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THE FIRST PREACHERS.

These shepherds were not offended with the poverty of our Saviour, and did therefore stay and meddle no further, but they went forth and preached and talked of it to other folks; which thing they could not do without peril of their lives. Yet for all that these poor shepherds were content to lose their lives in God's quarrel. Therefore they go and teach their neighbours and others how the Messias and Saviour of the world was born of a virgin, and how the angel of God had opened it unto them.

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But what followed of their teaching, or what became of it? It begot a wondering and a gazing every body marvelled at it, and was desirous to talk of it, because it was a new matter; as we see in this our time, a great number of people pretend the gospel and bear the name of gospellers, because it is a new thing, and therefore it is the more pleasant unto them. So was it at that time, every body would talk of it in all places, but there were few or none that believed. For we read not that any of them went forth to seek the child, and so to confirm his or their faith; no, there was none. It was but a talk, and so they used it: wherein you may note the unfaithfulness and unthank

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fulness of this world, which will not receive the great benefits of God offered unto us. The shepherds told them how the angel of God had opened the matter to them, but the foolish people would not believe it. And even so at this time the preachers go abroad and shew unto the people what God had done for them, how he had delivered them from sin, death and hell. But the people are so blinded with unthankfulness, that they will not believe the benefits of God, nor receive them, but make a gazing and a wondering at the matter.

SILENCE.

But what did Mary the mother of Christ? What did she? The evangelist saith, "She pondered it in her heart," she weighed the matter with herself. She did not as our wellspoken dames do: she took not in hand to preach: she knew that silence in a woman is a great virtue, therefore she made nothing of the matter: she boasted not of her stock, to be of the lineage of noble king David; neither did she praise her own child, but would rather hear him to be praised of another; she tarried until the Lord himself had opened the matter;

neither would she be too hasty in promoting herself to honor.

Here may all women learn to follow the ensample of Mary, to leave their talk and vain speaking, and to keep silence. For what was the cause of the fall of mankind, but the unmeasurable talk of Eve which took in hand to reason the matter with the serpent? She thought herself very learned, and able to convince him. So are there too many now which take too much upon them. Such women may learn here of Mary to keep their tongues in better order. All women commonly make much of the mother of Christ, yea, some call upon her: but for all that they will not follow her ensample and goodness.

JESUS LOST.

Jesus and Mary with all their neighbours were at Jerusalem; and after they had done their business, they came home again, Mary in the company of other women, and Joseph her husband in the company of men. But Jesus the child was left behind, for Mary thought he was with his father, and Joseph thought he was with his mother. At night when they were met

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together, she asked him, and he asked her for the child; for before they were not aware that they had lost him. O what sorrow and tribulation rose then in their hearts! I think no tongue can shew what pain and sorrow this mother felt in her heart, for the loss of her child. For she thought thus, God hath rejected me, and thereforé hath taken my son from me! I shall no more find him. Alas! that ever I was born! that I should lose my son, whom I heard say should be the Saviour of the world! This Saviour is lost now through my negligence and slothfulness. What shall I do? Where shall I seek him? In this great heaviness, she turned back again to Jerusalem, inquiring for him by the way amongst their friends and acquaintance. But he could neither be heard of nor found until they came to Jerusalem, where they found him amongst the doctors and learned men, arguing with them, and posing them.

MOURNING.

In the time of popery, before the gospel came amongst us, we went to burials with weeping and wailing, as though there were no God: but since the gospel came unto us, I have heard say,

that in some places they go with the corses grinning and flearing, as though they went to a bear-baiting. Which thing no doubt is naught : for like as too much weeping is naught, so to be açogyos, without affection, is naught too; we should keep a measure in all things. We read in holy Scripture, that the holy patriarch Abraham mourned for his wife Sarah. So likewise did Joseph for his father Jacob. Therefore to weep charitably and measurably is not ill, but good, and allowed in God's word. So likewise in the New Testament, when that holy man St. Stephen was stoned to death, the text saith, that the church "fecerunt planctum magnum,” made great lamentation and weeping over him. Here I might have occasion to speak against those women which so soon forget their husbands that be departed; which thing I cannot very well allow, for it is a token of imperfect love. It was a law among the Romans, that no woman should marry again before twelve months were expired; which no doubt was an honest law.

A SAUCY FELLOW.

You have heard now who is the maker of this feast or banquet; and again you have

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