the wrathe anger of our Lord. Proud Aman cald his frendes vnto him Esth. 5. and told them of the glorye of his richesse and of the multitude of his children and with what glory the king had exalted him aboue all other his princes and seruauntes When Iobs thre frendes hard of al the trouble Iob. 2.6 that had happened vnto him they came euerye one from hys own place to viset and to cōfort him Yet afterwardes he saide of these ye go about to subuert your frend The wicked traytor Alchimus stirred vp king Demetrius against Iudas Machabeus 1. Mach. 7. of whome he said vnto the king Iudas and hys brethren haue slain thy frendes King Alexander sent a letter to Ionathas with these woordes 1. Mach. 10 we haue hard of thee that thou art a myghtye and a valiaunt man and meete to be our frend Ionathas toke gold and syluer and dyuers presentes and gaue it to the king 1. Mach. 11. and found him gratious and he made him the head and prynce of all hys frendes Ionathas seing that the time was mete for him ◠Mach. 12. chose certayne men and sent them vnto Rome for to stablisse and renue amite and frendeship wyth them After that Alexander hadde slayne Demetrius 1. Mach. 10. he sente Ambasadors to Ptolome the kynge of Egypte that they might haue amite and frendship to gether and he woulde geue hym hys daughter to wife For the olde amite that certen men whiche stode by hadde to Eleazarus they brought such fleshe as might be lawefully eaten 2. Mach. 6. and willed hym to make a coūtenaunce as thoughe he had eaten of the fleshe of the sacrifice for so he might haue bene delyuered from deathe Lisias perceuinge that the Iewes beinge defended by the healpe of Almightie god 2. Mach. 11. were inuincible sente them woorde and promysed that he woulde make the king their frende Our lorde cōmended the vniust steward Luke 16. because he had done wisely in gettinge of frendes with his masters monye concludinge thereby that we shuld make those men oure frendes that may at the time and hour of death receiue vs into the euerlastinge habitations Our Lorde putteth an example by him that goeth to his frende at midnight Luke 11. to aske somwhat of him At the time of our Lordes passion Luke 23. Herode Pilate wer made frendes The cytie of Ephesus beynge moued and troubled Act. 19. certaine of the chefe of Asia whiche were Paules frendes sent vnto him desiring him that he woulde not prease into the commen hall Of enmite and hatred Capi. xlvii AFter the trespasse synne of our first parentes Gen. 3. by and by god put enmite betwene the serpent the woman betwene bothe their seedes The hearde men Gerare did striue with Isaacs heardmen for a well Gen. 26. that they digged And therfore Isaac calde it the well of enemies And Esau hated Iacob continually because of the blessing that his father blessed him withal Gen. 27 And he saide in his harte The daies of my fathers sorow are at hand and I wil slay my brother Iacob Iacob said to Simeon and Leui ye haue troubled me Gen. 34. and haue made me odious to the Cananite and the Pheresite thinhabitors of the land When Iosephes brethren sawe that theyr father loued him more thā al his brethren Gen. 27. they hated hym nor coulde not speake peaceablye vnto hym The Egiptians hated the children of Israel Exo. 1. and did so mock them and punished them that their lyfe was bitter vnto them And our Lorde spake vnto Moses saying Num. 25. Let the Medianites feele that ye be their enemies and smite them for they haue done againste you lyke enemies and haue deceitfulli begiled you by the Idoll Pheor Adonizedech kinge of Ierusalem other iiii kinges Iosu. 10. besieged Gabaon because that the Gabanites fled and were gone to Iosua and to the chyldren of Israell and had made peace with them The Elders of Gaba wente to fet Iephthe Iudi. 11. and said vnto him come and be our captaine to whome he answered dyd not ye hate me and expell me out of my fathers house How happeneth it then that you come vnto me nowe in tyme of necessitie and tribulation Dalida wept before Sampson and complained saying Iudi. 14. thou hatest me and louest me not and therfore thou wylt not declare and tell me the ryddle Saule perceyuing that the people set muche by Dauid 1. regu 18. and that he shewed him selfe wyse and bolde in all thynges became alwaye Dauyds enemy The two theues that slewe Isboseth sayed vnto Dauid 2. regu 4. lo here is the head of Sauls sonne thy enemy But yet they were but euyll rewarded for their laboure When Thoi king of Hemath hard that Dauid hadde smitten and ouerethrowen Adadezer his enemy 2. regu 8. he sent Ioram his sonne to thanke him and to intreate him for peace After that Ammon Dauids sonne had forced Thamar Absolons sister 2. regu 13. he hated her exceadingly so that the hate wherewyth he hated her was greater then the loue wherewyth he before loued her After that Salomon was gon from god throughe synne 3. regu 11. oure lorde styrred vp three aduersaries vnto Salomon that is hadde ad the Edomite Rason the sonne of Heliada and Ieroboam his seruaunt 3. reg 18.18 Wycked Iezabel persecuted Helias the prophete for the deathe of Baals prophetes the whiche he caused to be slayne When that Helias reproued Achab for the vniust deathe of Naboth 3. regu 21. Achab sayed vnto Helias hast thou founde me thyne enemye He answered I haue founde the. Achab sayed vnto Iosaphat kinge of Iuda There is yet one man of our lordes prophetes Micheas the sonne of Ierala 3. regu 22 by whō we maye ask coūsel of the lord but I hate hī for he doth not prophecie good vnto me but euil The aduersaries of Iuda and Beniamin hard that the children of captiuitie buylded the temple vnto our◠lorde god of Israel 1. Esd. 4. And they woulde not buylde with them Then Raguel and Anna his wife praysed oure lorde Tobi. 8. because he hadde delte mercifully wythe them and had put away from them the enemy that persecuted them After that Holofernes headde was smitten of Iudi. 13. and that euery man now helde his peace Iudith sayd O praise ye the lorde our god for he hathe not dispised nor forsaken theim that put their trust in him and in my hande he hath slaine the enemy of his people with that she toke forth the heade of Holofernes and shewed it them Esther complayninge of proude Aman sayd vnto Ahasnerus Esth. 7. Our enemy aduersary is this wicked Aman. It is thus written of Iudas machabeus His enemies fled for feare 1. Mach. 3. and all the workers of vngodlynes were put to
Ierusalem was finyshed 2. Esd. 6. that all the hethen which were there about were afrayde All the heathen on euery side were afrayde of Iudas and his brethren 1. Mach. 3. so that the rumoure of hys name came vnto the kinge Theire aduersaries heard that Ionathas was ready with his menne to the battayle 1. Mach. 10. they feared and were afrayde in they re hartes After that Lisias was ouerthrone be Iudas Machabeus 2. Mach. 11. he was wyllinge to make peace with him and promised that he woulde consent to all thinges whiche were reasonable euen as Iudas woulde Herode feared Iohn knowing that he was a iust manne Mar. 6. and an holy and he kept hym After the terrible death of Ananias and Saphira the disciples wer all together in Salamons porche And no man durst ioyn him selfe to them Act. 5. but yet the people magnified them When Paule and Silas were both in prisone together Act. 16. and their feete made fast in the stockes sodenly there was a greate earthquake The keper of the prison beinge afraide fel doune at the fete of Paule and Silas saide Sirs what muste I do to be saued ¶ Of the loue of god Capi. xl WHen God shoulde geue the law vnto Moses he said vnto hym Exo. 20. I am thy lorde god shewynge mercy vnto those that loue me and keepe my commaundementes The chefest of al the coÌ„maundemeÌ„tes is the loue of god Deu. 6. For Moses said after he had repeated the commauÌ„dementes vnto the people Thou shalt loue the lorde thy god with all thine harte c. Moses willinge specially to printe in the peoples mynde the feare and loue of god Deu. 10. saide and nowe Israell what dothe the lorde thy god require of thee but to feare the Lorde thy god and to walke in all his wayes to loue him and to serue the lorde thy god with all thine harte c. Iosua beinge olde and stryken in yeres calde all the people of Ierusalem vnto him Iosua 13.13 and wareninge them of many thinges amonge all other he sayde Take hede most deligentlye of this that ye loue your lorde god It is wrytten of Dauid that with his whole hert he did prayse our lord and loued god that made him Eccle. 47. ye and be hym selfe sayde a lorde that arte my fortitude and strengthe I wyll loue the. The Apostle Paule hathe geuen this sentence Psal. 17. If any manne loue not our lorde Iesus Christ the same bee cursed For oure lorde that shall reuenge thinges shall come In asmuch as loue is a vertue that moueth a man to christ wards 1. Cor. 16 Paule â—adde greate Loue the whiche was crucified vnto Christ. And it may be noted that Christ was his wisdome Nether shewed I my self that I knew any thinge amonge you 1. Cor. 2. saue Iesus Christe euen the same that was crucified And his substaunce I haue counted sayth Paule all thinges losse Philip. 3. and do iudge them but vyle that I maye winne Christ. And hys iustice He is made vnto vs our wisdome 1. Cor. 1. our Iustice our sanctification and our redemption It may be sayd that Christ spake in Paule 2. Cor. 13. Seke ye experience of Christ whiche speaketh in me Also Christ did worke by Paule I dare not speak of any of those things Rom. 15. which christ hath not wrought by me Againe Christ did lyue in Paule I liue yet now not I but Christ lyueth in me Gala. 2. And agayne he saythe Christ is to me lyfe Philip. 1. Item Christ doth triumphe in him Thankes be to god whiche alwaies geueth vs the victory in Christ 2. Cor. 2. He may also be called Christes seruant Paule the seruaÌ„t of Iesê° Christ. And the Apostle of Christ. româ— 1. Paule the Apostle of Iesu Christ. And the legate or messenger of god Now then are we messengers in the roume of Christ 2. Cor. 1. 2. Cor. 5. euen as though God did exhorte you throughe vs so praye we you in Christes stede that ye be reconciled vnto God And he was Gods helper We are goddes helpers or labourers And Gods champioÌ„ 1. Cor. 3. I haue fought a good fight And againe So fight I not as one that beateth the ayre 2 tim 4. And againe 1. Cor. 9. If I haue foughten with beastes after the maner of men 1. Cor. 15. Item a runner I so runne not as at an vncertaine thinge 1. Cor. 9. And a speciall folower Be ye folowers of me 1 Cor. 1â— as I am the folower of Christ. Saint Iohn sayth Let vs therfore loue god for he loued vs first 1. Iohn 4. ¶ Of the loue that man ought to haue to his neighboure Cap. xli CAyne was greuously reprehended of oure Lord Gen. 4. and punished because he did wickedly against his brother and sayde that he was not hys brothers keper Note how diligently and carefully Abraham prayde oure lorde Gen. 18. that he would spare the Sodomites the whiche thinge was a great signe and token of loue Moses had so greate dilection and loue to his neighbours exodi 32. whyche were hys subiectes that in hys prayer to God he sayde eyther forgeue them their sinne or wype me oute of thy booke Moyses did wyshe in hys prayer that oure Lordes people coulde prophecy Nume 11. notwithstaÌ„ding that his honor should seme to be deminished therby Moses would haue no greater dominion then he had Nume 14. and yet our lorde promysed him it Suche was his loue towardes his neyghbours whome he ruled Iudi. 21. The chyldren of Israell after the occision and death of the chyldren of Beniamin wept very sore and sayd O lorde wherfore is this euyl chaunsed in Israell The soule of Ionathas was knyt with the soule of Dauid 1. regu 18. and Ionathas loued him as his owne soule Dauid shewed that he loued his enemye 2. reg 1.3 when he mourned for Saul and his frende when he wept for Ionathas and Abner Dauid likewise bewailed the death of Absolon his sonne 2. regu 18 althoughe he was euyl and his aduersary Nehemias dothe shewe his greate loue towardes the children of transmigratioÌ„ esdra 2. per totum as it appeareth by the thinges that he did for them Because Tobias hadde shewed the works of charity to many Tobi. 1. many did loue him and therfore when he was commaunded by the king to be slain he was hiden and not found Oure LORDE wolde that we should haue suche loue to our neighbors Mat. 18. that he said vnto Peter that he shoulde not forgeue his brother that sinneth against him till seuen times but seuenty times seuen times The Samaritane is much extolde and lauded for the great loue and charitye that he had to his neighboure Lu. 10. For comming vnto him being halfe deade he was moued with pytye and
compassion he bound vp his wouÌ„des and poured in oyle and wine It is declared that S. Steuen had a meruelous great loue to his neighbours the which praid more deuoutly for those that stoned hym to death Act. 7. than for hym selfe For them he kneled downe and cryed wyth a loude voyce But for him self he spake thus simplye Lorde Iesu receiue my spirite Paule did loue his neighbours inestimablye for he was to them as a mother that is in trauel Gala. 4. For he sayd vnto the Galathians My lyttle chyldren of whome I trauel in byrthe againe Item Paule is to his neighbour as a father that correcteth 1. Cor. 4. In Christ Iesu I haue begotten you thorowe the Gospel And a litle after Shal I com vnto you wyth a rod And to the Thessalonians Ye are wytnesses how that we haue prayed 1. Thes. 2 you comforted you as a father doth vnto his children And as a nourse the chearysheth and flattereth her chyldren And in a nother place Euen as to babes in Christ 1. Corin. 3 I gaue you milke to drynke And as a master and a Doctor instructing I am apoynted a preacher 2. Timo. 1 and Apostle and a teacher of the gentiles in faith and veriâ—y And as a labouring and a helpyng brother Phil. 4.1 My brethren dearly beloued and longed for I beseche Germaine my yoke felow And in a nother place I haue you the companyons of my ioye in the defendinge and stablyshyng of the Gospel And againe we be not Lords ouer your faith 2. Corin. 1. but are helpers of your ioy And as it were a Legate to those that be reconciled 2. Corâ—n 5. Now are we messeÌ„gers in the roume of Chrisâ— And Apostle bringing good tidinges ye know that I wold kepe backe nothinge that was profitable vnto you Act. 20. but to shew you teach you openly throughout euery house And in a nother place Act. 17. whome ye ignorauntlye worshyp him shew I vnto you 1. Corin. 3 And as a builder buyldynge As a wise builder haue I laid the foundatyon And yet neuerthelesse it maye be said that Paule by other wayes and meanes shewed him self to be a most feruent louer of his neighbours Because he did many thinges for them For he ether sustained them or eâ—sse he gaue them and procured for the power that he had not to geue them of those that had it Paule him selfe doth testify that he counselled and did for the vtility profit of hys neyghbors saying Act. 20. These handes haue ministred vnto my necessities to them that were wyth me For it is more blessed to geue then to receiue and al though it was a worke of supererogation considring he might haue receiued somwhat of them yet he did it to spare those he preached vnto I am ready saith he 2. Corin. 12 to come vnto you and yet wil I not be chargeable vnto you for I seke not yours but you Secondarely he toke nothynge that he myght cut of from the Pseudapostles the occasion of gloryfying In all things I kept my self so that I should not be chargeable to any man 2. Cor. 11. and so wyl I kepe my self What I do that wyll I do to cut away occasyon from them which desire occasioÌ„ that they might be found lyke vnto vs in that wherin they reioyse And again he procured that thereby he shoulde haue the greater rewarde We haue not vsed thys power to receiue any reward of you 1. Cor. 9. What is my reward then Uerely that when I preach the Gospell I make the Gospel of Christ fre Paule procured also of the congregatyon of Achaia to dystrybute geue to the pore that were in Iewry and therefore he caused collectyons 1. Cor. 16. 2. Cor. 9. to be gathered and induced the faythful effectuously to the same Item he that soweth lytleâ— shal reape lytle And he distributed vnto his neighbours the word of God wherwith he plentifullye abounded Ye and gaue him self to be profitable vnto his we woulde haue dealte vnto you not the gospel only but also our own soules because ye were dear vnto vs. ii Thes. ii And again he saith ii Cor. xii I will very gladlye bestowe and wyl be bestowed for your soules Furthermore Paule euen wyth hys owne body did meruelous thynges to conuert hys neighbours to the faith and to spiritual health by preaching disputing and iournyinge froÌ„ Damasco to Arabia and Ierusalem and to Antioche And then by the coÌ„maundement of the holy ghost wyth Barnabas he wente from Antioche to Cipers and from thence they sayled by Cicill and came to Persida Iconium Lycaoniam and ordeyned prestes and elders in euerye congregation And after that they had done muche good they retourned to Antioche Afterwardes Paule purposing to visite his brethren vnto whom he had preached the word of god he toke Sila with him and went to Siria Cilicia and from thence to Phrygia and Galatia and came to Mysia and after that beinge called he sailed into Macedonia And when he had done muche good at Thessalonia and in many other cities of that regyon he went to Athens and ther he disputed with certayn curious Philosophers And from thence he wente to Corinthum and there he conuerted muche people to our Lord. And then he toke his iourny to Ephesus and entred in to the sinagoge and dysputed wyth the Iewes And from thence he went to Cesaria Act. xvii and from Cesaria he cam to Antioche and after hee had taryed there a certaine time he tooke hys iourny towardes the country of Galatia and Phrigia and confirmed stablished al the disciples And when he had wandred ouer all the hye partes of the country he came agayne to Ephesus and taried there two yere disputing of the kingdome of God did so much that all they that dwelte in Asia both heathen and Iewes dyd heare the worde of God From theÌ„ce he returned by Macedonia Troyade and Miletum passing by manye other cities and Iles he came to Tire and from Tire he toke his iorney by Ptolomaidem and Cesaria came from thence to Ierusalem And there the Iewes toke hym drew hym bet him and falsly accused him before diuers iudges and manifestlye greued was constraind to appele vnto Cesar He was deliuered vnto the captain after the shyppe was broken many other pearyls he being bouÌ„d with chaines came to Rome ther beyng geuen to preaching and teachynge purposed to go into Spain Behold now how he loued those for whose sakes he suffred such and so manye paynes and pearils And Paule sayth we do all thynges dearly beloued for your edifying ii Cor. xii Also the sygnes of loue appeare when a man wil sustaine and suffer that is greuous for his frendes sake For it is wrytten Thou shalt not be ashamed to salute or defend thy freÌ„d and if any euill or hurt chaunce vnto
of oure lorde Mar. 15. For first he was scourged vpon the heade he was smitten vpon the heade wyth a rede Iohn 18. And vpon the face One of the ministers whiche slode by the bishop smote hym on the face Mat. 27. Aud they dyd smyâ—e hym in the necke and ouer all his body And Pilate delyuerd Iesus that was scourged to be crucifyed And in this thynge it is to be noted that all such as do learne are wont to be scourged and beaâ—eÌ„ vpon the heade seruantes vpon the necke the whiche men thrust out of the house gilty persons vpon the face and sceleraâ—e persons thorowout all the body Also a faythfull soule muste consider that hee was scourged wyth the tonges of blasphemers dispisers and of those that cried oute and sayde Mat. 26. crucifie him and that smote hym wyth their handes as it is wrytten They smote hym on his face wyth the palme of their handes And with a rede and scourges As Mathew and Marke do testifie And to the heape of all iniuryes it maketh that the lorde of all lordes and rulers the whiche doth lose that be fetered and dothe illuminate the blynde was taken and bounde lyke a thefe Iohn 18. The Iewes ministers sayth Iohn toke Iesus and bounde him Also he was lesse estemed theÌ„ a thefe for the Iewes demaunded that Barrabas Luc. 23. should be loosed oure lorde to be crucified Mat. 27. yet Barrabas was a thefe and in seditioÌ„ had coÌ„mitted murther So that Barrabas was a murtherer a sediâ—ius person a famous thefe and in malyce sore diffamed forther more he was hanged and set betwene two theues as thoughe he had bene their maister and worste of all other For Iohn saith Iohn 19. And Iesus in the middes Forthermore we must way ponder that he was afflicted and punyshed in all the members and sences of his body His eies behelde and sawe those cruell tormentors And also his mooste mekest mother the whiche in soule was crucified his derely beloued disciple and the deuoute wemen that in minde suffered with him His eares did heare blasphemouse mocking iniurious and dispising wordes Likewyse hys nose by reason of the place in the whiche he was crucified where the misdoers were beheaded might with filthy slenche be offeÌ„ded His tast was noied because they gaue him wine mingled with myrre or vineger with gall to quenche his thurst withall wherby we may well vnderstand that the drinke which thei gaue him was very bitter His sense of feeling or touching sprede thorowout all his body felte paine in his members which wer scourged in his handes and feete Which were borde thorow with nayles It may be likewise coÌ„sidered Iohn 19. that he sustained losse in things longing and pertayning to his bodye For he was spoyled of hys raiment his frendes went from him Mar. 14. For his disciples for soke him ran awaye Thus he was afflicted as it is sayed in all partes of his body by his most bytter passion Also in hart and minde he suffered for he was sorye for his frendes that stode by and for his enemies that ignorauntly did crucify him And againe in a maner he sufferd was hurte in his good name fame Mat. 27. For they called him a seductor of the people Sir sayd the chefe of the priestes to Pilate we remeÌ„ber that this deceiuer said while he was yet a liue c. And yet we muste marke as touching the helthfull passioÌ„ of our Lord Iesu Christ that it was most fylthy most ignominius shameful be reasoÌ„ of the place because it was done in Ierusalem Wher he was knowen and honored and wher he had done many miracles Item because of the time day for it was done in the solempne feast of Ester when a greate multitude came together vnto the feast and he was led vnto his crosse and passion at nyne of the clocke to thenâ—ent he myghte bee sene and knowen of all menne And agayne it was most fylthy coÌ„sidering the kinde of death For it was the deathe of the crosse a death dewe vnto yll spoken menne yll doers and vniuste menne And the maner of goynge to his deathe Iesus wente forth bearynge his crosse the whiche thinge is not red of other two wicked persones which wer led with him Iohn 19. And again bi reason of his coÌ„panions For he was crucyfied betwixt ii theues asthough he had ben one of theÌ„ or the greatest or maister of them Forthermore the bitternes of hys blessed passyoÌ„ was increased by the naturall complection of our lords body For manifest it is that his holi bodi was of the best most purest coÌ„plectioÌ„ made fashioned by the worke of the holye goost without any faute or errour of nature and so his holye fleshe had no rebellion or fyght against the spirite And therfore the spirit did loue not without a good cause his body more then any other mans spirite or soule shuld loue his body Item the bitternes of his passion was agrauate by the continuaunce of the same For many marâ—irs that wer burnt or drowned or beheaded did accomplish and ende their martirdome very shortly But oure Lordes passion endured euen in a manner from thinstance of his conception vntil the houre of his death For he foreknewe mooste certenlye what his humanity shulde suffer but specially it continued from the tyme of his laste supper vntill the nynthe hour of the syxte daye folowyng And also it was aggrauate by the quality of the members in the which he suffred that is in his fete and handes the whiche are members full of neaues sinewes most ready to receiue dolor and pain And that our lordes passyoÌ„ was most bitter and very greuous it may be most chefely gathered by this that Luke sheweth for in his oration prayer had after supper hys sweate throughe the vehement imaginacion of the anguishe and paines that were to come Luc. 22. wer like droppes of bloude trickeling downe to the ground But that our Lord went frely and willingli vnto his passion that made it most gratious Mat. 26. Râ—â—e saith he let vs be going Behold he is at hande that shal betray me And Ihon saithe he went forth to mete the ministers that sought Iesus of Nazareth Iohn 18. and when they hard our Lord say I am he they wente backewardes and fell to the ground And when he was taken bounde ignominiousâ—y led away falsly accused buffeted be spued scourged mockingly crowned with thorne yet hee neuer shewed anye word or signe of impacience or trouble but shewed them manifolde benefites that so dyd handle him For hee healed the seruaunts eare that was cut of he spake many deuout and profitable wordes vnto theÌ„ and praid meekely for those that crucified him calliuge mooste swetely vppon his father beninglye excusinge them Luc. 23. sayinge father Forgeue them for they wotte not what they
regu 12. that I shoulde cease to pray for you and I wil teach you a ryght waye and a good When Dauid sawe the Aungell that smote the people 2. regu 24. he offerd him selfe to be beate for them let thyne haÌ„d I praye the tourne agaynst me Al they of Israel hard of the iudgement whyche the kynge had iudged betwene the two wemen 3. regu 3. and they feared the kynge for they saw that the wysedome of God was in him to do iustice It is a signe and a token that oure Lorde dothe loue the people when he geueth them a good prelate 3. regu 9. For the Quene of Saba saied our Lord loued Israell and therefore he made the king ouer it to do equity righteousnes 3. regu 20. Oure Lorde beynge purposed and wyllinge to deliuer the king of Siria into the kinge of Israels handes sent him worde by his prophet that the kinge shoulde beginne to fighte and geue battaile As longe as Ioiada the byshoppe lyued 4. regu 12. Ioas the kynge of Iuda was good and did that whyche was good in the sighte of oure Lorde But the byshoppe beynge dead he did muche harme Iosaphat the kinge of Iuda set iudges in the lande ouer the people and dyd faithfullye 2. Para. 19. and wysely instruct them Take hede sayeth he what ye do for ye execute not the iudgemeÌ„t of man but of God whiche is wyth you in the iudgemente Wherefore nowe let the feare of God bee vpon you and take hede and be doynge the thinge that pleaseth hym for there is no vnrighteousnesse with the Lord oure GOD that he shoulde haue any respecte of persons or take rewardes Hezechias kinge of Iuda caused thâ— brasen serpent to be broken in peces 4. regu 18. because it was vnto the people an occasion of committinge ydolatry The postes wente with letters thorowoute all Israell and Iuda at the kynges commaundemente and hys Lordes 2. Para. 30. sayinge Turne againe vnto oure Lorde c. As Esdras was prayinge and wepyng for the transgression of the people 1. Esd. 9. there resorted vnto him a greate company of men and women and the people folowinge his ensample wept and lamented very sore Eliachim the hye preast hearinge of the power of Holofernes Iudith 4. wente rounde aboute all Israell and spake vnto them sayinge Be ye sure that oure Lorde wyll heare youre petitions if ye contynue stedfaste in fasstinges and prayers in the syghte of oure LORDE And thus he comforted the people wyth good exhortations A good prelate must be as a good father vnto the people coÌ„mitted vnto him For it is writteÌ„ by Esai of Eliachim whome oure lorde set and dyd constitute in Sobnas the rulers place Esa. 22. he shall be as a father of such as dwel in Ierusalem After that Iudas Machabeus was dead 1. mach 9. ther spronge vp wicked persons throughout all costes of Israell and exhorted all such as did euyll to wickednes And in those daies there was greate hunger c. When men thought that Ionathas was slayne by Tryphon 1. Mach. 12. Then all the heathen that were rounde aboute them soughte to destroye them For they saied now haue they no captain nor any man to helpe them Therfore now let vs ouercome them and rote out their name from amonge men It is well sayed that the prudencye and pitye of Onias the hye preaste 1. Mach. 3. and the goodnesse of other godly subiectes was the cause of peace and good estate of the holy citye Onias did wel resyste Heliodorus goynge aboute to spoyle the temple 2. mac 3. and to take awaye suche thynges as was layed vp for wyddowes and fatherlesse chyldren Our sauiour and lord Iesus where he calleth him selfe a good shepherde Iohn 10. by and by he submitteth the cause sayinge a good shepharde geueth his lyfe for the shepe And agayne I geue my lyfe for the shepe Whereby he dothe vs to vnderstande what thinge is required that a maÌ„ may be called a good shephearde When our Sauiour after his resurrection was mynded to committe the coÌ„gregation of the church to Peter first he proued him Iohn 22. saying SimoÌ„ louest thou me more then these And note that he examined him of dilection not of knowledge not of practice or contemplation but of the dede not of the lawe Nor he asked hym not once but thryee If thou loue me fede my shepe clyppe them not nor slaye them For whye a good prelate muste feede hys shepe wyth worde example and bodely foode Peter perceyuinge that the Iewes marueled and iudged euyll of the discyples lifted vp his voyce and sayde vnto them Act. 1. Ye menne of Iewrye c. where he defendeth his flocke mooste constantly and most holsomlye ouercommeth his aduersaries We maye consider here by Paule the prelate of all excellent goodnesse that dilection dothe mooste specyallye pertaine to a good prelate Iohn 10. For the prince and chefest of all pastoures did so loue his sheape that hee gaue hys life for hys sheape The whych loued theym euen to the latter ende And Paule was meruelous feruente in that kynde of dilectyon and loue And therefore he saide I wyll verye gladlye bestowe and wyll be bestowed for your soules 2. Cor. 12. thoughe the more I loue you the lesse I am loued agayne Item there oughte to bee in a prelate the science knowledge of scripture Chuse and loue the lyghte of wisedome Sapi. 6. the which doth profyt the people Or elsse howe can he dyscerne Leprosy 1. Cor. â— 3 from no Leprosye or iudge the people coÌ„mitted vnto him Paule had an excellent knowledge bothe in deuine humain matters he gaue vnto babes in Christ milke to dryncke spake wisdome among those that are perfect And he was takeÌ„ vp into the third heauen 2 Cor. 12. harde secreat wordes which no man can vtter The loue of subiectes and knowledge of scriptures causeth a presydent or a prelate to be dilygent Roma 12. Lette him saithe Paule that ruleth doe it with diligence The which solicitude and diligence Paule vsed mooste feruently towardes his neighbors And therfore he saithe beside the thynges whych outwardlye happen vnto me I am combred dailye and do care for all Congregatyons 2. Cor. 11. And in a nother place I woulde ye knewe how great solicitude care that I haue for you Collo 2. Of and by these three foresayd thynges thinstruction of the learned doth follow and therfore our Lorde dothe promyse by Ieremy sayinge I wyll geue you herdmen after mine owne minde whiche shall â—eade you wyth learning and wisdome As Artaxerzes said to Esdras and to the iudges of the people 1. Esd. 7. Teache the vnlearned frelye the whiche thynge Paule the doctor of the heathen hath done euidently teaching the vniuersall world other by word or wryting a teacher of the gentiles wyth faythe