Twenty-Seven Sermons, Sermons 2 · Sermon 8

Twenty-Seven Sermons · Sermons 2 · Sermon 8

The viii. Sermon made by Maister Doctor Latymer. Luke. 21.

ANd there shalbee signes in the Sonne and in the Moone, and in the Starres, & in the earth, the people shalbe at their wyts ende, thorough dispair, the sea and the water shal roare, and mens hearts shall fayle them for feare, and … after those things whiche shall come on the earth. For the powers of heauen shall moue, and then shall they see the Sonne of man come in a cloud with power and great glory: when these thyngs begin to come to passe: then loke vppe and lift vp your heades, for your redemption draweth nere.

This Gospell is red this day in the churche, and it shal bee for our lesson: It is taken oute of the 21. cap. of Luke: and it maketh mention of the glorious comming of oure Sauiour Christe, how and in what maner of forme he shall come: for as the scripture witnesseth, we shall al come before the iudge ment of Christ, and there receiue eueryevery one according vntounto…. Cor. …. his desertes: after his workes he shalbe rewarded of Christe, which shalbe at that time their iudge: and there shalbe signes p. 129and tokens before his glorious and fearefull comming. For then he shall come to …: his firste commyng into this worlde was to suffer his payne full passion, and so delyuer mankynde oute of the bondage and … of the deuyll. But when he commeth agayne, he wyll come of an other maner of wyse, then he did the firste tyme. For he wyll come with great power and myghte, with the … of heauen,I is … Christ shal come. with all the aungelles of god, and so sytte at the audite and iudge all menne. And this is moste certayne that he wyll come, but we cannot tell when or at what tyme hys … shalbee. For the day of his commyng is hydden from vsus, to that ende that we shoulde be redye at all tymes. Therefore I desyre you for goddes sake make you …, put not of your preparation. For seeyng that we be certayn that danger and peryll shall come vponupon vsus, all they that bee wyse and godlye wyll prepare themselues, least they be takenThe cause … the day of … is hid from vsus. sodenly vnwares or vnready. And therefore I say, this day is hydden from vsus, to the intente that we euer should be readye. For yf we shoulde knowe the daye or the houre at what tyme he woulde come: No doute we would bee carelesse, we woulde take oure pleasure as longe as we myght, tyll at suche tyme as we shoulde departe. And therfore leaste we shoulde bee made carelesse, this day is hydden from vsus. For the Aungelles of GOD theymselues knowe not theThe angels knovv not that day. houre or momente of thys greate and fearefull daye. Neyther dydde Christe hymselfe knowe it, as he was man: but as he is God, he knoweth all thynges, nothyng canne bee hydde from hym: as he sayeth hymselfe, Pater commonstratIohn. 5.John 5 mihi omnia, The father sheweth me all thynges: therefore hys knowledge is infinite, elles he were not verye God. But as concernyng hys manhode, he knewe not that tyme: for he was a verye naturall man (synne excepted:) therefore lyke as he was contente to suffer heate and colde, to bee wearye and hungrye, lyke as he was contente to suffer suche thynges: so he was contente, as concernyng his manheade to be ignoraunte of that daye. He had perfecte knowledgeChriste knew his commissiō to dooe hys fathers commission, to instructe vsus, and teache vsus the waye to heauen: but it was not hys commission to tell vsus the houre of thys daye. Therfore he knewe not this day, to tell vsus of it anye thynge, as concernyng when it shoulde bee. For as farre forth as ignorancye is a paynefull thyng vntounto man, so farre forthe he was contente to be ignoraunt, lyke as he did suffer other thynges.

I wyll rather spend the tyme in exhortyng you to make re dye against that day, to prepare your selues, then … recyte or expound the sygnes thereof, whyche shall goe before this fearefull day.

And there shalbe sygnes in the … and Moone: There be some learned men which expounde those tokens of the … of Ierusalem: but that is not the matter, yf thei hauehave gone beefore the destruction of Ierusalem: then they hauehave gone before the ende of the world, & so admonish vsus to make readye, to leaue synne, least we be taken with it.

As touchyng the Iewes, our sauiour Christe wept ouer them, and threatened them, what should come vponupon them be cause they dispysed hym, and woulde not receyue gods holyThe causes of the destructiō of Ierusalem. worde, and leaue theyr synnes: lyke as we doe, whiche take our pleasure, care litle for hym or his word: we cannot suffer when oure faultes are told vsus, we repyne and grudge at it, lyke as y^t Iewes dyd. Therfore our sauiour knowyng what should come vponupon them, wept ouer the city, prophecying y^t itTitus de stroyd the Citie Ieru salem. should so be destroyed, that one stone should not be left vponupon another: and so it came to passe accordyng vntounto hys …. for Titus the sonne of Uespasian, which was Emperor at that tyme, destroyed that same city Ierusalem vtterly, lyke a fourtye yeres after the death of oure sauiour Christe. But wherefore were they so destroyed? because they woulde not beleue the sayinges of our fauiour Christ: they woulde take theyr pleasures, they would folowe theyr forefathers (as our papistes are wonte to say.) When they cannot defende them selfes with Scripture, then they wyll defende them selfesA note … papistes. with the ignorauncye of theyr forefathers: muche lyke vntounto the Iewes, which coulde not away with the doctryne of our Sauiour, because it was disagreyng from the customes and traditions of their forefathers. But what hapned? theyr destruction fell vponupon them before they perceiued it, & destroied p. 130the most paete of them full miserably god knoweth: and not only that, but as the storye dothe shewe, they that were lefteThyrtie … for a peny. and not broughte to destruction, were so … handled, and so despised amongest all menne, that thirty were solde for a penye: and so by that meanes they were scattered throughout all the worlde: and in eueryevery countrey where they came, they were made slaues and Tributaries: and shalbe so til to the ende of the worlde. for Scripture saieth: Hierusalem calcabiturLuke. …. a gentibus, donec implebuntur tempora …, Hierusalem shalbee troden vnderunder the feete, tyll the tymes of the gentiles be fulfylled. By this prophecye is signified, that the Iewes neuer shall come together agayne, to inhabite Ierusalem and Iurye, and to beare rule there, as they hauehave done: for by this woorde (calcabitur) is signified as muche, as it shalbee inhabited it shalbee vnderunder the dominionVVhoe be the …. of the gentyles. Nowe whiche are gentiles? Answere, all the people in the whole world are gentiles, be it whatsoeuer they wyll, except the Iewes: all other are gentiles: We Englishmē are gentiles, so likewise the Frenchmē. Dutchmen, and other nations, all are gentiles: Now the Prophet saieth, that Ierusalem shall not bee inhabited Donec implebuntur tempora gentium, tyll the tymes of the gentyles bee fulfylled, that is to say, tyll all they are come into the world which are appointed of god to come: that is to say, they shall neuer come together aḡayn, tyll to the ende of the worlde. Wherefore? because they were … that they woulde not bee ruled by goddes moste holye woorde, but despised it, and lyued according vntounto theyr owne phantasies and vanities. Lyke as we doe nowe adayes, the moste part of vsus. Therefore we maye recken that it shall goe with vsus one day lyke as it wente with them, whyche are made nowe outecastes of the whole worlde: euerye manne despiseth theym, and regardeth theym for nothyng: for they hauehave no dominionLike sinne like punishment. more, no kynge nor ruler, no cities nor pollicye.

And thoughe Ierusalem bee builded agayne, yet the Iewes shall hauehave it no more, they shall neuer hauehave dominion ouer it, but the gentyles, they shall hauehave it: it shalbe in theyr handes: And this is the meanyng of this pro phecye against the Jewes, and thys God hath performed hitherto:The cause why the … can no … for the Jewes hauehave many tymes attempted to builde it agayne, yet for all that they were not able to brynge it to passe: for goddes worde wyll not nor can not bee falsifyed, for the wrathe of GOD hangeth vppon theyr beades, beecause of theyr wyckednesse wherewyth they baue prouoked God. Further you muste vnderstande that not onelyonly Jewes were at Jerusalem, but they were scattered thoroughout all the worlde: in eueryevery countrey were some, and therfore they were not all destroyed when Jerusalem was destroyed: but for all that they were cursed in the sight of god: so that they should not inhabite any more that citye.

We reade in stories, that in the days of the Emperour Adzian, the Jewes gathered themselues together out of al cities a wonderfull number of men, al the Jewes which could be gotten, to the intente that they myght get Jerusalem agayne,The ievve vain … prise. which Jerusalem was at that tyme in the Emperors handes: and therfore they made greate preparations to hauehave it agayne, but what dothe the Emperour, he gathered together a great and stronge heste and made agaynste …, and in the ende scattered them: so that they were withoute anye hope afterwarde to recouer that citye agayne: after whyche thynges, the Emperour made a proclamation that not one Jewe shoulde come into the citye neyther to bye or to sell: yea and further more, to the intente that they shoulde bee wythoute any hope of recouerye, he chaunged the name of the citye, and called it …. So that by the storye it moste manifestlye appeareth that the worde of GOD can not bee falsified by anye power or cunnynge: for thoughe they hadde a stronge and mighty hoaste: yet for all that God whyche is the ruler of all thynges confounded them, so that they coulde brynge nothyng to passe after theyr myndes, as they woulde hauehave it: but rather were banished further from the citye: for they were in worse case after thys fightyng, then they hadde bene before, for they had an accesse vntounto the city before, which libertye afterward they loste.

p. 131After that in Julianus the Emperors tyme, which Emperour… an Aposta ta and per secutour. was an Apostata, for he had bene a Christian: and after he came to be Emperor, he forsoke the christian faith and al goodnes and godlines: and not only that but he did al that he could to vanquishe and pul doune Christes true religion: and therefore he went about to sette vppe the Jewes agayn, and gaue them liberties to gather themselues together, and to returne agayne to Jerusalem: and not onelye gaue them this liberty, but also he holpe them with al maner of thyng, that they might bring to passe their purpose: & so vponupon that the Jewes gathered themselues together in an infinite num ber of people, and went to Jerusalem: and so began to make preparations for the buildyng of the temple, and so finallye layed the foundation. The storye saith, that this hoste of the Jewes was a wonderfull ryche hoste: for their mattockes, & spades, and y^e other instruments, which they occupied to the buildyng of the temple, were made of fyne syluer. So these Jewes hadde the Emperoures fauour, his aide and healpe, they were ryche and able to set vp their kingdome agayne: and so falsifye the worde of god after mans reason: for they lacked no worldly thynges. But what dothe God? when he saw that no man would withstand them, to verify his word, he sendeth a wynde, a strong hurlyng wynd, whiche blue awayGod can blovv whā he vvill. all their prouisions, whiche was made for the buildyng of the temple, all the sande and morter and such lyke things, whiche men vse in suche buildinges: and after that, there came such an earthquake, that they were almost out of their wittes. And this was not inough, but there came also fyre & burned by all their workes: and so finally they wer scattered agayne one from another. So by these stories, it manifestlye appeareth, that no mans power is able to stand against god, or to disapoint him of his purposes: for Christe our Sauiour had tolde them, that they shoulde neuer come to their rule agayn. And so his wordes are verified tyll this day, and shall be styll to the worldes ende: for he sayth, Coelum & terra peribuntMath. v.Matt 5 verba autem meum non peribit, heuen and earth shall perishe, but my worde shall endure for euer. A man woulde thynke that there were nothyng so durable as heauen & earth is: yet for all that, they shall rather perish, then that the word of god should be falsified. And this appeared in the Jewes, which though they had the aid & help of this great emperor, & the mighty power of this world: yet for al that they brought nothing to passe at all, for god was able to confounde them: and so no doute he will confound all his enemies, tyll thendGod is … almighty. of the world: for he is as able to verify his wordes nowe as he was then. I woulde hauehave you to consider well the causes wherfore they were caste awaye from God, and were made a mockyng stocke vntounto the whole worlde. wherfore I saye? Marye for their wicked and synfull lyues. Seyng then that they were cast out of theyr …, it shalbe meete for vsus to take heede. For no doute this is writen, for our instruction, to geue vsus warnyng, as the Epistie which is red of this day … vsus. Now god hath fulfilled his word as touchyng y^t destruction of Jerusalem: he hath made true his worde of wrath, thynke ye not y^t he wyl fulfyl hys worde of mercy to? yes no doute ye maye bee sure of it, that he whiche promised that yf we beleeue in Christ, we shalbe saued: he wyll as wel erecute and bryng to passe that woorde, as he hathe broughtGod vvill performe his promesse. to passe the worde of his wrathe and indignation ouer the Jewes. The temple whiche was at Jerusalem was called the temple of god, the people was goddes people, but when they woulde not come vntounto hym, and lyue accordyng as he woulde hauehave them to lyue, he caste them away, and vtterlye destroyed theyr dominions and kyngdomes, and made them slaues and bondmen for euer. And no doute this is wrytten for our instruction and warnyng: for no doute when we folow them in theyr wyckednes, despyse gods worde, regarde it as nothyng, but lyue rather according vntounto our phantasies and appetites, than after his woorde: No doute we shall receyue lyke reward with thē. And though god tary long, yet it shalbe to our greater destruction: for his longanimity andDeferring of punishment maketh it gre tes. longe taryeng for our amendement, shal increase, augment, and make greater our punishmentes and …. But yf we wyll leaue synne and wyckednes, and studye to lyue accordyng vntounto hys wyll and commanndementes. No douts be wyll fulfyll hys promises whiche he hathe made vntounto … p. 132of euerlastyng lyfe: for we baue his warraunt in Scripture, therefore we oughte not to doute of it. for so he saith: Sic deus dilexit mundum, So entierly hath God loued the world that he sent his onelye be gotten sonne to that ende, that all thatIohn. 3.John 3 beleue in hym, shold not perishe, but hauehave lyfe euerlastyng. This is nowe a comfortable thynge and a greate promise, whiche GOD maketh vntounto the whole worlde. And no dout he is as able to fulfyll that promise of grace, as he was able to fulfyll hys wrathfull worde agaynste the Jewes.

So lykewise he saieth: Viuo ego dicit domin, nolo mortemExcc, xviii peccatoris sed vt conuertatur & viuat, As truely as I lyue (saieth the Lorde god) I wyll not the deathe of a synner, but rather that he shall turne and lyue. It is not his pleasure when we be damned, therfore he sweareth an oth: we oughtThe cause vvhy God sware. to beleue hym without an othe: yet to satisfye oure myndes and to the intente that we shoulde beleeue hym, and bee the better assured of his good wil towardes vsus, he sweareth this othe. Now therfore yf we wyll folow hym and leaue our wic ked lyuyng, conuerte and turne our selfes vntounto hym, be sory for that which is paste, & intende to antend our lyfe now forward: yf we do so, no doute we shal lyue w^t hym euerlastingly, world without ende. Therfore let eueryevery one of vsus go in to hys owne heart, and when he fyndeth that he hath brne a wycked man, an yrefull man, a couetuous or a slouthefull man: lette hym repente and bee sorye for it. And take a good purpose to leaue that same synne, where in he hath lyen before. Lette vsus not doe as the Jewes dydde, which were styfnecked, they woulde not leaue theyr synnes, they hadde a pleasure in the same, they woulde folowe theyr olde tradicions,The reward of the suffe necked. refusyng the worde of GOD: therefore theyr destruction came worthelye vppon theym. And therefore (I saye) lette vsus not followe them, leaste we receyue suche a reward as they hadde, leaste euerlastyng destruction come `vponupon vsus, and so we be caste oute of the fauour of god, and finally loste worlde without ende.

And there shalbee signes in the Sunne and in the Mosne & in the Starres, & in the earth. There be some which think y^t there shalbe great Eclipses against the course of nature, & ye know that … hath bene great thynges sene in the Element diuerg …. Sometymes men hauehave sene a rynge about the Sunne: somtimes there hath bene sene … sonnesSunnes that hauehave … at ones: and such like thinges, hath … sene in tymes past: which no dout signified that this … day is not far of, in which Christ will come with his heauenly …, to iudge and rewarde eueryevery one of vsus, accordynge vntounto his descrtes. And the people shalbe at their wittes … through dispaire, men … wonderfull fearefull: they shall pyne awaye for feare: and no dout these shalbe good men, which shalbe thus troubled, with suche a feare of this daye: for you knowe the worldlyn … care not for that day: yea they will scant beleue that there shal be such a day, that there shalbe an other worldGood … shall by mour nyng fore … the ende. or at the least way, they would not … that … shold be an other worlde: therfore they shalbe godly men which … so vsed, to be … vntounto the worlde. And no doute there hath bene here in England many already, which hauehave bene so vexed and tormoyled with such feare. That same maister Bylney which was burnte here in England, for gods worde sake, was induced and persuaded by his friendes to beare a fagotte at the tyme when the Cardinall was …, and bare the swynge. Now … that same Bylney cam to … agayne, a whole yere after he was in such an anguish and agony, so that nothyng did him good, neither eatyng nor … … bare a fagotte.king, nor any other communication of gods worde. For he thought that all the whole scriptures were against him, … sounded to his condemnation. So that I many a tyme … with him (for I was fannliarly acquainted with him) But all thynges whatsoeuer any man coulde allege to his comforte, seemed vntounto hym to make againste him: yet for all that, afterwardes he came againe, god indued him with such strength and perfectnes of faith, that he not onelye confessed his faith, the gospell of our Saniour Jesus Christe: but also suffered his bodye to be burnte for that same Gospels sake, which we now preache in Englande. … Luther that wonderful instrumet of god, through whō god hath opened… Lu ther felte … the end the light of his holy word vntounto the world, which was a long … in …, and neglected: he wryteth of himselfe p. 133that he hath bene sometymcs in such an agony of the spirite, that he felte nothyng but trembling and fearefulnes. And I myself know two or three at this present houre, which be in this case. But as concernyng the vngodly, … say, … & … omnia, all thynges are well with them, they care for noBefore the … men … carelesse. more but for this worlde. Lyke as in the … tyme, they were carelesse at all, they thought all things were cocksure, tyll at such tyme when the floud feil vponupon their heades. And so it is at this tyme with the vngodlye too: they care not for this day of iudgement, it greeueth them not, till it fall vponupon theyr heades one day.

It is said in scripture, that god leadeth into hell, and bringethi. Regū. ii. vp …: and so it is with such fearefull men: for god doth cast them into hall, he hideth himselfe from them: but at the length he bringeth them out agayne, and … thē with a constant sayth: so that they may be sure of their salua tion and … lyse. I knew ones a woman, that wasA vvoman … in conscience. 17. yere … such an crercise and feare, but at the length she …, and god endued her with a strong and stedfast faith in the ende. Therfore no dout these be warnynges wher with the almighty God warneth vsus to make ready against that horrible and fearefull day, which day no doute is not farre of. For the worlde was ordeyned of god to endure, (as scripture and all lerned men agree) syre thousand yeres: Now of this number are gone; syue thousand fyue hundred 52. so that there is left onelyonly foure hundred and fifty lackingThe tyme of the world. two: And this is but a little tyme: and yet this tyme shalbee shortened as scripture plainly witnesseth for the elects sake. So that peraduentare it may come in my dayes, as old as I am: or in oure childrens dayes. Therefore let vsus begynne to … and fight be tymes wyth synne: let vsus not set all oure heartes and myndes vppon this worlde: for no doubte thys daye whensoeuer yt shall come, wylbe wonderfull fearefull vntounto all mankynde, and speciallye vntounto the wycked. ThereThe ende compared … a mans deathe. wil be great alterations at that date, there wil be hurly burly: like as ye se in a man whan he dieth, what deformitie appereth, how he stretcheth out all his membres: what a … is there: so that all his body commeth out of frame: So wyll it be at this fearefull horrible day: there wylbe such alterations of the earth, and the element, they wyll loose theyr former nature and be endued with an other nature.

And then shal they see the … of man come in a cloude with power and great glory. Certain it is, that he shal … to iudge, but we can not tell the tyme when he wyll come: therefore seeyng that he wyl come, lette vsus make redye, lest be finde vsus vnprepared. And take this for a rule, that as he findeth vsus, so he shal iudge vsus. Sainte Paule to the Thessalonians:Thess. 4. when he speaketh of the resurrection of the good sayeth, that at the same day the trompet shall blowe, and all shall ryse which dyed synce the worlde beganne, than they y^t shalbe founde alyus … the earth shal be chaunged sodêly,The maner of our …. and shalbe rapte vp into the ayre, and so meete Christ our sa uior. All those (I say) that be content to stryue and fight with synne, that wyll not be ruled by synne. These (I say) shall of suche wise be taken vp in the ayre and meete with Christe, and so shall come doun with him againe: but as for the other sort which be wicked, and hauehave a delyte in wickednes, & willThe iuste … come vvith Christ to udge the …. not leaue it, but rather goe forwardes in all …, they shalbe lefts vponupon the earth with the deuylles, vntill they bee iudged: and after that they hauehave receiued theyr sentence, they shall go to hell with the diuell, and all his aungelles, and there be punished for theyr sinnes in hellish fire, world without end, for so it is written, Vermis corum nōmoritur, Theyr worme dieth not.

The Sunne shalbe darkened and the Moone shall not geue her light: ye shall not take these woordes so, as thoughe the Sunne and Moone shold be obscured or darkened, their light beyng taken from them. But it is to be vnderstand, that tho rough the brightnes of his glorye they shall be obscured and darkened. The Sunne no doute wyll shyne, but her lighte… inter pretation is true, but not the … of the …. shall not be sene, because of the bryghtnes of his glorye: lyke as when ye sette a burnyng candell in the Sunne the … burneth in deede, but her lighte is not seene, because of the bryghtnes of the sunne. So it wilbe at that tyme, with the Sunne: for though she be the bryghtest and clearest creature aboue all others, yet for al that Christe with his glorye and p. 134… wil obscure her: for his light that he shal bring with hym, shall be so bryght, that the other shall not be sene. And this hys commyng shalbe wonderfull confortable and ioyfull vntounto them which are prepared or chosen to euerlastyng lyfe: Unto them (I say) that be content to leaue their sinnes and wickednes here in this worlde, and lyue conformable to god and his holy woorde: whiche are not proude or stoute: not couetous, or whoremongers: or if they hauehave ben so, they will leaue it, and doo no more so: they are sorie for it, frome the bottom of their hertes. Item they that for sake all maner of falsehod, of …, and all maner of vices, as gluttonie, lecherie, swearing. They (I say) that … contente to wrastle with sinne, they shall … at that tyme and bee merie beyonde all measure. And this is the thyng wherefore all godly and faithfull people praie in this petition, Adueniat regnum tuum, Thy kingdome come: they desire of God the almightie, that his kingdome (that is to saye) the laste day may come, that they may be ones deliuered frome theyr sinnes, and liue with him euerlastyngly world without end.The ende shall bee fearefull. As for the other part, this shalbe a heauy and feareful commyng vntounto them, that intend not to leaue theyr sinnes & …: but rather wyll take their pleasures here in this …: it shalbee a heynous sentence vntounto them, when he shall say vntounto them: Ite … in ignem …, Go … Mat. xxv.Matt 25cursed into euerlastyng …, which is prepared for the deuill and all his aungels, gette you hence from me: for ye myghte hauehave ben saued, but ye would not: ye despised my words and commaundementes: ye regarded more your owne pleasure, than that whyche I hadde commaunded you. Hense therfore gette you hence to the deuyll and all hys aungelles, after whose wyll and commaundementes ye hauehave lyued, his rewarde therfore ye shall hauehave.

Of suche maner Christ our Sauiour wyll talke with theAt the end all shal be open. vngodly, and in the end send them to euerlastyng damnati on. And this shalbe an heause burthen for them: and though they can cloke and hide their synnes in this worlde, yet for al that god will open their wickednes and filthy … at that …: where al the worlde shall know it, and where they shal not bee able to hyde themselues or theyr synnes. This … wylbe lyke vntounto a parliament: ye knowe when thynges are amysse in a realm, or out of order, all they that be good hearted,The ende … to a …. that louelove godlynes, they wyshe for a parliament: these woulde fayne hauehave that all the rulers of the realme shoulde come together, and bring all thinges in good order agayns. For ye know that parliamentes are kept only for this purpose, that thynges which be amysse maye … amended: and … it wyll be at this last day, at this general parliament, where god himselfe with all his heauenly power wylbe present, & ouersee al thinges, and heare all causes, so that nothing shal escape hym: for than all these thinges which the deuill … brought oute of order, they shall be amended: and the deuyll shal not be able afterwarde to corrupt them any further, but all thinges shalbe wel for euer: Let vsus therfore euer hauehave in fresh remembrance this day, that it wylbe a heuy day vntounto them that be wycked: And agayn, a ioyful pleasant day vntounto them y^t … no delite in wickednes. Therfore Christ saith, … capita vestra. … ye see these thinges, than holdeThe ende shall … to the …. Luc. …. vp your heades, that is to saye, be merye and reioyce: for ye know when we be merily disposed we holde vp our heades, and laughe. So Christe … vsus to holde … oure hea des: that is to saye, to be mery: for our redemption is come neere. So Christe comforteth vsus, and maketh vsus to holde … oure heades for oure redemption is come nerer then it was before. What? … not redeemed vsus before by his death and passion? … chaunceth it then that our redempti on is come nerer: Mary Christe hathe redemed vsus before in … by his death and passion: yet it appeareth not vntounto vsus … it is that shal bee saued or damned? for we see the good and the bad beare both the name of Christiās: good and bad, faithfull and vnfaithfull, are baptised in the name of Christ: so lykewise they … to the communion, so that there is no greate difference here in this worlde betwene the electe and reprobate: for the very vnfaithfull geue almes, and doe such out … actes which seeme vntounto vsus to bee good, & be done with a good hearte, when it is nothyng lesse. So that I say, … can not tell as long as we be here in this world which … p. 135electe and which not: but at the last day, than it shal appeare who is he that … saued, and agayne, who shalbee damned. And therfore Christe sayeth, our redemption dralt … necre, that is to saye, it shall appeare vntounto the whole world, that we be the chyldren of god. Therfore his commyng wyll be a glad and ioyfull commyng vntounto the faythfull: for they… of Christes vvorde. shalbe the chyldren of god, they shalbe deliuered and rydde out of all miseries and calamities. But the vnfaithfull shall … to desperation at that day: they that take theyr pleasures here, they that remember not this day, they shalbee condemned with the … and vnchangeable iudgemente of god. And they shall not … any men of lawe, to go … to defende or … theyr causes. … no, the men of lawe shall not be troubled at that day in defendyng of other mensMen of … shall notbe: … bled … matters … the …. causes: but rather they themselues shalbe called to make an accompt for theyr doynges: and there they shalbee iudged, so that they shall not be able to speake any thynge againste it: for theyr owne … and consc ences shall and wyll condomne them. And though this great and generall day come not in our tyme, yet lette vsus consider that we shall dye: and that we hauehave but a shorte tyme to lyue here in this worlde. And as we dye so we shall rise agayne. If we dye in the state of damnation we shall rise in that same …: againe yf we dye in the state of saluation, we shal rise agayne in that same estate, and come to euerlastyng …, bothe soule and bodie. For if we dye now in the … of saluation, then at y^t last generalday of iudgement we shal heare this ioyful sentence procedinge out of the mouth of our sauiour Christ, when heThere is …-…. wil saye. Venite … dicti patris … paratum … ab exordio mundi, Come ye blessed of my father,Math. 25.Matt 25 possesse that kyngdome whiche is prepared for you from the the beginnyng of the worlde. And thoughe we hauehave muche misery here in thys worlde, thoughe it goeth harde with vsus, though we muste … in the brydell: yet for al that, we must be contence, for … shalbe sure of our deliuerance, we shalts sure that our saluation is not farre of. And no dout they that … wyth synne, stryue and fight with it, they shall hauehave the assistaunce of god, he will helpe them: he wyll not forsake them, … wyll strengthen them, so that they shalbe ableHe that vvill fyght shall hauehave helpe. to liue vp rightlye: and thoughe they shall not be able to fulfyll the lawes of god to the vttermost: yet for al that, god will take theyr doings in good parte, for Christes his sonnes sake: in whose name all faythefull people dothe their good workes, and so for … sake they be acceptable vntounto god: and in the ende they shalbe deliuered out of all miseries and trou bles, and come to the blisse of euerlasting ioy and felicity.

I pray god that we may be of the nūber of those, which shall here this … & most comfortable voice of Christ our sauior when he wil say, Venite benedicti patris. … ye blessed of my father, possesse the kingdom which is … for you … fore y^t foūdatiō of the world was layed. There be a great nū ber … y^t christian people, which in y^t lords …, whē they pray (thy kingdom come) pray that this day may come, but yet for all that, they are drowned in the world: they saye the woordes with theyr lyppes, but they cannot tell what is the meanyng of it: they speake it onelyonly with theyr tongue, which saying in dede is to no purpose. But that man or womanSome doo not knovv what … aske in prayer. that saieth these woordes (thy kingdome come) wyth a faythfull heart, no doute he desyreth in very dede that God wyll comme to iudgement, and amend all thynges in this world, to pul doune Satan, that old serpent vnderunder our fete.

But there be a great number of vsus which be not …. Some hauehave liued in this worlde 50. yeres, som 60. yet for al that they be nothyng prepared towardes his commyng: they thinke euer he wil not come yet: but I tell you, that though his generall cōmyng be not yet: yet for al that be wyll come one day, and take vsus out of this worlde: and no doute as heHe vvill come … by deth fyndeth vsus, so we shall hauehave: yf he … vsus redy, and in the state of saluation, no doute we shalbe … for euer worlde without ende. Agayn, yf he … vsus in the state of damnation, we shalbe damned world without ende: there is no …, after we be ones past this world: no … wil help than, nor nothing that man is able to do for vsus. Therfore it is … for eueryevery one of vsus to take … betymes: let vsus not … to long with our amendement, least peraducnture we shall com to short: for no dout we … rewarded accordyng vntounto our desertes.

p. 16But there be some (and hath bene a greate number of vsus) which hauehave trusted in masses and pilgrimages, in setting vp …, and such like …: but I tel you, al this geare wil not help, it is to no purpose: for if al y^t masses which … said in all … sence the masse beganne: if all these masses (I say) were bestowed vponupon one man, to bryng hym out of the state of damnation, it were all to no purpose, and to no effect. Therfore let vsus not put our hope & trust in sucheThe masse is but a …. …: for if we do, no doute we shall deceiue our selues, Again ther be som people which differre & delay their amēdmentes of lyfe, … such tyme as they shall dye: thenne they take in hande to leaue sin, when they are not able to do any more: They wil take their pleiures as long as … be able to hauehave …. they thinke it be tyme enough to repente at the laste houre, when they shall depart, and forsake this worlde.

Suche people dothe very naughtely, and no doute they be in a daunger ous estate: for they are not sure whether they shall hauehave at that same laste tyme, gracc, or not, to repente and … for theyr synnes. Peraduenture their heartesThe surest …. shalbe so hardened in synne and …, that they shall not be able to repent, or be sorye for theyr fauites. Therefore the beste and surest … is to repent betymes, whyle we hauehave tyme, and to be sory for our wyckednes, and to take an earnest mynd and purpose to leaue synne: when we do so, then no doute we shalbee taken vp with Christe, and dwell with him in heauen euerlastingly, in great honor and glory1 Cor. a. where we shal hauehave such ioy, which no tonge cā expresse, no eies hath …, nor eares hath heard y^t inestimable felicities & … which god hath laid vp for his faithful. And lyke as our pleasure & ioy shalbe inestimable, if we repēt betymes, & leue sins: so like wise the … of thē that wil not leaue sin, but euer go forward in …, shalbe inestimable & … ble to, their pain shalbe …, & yet thei shal beare thē. Therfore let eueryevery man take hede how he spēdeth his tune, how he taketh his plesure in this world, sor … as y^t generalOur ends shal be … certayne. gret day shalbe vncertai, so also our particuler day: wher we shal depart this world shalbe …, peraduēture some of vsus shal die to … or y^t next day: therfore it shalbe meete & … for vsus to make ready, leste we be taken sodeinly vnwares.

And then shall they see the sonne of man come in a cloude with power and great glory. Saincte Paule to the Thessalonians setteth out the commyng of Christe and our resurrection: but he speaketh in the same place onelyonly of the rysynge of the good and … that shall bee saued. But the holye Scripture in other places wytnesseth, that the wycked shall ryse to, and shall receyue their sentence of Christ, and so go to hell, where they shalbe punished world without ende. Now S. Paules wordes be these. This saye we vntounto you in the word of the Lord: that we which shal liue1. Thes. 4.1 Thess 4 and shall remayn in the comyng of the lord, shal not come be fore them which slepe. For the lorde himself shall descend frō heauen with a shoute, and the voyce of the Archaungell and trompe of god, and the deade in Christ shall aryse first: then we which shall lyue, … we whiche shall remayne, shal bee caught vp with them also in the cloudes to meete the Lorde in the …, and so shall we euer be with the Lord. wherfore comfort your selues one another with these wordes.

By these wordes of S. Paule it appereth, that they which died in the beginning of the world shalbe as soone by Christ as they which shalbe aliue here at the time of his commyng.S. Paule thought the last dayes might com in his … I would hauehave you to note well the maner of speaking … S. Paule vseth he speaketh like as if the last day should hauehave bene come in his tyme. Now when S. Paule thought that this day should hauehave bene come in his tyme: how much more shal we thynke that it shalbe in our tyme? For no dout he will come, and it is no longe thereunto, … it appeareth by all scriptures whiche make mention of this daye: it wyll come, but it shall come sodenly, vnwares, as a theefe in the night. For a theefe when he intendeth a robbery, to robbe a mans house, to … vppe his …, and take away hys goods, he geueth hym not warnyng, he letteth not the goodThe laste day … to a theefe. manne of the house knowe, at what time he entendeth to come: but rather he entendeth to … suche a tyme, that no man shal be ware of hym. So no doute this laste daye wyll come one day sodenly vponupon our heades, before we bee ware p. 137of it, like as the fyre fell doune … vponupon the … for: they thought that all thynges were well, therefore they toke theyr pleasures, tyll at suche tyme when the fyre fell … from heauen and burned them vp al, with all theyr substance and goods.

So lykewise as it hapned vntounto the first world, whych wold not amende their liues, but folowed theyr carnal …, and appetites, god sent the floude vppon their heades, and so … them altogether. … let vsus take … this great day do fall vponupon vsus, lyke as the floud and the fyre … vponupon the first worlde, and vponupon the Sodomites.

Saint Hierome that holy man writeth in a place, that heS. Hierom loked for: the …. thought euer he herd this trumpet of god and the archangell blow. I would wyshe that we wold folowe the ensaumple of … in that poynte, that we would be so fearefull least this day come vponupon vsus vnwares.

And he shewed them a …, … the fygge tree, and all the trees, whan they shute forth their buddes, ye see and know of your … selfes y^t sommer is thā neere at hād. So … ye see the tokēs which shal go before this feareful day, it is tyme to make redye. But here a man might aske a question, saying: I pray you wherin … this preparation? how shall I make me redye? Aboute this matter hathe ben great …: for there hath ben an infinite number, and there be some … at this tyme, which thinke that this readines standeth in masses, in setting vp candels, in going of pil grimage, and in suche lyke …: they thought to bee made redye towardes that day: and so to be made worthy to stand before the sonne of man, that is before our sauiour Christe. But I tell you this was not the right way to make ready. Christ our sauior he sheweth vsus how we shal make redy our selues, saying. Take heede to your selues leaste at any time your hearts be ouercome with … and dronkennesse and cares of this worlde, and so this daye come vppon you vnwares: for as a snare shall it come vppon all theym that dwell vponupon the … of the whole world. … ye therfore continually, and praye, that ye may … all those thyngs that shall come: and that you may stande before the sonne of man. Here Christ she weth wherin this preparation standeth … in kepyng our selues from superfluous eatyng and …, and in watching and praying. For how commeth … to passe that the whole world is so deceitful and false? Because eueryevery man would fayne fare well, eueryevery one loueth toThe right vvaye to make readie for the …. hauehave good … and drynke, and to go gaylye. And when they hauehave not wherwith to get suche thynges, then they fall to pyckyng, & stealyng, and to falshode: and so … theyr …. But our sauior he geueth vsus warning y^t we shal … and drynke measurably, & soberly, eueryevery one according to his estate and measure. … we ought not to be carefull for this lyfe, we should labour and doe our busines diligently, eueryevery one in that estate, in which god hath … hym, and let vsus trust in god, which no doute wil sende vsus increase of our labour. Therfore Christ addeth, saying: Vigilate & …, watch and pray, as whosay, be euer in a redines least ye be taken vnwares: but those sluggardes whiche spende their tyme vainly in eatyng, and drinking, and sleping, they plese not god. for he commaundeth vsus to watch, to be myndfull, to take … to our …, lest the deuyll, or the worlde, or our owne flesh, get the victory ouer vsus. We are allowed to take … natural sleepe, for it is as necessary for vsus as … and… allo … at … han des. drynke: and we please god as wel in that same, as we please hym when we take our foode. but we muste take …, that we doe it accordyng as he hath appointed vsus: for lyke as he hathe not ordeyned meate and drynke, to y^t ende y^t we should play the glutton with it: so lykewise the sleepe is not …, that we should geue oure selfes to …, or ouer much sleepyng: for no doute whenne … do so, we shall displease god most highly. For Christ saith not in vayne, watch and praye. He would hauehave vsus to be watchers, to hauehave at all tymes in remembraunce his commyng: and to geue our … to prayer to that …, that we may be able to stande before hym at this greate and feareful daye. Meaning that we … not truste in our selfes but call vntounto God, saying: … god almighty thou haste promised to come and … A forme of prayer.the … and the …: … beseche thee geue vsus thy grace & …, that … liue so accordyng … thy … p. 138…: that when thou commest, thou … not cause to bestowe thy fearefull anger, but rather thy louyng kyndnes and … vponupon vsus. So like wise when we go to bed, we shold desyre god that we … not in the slepe of …, and wickednes: but rather that we may leaue …, and folowe his wyll and pleasure, that we bee not led wyth the desires of this wicked worlde. Such an earnest mynd we should hauehave towardes hym, so watchfull we should be. for I tell you it is not a tryfell matter, it is not a mony matter: for our eternall saluation, and our damnation … vponupon it. Our nature is to do all thynges that is possible for vsus, to get syluer and golde: how much more then should … endeuour our selfes to make redy towardes this day, when it shall not be a monye matter, but a soule matter: for at that day it will appeare most manifestlye, who they are, that shall enioy euerlastyng lyfe: and who shalbe … into hel: Now as long as we be in this worlde, we hauehave all one …, we go all to the lordes supper, we beare al the names of christians: butHypocrites cā no: be well espied in this vvorld then itwyll appeare who are the right christians, and again who are the Hypocrites or dissemblers.

Wel I pray god graunte vsus such hearts, that we may looke diligently about vsus, & make redye against his feareful & ioyful commyng: fearefull to them that delyte in syn & wickednes, and wil not leaue them: & … vntounto them that repent, forsake their sinnes, and beleue in him: which no dout wyll come in great honor & glory, & wil make al his faithfull like vntounto him: and will say vntounto them that bee chosen to euerlasting life, Venite benedicti … mei, Come ye blessed of my father, possesse that … which is prepared for you … y^t beginning of the world. Again to y^t wicked … not liue according vntounto his wil & pleasure, but folow their own appetites, he wil say, Ite maledicti in ignem aeternum, Go ye cursed in to euerlasting …. O what a horrible thing will this be? to depart frō him which is the fountain of al goodnes & mercy, w^tout whō is no consolation, cōfort, nor rest, but eter nal sorow & … deth? for gods sake, I require you let vsus cōsider this, y^t we may be amōgest those which shal heare Venite, … to me: that we may be amōgest …, which shal shall … eternall lyfe. And no doute we shalbe amongest them, if we wilbe content to leaue … and wyckednes, … The co … ye … commeth of leauing ….stryue with it, and let it not hauehave the rule and gouernaunce ouer vsus: when we hauehave done any man wrong, or hauehave … good from hym wrongfully, if we … content to restore it agayne: for no doute restitution must be made, as I told you many a tyme before, Restitutionis famae & rerum sunt opera …, Restitution of a mans good or his name must needes bee made: for in that poynte agree all the wryters newe and olde: they say that restitutions muste needes be made eyther in effect, or affect. For this is a sure probation, that this mā or woman is not right sory for his sinnes, and …, that is not contente to make restitution when he hath taken away thynges vnlaufully against conscience from his neigh bour. Therfore he that is content to leaue his synnes, and to make restitution of such thynges which he hath taken away wrongfully from his neighbour: sheweth hymselfe to bee a verye … man. So likewise they that liue in sobernes abuse not the … of god, but vse theym with thankes geuyng.… the … therof. Item he that liueth chastely kepeth hymselfe from …, and whan he feeleth that he hath not the gyft of chastity, maryeth in the feare of god, accordyng vntounto hys ordinance, maketh redy for that daye: and as concernyng young folkes, al y^e wryters agree, that with a meane … yong folke may liue chaste, when they be well gouerned and ruled and kept from ydelnes: then it is no great matter for them to lyue chaste, as long as they be in growyng: but such young persons must beware aboue all thynges of foule and filthye talkes: for it is as S. Paule sayeth: Corrumpunt bonos mores colloquia praua, foule and filthy talkes destroy good ma ners, good bryngyng vp: and then again young folkes must beware of ouer muche eatyng and drinking, for S. … saith: he that is a great drynker of wyne, sayth he: I will neuer… is a dore for the diuell to come … beleue y^t he is a chaste man: therfore … yong vnmaryed folke beware of drynkyng, and then againe of idlenes: for when the … fyndeth them ydle, it is doone with theym. they are soone ouercome. Therfore let them euer … well … tyl they come to age, and then let them bee maryed p. 139in the lord: for the scripture most highly praiseth mariage. S. Paule saith: Honorabile coniugium inter omnes, Mariage is honorable amōgest all mē. Further, let vsus take hede of swearyng. For we may not sweare at al, and we may swere by nothing, but by god, by whom we may not swear, except it be a great vrgent cause, except I be called thereunto by a magistrate: and when I am called so, then I must sweare by no body els, saue onelyonly by god. Therfore they that are so vsed to swearing, do very naught: & no dout gods vengeaunceNonemust be svvorn by but god onelyonly. bangeth ouer theyr heades. for certayn it is, that he which is a great swerer, is also a gret lyer. But as I said before, they y^e wyl leaue such wickednes, and wil liue conformable vntountoSwearing and lying go together. gods word, and then beleue in … our sauiour, trust and beleue to be cleansed from their syns, thorough his deth and passion: no doute they shal here this ioyful sentence of Christ our sauior. Com to me ye blessed of my father, possesse y^t king dom which is prepared for you frō … beginning of y^t world. We esteme it to be a great thyng to hauehave a kingdom in this world, to be a ruler, to be a lofte and beare the swynge: how much more then shoulde we regarde this kyngdome, whiche Christ our sauiour offreth vntounto vsus, which kingdom wilbe an euerlasting kingdome, where there shalbe no end of ioy and felicitye? therfore all they that will be content to folowe our sauiors steppes, to suffer with him here in this worlde, and beare the crosse after hym, they shall reigne with him in euerlasting glory and honour. which grant vsus god the father sonne and holy ghost.

Amen.