PHYSICIANS.

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PHYSICIANS.

When our Saviour was going amongst this great multitude to Jairus's house, there cometh a woman through the people, desirous to touch his garment. The evangelist Mark setteth out this story more plainly than Matthew doth;, he saith, "There was a certain woman which had been diseased of an issue twelve years, and had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and felt no amendment at all, but rather was worse and worse. When she had heard of Jesus, she came in the press of the people behind him, and touched his garment: for she said, If I only may touch the hem of his clothes I shall be whole." This woman was sick of a grievous disease, and had been sick of it twelve years; "Passa est multa,” She had suffered much sorrow by it; for no doubt whosoever hath to do with physicians he must be a sufferer: it is an irksome thing to go to physic: a man must receive many bitter medicines and potions. Therefore Mark saith," She suffered much; they had put her to great pain, and she had bestowed all her substance upon them, and was never the better, but rather the worse." Belike she had been a woman of great riches, of great

substance, else she should not have been able to wage physicians so long. This place of Scripture reproveth not physicians, as though physic were a superfluous thing, and not necessary, because this woman was not healed; as when ye would reason of this manner: What! shall I go to physic? No, that I will not, for I read in Scripture, that a woman spent all her goods upon physicians, and yet was never the better. But this text maketh no more against physic, than this text doth against labor, where Peter saith, "Per totam noctem laboravimus, et nihil cepimus," We have labored the whole night, and have gotten nothing. Now a rash fellow will say, What! hath St. Peter labored all night and caught nothing? then I will not labor at all, for I shall get nothing with my labor: but this is a foolish reasoning. For though the woman spent all upon physicians, and yet was not healed; and though Peter labored all night, and catched nothing, yet for all that we are allowed to use physic, and commanded to labor. For so saith Scripture; "Honora medicum propter necessitatem," Honor the physician for need's sake. "Item, A Deo est omnis medela," from God is all cure, and the highest hath created the medicine. If we knew the virtue of every herb, we might be our own physicians, but we know them not';

therefore God hath ordained, that some should give themselves to the knowledge of such things, and then teach others.

SWEARING.

Let parents take heed how they speak in the presence of their children, and masters ought to take heed how they give ensamples unto their servants: for there be some masters

and parents, that will swear in the presence of their children, yea, they will teach them to swear. Our Saviour, how earnestly he commanded us to beware of swearing. Therefore parents ought to take heed, and specially such as be rulers over houses, or be officers. If they do swear, all the household will swear too, for it is commonly seen that the servant followeth the behaviours of his master, when they be ill; but the servants are not so hasty to follow their masters in goodness. And this swearing is so come in an use, that we can say nothing at all, but we must swear thereunto, by God, or by my faith, or such like gear. But there be some, which when they be reprehended because of their swearing, they will say, men will not believe me except I swear; which is a token that

they have been great liars. For every true man is to be believed without swearing: and therefore take this for a certain rule, that when a man is not ashamed, or hath not a conscience to break this law of God, that is to swear, he will not be ashamed, neither have any conscience to lie, to do against the commandment; for because swearing is as well forbidden as lying, and lying as swearing; therefore he that maketh no conscience in the one, will make less conscience in the other. I myself have had sometimes in use to say in my earnest matters, yea, by St. Mary, and such like things; which indeed is naught. For we are commanded not to swear at all.

APPAREL.

Here I might have occasion to speak against this excess of apparel, which is used now every where, which thing is disallowed in Scripture. There be some that will be conformable unto others, they will do as others do, but they consider not with themselves, whether others do well or not. There be laws made and certain statutes, how every one in his estate shall be apparelled, but God knoweth the statutes

are not put in execution. St. Paul he commandeth us to put on Christ, to leave these gorgeous apparels; he that is decked with Christ, he is well; and first we be decked with Christ in our baptism, where we promise to forsake the devil with all his works.

Now when we keep this promise, and leave wickedness, and do that which Christ our Saviour requireth of us, then we be decked with him, then we have the wedding garment; and though we be very poor, and have but a russet coat, yet we are well, when we are decked with him.

There be a great many which go very gay in velvet and satin; but for all that, I fear they have not Christ upon them, for all their gorgeous apparel. I say not this to condemn rich men of their riches; for no doubt poor and rich may have Christ upon them, if they will follow him and live as he commandeth them to live. For if we have Christ upon us, we will not make provision for the flesh, we will not set our hearts upon these worldly trifles, to get riches, to cherish this body withal.