A pleasant new nosegay full of many godly and sweet flowers, lately gatheredA pleasaunt newe nosegaye full of many godly and swete floures, lately gathered
A pleasant new nosegay full of many godly and sweet flowers, lately gathered by Theodore Basil.A pleasaunt newe nosegaye full of many godly and swete floures, lately gathered by Theodore Basille.
Thomas Becon 1512–1567printed for Joha, 1543printed for Ioha, 1543
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Phil. It is not without a cause, that I have given you this flour. For the savour of all your aforesaid flowers profiteth without this but little.1 This flour is the very same to your Nosegay that a precious stone a costly pearl, a goodly ouch, is to a ring or any other Jewel. With out this flour all the other will soon wither away, & come to nought. But so long as the beauty of this your flour lasteth, so long can not your Nosegay decay & perish. Can ⟨image 93⟩any thing be good & godly, where love & Charity wanteth? And because ye should know, that I mean none unfeigned love, I have named your flour, Christen Charity. For our Charity & love ought not to be carnal, fleshly, beastlike, worldly,
feigned, unclean & flitting, but spiritual, ghostly, christen, heavenly, true, pure, & abiding for evermore. And this is that Christen Charity, whereof your flour speaketh,
Read y• Chapter wham ye come home. Certes this Charity & christen love must needs be an excellent thing, seeing it is the end of the Commandment, & the fulfilling of all the law, seeing also that Christ in his last sermon, which he
⟨image 94⟩
made to his Disciples a little before his passion exhorteth us with so many words unto it. S. John feareth not so greatly to advance and commend Charity,
that he affirmeth God to be Charity, saying, God is Charity, & he that abideth in Charity, abideth in God, & God in him. Unto this true and Christen Charity. S. Peter also moveth us on this manner:
Before all things, saith he, have fervent charity among you. For Charity covereth y• multitude of since. And S. Paul saith, above all things have Charity, which is the bond of perfection. For he y• hath this christen Charity can none otherwise but love God with all his heart,
mind, strength, power & soul. He can none otherwise but forsake the world, the devil & the flesh, & cleave to God alone as a true and faithful wife doth to her husband. He will by no means swear by
⟨image 94⟩
y• name of his lord god, but reverence honour, worship & praise it. He will not break the Sabbath day, but sanctify it according to the word of God.
Phil. It is not without a cause, that I haue gyuen you this floure. For the sauour of all your aforsayd floures profyteth without this but lytle.1 This floure is the very same to your Nosegay that a precious stone a costious pearle, a goodly owch, is to a ryng or ony other Iewel. With out this floure all ye other wyll sone wyther awaye, & come to noughte. But so longe as the beauty of this your flour lasteth, so longe can not your Nosegaye decaye & perysh. Cā ⟨image 93⟩ony thynge be good & godly, where loue & Charite wantethe? And bycause ye shoulde knowe, yt I meane none vnfayned loue, I haue named your floure, Christen Charite. For our Charite & loue ought not to be carnall, fleshly, beastlyke, worldly,2 fayned, vncleane & flyttynge, but spirituall, ghostly, christē, heauēly, true, pure, & abydyng for euermore. And this is that Christē Charite, wherof your floure speketh,3 Let vs not loue in vvorde nor tonge, but in VVork & trueth. Withoute this Charite S. Paule affirmethe in his Epistle to the Corinthiās, that no worke,4 seme it neuer so good & godly, profyteth onye thynge at all.5 Rede y• Chapter whā ye come home. Certes this Charite & christen loue must nedes be an excellent thynge, seynge it is the ende of the Cōmaundement, & the fulfyllynge of all the law, seyng also that Christ in his last sermon, whiche he ⟨image 94⟩made to his Disciples a litle before his passhon exorteth vs with so many wordes vnto it. S. Iohn̄ fereth not so greatlye to auaūce and commende Charite,6 yt he affirmeth God to be Charite, sayeng, God is Charite, & he that abydethe in Charite, abydeth in God, & God in hym. Unto thys true and Christen Charite. S. Peter also mouethe vs on thys manner:7 Before all thynges, saythe he, haue feruēt charite among you. For Charite couereth y• multitude of synnes. And S. Paule saythe, aboue al thīges haue Charite, which is the bonde of perfeccion. For he y• hath this christē Charite can none otherwyse but loue God wythe all his harte,8 mynde, strength, power & soule. He can none otherwyse but forsake the worlde, the dyuell & the flesh, & cleue to God alone as a true and faythfull wyfe doth to her husbond. He wyl by no menes swere by ⟨image 94⟩y• name of his lord god, but reuerēce honour, worship & prayse it. He wyl not breake the Sabbothe daye, but sanctify it accordyng to the worde of God.
1Behold y• excellency of Charity.Behold y• excellency of Charite.
2What love we ought to have among us.What loue we ought to haue amōge vs.
Again,1 he that loveth his neighbour sincerely, will by no means hurt him, nor work any evil against him. He will not disobey his superiors. He will commit no manslaughter, whoredom, theft, nor bear any false witness nor yet covet that, which should be hindrance to his neighbour, but he will gladly & with a free spirit do unto the uttermost of his power, what so ever the Scripture requireth of him, as Christ saith, if any man loveth me, he will keep my word, and my father shall love him, & we will come to him & dwell with him. He that loveth not me, keepeth not my words.2 He that hath my Commandments & keepeth them, he it is that loveth me, & he that loveth me, shall ⟨image 95⟩be loved of my father, & I will love him & show my self unto him. How doth this your flour please you?
Agayne,1 he that loueth his neyghbour sincerly, wyl by no meanes hurte hym, nor worke any euel agaynst hym. He wyll not disobeye his superiours. He wyl commyt no manslaughter, whoredome, thefte, nor beare ony false wytnes nor yet couyt that, which shoulde be hynderaūce to his neyghbour, but he wyl gladly & with a free spirite do vnto the vttermooste of his power, what so euer the Scripture requireth of hym, as Christ sayth, yf ony man loueth me, he wyll kepe my word, and my father shall loue hym, & we wyl come to hym & dwell with hym. He that loueth not me, kepeth not my wordes.2 He that hath my Commaū dementes & kepeth thē, he it is that loueth me, & he that loueth me, shall ⟨image 95⟩be loued of my father, & I wyl loue hym & shewe my selfe vnto hī. How dothe this youre floure please you?
1what y• love of our neighbour doth.what y• loue of our neighbour doth.
Theo. It is not lawful than for us to e•presse the love that we bear in our hearts towards our neighbour by manifest, open & evident words? as to speak gently, to common friendly, & to wish well with loving words to all men?
Theo. It is not lawefull than for vs to e•presse the loue that we beare in oure hartes towardes oure neyghboure by manifeste, open & euident wordes? as to speake gentylly, to cō mon frendely, & to wysh wel with louynge wordes to all men?
Phil. S. John in this place forbiddeth no more gentle speech & loving communication,1 than S. Paul in your ⟨image 95⟩other flour did forbid to make provision for you and yours. But his mind is this, they which will crake & boast by outward words, that they love God & their neighbour, & yet show it not in works and trueth, they are liars, & have not in them the christen Charity, which the Scripture commendeth so greatly in every place. Such are like them, of whom S. Paul speaketh on this manner, they say they know God, but with their deeds they deny it plainly,2 seeing they are abominable, disobedient and minded unto no good works.3 He that hath the substance of the world, saith S. John, & seeth his brother have need, & is moved with no compassion towards him, how doth the love of God abide in him? As though he should say, albeit a man cracketh never so much that he loveth God,4 yet if he fulfilleth not that, which God commandeth him, how ⟨image 96⟩dare such one boast that he loveth God? A man loveth so much as he worketh. If he worketh no thing, neither doth he love any thing. For as S. Gregory saith in a certain homely,5 the love of GOD is never idle. For he worketh great things, if it be love, but if it ceaseth to work,6 than is it no love in deed. Love, saith S. Paul is patient & courteous. Love envieth not, love doth not frowardly. Love is not puffed up, dealeth not dishonestly, seeketh not her own. Love is not provoked to anger, thinketh not evil, rejoiceth not of iniquity, but rejoiceth in the trueth, suffereth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, abideth all things. What a point is this of love, to say that I love God,7 & yet run a whorehuntynge after strange Gods?
Again what a point of love is this to say, that I honour the name ⟨image 96⟩of God, and yet blaspheme it with most shameful & abominable oaths? What love is this toward my neighbour to say that I love him and yet will do no thing for him, when I see him in necessity? Is this love? Perish mought such love. Against these wicked Hypocrites & open dissemblers doth S. John in this place thunder,8 wham he saith let us not love in word nor tongue, but in work & trueth.
Phil. S. Iohn in this place forbyddethe no more gentle speache & louynge communicacion,1 thā S. Paule in your ⟨image 95⟩other flour dyd forbyd to make prouision for you and yours. But his mynd is this, they which wyl crake & boste by outwarde wordes, yt they loue God & theyr neyghbour, & yet shew it not in workes and truethe, they are lyers, & haue not in thē the christen Charite, which the Scripture cōmendeth so greatly in euery place. Such are lyke thē, of whome S. Paule speaketh on this māner, they saye they knowe God, but wt theyr dedes they denye it playnely,2 seynge they are obhominable, disobedient and mynded vnto no good workes.3 He that hath the substance of the world, sayth S. Iohn, & seeth his brother haue nede, & is moued with no compassion towardes him, howe doth the loue of God abide in hym? As though he should say, albeit a mā craketh neuer so much yt he loueth God,4 yet yf he fulfylleth not that, which God cōmaundeth him, howe ⟨image 96⟩dare suche one boste that he louethe God? A man loueth so muche as he worketh. If he worketh no thynge, nother doth he loue any thing. For as S. Gregory sayth in a certayne homely,5 the loue of GOD is neuer idle. For he worketh great thinges, yf it be loue, but if it seaseth to worke,6 than is it no loue in dede. Loue, sayth S. Paule is pacient & curtious. Loue enuiethe not, loue dothe not frowardely. Loue is not puffed vp, dealeth not dishonestly, seaketh not her owne. Loue is not prouoked to anger, thynketh not euell, reioysethe not of iniquite, but reioyseth in the trueth, suffereth al thinges, beleuethe all thynges, hopethe all thynges, abydethe all thynges. What a poynt is this of loue, to say that I loue God,7 & yet run a whorehuntynge after straunge Goddes?
Agayne what a poynte of loue is this to saye, that I honour ye name ⟨image 96⟩
There were in the time of the Apostles many false Christians, which by words pretended much love both towards God and their neighbour, and yet did they express & show none at all by their outward deeds. Such have we now a days also among us, which stiffly affirm that they love God & his word, yet do their works prove the contrary. The scripture rejecteth that love which is feigned, and is not in spirit and ⟨image 97⟩trueth, that is to say, first engrafted in the heart, & afterward declared by manifest & evident works, worthy such a love. Therefore neighbours, if ye will smell aright and to your comfort of this your flour Christen Charity, provide that your love be not feigned. Let it not only be in word and tongue, but also in work and trueth.1 First as concerning your love toward God, it shall appear in nothing more manifestly, than if you labour with all main in all your works to seek the glory of God, the honour of his most blessed name & the promotion of his holy word. Again as touching your neighbour your love shall not be feigned towards him,2 if ye help him in all such things as he hath need of, as for an example. If ye perceive him ignorant in the law of God, teach him God's word, bring him unto Christ, ⟨image 97⟩teach him where, of whom and by what means he shall obtain health & salvation? Declare to him what y• true & christen faith is? & of what great strength, virtue, efficacy and power it is. Exhort him unto the true good works, which god approveth by his word, & leaveth not unrewarded.3 Charge him to fly unto y• name of God as unto a strong Bulwark in all his adversity and trouble. Furthermore if ye perceive that he is given altogether to wickedness and will not gladly hear any wholesome admonition, yet cease not to pray for him,4 as Abraham did for the filthy Sodomites and Moses for the disobedient Jews.5 Yea though he be your extreme enemy and seeketh your life,6 yet wish well unto him, pray for him, and desire God to forgive him, as Christ and Steven did. Again if ye perceive that he is poor & hath ⟨image 98⟩need of your help, fail not to succour his misery and to help him in his need even to the uttermost of your power, to make an end, if ye perceive that your neighbour hath need of any thing that ye are able to do for him, I charge you in God's behalf, that ye with all expedition, help and comfort him.
There were in the tyme of the Apostles manye false Christians, whiche by wordes pretended muche loue both towardes God and theyr neyghbour, and yet dyd they expresse & shew none at all by theyr outward dedes. Such haue we nowe a dayes also among vs, which styffely affyrme that they loue God & his worde, yet do theyr workes proue the contrarye. The scripture reiecteth that loue which is fayned, and is not in spirite and ⟨image 97⟩trueth, that is to say, fyrst engraffed in the harte, & afterwarde declared by manifeste & euident workes, worthy such a loue. Therfore neighbours, yf ye wyll smell aryght and to your conforte of this your floure Christen Charite, prouide that youre loue benot fayned. Let it not only be in worde and tonge, but also in worke and trueth.1 Fyrst as concernynge youre loue towarde God, it shall appeare in nothynge more manifestly, than yf you laboure wythe all mayne in al your workes to seke the glory of God, the honour of his moost blyssed name & the promociō of his holy worde. Agayne as towchynge your neyghbour your loue shallnot be fayned towardes hym,2 yf ye helpe hym in all such thynges as he hath nede of, as for an example. If ye perceyue hym ignoraunt in the lawe of God, teach hym Goddes worde, bryng hym vnto Christ, ⟨image 97⟩teache hym where, of whom and by what meanes he shal obtayne helth & saluacion? Declare to hym what y• true & christē faythe is? & of what great strength, vertue, efficacy and power it is. Exhorte hym vnto the true good workes, which god approueth by his worde, & leueth not vnrewarded.3 Charge hym to flye vnto y• name of God as vnto a strong Bulwarke in all his aduersite and trouble. Furthermore yf ye ꝑceyue that he is gyuen altogyther to wickednes and wyll not gladlye heare anye wholesome admonicion, yette cease not to praye for him,4 as Abraham dyd for the fylthy Sodomites and Moses for the disobedient Iewes.5 Yea thogh he be your extreme enemye and seaketh youre lyfe,6
If ye do this, than do ye smell aright on this your flour, Christen Charity, & shall receive rewards abundant for your good deeds, but if ye do it not know that though ye boast never so much in word and tong of your love towards god & your neighbour,1 yet shall ye go to the devil headlong like abominable Hypocrites and wicked dissemblers, & shall receive greater damnation than they which never knew truly no part of God, seeing your love is only in word and tong, but not in spirit and trueth.
If ye do this, thā do ye smel aright on this your flour, Christē Charite, & shal receyue rewardes abūdāt for your good dedes, but if ye do it not know yt though ye bost neuer so muche in word and tong of your loue towardes god & your neyghbour,1 yet shal ye go to the dyuel headlong lyke abhominable Hypocrites and wycked dissemblers, & shall receaue greater damnacion than they which neuer knewe truelye no parte of God, seing your loue is only in worde and tong, but not in spirite and trueth.
Euse. As concerning our love toward ⟨image 98⟩God, we will employ all our industry and labour to have that love toward him,1 which Peter had when he said unto Christ, LORD thou knowest that I love thee, & as touching our neighbour we will labour no less heartily to love him, than Jonathan did David,2 which as the Scripture saith, loved him as his own life.
Euse. As concernynge oure loue towarde ⟨image 98⟩God, we wyll employe al our industrye and laboure to haue that loue toward hym,1 which Peter had whan he sayde vnto Christ, LORDE thou knoweste that I loue the, & as towchynge our neyghbour we wyll labour no lesse hartely to loue him, than Ionathas dyd Dauid,2 which as the Scripture sayth, loued him as his owne lyfe.
1Joan. xxii.Ioan. xxii.
2ii. Reg. xviii
an illegible letter
〈…〉
illegible words
〈non-Latin alphabet〉
Greek or Hebrew the transcribers did not key
▪
illegible punctuation
⟨p. 12⟩
a page break in the printed book
of God, and yet blaspheme it withe mooste shamefull & abhominable othes? What loue is this toward my neyghbour to saye that I loue him and yet wyll do no thynge for hym, whan I se him in necessite? Is this loue? Peryshe moughte suche loue. Agaynste these wicked Hypocrites & open dissemblers dothe S. Iohn in this place thonder,
whā he sayth let vs not loue in worde nor tonge, but in worke & trueth.
yet wysh wel vnto hym, praye for him, and desyre God to forgyue him, as Christ and Steuen dyd. Agayne yf ye perceyue that he is poore & hath
⟨image 98⟩
nede of your helpe, fayle not to succoure his miserye and to helpe hym in his nede euen to the vttermoost of youre power, to make an ende, yf ye perceyue that youre neyghboure hath nede of any thyng that ye are able to do for hym, I charge you in Goddes behalfe, that ye with al expedicion, helpe and conforte hī.
