The whole works of W. Tyndall, John Frith, and Doct. Barnes, three worthy martyrs,…The vvhole workes of W. Tyndall, Iohn Frith, and Doct. Barnes, three worthy martyrs,…

And abode therefore in unbelief and perished in resisting God.

And abode therfore in vnbelefe and perished in resisting God.

Let us receive all things of God ¹whether it be good or bad: let us humble our selves under his mighty hand and submit our selves unto his nurture and chastising, and not withdraw our selves from his correction. Read Hebr. xij. for thy comfort: and let us not take the staff by the end or seek to avenge our selves on his rod, which is the evil rulers. The child as long as he seeketh to avenge him self upon the rod hath an evil hart. For he thinketh not that the correction is right or that he hath deserved it, neither repenteth, but rejoiceth in his wickedness. And so long shall he never be without a rod: yea so long shall the rod be made sharper and sharper. If he knowledge his fault and take the correction meekly and even kiss the rod and amend him self with the learning and nurture of his father & mother, then is the rod taken away and burnt.

Let vs receaue all thinges of God ¹whether it be good or bad: let vs humble our selues vnder his mighty hand and submitte our selues vnto his nurture and chastising, and not withdraw our selues from his correction. Read Hebr. xij. for thy comfort: and let vs not take the stafe by the end or seke to auenge our selues on his rodde, which is the euill rulers. The child as long as he seketh to auenge him selfe vpon the rodde hath an euill hart. For he thinketh not that the correctiō is right or that he hath deserued it, neither repenteth, but reioyseth in his wickednes. And so lōg shall he neuer be without a rodde: yea so long shall the rodde be made sharper and sharper. If he knowledge his faute and take the correction mekely and euē kisse the rodde and amende him selfe with the learnyng and nurture of his father & mother, then is the rodde takē away and burnt.

1. 1The right way to came of bondage.

So if we resist evil rulers seeking ¹to set our selves at liberty, we shall no doubt bring our selves into more evil bondage & wrap our selves in much more misery and wretchedness. For if the heads overcome, then lay they more weight on their backs & make their yoke sorer and tie them shorter. If they overcome their evil rulers, then make they way for a more cruel nation, or for some tyrant of their own nation, which hath no right unto the crown. If we submit our selves unto the chastising of God and meekly knowledge our sins for which we are scourged, and kiss the rod, and amend our living: then will GOD take the rod away, that is, he will give the rulers a better hart. Or if they continue their malice and persecute you for well doing, and because ye put your trust in GOD, then will God deliver you out of their tyranny for his truths sake. It is the same ²God now that was in the old time & delivered the fathers and the Prophets, the Apostles and other holy Saints. And what soever he sware to them he hath sworn to us. And as he delivered them out of all temptation cumbrance and adversity, because they consented and submitted them selves unto his will and trusted in his goodness and truth: even so will he do us if we do likewise.

So if we resiste euill rulers sekyng ¹to set our selues at libertie, we shall no doubt bring our selues into more euill bondage & wrappe our selues in much more miserie and wretchednes. For if the heades ouercome, then lay they more weight on their backes & make their yoke sorer and tye them shorter. If they ouercome their euill rulers, then make they way for a more cruell natiō, or for some tyraunt of their own nation, whiche hath no right vnto the crown. If we submitte our selues vnto the chastisyng of God and mekely knowledge our sinnes for whiche we are scourged, and kisse the rodde, and amende our liuyng: then will GOD take the rodde away, that is, he will geue the rulers a better hart. Or if they continue their malice and persecute you for well doyng, and because ye put your trust in GOD, then will God deliuer you out of their tyranny for his truthes sake. It is the same ²God now that was in the old time & deliuered the fathers and the Prophetes, the Apostles and other holy Saintes. And what soeuer he sware to them he hath sworne to vs. And as he deliuered them out of all temptation combraūce and aduersitie, because they consented and submitted them selues vnto his will and trusted in his goodnes and truth: euen so will he do vs if we do likewise.

A Christen man in respect of God ¹is but a passive thing, a thing that suffereth only and doth nought, as the sick in respect of the Surgeon or Physician doth but suffer only. The Surgeon lanceth and cutteth out the dead flesh, searcheth the wounds, thrusteth in tents, seareth, burneth, soweth or stitcheth, and leieth to corsies to draw out y• corruption, & last of all leieth to healing plasters & maketh it whole. The Physician likewise giveth purgations and drinks to drive out the disease and then with restoratives bringeth health. Now if the sick resist the razor, the searching iron, and so forth, doth he not resist his own health and is cause of his own death? So likewise ²is it of us, if we resist evil rulers which are the rod & scourge wherewith God chastiseth us, the instruments wherewith God searcheth out wounds and bitter drinks to drive out the sin and to make it appear, and corsies to draw out by the roots the core of the pox of the soul that fretteth inward. A Christen man therefore ³receiveth all thing of the hand of God both good and bad, both sweet and sour, both wealth & woe. If any person do me good, whether it be father ⟨p. 120⟩mother and so forth, that receive I of God and to God give thanks. For he gave wherewith, and gave a commandment, and moved his hart so to do. Adversity also receive I of the hand of God as an wholesome medicine, though it be somewhat bitter. Temptation and adversity do both kill sin, and also utter it. For though ⁴a Christen man knoweth every thing how to live: yet is the flesh so weak, that he can never take up his cross him self to kill and mortify the flesh. He must have an other to lay it on his back. In many also sin lieth hid within and festereth and rotteth inward & is not seen: so that they think how they are good and perfect & keep the law. As the young man. Math. xix. said he had observed all of a child, and yet lied falsely in his hart, as the text following well declareth. When all is at peace and no man troubleth us, we think that we are patient and love our neighbours as our selves: but let our neighbour hurt us in word or deed, and then find we it otherwise. Then fume we and rage and set up the bristles & bend our selves to take vengeance.

If we loved with godly love for Christs kindness sake, we should desire no vengeance, but pity him and desire God to forgive and amend him knowing well that no flesh can do otherwise the sin, except that God preserve him. Thou wilt say what good doth such persecution and tyranny unto the righteous? First it maketh them feel the working of Gods spirit in them, and that their faith is unfeigned. Secondarily I say ¹that no man is so great a sinner, if he repent and believe, but that he is righteous in Christ and in the promises: yet if thou look on the flesh and unto the law there is no man so perfect that is not found a sinner. Nor any man so pure, that hath not somewhat to be yet purged. This shall suffice at this time as concerning obedience.

If we loued with godly loue for Christes kindnes sake, we should desire no vengeaunce, but pitie him and desire God to forgeue and amend him knowing well that no flesh can do otherwise the sinne, except that God preserue hym. Thou wilt say what good doth such persecution and tyranny vnto the righteous? First it maketh them feele the woorkyng of Gods spirite in them, and that theyr fayth is vnfayned. Secondaryly I say ¹that no man is so great a sinner, if he repent and beleue, but that he is righteous in Christ and in the promises: yet if thou looke on the flesh and vnto the law there is no man so perfect that is not founde a sinner. Nor any man so pure, that hath not somewhat to be yet purged. This shall suffice at this time as concernyng obedience.

1. 1The greatest sinner is righteous in Christ and the promises. And the perfectest and holyest is a sinner in the law & the flesh.The greatest sinner is righteous in Christ and the promises. And the perfectest and holyest is a sinner in the lawe & the fleshe.

Because that God excludeth no degree from his mercy. But who so ever repenteth and believeth his promises (of what soever degree he be of) the same shall be partaker of his grace: therefore as I have described the obedience of them that are under power and rule, even so will I with Gods help (as my duty is) declare how the rulers which God shall vouchsafe to call unto the knowledge of the truth ought to rule.

BEcause that God excludeth no degree from his mercy. But who so euer repenteth and beleueth his promises (of what soeuer degree he be of) the same shalbe partaker of hys grace: therfore as I haue described the obedience of them that are vnder power and rule, euen so will I with Gods helpe (as my dutie is) declare how the rulers whiche God shall vouchsafe to call vnto the knowledge of the truth ought to rule.

¶ The office of a Father, and how he should rule.

Fathers move not your children unto wrath: but bring them up in y• nurture and information ¹of the Lord. Ephe. vi. and Collos. iij. Fathers rate not your children, least they be of desperate mind, that is, least you discourage them. For where y• fathers and mothers are wayward hasty and churlish, ever brawling and chiding: there are yt children anon discouraged and heartless, and apt for nothing, neither can they ²do any thing aright. Bring them up in the nurture and information of the Lord. Teach them to know Christ, and set Gods ordinance before them, saying: son or daughter, God hath created thee and made thee, thorough us thy father and mother, and at his commandment have we so long thus kindly brought thee up, and kept thee from all perils, he hath commanded thee also to obey us, saying: child obey thy father and mother. If thou meekly obey, so shalt thou grow both in the favour of God & man, & knowledge of our Lord Christ. If thou wilt not obey us at his commandment: then are we charged to correct thee, yea, and if thou repent not and amend thy self, God shall slay thee by his officers, ³or punish thee everlastingly. Nurture them not worldly, & with worldly wisdom, saying: thou shalt come to honour, dignity, promotion, and riches, thou shalt be better then such and such, thou shalt have iij. or iiij. benefices, and be a great doctor or a Bishop, and have so many men waiting on thee, and do nothing but hawk and hunt, and live at pleasure, thou shalt not need to sweat, to labour or to take any pain for thy living and so forth, filling them full of pride, disdain, and ambition, and corrupting their minds with worldly persuasions. Let the fathers and mothers mark how they themselves were disposed at all ages, & by experience of their own infirmities, help their children and keep them from occasions. Let them teach their children to axe marriages of ⁴their fathers & mothers. And let their elders provide marriages for them in season: teaching them also to know, that she is not his wife which y• son taketh, nor he her husband which the daughter taketh without the consent and good will of their elders, or them

Let not yt fathers & mothers always take the utmost of their authority of their children, but at a time suffer with them, and bear their weaknesses, as Christ doth ours. Seek Christ in your children, in your wives, servants, and subjects. Father, mother, son, daughter, master, servant, king and subject, be names in the worldly regiment. In Christ we are all one thing, ¹none better then other, all brethren, & must all seek Christ, and our brothers profit in Christ. And he that hath the knowledge whether he be Lord or king, is bound to submit himself and serve his brethren, and to give him self for them, to win them to Christ.

Let not yt fathers & mothers alwayes take the vtmost of their authoritie of their children, but at a time suffer with them, and beare theyr weaknesses, as Christ doth oures. Seeke Christ in your children, in your wiues, seruants, and subiectes. Father, mother, sonne, daughter, maister, seruaunt, kyng and subiect, be names in the worldly regiment. In Christ we are all one thing, ¹none better then other, all brethren, & must all seeke Christ, and our brothers profit in Christ. And he that hath the knowledge whether he be Lorde or kyng, is bounde to submitte hymselfe and serue his brethrē, and to geue hym selfe for them, to winne them to Christ.

1. 1In Christ we are all servants, and he that hath knowledge is bound.In Christ we are all seruaunts, and he that hath knowledge is bounde.

¶ The office of an husband and how he ought to rule.

Husbands love your wives, as Christ loved the congregation, and gave himself for it, to sanctify it, and cleanse it. Men ought to love their wives, as their own bodies. For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall continue with his wife, and shall be made both one flesh. See that ever one of you love his wife even as his own body: All this saith Paul. Ephe. v. and Collo. iij. he saith husbands love your wives, and be not bitter unto them. And Peter in the third chapter of his first epistle saith: men ¹dwell with your wives according to knowledge, (that is, according to the doctrine of Christ) giving reverence unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel (that is, help her to bear her infirmities) and as unto them that are heirs also of the grace of life, that your prayers be not let. In many things ²God hath made the men stronger then the women, not to rage upon them, & to be tyrants unto then, but to help them, but to bear their weakness. Be courteous therefore unto them, and win them unto Christ, and overcome them with kindness, that of love they may obey y• ordinance that God hath made between man and wife.

HUsbandes loue your wiues, as Christ loued the congregation, and gaue hymselfe for it, to sanctifie it, and clense it. Men ought to loue their wiues, as their owne bodyes. For this cause shall a man leaue father and mother, and shall continue with his wife, and shall be made both one flesh. See that euer one of you loue his wyfe euen as hys owne bodye: All thys sayth Paul. Ephe. v. and Collo. iij. he sayth husbādes loue your wiues, and be not bitter vnto thē. And Peter in the thyrd chapter of hys first epistle sayth: men ¹dwell with your wiues according to knowledge, (that is, according to the doctrine of Christ) geuing reuerence vnto the wife, as vnto the weaker vessell (that is, helpe her to beare her infirmities) and as vnto them that are heyres also of ye grace of lyfe, that your prayers be not let. In many thynges ²

¶ The office of a master, and how he ought to rule.

¶ The office of a maister, and how he ought to rule.

Paul Ephe. vi. saith: ye masters do even the same things unto them (that is, be master after the example & doctrine of Christ, as he before taught y• servants to obey unto their masters as unto Christ) putting away threatenings (that is, give ¹them fair words, & exhort them kindly to do their duty: yea nurture them as thine own sons with y• Lords nurture, that they may see in Christ a cause why they ought lovingly to obey) and remember (saith he) that your master also is in heaven. Neither is there any respect of persons with him, that is, he is indifferent and not partial: as great in his sight is a servant as a master. And the third chapter to the Col. saith he: ye masters, do unto your servants that which is just and equal, remembering that ye also have a master in heaven. Give your servants kind words, food, raiment and learning. Be not bitter unto them, rail not on them, give them no cruel countenance: but according to the ensample and doctrine of Christ, deal with them. And when they labour sore, cherish them ²again. When ye correct them, let Gods word be by, and do it with such good manner that they may see how that ye do it to amend them only, and to bring them unto the way which God biddeth us walk in, and not to avenge your selves, or to wreak your malice on them. If at a time thorough hastiness ye exceed measure in punishing, recompense it an other way and pardon them an other time.

PAule Ephe. vi. saith: ye maisters do euen ye same thinges vnto thē (that is, be maister after ye example & doctrine of Christ, as he before taught y• seruauntes to obey vnto their maisters as vnto Christ) putting away threanings (that is, geue ¹thē fayre wordse, & exhort thē kyndely to do theyr dutie: yea nurtour them as thine own sonnes with y• Lords nourtour, that they may see in Christ a cause why they ought louingly to obey) and remember (saith he) that your maister also is in heauen. Neither is there any respect of persons wyth hym, that is, he is indifferent and not parciall: as great in hys sight is a seruaunt as a maister. And the third chapter to the Col. saith he: ye maisters, do vnto your seruaunts that which is iust and equal, remembring that ye also haue a maister in heauen. Geue your seruaunts kinde wordes, fode, rayment and learnyng. Be not bitter vnto them, rayle not on them, geue thē no cruell countenaunce: but according to the ensample and doctrine of Christ, deale with them. And when they labour sore, cherishe them

¶ The duty of Landlords.

¶ The dutie of Landlordes.

Let Christen Landlords be content with their rent and ¹old customs, not raising y• rent or fines & bringing up new customs to oppress their tenants: neither letting two or three tenantries unto one man. Let them not take in their communes, neither make parks nor pastures of whole parishes. For God gave the earth to ²men to inhabit, and not unto sheep and wild dear. Be as fathers unto your tenants: yea be unto them, as Christ was unto us, and show unto them all love, and kindness. What soever business is among them, be not partial, favouring one more than an other. The complaints, quarrels, and strife that are among them, count diseases of sick people, and as a merciful physician heal them with wisdom and good counsel. Be pitiful and tender hearted unto them, and let not one of thy tenants tear out an others ⟨p. 122⟩throat, but judge their causes indifferently and compel them to make their ditches, hedges, gates and ways. For even for such causes were ye made landlords, and for such causes paid men rent at the beginning. For if such an order were not, one should slay an other, and all should go to wast. If thy tenant shall labour and toil all the year to pay thee thy rent, and when he hath bestowed all his labour, his neighbours cattle shall devour his fruits, how tedious and bitter should his life ³be? See therefore that ye do your duties again, and suffer no man to do them wrong, save the king only. If he do wrong, then must they abide Gods judgement.

LEt Christen Landlordes be content wyth their rent and ¹olde customes, not reysing y• rent or fynes & bringing vp new customes to oppresse their tenauntes: neither letting two or three tenauntryes vnto one man. Let them not take in their communes, neyther make parkes nor pastures of whole parishes. For God gaue the earth to ²men to inhabite, and not vnto sheepe and wilde deare. Be as fathers vnto your tenauntes: yea be vnto them, as Christ was vnto vs, and shew vnto them all loue, and kyndnes. What soeuer busines is among thē, be not parciall, fauouring one more thē an other. The complayntes, quarels, and strife that are among them, counte diseases of sicke people, and as a mercifull phisition heale them wyth wisdome and good councell. Be pitifull and tender harted vnto them, and let not one of thy tenauntes teare out an others