A Golden Chain

The fifth point is, the manner of their accusation, which is diligently to be marked: for they do not only charge him with a manifest untruth, but they beseech Pilate to put him to death, crying, ^aCrucify him, crucify him: in so much that Pontius Pilate was afraid of them: where we see how these shameless Jews go beyond their compass, and the bounds of all accusers, whose duty is to testi•ie only what they know. Now in the matter of this their accusation, appears their wonderful inconstancy. For a little before when Christ came to Jerusalem riding upon an ass, showing some signs of his kingly authority, they cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way, crying, Hosanna, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: but now they sing another song, and in stead of Hosanna, they cry, Crucify him, crucify him. And the like inconstancy is to be found in the people of these our times. They use to receive any religion that is offered unto them: for in the days of King Edward the sixth, the people of England received the Gospel of Christ: but shortly after in Queen Mary's time, the same people received the wretched and abominable doctrine of the church of Rome. And not many years after when it pleased God to bring again the light of his glorious Gospel by our gracious Prince, the same people turned from popery, and embraced the true religion again. And thus with the Jews one while they cry Hosanna to Christ, and receive his Gospel; and shortly after they cry, Crucify him, crucify him, by embracing idolatrous popery. Let us therefore learn in the fear of God, by the fickleness of the Jewes• that sing two contrary songs in so short a space, to acknowledge our inconstancy and weakness in the matter of religion: whereby if God leave us […] •itle to our selves, we shall straightway forsake Christ, his Gospel, and all.

The fifth point is, the manner of their accusation, which is diligently to be marked: for they doe not onely charge him with a manifest vntruth, but they beseech Pilate to put him to death, crying, ^aCrucifie him, crucifie him: in so much that Pontius Pilate was afraid of them: where we see how these shamelesse Iewes goe beyond their compasse, and the bounds of all accusers, whose dutie is to testiie onely what they know. Now in the matter of this their accusation, appeares their wonderfull inconstancie. For a little before when Christ came to Ierusalem riding vpon an asse, shewing some signes of his kingly authoritie, they cut downe branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way, crying, Hosanna, Blessed is he that commeth in the name of the Lord: but now they sing another song, and in stead of Hosanna, they crie, Crucifie him, crucifie him. And the like inconstancie is to be found in the people of these our times. They vse to receiue any religion that is offered vnto them: for in the daies of King Edward the sixth, the people of England receiued the Gospel of Christ: but shortly after in Queene Maries time, the same people receiued the wretched and abhominable doctrine of the church of Rome. And not many yeares after when it pleased God to bring againe the light of his glorious Gospel by our gracious Prince, the same people turned from poperie, and embraced the true religion againe. And thus with the Iewes one while they crie Hosanna to Christ, and receiue his Gospel; and shortly after they crie, Crucifie him, crucifie him, by embracing idolatrous poperie. Let vs therefore learne in the feare of God, by the ficklenes of the Iewes that sing two contrarie songs in so short a space, to acknowledge our inconstancie and weaknes in the matter of religion: whereby if God leaue vs itle to our selues, we shall straightway forsake Christ, his Gospel, and all.