A Very Pleasaunt Fruitful Diologe Called the Epicure | Page 4

fornication, trust in his pardounes, liue in popery, ypocrisie, and
dãnable ydolatrie, shut vp the kingdome of heauen, & neuer regarde the
gospel. Cõtrarie too this, christ bi his holy Prophete calleth al those
blessed that seke for his testimonies, al those his elect & chosê childrê,
which turne frõ synne, ypocrisie, & ydolatrie, all those goddes that
heare his word, yea, & breuely, al those which set it forward honorable
mê. & in this puincte your grace shoulde euer beare in mynde, || that
noble and vertuous kyng Hezekiah, whiche shewed hymselfe very
honorable in settîg forward ye woord of God, and therby gotte hym
glory and fame immortall, so that nowe he is most highly praysed
amongtst all men. Ageyn his subiectes dyd obey his commaundement
feynedly with Ypocrisie, but in their heartes they abhorred gods woord.
O the miserie that dyd afterwarde sodeinly ensue vpon them, O the
wonderfull wrath of God that was poured vpon them, O their great and
obstinate blindnes whiche caused them most greuously too be scourged:
Their plage was no lesse then too bee vtterly spoyled of their enemies,
Their plage was no lesse then to eate one an other: Yea, their plage was
no lesse then to eate their owne sonnes and doughters. This calamitie
and sorow (most noble prynce) happened them because they dyd not
regarde the lawes of God, but tourned too their olde abhominable
Ydolatrie, and lightelye estemed gods holy woord. Wherfore euen now

whosoeuer is an enemie ||B.i.|| to the holy Bible, that is, neither
studiyng it himselfe, nor willyng that other men shulde knowe it, he can
in no wyse be a right christian man: although he fast, pray, doo almes,
& all the good workes vnder heauen. And he that hath suche a mynde,
is ye most cursed and cruel enemie too god, a playne sower of sedition,
and a deuelishe disquieter of all godly men. For truly those that reade
the gospel of Christ, and labour diligêtly therin: doo fynde wonderfull
rest & quietnes, from all woofull miserie, perturbatiõ, and vanities of
this world. And surely none but ypocrites or els deuilles would go
about too stoppe or allure men from suche a treasure and godly study.
And it were conuenient, that all they whiche wyll remayne styll
necligent, styffe, & blind: shuld set before their faces the feare of
paynes infernall, and if thei haue any grace at all, their spirites ought to
be moued: too note the great plages that haue happened the slouthful in
gods woord, & those that haue been stubburne ageynst the settyng || out
of it. There bee a thousand recordes and examples in the holy Bible
agaynst such as be farre wyde from knowledge, and lye now walteryng
styl in ignoraunce and will not looke vpon the bible. It woulde seme,
they hope for a thyng, but their hope is in vaine: For saint Paule
plainely writeth the hope of suche ypocrites shall coo[~m] too nought.
And too conclude (most honorable Prince) seeyng wee haue suche
knowledge opened vnto vs, as neuer had englishe mê, and are clearly
deliuered from the snares and deceiptes of al false and wicked doctrine,
if we shuld not now thãkefully receaue the gospell, and shewe our
selues naturally enclyned to set it forwarde, yea, and pray daye and
night vnto God, for the preseruatiõ and health of the kynges highnes,
your graces deare, and most entierly beloued father, we were neither
true subiectes nor ryght christen men. Forsoth, through the absolute
wisedome, and the most godly and politike prudencie of his grace, the
swete sounde of gods woorde is gone ||B.ii.|| thorough out all this
realme, the holye Bible and blessed testament of oure sauiour Christ are
coo[~m]ne to lighte, and thousandes haue faithfully receiued those
pleasaunt, ioyfull, and most comfortable promises of God. Surely this
thyng before all other, is acceptable too god. This thyng especially
swageth ye ire of god. This thyng in all holi scriptures god most chiefly
requireth of his elect & faithfull seruaûtes, euen too haue his lytell
flocke knowe his blessed woorde, whiche woulde bee muche better

knowê & more thankefulli receaued, yf al agees and degrees of men
with one mynd, wyll, & voice, would nowe drawe after one lyne,
leauyng their owne priuate affections, and shewe theim selues euer
vigilant, prompt, & ready helpers & workers with God, (accordynge to
the councell of sainct Paule) & especially priestes, scolemaisters &
parêtes, which accordyng too ye Prophete Dauid are blessed, if they
gladly requite ye lawe of God. They shuld therfore reade ye bible &
purdge theyr mindes of al papistry: for theyr || necligence, in dooyng
their duties & slugishnes toward ye blessed woord of god, dooeth too
muche appere. Through them forsoth the gospel