Phil. Behold now the Humility of God, conjoined ⟨image 22⟩with unmeasurable mercy.1 He being God & such a LORD, as at y• presence of whom all things both in heaven, earth & hell tremble, shake & do reverence, humbly & lowly came & sought them up, saying, where art thou Adam? And not only this, but when they were ashamed of their nakedness, he made them garments of skins, & put them on them to cover their filthiness. Must not Humility now be a virtue of wonderful excellency, seeing that God himself did first of all practise it?2 Who dare boast him self to be the son of this celestial father ▪ & yet not endowed with Humility? GOD might have suffered them to have perished, or else taken vengeance on them straightways according to their deserts but he would not, but rather gently and lowly sought them up, apparelled them, & by this means preserved ⟨image 22⟩them. O example worthy to be followed of all the faithful.
Moreover what Humility and lowliness was there also in his dearly beloved son our lord & saviour Jesus Christ? Who is able to express his humility, lowliness & meekness? It is not without a cause said of him, learn of me,3 for I am meek & lowly in heart. For what doth his whole life show but humility?4 Was he not borne of a poor maid, even that blessed virgin Mary?5 Did he not suffer his most precious body to be wrapped in vile and simple clouts?6 7Did he disdain to be borne in a stable,8 & to lye in a man ger among brute bests?9 Was not he subject & obedient to Joseph & Mary his mother?10 11Was not he circumcised and baptized for our sake? Was not he so poor,12 that he had not where to rest his head? Did not he keep company with Publicans, ⟨image 23⟩sinners and harlots,13 that he might bring them to grace?14 whom other so greatly did abhor?15 Did not he touch the Lepers, whom other would scarcely vouchsafe once to look upon?16 17Did not he frequent and use the company of all diseased,18 that he might heal them? Did not he go,19 whither so ever he was desired?20 Did not he grant the petitions of the faithful?21 Did not he come riding meekly into Jerusalem upon an Ass without any pomp or pride?22 23Did not he wash his Disciples feet?24 Did not he being in the shape of God and equal with God make him self of no reputation,25 26& toke upon him the shape of a servant,27 became like another man, & was found in his apparel as a man?
Phil. Behold nowe the Humilite of God, conioyned ⟨image 22⟩with vnmesurable mercye.1 He beyng God & such a LORDE, as at y• presence of whome al thynges both in heauen, earth & hell trēble, shake & do reuerence, hūbly & lowly came & sought thē vp, sayeng, where arte thou Adā? And not onlye this, but whan they were ashamed of theyr nakednes, he made them garmentes of skynnes, & put them on them to couer theyr filthynes. Must not Humilite nowe be a vertue of wonderfull excellency, seyng that God hymselfe dyd fyrst of al practyse it?2 Who dare boste hym selfe to be the sonne of this celestiall father ▪ & yet not endewedde withe Humilite? GOD myghte haue suffered them to haue perysshedde, or elles taken vengeaunce on them streyghtwayes accordyng to theyr desertes but he woulde not, but rather gentylly and lowly sought them vp, apparelled them, & by this meanes preserued ⟨image 22⟩them. O example worthy to be followed of all the faythfull.
Moreouer what Humilite and lowlynes was ther also ī his derely beloued sōne our lord & sauiour Iesus Christ? Who is able to expresse his humilite, lowlynes & mekenes? It is not without a cause sayde of hym, learne of me,3 for I am meke & lowly in herte. For what doth hys whole lyfe shew but humilite?4 Was he not borne of a poore mayde, euen that blyssed virgyne Marye?5 Dyd he not suffer his moost precious body to be wrapped ī vyle and simple cloutes?6 7Dydde he disdayne to be borne in a stable,8 & to lye in a maū ger among brute bestes?9 Was not he subiecte & obedient to Ioseph & Mary his mother?
- 1The goodness of God toward man.The goodnes of God toward mā.
- 2•ote well.•ote wel.
- 3Math. xi.
- 4Isaiah. ix.Esay. ix.
- 5Math. i.
- 6Luke. i.ii.
- 7Isaiah. i.Esay. i.
- 8Luke. ii.
- 9Math. viii.
- 10Luke. ix.
- 11Math. ix.
- 12Mark. ii.Marke. ii.
- 13Luke. v.
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