THE POWER OF KINDNESS.

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popery and such kind of things; the poor man being then present, took a great displeasure against the rich man; insomuch that he would come no more to his house, he would borrow no more money of him, as he was wont to do before-times; yea, and conceived such hatred and malice against him, that he went and accused him before the bishops. Now the rich man, not knowing any such displeasure, offered many times to talk with him, and to set him at quiet. But it would not be ; the poor man had such a stomach, that he would not vouchsafe to speak with him: yea, if he met the rich man in the street, he would go out of the way. One time it happened that he met him in so narrow a street that he could not avoid, but must needs come near him; yet for all that this poor man had such a stomach against the rich man, I say, that he minded to go forward, and not to speak with him. The rich man perceiving that, eatched him by the hand, and asked him, saying, Neighbour, what is come into your heart, to take such displeasure with me? What have I done against you? Tell me, and I will be ready at all times to make you amends.

Finally, he spake so gently, so charitably, so lovingly, and friendly, that it wrought in the poor man's heart, that by and by he fell down

upon his knees, and asked him forgiveness. The rich man forgave him, and so took him again to his favor, and they loved as well as ever they did afore. Many a one would have said, Set him in the stocks, let him have bread of affliction, and water of tribulation: but this man did not so. And here you see an ensample of the practice of God's word, in such sort that the poor man, bearing great hatred and malice against the rich man, was brought, through the lenity and meekness of the rich man, from his error and wickedness, to the knowledge of God's word. I would you would consider this ensample well, and follow it.

SUPERSTITION.

What a trust and confidence have we had in holy water, and holy bread? Also in ringing of holy bells, and such fooleries? But it was good sport for the devil, he could laugh and be merry at our foolishness; yea, and order the matter so, to keep us in the same error. For we read in stories, that at some times the devil went away from some men, because of the holy water; as though that holy water had such strength and power that he could not abide it.

O crafty devil! he went away, not for fear of the holy water, but because he would maintain men in error and foolishness. And no doubt it was the devil's teaching, the using of this holy water.

It was not long ago since I being with one of my neighbours that was sick, there came in an old woman, and when she saw the man sore sick, she asked whether there was no holy water to be gotten. See here the foolishness of the people, which amidst the light of God's most holy word, will follow such fantasies and delusions of the devil! Ye know when there was a storm of fearful weather, then we rang the holy bells; they were they that must make all things well, they must drive away the devil. But I tell you, if the holy bells would serve against the devil, or that he might be put away through their sound, no doubt we would soon banish him out of all England. For I think if all the bells in England should be rung together at a certain hour, I think there would be almost no place, but some bells would be heard there. And so the devil should have no abiding place in England, if ringing of bells would serve but it is not that that will serve against the devil. Yet we have believed such fooleries in times past; but it was but mocking, it was the teaching of the devil. And no doubt

we were in a miserable case when we learned of the devil to fight against the devil.

And how much are we bound to God, that he hath delivered us from these gross ignorances, and hath taught us how we should fight and prevail against his enemy. Yet it is a pitiful thing to see, that there be some amongst us which would fain have the old fooleries again; they are weary of the word of God, they cannot away with it, they would rather have their crossings, and setting up of candles, and such fooleries, than the word of God.

I was once called to one of my kinsfolk; it was at that time when I had taken degree at Cambridge, and was made master of art; I was called, I say, to one of my kinsfolk, which was very sick, and died immediately after my coming. Now there was an old cousin of mine, which after the man was dead, gave me a wax candle in my hand, and commanded me to make certain crosses over him that was dead; for she thought that the devil should run away by and by. Now I took the candle, but I could not cross him as she would have me do, for I had never seen it afore. Now she perceiving that I could not do it, with a great anger took the candle out of my hand, saying, It is a pity that. thy father spendeth so much money upon thee; and so she took the candle, and crossed and

blessed him, so that he was sure enough. No. doubt she thought that the devil could have no power against him.

This and such like things, were nothing but illusions of the devil: yet for all that we did so put our trust in them, that we thought we could not be saved without such things. But now let us give God most hearty thanks, that he hath delivered us from such snares and illusions of the devil; and let us endeavour ourselves most earnestly to hear God's most holy word, and to live after it.

LYING.

No doubt we be full of lies.

Consider and

examine all estates, and ye shall find all their doings furnished with lies. Go first to men of occupations, consider their lives and conversations, there is in a manner nothing with them but lying. Go to men of authority, go to the lawyers, you shall find stuff enough. For it is seen now-a-days that children learn prettily of their parents to lie, for the parents are not ashamed to lie in presence of their children. The craftsman or merchantman teacheth his prentice to