OUr Sauiour séeking throughout, by vertue of this his Sermon, to turne the peoples lea­dē nature into the gol­den metal of grace, and [...]ecause nature did properlie hale [...]on to deale as they were, and not [...]ey would be dealt withall in way [...]engeance: and grace forced them to [...]s they would be & not as they were [...]e to in way of beneuolence: Albeit [...] say) for the spéedier conuersion & ex­ [...]ange sake of their corrupt nature into [...]ure regenerate substance, the Lord in [...]s own person had immediately before [...] this chapter, laid hard to their charge: [Page] yet neuerthelesse dooth hee now afres [...] (as it were) knocke vpon his Discip [...] breasts, and roundlie now againe ru [...] the memories of the residue of his au [...] tors, charging thē straightly with th [...] thrée speciall branches of Christianit [...] The first concerneth the abandoning [...] curious and rash iudgement, The sec [...] cutteth off all malice & priuate reueng [...] and the third is altogither conuersant [...] bout the extending of almes: And the [...] thrée seuerall precepts haue ech of the [...] appendent to him, his kindly promise [...] recompence. So that (as we sée) this i [...] stant treatise stādeth iointly througho [...] of bare propositions and confirmations, yea, vpon méere precepts and promises [...] Wel then, touching the first proposition, sounding in maner of a proclamation a­gainst lauish iudgement, wee must well thinke, that Christes meaning thereby is not, to shorten the armes of ciuil Iud­ges, according to the fantasticall cōstruc­tion of the Anabaptistes: yea, the Lord is so farre off from dashing or putting to silence this same seruiceable sort of Ma­gistrates, that by his owne ordinance and appointment they doo hold their stā ­ding [Page] [...]heir preheminence, and temporall [...]mēt seat in iustice, as may appeare [...]se sundrie places of Testament. [...] 10. Iudges & officers shalt thou Deut. 16. [...] thee in al thy cities, throughout [...]bes. Esai. 1. Iudge the fatherles, Esai. 1. Zach. 7. [...]nd the widow. Zach. 7. Execute [...]udgement, and shew mercie and [...]assion euery one to his brother. [...]. By the controlement of wrong­ [...]ote righteous iudgement cōman­ [...] thus, How long wil ye iudge vn­ [...] psal. 82. & accept the persōs of the wic­ [...] So then hereby we learne, y ^• ciuill [...]racie beautified w ^t vpright iudg­ [...] dooth goe for as singular good pai­ [...] with the Lord as may be Neither [...] this commandement any whit at [...]isable or cut short ecclesiasticall per­ [...] frō iudgement & sentence giuing in [...] causes, as properly appertaine to [...] vocation & iurisdictiō. For as afore­ [...]e in y ^e daies of Moses, y ^e Priests were [...]thorized to iudge of y ^e lepry: so now in [...]r age, the Church likewise is by office [...]ioined to iudge, & for a season to put a­ [...]art the retchlesse and notorious euill [...]uers: and this in the Apostles time [Page] was allowed off, as appeareth whe [...] Paule commanded that such a one [...] kept his fathers wife, Should be deliue­red vp vnto Satā for the destructiō [...] 1. Cor. 5. his flesh, that his spirit might be saue [...] in the day of the Lord Iesus. Yea, such iudgement of ours (I say) is not prohi­bited here, as hath it warrant from ma­nifest and infallible proofes, but that we may with Iohn the Baptist, terme the Phraises and Sadduces, A generation of vipers, and say vnto the Scribes as Christ did. How can yee speake anie thing that good is, whē ye your selues Math. 3. are euil? Yea, we may with the Apostle 1. Cor. 6. thunder out eternall condemnation a­gainst such as defile themselues with fornication, theft, wantonnes, adulterie drunkennes, idolatrie, & such like. Tou­ching these most prophane & grosse im­pieties, which can in no wise possible proceed from a mean good mind, we may without all danger sears, & set Sathans marke vpō them, in token of their ouer­throw, which pollute themselues there­withall vnlesse that by repentance they take vp in time, and turne ouer a new leafe. For as the bad tree by the euil [Page] [...]t may be accordingly iudged of: so [...]y they which through euill conuersa­ [...], without remorse of conscience op­ [...] themselues against the will of God. [...] reputed & iudged off what they are. [...]sides, the Lord, who (as S. Ierome [...]h) dooth not here forbid, but teacheth [...] iudge: dehorteth vs not from iud­ [...] our selues, but that we may after [...]ostles aduise Iudge our selues, that 1. Cor. 11. [...]e not iudged of the Lord. Thus [...]ée, what sorts of iudgemēt are priui­ [...]d, vntoucht, & exempted here: Now [...]s behold a litle, what iudgemēt our [...]iour Christ aimeth at, and seketh to [...]off in this place, as a most pestilent [...] noious enemy against al true Chri­ [...]nitie, and brotherly cōsent whatsoe­ [...]. And this it is (my brethren) when [...]en of sinister iudgement doo curiouslie [...]t out the enormities, or openlie blaze [...]discouer the nakednes of others, whose [...]ults perhaps are fewer in number be­ [...]g truely told, and lighter in weight be­ [...]g rightly ballanced, then their owne [...]e. Touching such péeuish and busibo­ [...]ies, which for reproch and not for refor­ [...]ation sake, roundly reprooue, and dis­dainfully [Page] carpe at other men: thapostle Paul dooth disappoint & wipe them of all excuse, where he saith, Therefore thou Rom. 2. art inexcusable (O man) whosoeuer thou art that iudgest. For this cause y ^e same Apostle els where warneth y ^e Co­rinthians, y ^t they shuld in no wise iudge any thing, vntil the comming of y ^e Lord. Againd, Who art thou (quoth hee) that [...] Cor. 4. codemnest an other mās seruant? For such like rash and rouing condemnation, our sauior Christ rebuked the Scribes, as thus, Wherfore think ye euil things Mat. 9. in your harts? This he said, when falsly within themselues in a mutinie, they charged him as a blasphemer. S. Iames likewise giueth vs this watche woord, Speake not euil one of an other, bre­thrē. [...]am. 4. He that speaketh euil of his bro­ther, or he that condemneth his bro­ther, speaketh euill of the law, and cō ­demneth the law. And if thou con­demnest the lawe, thou art no obser­uer of the law, but a Iudge. That wee should not vpon superficiall and slender euidence iudge our neighbors: that place in the booke of Moses is of great force to perswade vs, where the Lorde saide, [Page] [...]me on, let vs go down & there cō ­ [...]nd Gen. 10. their language. Which words [...] our imitation sake, doo verie signifi­ [...]tly import, what leisure & aduise the [...]rd tooke, afore he would dash the buil­ [...]s with cōfusion: For he said he wold [...] go down, & then doo it. In the Euan­ [...]st Luke we reade, that the rich man Luk. 16. [...]d néeds confer, and call his steward [...] him, afore he did dimisse him. In [...] Gospell of the Euangelist Iohn wée [...]ow sparing our Sauior Christ was [...]udging the Iewes, who because they [...]a litle before sought to stone him, his [...]ciples gaue him counsell y ^t he should [...] no more among them: and yet he [...]ld not heare on y ^t side, so lightlie to [...] thē ouer, but madly made reply as [...], Are there not twelue houres in Ioh. 12. [...] day? As if he should haue said, Be it [...] that heretofore they intēded mischiefe [...]ainst vs, yet now perhaps their ma­ [...]e is worne out, and they will no more [...]eale thus roughly with vs. These are [...]xamples to teach vs, & the other afore [...]re places of testimonie for to assure vs [...]he rather, that the Lord can in no wise [...]rooke such impudent & vnrulie persons, [Page] as are too rashe and headlong in iudging other men, by meanes whereof they bewray themselues with shame inough to bee both excéeding presumptuous, and no lesse hipocriticall. Presump­tuous, for that they take vpon them as Maisters, béeing vnwoorthie the name of Disciples, For that (I say) they goe about to reach that a farre off, which they are too short armd to appre­hend and reach hard at hand: I meane, for that they assay to iudge others, be­ing altogither vnable to iudge aright of themselues, (vnlesse happelie they doo surpasse both Peter and Paul, the one whereof was deceiued in himselfe, when without faile hee purposed, yea, and stoutlie protested, that though he [...]. 26. should die with Christ, hee would in no wise denie him, and yet when it came to the push, hee both denied him, and forswore him bitterlie: and the other for his share confessed, that hee was al­togither [...]. 4. vnméete accordinglie to iudge himselfe, and that because hee knew nothing by himselfe.) That such men also as doo curiouslie iudge others, are them selues woonderfull hypocriticall, [Page] [...] case is moste plaine and euident: [...] the kindlie propertie of an hypo­ [...]te, is, to sée the sliding of an other [...]an, but not the downfall of himselfe: [...] point at other mens blemishes, bée [...]y neuer so litle, but to ouerpasse [...] owne deformities, be they neuer so [...]at. And therefore well saide the [...]e man, An hypocrite with his prou. 11. [...]gue hurteth his neighbor: whose [...]sight and parcialitie in déed is such, [...]t the leaste moate in his fellowes [...] séemeth a more sensible obiect, then [...] greatest beame in his owne. And [...] was the cause that moued Christ [...] to saye to one of that leaden [...]pe, as also to all the rest of that [...]risaicall complexion, Thou hy­ [...]rite, Math. 7. first cast out the beame out [...] thine owne eye, and then shalt [...]ou see clearelie to cast the mote [...]t of thy brothers eye. But this [...]e of the hipocrite (I feare me) and this [...]eame are as harde to part a sunder, [...]s the byrd Acalanthis and the thistles [...]herein shée bréedes, or the Grashop­per and the grasse whereof [...]hée springs, which naturallie rather chuse to die, [Page] then depart thence. Thus doubtlesse did Thales think, who being asked what thing of all other he tooke to be most hard and difficill in performance: returned this answere, For a man to know him selfe, (saith he.) And againe being asked what thing of all other hee thought to be easiest: For a man, (saith hée) to admo­nish or curiously to carpe at others. For so vile in déed is the disposition natural­lie of vs all, that we blush not one whit to measure other mens dooings by the crooked line of our owne imagination: yea, wée are not ashamed to packe vp our owne faults in the wallets end that hangeth behinde vs, where they may lie alwaies vnséene and out of remem­braunce: but other mens wée trusse vp in the wallettes ende that is before vs, where they come alwaies in sight and handling. Wée glaunce at our owne imperfections, as through a net or lattice: but other mens we view and looke at with open Eagles eies. Wée account our owne suspicion a suffici­ent proofe against others: but when they againe iustlie condemne vs, wée scarcelie take it for an accusation a­gainst [Page] our selues. Wee can sooner grant [...]er mens good wine for to bee shire [...]ter, then confesse our owne vnsaue­ [...]water not to be wine: yea, so close­ [...]re wee pinned to our owne sléeues, [...] so deuoutlie addicted to our owne o­ [...]ons: that wee will péeuishlie con­ [...]ne others which are to bee iustified, [...]arciallie iustifie our selues, which [...]ht are to be condemned. What [...]ke yee) made Cicero to say, Fit [...]io quo pacto) vt magis in aliis cerna­ [...] quid delinquitur, quàm in nobismet­ [...] It happeneth (saith hée,) (I know [...]w) that wee can sooner espie out a [...] in others then in our selues. Or [...]. (I pray you) moued Horace to [...] um tua peruideas &c. But onelie [...] that they both of them did sée this [...]nation generallie inherent to flesh [...] blood, with the Henne to scrape [...] of the dunghill other mens rotten [...]ges, with the Puttocke to sit sad­ [...] vpon other mens sores, and with [...] Pharisie to poste ouer their owne [...]ltes, ripping and ransacking vp to [...]e bottome other mens enormities? If [...]ese two Heathen men were aliue in [Page] this time, the one might spende all his Rhethorike hereabouts, and preuaile litle in persuading: and the other all his Poetrie, and yet (I feare me) leaue much vnsaide in the discourse, so large is the breach which this sinne hath made into mans heart, and so manifolde are the waies whereby shee dooth worke & wind her selfe in. For some men there are too too subtill and hollowminded, which hauing their tongues made of one flesh, and their heartes of an other: barke not, but pinch before warning. And these deale as the Butcher doeth, which claweth the Oxe with his hand that hee may the better come to lay his beetle on his head: Or as the Bee, which stingeth vs moste, when shee is fullest of honie. Some there are again of a currish kinde, whiche though they want teethe to bite vs, yet haue they tongues to babble, and open mouthes to barke at vs: and these (as God would haue it) beeing Dwarfes and Flies in force, though Gyants and Elephants in malice, are lyke to a kinde of Ser­pentes, whiche albeeit full of poison [Page] [...] bee, yet because they bee toothlesse. [...] hurt none but them selues. Yea, [...]e Viper which caught Paul by the Act. 18. [...]e, could not harme him, but fell [...] the fire and there perished: And [...]ee which smote Iason on the breast [...]ding to kill him, broke his impo­ [...]e, whereby hee cured him and made [...]s sounde as a boxe: so likewise fa­ [...]t somewhiles with these euil dogs [...] barke at their owne fellowes, [...] these vnkindlie birdes whiche be­ [...]heir owne nestes, that where they [...] doo harme, they doo good in re­ [...] of the parties against whom they [...]de it: but to doo that harme, that [...] good may come of it, is for them (in [...]inion) a very indirect way to come [...]ation. And therefore well saith [...]st who is both the way, the trueth, Math. 7. [...] the life, Iudge not: that is, Call [...] his name into suspence and que­ [...]n, who giueth thee verie litle or no [...]se at all, For some actions in out­ [...]ard appearance are of such indifferen­ [...], that whether way to take them, it [...] a verie harde matter to determine. [Page] Touching these wée may not (I say) vnaduisedlie passe our verdicte, but ra­ther must wee suspende our iudgement, breathing often vpon our pillow. And for this end serueth that admonition of a learned Father, Seest thou a man, saith he, that dooth fast often? Praise him not too much for it, because thou kndwest not whether for deuotion or ambition sake hee dooth it. Againe, seest thou a Ma­gistrate that dooth seuerelie punishe? Déeme him not euill for it, because hée may as well doo it charitablie for pub­like weale sake, as vpon stomack for priuate reuenge. Concerning these and suche like, wee ought either not to iudge at all, or if we doo, our part is to construe them the best way, and that because it is more sufferable and Christianlike, for vs to bee deluded on the right hand, by reputing the bad to bee good, then to bee deceiued on the left hand, by accounting the good to bee bad. And why? Wée ought one to take anothers part, because we are all men of Gods makyng: wee ought one to conceale anothers faults and frailties, because wee are all fel­ [...] [Page] seruants: and wee ought one to [...]e with an others weakenesse the ra­ [...] because all of vs haue our infirmi­ [...] for ill may one théefe giue sentence [...]nst an other: and ill may one sinfull [...] condemne an other of sinne. But [...] is our giddie rashnesse, that we wil [...]utely giue sentence vpon euerie [...] similitude and resemblance, no, we [...] not sticke to iudge a mans conuer­ [...]n by a blush of his countenance, [...]h rule often proueth false: a Horse [...]s furniture, which argument sel­ [...] proueth true: and the people by [...]rish Church, wherein we can not [...]lie but iudge amisse. So that if [...]st and his Apostle Paul were now [...]ngst vs, & the one should say to the [...]e of the palsie, Sonne thy sinnes be Mat. 9. Act. 28. [...]rgiuē thee, he would quicklie be con­ [...]mned for a blasphemer: and the other, [...]he were séene to haue a Viper on his [...]and: he would now surelie bee appre­ [...]ended, as he was then but iudged for a [...]urderer. But they are gone, and haue left behind them many honest men & godlie successors in their place, which are daylie choked with the like soure [Page] sauce, & will be still, (I feare me) till the table be drawn, & al turnd vpside down: after which riddance, dissolution, & brea­king vp of all, these our saucie enimies shalbe turned ouer into sathans cōmons at a dish of soure sops, when we on y ^e o­ther side, shall be dieted with the Angels in heauen, & haue all things at hearts de­sire. This shall be our portion for good, & that shalbe their punishment for euil. What good then haue they? or what harme haue we by this? if when we are liberal, they iudge vs ambitious: if whē we are sparing, they estéem vs couetous: if when wee are silent, they take vs as fooles: or if when we are ioyfull and me­rie in the Lord, they account vs as dis­solute and licentious persons? Surelie, we are so greatly hurt, that wee neuer féele it, & therfore haue no cause to com­plaine. For as a guiltie conscience doth somewhile with anguish accuse it selfe, though it be no way spoken against: so the man which knoweth himselfe to be frée from those enormities, wherwithall others do burdē & charge him, doth take such hart at grasse & comfort in his own vnguiltinesse, that he waigheth it not a [Page] [...]n, but shaketh it off with Paule, [...] being rashly iudged off, & wrong­ [...] discountenanced, said, As for me I 1. Cor. 4. [...] litle to be iudged of you, or of [...]s iudgemēt. And yet surely a kind [...]sse & punishment it is, for a man to [...]uiled & hardly iudged off, for there [...]man, vnlesse he be past grace and [...]eles, but he tendereth his own good [...] about al things els. Which as Sa­ [...]n saith, being a thing much more pto. 22. [...]ous then riches, it must néedes fol­ [...] that they which rack the same vpō [...]nters, & do all they can to teare it [...]es, are much more faultie & iniuri­ [...]hen they which rob & spoile men of [...]ure & goods: for this cōmeth nothing [...]gh the quicke as thother. Let vs not [...] (my brethrē) like vnruly & vntamed [...]ses, leape thus brutishly vpō y ^e backs [...] others, but rather let vs contein, kéepe [...]ithin compasse, & cease to iudge one an [...]ther any more. And to the end we may [...] better performe this, we must first of al [...]ut out y ^e thrée sinnowes, wherby this e­uil eie is fed: bruise & breake y ^e shoulders by y ^e which this monstrous head is born vp: & remoue the rootes frō whence this [Page] vnkindlie Impe hath her sappe: which namelie are these three: Selfeloue, en­uie, Selfeloue. and our owne natiue wickednesse, which being bred in the bones, wil hard­lie out of the flesh. The first of these made way for the Pharesie to condemn the poore Publicane, pointing at him with preiudice, as thus, God, I thanke Luke. 18. thee that I am not as this Publicane is. The second gaue matter inough to Enuie. the Iewes for to condemne our Sauior to death: Pilate knew that of enuy they Mat. 97. had deliuered him. This was the bro­ker or solicitor that made Ioseph to bee sold, Iacob troubled, Abel slaine, and Dauid persecuted. The third thing, Our owne na­ [...]iue wicked­ [...]esse. which is a mans owne natiue corrup­tion, wrought also this slander against Christ out of the Iewish people: Thou hast a diuel (say they) and that because Ioh. 8. in deed they them selues were through­lie polluted and pestered with diuels. For to remedie the first infirmity, which is Pharisaical selfeloue, we must learne to eye and admire those goodlie parts, & gracious gifts of other men, wherin we our selues are no waie their coequals: and againe, we must often vpbraide our [Page] [...]with those our owne imperfecti­ [...]ich we neither know nor suspect [...] others. Whom, though we nei­ [...]re nor sée anie good by them, [...]e we no warrant, rouingly to [...]uil of them. For to feare vp the [...]ad sinnow, which is Iewish en­ [...]malice, we must at Paules bid­ [...] vpon vs as the elect of God, the [...] of loue and peace. And in so Colos. 3. [...] other mans eyesalue, shall no [...]se our eye sore, an other mans [...]p, shall no way become our mis­ [...], as it fareth with the enuious, [...]e it was verie fitly said, Quid [...]idè? tuumnè bonum, an alienum [...] O thou enuious man, what do­ [...] seeke for? thine owne good, or [...]ghbors euil? For both these two [...] one with the enuious men: whose [...]e is so peruerse, yea, so owlish (as I [...]earme it) because as the Owle can [...]bide the sunshine, so no more can [...] men away with other mens gliste­ [...] beames and goodlie partes, that if [...]ng Samson were aliue, they would [...]elie iudge him a weakling: rich Crae­ [...], a bankerupt or beggers brat: aged [Page] Enoch and Elias, short liuers: faire A [...] solon, a deformed fellow: mightie O [...] uian, a man of no power: yea and w [...] Salomon, if he were landed and aliue [...] this day, I think surely they would no [...] sticke to begge him for a starke foole. This sinnow then must be seared vp (as I say) or els, I feare me, all wilbe ma [...] red. Lastly, for the curing and recoue­ring of the third sore, which is our ow [...] inward corruption & wickednesse: we [...] must seeke for to haue our selues cast in­to a new mold after the Apostles aduise [...] who willeth vs for to bee renewed in 1. Thes. 4. spirite. And so when we our selues are godlie and single hearted, we shall hard­lie deeme others to bee worse then wee our selues are, euen as afore when wee were bad, we could not possibly repute others to be better: resembling Aesops moule, who because she was blind her selfe, she could in no wise be perswaded that anie other beast could see. And thus we note, how that by themselues men commonlie measure others. If they bee good them selues, they account others to be no worse: if they be bad, they rekon others to be no better. The former sort [Page] [...]e Bée conuert that iuice into ho [...] [...]ch the latter sorte with the Spi­ [...]e into méere poyson. Let vs [...]e cast away this naughtie eye [...]hese three sinnowes, and so shall [...] aright: this drouping head with [...]ree shoulders, and so shall wee [...]ight: this vnkindely ympe, with [...]ee rootes, and so shall we tast [...] Whereas on the other side if we [...]em still, our eiesight will be so [...] that euerie moulehill will séeme [...]taine: our hearing wil be so con­ [...]at euerie light sound will seeme [...]mne: and our tast so farre dis­ [...]d, that one droppe of soure will [...]entie: yea all our fraternitie [...]so impoisoned, that we shall take [...]rethren as bastards, and rekon [...]ues onlie for right heires, ripping [...]er folkes trifling sinnes, as most [...]us and damnable, and fauouring [...]wn as light and excusable in com­ [...]on. By meanes wherof, we degene­ [...] from God aboue, whom in charitie [...]ught to resemble: and become all [...] with Sathan beneath in malignity, [...]ome wee ought to bee as vnlike [Page] as vnlike may be. For in deede no eas [...] a thing it is for to know the Sunne [...] the brightnesse thereof, the fire by [...] heate, or the honie by the swetenesse [...] then it is to discerne Gods chosen chil­dren by their friendlie relation and cha­ritable sentence giuing, touching other mens doubtfull dealings or demeanou [...] And againe, no easier is it to know the night by the darkenesse, the serpent by his poyson, or the wormewood by the bitternesse, then it is to know bad an [...] euil disposed men by their bolting out [...] sharpe censures concerning other men [...] indifferent actions: wherein, because they be doubtfull, wee ought to bee n [...] lesse aduised afore sentence giuing, the [...] we would be, for to aduenture a great wager about a paire of equall waights or ballances, whether side should fall down first: which in déede is a verie hard matter to foretell. Yea we ought to bee a great deale more aduised in the other, then in this, and that because the losses are much vnlike. For the one is but barelie the losse of our siluer, but the o­ther is the shipwracke and losse of our soules. Let vs not then buye this pigge [Page] [...]e poke, as some men do, which are [...]redulous, but rather let vs handle [...]d looke on it first, and that because [...]rice and valuation thereof is of all [...]rs the greatest. And here finallie [...] we note this by the way, that as [...]re enioyned not to iudge or con­ [...]e the righteous, so are we forbid­ [...]erein to boulster or iustifie anie [...]d and vicious persons: for both [...] two iniquities as one, are to God [...]an offensiue alike. And therefore [...]aith Salomon, He that iustifieth prou. 17. [...]cked, and he that condemneth [...]st, euen they both are abhomi­ [...] to the Lord. Againe, He that prou. 24. [...]to the wicked, Thou art righte­ [...]im shall the people cursse, and [...]ultitude shall abhorre him, saith [...] Woe vnto them, (saith Esai) that [...]ke good of euil, and euil of good, Esa. 5. [...]ch put darkenesse for light, and [...]t for darkenesse. And this woe (I [...]re me) may wel be denounced against [...]umber of wicked and waieward peo­ [...] in this age, which taking their [...]arkes amisse, preposterously misterme [...]ce vertuous, & vertue vicious, worm­wood [Page] sweete, and hony sower: euil men good, and good men euil. For many there be doubtlesse now a daies, licenti­ous and prodigall liuers, which will im­pudently vndertake to cleare and iusti­fie their fellowes, be they neuer so bad & notorious euil. So that if an honest zea­lous man do at anie time iustly reproue anie of that crew for his bad conditions: O, will an other say, you do him wrong sir, for I will auouch, he is as honest a man as euer brake bread, yea, thus will he say, though he be as bad a man as e­uer broacht drinke: and then is hee bad inough, for Tapsters we say are not al­waies the bestliuers. Let them then which are guiltie this way, as well as the other, betimes repent and amend: for better were it for them to slide an hundred times with their feete, then once to slide thus with their tongue, by iustifying the vniust. It followeth in the text, And ye shall not be iudged. And this, in a word, is the confirmation or couenant, annexed to the proportion and commandement here. Wherein the Lord by way of promise sheweth, how good and gracious he is, in recompen­ [...]a [Page] single good turn with a double re­ [...]de. For by abandoning of one sorte [...]dgement, & the same against others, [...]re assured here from Christes own [...]th, for to escape a double iudgement [...]nst our selues: that is to say, the se­ [...] iudgemēt of God at y ^e last dreadfull [...]f dome: & beside this, the sharp cen­ [...] of men during this our mortalitie [...]poral life time: for both sortes are [...]y meant, though not seuerally mē ­ [...]d, here in this place. Thone of these [...]elfe is most terrible & fearefull, and [...]re with all might & maine now in [...]f grace to be preuented: and the o­ [...]e all take to be a thing most odi­ [...] shameful, & therefore warelie for [...]ly honestie sake to bee auoided. [...]t y ^e former is most horrible & dread­ [...] this dooleful & irreuocable saying of [...] Lord foretold vs in the Gospel, doth [...]ciently declare. Depart from me ye Mat. 15. [...]sed, into euerlasting fire. That the [...]er also is a verie vnséemelie & shame­ [...]l thing, it appeareth by the Apo­ [...]es earnest exhortation directed to [...]s fellow-labourers, where hee wil­ [...]th them to contend, that through due [Page] desert they might be honestly reported off among al men, & so stop the mouthes of malignant & euil speakers: who for the most part in séeking by this meanes wrongfullie to hurt others, do nothing els but raise vp a dust, whereby they put out their owne eies. For so it fareth with these men, as it doth with the Hen, which by long scraping in y ^e dunghil, dis­couereth the knife that doth afterwards cut her owne throte: or as it doth with a hastie and hairebraind souldier, who desperatly rushing out vpon a mischie­uous purpose for to smite & wound his fellow, returneth home againe himselfe with a broken pate. And herewithall a­gréeth this saying, Qui quae vult loquitur, quae nō vult audiet. He that speaketh what he will, shall some whiles heare what he would not. Moses therefore vpon good consideratiō, among other precepts gaue the people this charge, that they should not in anie wise speake euil. And why? because the verie custome and practise hereof, is of it selfe so vncharitable and deuilish, that there can nothing be deui­sed, which doth sooner then it cal for ven­geance at Gods handes. Of this minde [Page] [...] King Dauid, saying, Him that [...]ily slaundereth his neighbor, will psal. 101. [...]stroy. And so was also King Salo­ [...], when he said, Put away from thee prou. 4. [...]ward mouth, & put wicked lips [...]e from thee. We read of one, which [...]ng the space of three yeares kept a [...] within his mouth, for this end, Ʋt [...]et tacere, that he might learne the [...] to inure and acquaint himselfe [...]silence. We haue also by writers [...]uered vnto vs, the nature of certain [...]s, which when they draw nigh to [...]ount Taurus, thrust their billes [...] their winges for feare of noise [...]g, and so consequentlie for feare [...]ouring by the Eagles, which fre­ [...] that place in great aboundance. [...]n whence we are to draw and de­ [...] thus much for our owne securitie [...] safety sake, somewhiles to close and [...]e vp our mouthes, for feare they [...]ath & poure out anie hurtfull or vn­ [...]istianlike speach against our neigh­ [...]rs, the greatest harme whereof grow­ [...]h in the end to be our own: for this one [...] giuen blow is alwaies sure to bring [...]me with it two wor [...]e againe. Which [Page] harme and inconuenience a great ma­nie of pieuish and waiwarde people doe no whit at all foresee, and so by means of this their grosse ouersight, they com­monlie catch their fall where they ho­ped for to haue had their rising: yea, by poring at other mens, they do nothing els but put out their owne eies. And why? By reprouing and iudging amisse of others, they bring (as I told you a­fore) both the heauie iudgement of God, and the like sharpe censures of men vp­pon their owne backes. For whereas the Lord saith here, Iudge not, and ye shall not be iudged, it is as much in effect as if hee should haue saide, Take this for a warning at me, that if ye will needes be intermedling to iudge others, ye shall verelie in like case bee iudged your selues, and that not onelie by me when the last Trumpet shall sound, but also by other men, amongst whome yee liue here in this world. And al­beit the case standeth thus, yet neuer­thelesse sooner may the raging Sea be restrained within a hedge of willows, then wee within the compasse and precinct of this precept: so loose and vnru­ [...]re [Page] we all of vs in this behalfe. For [...]rre hath Sathan bewitcht the most [...] of vs, that as heretofore among [...] Egyptians, there was no man ac­ [...]ted happie, which had not a beast [...]of spots: so now a daies among vs, [...]e is no man almost reckoned proui­ [...] and worldlie wise inough, which [...]not his heart al ouer bespotted with [...]rmisings, his tongue beraied with [...]es of reproch, and his handes de­ [...]with sundrie actes of rash and ro­ [...] condemnation against others. [...] is our glorie for a while, which [...]th vs to shame in the end: This [...]ward apparance seemeth a kind [...]doome we haue, which in it owne [...]e proueth a point of slauerie: This [...]l take to be a token of wisedome, [...]h in déed is nothing els but a tricke [...]eere foolishnesse: For thus saith [...]omon, Euerie foole will be med­ [...]. prou. 20. And here by y ^e way we are to note [...] milde & fauourable maner of aduer­ [...]ment, which the Lord vseth where­ [...] to winne & draw vs on obediently to [...]actise this same special cōmandement [...] his: for hereiu he doth not onely exe­cute [Page] his regall authoritie by forbidding vs that which he disliketh, but therwith­all he sheweth also his father lie kindnes and clemencie by perswading vs there­unto, foretelling vs flatly what great good by meanes of this his precept kée­ping, shal afterwards ensue to vs ward. And yet for all this, not one of vs almost amongst a thousand, doth weigh or per­forme this same aright, so blockish and carelesse are we, touching the saluation of our soules, which we ought to tender a thousand times more, then the safetie & good estate of our bodies. But marke I pray you, how farre wee are from this: for if an earthlie Prince should forbid vs a bad thing, commending vnto vs no reason therof, we would hardly gainsay him, fearing the danger of his displea­sure, yea, if he should forbid vs y ^e practise of a good & godly thing, afording vs no reason but this, Sic volo, sic iubeo. Thus I wil haue it, thus I cōmand it to be: the most of vs would be afraid to withstand him, fearing the lesse of our life & goods. And yet when the Prince of all Prin­ces, who is not onelie able to destroy the bodie, but the soule also, forfendeth a [Page] [...]hing, and that with a most forcible [...]n whereby to persuade, we carelesly [...]ect the same, and prophanely with­ [...]all feare or trembling incurre the [...]h therof, as if thereupon there could [...]e no danger, no penaltie, or harme [...] against vs: wheras in déed we doo [...]y prouoke Gods vengeance and [...]full iudgement at the last generall [...]nd in the meane time till that be­ [...], we shal be as sure as is y ^e skin be­ [...] our eies, for this our own péeuish [...]ment, to be bitterly stung againe, [...] mo [...]thes of malicious and malig­ [...]ople. And therefore good is it for [...]es attentiuely to giue eare to [...]cept, and faithfully to relie vpon [...]omise of our Sauior Christ, who [...]re, Iudge not, and ye shall not [...]ged. Condemne not, & yee shall [...]e condemned. For as touching [...]ame latter proposition, because it is [...]ng els but an [...] a meere expo [...], I meane, of the former, I thinke [...] to ouerpasse it without any seuerall [...]ourse, hauing inclusiuely handled it [...]ady with this other part aforegoing.