the three chief principal points, which they called HOM. V. the three essentials, or three chief foundations of religion, that is to say, obedience, chastity, and wilful poverty.

chief vows of

First, under pretence or colour of obedience to their Father in religion-which obedience they The three made themselves-they were made free, by their religion. rules and canons, from the obedience of their natural father and mother, and from the obedience of Emperor and King, and all temporal power; whom of very duty, by God's laws, they were bound to obey. And so the profession of their obedience not due, was a forsaking of their due obedience. And how their profession of chastity was kept, it is more honesty to pass over in silence, and let the world judge of that which is well known, than with unchaste words, by expressing of their unchaste life, to offend chaste and godly ears. And as for their wilful poverty, it was such, that when in possessions, jewels, plate, and riches, they were equal or above Merchants, Gentlemen, Barons, Earls, and Dukes; yet by this subtile sophistical term, Proprium in communi, that is to say, Proper in common, they mocked the world; persuading, that notwithstanding all their possessions and riches, yet they kept their vow, and were in wilful poverty. But for all their riches, they might neither help father or mother, nor other that were indeed very needy and poor, without the licence of their Father Abbot, Prior, or Warden: and yet they might take of every man; but they might not give aught to any man, no not to them whom the laws of God bound them to help. And so, through their traditions and rules, the laws of God could bear no rule with them: and therefore of them might be most truly said that which Christ spake unto the Pharisees, You break the commandments of God Matt. xv. by your traditions: you honour God with your lips, but your hearts be far from him. And the longer prayers they used by day and by night, under pretence or colour of such holiness, to get the favour of widows and other simple folks-that

HOм. V. they might sing Trentalles and service for their husbands and friends, and admit or receive them

into their prayers-the more truly is verified of Matt. xxiii. them the saying of Christ; Woe be unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you devour widows' houses under colour of long prayers; therefore your damnation shall be the greater. Woe be to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you go about by sea and by land to make more novices, and new brethren; and when they be let in, or received of your sect, you make them the children of hell worse than yourselves be.

Other devices

tions.

Honour be to God, who did put light in the heart of his faithful and true minister, of most famous memory, King Henry VIII. and gave him the knowledge of his word, and an earnest affection to seek his glory, and to put away all such superstitious and pharisaical sects, by Antichrist invented, and set up against the true word of God, and glory of his most blessed name; as he gave the like spirit unto the most noble and famous princes, Josaphat, Josias, and Ezechias. God grant all us, the King's Highness' faithful and true subjects, to feed of the sweet and savoury bread of God's own word; and, as Christ commanded, to eschew all our Pharisaical and Papistical leaven of man's feigned religion: which, although it were before God most abominable, and contrary to God's commandments and Christ's pure religion, yet it was praised to be a most godly life and highest state of perfection; as though a man might be more godly, and more perfect, by keeping the rules, traditions, and professions of men, than by keeping the holy commandments of God.

And briefly to pass over the ungodly and counand supersti- terfeit religion, let us rehearse some other kinds of Papistical superstitions and abuses, as of Beads, of Lady Psalters, and Rosaries, of fifteen Qes, of St. Bernard's Verses, of St. Agathe's Letters, of purgatory, of masses satisfactory; of stations and jubilees, of feigned relicks, of hallowed beads, bells, bread, water, palms, candles, fire, and such other;

decretals.

of superstitious fastings, of fraternities, or brother- HOM. V. hoods, of pardons, with such like merchandize; which were so esteemed and abused to the great prejudice of God's glory and commandments, that they were made most high and most holy things, whereby to attain to the everlasting life, or remission of sin. Yea also vain inventions, unfruitful Decrees and ceremonies, and ungodly laws, decrees, and councils of Rome, were in such wise advanced, that nothing was thought comparable in authority, wisdom, learning, and godliness, unto them, so that the laws of Rome, as they said, were to be received of all men as the four Evangelists; to the which all laws of Princes must give place: and the laws of God also partly were left off, and less esteemed, that the said laws, decrees, and councils, with their traditions and ceremonies, might be more duly kept, and had in greater reverence. Thus was the people, through ignorance, so blinded with the goodly shew and appearance of those things, that they thought the keeping of them to be a more holiness, a more perfect service and honouring of God, and more pleasing to God, than the keeping of God's commandments. Such hath been the corrupt inclination of man; ever superstitiously given to make new honouring of God of his own head, and then to have more affection and devotion to keep that, than to search out God's holy commandments, and to keep them: and furthermore, to take God's commandments for men's commandments, and men's commandments for God's commandments, yea, and for the highest and most perfect and holy of all God's commandments. And so was all confused, that scant well-learned men-and but a small number of them-knew, or at the least would know and durst affirm, the truth, to separate or sever God's commandments from the commandments of men. Whereupon did grow much error, superstition, idolatry, vain religion, overthwart judgment, great contention, with all ungodly living.

tion to the

Wherefore, as you have any zeal to the right An exhortaand pure honouring of God; as you have any regard keeping of to your own souls, and to the life that is to come, mandments.

God's com

A brief rehearsal of

God's com

HOM. V. which is both without pain and without end; apply yourselves chiefly above all things, to read and to hear God's word: mark diligently therein what his will is you shall do, and with all your endeavour apply yourselves to follow the same. First, you must have an assured faith in God, and give yourmandments. selves wholly unto him, love him in prosperity and adversity, and dread to offend him evermore. Then, for his sake, love all men, friends and foes, because they be his creation and image, and redeemed by Christ, as ye are. Cast in your minds, how you may do good unto all men unto your powers, and hurt no man. Obey all your superiors and governors; serve your masters faithfully and diligently, as well in their absence as in their presence, not for dread of punishment only, but for conscience sake, knowing that you are bound so to do by God's commandments. Disobey not your fathers and mothers, but honour them, help them, and please them to your power. Oppress not, kill not, beat not, neither slander, nor hate any man; but love all men, speak well of all men, help and succour every man as you may, yea, even your enemies that hate you, that speak evil of you, and that do hurt you. Take no man's goods, nor covet your neighbour's goods wrongfully; but content yourselves with that which ye get truly; and also bestow your own goods charitably, as need and case requireth. Flee all idolatry, witchcraft, and perjury; commit no manner of adultery, fornication, nor other unchasteness, in will nor in deed, with any other man's wife, widow, maid, or otherwise. And travelling continually during your life, thus in keeping the commandments of Godwherein standeth the pure, principal, and right honour of God, and which, wrought in faith, God hath ordained to be the right trade and path-way unto heaven-you shall not fail, as Christ hath promised, to come to that blessed and everlasting life, where you shall live in glory and joy with God for ever to whom be praise, honour, and empery, for ever and ever. Amen.

"He loved not only his friends, but also his enemies." (See p.'61, and VI Luke xiii. 33-35.)

A SERMON

OF

Of all things that be good to be taught unto HOM. VI. Christian people, there is nothing more necessary to be spoken of, and daily called upon, than charity as well for that all manner of works of righteousness be contained in it; as also that the decay thereof is the ruin or fall of the world, the banishment of virtue, and the cause of all vice. And forsomuch as almost every man maketh and frameth to himself charity after his own appetite; and, how detestable soever his life be both unto God and man, yet he persuadeth himself still that he hath charity therefore you shall hear now a true and plain description or setting forth of charity, not of men's imagination, but of the very words and example of our Saviour Jesus Christ. In which description or setting forth, every man, as it were in a glass, may consider himself, and see plainly without error, whether he be in the true charity

or not.

Charity is, to love God with all our heart, all What charity our life, and all our powers and strength. With all is.