A Christian discourse vpon certaine poynts of religion Presented vnto the most high & puissant Lorde, the Prince of Conde. Translated out of French into English by Iohn Brooke of Ashe next Sandwich. 1578.

¶ A BRIEFE ADVERTISMENT, for to shew that we must simplie obey the voyce of the Lord, without further inqui∣ring of the cōmaundement: & to beleeue that euē as he is iust in al his works, he is as puissāt for to fulfil in vs his wil. Cap. 14. e

1. Samuel. 15.••.

¶ To obeie is better then offering, and to giue heede is better then the fatte of Rammes. For rebelliousnesse is as the sinne of witchcraft, and stoubournnesse is wickednesse and idolatrie.

IT is written in the booke of Iesus Siraach,* 1.1 that ma∣ny are excellent & of great renowne, but vnto y^e wise are the secretes reuealed. For great power belong∣eth onely vnto God, and he is honoured of the lowely. Séeke not out the things that are aboue thy capacitie, and search not the ground of such things as are too mightie for thée: But looke what God hath com∣maunded thée, thincke vpon that alwaie, and be not curious in many of his works: For thou hast not to doe, to sée with thine

eyes the things that are secrete, where the sonne of Syrach doth exhort vs to execute willingly and with a frée will the com∣maundement of the Lorde, without en∣quiring any further what is the cause of his commaundemen•• bicause that the seruaunt that knoweth his maisters will and prepareth not himselfe,* 1.2 neither doth according to his will, shalbe beaten with many stripes. And truely as a certeine christian authour hath verie well said,* 1.3 the Lord hath left y^e effect of many things, of which he hath hid from vs the causes. In∣somuch that we séeing with our eye the fulfilling of them: & yet for all y^t we know not to what end the Lorde hath ordeined them,* 1.4 and in the meane time he would be obeyed. The which is taught vs by an exā¦ple in y^e booke of Samuel, where y^e Lorde commaunded Saul to destroy wholy all y^e Amalechites, both man & woman, infant & suckling, and oxen, shepe, camels and asses. But Saul spared a liue of the shéepe and of the oxen and fat things, and the lambes and al that was good, for to haue sacrificed it vnto the Lorde. Then the Lord saide, it repenteth me that I haue made Saul king, because he hath not perfourmed my com∣maundementes.

In which place is shewed, that to obey is better then offering.

The like example is witten in the booke of the kings,* 1.5 where the Prophet which did contrarie vnto that that the Lord said vn∣to him, that is to say, that he shoulde not eate breade, nor drinke water, nor to turne againe by the same way he went: and he doing contrarie, was torne in péeces and deuoured of a Lyon. In all this we ought not to take any excuse vpon the difficult∣nesse and hardnes of the commaundement, or smalnesse or weakenesse of our streng∣thes. For he which maketh the commaun∣dement doth giue vnto vs also y^e meane to execute it. Let vs remember,* 1.6 y^t Moses being called of God for to deliuer the children of Israel, excused him selfe, saying: Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, no not in times past & namely since thou hast spoken vnto thy seruaunt. But let vs marke what the Lord vnto him. Who hath made mannes mouth, or who hath made the dum or the deafe, the seing or y^e blinde? haue not I y^e Lord? Go therfore & I wilbe in thy mouth, & teach thée what thou shalt say. Euen so Ieremie* 1.7 being chosen of the Lorde to bée a Prophete vnto the people of

Hierusalem, excused himself, saying: Oh lord God, I am vnméet, for I am yet but young, and the Lord said vnto him, say not so, I am to young. For thou shalt goe to all that I shal send thée vnto, and whatsoeuer I com∣maund thée, that shalt thou speake. And although that the commaundement of the Lord doth séeme to be sometime (according to mans sight) either to hard or contrarie vnto that, y^t they do ordinarily. Yet hée or∣deineth all to a good end, and for iust occa∣sions.* 1.8 As we do sée that it séemed (to mans iudgement) that y^e children of Israel should haue bene vanquished or taken by Pharao king of Aegipt: hauing the red sea against them as a fort ineuitable, for to stop them of their way: It séemed also that they go∣ing to the promised lande, vnder the con∣ducting and leading of Iosua, should neuer haue entred the floud of Iordain, letting them: But the LORD which hath com∣maundement vpon all his creatures, deui∣ded the waters, and the children of Israel went in through the middest of the sea vpon the drie ground. And the water was a wall vnto them, both on their right hand and on their left hand.

* 1.9As much chaunced of the floud Iordain,

for the waters which came downe from aboue, did stoppe and stoode vpon a heape a great way off. And the waters that were on y^e side of y^e salt sea vanished and dried vp, & y^e people went rightouer against Ieri∣cho. Furthermore, the Lord séemeth some∣time to commaund thinges altogether a∣gainst the order of nature and good man∣ners:* 1.10 as when he cōmaunded Abraham to sacrifice his onely sonne Isaac, for to proue his obedience. Also he commaunded the Prophet Oseas* 1.11 to take an harlot to his wife. Also he commaunded an other Pro∣phet to vse meates, not vsed of men. And neuerthelesse all that was not done with∣out a greate secrete and misterie: and ne∣uerthelesse a man would neuer haue be∣léeued nor thought that a virgin shoulde beare a childe,* 1.12 nor Elizabeth to conceaue in hir olde age. To be short, he commaun∣ded king Hezekiah to make the sunne to goe backewarde,* 1.13 contrarie from his ordi∣narie course. And yet the thinges are hap∣pened after the will of the LORD. Also after our outward sences, we doe distrust our selues often times of strengthes, in y^t that the Lord commaundeth vs:* 1.14 although that the things which are vnpossible with

men,* 1.15 are possible with God, which wor∣keth in vs both the wil and also the déede, (as saith the Apostle) euen of his frée be∣neuolence. Furthermore, we must not me∣sure the commaundement of the Lorde, af∣ter the commaundement of men, for often times men being moued with anger, doe commaunde vnlawfull & vnhonest things: as did the Emperour Theodosius,* 1.16 whiche caused to be slaine a great number of peo∣ple, in the citie of Thessalonia, in y^e time of Ambrosius, Bishop of of Millan. And for that cause the Emperour Theodosius was excluded, from the companie of the faith∣full, & afterwarde the same Emperour ac∣knowledging his offence, caused a lawe to be proclaimed, which was, that the Iudges shoulde not execute so soone the commaun∣dement of a prince, conteining to great se∣ueritie and cruelnesse. That same reason moued the consultes, not to admit a libell of Refus vnder the title of Refus,* 1.17 giuen of anger: that is to say, except it do appeare that it was ordeined with a good delibera∣tion & aduisement. The others being mo∣ued or stirred forwarde with some kinde of ambition or couetousnesse, do commaunde often times thinges contrarie vnto the

trueth and also vnto good maners: as Pha∣rao which commaunded all his people:* 1.18 that they shoulde cast into the riuer all the men children of the Hebrewes, & saue y^e maide children aliue.* 1.19 A Herod which caused to be slaine all the male children that were in Bethlehem, & in all the coastes thereof, as many as were two yeare olde and vn∣der. A king Ahab, which caused Naboth to be slaine for to haue his vineyarde.* 1.20 Fi∣nally, some being puffed vp with a disordi∣nate desire of vengeaunce, or rather at the request of others, haue no regarde to that that they doe commaunde,* 1.21 as Ahab which caused Micheah the Prophet to be put in prison, because be tolde him the trueth. A king Ioas which caused Zachariah the pro∣phet to be stoned to death.* 1.22 * 1.23 A Herod who commaunded the heade of Sainct Iohn baptist to be cut off at y^e request of his wife & of his daughter. A Annanias y^e hie priest:* 1.24 which commaunded them y^t stode by saint Paul, to smite him on the mouth. But with y^e Lord it is altogether otherwise, for there is no vnrighteousnesse in y^e Lord our god,* 1.25 nor regarding of persons, nor taking of re∣wards. I wil say yet moreouer, men do cō∣maund often times y^t which is not in their power:

yea, y^t they which haue the tharge giuen them, knowe not howe to execute it: as those men which would build the Towre of Babel.* 1.26 And therein they resembled the Diuell: For as the Diuell tooke Iesus vnto an excéeding hie mountaine, & shewed him all the kingdomes of the worlde, pro∣mising to giue them vnto him, if he would fall downe and worship him, although hée had nothing of all that in his power to giue: so there are some which many times do promise thinges which are not in their power to giue. Forasmuch then as all thinges are in the handes of the Lord,* 1.27 also it is he that worketh in vs both the will and the déede, euen of his frée beneuolence. And neuerthelesse, although y^e commaunde∣mentes of the LORD are easie,* 1.28 and are none other thing then righteousnesse and truth. On the other side, that y^e com∣maundements of men are full of deceipt, guile and hipocrisie: forasmuch as man of himselfe is but vanitie, yet truely often times through the traditions of men and mens commaundementes, we doe leaue and forsake the holy precepts and admoni∣tions of the Lorde: euen as the children of Israel did despise the Manna of GOD.

And in the meane time desired the flesh of Aegipt:* 1.29 the which Iesus Christ rebuked the Scribes and Pharises, when he saide,* 1.30 wherefore do ye transgresse the commaun∣dements of God through your traditions? Euen so haue not the Apostles done,* 1.31 vnto whom although y^t it was forbidden thē by menasces and threatenings, that in no wise, they should speake or teach in the name of Iesus, yet truely they answered in the pre∣sence of all. Iudge ye, whether it be right in the sight of God, to obey you rather then God. For we cannot but speak those things which we haue séene and heard. As much sayd the Philosopher Socrates,* 1.32 a little be∣fore he died, speaking vnto the Athenians, O ye people of Athens (saith that good Phi∣losopher) I loue you very much: but I loue rather to obey God then you. Those are the wordes of those children of the Hebrewes,* 1.33 being compelled to worship the Idol which the king Nabuchodonosor had made, protesting and declaring in the pre∣sence of the king, that they will not serue the gods of the Gentiles, & will not wor∣ship the Image which the king hath made. The which also in like manner, one of those seauen Machebeans,* 1.34 being neere vn∣to

death, doth witnesse, and crying with a loude voice vnto those which persecuted him, what séekest thou, and what requirest thou of vs? I wil not obey the kings com∣maundement: but I will obey the com∣maundement of the lawe, which was gi∣uen vnto our fathers by Moses. Héere some will saye vnto me: that I am young, weake of body and spirite: and not able to suffer so many tormentes and afflictions, which are ordeined for those which wil not obey the comaundementes of men. I doe aunswere, that euen so were those children of the Hebrewes. And those seuen Ma∣chebeans,* 1.35 and that notwithstanding they suffered death with a good courage, bicause of the hope & trust that they had in God. The other will excuse hir selfe, saying. I am a woman, and weake of nature: Fur∣thermore, if I doe nowe dye, I shoulde leaue so many small children, which dailie will bewaile my decease. So was y^e mother of those little Machebeans, & neuerthelesse it was she y^e most stirred them forward to kéepe the commaundement of the Lord, and moreouer she exhorted them to be patient. Others ther are which considering y^e great∣nesse of their familie wil mourmure against

God, and as the Painims wil blame our re∣••igion. To conclude, will saue the earth for to lose the heauen. To those kinde of peo∣ple, I would gladly demaund whether they are worthier thē Dauyd which was a king and a Prophet: yea of the stocke from whō Iesus Christ the sonne of God is come. And notwithstanding that he was afflicted on euery side, yea of his owne sonne, yet truely he was not dicomforted: but blessed y^e name of GOD, which gaue him grace to suf∣fer for him. Let vs leaue off then al such excuses, when it is a question to obey the commaundement of the LORD: for when the will is readie the powre is lack∣ing. Forasmuch as wée doe staye all in the strength of him which hath loued vs: bi∣cause that he which is in vs,* 1.36 is greater then he that is in the worlde. Let vs haue for example that liitle Dauyd,* 1.37 who going to fight with that great Goliah, measu∣red not his strengthes: but the power of him in whose name hée did fight.* 1.38 Let vs remember that the Apostles hauing ex∣presse cōmaundement of the Lord, to go in∣to a towne that lieth ouer against thē, to the ende to vnlose an Asse and hir colte, did not consider y^e difficultnes of y^e cōmaundement

but staying themselues vpon the autho∣ritie of him which commaunded them, did execute incontinently their charge. When Iesus Christ did send his Apostles thorow out the whole worlde for to preach & de∣clare his gospell,* 1.39 they regarded not y^e daun∣gers that might haue happened vnto them by the way: the force and puissaunce of the enemies of the crosse of Christe. Fur∣thermore, they excused not themselues of their ignoraunce: but fortefying themselus in this word, I wil giue vnto thée a mouth and wisedome, to the which your ene∣mies cannot resist, did execute incontinent∣ly the commaundement of the Lorde.

Let vs then take example of those whom Iesus Christ hath sometime called for to followe him,* 1.40 whereof the one excused him∣selfe, saying: suffer me first to burye my father, the other sayde: suffer me firste to bidde them farewell, which are at home at my house. Vnto whome the LORD aunswered, no man that putteth his hande to the ploughe, and loketh backe, is apte to the kingdome of GOD. Wherefore, when the LORDE doth commaunde vs any thinge, or when he doth call vs, let vs doe as that good Samuel did,* 1.41

who as often times as hée was called of the Lord, as often times aunswered, I am here, for thou diddest call me. Or as sainct Paule,* 1.42 who sodeinly at the voice of the LORD, aunswered. What wilt thou haue me doe? To conclude, let vs kepe sim∣plie that which is commaunded vs for to doe: without putting too,* 1.43 or taking from the word. Dooing, not that which seemeth good in our eies: but that which God hath ordeined. For the Lord doth protest by his Angell,* 1.44 vnto euery man that heareth the wordes of the prophesie of this booke: that if any man shall adde vnto these thinges, GOD shall adde vnto him the plagues that are written in this booke. And if any man shall minish of y^e words of the booke of this prophesie, God shall take awaie his part, out of the booke of life, and out of the holy Citie, and from those thinges which are written in this booke.

Deuteronomium. 30. c. The commaundement which I commaund thee this day, is not separated from thee,

neither farre off. It is not in heauen that thou needest to say, who shall go vp for vs to heauen and fet it vs, that we may heare it and doe it.

Romaines. 10. b. The word is nigh thee, euen in thy mouth, and in thine heart. This is that worde of faith which we preach.

A Prayer.

* 1.45O Lorde which hast made fast for euer and euer all thy commaundements, in all truth and equitie: and which puttest in man both the will and the desire to fulfill them. Teach vs the way of thy statutes, and shed and poure into our hearts thy loue through thy holy spirite, by the which thou doest helpe our infirmities:* 1.46 that we distru∣sting in our strengthes, and despising the assaultes of the flesh, the world and y^e diuel, we may stay altogether vpon y^e loue of him which was once offered vp for vs, for to accomplish thy will. And hast made vs more then vanquishers through the victo∣rie

which doth surmount the worlde, that is to say, our faith, thy welbeloued sonne our LORD Iesus Christ, vnto whom bée glorie for euer, Amen.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Eccle. 3. c.
• * 1.2

  Luc. 12. f
• * 1.3

  Saint Amb. in his book of y^e calling of y^e gentils
• * 1.4

  1. Reg. 15.5
• * 1.5

  5. Reg. 13. c
• * 1.6

  Exo. 4 d
• * 1.7

  Iere. 1 b
• * 1.8

  Exo. 14 d
• * 1.9

  Iosuae. 3. d
• * 1.10

  Genes. 22.2
• * 1.11

  Oseas. 1. a Ezech. 4. c
• * 1.12

  Mat. 1. c Luc. 1. e
• * 1.13

  Esa. 38. b
• * 1.14

  Luc. 28 a
• * 1.15

  Philip. 2. b
• * 1.16

  The lavve Si vindica of pocus. c. Eusebius in the ecclesi∣astical histo¦rie.
• * 1.17

  The lavve quod calore vnder y^e ti∣tle of Refus.
• * 1.18

  Exo. 1. d.
• * 1.19

  Mat. 2. c
• * 1.20

  3. Reg. 21. d
• * 1.21

  3. Reg. 22. c
• * 1.22

  2. Cro. 24. f
• * 1.23

  Mat. 2••. b
• * 1.24

  Act, 23. ••
• * 1.25

  Cro. 26. c
• * 1.26

  Genes. 11. a Mat. 4. b
• * 1.27

  Philip. 3. b
• * 1.28

  Psa. 119
• * 1.29

  Nomb. 11. b
• * 1.30

  Mat. 13. a
• * 1.31

  Act. 4. d
• * 1.32

  Plato in his Apologye for Socra∣tes.
• * 1.33

  Daniel. 3. c
• * 1.34

  2. Mach. ••. b
• * 1.35

  Mach. 7. b
• * 1.36

  1. Iohn. a
• * 1.37

  1. Reg. 17. f
• * 1.38

  Mat 21. ••
• * 1.39

  Mat 10. a
• * 1.40

  Luc. 9. g
• * 1.41

  1. Reg. 3. a
• * 1.42

  Act. 9. b
• * 1.43

  Deut. 4. c Deut. 12. d
• * 1.44

  Apo. 22. d
• * 1.45

  Psal. 111. b
• * 1.46

  Rom. 8. ••