A sermon preached at Pauls Crosse the xiiii day of December by Thomas Leuer.

A sermon preached at Pauls Crosse the xiiii day of December by Thomas Leuer.

Table of contents

Title page

¶ Unto the right honorable Lordes, and others of the Kynges Magestie •…ys priuye Counsell, Thomas Leauer wysheth increase of Grace and godly honoure.

Iesus Christus

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Iesus Christus

¶ The grace of the holy gost, procedyng from God the [...]ather, by the interces [...]ion and meane of Iesu Christ, so prepare your herts, and open my mouth, that I maye declare, and shewe, and that you maye heare, vnderstand, remember, and practise in your liuyng, his liuely word as may be most to his honour and glori and to your soules health and comfort.

YOu Citizins of London, & all other that be here prèfēt marke, note, and remember what ye heare of me this day: for yf I shall say or speake any thynge that is euyll, you must beare recorde against me of that euyl. But if I do preache well and truelye, then you shall vnderstande and knowe your selues to be in great daūger of haynous [Page] treason towards god & the kinges maiesty of this realme, which be by you spoyled, and robbed: god of his glory, the kyng of hys honoure, and the realme of hys wealth. How beit the mercyfull goodnes of bothe god and the kyng hath sent me hyther thys daye, to proclame a generall pardon, intendynge thereby to try out and saue theim that haue offended by symple ignoraunce, because the force of theyr myghty power is nowe readye and commynge vtterly to destroye all other that cō tinue in wylfull stobe [...]es & rebellyous treason. Wherefore afore the readynge of my commyssion, I wyll declare that piece of scriptur whyche appoynted to be [...]d in the churche as thys daye, wyll certyfye you that God by hys scriptures hath shewed the kynge, who be hys fay [...]thfull seruauntes, and who be hys ennemyes. Thys scripture is wrytten [Page] in y•. iiii. Chapter of the firste epistle of. S. Paule vnto the Corinthians. Sic nos estimet homo ut ministros Christi, [...] dispensatores ministrorum d [...]i. &c.

Filioli [...]ei quos iterum parturio. Albeit I vse not scrupulouslye the same termes, yet conuenyently folowyng the maner and phrase of scrypture, I say vnto you as Paule wryteth vnto the Galathyans: My deare chyldrē of whom I trauell in brythe agayne vntyll Chryste be facyoned in you, I would I now beyng wyth you myght chaūge my voyce, whych heretofore I haue vsed: declarynge by the worde of God, that you here in England whych wyll receyue no mercye, shall feele sore vengea [...]nce, which wyll [...]ot be [...]aued, shalbe destroyd. Thys voyce vsed here afore of me, nowe wold I fayne chaunge. For nowe [...] I doute I am paste hope and allmooste in vtter dyspayre of you. Tell me [Page] you that throughe couetousnes desyre the [...]yches and wealthe of thys world. Haue ye not heard how that he whych wolde be a frend vnto the world is made an enemy vnto God, doethe not Paule teache that couetousnes is the roote of all euyl? Is it not wrytten that couetousnes is Idolatry? Haue ye not red i [...] the prophet Ezechiel howe that he whyche kepeth his Idolles, meanyng couetousnesse in hys hert and commeth to hear gods word, doth therby prouoke gods vengeaunce to hys vtter destruccion. Paule sayth and testifyeth that euery man whiche is circumcysed, hath no profyt by Chrys [...]e, is gone quite from Christ, is fallen frō grace. I saye and testyfye vnto you in the word of the Lorde, y• so many of you as be couetous, haue no profit by the preachyng of gods word. the mynistracion of hys sacraments [Page] and the settyng forth of pure religion wythin the realme: no ye be clene from God framyng your selues vnto the fassion of thys worlde, ye can brynge forth no good frutes of charitable workes nourishyng the rote of all euyll in youre hartes, ye must nedes prouoke the wrath & indignacion of god to your vtter destrucion, whan as ye kepe the ydoll of couetousnes styll in youre myndes to be honoured and serued in all your doinges, and yet pretend a zele and loue vnto the religion of Chryst in your workes and sayinges. I woulde fayne haue had iust occasion to haue spoken at thys tyme suche thynges as myght haue bene confortable and pleasaunt for you to heare.

But I muste needes shewe the causes of gods wrath & indignacion kyndled agaynste vs, least that those plages should be ascribed vnto the word and religion of Chryst [Page] set foorthe amongest v [...], whyche be procured by the wickednes of theym that seruyng couetous Mammon, haue forsaken, offended, and slaundered both Christ, & Christes word and religion. No man can serue two masters, whye then dooe ye pr [...]tend that ye be the seruauntes of Chryst, seynge that ye wyll not forsake the seruyce of wycked Mammon? yf ye be ashamed to be named, and afrayd to continue the wycked seruauntes of wycked mammon. now shew and proue by youre ordinarye callyng, faythf [...]ll dealyng, and godly iudgement accordyng to thys example of Paule playnly paynted & set forthe in thys epistle vnto the Cor [...]thiās, that ye be Christes mynysters, the seruauntes & disposers of gods mysteries & treasures: for Paule shewing hym selfe as a good example of Christes seruants, sayth: Sic nos existi [...]et homo, ut ministros Christi. &c. So [Page] let a man esteme vs, as the mynisters of Chryst, & the dysposers of the secretes of god. No man can come vnto Christe Iesu to be hys mynister▪ excepte he be drawen of the father. The father draweth not by force violētlye them that be stuborne and frowarde, but by loue thē that be gē tyll, & come wyllyngly▪ For when the father sheweth in Chryste forgeuenes of synnes, grace of amendement▪ iustificacion, and euerlastyng lyfe, thē those that make fast theim selues wyth the bande of loue by desyre of the same be drawen vnto Chryst.

As contrary wyse when the deuyll sheweth in fleshlye lustes and worldly vanytyes, manye voluptuous pleasures, then they that there wyth be entangled and delyted be drawen of the temptour away from Chryst. Take hede therfore how ye haue entred into religion, professed chryste▪ and receyued the gospell. For if ye be [Page] drawen by loue of mercy, grace and [...]yghteousnes, ye come vnto Chryst: But by the desyre of ryches, welth, & voluptuousnes, men be drawen and [...]ysed away from Christe.

He therfore that by the profession of Christ, the zele of hys worde, the fauoure of the gospell, seeketh couetous gayne, or a carnal liberty, surely he is a seruaunt of Mammon, ennemy vnto Christe, and a sclaunde [...]er of the gospel. For he that wyll be the seruaunt of Christe, must folow the example of Christ. He that wyll folowe Christ in example of lyuyng, he muste forsake hymselfe, take hys crosse vpō hys backe dayly & folow Christ. So Christes seruaūt shalbe deliuered frō the bondage of synne, y• he maye frely & wyllyngly contemnyng y• vanities of the world, & mortifying y• lusts of y• flesh, serue chryst in bearyng the crosse of paynful diligēce, to do the duty of his vocacion.

[Page] But all those that delyte in a carnall libertye, or seeke vnlawfull geynes, althoughe they be named Chrystians and fauourers of the gospell, yet be they in dede not mynisters of Christ, but ennemyes vnto Christe: not louers of the Gospell b [...] sclaunderers of the Gospell, not iustyfied by liuelye faythe to be of that ryghteouse sorte for whose sakes GOD spareth and fauoureth a common wealthe, but deceyued wyth a dead fayth to be of that vngodlye sorte, for whose cause God plageth and destroyeth many a common welth. And nowe vndoutedly be we in greate miseries and daunger of destruccion, for that we haue many that be hearers, readers, and talkers of Gods worde, and fewe or none that do walke and lyue accordyng to gods worde: we ought truly to esteme and take theym onlye to be mynysters of Christe whyche for [Page] the loue of mercy, grace, and ryghtuousnes shewed of the father vnto theim in Christ, do kyll the lustes of theyr owne fleshe, dyspyse the vanytyes of the whole worlde, and forsakyng theyr own pleasures and commodities do take the crosse of paynfull diligence and walke after Christ in doynge of theyr dutyes.

All other that haue the name and profession of Chryst without liuyng and conue [...]saciō accordynge th [...]rto, be fayned brethren, in feastes wyth Christen men to take parte of theyr good chere, vnclene spots amongest honest cōpany, feedyng theim selues without feare of god, clouds wtout any moisture of gods grace, tossed aboute wyth contrarye wyndes of straūge doctryne, trees passyng sommer tyme wtout any frutes of good workes, twyse dead without felynge the corrupcion of synne, or lokynge to be graffed in the stocke of grace, [Page] yea rooted vp from amōgest y• vynes of the Lord, wilde waues of the sea frothyng forth vnshame fast brags, & wandryng [...]arres without cōstancie in iudgement & opiniō vnto whō the dungeon of darknes is ordeyned for euerlastyng dampnacion.

What maruell is it thē thoughe the vengeaunce of God be poured forth among [...] thē of such iniquitie, yea & most habundātly when as hys word playnely preached, is of theym moste wickedly abused & shamefully slandered, whych say: Lorde, Lorde, and do not as they be commaūded of the Lord. Wherfore let vs say: Non nobis domine, non nobis. Not vnto vs o Lord, not vnto vs, but vnto thy name geue glorye, not for that we by oure dedes haue deserued, but y• thy name O Chryste amongest vs christians may behonored, pardon our tauts, amende our liues, and indue vs with grace, that the lyghte of oure good [Page] workes afore men vpon the earthe, maye cause thee to be gloryfyed O Lorde in heauen. Dearlye beloued in Christe for the tender mercyes of god, whē as ye se carnall gospellers, couetous ydolaters, greuyng youre consciences, slaunderynge Christes religion, and damnynge theyr owne soules, do not of malyce contempne disdayne and renyle thē, but of charitable pitye, lamēt, sorow, and pray for theim, whyche blynded wyth ygnoraunce know not theim selues, deceyued wyth the deuyll, be drawen from Christe, comforte and saluacion, vnto euerlastynge deathe and damnacion. Say and pray for them: O lorde suffer not the enemye thus to lede into captiuitye oure felowes thy seruauntes, oure brethren thy chyldren, O Chryst restore vnto lyberty thē that y• hast redemed wythe thy precious blud, so y• we may alto [...]ether drawē of y• father, receyued of [Page] the sonne, and gided of the holy gost, be ministers of Chryst in libertye of the gospell, delyuered from synne fre lye to delyte and take pleasure in a godly conuersacion all the dayes of our lyfe. Nowe let vs after thys takynge of the mynisterye of Chryste, wyich perteineth generally vnto all christians, speake of the dysposers of Gods mysteryes, wherin we maye cōsider seuerally euery mās vocaciō.

Paule dyd dyspose the secretes of God by the preachynge of the Gospell, whych was euer secretly hydde from the wyttye, wyse, and learned in the worlde. Other men in other vocacions must dyspose other treasures of God by other meanes. As the magistrate by authorytye muste dyspose the punyshmente of vyce, & the mayntenaunce of vertue.

The rych man by liberalytye, must dyspose reliefe and comforte vnto the poore and nedye. The Marchaunt [Page] by byinge and sellynge, and the craftes man by hys occupacion, muste prouyde vnto the common wealthe of necessarye wares, suffyciente plentye. The landelorde by lettyng of fermes must dyspose vnto the tenants necessary lands, and houses of an indifferent rente. The houshandmē by tyllyng of the groūd and kepyng of cattel, must dyspose vnto theyr landlordes, dew rentes, and vnto them selues & other, both corne, and other vytals. So euerye man by doynge of hys dutye muste dyspose vnto other that commodytye and benefyte, whiche is cōmitted of god vnto theym to be dysposed vn to other, by the faythful and diligent doyng of theyr du [...]yes.

The treasures of the Lord be vnmesurable, his hart is lyberall, ther can be therefore no lacke amonges hys people, yf hys stewards vnto whom the dysposing of hys gyftes be committed, [Page] be true and faythfull. Thys therfore saythe Paule, is requyred in a steward, y• he be faythfull. Who thynk▪ ye, sayth Christ, is a faythefull and a wyse stewa [...]de whom the Lorde setteth ouer hys hous [...]holde to geue theim a due measure of the wheate of necessaryes in tyme conuenyente? Blessed is that seruaunte whom the Lorde when he commeth, shall fynde so doyng: verelye▪ I saye vnto you that he wyl make him lord of all that euer he hath. Beholde the faythfulnes of the Lordes steward consysteth in dylygente prouydynge and mynistrynge vnto the Lordes famylye anye suche thynges as bee necessary. The reward of such faythfulnes is to be put in trust wyth all that his Lord & master hath. Then who can delyre a better master then the Lorde God or a hygher roume then a stewardshyppe in the house of Christ, or a greater reward then to [Page] haue all the treasures of God whych be an hundred folde passynge anye mans deseruyng here, and farthermore euerlastyng lyfe. O that men wold consyder the goodnes of God, the worthines of their offices, the cō fortable felowshyp of the houshold of Christ, and the ioyfull rewarde of the croune of glory, and so be faythful stewardes and dysposers of the manyfold gyfts of God: And not being bleared and blynded wyth couetousnesse, deserue to be cut of frome the company of christians, & to haue their por [...]ion with hypocrits, wheras shalbe wayl [...]ng and gnashing of teeth. For that y• gredy worme gnawyng [...]he conscience neuer dyeth, and the flamynge fyre of vntollerable vengeaunce shalbe neuer quenched.

O brethren, God hath geuen great plentye, and we in Englande fynde greate lacke: therfore the st [...] wards of God be vnfeythfull. Who [Page] be gods stewardes? They that haue gods gyftes. Suerly no man hath all the gyfts of God, and euery man hath some gyfts of God. Then if all thynges be lackyng, yet can no one man deserue all the blame, but euery man shall be found fauty for that which is amysse, for lack of his duty.

Do ye perceyue that the laytie is eyther altogether ygnoraunte and blynd, or els hauyng knowledge to speake fayer, hath no learnynge to do well? Then suerlye the cleargye hath not ben faythfull in preachyng of gods word earnestly, in s [...]son and out of season to reproue, besech and blame, in all pacience and token, or dyscyplyne. Do ye see the cleargye hath not wherwithall to mayntayne learnyng, to relieue the pore, to kepe hospytalytye, and too fynde theym selues? Then trewly hath not the lay itye sufficientlye prouyded that they whyche preache the Gospell, should [Page] lyue on the Gospell, and that they whyche sowe spirituall treasures, myght repe corporall necessaryes.

Do ye se y• they which be in authoritye haue not ben regarded and obedientli serued? Then y• common people haue not done theyr dutyes, dysobeying any man placed in authoryty by gods ordynaunce. Do ye se the people haue hadde iniuries and ye [...] the [...]r cōplaintes negly gentlye heard and lōg delayed? then haue the higher powers omytted ryghteousnes and iudgement, whiche wyl be required at theyr handes of the Lord.

Do ye se that in all maner of thinges ther is some lack of that whyche is very necessarye? Then be ye sure that all maner of men do leaue or mysuse some parte of theyr dutye.

Q [...]is potest dicere: mundum est cor meum, purus sum a peccato.

No manne canne say: my hert is [Page] cleane, I am pure wythout fautes. Therefore s [...]ynge that w [...] be all gyltye, Lette vs not enuye, grudge, or [...] ▪ dayne one an others faultes, but euery one acknowledge, lament, and [...] owne fautes.

Do not triumphe and be glad when ye [...] that other mens fautes be noted or rebuked, but be mooste certayne and suer, that excepte ye [...]de ye repente and amende, ye shall euerye one be lykewyse serued. If ye haue not those same faultes whyche ye heare by the preacher noted & rebuked, yet yf you take pleasure and be glad to heare other mens e [...]vis, he sure that euen that pleasure takyng is a faute, whyche God hateth and wyll punysh.

Therefore when ye heare anye mann [...] fautes spoken of, be sorye for theim, and take hede to your selues: so shall you thereby gette good [Page] and they haue no harme. If ye so do at thys tyme, I may the more boldely examyne and trye the faythfulnes of some stewardes and disposers of Gods gyftes.

And for the better tryall & assurance of theyr fydely [...]e I note two thynges to be requyred: fyrste that a stewarde or disposer be, Quem constituit dominus, whom the Lord assigneth and maketh: and secondarily, Vt det cibu [...] in tempore, that he vse to fede and cheryche, and not to deuou [...]e and hurte theim of the lordes familye. For the fyrste parte it is to be noted, that euery man in the tyme of hys admyssion, when he shall be put into hys offyce, is set on the hyll of consyderacion and aduysement: where as the Lorde Christ to those whyche he admitteth, sheweth that the haruest is greate, the laborers b [...]fewe, greate paynes muste be taken that muche [Page] good maye be done: vyle rebukes & greuous affliccions here to be suffered, be the sygnes & tokens of great rewardes in heauen for theym prepared. The ennemy of Christ Sa [...]ā vnto those whych he would deceyue sheweth all the glory of the worlde, promysyng to geue it a rewarde presently vnto all the that wyl worshyp hym fallyng downe at hys feete, in flattery, crafte, and iniquitye.

Christe the Lorde indueth wyth wyll and habily [...]ye to take paynes to do good, those whych he bryngeth in at the dore to be shepherdes of the folde and stewardes of the house: the deuyll the ennemy of Chryst cloketh in shepe skynnes of solemne titles to gette gaynes, those whyche he con [...]yeth not in at the dore, but ouer an other waye to dystroye the flocke, and robbe the house.

Therfore yf thy roume be benefyce [Page] prebende, offyce or authorytie in a christen comminaltye wythin Gods house, and yf thou be brought in at the doore of ordynarye and lawefull callynge, by paynefull dyligence to do good, thou mayest be a faythfull stewarde in that place: but yf thou be broughte in ouer and besydes all ordinarye and lawfull callynge, by couetous ambycyon to get gaynes, then must thou nedes be a thefe and robber: for Christe whyche so sayth can be no lyer. I meane yf thou by money or fryndshyp haue boughte eyther benefyce or offyce, thou can [...] not be of Christes iustitucion, but of the Dyuylles intrusion, not a fayethful dysposer, but a theuysh extorcioner of Gods gyfts. For Christ sayth playnely that he whyche entereth not in at the doore, but clymeth ouer an other way, is a thefe and a [Page] robb [...]r, and the thefe cōmeth not but to steale, murther, and to destroy.

The doore whyche is Christe hym selfe, can neuer be entred in at [...]y eyther [...]rendshyd or money.

Sum perauētur [...] wyl be offended not because I speake against the bi [...]ge of benefices, whyche be spirituall charges, but for that I also include the bying and sellynge of offyces, whych as they saye, be temporall promocions. As for benefyces ye knowe so well, that I neede not to stand about the declaracion or profe in theym.

No, I am sure that ye perceyue howe that through the abuse of one benefyce, the Deuyll ofte tymes is sure to haue many soules.

Fyrste the patron for hys presentacion, then the Byshoppe or admission, the person for hys vnworthynesse [Page] and a greate manye of the paryshe that be lost for lacke of a good Persons dutye.

But now as conce [...]nyng the biynge of offyces, to come thereby vnto the roume of an auditour, Suru [...]our Chauncelloure, or anye suche lyke, surelye no man wyll attempt it, but he whyche is so couetouse and ambyciou [...]e that he dooeth neyther dread God nor loue man. Whereof cōmeth the byinge of offyces but of couetousnesse howe then canne that be a good fruyte whyche [...] oute of the roote of all euyll? Is not euerye Chrysten common wealthe the folde of Christes shepe, the house of hys famylye? be not then all offycers in a Christen common wealthe named by Goddes woorde sheppeherdes of the fold, and stewardes of the famylye of Chryste? O Lorde what shall wee then saye to excuse [Page] theim that by and sel offyces wythyn England? Shall we say those offyces be no roumes and places ordeyned of God for hys faythefull stewardes, therein to dyspose hys treasures and benefytes? or that the vile slaues of wycked Māmon for theyr brybery may lawfully be promoted vnto those roumes whyche be ordeyned of God to hys holy seruauntes for theyr fydelytye? If we saye that the offyces be not meete for Gods seruauntes, then we confes that the offycers whyche be in theim be gods ennemyes. If we saye that they be ordeyned for the fayethfull seruauntes of God, how can we thynke that they maye be bought vnto the bryb [...]nge seruauntes of wycked mammon? Lette vs not seeke excuses to cloke synne, no let euerye manne be knowen to be a ly [...] and specyallye, they that say: One manne can serue [Page] twoo maysters, Mammon in geuynge or takynge of brybes, and GOD in faythfull dooynge of duty. Let God be iustifyed when ye fynde hys worde true, whyche plainly affyrmeth that they whyche clyme into a common offyce of Chrystes fold by the help of Mammon in at the wyndowe of bryberye, be theues and robbers, commyng to steal, murder and destroye.

O that no man in thys faute wer gilty, then myght I be sure y• no mā wold be offended. But & yf any man be greued because hys sore is touched, let hym remember the sayinge of the wyse man: Meliora sunt uulnera diligentis, quam fraudulenta oscula odientis: the woundes of the louer be better then the deceytefull kysses of the hater. For the woundes whyche the frinde openeth, be to [...]le olde sores: and the dysceytfull kysses of the enemyes [Page] be to make newe woundes. I speake playnelye to open the [...]ounde▪ [...]o roote oute and heale the dysease of couetousnes, whyche wold be to the wounded and to euery man, c [...]mfort. They that by flattery do couet, kysse, and playster this deepe wounde, do seeke their owne gayne to the vtter dampnacyon of the wounded, and to good mennes greate griefe, yea and to the greate dysquyetinge of a commune welth: makynge no dyfference betwixt the Lordes seruauntes, and the Lords enemyes. For wythout dout, Non [...] quem constituit dominus.

He is none of the Lordes appoyntmente or admyssion, whyche [...] in to an offyce by brybyng, Monye, or flatterynge frendeshyp. Byinge of an offyce is an eu [...]dente token of vnfayeth [...]uines. He that [Page] is once knowen by that token and marke, shoulde be thrust out of the Lordes foulde, Ne furetur, mactet, et perdat, leaste that he robbe, kyll, and destroye. But nowe by the seconde note to try whether that the steward and dysposer of goddes treasures be faythfull or not, se whether that he be [...] feder o [...] deuourer. He that fedeth, is fayethfull: he that deuoureth, is vnfaythefull. What doeth he whyche is vnfaythefull? deuoure goddes shepe, Christen people, the kynges subiectes, A daungerous matter, whiche if it be spoken of, wyl procure dyspleasure: and yf be it not remedyed, wyll procure Goddes vengeaunce. Surelye brethren, I thyncke God woulde neuer haue caused me to haue meddeled wyth thys daungerous matter, but that he wyll geue me grace m [...]e pacyentlye to suffer the losse of myne [Page] owne lyfe, then the damnacyon of your soules.

For yf I lose my lyfe here, I shall fynde▪ it in heauen. But yf you be dampned, & I beynge a watcheman, and seinge your dampnacyon comming, do not geue warning, you shal be taken in youre owne synnes, and your bloude requyred at my hands. If I geue warnyng, and you take hede, gods indignacion shalbe appeased, and bothe we saued. Therefore I beynge a watcheman and by the lyghte of goddes worde spying that the abominacion of ydolatrous couetousnes hathe kyndled the indygnacyon of God, to consume and destroye the people of thys realme, doo c [...]ye out agaynst Englande by the voyce of the Prophete: Abiecerunt [...]egem domini, they haue cast awaye the lawe of the lorde, euery one framyng hym selfe vnto the fashyon of thys [Page] world: [...]loquium sa [...]cti Israell blasphem auerunt. They haue blasphemed the word of the holy one of Israell, by theyr ab ominable lyuyng. Ideo incensus est furor domini in populum suum: therefore is the indignacion of God kindled against his people. Therefore doth all runne at syxe and seuen, from euell vnto worse: therefore doeth goddes worde take no place to do good, but is vnthankefully refused, whyche causeth more harm. Is gods word receyued in Englande because it is playnlye preached and taughte, or refused and forsaken because it is not obeyed & folowed? Be we in better case then we haue ben afore tyme because papistry amongest vs is kept vnder, or els worsethen euer we were because couetousnes raygneth at lybertye? That whych papystry abused, hath not couetousnes destroyd? is not papistry supersticion, & couetousnes ydolatrye? [Page] Then I b [...]ch you be not we well amended y• be come from abusyng to destroying, from supersticion to idolatry? And hath not God geuen vnto vs at the bynyshyng of supersticion, comfortable plenty of his holy worde, and by the suppressyng of abbeyes excedynge aboundaunce of all maner of lādes, ryches, and treasures? And nowe where is it all become? Surelye it is muche spent, wasted and lost by euyl officers, vnfaithful disposers, whiche be in dede deuourers. S [...] therefore howeye haue offended god, begyled the kyng, spoyled the realme, and indaūger [...]d your selues to be accused, condēned, & suffer as most vyle haynous traytours to God, the kyng, & to y• cōmō welth. Wherfore whyles ye haue tyme, before ye be condēned, Sacrificate sacrificium iu [...]itie, & sperate in domino. Off [...] a sacrifyce of ryghteousnes, [Page] makig restitu [...]iō of y• whych ye haue wrongfullye gotten: then truste in the Lord, and he wyll sh [...]w mercy, prouydynge you pardon and safegarde, vnto euerye mannes comforte. Here I namynge no man, do meane almost euery man: for euerye mā hath some treasures of the lords to dyspose, and none is so faythfull that he maye be able to stande vnto the tryall, entryng wyth the Lorde in to iudgemente. Therefore I aduertise both mynisters of the clergye, offycers in authoritye, and other people of euerye degre, to acknoweledge theyr faultes, and make restitucion to y• vtterm [...]st of theyr power. First vnto the clergy, I say: there is none of you al hauing so much learninge, wyt, and dylygence, as is possyble to be in one man, that can do more then one m [...]ns duty: why then do ye take and keepe, some foure or fyue mens [Page] lyuynges? I do not thyncke that euery man is worthy blame that hath a great lyuynge, nor to be praysed that hath a litle lyuyng. For as God hath geuen some more excellent gyftes of learnynge, wytte and polycy, so hathe he prouyded for the same better lyuynge wyth hygher authority: howbeit no man may promote hym selfe to procede from a meane lyuyng vnto a better, quia nemo sibi su [...] met honorem, for no man may preferre hym selfe vnto honoure, nisi qui a deo uocatus est, but he whyche for hys fyd [...]lytie in a lytle, is called of God to be trusted wyth more. But it is not a good reson to say that because an honest man for hys fydelyty is called of God from the lesse vnto the more, therefore a couetous manne throughe gredynes, maye kepe lesse and take more, and so ioyne thre or foure of theim together to make dyuers [Page] paryshes in dyuers shyres, all one mans lyuynge. The Prophete cryeth: ue uobis qui coniungitis domum ad do mum, & agrum agro copulatis. Wo be vnto you that yoine house to house and knyt fyled vnto fylde. What reherseth he no more but houses and fyeldes? No, for ther was neuer such abominacion in the prophetes times as to ioyne paryshe to parysh, prebend to benefyces, and Dean [...]yes vnto knyghtes landes. I pray God that some of theim yf they be worthy men in wysdome, learnynge and iudgemente, may be promoted vnto worthy roumes, & that those meaner lyuynges whiche they haue heaped together to fyll one purse, beynge so far dystante in place and condicions that they can neuer bee well serued of one mannes dutye, may be deuyded and dysposed vnto meaner men: [Page] whych beyng more fitte for these lyuynges, maye do more good wyth theym.

I heare some complayne and saye that all thynges bee nowe so chargeable that one benefyce is not able to fynd one honest man. And yf ye enquyre of the same men whome they k [...]pe and fynd in tehyr benefyce they theim selues beyng absent, they wyll say a learned curate, and a dyligent farmer both honest menne. O wycked worldlings condemned by your owne words. The whole benefi [...]e yf you shuld therwyth be content lying vpon it, and loke for no more, wolde not fynde one man.

But when ye haue gotten other promotions besydes that, to lye in another place from it, then a small porcyon of it doth serue two honest menne whyche ye leaue in youre absence. Herke you that haue three or [Page] foure benefyces, I wyll say the best for you that can be spoken: Thou lyest alwayes at one of thy benefyces, thou arte absente alwayes from three of thy benefyces: thou kepest a good house at one of thy benefyces, thou kepest no house at three of thy benefyces, thou doest thy deutye at one of thy benefyces, thou doest no dutye at thre of thy benefices. Thou semest to be a good manne in one place, and in dede thou arte founde noughte in thre places. Wo be vntoo you worse then Scrybes and Phariseis Hypocrytes, whyche shut vp the kyngedome of heauen afore menne, kepynge the paryshe so that neyther you enter in your selfe, neyther suffer them that would enter in and do theyr dewtye, to haue your roumes and commodities. Woo be vnto you dumme Dogges, choked wyth benefyces, so that ye be not able [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] to open your mouthes to barcke agaynste pluralytyes, improperaciōs, bying of vousōs, nor against anye euyll abuse of the cleargies lyuynges. No, for you youre selues myghte go a beggynge yt liuynges that be ordeyned for the cleargy wer not abused, but restored and bestowed vpon theym onelye that doeth the cleargyes dewtye. Therefore you be the inuenters and procurers of vngodlye statutes, and deuelyshe deuyses, to gyue Lordes chaplaynes whyehe oughte to lyue vpon theyr masters wages, authorytye to lyue vpon the spoyle of dyuers paryshes. Ad [...] u [...]stram dico, I speake to make you ashamed of youre selues. If gentylmenne that be lordes seruauntes myghte obtayne of the kynge and hys counsel placardes or warrantes to kepe a standy [...]g vpon shoters hyll, Salesbury playne, or [Page] n any theuyshe place, to take mens purses by the way, should not thys be robbery and shamfull abhomina cion to be mayntayned by lawes, statutes and authority? What shold a yonge ge [...]telman be ashamed to robbe one rych mans purse of forty shyllinges once in hys lyfe? & an aū cient prelate not once blushe whyche robbeth diuers pore paryshes of forty pounds yerely al the dayes of hys lyfe. You pestilent prelates whyche by flattery poyson the hygh powers of authorytye, be ye neyther afrayed nor ashamed to make the Kynges maiestye, his lawes and your lordes and masters whych shuld be the ministers of iustice and equitye, to bee the defenders and maynteyners of your vngodly robbery, Your example and flattery hath caused the great men and ryche men to take to theim selues the vauntage and profytes, [Page] and geue [...]nto their chyldren being ignoraunte babes, the names and lytles of Personnages, Prebendes, Archedeaconryes, and of all manner of offyces. For euen aswell may the Lorde that cannot, as the Doctoure that wyll not do hys dutye, take the profites to hymself, and leaue a hyrelyng vnto the parysh: and yet both be noughte. O that it woulde please God to open the eyes of the hygher powers too perceyue what good doctryne, nay what deuylyshe dysorder is taught by theim that be double and tryple benefyced. For theyr example teacheth, and theyre preachyng can neuer diswade, to set and ordeyne ryche robbers and ignoraunt teachers ouer the Chrysten congregacion, goddes people, the kynges subiectes: yea and as for cyuyll order in all offyces, ambicious couetous mē learnyng at theim, take [Page] the solempne tytles and good fees vnto thē selues, and leaue their dutyes vnto other, so to be neglected & abused, as causeth al discord and disobedyence. For whoe but offycers. shuld set good order, and make quietnes? And how can he set any good order, whyche placeth hym selfe in ten mens roumes? or make other to be quyet wyth nothynge, that wyll neuer quyet hym selfe wyth any one liuynge? Yea how canne he be but a maker of busynes y• thrusteth many menne oute of theyr lyuynges? But for all thys the flatterer wy [...] say that there is a great number of them that hath▪ many mens lyuynges in theyr handes, whych do much good wyth them, yea and be liberall gentlemen, very good officers and godly preachers. But wotte ye what the scripture sayth: they be Canes impudentissimi, nescientes saturitatem, Unshamefaste [Page] dogs, knowynge no measure of gredye gettynge.

Der [...]linquentes rectam uiam err [...]uerunt secuti uiam Baalam filii Bosor, Leauyng the ryghte way of procedynge vnto greatefees by faythfull diligence in doynge worthye dutyes, do straye in couetousnes, folowyng Baalam the son of Bosor. Leauynge the rewarde of cursed in wyeked crafte, O take heede of Balaam you that loue the rewarde of iniquitye, a reward for [...]ntsyng the people, whome god would haue blessed. A fee for ke pyng those offyces vnto your selues whych god amongst y• people wold haue executed. Can ye say any more for yourselues then Balam dyd? S [...] dederit michi Balaac domum suam▪ [...] argenti & [...]uri, If Balaac wold geue vnto me hys housefull of syluer and gold, I cannot change the word of the lorde my God, to speake more or [Page] les. Can ye do any better in the sight of the world then Balaam did vpon the hylles, euen as the lord dyd commaunde hym and none otherwyse? & yet louynge the reward of iniquitye beyng a Prophet, was rebuked of a bruyt beast: as you beyng wyse men ought to learne at a folysh Asse not to ouerburden and lode your selues with far more th [...]ye a [...] able to beare. Suerlye it is an vngodly & wycked desyre of you, to loke for a rewarde both of god for doyng of your duty and also of Mammon for takynge vpon you farre more then euer ye be able for to dyscharge. Balaā sought howe too get thanckes of God and a rewarde of Baala [...], and in so doyng he lost the fauoure of God, the rewarde of Balaac, and caused the people too synne, so that the vengeaunce of God dydde sore plague the Israelites, and vtterly destroyed [Page] Baalam and Balaac & al theyr sort. And when as you by heapynge of lyuynges together, do seke to gette the welthe of the world, and also the fauour of god by pretendynge to do so manye dutyes as no man is able to performe, ye lose the fauor of god, & ye shal be deceyued of the worlde, & bryng such iniquity amōgest y• people as shall prouoke y• indignacion of god to plage theym, and to distroy you. O for the tender mercies of god in oure sauioure Iesu Christe, although I rushe & fret youre legges vpon the hedge and pales of gods vencyarde, and speake playnely be inge but a very asse in comparyson of your wysdome, connynge, & experience, yet I besech you dere brethren be assured y• I speake not of malyce but of pyty, not of enuy, but of feare: for I se euydently the aungell of the Lorde with a sworde of vengeaunce [Page] red ye to destroye you yf ye doo not staye, but procede in thys vngodlye way: Se and behold, Nisi conuersi fueri tis, gladium suum acuit, arcum suum tetendit et par auit illum, excepte ye turne, he the Lorde hath whet his sword, he hath bente hys bowe, and made it readye wyth deadlye dartes. Suerlye brethren this heapynge together of lyuynges maketh you to haue so many thynges to do, that ye can do no thyng well: it is the readye waye not to edify but to destroye. Wherefore yf ye cannot espye your owne fautes in your selues, yet loke one at another: loke you of the layty at them of the cleargye, that seyng the motes in their eyes, ye may learne to pull the boames out of your owne eyes. Do ye not se how that they of [...]he cleargy by heapyng together manye lyuynges, haue caused manye poore parishes to pay their tithes y• lacke [Page] their persons? Do ye not se how that prebendes whiche were godly founded as moste conuenient and necessarye lynyngs for preachers to healp the byshoppes and the persons too enstructe the people, be now vngodly abused to corrupt the byshoppes and the personnes that rather seke the vauntage of good prebends to enryche them selues, then the healp of godly preaches, to enstruct Gods people? Do ye not se howe these pro uiders of pluralities hauynge the cure of Christen soules in the paryshe, and shepefolde of Chryst, do leaue the flocke and take the spoyle to spende in Noble mennes houses▪ where as they doo se that the keper of horses in the stable, of cattell in the fyelde, and of dogges in the kenell, doeth lyue on hys masters wages, and not on the Pyllage of hys [...]re. O ye noble menne do ye geue [Page] vnto the kepers of your horses, cattell, and dogges, wages, leaste that they shoulde sell youre horses, kyll youre cattell, or [...]eye youre dogges to lyue vpon the skynnes: and wyl ye allowe youre Chapleynes no wages, but cause cheym to lyue vpon the murder and spoyle of the innocente Lambs of God, redemed and boughte wyth Christes precious blode? Do ye se howe by these seruauntes of Mammon, enemyes of Chryste, gredy wolues in Lamb skynnes, the paryshes be spoyled, the people vntaughte, God vnknowen, hys lyuelye woorde sette gracy [...]uslye forthe by the kynges procedynges, is vngracyously suspected, hated, and abhorred of the ignorant people?

You of the laytye, when ye see these small motes in the eyes of the clargye, take heede too the greate [Page] beames that be in your owne eyes. But alas I feare least y• ye haue no eyes at all. For as hypocrisy and supersticion dooeth bleare the eyes:

So couetousnesse and ambycyon doeth putte the eyes cleane out. For yf ye were not starke blynd ye would se and be ashamed that where as fyfty [...]unne belyed Monckes geuen to glotony fylled theyr pawnches, kept [...]p theyr house and [...]elyued the whol country round about them, ther one of your gredye gu [...]es deu [...]wrynge the whole house and makyng great pyllage throughouce the countrye, cannot be satisfyed.

If ye had any eies, ye should se and be ashamed to cōfesse that yf some of you shoulde not haue manye offyces, there woulde not be menne ynoughe founde, to put in euerye offyce one manne, mete and able by doynge of theyr dewtyes to serue [Page] the kynge, and take good order amongest the people, where as there is a greate number too manye of your sorte whyche thyncke your selues mete and worthye by takynge manye Offyces in hande, too burden the kynge and the people wyth all fees and charges belongyng vnto euery offyce: yea and fu [...]ermore to requyre personages, prebendes, Dean [...]yes and anye manner of lyuynge due vnto the Ecclesiastycall ministery, to be geuen vnto you for seruynge the Kynge in takynge the vauntage of many, and doyng the dutyes of fewe offyces belongyng vnto ciuyll pollycye.

If ye hadde anye eyes ye shoulde se and be ashamed that in the great aboundannce of landes and goods taken from Abbeies, Colleges and Chauntryes for to serue the kyng in all necessaryes, & charges, especially [Page] in prouision of relyefe for the pore, & for mayntenaunce of learnynge the kynge is so dysapoynted, that bothe the pore be spoyled, all mayntenance of learnyng decayed, and youonly en ryched. But for because ye haue no eyes to se wyth, I wyll declare that you may heare wyth yours cares▪ and so perceyue and knowe, that where as God and the kynge hathe bene moste liberall to gyue and bestowe; there you haue bene moste vnfayethfull to dyspose and delyuer. For accordyng vnto gods word and the knges pleasure, the vniuersities which be the scholes of all god lynes and vertue, should haue bene nothyng decayed, but muche incresed and ameuded by thys reformacion of religion.

As concernynge goddes worde for the vpholdyng and increase of y• [Page] vniuersities, I am sure that no man knowyng learnyng and vertue doth doute. And as for the kynges pleasure it dyd well appeare in that he establyshed [...] the vnyu [...]rsityes all Priuileg [...] graunted afore hys tyme, and also [...] all manner of paymentes requyr [...]d of the cleargye, as tythes, and fyrst fruytes, the vnyuersities be ex [...]ted. Yea and the kynges mayesty [...] that dead is, dyd geue vnto the vniuersities of Cambryge [...]t one tyme, two hundred poundes yerely to the exibition and fyndynge of fyue learned menne, to reade and teache dyuynitye, lawe, Physycke, Greke and Ebrue.

At an other tyme. xxx. pounde yerely In liberam et puram [...]. In fre & pure almes. And fynally for the fust dacion of a newe Colledge so muche as shoulde serue to buylde it, and replenyshe it wyth mo Scholers and [Page] [...] [...]nges th [...] any other Colledge in the vniuersitye afore that tyme ha [...].

By the whyche euerye man maye perce [...]ue that [...] [...]yng [...] nye thynges▪ and [...]nge nothinge from the vni [...] ▪ was very d [...] sirous to haue [...] increased and a [...]nded [...] all [...] that haue know [...]n the vnyuersitye of [...] sence▪ that tyme that it dyd fyrst begynne to r [...]ue these greate and manyefolde benefytes from the kynges maiestye, at youre handes, haue [...]uste occasion to suspecte that you haue deceyued boeth the kynge and vniuersitie, to enryche youre selues. For before that you did beginne to be the disposers of the kinges liberalitye towardes learnyng and pouerty, there was in houses be longynge vnto the vnynersytye o [...] Cambryge, two hundred studentes [Page] of dyuynytye, manye verye well learned: whyche bee nowe all clene gone, house and manne, young towarde scholers, and old fatherly [...] Doctors, not one of them lefte: one hundred also of an other sorte that hauyng rych frendes or beyng benefyced men dyd lyue of theym selues in Ostles and Innes be eyther gon awaye, or elles fayne to crepe into Colleges, and put poore men from bare lyuynges. Those bothe be all gone, and a small number of poore godly dylygent studentes nowe remaynynge only in Colleges be not able to tary and contynue theyr studye in y• vniuersitye for lacke of exibicion and healpe. There be dyuers ther whych ryse dayly betwixte foure and fyue of the clocke in the mornynge, and from fyue vntyll syxe of the clocke, vse common prayer wyth an exhortacion of gods worde in a [Page] common chappell, and from sixt vnto ten of the clocke vse euer eyther pryuate study or commune lectures. At ten of the clocke they go to dynner, where as they be contente▪ wyth a penye pyece of byefe amongest. iiii. hauyng a fewe porage made of the brothe of the same byefe, wyth salte and otemell, and nothynge els.

After thys slender dinner they be either teachynge or learnynge vntyll v. of the clocke in the euenyng, when as they haue a supper not much better then theyr dyner. Immedyat [...]lye after the whyche, they go eyther to reasonyng in problemes or vnto some other studye, vntyll it be nyne or tenne of the clocke, and there beyng wythout fyre are fayne to walk or runne vp and downe halfe an houre, to gette a heate on their feete whan they go to bed.

These be menne not werye of [Page] theyr paynes, but very sorye to leue theyr studye: and sure they be not able some of theym to contynue for lacke of necessarye exibicion & relefe. These be the lyuyng sayntes whyche serue god takyng greate paynes in abstinence, studye, laboure and dylygence, wyth watching and prayer. Wherfore as Paule, for the Sayn tes and brethren at Hierusalem, so I for your brethren and Saynctes at Cambrydge mooste humblye beseche you make youre colleccions amongest you tych Marchaunies of this citye, and send them youre oblacions vnto the vnyuersytye, so shall ye be sure to please God, to comfort theim, and prouyde learned men to do muche good throughout all thys realme. Yea and truly ye be detters vnto theim: For they haue sowen amongeste you the spirituall treasures of goddes wdrde, for the whyche [Page] they oughte to repe of you agayne corporall necessaries. But to returne vnto them that shoulde better haue prouyded for learnynge and pouertye in all places, but especyally in the vniuersities.

Loke whether that there was not a greate nūber of both lerned & pore that myght haue ben kepte, mayntayned, and relyeued in the vuiuersities: whych lackyng all bealpe or cō forte, were compelled to forsake the vniueclitye, leue their bokes, & seke theyr lyuynge abrode in the country? Yea & in the cuntry manye Grāmer Scholes founded of a godly intent to brynge vp poore mennes sonnes in learnynge and vertue, nowe be taken awye by reason of the gredye couetousnes of you that were put in trust by God, and the kynge to erecte and make grāmer scholes in manye places: And had neyther [Page] commaundement nor permission to take away the scholmasters lyuyng in anye place, moreouer muche charitable almes was there in manye places yerely to be bestowed in pore townes and parishes vpon goddes people, the kynges subiectes: whiche almes to y• great dyspleasure of god and dyshonoure of the kynge, yea and contrarye to goddes worde and the kynges lawes, ye haue taken awaye. I knowe what ye do saye and bragge in some places: that ye haue doen as ye were commaunded wyth as muche charytye and lyberalitye towardes both pouertye and learnynge, as your commission woulde beare and suffer.

Take heede whome ye slaunder, for Goddes worde, and the kynges lawes and statutes be open vnto euery mannes eyes, and be euery cō mission directed accordynge vnto [Page] thē, ye both myght and should haue geuen much wher as ye haue taken much away.

Take hede vnto the kynges statutes, the actes of parliament, there ye shall fynde that the Nobles and commons do geue, and the Kynge doth take into hys handes Abbeyes Colleges and Chauntryes, for erectynge of Gramer scholes, the godly brynging vp. of youthe, the farther augmentynge of the vnyuersytyes, and better prouisyon for the poore. Thys shall ye fynd in the, Actes of parliament, in the Kynges statutes: but what shalbe foūd in your practyse [...]nd in your dedes? Surely the pullyng downe of gramer scholes, the deuylishe drownynge of youthe in ignoraunce, the vtter decaye of the vniuersities, and mooste vncha [...]table spoyle of prouysion, that was made for the pore.

[Page] Was it not a godly and charitable prouysion of the Kynge to geue vnto the vniuersity two hundred poundes yerelye for excellente Readers? three hundred poundes ye elye in pure almes, and manye hundred pounds also to the foundacyon and ereccion of a newe Colledge? And was it not a deuilishe deuyse of you to tourne all thys the kynges bountuouse liberalitye into improperacions of benefices, whyche be papysticall and vncharytable spoyles of most necessarye prouysion for pore paryshes? Intelligite insipientes in popu [...] lo, et stulti aliquando s [...]pite.

Learne vnderstandyng you that playe vnwyse partes amongeste the people, and you fooles once waxe wyse. Qui plantauit aurem non audiet?

He that sette the eares, shall h [...] not heare the sorowfull complaynte of pore paryshes, agaynste you that [Page] haue by improperacions clene taken awaye hospitalitye, and muche impared the due liuynges of gods mynysters, the peoples instructoures and teachers Qui figur at [...]culum non considerat? he that fashioned the eie, doth he not beholde howe that the beste landes of abbeyes, colleges & chaunteries be in youre handes, and euyll improperacions conueyd to the king and to the vniuersities & Byshopes landes? Qui corripit gentes non arguet?

He that corrected and punysheth the heathen lackyng the lyght of gods word for the only abuse of naturall reason, wyll he not reproue and condemne you whyche haue good reasonable wyts, gods onely word, the kynges laws, and statuts: and much power & authority geuen vnto you to edifye and do good, seinge it is abused of you to destroy and do hurt? Shulde not you haue amended the [Page] prouision for the pore, the educacyon of youthe, and the condition of the vniuersities? And be they not by you sore hurte and dekayed? The kynge should and wold haue reformed religion. The fyrst parte of reformacion is to restore and geue agayne all suche thynges as haue bene wrongfullye taken and abused. Surelye the Abbeyes dyd wrōg fullye take and abuse nothynge so much as the improperacions of benefices. Nothynge is so papystycall as improperacions of benefices be: they be the Popes darlynges & paramors, whiche by the dyuely she deuyce of wicked Balaamytes, be set a brode in this realme to cause the lerned men of the vnyuersities and all bishoppes that be godly menne, the Popes enemyes, to commyt spirituall fornicacion wyth them. Whye dyd God destroye the Madianytes [Page] but for their synne? Why dyd he plage the Israelyt [...]s but for [...] same [...]? Why dyd God cause the Abeyes to be d [...]stroyed, but for papystycall abuses? And why shoulde not god plage the vnyuersityes and Byshops kepynge and meddelynge wyth improperacions, that bee the same papysticall & deuelysh abuses?

O what a bloudye daye shall it be: when as for thys abhomynacion thys spirituall fornicacyon, God shall commaunde hys faythfull seruaunte Moyses the kynges mayesty to take and hange all the rulers of the people that haue wit [...]ynglye suf [...]ed th [...]se whoryshe Madyanytes these Popysh abuses? And cause a zelous Phinees to shedde the harte bloude of hym that before Moyses and many Israelites▪ before a hygh iustice and manye people, taketh a Madianite into hys tent, an improperacion [Page] into his inheritance? But nowe brethren as Peter preached vnto the Iewes: Nunc fr [...]res scio quod per ignorantiam [...]. Now brethren I knowe that you haue done thys through ignoraunce: for the Lorde whych forseeth all thynges, knoweth that yf you hadde not bene blynded wyth ignoraunce, ye coulde neuer for pitye haue executed hys indignacyon and wrathe in makynge suche destruccyon. Seynge therefore that it was Goddes pleasure thus by one euyll to punyshe an nother, nowe repent, and amende, that youre fautes maye be pardoned. It pleased God by the blynde malyce of the Iewes, to nayle Chryste Iesu vpon the crosse: and yet as many of theim as hearyng that mart [...]r opened by Peter were greued and pr [...] ted in conscience, so many sayde vnto Peter, and to the other Apostles [Page] What shall we do? The Apostoli [...]al coūsel was: Agite pen [...], recipiscite. Repent & amend. So dere brethren hearynge and knowyng that God hath vsed your gredy couetousnes to destrye Abbeyes▪ Colleges, and chauntryes▪ and to plage all thys realme, be greued and sory in your hertes, seynge that ye haue bene▪ [...] saire, instrumentes of wrath to execute vengeance: and purge your selues of thys vyle couetousnesse, then shall ye from henceforth be [...] honoris vessels of honoure, to serue God, in [...] et iusticia in holynes and ryghteousnes all the dayes of youre lyfe.

And nowe on the other parte, you that be of the comynaltye, when ye feele that anye plague or punyshement commeth by thiem that be [...]ette ouer you in offyce, and aucthory [...]ye, knowe that they do it not of theym [Page] selues, but be moued and styred of God, to worke hys wrath vpon you. For when as God was dyspleased wyth the Israelytes, then hys dysple sure caused Dauyd theyr kynge to take that way that brought a pestilence amongest the people, whereon dyed. lxx. thousande: Addidit▪ furor domini [...]ras ci contra Israel, commou [...]tque dauid. The indignacion of the Lorde waxed whot agaynst Israel, & he stired vp Dauyd. What kyndled the indignacion of God, but the synnes of the people? The synnes of the peo ple dyd kyndle the indignacyon of the Lorde: the Lordes indignacyon stired vp Dauyd in presumpcyon. Dauids presumptuousnes caused the people to dye on the pestylence. And euen as then God ordeyned y• christ shuld be crucifyed by y• malicious blyndnes of the Iewes, the Israelites plaged by the presumptiō of Dauyd:

[Page] So hath he ordeyned that Englande shoulde be spoyled wyth gredy couetouse officers. Looke then, what hath made thys greate spoyle in England? gredye couerousnes of officers. What dyd make in theym suche gredy couerousnes? the indignacion of God. What kyndled goddes indignacion? the synnes of the people. What was the synne of the people? Eloqu [...]um sancti Israell, blasphe [...]auerunt. They haue blasphemed the holye woorde of GOD, callynge it newe learnynge and heretycall doctryne: Ideo iratus est furor domini. And therefore is the wrath of the Lorde kyndled. Now you people which [...]ry & say that you are robbed and spoyled of all that ye haue: Woulde ye haue thys whyche ye call robbyng & spoyling to be ceassed? Then quench the indignacion of god whych doth cause and make it. If ye wyl quench [Page] the indignacion of God, Hodie si uo [...]m [...]ius [...]dieritts. To daye, euen nowe yf ye shal heare hys voyce, hardē not your hartes, as in the prouocacion in the daye of temptacyon. Harde heartes, stay [...]e neckes, dysobediente myndes, prouoke, tempte, and styre vp the indignacion of God.

Truelye the indignacion of God shal neuer be quenched, vntyll that you wyth tender hartes, humble, obedyente, and thankefull myndes, receyue, embrace, and cōforme your selues vnto the holy worde of God set forth by the Kynges Magestye his gracious procedynges.

There is as yet more styffe necked stubburnes, dieuellysh disobedience, and gredye couerousnes in one of you of the commune sorte that kepeth thys greate swellynge in the hearte, hauyng no occasion to sette it furth in excercise, then is in ten of [Page] the worst of theim that beynge in office and aucthoritye, haue manye occasions to open and shewe them selues what they be.

When dyd euer anye offycers in authorytye shewe suche rebellyous proud myndes, as was of late playn lye perceyued in very manye of the cōmunaltye? I put the case that they be so couetouse, that one of their gredi guts hath swalowed vp a whole Abbey, house, landes and goodes, And yf you had had powers vnto your wylles, ye had deuoured whole countryes, houses and goodes, men and beastes, corne and cattell, as ye dyd begynne.

Some of theim kepeth their fermes in theyr owne handes, and manye of you kepe youre owne Corne in youre owne barnes. Yea marrye, why should we not kepe oure corne in oure owne barnes? Forsooth ye [Page] no we maye not keepe it for dreade of God, obedience to the Kynges maiestie, and pitie of your poore neighbours: For God sayeth: Qui abscondi [...] frumenta, maledic [...]tur in populis: benedictio autem super caputuendencium: He that hydeth vp corne, shall be accursed amongest the people: but blessynge shal [...]e vpon theyr heades that bryngeth it furth to the Markettes to sell. Here ye heare the [...]lessynge and curse of God.

Ye knowe the kynges gracious Proclamacyon, ye maye perceyue youre neyghbours neede, by theyr myserable complaynt. And yet neyther God by blessyng and cursynge, neither the kyng by proclamacion & cōmissiō, nether the [...]ore by praiyng and paying, can cause you to serue y• Markets wyth corne. But let goddes woorde, the Kynges lawes, honest order, and charytable prouysyon [Page] be put foorth of all marketts townes by wycked Mammon, and let hym onely kepe the Markets and set pryses for youre purposes, & wythoute doubte euerye market shalbe ful of al manner of Corne and vytayles commyng in on all sydes.

O wycked seruauntes of Mammon▪ alwayes bothe ennemyes and traytoures to GOD and the kyng and the common wealthe. Is it God or Mammon that hath made the Corne to sprynge, and geuen you plentye? Yf ye say Mammon, then ye confesse playnely whose seruauntes ye be, what Idolatrye ye vse. If ye say God, How dare ye confesse hym in youre woordes and denye hym in youre deedes? Whye do ye not brynge foorth goddes corne vnto goddes people, at goddes commaundement? Why be ye not faythfull disposers of Goddes treasures? Well, he y• hath no corn thinketh he [Page] hath no parte, nor is not gyltye in this matter: but I cā tel that ther is many of theim, that neither hath nor wyll haue corne, whyche make corne most dere. I haue heard howe that euen this last yere, ther was certayn Acres of corne growyng on the ground bought for. viii. poundes: he that bought it for. viii. sold it for. x. He that gaue. x. pounds, sold it to an other aboue. xii. poundes: and at last, he that caryed it of the ground, payde. xiiii. poundes. Lykewyse I hearde, that certayne quarters of malte were boughte after the pryce of. iii. shyllynges. iiii. pence a quarter to be delyuered in a certayn markette towne vpon a certayne daye. Thys bargayne was so oft bought and solde before the daye of delyueraunce came, that the same Malte was solde to hym that shoulde receyue it there and carrye it awaye, [Page] after. vi. s. a. quarter. Looke and se howe muche a craftes man or anye other honeste man that muste spend corne in his house, by this maner of bargaynynge, payeth, and howe littel the housbande manne that tylleth the ground, and paieth the rent, receyueth: Tē ye may se & perceyue it must needes be harde for eyther of theim to kepe a house, the crates man pay [...] so muche, & the husbandmā takynge so lytle.

There is a lyke maner of barganyng of them that be leasemongers, for leasemongers make the tenaunts to pay so muche, and the landlord to take so litle▪ that neither of thē is wel able to kepe house. I heare say that wit [...] a few miles of Lōdō an honest gētleman did let his ground by lease vnto pore honest mē after. ii. s. iiii. d. an [...]: thē cometh a lesemounger, a thefe, an extorcioner, deceiuyng y• tenaunts, [Page] bieth theyr leases, put theim frō the groundes, and causeth thē y• haue it at hym nowe, to paye after ix. s. or as I harde saye. [...]ix. s. but I am ashamed to name so muche. How be it, couetous extorcioners be ashamed of no dede be it neuer so euyll. And as I hear say, ther be many lese mongers in Londō, that heyghthen the rēt of bare houses: & as corne, lan des, tenemētes & houses, so in al maner of wares, ther be such bi [...]rs & sellers as cause y• prouyders & mak [...]rs of y• wares to take so litle, & the occupiers of the wares too pay so muche, that neyther of theim both is able too lyue. All the Marchauntes of myschyefe that go betwixt the barke and the tree, Betwixte the housband man that getteth the corne, and housholder that occupyeth Cor [...]e, betwix the Landlord [...], that setteth fermes, and the tennauntes that dwell [Page] in the fermes. And betwixt the craftes man that maketh, or the marchaunte that prouydeth wares, and other men that occupieth wares. I saye these marchauntes of mischiefe commynge betwixte the barke and the tree, do make all thinges dere to the byers: and yet wonderfull vyle & of small pryce to many, that must nedes sett or sell that whyche is their owne honestlye come bye. These be far worse than anye other that hath bene mencyoned heretofore: for although benefyced men and offycers haue manye mennes liuynges, yet they do some mennes dutyes. But these haue euerye mannes lyuyng, & doo no mans duytye. For they haue that whyche is in dede the lyuynge of craftes men, Marchauntmenne, husbandmen, landelordes and tennauntes, and do neuer a one of these mens dutyes. These be ydle vacaboundes, [Page] lyuyng vpon other mens labours: these be named honest barginers, and be in dede craftye couetouse extorcioners. For they that be true marchauntemen to by and sell in dede, shoulde and doo prouyde great plentye and good chepe by honest byenge and sellynge of theyr wares. But these hauynge the names of true marchauntes, and beyng in dede crafty theues, do make a scarsitye and dearth of all thynges that cōmeth through theyr handes.

Take awaye all marchauntmen from anye towne or cytye, and ye shall leaue almost no prouysyon of thinges that be necessarye. Take awaye leasmongers, régrators and all suche as by byinge and sellynge make thyngs more dere, & when they be gone, all thyngs wylbe more plen tye and better chepe. Now maye ye se who they be that make a greate [Page] dearth in a great plentye. For who is it, that heygtheneth the pryce of Corne, the housbandman that getteth plentye of corne by tyllynge of the grounde? No: the regrator that byeth corne to make it dere, growynge vpon the grownde. Who reyseth rentes, ioyneth house to house, and heapeth fermes together? The Gentyll manne, that by geuynge of leases, letteth forth hys own landes into other mennes handes? No, the leasemongers, that by sellynge leases, byeth and bryngeth other mennes Landes into their own hands. Who maketh all manner of wares and marchandyses to be very dere? the marchaunt venterer, which with fayethfull dylygence to prouyde for the commune wealth, caryeth furth suche thynges as maye well be spared, and bryngeth home suche wares as muste needes be occupyed in thys [Page] realme? No, the Marchant of myschyefe that by craftye conueyaunce for his owne gayne, caryeth awaye such thinges as maye not be spared▪ and bryngeth agayne suche wares as are not nedefull. Take hede you Marchauntes of London that y [...] be not Marchaūtes of myschyefe, conueying away to much old lead, wol, lether & such substanciall wares as wold set many Englyshmē to work, and do euery manne good seruyce, and bryngynge home sylkes and sables, cattayls, and folyshe fethers to fil the realm full▪ of such baggage as wyll neuer do ryche or poore good, and necessary seruyce. Be ye sur [...], if thys realme be rych, ye shall not nede to be poore: yf thys realme be poore, you shall not be able to kepe and enioy your ryches. Take hede thā that your marchaūdise be not a seruynge of folysh mens sansies, whyche wyll [Page] destroye the realme: but lette it be a prouydyng for honest discrete mens commodities, whych wyll be the vpholdyng and enrychyng of you and the whole realme. Take hede vnto your vocacions prelates and preachers, Magystrats and offycers, lād lordes & tenaunts, craftes men and marchauntes, all maner of men take hede vnto youre selues and to your conuersacion and lyuyng: yea dere brethren at the reuerence of god, for a generall comfort to al partes with out gredye couetousnesse towards oure selues, or malicious enuye towardes other, wyth a syngle eye, of a pure herte, let vs consyder and acknowledge how that the bountifull liberalitye of almyghtye God hath geuen vnto thys realme wonderfull plenty of personnages, prebēds, benefyces, offyces, and all maner of lyuynges: wyth great aboundaunce [Page] of corne, cattell, landes, goodes, and all wares that be good and profitable: and howe that it is certeynly the vnfaithfull disposers whyche cause a great scarsyty, dearth and lacke of all these gifts and treasures of God, therfore dominus de celo prospexit, ut uideat si est intelligens aut requirens deum.

The Lord loked doun from heuē to se yf there were any that had vnder standyng and sought to please God in faythfull dysposynge of Goddes treasures: but seinge that Omnes student auaritie, a maiore usque ad minorem. All be geuē vnto coueteousnes from the hyeste vnto the loweste, so that pore people can haue no houses to dwell in, ground to occupye, no nor corne for their moneye. The Lorde hym s [...]lfe speakyng vnto the earthe, sheweth wher is the faute: principes tui infideles. Thy head rulers and of fycers be vnfaythfull disposers. [Page] [...]ocii furum, theuishe fellowes.

Omnes diligunt muner [...], they all loue brybes, [...]t sequuntur retributiones, and hunte for promocyons. What then o Lorde shall be the ende of all thys? Viuo ego dicit do minus. As trulye as I lyue sayth the Lord, propterea quod facti sunt greges mei in rapinam, Because that my flock haue [...] spoyled, et oues mee in deuorationem omniū be [...]tiarum agri, and my shepe deuoured of all wyld beastes of the fyelde, quia non esset pastor, Because there was no keper, Neque [...]nim quesiuerunt pastores mei gregem meum, For these which were named my pastours, dyd take no heede vnto my [...]cke, Sed pastores pascebant semetipsos, But those pastours dyd feede theym selues prowlyng for profyte, et greges meos non pascebant, and my flocke thy dyd not feede by dooyng of their dutyes. Propterea pastores audite [...]erbum domini.

Therfore ye keepers heare the word [Page] of the Lorde. What worde? that the flocke shalbe delyuered, & you shalbe destroyed: That is a true word: for qua mensura mensi fueritis, remecietur uobis: By thesame measure that you haue serued other, ye youre selues shall also be serued: for as ye haue serued super [...]tycious papistes, so shall you your selues be serued, beynge couetous Idolaters: yea and haue as muche vauntage at the metynge, as is betwixte supersticion and Idolatrye. Howe be it, God geuynge you respite to loke for amendmente: offers more gentelnes, yf ye wyl take it. For in the. xx. of Ieremy he sayth: Ecce ego do cord uobis uiam uit [...] et uiam mortis: Behold I set before you the way of lyfe & the way of death: yf ye repēd & amēd, lyfe: If ye be styll stifnecked▪ death: for the Lorde by Esaye. i. say eth: Si uolueritis et audieritis: If ye wyll heare to repēt & amend, Bona terre comedetis, [Page] ye shall eat the good fruits y• the earth shall brynge forth, to your cōsort. Si nolueritis, et me ad iracundi [...] pro uocaueritis, yf ye wyl not, but prouoke me to anger, gladius deuorabituos. The sworde shall eate you vp. Quia os domini locutum est. For it is Gods owne mouthe that hathe spoken it. For Gods sake beleue it: And do not by a [...]harde hearte voyde of repentance heape vnto your selues the wrathe of god agaynst y• day of vengeance.

But thankfullye enbrasynge the ryches of goddes goodnes, pa [...]ience and long sufferyng, acknowlegyng that goddes kyndnes draweth you vnto repentance, yf ye haue so lytle spyrituall felyng and ghostlye vnderstandynge that ye can nothyng be perswaded or moued by the comfortable promyses, & terrible thretenynges of the inuisible God: yet hauynge corporall eyes and naturall [Page] reason, consyder the decaye of thys Realme, and the towardnes of the kynges magestye. Note the decaye of thys realme, and thereby ye shall learne to knowe that nothynge can make a realme wealthye, yf the inhabitauntes thereof be couetouse: for yf landes and goodes coulde haue made a realme happy notwyth standynge mennes couetousnes, then shoulde not thys realme soo vnhappylye haue decayed, when as by the suppressiō of Abbeies, Colleges and Chaunteries, innumerable lāds and goodes were gotten.

If goddes worde were ordeyned by anye other meane then by the conuertynge of couetous men, to make that realme happy where couetous men be, then suerlye shoulde England now be most happy, wher gods word is frely set forth in the mother toung, playnly preached in solēpne [Page] congregacions, and cōmonly vsed in daily cōmunicacion. But vndoubtedlye whereas couetouse men be, there neyther landes or goodes, no not goddes holye Gospell canne doo so muche good as couetousnes doeth harme. Wherefore seyng thys realm by couetousnesse is soore decayed, least it shoulde also by the same be destroyed, awaye wyth youre couetousnes, all you y• loue thys realme. Or yf ye wyll not do it for loue of the realme, yet for the reuerente obedience whyche ye owe vnto God and the kynges maiestie, away wyth couetousnes whyche maketh men seruauntes of Mammon, and enemyes vnto god and the kynge. Be ye well assured that the kynges Maiestye whyche nowe is, God saue his noble grace, dreadeth god, loueth his people, & abhorreth couetousnes, whiche in this realme offendeth God, dishonoureth [Page] y• kyng, anoyeth the people.

Therefore he doeth partly nowe perceyue and consider, and wyll do better hereafter, that prelates wyth pluralities, and magystrates wyth manie offices, do burden him and his people wyth paying tithes, fees, and manye greate charges, and yet kepe so many roumes vacant of prechers and officers, that his magesty cannot be duly serued, nor his people well instructed by the preachyng of gods word, nor yet well ordred by the mynistracion of iustice and equitye.

He knoweth that regratours of corne vyttals and of all manner of wares, make suche dearthe and scarcitie, that no diligence of good marchauntes by honest byinge and sellynge canne prouyde anye thynges to be eyther good cheap or plentiful. It is well knowen to his gracious maiesty, or at the least vnto hys honourable [Page] councell that leasemūgers takynge muche of tenauntes and paying lyttell vnto the landlordes, haue both theyr lyuynges, and doth the dutyes of neyther. For to theyr owne pryuate luker they take rentes of tenauntes, and fermes of land lordes: but when by occasyon they shall be requyred to serue the Kynge for a common wealth, then they wyll haue neyther landes nor [...]erme to do the kyng seruyce. Do not therfore imagyn you that be eyther of the cler gye or of the laytye in hyghe or lowe degree, that the Kynges Gracious Magestie and his honourable councell be so negligent that they do not espye, or so parcyall that they wyll not punyshe those whyche in thys realme hynder the prechyng of gods word, stoppe the adminystracion of iustice and equitye, cause of all thynges a dearthe and scarsytye, and [Page] brynge Gentlemenne too poouertye, and husbandmen vnto beggerye. It is spyed and muste be punyshed, although it be delayed for a tyme, to se yf you of your selues wyllynglye wyll amende it.

Beware therefore that ye staye not your selfe vnto a bryttell staffe, for it wyll brast in spylles and perce thorowe your▪ handes. Do not stay your selfe vpon thys ymaginacion to thynke that althoughe craftelye contrary to lawe and conscience ye do inuade other mennes roumes, liuynges and goodes, yet for because ye be so many in number that do it, therefore the kynge and hys councell eyther cannot or wyll not bee agaynste you in it: For trulye euen therefore muste they nowe neades wythout delaye reforme and amend it. For as sedicious rebelliō, so couetouse treason beynge in a fewe may [Page] be suffered at the fyrste in hope o [...] amēdment, so long as they few by clokynge it secretelye, seme to be ashamed of their owne euyll doynges, or afrayed of the rulers power and authorytye: but beynge so many that they all together wythoute shame and feare, falle to open spoylynge of the realme, then wythoute delaye muste they needes be repressed, althoughe they both say and sweare, that they be the kyngs subiects, and breake no laws. If y• spoyle be found in theyr hands, it is neyther sayinge nor swearynge that can excuse them. Open spoile hath bene made of personages, prebendes, offices, fermes, wares, vyctuals, and of all manner of mens liuinges. Therefore there is no long delay to be taken in hope o [...] amendemente, but spedye prouision for redres must be made for feare of a generall destrucciō. You then that [Page] for wastynge and abusynge of the Lordes goodes be worthye and lyke ly sone to be displaced, yet in y• mean tyme whyles ye haue respyte, playe the parte of a wyse steward. Restore vnto preachers and offycers, benefyces and offyces: lette landelordes haue their rentes, and fermoures theyr leases: cause byinge and sellyng to be a prouysyon of good chepe and plentye, and not an occasyon of dearthe and scarsytye. Soo shall both God and the kyng perceyuyng your wyse prouysion, allow your wel doyng, pardon your fautes, and confirme you in your offyces.

O refuse the seruyce, restore the iniuryes of wycked Mammon, that ye maye from hencefoorthe serue God and the kynge, prouydyng for the people in holynes and ryghtousnes all the dayes of youre lyfe: take hede when ye go from a meaner lyuynge [Page] vnto a better, frome a lower offyce vnto a hygher, that ye goo as menne called of Christe, not as bewitched and allured by Mammon, se that God by hygher authoritye perceyuyng [...] your faythfulnes in a lyttell, doo in at the doore of worthynes and honestye, admytte and receyue you to be trusted wyth more: beware leaste that the deuyll by flatteryng frendshyppe and couetous ambycion, perceyuynge your world lynes in a lytle, do in at the wyndow of wycked bryberye conuey and receyue you, to abuse and be abused wyth more. Se that ye obey the cō maundement of God, takynge paynes in youre duty e to feede and doo good. Do not cōsent v [...]to the temptacion of the Deuell, worshyppynge hym in worldlynes, for to gette gaynes. These thynges obserued, ye shal be estemed and taken as worthye [Page] minysters of Chryst, and [...]ruaunts of God, for so much as appertayneth vnto the lawfull callyng and admission of you into youre rowmes, and also the fayethfull dylygence in vsyng of your selues in your roumes. Furthermore Paule geueth example of a lowly mynde whyche doeth not iustifye a mans selfe, and iudge euyll of other. For so it becommeth the seruauntes of God, and the mynysters of Chryste, euen when they haue done as they be commaunded, to acknowledge them selues vnprofytable seruaūts. And not as proud Pha [...]iseis, prayinge in the presence of the Lorde, to make boast of theim selues, and fynde fautes wyth other men. No, for yf other menne prayse thē, they must not regarde it, no nor yf theyr owne conscience commende thē, excepte God also allow it. Ther fore Paule sayeth. Mihi pro minimo est [Page]ut a nobis iudicer. It is one of the least thinges wyth me too be iudged of you that be wyth me, eyther in tyme or place. Vel ab humano die, eyther of mannes daye, by the experience of theim that shall haue further tryall in contynuaunce of tyme. Sed neque me ipsum iudico. No nor I doo not iudge my selfe. Mihi enim nihil conscius sum, sed non ide [...] instificatus sum. For there is nothyng that I knowe my selfe gylty of, yet through that am I not iustifyed, no not thorow the iudgemēt of you or of other, or of myne owne conscience. Qui uero iudicat me dominus est. He truly y• iugeth me, is y• lord iudge of all men. Quare, nihil ante tempus iudicate, wherefore iudge ye nothyng afore the tyme of iudgemente. Quand▪ dominus uenerit, when the Lorde shall come to iudge. Qui et illustrabit occult [...] tenebrarum, whyche also shall make bryghte the couertes of darkenesse [Page] and craftye clokynge of fautes. Et manifestabit concilia cordis, and shall open the thoughtes of the heartes, whiche he only searcheth. Et tunc laus erit unicuique a deo. And then prayse shall be vnto euery one of God, that geueth prayse to the prayse worthy. If Paule, beynge a mynyster of Christe, and a disposer of Goddes mysteryes, was so faythefull in hys doynge that neyther all the worlde nor hys owne conscience coulde in any thyng reproue hym, and yet to contynue hys carefull dylygence had euermore a great respecte vnto the commyng and iudgement of the Lorde: Howe shall we thynke that they rede and take thys place, whiche beyng knowen both to theym selues and vnto the whole worlde to do very euyl in many thyngs, yet wythout care of amendement, do forget theym selues, the Lord, and his iudgemēte? [Page] Surely they vnderstand it as Peter sayth: that many places of Paul be vnderstand of them whych beyng indocti [...] vnlearned and vnsetled in iudgement, [...] wrast or wryng vntyll a wrong pin in suam ipsorum perniciem, vnto theyr owne destruccyon, manye places of Paule, et reliquas scripturas, and the other scriptures. For whereas thys place of Paul should be applyed to make men carefull and diligent, they wrast and wryng it to make for them that be careles and negligent. For Paul sayth that he doth very lytle regarde what any man doth iudge of hym, menyng therby that though all the world wolde commende hym, yet wold he not be vayne glorious, of hys well doynge. They saye, they passe lytle what any man saythe by them, meanyng therby that though all men fynde fautes wyth theim, yet [Page] wyll they neuer be ashamed of their euyll doynge. Paule sayeth that no man shoulde iudge, meanynge that no man as concernynge secretes of the mynde, should iudge other to be yuell, and theim selfes to be iust: and so take occasion to speake shamefully of other, and to glory in theim selues: they saye that no man shoulde iudge, meanynge that neyther preacher nor friende▪ shoulde so rebuke theyr manifest euyll dedes, as myght geue theym occasion to be ashamed of theym selues, and leue iudgynge of other. Lette vs not wrest the places of Paule and of other scripturs vnto a wrong purpose. They wrest the saying of Paule vnto a wrong meanynge, when as the mercye of God, whyche passeth all hys works is denyed of theym vnto anye penytente synnet, by theyr allegynge of the tenth of Paull vnto the Ebrues. [Page] Then is that place not well applied but wronge wrested. For when it is sayde that yf we synne wylfullye after that we haue receiued the knowe ledge of the trueth, there remayneth no more sacrifice for synne, but a fearefull lookynge for iudgemente and violente fyer, it is a meante that there is remaynynge and leafte in the scriptures no mencyon of sacrifyce for the forgeuenesse of synnes, but terrible threatnynges of vengeaunce to punyshe synners, too bee preached vnto wylfull synners.

Howbeit there is no condemnacion but alwayes mercye to be preached vnto theym that grafted in Christe Iesu, be penitent synners, how sore & ofte soeuer they fall▪ For his mercy is aboue all hys workes. Therefore whensoeuer he suff [...]eth the Deuyll to tempte menne to [...]o synne, or too plage them for synne, or whensoeuer by hys worde wrytten or preached [Page] he doth aggrauate synne, all is done to dryue menne vnto mercye. The deuyll hathe caused here in England muche synne and abhominacion, greuous plages, and sore miseries, God hath sent wonderous plenty of hys confortable word. And now brethren all this is euen the worke of god: for it is God that worketh al thynges in all men. Deus est qui operatur omnia in omnibus. And yet take good hede to [...]he true interpretacion of thys place least that ye make God to be the author of syn, Qui non nouit peccatum, nec est inuentus dolus in ore eius, whyche know [...]th no synne by experience of doyng it, nor hathe no gyle founde in hys mouthe. But euen as it was God that dyd both geue and take awaye Iobs goodes: So is it God that doth al thyngs both good and euyll. And as he dyd make Iob ryche, by geuinge him goodes, and poore b [...] suffering the d [...]uill to destroy those [Page] goodes: so doethe he good deedes of hys owne goodnes, and euyll dedes in sufferynge the deuyll to do theym. Yea it is euen God that hathe concluded al mē vnder synne, that hath suffered the deuyl to tempt al men to do synne, yea and scriptura conclusit omnia sub peccato, y• scriptur of God hath cōcluded al mē vndersyn, or as [...]aul speaketh in a nother place more plan li, [...]. We haue concluded or proued, allegynge good reason, that both the grekes and the Iewes be vnder synne. So nowe all ye by GOD be cōcluded vnderneth sinne, that is by goddes suffraunce the deuil hath caused you to commit sinne. By Gods ordinaunce the scriptures and the preachers of God, do open and declare that ye be all synners.

And this is all done, ut omnium mis [...]riarctur, that he myght haue mercye vpon all, that all mighte receyue the [Page] pardō of his mercy without y• which none can be saued, none cā escape vē geaunce. For non est in aliquo alio salus, there is no health in anye other, [...]ec aliud nomen datum sub Celo, in quo opor [...] nos s [...]luos fieri, nor none other name geu [...] vnder heauen, in the which we shuld be saued. So y• he whyche wyl haue anye healthe muste come vnto Christ, shewyng him selfe wounded with sin, to stand in nede of a Phisic [...] on. He y• wil be saued must shew him selfe a penytente synner vnto Christe which came not to cal the righteous but synners to amendmente. But he y• regardeth the flattery of the worlde or the parcialitie of his owne consciēce, & therby taketh occasion to glory in his own doynges, he shal finde no mercy, he cā receiue no pardon or for geuenes sent frō god to be deliuered only vnto those y• fele & acknowlege them selues to be sickely & vnrighteous siners. Thei therfore that fele & [Page] acknowledge y• greatest sins wickednes & abhominaciōs in theim selues▪ being sory therfore, & entend amendmēt, be most wortht & sure to receiue y• great pardon of gods mercy, whyche certenly wil deliuer thē out of all daūger, kepe thē in safti & bryng thē to prosperity. Heare therfore and I wil now read my cōmissiō, by y• whiche ye shall wel perceyue y• I speake nothyng vpō my own head, but euery thyng according to the cōmaūdement of the Lorde your god, whyche hath sent me vnto you hys people. The exāple of this proclamaciō. Es. lviii. Clama. Make proclamaciō opē ly. y• al mē maye heare: n [...] cesses. Ceas not for feare of thē that may kyll the body, & can not hurt the soule, quasi [...] exalta uoc [...] tu [...], Lifte vp thy voyce as a trūpet, geuinge men knowledge of the commyng of the ennemyes in the tyme of war. So geue thē knowlege of the swerd of vengance, which shal [Page] folow immediatli after this warnig Et annuncia populo meo scelera [...]orū. And shew thē their fautes yt in bering of my name, & professinge my religion wil be my people. Et domui Iacob peccat [...] sua, & vnto the house of Iacob their own sins: vnto all sortes of men euē those syns which they thē selues do vse. Unto the clergy, the sinnes of y• clergy, vnto the laitye, the synnes of the layte: and vnto euery degre, y• sin nes y• be of that degre vsed. Shew y• clergi that thei fede thē selues fat wt many liuings, & let my flocke be sca tered & vnfed, because ther is few pre ching pastors y• can & wil fede them.

Shew the clergy that they cā neyther teach, nor requyre the king & la itye to prouide new liuings for pre chers, vntill they do restore forth of their own hands those which be pro uided alredy: shew such of the cleargy as be fatlings puft vp wt pluralities, that they neyther haue fed, do [Page] fede, or can fede my flocke, yet haue spoyled, do spoyle & wyl spoyle my lā bes, y• kynges subiectes, & theyr own brethren, so lōg as thei vse their pluralities. Shew the laity y• thei haue robbed me theyr lord & god of double honour due vnto my mynisters: for they haue taken awaye the fodder that was prepared for the laborynge oxe, and bene disobedyent vnto my law, pronounced by theim that sate in Moyses cheire.

Shewe the nobilitie that they haue oppressed the comminaltye, Kepyng theim vnder in feare & ignorauce, by power & aucthoritye, which myght & should haue bene louyngly learned their obedience & duty to both God & the kyng by preachyng of the gospel. Shew the nobility y• they haue extorted & famished the cōmynalty by the heigthening of fynes & rentes of fermes, & decaying of hospitality & good house kepyng. Shew the cō minaltye [Page] y• they be both traytoures & rebelles, murmuryng & grudgyng agaynst myne ordinaūces: tel the cō minalty yt the oxe draweth, the horse beareth, y• tre bryngeth forth frutes & the earthe corne and grasse to the profyte and comforte of man, as I haue ordained them: but they of the comminaltye in England bye and sel, make bargaynes, and do al thyn ges to the grefe and hynderaunce of manne, contrary to my commaundemente. Tell the commynaltye that they take one anothers ferme ouer their heades, they thruste one an other oute of their houses, they take leases vnto theim selues, and lette theym dearer vnto other: they bye cornes and wares to make other paye more dere for it: they hurte and trouble, eate vp and deuoure one an other. Tell all Englande hye and low, riche and poore that they euerye one prowlynge for them selues, be seruaunts vnto Mammon, enne [Page] [...]es vnto god, disturbers of common wealth, and destroyers of them selues. And for all this lette theim knowe that I haue no pleasure in y• death of a siner. Sed magis ut c [...]uer t [...]tur et uiuat, but rather I geue him respit & send him warning y• he may turne & liue, comfortably here vpō earth, & ioifully in heauen for euer. Therefore if any in Englande do tourne & amende, he shal saue hym selfe. But they which wyll not repent & amend shal not be saued by theyr fathers or frendes, which by repentaunce be as sure them selues to be accepted vnto me as was Noe Danyel & Iob: but and if all or the moost parte of thē in Englād, turne & amēd thē ▪ say vnto Englād: delectaberis super domino, Frō [...]enceforth y• shalt haue delite & plesure in y• lord, et sustoll [...] te super altitudines terre, & I wil lift the higher in honour welth & power, then any other realme in or vpō the earth, et albabo te [Page]heredita [...]e Iacobi p [...]tris tui, and so wyll I fede the with the inheritaunce of Ia cob thy [...]ather. I will restore vnto y• whatsoeuer land or holds in Scotlād or in Fraūce dyd at any tyme be longe vnto Iacob thy father, vnto the kings of this realme, os enim domini locutum est, for the Lordes owne mouth hath spokē it, which is a better assurāce vnto this cōmission, thē though it were signed & seled wyth ten thousande mens handes.

Now al you y• entēd to be saued by the mercies of God in our sauioure Iesu Christ, come when ye be calle [...] frō gredy couetousnes wherwyth ye haue bene blinded to wreake Gods wrath: receyue mercy & grace which be now frely offred to make you frō henceforth holy ministers of Christ, & faithfull disposers of y• manifolde gyftes of Gods grace & goodnes: & now for fere of forgetfull negligēce, when ye depart hēce, replenish your [Page] minds with y• cōfortable remēbranc [...] of your own greuous myseries, and of gods great mercies, in secrete meditacion of the lords praier, here tarying together in quyetnes a littell for to receyue the Lordes blessyng.

The god of peace that brought againe frō death our Lord Iesus the greate shepeheard of the shepe, thorow the bloud of the euerlastyng testament, make you perfit in all good workes, to do hys wyll, workyng in you that which is plesāt in his syght, through Iesus Christ.

Amen.

God saue the Kynge.

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¶ A Sermon preached at Pauls Crosse, the. xiiii. day of December, by Thomas Leuer.

Anno. M. D. L.

Cum priuilegio ad imprimendum solum. Per septennium

¶ Unto the right honorable Lordes, and others of the Kynges Magestie [...]ys priuye Counsell, Thomas Leauer wysheth increase of Grace and godly honoure.

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MErcy, grace, and peace from God the father almyghty, vnto your honours, wyth my moste humble and reuerente comendacions.

The enemye of God and man alwayes se kyng lyke a rorynge lion whome he may deuoure, is much at al tymes, but then especially to betaken hede vnto, when as he hym self beyng transformed into the aungell of lyght, doth cloke the ministers of hys myschiefe in a pretensed shew of godlines and vertue, so that ther by they be suffered of al men, and maynteined of many men, to worcke and brynge vnto passe a deuilli she dysorder, and shamefull dyshonestye in a Christen commen wealth.

Wherefore, seynge that in thys realme [Page] preachers, officers, marchauntes, crafts mē, labourers, and such lyke, be displaced of their roumes, and dysapoynted of theyr lyuinges by those whych through a pretensed name, & outward apperance, seme to be necessary and profytable ministers in a common wealthe, (how beit in theyr owne doynges may be euidently tryed and knowen for to be sp [...]ylers and disturbers of any common welth) suredly you of the kynges most honourable counsell, beyng the chefe maiestrats and rulers in this realme, had nede to be ware, circumspect and diligent, lest that Sathan banyshyng al faithful Christians, whych should and wold prouyde to helpe one an other, do fyl this realme ful of crafty flatterers, whych can and wyll deceyue, begyle, and spoyle one another.

Truly ther be no men more against Christ then those which by profession of Christen relygyon, and bearyng of a Christen name, doo rob Christ of hys honor, & Christes ministers of theyr liuyngs: nor none more parilous ennemies vnto the kings maiesty, and vnto this realme, thē those whyche haue the names of Englishmen, and the kyngs subiects wyth y• condicions & maners of enemies, & traitors.

Most gracious good lordes and maisters, for your reuerent loue towardes God, and [Page] the kyng, for your charitable pytye of myserable spoiled people, and for the necessary regarde of your owne honours, and the state of thys realme, se and consyder how that ambicious couetous men, do bye and sel, take and abuse personages, prebendes, offyces, fees, marchaundyse, fermes, landes, and goodes, so that prowlyng for them selues, they be neither afrayde, nor ashamed to spoile thys realme of preachyng of Gods gospel, of iustyce and equitie, of cheape and plenty, and of euery thynge that should saue, kepe, or profytte a commune wealthe.

Wherfore most gracious good lordes, and maysters, for the tender mercies of God in our Sauiour Iesus Christ, take hede that neyther seruaunte, nor frende, reteyner, nor youreselues do deceyue you wyth flatterye.

For seynge that ambicious couetous men do take, kepe, and enioye the roumes and lyuynges of euerye mannes vocacion, bothe you and we be in farre more daunger, then yf blockehouses and bulwarkes made and kepte of the kynges faythful subiectes for the sauegarde of thys realme, were taken and abused of suche Scottes or Frenchemen, as makyng spoyle for theyr owne profit, would not spare to dystroye thys realme.

[Page] There is very manye rowmes and lyuynges, belongynge both vnto the ecclesia stical mynisterye, and also vnto cyuyll policye, in the whyche be no fayethful subiectes, godlye diligente ministers and offycers, whi che by doynge of theyr duties, doo saue, kepe and comforte the people: but couetous Idolatours, whych neglectyng theyr dutye [...], and takynge commodities, doo dysorder, spoyle and dystroye the people.

Suerly [...] if there be any men that goo aboute to perswade the Kynges Magestye, or you of hys honourable Councell, that thinges in thys realme for the mostparte be honourablye, godlye, or charytably reformed, they be but flaterers.

For papistry is not banyshed out of Englande by pure religion, but ouerrunne, suppressed and kepte vnder within thys realme by couetous ambicion. Papistrye abused ma ny thyngs, couetousnes hath distroyed more: papistry is supersticion, couetousnes is Idolatry. Papistrye afore tyme dyd obscure the Kinges honour, and abuse the wealth of this realme, couetousnes at thys tyme doth more abuse and decaye theym bothe, makynge the kynge bare, the people poore, and the realme miserable.

[Page] The Kynges procedynges to be red in his lawes, statutes, and Iniunc [...]ions be good & godly: but to be sene and knowen in the dedes and practises of his officers, seruauntes, and subiectes, be vngodly, shameful, wicked. For in theyr doynges appeareth no re [...]ournynge from euil vnto good, by a godly reformaciō: but a procedyng from euyl vnto worse, by an vncharitable spoyle, & deuyllyshe destrucciō.

Landes a [...]d goodes be spoyled: prouysyon made for learning and pouerty, is destroied. Ye knowe in whose handes thys ryche spoyle remaineth, then cā ye not be ignoraunt by whose meanes the wealth of this realme is spoyled and decayed.

If ye wyll haue a godlye reformacion [...] to procede, truste not the seruauntes of Mammon, ennemyes vnto God, and traitoures vnto the kynge, and spoylers of the people, wyth the settyng forthe of your godlye lawes, statutes and ordynaunces, which be most contrary vnto theyr couetous myndes, and wycked dedes.

Theyr myndes are alwayes euyll, and theyr dedes be well knowen, when as you geu [...] frelye, or suffer theym by brybrye to by vnto theim selues authorytye: for then, being trusted to make better prouision for the pore, [Page] to erect mo Grammer schooles, to encrease & augment the vnpuersities, and to se the people taught louyngly, to reuerence, serue, a [...]d obey God, the kyng, and you: they take prouisyon frome the poore, they sell awaye Grāmer scoles, they dec [...]i the vniuersities, and they vse suche practises, as maketh God to be vnknowen, the kynge dysobeyed, & you suspected, hated, and enuyed of the people.

Take these false flatterers whyche haue enryched them selues, makynge the kynge bare, and the people poore, restore theyr landes and goodes vnto the kynge, theyr rowmes and offyces vnto faythfull and true offycers and ministers: and then shal the kyng be enryched, the realme vnspoyled, and the people delyuered from myserable captiuitie vnder cruel extorcioners, vnto an honest lybertye vnder Godlye gouernoures, whyche shall so dyspose the hartes and myndes of all people, that they wyllynglye shall be readye, not onlye to serue the markettes wyth corne, but also to serue God and the kynge wyth landes and gooddes, bodyes and lyues, when and where so euer you shal commaunde it.

Maruel not thoughe a fayth ful hearte, wyth humble obedyence and reuerente loue [Page] towardes the kynges Maiestye, and you of hys honourable Godly counsel, do barst a [...]d poure foorthe a lamentable complaynte of greuous sorrowe conceyued in seeynge the king shamefully begyled, you sore dishonored, & the wealthe of thys realme vtterly spoyled.

For menne dooe hye offyces vnto them selues, and landes from the kynge: and by the onlye spoyle that is made in common offyces and vpon the kynges landes, bothe these bargens be payed for, and furthermore all such bargeyners wonderfullye enryched.

O mercyfull Lorde, what a griefe is it vnto a faythfull harte, hauinge iust occasyon to suspecte, that you lacke faythful counsell to adueriyse you of the gracious workynge of the Lorde beynge God, and of the freyle fautes of youre selues beynge men [...]e, in all youre doynges: for Gods grace woorkynge in you, causeth you to dooe honourable and Godlye seruyce to God, the kynge, and the common wealthe, when as ye cause an vngodly byshop to be deposed. And yet shall god, the king, and the people be greuously offended, and your honors and sowles so a [...] indaungered, yf a bishops landes or goodes be deuyded amongst you that be godlye magys [...]rates to punysh euyl doers, as Christes cote [Page] was deuyded amongest wycked soldyers, which dyd cruelly torment a righteous persō.

Alas most gracious reuerente Lordes and maysters, if ye vse the seruyse, or hear the aduyse of false crafty flatterers, ye shall therewyth be so blynded that ye can neyther perceyue by your selues, nor beleue when as ye be playnely and faythfully tolde, that manye of your owne doynges, commyng of mans freyltye, do tend muche vnto the displeasure of God, dyshonour of the kynge, and dyscredyt of your selues, beyng moste contrarye to that reuerent zele and faythful loue towards God, the kyng, and the cōmen wealth, which zeleand loue god of hys goodnes hath graffed in your hartes, and the deuyll by mannes freyl dedes couered in sylence or colored with prayse of flatterers, laboreth to deface, peruert and destroye.

As God whyche searcheth the secretes of mans hart, doth beare me recorde, I do suppose, and thynke that you dooe so louyng lye drede God, reuerence the kyng, and regarde this realme, & your owne honors, that beyng charged wyth the ouersight and prouision of castels, holdes, and fortes, made and kept for the safegarde of thys realme, ye coulde not wyttyngly be hyred to sell one of them vnto [Page] the kynges ennemyes, for al the treasures in the world. And yet beyng craftelye deceyued wyth [...]attery, ye vse a daungerous practyse in very many of them.

Forther be some of them sclenderly assauted at certayne tymes of feble enemyes: and other continuallye beseged eyther wyth open forse or craftye conueyaunce of fearce, cruel, and perylous enemies. And now crafty flatterers whych haue once serued for theyr wages in tyme and place of the sclender assalte, doo afterwardes requyre and perswade you for that seruyse to geue them the spoyle of other holdes remayning continuallye in more daunger Truly Frenchmen and Scottes be but feble ennemyes, and at certayne tymes do sclenderly assalt castels, towers, and such maner of holdes: The deuyl seking lyke a ro ryng Lyon, whom he may deuoure, nyghte & day, wynter and sommer, wyth a wonderful forse of wycked spirites, doth euer besyege by shopryckes, shyres, townes, and parishes.

Yf these places be not wel furnished with stout and true soldiers of bothe the sortes (I meane both officers in ciuyle polycy, and also Prelates in Ecclesiasticall ministery) or if those souldyers be vnprouided of necessary liuyngs and dewe wages, then must the people [Page] nedes peryshe and be destroyed for theyr owne synnes, and the bloud of theyr bodyes and soules requyred at your handes, whyche be charged and trusted of both God, and the king to prouide souldiers to those places, and also wages and liuinges to mayntayne those soldyers continually.

How be it now manye personages, benefyces, offyces, and fees be sold vnto couetous brybers for money, whych seke nothyng but the vantage of extorcion, robbry and spoyle, and fewe of them be freely giuen vnto faithful ministers & officers for their woorthynes, whych could and would by diligent doynge of their dutie, gouerne, instruct and cheryshe goddes people, the kynges subiectes.

And therefore nowe the most part of men lackyng teachers & rulers, do without griefe of conscience, or feare of punishment, abuse euery thynge vnto the ruine and destruccion, whyche God hath ordayned vnto the vpholdyng & increase of a christiā commune welth.

As for example, now bying and sellyng is not vsed as a prouision for good cheape and great plenty, but made the most occasyon of dearth and scarsitie. Wealth and wyt be not ryghtly vsed vnto a common confortable pro fyt, but shamefully abused vnto a wycked pri [Page] uate gayne. Many offyces with authoritie be not duely disposed vnto faithful worthy men nor to dooe good vnto other, but vnlawfullye bought and solde amongest couetous, ambicious men, to get gaynes vnto theim selues. So this realme is spoyled, the kynge is made bare, & his faithful true subiectes be many of thē very poore: but crafti deceiuers, couetous Extorcioners, brybynge offycers, and suche false flatterers be wonderous rich & welthy.

These Flatterers be wonders perilous felowes, hauynge two faces vnder one hoode. For they beare a face and shew towardes the people, as though by Commyssion and commaundement from you, there must bee more required and taken of the people th [...] euer you dyd meane or thynke: And towardes you thei shewe another face semy [...]g that so much can not be founde in anye mennes hādes as must needes bee procured: but that therefore the kynges landes must nedes be solde, whyche thei are redye to by for their owne aua [...]tage, wyth those goodes whyche they them selues haue in theyr owne handes, or rather wyth the spoyle whych they intend to make vpon those landes. These subiects that be not ashamed to procure vnto them selues such riches, that they maye be biers, and vnto theyr leige [Page] Lorde and kyng suche nede, that he muste be a seller of his landes. These be in deede seruaū tes vnto Mammo [...], enemies vnto god, traitores vnto the king, and disturbers of a common welth turning all your godly, wise, and charitable deuyces for [...]ecessary prouysyon, vnto douylish deceytes, for to cause & maynteyne vncharitable spoyles. And suredly whē as occasions do serue for any men to practise theyr pleasures, manye men of al sortes, and of the lowest sort, the most part do shew them selues the worst infected wyth thys▪ im [...]yety, treason, and rebellyon, the greuousnes and daunger of the whyche wyth occasyons and meanes how to auoyd the same, I preaching at Paules Crosse the. xiiii. day of December last past, dyd there openly declare vnto mine audience. And as I did then preach that Sermon as an exhortacion to▪ mo [...]e the people, by the acknowledgyng, lamentyng and amē dynge theyr owne fautes, to dese [...] and receyue the pardon of mercy offered vnto them of both god and the kyng, in thys longe pacient sufferaunce, so do I nowe here offer vnto your honors, that same Sermō as an earnest complaynte, to procure of you that be Gods offycers, spedyly correccion for them that refuse to heare, regarde, and obey Gods word.

[Page] Be not dyscouraged in thys matter, wyth your owne freylty beyng greate, or wyth the number of offenders, beyng manye. For it is not your worthynes, but Goddes grace, that hath placed you in hygh authority, and in the same aucthoritye not your owne powers and polcy, but the myght and wisdome of God, [...]al so strengthen and confyrme you, thatyf ye wyll be dyltgent, ye shall be made able to delyuer Gods people, the kynges subiectes, ou [...]e of the haudes of suche as be Gods and the kynges en nemyes.

I beseche the almyghtye God indue you wyth grace, that begyunyng wythyoure selues, ye may spedely procede vnto the necessary, and godly correccion of other mens fautes, so that ye maye be establyshed in youre rowmes, and increased in honor, to serue god & the kynge, prouiding for hys real me in holines & righteousnes al [...] daies of yourlyues.

By me humbly subiect and faithful obedient vnto your honors, Thomas Leuer.

§

§

Imprynted at London by Ihon Day dwellyng ouer Aldersgate. Cum priuilegio ad imprimendum solum. Per septennium.

[Page]

Information about this book

Title statement

A sermon preached at Pauls Crosse the xiiii day of December by Thomas Leuer.

Lever, Thomas, 1521-1577.

Edition statement

1550

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2004-03 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A05394

ID [STC]

STC 15546.3

ID [STC]

ESTC S102380

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

23850725

ID [OCLC]

ocm 23850725

ID [VID]

26908

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Series

Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A05394)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 26908)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 806:7 or 1835:24)

Source

— A sermon preached at Pauls Crosse the xiiii day of December by Thomas Leuer., Lever, Thomas, 1521-1577..

Extent

[120] p.

By Jhon Day, dwellyng ouer Aldersgate,. Imprynted at London :: M.D.L. [1550]. (Place of publication and publisher from colophon.) (STC (2nd ed.) lists imprint date as 1551.) ("Cum priuilegio ad imprimendum solum. Per Septennenium.") (Signatures: A-G8 H4.) (Title within illustrated border.) (Reproductions of original in the British Library.)

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