A14133:177
An exposition upon the v.vi.vii. chapters of Matthew which three chapters are the key…An exposycyon vpon the v.vi.vii. chapters of Mathewe which thre chapters are the keye…
An exposition upon the v.vi.vii. chapters of Matthew which three chapters are the key and the door of the scripture, and the restoring again of Moses law corrupt by the scribes and pharisees. And the exposition is the restoring again of Christs law corrupt by the Papists. Item before the book, thou hast a prologue very necessary, containing the whole sum of the covenant made between God and us, upon which we be baptised to keep it. And after thou haste a table that leadeth the by the notes in the margents, unto all that is entreated of in the book.An exposycyon vpon the v.vi.vii. chapters of Mathewe which thre chapters are the keye and the dore of the scrypture, and the restoring agayne of Moses lawe corrupt by ye scrybes and pharyses. And the exposycyon is the restorynge agayne of Chrystes lawe corrupte by the Papystes. Item before the boke, thou hast a prologe very necessary, conteynynge the whole sum of the couenaunt made betwene God and vs, vpon whiche we be baptysed to kepe it. And after thou haste a table that ledeth the by the notes in the margentes, vnto al that is intreated of in the booke.
London? : R. Redman, 1536?
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
1To turn the other cheek is manner of speaking and not to be understand as the words sound as was to cut of the hand and to pluck out the eye. And as we command our children not only not to come nigh a brook or a water, but also not so hardy as once to look that way▪ either to look on fire or once to think on fire, which are impossible to be observed. More is spoken then meant to fear them and to make them perceive that it is earnest that we command. Even so is the meaning here that we in no wile avenge / but be prepared ever to suffer as much more / and never to think it lawful to avenge, how great so ever the injury be, for he him self turned not the other cheek, when he was smitten before the bishop, nor yet Paulus when he was buffeted before the bishop also. But ye have hard a little above.2 Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the earth. Let all the world study to do the wrong, yea let them do the wrong, and yet if thou be meek, thou shalt have food and raiment enough for thee and thine. And more over if the worst come, God shall yet set such a tyrant over thee, that (if thou be meek and canst be content that he poll the properly,3 and even thou mayest bear) shall defend the from all other who is polled intolerably, that his life is better and even death to him, save he that is impatient and can not suffer to be polled. Yea, poll thy self. and prevent other, and give the bailiff or like ⟨p. xlviii⟩officer now a capon, now a pig. now a goose, and so to thy land lord likewise, or if thou have a great farm, now a lamb / now a calf / and let thy wife visit thy land lady three or four times in a year▪ with spiced cakes and apples / pears / cherries and such like. And be thou ready with thine oxen or horses three or four, or half a dozen days in a year to set whom their wood or to plough their land, yea and if thou have a good horse, let them have him good cheap or take a worse for him, and they shall be thy shield and defend the / though they be tyrants and care not for God / that no man else shall dare poll thee. And thereto thou mayst with wisdom get of them, that shall recompense all that thou doest to them.