a solemne vow an earnest promyse and a foule deuout ooth that they woulde neyther eate nor dryncke vntyll they had slaynâ— Paule For we are redy saye they to kyll him before he come nygh vnto vs by a myle A whotte zele in dede but not accordynge to knowledge Here was a whotte brennyng zele They thought euery hour a thousaÌ„d yere tyl they might mete with tholy Apostle and shedde his bloude they were so lothe to be founde double in theyr wordes so sory that he shulde teache ony more such newe learnyng and late sprong vp heresye vnto the great confusion of theyr holye synagoge and the vtter shame of yâ— foole dâ—uout fathers the Pharises Scribes Lawers bishoppes prestes rulars of the Temple elders of the people c. To preuent these high inconueniences and to suppresse yâ— great enormities newly reysed vp by the meaÌ„s of Paules doctrine ye wyll not easely beleue what paynes these good men toke They coulde not rest nether nyghte nor daye As for meate dryncke and slepe was gone with them Bâ— mery at theyr hartes they could neuer vntyll they had slayne Paule yâ— greate Heretyke that teacher of new learnyng that brynger in of new lawes that destroyer of all the olde laudable customes that troubler of the coÌ„mon peace Ioan. xvi that sower of discorde yâ— peruertour of the holy olde religioÌ„ that enemy of all good deuocion c. Therfore made they a solemne vow in good tyme might it be spokeÌ„ that they woulde tast nothyng no not so much as a pore ale bery for yâ— coÌ„forte of theyr harte vntyl they had slayn Paule in so muche that they were gone so farre in dede that they had rather slea Paule and cast theyr soules into hell fyre for doyng that mischeuous acte than they would once breake theyr vowe For they iudged by this meanes to do God an hyghe sacrifice Surely I thyncke that if the porke of Rome had at that tyme 〈◊〉 reygnyng and in his full power scaulled they would scasely haue beleued that he had ben able to dispeÌ„se wyth theyr vow it was so solem feruent and spronge out of the harte roote Is it not to be thought that they were whot in theyr matters whaÌ„ they coulde not kepe theyr mischeuous pretence secrette DignuÌ„ patella operculum but came vnto the chefe prestes and elders as couers worthy such cuppes gostly fathers fyt for suche a confession and tolde them that they had bouÌ„de them selues wyth a vowe that they myght eate nothyng vntyl the had slayne Paule Had it not ben great pitie thynke you that these menne shulde haue dyed for â—onger seynge they fasted for so good a purpose O holy votories I maruell howe they could euer pacify theyr consciences afterwarde seynge they made so solemne a vowe and yet brake it For they neuer slue Paule so myghty a Lorde is God to defende his serualltes from the cruell handes of bloudy tyrauntes But the holye religious men are
For what is sayd of them that they went not from the tabernacle of the Lorde Ergo Moses was continually in the tabernacle of the Lorde What busynesse had he there Verely that ether he shulde lerne somewhat of God or els teache the people These are the two workes of a Byshop The work of a Bysshop is to study the holy scriptures purely to preache theÌ„ vnto the people and feruently to praye that he shulde learne of god by readyng the diuine scriptures by hauyng hys continuall meditacion in them or elles teache the people but yet ought be to teache those thynges that he had learned of god and not of his owne harte or mans wisdome but those thynges that yâ— holy Ghoste teacheth There is another worke also that Moses dothe he goeth not vnto yâ— warres he fightethe not agaynst the enemies but what doth he He prayeth And while he prayethe hys people ouercommeth if he do once slake let downe hys hâ—des thaÌ„ are hys people ouercome and chased away Let yâ— preste of the chyrche therfore praye wythout ceasyng Exo. xvii that the people whych are vnder hym may ouercome ther inuisible enemies the Amalechites which are dyuels that do impugne and fyghte agaynst them that wyll lyue godly in Christ. O howe true swete and godly are these wordes of the holye Doctore Learn your dutye here o ye Prestes Here may al Byshops Prestes lern what they re dutye is not to be idle not tohsit hawk not to dyse card not to baÌ„cket and lyue voluptuously not to playe the ruflyng galaÌ„tes and to be entangled wyth worldely busynesses but to be continually in the tabernacle of the Lorde that is to saye to studye and to haue theyr perpetuall meditacion in the holye scriptures euen both daye nyght as Dauid saythe Psal. i. and wyth all diligence to teache the people committed to theyr Spirituall charge not mennes tradicions not theyr owne fantasies but Goddes moost holye worde euen the holy scriptures and suche thynges wherof yâ— holy Ghost is the Author Lette them therfore looke well to theyr office For if they be true Byshops and Prestes thys is the worke committed vnto them euen continually to studye the holy scriptures and purely to preach theÌ„ vnto the people If they leaue thys office vndone do the worckes prescribed of man so do they shewe theÌ„ selfes to be yâ— seruauntes not of god but of man Let theÌ„ therfore looke what answer they wyll make to the hygh Iudge and great preste Christ at the terrible daye of iudgement Moreouer it is theyr duty ferueÌ„tly and wythout ceasyng to pray for the people that they maye preuayle agaynst SataÌ„ hys ministers that fyght dayly agaynst theÌ„ The prayers of many prestes are colde â—owa dâ—yes How colde yâ— prayers of many of theÌ„ are I wyl not now dispute For they are more open to the whole worlde than they nede here to be rehersed WhaÌ„ Moses helde vp hys handes and prayed hys people dyd ouercome Whyther our Prestes holde vp theyr handes praye as they ought let other meÌ„ iudge Of this am I sure yâ— syns the world begaÌ„ therneuer reigned more synne and abhominacioÌ„ than there doth at this daye which is but a sleÌ„der argument that we get the victory of our enemies God gyue al Byshoppes and Prestes grace once to looke vpon theyr office diligently yâ— they maye both earnestly studye the holy scriptures teache them syncerly vnto the people and continually occupy theÌ„ selâ—esin feruent prayers Than shal it not only be wel with Christes flocke but also with them selues at the dredefull daye of iudgement whaÌ„ they shall appere before yâ— hygh Byshop Iesus Christ and gyue accouÌ„tes vnto hym of theyr behauour in the office that was coÌ„mitted vnto them in this worlde S. Austen also sayth In AggeuÌ„ ProphetaÌ„ coÌ„syder that it is the office of prestes whan they be demaunded of yâ— lawe to answer If he be a Preste let hym knowe the lawe of the Lord if he knoweth not the lawe of the Lorde he declare the euidently that is he is no preste For it pertayneth vnto the Lordes preste to know the law and whan he is asked to make answer of the lawe Lord be mercifull vnto vs what wyll a great nomber of our prestes saye to these wordes of S. Austen I feare moche that if he were not so auÌ„cient a Doctore and a sayncte all redy approued by the Chyrche surely many prestes for madnes wolde nothynge feare to accuse hym of hereâ—y and to affirme that he preacheth hereticall doctrine so iopardous a thynge at this tyme is it to speake ageÌ„st these ignorant Rabines which although they knowe nothyng yet wyll they be Iudges ouer all menne and redy streyghtewayes to condemne them It is not the long robe the flaryng typpet about the necke the annoyntynge of the fyngers the brode shauynge of the crowne that make the the Preste but knowledge and conâ—ynge in the lawe of the Lorde and so called vnto prestehode The Prophet Malachy sayth the lyppes of a Preste kepe knowledge Maâ—ac ii and at hys mouthe shall they require the lawe for he is the messanger of the Lorde of Hoostes Prestes oughte to be learned in yâ— law of god So sayth S. AusteÌ„ here that Prestes ought to be so wel learned in the holy scriptures that whaÌ„ ony man demaundeth a question of them concernyng the lawe of God they shulde be able to answer If he be a preste saythe he let hym knowe the lawe of the Lord. If he knoweth not the lawe of the Lorde he declareth euidently that he is no preste S. Austen here affyrmethe Who is a preste aftâ—r S. Auâ—â—â—â— mind that he only is a preste whyche hath knowledge in the lawe of the Lorde If there wante the knowledge it is an euident argument sayth he yâ— there is no Preste It is happy that saynt AusteÌ„ is gone and a sayncte For if he were now alyue a Byshop agayne as he was in times paste and shulde go on visitacion thorow out the dioces I thynke surely he wold depose a great sorte of Prestes as meÌ„ more fytte for the carte than for the chyrch For S. Austen measureth all presthode by knowledge It pertaynethe vnto the Lordes Preste sayth he to knowe the lawe and whan he is demaunded to make answer of yâ— law He maye be a Preste of Baal ObsequiuÌ„ amicos veritas odiuÌ„ parit of the â—omysh Byshop and of man but of the Lorde he canne not be excepte he hath knowledge If ony maÌ„ fealethe hym selfe greued at thys matter and can not abyde hys scalde scuruy backe thus to be rubbed let hym know that they be not my wordes but the wordes of S. Austen a man in hys tyme not only godly enspired and excellently learned but also of greate authorite before the worlde I onely reherse hys other holye Doctores wordes because I wolde gladly haue men