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…

Though many causes of rebellion may be reckoned, and almost as many as there be vices in men & women, as hath ben before noted: yet in this place I will only touch the principal and most usual causes, as specially ambition and ignorance. By ambition, I mean the unlawful and restless desire in men to be of higher estate then God hath given or appointed unto them. By ignorance, I mean no unskilfulness in arts or sciences, but the lack of knowledge of Gods blessed will declared in his holy word, which teacheth both extremely to abhor all rebellion as the root of all mischief, and specially to delight in obedience as the beginning and foundation of all goodness, as hath ben also before specified. And as these are the two cheese causes of rebellion: so are there specially two sorts of men in whom these vices do reign, by whom the devil the author of all evil doth chiefly stir up all disobedience and rebellion.

Though manye causes of rebellion maye be reckened, and almost as many as there be vices in men & women, as hath ben before noted: yet in this place I wyll onlye touche the principall and most vsual causes, as specially ambition and ignoraunce. By ambition, I meane the vnlawful and restles desire in men to be of higher estate then God hath geuen or appoynted vnto them. By ignoraunce, I meane no vnskilfulnesse in artes or sciences, but the lacke of knowledge of Gods blessed wyll declared in his holye worde, whiche teacheth both extremely to abhorre all rebellion as the roote of all mischeefe, and specially to delyght in obedience as the begynnyng and foundation of all goodnesse, as hath ben also before specified. And as these are the two cheese causes of rebellion: so are there specially two sortes of men in whom these vices do raigne, by whom the deuill the aucthour of al euill doth cheefely stirre vp all disobedience and rebellion.

The restless ambitious having once determined by one means or other to achieve to their intended purpose, when they can not by lawful and peaceable means clime so high as they do ⟨p. 597⟩desire, they attempt the same by force and violence: wherein when they can not prevail against the ordinary authority and power of lawful princes and governors them selves alone, they do seek the aid and help of the ignorant multitude, abusing them to their wicked purpose. Wherefore seeing a few ambitious and malicious are the authors & heads, and multitudes of ignorant men are the ministers and furtherers of rebellion, the chief point of this part shall be aswell to notify to the simple and ignorant men, who they be, that have ben and be the usual authors of rebellion, that they may know them: and also to admonish them to beware of the subtle suggestions of such restless ambitious persons, and so to flee them: that rebellions (though attempted by a few ambitious) through the lack of maintenance by any multitudes, may speedily and easily without any great labour, danger, or damage, be repressed and clearly extinguished. It is well known as well by all histories, as by daily experience, that none have either more ambitiously aspired above Emperors, Kings, and Princes, nor have more perniciously moved the ignorant people to rebellion against their Princes, then certain persons which falsely challenge to them selves to be only counted and called spiritual. I must therefore hear yet once again briefly put you good people, in remembrance out of Gods holy word, how our Saviour Jesus Christ, and his holy Apostles the heads and chief of all true spiritual and