The Voice of the Last Trumpet Blown, Lesson 4 – Lesson 6
¶ The Yeomans leſſon.
THou that art borne the groūd to till,
Or for to laboure wyth thyne hande:
If thou wylt do nought that is yl,
Deſire not idle for to ſtande.
But ſe thou do plowe, plante, & ſowe,
And do thy nedeful buſines:
As one that doeth his duty knowe
And wyl not the Lords wil traunſgres.
For what doeſt thou if thou deſire,
To be a lorde or gentilman:
Other then heape on the Gods yre,
And ſhewe thy ſelfe no chriſtian?
For Chriſtes ſhepe do heare his voyce
Whyche biddeth the worke buſily:Iohn. x. Exod. xx.
Sixe dayes, and in the ſeauenth reioyce
And giuegive ſomewhat to the neady.
It doeth alſo bid the beware,
Of the deſire to be alofte:
For he that doeth for honour care,
Falleth in Sathans ſnares full ofte.
HaueHave minde therfore thy ſelfe to hold
With… the boſides of thy degre:
And then thou maiſt euer be bold
That God thy lord wil proſper the.
And though the Lord giuegive the plenty
Of corne, cattel, and other thinge:Prou. xxiii. Pſal. lxii.
Be thou neuer the more gredy
Nor ſet thy minde on gatheringe.
But thinke the Lord doth theſe thinges ſend
To the as to his ſtuard true:
That wilt not his goodes waſt & ſpend,
But beſtowe thē where they be due.
And if with thy labour thou get
Money much more then thou doſt nede:
Do not thy minde on rayment ſet
Neither on deuity fode to fede.
Set not (I ſay) thy minde on pride,
Neither vponupon deliciouſe fare:
Neither forget at any tide,
To giuegive the pore that thou maiſt ſpare.
But when thou haſt ſufficient,
i. Timo. vi.Of fode and honeſt apparaile:
Then holde thy ſelfe therewith content
As with the wage of thy trauaile.
The reſt if ought remaine vnſpent,
VponUpon thine owne neceſſitie)
Beſtowe as he that hath it ſent,
Hath in his worde commaunded the.
And if thou finde not written there,
That thou maiſt heape thy cheſt wt gold
To bye greate liuelode for thine heyre.
Ho…e dareſt thou then be ſo bold.
Howe dareſt thou be bolde I ſay,
To heape vp ſo muche go…lde in ſtore:
Out of the due that thou ſhouldeſt paye,
To them that be pore, ſycke and ſore?
Pſal. v.Wo be to them ſareth Eſai,
That heape togither ho…ſe and Land:
As m…n that wo…lde neuer finde ſtaye,
Til al the earth were in their hand.
What, wil ye dwel alone (ſareth he)
VponUpon the earth that is ſo wyde?
Wyll you leaue no parte thereof fre
From your vnſacrable pride?
Ye nede not to be ſo gready,
For the Lord doeth you plainely tell:
That greate houſes ſhall ſtande empty,
And no man left therin to dwell.
And Moſes ſaith that thou ſhalt build
Houſes and neuer dwell therin:Deu. xxviii.
Thy ſelfe nor leaue them to thy chylde.
Nor any other of thy kynne.
And why? becauſe thou haſt no mynd
To kepe the lordes commaundement.
But ſekeſt euer for to fynde.
Wayes to encreaſe thyne yerely rent.
No maner threatnynge can the let.
From purchaſinge the deuel and all
It is all fyſhe that cometh …oner.
To ma…ntayne thy great pryde with al
Well turne agayne … the aduiſe.
And I …iue to walke in thine eſtate:
And ſet goddes feare before thyne eyes.
Leſte when thou woldeſt it be to late.
And hauehave in thy mynde euermore,
This rule of thy profeſſion:i. Cor. vii.
Whyche is in dede gods holy lore.
To walke in thy vocation.
But if the Lord do the not bleſſe.
In thy labours wyth g…eate plenty
Yet thanke thou him neuer the leſſe.
Thou haſt more then thou art worthy.
If thy Landlorde do rayſe thy rent
Se thou pay it wyth quietnes:
And pray to God omnipotent,
To take from hym his cruelnes.
So ſhalt thou heap coles on his head
And purchaſe to thy ſelfe great reſt.
By the ſame man thou ſhalt be fedde,
By whom thou waſt before oppreſt
For God who ruleth ech mans herte,
Shal turne thy Landlordes hert I ſay:
And ſhall al his whole life conuert
So that he ſhall be thy greate ſtay.
Or els if he be not worthy,
To be called to repentaunce:
No doubte thy Lorde wyll him deſtroy,
Or take from him hys heritaunce.
Sure thou ſhalt be he wyll the ſet
Fre from thy Landlordes tyranny:
For he did neuer yet forget
Any that walked orderly.
But if thou wilt nedes take in hande
Th…ne owne wronge for to remedy:
The Lorde him ſelfe wyll the wtſtande,
And make thy Landlord more gredye.
And where before thou paiedſt greate rēt
Thou ſhalt now loſe thy houſe & al:
Bicauſe thou couldſt not be content
Wyth patience on him to call.
In like ſort, if thy prince wyl take,
More tribute thē thou canſt well ſpare:
Se thou pay it him, for Gods ſake,
Whoſe officers all princes are.Math. xii.
For in his nede boeth thou and thine,
Are his to maintaine his eſtate:
It is not for the to define,
What great charges thy kinge is at.
Yea though thou ſe euidently,
That he waſteth much more then nede:
Yet pay thy dutye willyngely,
And doubtles God ſhall be thy mede.
Nowe touchynge thy religion,
If thy prince do commaunde the ought:
Agaynſt Gods Euangelion,
Then pray for hym ſtill in thy thought.
Praye for him ſtill, I ſay that he
May hauehave Godly vnderſtandinge:
To teach Gods word to ſuch as be,
Committed to his gouerninge.
And ſe thou do not him deſpiſe,
But anſwere him wyth reuerence:
And thoughe yu mighteſt, yet in no wiſe,
Do thou forget obedience.
Take not his ſwerd out of hys hand,
But lay thy necke downe vnderunder it:Rom. xiii.
(Yea, …hough thou mighteſt his force wtſtande)
For ſo to do for the is fit.Math. xxvi.
Thy maſter Chriſt hath taught yu well
When he woulde no reſiſtence make:
Neither againſt …he powers rebell
When men were ſent him for to take.
Yet if the Lord hauehave geuen to the
Such knowledge that thou art certaine
Of thy fayeth knowynge it to be
Of the trueth do therin remaine.
For thoughe man may thy bodye kyll
Yet oughteſt thou not him to feare:
M…t x.For he can do thy ſoule none yll.
Wherfore be bold, do not diſpaire.
Beholde I ſay Chriſt to confeſſe
Wi…hout feare of this worldly paine.
For when thou ſhalt be in diſtreſſe
Mat. x.Chriſte ſhall acknowledge the againe.
Chriſt ſhall acknowledge the I ſay
If thou conquere by ſufferyng:
Luke. xxi.And do thy ſelfe hereupon ſtaye,
That thou muſt walke in thy callyng
But if thou do lyf…e vp thy ſworde
Agaynſt thy kynge and Souerayne:
Math xxviThen art thou iudged by Gods word,
As worthy therwith to be ſlayne.
Yea, thou maiſt not grudge or repine
Aga…nſt thy kynge in any wyſe
Though thou ſhouldſt ſe…laine wt thyne
Tha… he were wicked paſt al ſiſe …eyen
For it is God tha… appoynteth,
Kinges and rulers ouer the route:
…roue. viii.And with …is power he auoynteth
Them for to be obeyed …o doubte
…. x…x.If they be euel, then thinke thy ſinne,
Deſerueth that plage at Gods hande:
And ſe thou do forth wyth begynne
Thine owne wyckednes to withſtande.
Corah and dathan did Rebell,Nom. xvi.
And thought yt thei them ſelues coulde point
A better prieſt in Iſraell,
Then Aaron whom god did annoynte
But what came of their fantaſie?
Was not deſtruction their ende?
God dyd deſtroye them ſodenly
Becauſe they would his workes emēde.
Let thys example ſuffice the.
To kepe them obedience
To ſuche as god ſhall ſet to be
Ouer the in preeminence.
If thou do th…s, thou ſhalt beſure
That god thy lorde wyl euer ſe
That though thy rulars be not pure
Yet they ſhal euer defend the.
Contrary wyſe, if thou Rebel.
Be ſure the lorde wyll the deſtroye
Which thing hath bene declared well.
Within thys realme verye lately.
For notwithſtandinge that our kyng
And eke our rulars euerychone
Be merciful in their doynge
Yet hauehave the Rebelles cauſe to moue.
And why? becauſe no rebelles ſhall
Eſcape goddes hand vnpuniſhed
For god him ſelfe doeth princes cal
Hys Chriſtes and his annoynted.
Who ſo therfore doth them reſiſt
Roma. xiii.The ſame reſiſteth God certaine
For god him ſelfe doeth them aſſiſt
Agaynſte them ouer whom they raigne.
If thou therfore fynd the greued
Wyth men ſet in authoritye.
Seke not thou to be auenged
Eccle. xxviii.But let God take vengeaunce for the.
Let me take vēgaunce (ſayth the lord)
Rom. xii.And I wil paye them al their hyre
Do thus, and ſcripture doeth recorde
That thou ſhalt hauehave all thy deſyre.
Thou ſhalt hauehave thy deſire, I ſay
VponUpon the wycked maieſtrate
If thou wylt kepe thy ſelfe alway
Within the boundes of thyne eſtate,
Thus leaue I the, wyth threatenyng
To the thy ſoules damnation
If thou miſlikynge thy callynge
Wylt nedes chayng thy vocation.
The lewde or vnlearnned prieſtes leſſon.
THou that arte lewde wythout learnyng
Whom commonly men cal ſyr Iohn,
Geue care for I wyl ſay ſomethynge
Concerning thy vocation.
Thou art a man voyde of knowledge
And eke of all good qualities
Only mete for to diche and hedge
Or elſe to plant and gra…ſe mens tres.
Thou art not as yu wouldeſt be calde
An offerar of ſacrifice
…or though thy cro…ne were .iiii. times balde
Yet canſt yu not ſo beare our eies.
For it is playne in holy write
That none can offer ſacrificeHebru. …
For ſynne, either in fleſh or ſpirite
Though he be both learned and wyſe.
For Chriſt was once offered for al
To ſatiſfie for all out ſynne
And hath made fre that erſt were thrall
The faythful floke of Iacobes kinne.
To offer ſacrifice therfore
Thou arte not cald I tell the playne
For Chriſte lyueth for euer moreRom. vi.
And can no more for vsus be ſlayne.
Thy ſtate therfore and thy callinge
Is none other b…t for to wyrckeGene. iii. …oh. v.
And not to lyue by forſtalling.
And name thy ſelfe one of the kyrcke
If thou therfore wylt liue for aye
And reigne wyth Chriſt for euer more
Deſyre no moe maſſes to ſay
But get thy fode with laboure ſore.Exh…. iiii.
Geue ouer all thy typpillinge
Thy tauerne gates, and table playe.
Thy cardes, thy dice and wine bibblingEph…. ….
And learne to walke a ſober waye.
And if thou hauehave any liueing
i. Timo iiii.So that thou nedeſt not to laboure
Se thou apply the to learninge
Wyth al diligent endeuour.
But to this ende ſe thou ſtudie
That when thou haſt the trueth learned
Thou maiſte profit other therby
Whom in time paſt thou haſt harmed.
And ſe thou go not Idlely
From houſe to houſe to ſeke a place
To ſay men a Maſſe ſecretly
Their fauour therby to purchaſe.
Put not the ignorant in hope
That they ſhall ſe al vp againe
That hath bene brought in by the Pope
And al the preachars put to payne.
But if thou canſt do any good
In teaching of an A. B. C.
A primer or elſe Robinhede
Let that be good paſtime for the▪
Be euer doyng what thou can
Teaching or learnyng ſome good thing
And then lyke a good Chriſtian.
Thou doeſt walke forth in thy callinge.
But if thou wylt knoweledge reiecte
And al honeſt labours refuſe
Then arte thou none of goddes elect
Rom. …vi.But art worſſe then the curſed Iewes.
Repent therfore I the aduiſe
And take wholeſome counſel by tyme
And take good hede in any wyſe
That knowledge double not thy crime.
Thus leaue I the, makyng promiſe
To make for the peticion
That thou mayſt leaue the popiſhnes
And walke in thy vocation.
The Scholars leſſon.
COme hither yonge mā vntounto me
Thou that arte broughte vp in learnyng.
Geue eare a whyle, I wyll teache the.
How thou ſhalt walke in thy callyng.
Firſt marke wherfore ſcholes were erect
And what the foundars dyd intend
And then do thy ſtudie directe
For to attayne vntounto that ende.
Doubtleſſe this was al their meaning
To hauehave their contrie furniſhed.
Wyth all kindes of honeſt learninge,
Whereof the publike wealth had nede.
Call thou therefore to memory,
What knowledge thy contrey doeth:
And apply the ſame earneſtly,
By al the meanes that thou canſt make lacke
And when thou arte determined
What knowledge thou wilt moſt apply
Then let it not be loytered,
But ſeke to get it ſpedily.
Spend not thy tyme in Idlenes.
Nor in vayne occupacyon
But do thy ſelfe wholely addreſſe
To walke in thy vocation.
Se thou do not thy mynde ſo ſet
On any kynde of exerciſe:
That it be either ſtay or let
To thy ſtudie in an wiſe.
To fyſhe, to foule, to hunt or halke
Or on an inſtrument to playe
And ſome whyles to comune and talke
No man is able to gayne ſaye.
To ſhore, to bawle, or caſte the barre
To playe reuiſe or toſſe the ball
Or to …enne baſe lyke men of war
Shall hurie thy ſtudy nought at al.
For all thoſe thynges do recreate
The mynd if thou canſte hold the meane
But if thou be affectionate
Then doſte thou loſe thy ſtudy …eane.
And at the laſt thou ſhalt be founde
To occupye a place only
As do in Ag…me ziphras rounde.
And to hinder learnyng greatly
For if thou hadſt not the lyueyng
An other ſhould that wold apply
Him ſelfe to ſome kynde of learnynge
To profite his contrey therby.
If thou therfore wylte not be founde
Worthy goddes indignation
Make thy ſtudie perfect and ſounde
And walke in thy vocation.
Let not tyme paſſe idelly
Loſe not the fruite of any houre
Or elſe ſuffer him to ſupply
Thy place that wyll hym endeuoure
Thou doeſt but rob ye cōmone wealth
Of one that would be a treaſure
Better thou were to lyue by ſtelth
Then for to worcke ſuche diſpleaſure,
But haply thou wilt ſay agayne
Shall I ſurrender my lyuynge?
Shall I not thervpon remayne
After I hauehave gotten learnynge?
Yeſſe thou maiſt kepe thy liueyng ſtyl
Tyll thou be called otherwiſe
But if thou wylt regard goddes wyllLuke. xix.
Thou muſt thy ſelfe ſtyll exerciſe.
When thou arte thorowly learned
Then ſe thou teache other thy ſkyll
If thou wylt not be reconed
For a ſeruaūat wycked and IllLuke. xix.
Teach them, I ſay, that thou doeſt ſe
Wyllinge to learne thy diſcipline
And vntounto them ſe thy lyfe be
A boke to laye before theyr eine.
Let them neuer ſe the Idle
Nor heare the talke vndiſcretly
And by all the meanes poſſible
Let all thy doinges edifye.
Rom. …iiii.Th…s leaue I the, wyſhinge that thou
Maiſt by this admonition
Henſf…rth deſier (as I do nowe)
To walke in thy vocacion.