Twenty-Seven Sermons, Sermons 1 · Sermon 4

Twenty-Seven Sermons · Sermons 1 · Sermon 4

p. 22The fourth Sermon of M. Latymer made vponupon the Lordes prayer.

FIat voluntas tua,) thy wyl be done. After thys forme oure sauiour a perfecte scholemaister taughte Christen people to praye. Our fatherChrist is a perfecte scholemaister. whych arte in heauen, thy wyll be done. And here he teacheth vsus two thynges as he dyd afore in the other petitions. Fyrst he teacheth vsus to vnderstande what we bee of oure selues namelyeChrist teacheth vsus … things in this …, nothyng at all, not able to doe anye thyng pleasaunte vntounto god: and so he … vsus downe, cutteth of oure combes, bryngeth vsus lowe, whiche elles … be proude, as though we could do somewhat, y^t we cānot do in deede, like, as these merites mongers doe, which esteme themselues afterMerltes mongers. theyr merites, thynke themselues perfecte: in so muche that theyr workes shall not onelye helpe themselues, but also others: therfore they take in hande to sell theym for money. These felowes knowe not themselues, and therfore they doe contrary vntounto this petition. Where oure sauiour … vsus that we can do nothyng of our selues. They (contrary to that petition) wyll doe all thynges alone, and with their meritesTo knovve oure … is the first And vvhat vve shal do the second. bryng to passe all matters. But our sauiour contrary to that teacheth vsus two thynges in thys petition. Fyrste he pulleth downe our stomackes, and teacheth vsus to knowe oure selues. Secondarely he sheweth vsus what we shall doe, namelye, call vponupon god oure heauenly father that he wyl helpe vsus, that we may be able to doe his wyll. For of oure owne selues we are not able to doc any thing acceptable vntounto hym. And thys is a good doctryne whyche admonisheth vsus to geue all praise vntounto God, and not to ascribe it to our owne selues. For so dyede saincte Paule when he sayde, omnia possum in eo qui comfortatPaule gaue … the praise to God. me. I am able to doe all thynges that pertayne to Goddes honour and glorye, thorough hym that strengthneth me, he sayde not, thorough myne owne self: but thorough GOD whyche helpeth me. And here appeareth the ryght humiliation, and lowlynes, whyche oure sausour teacheth vsus in thys petition. For he woulde hauehave vsus to know our owne impossibilitye and vnablenesse to doe any thyng. And than agayn he would hauehave vsus to call for ayde and helpe to God, therefore he teacheth vsus to say, A du eniat regnum tuum, Thy kyngdome come. So that thoughe we bee not able thorough oure owne selues to do any thyng, yet whan we call vponupon hym, he wyll helpe. For Christ knewe his fathers wyll and louing affections towardes vsus: he knewe that he woulde helpe vsus. For he was a perfecte scholemaister, els he would not hauehave commaū ded vsus to praye: Fiat voluntas tua. Thy wyll bee done. Here we must vnderstand that the wyll of god is to bee consydered after two sortes. First, as it is omnipotent, vnsercheable, andGods vvill must be con sidered after … sor c. s. that can not be knowen vntounto vsus. Nowe we do not praye that hys wyll so consydered be done. For his wyll so considered is and euer shalbe fulfylled, though we would say nay to it. For p. 23nothyng either in heauen or in earth is able to withstand his wille. Wherfore it were but folye for vsus to praye to hauehave it fulfilled otherwise then to shew thereby that we … oure consent to hys wyll, whyche is to vsus vnsearcheable.

But there is an other consyderation of Gods wyll, and in that consideration, we and all faithfull christians desire that it maye bee done. And so consydered, it is called a reueled, a manifested, and declared will: and it is opened vntounto vsus in the Bible in the newe and olde testament. There GOD hathe reueled a certayne wille, therefore we praye that it maye bee doone, and fulfylled of vsus. This wyll was opened byGods will was ope ned by Mo ses, the Pro phetes Christ and the Apostles. Moses, and the holye prophetes: and afterwarde by our Sauiour himselfe and his apostles, which he lefte behynde hym to that ende, that they should instructe the worlde and teache them his wyll: which Apostles hauehave done accordyng to theyr maisters commaundement. For they not onelye spake it, but also wrote it, to that ende that it shold remayn to the worldes ende. And truelye we are muche bounde to god, that he hathe set out this his wyll in our naturall mother tongue, In Eng lishe (I say) So that you may not onelyonly beare it, but also rede it your selues. which thyng is a great comforte to eueryevery christianA blessing of god. hearte. For nowe you can no more bee dcceiued, as you hauehave bene in tymes paste. whan we did beare you in hande that poperye was the worde of God: which falshode we could not hauehave broughte to passe, yf the woorde of God, the Bible, had bene abroad in the common tongue. For then you mightThey can not be … that hauehave Bible … their mo ther tōgue. hauehave perceiued your selues, our falshode and blyndnes. This I speake to that …, to … you to thankfulnes towardes hym, whiche so louingly prouideth all thynges necessarye to oure saluation.

Nowe to the matter, almightye God (I saye) sette oute … will by Moses and his Prophetes, and thys will is … in certayne lawes, whiche lawes god commaundeth that we should kepe euer before our eyes, and looke vponupon them, as in… law of god … be our loking …. a glasse, and so learne to order oure lyues accordyng vntounto the …. And in case that a man swarue from the same; and so … into the daunger of damnation, God reueled further hys wyll … to remedy the matter, namely by repentance and saythe. So that whosoeuer from the bottom of hys heart … sorie for his synnes, & studieth to leaue them & lyue vprightly and then beleueth in our …, confessyng that he came into thys worlde to make amendes for our sinnes: this man, or woman, shall not perish, but hauehave forgeuenes of synnes, andThe vvaie to arise frō …. so obtayn euerlastyng lyfe. And this wyl God reueleth specially in the new …, where our … sayeth. Qui credit in me, habet vitam aeternam, Whosoeuer beleeueth in hath euerlastyng lyfe, where we learne that our Sauiour is ordeyned of god to bryng vsus to heauen, … we shoulde hauehave bene all … worlde without ende. So that in this praier when we saye Thy vvill be done. We desyre of God that he wyll helpe and strenghthen vsus, so that we maye keepe hisThe mea … of this petition. holye lawes and commaundementes. And then agayne we desyre of him that he will indue vsus wyth the gyfte of faythe, so that we maye beleue that all those thynges whiche we doe contrary to his lawes be pardoned and forgiuen vntounto vsus thorough his sonne for hys passions sake. And further we desyre him that he wyl fortify & … vsus, so that we may with stande the deuyls will and our owne, which fyghte agaynste goddes wyll. So that we maye be able to beare all tribulations and afflictions willyngly and … for his sake. This is the symple meanyng of this petition, when we saye, Thy vvill be done I will goe a little further, and shewe you some what more of it, yet I entende not to tary long, for I am not very wel at ease this mornyng, therfore I wyl make it short.

I hauehave sayde no we many times, and I say it yet agayne, Quod petimus ardenter … tanquam cupientes habere,VVe muste praye vvith the hearte. whatsoeuer we desyre of god, let vsus desire it from the botome of our hearts: but I feare me, there be many which saye thys … and yet cannot tel what they saye, or at the least their hearts ar contrary disposed vntounto it. Such people I exhort on gods behalf to consider their dueties, to consider that god wil not be … withal, he wil not be derided. We laughe godVVho they bee that laugh God to scorne. to scorne when we say one thing with our mouthe, & thynke an other thing with our herts. Take this for an ensāple. Our rebels which rose about …. yere ago in Northfolke & …, they considered not this …, thei said it with their p. 24lippes onelyonly, but not with their heartes. Almighty god hathThe rebels vvere of this sorte, that laugh ed God to …. reueled his will as concerning magistrates, how he wil hauehave them to be honoured and obeyed. They … vtterly bent against it, he … this wil in many places of the …: but specially by s. Peter wher he saith. Subd re estore nimis, humanae creaturae that is thus muche to say in effect, Bee ye subiect to all the common lawes made by men of authority, by the kinges … and his most honorable councel, or by a common parliament, be subiecte vntounto them, obey them … god. And here is but one …, that is, againste god. When lawes are made against God and his woorde, then IThere is no obedience against god ought more to obey god then man. Then I maye refuse to obey, with a good conscience: yet for all that I may not rise vp against the magistrates, nor make any …. For if I do so I synne damnablye: I muste be content to suffer whatsoeuer god shall laye vppon me, yet I maye not obey their … lawes to do them. OnelyOnly in suche a case, men maye refuse to obey, els in all the other matters we oughte to obey. What lawes soeuer they make as concernyng … thinges we ought to obey, and in no wise to rebell, although they be neuer so hard, noisome and hurtfull: our duetye is to obey, & commit all the maters vntounto god, not douting but y^t god willGod vvyll punishe princes. punish them when they do contrary to their office & callyng. Therfore tary till god correct them, we may not take vpōvs to reforme them. For it is no part of our duety. Yf the rebels (I say) had considered this, thinke you they wold hauehave preferred their own wil afore gods wil? For doing as they did they praied against thēselues. But I thinke y^t ignoraunce was aIgnorance is the cause of rebelliō great cause of it, truly I thinke if this had bene opened vntounto thē they wold neuer hauehave takē such an enterprise in hād. and here we hauehave occasiō to cōsider how much we be boūdē vntounto god y^t he openeth vntounto vsus his word so plainly, & … vsus so truly, how we shuld behaue our selues towards y^t … & their lawes: but for al y^t I fear there be som of vsus which litle regard their lawes & statutes, such despisers of magistra tes when they pray, they praye agaynste …. There bee lawes made of dyete, howe we shall feede oure bodies, what meate … shall … at all tymes, and thys lawe is made in policy (as I suppose) for vitailes sake, that fish might be vttered as wel as other meate. Nowe as long as it goeth… from flesh. so in pollicye, we oughte to keepe it. Therfore all, excepte those that be dispensed with al, as sicke, impotent persons, women with chylde, or olde folkes, or licensed persons, all the reste oughte to liue in an ordinary obedience to those lawes, and not doe agaynste the same in any wyse. There … made of apparell how we shall couer our nature. Is there notA law for …. many which goe otherwyse then god and the magistrates com maunde them to go? There is made a lawe for …, how we shall recreate oure bodies: (For we must hauehave some recreation because of the weakenes of oure nature.) In that laweA law for gaming. we be inhibited cardyng, dicyng, tablyng, and boulyng, and such manner of games, which are expressed in the same …: you may reade it, and you ought to reade it, and to know the acts. For how can you kepe them when you know them not, euerye faythfull subiecte will not disdayne to … the actesAll subiects ought to … heate their … actes or lawes. and the kynges maiesties procedynges, so that he may know what is allowed or forbidden in the same actes. And I my self rede the actes, for it is mete so for vsus to do. Now agayne this is a greate matter that God is so kynde towardes vsus, that he disdayneth not to reuele his will, what order we shall kepe in our dyet, … our refreshing and garments. Therfore it is most mete for vsus to liue in subiection, and not to prefer oure owne wyll before gods wyll. For when I doe stubburnely against those acts set out by our natural kyng and his most honorable… to doe a …, is to doe a gainst gods …. counsellers, than I prefer my wyll afore Goddes will, and so … damnably. These thynges oughte well to be noted: for it is not a … matter, there hangeth damnation or saluation vponupon it. Therfore (as I sayde before) it is good to know the lawes, and I call him a good man, and her a good womā that are contente to be ruled by the lawes, and so declare their subiection and obeoience vntounto GOD and the magistrates. There be some men that saye, when the kynges maiesty him selfe … me to do so, then I wyll do it, not afore, this is a wycked sayeng, and damnable. For we maye not soSuche as … in … tie vnderunder princes must bee obeyed as wel as … ces. be excused. Scripture is playne in it, and she weth vsus that we oughte to obey his … hauyng authoritie from the king, p. 25as well as vntounto the kyng himselfe. Therfore this excuse wyll not nor can not serue afore GOD. Yet lette the magistrates take hee de to their office and dueties. For the magistrates, maye not … all thynges accordyng to their pleasures and myndes, they hauehave authoritye of GOD to do well, and not harme: to edifie and not to destroy: to … the wicked & obstinate,The offices of maiestra tes. and to comfort those which liue wel and godly, to defende thesame from wrong and iniuries of the wycked. So it appeareth that eueryevery one in his order in his degree and callyng ought to do the will of god, and not our owne wyll and pleasure. Thys is oure duetye, happy are we if we doo it in deede. O that men in authoritye woulde consider whereunto God hath ordeined them. Sainct Paule sayeth, The magistrate is Vltor ad iram, He is Gods ordinarie … to punishe malefactors and yll doers, god sayeth, Mihi vindictam ego …, I will auenge my selfe sayeth God, and so he dothe by … magistrates. For that is his ordinary way wher by he punisheth malefactors. But magistrates muste takeLette … heede they goe no further then god alloweth them to doe: Yf they do, they themselues shalbe punished. As there be many ensamples in Scripture whereby … how … god hath punished wicked magistrates. In summa. s. Peter giueth a rule not onelye vntounto the magistrates, but also vntounto the subiectes, saying: Haec est voluntas Dei, vt obcuretis os ad … bene agendo, it is the wyll of god (sayth Peter) that you with your good godly and honest conuersation shallThe mouthes of the … stopt. stoppe the mouthe of your aduersaries. What called s. Peter well doyng? well doing is to liue according to goddes lawes and …. Gods commaundement is that we shall obey magistrates: therfore those which disobey and trasgresse the lawes of the magistrates they doe not accordyng to gods wil and pleasure: … doo but …, they … not the mouthe of the adue saries (… S. Peter would hauehave them to doe) but they geue … occasion vntounto the wicked to … and … the holye worde of God. S. Peter woulde hauehave vsus to stop their mouthe with well …. Many … en whan they hauehave bene … of preachers … of … wicked …, they hauehave gone about to stoppe … monthe with daunderous wordes, this stopping is …. ….Vvicked do … woulde stop prea chers mou …. Peter … hauehave vsus to stoppe with wel doing. Nowe … magistrates not be spoken yll of, and reproued of preachers? Let them do well. Likewise sayth S. Paule of the subiectes Vis non timere potestatem benefac & habebis laudem. Wilt thou not fear the higher power? do … thou shalt be commē ded. Now euē as it is with the … sword, so is it with the spirituall. There be some men which cannot away withall yf they bee rebuked: they cannot beare when the preacher speaketh against their wickednes, vntounto them I say: … non timere predicatore benefac, will you not bee rebuked of the preacher? thē do wel, leaue of your couctousnes, your am …, your yrefulnes, vengeaunce, and malice, your lecheryLearne to stoppe the preachers mouthe. and …, your bloudsheading and such like sinnes, leaue them, amend your lyfe, or elles the preacher accordyng to his office will rebuke and reproue you, be you neuer so great lordes or Ladies: he wyll rubbe you on the galle. For a good and godly preacher can do no lesse seing god dishonoured, per ceiuing him to be blasphemed … wil to be neglected and not executed of them that ought withall their study and indeuour to applye them selues that his will mighte be done. For he is wel worthy, he is the lord, he created heauen and earthe, and is therfore the right natural lorde ouer it. But for al that, the … is lord more than he is, not by right or inheritance, but by conquest, by vsurpation, he is an vsurper. God (as I sayde before) is the natural & laufull lorde ouer the earthe, be cause he made it: yet it pleased his … to make mankynde,Mankynde is gods lief tenaunt …. as ye would say liefetenant ouer it, so that mankynde should beare the rule ouer the …. Therfore GOD said vntounto him: Dominaris, be ruler ouer it. Item replete … & … illam. Also replenishe the earth and subdue it. Here Adam and his wife and so al his posteritie were by god made rulers ouer the exth, as gods high debities or his liefe tenantes. So as concerning gods ordenance mankynde was the lawfull inheritour of this kingdome. But now … in the deuyll with his … and with his false suttelties: he inueigled fyrst the …; and afterwarde the man, persuadyng them to transgresse gods holy … p. 26mentes: with which … doyng they lost the … of god, and theyr dignities: and so the deuyll thorough his … substitutedThe deuill …. himselfe as an vsurper or conquerour: and so he is a …, non per fas, sed nefas, not laufully, but wrongfully. Though he did say to our sauiour shewyng him all the king domes of the world, Cuicun que volo do …, I may giuegive … The deuill ….to whom soeuer I will. He lyeth falsely, god will destroy him at the length for at his … and lyes, they shall not saue him. Yet for all …, he is a great ruler. For this is most certainThe … is a … ruler, and … hath many serue hym. and true, a great … more do the will of the deuil, thā of god, whatsoeuer they babble with their mouthes, loke vppon their workes, and you shall fynde it so. For all proude persons, all ambitious persons, (which be euer clymyng vp, and yet neuer bee well) all suche doe not … wyll of god, and therfore pertayne not to his kingdome: all … rebelliousVVho so re … his … quarrel doth the vvil of the diuell. persons, all quarellers and wranglers, all bloudsheders, doe the will of the deuill, and not goddes wyll. God sayeth: Mihi vindictam ego retribuam. I will auenge my selfe, whiche he dothe thorough the magistrate, and whan the magistrate is slacke, he doth it himselfe. Nowe those yrefull … persons that hate their neighbors, they do not the wil of god, but of the deuyll. Also these suttell, deceitful persons, which hauehave no conscience to … and beguile their neighboures, that care not for breaking their promises, nor are not ashamed to vtter false ware, they pertaine al to the deuil. Item these that wyll not make restitution of gooddes yll gotten, they serueHe that vvill not serue the diue ll must restore … ges vvrong … gotte. the deuyll: Scripture sayth: Qui peccat ex diabolo est. Who soeuer sinneth is of the deuyll, whiche is a very harde worde to be spoken of the holy ghoste, and a fearefull worde, able to withdraw vsus from synne, if we had anye feare of god in oure heartes. Amongest those maye be noumbred all slouthfull persons, whiche wyll not trauayle for theyr lyuynges, theySturdy beg gars doe serue the di uell. … the wyll of the deuyll. GOD byddeth vsus to … oure lyuyng with labour: they wyll not labour, but goe rather aboute a beggyng, and spoyle the verye poore and nedye. Therefore … beggers are theues before GOD. Some of these valiaunt …, when they came to my house I commoned wyth them, burthenyng them wyth the transgression of goddes lawes. Is this not a great labourThe beggers … that they la bour. (say they) to runne from one toune to an other to gette oure meate: I thynke we labour as harde as other men do. In such wise they goe aboute to excuse their vnlawfull beggerye and …: but suche ydle lubbars are much deceiued. For they consider not that such labour is not allowed of god. We must labour so as may stande with godlynes, accordyng to hys appiontment: cls theues, which rob in the night tyme, do they not labour? ye sometimes they labour with great care, peryll,Thenes say that they la bour. and daunger of their liues. Is it therfore godly, because it is a labour? No no, we must labour as god hath apointed vsus euerye man in hys estate. Further these drunkardes whiche abuseDrunkards Lecherous persons. the giftes of god. Item these lecherers and who or …, that liue in adultery: These violaturs of holy matrimo nye which line not accordyng vntounto goddes lawes. Item these swearers, for …, lyars, all those do not the will of god. Therfore it is to be lamented of eueryevery christen hearte, whenGod hathe … ser uantes. they see howe manye seruauntes the deuill hathe, and god so fewe: But all those which serue the deuill are rebels agaynst God. God was their lorde, they swarue from him thorough wicked lyuing, and so become seruantes of the deuyll. Therfore those christian people that hauehave a desyre to liue after goddes will and commaundementes, they liue amongest the wic ked euen as it were amongest the rebels. They that dwelled in Northfolke or Deuonshtere at the tyme of rebellion, they which were faithfull to their king and prynce, howe thinkeA Symilitude taken of the Rebelles. you they were intreated? full miserably god knoweth: either they were constrayned to helpe their wicked purposes, or els they muste suffre all calamities which coulde be deuised. Euen so shall all those be intreated which intende to liue well, accordyng to gods commaundementes. For the rebells that is, the wicked which hauehave forsaken their lorde god, and taken the deuill to be ruler ouer them, they shall compell them to folow,Math. x.Matt 10 or els to suffer al calamities and miseries. And so shalbeHowe Christ sendeth not peace but a sworde. verified the saying of our sauiour Christe. Non veni vt mittā pacem sed gladiū. I am not come (sayth he) to send peace, but the sword. which is in dede a strange saying, but it hathe his vnderstandyng: god is a god of peace and concord he loueth p. 27vnitie and concorde: but when he cannot hauehave peace, by the reason of the deuyll, than he will hauehave the sworde: that is to say, … loueth vnitye, he would hauehave vsus all agree together: but because of the wicked we cannot. Therfore he wyl father hauehave vsus to chuse the sworde, that is, to … and withstande their wickednes, then to agree vntounto them. And therfore thysThey that call the gof pell …. ous are …. doctrine is called a seditious doctrine: but who are those rebelles? euen they them selues which call this doctrine seditious: they themselues (I saye) are traitours against GOD. Wherfore our sauiour seeyng he can hauehave no peace with the wicked. he wyll hauehave vsus rather to withstande theyr wickednesse,God vvilhis flock segregated from the vvicked and so bring them to reformation: and this is the cause wherfore he will hauehave his flocke segregated from the wicked.

Therfore let vsus praye vntounto god oure heauenly father, … voluntas …, Thy wyll bee doone. This is the prayer of all christian people, whiche hauehave a wyll to doe goddes wyll: but those impenitent sinners whiche are not yet wery of their sinnes, do neuer praye, for though they say the wordes, yet it is to no purpose, they saye them without vnderstandyng, therefore it is but lyplabor, it is no prayer, it is but the deuils seruice.The deuil serued by saieng the … For a man maye serue the deuill with sayeng the Pater noster, when he sayeth it w^t a defyled mynde. Let vsus therfore order our selues so that we maye saye it worthely as it ought to be. Let vsus laye away al wickednes and yll liuyng, so that we may say from the bottome of our heart. Our father vvhichwhich arte in heauen, Thy vvill be done. And so did Susanna that godly woman: So did lady Iudith: So did Queene Esther. So did all good sainctes of god. And though this praier wasThe salucts before the comming of Christ vsed this petition. not made at that tyme, by the reason they were a great while … Christes commyng:) yet they had this prayer in effecte. For they beleued in almightye god: they beleued in Abrahames sede, which was promised: which saith stoode them in as good stede, and they were as well saued thorough that same belief as we now thorough our beliefe. For it is no differenceThe difference betvvene the fathers such and …. betweene their beliefe and oures, but this: They beleued in Christ which was to come, and we beleue in Christ, which is come already. Now their belefe serued them as well as ours dothe vsus. For at that time God required no further at their handes, than was opened vntounto them: we hauehave in our tyme a further and more perfect knowledge of Christ then they had. Now Susanna whā the iudges (the same wicked men) came vntounto her, and moued her with fearefull … to doe their willes, that is, to sinne against god in doyng that filthy acte of lecherye: (for the same wicked Iudges bare a wicked … louelove towardes her:) thinke you not she resorted vn to god? Yes yes, without doute, she said these wordes in effect. Pater noster, Fiat voluntas tua. Our father, thy wyll be done, and not the will of the wicked men. Therfore she putting herSusanna de fired that gods will be done. God is euen …. hope and trust in god, hauing a respecte that his will mighte be done, and not the deuils will, god, whiche is euer true, … not fayle her, for you know how she was deliuered thorough yonge Daniell. This is written to our instruction: For he is now the selfe same god that he was at tyme: he is as … as he was, he is as ready as he was, she was in anguishe and great distresse, she sought to halow his holy name: therfore he … helpe her, he suffered her not to perishe. … certainlye he wil do vntounto vsus too. Therfore whā … be in trouble let vsus halow his name, and then we shall fynde his helpe lyke as Susaune did.

In such wise did Iudith whan she was prouoked of HolofernesIudith … to … lovve the name of god and to his vvill. Peter forgat his Pater noster. to do wickedly. She sought rather to sanchfye goddes name, to doe his will, then the wil of the deuill, therfore God gaue her such a … victory. So did queene …, whā Hanian that wicked fellow had power ouer her: she committed all the matter vntounto god, with … and prater. But S. Peter what did he? Mary he forgate his … noster, for … there came but a … wenche askyng him: arte not thou a Gallilean? art not thou one of this new learning? art not thou a gospeller? what did Peter? he was gone quite: he denied it, he forgate his …. For if he had had grace to consider that he ought rather to suffer death than to forsake his ma ster Christ, then he would hauehave said, Pater noster. Fiat volun tas tua. Our father, Thy vvill be done. I am redy to suffer for thy sake whatsoeuer thou shalt lay vponupon me. but he did not soChrist loo ked oa Peter. he … himselfe. What did our sauiour? he turned backe and looked vponupon him. Happy was Peter that our sauiour … p. 28ked vponupon him againe, for it was a gracious token.Iudas for gate this same peti tion.

Iudas that false man that traitour, forgotte this same peti tien, and remained so in his errour still to the ende. Surelye he was a sorowfull and a heauy man in so much that he madeIudas vvas better then some that novv liue. restitution. He was much better than a great many of vsus be, which whan they hauehave iniuried and wronged poore men, wil make no restitution. I tell you truth, Iudas was much better than suche fellowes be. Poenitentia ductus, sayth the text, but he lacked faith. And so betweene Peter and him, whicheThe difference be twene Pe … and … das. wer both two sorowfull mē, this was y^t difference. … had faith, Iudas lacked it: … he was excedyng sorowfull for his wickednes, in somuch that he went and hanged himself, therfore he forgate this petition. So likewise all voluntarie synners, all vnrepentant synners, none of them all … this petition as they ought to do: they say it not worthily nor profitably. For they hauehave no wyll to doo his will, theyr will is to do their own will and pleasure. But aboue al things these questmongers had nede to take hede: for there all thynges goQuestmon gers must marke. c. …. eth by othe. They had neede to saye: Our father, thy wyll be doone. For they shal be moued to doo this and that whiche is againste God. They muste iudge by their othe, accordyng to conscience, giltie or not giltie. Whan he is giltie, in what case are those which say, not giltie? Scripture doothe shewe what a … it is, whan a man is a malefactor, and the quest mongers iustifie hym, and pronounce him not giltie, saying: Et qui iustificat impium, & … condem nat iustum, ambo abhominabiles coram …, He that … the wicked, and he that condemneth the iust man, they are both abhominable before the lord. Who is …? he that doth not the will of god, the wil of god is, that the wicked shold be punished.Marke this historie. I my self did ones know where there was a mā slain of an other man in an anger, it was done openly, the manqueller was takē & put in prison. Sute was made to y^t questmongers (for it was a riche man that had done y^t act.) At the length eueryevery man had a … for his good will: and so this open mankiller was pronounced not giltie. Lo, they soldeA dousen … for v … a piece. their soules vntounto the deuil for. v. shillings. For which … Christ suffred deth. And I dare … except they amēd & be forye for their faultes, they shalbe damned in hell … without ende. They had cleane forgotten this petition, Thy vvill be done. For they did the wyll of the deuyll. It had bene a good dede to cut of their crounes by their neckes to the ensample of all other. Therfore (I saye) these questmongers had neede to saye: Our father vvhichwhich art in, heauen; Thy vvill bee done For truely it is maruel y^t this realme synketh not … to hell hedlong, what periuries, swearing, cursyng is euerye where in eueryevery corner? Therfore (I saye) we had nede to pray earnestly, that gods will maye be done. And we should be conTo lose life is to find it. tent to lose oure lyues for rightuousnes sake. For he y^t loseth his lyfe for because he wil not agree to the … of god, he seketh that gods will may be done. Happy is that man, for he syndeth his lyfe, he loseth it not. For Christ wylbe his keper.Ioab loked thorovv his fingers.

Ioab that greate and valiaunte capitaine, he knew well ynough when Dauid sent vntounto hym good Urias, with letters: he knew (I saye) that the kynges will was against gods will, yet he looked thorough his fyngers, he wynked at it, he wold rather do the wicked wyll of the kyng, than the will of God.Chaplaines about the ….

Of suche … there be a great number, whiche care not for the honour and wyll of god. These chaplaynes about the king and great men, had neede to say: … voluntas tua, Our father, Thy vvill be done, but they are verye slow and slacke: they winke commonly at all matters be they neuer so …. They be Capellani ad manus. They wyll not … mundum de peccato they dare not rebuke the world of sinne: they dare not doe as the prophete commaundeth vntounto them to doe, whan he saith: Audiant montes … domini, let the … heare the iudgementes of the lorde, though the smoke, as he saith: … montes & fumigabūt. Touche the … and they will smoke, Yea and though they smoke, yet stryke thē, spare thē not tel thē theyr faults. But great mē cānot suffer that, to be so rebuked, their chapleins muste be faught a discretion, ifA meane vvherbyma gistrates may kepe themselues in estimatiō they will go so to wurke. They … commonly magistrates should be brought out of estimation, yf they shoulde be handled so. Syrs, I wyll tel you what you shal do to kepe your estimation and credite: do well, handle vprightly and indifferently al matters, defend the people from oppressiōs, do your p. 29office as god hath apointed you to do, whan you do so (I war rant you) you shall keepe your estimation and credite. And I warrant you againe, the preacher will not strike nor cut you with his sworde, but rather praise you and commende your weldoings. Els whan you do nought and wickedly, oppresse the poore, and geue false iudgements: whan you do so, that isThe good preacher must strike with his svvorde. negodly preacher that will hold his peace, and not strike you with his sworde, that you smoke againe. But it is commenly as the scripture sayth, Laudatur impius in desideriis animae …. The wicked is praised in the desyres of his wickednes. Chaplaines wyll not doe their ducties, they will not draweChaplaines vvil not … their due …, their swordes, but rather flatter, they wil vse discretion: But what shall folow? Mary they shal hauehave gods curse vponupon their heades for theyr labour: this shalbe al their gaines that they shall get by their flatterings.

An other scripture saith: Qui po estatem exercent hi benefi cia vocantur. The greate and mighty men be called benefactours,Flatterers call men of might bene factours. weldoers, but of whom be they called so? Mary of … terers, of those which seke not to do the wyll of God, but the pleasures of men.

S. John Baptist that hardy knight, and excellent preacher… Bap tist said this pet tion a right. of god, he said this petitiō right with a good faith. Our father Thy vvill be done. Therfore he went to the king, saying: Nō licet tibi. Syr it is not lauful for thee to do so. See what bold nes he had? how hoate a stomacke in gods quarell to defendeChaplains vvinke. gods honor & glory? But our … what do they nowe a …? Mary they winke at it, they wyl not displease: for they seeke …, they seke benefices, therfore they be not worthyI say is a … sel …. to be gods officers. Esaias that faithful minister of god, he is a good plain felow, he telleth them the matter in plain, saying: Argentum tuum versum est in …, principes tui infideles, socii furum, Thy siluer is turned to drosse, thy princes are vnfaithfull, and felowes of theues. he is no flatterer, hetelleth them y^t truth. Thy princes said he, are … I say percei ued thinges amisse.subuerters of iustice. This Esay did: for he had respecte to gods word, he perceiued things amisie, he knew that it was his parte to admonish, to cut them w^t his sword. Would god our preachers would be so feruent to promote the honor and glory of god, to admonish the great and the smal to do the wit of the lord. I pray god they may be as feruent as our sauiour was whan he said to his disciples Moos … est vt faciam vo luntatem patris mei qui est in coelo. My meat is to do the wit of my father which is in heauē (that is to say) you are no moreThe hunger that prea chers shold hauehave. desirous to eate your meate when you be a hongry, then I am to do my fathers wil which is in heauen. By what occasiō our sauiour saith these words you shal perceiue whā you consider the circumstances, I pray you reade the chapter it is the. 4. of John. The story is this. He sendeth his disciples to a toune to bye meate (where it appeareth that our sauiour had money:)Christ had money. after their departure he setteth him doune, which was a soken that he was a weary, and I warrant you he had neuer a cusshyne to lay vnderunder him. Now as he was syttyng so, there com meth a womā out of the toune to fateh water: he or syred her to geue him drinke. She made answer: wil you drink … whi cheam a Samaritain? So they wēr … in their talk: at y^t lēgth he bad her go cal her hus bād, she made answer, I hauehave no husbād, y^u saiest wel said our sauior, for y^u hast had 5. & this y^t y^u hast now, is not thy husbād: & so he reueled himself vntounto her.

… men peraduenture wyll say: what meaneth this that our … talketh alone with this woman. Answer, his humilityThe cause … Christ … vvith the vvoman alone. and gentilnes is shewed herein. For he was consente to talk with her, beyng alone, and to teach her the way to hea uen. Agayne some men may learne here not to be so … in their iudgementes: that when they see … persons talke together to suspect them. For in so doyng they mighte … our sauior himself. It is not good, it is against the wil of god to iudge rashely, I know what I meane. I know what vnhayRash iudge ment. py tales be abroad, but I can do no more but to geue you war ning. Now y^e woman went her way into y^e city making much … how she had found the Messiah, y^e sauior of the world: in so much y^t a great many of the Samaritaines came oute vntounto him. Now as y^e woman was gone, y^e disciples desired him to èate, he made thē answer. Ego aliū cibum habeo, I hauehave otherChristes … is to do his fa thers vvill. meat: thā they thought some body had brought him som … at y^t length he breaketh out & saith. Hic est cibus mcus vt … is … quod misie me, I am as desirous to do my p. 30fathers wil, as you be of meate & drinke. let vsus now for gods sake be so desirous to do the wil of god, as we be to meat and drinke, let vsus indeuor our selues to kepe his lawes & commaū dement, then whatsoeuer we shall desyre of him he wyll geue it vntounto vsus, we shal hauehave it. We rede often times in scripture that our sauior was preaching according vntounto his vocation, I would eueryevery mā wold go so diligētly about his busmes: The priestes to go to their bookes, not to spēd their times so shameA lesson sopriestes. sully in hauking, hūting, & keping of alehouses, if they would go to their bookes, in so doing they shuld do the will of God: but the most part of thē do their own wil, they take their …, but god wilf nd thē out at length, he wil mete with them when he seeth his time. On a time whē our famour was pre chung, his mother cam vntounto him, very desirous to speake withOur lady vvas a … prie ked … vaine glory him, in so much that she made meanes to speake with him, in terrupting his sermon, whiche was not good maner. Therfore after s. Augustme and s. Hieromes mynde, she was pricked a litle with vain glory, she wold hauehave ben knowen to be his mother, els she wold not hauehave ben so hasty to speake with …. And here you may perceiue y^e we gaue her to much, thin … her to be without any sparkle of sinnes, which was to much: for no mā borne into this world is without sinne, saue Christ only. The scheledoctors saye the was arrogant. One came & told our sautor as he was teaching: Sir thy mother is here, & wold speak w^e thee, he made answer like as he did whā he was but 12. yere old: opoitet meesle so he saieth now stretthing out his hāds who is my mother? … facit volutatē patrisHe that doth gods vvilis … stes mother mei … est in … he y^t doth y^e wil of my father y^t is in heauē. Lucas saith, qui audit verbū dei & facit istud, he y^t heareth y^e word of god & doth it. Mark this wel he saith y^t doth it: let vsus …: let vsus not only be hearers, but doers, then we shal be accor ding to his promise, his brethern, & sistern, we must heare his word & do it. For truly if Mary his mother had not heard hisMary vvas saued be cause she beleued in Christ. word & beleued it, she should neuer hauehave bene saued. For the was not saurd because she was his naturall mother but because she belcued in hi, because she was his spiritual mother. Remembre therefore y^e all y^t do his wil, are his kinsfolke. But remēber y^t in an other place he saith Nō om̄es qui dicūt … Domine domine introibunt, Not all that saie, Lord, Lord, shall entre into the kingdome of heauen; here you see that the matter standeth not in saying, but in doing, do his will, and than resorte vntounto him and thou shalt be welcome. We … in Luke: wher our sauior said, … qui … domini, & non facit, vapulabit multis, that servant that … weth the wyll of his maister and doth it not shall be ….VVe muste first know and then do the vvill of god. with manye strypes: He that knou …, but not so much. We must first know & than to, it is a good thing to know, but it is a … thyng to know and not to do: it is a great synne, to slaunder gods word with wicked if uyng, as it is commonly sene amongest men. But this fault if it be not amended shall hauehave greuous punishment.

Now some men will saie, … it is so, that those which know … worde and do not the same, shalbe beten with ma ny strypes, then I wyll keepe me from it, and so when I amVVilfull lg norance ex ouseth not damned I shall hauehave the easyer punishment. No no my friend ignorantia non excusat praesertim voluntaria, & affectata, wil ful ignorance excuseth not. To saye, I will not heare it, for I entend to do as it shall please me, this is not ignorancye brother, but rather contumacy, or despising of gods word. These whiche would fayne knowe, but cannot for that they hauehave no teacher, they shalbe excused somewhat. for they shall hauehave casier payne than the other hauehave, as he saith: Vae … Chorazin quia si in Sodoma, meanyng that the Sodemites shall hauehave easier iudgement thā the other. But as for those which refuse to heare whan they might heare, they are in an yll case, & shal be punished with vnspeakable …. And I tel you the veryThe very ig norant is no. excused ignoraunt man is not all excused, for so saith god by hys prophet, Si non annunciaueris vt conuertatur à viae sua mala, impius in iniquitate sua morietur. the wicked saith he, morietur, he shall die, though he hath had neuer warning before, so we see that ignorancy excuseth not: but the ignorant are the lesse punished: because of their ignorancye, as there bee degrees in bel, one shalbe punished more greuously then the other accor ding to theyr desertes. There be some men in England whi chc say, No, (say they) I wil not heare none of them all, tyll they agree amongeste theym selues. Suche fellowes truely p. 31shall neuer come to the gospell. For there wilbe contentions as long as the deuyll is alyue: he cannot suffer gods worde toDespisers of goddes worde. be spred abroade. Therfore he dothe and wyll do tyl the worldes ende, what he can to lette the worde of god: then it is lyke that those fellowes shall neuer come to heare gods worde, and therfore worthely be damned as despisers of Gods moste holye worde.

Further this petition hath an addition Quemadmodum in coelo, as it is in heauen, the writers make two maner of heauens,Two ma ner of hea uens. a spirituall heauen, & a temporall heauen. The spirituall heauen to where gods will is fully done, where the aungels be, which do the will and pleasure of god without dilation. Now whan we say, As it is in heauen, we praye god thatThe mea ning of this pention. we may do his wil as perfectly as the angels do. Ensamples in Scripture we hauehave many which teache vsus the diligent seruice which the angels do vntounto the Lorde.

Whan kyng Dauid fell in a presumption, so that he commaunded his capitaine Ioab to noumber his pcople, whycheIoab dydde naughte in obeying to do that the kynge com maunded. thing was agaynst the Lord, and Ioab did naughtily in obeiyng the kyng in such things, but he went and numbred eight hundred thousande, and fyue hundred thousande men, able to fyght, besyde women and children. For this act God was angry with Dauid, and sent his Prophets which told him that God woulde plage hym, and bad him to chuse whether he wold hauehave. vii. yeres hunger, or that his enemies should preuayle agaynst him thre monthes long, or to hauehave. iii. dais … silence. He made answer, saying. It is better to fall into the handes of god, then of men: and so chose pestilence. After that within three dayes there died three score and ten thousand.

This storye is a greate declaration howe angrye GOD is with sinne. Nowe Dauid that good king seyng the plague of God ouer the people, sayd vntounto god: Lord, it is not they that hauehave sinned, it is I my self, punish me & let them alone: ThisAn exāple to be folo wed of all men. was a good mynde in Dauid: there be but fewe kynges now that wold do so. Now at the length god was moued with pitye, and sayde vntounto the angell, Sufficit, contine manum, it is though, leaue of: by and by the plague cessed. Where you see how redye the aungels of GOD bee to doe the Lordes commāvemit. After that Dauid was minded to be thankfull vn to god, & offer a great sacrifice vntounto him, & so remoue y^t wrath of god. And therfore he made sute to one of his subiects for cer tain groūds to build an altar vpō: y^t same mā was willing to geue it vntounto y^t king frely. But Dauid wold not take it at hisAn exāple for kings to …. handes. where kings … learne y^t it is not lauful for them to take a way other mennes landes, to their owne vse: This good kig Dauid wold not take it whē it was offred vntounto him He did not as Achab y^t wicked …, which did Naboth wrōgin taking away his vinyard against his wil. An other ensāple wherin apereth how diligēily y^t angels do gods cōmādemēts Senacherib king of y^t … hauīg a capitam called … which capitaine after y^t he had besieged Hierusalē, spake … words against god y^t almighty, sayēg to y^t Iewes Think you y^t your god is able to help you? or to defēd you frō my hād? Now Ezechias y^t good kyng hering such blasphemo'Another ex ample for kings to fo lovv. words to be speke agaist god, fel to praier, desired god for aide sent for the prophet Esai, & asked him coūsel. Thend was god sent his angels which killed an. Clxxx. &. v. thousād of y^t Assiriās4. Re. 19. in one night: y^t king him self scāt escaped, & with great dāger & feare gat him home. Here you see what a god our godIob. 9.Job 9 is, whose wil we ought to do Therfore let vsus endeuor our seluesThe corpo rail heauen doth gods commande ment. to do his wil & pleasure: & whan we ar not able to do it (as we be not in dede) let vsus call vntounto him for helpe and ayde.

The other heauē is called a corporal heuē, where y^t son & the moone & the starrs ar, which heauē doth gods cōmandemēt to. As it appereth in y^t bokes of Iosue, & y^t kings: how y^t son stode at y^t cōmandemēt of god. Itē, how y^t shadow went backward like as Job saith, Precepisti soli … nō oritur, Thou gauest cō mādement to y^t sun, & it arose not: therfore at y^t cōmandement of god thei kepe their ordinaric course, as god hath cōmanded them in y^t first beginning. Itē, the raine, y^t snowe, come at his cōmandemīts: in sūma, nothing rebelleth in his estate wherinNothynge disobeyeth god sauyng onelyonly man. it was set at y^t first but Man: y^t man will not be ruled by him, all other things be, obedieut: rain cometh whā god wil hauehave it & snow at his time. We rede in Achabs time that Elias y^t pro phete … y^t raine for. iii. yere, &. vi. monthes, for to punishe the people, wherof folowed a great dearth. Afterward at y^t request p. 32of the same Elias, god sent raine, whiche tempered the groud to bring frutes. I think there be some Elias abroade atIf vve doo gods vville vve shall hauehave all thinges ne cessarie. this time, which stoppeth the raine, we hauehave not had rayne a good whyle. Therfore lette vsus praye to God that we maye do his wil, and than we shal hauehave al things necessary to soule & body. For what was this Elias? obnoxiꝰ affectibꝰ, a sinfull mā borne & cōcesued in sin: yet god seing his confidēce graūted his requests. For he was a mā y^t feared y^t lord, & trusted in him therfore god loued him & heard his praier. Therfore (I say) let vsus do as he did, thā god wil heare our praiers: but we are flesh ly, we are carnal, we do cā nothig perfectly as we ought to doGod muste do in vsus that he cō … to doo. wherfore we hauehave nede to say w^t s. Augustine, … preci pis & precipe quod uis. Lord do thou w^t in me what y^u cōmaū dest, & then cōmaūd what y^u wilt. For we of our own strēgth & power are not able to do his commaūdemēts: but y^t lack oursa uior wil supply w^t his fulfillig, & w^t his perfectnes he wil take away our imperfectnes. Now since we hauehave spokē muche of praier I wil desire you let vsus pray together, & so make an end but you must pray w^t a penitent heart. For god wil not heareGod hea reth not … penitente …. y^t praier y^t procedeth from an impenitent heart: it is abominable in his sight. I desire you to say after me. Our father. &c.

Amen.