In his third and last Chapter of his Sermon, because we know not mens endes, he biddeth vs beware
of iudging: 6. and neuer the lesse to take open dogs and swine (so he calleth them) as they be. 7.
If these workes of iustice seeme too hard, we must pray instantly to him that giueth them. 12. In
the conclusion, he giueth one short rule of al iustice. 13. and then he exhorteth with al vehemencie
to the straite way, both of the Catholike faith, 21. and also of good life; because only faith wil
not suffice.
1.
Iudge not.
It is no Christian part to iudge il of mens actes, which be in themselues good, and may proceed
of good meaning, or of mans inward meanings, and intentions, which we can not see; of which
fault they must beware, that are too suspicious, and given to deeme alwayes the worst of
other men. But to say, that Iudas, or an Heretike euidently known to die obstinatly in
heresie, is damned, and in al other playne and manifest cases, to iudge, is not forbidden.
IVDGE not, that you be not iudged.
2. For
*
Luke 6,37.
Mark 4,24.
in what iudgement you iudge, you shal be iudged: and in what measure you mete, it shal be measured to you againe.
3. And why seest thou the mote that is in thy brothers eye: and the beame that is in thine owne eye thou seest not?
4. Or how sayest thou to thy brother: Let me cast out the mote of thine eye; and behold a beame is in thine owne eye?
5. Hypocrite, cast out first the beame out of thyne owne eye; and then shalt thou see
to cast out the mote out of thy brothers eye.
6. Giue not that which is
Holy to dogs.
Worthy receauing.
No holy Sacrament, and specially that of our Sauiours Blessed Body, must be giuen wittingly
to the unworthie, that is, to them that have not by confession of al mortal sinnes examined
and proued themselues. See the Annot. 1. Cor. 11, 27. 28. 29.
holy to dogs: neither cast ye your pearles before swine, lest
perhaps they treade them with their feete, & turning, al to teare you.
7.
*
Luke 11,9.
Aske, and it shal be giuen you: seek, and you shal finde, knock, & it shal be opened
to you.
8. For
Euery one that asketh.
Al things that we aske necessarie to saluation with humilitie, attention, continuance, and other
due circumstances, God wil undoubtedly grant when it is best for us.
euery one that asketh, receiueth: and that seeketh, findeth: and to him that knocketh,
it shal be opened.
9. Or what man is there of you, whom if his childe shal aske bread, wil he reach him a
stone?
10. Or if he shal aske him fish, wil he reach him a serpent?
11. If you then being naught, know how to giue good guifts to your children: how much
more wil your Father which is in Heauen, giue
✟
These good things are grace and al spiritual guifts, and whatsoeuer pertayneth to the
health of the soule.
good things to them that aske him?
12.
*
Luke 6,31.
Al things therfore whatsoeuer you wil that men doe to you, do also to them. For this
is the Law and the Prophets.
13.
*
Luke 13,24.
Enter ye by the narrow gate: because brode is the gate, and large is the way that
leadeth to perdition, and many there be that enter by it.
14. How narrow is the gate, and strait is the way, that leadeth to life: & few there
are the find it!
15.
⋮
The Ghospel on the 7 Sunday after Pentecost.
Take ye great heed of false Prophets, which come to you in the
Clothing of the sheep.
Heretikes wolues in sheep skinnes.
Extraordinarie apparance of zeale and holines, is the sheeps cote, in some Heretikes: but
these of this time weare not that garment much, being men of unsatiable sinne. This is
rather their garment, common to them with al other Heretikes, to crak much of the word of
the Lord, and by pretensed allegations & *sweet words of benediction, and specially by promise
of knowledge, light and libertie of the Ghospel, to seduce the simple and the sinful.
*Rom. 16,18.
clothing of sheep,
but inwardly are rauening wolues.
16. By their
*
Luke 6,44.
fruits
Fruits.
Heretikes known by their fruits.
These are the fruits which Heretikes are knowen by, diuision from the whole Church,
diuision among themselues, taking to themselues new names and new maisters, inconstancie
in doctrine, disobedience both to others and namely to spiritual officers, loue and
liking of themselues, pride and intolerable vanting of their owne knowledge aboue al the
holy Doctours, corruption, falsification and quite denying of the parts of Scriptures that
specially make agaynst them, and these be common to al Heretikes lightly. Othersome are more
peculiar to these of our time, as Incestuous mariages of vowed persons, Spoile of Churches,
Sacrilege and profanation of al holy things, and many other special points of doctrine,
directly tending to the corruption of good life in al states.
you shal know them. Do men gather grapes of thornes, or figs of
thistles?
17. Euen so euery good tree yealdeth good fruits, and the euil tree yealdeth euil fruits.
18. A good tree can not yeald euil fruits, neither an euil tree yeald good fruits.
19. Euery tree that yealdeth not good fruit, shal be cut downe, and shal be cast into
fire.
20. Therefore by their fruits you shal know them.
21. Not euery one that sayeth to me, Lord, Lord, shal enter into the
Kindgom of Heauen: but he that doth the wil of my Father which is in Heauen, he shal enter into the
Kingdom of Heauen.
22. Many shal say to me in that day:
Lord, Lord.
Not only faith.
These men have faith, otherwise they could not inuocate, Lord, Lord Ro. 10. But here we
see that to beleeve is not enough, and that not only infidelitie is sinne, as Luther teacheth.
Yea Catholikes also that worke true miracles in the name of our Lord, and by neuer so great
faith, yet without the workes of justice shal not be saved. 1. Cor. 13. Againe, consider
here who they are that haue so often in their mouth, The Lord, the Lord, and how litle
it shal auaile them, that set so litle by good workes, and contemne Christian justice.
Lord, Lord, haue not we prophecied
on thy name, and in thy name cast out Diuels, and in thy name wrought many miracles?
23. And then I wil confesse vnto them, That I neuer knew you: depart from me you that
worke iniquitie.
24.
*
Luke 6,47.
Euery one therfore that heareth these words, and doth them, shal be likned to a wise man
that built his house vpon a rock,
25. and therayne fel, and the fluddes came, and the windes blew, and they beat agaynst
that house, and it fel not, for it was founded vpon a rock.
26. And euery one that heareth these my words, and doth them not, shal be like a foolish
man that built his house vpon the sand.
27. and therayne fel, and the fluddes came, and the windes blew, and they beat against
that house, and it fel, & the fal therof was great.
28. And it came to passe, when Iᴇꜱᴠꜱ had fully ended these wordes, the multitude were
in
*
Mark 1,22.
Luke 4,32.
admiration vpon his doctrine.
29. For he was teaching them as hauing power, and not as their Scribes and Pharisees.