He that findeth his life shall lose it and he that loseth his life for my sake shall finde it Men can better suffer to be denied then to be deceiued Where wrōg is committed by two manner of wayes either by force or by fraud fraud belongeth to a foxe force to a Lion both the one and the other is to the nature of man wonderfull contrary for that I thinke very necessary some history to be spoken of concerning brotherly loue the which ought to be and also the misery the which eftsons happeneth to malicious myndes and seekers of others harmes I finde that in the dayes of Darius the sonne of Ahasuerues king of Caldey there rayned also one Phalaris a tyraunt ouer Scicilia the which vsed to punish euill offenders very cruelly and it fortuned that on a tyme there came vnto him one Palarius a craftes man of brasse or as it may be more plainlier spokē a brasier such a workman as was very politike in his occupacion The sayde Palarius desiring to please Phalaris not onely to get vnto himselfe some great praise but also hoping to haue had some large reward made a Bull of brasse being hollow wyth a doore to open in the one side whereas all those men that were condempned shoulde go in to be tormented and when they were within the doore to be closed fier to be made vnder the Bull so that the crye the which the offenders made sounded through the sayde Bull in such hidious sort as if there had bene a great number of Bulles because of certaine ingens that were within enclosed Whē Phalaris saw the crueltie of the crafts man against those mē condemned among the which there were some of his natiue countrey as also strangers forthwith he caused Palarius to be tormented in that sort the which he had ordayned for others it is therfore necessary that among Christiās there should be christian gouernment the one to loue the other not the one to hate the other For by such meanes the worst end of the staffe happeneth to the beginner Yf thy neighbour be an offender and such a one as will not be reformed then let the lawes prouided serue for his punishment but be thou no imaginer of euill also let not there be too whot loue the one with the other least there happē as sodaine a colde but liue and loue by measure I reade of one Candalus king of Lidus the which loued his wife so much because of her beutie and fayrenes that on a time he shewed her vnto one Gigy the which to fore had bene his companion and fellow all naked to the end that he should thereby praise her beutie and fairenes reporting her to be one of the personablest women that then were liuing in so much that shortly after his fellow Gigy committed adultery with the wife of Candalus and so the sayde Candalus thereby lost both his wife and kingdome In this Candalus time was liuing the prophet Daniell Let vs loue therefore effecteously supporting one an other and looke that thou neuer do vnto an other man the thing that thou wouldest not an other man should do vnto thee eate thy bread with the hungry and poore and couer the naked with thy clothes set thy bread and wine vpon the buriall of the righteous and do not thou eate and drinke thereof wyth the sinners aske euer coūsayle of the wise be alwayes thankfull vnto God and beseech him y t he will order thy wayes and that whatsoeuer thou deuisest or tahest in hand it may remayne in him Haue we not all one father hath not one God made vs why doth euery one of vs then despise his owne brother and so breake the couenaunt of our fathers Thou shalte not beare false witnes against thy neighbour We which are strōg ought to beare the frailenes of them which are weake and not to stand in our owne conceite but euery man please his neighbour vnto his wealth and edifiyng for Christ pleased not himselfe but as it is written the rebukes of them which rebuke thee fell on me Brethren if any man be fallen by chaunce into any fault ye which are spiritual helpe to amend him in the spirit of meekenes considering thy selfe leaste thou also be tempted Beare ye one an others burthen and so fulfill the law of Christ. I therefore which am in bandes for the Lordes sake exhorte you that ye walke worthy of the vocacion wherewith ye are called in all humblenes of mynde and meekenes and long suffring forbearing one an other through loue and that ye be diligent to keepe the vnitie of the spirit in the bonds of peace being one body and one spirit euen as ye are called in one hope of your calling let there be but one Lord one Faith one Baptisme one God and father of all which is aboue all through al and in you all If there be among you any consolation in Christ if there be any comfortable loue if there be any felowship in spirit if there be any compassion or mercy fulfil my ioy that ye draw one way hauing one loue being of one accord and of one mynde that nothing be done through strife or vayne glory but that in meekenes of mynde euery man esteme other better then himselfe and that no man consider hys owne but what is meete for others Aske and it shalbe geuen you seeke you shall finde knocke it shalbe opened vnto you for whosoeuer axeth receiueth and he that seketh findeth and to him that knocketh it shalbe opened Be ye therefore discrete and sober that ye may be apte to prayers but aboue all thinges haue feruent loue amonge you for loue couereth the multitude of sinnes be ye harborus one towardes an other and that without grudging as euery mā hath receiued the gift minister the same one towardes an other as good ministers of the manifolde grace of God whosoeuer doth not righteousnes is not of God neither he that loueth not his brother A newe commaundement geue I vnto you that ye loue together as I haue loued you that euē so ye loue one an other by this shall all men know that ye are my desciples This is my commaundement that ye loue together as I haue loued you greater loue then this hath no man then that a man bestow his life for his frendes Thou shalt not fauour the pore nor honour the mighty but in righteousnes shalt thou iudge thy neighbour Thou shalt not go vp and downe as a priuy accuser among the people neither shalt thou stand against the bloude of thy neighbour I am the Lorde thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine hart but shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour that thou beare not sinne for his sake thou shalt not auenge thy selfe nor be mindefull of wrong against the children of my people but shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe I am the Lord ye
my side who And there looked out to him two or three chamberlaines And he sayd throwe her downe so they threw her downe and her bloud dashed toward the wall and toward the horses and he troade her vnder foote And so she was deuoured of dogges Why boastest thou thy selfe thou tyraunt that thou canst do mischiefe where as the goodnes of God endureth yet dayly put me now in remembraunce for we wil reason together shewe what thou hast for thee to make thee ¶ The signification THe womaÌ„ signifieth Gods loue The hart continuance of the same Hell vnder her signifieth death and destructioÌ„ vnto the careles liuers of this world the lambe signifieth the quiet conscience of the faithfull And death vnder him signieth the chaunge of life vnto all the good to immortalitie the bad to destruction righteous thy first father offended sore and thy rulers haue sinned against me The earth is the Lords and all that therein is the compasse of the worlde and they that dwell therein who shall assend into the hill of the Lord or who shall rise vp in his holy place Euen he that hath cleane hands and a pure hart and that hath not lifte vppe his minde vnto vanitie nor sworne to deceiue his neighbour What man liuing can say that he is cleane and hath not offended now therefore consider what wonderfull loue our creator hath to man when he by his holy spirite calleth vs to repentaunce to the ende that all shoulde come to hys eternall and heauenly kingdome From all misdedes wherin they haue offended against me I saith the lord wil clense them and all their blaspeemies which they haue done against me when they regarded me not I will forgeue them and this shall gette me a name and prayse and honour among all the people of the earth which shall here of the good that I will shewe vnto them yea they shalbe afrayed and astonned at all the good deedes and benefites that I will do for them God so loued the world that he gaue hys only begotten sonne that whosoeuer beleueth in him shoulde not perishe but haue euerlasting life for God sent not his sonne into the worlde to condemne the worlde but that the worlde through him myghte be saued he that beleueth on him is not condemned but he that beleueth not is condemned already because he hath not beleued on the name of the onely begotten sonne of God and this is the condemnation that light is come into the word and men loue darckenes more then light because theiâ— deedes were euil foâ— euery one that doth euill hateth the light neither commeth to the light least his deedes shoulde be reproued but he that doth truth coÌ„meth to y e light that his deedes may be knowne how â— t they are wrought in God Be ye therefore followers of God as deare children and walke ye in loue euen as Christ loued vs and gaue himselfe for vs an offringe and a sacrifice of a sweete sauour to God as for fornication and all vncleanes let it not be once named amonge you nor coueteousnes as it becommeth saintes or filthines or foolishe talking or iesting which are not comely but rather geuing of thaÌ„ks for this ye know that no whoremoÌ„ger either vncleane person or couetous person which is a worshipper of Images hath any inheritaunce in the kingdome of Christ and of God let no man therefore deceiue you with vayne wordes for because of such thinges commeth the wrath of God vpoÌ„ the childreÌ„ of disobedience be not ye therefore companions of them ye were sometyme in darcknes but now are ye light in the Lorde for vngodly communication strengthneth the body against the spirit and withdraweth the minde from al good exercise and labour and thereby deserueth the iust wrath of God and such as are worshippers of Images fornicatours such like hath no part wyth Christ in his kingdome to whome be all glory for euer Be not wise in thine owne consent but feare the Lord and depart from euill so shall thine nauell be hole and thy bones strong honour the lord with thy substauÌ„ce with y e firstlings of al thine increase geue vnto the poore so shal thy â—arnes be filled with plenteousnes and thy presse shall flowe ouer with sweete wine My sonne depise not the chastening of the lord neither faint wheÌ„ thou art rebuked of him for whom the Lord loueth him he chasteneth and yet delighteth in him euer as the father in his owne sonne if ye endure chasteninge God offereth himselfe vnto you as vnto sonnes what sonne is he whome the father chasteneth not Reioyce ye heauens and singe prayses thou earth talke of ioy ye hilles for God hath comforted his people and will haue mercy vpon his that be in trouble but Sion saide God hath forsaken me and my Lord hath forgotten me Will a mother forgette the childe of her wombe and not pitie the sonne whome she hath borne And though she do forgett yet will I not forgette thee sayth the Lorâ—e These are the wordes that the Lorde sheweth vnto Ieremy saying Thus saith the Lord God of Israel write vp diligently all the wordes that I haue spokeÌ„ vnto thee in a booke for loe the time commeth sayth y e Lord that I will bringe agayne the prisoners of my people Israell and Iuda sayth the Lord for I will restore them vnto the lande that I gaue to their fathers and they shal haue it in possession By this may it euidently appeare that God is alwayes myndefull of hys people and will not forget them although for a time he suffer them yet at the length he will visite and helpe them For when the Phariseyes had heard that he had put the Saduces to silence they came together and one of them which was a Doctour of the law asked him a question and tempting him saying Maister which is greatest commaundement in the law Iesus saide vnto him Thou shalt loue thy Lorde thy God with all harte and with all thy soule and wyth all thy minde this is the firste and greatest commaundemeÌ„t And the second is like to it Thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe in these two commaundementes hange al the law and Prophetes In this commaundement the which our Sauiour Christ spake to a Doctour of the seâ—t of the Phariseyes and Saduces in willinge them firste to loue God and next his neighbour or neighboures is plainely to be vnderstanded the loue of our Sauiour Christ towards man in declaring that he which loued God faithfully and also his neighbour should receiue for his reward the euerlasting ioyes and feliciâ—ie thâ—t soroâ— is â—endent plaine that for the great louâ— our â—auiour Christ hath towarâ—â—s man dyd not onely teach all those the which were mindefull of his euangelicall doctrine but also shedde his most precious bloud to 〈◊〉 come man from the bondage of sinne vnto the life of righteousnes and so 〈◊〉
shall keepe my commaundementes Let loue be without dissimulation hate that which is euill and cleaue vnto that which is good Be kinde one to an other wyth brotherly loue We shoulde not loue one an other as Cayne which was of the wicked and slew his brother and wherefore slew he him because his owne workes were euil and his brothers good He that loueth not his brother abideth in death who so euer hateth his brother is a man slayer and ye know that no man slayer hath eternal life abiding in him ¶ Our loue towardes our enemies WE ought to loue our enemies ye haue heard how it is sayd thou shalt loue thine neighbour and hate thine enemy But I saye vnto you loue your enemies blesse them which curse you do good to them that hate you pray for them which do you wrong and persecute you that ye may be the children of your father that is in heauē for he maketh his sunne to arise on the euill and on the good sendeth his raine on the iust and vniust for if ye loue them which loue you what reward shal ye haue do not the publicans likewise and if ye be frendly to your brethren only what singular thinges do ye do not the Publicans also ye shalbe therefore perfect euen as your father which is in heauen is perfect Let not the wrath and gelosye moue thee to follow the wicked and vngodly why the wicked shall haue no posteritie and the candle of the vngodly shalbe put out My sonne feare the Lord and the kyng and keepe no company with them that slide backe from his feare for their destruction shall come sodainly and who knoweth the aduersity that may come of them both Goe not from the doctrine of the elders for they haue learned it of their fathers for of them thou shalt learne vnderstanding so that thou mayst make answere in y e time of neede kindle not the coles of sinners when thou rebukest them least thou be burnt in the fiery flames of their sinnes resist not the face of the blasphemer that he laye not wayte for thy mouth Thy children shalbe taught of God and I will geue them plenteousnes of peace in righteousnes shalt thou be grounded and be farre from oppression for the which thou needest not to be afrayed neither for hinderaunce for it shall not come nigh thee beholde the aliant that was farre from me shall dwell with me and he that ioyneth battayle against thee shall pearish and as for all tongues that shall resist thee in iudgement thou shalte ouercome them and condemne them this is the heritage of the Lordes seruauntes and their righteousnes commeth of me saith the Lord. A wise iudge will order his people with discretion and where a man of vnderstanding beareth rule there goeth it well as the iudge of the people is himselfe euē so are his officers and loke what manner of man the ruler of the Citie is such are they that dwel therein also An vnwise king destroyeth his people but where they that be in authority be men of vnderstanding there the citie prospereth I say vnto you whosoeuer confesseth me before men euen him shall the sonne of man confesse also before the Angels of God he y t denieth me before mē shalbe denied before y e Angels of God whosoeuer speaketh a word against y e sonne of mā it shalbe forgeuē him but vnto him y t blasphemeth the holy ghost it shal not be forgeuen Also when the Apostles of Christ were forbidden to preach they would not but shewed thēselues more obedient vnto God then men such was the enuy of the Iewes to y e professours of God his worde And it came to passe as he sate at meat with them he tooke bread blessed it brake and gaue to thē and their eyes were opened and they knew him and he vanished out of their sight Our Sauiour Christe shewed himselfe after his passion vnto two disciples as they went toward Emas and after that standing in the middest of the eleuēth as they were together saying that he was the light of the world and the sauiour of all those which beleued in him such loue had our Sauiour towardes the enuious Iewes and yet they woulde not beleue Also when the martyr S. Steuen rebuked the stifnecked Iewes for their cruell oppression and putting to death of al the prophets before the comming of that iust whome ye haue now betrayed and murthered and ye also haue receaued a law by the ordinaunce of Angels and haue not kept it and when they heard his wordes they gnashed their teeth vppon him and ranne all at once and stoned him In like sorte hath the enemies of Gods Gospell sought to kill to destroy the professours of hys truth God graunt for his mercy if it be his will to open their eyes that they may perceiue the truth and sory their for offences Who so euer shall not receiue you nor will heare your preaching whē ye depart be out of that house or that citie shake of the dust of your feete Truely I say vnto you it shalbe easier for the lande of Zodom and Gomorra in the day of iudgement then for that Citie There is nothing so close that shal not be opened and nothing so hide that shall not be knowen a worde spoken in due season is like apples of golde in a grauen worke of siluer Be not wise in your own opinions recōpence to no man euil for euill prouide afore hand thynges honest in the sight of all men if it be possible howbeit of your part haue peace with all men dearely beloued auenge not your selues but geue roome to y e wrath of God for it is written vengeaunce is myne I wil reward sayth the Lord. Therfore if thyne enemy hunger feede him if he thirst geue hym drinke for in so doing thou shalt heape cooles of fier vppon his head be not ouercome of euill but ouercome euill with goodnes When the profit Dauid heard that an Amelikite had slayne his enemy King Saule he was very sory and mourned for him and caused y e Amelikite for his rewarde also to be slayne because he had killed the Lordes annoynted When the Lord purposed to destroy Zodom and Gomorra Abraham sayde vnto hym Lorde what if there be 50. righteous wilte thou spare the rest for their sakes so that it came to the number of tenne and there coulde none be founde but onely Lotte and his householde the which were preserued thus oughte euery man to forgeue and to pray for his ennemy and so shall we bee the seruauntes of God ¶ Of fayth and the wonderfull working of the same and stedfast beliefe of the fathers in olde tyme. The signification THe man in armour signifieth all stedfast beleuers of the veritie being armed with constant zeale of Christianitie and weaponed with the shielde of liuely faith the spere of continuaunce and the
neuer haue escaped vndestroyed but God so preserued him that he escaped y t death and those princes which hoped that after his death to haue ruled borne their owne sway were of the lions vtterly destroyed this is the ende of all vayne hope Therfore as there is an infallible and true god so is there also but one firme and true faith and in like one hope and one charitie Let all christians therfore pray vnto God to send his holy spirite amongeâ—t vs and that we may be thankful for his inestimable benefites daily bestowed vpon vs lest the like mischiefe happen vnto vs now present as by example hathe happened vnto those the which â—aue bene refusers of the same ⧠The description of Charitie GOd is charitie he that dwelleth in charitie dwelleth in God and God in hym Here in is also loue perfect in vs that we should haue trust in the day of iudgement The charitie of God is declared vnto vs for he hath sent his sonne alredy into the world to redeme the world from sinne death and hell and hath payde for our raunsome euen his most precious bloud vpon the crosse for vs miserable creatures els had we bene vtterly destroyed for euer No man ascended vp into heauen but he that came downe from heauen And as Moyses lifted vp the Serpent in the wildernes euen so must the sonne of man be lifted vp that none that beleue in him perish but haue eternall life Little children ye are of God and haue ouercome the world for greater is he that is in you then he that is in the worlde he the which is prince of the worlde is the diuell But the charitable louing and merciful sauiour he is the king of heauen and of all charitable people but suche as say that workes onely iustifieth from sinne do not onely and vtterly deny Christ to be come in the flesh but also they deny and depriue them selues from the euerlasting ioy and heauenly felicitie and although workes are nedefull and necessary yet beyng without faith hope charitie nothing at all auayleth In beleuyng that all such workes as are done truely and not fainedly with faith ioyned are most wholesome and profitable Hope in tarying the good will and pleasure of God neuer thinkyng the Of Charitie ¶ The signification AS many as intend to be pertakers with Christ his Apostels must vse this worke of charitie which is to fede the hungry to clothe the naked to harbor the harbourles lodge the stranger to visite the sicke and to relieue the prisoners and poore afflicted members of Christ this is the dueties of all faithfull people tyme long of this our abode and pilgrimage Charitie in all thinges nourishing and ready to cherish all such as lacke and are in necessitie and so continuyng till it shall please the Lord to chaunge vs into a better life which is most glorious for if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his sonne much more seyng we are reconciled we shalbe preserued by his life not onely so but we also ioy in God by the meanes of our Lord Iesus Christ by whome we haue receyued the attonement Nothing ought to seperate vs from the charitie of God for whatsoeuer he be y t seeth what Christ hath done for him cannot but beleue that God loueth hym and with all his soule mynde and will ought to loue god agayne for thorough his loue that loueth vs we ouercome strongly the infirmity of our corrupt and filthy flesh yea I am sure that neither death neither life neither aungels neither rule neither power neither thinges present neither thinges to come neither hie neither low neither any other creature shall be able to depart any faithfull beleuer from the loue of God shewed in Christ Iesu our Lord. For the eternal wisdome of God was and is such that before the world began appointed certayne that should professe set forth the gospel of his sonne euen to the worlds ende that is they are not onely called but also elected and chosen All the commaundementes do lead vs to charitie for the ende of the commaundementes is loue the which commeth of a pure hart and of a good coÌ„science and of fayth vnfayned for the which thynges some haue erred and haue turned vnto vayne iangelyng because they would be doctours in the Scriptures and yet vnderstand not what they speake neither wherof they affirme If this part of Scripture were well considered of all such frantike heades the which taketh vpon them to interprete the scriptures according to their owne wilfull myndes I doo not doubt but suche would be better aduised in considering their dueties not onely to their princes and gouernours but also to the omnipotent God who is able in a moment clearely to seclude and cutte of such vnprofitable impes For as Corach Dathan and Abiram were destroyed for their rebellioÌ„ against Moses Gods seruaunt in resisting the ordinaunces and lawes before commaunded they as men the whiche would seme wiser in their doyng then Moses which had the firme and true law in dede were by the Lord so greuously plaged that the earth opened and they all went downe into hell suche is the rewarde of all disobedient children Watche ye stande fast in fayth quit you like men and be strong and let your busines be done in loue My little children these things write I vnto you that ye sinne not if any maÌ„ sinne yet we haue an aduocate with y e father Iesus Christ which is righteous and he it is that obtayneth grace for our synnes not for our sinnes onely but for the synnes of the whole worlde And hereby we are sure that we knowe him if we keepe his commaundementes He that saith I know him and keepe his commaundements is a lyer and the veritie is not in him Owe nothing to any man but to loue one an other with charitable loue I therefore which am in bondes for the lordes sake exhort you that we walke worthy of the vocation wherwith you are called in all humblenes of minde and meekenes and long suffering forbearing one an other and forgeuyng one an other through loue and that you be diligent to kepe the vnitie of the spirit in the bonde of peace beyng one body and one spirite euen as you are called in one hope of your callyng Let there be one Lord one fayth one baptisme one God and father of all which is aboue all and in you all Let vs be rooted in charitie that is let vs consider one an other to prouoke vnto loue to do good workes and let vs forsake the fellowship that we haue among our selues as the maner of some is but let vs exhorte one another and that so much the more because ye see that the day draweth nye in this part is shewed our duetie if we wil be pertakers of the mercy before rehersed But if we sinne willinglingly after that
coÌ„mite with God the father to whome be all hâ—ue iâ— and glory worlde without ende ¶ Our loue toward God LEt vs loue God for he hath loued vs first and redemed vs from all euill if we diligently follow his preceptes and commaundementes he was before all things he created all thinges by his only power and might and none but he without him was made nothing y t was made In him is life light and verity a God without beginning and without ending he came among his owne and his owne receiued hym not but as many as receyued hym to them gaue he power to be the sonnes of God Therefore harken vnto me O ye children blessed are they that keepe my wayes O geue eare vnto nurture be wyse and refuse it not blessed is the man that heareth me waiting dayly at my gate and geuing attendaunce at at the postes of my doores for who so findeth me findeth life and shall obtaine fauour of the Lorde but who so offendeth against me saith God hurteth his owne soule all they that hate me is the workers of death and deadly louers Harken also be stedfast in beliefe and seeke for none other helper and mediatoâ—r but onely Iesus Christs which is the mediatour for all mankinde to God his father and he it is the which is the preseruer none but he In the fourth of Saint Iohn it is euidently shewed in the â—â—uing communication the which our Sauiour Christ had with the woman of Samariâ— by the well side declaring plainly that he himelfe was the sonne of God and sauiour of the worlde who so therefore thatseeketh to any other mediatour redemer or preseruer then the onely god and Christ is vtterly deceiued and except speedy returne voyde from all ioye felicitie I am the Lord God which brought thee out of the land of Egipt that thou shouldest not knowe no God but me onely and y t thou shouldest haue no sauiour but only me I haue loued you sayth the lord and yet ye say where in hast thou loued vs was not Esau Iacobs brother saith the lorde yet haue I loued Iacob and hated Esau. Thou wilt saye vnto me why then blameth he vs yet for who hath benne able to resiste his will But O â—an what art thou which disputeth with God shall the worke say to the workeman why hast thou made me on this fashion hath not the potter power ouer the claye euen of the same lumpe to make one vessel vnto honour and an other to dishonour Euen so God wilâ—inge to shewe his wrath and to make his power knowne suffreth with long patience the vessels of wrath ordayned to damnatioÌ„ and to declare the riches of his glory on y e vessels of mercy which he hath prepared vnto glorye They that feare the Lord wil not mistrust his word and they that loue him will â—eepe his commaundementes they that feare the Lord will seeke out the thinges that are pleasaunt vnto him and they that loue him shall fulfill his lawe They that feare the Lord will prepare their hartes humble their soules in his sight they that feare the Lord keepe his commaundements and wilbe pacient til they se himselfe saying better it is for vs to falle into the hands of the Lorde then into the handes of men for his mercy is as great as himselfe Shoulde not a sonne honour his father a seruitant his maister if I be now a father wher is now mine honor if I be y e Lord where then am I feared saith the Lord of hostes Now to you priestes that depise my name and if ye say where in haue we despised thy name In thys that ye offer vncleane bread vppon mine alter And when thy son asketh thee intime to come saying what meaneth these witnesses ordinaunces and lawes which the Lord our God hath commaunded you theÌ„ thou shalt saye vnto thy sonne â–ª we were Pharaos bondmen in Egipt and the Lord brought vs out of Egipt wyth a mighty hand and the Lord shewed signes wonners great and euill vppon Egipt vnto Pharao and all his housholde before our eyes and brought vs out from thence to bring vs in and to geue vs the land which he sware vnto our forefathers Maruailous thinges did he in the sight of our forefathers in the land of Egipt euen in the fielde of Zoan he deuided the sea and let them goe through he made the waters to stand on an heape he rayned downe Manna also vppon them for to eate and gaue them foode froÌ„ heauen But for all this they sinned more and more and beleued not his wondrous workes therefore did he consume their dayes in vanity their yeares in trouble but he remembred his mercy towardes vs that he forgaue their misdeedes and destroyed not them vtterlly Yet for all that they greeued him with their hil alters and prouoked him to displeasure with their Images WheÌ„ God heard this he was wrouth and tooke sore displeasure at Israel While y e phariseyes were gathered together Iesus asked them saying What thinke ye of Christ whose son is he They said vnto him the son of Dauid He saide vnto them How then doth Dauid in spirite call him Lord saying the Lord sayde to my Lord sitte on my right hand till I make thyne ennemies thy foote stoole If Dauid call him Lord how is he then his sonne and none coulde aunswere him agayne one worde neither durste any from that day forth aske him any moe questions notwythstanding that Christ in y t he was man was the sonne of Dauid that is desended of the stocke of Dauid yet Dauid seing in spirit that he was God called him Lord but the Phariseyes who were all flesly coulde not perseiue so much of y e spirit Beholde a certaine lawyer stoode vp teÌ„pted him saying maister what shal I do to enherit eternall life He sayde vnto him what is writteÌ„ in y e law how readest thou And he answered said loue thy lord thy God with al thy hart and with all thy soule and with all thy streÌ„gth and with all thy mynde thy neighbour as thy selfe And he sayde vnto him thou hast aunswered right this do and thou shalt liue he willing to iustifie himselfe saide vnto Iesus Who is then my neighbour Iesus answered and sayde A certayne man desended from Ierusalem to Ierico and fell into the hands of theues which robbed him by the way and wounded him and left him halfe deade and by chaunce there came a certaine priest that same way which saw him and passed by and likewise a Leuit which also loked vppon him and passed by Then a certayne Samaritan as he iornied by came nigh vnto him wheÌ„ he saw him he had compassion on him and went to and bound vp his wounds and set him on his own beast and brought him to a common Inne and made prouision for him and on the morrow wheÌ„ he departed
he tooke out two pence and gaue to the host and said vnto him take cure of him and whatsoeuer thou speÌ„dest more when I come agayne I will recompence thee Which now of these three thinkest thou was neighbour vnto him that was wounded and he said he y t shewed mercy on him The Lawyer perceiued not y t it was himselfe the which was wounded with extreame woundes of fained hope ignoraunce and sinne and the same whiche profered to heale those woundes was the Samaritan Christ which profered not health vnto him onely but also vnto all such as had confidence and trust in him But he iustifiyng himselfe therein condemned himselfe because there is none righteous but Christ alone And now Israell what doth thy Lord thy God require of thee but to feare y e Lord thy God and to walke in all his wayes to loue him and to serue thy Lord thy God with all thy hart and with all thy soule Namely that thou keepe the commaundementes of the Lord and his ordinaunces which I commaunde thee this day for thy wealth God geueth to maÌ„ that which is good before him wisdome vnderstanding and gladnes but vnto the sinner werines and superfluous care that he may gather and heape together the thing that afterward shalbe geuen vnto him whome it pleaseth God thys is now a vaine thing yea a very disquietnes and vexation of minde Marke also the wordes of our Sauiour Christ to Philip. Philip saith vnto him shew vs the father and it suffiseth vs Iesus sayde vnto hym haue I bene so long time with you yet hast thou not knowen me Philip. He that hath seene me hath â—eene the father and how sayest thou then shewe vs the father beleuest thou not that I am in the father and the father in me At the least beleue me for the very workes sake If ye loue me keepe my commaundementes and I will praye the father and he shall geue you another comforter that he may abide wyth you euer which is the spirit of truth whom y e worlde cannot receiue because the world seeth him not neyther knoweth him but ye know him but he dwelleth with you and shalbe in you I will not leaue you coÌ„fortles but will come vnto you All transitory things shall faile at the last and the workers thereof shal go withall Euery chosen worke shalbe iustified and he that medleth withall shall haue honour therein blessed is the man that keepeth himselfe in wisdome and exerciseth himself in vnderstanding and with discretion shall he thinke vpon the foreknowledge of God which considereth the wayes of wisdome in his hart hath vnderstanding in his secretes goeth after her as one that seeketh her out coÌ„tinueth in her wayes he looketh in at her windowes and harkeneth at her doores he taketh his rest besides her house and fasteneth her stake into her walles he shall pitch his tente nigh vnto her hand and in his tent shall good things rest for euermore he shall set his children vnder her couering and shal dwell vnder her braunches vnder her couering shall he be defended from the heat and in her glory shall he rest For I suppose that the afflictions of this life are not worthy of the glory which shalbe shewed vpon vs. Also the feruent desire of the creatures abideth looking when the sonnes of God shall appeare because y e creatures are subdued to vanitie against their will but for his will which subdued them in hope for the very creatures shalbe deliuered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the sonnes of God ¶ How we ought to loue our neighboures EUery beast loueth his like eueÌ„ so let euery man loue his neighbour all fleshe will resort to their like And euery man wyll keepe coÌ„pany with such as he is himsele But as the Wolfe agreeth with y e lambe so doth the vngodly with y e righteous What fellowship should an holy man haue with a dogge how can the rich and the poore agree together The wild asse is the Lions pray in the wildernes euen so are poore men the meate of the rich Like as the proud may not away with lowlines euen so doth the rich abhorre the poore If a rich man fall his frendes set him vp agayne But when the poore falleth his aquaintance forsake him If a rich man fall into error he hath many helpers he speaketh proude wordes and yet men iustifie him But if a poore man goe wronge he is punished yea though he speake wisely yet can it haue no place WheÌ„ the rich man speaketh euery man holdeth his tonge and loke what he saith they prayse it vnto the clouds But if the poore maÌ„ speake they say what fellow is this and he do amisse they shal destroy him for what felowship hath righteousnes with vnrighteousnes what company hath light with darckenes what concorde hath Christ with beliall eyther what part hath he that beleueth with an infidell and how agreeth the temple of God with Images Beware of vnrighteous thinges he gaue euery man also a commaundement coÌ„cerning his neighbour their wayes are euer before him are not hid from his eyes The mercy that a man sheweth is as it wer a purse wyth him and the grace that is geuen to a man preserueth him as the aple of an eye But as touching brotherly loue ye neede not that I write vnto you for ye are taught of god to loue one an other who so discouereth secretes leseth his credence and findeth no frende after his mynde loue thy frende and bynde thy selfe in faithfulnes with him but if thou bewraiest his secretes thou shalt not get him againe for like as the man is that destroyeth his enemy so is he also that dealeth foolishly in the frendshippe of his neighbour Like as one that letteth a birde goe out of his hands cannot take her againe also he that loueth his neighbour hath fulfilled the law I say walke in the spirit and fulfil not the lustes of the flesh for the flesh lusteth contrary to the spirit and y e spirit contrary to the flesh these are contrary one to the other so that ye cannot do that which you would but and if ye be ledde of the spirit then are ye not vnder the lawe The deedes of the flesh are manifest which are these fornication vncleannes wantonnes idolatry witchcraft hatred varience zeale wrath strife sedition sectes enuiyng murther droÌ„kennes glotony such like of y e which I tell you before as I haue tolde you in time past y t they which such things commite shal not inherit the kingdome of God But y e fruit of y e spirit is loue ioy peace long suffring geÌ„tlenes goodnes faithfulnes mekenes teÌ„peraÌ„ce against such there is no law they that are Christes haue crucified the flesh with the appetites and lustes He that loueth his father and mother sonne or daughter more then Christ is not worthy of him
measure He that teacheth the liuely faith in Christ buildeth the building and doctrine of God For faith in tribulation causeth patience Let euery man see therfore whether he continue in the same Faith also maketh vs to obtayne that whiche we desire in prayer and by the which we are by the number of saintes in receauing remission of our sinnes Thus faith is our vâ—â—tory for all that is borne of God ouercommeth the world and this is the victory that ouercommeth the worlde euen our faith Who is it that ouercommeth the worlde euen he which beleueth that Iesus is the sonne of God Christ is risen from the dead and is become the first frutes of them that slepe for as by man came death euen so by man also came life euerlasting to all that faythfully beleue ¶ Of Hope The signification THe troubled seas signifie the temptations of mankinde the shippe beyng rent signifieth the dispersed churche of God who beyng tossed to and fro by the force of temptations and throwne out yet they not fearyng the boysterous windes of aduersitie but thorough assured hope in Christ they flie to the rocke of endles felicitie which is Christ. BEcause therefore that we are iustified by fayth we are at peace with God thorough our Lorde Iesus Christ by whom we haue a way in through faith vnto his grace where in we stand and reioyce in hope of the praise that shalbe geuen of God neither do we see onely but also reioice in tribulation for we know that tribulatioÌ„ bringeth pacience pacience bringeth experience experience bringeth hope and hope maketh not ashamed for the loue of God is shed abrode in our hartes by the holy ghost which is geuen vnto vs. All suche as be right Christians are not ashamed of this hope for they are well assured that by the death of Christ God loueth vs and will bring the hope of all Christians to passe Hope here is not alone but is ioyned with fayth and charitie so that the one cannot be without the other neither the one to haue the lacke of the other For as Faith cannot be iustified without workes no more can hope without charitie for as faith without workes is deade so is hope without charitie deade also Therfore it is necessary for all christians to ioyne theÌ„selues to these foure and although they be named in foure seuerall names yet but two in effect as may be very plainly vnderstanded Faith workes hope and charitie workes in the name of a plurall number signifieth all as well the euill as good But I meane those workes in the which all faithfull Christians ought to arme themselues withall and all those that with willing mindes doo further any of these vnto such the rewarde is most happy and fortunate with faithfull hope there is alwayes constant charitie the which worketh so diligently that she neuer seaseth but is still labouring by all meanes to helpe and relieue all such as of her hath neede Example herein may be compared vnto all diligent preachers furtherers of Gods worde the which neither for persecution nor preferment of liuing will once leaue of froÌ„ teaching the poore of whom they haue cure charge of such there is very fewe which signifieth most euident and playne that charitie is nere blynde and can not very well see Therefore I wishe or desire all estates so to bridle their affections that with sufficiencie eche man may so liue in this world that in y e world to come he may haue euerlasting felicitie Hope thou in the Lorde and kepe his way and he shall promote thee that thou shalt possesse the land WheÌ„ the vngodly perishe thou shalt see it But my hope hath bene in thee O Lord. I haue sayd thou art my God God is our hope and strength a very present helpe in tyme of trouble For thou lord art my hope thou hast set thine house of defence very hye My soule hath longed for thy saluation and I haue a good hope because of thy worde Thou O God art the thyng that I long for thou art my hope eueÌ„ from my youth I also cried vnto the Lord and sayd thou art my hope and my portion in the land of the liuing Blessed be the Lorde my strength which teacheth my handes to warre my fingers to fight my hope and my fortresse my castle and deliuerer my defender in whome I trust which subdueth my people that is vnder me for I suppose that the afflictions of this lyfe are not worthy of the glory which shall be shewed vpon vs also the feruent desire of the creatures abideth loking when y e sonnes of God shall appeare because the creatures are subdued to vanitie against their wyll but for hys will which subdued them in hope for the very creatures shall be deliuered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious libertie of the sonnes of God for we know that euery creature groneth with vs also and trauaileth in payne euen vnto this time not they only but euen we also which haue the first fruites of the spiritie mourne in our selues and waite for the adoption and loke for the deliueraunce of our bodies for wee are saued by hope but hope that is seene is no hope for howe can a man hope for that which he seeth but and if we hope for y t which we see not then doo we with patience abyde for it for where fayth is there is hope and where as there is no sure hope there is no christian fayth wherefore it may be right well sayd we are saued by hope That is by the most certayne and sure faith in Christes promise whiche causeth vs to hope certainly that at the tyme appointed we shall be deliuered from this great burden of the flesh The desire of y e righteous is acceptable but the hope of the vngodly is iudgement The vngodly is cast a way for his iniquitie but the righteous hath a good hope euen in death The hope that is put in a false man in tyme of neede is like a rotten tooth but let not thy soule be moued to slay him Also as there is a good hope vnto the godly which before is expressed so is there a fayned hope among the wicked and very seldome can be redressed whiche is when a man in worldly causes hopeth to bring to passe that thyng which by no meanes may be entertayned or gotten Example of one Iphis the sonne of Theucer kyng of Mesia a countrey ioyning to Hungary the which for the loue of a damosell called Anaxareten hanged him selfe Wherefore the Poetes haue fayned the saide Anaxareten to be turned into a stone because that she loued not him the which for her loue had hanged him selfe Moreouer what ensued of the Princes whiche sought the death of the Prophet Daniell their folishe vayne hope was vtterly frustrated for they thought that Daniell being once among the lyons could