taining unto them, who preach in their diocefes; they themselves being occupied in worldly business: our Saviour did not fo, he opened his own mouth, and taught the people.

Certainly this example of our Saviour ought more to be confidered of our Prelates than it is for they be not better than Chrift was. Chrift hath fent them, and given unto them a commiffion to preach; wherefore difdain they then to open their mouths, and teach the people? Seeing that our Saviour himfelf taught, how will they be excufed when they fhall make account for their doings? What shall be their reward for their flothfulness? No doubt, everlasting damnation hanging over their heads.

Now our Saviour opening his mouth, what taught he them? Forfooth, he taught them a pilgrimage, the christian man's pilgrimage: And this is a good and true pilgrimage that he taught; for this pilgrimage ftandeth not in running hither and thither: No, no; there is a right pilgrimage, but there is a ftrange gear in it; yea, fuch gear, that if I fhould fay it of mine own head, you would not believe me, ye would fay I lie for it agreeth not with our mother wit, we cannot compafs this gear with our natural wit therefore we must confider who fpeaketh it, and fo captivate our reafon and wit to the wifdom of God.

Now Chrift, the eternal Son of God, he teacheth us this pilgrimage: Of which God the Father himfelf faith," This is my well-beloved Son, in whom "I am well pleased; hear him." Seeing then that the almighty God commanded us to hear him, we ought not to disregard his doctrine, to esteem and value it for nothing; but most highly to esteem it as the infallible word of God. Now what faith he? "Bleffed be the poor in fpirit, for theirs is the

kingdom of heaven, &c." I intend to be very short, elfe I could not have time to go through all

things that pertain to this pilgrimage. This is a pilgrimage of eight miles, or of eight days journies; all things that pertain unto it are comprehended in eight points.

Our Saviour faith, "Bleffed are the poor;" this is contrary to our reafon : for who would think poverty to be a bleffedness? who is he that would not rather be rich than poor? To be rich is a bleffedness in our eyes; to be poor is an unhappiness in our minds: but we must fubdue our judgments. We esteem it to be a curfedness to be poor: Well, our Saviour faith, "Bleffed are the poor.' Luke hath no more but these words; Matthew addeth "in fpirit."

These eight miles, or days journies, may be called Paradoxa, that is to fay, inexplicable, incredible, and unbelievable fayings: For if Chrift had not spoken it himself, who should have believed it? for we fee daily before our eyes what a miferable thing is poverty; therefore our nature is ever given to avoid poverty, and to come to riches. But Chrift faith, "Bleffed are the poor in fpirit, for the kingdom of "heaven is theirs."

The kingdom of heaven is taken fometimes for the office of preaching; as when he compared the kingdom of heaven to "a net that catches good

When

and bad fishes," there he meaneth the office of preaching, fometimes it is taken for eternal felicity, which Chrift our Saviour merited for us. John Baptift fendeth his Difciples unto Christ to ask him whether he be Chrift or not, he told him what miracles he had done, and amongst other things he faid, "The poor hear the Gospel;" meaning, that the poor be more willing to hear the gospel, they také more pain in hearing God's word, than the rich do: for the rich commonly leaft regard the gofpel. Look throughout all England, and you shall find it fo. Likewife he faith by the Prophet, "He hath fent F 2

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"me to preach the gospel unto the poor;" becaufe the poor hath more pleasure in it: the rich men commonly regard it for nothing: therefore it is wonderful that as fuch terrible things are written of rich men, and yet we feek all to be rich, and call them bleffed and happy that be fo. But as I told you heretofore, how that these rich Farmers made their excufes: they would not come to the banquet which God had prepared for them, because their .riches did let them: therefore riches are called thorns in fcripture.

As for an example: There be two ways to a Town, the one is plain and ftraight, the other is full of thorns. Now he that goeth the plain way fhall fooner come to his journey's end, than he that goeth the thorny way: So it is easier without riches to come to heaven, than with riches: but our nature is fo corrupt, that we ever defire that thing that may do us harm. I will not fay but that men may have riches, and many good men have had great riches; yet riches must be had with fear: for it is a dangerous thing to have them: they be but burdens, they that have them be but Bailiffs and Stewards over them, they must make account for them. And therefore above all things rich men must have in fresh, memory this fcripture: "When riches come upon you, fet not your hearts "upon them:" ufe them to fuch end as God hath appointed with your plenty help the needy, the poor and miferable people: and this is our duty to do. For he that hath riches, and helpeth not the poor withal, but layeth them up for himself, he. is a Thief before God, though he do come rightly and justly by his goods: for he doth not his duty he withdraweth that from the poor that pertaineth unto them; for God requireth of the rich to relieve and help the poor with his riches: when he now doth it not, the writers call him a Thief. Here we fee what

what a burden it is to have riches, therefore let us not be fo greedy after them: and when we have them, let us remember that we be but God's Stewards, and Distributers of his treasures.

You must mark here that our Saviour when he faith: Bleffed be the poor;" he counteth not the Friers poverty, that fame wilful poverty, but if we be come to poverty for confeffing of Chrift, then thou art bleffed. Again, I am a rich man, the fire cometh and taketh away my riches. As Job was a rich man, but what happened? His enemies came and took away all together: fo we may this day be rich, and to morrow we may be beggars: for riches be changeable unto us, but not unto God: for God knoweth them, and to whom he will give them, or take them away again. Now when I come to poverty by chance, fo that God fendeth poverty unto me, then I am bleffed; when I take poverty well, without grudging.

And therefore he addeth" in fpirit;" that is, to take it in good part with a faithful heart, knowing that God fendeth the fame unto us: fo that when we come to poverty by fuch chances, or by perfecutions, fo that we caft not away our goods wilfully (as the Friers did) which was a leaving of riches by their own minds: but elfe we do our bufiness according unto our calling, and then God endueth us with his poverty; let us take it with joy and gladness: for the bleffings which Chrift promised unto us here in his gofpel, fhall light upon us; therefore take it fo, that poverty is a bleffing, when he is taken with a faithful heart elfe indeed it is to no purpose, except it proceed out of faith. Be not eager therefore to have riches, and when ye have them, that God fendeth them, fet not too much by them. For Chrift faith it is hard for a rich man to come to heaven; fpeaking of those which fet their hearts upon riches: which

men

men indeed be very idolaters: for they put their hope, truft, and confidence in them; fo that whatfoever fhall happen, they think they will efcape, having money, and fo they make money their God; which is a moft wicked and abominable thing in the fight of the Lord. For God would have us to hang upon him, to truft in him, be we poor or rich: If we be rich, we should not fet our hearts upon riches: if we be poor, we should comfort ourfelves with this fcripture, They that fear him

"fhall not lack."

The fecond day's pilgrimage.

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Now the fecond mile, or day's journey in this pilgrimage, is this; " Bleffed are "they that mourn, for they fhall "have comfort." We after our reafons efteem them happy that can make merry in this world; but our Saviour, contrariwife, pronounceth them bleffed that mourn and weep in this world. We feek all to be in that cafe, that we might laugh and be merry, for we think that to be a great bleffedness: but our Saviour pronounceth them bleffed that weep. And therefore the Scripture faith, "It is better to go to the mourning house, "than to the house of banquetting :" For he that goeth to fick folks, it fhall be a good admonition, it fhall make him to confider the frailty and weaknefs of mankind, and fo ftir him up to make ready, and not to fet much by this world. St Paul fpeaketh of two manners of forrowfulness, the one is worldly, and the other is ghoftly; the worldly forrowfulness is without faith: as the wicked, when they weep, they are forrowful: yet this comfort, of which Chrift fpeaketh, is not promifed unto them. Efau wept when Jacob beguiled him, but his weeping was without faith. Truly happy are those that have much occafion to weep and wail: For, "Vexation and trouble maketh us to know ourfelves, and teacheth us to leave fin and wicked

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"nefs."