couered vnder her man till this being graunted al the damned souls shal be there shrouded and so saued from helsiar This is the cause why our people make but a mocke of sinne They thinke the soule only shal goe to heauen not the body also whence it commeth that they say they care nor what becommeth of their bodies so their soules may bee saued They ascribe sauadge cruelty vnto God the father because he punished mans sinne so seuerely euen in his son Christ the Lord Iesus they commend Nû waâ—th genûfâ—â—him amy tady gwr â—râ—ûlon hinnûâ—onûd cydymmaith da ûwr mab I care not saith one for the father that cruel man but the sonne is a good fellowe Durst wee once conceiue these base cogitations of our Prince I know it would not be tolerated And I hope this religious and wise assembly will procure that the Lord may haue some more reuereÌ„ce at our hands Because the poor creatures can hear nothing at the mouth of their minister how their sinnes may be hidden their iniquities couered it is a common saying euen among those who care not for Rhomish Antichrist that it was a good worlde then when a man might haue a pardon for his sins in such and such a place for one 4 d. They see no felicity where mere ignorance of saluation is A false perswasion thereof they thinke better than none at all Man must haue religion true or false Our people learn one of another most blasphemous praiers This they doe so much the rather because in them they commeÌ„d them selues families c. vnto the tuition of some saint whom they think most fauourable vnto them and best able to grant their petitions My hart bleedeth to think howe these villanies with other vngodly songs are learned of good painfull soules with greedines I know masters of families that teach these vnto their housholds If they meete with any who can write and read they wil demand of him whether he can teach them euer a good praier against such a disease in man or beast Vngodly welsh bookes are fraught with these Idolatries If conscience would not keep me from vttering an vntruth before my soueraigne monarch yet fear of punishment should containe me But this I protest before Iesus Christ who shall iudge all euen according vnto their woordes and in the presence of al the world that the onely staffe stay of al priuat religion among our people the 2 sorts of men before named I exempt are latine praiers praying vnto Saints superstitious obseruations with vngodlie welsh songs and books If these things 〈…〉 meate Atheisme would ouer grow vs. Surely the reading ministery hath nor so much as wrought in the harts of anie almost the persuasion of one true God It were folly to goe about to heale the disease and let the cause remains Concerning that which is reade there is no man but thinketh very reuerently thereof And we praise the Lordâ— that we haue so much publikely by meanes of his highnes whereas in the daies of blindnes we had nothing but professed idolatry Take but a view of our liues and you shal see also what effect reading hath brought to passe There be many sinnes essential almost vnto our nation Profaning the name of God in common talk is prodigious aâ— affirmations or negations will bring thirty â—â—â—hes out of a great many Some shieres of South wâ—les haue gotten them an ignominious name by this sin I dare write that which I durst not vtter in words They are called gâ—ûr eig Dû◠Looke the punishment of swearing Deut â—8 5â— Leuit 〈◊〉 15.16 This is the 〈◊〉 book Zach. 13. Look the Law of concealing an oath Leu. 5 â— and you shâ—â—â— finde that the Parliament shoulde haue great â—â—gard to damme the springes of this sinne by the word preached What a hand we haue had in adultery fornication the great number of illegitimate and base born among vs doe 〈◊〉 I would our Princes and Leuit had not beans chiefe in this trespasse The punishment hereof in the Bishops court is derided of our people For what is it to theÌ„ to pay a litle money or to run through the Church in a white sheete They haue made 〈◊〉 and songs of this vulgar penance Neither iustice of peace not minister wil see the execution of the lawes prouided in this case Though they did seeing the Lords ordinance is not obserued it would not preuaile The seat of iudgement in our coÌ„mon courts is turned into wormwoode A man cannot haue his right in a yeare or two though his euidence be vnaunswerable They haue gotten many shifts wheÌ„ al failes one wil stand viz. excommunication The plaintife without al right maie be excommunicated in the Bishops court and so not absolued in a whole yeare Al which time hee is no person fit to prosecute his right in the common law It is irksome to think how hardly a poor man can keepe any thing from the eues of great countenaunce Though he seeth his own sheep or other cattel feed within two miles of him in some mens pastures he dareth not aske them Quaffing surfeting is too too common Al are become Ismaels Euery mans hand against them and theirs against all other Church men and all will haue their right by the sword for by the word they neuer seek it These thinges I doe not set downe to disgrace my deare countrimen I beare them another hart My purpose is to shew that all the good politique lawes in the woorld cannot wash awaie these our stains The nitre that washeth purely the word of the Lord must doe it A conscience must be wrought in our people else they wil neuer leaue their idolatry swearing adulterie and thee uery They that know the country know how litle hold the straightest and seue rest laws in the world wil take on a great many If it be the wil of the Parliament therfore we shal be bettered let the word be preached among vs. We haue preaching How often Quarterly It is not so For to that one parish where there is one ordinary quarter sermon we haue tweÌ„ty that haue none The number of fit preaching ministers in wales can easily proue the truth hereof Wee paietithes alwaies and therefore we should haue preaching alway for he that laboureth not must not eat 2. Thess 3.8.10 continuall preaching is Gods ordinaunce Eph. 4.12 therefore man must not dispence with it Confer Rom. 8.9 with Eph. 13.2 Tim. 4.2 Acts. 20.18.19.20.31 1 Thess 2.10.11 Heb. 5.12 Acts. 20.16 Colos 3.16 1. Pet. 1.23 Matt. 9.38 The seuerall reasons drawen our of these places of Scripture maie proue the necessity of continual preaching either in respect that it is Gods decree or that mans nature requireth it They that dense this may learne their duty by Iacobs diligence in keeping of sheep Gen. 31.40 So may they that set others to take the ouersight of the Lordes sanctuarie Ezec. 44.8 and blush Preaching is graunted conuenient
A TREATISE CONTAINING THE AEQVITY OF AN HVMBLE SVPPLICATION WHICH IS TO BE EXHIBITED VNTO HIR GRACIOVS MAIESTY AND this high Court of Parliament in the behalfe of the Countrey of Wales that some order may be taken for the preaching of the Gospell among those people Wherein also is set downe as much of the estate of our people as without offence could be made known to the end that our case if it please God may be pitied by them who are not of this assembly and so they also may bee driuen to labour on our behalfe AT OXFORD Printed by IOSEPH BARNES and are to be sold in Pauls Church-yard at the signe of the Tygers head 1587. TO AL THAT MOVRN IN SION VNTIL THEY SEE Ierusalem in perfect beuty namely to my Fathers Brethren of the Church of England grace mercy and loue in the Lord Iesus bee multiplied IT hath beene the iust complaint beloued in the Lord of the godlie in all ages that Gods eternall and blessed verity vnto whom the very Heauens themselues shoulde stoupe and giue obesiance hath bin of that smal reckoning and account in the eies of the most part of great men as they valued it to be but a meere losse of time to yeeld anie attendaunce thereupon Hence it commeth to passe that the truth being at any time to be countenanced none very often are found in the traine thereof but the most contemptible and refuse of men And because these also being guilty vnto themselues of great infirmities and foule sinnes manie times and not ignorant that affliction is the sequele of earnest and sincere profession doe pull their neckes from the yoke and their shoulders from the burden the Lorde is constrained verie seuerely to deale with them before they can be gotten to go on his message Whereupon also followeth their endeuours in Gods owne cause not to haue the euents which they expect Example hereof Ionas may be one for all And which is farre more lamentable in as much as the drousie and carelesse security the colde and frossen affections of the godly themselues in most waightie affaires is neuer wanting their careful diligence and earnest zeale ioined with hartie and vehement praiers alwaies desired the Lord suffereth his owne cause to contract some spot from their sinful hands These considerations beloued but specially the later kept me back a great while from this action which I haue now by the goodnes of God brought to this passe you see It would be a greeuous wound vnto me all my life long if the dignitie of a cause worthy to haue the shoulders of al the princes vnder the coape of heauen for it footstoole should be anie whit diminished by my foule hands which notwithstanding I protest to haue been washed as fair as their stains would permit But I am not a little comforted two maner of waies First that the Lord knoweth he thrust me almost against my wil hereunto And for asmuch as I see the honour of Iesus Christ in whose countenance God the father hath louingly wincked at my sinnes and whose is al that I haue standeth vpon the progresse of the woorde preached among vs my silence though to the daunger of my life shal not be tray his honour Is not he a God Will he not be religiously worshipped Wil he not haue this religion framed according vnto his owne mind Hath hee not regard whether his true seruice be yeelded him or no if he haue woe be vnto that conscience that knoweth this and keepeth it secret or is slacke in the promoting hereof Seing it pleased him who also separated me from my mothers womb to stur me vp hereunto I doubt not but hee wil giue that successe of my labours that may be most to his glory Surely by his assistaunce I neither can nor will be slacke The dignity of the cause I hope wil be regarded if not importance must take no deniall in the matter of our God My second comfort is that what effect soeuer shal ensue my paines I seek not my owne but theirs whom it concerneth namely my parents and brethren according to the flesh Whose state is so miserable at this daie that I think it were verie great vndiscreetnes for me to spare anie speech that were likely to preuaile Naie I would to God my life coulde winne them the preaching of the Gospel Our sicknes is at the hart it must not be dallied with either present remedy or vndoubted perdition And so will they iudge who viewe our estate offered vnto her Maiesty and the Parliament Which was not published onely least posterities should knowe such dishonour of God either at al to haue beene or in 28. yeares not redressed vnder Queen Elizabeth our souerain As for the aduersaries who vnderstand our estate too wel and reioice at our silence I regard them not at al for what haue we amisse at this day which flowed not out of the midst of their inheritance cursed Rome that bottomles pit fornace of idolatry I haue only therein touched our calamity not touched a great part thereof To come vnto you beloued of the church of englād I know our cause shal come through many of your hands I do with teares beseech that it maie haue al the lawful fauor you find of your harts to affourd vnto Christ in his poor members It may stand in some one to dash the whole Therefore in the name of God I require al of you that you hinder not his honour the saluation of perishing souls the good to the common wealth hereby intēded If you do otherwise I praie God so many souls as perish in miserable Wales for want of preaching be not required at your hands in the daie of iudgement But beloued I promise al good things on your parts and craue not only praiers vnto the Lord for the speedy erecting of our Ierusalem but all other helpes of speech and countenaunce of motioning the matter vnto her Maiesty the Parliamēt shewing the danger of denying the great profit and necessitie of granting our petition It is your dutie which cannot bee shaken off as it appeareth by the example of Ebed-melech Ierem. 38.9 Ieremie 38.9 The like act done by the Princes and Elders of the Lande Ieremie 26.16 17. When the Princes hard Baruch read in their eares the wordes of the booke containing al the curses Iehouah had determined to bring vpon Israel and Iuda c. it is recorded by the holy Ghost that they were affraid both one and other and said vnto Baruch we wil certifie the king of these woords and did so Wherein they perfourmed nothing but that which euery one of you before the Lord is bound to doe Gods people requireth this at your handes The state of the common wealth and her Maiesties whom the Lord in mercie deliuer from all forraigne and domestical treasons crie vnto euerie one of you that can giue anie counsel Iliad 3. A counsellor must not sleepe all
Kin. 16.29 went through the people from Bersheba to mount Ephraim and brought them againe vnto Iehouah the God of their fathers so litle a thing was it in his eies to haue once verie notablie reformed his people vnlesse he did the same as often as need required Religious Ioshia 2. Chro. 33.29 caried the like heart with him The good king rent his clothes his heart melted within him with weeping and wringing of handes he humbled himselfe before his God and immediatly set vpon the reformation of euery thing amisse as soone as he perceiued the Lord to be dishonored by neglecting the performance of his will in any point But what needed he to haue taken all these paines He had a promise all should go well in his daies and after him his people were sure to smart for their former sinnes He had doone well for his part fals-religion was expelled in the 1. yeare of his raigne this being the 18. Iudah Ierusalem were purged from their high places time would not serue to establish euery thing according vnto the lawe of Moses the people were simple not capeable of the gouernment required by the worde of God his nobility by reason of their long continuance in Idolatry not so well perswaded of the true religion he sought to establish It was very new vnto them their weakenes were to be born-withal Yea they must haue the liberty of their consciences Perhaps they who should haue beene most forward as the high priest and others were found very great enimies vnto all good proceedings It may bee they looked that all should bee committed vnto their handes as the pope hath done in times past For what had a ciuil magistrate to doe with setting in order things belonging vnto religion These and many other hinderances hee had I grant 2. Chro. 34.3 But looke when the zeal of the Lords house hath eaten vp any how easily they swallow all occasions that might hinder the true worship of God in any that belongeth vnto them And therfore that very yeare euen then when he was farther instructed by examining the booke of the Lawe of Moses concerning his duty he gathered the people from the greatest vers 30 31 32 to the smallest priest and Leuite read the woord of the couenant in their eares and made a couenant before Iehouah to keepe his commaundements his statutes and his testimonies with all his heart and with all his soule He cause al that were found in Ierusalem and Beniamin to stand vnto it So farre was hee from bearing with any in their Idolatrous perswasions that could not for consciences sake forsooth but turne backe from Iehouah the God of their fathers that as it is recorded of him hee a verse 33. compelled all that were found in Israel to agree vnto the couenant to serue Iehouah their God which they did al his life In which actiō religion being now receiued by publicke consent hee did not only according to the commandement a Deut. 13.69 the example of his pre decessors the b Ius 22.21.19 whole cōgregation in the booke of Ioshua and godly king Asah c Chro. 15.13 who de creed that whosouer would not serue Iehouah should be stoned whether he were small or great but also that which the wonderfull and great woorkes of God wrested from e Dan. 3.29 Neubuchadnezzer and almost nature it selfe shewed vnto king Artashash f Ezra 7. a6 Gods honorbeing precious in the eies of this assembly as I hope it is wil driue them to follow these godly examples and to looke with the eies of an Egle into the estate of our Church in Wales yea compel vs by authority rather than faile to honour sanctifie the Lord by the knowledge of our saluation For then he is said to gaine a name and maiesty to himselfe when he is seene to forgiue sins not for mans desert but for his own g Isai 4.8.9.12 glory sake and he is then knowen to be the Lord when hee is h Ezek. 76.23 sanctified in his people For indeede none is able either to forgiue sinnes or to sanctify the prophane hart of man but the Lord himselfe Therefore the prerogatiue aboue all others giuen to out sauior christ in the reuelation is that when there was none found in heauen or earth or vnder the earth worthy to looke vpon the book sealed with seauen seals muchlesse able to open it he the lyon of the tribe of Iudah performed both But who knoweth this saue they Ephes 2.13 that are redeemed by his blood And his blood clēseth none but these i which heard the worde of trueth euen the gospel of saluation preached vnto them The way then to procure that the people of Wales maie cry with a loude voice Woorthie is the lambe to take the booke open the seales thereof Reuel 5.12 because he was killed and hath redeemed vs to God out of euery kindred and tongues people and nation is to bestow the worde preached vpon them And howe greatlie the calling of men vnto saluation augmenteth both the might and the exceeding riches of Gods strength shal be easily gathered if you doe but consider that the treasury the iewell house and wardrobe as I may say of Gods glorious in heritance in the Saints and the exceeding greatnes of his power towardes them that beleeue is no other way discerned but by the spirite of reuelation through the knowledge of god as the expresse woords of the Apostle do enforce Ephes 1.18.19 All which proceed from hearing the worde of truth verse 13 as he set down before The wordes which the Apostle vseth to expresse the meaning of the holy-ghost doth most euidentlie conuince that they who felt not this power in themselues count the Lord to be but a weakeling For although the contemplation of nature 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. the mouing of the heauens and the creatures therein contained may afforde some glimse of the might that is in the creator yet this is not indeede so much as a shadowe of the other wherein the Lord is said to exercise the power of his own right hand As first in giuing the Lord Iesus a conquest ouer al the k Coloss 15 principalities and powers of his enimies making him to triumph ouer them and that l Heb. 2.10 18.4 5. 5.7 by weakenesse sufferings crosses calamities temptations yea and death it selfe then in raising him from death to giue him a name aboue all names and to make him the head of al. Secondly in vs his poore members sauing our helplesse and damned soules woorking mightily in our sinful stony hearts by the conuersion of vs vnto him giuing vs poore flesh and blood a conquest also ouer our owne fleshe and the rebellious motions thereof and which is more ouer the prince of the world himselfe Assuring our vnbeleeuing hartes of his loue towardes vs shewing how mightie his spirite was in