Twenty-Seven Sermons, Sermons 1 · Sermon 5
The. v. sermon vponupon the Lordes praier made by maister Hugh Latymer.
PAnē nostrū quotidianū da nobis hodie. GiueGive vsus this day our daily bread. This is a very good praier if a body shold say no more at one time but yt: for as we see our nede, soVVe shold praye for those thyn ges that … lackyng. we shall pray, whan we see goddes name to be dishonoured, … and yl … of, then a mā, a saithfull mā should say. Our father which art in heauen, halowed be thy name. Whan wee see the deuill reigne, and all the worlde folowe his kingdeme, then we maye saye: Our father vvhiche art in heauen, thy kingdome come. Whan we see that the worlde foloweth her owne desyres and lustes, and not goddes wyll and his commaundementes, and it greeueth vsus to see thys, we … sorye for it, we shall make oure … vntounto god for it, …: Oure father whiche art in heauen Fiat voluntas …, Thy … be done, when we lacke necessaries for the maintenance of this lyfe, eueryevery thing is dere, then we may say, Our father which art in heauen, giuegive vsus this day our dayly bread.One of the se short pra yers with faith, is bet ter thā the vvhole psal ter without. Therfore as we see cause, so we should pray. And it is better to say one of these short prayers with a good faythe, then the whole psalter without fayth.
By this nowe that I hauehave sayde, you maye perceiue that the common opinion and estimation whiche the people hauehave had of this prayer (the lordes praier I saye) is farre from that that it is in deede. For it was … for nothing, for whā we bee disposed to despise a man, and call him an ignoraunte foole, we say, he can not say his … noster, and so we madeThis praier is not so light a mat ter as it is made. it a lighte matter, as though eueryevery man knew it. But I tell you it is a great matter, it conteineth waightie thynges, if it be wayed to the very bottome, as a learned man coulde doe: but as for me, that that I hauehave learned out of the holy scripture and learned mens bookes, which expounde the same. I wyll she we vntounto you, but I entende to be short: I hauehave bene very long before in the other petitions which some thyng expounde those that folow, therfore I will not tarye so long in them as I hauehave done in the other.
Geue vsus this day our dayly bread: EueryEvery woorde is to be considered: for they hauehave their importance. This word breadBread doth siguifie all maner susti nance. signifieth all maner of sustinance for the preseruation of this life: all thinges whereby man shoulde lyue, are contayned in this word Breade.
You must remembre what I sayd by that petition Halowed be thy name. There we … vntounto god that he wil giuegive vsus grace to lyue so, that we may with all our conuersations, and doinges halow and sancrify him, according as his worde telleth vsus. Nowe forasmuche as the preachynge of goddes worde is moste necessary to bring vsus into this halowing, we pray in the same petition for the office of preaching. For the sanctifyeng of the name of god can not be, except the office ofGods name can not … sanctified … be maintained … be maynteyned, and his woorde be preached and knowen, therfore in the same petition whan I say Sanctificetur, Halowed Le thy name, I praye that his worde may bee spreade abroade, and knowen, thorough whiche commeth sanctifying.
So likewise in this petition, Geue vsus this daye our dailyeThe meaning of this petitions. bread, we praye for all those thynges which be necessary and requisite to the sustinance of our soules and bodies. Now the first and principall thing that we hauehave nede of in this lyfe, is the magistrates, without a magistrate we should neuer liue well and quietly. Than it is necessary and moste nedefull to praye vntounto god for them, that the people may hauehave rest, and apply their busines, eueryevery man in his callyng, the husbandman in tillyng and plowing, the artificer in his busines. For you must euer consider, that where warre is, there be all discommodities, no man can doe his duetie accordyng vntounto his callyng, as it appeareth now in Germany, the Emperour & the Frenche king being at controuersy: I warrant you there is litle reste, or quietnes. Therfore in this petition we praye vntounto god for our … that they may rule and gouern this realme well and godly, and kepe vsus from inuasions of alienates and straungers, and to execute iustice, and punish malefactours: & this is so requisite that we cannot liue withoutIn this peti tiō vve pray for the king and all his officers. it. Therfore whan we say, Geue vsus this daye our dayelye breade: we praye for the kinge his counsellours and all his officers: but not eueryevery man that saieth these wordes, vnderstādeth so much. For it is obscurely included, so that none perceiue it but those which … and diligently consyder the same. But S. Paule he expresseth it with more wordes playnelye, saying: I exhorte you to make supplications and prayers for all men, but specially pro regibus & qui in sublimitate constituti sun, for the kings and for those which be aloft, whereto … vt placidam & quietam vitam agamus, that weTo pray for rulers is to pray for our selues also. may liue godly and quietly, with all honesty and godlynes. And whan I pray for them I pray for my selfe. For I praye for them that they may rule, so that I and all men may lyue quietly and at rest. And to this ende we desyre a quiete lyfe, that we may the better scrue god, heare his worde, and lyue after it.
For in the rebelles tyme I praye you what godlines was shewed amongest them? they went so farre (as it was tolde) that they defiled other mennes wyues: what godlines was this? In what estate thinke you were those saithfull … which at the same tyme were amongest them? they had sorow inough I warraunte you. So it appeareth, that where warre is, there is righte godlinesse … and gone. Therfore toGood men lacke no so … amōg …. pray for a quiet lyfe, that is as muche as to pray for a godlye lyfe, that we may serue god in our calling, and get our lyuinges vprightly. So it appeareth that praying for … is as much as to praye for our selues.
They that be children, and lyue vnderunder the rule of theyr parentes, or hauehave tutōrs, they praye in this petition for theyr pa rentes, and tutors. For they be necessary for theyr brynging vp. And god will accept their prayer as well as theyrs which be of age. for god hath no respecte of persons: he is as redye toGod respe cteth no persons. The, educa tion of chil dren. heare the yongest as the oldest. Therfore let them be brought vp in godlines, let them know god. Let parentes and tutors do their dueties to bryng theym vp so, that as soone as theyr age serueth, they may tast and sauour god: let them feare god in the beginning, and so they shall do also whan they be olde. Because I speake here of Orphans, I shall exhorte you to be pitiful vntounto them, for it is a thyng that pleased god, as S. Iames witnesseth, saying: Religio pura. &c.
It is a common speache amongest the people and muche vsed, that they saye, all religious houses are pulled doune, whiReligious howles are not pulled dovvne. che is a very … saying, and not true, for thei are not pul led …. That man and that woman that liue together god ly and quietly, doing the woorkes of their vocation, and feare God; heare his woorde, and keepe it: that same is a religious house, that is that house that pleaseth god. For religion, pure religion (I say) stadeth not in wearing of a monkes coule, but in rightuousnesse iustice and weldoings, and as … Iames saith, in visiting the Orphans and widowes, that lacke theyrTrue Religion. husbandes, Orphans that lacke theyr parentes to helpe them when they bee poore, to speake for them whan they be oppres sed, herein standeth true religion, Gods religion (I say:) The other whiche was vsed was an vnreligious lyfe, yea rather an hypocrisye. There is a terte in Scripture I neuer reade it but I remember these religious houses. Estque recta homini via, cuius tamen … iter est ad …, There is aPro. 14. way, whiche … seemed to men to bee good, whose ende is eternal perdition: whan the ende is naught, all is naught. So were these monkes houses, these religious houses. There were many people, specially wydowes, which would geue ouerThe madnesse of suche as dyd bye their … in abbeys. housekepyng, and goe to suche houses, whan … might hauehave doone muche good in mainteynyng of seruauntes, and releuyng of poore people, but they went their wayes. What a madnesse was that? Agayne, howe muche cause wee hauehave to thanke GOD, that we knowe what is trewe religion, that GOD hath reueled vntounto vsus the deceiptfulnesse of those Monkes, whyche hadde a goodly shewe before the worlde of great holynesse, but they were naughte within. Therefore Scripture sayeth, Quod … est hominibus, abhominabile est coram Deo, That whiche is hyghly estemed before men, is abhominable before GOD. ThereforeIt is better to lyue in the feare of God thā to be a monk. that man and woman that lyue in the feare of God, are muc he better than their houses were.
I … ones a storie of a holy man, some say it was sainct …, whiche had been a long season in the …, eatyng nor drynkyng nothyng, but … and water: at the length he thoughte hym selfe so holye, that there should bee no bodye lyke vntounto hym. Therefore he desyred of God to knowe whoe shoulde bee his fellowe in heauen? GOD made hym aunswere, and commaunded hym to goe to Alexandria,A Cobbler there he shoulde fynde a Cobbler whyche shouldThalbe saint Anthonies fellovve in heauen. bee hys fellowe in heauen. Nowe he wente thyther, and sought hym out, and felle in acquaintaunce with hym, and taryed with hym thre or foure dayes to see his conuersation.The cobblers matteus. In the … his wyfe and he prayed together, than they wente totheyr busynesse, be in his shoppe, and she about her houswyferye. At dynner tyme they hadde breadde and cheese, wherewyth they were welle contente, and tooke it thankefully. Theyr chyldren were well taught to feare GOD, and to saye theyr Pater noster, and the Crede, and the tenne Commaundementes, and so he spente hys tyme in dooynge hys duetie trewely, I warraunt you he dyd not so many false stitches as coblers doo nowe a dayes. S. Anthony perceiuing that, came to knowledge of himself, and layd away all pride and presumption. By this ensample you may learne that honest conuersation and godly liuing is much regarded before god, in so much that this poore cobler, doyng his duety diligently was made S. Anthonies fellow.Such scholers … bereligious houses. So it appeareth that we bee not destituted of religious houses: those which apply their busines vprightly and here goddes worde, they shalbe s. Anthonies felowes, that is to say, they shalbe numbred amongest the children of god.
Further in this petition the man and wyfe praye one for the other. For one is a helpe vntounto the other, and so necessaryeMan … praye one fot an other. the one to the other. Therfore they praye one for the other that god will spare them their liues, to liue together qui etly and godly, according to his ordinaunce and institution: & this is good & needeful. As for such as be not maried, you shal know that I do not so much praise mariage, yt I should think that single lyfe is naught: as I hauehave heard some whith wyll scante allowe single life. They thinke in their heartes thatSom alovve no single lyfe. all those which be not maried be nought, therfore the yt hauehave a … saying amongest them? What? (say they) they be made of such metall as we be made of, thinking them to bee naught in their liuing, which suspicions ar damnable … god. For we know not what giftes god hath geuen vntounto thē therfore we cannot with good couscience condemne them or iudge them. Truth it is mariage, is good and honorable amongest all men, as s. Paule witnesseth (& … & fornicatores iudicauit dominus, And the lord shal and wil iudgeGod vvylle iudge adul … and vvhore kepers. that is, coudemne adulterers, and whoremongers, but not those whiche liue in single lyfe: when thou liuest in lechery, orarte a whore or whoremonger, then thou shalte be damned: but whan thou liuest godly and honestly in single life, it is well & allowable afore god: yea and better then mariage. For s. Paule saith, Volo uos abs que sollicitudine esse, I willLoueLove lyfe is better than mariage. hauehave you to be without carefulnesse, that is vnmaried, and sheweth the cōmodities, saying, They that be vnmaried sct their myndes vponupon god, how to please him, and to liue after his cōmandementes. But as for the other, the man is carefull howe to please his wife, and againe, the woman how to please hys wyfe, and agayn the woman how to please her hus bande: and this is S. Paules saying of the one as well as of the other. Therfore I will wishe you not to condemne single lyfe, but take one with thother, lyke as saint Paule teacheth vsus: not so extolle the one that we shoulde condemne the other. For sainct Paule praiseth as well single life as mariage, yeaSaint Paule doth … louelove life aboue mariage. and more to. For those that bee single hauehave more liberties to praye and to serue god, then the other, for they that be maried hauehave muche trouble and afflictions in their bodies. This I speake because I heare that some there bee whiche condemne single lyfe: I would hauehave them to knowe that matrimonye is good, godlye, and allowable vntounto all men, yet for al that, the singule life ought not to be despised, or condemned, seyng that Scripture alloweth it: yea and he affirmeth that it is better than matrimony if it be cleane without sinne and offence.
Further we pray here in this petition for good seruantes,VVe praye for trustye and true ser uantes. that god will send vntounto vsus good faithful and trusty seruantes for they are necessarye for this bodelye lyfe that our businesse may be done, and those whiche liue in single lyfe hauehave more nede of good trustye seruauntes, than those whiche are maried. Those which are maried can better ouersee their seruanntes. For whan the man is from home at the least the wyfe ouerseeth them and kepeth them in good order. For I tell youSeruauntes must bee ouerseene. seruauntes must be ouersene and looked to, yf they be not ouersene what be they? it is a great gifte of god to hauehave a good seruaunt. For the most part of seruantes are but eye seruantes: whan their maister is gon, they leaue of from their labor, and play the sluggardes, but such seruauntes do contrary vntounto gods commaundement, and shal be damned in hel for their slouthfulnes, except they repente. Therfore (I say) those that be vnmaried hauehave more nede of good seruauntes, than those which be maried, for one of them at the least may alwayes ouersee the family. For as I tolde you before, the most part of seruāts be eye seruants, they be nothing whan they be not ouersene. There was once a felowe asked a philosopher a questiō The masters … maketh the … fatte.saying, quomodo saginatur …, how is an horse made …, the philosopher made answer saying: oculo dn̄i, with hys maisters eye: not meaning that the horse should bee fed with his masters …, but that the maister shuld ouersee the horse & take … to the hors keper, that yt hors might be wel fed. For whan a man … by the way and … his Inne and giueth vntounto the hostler his horse to walke, and so he himselfe sitteth at table and … good chere & forgetteth his horse, the hostler … and saith, Syr how much … shall I geue vntounto your horse? he saith geue him ii. d. I warrant you this horse shall neuer be fat. Therfore a man should not saye to the hostler, go geue him: but he shoulde see himselfe that the horse hauehave it. In likemaner those that hauehave seruants must not only commaund them what they shall do, but they must see that it be done: they muste bee present, or els it shall neuer be doone. One other man asked that same philosopher this question saying: What dounge is it that maketh a mās lande most fruitefull in bringyng forth much corne? Marry,The foote steps of the owner do … the lande, said he, Vestigia domini, the owners footsteps: not meaning that the maister should come and walke vppe and doune and treade the ground, but he would hauehave hym to come and ouer see the seruauntes tilling of the grounde, commaunding thē to do it diligently, and so to loke himself vponupon their worke: this shal be the best donge (saycth the philosopher.) Therefore neuer trust seruauntes except you may be assured of their diligence: For I tell you truely, I canne come no where but I heare maisters complainyng of their seruants. I thinke verely they feare not God, they consider not their dueties. wel I wyll … them with this one texte of Scripture, and than go forward in my matters, the prophet Ieremy saieth. Maledictus qui facit opus domini negligenter, an other tranIere. 48 slation hath fraudulenter but it is one in effect. Cursed be he… are cursed of god. saith the prophet Ieremy that doth the worke of the lord negligently or fraudulently take which you wil.
It is no light matter that god pronounceth them to be cursed. But what is cursed? what is it? Cursed is as much to say as it shal not go wel with them, they shal hauehave no lucke, my face shalbe against them. Is not this a great thyng? Truely consider it as you lyste, but it is no light matter to he cursed of God, which ruleth heauen and erth. And though the Prophete speaketh these wordes of warriours goyng to warre, yet it may be spoken of all seruauntes, yea of all estates, but specially of seruantes. For. S. Paule saith Domino ChristoSeruantes serue the lord Christ. seruitis you seruauntes (saith he) you serue the lord Christe, it is his worke. Than whan it is the lordes worke take … how you do it: for cursed is he that doth it negligently. But where is suche a seruant as Iacob was to Laban? how pain full was he? how carefull for his maisters profite? in so muchIacob was a painfulser uant. … Ab … seruant. that whan somewhat perished, he restored it agayne of hys owne. And where is suche a seruaunt as Eleazar was to Abraham his maister? what a iorney had he? howe carefull he was, and whan he came to his iorneyes ende, he woulde neither eate nor drynke afore he had done his maisters message, so yt al his mynde was geuenonly to serue his maister, aud to do accordyng to his commaundementes: In so much that he woulde neither eate nor drynke tyll he had done accordyng to his maisters wyll. Much lyke to our sauiors sayyng: Cibus meus est vt faciam voluntatem eius qui misit me. This is my meate, to do the will of him that sent me. I pray you seruantes marke this Eleazar well, consider all the circumstances of his diligent and faithfull seruice, and folowe it: els if you folow it not, you rede it to your owne condemnation. Likewise consider the true seruice whiche Iosephe (that godly yong man) did vntounto his maister Potiphar, liefetenauntPotiphar was liefetenant of the toure in Egipt. of the towre hew faithfully he serued without any guile or fraude, therfore god promoted hym so, that he was made afterwardes the ruler ouer all Egipt.
Likewise consider how faithfull Daniell was in seruyngDaniel ser ued king Darius. kyng Darius. Alack, that you seruauntes be so stubburne hearted and wyl not consider this, you will not remember that your seruice is the worke of the lord, you wil not consi der that the curse of god hangeth vponupon your heades for your slouthfulnes & negligēce. … therfore & loke to your duties. Now further whosoeuer … this praier with a good faithful hert, as he ought to do: he praith for al plough men & husbandmē: that God wil prosper & … their labor, for except he geue …, al their labor & … is …. Therfore it is … to pray for them, that God may send his benediction by their labour, for withoute corne andThis petition …. such maner of sustinance we cannot liue. And in that prayer we include all artificers: for thorough their labors god giueth vsus many commodities which we could not lacke.
We praye also for wholsome ayre. Item we praye for seasonable wether, whan we hauehave to muche rayne we praye sor fayre weather: agayne when we lack rayne we pray that god wil send rayne. And in that praier we pray for our cattel, that god wil preserue thē to our vse, from al diseases: for without cattell we can not liue, we can not till the ground nor hauehave meate, therefore we include them in ou re praier to.
So you see that this prayer contayneth innumerable thinges. For we praye for all suche thynges as bee expedient and needefull for the preseruation of this life. And not alone this, but we have here good doctrine and admonitions besydes.
For here we be admonished of the liberality of god our hea uenly father, which he sheweth dayly ouer vsus. For our sauiourThis petition doothe … vsus in … of gods libera litie. knowyng the liberalitye of god our heauenly father com maundeth vsus to pray, yf he would not giuegive vsus the thyngs we aske. Christ would not hauehave commaunded vsus to praye, yf he had born an yll wyl against vsus. Christ wold not hauehave sent vsus to him. But our sauiour knowyng his liberal heart towards vsus, commaundeth vsus to praye and desyre all thinges at hys handes.
And here we bee admonished of oure estate and condicion,… wee leasne that we are beg gers. what we be, namely beggers. For we aske bread, of whom? marry of god. What are we than? Marrye beggers, the grea test lordes and ladies in England are but beggers afore god. Seyng then that we all are but beggers, why should we thē … and despyse poore men? … vsus therefore consider that we be but beggars: let vsus … our stomaches, for if we consider the matter well, we are lyke as they …, afore1. Cor 4. god: for sainct Paule sayth, Quid habes quod non accepisti? What hast thou that thou hast not receiued of god? Thou artThe riche mā is a begger before God. but a beggar whatsoouer thou art: and though there be some very riche and hauehave great abundance, of whom hauehave they it? of god. What saieth he, that ryche man? … saith. Our father which art in heauen. GiueGive vsus this day our dayly breade: then he is a begger afore god as well as the poorest man. Further how continueth the ryche man in his riches? who made hym riche? Marry god. For it is written, benedictio dei facit … Prouer ye Gods blessing maketh riche.yt blessinges of god maketh rych, except god blesse, it stan deth to no effecte: for it is written. comedent & non … they shall eate but yet neuer be satisfyed. … as much as you wyl except god fede you, you shall neuer beful. So likewise as ryche as a man is, yet he cannot augment his riches, nor kepe that he hath except god be with him, excepte he blesse him: therfore let vsus not be proude for we be beggers the best of vsus.
Note here that our sauiour biddeth vsus to say, VsUs: this VsUs: lappeth in al other men with my prayer. For eueryevery one of vsus prayeth for an other, when I say. … vsus this day our dayly bread. I praye not for my selfe onelyonly (yf I aske as he byddeth me) but I pray for all other. Wherfore say I not, Oure father give me this day my daylye breade? for because god is not my god alone, he is a common god. And here we be admo nished to be frendlye, louing and charitable one to an other, for what god …, I can not saye this is my owne: but INo manne … sayth is is myne ovvne to do doo vvith it what I … must say this is ours. For the ryche man can not saye: this is mine alone, god hath geuen it vntounto me for my own vse. Nor yet hath the poore man any titel vntounto it, to take it away from him. No, the poore man maye not do so, for when … doth so, he is a theife afore god and man, but yet the poore man hathe … to the ryche mans good, so that the rycheman oughte to let the poore man hauehave part of his riches, to helpe and to com fort? him withal. Therfore when god sendeth vntounto me much, it is not myne but Oures, it is not … vntounto me alone, but I must helpe my poore neighbours withal. But here I must aske you ryche men a question, howe chaunceth it you hauehave your riches? we hauehave thē of god, you wyll saye. But by whatPoore … held rich men to goodes. meanes hauehave you thē? by praier you wil say: we praye for the vntounto god, and he giueth vsus the same. Very well. But I pray you tel me, what do other mē which are not ryche? praye they not as wel as you do? yes you must say, for you cannot denye it. Thē it … yt you hauehave your riches not thorough your own praiers only but other mē help you to pray for thē. For they say aswel Our father, geue vsus this day our daily bread as you doo: and peraduenture they be better than you be, and God heareth their prayer sooner than yours. And so it appereth … manifestly that you obtaine your richesse of god, not only through your owne … but through other mens to. Other men help you to get them at gods hand, thā it foloweth that seyng you get not your richesse alone thorow your owne prayer, but through the poore manspraier: it is mete yt the poore mā shold hauehave part of them, & you ought to … his necessitie & pouertie. But what meaneth God by this inequalitie that he giueth to somme an. 100. pounde, vntounto this man. 5000. pound vntounto this man in a maner nothing at all,The riche man is gods treasurer. What meaneth he by this inequalitie? Here he meaneth that the riche ought to distribute his riches abrode amongest the poore, for the riche man is but goddes officer, gods treasorer, he ought to distribute them accordyng vntounto his Lorde gods commandement. If eueryevery man were riche than no mā wold do any thing: therfore god maketh some rich and some poore. Againe that the riche may hauehave where to exercise hisGod sēdeth the poore to the ryche, charitie, God made some riche and some poore: the poore he sendeth vntounto the riche to desire of him in gods name helpe & aide. Therfore you riche men whan there cometh a poore mā vntounto you, desiryng your helpe, think none otherwise but god hath set him vntounto you, & remembre that thy riches be not thy owne, but thou art but a stuard ouer them. If thou wilt not do it, thā cometh in s. Iohn which saith: He yt hath yt substāce of this world, & seeth his brother lacke & helpeth him not, hold remaineth the louelove of god in him? he speaketh not of them yt hauehave it not, but of them yt hauehave it: that sawe man loueth not god, if he help not his neighbor hauing wherwith to do it. This is a sore & hard word: There be many which say withMany say they louelove god. their mouth, they louelove god: And if a man shold aske here this multitude whether they louelove God or no: they wold say …, god forbid els. But if you consider their … vntounto the poore, you shal see as saint Iohn said, the louelove of god is not within thē. Therfore you rich me euer … This petitiō is god store house.you hauehave your riches. be it a thousand …. yet you … of this petition. For this petitiō, … vsus this day our … bread, is gods storehouse, gods … his prouision, & here you fetche it. But euer hauehave in remembrance, that this is a cōmon praier, a poore mā praieth … as thou, & peraduenture god sendeth this riches vntounto thee for an other mans prayers sake, which praieth for thee, whose praieth is more effectuall than thin owne. And therefore you ought to be thankful vntounto other men, which pray for you vnA remedy against … ked careful nes. to god & helpe you to … your riches. Againe, this petition is a remedy agaynst this wicked carefulnesse of men, whan thei seke how to liue, and how to get their linings, in such wise, like as if there were no god at all. And than there be some which wil not labor as god hath apointed vntounto thē: but … them to … salse ware, & deceue their neighbors, or to … other mēs … or conies. Those selowes ar … wide, let thē com to gods … house, yt is to say, let them com to god, & call vponupon him with a good faithe, saying: Our father geue vsus this day our Daily bread, truly god wil heare them. For this is yt only remedy that we hauehave here in earth, to come to his treasor house, & … there suchGod promi seth to sede vsus dayly. things as we lack. Consider this word daily, God promiseth vsus to fede vsus daily. If ye beleue this, why vse ye thā falshod and deceite? Therfore good people leaue your falshode, get you rather to this treasure house, then you may be sure of a liuyng: for god hath determined that al yt com vntounto him desi ring his helpe, thei shalbe holpē, god wil not forget thē. But our … is so great, we will not com vntounto him, we will rather go about to get our liuing with falshod, than desire yt same of hi. O what falshod is vsed in Englād, yea in yt hole world? It were not … if the fire from heauen fel vpō vsus like as it did vponupon yt Sodomites, onelyonly for our falshodes sake. I will tell you of som which are practised in my contryA fals prac tise much v sed among the men of the coūtrey wher I dwel. But I wil not tel it you to teche you to do yt same, but rather to abhor it. For those which vse such deceitfulnes shal be damned world wtout …, except thei repēt I hauehave knowē som yt had abarant …, they wold fain hauehave had a great deale of money for her, therfore they go & take a calfe of another cow, & put it to this barain cow, & so com to yt market, pretēding yt this cow hath brought yt calf & so they sel their barant cow 6. 02. 8. …. derer thā they shold hauehave … els. The man whych bought the cowe commeth home, peraduenture he hath a many of children, and hath no more cattell but this cowe, and thinketh he shall hauehave some mylke for his chyldren: but whan all thynges commeth to passe, this is a barrant cowe, and so this poore man is deceiued. The other fellow whyche solde the cowe, thynketh hym selfe a … felow, and a wyse marchaunt, and he is called one that can make shyfte for hymselfe. But I tell thee, who so euer thou arte, doo so if thou lust, thou shalt doo it of this price: thou shalte goe to the diuell: and there be hanged on the fyry galowes worlde without ende: and thou arte as very a these asThe … de of these wittie felllovves, is damnation except …. whan thou takest a mās purse from him going by the way, & thou sinnest as wel against this commandement, Non … furtū, Thou shalt do no theft. But these felowes commonly which vse suche deceiptfulnesse and guyles, can speake so fyne ly, that a man would thynke butter shold scant melte in theyr mouthes.
I … you one other falsehode: I know that some husbandeAn other countreye deceipt. men go to the market with a quarter of corne: Nowe they would fayne sell deere the worst as well as the best, therfore they vse this policie, they go and put a strike of fine malte or corne in the bottome of the sacke, than they put. …. strike of the worst that they had: than a good strike aloft in the sackes mouth, and so they come to the market. Nowe there cometh a byar, asking, Syr is this good malt? I warrant you saith he, there is no better in this towne: and so he selleth all his malt or corne for the best, whan there be but. ii. strikes of the best in his sacke. The man that byeth it, thynketh he hathe good malte, he commeth home: Whan he putteth the malt out of the sacke, the stryke whyche was in the bottome couereth the yll malte whyche was in the myddes, and so the good man shall neuer perceyne the fraude, tyll he commeth to the occupyeng of the corne: thother man that solde it, taketh this for a pollicie, but it is a thefte afore God, and he isThe gaines that he shal hauehave that sell euyl for good bounde to make restitution of so muche as those two strykes whyche were naught, were solde to deere, so muche he oughte to restore, or elles he shall neuer comme to heauen, yf GOD bee trewe in his worde. I could tell you of one other falshode, how they make … to way muche, but I wyll not tell it you. Yf you learne to doe those falshodes whereof I hauehave tolde you now, then take the sause with it, namely that you shal neuer see the blisse of heauen, but be damned worlde without ende with the deuill and all his aungels. Now go to whan it please you, vse falshode. But I praye you wherfore will you deceiue your neighbour whom you ought to louelove as well as your owne selfe? consider the mater good people what a dangerous thing it is to fal in yt hands of the euer liuyng God: leaue falshode, abhorre it, be true & faithfull in your callyng, Querite regnum dei & iustitiam … & cetera omnia … vobis. Seke the king dome of god and the rightuousnes therof: than all thinges ne cessary for you, shall come vntounto you vnloked for.
Therfore in this petition note fyrst gods goodnes how gē tillGod wold hauehave vsus to com to him for all … ges. he is towardes vsus, in so muche that he woulde hauehave vsus to come vntounto him and take of hym all thynges. Then agayne, … what we bee, namely beggers, for we begge of him, whi … vsus to leaue stoutnes and proudenes, and to be humble.
Note what is Our, namelye that one prayeth for an other and that this storehouse is common vntounto all men.
Note agayns what we bee whan we bee false, namely the children of the deuill and enemies vntounto god.
There be some men which would hauehave this petition not toThe mynd of some … ned men. importe or contayne these bodely thinges, as thinges whiche be to vyle to be desyred at gods hand: Therfore they expound it altogether spiritually, of thyngs pertaining vntounto the soule onelyonly, which opinion truly I do not greatly lyke. For shal I trust god for my soule, and shal I not trust him for my body? Therfore I take it that all thynges necessarye to soule and bodye are contayned in this petition: and we oughte to seeke all thynges necessarye to oure bodelye foode onelye in thys storehouse.
But you muste not take my sayinges after suche sorte as though you should do nothyng but sit and praye: and yet you should hauehave your dinner and supper made redy for you. No not so, but you must labour, you must do the worke of your vocation. Querite … dei, seeke the kingdom of heauen, you must sette those two thinges together, workes and prayer.The vvaye to be sure of lyuinge. He that is true in his vocation, doth accordyng as god willeth him to do, and then pray they vntounto god: that mā or womā may be assured of their lyuing, as sure (I say) as god is God. As for the wicked. in dede god of his excedyng mercye and liberalitle fyndeth them, and sometymes they fare better then the good man doth: but for all yt, the wicked mā hath euer an yll conscience, he doth wrong vntounto god, he is an vsurper, he hath no right vntounto it: the good and goodly man he hath right vntounto it, for he commeth by it lawfully, by his prayer and trauail. But these … men, thinke ye, say they this praierThe … man dothe but mocke god … he prayeth. with a faithfull hearte? Our father whiche arte in heauen, Geue vsus this day our dayly bread: Thinke ye thei say it from the bottome of theyr heartes? No no, they do but mocke god, they laughe hym to scorne, when they say these wordes. For they hauehave their bread, theyr syluer and golde in theyr …, in their chests, in their bagges or bougets, therfore they hauehave no sauour of god, … they would shew them selues liberall vntounto their poore neighbours, they woulde open their chestes and bagges, and lay out and helpe their brethern in Christe. They be as yet but …; they saye this prayer like as the Turke might say it.
Consider this worde GiueGive, Certainly we must labour, yet we must not so magnifie our labor as though we gat our liuing by it. For labour as long as thou wilte, thou shalt hauehave no profite by it excepte the lorde increase thy labour. Therfore we muste thanke him for it, he dothe it, he geueth it: to whome? laboranti, & …, vntounto him that laboreth and prayth: that man that is so disposed shal not lack, as he saith, dabit … sanctum … illum, He will geue the holy …, vntounto them that desire the same. Then we muste aske: for he geueth not to …. In dede they hauehave … benefits: they liue wealthily: but as I tolde you before, they hauehave it with an yll conscience, not laufully. Therfore Christ… saith. Solem … super iustos et iniustos. Itē, Nemo… shew not vvho are in Gods fauour. … an … vel amore sir dignꝰ. We can not tell outwardlye by these worldly things which be in ye fauour of god & which be not: for they be common vntounto good and badde. But the wicked hauehave it not with a good conscience The vpright good man hath his liuing thorough his labour and faithful praier, beware that you trust not in your labour, as though ye gotte your lyuing by it: for as sainct Paule saith. Qui plantat nihil est, ne que qui tigat, sed … dat incrementum deus. Neither1. Cor. 3. he that planteth is ought, nor he that watereth, but god that giueth the encrease: Excepte God geue the encrease all our labour is lost. They that bee the children of this worlde,VVhat they be that com not to gods storehouse. (as couetous persons, extorsioners, oppressoures, caterpyllers, vsurers) thinke you they come to goddes storehouse? No no, they doe not, they hauehave not the vnderstanding of it, they cannot tell what it meaneth. For they looke not to get theyr lyuynges at gods storehouse, but rather they thinke to gette it with deceipt and falshod, with oppressions, and wrong doynges. For they thinke that al thinges be lauful vntounto them, therfore they thinke that though they take other mens goods thorough sutteltie and craftes, it is no synne. But I tell you, Those thynges which we bye or gette with our labour, or are giuen vsus by inheritaunce or other wayes, those thinges bee oures by the law, which maketh meum and tuum myne and thyne. Now all things gottē otherwise are not oures: as those things which be gotten by crafty conueiaunces, by guile and fraude, by robbery and stealing, by extortion and oppression, by handemakyng, (or howe soeuer you come by it, besyde theGod hateth almes of … g …. right way) it is notyours in so much that youmay not giuegive it for gods sake, for god hateth it. But you will say: what shall we do with the good gotten by vnlaufull meanes? Marye I tell thee, make restitution, which is the onelyonly way yt pleaseth god. O lord what bribery, falshod, deceiuing, false getting of goods is in Englād? And yet for al yt we heare nothing of …, which is a miserable thig. I tel you none of thē whi che hauehave takē their neighbors good frō him by any maner of…, …. falshod, none of thē (I …) shalbe saued except they make resti tution, either in affect, or effect: in effect, when they bee able, in …, … they bee not able in no wyse. … sayethe. Si impius egerit …. & rapinam …. Whan the vngodlye doth repent, and restoreth the good gotten wrōgfully and vnlaufully. For vnlawful good ought to be restored agayne: without restitution loke not for saluation. Also this is a true sentēce vsed of s. Augustin. Non remittitur peccarum, nisi restituatur ablatum, Robbery, falsehode, or otherwise yll gotten goodes, can not be forgiuen ofZiche is an exāple for all … to …. god, except it be restored agayn. Zacheus that good publican that cōmon officer, he gaue a good ensample vntounto al … and extorsioners, I would they all would folowe his ensample, he erercised not open robberye, he killed no man by the waye: but with craftes and suttelties he deceiued the poore. When the poore men came to him, he had them to come agayne an other daye, and so delayed the time, til at the leugth he weried poore men, & so gate somewhat of them. Suche felowes are now in our time very good chepe: but … wil not learne the second lesson. They hauehave red the first lesson, how Zache was a bribetaker, but they will not reade the seconde,… vvil not reade … second lesson. they saye A. but they wyll not saye B. What is the seconde lesson? … quem defraudaui reddam quadruplum. Yf I hauehave decetued any man, I wil restore it foure folde. But we maye argue that they bee not suche felowes as Zache was, for we here nothyng of restitution, they lacke right repentāce. It is a wonderful thing to see yt christen people wil liue in such an estate, wherein they know themselues to be damned: for whā they go to bed, they go in the name of the deuyll. In summa,… go to bedde in the deuyls name. what so euer they do, they do it in his name, because they bee out of the fauour of god. God … theim not: therefore (I say) it is to be lamented, that we here nothing of restitution. S. Paule sayeth. Qui furabatur non amplius furetur, he that stale, let him steale no more. which wordes teache vsus, that he which hath stolne or deceiued, and … it, he is a stronge these, so long till he restore againe the thing taken, and shall looke for no … of his synnes at gods hande, till he hath restored againe suche goodes.
There be some which say, repentance or … wil serue it is enough whan I am … for it. Those felowes can not tell what repentance meaneth. Loke vponupon Zacheus, he dydIt is not e nough to be …. repent, but restitution by and by folowed. So let vsus … too: let vsus liue vprightly and godly: and when we hauehave done … or deceiued any body, … vsus make …: and after beware of such …, of suche …, … let vsus call vponupon God, and … to …, … … of ….…, what it … I told you. … I hauehave occasion to speake of the …: for I feare if I shold leue it so, som of you wold … wrongfully, and affirme, that all things should beTher is … in thinges. …. I say not so. Certain it is, yt God hath … proprieties of things, so that that whiche is myne, is not thine: and what thou hast I can not take from thee. If all thynges were common, there could be no theft, & so this … Non … furtum. Thou shalt not …, wer in vain, butitHe … hath things by the … of his … trey hath well. is not so. The lawes of the realms make … & …, myn and …. If I hauehave things by those lawes, thā I hauehave them well. but this you must not forget that s. Paul saith Sitis necesitatibus sanctorum communicantes, Relieue the necessitie of those which hauehave nede. Thinges are not so cōmon, that another mā may take my good from me, for this is theft: but they are so common that we oughte to distribute them vntounto the poore, to helpe them & to comfort them with it: we ought one to … an other: for this is a stāding sentence: Qui habue rit substantiā huius mundi, & viderit fratrē suū necessitatem…. habere & clauserit viscera sua ab co, quomodo … Dei manet in eo? He yt hath the substance of this world, & shal … his brother to hauehave nede, & shutteth vp his entier affection frō hym, how dwelleth the louelove of God in him?
There was a certain maner of hauing things in cōmon in the time of the apostles. For som goodmē (as Bernabas was) solde their landes and possessions, and broughte the moneyThe cause why che … had things in …. vntounto the apostles, but that was doone for this cause: ther was a great meny of christen people at: that time intreated very ill in so much that they left all their goodes. Now such folk cam vntounto the apostels for and & helpe. Therfore those which were faithful men, seing the pouertie of their brethren went & sold that that they had, & spente the … amongeste such poore… and Saphi … his … which were newly made christians. Amongst other whiche sold their goods, there was one Anauias & Zaphira his wife two very suttle persons: they went and sold their good so, but thei … a wise part, they wold not stād in danger of the losing of al their goodes: Therfore thei agreed together, & toke the one part frō the money, & laid it vp: with thother part thei came to Peter, affirming that to bee the whole money. For they thought in their heartes like as al vnfaithful men doo.It is good … wise. We can not tell how long this religion shal abide: it is good to be wise, & kepe somwhat in store, what soeuer shal …. Now Peter knowing by the holy ghost their falshoode, first … him with one word, and after her too: which in dede is a feareful ensample, wherby we shold be monished to beware of lies and falsehode. For though god punish the not by and by as he did this …, yet he shall fynde thee, surelye he will not forget the. Therfore … here to take hede of falshadI … to bevvare of falsehod. and beware of lies. For this …, this wilful Ananias I say, because of this wilfull lie, went to hell with his wife: and there shalbe punished world without ende. where you see what a greuous thyng it is to make a lye: This … neded not to sell his …, he had no such cōmande ment: but seyng he did so, & then came and brought but halfe the price, making a pretence as … he … brought all, for that he was punished so …. O what lyes ar made now adays in England here and there in the markets, truly it is a pitifull thing that we nothyng … it. This one … of Ananias and …, their … is ableAnanias vvas punished for his …. to … the whole world. You hauehave hard now how … had things in cōmon in yt first … s. … vsus how things ought to be in … saying, … tis …, help the … of those which be poore. Oure good is not so ours, that … VVe maye not dooe what wee … vvith our goodesmay do with it what vsus …, … we ought to … it vntounto them which hauehave neede. No man (… I … you …) ought to … away my good … but I … to … yt that I may spare, and helpe the poore …. … saith s. Paul: distribute … yt poore let …, … help them … things as you may spare. For so it is …, Cui plus datum est, plus … ab illo, … that … much must make … for much and if he hauehave not spent it wel, he must make the … accompte: But I speake not this to … poore … labour,He rhat … for …. for we muste labour, and do the workes of our … one in his calling, for so it is written, … manducabis & bene tibi …, yu … eate thy …, and it shal go wel with thee: that is to say, eueryevery man shal work for his …, & shal not be a …, as a great many be: eueryevery man shall labour and pray, than god will send him his lyuing: s. … saith: Qui non laborat, nō …; He that laboureth not, let him not eate. Therefore those lubbers which will not labour, and might labour… that vvylle not labor. it is a good thyng to punish them according vntounto the kings most godlye statutes. For god himselfe saith, In sudore vul … pane …, in the sweate of thy face thou shalte eate thy bread. Than … in s. … which saith. MagisVVe muste labour that vve maye hauehave vvher vvith to … leue the poore. … digentibus, let him labour the sorer that he may hauehave wher with to help the poore, & Christ himself saith. Melius …, …, it is better to giuegive than to take. So Christe & all his apostles, yea the whole scripture admonisheth vsus euer of our neighbor to take hede of him, to be pitiful vntounto him: but god knoweth, there be a great many which care little for their neighbors. They do like as … did, whan god asked him, Cain, where is thy brother Abell?… menne … like vntounto Cain. what? (saith he) am I my brothers keper? So these rich frāklings these couetouse felowes, they scrape al things to themselues, they thinke they should care for no body …, but for themselues: god … the poore man to labor the so …, to yt end that he may be able to helpe his poore neighbor how much more ought the riche to be liberall vntounto them?
But you will saye, here is a maruailous doctrine, whyche … nothing but Geue, Geue, if I shall foloweGeue geue is a … leus … to the … man. this doctrine, I shall … so muche, that at the lengthe I shall hauehave nothyng lefte for my selfe. These be wordes of …, he that speaketh suche woordes … a … manne. And I praye you tell me, hauehave ye hearde of any man that came to pouertye, because he gaue vntounto the poore? hauehave you herd tell of such a one? No, I am sure you hauehave not.No man co meth … po … by … the poore. And I dare lay my hed to pledge for it, yt no mā liuing hath come, or shall hereafter come to pouertie because he hath ben liberal in helping the poore. For God is a true god, and no liar: he promiseth vsus in his word yt we shall hauehave the more by geuing to the nedie. Therfore yt way to get is, to scatter that that you hauehave. Geue & you shal gain: If you ask me how shalGeuing is gainyng, if we gene as vve shold: I get riches? I make yt this answer: Scatter yt that thou hast: for …, is gaining. But you must take hede & scatter it ac cordyng vntounto gods wil & plesure: yt is, to relieue ye poore wtal, to scater it amongst the … of Christ, who soeuer geueth so, shal surely gain. for Christ saith, Date, & dabitur vobis, … & it shalbe geuē vntounto you. Dabitur, it shalbe giuen vntounto you. This is a swete word, we can well away with that: but how … we come by it? Date, geue. This is the way to get, to releue the pore. Therfore this is a false and wicked … to thinke that with geuyng vntounto the poore we shall come to pouertie. What a geuer was Loth, that good man: cam he toLoth was a large … pouertie through geuing? No, no, he was a great riche man. Abrahā, yt father of al beleuers, what a liberal man washe, in somuch yt he sat by his doore watching whā any body wēt by the way that he might cal him, & releue his necessitie. what? came he to pouertie? No no, he died a great riche mā. Therfore let vsus folow yt ensāple of Loth & Abrahā: let vsus be liberal,Abraham vvas a liberall man …. & than we shal augment our stock. For this is a most certain & true word, Date & dabitur vobis, geue, & it shalbe giuē vntounto you. but we beleue it not, we can not a … with it. The most part of vsus are more geuen to take … poore, thā to relieue their …. They be so careful for their childrē, yt … VVe cā not avvay with this ….cānot tell … they be wel, … purchase this house & yt hous: but what saith the prophet? Voe qui … is … wo be vntounto you yt … house to house, yt curse of god hangeth ouer your heads. Christ saith, Qui … vel … vel … me, … est me …, He yt loueth his father or mother,VVho the bee that rey … god or childrē more thā me, he is not mete for me. Therfore those which … & gather euer for their childrē & in yt mean season forget the poore, whom God wold hauehave releued, these I say) regard … more then gods cōmandementes. For their children must bee sette vp, and the poore miserable people is forgotten in the meane season. There is a commonHappy is the childe whose … to the … sayeng amongst the worldlings, Happy is that childe whose father goth to the deuil: but this is a worldly happinesse. The same is seene whā the childe can begin with. …. hundred … wher as his father began with nothing, it is a wicked happynesse if the father gate those goodes wyckedly. And there is … doubt but many a father gothe to the deuyll for his childes …, in that he neglected gods …, scraped for his child, and forgat to relieue his poore miserable neighbor. We hauehave in Scripture, Qui … pauperis, … Deo, Who so euer hath pitie ouer the poore, he lendeth vntounto god vponupon vsurie, that is to say, God will geue it vntounto him againe with increase: this is a laufull and godly vsurie.….
Certain it is, that vsurie was allowed by the lawes of this …, yet it … not that vsury was godly, nor allowed before god. For it is not a good argument, to say it is forbidden to take. x. li. of the hūdred, … I may take fiue. Like as a thefe can not say, it is forbiddē in yt law to steale. xiii. d. ob.No good …. ergo I …. vi. d. or. iii. d. or. ii. d. No no, this reasoning will not serue afore god. For though the lawe of this realme hangeth him not, if he steale. iiii. d. yet for al that he is a thefe before god, and shalbe hanged on the fyry galowes in helle. So he that occupieth vsurie, though by the lawes of this realme, he myght doo it without punishment (for the lawes ar not so precise) yet for all that he dothe wickedly in the sight of… are both …. god. For vsurie is wicked before god, be it smal or great: like as theft is wicked. But I wil tel you how you shalbevsurers to get muche gayne: Geue it vntounto the poore, than God wyll geue it to the with gain, geue. xx. d. and thou shalt hauehave. xl d.If god be … we can not lose …. It shall come againe (thou shalt not lose it) or els God is not god. What nedeth it to vse suche deceitfulnesse & falshode to get richesse: Take a lauful way to get them, that is, to scatterTo … we hauehave … the … way … this abrode that thou hast, & thā … shalt hauehave it again with great gains, quadruplū, 4. times, saith scripture. Now gods word saith that I shal hauehave again that which I laid … with vsurie, with gain. Is it true that god saithe? yes, than let me not think that geuing vntounto the poore doth … stock … god saith the contrarie, namely that it shall increase: or els we make God a liar. For if I beleue not his sayings, thā by myne … I make him a lyar, as much as is in me. Therfore learne here to commyt bsurie, and specially you ryche men, you must learne this lesson well, for of you it isA lessó for riche men written. Who … hath muche, muste make accompt for much: and you hauehave much, not to that end, to do with it what you luste, but you muste spende it as God appointeth … in his word to do. For no rich man can say before god, this is my owne. No, he is but an officer ouer it, an almener gods treasurer. Our sauior saith, Omnis qui reliquerit agrū &c. centuplum accipiet. Who soeuer shall leaue his fielde, shall receiue it agayne an hundred folde. As if I should bee examined now of the papistes, if they should aske me, beleue you in the masse? I say No, according vntounto gods word and my conscience, it is naught, it is but deceiptfulnesse, itThe masse is the … doctrine. is the … doctrine. Now I must go to prison, I leaue al thynges behynde me, wife and children, good and land, and all my frendes: I leaue them for Christes sake, in his quarell. What saith our sauior vntounto it, Centuplum accipiet, I shall hauehave an hundred tymes so much. Now though this be spoken in such wise, yet it may be vnderstanden of almes giuing to. For that mā or womā that can find in their hertes for gods sake to leaue. r. s. or. r. li. they shal hauehave an hundred fold again in this life, & in the world … come life euerlasting. If this will … moue our hertes, than they are more than stome and slintie, then our … is iust and wel deserued.Stonie and … her …. For to geue almes it is like as whan a man cometh vntounto me, & desireth an emptie purse of me: I lend him the purs he cometh by and by and … it full of money, & geueth it me: So that I hauehave now my purse again, & the money to. So it is to geue almes, we lend an emptie purse, and takeA good si …. a ful purse for it. Therfore let vsus persuade our selues in our heartes, that to geue for gods sake, is no … vntounto vsus but great gaine. And truly the poore man doth more for the rich man, in taking thinges of him, than the riche doothe for theScarce auy riche man vvill beleus this. … in geuing them. For the rich giueth but only … goods: but the poore geueth him by the promise of god al …. Quotidianū, Daily. here we learne to caste awaye all carefulnesse, and to come to this storehouse of god, where we shall hauehave all things competent both for our soules and bodies. Further in this petition we desire that god will feede… for … gie. not onelyonly our bodies but also our soules: and so we praye for the … of preaching. For lyke as the body must be fedde daily with meate: so the soule requireth her meate, which is the word of god. Therfore we pray here for all the clergie, that they may doo their dueties, and fede vsus with the worde of god according to their calling. Nowe I hauehave troubled you long, therfore I will make an end: I desire you remembre to resort to this storehouse: whatsoeuer ye hauehave nede of, come hither, here are all things necessarie for your soule and body, only desire them. But you hauehave hearde how you mustVVhat apparell they muste hauehave that vville comme to Gods store house. be apparelled, you must labor and do your dueties, and than come & you shall find all things necessarie for you: And specially now at this time let vsus resort vntounto god, for it is a great brought, as we thinke, and we had … of rain. Let vsus ther fore resort vntounto our louing father, which promiseth, that whā we call vponupon him with a faithfull heart, he wil heare vsus. Let vsus therfore desire him to rule yt matter so, that we may hauehaveGod heard Elias … our bodily …. we hauehave the ensāple of Elias, whose praier god heard: therfore let vsus pray this …, which our sauior and redemer Jesus Christ himself taught vsus, saying: Our father which art in heauen. &c.
Amen.