A Motive to Good Works, Section 2
The second Section.
Wherein is shewed how necessarie good workes are. Of the great Zeale of our forefathers in doing of good workes, Of their simplicitie and plaine dealing: and of our want of both.
NOtwithstanding al that hath or can be sayde to this purpose, there are some Atheistes, that hold, and also teach, that Christ being come, & hauing shed his bloud for vsus, hath heereby so satisfied his fathers iustice, and paide the raunsome for sinne, that now whatsoeuer we doe is no sinne. Nay, further, they will not sticke to affirme, that Christ hath taken awaie all sin out of the world, and therefore we cannot sinne. Another sort of Locustes, they affirme, that as a man cānot be saued by his good works, so he cannot be condemned by his euill workes, and therefore it maketh no matter (saith these Libertines) whether a man doth the one or the other. But these bee all most execrable, and damnable opinions inuented by the deuill, and broched by his members, to the vtter destruction and confusion of as many as follow them. Let vsus that be christians, and hope to be saued by the merits of Christes bloud, rather obey the counsell of the holy ghost, who warneth vsus to worke out our saluation in feare and trembling, & in another place, make your saluation sure by good workes. Let vsus with the Apostle Iames, shew forth our faith by our good workes, beeing assured, that that faith, which bringeth not forth good workes in some measure, is no true iustifieng faith, but a dead faith, such as the deuils hauehave, who are sayde to beleeue & tremble. The tree is knowen (saith our sauiour Christ) by the fruit, and a good tree cannot bring forth bad fruit, nor a bad tree good fruit. To the same effect Christ telleth vsus in another place, that not eueryevery one that saith vntounto me, Lord Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heauen, but he that doth the wil of my father which is in heauen, he shall enter into the kingdome of heauen. And the Apostle Iames telleth vsus, that not the hearers of the law, but the doers shall be iustified. And therefore let vsus brag of a naked & bare faith as long as we will, I am fully perswaded by the spirite of God, that if wee hauehave no other faith, than such as bringeth foorth no good workes, we can neuer bee saued by it. For a true, liuely, and iustifying faith, can no more bee without good works, than the Sun without light, or fire without heat. And yet doe I not attribute iustification to good workes neither (for that were to attribute that to the effect, which is proper & incident to the cause, or efficient) but to such a faith as bringeth foorth good workes, to the praise and honor of God. But of this heereafter in his due place, & now to returne to the matter in hand.
It was tolde Saint Paul, how that some preached CHRIST vppon enuie, some of mallice, some of pride, some of one affection, and some of an other: who answered, I am glad so that Christ be preached, whether it be of enuie, of malice, of pride, or of any affection else whatsoeuer: and euen so say I, I am glad that good workes are done, whether it be of enuie, of pride, of vayne-glory, or of any other affection else, and I pray God to rayse vp moe good men to doe moe good workes: for our great talking, & little walking, our great prating and protesting, and little or no working, maketh our enemies the Papistes to open theyr mouthes so wyde agaynst vsus, and to slander both vsus, and our profession, affirming that we teach nothing but carnall libertie, and abandoning of all good workes. But how false this theyr shameles slaunder is, shal afterwards appeare (Christ willing) in his place. And yet truly I must needes confesse, that euen as the Apostle tould the Galathians, the Gospell was euill spoken of, and slaundered amongst the Heathen thorowe theyr wickednes, so I say, the Gospell and word of saluation is blasphemed, and slaundered amongst the Papists (who are not-only scandalized thereby, but also in effect vtterly disswaded and drawne away both frō vsus and our religion) thorowe our inordinate, & licentious liues. Yea and would God it were not true (with grief of hart I speak it) there are I feare me moe good works done daily by the Papists (if they may be called good workes, and not rather workes of ciuile office, which the heathen, the Turks, or Iewes may doe) than by the Protestants. For he the Papist trusteth most blasphemously, & sacrilegiously to be saued by his works, & therfore he is carefull to do thē, the other trusteth to be saued by a bare & naked faith (deceiuing him selfe) without good works, & therfore eyther careth not for thē, or at least setteth little by thē. By which meanes it cōmeth to passe, that many men had rather deale with him that is a palpable Papist, than with him who is a precise Protestant. And certainly to speak truth, there is many times found plainer, & cō scionabler dealing among most of thē, than among many Protestāts. And if we looke narrowly into the former times, and ages past, wee shall finde more godlynes, deuocion, and zeale, (though it were but a blinde zeale) more louelove one towards an other, more simplicitie in dealing, more fidelitie, and faythfulnes eueryevery way to hauehave remayned in them, than is now to be foūd amongst vsus. A mās bare word or naked promise then, was better than any bands, bills, or writings now. They passed their conueighances, and state of lands in those dayes, by so slender words, and in so fewe lynes, as now it is sooner wondered at of all, than followed of any. They studyed not to coyne quirkes & quiddities, nor to hammer clauses, and prouisoes to circumuent and deceyue one another. But now adays we must hauehave, if not, so many skinnes of parchment, yet so many lynes as they had wordes, and a great sort moe, and yet all will not serue neyther, but mayster Lawyer (forsooth) will finde you a hundred holes in it. And for good works, who seeth not that herein they went farre beyond vsus, and wee farre inough behinde them. For example. What memorable, & famous buildings, what stately edifices of sundrye kyndes, and what ancient monuments hauehave they left to the world behinde them? What Churches, Chappells, and other houses of prayer did they erect, to the ende the religion and seruice of God might be continued amongst all posterities to the end of the world? Yea, what Monasteries, Abbeys, Priories, and other religious houses to their infinite cost and charges (albeit they were afterwards most horribly abused by Popish Locusts, that came out of the bottomlesse pit, as out of the Troian horsse, to the destruction of the Church of God) did they build, and erect? What number of goodly Bridges did they make? What, and how many almes houses, hospitalls, and spittles did they found for the reliefe of the poore, and indowed them with cōpetent lands and liuelodes for mayntenance of them? What high wayes, what pauements and causies for the safe and easy passage of the people did they make? In summe, what famous Colledges, Halles, and Vniuersities for the cōseruatiō of learning did they found and edifye? What Schooles, & free schooles as well in the Vniuersities, as also in the cuntreys abroade, did they erect, & indowed thē with wonderfull goodly reuenewes lands and rents, for the maintenāce of poore schollers & propagatiō of learning & knowledge amongst all posterities to the end of the world? For proofe whereof, and to the end I may stir vp the minds of this frosen and key cold age of ours to the like practise of good works, I will giuegive you a tast of certain notable personages, men & womē, that were famus herein, & that as briefly as I cā.
It is recorded by ancient & credible historians, that one Cantabar a Spanyard before the incarnation of Christ 375 yeres, not only built, but also furnished with learned mē the thrise renowmed and famous Vniuersitie of Cambridge. Afterwards being somwhat ruinate, and decayed thorow the calamities of those times, it was reedifyed, and restored to his pristine state by Sebertus king of the East Angles in the yeare of our Lord 656.
Hugh Balesham Bishop of Ely built the Colledge dedicate to S. Peter, now called Peter house, or Peter Colledge in the yere of Christ 1284. and indowed it with great reuenewes.
Richard Badewe then Chaunceler of Cambridge layd the first foundacion of Clare Hall, now called the Vniuersitie Hall. Afterwarde it was inlarged by Gualter Thacsted, and lastly by Elizabeth Lady of Clare, who called it after her owne name Clare Hall.
Pembroke Hall was founded by Marie of Valentia, sometime wife to Adomare de Valentia Earle of Pembroke, in the yeare of Christ 1343. and by her indowed with great possessions.
Corpus Christi Colledge was founded by the Aldermen & brethren of Corpus Christi guilde, with the helpe of the fraternitie of S. Maries guilde in the yeare of our redemption 1344.
Trinitie Hall being first an hostell was purchased by Iohn Crandon prior of Ely for his brethrē the Monks of that house to study in, which Hall afterwards by the industrie, and good helpe of William Bateman Bishop of Norwich, was conuerted into a Colledge, and by him indowed with goodly reuenewes.
Gonuill and Caius Colledge was built by one Edmund Gonuill in the yeare of grace, 1348. and one Caius a Phisition in the yeare of Christ 1557. and by them indowed with large possessions.
King Henry the syxt built a most famous Colledge now called by the name of Kings Colledge in the yeare of our Lord 1443. and adioyned to it, a most sumptuous Chappell.
This Henry the syxt also built Aeton Colledge, (where are maynteined threescore schollers, who in time, as they rise in learning, are promoted to Kings Colledge) and gaue to them both goodly possessions.
Margaret Andegauensis, wife to King Henry the syxt layde the foundation of Queenes Colledge in Cambridge, in the yeare of Christ 1448. and being not able by reason of the iniquitie of the time to finish it, it was afterward perfited by Elizabeth wife to King Edward the 4. in the yere of our Lord 1465.
Katherine Hall was built by Robert Woodlarke Doctor of Diuinitie, and Chancelor of Cambridge, & by him indowed with cōpetēt possessions.
Iesus Colledge was conuerted from a Priorie into a Colledge by Iohn Alcocke Bishop of Ely, in the yeare of Christ 1502. and by him, both reedifyed and also possessed with sufficient reuenewes, the rents whereof were afterward inlarged by Sir Robert Reade Knight, Doctor Eleston, Doctor Royston, and Doctor Fuller, with others.
Christes Colledge was first founded by King Henry the syxt, who named it Gods house, afterward it was translated by the Lady Margaret Countesse of Richmond & Darby, in the yeare of our Sauiour 1505. and called Christs Colledge. To this Colledge Edward the 6. conferred one felowship, and three schollerships.
That honorable Knight also Sir Gualter Mildmay and Edmund Grindall late Archbishop of Canterbury, were notable contributors, & benefactors to this Colledge, & gaue to it annuall pēsions for euer.
Saint Iohns Colledge was translated from a Priorie into a Colledge, by the Lady Margaret Coū tesse of Richmond, and Grandmother to King Henry the eyght in the yeare of our Lord 1508.
Magdalen Colledge was conuerted frō a house of Monks into a Colledge by the noble Duke of Buckingham in the yeare of our Lord 1519.
This Colledge hath since beene greatly repayred, and beawtified with goodly buildings by Sir Christopher Wray Knight, late Lorde chiefe Iustice of England.
Trinity Colledge was erected by King Henry the 8. in the yere of our Lord 1546. who gaue vntounto it yearely for euer 1300. poūds besides the old ancient possessions. Qu. Mary augmēted the same Colledge, and gaue to it in lands 338. pounds.
Sir Gualter Mildmay Knight founded a goodly Colledge, called Emanuell Colledge, in the yeare of our Lord 1584.
The Lady Francis Countesse of Sussex hath also begun the foundacion of a newe Colledge, and hath geuen to the same 5000. pound in the yeare of our Lord 1588.
But to come to the Vniuersitie of Oxforde, and so to make an ende.
Alfredus sometime King of this land, for the zeale he bare to good letters, erected the Vniuersitie of Oxford in the yeare of our Lord 872. but some attribute the first building of it to Mempricius before Christ 1015. yeares: othersome ascribe it to Vortiger after the birth of Christ 474. yeares.
King Aluredus, or Alfredus whether you will (for he was called by both those names) built the Vniuersitie Colledge, which beeing afterwards almost defaced, William Bishop of Durham repaired agayne, and gaue to it goodly reuenewes in the yeare of our saluation 1217.
Bailiol or Ballioll King of the Scots, built Balioll Colledge in the yeare of our Sauiour 1263. and his wife Deruergulla indowed it with yearely reuenewes.
Gualter de Merton sometyme Lord Chancelor of England, built Merton Colledge in the yeare of our Redeemer 1264. and inuested it with great and large possessions.
Gualter Stapleton Bishop of Exceter built Exceter Colledge in the yere of our Lord 1316.
Edward the 2. after the Conquest, or as some hould, Sir Adam Browne Almoner to the sayde King, built Oriall Colledge in the yeare of our Lord 1323. Robert Eglesfield Bacheler of Diuinitie, built the Queenes Colledge in the yere of our L. 1340. wherto Edmund Grindall Archbish. of Canterbury, besides 100 pound in money which hee gaue in his life time, gaue also 20 pound a yere for euer. The same Archbishop also at his death gaue to the same Colledge many goodly bookes, & ten pound in mony to buy chaynes to tye them in, besides plate, and other iewels of great value.
William Wiccam sometime Bishop of Winchester, and Lord Chancelor of Englande, built a most stately Colledge called New Colledge, in the yeare of our Lord 1375. & gaue to it goodly reuenewes. The same Bishop also built a goodly Colledge in the suburbs of the Citie of Winchester for the better erudition of youth in good letters.
Richard Flemming Bishop of Lincolne in the yeare of grace 1420. built Lincolne Colledge, and bestowed vponupon it lands and possessions, which remayne to this day.
Henry Chichley Archbishop of Canterbury built All Soules Colledge in the yeare of our Lorde 1437. and gaue to it large reuenewes.
About the same time, Humfrey called the good Duke of Glocester built a most famous Schoole, called the Diuinitie Schoole, wherein he placed a goodly Library of 129. chosen bookes, which he had gathered out of the most places in Christendome to his vnspeakable great cost, and charges.
William Wamflet Bishop of Winchester in the yeare 1459. built Magdalene Colledge, and gaue fayre lands, and goodly possessions to it. He built also a good part of Eaton Colledge, besides a free Schole at Wamflet in Lincolne shire.
William Smith Bishop of Lincolne built Brasen nose Colledge in the yeare 1513.
Richard Fox Bishop of Winchester erected Corpus Christi Colledge in the yeare 1516. and indowed it with sufficient reuenewes.
Thomas Wolsey Cardinall & Archbishop of Yorke, founded a goodly Colledge called Christs Colledge, or Christs Church in the yeare 1546. & gaue to it many & great possessiōs.
Sir Thomas Pope Knight reedified Trinitie Colledge in the yere 1556. which Colledge was first founded by Thomas of Hatfeild Bishop of Durham for his Monkes, and bestowed great possessions vppon it also.
Sir Thomas White Knight repaired the colledge first begun by Henrie Chichley Archbishop of Cantuburie, and called it Saint Iohns Colledge, whereto he gaue in reuenues for euer fiue hundred pounds a yeere, & this he dyd in the yere of Christ 1557.
The said sir Tho. White also founded a hall for students called Saint Iohns hall, but sometime Glocester colledge, which beeing suppressed, he bought it with his monie, and placed therein a principall, and a hundred poore schollers and moe, and hauing made great reparations of the same, hee adioyned it to Saint Iohns colledge, which before he had founded. He also erected free schooles at Bristow & Reading. Moreouer, he gaue in his lyfe time two thousand poundes to the citie of Bristow to purchase landes, to the value of one hundred and twenty poundes a yeere, for the which the Maior and communaltie of Bristow in anno. 1567, and so yeerely during the terme of tenne yeeres following, shoulde cause to be paide at Bristow one hundreth pounde. The first eight hundreth pounds to be lent to sixteene pore young clothiers and free men of the same towne, for the space of ten yeeres, fiftie pounds a peece, they ptuting in sufficiēt sureties for the same. And at the end of tenne yeeres, the same to bee lent to other sixteene, at the discretion of the Maior and communaltie aforesayde. The other two hundred poundes to bee imployed for the prouision of corne, for the releefe of the poore of the same Citie for theyr readie monie, without gains to be taken. And after the ende of nine yeeres on Barthelmewe daie in the yere one thousand fiue hundred seauentie and seauen, at the Machaunt sailers hall in the Citie of London, to the Maior and comcommunaltie of the citie of Yorke, one hundred and foure pounds to be lent to foure young men free of the sayde Citie of Yorke fiue and twentie poundes a peece for the space of ten yeeres, without paying anie interest for it. The foure pounds ouerplus of the hundred & four, he gaue to the Maior & communaltie for their paines.
The verie same or the like order hee tooke for the deliuerie of one hundred and foure pounds, in the yeere of our Lorde 1578. to the Citie of Canterburie in the yeere 1579. to Reading. 1580. to the companie of the Marchaunt Tailers. 1581. to Glocester. 1582. to Worcester. 1583. to Exeter. 1584. to Sarisburie. 1585. to Westchester. 1586. to Norwich. 1587. to Southamtō. 1588. to Lincoln. 1589. to Winchester. duplicate page duplicate page 1590. to Oxford. 1591. to Hereford East, 1592. to Cambridge, 1503. to Shrewsburie, 1594. to Linne, 1595. to Bath, 1596. to Ipswich. 1598. to Colchester, 1599. to New-castle, and then to begin againe at Bristow one hundred and foure poundes, the next yeere to the citie of Yorke, and so forth to the said cities as before, and the same to continue for euer. Also this said sir Thomas White gaue to the Maior and communaltie of Couentrie one thousand and foure hundred pounds to purchase lands to the value of three score and ten pounds a yeere, which rents he deuised as foloweth. First, that twelue poore inhabitants of the foresayde citie, shall hauehave paide them foure & twentie poundes yeerely the eleuenth daie of March, that is, fortie shillings a peece for euer. Furthermore, hee deuised for the space of ten yeres to commence within one yere after his decease, to foure pore men of the said Citie forty pounds yerely, vz. ten poundes to each of them for nine yeres after the receit therof in free lone. And after those nine yeeres were expired, to other foure poore men of the same citie for nine yeeres, and so from nine yeres to nine yeres for euer. At the end of which nine yeeres, he deuised that the maior and communaltie of Couentrie for the space of thirtie yeeres, shall imploy the said fortie poundes yeerely to two young men of the sayd citie for nine yeres in free lone for euer, and so after those nine yeeres, from nine yeeres to nine yeeres for euer. And after the expiratiō of those thirty yeres, the sayd fortie pounds to be delyuered to one yong man of the sayd Citie in free lone for nine yeeres, and so from nine yeeres to nine yeres for euer. Afterwards he deuised, the sayd sum of fortie pounds to bee deliuered to Northampton, and to be lent to one young man of the sayde towne for nine yeeres in free lone, and so from nine yeeres to nine yeeres for euer.
And then the next yeere after that, to the towne of Leicester, as aforesayd. The yeere following to the Towne of Northampton, as aforesayd. The next yere after that to the towne of Warwike, as aforesayd.
And then againe to Couentrie for one yeere, and so to the other townes aforesayde one after another for euer. But to leaue this worthie person, and to hasten vntounto others.
Iohn Alcocke Bishoppe of Elie founded a free schoole at Kingstone vppon Hull, and gaue to the same certaine landes for euer.
King Henrie the sixt built Eaton colledge in the yeere of our Lorde 1443.
Our most gracious and dread soueraigne Ladie Elizabeth, the Queenes Maiestie that nowe is, whom God preserue for euer, not onelyonly reedified, but also inlarged with greate and ample reuenewes the famous free schoole of Westminster.
Iohn Collet Deane of Paules founded a goodly free schoole in the Churchyard of Saint Pauls in London, called Paules schoole, in the yeere 1510.
Iohn Tat builte Saint Anthonies schoole in London.
The Worshipfull Companie of the Marchant tailers built a famous schoole in the Citie of London, called the Marchant tallers school. anno 1560.
Hugh Prise Doctor of the lawe, founded a new colledge called Iesus colledge, in the yeere 1572.
King Bladud founded the Vniuersitie of Stanford, and brought Philosophers from Athens thether. Besides all which Colledges, Vniuersities, and schooles of learning, we reade (almost) of infinit Churches, Temples, Chappels, Abbies, Frieries, Monasteries, and other religious houses, not onelyonly in England, but euen throughout all christendome, which they (our forefathers I meane) hauehave founded & erected to their perpetual praise, honor, & renown. But of many, heare a few.
King Ethelbert for the singular zeale hee bare to religion, built St Augustines, a goodly Church in Canterburie. Hee built also S. Paules Church in London, and S. Andrewes in Rochester.
Cissa built the Abbey of Abingdon, and Erkenwald Bishop of London built the Abbeies of Chertsey & Barking.
Ostricke Duke of Glocester, founded the Abbey of Glocester. Remingus Bishop of Dorchester built a goodly new Church in Lincolne. Osmond Bishop of Sarisburie founded the Cathedrall Church of Sarisburie, in the yeere 1091. Herbert Bishoppe of Norwich built the Cathedrall Church of Norwich, in the yeere 1202.
Queen Mathild built the church of the Trinitie within Algate in London, in the yeere 1108.
One Peter a Priest of Colchurch was the first that built Londō bridge of timber, in the yeere 1562. And yet ceased they not heere, but other some built hospitalles, spittles, and almes houses for the poore, as namely, Walter Brune Citizen of London, and Rosia his wife, founded the hospitall without Bishops gate in London.
Iohn Lowkin sometime Maior of London builte a Chappell and an hospitall, for the poore at Kingstone vponupon Thames: he built also the Parish Church of Saint Michael in crooked lane.
Iohn Philpot Maior of London, gaue certaine landes to the chamber of London, for which they are to paie seuen pence a peece to thirteen poore persons for euer, in the yeere 1379.
One William Seuenocke founded in the Towne of Seuen-oke in Kent a freeschoole and twelue almes-houses, in the yeere of our Lord 1418.
Iohn Clapton Maior of London built a stone bridge at Straitford vponupon Auon, and also a high waie of foure miles long, in the yere 1492.
Iohn Milborne builte certaine almes houses by Crochet Friers in London, wherein are maintayned twelue poore people, who hauehave theyr dwellinges rent free, and two shillings sixe pence a peece the first daie of eueryevery month for euer.
Nicholas Gibson builte the free schoole in Ratcliffe by London, gaue ten pound a yeere to the master, and twentie nobles a yeere to the vsher for euer: besides, hee built there certaine almes houses, for foureteene poore people, who quarterly receiue vi. shillings eight pence a peece for euer.
Sir Thomas Lupton knight, founded a free Schoole, and certayne almes houses at Arendale in Northamptonshiere, where seuen poore people hauehave eight shillinges eight pence a peece the quarter for euer.
Sir Rowland Hill Mercer of London, caused a causie or pauement to bee made in the high waie betwixt Stone and Nantwich in Chesshire for horse and man to passe. Hee caused the like causie to bee made betwixt Dunchurch and Brausen in Warwikshier well nere three miles in length. Hee gaue twentie pounds in monie towards the making of Royton bridge: he made also foure bridges, two of stone, and two of timber, he built also a notable free schoole at Draitō in Shropshier, with lands sufficient for maister and vsher for euer. Moreouer, hee gaue in his life time fiue hundred poundes in monie to the hospitall of Christes Church in London, and an hundred pounds at his death.
Sir William Peter knight, besides that he gaue one hundred pounds a yeere in lands to Exeter colledge in Oxford, builded also ten almes houses in Ingerstone for twentie poore people, euerie one of them hauing two pence a daie, a winter gowne, and two loads of wood, & amongest them all keeping for sixe kine Winter and Summer for euer.
William Lambe, Gentleman of the Chappell to king Henrie the eight, made the great conduit nere Holborne bridge in London, carrying the water by pipes of lead aboue two thousand yards, and this he did of his owne proper cost and charges, amounting by estimation to the summe of fifteene hundred poundes.
The same master Lambe gaue to the parish of Saint Faiths vnderunder Paules in London sixe poundes, thirteene shillings and foure pence yeerely to be distributed equally amongst twelue pore people euerie fridaie twelue pence in monie and twelue pence in bread for euer. He gaue also to Christs hospitall yerely for euer sixe pound, and an hundred pound in monie to purchase lands to the same. To Saint Thomas hospitall in Southwarke, hee gaue 4. pound a yeere for euer. To the hospitall called the Sauor, hee gaue sometimes ten pounds at once towardes the buying of bedding for the poore. He gaue to the Companie of the cloth workers in London foure poundes a yeere for euer. He gaue to the same companie his dwelling house, and other lands to the value of thirtie pounds a yeere; to hire a Minister to saie seruice euerie wednesdaie, fridaie, and saterdaie, & to preach foure sermons euerie yeere after his decease, in the Church called Saint Iamesses in the wall by Cripple gate in London, and also to giuegive to xii. poore men to euerie one a freeze gowne ready made, a shirt of locoram, and a new paire of shooes, and to twelue pore women, twelue gownes of freese, twelue smockes, and twelue payre of shooes for euer. Hee also erected a free schoole and six almes houses at Sutton Valens in Kent, with sufficient allowance & mayntenance for them both. Hee also gaue to the townes of Ludlow and Bridgenorth, to either an hundred pounds a peece, to set poore men on worke withall. He gaue also towardes the setting of poore men on worke in Suffolke an hundred poundes. I might heere recite many moe such lyke examples of our good forefathers, if I feared not to bee tedious, but I will wade no further heerein at this time, hoping that those fewe (except we hauehave shakē hands with all godlynesse, made a league with death, & a couenant with hell, as the Prophet speaketh) wil yet some what serue to the stirring vp of our drousie mindes to the exercise and practise of good workes, and to leaue behinde vsus to the posterityes to come, some fruites of our faith, some seales of our profession, and some pledges of our christian louelove and charitie, as our good ancestors hauehave done before vsus. For, is it not a shame vntounto vsus, that our forefathers liuing in the times of superstition, when poperie and Idolatrie had ouerflowed (almost) the whole world, and hauing but as it were, a glimmering of the glorious lyght of the Gospell of Christe, shoulde notwithstanding so farre passe vsus in good workes, as that we may not once be compared to them in anie small measure? Oh what a condemnation will this be vntounto vsus? It had bin better for vsus a great deale, we had neuer knowen the truth, than knowing it not to follow it, as Christ witneseth in a certayne place, if I had not come vntounto them and done those works which none else could do, they should hauehave had no sinne: yea I pray God that publicanes and sinners do not goe before many of vsus Protestants into the kingdome of heauen, for wee talke much, but walke nothing after it. And therfore now at the last euen in the name of God, let vsus contend and striue one with another in an holy zeale, if not to excel, yet to match, or if not to match yet to come some-what neere our forefathers in doing of good works. Let vsus follow the councell of Christ, who sayth, Let your lightes so shine before men, that they seeing your good works, may glorify your father which is in heauen. And doubtles God is glorified by vsus in nothing more, than in good works (being done in faith according to the word of God) and in leauing of monuments and remembrāces of our christian louelove, and godly zeale towards the brethren behind vsus. And no maruaile, for in the very actiō of good works we effect three most excellent vertues, & christian dutiess as first, we glorify God in our selues, and by our selues, secondly, we relieue, sustaine, and comfort our poore brethren, and thirdly, we moue theyr harts, their soules & spirits to thank God for vsus, to pray for vsus, and to praise the Lord for his blessings bestowed vponupon them, in the mouing of our harts to the succoring of thē. For if the goods that wee bestowe be the Lordes, and not ours (as without all peraduenture they are, the Psalmist bearing witnes, where he sayth, Domini est terra, & plenitudo eius, The earth is the Lords, and the fulnesse thereof, and the Prophet affirming the same, speaking in the person of God, golde is mine, siluer is mine, and all the riches vponupon the face of the earth is mine, and hauehave not my handes made them all?) and if it be God that geueth both the will and the deede (as the Apostle sayth it is) then great cause hauehave the poore soules to prayse the goodnes of God for hys fatherly care, and mercifull prouidence towardes them, in succouring, and relieuing theyr necessities by the hande or ministery of such, and such hys seruants. And vppon the other side, happie and blessed art thou, whome God thy creator doth vse as an instrumēt to do good, and to relieue his Saints vppon the earth that hauehave neede. It is a testimonie to thy conscience that thou art a childe of grace, a vessell of saluation, and fea…ed vp to the day of redemption. But heere (peraduenture) it may be obiected, that these men that did these workes were for the most part Papists, and therfore their deedes were naught, and no better than the workes of the Turkes, Infidels, or Pagans. I graunt that the most part of them were indeede Papists, but yet it followeth not therefore that they were absolutely euill, because they were done by Papists. The Deuill may doe, and sometimes also doth a good worke (but yet against his will, and by deuine impulsion) is it therefore euill because he doth it? hee confessed that Iesus was the sonne of God, is it euill therefore to confesse Christ because he did so? is good seed the worse, though an euill mā sow it? so a Papist may do good works, and to a good end, is it therefore euill because he doth it? but if he do them to this end, to be iustified, to purchase heauen, and to merite euerlasting life by them, then in respect of the doers, and in regard of the ends whereto they are done, they are altogether vnlawfull, and no good workes indeede, but rather pledges & seales of cōdemnation against the doers. Yet notwithstanding in as much as the most of these works (although they were afterwards horribly abused by others) tended to the glory of God, and benefite of the common wealth, they were therefore good works, and notable testimonies and demonstrations as wel of their great louelove and zeale, as also of their godlines. For example, Is not this a good worke, to build Churches, Chappels, and other oratories, and houses of religion, wherin the preaching of the word of God, and other exercises of true religion might bee practised amongst all posterities to the end of the world? yea it is such a worke, that I pray God sende vsus moe of them. For it is lamentable, in some parishes, the people are forced to goe three or foure nay fiue or sixe in some (peraduenture) eyght or ten miles to the Church, for want of Churches neerer them. Shall wee thinke to build Churches was no good worke, because they were afterwards prophaned by Idolatrie, and polluted by superstition? What thing is there in this world, but it hath beene, is, or may be abused? And shall wee take away the thing it selfe, because of the abuse? Then farewell meate, and drinke, farewell apparrell, yea, farewell word of God and all, for eueryevery one of them hath beene, is, and will be continually abused to the end. But in as much as the abuse is not of the substance of the thing, but meerely accidentall, take away the abuse, and let the thyng remayne still.
There are in deede neotericall and phantasticall spirits, start vp of late, that would hauehave all Churches pulled downe, and defaced, to the ende, that theyr priuate conuenticles, and Iewish Synagogues myght take place. And truely, the world is nowe almost come to theyr humor: for nowe eueryevery one seeketh to pull from the Church, to raze, and deface it, by all meanes possible: accoumpting that well gotten, what soeuer is extorted, or purloyned from it, quo iure, quaue iniuria, eyther by hooke or crooke as they vse to say.
And the same to be true in deede, doth the present state of the most of our Churches in England verify. For where I hauehave trauayled (as I hauehave trauayled the whole realme ouer) I hauehave found in most places, (nay almost in all) the Churches to lye like barnes, some thatched with strawe, and which is worser, some with broome, bent, loope, reede, and I cannot tell what rubbish els, the windowes all to torne, the wals cleft and rent asunder, the roofes rayning in without measure, and the chauncels (as they call them) eyther pulled quite downe (I will not saye begged of some greedie puttocke or insaciable cormorant or other, to build his owne house withall) or else ready to fall vppon their heads eueryevery day with eueryevery little puffe of winde. And as for the pues and seates, they are such as would make a man to loath to come in them. Their flowres or pauements are so farre from being tiled or paued, that there is nothing to be seene, but sand and dust a foote or two thicke, so that if you stirre your feete neuer so little, all the Church is full of dust, enough to stifle or choke a man.
Agayne, in othersome places, I hauehave seene the Churches strawed ouer either with hay, grasse, strawe, sedges, bent, loope, or such other trash, worser than I hauehave knowen many swyne to lye in. Yea truly I hauehave seene some Churches (as I hauehave sayde) to lye farre worser than eyther barnes, or stables, God be mercifull to vsus. For, the one, they will keepe well, and repaire for the safegard of their corne, the other for their beasts and cattell. And is it not a lamentable case, that the Church and house of prayer (for so Christ calleth it, My house shall be called the house of prayer, but you hauehave made it a denne of the eues) should lye so beastly, our owne houses in the meane time being most stately, sumptuous, and gay? Good King Dauid was of an other minde, when hee sayde, Shall my house be of Cedar, and Cipres wood, and the Arke of God to lye in Tents? and therefore made he infinite prouision to build a Temple for it. Is it nowe tyme to build your owne houses, and is it not tyme to build the Lordes house sayth the Prophet? Well, I wyll say no more heereof, but I pray God, that the reuerend Byshops (to whome God hath committed the dispensacion of his word, and the scepter and rule of hys spouse vppon earth) may looke better to the building, repairing, & keeping of the Church of God, and house of prayer. Now to goe forward. Is it not a good worke to build bridges, to make causies, pauements, and high wayes, that trauellers may paste safely frō one place to an other? There are some, & not a few, no doubt, that think it no good deede whatsoeuer it be, if a penny of money must goe from them, & therfore they care not, if al good workes were buryed in the graue of obliuion, that they might neuer see the light, but as abortiues to be vtterly smothered for euer. Hereof is it, that we cānot so much as finde in our harts, not only not to build, but not so much as to maynteyne and repaire those bridges, high wayes, causies, pauemēts, and other ancient monuments of good works, which our Ancestors hauehave left behind thē, as to their inestimable charges, so to their perpetuall praise & renowne, so far off are we frō doing any of our owne.
I my selfe, hauing trauayled ouer, and about the whole realme, hauehave found diuerse Bridges, yea, and that ouer mighty waters, eyther cleane broken downe (without any great hope of building againe in haste) or else so shaken, rent, and torne, that it would feare a man eyther to goe, or ryde ouer them. I could name aboue an hundred such in Englande, but for that I will offend no man by name, I will ouerpasse them, beseeching God to put into the harts of our Magistrates, and Rulers, that they may be amended. For I am sure, there are not a fewe both men and women in England drowned in a yeare, by reason these Bridges are not maynteyned. Our good Auncestors not onelyonly built them, but also left (for the most of them) both landes and rents to vphould them, I pray God, they be not imbezeled, and purloyned from them, and bestowed an other way.
Good Lord, I can not but wonder at the bountifull liberalitie of our predecessors, they built all these edifices and buildings from the ground, of theyr owne proper costs and charges, without all contribucions, or collections that we reade of, and yet we can not so much as maynteyne, and repayre them, except we hauehave contributions, collections, and gatherings throughout the realme for eueryevery little Bridge. And if there be but a small Bridge to be built from the grounde, Iesus what a peece of worke wee make of it? yea, wee must hauehave a licence to begge all ouer the land for it, or else it will neuer be built. So that I verely belieue, if we should hauehave but euen one such a building, to make as we hauehave some in England, built by our ancestors, Oh it would shake the verie foundations of the common wealth, nay I thinke assuredly, they would neuer be able to performe it: not for that we are not able, but for that we are wretched, & miserable, for there is greater riches & welth in Englād now (Gods holy name be praysed for it) than euer there was since the beginning of the world by many degrees, and yet we will part with nothing to any good worke, so couetous are we, and so voyd of that holy zeale, and burning charitie which our forefathers had. To goe forward. Is it not a good work, to build Colledges and Vniuersities, to erect free Schooles, and houses of learning (being indeede the very seminaries of all wisdome, learning and knowledge) for the better education of youth in good letters, wheras otherwise ignorance, and barbarisme would ouerflow vsus? And yet notwithstanding all this, you shall hauehave some giddy heads, that would hauehave all Vniuersities, Colledges, & Schooles of learning, to be vtterly supprest and ouerthrowne, which were euen to pluck the Sunne out of the elemēt, the starres out of the skye, & the Moone out of the heauens: for as the world without the one, would seeme (as it were) a confuse chaos, & palpable darknes, so without the other should we be all as dizarts, sots, and peasants, yea very buzzards & blockheads, little or nothing differing from bruite beasts. Nay to wish the ouerthrow of them, is to wish the subuersion of the word of God, and of religion, with a vniuersall confusion of all things. For are not Vniuersities and Schooles, the way to learning, and knowledge? Is not learning the way to wisedome? and is not wisedome (as it were) the very fynewes, and tendons, that hold together the whole body both of the Churche and common-wealth? Nay to say more, is not wisedome the very life of them both? and therefore they that desire the decay of the one, doe wish the destruction of the other. But yet to wade in this matter a little further. Is it not a good worke, to erect Hospitalls, Spittles, and Almes houses, wherein all such as be eyther olde, aged, impotent, blind, lame, halt, or otherwise decrepite, might be relieued? yea, I hould it to be one of the chiefest good workes that a man can doe in thys life. For doth not Christ accoumpt it done to himselfe, whatsoeuer is done to his poore members vponupon earth? And therefore I pray GOD, to rayse vp more such men, as may erect mo such houses, yea, if it were in eueryevery Citie, towne, and village. Then should we hauehave eyther none, or at lest, fewer beggers (as we cal them) amongst vsus than we hauehave (according to the cōmandement of God) who sayth, Let there bee no beggers in Israel: that is, amongest those that professe the Gospell and religion of GOD, whilest those that were olde, halt, blind, or lame, should be there harboured, and other lustie vagabonds who were able to worke and would not, shuld be compelled to worke by seuerity of law. And to this end, as I would wish moe hospitalls for the reliefe of those that are not able to worke, (as I hauehave sayd) so woulde I wishe that there were mo houses of correction, in euerie shiere one at the least, to punish and chase such lusty knaues and queans, as goe roagueing about the Countries, not laboring at all, but liuing vponupon filching, stealing, purloining, and pilfering frō others. I remember there were certaine motions of late for the erectiō of such houses in eueryevery shire, but there is nothing effected as yet: Parturiunt montes, nascitur ridiculus mus. It was too good a work to take place with vsus: we hauehave many good motions, but few good effects follow, God be mercifull vntounto vsus. But here a question may be asked, whether the building of monasteries, priories, & other religious houses, were good workes or no? I aunswere, that in deed they had a zeale in them, but not (as the Apostle saith) secundum scientiam: and they built thē to a good intēt, as namely, that the seruice and religion of God, might bee maintained and continued in them for euer. And therefore if they were afterwardes abused, (as they were in deed, as is before remembred) and peruerted to another end, than was intendended by the first founders of them, by a sorte of caterpillers, and idolatrous locustes, that conuersed in them, and poisoned the whole world with the filthie dregges of theyr fornication, the fault was in the abusers, not in the founders. And yet I will not iustifie the founders for their good intents sake neither. For a good intent is no good intent, excepte it hauehave his ground and warrant out of the worde of God. It is not inough for a man to doo euill, and then to saie, hee dyd it to a good intent. Saul for a good intent (as he pretēded) as namely, to sacrifice to the Lorde, kept aliue the best of the cattel, cōtrarie to Gods cōmandement: but notwithstanding his good intent, God cast him of for it, and deposed him from his royall dignity, telling him, that he delighted more in obedience than in sacrifice. But howeuer they were built, or to what end or purpose so euer, sure I am they were pulled downe to a better purpose, as beeing in deede the dens of theeues, the neasts & cels of vipers, the dungeōs of dragons, the harborows of cocatrices, & the cages of vncleane beasts. And yet as I thank God for the ouerthrowe of them, (for that they had almost drowned, and in short time would, not almost, but altogether hauehave drowned the whole world, with the filthy puddle of superstition, idolatry, infidelitie, buggerie, and sodometrie) so could I hauehave wished that the lands and reuenues of them had ben better imployed, as namely, to the mainteuaunce of Colledges, and schooles of learning, to the maintenance of preachers, throghout the land, to the reliefe and sustentation of the poore, and defence of the common wealth, and such other good purposes, then shoulde not our land hauehave beene pestered with so many vpstart single-soled Gentlemen as it is. But it was the will of God, that those thinges which were the bane of his Church, and the poison of his children, (and therefore stood as anathema and accursed before him) shoulde not now bee anie meanes to build vp, or repayre his Church agayne any manner of waie. The Lorde hath all meanes in his handes, and both can and will (in his good time) build his Church by other meanes than by the reliques of Antichrist, orrmaenentes of idolatrie and superstition.
Therefore let vsus rest contented with whatsoeuer he doeth, knowing let vsus rest coytented with whatsoeuer he doth, knowing that his wyll is the perfect square rule, of all perfection, and that he doth all things for his owne glorie, and the good of his Church.
But to returne to the matter in hand, & so to conclude this point. I graunt indeede that the building of Abbies, and Monasteries, in regarde of the abuses which afterwards insued of them, & by them, was altogether vnlawfull, pernitious, and execrable, yea, altogether abhominable, and consequentlie intollerable, yet in respect of the intentions of the first founders of them, and of the end whereto they were erected (as namely to the end that God might bee glorified by them, and his religion exercised, maintained, & practised in them amongst all generations, to the end of the world, and the like) I saie in respect of these ends, they were not altogether so vnlawfull, nor intollerable: but beeing done to these ends, to maintaine superstition and idolatrie, to iustifie vsus before God, to purchase righteousnes, to merit euerlasting life, & the like thē were they abhominable and detestable before God & man. But whatsoeeuer the building of thē was, good or badde (as good it could not be) these are not such, as the papists that liue in this age, do greatly accouut of to be good workes. And therefore to the end no man may heereafter bee ignorant hereof, I will as briefly as I can, endeuor my selfe to set down in order, some such as the Papists now a daies do account for good workes in deede, and such as deserue (say they) in this life infinit renumeratiō, & in the life to come, euerlasting saluation. These & such like are they, as followe.