Twenty-Seven Sermons, Sermons 1 · Sermon 7

Twenty-Seven Sermons · Sermons 1 · Sermon 7

p. 43The vii. sermon vponupon the Lordes praier made by the righte reuerend Father in God, M. Doctour Latyiner.

ET ne nos inducas in tentationē, sed li bera nos à malo. In the petition afore where we say, Forgiue vsus our trespasses: there we fetche remedies for sinnes paste, for we muste needes hauehave forgeuenes, we can not remedy the matter of oure selues, our synnes muste be remedied by pardon, by remission: other rightuousnes we hauehave not. but forgeuyng of our vnrightuousnes, our goodnes standeth in forgeuing of our ylnes. AllAl mankynd must … pardō. mankynd must crye, Pardon, and acknowledge themselues to be sinners, except our sauiour, which was cleane withoute spot of sinne. Therfore whā we feele our sinnes, we must w^t a penitēt heart resort hither & say: Our father which art in … forgiue vsus our trespasses as we forgeue them that trespas against vsus. Mark wel this addition (as we forgeue them y^t tres passe) for our sauiour putteth y^t same vntounto it, not to that end that we shoulde merite anye thing by it: but rather to proue our …. Whether we be of the faithfull flocke of god, or no. For the righte faith abideth not in that man, that is disposed … to sin, to hate his …, or to do other maner of sinnes. For whosoeuer purposely sinneth contra conscien tiam, against his cōscience, he hath lost y^t holy ghost, the … siō of sinnes, & finally Christ himself. But whā we ar falle soThe … of … mission. we must fetche them again at goos hand by this praier, whiche is a storehouse, here we shal fynd remission of our sinnes.

And though we be risen neuer so well, yet when we fall again, when we … again, what remedy than? What … leth it me to be risen once, and fall by & by into the self same sinne againe? which is a renouation of the other sinnes. For whosoeuer hath done wickedly an act against god, & afterward is sory for it, crieth god mercy, & so cōmeth to forgeuenes of the same sinne, but by & by willingly & wittingly doth the self same sin again: he renouateth by so doyng al those sinHe that … to sin loseth his former … nes which before times were forgiuen him. Which thing apeareth by the lord that toke rekening of his seruants, where he found one which ought him a great summe of money, the lord … him and remitted him al the dets. Now that same man afterward shewed himself vnthankfull & wicked, therfore the lord called him, and caste him into prison, there to lye till he had paied the vttermost far thing, not withstanding that he had forgeuen him afore. &c.

So we see that the … of the former sinnes turne agayne, whan we do the same synnes again. Seing then that it is so daungerous a thing to fall into sinne againe, than we had nede to hauehave some remedy, some helpe, that we might auoide sinne, and not fall therto again. Therfore here foloweth this petition, Leade vsus not into temptation.

Here we hauehave a remedye, here we desyre god that he will preserue vsus from falling into sinne. Our sauior (that … scholemaster) knew wherof we had nede, therfore he teacheth vsus to beg a preseruation of god, that we fall not. Leade vsus not, it. that is to say, lord god, leade vsus not … trial, for we shal … be ouercome, but preserue vsus, suffer vsus not to sinne again, let vsus not fal, help vsus y^t sinne get not the victory ouer p. 52vsus. And this is a necessary praier: for what is it that we ran do: Nothing at all but sin, & therfore we hauehave nede to praye vntounto god, y^t he wil preserue and kepe vsus in the right way, for our enemye the deuill is an vnquiet spirit, euer lying in the way, seking occasion how to bring vsus to vngodlines. Therfore it appereth how much we hauehave nede of the help of …:The … is ancient. for the deuil is an old enemie, a felow of great antiquity, he hath indured this fiue thousand and 52. yeres, in which space he hath learned al artes & cunningcs, he is a great practiser, there is no suttelty, but he knoweth the same. Like as an ar tificer that is cunning & expert in his craft & knoweth how toA similitude. go to worke, how to do his busines the rediest way: so the de uyll knoweth all waies how to tempt vsus, & to geue vsus an ouerthrow: in so much that we can beginne nor do nothing, but he is at our heeles, and worketh some mischief, whether we be in prosperity or aduersitie, whether we be in helth or sicknes, life or death, he knoweth how to vse the same to hys purpose. As for an ensaumple: Whan aman is riche and ofRichesse. great substance, he by & by setteth vponupon him with his crafts, intending to bring him to mischief. And so he moueth him to despise and contemne god, to make his riches his god. Yea he can put suche pride into the ryche mans hearte, that he thinketh himselfe able to bryng all things to passe, and so beginneth to oppresse his neighbor w^t his riches. But god by his ho ly word warneth vsus, & armeth vsus against such crafts & suttel ties of y^t deuil, saying: Diuitiae si affluāt … cor apponere,Psal. …. If riches come vpō you, set not your hearts vpō thē. He com maūdeth vsus not to cast thē away, but not to set our herts vpō thē as wicked men do. For to be rich … a gift of god, if riches be rightly vsed: but y^t deuil is so wliy, he … vp … hearts to abuse thē. Again, whā a mā falleth into pouerty,… so y^t he lacketh thīgs necessary to y^t … of this bodily life: loe y^t deuil is euē redy at hād to take … by y^t …, to bring him to mischief. For he … & stirre vp the heart of y^t …, y^t is in pouerty, not to labor & calling vpō god but rather to stealyng & robbyng, notwithstanding that God forbiddeth such sinnes in his lawes, or els at the least he will bring him to vse deceyte and … with his neighbor, … that way to bring him to euerlastyng destruction.

Further whan a man is in honor and dignity, and in great estimatiō, this serpent slepeth not, but is redy to geue him an ouerthrow. For though honor be good vntounto thē whiche comeHonour. laufully by it, & though it be a gift of god, yet the deuyll wyll moue y^t that mans heart, which hath honour, to abuse his honor. for he will make him lofty, and high mynded, and fyll his hearte full of ambitions, so that he shall hauehave a desyre euer to come higher and higher: and all those whiche will withstand him, they shalbe hated, or yl intreated at his hand: and at the length he shal be so poisoned w^t this ambition, y^t he shal forget all humanitye and godlines, & consequently fall in the fearefulThe deuill is an olde doctor. handes of god, such a felow is the deuill that old doctour.

If it commeth to passe that a man fall into open ignominy and shame, so that he shall bee nothyng regarded before theIgnominie worlde: then the deuill is at hande, mouing and styrryng his heart to …, and at the length to desperation.

If he be yong and …, the deuil wil put in his heart, & sayYouthe. to him: What? thou art in thy floures man, take thy plesure, make mery with thy companions, remember the old prouerb yong saits, old deuils: which prouerb in very dede is naughtA … of the … inuen …. and deceitfull, and the deuils own inuention, which woulde hauehave parentes negligent in bringing vp their childrē in good nes: he would rather see them to be brought vp in ylnes, and wickednes, therfore he found out such a prouerb, to make thē carelesse for these children. But (as I said afore) this prouerbe is nought: for looke commenly where childrē are brought vp in wickednes, thei wilbe wicked al their liues after: & therfore we may say thus, yong diuel, old diuel, yong saints, old saintes. Quo semel imbuta est recen s seruabit odorem testa …. The erthen pot wil long sauor of that licoure that is first put into it. And here appereth how the deuill can vse the youth of a young man to his destruction, in exhorting him to folow y^t fonde lustes of that age. Likewise whan a man commeth toAge age, that olde serpent will not leaue him, but is euer styrring him from one … vntounto thother, from one wickednes to another: & commonlye he moueth olde folkes to auarice and couetousnes: for then old folk wil commonly say, by y^t inspiraThe deuils inspiration tion of the deuil. Nowe it is time, for me to lay vp, to kepe in p. 45store somewhat for me, y^t I may hauehave … to liue whan I shalbe a crippell: & so vnderunder this colour they set al theyr heartes & myndes onelyonly vponupon this worlde, forgetting their poore neighbor, which god would hauehave relieued by them. But (as I tolde you before) this is the deuils inuention & suttelty, which blyndeth their … so, & withdraweth their hearts so far from god that it is scant possible for some to be brought again: for they hauehave set al their hartes and phantasies in such wise vponupon their goods, that they cannot suffer any body to occupye their goods, nor they themselues vse it not: to the verifiyng of thys common sentence. Auarus caret quod habet, aeque … quòd nō habet, the couetuous man lacketh as wel those thinges whichThe cōmo ditie of …. Health. he hath as those things which he hath not. So like wise whan we be in helth, y^t deuil moueth vsus to al wickednes & naughti nes: to horedom, lechery, theft, and other horrible fautes, put ting cleane out of our … the remembrance of god and his iudgementes, in so much that we forget that we shall dye.

Agayne, whan we be in sicknes, he goeth about lyke a Lyon,Sicknesse. to moue and sturre vsus to impatiency and murmuryng against god: or cls he maketh our synnes so horrible before vsus that we fall into desperation. And so it appeareth that there is nothing either so high or so lowe, so great or smal, but the deuill can vse that selfe same thing, as a weapon to fighte againstThe deuill is able to make wea … of … thing vsus withall, lyke as with a sworde. Therfore our sauiour, knowyng the craftes & suttelties of our enemy the deuyl how he goeth about day and night … intermission to seke our destruction teacheth vsus here to cry vntounto god our heauen ly father for aid & helpe, for a subsidie against this strong and mighty enemy, against y^t prince of this world, as saint Paul … not to call him, for he knewe his power and suttle …. belyke s. Paule had some experience of him.

Here by this petitiō whā we say, Leade vsus not into tēptation, we learne to know our own impossibilitie and infirmitie, namely that we bee not able of our owne selues to withstand this great and mightye enemye the deuill. Therfore here we resorte to god, desyring him to helpe and defend vsus,This petitiō is most nedefull. whose power passeth the strength of the deuill. So it appeareth y^t this is a most needefull petition, for whan the deuyl is busy about vsus, and moueth vsus to doo against god & his holy lawes, and cōmandementes, euer we should hauehave in remēmbrāce whither to go, namely to god, aknowleging our weaknes that we be not able to withstand y^t enemie. Therfore we ought euer to say, Our Father which art in heauen, Leade vsus not into temptation. This petition (Leade vsus not into tentation) the meaning of it is, Almighty God we desire thy holy maiestie for to stand by & with vsus with thy holy spirit, so that tentation ouercome vsus not, but that we through thy goodnes and helpe, may vanquishe and get the victory ouer it, for it is not in our power to do it, thou O god, must helpe vsus to scriue and fight. It is with this petition, Leade vsus not … temptation, euen as much as saint Paule saith, Ne … igitur … in vestro mortali corpore, Let not synVVe cā not … without synne. reigne in your corruptible body, saith S. Paule, be doth not require that we shall hauehave no synne, for that is impossible vntounto vsus, but he … that we be not seruants vntounto sin, that we giuegive not place vntounto it, that sinne rule not in vsus. And this is a commendement, we are commanded to forsake and hate synne, so that it may hauehave no power ouer vsus. Nowe we shall turne this commaundement into a prayer, and desire of god that he will keepe vsus, that he wyll not leade vsus into tentation, that is to say, that he wyll not suffre sinne to hauehave the rule and gouernance ouer vsus, and so we shall saye with the Prophet, Domine dirige gressus meos, Lorde rule and gouerne thou me in the right waie, and so we shal turne Goddes commaundemente into a praier, to desire of hym helpe to do his wyll and pleasure. like as S. Augustine saith, Da quod iubes, et iube quod vis, GiueGive that thou commaundest, and then commaunde what thou wilte. As who saye, if thou wilte commaund onelyonly, and not giuegive, than we …, we shall perish Therfore we muste desyre him to rule and gouerne all our thoughtes, wordes, …, … that no sinnes beare rule in vsus: we must require him to put his helping … to vsus, that we may ouercome temptation, and not temptation vsus. This I would hauehave you to consider, that eueryevery morning whan you rise from your bed, you wold saye these … with a faithfull hearte and earnest mynde p. 54Domine gressus meos … ne dominetur peccatum in … A good mornyng prayer.… corpore, Lord rule and gouern me so, … my wais so, that sinne gette not the victorye of me, that sinne rule me not, but lette thy holy ghost inhabite my hearte. And specially whan any mā goeth about a dangerous busines, let hym euer say: domine dirige grossus …, Lorde rule thou me, kepe me in thy custody. So this is the first point, which you … note in this petition, namely, to turne … commaundementes of god into a praier, he commandeth vsus to leaue sinnes, to … them, to hate them, to kepe our heart cleane from them: then lette vsus turne his commaundement into a prayer and say, Lord leade vsus not into …, that is to … Lord kepe vsus that the deuill … not against vsus, that wickednes gette not the victory … vsus.

You shall not thinke that it is an … to be tempted, … into temptations. No, for it is a good thing, and scripture commendeth it, and we shalbe rewarded for it. For S,It is a blessednes to endure …. Iames …, Beatus … suffert …, Blessed … that man that suffreth temptations, paciently. Blessed is he that suffreth, not he that …, not he that is led by thē, and foloweth the motions therof. The deuill moueth me to do this thing and that, which is against god, to cōmit … dome, or lecherye, or such lyke thynges. Now this is a good thing: for yf I withstand his motions, and more regard god thā his suggestions, happy am I, & I shalbe rewarded for it in heauen. Some thinke that … Paule wold hauehave … without suche temptations, but GOD would not graunte his requeste. … tibi gratia mea, Paule, … content Paule to hauehave my fauour. For temptations be a declaratiō of gods fauour and myghte: for though we be moste weake and feable,Tentatiōs declare gods … yet thorough oure weakenes GOD vanquisheth the greate strengthe and myghte of the deuyll. And afterwarde he promiseth vsus that we shal hauehave Coronam vitae, the croune of lyfe, that is to saye we shalbee rewarded in euerlastyng lyfe. To whome did GOD promise …, euer lastyng lyfe? Marye diligentibus se, sayeth … Iames, vntountoIames. …. thē that louelove him, not vntounto them y^t louelove the selues & folow their own affections, … se, it is an Amphibologia and therfore Erasmus turneth it into latin with such words,The roote of mischief A quibus dilectus est Deus, non diligentibus se, Not they that louelove them selues, but they of whome god is beloued: for selfe louelove is the roote of all mischiefe and wickednesse.

Here you may … who are those whiche louelove GOD, namely they that fight against temptations and assaultes of the deuill. For this life is a warfare, as S. Job saith, Militia est vita hominis super terram, The life of man is but a warfare: not that we should fyght and braule one with an other. No not so, but we shold fight against these … that areLearne against … hould …. within vsus. We may not fyght one with an other, to auenge our selues, and to satisfie our …: but we shold fyght against the yll motions which rise vp in our hearts against the lawe of God. Therfore remembre that our life is a warfare, let vsus be contented to be tempted. There be some whan they fall into temptations, they be so yrkesom that they geue place they wyll fight no more. Agayn, there be some so wery, that they ryd them selues out of this life, but this is not well done: they doo not after saint James mynde, for he saith: Blessed is he that suffreth temptation, and taketh it …. Now if he be blessed that suffreth tentatiō, than it foloweth, that he that curseth & murmureth against God, beyng tempted, that that man is cursed in the syght of God, and so shall not enioy coronam vitae, euerlastyng lyfe.

Further it is a necessary thyng to be tempted of God: for… temp. … vsus for our … how shold we know whether we hauehave the louelove of God in our heartes or no, except we be tryed, except God tempt & proue …. Therfore the prophete Dauid sayth: Proba me DominePsal. 25.Ps 25 & renta me, Lorde (sayth he) proue me and tempt me. This prophete knew that to be tempted of God is a good thynge. For temptations minister to vsus occasion to runne to god and to begge his helpe. Therfore Dauid was desirous to hauehave some thing wherby he mighte exercise his faith. For ther is nothing so dangerous in the world, as to be without trouble without temptation: for looke when we be beste at ease, whā all thinges go with vsus according vntounto our will and pleasure, then we ar commenlye most farthest of from God. For oure nature is so feble that we can not beare tranquilitie, we forgette p. 55god by and by: therfore we should say, proba me, Lord proue and tempt me.

I hauehave red ones a storie of a good bishop, which rode by theAn history of a bishop waye, and was werie, being yet far of frō any toun: therfore seyng a faire house, a great mans house, he went thither and was verie well and honorably receiued: there was great preparations made for him, and a great banket, all thinge was plentie. Then the man of the house, set out his prosperitie, and told the bishop what richesse he had, in what honour and dignities he was, how many faire children he had, what a vertuouse wife god had prouided for hym, so that he hadde no lacke of any maner of thing, he had no trouble nor verations, neither inward nor outward. Now this holy man hering the good estate of that man, called one of his seruantes, and commanded him to make ready the horses: for the bishop thought that God was not in that house, because there was no tempta tion there: he toke his leaue and went his …. Now whan he came a two or thre mile of, he remembred his boke which he had left behynde him: he sent his man back again to fetche that booke, and whan the seruant came again, the house was sonkē, and al that was in it Here it appereth, that it is a good thyng to hauehave temptation. This man thought himself a toly felow, because all thinges went with him: But he knew not S. James lesson: Beatus qui …. Let vsus therfore learne here, not to be … whan God lateth his erosse vponupon vsus. Let vsus not despaire, but call vponupon hym: let vsus think we be ordeined vntounto it. For truely we shall neuer hauehave done: we shall hauehave one … or other, as long as we be in this world. But we hauehave a great comfort, which is this: Fidelis1. Cori. 10 … deus … non … nos tentari … quàm …, If we mystrust God, than we make him a lyar: for God will not suffre vsus to … further thā we shalbe able to beare: & again he wil reward vsus, we shal hauehave … vitae, euerlasting life. If we cōsider this, & pōder it in our harts, wherfore shold we be troubled? Let eueryevery man whan he is in trouble, call vponupon God with a faithfull and …: Lord let me not be tempted further then thou shalt make me able to …. And this is … of … christen man: and loke … no better chere as long as thou art in this world: but trouble and verations thou shalt hauehave Vsque ad …, thy bellieVVe shall neuer lack …. full. And therfore our sauiour beyng vponupon the mount Oliuete, knowyng what shuld come vponupon hym, and how his disciples wold forsake him, and mistrust him, taught them to fight against iētation, saying: Vigilate & orate, As who say, I tell you what you shall doo: resort to God, seke comfort at him, cal vponupon him in my name, and this shal be the way … to escape tentations without your perill and losse. Now … vsus folow that rule whiche our Sauiour … vntounto his disciples. Let vsus watch and pray, that is to say, let vsus be ernest and feruent in calling vponupon hym, and in desyryng his help: and no doute he will order the matter so with vsus, that … shall not hurt vsus, but shall be rather a furtherance, and not an impediment to euerlastyng …. And this is our onelyonly … to … helpe at his handes. Let vsus therfore watche and pray, lette not temptations beare … in vsus, or gouerue vsus.

Nowe yeraduenture there be some amongst the ignorant vnlearned sort, which wyll say vntounto me: You speake much of temptations: I praye you tell vsus, howe shall we knowe whan we be tempted? Answere. Whan you feele in youre selues (in your heartes) some concupiscence or lust towardes any thing that is agaynst the law of god, rise vp in your hertes, that same is a temptyng. For all maner of … motionsVVhat tentation is. to wyckednesse are …. And we be tempted most commonly two maner of waies, A … & à …, on the right hand, and on the lefte hand. Whensoeuer we be in honours, wealth, and presperityes, then we be tempted on the righte hands. But when we bee in open shame,Two maner of tentations. outelawes, or in greate extreeme … and penuries, then that is on the left hande. There hath bene many that whenne they hauehave ben tempted à …, on the left hande, that is, with aduersities and al kynde of myscries, they hauehave bene hardye, and moste godlye hauehave suffered such calamyties, … GOD thankes … all their troubles: and there hathe bene many whyche hauehave written most godlye p. 56bookes in the tyme of their temptations and miseries. Some also there were whiche stoode heartilye, and godlye … temptations, as long as they were in trouble: butVVold god this vvere printed in all mennes …. afterwarde when they came to reste, they could not stande so well as before in their trouble: yea the moste parte goe, and take out a new … of discretion, to slatter theimselues & the world withall: and so they verify that saying: Honores mutant …. For they can fynde in their heartes to approue that thing now which before time they reproued. Afore time they sought the honour of GOD: now they seeke their own plesure. Like as the rich man did, saying: …, … ede, … &c But it foloweth, Stulte, Thou foole. Therfore lette men beware of the right hande, for they are gone by and by, … god with his … illuminate theyr heartes. I wold such men would begynne to say with Dauid, Proba … domine, Lord proue me, spurre me forwarde, sende me somewhat that I forgette not thee. So it appereth, that a Christē mās lyfe is a …, a warrefare: but we shall ouercome all our enemies, yet not by our own power, but thorough god, which is able to defende vsus.

Truth it is that god tempteth. Almightye … God and the … doo … to ….to our commodities, to dot vsus good withall: the … tempteth to our euerlastyng desiruction. God … vsus for … sake, that we should not …, therfore he pro … vsus diuersly. … had … to … this prayer, Lord leade vsus not into …, whā we ryse vp in a morning or whatsoeuer we do, whan we … the … busy aboute vsus, we shoulde call vponupon god.

The … of the … shold make … watchful, … we … with what … he applieth his busines. … sleepeth not, he … not, he … bys owne busynesse, he is …, and … mynde of … matters. To what ende is he so …, … and searchyng lyke a hunter? … to take … at a vauntage. … calleth hym a … Lyon: … is … power: for you knowe the Lyon is the … of all … beastes. …, he goeth aboute. Here is … …. Nō est potestas &c. There is no power to be likenedThe deuils power is nothing without gods …. vntounto his power: yet our hope is in god, for as strong as he is oure hope is in god, he cannot hurte or slay vsus without the permission of god. therfore let vsus resort vntounto god, and desire him, that he wyll able vsus to fight against him.

Further his … is expressed by this worde, serpent: he is of a swift nature, he hath such compasses, such fetches, that he passeth all thinges in the world. Again consider how long he hathe bene a practicioner: you muste consider what Satan is, what … he hath, so y^t we are not able to match with him. O how feruentlie oughte we to crye vntounto god, considering what danger and peril we be in: and not onlye for our selues we oughte to pray, but also for al other, for we ought to louelove our neighbout as our selues.

Seing then that we hauehave such an enemy, resist, for so it is nedefull: for I think that now in this hall, amongst this audi ence, there be manie thousand deuilles, which go about to letOur …. vsus of the hearyng of the word of god, to make hardnes in our hearts & to sturre vp such like mischiefe within vsus. But what remedy? Resistite, withstand, withstand his motiōs, and this must be done at the first. For as strong as he is, whan he is resisted at the firste, he is the weakest: but yf we suffer him to come into our hearts, than he cannot be driuen out, without great labour and trauaile. As for an ensample, I see a fayre woman, I like her very wel, I wish in my heart to hauehave her. Now withstand, this is a temptation. Shal I folow my affec tions? No, no, call to remembraunce what the deuill is: call god to remembraunce and his lawes, consider what he hath commanded thee: say vntounto god: Lord leade vsus not into …, but deliuer vsus from euyll. For I tell the, when he is entred once, it wilbee hard to get hym out againe: therfore suffer him not to long, giuegive him no mansion in thy heart, but strike him with the worde of god, and he is gone, he wil not abide. An other ensample. There is aman that hath done meVse the sword of the spirite. wrong, taken awai my liuing, or hurt me of my good name: the deuill stirreth me against him, to acquite him, to doe him an other foule turne, to auenge my self vponupon him. Now whā there rise vppe such motions in my hearte, I muste resiste, I p. 57must stryue, I must consider what god saith: Mibi vindictā, let me hauehave the vengeaunce. Ego …, I wyll punishe him for his yll doynges. In suche wise we muste fighte withThe … be … led. Satan, we must kill him with the worde of god, Resistite, away thou Satan, thou mouest me to that, which god forbiddeth, god wyll defende me: I will not speake yl of my neighbour, I wyll do him no harme: so you must fighte with hym. And further remember what S. Paule saith: If thy enemye bee hungrye, lette him hauehave meate: this is the shroude turne that scripture alloweth vsus to doe to oure enemies, and so we shall cast hoate … vponupon his head: which is a … speche: … ye may vnderstand it, take an ensāple. This man hath done harme vntounto thee, make him warme with thy benefites, beare patiētly the iniuries done vntounto thee … him,… to heape … thine enemies head. and do for him in his necessities, then thou shalt heat him, for he is in coldenes of charitie: at the length he shall remember himself, and say: what a man am I? This man hath euer ben frendly and good vntounto me: he hath born paciently al my wickednes, truely I am muche bound vntounto him: I will leaue of from my wrong doings, I wil no more trouble hym. And so you … y^t this is the way to make our enemy good, to bryng hym to reformation. But there be some, that when they bee hurte, they wyll doe a foule turne agayne: but this is not as GOD woulde hauehave it. Sainct Paule commaundeth vsus to poure hoate coales vppon our enemies heade: that is to saye, yf he hurte thee, doe hym good, make him amends with weldoyng, geue him meate and drynke, whereby is vnderstande all thynges: when he hathe neede of councell, helpe hym, or whatsoeuer it is, that he hathe neede of, lette hym hauehave it. And thys is the righte way to reforme our enemie, to amend hym, and bryng hym to goodnesse. For so Saincte Paule commaūdeth vsus, saying: Noli vinci à malo, be not ouercomeHe that … is …. of the wicked. For when I am aboute to doe my enemye a … turne, then he hathe gotten the victorye ouer me, hee hath made me as wycked as he hymselfe is. But we oughte to ouercome the yll, with goodnes, we should ouercome our enemy with well doyng.

When I was in Cambridge, Maister George Stafforde red a lecture, there I heard him: and in expounding the … to the Romains, comming to that place, where S. PauleRom. …. sayth, that we shall ouercome our enemy with welding, and so heape vphoate coales vpō his head. Now in expounding of that place, he brought in an ensample: saying, that he knewe in London a great riche merchaunte, whiche merchant had aAn history of a Londo ner. very poore neighbour, yet for all his pouertye, he loued hym very well, and lente him money at his neede, and lette him to come to his table whansoeuer he would. It was euen at that time, when Doctour … was in trouble, and should hauehaveDoctour Colette … hauehave …. bene burnt, yf GOD had not turned the kinges hearte to the contrarye. Nowe the richeman beganne to be a … man, he beganne to smell the gospell, the poore man was a papiste still. It … on a tyme, when the riche manne talked of the gospell sittyng at hys table, where he reproued popery, and suche kynde of thinges: the poore man beyng then presente, toke a greate displeasure againste the richeman: in so muche, that he woulde come no … to his house, he woulde borow no money of him, as he was wonte to do before tymes: yea and conceiued suche hatered and malice against him, that he went and accused hym before the bishops.The zeale of a papist. Now the rych man, not knowyng any such displesure, offred many times to talke with him: & to set him at …, it woulde not bee, the poore man had suche … stomacke, that he woulde not vouchesafe to speake with hym: yf he mette the ryche man in the streete, he woulde … out of his waye. One tyme it happened that he mette him so in a narrowe streete, that he coulde not auoyde, but come … him: yet for all that thys poore … had suche a stomacke againste the ryche man I saye, that he was mynded to goe forwarde, and not to speake wyth hym. The ryche man perceiuyng that, catcheth hym by the hande, and asked hym faying: Neighbour, what is come into your hearte, to take suche displeasure wyth me? what hauehave I done agaynste you? tell me, and I will bee redye at all tymes to make you amendes. Final ye, he spake so gentelye, so charitablye, so louynglye, and friendlye, that it wroughte so in the poore mannes hearte, that by and by he fell downe vppon hys knees: p. 58and asked hym forgeuenes: the ryche man forgaue him, and so toke him agayn to his fauour, & they loued as well as euer they did afore. Many one would hauehave said, set him in the …, lette hym hauehave bread of affliction, and water of tribulation: but this man did not so. And here you see an ensample of the practise of gods word: in such sorte that poore man bearyng greate hatered and malice agaynst the ryche man, was brought thorough the … and … of the ryche man from his errour and wickednes, to the knowledge of goddes worde. I would you would consider this ensample well, and … it.

Leade vsus not into temptation. Certain it is, that … … ble … are not much temp ted.sinners, hauehave but small temptations: for the deuill … them alone, because they be his already, he hath them in bondage, they be his slaues. But whan there is any good man abrode) that intendeth to leaue … & wickednes, and abhorreth the same: y^t mā shalbe tempted, the … goeth aboute to vse all … to destroye that man, and to lette hym of his forwardnes. Therefore all those which hauehave suche temptations, resorte hither for ayde and helpe, and withstande betymes: for I tell thee, yf thou withstandest and fightest agaynst hym betymes, certaynely thou shalt fynde him most …: but yf thou suffrest hym to enter into thy hearte, and hast a delyte in his motions, Tunc actum est, then thou art vndoone, then he hath … the victory ouer the.

And here it is to bee noted, that the deuyll hath no further power than GOD wyll allowe hym, the deuyll can goe no … then god … hym to doe: which thing shall strengthen oure …, in so muche that we shalbee sure to ouercome hym.

… Paule that excellent instrument of GOD sayeth:The … of … … volunt ditescere, …, … that go about to get … they shall fall in many teptations: … which words S. Paule doeth teach vsus to beware. For when we go about to set our myndes vponupon … world, vponupon ryches, then the deuill wyll hauehave a … at vsus. … lette vsus not lette oure … vppon the … of this worlde, but rather lette vsus labour for oure …: and … lette vsus vse prayer: then we may be certayne of our …. Though we hauehave not riches, yet a man may liue without1. …. 6. great ryches: Habentes victum & vestitum. &c. Whan we hauehave meate and drynke, and clothing, let vsus be content, let vsus not gape for riches: for I tell you, it is a daungerous thyng to hauehave riches: and they that hauehave riches, must make a great accompt for them: yea, and the most part of the rich mē vse their riches so naughtely, and so wickedly, that they shall not be able to make an acompt for them. And so you may perceiue how the deuill vseth the good creatures of god, to … own …. for riches are good creatures of god, but you see daily how men abuse them, how they set their heartes vponupon them: forgetting god and their own saluation. Therfore (as I said before) let not this affectō take place in your hartes, to be ryche: labour for thy lyuing, and praye to god: then he wil send thee thinges necessary: though he sende not great riches, yet thou must be cōtent withall: for it is better to hauehave a sufficient lyuing, then to hauehave great riches. Therfore SalomonProuer 30Prov 30 that wise king desired of god that he would send him neyther to much, nor to little: not to much, least he shuld fall into proudenesse, and so despise God: Not to litle, leaste he should fall to stealyng, and so … the law of God.

Sed libera nos à malo, But delyuer vsus frome euyll. This euyll, the writers take it for the diuel: for the deuili is the instrumentThe roote of all euill. of all yl: lyke as god is the fountain of al goodnes, so the deuill is the originall roote of all wickednes. … when we say, Delyuer vsus from …, we desire God that he wyll delyuer vsus from the deuill, and all hys craftes, suttelties, and inuentions, where wyth he intendeth to hurte vsus. And we of our owne selues know not what might let or stop vsus from euerlastyng lyfe: therefore we desyre hym that he will … vsus from all yll: that is to saye, that he will sende vsus nothing that mighte bee a lette or impediment vntounto vsus, or keepe vsus from euerlastyng felicitye. As for an …: There bee many whiche whan they bee …,An example. they … of GOD, to hauehave theyr healthe, for they thinke yf they mighte hauehave their healthe, they woulde doe muche good, they woulde lyue godlye and …. p. 59Now god sendeth them their helth, but they by and by forget all their promises made vntounto god before, and … vntounto al wickednes, and horrible …, So that it had ben a thousand times better, for them to hauehave … sicke …, then to hauehave their health For whanne … were in sicknes, and …, they called vppon god, they feared him: but now they care not for him, they … and mocke him. Now therfore least any such thing … happen vntounto vsus, we desyre him to delyuer vsus … euill: that is to say, to sende vsus such thinges which may be a furtherance vntounto vsus to eternall felicitie, and … awaye such thinges which might leade vsus from the same.

There be some which thinke it is a gay thing to auoide pouerty,To liue … is dangerous to be in wealth, and to liue pleasauntly: … some tymes we se that such an easy lyfe geueth vsus occasion to committe all wickednes: and so is an instrument of our damnation. Nowe therfore whan we say this praier, we require god, that he wil be our louyng father, and giuegive vsus such thinges which may be a furtherance to our …, and take away those thynges which may let vsus from the same.

Now you hauehave hearde the Lordes praier, which is (as I toldThe lordes praier is gods storehouse. you) the abridgement of al other praiers, & it is the store house of god. For … we shall fynde all thinges necessary both for our soules and bodies. Therfore I desire you most hartelye to resorte hither to this storehouse of God, seeke here what you lacke, and no doute you shall fynde thinges necessary for your wealthe.

In the gospel of Mathew there be added these wordes: … est regnum, & potentia, & gloria in secula seculorum. for thyne is the kingdome, the power, and the glorye worlde without ende. Amen. These wordes are added, not withoute cause: for like as we say, in y^t beginning: Our father, signifieng that he wil fulfill our requeste: so at the ende we concludeNote this reason, and be not … at … vse to ende the … praier so. saying: thine is the power &c. signifieng that he is able to help vsus in our distresse and to graūt our requests. And though these … great thyngs, yet we nede not to dispaire, but consider that he is lord ouer heauen and earth that he is able to do for vsus, & that he wil do so, … our father, and being lord and king ouer all thinges. Therfore let vsus often resorte hither, and call vponupon … with this prayer, in our Christes name: for he loueth Christ and all those which are in Christ, for so he saith:Math. 3.Matt 3 … est … dilectus in quo mihi bene complacitū est, This is my welbeloued son, in whom I hauehave pleasure. Seing then that god hath pleasure in him, he hath pleasure in y^t praier that he hath made: & so when we say this praier in his name with a faithful penitent heart, it is not possible but be wil heare vsus and graunt vsus our requests. And truly it is the greatest comfort in the world, to talke with god, to call vponupon him, in this praier, that Christ himself hath taught vsus: for it taketh away the bitternes of all afflictions. Thorow praier we receiue the holy ghost, which strēgthneth and comforteth vsus at all tymes, in all trouble and perill.

Quia tuam est regnum, & potentia, & gloria: For thyne is kingdome, the power, and the glorye. The kingdom of god is generall thoroughout al the world: Heauen and earth are vnderunder his dominion. As for the other kynges, they are kings in dede, but to godward they be but deputies, but officers: heKinges are but gods …. only is the right king, vntounto him onelyonly must and shal all creatures in heauen and earth obey, and … his maiestie. Therfore hauehave euer this in your hearts, what trouble & calamities so euer shall fal vponupon you for gods words sake: if you be put in prisō, or lose your goods, euer say in your hear tes, Tuum est regnum, Lord god thou only art ruler and gouernour, thou only … and will helpe and deliuer vsus from al trouble, whan it pleaseth … thou art the king to whō … things obey. For (as I said before) all thother kings … him, and thorough him, as scripture …: per me reges regnant, thorough me kings rule. … say this prayer w^t Prouer. 8.Prov 8good faith and penitent …, is a … laudis, a sacrifice of thankes geuing. We were wont to hauehave … The sacri … of the ….…, the … of the masse, which was the most horrible blasphemy, that could be deuised, for it was against the dignity of Christ, & his passiō: but this sacrifice of … eueryevery one may make that calleth with a faithful heart, vponupon god, in the name of Christ. Therfore let vsus at al times w^tout intermission offer vntounto god the sacrifice of thanke …: y^t is to say, let vsus at al times cal vponupon him, & glorifye … p. 60in al our liuings: whā we go to … let vsus cal vpō him, whan we rise, lette vsus do like wise. Item whan we go to our meate and drinke, let vsus not go vntounto it like swine and beasts: but let vsus remember god and be thankful vntounto him for al his gifts. But aboue al things we must see, that we hauehave a … …. 15heart, els it is to no purpose: for it is written: Nō … in … peccatoris, god will not be praised of a wicked man. Therfore let vsus repent from the bottom of our hartes: let vsus forsake al …, so that we may say this praier to the honor of god, and our commodities. And as I toldeVVe may say this praier by …. you before, we may say this praier whole, or by parts, according as we shall see occasion. For when we see gods name …, we may say: Our father, halowed be thy name. When we see the deuil rule, we may say, Our father, Thy kingdom come: when we see the worlde inclyned to wickednes, we may say, Our father, thy wil be done. Item whā we lacke necessary thinges, either for our bodies or soules, we may say: Our father which art in heauen, … vsus this days our dayly bread. Item whē I feele my sinnes, and they trouble me, and … me, than I may say: Our father which art in heauen, forgiue vsus our trespasses.

Finally whan we wil be preserued from all temptations, that they shal not hauehave the victorye ouer vsus, nor that the deuil shal not deuoure vsus, we may say: Our father which art in heauen, leade vsus not into temptation, but delyuer vsus from euill: For thine is the kingdom, the power, and glory, for … and euer, world without end.

Amen.

¶ Here endeth the sermons vponupon the Lordes … made by the right reuerend father in god, … ster Doctour …, before the righte vertuous and honorable Lady Katherine Duchesse of …, at …, the yere of our Lord. 1552.

Exceptae per me Augustinum Bernerum Heluetium.

Certayn other Sermons preached by the right reuerende father in God, master … Latymer in Lincolneshyre, the yere of our Lord. 1553. Collected and gathered by Augustine Bernherre an Heluetian: and albeit not so fully and perfectly gathered as they were vttered: yet neuertheles truly, to the singuler cōmoditie and profite of the simple …, who with seruent … and diligent redyng, desyre to be better taught and instructed.