of thy enimies handes thou must serue hym in holines and righteousnesse all the daies of thy life thou as sum what wiser then he wilte keepe a daie or twoo for thyne owne pastyme to serue thy worldely affection Nowe then belike we can not learne no such daliance or vaine pastime to pertaine to the Christen or newe man regenerate in Christe For it is yet vnproued and the scriptures vnsought and therefore on our parte vnbeleued therefore sore if ye will haue be credite them proue it vnto vs by reason and the sacred Scriptures and laie them plainely before vs as we haue doen and we wil willingly receiue it with thaÌ„kes and tyll ye haue so doen I praie you hold vs excused though wee beleue them not Then it séemeth most lyke that suche vaine triflyng pastimes beelong to the olde man vnaquainted with Christe and his worde if it so be as it is in déede then the text commaundeth vs to laie them a side and to haue nought to do with them Paule also in the spirite of GOD councelleth vs to put from vs all thynges as wrath fearcenes maliciousnes cursed speaking filthy speaking out of our mouthes Nowe tell mee I praie thée where shall ye finde more wrathe displeasure hart burnyng hate enuie from the verie hearte then ye shal doe in dicyng and cardyng Yea it chaunceth oftentimes that twoo shal enter into gamenyng very good louers and fréendes and or euer their gamening be ended they shall be mortall enemies and the one readie to reuile the other so spitfully that it is a thousande to one if they parte without blowes Than foloweth straight waies such anger that runneth into the daunger of iudgement and Racha That is worthy of councell yea and thou foole that is worthy of Hell fyre Ought not now gamenyng which engendereth suche incommoditie and inconuenience to bee auoyded as a thyng most daungerous and most pestilent among them that professe theÌ„ selues christians Yea ought not rather the verye Iewes and infidels the whiche are without all godly lawes sauing only the lawe of their conscience excusing and accusyng them As their wickednes are enormious to shunne suche vngodly pastymes yes truely ought they then muche more thou beyng the professour of Christes holy Euangely oughtest to be an abstayner from all thynges that haue any shewe or likelihoode of vice As the good and true disciple of Iesu Christe Sainct Peter testifieth I beséeche you brethren as Pylgrims and straungers to abstaine from fleshely lustes whiche fight against the soule and sée that ye haue honest conuersation among the Gentiles that they whiche backebite you as euill doers maie see your good workes and prayse God in the daie of visitation But thou wilt perchaunce saie that I am to harde to reprehende that thyng that maie for an honest recreation bee frequented where as the companie is sober and purposed of a gentle intent secludyng blaphemie riot droÌ„kenship and such like excesse only for the passyng of tyme to refreshe our wittes Wel I heare thine excuse verie wel my thinke thou callest it an honest recreatioÌ„ and that I am to hard to reprehende such an honest recreation if plaiyng at cardes or tables scalyng or bowlyng be suche an honest recreation I pray thée for the loue of God finde it out of the worde of God and shewe it me that I may also refreshe my selfe and geue thée thankes We haue proued a little before that they are suche actes as appertaine to the olde man For we could not finde them méete for them that were fashioned after the Image of God and so borne a newe and regenerate in Christ and in as much as they are the feares and béedes of the olde man call them by what name or vocable so euer thou wilte yet maie not we for the honest terme that thou geuest vnto it receiue the thing that is naught and wicked neuer the soner for Paule calleth it the olde man corrupt through deceiuable lustes And here Peter would haue vs as well acquainted with them as a waie faryng man is in the countrie that he neuer was acquainted or came in al his life tyme and calleth them plainly fleshly lustes fightyng against the soule hee would also we should haue good woorkes to shewe among the Heathen to praise God with in the daies when thou shalte be circumuented of the enemies of Christes crosse and chauncest to be persecuted for thy maisters sake whiche hee calleth the day of visitation what wilt thou haue to shewe for thy selfe shall any of these honest recreations sober pastimes refreshyng of the witte be taken then for good workes bicause thou geuest them honest names no no surely Matthewe declareth very plainely where he would haue our good workes for to shine before men that they maie sée our good workes and glory our father whiche is in heauen and ye shal finde that he there speaketh of the sacred Gospell with his workes Wil ye see what goodnes ensueth of your honest termed pastimes firste where dooe children pitiously crie out for meate drinke and can not get it forsooth where their father is giuen to Bowlyng Diâ—â—ng or Cardyng Tennis plaiyng frailyng and suche like Where doe seruauntes lacke worke and stande whirlyng their knife aboute their fingers and gasing idlely aboute the streates and walles to occupie the whole halfe daie in vaine language where their maisters be addicte to Bowlyng Dicyng Tables Cardes Tennis-plaiyng Scailyng with such like Where wanders women aboute the towne middaie and midnight with wot ye where my husband is when se ye my good man where might she best inquire for her vnthriftie husbande but where the man is geuen to suche vncomely vices Where is the name of God wickedly blaspemed but in suche vnméete assemblies where is twelue pence spente before eight pence bee earned but in suche vnlawfull gamenyng Where flye the portes aboute the howse where fal men together by the eares how come menne into extreme pouertie when fall manne and wife to sighyng and sorrowyng and startyng in their sleepes and wryngyng of their handes but where is geuen to such excesse in pastime Wher are fraies raised menne stabbed in with woundes and lie at their wiues handes which hath thrée or fower children and little woorke and small frendes and colde charitie but where there is vsed such riote and excesse in gamenyng And wilt thou nowe saie that a christen man maie exercise with a good conscience that thyng that all this mhischefe spryngeth on séeyng also they pertaine to the olde man which we ought to put from vs and are called of Peter fleshely lustes also the whiche we muste absteine from loke now and marke if thy honest recreation gentle pastime and conuenient refreshing of thy witte with suche like comely tearmes wyll make a wicked a sinfull a detestable a fleshelie and corrupte thyng good No no it will not be therefore I hartely beseeche thee good christen reader call me not an
and not with griefe Now therefore do I sore muse how this question except it were by the priuy suggestion of Sathan worker of all mischiefe coulde sinke into any honest specially into any Christian mans stomake to demaunde what they shoulde doe or howe they shoulde be occupied if these sinfull pastymes otherwise called honeste recreations were laied aside If you woulde be as diligent to demaunde howe ye shoulde liue well howe ye shoulde behaue youre selues to please GOD howe ye might remaine in the feare and dreade of God as ye are to inquire for suche vaine trifles oh lorde what a worlde should we then haue shortly And in conscience I suppose that this is the more meeter question of bothe for a Christian man to demaunde For with what face dareste thou enterprise to inquire how thou shalte consume the daie in suche wicked pastymes with the abhominations that longeth there to as the blasphemie of Goddes moste holy name dronkennesse excesse with many other more suche like seyng and consideryng that thou art not certain nor sure to liue the halfe daie Dooest thou thinke it no daunger to fall into the handes of the Lorde Haste thou no more dread of him that is able to kille bothe thy bodie and soule and to caste theim bothe into helle fire Now ponder I praie thee the Sacred Scriptures that followe what occupation and businesse ye should by their counsaile haue if these foolishe pastymes were set a parte Matthewe saith wake because you knowe not what hower your maister will come Of this be you sure that if the housholder knewe what houre the thefe would come he would surely watch and not suffer his house to bee broken vp Therefore bee ye also readie For in an hower as you thinke not will the soonne of manne come Heare ye this ye sluggardes Matthewe biddeth you wake ye wil saie We are neuer lesse disposed to slepe then when wee are at Tables Cardes Dice Bowles Tennes or Chesse I graunt that to be very true But wil that businesse please youre heauenly maister when he commeth sodainely vppon you Matthewe would haue you as diligente to prepare againste the commyng of the Lorde to vanquishe and driue awaie the assaultes of the Deuill as the housholder is diligente to prepare weapons againste the commyng of the Theefe that would breake vp his house And would the housholder thinke you fall to Cardes Dice Tennes or Bowles if he knewe when the theefe would come vpon hym Matthewe saieth plainely naye but he would watche saieth he if he knewe what hower the theefe would come and prepare weapons to keepe hym of And wilt thou seeyng thou arte vncertaine when the Lorde will come as the housholder is what hower the theefe will come applie thy self to Dice Tables and Cardes and suffer the house of the liuyng God to bee broken vp For the temple of God is holy saieth saincte Paule whiche are ye and thinke ye that there oughte not as greate studie to bee taken for to defende the house that God made to his owne similitude and likenesse And redeemed with his precious death From the snares of the wicked againste the commyng of his maister as there oughte to bee for an house that is made of lime and stone and is in subiection to euery tempeste of water and winde The whiche also was builded of a synfull manne and paied for with corruptible siluer and golde that at his diyng daie shall bidde his Maister adewe and neuer doe hym pleasure after The instrumentes that ye must prepare to keepe awaie the theefe againste youre Maisters commyng are not Boules dice Cardes Tables Bowes Kniues Tennes Balles Chessemen Counters paised Grotes Toppes and Scourges with suche like a thousande mo whiche the deuill hath inuented no no. Sainct Luke in his thirtene Chapiter telleth vs of other maner of instrumentes to passe awaie the tyme with then these bee he saieth with a deepe stomacke take héede watche and praie for ye knowe not whē the tyme is and that I saie to you I saie to you all watche Luke would haue a Christian mannes instrumente to occupie hymself withall and to passe awaie the tyme to consist in watchyng and praiyng and the fleshly children of this world would haue it to consiste in Dicing Cardyng Boulyng and Tennes plaiyng thou wilte saie that it will irke and wearie one euer to be watchyng and praiyng I saie vnto thee that of the aboundaunce of the harte the mouthe speaketh for a good manne out of the good treasure of his harte bryngeth for the good thynges As to doe all thyng what soeuer thei go aboute either in woorde or deede in the name of the Lorde Iesu giuyng thankes to God the father by hym And to applie them selues to watchyng praiyng and readyng of the sacred scripture as the frutes that spring out of the good treasure of their hartes But an euill manne out of the euill treasure of his harte bryngeth for the euill thynges as Dicyng Carding with suche more a greate noumber For if he had any better treasure liyng in his hearte he would surely bryng it foorthe But he hath no better that he can take a manne of truste therefore euill as thei bee so he vttereth them For as thei lye Canckerfretted at his hearte so he laieth theim foorthe take theim vp who liste therefore of thyne owne mouthe I iudge thee Thou euill seruaunte canste thou finde in thy harte to passe awaie the time with Cardes Tennis Tables and Dice daie and nighte without wearinesse and care And saiest thou to watche and pray and to be giuen to the wholsome meditation of Goddes woorde will wearie any manne Seyng the firste is abrode pathe leadyng to destruction the whiche these vnthriftie gamesters can finde out readily enough The laste is a verie narrowe pathe leadyng to life and saluation the whiche is not yet troden out of theim for it is vnsearched for Luke in the twelue Chapiter also saieth Lette your loynes bee girte rounde aboute and your lightes burnyng and your selues ready like men that waite for their maister when he cōmeth from the weddyng that as sone as he commeth and knocketh thei maie opē vnto hym Blessed are those seruauntes whiche the lorde when he commeth shall finde wakyng Here I thinke Christe boroweth a similitude of theim that in the night tyme vse to prepare them selues in a readinesse against their maisters commyng home from the weddyng because he would haue them so handsomely girte that thei maie walke with the lesse lette and impedimente But I thinke if wee should walke in the nighte after our honeste passyng awaie of the tyme to mete with our maister we had néede I suppose to be well couered about our heades least the winde make our braines dissie and we stagger out of the righte pathe and reele like nighte riottours and dronkardes and thei that walke in the night For the moste parte vse to carrie
lighte with theim specially if thei fetche home any greate manne for in the broade daie thei vse to carrie no lightes as the superstitious sorte haue vsed now of late daies and as some yet at this presente dooe if thei were well sought out for no better will their Curates teache them but to lighte Candelles in the clearest Sonne shine in the yere and sticke thē vpon postes stooles and walles before Idolles to shewe them light and yet thei them selues with their Idols remaine starke blinde What thinke ye that these lightes hee that ye muste meete hym with cardes tables or Dice and other suche like tromperies Surelie thei shall shewe a faire lighte And as well shall hee welcome you with them as he did the fiue foolishe virgines which had no oyle of their owne but whē Christ came they were faine to go a borrowyng and when they came and knocked were shut out of the doores Beware ye passe not awaie the tyme so long with suche vaine follye that youre good workes bee to séeke and then ye knocke tarde at Heauen Gates and for lacke of knowledge ye be shut out of the doores Take heede in tyme for those seruauntes shal be blessed whom the Lorde when he commeth shall finde wakyng saieth that the daie of the Lorde shall come as a thiefe in the night for when they shall say peace and no daunger then commeth there on them sodaine destruction as the trauailyng of a woman with childe and they shall not escape Heare ye this ye blasphemers Heare ye this thyng ye wicked gamesters Heare ye this thyng ye wittie fleshly children of this world Nowe go to applie your busines to the Cardes Tables Dice Tennes Chesse and Bowles as faste as ye can for the Lorde will come at your pleasure when ye will and not before ye will haue hym come So will the thiefe come and reaue vp your house and not before Plie youre busines as faste as ye can haste vp your wickednesse and lette not for it neither care for any threatnyngs at gods mouth for he is to weake to perfourme his promise But of this be ye sure that as iustly as a teming woman that is with child must needes suffer the trauaile thereof whether she will or no and can not auoid it Euen so thinke not the contrarie but when the Lorde commeth ye shal be taken as he findeth you and shal not escape but as ye haue wrought the woorkes of your bodie so must ye spite of youre guttes appeare before the iudgement seate of Christe to giue your accomptes Be pacient and settle youre heartes for the commyng of the lorde draweth nigh Beholde the iudge standeth before the doore Iaco. v Here Iames plaieth the bug with you and in a maner mouth to mouth he maketh hym to knock at the doore of your conscience that ye shoulde in tyme if it might bee withdrawe your selues from suche vanitie Is it meete thinke you to passe awaie the tyme with suche trifles when the iudge standeth at the doore but if ye will needes vpon such folishnes notwithstanding al these comminations and threatninges beware I saie for the commyng of the Lorde draweth nigh Bee sober and watche for your oduersary the deuill as a roaring Lyon walketh about séekyng whom he maye deuoure whom resiste stedfast in the faith Who is this saieth Peter that prouoketh you to this wicked inuention that ye demaunde so wittely what we shall doe if these vaine pastymes were laide a parte he saieth plainely that it is the Deuil who goeth roryng about seekyng whom he maie deuoure where doeth he searche to deuour you in your faieth saith the Apostle for if ye applie youre selues to the deedes of faith without the whiche saieth Paule it is impossible to please God. As to purenesse of liuing to the forsaking of the deuill with all his woorkes to followe the deedes of the spirite Then foorthwith rageth the aduersarie then fumeth the deuill then seeketh he whom he maie deuour But followe the appetite of the wicked fleshe and saciate her lust and desire and ye shall be his faire children ye shal be chekens méete for his owne tooth he shall strike your heades and make very muche of you for ye are well worthie seyng ye are seruantes meete for such a maister Dice carde tennes boule play and chesse with al other fleshly pastimes day night Laie on othes teare god with al his holy members as small as hearbes to the pot And the deuil wil neuer hinder you neuer roare at you hee will neuer séeke who he may deuour for he hath you fast knit to the deedes of darkenes And kéepeth you stil in the same as children of vnbeléefe And what needeth the deuill to seeke for them seyng thei seeke so fast to runne to hym with the passyng awaie of time in such vaine sportes and recreations of the wit and solacing of the mind Therefore after the counsell of Peter be sober and watche yet a very little while and he that shall come will come and wil not tarie He will not tarie saith Paul againe or twoo at the Tables Cardes Chesse or Dice and then haue with ye saie you passe awaie the tyme at youre pleasure apply your selues to suche vanities as long as ye liste demaunde what ye should doe how ye shoulde spende the tyme if these wicked gamenynges were laide aside as often as ye list Paule maketh you a plaine aunswere that he that commeth will come and will not tarie For if with all expedition and readines he would haue his disciple followe hym whē he intended a matter of no lesse godlinesse then necessarie as to burie his father He graunted hym no libertie but cōmaunded hym to followe him straight waie and to suffer the dead to burie their deade And thinke you that he will tarie your leasure tyll ye haue plaide a game or two in a matter of wickednes that defaceth Gods glory for as muche as it is a deede of the fleshe and preiudiciall to the edification of your neighbour no no. He that commeth will come and will not tarie Therfore if thou wilt knowe how thou shouldest be occupied if these vaine pastymes were laied a side resort nowe and then yea rather continually to the moste holsome worde of God and there meditate and exercise thy selfe and if thou canste not reade then lette thy seruauntes or Children reade vnto thee if none of theim can reade then feare the vengeaunce of GOD for thy negligente bryngyng vp of theim For the good free shall bee knowen by his fruicte and the had tree like wise And Paule compteth hym that prouideth not for his owne and specially for theim of his housholde to deny the faithe and to bée worse then an infidell And to the Galathians he calleth the housholde of faithe that in Timothe he called his owne housholde Let therefore your youthe bee godlie instructe
For as the common biworde is suche a father suche a sonne suche a maister suche a seruaunt and as the heade of the housholde is so are the members And Dauid also calleth the familie blessed that feare the Lorde For in the verteous nourteryng of the children consisteth the quietnesse of all Realmes and namely in suche as are made vnto the similitude of their Lorde GOD. Therefore in season let theim taste of the sweete woorde of God and sauour of the kyngdome of heauen that thei in the same holie woorde comforte bothe you and theim selues And as I saied vnto you if ye liste to knowe how to passe awaie the tyme busie your myndes in the Sacred Bible and taste howe pleasaunte the Lorde is And when ye haue saciate your myndes therein fall to praier and supplication and desire thy almightie Father who fulfilled the whole somme of his woorde in his sonne Christ That for his reuerence and worthines he will illuminate the eyes of thy fleshly harte that thou maiest obtaine the perfecte sence of the same Then marke what vocation thou art of If thou art the chief ruler of the people and the principal emong the members and the heade of the congregation I exhort thee for conscience sake lette neuer this question enter into youre stomacke to demaunde what shall wee doe to passe awaie the tyme in trifles of follie But rather ponder these three thynges what knowledge is there in our Realme if that bée wantyng fall to dreamyng with Salomon that wise ruler and God shall appeare and giue you your requeste therefore inquire for knowledge and ye shall haue it aboundantly and the thynges also that ye require not shall bee giuen vnto you Wherefore looke diligently what knowledge raigneth in your Realme Then marke what feare of God there is in you to delate the true woorde of GOD and what an harte you haue to maintaine the same For the feare of God is the beginnyng of wisedome And therfore ye that be the gouernours of the people feare GOD and ye shall ratefie the thynges that be good Thirdly mittigate youre hartes and subdue your myndes hauyng no respecte vnto the sublimitie and superioritie of your state in comparison to your subiectes but rather in subiection to your Lorde god And marke well that you are ministers yea ministers I saie to hym vnto whom you shall make a straight accompte And here remember that in as muche as ye are the ministers of God God hath giuen you a sworde in your hande to deface malefactours and to preserue the innocent Therefore occupie it to Goddes glorie And to the subuersion of the bloudie kingdome of Antichrist after the example of kyng Ihon. And all wee your true louyng subiectes will hartely maintaine you with our praiers to GOD who alwaies preserue you And here reste and quiete youre selues to the glorie of God for in these three thynges are many thynges to bewailed If thou be a Spirituall iudge of Christes flocke or a superintendent of his congregation Is it meete to demaunde how thou shalt passe awaie the tyme if suche vaine pastymes are laied a side No no there should be no suche vndiscrete woordes or language and specially emong suche persones For youre communication is a sore incitation to the common sorte of the people For of your woordes dooe thei wholie depende The more pitie if it pleased God without thei were as the wordes of God. You reioyce very muche to haue taken your power and aucthoritie of Peter and learne ye these lessons of hym then am I deceiued For I am sure he made no suche answere vnto Christe when he demaunded of him whether he did loue hym or no. He aunswered hym yea lorde thou knowest that I loue thée If ye compte Peter to be your predecessour then folowe the insample of hym and loue Christe What must ye dooe then if ye loue Muste ye applie youre selues to Dicyng Cardyng Huntyng and Haukyng No that is not the waie to folowe Peter What then Fede my sheepe saieth Christe to Peter Now then if ye loue Christe with Peter ye must with Peter feede feede not Palfreyes Geldynges Horses and a kenell of Dogges but my sheepe saieth Christ In deede Christe often tymes by a certaine metapher and phraise of speakyng doeth mutuate and borowe the vnreasonable for the reasonable as it appeareth in the xxj and also in the tenth of saincte Ihon where he saieth a good Shepherde will giue his life for his Sheepe Yet all the worlde in a maner will testifie that he died neither for Sheepe nor Oxen. But for the Christian Congregation he died So when he commaunded Peter and you in Peter if ye be his true successors with pasce pasce fede fede that ye should feede that Congregation the whiche he died for that his beloued spouse the holie Catholike Churche of the whiche he is the heade But I praie GOD ye feede them not as the Prophet Ezechiel in his xxxiiij Chapiter specifieth saiyng Wo bee vnto the Shepheardes of Israel that feede them selues should not the Shepeheardes feede their flockes Ye haue eaten vp the fatte ye haue clothed your selues with the wolle The beste fedde haue ye slaine but the flocke haue ye not nourished The weake haue ye not holden vp The sicke haue ye not healed the broken haue ye not bounde together The outcastes haue ye not brought againe The lost haue ye not soughte but churlishely and moste cruelly haue ye ruled them These thinges are right contrary and cleane beside the commaundement that Peter receiued of our sauiour Christ For he commaunded hym to feede the flocke and not to eate awaie the fat from their beardes and feede theim selues and in the meane while lette the flocke starue for lacke of foode This is not to feede of loue but of compulsion Not for Christes sake but for the beallies sake Marke nowe Ezechielles Prophecie with a single eye and fulfill the thynges that he with the residue of the Prophets appoincteth you and ye shall finde more necessary thinges pertainyng to your office then to caste holie water and deale holie breade or to bidde fastyng or holie daies on the Sōdaie For if you looke well on your duetie and ransacke euery corner thereof none otherwise then ye shall at the comptyng daie giue an aunswere therefore Ye shall if ye haue any conscience or any dreade of god before your eyes haue small affection to demaunde how ye shal passe awaie the tyme if these vanities were laied aside But in no wise howe soeuer ye doe what so euer is written or spoken vnto you take little héede to your selues But yet I saie beware againste the tyme and haue youre aunswere in a readinesse when it shall bee saied vnto you giue accompte of thy Bailiwike for thou maiest no longer bee Bailife Therefore bée not offended although I write