PHIL. The children which sing, betoken the faithful christen men in this world, which ought to be simple & humble in heart, as a child is, as Christ saith, 1verily I say unto you, except ye be converted & become as a child, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Who so ever therefore humbleth himself as this child, he it is that is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ⟨image 70⟩Also S. Paul, Brothers, be 2not children, in understanding how be it, as concerning maliciousness, be children, but in understanding be perfect. Now as concerning the singing & casting down of cakes & flowers, ye shall hear now three things. The first is 3giving of glory & praise to Christ for his innumerable benefits showed unto us, which is signified by the singing of the children. For it is convenient that we be not forgetful of God's goodness toward us, but that we be thankful again for it, and sing perpetual praises to his most blessed name. For this is the reward and amends that he desireth, as he himself saith, the Sacrifice of praise shall 4honour me. Also the Psalmograph saith: Osier to God the Sacrifice of praise. The second is an honest conversation, & the continual ⟨image 71⟩5exercise of godly virtues, which is signified by the flowers, that the chill dren east do•ne. For seeing that we are restored unto our old liberty 6through Christ, which we lost in Adam, & are now become christen men, we ought not only to be thankful to God for his benefits, but all so lead an honest & pure life, that by this means also God's glory may be set forth by us, as Christ saith, Let your light so shine before 7men, that they may see your good works, & glorify your father which is in heaven. We are set with out fear, & delivered from the power of our enemies, saith Zachary the priest father of S. John Baptiste, that we should serve God all the day 8es of our life, in holiness & righteousness. We are the workmanship of god, saith S. Paul, created in 9Jesus Christ unto good works, which God hath prepared that we ⟨image 71⟩should walk in them. Again, ye 10are dearly bought. Glorify GOD now therefore in your body & in your spirit, which are Goddes. Also in another place, If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. The third is mercy toward the poor 11people, which is signified by the ca sting down of the cakes.
PHIL. The chyldrē which sig, betokē ye faithful christen men in this worlde, whiche ought to be simple & hūble in hert, as a chylde is, as Christ sayth, vere 1ly I saye vnto you, excepte ye be cō uerted & become as a chylde, ye shal not enter into the kingdome of heuen. Who so euer therfore hūblethe himselfe as this chylde, he it is that is greatest in the kyngdome of heauen. ⟨image 70⟩Also S. Paule, Brothers, be 2not chyldren, in vnderstandynge howe be it, as concernynge maliciousnes, be chyldren, but in vnderstandynge be perfecte. Nowe as cō cernynge the syngynge & castynge downe of cakes & floures, ye shall heare now thre thiges. The fyrst is 3geuyng of glorye & prayse to Christ for his innumerable benefites shewed vnto vs, which is signifyed by the syngyng of the chyldren. For it is conueniente that we be not forgetfull of Goddes goodnes toward vs, but that we be thanckefull agayne for it, and synge perpetuall prayses to his moost blyssed name. For this is the rewarde and amendes that he desireth, as he himselfe sayth, the Sacrifice of prayse shall 4honouor me. Also ye Psalmograph sayth: O•ier to God the Sacrifice of prayse. The seconde is an honest conuersacion, & the continuall ⟨image 71⟩5exercyse of godly vertues, which is signified by the floures, that ye chyl dren east do•ne. For seing that we are restored vnto oure olde liberte 6thorowe Christe, whiche we lost in Adam, & are nowe become christen mē, we ought not only to be thākeful to God for his benefites, but al so leade an honest & pure lyfe, that by this meanes also Goddes glory maye be set forth by vs, as Christe sayth, Let youre lyght so shyne before 7men, that they maye se youre good workes, & glorify your father which is in heauen. We are set wt oute feare, & delyuered frō ye power of our enemies, sayth Zacharye ye preste father of S. Iohn Baptiste, that we should serue God all ye day
- 1•at xviii
- 2[…]. Cor: […]〈…〉. Cor: 〈…〉
- 3What the singing of […] children sig nyfy•,What the syngyng of 〈…〉 chyldren sig nyfy•,
- 4Psa. […]Psa. 〈…〉
- 5What […] flou re• signify•.What 〈…〉 flou re• signify•.
- 6Note
- 7math. v.
- 8Luke. i.
- 9Ephe. ii.
- 10i. Cor. v•
- 11ii. Cor. v.
