Biblia the Byble, that is, the holy Scrypture of the Olde and New Testament, faithfully translated in to Englyshe.

The Prophet Baruch. (Book Baruch)

What Baruch conteyneth.

• Chap. I. Baruch readeth the boke before the kynge and all the people, which sende money to Ierusalem.
• Chap. II. They knowlege, that they haue deser∣ued punyshment: God promyseth them for∣geuenesse.
• Chap. III. They praye hartely beinge in preson, and he exorteth them to amende.
• Chap. IIII. A sermon to the people, with an exor∣tacion to pacience.
• Chap. V. He conforteth them, and sheweth the vocacion of the Heithen
• Chap. VI. A copie of the epistole, that Ieremy sent to the Iewes, which were led awaye pre∣soners vnto Babilon.

[illustration]

These are the wordes of the bo¦ke, that Baruch the sonne of Nerias the son¦ne of Maasia, the sonne of Sedechias, the sonne of Sedei, the sonne of Helchia, wrote at Babilon in the fifth yeare the seuēth daye of the moneth:* 1.1 what tyme as the Caldees wanne Ierusalem and brent it.

The first Chapter.

ANd Baruch dyd rede the wor∣des of this boke, that Iecho∣nias the sonne of Ioachim kyn¦ge of Iuda might heare: and in the presence of all the people, that were come to heare the boke: yee and be¦fore all the noble kinges sonnes, before y^e lor∣des of the councell and elders: and before the whole people, from y^e lowest vnto the hyest: before all them that dwelt at Babilon, by y^e water of Sodi. Which when they herde it, wepte, fasted, and prayed before the LOR∣DE.

[ B] They made a colleccion also of money, a∣cordinge to euery mans power, and sent it to Ierusalem vnto Ioachim the sonne of Hel∣chia the sonne of Salon prest, with y^e other prestes: and to all the people which were w^t him at Ierusalē, what tyme as they had got¦ten the ornamentes of the temple of y^e LOR¦DE (that were taken awaye out of the tem∣ple) that they might brynge them agayne in to the londe of Iuda, the x. daye of the mo∣neth Siban: namely, syluer vessel, (which Sedechias the sonne of Iosias kinge of Iu¦da had made.) After that Nabuchodonosor kinge of Babilon had takē Iechonias, with all his prynces, lordes, and all the people, and led them captyue from Ierusalem vnto Babilon.

[ C] And they sayde: Beholde, we haue sent you money,* 1.2 to bye you burnt offerynges and incense withall: make you vnleuended bred, & offre for synne vpon the aulter of the LOR¦DE oure God.* 1.3 And praye for the prosperite of Nabuchodonosor kinge of Babilon, and of Balthasar his sonne: y^t their dayes maye be vpon earth, as the dayes of heauen: that God also maye geue vs strength, and ligh∣ten oure eyes: that we maye lyue vnder the defence of Nabuchodonosor kinge of Babi¦lon, and vnder the proteccion of Balthasar his sonne: that we maye longe do them seruy¦ce, and fynde fauoure in their sight. Praye for vs also vnto the LORDE oure God, for we haue synned agaynst the LORDE oure God, and vnto this daye is not his wrath turned yet awaye from vs. And se that ye rede this boke (which we haue sent vnto you to be re∣hearced in the temple of the LORDE) vpon the hye dayes, and at tyme conuenient.

[ D] Thus shal ye saye: The LORDE o^r God is rightuous,* 1.4 but we are worthy of cōfucion & shame: like as it is come to passe this daye, vnto all Iuda, & to euery one y^t dwelleth at Ierusalem: to o^r kinges, prynces, prestes, pro∣phetes & to oure fathers. We haue synned be¦fore the LORDE oure God, we haue not put oure trust in him, ner geuen him credence: we haue not obeyed him, we haue not herkened vnto the voyce of the LORDE oure God, to walke in the commaundementes that he ga¦ue vs. Sens the daye that he brought oure forefathers out of the londe of Egipte vn∣to this present daye, we haue bene euer a mys¦beleuynge and an vnfaithful people vnto y^e LORDE oure God: destroyenge oure selues vtterly, and shrenckinge backe, that we shul¦de not heare his voyce.

Wherfore there are come vpon vs greate [ E] plages & dyuerse curses,* 1.5 like as the LORDE de¦uysed by Moses his seruaūt: which brought oure forefathers out of the lōde of Egipte, to geue vs a lōde, that floweth with mylcke and hony, like as it is to se this daye. Neuer∣theles, we haue not herkened vnto the voy∣ce of the LORDE oure God, acordinge to all the wordes of the prophetes, whom he sent vnto vs and to oure rulers: but euery man fo¦lowed his owne mynde and wicked ymagina¦cion: to offre vnto straūge goddes, and to do euel in the sight of the LORDE oure God.

The II. Chapter.

FOr the which cause the LORDE oure [ A] God hath perfourmed his deuyce,* 1.6 wherof he certified vs, and oure hea¦des that ruled in Ierusalē: yee and oure kyn∣ges, oure princes, with all Israel and Iuda. And soch plages hath y^e lorde brought vpō vs, as neuer came to passe vnder the heauē: like as it is fulfilled in Hierusalem, acordinge as it is written in the lawe of Moses:* 1.7 that a man shulde eate y^e flesh of his owne sonne, & the flesh of his owne doughter. Morouer, he hath delyuered them in to the hondes of all the kinges, y^t are rounde aboute vs (to be con∣founded and desolate) & scatred thē abrode in all londes & naciōs. Thus are we brought be¦neth [ B] & not aboue, for we haue synned against the LORDE o^r God, & not bene obedient vnto his voyce. Therfore y^e LORDE o^r God is righ¦tuous,* 1.8 & we with o^r fathers (as reason is) are brought to opē shame, as it is to se this daye And as for these plages y^t are come vpon vs allready, y^e LORDE had deuyced thē for vs: yet wolde we not praye vnto y^e LORDE oure God, y^t we might euery mā turne frō his vn∣godly wayes. So y^e LORDE hath caused soch plages to come vpon vs, for he is rightuous in all his workes, which he hath cōmaunded vs: which we also haue not done, ner harke∣ned vnto his voyce, for to walke in y^e cōmaun¦demētes of y^e LORDE, y^t he had geuē vnto vs.

And now o LORDE God of Israel, thou that hast brought thy people out of the lon∣de of Egipte with a mightie honde,* 1.9 with to¦kens and wōdres, with thy greate power ād outstretched arme: and hast gotten thy selff [ C] a name, as it is come to passe this daye: O LORDE oure God, we haue synned, we haue done wickedly,* 1.10 we haue behaued oure selues vngodly in all thy rightuousnesses. Turne thy wrath frō vs (we beseke the) for we are but a few left amonge the Heithen, where thou hast scatred vs. Heare o^r prayers (o LOR¦DE) & oure peticiōs, bringe vs out of captiuy¦te,* 1.11 for thine owne sake: get vs fauoure in the sight of thē, which haue led vs awaye: y^t all lōdes maye knowe, that thou art the LORDE oure God, and that Israel and his generaci¦on calleth vpon thy name.

* 1.12O LORDE, loke downe frō thy holy house vpon vs: enclyne thine eare, & heare vs. For the deed, y^t be gone downe to their graues, & whose soules are out of their bodies,* 1.13 ascribe vnto the LORDE nether prayse ner rigtuous-makynge: but the soule that is vexed for the multitude of hir synnes, which goeth on he∣uely and weakely, whose eyes begynne to fay¦le: yee soch a soule ascrybeth prayse and righ∣tuousnesse vnto the LORDE. O LORDE, we [ D] poure out oure prayers before the, and requy¦re mercy in thy sight, O LORDE oure God: not for eny godlynesse off oure forefathers, but because thou hast sent out thy wrath & indignacion vpon vs: acordinge as thou dy¦dest threaten vs, by thy seruaūtes the pro∣phetes, sayenge:

* 1.14Thus sayeth the LORDE: Bowe downe youre shulders and neckes, and serue the kyn¦ge of Babilon, so shal ye remayne still in the londe, that I gaue vnto youre fathers. Yff ye will not do this, ner heare the voyce of y^e LORDE youre God, to serue the kynge of Ba∣bilon: I shall destroye you in the cities of Iu¦da, within Ierusalem and without. I will also take from you the voyce off myrth and the voyce of ioye, the voyce of the brydegro¦me and the voyce of the bryde, ād there shal no man dwell more in the londe. But they wolde not herken vnto thy voyce, to do the [ E] kynge of Babilon seruyce: and therfore hast thou perfourmed the wordes, that thou spa∣kest by thy seruauntes the prophetes: name¦ly, that the bones of oure kynges and the bo¦nes of oure fathers shulde be trāslated out of their place.

And lo, now are they layde out in the hea¦te of y^e Sonne, & in the colde of y^e night, ād deed in greate mysery: w^t hunger, w^t swear∣de, w^t pestilence & are clene cast forth. As for the tēple wherin thy name was called vpon thou hast layde it waist, as it is to se this da¦ye: & y^t for the wickednes of the house of Is¦rael & the house of Iuda▪ O LORDE o^r God, thou hast intreated vs after all thy goodnes & acordinge to all y^e greate louinge mercy of thyne, like as thou spakest by thy seruaunte Moses, in the daye when thou didest cōmaū¦de him, to wryte thy lawe before the children of Israel, sayenge: Yf ye will not herkē vnto my voyce,* 1.15 thē shal this greate multitude be turned in to a very smal people, for I wil sca¦tre thē abrode. Not withstōdinge I am su¦re, [ F] that this folke will not heare me: for it is an hardnecked people. But in y^e lōde of the∣ir captiuyte, they shall remembre them sel∣ues, & lerne to knowe, y^t I am the LORDE the∣ir God: when I geue thē an herte to vnder∣stōde, & eares to heare. Then shal they pray∣se me in the lōde of their captiuyte, & thynke vpon my name. Then shall they turne them frō their harde backes, & from their vngodly¦nes: Then shal they remembre the thynges, y^t happened vnto their forefathers, which synned agaynst me. So will I bringe them agayne in to the londe, which I promised w^t an ooth vnto their fathers: Abrahā, Isaac & Iacob: & they shal be lordes of it, yee I wil increace thē, and not minysh thē. And I wil make another couenaūt with them:* 1.16 soch one as shal endure for euer: namely, y^t I will be their God, and they shalbe my people: and I wil nomore dryue my people the children off Israel, out of the londe y^t I haue geuē thē.

The III. Chapter.

ANd now o LORDE allmightie, thou [ A] God of Israel: o^r soule y^t is in trouble, & o^r sprete y^t is vexed, crieth vnto the: heare vs (o LORDE) & haue pite vpon vs, for thou art a mercifull God: be gracious vnto vs, for we haue synned before y^e. Thou endu¦rest for euer, shulde we thē vtterly perishe▪ O LORDE almightie, thou God of Israel: Hea∣re now y^e prayer of y^e deed Israelites & of the¦ir childrē, which haue synned before y^e,* 1.17 & not herkened vnto the voyce of the LORDE their God,* 1.18 for the which cause these plages hange now vpō vs. O LORDE, remēbre not y^e wic∣kednes of o^r forefathers, but thinke vpō thy power & name now at this tyme: for thou art y^e LORDE o^r God, & y^e (o LORDE) wil we pray¦se. For thou hast put y^e feare ī o^r hartes, to y^e intēt y^t we shulde call vpon y^e name, & prayse y^e in oure captiuyte:* 1.19 and y^t we might turne from the wickednesse of oure forefathers, y^t synned before the.

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[ B] Beholde, we are yet this daye in oure cap¦tiuyte, where as thou hast scatred vs, to be an abhominacion, curse, and synne: like as it hath happened vnto oure fathers also,* 1.20 be∣cause of all their wickednesse and departyn∣ge from the.

O Israel, heare the commaundementes of life: pondre them well with thine eares, that thou mayest lerne wysdome. But how happeneth it Israel, that thou art in thyne enemies lōde? thou art waxen olde in a straū¦ge countre, and defyled with the deed. Why art thou become like them, that go downe to their graues? Euē because thou hast for∣saken the well of wysdome.* 1.21 For yf thou had¦dest walked in the waye of God, truly thou shuldest haue remayned still safe ī thine ow¦ne londe.

O lerne then where discrecion is, where vertu is,* 1.22 where vnderstōdinge is: that thou mayest knowe also frō whence cōmeth longe life,* 1.23 a necessary lyuynge, the light of the e∣yes & quyetnes. Who euer foūde out hir pla¦ce? or who came euer in to hir treasures?

[ C] Where are y^e prynces of the Heithen be¦come, and soch as ruled the beestes vpon the earth? They that had their pastyme with the foules of the ayre, they that hoor∣ded vp syluer and golde (wherin men trust so moch) and made no ende of their gatherin¦ge? What is worth of them, that coyned sil¦uer, and were so carefull, and coude not brin¦ge their workes to passe? They be roted out, and gone downe to hell, and other men are come vp in their steade? Yonge men haue se∣ne light, and dwelt vpon earth: but the wa∣ye of reformacion haue they not knowne, ner vnderstonde the pathes therof: nether ha∣ue their children receaued it, yee right farre is it frō thē. It hath not bene herde of in the lōde of Canaan, nether hath it bene sene at Theman.

The Agarenes sought after wisdome, but [ D] that which is earthly, like as the marchaun∣tes of the lōde do. They of Theman are con∣nynge also, & they laboure for wisdome & vn¦derstondinge: but y^e waye of true wisdome they knowe not, nether do they thynke vpon the pathes therof. O Israel, how greate is the house of God? and how large is the pla¦ce of his possession?* 1.24 Greate is he, and hath none ende: hye and vnmeasurable. What is become of those famouse giauntes, that we∣re so greate of bodyes, and so worthy men of warre? Those had not the LORDE chosen, ne¦ther haue they founde the waye of reforma∣cion, therfore were they destroyed: and for so moch as they had no wisdome, they peris∣hed because of their foolishnesse.

Who hath gone vp in to heauen, to take wisdome there, & brought her downe frō the [ E] cloudes? Who hath gone ouer the see to fyn¦de her, & hath chosen her aboue golde, and so brought her hither? No man knoweth the wayes of wisdome, nether is there eny y^t can seke out hir pathes. But he that woteth all thynges, knoweth her, & he hath founde her out with his foreknowlege.* 1.25 This same is he which prepared the earth at the begynnyn∣ge, & fylled it with all maner of foules & bees¦tes. When he sendeth out the light, it goeth: & whē he calleth it agayne, it obeyeth hī w^t feare. The starres kepe their watch, & geue their light, yee and y^t gladly. When he cal∣leth them, they saye: here we be. And so with chearfulnes they shewe light vnto him y^t made thē. This is oure God, ād there shall none other be cōpared vnto him: It is he, y^t hath founde out all wisdome,* 1.26 and hath ge∣uen her vnto Iacob his seruaunt, & to Isra∣el his beloued.* 1.27 Afterwarde dyd he shewe himself vpon earth, and dwelt amonge men.

The IIII. Chapter.

THis is the boke off the commaunde∣mētes [ A] of God, and the lawe y^e endu¦reth for euer. All they y^t kepe it, shall come to life: but soch as forsake it, shall come to death. Turne the o Iacob, and take holde of it: walke by this waye, thorow his bright∣nesse and shyne. Geue not thyne honoure to another, and thy worshipe to a straunge peo¦ple. O Israel, how happie are we,* 1.28 seīge that God hath shewed vs soch thynges as are pleasaūt vnto him? Be of good cheare, thou people of God, o thou awnciēt Israel. Now are ye solde amonge the Heithen, howbeit not for youre vtter destruccion: but because ye prouoked God the LORDE to wrath and displeasure, therfore were ye delyuered vnto vnto youre enemies: For ye displeased the e∣uerlastinge God that made you, offerynge vnto deuels and not God. Ye haue forgottē him that brought you vp, ād youre nurse ha¦ue ye greued, o. Ierusalem.

When she sawe that the wrath off God [ B] was commynge vpon you: she sayde: Herkē o ye that dwell aboute Sion, for God hath brought me into greate heuynesse: ād why? I se the captyuyte of my people, of my son∣nes and doughters, which the euerlastynge God will brynge vpon them. With ioye dyd I norish them, but now must I leaue them with wepynge and sorow.

Let no man reioyce ouer me wyddowe ād forsaken: which for the synnes off my chil∣dren, am desolate of euery man. For why, they departed from the lawe of God: they wolde not knowe his rightuousnes, ner wal¦ke in the waye off his cōmaundementes: and as for the pathes off the treuth and godly∣nesse, they had no lust to go in them.

[ C] O ye dwellers aboute Sion: come, and let vs call to remembraunce the captiuyte, that the euerlastinge God hath brought vpon my sonnes and my doughters. He hath brought a people vpon them from farre, an vncurteous people,* 1.29 and of a straunge lāgua¦ge: which nether regarde the olde, ner pyte the yonge,

These haue caried awaye the deare belo∣ued of my wyddowes, leauynge me alone, both desolate and childlesse. But alas, what can I helpe you? Now he y^t hath brought these plages vpon you, delyuer you also frō the hondes of youre enemies.

Go youre waye (O my children) go youre waye: for I am desolate and forsaken. I ha∣ue put of the clothinge of peace, and put v∣pon me the sack cloth off prayer, and for my tyme I will call vpon the most hyest. Be off good cheare,* 1.30 o my children: crie vnto the LOR¦DE, and he shal delyuer you from the power of the prynces, youre enemies.

For verely, I haue euer a good hope off youre prosperous health: yee a very gladnes¦se is come vpon me from the holy one, becau∣se of the mercy that ye shall haue off oure euerlastinge Sauioure.

With mournynge and wepinge dyd I let [ D] you go fro me, but with ioye and perpetuall gladnesse, shall the LORDE brynge you agay¦ne vnto me. Like as the neghbours of Sion sawe youre captyuite from God, Euē so shal they also se shortly youre health in God, which shal come on you with greate honou∣re and euerlastinge worshipe.

O my children, suffre paciētly the wrath that shal come vpon you, For the enemie hath persecuted the, but shortly thou shalt se his destruccion, and shalt treade vpon his necke. My derlinges haue gone rough har∣de wayes, for they are led awaye as a flocke that is scatred abrode with the enemies. But be of good cōforte (o my children) & crie vnto the LORDE: For he that led you awaye, hath you yet in remembraūce: and like as ye [ E] haue bene mynded to swarne from yo^r God, so shal ye now endeuoure youre selues x. ty∣mes more,* 1.31 to turne agayne, and to seke him. For he that hath brought these plages vpō you, shal brynge you euerlastinge ioye agay¦ne with youre health. Take a good herte vn¦to the, o Ierusalē: for he which gaue y^e that name, exorteth the so to do.

The wicked doers that now put the to trouble, shall perish:* 1.32 and soch as haue reioy∣sed at thy fall, shalbe punyshed. The cities whom thy children serue, and that haue ca∣ried awaye thy sonnes, shal be correcte. For like as they be now glad of yⁱ decaye, so shal they mourne in their owne destruccion. The ioye off their multitude shalbe taken awaye ād their cheare shalbe turned to sorowe. For a fyre shal fall vpon them from the euerlas∣tinge God, longe to endure: and it shalbe in∣habited of deuels for a greate season.

The V. Chapter.

O Ierusalem, loke aboute the towarde the east, and beholde the ioye, that [ A] commeth vnto the from God. For lo, thy sonnes, (whom thou hast forsakē, and that were scatred abrode) come gathered to∣gether from the east and west, reioysinge in the worde of the holy one, vnto the honoure off God.

Put of thy mournynge clothes (o Ierusa¦lem) and thy sorow, and decke the with the worshipe and honoure, that commeth vnto the from God, with euerlastinge glory. God shal put the cloake off rightuousnesse vpon the, and set a crowne off euerlastinge worshi¦pe vpon thine heade: for vpon the will God declare his brightnes, that is vnder the hea∣uen: Yee an euerlastinge name shalbe geuen the of God, with peace of rightuousnesse, & y^e honoure of Gods feare.

Arise o Ierusalem, stōde vp on hye: loke a∣boute the towarde the east, and beholde [ B] thy children gathered from the east vnto the west: which reioyce in the holy worde, hauyn¦ge God in remembraunce. They departed from the on fote, and were led awaye of the∣ir enemies: but now shal the LORDE bringe them caried with honoure, as children off y^e kyngdome. For God is purposed to brynge downe all stoute moūtaynes, yee and all hye rockes, to fyll the valleys, & so to make them eauen with the grounde: y^t Israel maye be diligēt to lyue vnto y^e honoure of God. The woddes & all pleasaūt trees shal ouershado¦we Israel, at the cōmaundement of God. For hyther shal God brynge Israel with ioy¦full myrth, and in the light of his magesty: with the mercy and rightuousnesse, that cō∣meth of himselff.

A copie off the epistle, that Ieremy the prophet did sende vnto the Iewes, which were led awaye presoners by the kynge of Babilō. Wherin he cer¦tifieth them of the thinge, that was cō∣maunded him of God.

The VI. Chapter.

[ A] BEcause of the synnes that ye haue done agaynst God,* 1.33 ye shal be led awa¦ye captyue vnto Babilon, euen off Nabuchodonosor the kynge of Babilon. So when ye be come in to Babilon, ye shall remayne there many yeares, and for a longe season: namely, vij. generacions: & after that wil I bringe you awaye peaceably from thē¦ce. Now shal ye se in Babilō, goddes of gol∣de, of syluer, of wodd and of stone: borne v∣pon mens shulders, to cast out a fearfulnes before the Heithen. But loke that ye do not as the other: be not ye afrayed, and let not the feare of them ouercome you.

Therfore, when ye se the multitude of peo¦ple [ B] worshippinge them behinde & before, sa¦ye ye in youre hertes: O LORDE, it is thou, that oughtest only to be worshipped? My∣ne angel also shal be with you,* 1.34 and I myself wil care for youre soules. As for the tymbre of those goddes, y^e carpēter hath polisshed them: yee gylted be they, & layed ouer with syluer, yet are they but vayne thinges, & can not speake. Like as a wench y^t loueth pera∣mours is trymly deckte, euen so are these ma∣de & hanged w^t golde. Crownes of golde ve¦rely haue their goddes vpon their heades: so the prestes themselues take the golde and syluer from them, & put it to their owne vs¦es: yee they geue of the same vnto harlottes, ād trymme their whores withall: Agayne, they take it from the whores, and decke their god¦des therwith. Yet can not these goddes dely∣uer them selues from rust and mothes.* 1.35 Whē they haue couered them with clothynge off purple, they wype their faces for the dust of the temple, wherof their is moch amōge thē. One hath a sceptre in his honde, as though he were iudge of the countre: yet can he not slaye soch as offende him. Another hath a swearde or an axe in his honde, for all that, is he nether able to defende him selfe from batayll, ner f••o murtherers.

[ C] By this ye maye vnderstonde, that they be no goddes: therfore se y^t ye nether wor∣shipe them, ner feare them. For like as a ves∣sel y^t a man vseth, is nothinge worth when it is broken, euen so is it with their goddes. When they be set vp in the temple, their eyes be full of dust, thorow the fete of those that come in. And like as y^e dores are shut in roū∣de aboute vpō him, y^t hath offended the kin¦ge: Or as it were a deed body kepte besy∣de the graue: Euen so the prestes kepte the dores with barres and lockes, lest their god∣des be spoyled with robbers. They set vp cā∣dels before thē (yee verely and y^t many) wher¦of they can not se one, but euen as blockes, so stonde they in the temple. It is sayde, y^t the serpentes and wormes, which come off the earth, gnawe out their hertes, eatinge them & their clothes also, and yet they fele it not. Their faces are blacke, thorow the smoke y^t is in the temple. The oules, swalowes & byr∣des fle vpon them, yee and the cattes runne ouer their heades.

By this ye maye be sure, that they are not [ D] goddes, therfore feare them not. The golde that they haue, is to make them beutifull: for all that, excepte some body dight off their rust, they wil geue no shyne: and when they were cast into a fourme, they felt it not. They are bought for money, and haue no breth off life within them. They must be borne vpon mens shulders, as those that haue no fete: wherby they declare vnto men, that they be nothynge worth. Confounded be they then, that worshipe them. For yf they fall to the grounde, they can not ryse vp agayne of thē¦selues: Yee though one helpe them vp and set them right, yet are they not able to ston∣de alone: but must haue proppes set vnder them, like deed men. As for the thinge that is offred vnto them, their prestes sell it, ād abu∣se it: yee the prestes wyues take therof, but vnto the sicke and poore they geue nothinge of it, the women with childe & the mēstruous laye hondes of their offerynges. By this ye maye be sure, that they are not goddes, ther∣fore be not ye afrayde of them. From when∣ce cōmeth it thē, that they be called goddes? The women syt before the goddes of syluer, golde and wodde, and the prestes syt in their temples, hauynge open clothes, whose hea∣des and beerdes are shauen, and haue nothi¦ge vpon their heades: roaringe and cryenge vpon their goddes, as men do at the feast, when one is deed.

The prestes also take awaye the garmentes of the ymages, and decke their wyues & chil¦dren withall. Whether it be good or euell y^t eny man do vnto them, they are not able to recompence it: they can nether set vp a kyn∣ge, ner put him downe. In like maner they maye nether geue riches, ner rewarde euell. Though a man make a vowe vnto them ād kepe it not, they wil not requyre it. They can

not restore a blynde mā to his sight, ner hel¦pe eny mā at his nede. They cā shewe no mer¦cy to the wyddowe, ner do good to y^e father∣les. Their goddes of wodd, stone, golde & syl¦uer, are but euen as other stones, y^t be hewē of y^e mountayne. They y^t worshipe thē, shal be cōfounded. How shulde they then be taken for goddes? yee how darre men call thē god¦des? And though the caldees worshiped thē not, hearinge y^t they were but domme & cou¦de not speake: Yet they them selues offre vn∣to Bel, and wolde fayne haue him to speake: as who saye, they coude fele, y^t maye not mo¦ue. But when these mē come to vnderstōdin∣ge, they shall forsake them, for their goddes [ F] haue no felinge. A greate sorte off women gyrded with coardes, syt in the stretes, & bur¦ne olyue beries. Now yf one off them be con¦veyed awaye, & lye w^t eny soch as come by: she casteth hir neghburesse in the teth, be∣cause she was not so worthely reputed, ner hir coorde broken. What so euer is done for them, it is but in vayne ād lost: How maye it thē be thought or sayde, y^t they are goddes? Carpenters & goldsmythes make thē, nether be they eny other thinge, but euen what the worke men wil make of them. Yee the gold∣smithes them selues that make thē, are of no longe cōtynuaunce: How shulde then the thī¦ges that are made of them, be goddes? Vay¦ne therfore are the thinges (yee very shame is it) that they leaue behinde thē for their poste¦rite. For as soone as there cōmeth eny warre or plage vpon thē, then the prestes ymagyn, where they maye hyde thē selues with thē. How can men thynke then, that they be god¦des, which nether maye defende them selues from warre, ner delyuer thē fro mysfortune? For seynge they be but of wodd, of stone, of syluer and of golde: all people & kynges shal knowe herafter, that they be but vayne thin¦ges: yee it shalbe openly declared, that they be no goddes: but euen the very workes off mēs hōdes, & that God hath nothinge to do with thē. They can set no kynge in the londe ner geue rayne vnto men. They can geue no sentence of a matter, nether defende the lon∣de frō wronge: For they are not able to do so moch as a crowe, that flyeth betwixte heuen and earth

[ G] Whē there happeneth a fyre into the hou¦se of those goddes of wodde, of syluer and of golde, the prestes wil escape & saue thē selues, but the goddes burne as the balkes therin They can not withstōde eny kynge or batell: how maye it then be thought or graunted, that they be goddes? Morouer, these god∣des of wodde, of stone, of golde & syluer ma∣ye nether defende thēselues from theues ner robbers: yee y^e very wicked are stronger thē they. These strype them out off their ap∣parell, that they be clothed withall, these ta¦ke their golde & syluer frō thē, and so get thē awaye: yet cā they not helpe thēselues. Ther¦fore it is moch better for a man, to be a kinge & so to shewe his power: or els a profitable vessel in a house, wherin he y^t oweth it, might haue pleasure: yee or to be a dore in a house, to kepe soch thinges safe as be therin: thē to be soch a vayne god. The Sōne, the Mone & all the starres when they geue their shyne & light, are obedient, & do men good: When the lightenynge glistreth, all is cleare: The wynde bloweth in euery countre, & whē God cōmaundeth the cloudes to go rounde abou¦te the whole worlde, they do as they are byd∣den: when the fyre is sent downe frō aboue & cōmaunded, it burneth vp hilles ād woddes: But as for those goddes, they are not like one off these thynges, nether in beuty ner strēgth. Wherfore mē shulde not thynke, ner [ H] saye that they be goddes, seynge they cā ne¦ther geue sentence in iudgment, ner do men good. For so moch now as ye are sure, that they be no goddes, then feare them not: For they can nether speake euell ner good of kyn¦ges. They cā shewe no tokens in heauē for y^e Heithen, nether shyne as the Sōne, ner geue light as the Mone: yee y^e vnreasonable beas¦tes are better then they: for they can get thē vnder the rofe, and do them selues good: So can ye be certified by no maner off meanes, that they be goddes: therfore feare thē not. For like as a frayboggarde in a garden off Cucumbers kepeth nothinge, euen so are the¦ir goddes of wod, of syluer & golde: and like as a whyte thorne in an orcharde, that euery byrde sytteth vpon: yee like as a deed body that is cast in the darcke, Euen so is it with those goddes of wodde, syluer and golde. By the purple and scarlet which they haue vpon thē, ād soone faydeth awaye, ye maye vnderstonde, that they be no goddes: yee they them selues shal be cōsumed at the last, which shal be a greate cōfucion of the londe. Blessed is the godly man, y^t hath no ymages & worship¦peth none, for he shalbe farre from re∣profe.

The ende of the prophet Baruch which is not in the Canon of the hebrue.

Notes

• * 1.1

  4. Re. 2
• * 1.2

  ••e••. 14. c
• * 1.3

  ••••re. 29. b Tim. ••. a
• * 1.4

  〈…〉〈…〉. b 〈…〉〈…〉 a
• * 1.5

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.6

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.7

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.8

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.9

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.10

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 9. c
• * 1.11

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.12

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.13

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.14

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.15

  Deu. 4. d 28. d
• * 1.16

  Heb. 8. c Zach 8. b Apoc. 2••. ••
• * 1.17

  Ephe. 2. a
• * 1.18

  Dani. 3. c Iere. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 3. c. 5. e
• * 1.19

  Nu. 1••. a Psal. 77. a
• * 1.20

  Psal. 78. a
• * 1.21

  Iere. 2. b
• * 1.22

  Pro. 1 a 3. a
• * 1.23

  Psal. 18. b 118. r
• * 1.24

  Deu. 4. f Iere. 23. d Psa. 144. a
• * 1.25

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.26

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.27

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.28

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.29

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.30

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.31

  〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ 33. b
• * 1.32

  Iere. 50. a b. c
• * 1.33

  ••er. 25 a. b
• * 1.34

  Deu. 6. c
• * 1.35

  Iere. 10. a