The Jewel of Joy, Masque (3 of 3)

The Jewel of Joy · Masque (3 of 3)

Theo.

Thys is a confortable hea rynge for all fayethfull penitent synners.

But I praye you, neighboure Philemon, remayne there no mo causes of reioysyng in the Lorde oure God?Of Christes resurrection

Philemon

Yesse verilye. For thys oure Lorde and Sauioure Iesus Christe dyd not onelye boeth wyllyngely and frelye gyue him selfe vntounto the deathe of the crosse for oure synnes and wyckednes, and by thys meanes paye oure raunsome to God the father for oure offēses, that Satan might hauehave no power ouer vsus, but he al so thorowe the might of his godhead, rose agayne gloriously and triumphantlye on the thyrd day accordynge to the scriptures for oure iustification, as the Apostle sayeth.

He was betraied vntounto the death Romains. iiiifor our synnes, and rose agayne for oure iustification.

For as by the death of Christe oure raunsome is payed, the diuine wrath is pacified, oure synnes are washed away in Christes bloude, a reconciliacion & perfect atonemēt is made betwene God the father and vsus, the obligation of oure dette is rased oute, the law is fulfilled, the curse of goddes wrath is takē away, al thynges both in heauen and in earth are pacified: so in lyke maner by the Resurrection of Christe wee are made ryghtuousse, accepted into Goddes fauoure, recounted for iuste, holye, and vertuousse, sette at libertye, from the tyrannye of Sathan, admitted into the celestiall courte of the newe Hierusalem, and become felowe cityzyns of the houshold of God wyth the Saynctes, and blessed spirites.

Euse.

O inestimable treasures broughte to vsus by the gloryouse resurrection of our moste blessed sauiour Iesu Christ.

Phile.

Yea, lette vsus marke thys also by the waye, that as oure moste valeaunt Lorde and Emperoure Iesus Christe by his resurrection, gatte the vyctory ouer Sathan, Synne, Deathe, Hell, Desperation, and all that is enemye to Mannes healthe, so in lyke condicion hauehave we in hym and thorowe hym goten a glorious victorye ouer Sathan and all hys kyngdome, that we maye wyth a ioyeful voyce saye, death is swalowed vp into victo i. Corhin. xvrye. O death where is thy vyctorye? O death where is thy styng? The stynge of death is sinne, the power of synne is the lawe. But thanckes be to God whiche hath geuen vsus the victorye, thorowe oure Lorde Iesu Christe.

Christo.

O what a ioye and comforte is this to a Christen mans herte, to se hys enimies, whiche before so greately soughte hys distruccion, thus vanquished, subdued and troden vnderunder his fote? This hauehave we gotten, as ye very truly hauehave sayde, by Christes resurrection, as Christe hym selfe testifieth sayeinge, nowe is the iudgemente Iohn. xii.John 12of the worlde, nowe shall the prince of thys worlde be caste Iohn. xvi.John 16oute. Agayne, be of good comfort, I hauehave ouercome the world By the Prophet Ose he also sayeth, I wyl deliuer them from the Osee. xiii.Hos 13power of death, yea from deathe it selfe wyll I redeme them. O death I wyll be thy death. O hel I wyll be thy destruccion.

Phile.

Moreouer by Christes resurrection hauehave we obtayned not only Iustification & victory ouer our enemies, but also resurrection of bodye and euerlastynge immortalitie. For as oure Lorde and sa uioure Iesus Christe dyd put of the mortalitie of hys bodye, and became immortall at hys resurrection, so by the power of that hys moste glorious resurrection shall we also at the greate day of iudgemente in oure resurrection receyue immortall and incorruptible bodyes, euen lyke vntounto the glorious body of oure moste myghtye and valeaunt captayne Iesu Christe.

The.

Oh who cā expres the worthines & excellency of these heauenly gyftes, whiche we obtaine by the mooste victorious and triumphante Resurrection of Iesus Christe oure Lorde and sauioure?

Philemon.

Lette these thynges therefore (dearelye beloued brethren) make you to reioyce in the Lorde.

Lette these thyngs prouoke you to wythdrawe your mynde from transitory thynges and stedfastly to fyxe it on thynges cōstaunt and euerlastinge.

Lette these thynges sequester youre Ioye and pleasure frome the swete entisynge moremaydes of thys worlde, and allure to the alone delectation in celestiall treasures.

Christ.

O blessed is that man, to whōme it is geuen frome aboue truely to sauoure these thynges, fayethfullye to beleue theim, and earnestly to reioyce in that Lord whyche is the alone geuer of thē Sure m… …at man be, that hys name is written in the booke of lyfe.

Philemon.

But lette vsus go forthe to declare moe benifites of God towarde man, that oure ioye in Of Christes ascentio…the Lorde maye be vnfayned, cō summate and perfecte. After this mooste noble conqueste and victorious triumphe, whyche oure moste mighty Emperour Christ Iesus hadde ouer Sathan and hys infernall ministers, he taried here in thys worlde, certayne dayes wyth hys Disciples, eatynge, drynkeynge, and talkyng wyth thē of the kyngdome of his heauenly father, and confirming them in the waye of trueth. And thys dyd he not only to make thē stronge in the article of his resur rection, but also by the instruction of them to corroborat, fortifye and strength vsus in the same, seekynge no les oure health then the saluacion of them. For as the Romain…. xApostle sayeth, if thou doste confesse wyth thy mouth the Lorde Iesus, & beleue wyth thyne herte that God raysed hym vp frome the dead, thou shalt be saued. Cer Actes. i.Acts 1tayne dayes paste from his resur rection, Christe our Lorde by the power of hys godhede in y^e sight of his Apostles ascēded into heauen God and man. HaueHave we no cause to reioyce in this behaulfe? Hath this his marueylouse ascē sion brought no commoditie and profite to vsus? HaueHave we a iuste cause to reioyce in hys natiuitye, preachynge, miracles, good workes, crosse, passion, bloude, death resurrection (whych al are ours) & not in hys ascention also? We reade that the Apostles were very sadde, when Christe told theim that he shoulde ascende vntounto his father. But Christe sayed vntounto them, I tel you trueth, it is expedient Iohn. xvi.John 16and profitable for you that I go & ascende vntounto my father. Christe tolde the Apostles that it was expediente & profitable for theim that he shoulde go vp into heauen. If it were expedient for them, it is euē so like wyse for vsus. For we are saued by y^e very same waye, whereby they receyued saluation. Let vsus therfore consider what commodities and profites the Apostles had by Christes ascention, and let vsus w^t a constaūt fayth and hope loke for the same For there is but one Lorde of all Romain. x The frutes of Christes ascē tion. Iohn. xiiiJohn 13ryche inough for so many as call on hym.

Euse.

I praye you let vsus heare, that our ioye maye be ful.

Phile.

Fyrste that we maye truely reioyce in Christes ascētiō, I wil labour to shew you some of the cō modities of it, as we are taught in the sacred scriptures. Christ in hys laste sermon sayed vntounto hys disciples. I go to prepare a place for you, If I gooe my waye and prepare I wyl come agayne and take you vntounto my self, that wher I am, ye maye be also. Here hauehave we one vrgente cause, whye wee oughte earnestelye to reioyce in Christes ascention. For of thys aforesayed sentence we learne, y^t Christe is ascended vntounto hys father to prepare a place for vsus in heauen. Can anye thynge sound more pleasaunt and thanke worthy to oure eares, then to heare that the son of God came downe frō hys heauenly throne, became man, suffered death, rose agayne for oure sake, and is nowe ascended very God, and very man into heauen to prepare a gloryous mācion for vsus in the kyngedome of heauen? What is more cōfortable for a Pilgrime, then after long traueling by straunge contries at the laste to come home to hys owne house, and ther to find all thyngs wel prouided for him Are not we straungers and pylgrimes i. Peter. ii. Hebrues. xiii.1 Pet 2in thys worlde? Do wee not wāder frō place to place vncertainly, & loke for an other mā cion more quiet & mery to come? If ther were not such a dwelling place to be loked for after thys presēt life, of al creaturs, the true christiās were most miserable. But ther is vndoubtedli an heauēly palaice prepared for y^e faithful, yea and y^t bi Christes ascētiō.

Theo.

Certise here hauehave we, I cō fesse, one great occasiō to reioice in the ascention of Christe, seynge by it he hathe prepared for vsus a dwellynge place among the holy sayntes & blessed angels, & promiseth y^t he wyl come againe, take vsus vntounto hym, and place vsus euen there, where he him selfe is.

Phile.

An other commoditie that we hauehave by Christes ascention, is the gyfte of the holye Goste. For Christe him selfe sayeth. If I go not awaye, the confortou…e shall Iohn. xviJohn 16not come vntounto you. But if I goe my waye, I wyl sende hym vntounto you. By thys confortoure he vnderstandeth the holy gost, whych conforteth and maketh stronge wyth Godly puissaunce, yea and leadeth into al truth, y^e hertes of so many as he inhabiteth. What an inestimable treasure the gyfte of the holy Gost is, no mā knoweth, but he that is endued wyth wysdome from aboue. Whence come al these backe slyders from God and hys worde, but onelyonly of the lacke of the holye Gooste? Whence come so manye Heretikes, scismatikes, anabaptistes sacramentaries, papistes, with al the whole rable of sedicious sectaries, but onelye that thei are destituted of thys cōfortoure, of thys holy spirite, whiche shoulde comforte thē in fayeth, and leade them into all truethe? Dauid knewe full well, what a singular and greate treasure to a fayethful man the hauynge of the holy Goste is, agayne, what an vtter decaie and extreme destruction it is to y^t man, that whanteth thys confortoure, whan he prayde on thys maner. create in me a pure herte, O God, and a right spirite Psal. li.Ps 51renewe thou in my inwarde partes, Caste me not awaye frome thy face, and thy holy spirit take not awaye from me. Thys holye spirite do the fayethfull receyue from God the father thorowe the ascention of Christe. Is thys a small gyfte to hauehave the holy gost geuen vntounto vsus to dwell wythin oure breastes, and wyth hym all the heauēly fruites of the spirite, Gal…. v.fayeth, louelove, hope, pacience, ioye, longe sufferyng, meakenes, temperaunce, iustice, goodnes, gētlenes, modestie, honest behauioure peace, with an whole sea of good thynges mo, yea and at the laste euerlastinge life? Who reioyseth not in thys moste excellente gyft purchaised for vsus by the ascencion of the Lorde Christe our God and sauioure?

Christo.

That such giftes shoulde be geuē vntounto men of Christe after Christes ascention, it was longe before prophecied of the holye Psalmographe, Psal. lxvii.Ps 67thou arte gone vponupon hye, thou, haste ledde capptiuitye captiue, Ephe. iiii.Eph 4and receyued gyftes for menne▪

Euse.

Of the gyfte of the holye goste plenteously to be geuen after Christes ascencion, God hym selfe speaketh by the Prophete Ioell, sayeinge: it shall be in the Iewel. ii.laste dayes, sayth God, of my spirite I wyll powre out vponupon all Actu. i…flesh. And your sonnes and your doughters shall prophesye, and your young men shall se visions and your olde men shall dreame dreames. And on my seruau…tes and on my hande maydens I wyll powre oute of my spirite in those dayes, and they shall Prophesie.

Philemon.

Neyther do here cease the commodities and profites that wee enioye by the ascension of Christe. For besydes the preparacion of the heauenly mansions and the gyfte of Christe our in … in …ure and ….thi holy Goste (whiche withoute doubte are moste highe and syngulare treasures) Christe by hys ascension is become oure intercessoure, mediatoure and aduocate. He sitteth on the ryght hand of God the father makyng intercession for vsus. If we wyl obtaine any thynge of God the father, he is straight wayes redye to be an aduocate and to plead our cause before his father, and easelye obtayneth what so euer he desireth so greate is hys dignitie and exce…ncye. Agayne, if at any tyme Iacob. iii.we offende God (as we all do amysse in manye thynges) and by oure offence prouoke the wrath of God vntounto vengeaunce, Christ oure aduocate and mediatoure is at hande immediately to pacifie the i…e and wrath of God, to reconcile vsus vntounto hym, to purchaise remission of oure synnes, and to recouer the fauoure that we had loste thorowe oure weake nes, as S. Iohn sayeth, if anye man synne, we hauehave an aduocate i. Iohn. ii.1 John 2wyth the father Iesus Christe that ryghteouse one. And he is a merciemercy stocke for oure synnes, not for oure synnes onelyonly, but for all the worldes also. For the bloude of Christe is not lyke the bloude of Abell. For the bloude of Abell Heb. xii.Heb 12crieth for vengeaunce vponupon hys brother Cayne, which vniustely Gene. iiii.Gen 4slewe him (as the bloude of al innocences and martyrs do in like maner call for vengaūce against thē, that hauehave oppressed thē & shed their bloud vniustly) but y^e bloud of Christ crieth for grace, fauour and mercy, crieth for pardon, forgyuenes and remission of synnes crieth for ioye, quietnes and euer lastyng life. God, sayeth Sainct Paull, setteth forth his louelove won derfully towarde vsus, for if when we were yet synners Christe died for vsus, muche more than we beynge nowe iustified in his bloud shal be saued from wrath by him. If when we were enemies, we were recōciled to God by y^e death of hys sonne, muche more we beyng reconciled shall be made safe thorowe hys lyfe. No man can sufficientlye expresse the worthynes of thys cōmodite, that Christ is not onelyonly become by his ascen cion a preparer of a heauenli and glorious mansion for vsus, againe a purchaser of the holye goste to comforte vsus and to lede vsus into al trueth, but also an intercessour mediatoure and aduocate, where by he obtayneth for vsus all good thynges, and putteth a backe frō …s what so euer shoulde hinder …e obtaynynge of gods fauoure and the heauenly enheritaunce. Christe purchaseth for vsus of hys father thoroughe his intercessiō so aboūdantly and so altogether sufficiently, al thinges necessarye for the conseruacion boeth of our bodie and soule, that we nede not to praie vntounto any sainct in heauē as the papistes hauehave taughte vsus neither vntounto mary, Iohn, Peter, Iames, nor any other to be oure intercessoure, mediatour or aduo cate. It is Christes office alone to be a mediatonree betwene god and vsus, as blessed Paulle teacheth vsus in his Epistle vntounto Timo the. I doubte not neygheboures but so many as are fayethful, are replete wyth exceadynge ioye to consider howe manifolde and diuers benefites, gyftes and graces chaunce to vsus by the wonderfull ascencion of Christ our Lord and sauioure.

Theo.

Who so euer considereth depely in hys minde those thynges that ye hauehave taughte vsus hitherto, shall be occasioned vnfainedly, to obeye thys commaundemente of the blessed Apostle, he that reioyceth, let hym reioyse in i. Cor. i.1 Cor 1the Lorde, so swete and full of all heauenly pleasure are these commodities, whyche wee receyue of God thorowe Christ oure Lord.

Philemon.

But let vsus make haste vntounto an ende concernynge thys matter, that we maye learne in fewe wordes, what so euer remai neth of gods goodnes towarde vsus in Christe, I meane so muche as oure wyte can comprehende, and we be taughte in the holye scripture, that we maye earnestely reioyse in the Lorde oure God We hauehave hearde heretofore manye vrgente and wayghtie causes, why we shoulde of very right and boūden dutie reioyse and be mery in the Lorde. Nowe it remayneth orderlye to declare the finall and laste cause, whye wee ought to be glade and reioyse in God.

Christ.

I praye you lette vsus Of christes …inge vntounto the iudgementheare.

Phile.

As Christ was borne for vsus, wrought al good thinges in hys manhode for vsus, suffered for vsus, died for vsus, rose againe for vsus, ascended into heauen for vsus, purchaised the holy goste for vsus, prayeth for vsus, obtayneth al best thynges for vsus, so likewise at the laste daye shall he beynge oure heade come agayne frō the right hande of his father to fet… vsus hys membres, and to enunite vsus w^t him in the same glori ther euer to remayne. And althoughe to the wycked he shall come as a ter rible and ryghteous iudge, to revenge and not to pardonne, to punishe and not to forgiue, to cō deme and not to saue, yet to the fayethfull shall he come in hys glorious maiestye and all the blessed Angeles wyth hym lyke a mooste louynge and Gentle sauioure, sayeynge to them on thys manner, come ye blessed of my father, possesse ye the kyngdome, prepared for you from the begynnynge of the worlde.

O whooe is able, to expresse what ioye and comforte thys afore sayed sentence shal bringe to the hertes of the fayethfull? But to the vnfayethfull it shall be sayede gette ye hence ye cursed into euerlastinge fire, which is prepared for the deuil and hys Angeles.

Euse.

O that daye shall be to the wycked a bitter daye, a, daye of wrath, a daye of tribulacion and anguishe, a day of calamitie mise ry & wrechednes, a daye of darcknes and miste, a day of cloudines & boistuousnes, a day of feareful trompettes and shawmes blowynge.

Philemon.

I graunte, notwythstandeynge to the fayethefull it shall be a swete daye, a daye of fauoure, a daye of quietnes and peace, a daye of wealth and felicitye, a daye of clearenes and lyghte, a daye of comforte and solace, a daye of heauenly myrth ioye and pleasure. For as blessed Paulle fayeth, the eye hathe not seene, nor the eare hathe not hearde, neyther canne the herte of manne thynke, what thynges God hathe prepared for them that louelove hym.

They shall be as Angelles of God in heauen. They shall shyne as the clearenes of the firmament, and as starres for euer and euer. They shall be counted amonge the sonnes of Sapi. v.god, and their lot shal be among the saynctes. They shall receyue of the Lordes hande an honorable kyngedome and a beautifull diademe. They shall be clad with longe whighte garmentes. Thei shalbe be fore the throne of God, and serue hym day and nyght in Apoc. vii.Rev 7his temple. They shal hōgar and thyrste no more, neither shall the sonne or any heate faul vponupon thē for the lambe Christe, whyche is in the middes of the throne, shall gouerne them, and lead thē vntounto the fountayues of the water of lyfe, and God shal wype a waye eueryevery teare from their eies. Thei shall dwell in a citye, that nedeth neyther sonne nor mone to shyne in it. For the clerenes of God shal Apoc. xxi.Rev 21illumine it. They shall beholde the glorious face of god presently, Apoc. xxii.Rev 22and hys name shall be written in their foreheades. They shall eate of the tre of lyfe, whych is in the paradise of God. To conclud they shal hauehave a crowne of glory Apoc. ii.Rev 2and syt wyth Christe their elder brother in hys throne, euen as he sitteth wyth hys father in hys throne, and shall lyue wyth God and hys holy angelles in al kind of honoure and glorye, ioye and pleasure worlde wythout ende. Apoc. iii.Rev 3O what can a Christen man desire more of the Lorde hys God, then these thinges, which I hauehave heretofore rehersed? Come of, tell me nowe I praye you, if we hauehave not many yea and innumerable boeth vrgent and wayghtie causes, why we shoulde reioyse in the Lorde our God. I doubte not, I doubte not, moste dere brethren, but by the hearynge of these thin ges ye are nowe so rapte into the louelove of God for the moste hyghe and singulare pleasures, whyche thorowe Christe Iesus ye hauehave allredye receyued, and here after shall receyue a thousand tymes more abound a untlye, that from hēceforth al worldly thinges shal waxe vile vntounto you, and ye shall euen from the verye herte endeuoure youre selues at all tymes to repose all youre ioye, comforts pleasure and felicitie in the Lord oure God alone, alone, so that ye shall reioyse in none, neyther in heauen nor in earth but in hym alone, alone.

Chri.

Neyghboure Philemō we all are kindled with so feruente and so hertye louelove towarde God for these hys moste singulare and inestimable benefites, that we do not onelyonly defye the world and all the vayne plea sures of it, but we also are redye for our stedfast louelove in God and for the perfecte reioysinge in him gladly to saye wyth the blessed A postle, who shall seperat vsus from the louelove of Christe? Shall tribulacion or anguishe? Or famine? Or nakednes? Or parel? Or persecution? Or swerde? I am sure that neyther death nor lyfe, nor angels, nor soueraignties, nor powers, nor thinges present, nor thynges to come, nor strenghte, heyght, nor depth, nor anye other creature shall be able to seperate vsus from the louelove of God whyche is in Christe Iesus oure Lorde.

Philemon.

I am gladde to heare these youre wordes, and I am fully persuaded y^t thys youre ioye shall encrease vntounto an excedynge and perfecte reioysynge in the Lord our god, vntounto the great and syngulare comforte boeth of youre bodies and soules. But ye shall note, that the holye Apostle doeth not onelyonly bydde vsus reioyse in the Lorde, but he addeth vntounto it. Alwaye. Reioyse in the Lorde Alwaye, sayeth he,

Theo.

What meaneth the blessed Apostle by thys worde Alwaye?

Phile.

Uerily he wyll that oure ioye and reioysynge Prouer. xiiii.Prov 14in the Lorde be not flittyng, transitory and of small con tinuaunce as the pleasure that is conceyued of worldly thynges is, the ende whereof is bytter and sorowfull, as Salomon say eth, the ende of worldelye ioye is heauines, mornening and lamen tynge) but constante, stedfaste, inmutable, not diminishinge but encreasynge vntounto an hyghe perfection of godly mirth, ioye, felicitye & pleasure. For he that conti nueth vntounto the ende, sayth Christ Math. x.Matt 10shal be saued. It is not ynoughe to begynne well and to continue in the same a certayne space, excepte we perseuer euen vntounto the end of our lyfe. The wyfe of Lot began well, when she came oute of synfull Sodome, but bycause she dyd not goe forthe, but loked Gene. xixGen 19backe agayne vntounto it, she was turned into a salte pillar. The wyse menne that came frome the East parte of the worlde to worshyppe Iesus Christe the newe Mathew. ii.Matt 2borne kynge of the spirituall Israelites: were cōmaunded of god no more to returne to the mooste blouddy and wycked kynge Herode. Iudas begā well and was one of Christes disciples, & very earneste in settynge forthe the kyngedome of God for a certain space, but seynge he dyd not perseuer in that Godly purpose, but became of a preacher a treytour, of a disciple a thiefe, of a minister a murtherer, he is now the sonne Mathew. xxi.Matt 21of perdition and dampned for euermore. He is not y^e true sonne that promiseth hys father, that he wyll worcke in hys viniyarde & doeth not, but he that māfully worketh in it indede, & so perceue teth to y^e ende, he shal inioy y^e enheritaunce of his father. For the kingdome of god shal be takē away frō idle lubbers, & geuen to Mathe. xiii.theym that worcke and brynge forth the fruits therof. Not they Marke. iiii.Mark 4whych, whē they heare the word fyrst of al, do ioyfully receyue it, Luke. viii.Luke 8beleue it for a tyme, talke of it, & in the time of tentation go away, slide backe and become other mē, shall possesse eternall lyfe: but they whyche with greate ioy and gladnes of mynde, heare it, receyue it, beleue it, cleaue faste vntounto it in the tyme of persecution, and perseuer in the same euē vntounto the very last breath.ii. Timo. i…

No man is crowned saith saynte Paule, excepte he fyghte lawefullye, that is, vntyll he hauehave goten the victorye by resistynge the worlde, the Deuyll, and the flesh thorowe Christe oure Lorde.

And the Lord hym selfe sayeth. No manne that putteth hys hād to the plough, and loketh backe, Luke. ix.Luke 9is meete for the Kyngedome of heauen.

Hereto agreeth the sayinge of Saynt Peter: If after they hauehave forsaken the vncleannesse of the worlde by the knoweledge of the Lorde and Sauiour Christ Iesus, they yet againe beyng wrapped ii. Peter. ii.2 Pet 2in theym are ouercome, the laste is worsse then the fyrste to theym. For it had bene better for thē not to hauehave knowen the way of ryghtuousenes, thē after theyr knoweledge to turne away from that holy commaundement, that was geuen theym. But that it chaunced to theim, that is wonte to be spoken in a true prouerbe. The dogge is returned vntounto his vomit, and the sowe cleane washed Prouer. xxviProv 26vntounto the wallowinge in the myre. Of these thyngs aforesaid maye wee learne that it is not inoughe to begyn well, except we perseuer and continue euen vntounto the geuynge vp of the Goste, as they vse to saye. He that continueth Iohn. viiiJohn 8to the ende saieth Christ, shall be saued. Agayne he sayeth. If ye abyde in my worde, truelie ye shall be my Disciples, and ye shall knowe the trueth, and the truth shal deliuer you. We must abyde in the worde of God, or els we can not be Christes disciples. We are deliuered frō the rule of our enemies, saieth holy zachary the prieste father to that mooste excellente Prophete of God. S. Luke. i.Luke 1Iohn Baptiste, that we beynge wythout feare shoulde serue god in holines and rightuousnes before him all the dayes of our life. Note that he saieth, all the daies of oure lyfe muste we serue God in suche holines and ryghtuousnes as is acceptable before hym. The holye scripture requireth of vsus a continuall progresse and an vnletted perseueraūce in y^e waye of Godlines. In consideration wherof the blessed Apostle doeth not onelyonly exhort vsus to reioyce in the Lorde, but he addeth vntounto it Alwaye, requirynge of vsus not a flyttynge and transitorye reioysynge, but a constaunte, stedfast, sure, continual and vnchaungeable reioysynge in the Lord. Reioyce in the Lorde alwaye, saieth he.

Euse.

It is but a trifle to ioy and reioyce in the Lorde, in hys Note wellworde and ordinaunces so longe as prosperitye endureth, and the worlde laugheth vponupon vsus, but to reioyce in the Lorde, in hys word and ordinaunces when we be assayled wyth troublous aduersitie, whē we be visited wyth greauouse sicknes, when we be empouerished thorowe miserable misfortunes, whē we be hated, blasphemed, persecuted, oppressed, en prysoned, punished of worldelye tyrantes for God, for hys worde and ordinaunces, thys is a perfecte ioye, and christian reioysing to beare the crosse of Christe, to suffer patientlye all kynde of aduersitie, to cleaue faste to God in the tyme of temptation, to be cō tente so well to abyde troubles as prosperouse thynges, & thākfully to take what so euer plages or punishmentes God shall laye vponupon vsus, eyther by hys owne louynge visitation or by the crueltye of the wycked worldelynges, whyche are alwaye enemyes to Goddes trueth, and to al true louers of the same, thys is in mine opinion to reioyce alwaye in the Lorde, and to acknowledge hym to be our most gentil father and louinge sauiour, whether he send prosperitie or aduersitie.

Phile.

Truth it is y^t ye …, brother Eusebius.

If therefore anye of you at … good lessonanye tyme be visited wyth sickenes or diseases of the body, murmure not, nor grudg not against God, blaspheme hym not, nor speake not vnreuerently of hym, nor yet wyshe not that syckenes to be taken frome you otherwyse then hys Godlye pleasure shall be, whyche knoweth muche better what is expediēt or profitable for you, then ye youre selues do, but wyth hyghe patience, & most herty thankes geuynge, receyue that louynge visitation of youre heauenlye father, as an holy enplasture & holsome salue to heale all those pockye diseases wherw^t your soules are infected thorowe the stynkynge corruption of olde synfull Adam. We are corrected and punished of the Lorde, saith i. Corhin. xiiS. Paule, that we should not be dampned with thys worlde. Dauid also sayth. It is good for me that thou haste thus humbled & brought me down full lowe, that I may learne thy ryghtuous ordinaūces. If thou therfore in thy sycknes shalt fele thy fleshe to be Psal. exviii.impatiente, disobediente to the wyll of God and at defiaunce w^t God for thys hys louyng correction, pleasaunte to the spirite, altogyther bitter to the fleshe for a season, restrayne and plucke hyr backe wyth the bytte of patience and neuer leue to fyght againste the furious and rageynge motions of the fleshe, tyll thou haste made hyr obediente to the spirite & wyllyng to suffer what soeuer kynde of aduersitie God shall laye vponupon hyr backe. Laboure in thy syckenes so to ioye & reioyce in the Lorde, that with hygh pacience and cherefulnes of mynde euen in the myddes of thy moste bitter vexation, thou maiest saye with. S. Paule. We are not weried, ii. Corhin iiii.but though oure outwarde man peryshe, yet the inwarde mā is renewed daye by day. For our tribulation whyche is momenta nye, of shorte continuaunce and lyghte, prepareth an exceadynge and an eternall wayeght of glory vntounto vsus, whyle we loke not on the thynges, whyche are sene but on the thynges whyche are not seene. For thynges whyche are sene, are temporal, but thynges whyche are not seene are euerlastyng. Agayne, we knowe surely, ii. Corhin. iiiiif our earthly mantion, wherein wee nowe dwel, were destroyed, that we hauehave a buildynge ordeined of God, an habitation not made wyth handes, but eternall in heauen. And that ye maye w^t the more patiente and thankeful mynde receyue all kynde of sicknesses and diseases, wherwith ye are at any tyme vexed, loke that ye perswade your selues and beleue vndoubtedly, that your punishmētes come not vntounto you by chaunce, but by the councell, prouidence & appoyntmēte of God, wythoute whose wyll an heare doeth not fall from your heades Mathew. x.Matt 10whych also kepeth al your bones so that not one of thē shal be brused Psal. xxxiiiiPs 34wythoute the permission and Psa. xcixPs 99sufferaūce of that our good god. He made vsus, and we not oure selues. We are hys flocke, and the shepe of his pasture, therfore like a moste gentyl shephearde considerynge the greuous…e diseases, wherewyth we are already infected or els lyke to be, he prepareth hys tarre and greaseth vsus wyth that, that we should be free from all contagious diseases, and be founde whole and sounde, when so euer we shall be searched. For God doth not visite vsus w^t syckenes & other plages that he might destroy vsus, cast vsus headlong into hell fyre, & damne vsus perpetually, but to cal vsus to repentaūce, to prouoke vsus to come home agayne vntounto the shepefolde, to exercise, proue, and trye oure fayeth, y^t by thys meanes he myghte saue vsus.

For that Lorde, whyche is the searcher of raynes & hertes, perceyuinge how olde Adam beginneth to waxe cruell and fearce in vsus, restrayneth & plucketh hym backe wyth the bridel of sycknes that he shall not do what he hym selfe woulde, but what the good wyll of oure heauenlye father is, whyche els wythoute all doubte woulde so rage and growe vntounto suche licencious ryote, that with hys vayne pleasures and fleshly lustes he would deceiue the most precious and noble soule, and so deceyued throwe it into the da… ger of eternall damnation.

Theo.

Of these your words may we ryght wel perceiue that afliction, troubles sycknesses, and diceases be no tokēs of Gods Ire wrath, & dispeasure towarde vsus, but of much hygh mercy, fauour louelove, & good wyl, y^t he beareth to vsus.

Phile.

Truth. For if this most gentle Sauioure and beste God dyd not seke oure saluation, oure wealth and health euerlastyng: he woulde not wyth so sharpe & louyng corrections cal vsus home agayne vntounto the shepefold, but suffer vsus to runne hedlonge into all kynde of carnal voluptuousnes and beastly pleasure, and afterwarde for our dissolute liuing reward vsus wyth paynes eternal amonge the bealye Goddes and Epicures.

Chri.

O who is so far estraūged from the ryght course of reason, that he had not rather hauehave hys carnal affectes & beastly wyll mortified wyth temporal & short sicknesses in thys worlde, then for a little space to tumble and wallowe in all kynde of carnall pleasures accordinge to his fleshly desyre, and afterwarde for euer and euer to be cast into such The p…ynes of hellpaynes as are boeth intollerable and euerlastyng, where wepinge and gnashynge of teath is, wher the darcknesses are so great that Mathe. xiii.they maye be felte, wher the fyre shall neuer be quenched, where the worme that shall gnawe the Esai. …xviIsa 16conscience of the wicked shal neuer dye, wher there is a lake and stinckeynge puddell, that burneth Apoca. xx…continuallye wyth fyre and brymstone, wher nothynge shall be fealte but payne, nothyng remembred but synne, nothyng tasted but bitternes, nothinge sene but our mooste wycked enemyes Satan wyth hys infernal ministers, whoe shall not be greaued and ledde wyth a certayne compassion toward the dāned for the multitude of the moste bitter pai nes, wherin they shal se thē most miserablie tormented, but they shall reioyce, yea they theim selues shall neuer cease to minister intollerable punishmētes to the damned soules worlde wythout ende.

Euse.

O whose herte is so enflamed wyth the fyre of carnall pleasure, that waxeth not colde at the hearynge of these thyngs? Whoe hadde not rather in thys worlde continnally to be shaken wyth hot agues, greaued wyth bone ache, eaten wyth canckars, pyned awaye for hunger, and to suffer any other temporall diseases that can be named, be it neuer so greuouse and bitter to the fleshe, then to fal into those most horrible paynes that you named heretofore?

The paynes that are suffered in thys worlde are greate and bitter (I confesse) but they hauehave an ende, and worcke healthe to the soule. And in lyke maner: the paynes that are sustayned in hell, are boeth greate and bitter also, but they hauehave no ende, and bryng eternall damnation to the soule.

Phile.

O what plage can be named lyke vntounto thys? Who is nowe so stifenecked and harde herted, that he wyll not say wyth the Apostle. I wyll wyth all my herte reioyce in my infirmities & ii. Corhin. xi….weaknes, that the vertue, power and strength of Christ may dwel in me. Who nowe is so blynde whyche seeth not, that to be visited wyth syckenes in thys world is to receiue a singuler and hygh benefite of God? Who is so far frome true fayeth, that wyll not be perswaded, y^e afflictions, troubles, syckenesses and diseases be playne testimonies, and euident sygnes of Goddes good fauoure towarde vsus? as the wise man saieth. The chastening of God thou Prouer. iii.Prov 3shalt not refuse, neither grudge thou, whan he shall correcte the. For whom the Lord loueth, hym he correcteth, and delyghteth hym selfe as the father in the son Dauid also sayeth, O blessed is that man, whiche is vnderunder the lawe and nourtoure of the Lord, Agayne, It is hyghely, for my wealth, O Lorde, that thou haste Psal. cxviii.Ps 18broughte me vnderunder to learne thy ordinaunces. Hereto agreeth the sayinge of the Apostle, my sonne despise not the chastenyng of the Lorde, neyther faynte thou, wh… thou arte rebuked of hym. For whom the Lorde loueth, hym he Hebr. xxi.chasteneth, yea and he scourgeth eueryevery sonne, that he receyueth. If ye endure chastening, God offereth him selfe vntounto you as vntounto sonnes. What sonne is that, whom the father chasteneth not? It ye be not vnderunder correccion (whereof al are partakers) than are ye bastardes and not sonnes. Wherefore seeynge we had fathers of oure fleshe, whyche corrected vsus, and we hauehave them in reuerence, shoulde we not muche rather be in subiectiō vntounto the fa ther of spiritual giftes? And they verelye for a fewe dayes nourtered vsus after theyr own pleasure, but he learneth vsus vntounto y^t, which is profitable, y^t we might receiue of his holynes. Nomaner of cha stesynge for the presente time semeth to be ioyous but greuous, not wythstandynge after warde it bryngeth quiet fruite of rightuousnes vntounto them, whiche are exercised in the same. Beare not therefore, derely beloued impaciently the crosse of sickenes, whan so euer God layeth it on youre backe, neyther striue ye agaynste the good pleasure of your heauē ly father, whiche onelye seaketh your comoditye & eternal saluaci on, but paciētely suffer and praie, y^t his godli wil (which is alwaies best) may be done in you, & whether he sendeth sickenes or health euer glorifie hys name, & reioyse in him being thorowly persuadid that he wil hādle you none other wise, than shall make boeth vntounto his glori & your saluacion, which to resiste were extreme impietie & to much vngodlines.

Chr.

For as much, o lord, as we are thy workmāship A godly pr… pet.& are in thy hādes euē as y^e claye is in the potters, do w^t vsus according to thy most godly plea sure onli giuegive vsus a pacient & thāk ful hert, y^t whither y^u sēdest prospe ritie or aduersitie, siknes or helth quietnes or trouble, we may at al times praise & magnify thy most blessed and glorious name.

The.

Let it so come to passe O Lorde.

Phile.

Nowe Neyghbours euen as I would wishe you to reioyse O… pouertie or losse of goodes.in the Lorde our God, whansoeuer he visite you with his louing correction and scourge of sickenes, so would I gladly also hauehave you to ioye and reioyse in hym, if he at any tyme sendeth pouertye or losse of gooddes to any of you all. If therefore it so chaunceth, that ye be acombred wyth anye misfortune, grudge not agaynst God, but shewe your selfe cōformable to hys godlye wyll in all poyntes, nothynge doubtynge but that losse of youre temporall possessions shal turne vntounto your hyghe commoditye and furtheraunce in obtaynynge goodes, whiche are a thousande tymes more precious, I meane gods fa uour, quietnes of conscience and eternall glorye. Let the brother, sayeth Sayncte Iames, that is poore and of lowe degree reioyse Iaco. i.in that he is exalted, and the rich in that is made lowe. For euē as the flour of the grasse shall he vanishe awaye. The sonne riseth wyth heate, and the grasse widereth, and his floure falleth away, and the beautie of the fashiō of it perisheth: euen so shall the ryche mā perishe wyth hys abundaūce The goodes of thys world, wher wyth ye be ryghtuouslye endued are gods, if therefore it shall be hys good pleasure at anye tyme to take them from you, grudge not agaynste hym for takeynge his owne, but rather with a thā full and reioysynge herte saye wyth the paciente manne Iobe, Iob. ix.Job 9the Lord gaue it, the Lorde hath taken it awaye agayne. As it pleased the Lorde, so is it come to passe. Blessed be the name of the Lorde. Paraduenture God perceyueth, that thy mynde is so Why God …aketh awayemuche set on tēporall possessiōs y^t the worldely goodes from them whome he loueth.y^u cleane forgettest y^e spiritual riches & heauenly treasures of the soule, therfore he mīdīg to make the his son & heire of eternal glo ry & of much better & more excellente goodes than this beggerly vale of misery can cōprehend, taketh away frō the mucke of this world, that y^u maiest y^e more frely aspire & breath forward vntounto the gettīg of heauēly riches, wher w^t the soule beīg gorgeously decked may after this transitory life sit gloriously in the glorious palace of heauē. For what doth it profit a mā, sayth christ thoughe he win neth al y^e world, & loseth his sole? Againe, hord not vp tresures vntounto you on y^e earth, wher rust & mothes Math xvi.Matt 16corrupte, and where theues breake thorow & steale. But hord ye vp treasures in heauen, where Math. vi.Matt 6neither rust nor mothes corrupt, & wher theues breake not vp nor yet steale. For wher your tresure is, ther wil your hert be also. And y^t ye may bere y^e crosse of pouertie w^t the more paciēt mind remēber Math. vii.Matt 7y^t though christ was lord ouer al, yet was he so pore frō hys infancie vntounto his depature out of this world, y^t he had not a place, wher once to rest his hed. His mother & al y^e apostles w^t mani blessed marters, faythfull ministers of gods Luke. ii.Luke 2word & other innumerable y^t were good mē & derely beloued of god escaped not y^e harde dart of pouer Actu. iii.ty. Now seīg ye hauehave christ y^e lord of lordes & king of kīges, his blessed mother, w^t y^e holy Apostles & marters &c exēplars of pouerti to folow and practise, if God at any time do lay y^e crosse of necessiti on youre backes, suffer it boeth paciētly & thākefully. Disdaine not you beynge seruauntes to beare y^e burden, which your lord & maister refused not to take vpō hym. Ye knowe the liberalitie of oure ii. Cor. viii.2 Cor 8Lorde Iesu Christe, sayeth S. Paule, that for youre sake he became poore whan he was ryche, y^t ye thorowe his pouertie should waxe ryche.

Euse.

Neyghboure Philemon, althoughe, thankes be to God, we hauehave oure brestes so well furnyshed and fortressed wyth the weapons and armours of holy scriptures against the violēce of all misfortunes, yet some perchaunce not beynge thorowly instructed of Gods liberalitie towarde his creatures, wyll obiect and saye, as the comon prouerbe is, necessitye is an hearde darte. And honger is a sharpe thorne, howe than can we take pouertye so pacientlye, that we maye reioyse in the Lord our God, namely in so greate penurie and scasenes of thynges.

Philemon.

I answere wyth the Psalmographe, I hauehave bene yonge, and nowe I Psal. xxxvii.Ps 37am olde, yet neuer sawe I right tuous man forsaken, nor his sede beggynge their breade on the earth. If thou therefore be ryght tuouse, that is, fayethfull to God and iuste to thy neyghboure laboringe diligently for thy lyuing accordynge to the vocacion and callynge, as God hath commaun ded the, thou mayste be sure not to wante, that shal suffice nature Who euer trusted in God, and Psal. lv.Ps 55wente awaye succoureles? Caste thy care on the Lord, and he shall nourishe the, sayeth Dauid. The Psal. xlv.Ps 45Lorde geueth meate to the hungrye. Beholde the eys of the Lorde are vponupon them that feare Psal. xxx…ii.Ps 30hym, and vponupon them that truste in his mercye, that he maye deliuer their liues from death, and nourishe thē in the tyme of honger. They that feare the Lorde shall hauehave no scarsenes. They which seeke the Lord, shall want no good thynge. Feare not my sonne, sayeth Tobias, we leade a Tobi. iii….pore lyfe, notwythstandynge we shal hauehave plentye of al good thin ges if we feare the Lorde, depart from all synne and do well. God …. Timo. vi.gyueth vsus aboūdantly in al thin ges to enioye them sayeth sainct Paule. God him selfe sayeth, I Iosue. i.Josh 1wyll not fayle the nor yet forsake the.

Christo.

Who beynge a fayethfull manne, althoughe neuer so Hebru. xiii.muche oppressed wyth pouertye, wyl not reioyse in the lord, which hath promised and wil no les per fourme, that he wyll not forsake so manye as truste in hym.

Philemon.

And that ye may be thorow ly perswaded of hys, faythfulnes concernyng thaccomplishement of his promes, consider, I praye page missing you, howe frendly and fayethfully he dealt in tymes paste wyth his seruauntes, and wyll no les fauorably handle vsus, if we hauehave Exo. xvi. x….Exod 16lyke fayeth in hym. Dyd he not fede the people of Israell wyth meate from heauē, and gaue thē iii. Reg. xvii.1 Kgs 17drincke out of the rocke? Dyd he not sende meate twise a daye by the rauens to the Prophet Helias, and so miraculously fed him, whā the vnfaythful perished for hōger? Did not Christ turne wa ter into wyne at the mariage in Iohu. ii.Cana Galile? Dyd not Christe wyth fyue barlye loues and two fyshes fede fyue thousande men Math. x…ii.Matt 10besydes womenne and children, and yet there of remained xii baskettes full of the fragmentes? …ohn. vi.Do not all these histories teache vsus to hauehave fayeth in God, and to beleue that God hath a father lye care for hys seruauntes? duplicate page duplicate page What so euer thynges are wryten, are writtē sayth blessed Paul for oure learnynge, that thorowe pacience and cōforte of the scriptures Rom. xiiii.Rom 14we shoulde hauehave hope. It is not to be passed ouer at thys presente, that Christe hath in the gospel of Mathewe. Be not care Math. vi.Matt 6full for youre lyfe what ye shall eate, or what ye shall drincke, nor yet for youre bodye, what ye shal put on. Is not y^e life more worth than meate? And the bodie more of valure than rayment? Behold the foules of the ayer, for they sowe not, neyther reape nor carye into the barnes, and youre heauenly father fedeth them. Are ye not much better thā they? Which of you by takyngr thoughte can put one cubite to hys stature? And why care ye thē for raiment? Consider the lylies of the felde, howe they growe. They laboure not, neyther spinne, and yet I tel you, y^t Salomon in al his rialtie was not arayed lyke vntounto one of these. Wherfore if god so cloth y^e grasse, whyche is to daye in the felde, and to morowe shall be cast into y^e fornace, shal he not muche more do the same to you, O ye of litle fayeth? Take therefore no thoughte sayinge, what shall we eate, or what shall we drincke, or wherewyth shall we be clothed? After al these thynges seake the heathen. For youre heauenly father knoweth, that ye hauehave nede of all these thynges. But seke ye firste the kyngdome of heauen and the ryghtuousnes thereof, and all these thynges shalbe cast vntounto you.

The.

O swet & comfortable scriptures. Lette the heathen take thought for their liuinge, which knowe not God, as for the fayth full Christians thei hauehave a lorde whiche wyl prouyde for them aboūdauntly. Let adulteres forni cators, theues, Dronkardes, swe rers, and suche other wycked par sonnes take care wherewith they shall be fedde and cladde, as for the seruauntes of God they hauehave an almyghtye Lorde in heauen, whiche wyll sende them plentye of all good thynges. If ye be louynge Esa. i.Isa 1and obediente, sayeth the Prophet Esay, ye shal enioye the beste thynge that groweth in the lande. But if ye be obstinate and rebelious, ye shall be deuoured with the swerd. For thus the lord hath promised wyth hys owne mouth. The wicked therfore and not the faythfull shall want and be oppressed wyth famyne.

Euse.

If God taketh such fatherly care for hys seruauntes, howe than commeth it to passe manye tymes, that those, whyche seeke most of al hys glory, lede in this worlde the most base & miserable lyfe, and often are found socourles and destitute of all mannes healp? Whan they whych be vnfayethfull regarde, neyther God nor any thynge that is godly, dis pise hys most blessed worde, persecute the true preachers thereof, oppresse theyr pore neyghboures deale vniustly wyth all men &c, hauehave ouer flowyng aboūdaunce of al thinges, lyue lyke voluptuous Epicures in al kind of pleasure, & possesse whatsoeuer theyr hertes can wishe or desire. Thys thing se we presentely before our eyes, and as it may be gathered of the holye Scriptures, manye good menne in tymes paste hauehave complayned of this thynge vntounto god and almooste, as it were, accused God of vnryghtuousnes. Are not these the wordes of the holye and paciente man Iobe… When I consider my selfe I am Iob. xxii.Job 22a trayde, and my fleshe is smitten wyth feare. Wherefore do wycked men lyue in health and prosperite, come to ther olde age and increase in ritches? Their childrē lyue in their syghte, and their generacion before their eyes.

Their houses are safe from all feare, and the rodde of God doth not smyte them. Their bullocke gendereth, and that not oute of tyme, their cowe calueth, and is not vnfruiteful. They send forth their chyldren by flockes, and their sonnes leade the daunce. They beare wyth them tabrettes and harpes, and hauehave instrumen tes of musicke at their pleasurs. Thei spend their daies in wealth thynes. &c. The holy Prophet Ie I…e. xii.remye maruelynge greatelye at the prosperitie of y^e wycked speaketh to God on thys maner. O Lorde thou art more ryghtuous then I should dispute wyth the. Neuertheles lette me talke wyth the in thynges reasonable. How happeneth it, that the way of the vngodli is so prosperous? & that it goeth so wel wyth them, which wythout any shame offende and lyue in wyckednes? Thou plantist them, and they take rote, they growe and brynge forth fruite.

Are not these the wordes also of the blessed Psalmographe? truely God is louynge vntounto Israell, Psal. lxxiii.Ps 73and vntounto suche as are of acleane herte. Neuertheles my fete were almost gone, my treadinges had welnigh flypt. And why? I was greued at the wicked, I do se also the vngodly in such prosperitie. For they are in no parell of death, but are lusty and stronge. they come in no misfortune lyke other folke, neyther are they plaged lyke other men. And thys is the cause, why they be so holden wyth pryde, and ouerwhelmed wyth crueltye, theyr eyes swel for fatnes, and they do euen what they luste. They corrupte other, and speake of wycked blasphemy theyr talking is against the most higheste. For they stretche forthe theyr mouthe vntounto heauen, and theyr tonge goeth thorowe the worlde. Therfore fall the people vntounto thē, & therout sucke they no smal aduauntage. Tush say they howe shoulde God perceyue it? Is there anye knowledge in the moste hygheste? Lo, these are the vngodlye, these prospere in the worlde, and these hauehave ryches in possession. Againe the Apostles of Christe, euen Christe him selfe beinge wyth them, were sumtime so hungry & destitute of al kinde of vitaile: y^t as they wente by the waye they were cōpelled euen for very hūger to plucke y^e eares of …athew. xiicorne, and to eat it. And doth not S. Paul in these wordes declare Marcke. iithe miserable state boeth of hym selfe, and of hys felowaposties? Euen vntounto thys tyme (sayeth he) Corhin iiii.we hunger, and thyrste, and are naked, and are buffeted wyth fystes, and hauehave no certayne dwellynge plase, and laboure worckynge with oure handes.

Wee are reuyled, and yet we blesse. We are persecuted, and suffer it. We are euyll spoken of and we praye. We are made as the fylthynes of the worlde, the ofscourynge of all thynges, euen vntounto thys daye.

At the maryage in Cana Galile wher Christe hym selfe was present w^t the blessed virgin Mary Iohn. ….hys Mother and hys disciples, was there not suche scarsenesse, that they wāted wyne before the weddynge feaste was done? And yet it is to be thought, that both they whych were maried and the other ther assembled, were Christes frendes and dearly beloued of Christ. What shal I rehearse the historye of the ryche manne whych was gorgeously appareled Luke. xviLuke 16& fared daintilye euerye day, and of the pore Lazar, whych died for hunger? The riche gluttō lyued pleasauntly and was dam ned in hel, the pore Lazar lyuing in all kinde of worldelye miserye after the death of his body reigneth in glory with god. The enemy of God hathe after hys owne carnal luste all thynges, the frēd of God wanteth, that should suffice the necessary appetite of nature.

Phile.

I confesse that for the mooste parte the wycked in thys worlde hauehave more aboundaunce of temporall goodes, and lyue a thousande tymes more pleasaūtlye in the face of the worlde, then the true christians do, God thorow his vnsearcheable wisdome so appoyntinge, whyche afore seeth much better then we, what is necessarye for vsus. Notwythstandynge thoughe God doeth not customably send to hys seruātes suche abundaunce of worldelye treasures, as voluptuous world lyngs do possesse, lest theyr mindes snarled wyth the louelove of thē shoulde be withdrawen from the true & euerlastynge goodnes (as it cometh to passe in mani) yet ve ry seldon or neuer doeth he leaue theim socourles but sēdeth them, what so euer is necessarye for the sustentation of theyr …eadye and pore lyfe accordynge to hys promyse, as he sayed vntounto hys disciples, Luke. xxii.Luke 22When I sent you, wythout wallet, and scrippe, and shou…s, lacked ye anye thynge? And they sayed, No. Truely no more shall we lacke any necessarye thynge, if we louelove God & obey hys word The fayethful maye perchaunce sometyme fele the dart of pouertie, yet wyll not God leaue theim socourles and destitute of helpe

For God sendeth pouertie sumtyme to the ryghtuousse for to proue hys fayeth, and to styrre hym vp to call on hym whych is the geuer of al good things, that he maye knowe by the exercise of hys fayeth, y^t they be the gyftes of God, as the wyse man sayeth. Good and euyll, lyfe and deathe, Ecclesia. xipouertye and riches are of God. Truste in God, and abide in thy place. For it is an easye thyng in the syght of God, quickely to enriche a pore man. Disconfort not yourselues therefore (deare brethren) thoughe sumetyme ye fele the crosse of pouerty, but be on a good confort, ioye and reioyce in Iosue. i.Josh 1God. For God hathe promised, that he wyl not leaue nor forsake Hebrue. xiiiyou, but gyue you all good thynges abundauntlye for your presente i. Timo. vi.necessitie..

Hys delaye is onelye to proue your fayeth, and to prouoke you to fle vntounto hym by teruent prayer, and to require of hym al thinges necessary for your lyuynge.

If ye do thys (so ye be not idle, but worcke accordynge to youre callynge) the earthe shall soner cease to gyue forth hir fruit, then ye shal wāt your honest necessaries. Reioyce therfore in the lorde alwai, & once again I sai reioyce

Chr.

The Lord of heauē giuegive vsus al grace so to order our life accor dyng to hys holy worde, so to repose our affiaunce in hym, so to call on hys mooste blessed name, in al oure aduersitie, and so to be thankefull for hys exceadynge goodnesse towarde mankynde, that we be not found altogyther vnworthy the recepte of hys benefites.

The.

So be it.

Phile.

Fi nallye as I woulde hauehave you to reioyce in the Lorde, when so euer he sendeth you syckenes, pouerty Of the crossor any other crosse to nurture you, to mortifye olde Adam, to slea your carnal lusts, to make your bodies subiect to the spirite that they maye be a liuynge and holy sacrifice to God, so woulde Romayns. xiiI exhorte you to reioyce also in the Lorde, if at any tyme he rayseth vp tyrants to persecute you for the feruent zeale, and Godlye louelove, that ye beare toward the ve ritie and trueth of hys moste blessed word. For as it came to passe in the tyme of Moyses & the prophetes, in y^e daies of Christ & hys Apostles, euē so hathe it bene frō theyr tyme vntounto thys daye, that the bealyed hypocrites, & wicked wordelynges hauehave euer hated, & styl vntounto the worldes ende, shall hate the glorious lyght of Gods worde. Neyther is it any meruel

For as concernynge the bealied hypocrites, Gods word condemneth Hypocritestheir hypocrisie, superstitiō, fayned holines, newe founde religion, carnall ceremonies, outwarde sanctimonie, and all the whole glitterynge face of theyr popishe solemnitie. It cryeth out vponupon theym, that they are so idle and do not onelyonly not preache thē selues, but also forbyde other, y^t woulde boeth gladlye and frelye set forth y^e glory of Christes gospell vntounto the exceadynge conforte and greate Ioye of all true christiās, yea they persecute thē, blaspheme them, enpryson them, burne theim. &c. It crieth out vponupon thē that hauehave so greate multitudes Mathew. vMatt 5of worldelye possessions, and yet make no prouisiō for the poore people, for the vertuousse bryngynge vp of youthe in good letters and vertuousse maners, but spende it vponupon gorgeousse buildinges, lusty horses, delicate fare, idle lubbers, yea vponupon haukes, dogges and whores. It crieth out vponupon them, that wheras they ought to be the lyght of the worlde, and to gyue example of vertuouse lyuynge to all menne, they are become of all men most abhominable, moste leude, moste vngodly, moste geuen to idlenes moste drowned in voluptuousenes, and altogyther sworne to do mischiefe. Howe can these bealygods and swynyshe Hypocrites whose lyfe is ouerwhelmed with the darcke cloudes of syn, abide the gloryous lyghte of Christes gospell? Howe can these gluttonyshe Epicures suffer theyr Hypocrisy and fayned holines to be rebuked of the poore abiectes and vyllaynes of this worlde by the authoritie of Goddes worde? It can not be, it can not be. For eueryevery one that doeth euyll, sayth Christ, hateth the lyght, neyther cometh he to the lyght, least hys works should be reproued. Now as cōcerninge the wicked worldlings, Iohn. iii.John 3thei cā fauour no more the truth of Gods word, thē the bealied hipocrites. For it condēneth Worldelingstheir couetousnes, theyr ambitio their vain glory, their pride, their whordome, their pollynge, their pillinge, their falshode, theyr oppression, their vnmercifulnes, theyr cruelty, theyr tyrannye, and what so euer ahomination they vse beside. Howe can it otherwise come to passe, but they whych rebuke these vices, muste neades be hated, persecuted, enprisoned and slayne of the wycked worldlynges for tellynge thē the truth & for rebukynge these theyr most abhominable and outragiousse synnes? as the prophete sayeth.

They hate hym that reproueth Amo…. v.them openlye, and who so telleth them the playne trueth, they abhorre hym. Can lighte and darcknes agre? Can Christ and Beliall be at vnitie? No more canne ii. Cor. vi.2 Cor 6the worckers of wyckednes, and the rebukers of the same be ledde wyth one consente. There muste nedes be dissētion betwen thē, as was betwene Abell, and Cayne, Iacob and Esau, Christ and the byshoppes, the Apostles, and the worldelye tyrantes. And for as muche as the same impietie and vngodlynes, the same wyckednes and abhomination reigneth nowe in the worlde, that hathe bene vsed in tymes paste, and it ought of veri duti to be rebuked at thys presente wyth no lesse libertye of speache, then it hathe bene in tymes paste, excepte wee wyll wyncke at so greate abhomination, and wyth the wycked worldelynges, and bealied hypo crites syncke downe to the deuyl for oure laboure, it is not to be doubted, but they that shall take vponupon them that office, shal proue & fynd euen that same gentilnes at theyr handes, that Moyses & the Prophetes, Christe and hys Apostles, the holye martyrs and blessed sayntes, receyued of their bluddy predecessours. Therfore if the waues and surges of cruell persecution shal at any tyme rise againste vsus (the good wyl of our heauenlye father so prouidynge, without whole sufferaunce al the hypocrites in the worlde can do nothynge agaynst vsus) let vsus not despayre nor cast away our hope but styl go forth to reioyce in the i. Corhin. i.Lorde oure God, and manfullye abyde by the veritie of his word, remēbring y^t it is called the word of the crosse, trouble & persecutiō remembringe that no kynde of aduersitie chaunceth to vsus, but the same happened in times past to the Prophetes and Apostles, yea to Christ hym selfe that pure Lambe of God, remembrynge y^t all, whyche wyll lyue Godlye in Christe Iesus, shall suffer persecution, remembrynge that by the crosse awaye is prepared for vsus vntounto eternall lyfe. And that we maye wyth the more free spirite and francke courage reioyce in the Lord, when so euer the crosse or persecution is layed on oure backes for Goddes sake and for hys Gospell, let vsus enarme oure selues wyth the cōfortable textes of the holye scripture, and call to remembraunce the hystories of the blessed menne of God, whych also suffred like or greater pains for the glorye of the Lorde, not forgettynge that euen frome the beginyng of the worlde, the wicked begā to persecute the godly Gene. iiiiGen 4as we may see in Abel and suche other.

Euse.

Unto this pacience Mathe. xxiiiand the folowing of the prophetes, doeth blessed Iames exhorte Iacob. v.vsus saying. Bepatient brethren to the cōming of the Lorde. Behold the husband man waiteth for the precious fruite of the earth, and hath long patiēce therupō vntyll he receiue y^e yarelye & later raine. Be ye also patiente therfore, and settle youre hertes, for the commynge of the Lord draweth nye, Grudge not one agaynste an other brethren, leste ye be dampned. Beholde the Iudge standeth before the dore. Take (my brethren) the prophets for an exemple of sufferynge aduersitie, & of patience, whyche spake in the name of the Lorde. Beholde we counte them happye, whyche endure.

Chri.

Oure sauiour Christ Mathew. v.Matt 5sayeth also. Blessed are ye, when men reuile you, & persecute you, and shall falselye saye all maner of euyll saying agaynste you for my sake. Reioyce and be glade, for great is your reward in heauen. For so persecuted they the Prophetes, whyche were before The persecuon of the prophetes.you.

Phile.

What pleasures the holy prophetes of God found at the worldes hande, it is not hard to expresse. Esaie that moste excellente Esai.Prophet of God for hys libertie of speache in rebukynge the syn of the princes and of the people, and for prophesyeng of the vengeaunce of god to fal vppō the cōtreie and people for not receiuing the word of god, was cut in two partes a sūder wyth a sawe of wode.

Theo.

O intollerable payne.

Phi.

The prophet Ieremy was stoned vntounto death of his Ieremy.people at Taphnes in Egipte, because he rebuked them of their wicked liuynge and exhorted thē vntounto repentaunce and amendemente of lyfe. The Prophete Amos at the commaundemente of Amos.kynge Amasias for hys preachinge was cruelly beaten and greuously tormented, and at the laste the Kynges sonne Ochosias caused hym to be thurste into the temples of the heade wyth a great naile oftrone, & so shortli af iii. Re. xxii.ter died. The Prophet Micheas was cruelly beatē, emprisoned, & fed w^t breade & water, because he spake the trueth, & told the king, Micheas.what should chaunce vntounto hym. The Prophete Helias was greuously persecuted of quene Iesa Helias.ble kinge Achabes wife for speakinge agaynste Baall and hys chaplens. The Prophet zacharie zacharieson of Barachias was stoned to death for telling the king truth. The Prophete Daniell was cast …. Para. xxiiiiinto the denne of lions, because that contrarye to kynge Darius commaundemente he prated vntounto his Lord the God Israell. Which of the prophetes escaped Dani. vi.wythout persecution? And as the wicked worldlynges and bellie… Hypocrites handled the prophetes of God for telling the trueth, Daniel.so handled they al other y^t obeied not their wickedlawes and filthy requestes. Were not Sidrach, Misac, & Abednago caste into a firie fornace, because they would not worship the golden Image Dan. iii.Dan 3that kinge Nabugodonoser had made, but only y^e God of Israel? Was not Achimelech wyth certaine other holy mē of god slaine at kynge Saules commaundemente, because he she wed kyndenes to Dauid the hertye beloued seruaunte of God? Was not Io Ichimel…ch.sephe caste into prisonne, because he woulde not leane to the filthy requeste of hys Lordes wyfe? …g. xx….Was not Susan that vertuous woman at the poynt to be stoned Ioseph.vntounto death, because she woulde not consente to the vnlaufull Gene. xxix.Gen 29and fylthy requestes of the two Iudges? Was not Eleazarus Susanne.miserablye put to death, because …e at the kinges comaundement Daniel. xiii.would not eat swines fleshe contrarie Eleazarus.to the lawe of God? was not a certayne woman wyth her ii. Maca. vi.seuen sonnes most cruelly put to death, because they would not obaye the wycked precepte of the ii. Maca. vii.most wicked kinge? I passe ouer many other of the olde testamēt, which were vnmercifully persecuted and slayne for gods trueth Some, as the blessed Apostle say eth, were tried wyth mockynges Hebru. xi.scourginges wyth bondes & prisonment, some were stoned, some were hewen a sunder, some were slayne with swerde, al were troubled and vexed.

Theo.

These are Sap. iii.they, of whom the wise man spea keth, god proued thē, and founde thē meete for him selfe, yea as the golde in the fornace dyd he trye thē, and receyued thē as a brunte offeringe. &c.

Phi.

As I may at y^e last come to the newe testament, Christe.to whō is it vnknowne, that Iesus Math. xxvii.Matt 27Christ our Lorde & sauioure after mani blasphemies, rebukes Luke. xxiiii.Luke 24slaunders and bitter tormentes, suffred the most spiteful death of Math xiiii.Matt 14y^e crosse, & so entered in to glorye? Holye Iohn Baptist that blessed Iohn Baptistpriestes sonne for trueth tellynge to king herod for reprouing hym of his abhominable liuing, was Actu. xii.cast into prisonne and beheaded. Iames the brother of Iohn had Iames.his head striken of for preaching Christ to be son of y^e liuinge god. The holy martirs. Stephē was stoned vntounto deth, because he prea ched Christ, & affirmed that God dwelleth not in temples made w^t mans hād, What kindnes Peter and Paule w^t the other apostles Actu. vii.foūd at y^e hādes of thē, whose saluaciō they most diligētly sought, the histories make menciō. Neyther Stephen.do I heare speake of those blissed martirs, which syns their dayes hauehave died for the confessiō of gods trueth, so that the Gospel of Christe is not without a cause called of sainct. Paulle, the word i Cor i.1 Cor 1of the crosse. For al that wyl lyue godlye in Christ Iesu, sayeth he, shal suffer persecution. To consider ii. Timo. iii.these histories afore rehersed, shall stablishe our fayeth greately, and very much comforte vsus in the tyme of oure tribulacion, so that we shall not lyghtely slyde frome God and frome hys holye worde, but reioyse in hym, recoū tynge oure selues moste blessed, fortunate and wealthy, that god hath vouched safe not only that we shoulde beleue in him, but also suffer for hym. It shall be expediente for vsus also to remember that Christe calleth them blessed Mathe. v.which suffer persecution for righ tuousnes sake, and sayeth, that Math. x.Matt 10theirs is the kingdome of heauē. Agayne, that the seruaunt is not greater thā hys Lord, but if they persecuted Christ our Lorde and maister, thei wil also persecute vsus his seruauntes & Disciples. If they hauehave called the father of the houshold Belzebub, much more Iohn. xv.John 15they wyl cal them so, that are of hys housholde. If we were of the worlde, the worlde woulde louelove vsus, but for asmuche as we are not of the worlde, but Christ hath chosen vsus out of the world, therfore doth the world hate vsus. And did not Christe tel vsus afore, that we should lament and wepe that is to saye, be oppressed of tirauntes, but the worlde shoulde reioyse, and that in the world we should hauehave affliction and trouble? Ihon. xv….Agayne, are we not taughte y^t by many tribulations we must Actu. xiiii.enter into the kingdome of God.

Chri.

The fleshe abhorreth trouble & persecution, namely whan death is like to folow.

phile.

The Math. xxvi.Matt 26spirite, as Christ sayeth, is redye and of a good courage to suffer al thinges for the glorie of God, but the fleshe is weake. The outward man is loeth to dye, but the inward man wisheth to be losoned out of this corruptible body and to be wyth Christ. But if the good wil of our heauēly father so be, y^t we muste nedes suffer death for Christes sake, let vsus set thys saying of S. Paule before oure eies, and stedfastli beleue it: if we ii. Timo. ii.die with christ, we shal liue with him. If we suffer w^t him we shall also reigne with him. And our sa uioure Christ sayeth, whosoeuer shall lose his life for my sake and for y^e Gospel, he shal kepe it. Here to agreeth the saying of s. Peter, Mark. viii.Mark 8detelye beloued, maruaile not, that ye are proued bi fire (whiche i. Prter. iiiithyng is to trie you) as thoughe some straūg thing happened vntounto you, but reioyse in asmuch as ye are partakers of christes passion, y^t when his glory appereth, ye may be mery & glad. If ye be railed vpō happie are ye. For y^e glory & the spirite of god resteth vpō you. Againe, if any mā suffer as a Christen man, let hym not be a shamed, but let him glorifie God on this behaulfe And let thē y^t are troubeled accordinge to y^e will of God, cōmit ther soules to him w^t wel doing as vntounto a faythful cre ature. They y^t suffer trouble for y^e lordes sake & for the gospell, shal stande before the glorious seate of God, and before the lambe …po vii.Christe, and they shall be clothed wyth longe whyte garmentes and palmes in their handes.

They shal euer be in the presence of the seat of God, and serue him daye and nyghte in hys temple, and he that sitteth in the seate, shall dwell amonge them. They shall honger no more neyther thyrste, neyther shall the sunne lyghte on thē, neyther any heate. For the lambe whyche is in the middes of the seate, shal fede thē, and lede them vntounto fountaynes of liuynge water, and God shall wype awaye al teares from their eyes.

Furthermore it shall be greate comforte for vsus also to remember, wyth what wyllynge hertes Christ and al the blissed martires suffered death for the glorye of God. Christe oure Lorde and sauioure, whan the tyme of hys bytter passion beganne to drawe nyghe, and perceyued that Iudas wente aboute to betraye hym to the Byshopes and priestes sayde, that thou entendeste to do, do it quickelye and out of Iohn. xlii.hand. And whan the Byshoppes seruauntes came to laye hande on hym, where as he myght hauehave escaped their cruell handes, he wyllyngely offered hym selfe vntounto them, whereby we maye se, that he wente vntounto hys death wyth a merye and ioyefull herte.

Christofor.

These hys wordes, Math. xxvi.Matt 26which long before his passion he spake to y^e Iewes, do also testify and wytnes his redy bente good wyll to suffer for the saluacion of mankynd. Therfore doeth my father louelove me, because I gyue Iohn. x.John 10ouer my lyfe, that I maye take it agayne. No manne taketh it away frō me, but I gyue it ouer euē of myne own good wil I hauehave power to gyue it ouer, & I hauehave power to take it againe.

Theo.

Of the willinge oblacion of him Esai. liii.Isa 53selfe, it was prophecied by the holy Prophetes. The prophet Esai sayeth, he was offered, because it was his good pleasure. Dauid also saith in the parson of Christ, I wil offer sacrifice vntounto the willingly. Psal. liiii.Ps 54He speketh of the sacrifice of his body. Againe Christe hym selfe sayeth by the forsayde Prophet vntounto his heauēlye father as for sacrifice and offerynge thou wouldest none, therfore madeste thou me a bodie. As for burnte offeringes for synne, thou hast not alowed them. Than sayed I, behold Psal. xxxix.Ps 39I am at hand In the begin ing of the boke is it writtē of me, that I should do thy wyl O God

Phile.

As the lord Christ willingly suffered for the health of man so likewise did the apostles suffer al kindes of tormentes ioyefully for the glorye of God, for the settinge Actu. v.forth of his blessed worde & for the name of Iesu Christe the lord, as we rede in the actes of y^e apostles. They were whipped of the byshopes seruauntes, as S. Luke testifieth, because they prea ched Christ, & so sent awaye. But whan thei came frō the councell, they reioysed, y^t thei were counted worthy to suffer rebuke for the name of Iesu. How glad, ioyeful and redie the blessed Apostle S. Paule was to suffer any kinde of Actu. xx.torment for Christes sake, these his wordes do aboūdātly shewe. Beholde I beinge bound in the spirite, go forth vntounto Hierusalem, not knowyng what thinges shall chaunce vntounto me ther, but y^t the holy goste in eueryevery citie doth testifie, sayinge, y^t bondes & troubles do abide me. But I care not for thē, neither is my life dere vn to me, so that I maye finishe my course w^t ioye, & y^e office which I hauehave receyued of y^e lord to testifithe gospell of the grace of God. Againe, whē Agabus y^e prophet toke Paules girdel, & bound hys Actu. xxi.hādes & fete ther w^t, saying, thus sayeth the holye goste, the man, whose girdel this is, shal the Iewes thus bind at Hierusalē, and they shall deliuer hym into the handes of the heathen: and whē they that were wyth Paule hearynge these thynges, moste instātly desired him, that he should not go vp vntounto Hierusalem, the blissed apostle answered saying, what do ye wepyng and troubelynge my herte? I am redye not only to be bounde but also to die at Hierusalem for the name of y^e Lord Iesu. O faythful Apostle. The lord Iesu christ was so dere vntounto him, y^t for his sake for the anauncement of his glorye, for y^e setting forth of his most glorious gospel, he feared neither chea nes nor death. He alwayes had before hys eyes y^e short paines of this world & y^e euerlastinge ioyes of y^e world to come. He euer remē bred this saying of y^e lord Christ, whosoeuer shall lose hys lyfe for Marc. viii.Mark 8my sake & for the gospel, he shall kepe it. He neuer forgat these his maisters wordes, whosoeuer shal be ashamed of me & of my sayīgs in this whorishe & sinful generacion, the son of man shal also be a shamed of him, whā he shal come in y^e glory of his father w^t y^e holy angelles. But whosoeuer shal cō Math. x..Matt 10fesse me before mē, I shall cōfesse him also before my father, which is in heuē. We rede also y^t the blissed martire Ignatius after many greuous tormētes was thratened if he wold not forsake christ & hys word, y^t he shuld be cast vntounto Ignatius.wilde beastes, & so be deuoured. But he being nothinge abashed w^t those threates but perceyuing his death to be differted, whiche he so greatly desired to suffer for christes name, wrot an Epistle to the Romaines, & desired thē that thei woulde kepe hym no lenger frō his martirdome, but w^t al expediciō bringe to passe y^t thei had so long threatened. In the which epistle amōg many other wordes which declare hys valiāt fayth & mighti courage in god, he wrigh teth on this maner. O wholsome beastes y^t are prepared for me.

Whā shall they come? whan shal they be sente out? whan shal they eate my fleshe? I would wishe w^t al my herte, y^t they might be more gredy, & I wil bid thē vntounto y^e deuourīg of me, & praie thē, lest par aduēture, as they hauehave done in many, thei feare to touch my bodie. Yea if they shal make any de lay, I my selfe wil brast into thē, & offer my selfe to thē. Gyue me liberty I besech you, for I know what is expedient for me. Nowe that I beginne to be the disciple of Christ, let fyres, galowes, wild Not…beastes, breakyng of my bones, rackynge of my membres, payne thorowout all my bodye, and all the punyshmentes of the world, that can be inuented by the craft and subtilty of the deuyll be ministered vntounto me. I wyll refuse none of theim all, so that I maye deserue to obtaine Iesus Christ.

Theo.

O blessed & glorious martyre. O valeant and noble souldi our of our most mighty capitain Christ Iesu. O what a myrrour glasse and spectacle is here offered vntounto vsus, wherein we maye se and learne not onelye hygh patience, but also an exceadynge desyre to suffer al kynde of tormentes for the glory of Christe.

Phile.

Not onelyonly the blessed martyre Ignatius shewed him selfe wylling and ioyfull to suffer all kynde of aduersitie, yea verye death for the cōfession of Christ, and of hys blessed trueth, but other holye men innumerable, as we reade in histories. Whē Decius the Emperoure that mooste cruel tyraunte hadde spoyled the blessed martyre Hypolitus of his Hypolitus.vestures, bycause he woulde not do sacrifice to false Gods, the mā of God spake boldely vntounto him, sayinge, thou haste not spoyled me of my garmentes, but thou haste rather begun to clothe me. And when the aforsayde tyraunt cōmaunded that he should be clo thed agayne w^t his own accustomed kynd of apparaile, and said vntounto hym. Use thyne olde seruice whych thou hast euer had in our syght, & be our frende: the blessed martyre w^t a stoute courage answered, my seruyse is thys, faithfully to serue Christe, and by seruyng him, spedly to come vntounto a frutefull victory. Shortlye after the tirant seyng his stedfast and vnshakē cōstācy cōmaūded him to be depryued of all hys goodes and to be headed w^t diuers other about y^e nūbre of nintene, whiche al wyth ioyfull courage suffered death for Christes sake. The blessed martyre Tiburtius was apprehēded Tiburtiusof y^e cruel iudge Fabiā, and cōmaūded either to offer sacrifice to y^e Idols, or els to go w^t naked fete vpō the hote burning coles. He boldly wēt on thē barefoted hauinge no harme, & saied to y^e tyrante. Lay away thine vnfaithfulnes, & learne that he is the God alone, whō we cōfesse to hauehave power, ouer all creatures.

For thorowe the myghte of my Lorde Iesus Christe, me thynke that goyng vponupon burnyng coles I walke as it were vpō red roses w^tout fealynge of anye paine or hurt of my fete. For the creature obeyeth the commaundement of the creatoure. When the tyraunt sawe that the fyre dyd hym no harme, he commaunded that he should be slayne w^t the swerd.

The blessed martyre wente vntounto hys deathe wyth a toyfull herte, praysynge God, that he woulde vouchsafe to gyue hym strength for to confesse his mooste blessed name & holy word before worldly tyrantes. When Galerius the Proconsull cōmaunded that. S. Ciprian.Cipriā should be headed, bicause he was an enemy to the Goddes of the Romains, and wold serue none but Christe alone the sonne of almighty God, y^e blessed martyre with a lusty courage and me ry hert braste out into these wordes, sayinge. I thanke almyghty God, whyche voucheth safe to losen me from the bādes of this Mauricius & his fellowesbody. And so died. When Maximianus that moste cruell Empe roure commaunded hys souldiours to worshyppe false Goddes and to slea so manye as professed Christ & hys blessed word, Mauricius w^t his felowes answered that eyther in worshypping false Goddes, or in sleaynge the true Christians, they by no meanes would obeye the Emperour, We are, sayd they, thy souldidur…, O Emperour, but yet we frely confesse, that wee are the seruauntes of God, which gaue vsus thys our life. We can not folowe the Emperour so, that we shoulde denye God our maker, yea and thy ma ker also, whether thou wylte or wylte not. We are christian men, therefore maye wee not persecute such as professe Christe. We are readye rather to dye, then to kyll suche.

And wee are more desierousse to dye innocentes, then to lyue wycked and synfull. Know thou that the mindes of thys army by no meanes can be ouercome.

These wordly weapons we caste awaye. Oure breaste is enarmed wyth the fayeth of Christ, which is oure shylde bucler, and defēce agaynste the fyrye dartes of the deuil, & of al his souldiours.

Therfore slee thou, kil thou, mur ther thou, minister what kynd of payne thou wylte, we w^t a bolde courage offer our selues to suffer for the glory of God. And shortly after y^e holy man of God, wyth a greate nūbre of blessed martyrs mo were slaine w^t the swerd. Eus. These be notable exēples & worthy to be practised of al faythfull christiās, if God at any time calleth thē vntounto this conflicte w^t the worldely tyraūtes & fained holy hypocrites for the cōfessiō of hys blessed trueth.

Philem

I could rehearse many mo godly hystories to declare w^t what a readye wyll wyth howe reioysing an hert, the blessed martyrs of Christ suffred all maner of bitter tormentes for the Lords sake, but these at this presente shall suffice.

For hereof maye ye learne to practise thys word of the Apostle Alway. I mean to reioyce in the Lorde our God not onelyonly in prosperitie, but also in aduersitie, be it in sycknes, losse of goodes, pouertie, persecution, or anye other crosse, y^t god our father laieth vpō vsus. For this the duty of a true christen mā to cōceyue that same Notefayeth, hope and ioye, in God, when he is assayled in tribulation, that he had before, when all thynges were moste prosperouse to him. So meaneth the Apostle when he sayeth. Reioyce in the Lorde alwaye. And bycause he woulde hauehave vsus earnestlye to reioyce in the Lorde at al tymes, be it in prosperitie or aduersitie, he doubleth this word, Reioyce, saiyng. Reioyce in the Lord alway yea once agayne, I saye reioyce. Piththye and full of efficacye is thys sentence of the Apostle, and comprehendeth in it many Godly misteries, as ye hauehave hytherto partely hearde. S. Paule desiereth nothyng more, then that we shoulde reioyce in the Lord. His ioye is altogyther in God, therefore would he, that yours should be so lykewyse. And vntounto thys doeth that princelyke prophet ex Psal. x…Ps 10hort you also, saying. Be ye glad & reioyce in the Lord, O ye rightuous, and al ye that are true her ted, be mery in the Lord. Agayne Let so mani as trust in y^e, O lord, be meri, yea, thei shal be ioyful for Psal. vi.Ps 6euer, and thou shalt dwel among them. And al that louelove thy name, shall reioyce in the. Therefore if we louelove the name of God, if wee truste to be saued by hys mercye if we loke for good thynges at y^e hand of our heauenly father thorowe Iesus Christ, let vsus sequester our ioye frome all worldelye thynges, whyche are but vanitie as ye hauehave hearde before, and repose it only in the Lord our God

Chr.

That Lorde whyche is the ii. Corh…n. i.father of mercies, and the God of all consolation mought graūt vntounto vsus hys most holy spirite to worcke in vsus suche a swetenes & delectation in spiritual thynges, that what so euer is of the world may waxe vile, vnpleasaunt and bitter vntounto vsus, and that wee by thys meanes maye vnfaynedlye and euen from the very bottome of the herte reioyce in the Lorde our god alone, alone.

Theo.

The Lorde myght brynge thys thinge to passe in vsus.

Philemon.

Well neyghbours.

Nowe accordynge to my promisse hauehave I geuen you this Iewell of Ioye, not so conningelye and worckemanlyke (I confesse) handeled, as some other of better knowledge and more rype iudgmēt in y^e misteries of God coulde hauehave done it, notwythstandynge … bu… …truely and fayethfully wroughte accordynge to the pure vayne of the holye scriptures.

But what so euer thys youre gyfte is I praye you take it to good worthe and accepte my louynge herte towarde you.

Thoughe possibilitte fayleth, yet good wyll shall neuer wante in me, but what so euer the Lord shall geue, at all tymes I wyll bestowe it vponupon you and vponupon hys holye congregation, and by no meanes suffer the talente geuen vntounto me of my Lorde God, to lye Idle by me, but for my power I wyll so employe …, that it maye turne to the glorye of God and to the profite of hys blessed churche.

For the hystorye of the vnprofitable seruaunte, whyche hydde vp the money of hys Lord in the Mathew. xxv.Matt 25ground & therefore was cōdēned caste into vtter darckenes, where wepyng & gnashyng of teth shal be, ought to make al mē afrayed that hauehave receyued any gyfte at al of God, and to prouoke theim not to be sluggyshe and idle, but to vse theyr talentes accordynge to the commaūdemente of God, whyche sayeth. Occupye youre selues tyl I come.

Euse.

Blessed is that man, whych so occupieth Luk…. ix.hys talent, that God therwith is glorified, and hys neyghbouredifted. Sure maye he be at that great and dreadful day of iudge mente to heare of hys Lord God thys most swete and ioyfull sentēce. O myne own good seruaūte Math. xxvi.Matt 26and fayethfull. Thou haste bene faythful in little. I wyl make the ruler ouer muche. Enter in, into thy Lordes ioy.

Philem.

Neyghbours I wyll disease you no lenger, but as I hauehave geuen you a spirituall Iewell, ioyful and cō fortable for the soule, so wyll I in like maner at this my cōming home and returne into mi natiue contrye bestowe somewhat vponupon you, that shall not be vnprofitable for y^e body. For I wysh good boeth to your soule & body. And woulde God it laye in my power to gratifie you in both alyke.

But that whych, shall wante in worldely thinges, shall, if I lyue be recompensed in spiritual thin ges. But as I maye at the laste make an ende, remember brethrē remembre, what ye hauehave hearde of me at thys present. Remembre that all thynges in thys worlde, be subiect vntounto vanitie, yea they them selues are mere vanitie, as Ecclesiast. ….the preacher sayeth. Al is but vanitie, yea altogither is plain vanitie. What maruel, whē mā him selfe, for whose sake al worldelye things were created, is very vanitie. Remēber that the ende ofal worldlye ioye, of al carnall pleasure, of all temporall felicitie, is bitter sorow and greuous payne Remembre that we are borne to dye, prepare therefore for youre laste ende. Remembre that the goodes of this world are transitorie, …ttyng away, and seldome tary longe wyth theyr olde possessour and owner, gather not ther fore treasure togither on earthe, Mathew. vi.Matt 6wher rusie and mothes corrupt, and wher theues breake thorow and steale, but gather ye treasure togither in heauen, wher neyther rust, nor mothes corrupt, & wher theaues neyther breake vp nor steale. Make you frendes of the Luke. xv….Luke 15wicked Mammon, that when ye shal hauehave nede, they may receiue you into euerlastynge dwellinge places. Remembre that what soeuer ye sowe, that shall ye reape, whither it be of the flesh, corruption Galat. vi.Gal 6or of the spirite, eternal life: If ye on thys wyse iudge both of the worlde, and of worldly thynges, doubt ye not, but that yours hertes shall burne wyth suche an earneste and vnfayned louelove towarde God, that ye shall reioyce in hym alone, alone, yea and that alway, that is boeth in prosperitie and aduersitie, & at all tymes hauehave a quiet & a mery conscience which of al treasures is the most precious in this world. And y^t ye may do this the more fortunately, consider your vocation, remē bre youre callynge. Ye are called christians, expresse Christe youre …ord and maister in al your cō uersatiō & liuing. He that sayeth he dwelleth in Christe, oughte to walke euē as Christe walked. Ye …. Iohn. ii.John 2are called gospellers, louelove, & lyu… y^e gospel. Let your lighte so shine before menne, that they maye se your good worckes and glorifye Mathew. vi.Matt 6your father, whiche is in heauen. The Papistes raile on you, blaspheme you, cal you heritikes, seditious personnes. &c. Ordre so your life, that the aduersaries seynge your Godlye conuersation, maye eyther be wonne to cōfesse the same truth with you, or els be ashamed to speke any euil of you For this is the wyl of God, that i. Peter. ii.1 Pet 2wyth wel doinge ye shoulde stop the mouthes of folysh and ignoraūt men, as fre, but not making liberty to be a cloke of noughtynes, but euen as the seruauntes of God. Ye confesse youre selues to be iustified before God bi faieth alone, prouid that thys youre fayeth be not idle, sluggishe, nor deade, as. S. Iames sayeth, but …iuish, and mighty in operation, and full of all good and Chrian workes. For in Christe Iesu neither is circumcision anye thynge Galathi. v.worth, neyther yet vncircūcision but fayth, which worketh by cha ritie, and the ende of the cōmaun dement is charitie, that commeth of a pure herte, & of a good conscience, i. Timo. i.& of fayeth vnfayned. Ye beleue to be saued by the alone sacrifice of Christes most blissed Hebru. ix. x.bodie, cōmit nothinge vnworthy the gentlenes of so kind & louing Tit. i.Titus 1sauiour. Ye cōfesse to know god, denie him not in your dedes, but be alwayes studious of good Rom. xiii.Rom 13worckes. Ye professe y^e doctrine, which requireth of you and of al …. Pet. ii.subiectes fayethfull and hūble obeisaunce to y^e King his Maiesty, answere to youre professiō, obeye vnfainedly, not onelyonly for feare of …nishemēt, but for cōsience sake … For ther is no power but of … …e powers y^t be, are … …d. Therfore whosoeuer resisteth the power, resisteth y^e ordinaunce of God. And they y^t resiste, shall get to thē selues dānacion. Feare god & the king, sayth Salomon. Feare god & hououre Pro. xiiiiProv 14the Kinge, sayeth blissed Peter. Therfore feare, obeye, louelove, & honoure i. Pet. ….our most excellent Prince. Neyther thicke, breath, speake or do anything, y^t may be preiudicial to the godly doīges of y^e king his highnes, but be y^u alwaye led w^t a reuerente feare towarde his grace. Neither cōsente to any tumult cōmotiō, insurrectiō, sedicion, conspiracy &c, neither cōseale any thig, wherby any dishonour to the Kinges Maiestie, any displeasure to hys moste honorab… coūcel, ani vnquietnes to y^e p… que weale may be wrough… … euermore sette before yo… … thys sentence of the … wyshe the kynge … thought, & speake no hurte of the Eccle. x.Eccl 10noble man in thy priui chamber. For a birde of the ayer shall betraie thy voice, and with her fethers shall she bewraye thy wordes. How greuously they hauehave al waies be punished y^t were sedicious & walked w^tout anye godlye feare toward the ciuille Maigistrates, the histories of Dathan Numer. vi.and Abiron, of zambry and Baa sa of Bagathā & Thares, shewe iii. Reg. …i.1 Kgs 1manifestly. Neyther hauehave we wā ted experience of thys thynge in these our dayes. And as vntounto the Kinge his Maiestie, so lykewyse He…. ii.submit youre selues vntounto the other Rulers y^t are sent of him, for the punishemente of euill doers, but for the prayse of thē y^t do wel. Ye hauehave a pleasure to heare the preachers of gods worde, reuerence i. …eter. ii.thē as the ministers of god geuing thē no les honoure, than the childe gyueth the father, remembring Malach. ii.Mal 2y^t they be the Angells of God, the messengers of Christ the light of the worlde, y^e salte of the earth, y^e dispensatours of the i. Cor. i.1 Cor 1misteries of God, the feders of Math. v.Matt 5Christen mens soulles, the comfortours of the weake, the Phisicians i. Cor. iiii.1 Cor 4of the sicke, the vpholders of the whole, the exhorters vntounto the vertue, the fraiers awaye frō vice whiche watch continually Iohn. xxi.John 21for the health of oure soulles. Be not vnthākful to the preachers, but to suche as minister spiritual Hebru. xiii.thynges to you disdayne not to giuegive corporal thinges, y^t the prea chers may y^e more freli giuegive their mind to y^e studies of y^e holy scriptures. If we sowe vntounto you spiritual i. Cor. ix.1 Cor 9thinges, sayeth s▪ Paule, is it a great thing, if we reape your carnal thinges? The Lorde hath ordayned, y^t they whiche preache the gospel, should liue of the gospel. Againe he sayth, let him y^t is taught w^t the word, minister vntounto …ala. vi.him y^t teacheth him in al good thinges. Be not deceiued, god is not mocked. Moreouer ye y^t are Ephe. …maried, louelove your wiues, euen as christ loued the cōgregaciō. Nou rishe, & cherish thē as your owne bodies, remēbrynge that they be your owne fleshe & your own bones, & se y^t by no meanes ye be bitter vntounto thē, but giuegive honour vn to thē as to the weaker vessels, & Colo. iii.as to thē y^t are felow heires also of the grace of life. Teach youre wiues to be obediēt vntounto you as i. Peter. iii.1 Pet 3vntounto y^e lorde, to louelove you as their owne selues, to be of honest beha uoure, chast, housewifely, good, no euil spekers, but sober & fayth Tit. ii.Titus 2ful in al thinges. Learne them to kepe silence w^t al subiectiō & to a raie thē selues in manerly apparel i. Timo. iii.w^t shamefastnes & honest behauoure, not w^t broided heare, other gold, or pearles or costlye a…aie, but w^t such as becometh wo …. Peter iiimen, y^t professe y^e worshipping of God thorowe good workes y^t the hid man of the herte maye be vncorrupte w^t a meke & quiet spirit, which spirit is before god a thing much set by. For after this manner in the old time did y^e holy we men, whiche trusted in God, trie thē selues, & were obediēt to their husbādes, euen as Sara obeied Gen. xvi…i.Gen 16Abrahā, & called him lord. Bring vp your childrē w^t the nourtoure Eph…. vi.& informacion of the lord, & teach thē to obeie & honoure you. Do y^t vntounto your seruauntes, whiche is Colo. iii.iust & equal, remēbringe y^t ye also hauehave a maister in heauen. Exhort your seruauntes to be obediente vntounto you in al godly thinges, not with eye seruice as men pleasers, but in singlenes of herte, fearing god. LoueLove al men as your selues In few, whatsoeuer thinges are Phi. iiii.true, whatsoeuer thinges are honest, whatsoeuer thinges are iust, what so euer thynges are pure, whatsoeuer thynges pertaine to louelove whatsoeuer thiges are of ho nest report, if their be anie vertuous thing, if ther be ani laudable Colo. iii.thing, those same hauehave ye in mid▪ And al things, whatsoeuer ye do in worde or dede, do in the name of the lord Iesu, geuinge thākes to God y^e father bi him. So shall ye in this world liue w^t a mery cō science, & after this presēt life ioye & reioyse in eternal glory w^t god y^e father, to whō w^t his son christ Ie su our most precious Iewel, & the holy gost y^e swete cōfortoure be al honoure & prayse for euermore. The, Amen.

Chri.

So be it.

phile.

Nowe dere neyghbours come w^t

End of the text · Thomas Becon, The Jewel of Joy (1550)