are laden and he promiseth that he wil refresh them Christ is that true lyghte which light neth euery man that commeth into this worlde Christ is our Lord of whose fulnes al we haue receyued euen grace for grace For the lawe was geuen by Moses but grace and truth came by Iesus Christe Christ is that lambe of god whiche taketh away the synnes of the world As Moses lyfted vp the Serpent in wildernesse so must the Sonne of man be lyfted vp that euery on that beleueth in him may not perishe but haue euerlasting lyfe For God loueth the world so feruently that he gaue his only begot ten sonne that euery one that beleueth in hym may not pearish but haue euerlasting lyfe For god sent not hys sonne into the world to condemne the world but that the world should be saued by hym He that beleueth in the sonne hath euerlasting lyfe but he that beleueth not in the son shall not se lyfe but the wrath of God abydeth vpon him Christe geuethe that lyuynge water whereof whosoeuer drinketh shal neuermore thirste but that water shal bee vnto hym a fountayne of water that springeth vp into eternal lyfe Christ is that bread of life whiche came down from heauen If any man eate of that bread he shall liue for euer Christe alone the Sonne of God maketh vs free Christe is the dore If any man enter in by him he shall be safe For he shall go in and come oute and â—…nde pasture Christ is that good shepeheard which gaue his life for his shepe Christ is the resurrection and life he that beleueth in him althoughe he were dead shal liue and euery one that liueth and beleueth in him shall neuer dye Christe is the light of the worlde and came into the worlde for this purpose y â— euery one that beleueth in him shoulde not abide in darknes Christe is the waye truthe and life No man commeth vnto the Father but by him Christe is that mighty prince whiche hath ouercome the world There is none other name geuen vnto men vnder heauen where in they muste be saued but onely that name of Christ. Neither is ther any saluation in any other but in him alone Christe is ordained of God a iudge of quick and dead To him geue all the pro phets witnesse that thorowe his name all that beleue in him shal receiue remis sion of sinnes Thorow Christ is preached vnto vs the forgeuenes of sinnes so that by him all y â— beleue are iustified from all things from whiche we coulde not be iustified by the law of Moyses The righteousnes no doubt whiche is good before God commeth by y e faith of Iesus Christe vnto all and vpon all that beleue There is no difference for all haue sinned and want the glorye of God but are iustified freely by his grace thorow the redemption that is in Christ Iesu to whom God hath made a â—…eat of mercy thorow faith in his blud to shew the righteousnesse whiche before him is of valoure Christ died for our sinnes and rose â—… gaine for our iustification We beinge iustified by faithe are at peace with god thorow our Lord Iesus Christe by whom we haue awaye in thorowe fayth vnto thys grace wherein we stande and reioyce in hope of the prayse that shal be geuen of God God setteth out hys loue that he hath to vs forasmuche as while we were yet sinners Christe died for vs. Muche more then nowe being iustified in his bloude shall wee be saued from wrath thorowe hym For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the deathe of hys sonne muche more seinge we are re conciled we shal be preserued by his lyfe Not onelye so but we also ioye in God by our Lord Iesus Christe by whom we haue receaued the attonement ☞ Rede the whole Chapter Euerlastinge life is the gifte of God thorow Iesus Christ our Lord. There is no dampnation to them which are in Christe Iesus which walke not after the flesh but after the spirit For the law of the spirite that bringeth life thorow Iesus Christe hath made vs fre froÌ„ the lawe of sinne and death We know that al things worke for the best vnto them that loue god whiche also are called of purpose For those which he knew before he also ordayned before that they should be a like fashioned to the shape of his sonne that he might bee the first begotten sonne among many brethren And whom he appointed before them also he called And which he called them also he iustifyed which he iustifyed them also he glorifyed What shall we theÌ„ say to these things If God be on our side who can be against vs which spared not hys owne sonne but gaue him for vs all how shall he not with him geue vs all thinges also Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods chosen It is God that iustifyeth who then shall coÌ„demne It is Christ which is dead yea rather which is rysen agayne which is also on the ryght hand of God and maketh intercession for vs. Christ is the end of the lawe to iustifye all that beleue Whosoeuer beleueth on Christ shall not be ashamed There is no difference betwene y e Iewe and the Gentile For one is Lorde ouer all that cal on hym for whosoeuer shall call on the name of the Lord shal be safe Christ is made of God our wysedome our righteousnes our sanctification and redemption Christ our Easter Lambe is offered vp for vs. We are washed we are sanctified yea we are iustifyed by the name of the Lorde Iesu and by the spirite of our God The liberalitie of our lord Iesus Christ is greate which though he were riche yet for oure sakes he became poore that we through hys pouertie myght be made rich If righteousnes come of the lawe then died Christ in vayne Christ hath deliuered vs froÌ„ y e curse of the law and was made accursed for vs. Sâ—…ande faste in the libertie wherwith Christ hath made vs free and wrappe not your selues again in the yoke of bondage Ye are gone quite froÌ„ Christ as many as are iustifyed by the law and are fallen from grace For we looke in spirite to be iustifyed thorow faith For in Iesu Christ neither is circumcision any thing worth neither vncircumcision but fayth which by loue is mightie in operation God forbyd y â— I shoulde reioyce in any thing but onely in y â— crosse death passioÌ„ of our Lord Iesus Christ. Blessed be god the father of oure Lorde Iesu Christe whiche hath blessed vs with all manner of spirituall blessings in heauenly things by Christ. By christ we haue redemption thorow his bloud euen the forgeuenes of sins according to the ritches of hys grace which he shed on vs aboundauntlye in all wisedome and prudence God whiche is
yet if I haue no loue it profiteth me nothing at all Brethren if any mā be fallen by chance into any fault ye which are spiritual helpe to amende him in the spirite of mekenes consideringe thy selfe least thou also be attempted Beare ye one an others burden and so fulfill ye the law of Christ. Let not the sunne go downe vpon your wrath Be gentle one to another mercifull forgeuing one another euen as GOD for Christes sake hath forgeuen you Let euery man be slow vnto anger For the wrath of man worketh not that which is righteous before God Aboue all thinges haue feruent loue among you For loue shall couer the multitude of sinnes If anye man saye I loue God and hateth his brother he is a lyer For he that lo ueth not his brother whom he hath seene god whome he hathe not seene how can he loue And this commaundement haue we of him that he that loueth god shoulde al so loue his neighbour He that loueth not his brother a◅ideth in death Whosoeuer hateth his brother is a murtherer And ye know that no murthe rer hathe euerlasting life abidinge in him ▪ My babes let vs not loue in worde nor in tongue but in worke and truthe Examples out of the new◅ Testament Christ so dearly loued vs yea and that when we◅ were yet his enemies that hee gaue him self euen vnto the death for our sake Yea he hanginge on the cros prayed for his very◅ enemies vnto his heauenly◅ Father Blessed Stephen in the middest of his tormentes prayed for his enemies S. Paule wished him self to be cursed from Christ◅ so that his kinsmen might◅ be saued Against the bitter stormes of persecution of Gods worde IF at a◅y time thorow the frailti of nature thou be troubled in thy minde when the cros ◅f persecution is laid vpon thee for the word of God looke that thou shrinke not backe from the truthe nor discourage thy selfe but think thy selfe blessed of G◅d call these scriptures that follow vnto rei membrance for thy comfort Sentences out of the old Testament THe Lorde killeth and geeueth life again◅ hee bringeth euen to Hell and back agayne The righteous cry and the Lord heareth them and deliuereth them out of all their troubles The Lord is nigh vnto them that ar of a troubled heart and wil saue such as be of an humble spirite Great are the troubles of the righteous but the Lord deliuereth him out of thē all He kepeth all his bones so that not one of them is broken But misfortune shall flea the vngodly and they that hate the righteous shal be desolate The Lorde deliuereth the soules of his seruauntes and all they that put theyr trust in him shall not be comfortles For thy sake O Lord are we killed all the day long and are counted as shepe ap pointed to be slaine Up Lord why sleepest thou awake and be not absent from vs for euer Wherfore hidest thou thy face and for gettest our misery and trouble For oure soule is brought low euen vnto the duste our belly cleaueth vnto the ground Arise and helpe vs and deliuer vs for thy mercies sake Thou O god hast proued vs thou also hast tryed vs like as siluer is tryed Thou broughtest vs into the snare and laydest trouble vpon our loynes Thou suffredest men to ride ouer our heades we went thorow fire and water and thou broughtest vs out into a comfortable place I beleued and therefore haue I spoken but I was sore troubled Righte deare in the sighte of the Lorde is the death of his saintes The way of the righteous is iudged to be vtter destruction but they are in rest Althoughe they suffer paine before men yet is their hope ful of immortality They are punished but in few things neuertheles in many thinges shall they be well rewarded For God proueth them and findeth thē mete for hym selfe yea as the golde in the furnace dooth ◅e try them and receyueth them as a burnt offring and when y e time commeth they shal be loked vpon My sonne if thou wilt come into the seruice of god stand fast in righteousnes and feare and arme thy soule to temptation Setle thine heart be patient ◅ow down thine eare receiue the wordes of vnderstāding and shrink not away when thou art entised Holde thee faste vpon god ioyne thy selfe vnto him and suffer that thy life may encrease at the last Whatsoeuer happeneth vnto thee receyue it suffer in heauines and be paciēt in thy trouble For like as gold and siluer are tried in fire euen so are acceptable mē in the fornace of aduersity Beleue in God and he shal helpe thee For righteousnesse take payne with all thy soule and for the truth striue thou vnto death and God shall fyghte for thee against thy enemies Examples out of the olde Testament Abell was cruelly slaine of his brother Cayne whome he neuer offended Ioseph was cast into prison because he woulde not leane to the fy◅thy requeste of his lordes wyfe Moses Aaron and the Israelites were greuously entreated persecuted of King Pharao Saule with great diligence soughte to destroy Dauid Quene Iezabel pursued the Prophete Helias Zachary the sonne of Barachias was stoned to death for telling the king truth Achymeleche with certayne other holy men of god was slaine at king Saules commaundement because he shewed kind nes to Dauid the harty beloued seruant of God Sydrac Misac and Abdenago were cast into a firye fornace because they wouldnot worship the golden Image that king Nabuchodonosor had made but only the God of Israell Daniel was cast into the den of Lions because that contrary to king Darius commaundement he had prayed vnto his Lord God the God of Israel At an other time also he was caste into the den of Lions because he sayde that Bell and the Dragon were no Gods The vertuous and chast woman Susan was at the point to be stoned vnto death because she woulde not breake the commaundement of god and consent to the vn lawfull and filthy requests of the two Elders Eleazarus was miserably put to death because at the kinges commaundemente he woulde not eate swines flesh contrary to the lawe of god A certaine woman also with her vii sonnes were with moste extreme cruelty put to death because they would not obey the wicked precepte of the moste wicked kyng The prophets were vnmercifullye slain because they rebuked synne and taught◅ the wyll of God The most excellent Prophet Esay for his libertye of speach in re◅uking the sins of the princes and of the people and prophe◅iyng of Gods vengeaunce to fall vpō the countrye and people was cut in two partes asunder with a saw and buried vn der an Oke Ieremy after much enprisonment was stoned onto death of his people at Taphu as in Egipc◅ because he warned them of
liue by faithe Christ hath deliuered vs from the curse of the lawe whyle he was made accursed for vs. As manye of you as are iustified by the lawe are fallen from grace We loke for and hope in the spirite to be iukified thorowe fayth Christ is our peace he hath broken down the walle that was a stop betwene vs he hath also put awaye thorow his fleshe the cause of hatred that is to say the lawe of commaundementes contained in the lawe written be so making peace hath reconciled vs to God thorow his crosse Christe hath put oute the band wrighting that was agaynst vs contained in the lawe written and that hath he taken out of the way and hath fastned it to his crosse and hathe spoyled rule power and hath made a shew of them openly and hath triumphed ouor them in his owne person Be it knowne to you ye men and brethren that thorowe this manne Christ Is preached vnto you the forgeuenes of sinnes and that by him all that beleue at iustified from al things from the whiche â—… could not be iustified by the law of Moses Examples out of the new Testament MAthew was a tol gatherer The Apostles were ambicious and did striue amoÌ„g them who should be highest and of greatest authoritye Mary Magdalen was a greuouse sinner Peter denied and forsoke Christ thrise Paule persecuted the congregation of Christe Al these yea and why not transgressed the lawe of God for as Christ sayth Moses hath geuen you a law and yet none of you do fulfil it not with standing for theyr repentance and fayth in Christes bloud they obteyned remission for their sinnes and are made the sonnes of God heires of God felow heyres with christe of euerlastinge glory For if righteousnes come by the lawe then died Christ in vayne but euerlâ—…sting life is y â— gieft of God thorow Iesus Christ our Lord. Against disperation for thy late conuersion and turning vnto God IF Sathan lay to thy charge that thou commest very late and turneste vnto God out of tyme and therefore there is no hope to bee looked 〈◊〉 set these scriptures before thine eyes and euer remember that there is no conuersion vnto God to late in this life â—…f it come of faith but at whatsoeuer houre a sinneâ—… repenteth beleueth and turneth vnto God he is well accepted and freely receiueth remission of all his sinnes ☞ Sentences out of the olde Testament Let the vngodly man forsake hys owne wayes and the vnrighteous his owne imaginat ions and turne againe vnto the Lord so shal he be merciful vnto him to our God for he is very ready to forgeue Returne O thou rebel Israel saith the lord and I wil not turne awaye my face from you For I am holy sayth the lord I wil not turne away my face from you For I am holy saith the Lorde and I wyll not be angry for euermore As truely as I liue saith the Lord god I haue no pleasure in the death of the wic ked but much rather that the wicked turne from his way and liue Turne you turne you from youre vngodlye waies O ye of the house of Israell Oh wherefore will ye die The wickednes of the wicked shal not hurt him whensoeuer hee conuerteth from his vngodlines If the wicked shal repente him and turn from al his sins which he hath wroughte and shal kepe all my precepts and do iudg ment and righteousnes he shall liue and shall not dye I will not remember all his iniquities which he hath wronght In his righteousnes which he hath wroght shall he liue It is not my will saith the lorde that the wicked should dye and not rather that he shoulde turne from hys wayes and liue Turne and repent ye from al your iniquities and your iniquityes shall work you no displeasure Cast away from you all youre wickednesse wherein ye haue offended make you a newe hearte and new spirite And wherfore wyl ye die O ye house of Israell For I wyll not that any man should dye sayeth the Lord. Returne therfore and liue Turne to the Lord youre God for he is great and merciful pacient and of much kindnes and redye at all tymes to forgeue yea eueÌ„ wheÌ„ he is at the point to punish At all tymes when a sinner turneth vnto me sayth the lord I wyll no more beare hys iniquityes in my mynde but freely forgeue them God appointeth here no time of our coÌ„ uersion but whensoeuer we turne he pro miseth vs fauour life mercy and forgeuenes of sinne Examples out of the olde Testament After that the Prophete Nathan at the coÌ„maundement of god had rebuked kinge Dauid for his dissolute manner of liuing Dauid strait waies with a sorowful repen taunt hart turned vnto the Lord and huÌ„bly confessed his sinnes saying I haue offended the Lord. The Prophet immediatly answered the Lord also hath put away thy sinne Dauid did not so sone conuerte but that he was as sone forgeuen to signifie vnto vs that at what so euer time wee vnfainedly turne vnto the Lorde our god he will haue mercy on vs and forgeue vs. The Niniuites for theire abhominable liuyng were thretned vtterly to be destroi ed within forty dayes but they falling vnto repentaunce and turning vnto the lord theire GOD were forgeuen spared and not destroyed Sentences out of the new Testament They that are whole haue no nede of a Phisicion but they that are sicke I came not to call the righteous but sinners vnto repentaunce Come vnto me all ye that laboure and are laden and I shall refreshe you Heere Christ prescribeth no time he only biddeth vs come and be the burthens of our sinnes neuer so greuous and heauy yet wyll be ease vs of them The Sonne of man came to seeke and saue that which was lost God wil haue all men to be saued and to come to the knowledge of the truthe If any man sinneth we haue an aduocate with god the father Iesus Christ y e righte ous one And he it is that obtaineth mercy for our sinnes not for our sinnes onely but for all the worldes Examples out of the new Testament The labourers in the Lordes vineyarde that came last of all receiued their peny sâ—…wel as they that came in the morning nei ther had one more then another The history of the thefe which was ful of wicked deedes and neuer turned vnto God vntil the very houre of his deathe declareth manifestlye that there is no con uersion in this life to late if it be accompanied with true repentaunce and vnfained fayth The thief hanging on the crosse and at the poynt of death onlye sayd to Christ Lorde remenber me when thou coÌ„mest into thy kingdome And Christ wel acceptiÌ„g his conuersion sayd vnto him truly I say vnto thee this day shalt thou be with me
¶ The Gouernaunce of Uertue teaching all faythful christiaÌ„s how they oughte daily to leade their lyfe fruitfully to spend their time vnto the glorye of God the health of their owne soules Newlye corrected augmeÌ„ted by Thomas Becon 1566 ¶ Imprinted at London by Iohn Day ⧠CVM PRIVILEGIO Regie Maiestatis THOMAS BECONVS SACROSAÌ„CTAE THEOLOGIAE PROFESSOR AETATIS SVAE 41 AN o. DNÌ„I 1553. Ora expressa vides viuos immitantia vultus Quod potuit calamo pictor arte vides Mentis quam Nullus potuit tibi redere pictor Effigiem scriptis prebuit ipse suis To the Godly Reader GRace groweth after gouernaunce Is an olde saide saw in eche place If gouernaunce hath good resemblance Grace delighteth to folow the trace Grace glorieth in godly gouernance Grace hasteth â—…o her haule and palace Grace doth godly gouernaunce auaunce And cause it to excel in eche place Where gouernaunce is godly wise Sage Sober Honest and Prudent There doth grace gloriously deuise To haue her seate aye permanent But if gouernaunce be wicked Idle wanton vndiscrete and vaine Grace whiche is godly disposed With such gouernaunce can not remaine This boke shall thee instruct therfore Thy life vertuously to leave That grace with thee may euermore Remaine as Gods moste blessed seede To fight against Sathan and sinnes To represse errours and heresies To pray to God his grace to winne In this boke to learne thou maiest deuise Take thou it therfore in good part As a ioyful Iewel for thy welth And geue God thankes withall thy hart Which by his worde worketh thy helth As for my trauaile and paine I craue none other recompence But thy life vertuously to traine That thou maiest enioy gods presence â–ª FINIS 3. Regum 1. If a man be vertuous ther shal not an heare of his fal to the ground But if wickednesse shal be found in him he shall dye for it Tobi. 4. Loue vertue all the dayes of thy life and walk not in the wayes of wickednes For while thou studiest for vertues thou shalt haue good successe in al thinges that thou goest about and so shall all they that loue goodnesse A Table to fynde the principall matters contayned in this booke AN exhortacion to the Reader The Epistle dedicatory How a man should be haue himself in the morning when he riseth A prayer in the morning A confession of our sinnes vnto God the father How thou shouldst behaue thy selfe before thou go to dinner A prayer before dinner Of the behauiour at the Table in dinner time A thankes geuinge after dinner What is to be done after dinner Of Supper A prayer before Supper Of the behauiour at the table in supper time A thankes geuing after supper Of going to bed A prayer to be sayd when we goe to bed A prayer to be sayd â–ª when thou art in bed Remedies against all kindes of temptacions Against Idolatry Against infidelity or misbeliefe Against the heresy of such as deny Iesus Christâ—… to be god Against the heresy of them which holde that Iesus Christe the sonne of God tooke no fleshe of Mary his Mother Againste the grosse and fantasticall opinion of the Papistes which affirm that Christes naturall body and bloud is carnally eaten and dronken in the Lords supper Against the plucking away of thy trust and confidence from Christ and his merites to put in the merites of other creatures or in thine own good workes or in the intercession of Saintes or in sacrifice of the popish Masse Against such as go about to diswadâ—… the christian people from the studiing reading or hearinge of Goddes woorde Against strange religion or newe found woorshipping of God Against mens traditions and vnwritten verities Against the folowing of vngodly forefathers Against the wicked olde customes longe vsages Againste suche as slaunder Christes gospell by cal linge it newe learninge Against pensiuenes and thought taking for the life Against hunger pouerty or carefulnes of liuing Against keping of euill company Against idlenes Against swearing Against lying slaundering â–ª and filthy or vncleane talke Against pride or vayneglory Against feasting glotony and dronkennes Against fornication and adultery Against couetousnes Against rebellion and disobedience Against malice grudge enuy hatred and anger Against the temptation of the faythfull in consideringe their owne miserye and contrarywise the wealth of the wicked Against the most horrible and dampnable sinne the sinne against the holy Ghost Against the despising of gods word and of the plagues that folow the same Against carnall security and fleshly liuing without the feare of God Against the flacknes of doing good workes Against the troublous tempestes of sicknes of losse of goods or any other kind of aduersity Against the temptation of the Deuill for noâ—…t satis fieng the lawe of God and for thy sinfull liuing â–ª Against desperation for thy late conuersion and tur ning vnto God Against sinne death and helâ—… To the right honorable and moste vertuous young Lady Iane Semer daughter to the highe and mightie Prince Edward Duke of Somerset his grace Thomas Becon wisheth increase of godlye knowledge in Christe Iesu our Lord. THere are no Parents most godlye Ladye that deserue better of the Christen publique weale then they whiche thorow gods gift hauing Children employ all their endeuours to traine them vp euen from theire verye cradels in good letters in the knowledge of gods moste blessed wil that with their young yeres learning vertue and godlines may grow and encrease and the younglinges by this meanes be made at the last auncient and perfect schollers in the mistery of Christes schole This careful study and studyous care for the vertuous bringing vp of youth god in time paste earnestlye required of all Fathers and Mothers in the common weale of hys people the Israelites and according to gods holy commaundement suche as vnfainedlye feared the Lorde their God and wished wel to their countrey refused no laboure no paine nor cost that their children might be made profitable members of the publique weale As I may pas ouer the auncient and holye Patriarches whiche were before the law of Moyses of whose diligeÌ„ce in the vertuous bringing vp of their yonglinges it is more than double wickednesse to doubt seing we haue this euident testimony of Abraham euen of gods own mouth Shall I hide froÌ„ Abraham saith god that thinge which I entend to do Seing that Araham shal be a great and a mighâ—…ye people and all the nations of the earth shal be blessed in him I know this also that he wil commaund his Children and his housholde after him that they keepe the way of the Lorde and do after righte and conscience What earnest diligence did the moste noble and vertuous King Dauid shew in the godly bringing vp of his Children speciallye of Salomon that he might become a Prince worthye both for his godlynes learning wisedome and pollicye to rule in the common weale after him What godly
instructions also gaue he him when he was at the point of deathe Beholde saieth he I muste walk by the way of all the worlde neuerthelesse be strong and quite thy sel◅ manfully and se thou kepe the appointment of the Lorde thy god that y ◠walke in his wayes ▪ and kepe his commaundement ordinaunces lawes and testimonies as it is written in the law of Moyses c. Likewise rede we of the auncient Father Toby which taught his young Sonne Toby to f◅are god from his infancye and to abstaine from all sinne His exhortations are to godly and so meete for all persons to learne that I think it not conuenient to passe them ouer with silence His wordes are these Herken my Sonne what I wil say and lay my wordes in thy harte as a foundation My Sonne when I am dead bury me and after despise not thy Mother but honoure her all the dayes of her lyfe and do to please her and not to displease her My Sonne remember howe greate perill she suffered bearing thee in her wombe and when she is deade bury her in the same graue by me Sonne reuerēce our Lord God at all times sinne not nor break not his commaundements ▪ but loue vertue all the dates of thy life and walk not in the waies of wickednes For while thou studiest for vertue thou shalt haue good successe in all thinges that thou goest aboute and so shall all they that loue goodnes Do almes of thy substance and be no ◅igard in doing of it Turne not thy face awaye from any poort man as thou wouldest that God should not turne away his face from thee Geue as thou shalt be able if y ◠haue much geue much and if thou haue little geue of that little For thou shalt lay vp for thee a good treasure against the daye of necessitie For almes deliuereth from death and suffreth not the soule to come into darknes Alms is a great comfort before the highest to all that vse it My Sonne beware kepe thee from all whordom and vse no euil company besides thy wife Suffer pride neuer to ryse in thy minde no not in word for death is ioyned to pride and muche trouble and to hautines is ioyned displeasure and great pouertye and she is mother of honger Let no mans hire remaine with thee whose seruice thou hast had but forthewith pay his wages for vnto thee also seruing God reward shal be geuen Sonne be circumfpect and ware in all thy deedes and in all that thou doost while thou liuest be wise and do not to any man that thou wouldest not to be done vnto thee Drink not wine vntil thou be drōk nor cary it not with thee by the way geue thy bred to the hungry and with thy clothes couer the naked What soeuer thou hast more then is sufficient geue it to the poore and neuer grudg to be liberall set thy bread vpon the Sepulcres of the iuste ▪ and bestow it not vpon the noughty Aske councel alwayes of the wise and despise no good councel Be alwayes praying vnto the Lord and beseeche hym that he willorder thy footesteppes and wayes and prosper thy deuises for no people are wise but the Lord him selfe is the geuer of all good thinges and thrusteth down whome and who hee listeth My Sonne be not afrayde we leade a poore life in this world notwithstanding if thou feare god and studye to please him thou shalt haue goodes inoughe Therefore my sonne remember my preceptes and put them not out of thy minde Againe being redye to dye he called vnto him his sonne and his sonnes Children and among all other things he spake vnto him on this wise kepe thou the law and cōm◅un dements and shew thy selfe merciful and iust that thou mayest prosper Haue god euer in thy remembrance and praise him at all times w t all thy might In like maner reade we of the Parentes of that most godly and chast woman Susanna whiche be ing righteous thē selues taught their yong daugh ter to feare the Lord her god euen from her verye cradle and diligently brought her vp according to the law of Moyses Luke also in his boke of the Apostles maketh mē cion of the foure daughters of Phillip the euangelist whiche did Prophecy that is to saye were so godly brought vp in the knowledge of gods moste blessed lawe that they were able to declare and expounde the holy Scriptures and misteries of God according to this prophecy I wil poure out of my spirit vpon all flesh and your sonnes your daugh ters shall prophecye Dooth not blessed Paule also commende Timothe because he had knowen the holy scriptures euen of a childe Diuers histories mo mighte be alledged out of the holy Scriptures to declare the carefull studies and earnest labours which the holyfathers in time past tooke for the godly and vertuous bringing vp of theyr younglinges that they mighte be fathers not onely of the bodye but also of the minde and for theyr power satisfy the good will of God which re quireth of all parents an earnest diligence a watching ye in bringing vp theyr children in his nou◅ ture and feare in his word and doctrine but these for this present may seme aboundauntlye to suffice Furthermore as touchinge the heathen whiche of them all euen from the lowest both amongest the Romaines and the Greekes with diuers other na tions although hauing respecte not vnto the glorye of God wherunto the end of all studies oughte to be directed but only vnto the auauncement of thēselues vnto the maintenaunce of good politique ciuill and honest orders vnto the hability of rulinge in a comom weal vnto the polishing of their wit vn to eloquence vnto immortality of their name Enforced not both them selues to bee learned but also soughte all meanes possible to haue their children brought vp in good letters That their yonglings might become learned what paynes or costes refu sed the parentes They sente theyr children from country to country from one learned man to an other Many of them called learned men home vnto theyr houses gaue them honorable intertainmente great giftes and large stipendes for teaching theyr children There was no burthen to heauy no laboure to paineful no cost to charge able for them so that theyr children might proue learned If they obtayned that they thoughte themselues worthye and righteous parents and to deserue well both of theyr children and of the publike weale And as euery one of them excelled in worthines and auctority so laboured they that both themselues their children should excell and passe the baser sort in lear ninge iin knowledge in vertue honest behauiour in so much that if any wer vnlearned and wanted the godlye qualities of the minde albeit he wer of an honourable parentage he was counted of no re putation called a stone a blocke a beast a golden slaue a sheepe with a golden Flcese an horse trapped with
had lost his sight grudged not aginst god that the plage of blindnes chaunsed vnto him but remained stedfast in the feare of god and thanked God â—…l the dayes of his life Ezechias being warned of God by the Prophet to prepare himselfe vnto deathâ—… death prayed vnto god in the time of hys sicknes and obtained fifteene yeres longer to liue Manasses being afore an Idolatour a maintayner of Idolatry after that god had plagued â—…i euen wheÌ„ he was in tribulatioÌ„ He besoght y e Lord his god humbled him self excedingly before y â— god of his fathers made intercessioÌ„ to him He hard his pray er brought him againe to Ierusalem into hys kingdome Examples out of the new Testament IF any man wil come after me let hi for sake him self take his cros folow me By manye tribulations must we enter into the kingdome of heauen â–ª We reioyce in tribulatioÌ„ for we know that tribulation bringeth experience experience bringeth hope and hope maketh not ashamed If we suffer together we shal be gloryfied together For I suppose that the afflictions of this life ar not worthy of y â— glory which shal be shewed vpon vs. Be patient in tribulation If we liue we liue to be at the lords wil And if we dye we dy at y â— Lords wil whether we liue therfore or dy we are y â— lords While we are punished we are corrected of the Lord lest we shuld with this world be condemned We are not weried but though our ont warde man perishe yet the inwarde man is renewed day by day For our exceading tribulation whiche is shorte and lyghte prepareth an excedinge and euerlastinge weyght of glory vnto vs while we loke not on the thinges whiche are seene but on the thynges that are not seenne For thinges whiche are seene are temporall but things which are not seÌ„e are eternall Reade the fist Chapter of the seconde to the Corinth My strength is made perfect thorowe weaknesse Uery gladlye therfore will I reioyce of my weakenes that the strength of Christe maye dwell in me c. Reade the. 12. chapter to the Hebrues Be pacient aud settle your hartes for the commyng of the Lord draweth nye Take the Prophetes for an example of suffring aduersitie and of long patience whiche spake in the name of the Lorde Be hold we count them happy which endure â—…e haue heard of the patience of Iob and haue knowne what end the Lorde made for the Lord is very pitiful and mercifull The Lord knoweth how to deliuer the godly out of temptacion Examples out of the newe Testament The prodigall sonne before hee was plagued gaue his mind to all kind of riot and vnthriftye rule but after that he was striken with pouertye he knowledged his faulte he submited himself to his fathers wil pleasure and so was receued again into fauour A certayne man after he had bene punished with sicknes for his sin by the space of thirty eight yeares was made whole of Christe There haue bene many good men both in the olde new testament of whom som were racked and woulde not be deliuered that that they might receiue a better resurrection some tasted of mockinges and scourgings some of bondes and emprisonmente some were hewen a sunder were tempted were slayne wyth swoordes walked vp and down in sheues skinnes in goates skins in neede in tribulation and vexatioÌ„ which the world was not worthy of they wandred in wildernes in mountaynes in dens in caues of the earth c. ☞ Against the temptation of the deuel for not satisfiing the lawe of god and for nby sinfull liuinge If Sathan at the houre of death or any other timet would pluck the from thine assuered stedfast faith in Christs bloud and perswade thee that thou art but a dampned wretch forasmuch as thou hast not so trayned thy life that thou hast satisfied the law of God but rather liued wiakedly and therfore deserued euerlasting damnation be on good comfort desâ—… paire not harken not to this wicked suggestions neither haue thou respecte to thy workes deedes which whan they be moste righteous and pure ax as the Prophet saith like a cloth polluted with mâ—… strue if they be coÌ„pared to that puritye and cleanes whiche the law requireth and shoulde be iudged of Gods righteousnes according to their desarts but settle thine eyes stedfast on Christ and his merites consideringe not what thou haste doone but what Christ hath done for thee if thou repent and beleuâ—… and alwayes haue these moste comfortable Scriptures in thy remembrance Sentences out of the olde Testament AL they that put their trust in thee shall not be put io confusion Call to remem braÌ„ce O Lord thy tender mercies and thy louing kindnes which haue bene euer of olde Oh remember not the sins offences of my youth but accordinge vnto thy mercy thincke thou vpon me O Lord for thy goodnes sake Mine eyes are euer looking vnto the Lord for he shal plucke my feete out of the net Because he hath put his trust in me I wil deliuer him I wil defeÌ„d him because he hath knowne my name Reade the. 104. Psalme I know that thou wouldst maliciously offend sayth God Therfore haue I called thee a transgressoure euen from my mothers womb Neuertheles for my names sake I will withdrawe my wrath and it shal be for my honours sake if I patiently forbeare thee and roote thee not out By the knowledge of him whiche is my righteous seruaunte sayth God the father of christ He shal iustefy the multitude forasmuch as he hath borne away theyr sins To know thee O Lord is perfect righte ousnes yea to know thy righteousnes and power is the roote of immortality Examples out of the olde Testament Adam transgressed theÌ„ commaundement of God in Paradise and by his transgression made both hymselfe and all vs bound to eternall dampnation Nohe fell into the sinne of dronkennes Lot was not onelye dronken but also lay with his owne daughters and so committed the greuous sinne of incest Abraham denied his wife Moses committed manslaughter Dauid committed both manslaughter and whoredome Salomon was an idolator All these wyth manye other of the olde Testament were sinners and offended the Lord their God by breaking of his lawes yet for theyr fayth whiche they had in that blessed seede which was so oft promised of God the father euen Iesus Christe they were saued Sentences out of the newe Testament We are not vnder the law but vnder grace The law of the spirite that bringeth life thorow Iesu Christ hath made me free froÌ„ the law of sinne and death Christ is the perfect fulfilling of the lawe to iustefy all that beleue No man is iustefied by the law in the sight of god The iust that is the faithful christian shall
in Paradise Against sinne death and hell IF Sathan in the time of sicknes or els whaÌ„ goe about to fray thee to quenche thy spirit either with the greatnes of thy sinnes or els with the error and fearcenes of death and hell be not dismayd but with a lustye courage resiste his temptations with these most swete and comfortable scriptures Sentences out of the olde Testament I am he indede sayth god he which puteth away thy sinnes yea that for myne own sake will remeÌ„ber them no more As for thine offeÌ„ces I haue driuen theÌ„ away like the cloudes and thy sinnes as the miste Turne thee againe vnto me for I haue redemed thee Where is ther such a god as thou artâ—… that pardonest wickednes and forgeuest the offences of the remnaunt of thine heritage He keepeth not his wrathe for euer And why for his delighte is to haue compassion He shall turne againe and be mercifull to vs hee shall putte downe our wickednes and caste al our sinnes into the bottome of the sea Out of the power of death sayth the lord wil I deliuer them yea from the death it self wil I redeme them O death I will be thy death O hel I wil swallow thee vp Examples out of the olde Testament That holy king and prophet Dauid being fully perswaded that by Christ which was to come Sathans head was broken a sunder sinne was vanquished death was ouercome hell was swalowed vp that they could nothinge hurt that faythful man lamented sorowed that he continued so long in this vale of misery and moste hartelye wished to be deliuered out of thys prison and to goe vnto the Lord his God That godly and aunciente father Toby knowing that neither sinne death nor hell can do any thing against gods choseÌ„ people which in Christe haue gotten the victory ouer them al so that they nede not to feare death nor anye thing to come after this life praied to god on this maner Nowe O lord drale with me according to thy wyl and commauÌ„d my spirite to be receiued in peace for more expedient were it for me to dye than to liue Sentences out of the new Testament CHriste shall saue hys people from their sinnes Behold the Lambe of God that taketh away the sinnes of the world There is no damnation to theÌ„ that are graft in Christ Iesu. Christe came into the worlde to saue sinners The bloud of Iesu Christe maketh vs cleane from all synne Thorow the name of Christ al Prophets beare witnes that so many as beleue in him shal receiue remissioÌ„ of their sinnes Death is swalowed vp into victory Wher is thy sting O death Wher is thy victory O hell The sting of deathe is sinne and the power of sin is the lawe But thankes bee to God which hath geuen vs the victory thorow our Lord Iesus Christ. By death hath Christ put him to flight that had lordshippe ouer deathe that is to saye the Deuill that he myght delyuer them which thorow the fear of death were all theyr lyfe tyme in daunger of bondage Examples out of the new Testament SO sone as the auncient father Simeon had seene and receiued Christe into his armes he fering neither sin death nor hel shewed himselfe redy to depart out of this world and spake with a ioyful voice O Lord now lettest thou thy seruaunte depart in peace c. Blessed Paule knowing that thorowe Christ the power of synne death and hel is so altogether weekened that they can do the faithful no harme wished to be losoned out of this world and to be with Christ. ¶ Against them that deny the resurrection of the body IF that olde enemy Sathan labour to perswade thee that there is no resurrection of the dead but as the bodye returneth to death so shall it for euer continue in the earth neuer receiue lyfe again nor line either in glory or in peace after this present life that therfore thou maiest liue as thou iust defende thy selfe against his cruel assaults 〈◊〉 these senteÌ„ces exaÌ„ples of the holy scripture Sentences out of the olde Testament The Lorde killeth and maketh alyue againe bringeth downe to the graue and stretchetâ—… vp againe I am sure that my redemer liueth and that I shall rise out of the earth in the latter day and that I shall be clothed againe with this skinne and see god in my flesh yea I my self shall beholde him not wyth other but with these same eyes These that be deade will I raise vp againe from their places and bringe them out of the graues Thy dead shall liue euen with my body shall they rise againe Awake and singe ye that dwel in the dust For thy dew is euen as the dew of hearbes and the earthe shall cast out of her them that be vnder her the earth shall disclose her own bloud and shal no more hide â—…em that are slaine in her Your bones shall florish like an herbe Beholde saith god I wil put breath in to you that ye may liue I wil geue you sinowes and make fleshe growe vpon you and couer you ouer with skin and so geue you breath that ye may liue knowe that I am the Lord. Thus saith the Lord god behold I wil open your graues O my peo ple and take you out of your Sepulchres Many of them that slepe in the duste of the earth shall awake some to euerlasting life some to perpetuall shame and reproofe Examples out of the olde Mestament THe Prophet Helias raised vp froÌ„ death vnto life the Sonne of the widdow of Sarepta which is in Sidon Helizeus obtained of God a Childe for his Hostesse which dyed and as afterward by the prayer of Helizeus raysed vnto life Read and mark diligently the 37. Chapiter of Ezechiel A certaine woman with her 7. Children were cruellye put to death because they would not eate swines flesh contrary to gods worde at the commaundement of the kinge The seconde of the brethren saide vnto the kinge thou moste vngracious person puttest vs now to deathe but the kinge of the worlde shall raise vs vp which dy for his lawes into resurrection of euerlasting life The mother of the 7. Children sayde thus vnto them I cannot tel how ye â—…am in my woÌ„be for I neither gaue you breath nor soule no nor life It is not I that ioyned the members of youre bodyes together but the maker of the worlde whiche fashioned the birth of man and began all thinges Euen he also of his owne mercye shall geue you breath and life againe like as ye now regard not your own selues for his lawes sake ☞ Sentences out of the newe Testament AS touching the resurrection of y â— dead haue ye not reade what is said vnto you of god which saieth I am Abrahams god and Isaackes god and god is not the god of