A sermon of repentance, madeA sermon of repentaunce, made

Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Math. iiij.

Repent, for the kingedome of heauen is at hande. Math. iiij.

This sentence thus pronounced, and preached by our saviour Jesus Christ, as it doeth command us to repent, so to the doing of the same, it showeth us a sufficient cause to stir us up thereunto, namely, for that the kingdom of heaven (which is a kingdom of all joy, peace, riches, power, and pleasure) is at hand, to all such as do so, that is, as do repent. So that the meaning hereof is, as though our saviour might thus speak presently: Sirs, for that I see you all walking the wrong way, even to Satan and unto hell fire, by ⟨image 7⟩following the kingdom of Satan, which now is coloured under the pilled pleasures of this life, and foolishness of the flesh, most subtly to your utter undoing, and destruction: Behold and mark well what I say unto you: The kingdom of heaven that is another manner of joy and felicity, honour, and riches, power, and pleasure, then you now perceive or enjoy, is even at hand, and at your backs, as if you will turn again, that is, repent you, you shall most truly and pleasantly feel, see, and inherit: Turn again therefore I say, that is: repent, for this joy I speak of, even the kingdom of heaven, is at hand.

This sentence thus pronounced, and preached by our sauiour Iesus Christe, as it doeth commaund vs to repent, so to the doinge of the same, it sheweth vs a sufficient cause to sturre vs vppe therevnto, namelye, for that the kyngdome of heauen (which is a kyngedome of all ioye, peace, ryches, power, and pleasure) is at hande, to al such as do so, that is, as do repente. So that the meanynge hereof is, as thoughe our sauiour myght thus speake presently: Syrs, for that I se you al walkynge the wronge way, euen to Sathan and vnto hell fyre, by ⟨image 7⟩folowynge the kyngedome of Sathan, whiche nowe is coloured vnder the pylled pleasures of this lyfe, and folyshnes of the fleshe, moste subtelly to your vtter vndoynge, and destruction: Beholde and marke well what I saye vnto you: The kingdome of heauen that is another maner of ioye and felicitie, honoure, and riches, power, and pleasure, then you nowe perceyue or enioye, is euen at hande, and at youre backes, as yf you wyll turne agayn, that is, repent you, you shal most truely and pleasauntlye fele, see, and enherit: Turne agayne therfore I say, that is: repent, for this ioye I speake of, euen the kyngdome of heauen, is at hande.