The second tome of homilies of such matters as were promised, and entitled in…The second tome of homilees of such matters as were promised, and intituled in…

Five princes or kings (for so the ¹scripture termeth them) with all their multitudes, could not prevail against Chodorlaomor, unto whom they had promised loyalty and obedience, and had continued in the same certain years, but they were all overthrown and taken prisoners by him: but Abraham with his family and kinsfolks, an handful of men in respect, owing no subjection unto Chodorlaomor, overthrew him and all his host in battle, and recovered the prisoners, and delivered them. So that though war be so dreadful and cruel a thing, as it is, yet doth God often prosper a few in lawful wars with foreign enemies against many thousands: but never yet prospered he subjects being rebels against their natural sovereign, were they never so great or noble, so many, so stout, so witty, and politic, but always they came by the overthrow, and to a shameful end: so much doth God abhor rebellion, more then other wars, though otherwise being so dreadful, and so great a destruction to mankind. Though not only great multitudes of the rude and rascal commons, but sometime also men of great wit, nobility, and authority, have moved rebellions against their lawful princes (whereas true nobility should most abhor such villainous, and true wisdom should most detest such frantic rebellion) ⟨p. 588⟩though they would pretend sundry causes, as the redress of the common wealth (which rebellion of all other mischiefs doth most destroy) or reformation of religion (whereas rebellion is most against all true religion) though they have made a great show of holy meaning by beginning their rebellions with a counterfeit service of God, (as did wicked Absalom begin his rebellion ²with sacrificing unto God) though they display, and bear about ensigns, and banners, which are acceptable unto the rude ignorant common people, great multitudes of whom by such false pretences and shows they do deceive, and draw unto them:

Fiue princes or kynges (for so the ¹scripture tearmeth them) with all their multitudes, coulde not preuayle agaynst Chodorlaomor, vnto whom they had promised loyaltie and obedience, and had continued in the same certain yeres, but they were all ouerthrowen and taken prisoners by him: but Abraham with his familie and kynsfolkes, an handefull of men in respect, owyng no subiection vnto Chodorlaomor, ouerthrēwe hym and all his hoast in battell, and recouered the prisoners, and delyuered them. So that though warre be so dreadfull and cruell a thyng, as it is, yet doth God often prosper a fewe in lawefull warres with forraigne enemies agaynste manye thousandes: but neuer yet prospered he subiectes beyng rebelles agaynst their naturall soueraigne, were they neuer so great or noble, so manye, so stout, so wittie, and politike, but alwayes they came by the ouerthrowe, and to a shamefull ende: so muche doth God abhorre rebellion, more then other warres, though otherwyse beyng so dreadfull, and so great a destruction to mankynde. Though not onlye great multitudes of the rude and rascall commons, but sometyme also men of great wit, nobilitie, and aucthoritie, haue moued rebellions agaynst their lawefull princes (whereas true nobilitie shoulde moste abhorre suche vilanous, and true wysedome shoulde moste detest suche frantike rebellion)