all righteous men And it hapned that wheÌ„ they that dwelt vpon the earth began too multiply and had gotten many children and were a great people they began too bee more vngodly then the first Nowe when they all liued so wickedly before thee O God theu diddest choose thee a man from among them whose name was Abraham him thou louedst vnto him onely thou shewedst thy wyll and madest an euerlasting couenaunte with hym promysing him that thou wouldest neuer forsake his seede and vntoo him thou gauest Isaac and vnto Isaac also thou gauest Iacob and Esau as for Iacob thou didst choose him and put back Esau and Iacob became a great multitude As it hapned that when thou leddest his seede out of Egypt And it followeth how God did for those people great wonders and yet god tooke not away theyr wicked hart wher in Adam transgressed was ouercome so be al they that are borne of him And in consideration thereof this good Prophet in this Chapter in his coÌ„plaining of the wickednesse of the people sayth thus When my soule sawe so many euil doers in the thirtieth yeere my hearte fayled me for I saw thou sufferedst them in suche vngodlinesse and sparedst the wicked doers but thine owne people hast thou rooted out and preserued thine enimies and this hast thou shewed mee This part of Scripture may iustly stirre a feare in vs of this age who all wold be accounted Gods people and yet in the manner of many our lyues farre ods For proofe wherof how many maisters in London and else where doe geue vnto theyr seruauntes wicked examples in lading their brethren with deceaueable wares suche and in suche deformed sort as nothing degressing from the nature of Vsurie as by the reckoninges and accountes w c I haue both knowen heard suche ill conscioned persons do make more gaynefull returnes by suche theyr wicked and deceiueable meanes then many honest trauayling Merchantes by their tedious trauailes and aduenturing into forraigne far countries So that by suche peruerse meanes the boundes of Christian amitie are muche impeached and as it were in a maner laide waste too the increasing of discorde and priuate grudge Vnto whom are ioyned in League manye euill disposed walking mates of whose seuerall euilles you may trye and discerne at large as followeth ¶ Against the corrupt nature of Vsury taking the originall of the euill seede of Priuate gaine THE greatest euyll that can bee thought vpon crept into the heart of man is this that a great number in London and else where doe so playe theyr parte in such execrable and cursed maner to the aduaunsing of that damnable trade as it may be thought that all suche haue beene taught in that wicked profession in some diuelyshe schoole from whence such schollers are growne experte and cuÌ„nyng in that profession as it seemeth moste of them haue so farre proceeded in such sort as theyr daÌ„nable scholemaister can teach them no further inso muche as many of them haue more shiftes of suche schoole pointes then the Diuell himselfe whose disciples all Vsurers doe shewe themselues to bee By the which deformitie they doe disguise and defame themselues as I haue read that Harphilus his adherentes were the strongest theeues that robbed on the Sea So the Vsurers of late yeeres are so monstruously growne vp in Englande that they exceede al theeues on the land as one of that trade by the like woordes acknowledged of hymselfe in saying that hee had beene a Theefe too all the worlde and so dyed desperately greatly thereby prouooking Almightie God too hasten his heauy vengeance too the cutting of of Satans crueltie who hathvsurped as it were in bewitching of the heartes of men by suche vyllanous means as he findeth men most subiect to his thraldome as fitting to his purpose he hath not left vnmindful the vile trade of vsury which so rightly is expounded by the Greeke and Hebrue definitions who do applie vsury vnto the biting eating vp of meÌ„s flesh as it were to bray and bruse theyr bones in a morter And yet vsurers wyll not ceasse to runne on more like Helhoundes then Christians As though there were no punishmente threatned from GOD for so greeuous offences committed against him and his woorde for no obedience to GOD nor dutie to theyr Prince can restraine them from theyr abhomination But that they wyll needes hazarde more then the lawes of the realme can prouide for for repressing of theyr wickednes For some of them wyll not let to hazarde both boâ—◠〈…〉 soule all that euer they haue wher by it may appeare that oftentimes such are not excuseable of murder for that many a good man by such wicked meanes haue bin so ouerladeÌ„ by the oppression of Vsury Insomuch y t some so ouercharged haue taken thought and dyed leauing theyr wyues and children in distresse too crye for vengeaunce for so horrible a fact The ende whereof no doubte of it vntoo all the practicioners wyll bee destruction and endlesse damnation vnlesse all suche doe speedily returne vntoo God not onely by repentance but also with making of restitution as is required in the booke of NuÌ„bers Cap. 5. 6. And as it appeareth how some haue liued insoleÌ„tly dyed miserably So here may you reade of one that confessed him self penitently and recouered mercifully hauing grace offered him in the time of his extreeme sicknesse confessed hymselfe as followeth in the presence of diuerse woorshipfull and of good credite Seeing I must die w c I assure you I neuer thought would haue come to passe by this disease wherewith it hath pleased GOD too touche mee I doe nowe most hartily desire you in the reuerence of God for Christes sake to suffer mee to speake vntyll I bee dead that I maye discharge my conscience and yeelde myselfe wholy vnto almightie God my Sauiour and redeemer vpon whose iustice when I behold I am coÌ„demned eternally But on the other side if I looke vpon his mercies then I truste hee wyll shewe vnto mee as vnto the worst sort of men among whoÌ„ I assure you I account my selfe one for neuer man had so much shewed him as I haue had and so little regarded it as I haue doone Wherfore good maisters for Christe his sake geue eare vnto me and I wyll tell you strange things the w c strange things I do assure by the faith that I beare vnto God I speake not of vayng lory or prayse of my self or any other cause but only thaÌ„k god for his great mercies shewed vnto mee diuerse and sundry wayes and also too accuse my aduersary the Diuell It is so that when I was a childe I was brought vpp with a good father and good mother who vsed me and other theyr children vertuously and kept vs for an houre or two euerye morning at prayers when prayers were doone at our bookes And in the after noone we were woont to play in an Orchard neere adioyning
by mee For then that may neither auayle thee nor amend them As wee finde it written That when Diues desired that his other brethrē might haue knowledge of his torments It was answered him They haue Moyses the law and the Prophets By which ensample all people are admonished y t in this lyfe while they haue time space euery one both men and women to do nothing against a good conscience and to examine in them selues how they doe delight to lyue in the feare of God and by their innocency of lyfe doe indeuour them selues to obtayne Gods fauour and so to be brought into the fold mētioned in S. Iohn Wherin it is noted how the sheepe of Christ are marked and w t what seales they are sealed against the day of the Lorde By which parcell of scripture Christ doeth acknowledge his In that hee sayeth My sheepe heare my voyce I knowe them and they followe mee and I giue vnto them eternall lyfe which is to bee obtayned by earnest repentance and mortifling of our earthly members framyng our felues to bee obedient vnto the voyce of that good shepheard of our soules Seeing wee feede all in one greene pasture vnder so good a shephearde nexte vnder God as our gratious Queene of whom rightly it may bee registred in perpetuū That by the permission of God his protection her Maiestie hath raigned the peaceable Queene and shephearde ouer the litle shepcoate of the people of England Wherefore it behooueth the people to be as simple as sheepe in their yelding lyke due obedience to God and our so blessed a gouernesse not to set light by the callyng of the Pastors who watch for our soules euen as those that muste giue account therefore and vnto such we owe a duetifull reuerence especially if they be suche Pastors and Ministers as are required in so weightie a businesse and whatsoeuer the Minister be be hee good or badde whose conuersation if we will needes looke vpon yet wee must so looke that our looking be rightly And although we are forbidden to do as some of them doe yet we are not forbidden to folowe the doctrine which by them is deliuered vnto vs out of the worde of God And to trye whether our followyng bee rightly and howe wee doe profite euery mā in the course of this our pilgrimage Let vs examine it by these twoo rules First as husbandment can make no perfit reckoning of his painefull labour trauayle nor of the increase of his seed sow en in the ground vntill he haue had some certaine tryall of the yeelde which oftentymes is hindered in the commyng vpp in so much as although it haue a prosperous tyme first in growyng greene and pleasant to looke vppon which notwithstanding it is apparant that in that season may happen great imperfection as to be choked with weedes or blasted And albeit it grow to a more forwardnesse to earyng yet it is seene oftentymes that a tempest commeth and beateth it downe And if there remayne a hope of plentifull increase yet the same is not certainely knowne howe much it will profit the husvandman vntyll it bee housed in the barne And againe as the Merchant aduenturer can not perfite their accomptes before the dangerous aduentures be returned in safetie to their wished and desired port So as after their merchandise and commodities beeyng vended then fall they to casting and Ballaunsing of their recconings Vpon the examinatiō wherof they doe discerne what and how much they haue profited or lost in their voiage or aduenture and if they finde that they are brought behynde hand and fall short of their recconing then they examine the cause which beyng founde they become more carefull in their next aduenturing An suche wyse as by their diligence and God his blessyng of their trauayles in so good cōditiō as their former losses oftentyme is restored againe with double increase to their great comfort and the discouraging of all suche as doe fraudently deceiue or wastfully cōsume their goods and so become bankerupt These examples I woulde wishe all men to imitate by examinyng euery one in him selfe howe they doe growe riche in the perfityng of their accompt to God warde Although it is apparaunt that there are some men which waxe riche otherwyse who shewe them selues not to knowe what it is to heare the Lord God speakyng to them by his Prophets and in this our age deliuered vnto them by the mouthes of many learned and godly Preachers whose callyng if they may not be heard and receiued accordyng as it is written in the Reuelation Hee that hath eares let him heare That is to heare rightly and with ioy and to expresse the fruite thereof in a lyfe agreeable to the same which if riche men doe refuse to practise then let it be examined how and what such and their posteritie shall be the better for riches vnlawfully gotten seeing that the more they haue the more they want And that which they haue so gotten and scraped together shel one day bee a witnesse against them For it is true that although wee haue here many dayes God shall haue one day As the worde of God testifieth That the day of the Lorde shall come vpon all fleshe And as it is written in the Gospell of Saint Marke Except that the Lorde shoulde shorten those dayes no man should be saued but for the elects sake which he hath chosen he hath shortened those dayes c. Moreouer it is written in the same Chapter Thus saith the Lord. Til these thinges be done heauen and earth shall passe but my wordes shal not passe But of the day the houre knoweth no man No not the Angels which are in heauen neither the sonne of man him selfe saue the father onely Take heede watch and pray for ye knowe not when the time is As a man which is gone into a straunge countrey and hath left his house giuen authoritie to his seruauntes and to euery one his work and commaunded the Porter to watch watch therfore for ye know not when the maister of the house will come whether at euen or midnight whether at the Cocke crowing or in the dawnyng Lest if he come sodainly he should sinde you sleeping And that I say vnto you I say vnto all men watch and pray The due consideration of this doctrine hath mooued many good and godly men to become stedfast in the faith of Christ as the best meanes to the attainement of saluation But this fayth that is requyred must be no idle fayth for a perfecte fayth is as a consumyng fyre to burne vp all infidelitie sinne and wickednes And as faith of it selfe Is the summe of our Creede So good workes are not excluded in word nor indeede As testifieth these necessary places of scriptures Thou hast fayth and I haue deedes shew me thy fayth by thy deeds belieuest thou that there is one God thou doest well The Deuils also
for the present and thinges for too come for suche as are to come For thou lackst yet much seeyng thou mayest loue my creature aboue me I haue often drawne nigh vnto thee but neuer vnto the vnrighteous In this also thou art marueilous before the highest in that thou haste humbled thy selfe that thou art had in such honour among the righteous Therefore shal great wretchednes and misery come vppon them that in the latter day dwell in the worlde because they haue walked in great pride And the Prophet Sophony saith Be styl at the presence of the Lord God for the day of the Lorde is at hande Yea the Lorde hath prepared a slaine offering and calleth his guestes thereunto And thus shall it happen in the day of the Lordes slaine offering I wyll visite the Princes the kynges and all suche as weare straunge cloathing In the same day also will I visite all those that tread ouer the thresholde so proudly which fill theyr houses with robbery and falshood At the same time saith the Lorde there shalbe hearde a great crie from the fishe port and a great murder from the hilles Howle yee that dwel in the mylle for all the Merchaunte people are gone and all they which were laden with siluer are rooted out Howe much good men haue beene offended by the beholding of pride appeareth that in the time as it were of ignoraunce in comparison of these wherin Christe is so professed in woordes and more contraryed in deedes It is sayde of Aristotle that on a time he seeing a young man proude who was indued neither with learning nor vertue wherevpon the said philosopher vsed this maner of reprouing I would my self be no better theÌ„ thou thinkst thou art nor my foes to be no worse then thou art indeede Also it is written of one Pambo that when he behelde a woman proude and very costly apparrelled and attired in straunge fashion hee wept and sobbed and being demaunded the cause thereof he answered that there were two things that mooued him so to doe in beholding of the woman The one to see the womaÌ„ so cast away The other for that I that beare the name of a Christian doe not so indeuour with innocency of life too please God as this woman doeth with her gay attyre to please wicked naughtie persons What examples haue beene in former ages of Gods disliking of strangenesse of apparrell It is noted in our Chronicles that in Oxfordshyre neare vnto a Town called Chipping Norton there was founde a Serpence hauing two heades and two faces one face was attyred after the new fashion of womens attyre the other face like the olde array of women and had winges like a Backe or Flindermouse wything that such examples shoulde not be lightly set by for that the same God which was then offen ded by suche abuses committed in that former age is now greeued by the like in this present age But mee thinketh I doe heare some say what hath any man to doe too finde fault or to bee greeued at our libertie is it not lawfull for mee to doe with myne owne what mee listeth if I spende and waste my goods in euyll condition the harme is mine owne To whom I aunswere it is not so lawfull as for exaÌ„ple admit y t some vnruly vnstayed young person hauing of his owne possessions left him by his friendes a house in the middest of the Citie and that suche vntamed person woulde of a vile disposition and desperate maner set fire on his said house at his pleasure to the indangering of the whole Citie were it not needefull and the duetie of euery Christian man notw tstaÌ„ding that he were not an officer in that behalfe too the vttermost of his power to vse the best meanes that in him lieth for the restraining and repressing of so great a daunger as might grow there by speedily to require the reformation to bee prouided for by the gouernours of euery Citie and place where as suche euils are carefully to be looked vnto and preuented as causes mâ—sâ—e necessarie lest the offences come ouer all so to bee partakers of suche plagues as by sufferance might happen as God defend In the explaning of the vanitie of pryde it is written thus in the booke of Wisdome What good hath our pryde doone vs or what profite hath the pomp of riches brought vs Al those things are passed away like a shadow and as a ship that passeth the Sea which when it is gone by the trace thereof may not bee fouÌ„d as a messenger ruÌ„ning before vs. Euen so fareth it with vs miserable Creatures for assoone as we are borne we begin to drawe to our ende The dayes of our life are few and short thou O GOD hast appointed an end whiche I shal not passe naked and bare I came out of my mothers wombe and naked and bare I shall returne againe Truely all men liuing are vanitie whereby wee are admonished that no man shoulde so consume away in sinne and wickednesse shewing nor leauing no token of vertue behinde him Albeit it is a straunge case to be considered howe many of late time haue so farre ouershot them selues too haue their names shut vpp in the Merchantes and Vsurers bookes by bondes and otherwise therby to serue theyr present turnes to the feeding of their vaine delightes In consideration whereof if the parties them selues were aswell touched to discerne theyr owne follies in that behalfe as it is a griefe and sore hearte eating vnto many theyr good friendes it woulde partly or most of all auoyde so great inconueniences as minister grief vnto so many and to some extreeme misery And it is cause of reioysing vnto many riche worldlinges who smile in theyr sleeues to see the world so goe about although suche wyll make the matter very strannge to credite any man that shal in such sort seeke vnto theÌ„ eyther vpon landes or bondes vntyll the neede and necessitie of the partie be wel discouered And so hauing founde the length of his foote hee shalbe fitted with an Instrument of proofe In suche sorte as then the Title of the landes must beâ— brought in question which being skanned some faulte is founde that the price must bee abated tyll at length the partie being caught with the golden and siluer hookes he may goe play theron But in the meane time hee must geue place to suche an owner as that the same was neuer ment to by the forpossessed elders and must bee remooued in one day out of the possessions which his Auncestours had continued in many score yeeres to the vtter impayring of many a one their credites and names of worship To the reformation whereof if all Gentlemen woulde so refourme themselues as to plante in them suche worthy mindes as I haue read the Romane Gentlemen sometimes to haue borne in suche sorte as after the like deformitie sprong vp amongst them the consideration therof did so
pray by an other mans simplicity or ignorance nor by any false meanes or malice contrary to the dealings amōg the people in this age where no difference seemeth to be made betwixt honest and lawfull bargaining and corrupt bargaining Wherevpon Plato writeth that that which is separated from iustice is rather to bee called craftinesse then wisdome In especially practised by those that professe Christe who ought to know that all suche as follow mens traditions and their owne inuentions do as it were forsake God and his worde by the measuring of his woorde by theyr owne corrupt willes and affections tempting god thereby And as a false Diamōd is not set in a Ring without a subtill foyle in such wise as the deceite of the deceiuer may hardly be discouered w tout the help of an expert Lapidarie So Vsurers are not without theyr subtill shifts argumēts for to colour defend their false and deceiueable practises Insomuchas some of thē dosay that such places of the scriptures as are written in reproouing of Vsury is not so intended nor to be applied against their For then say they that no man may buy and sell without committing of Vsury and so they doe dwell vppon a nyse point of definition what Vsury is albeit the euill nature thereof doth demonstrate and declare it selfe contrary too the condition of such commendable buying and selling as ought to be orderly performed in the fellowshipp of men without the compasse or hauing to doe with Vsury As it is manyfest that when any honest Merchaunt or Retayler of wares doo put the same to sale the maner thereof is put in vse in open market and that by some knowne signe without the sinister dealings that vsurers doe practise whose dwelling places are not easie to finde out from other mens for want of a Signe which is not so agreeing to theyr profession as experience teacheth for asmuche as the name of an Vsurer is not onely hatefull to all good men but also lothsom vnto the Vsurers thēselues So as theyr dwelling places are as subtill as the lurking of the Serpent that lieth hidden vnder greene leaues and Vsurers by theyr apparell may as hardly be discerned as a Strumpet from an honest woman onely the difference resteth in the tryall of theyr seuerall conuersations and maner of liuing Insomuche that it is noted in a Parliament holden by the famous King Edwarde the firste of England y t amongst other things Vsury was forbidden to the Iewes and that they might be knowen from Christians the King commaunded them to weare a Table the breadth of a palme vpō their outmost garment The examples are not fewe whereby Christians are forbidden the vile trade of Vsurye as testifieth the woorde of God Ieremie in propheciyng of the miseries of the Iewes and the causes sayth thus O mother alas that euer thou diddest beare mee an enimie and hated of the whole land though I neuer lent nor receiued vpon vsury yet all men speake euill vpon me And the Lorde answered lead not I then vnto good Thou shalt occupie no Vsurie to thy brother neyther with money nor foode neyther with any maner of thing that Vsury may be vsed withal that the Lord thy God may blesse thee in all that thou takest in hande Yf thou lend a poore body saith God thou shalt not lye downe too sleepe with his pledge but shalt deliuer him his pleadge againe when the Sunne goeth downe That he may sleepe in his own rayment blesse thee So shall the same bee reckoned vntoo thee for righteousnesse before the Lord thy God God speaking by the mouth of his Prophet saith Thou hast receiued giftes to shed blood thou hast taken vsury and increase Thou hast oppressed thy neighbour by extortion and forgotten me saith the Lorde Moreouer it is written yf a man bee godly and do the thing that is equall and right he greeueth no body he giueth his debtor his pledge againe he parteth his meate with the hungry he clotheth the naked hee lendeth nothing vpon Vsury hee withdraweth his hand from doyng wrong hee handeleth faithfully bebetweene man and man hee shall surely liue faith the Lord God And to trye the Vsurers vngracious substaunce to bee geathered most agree able too the nature of swines feeding that as those beastes doe soonest increase theyr fatty substaunce in tyme of yeere when Acorns are aptest to bee had not forcing what trespasse they doe too anye neighbour according too theyr beastly kind So fareth it w t Vsurers who so lōg as they may increase theyr corrupt money eyther by landes iewelles or plate they wil not bee vnoccupied that wayes And some of thē be so basely minded as if Acorns bee past their reach Then wil they listen with attentiue eare where anye Swill or Draffe is too bee had whereon they maye satisfie theyr greedy appetites with deceaueable Wares which they call Commodities householdstuffe Apparell and suche lyke as nothing commeth amisse too suche monsters Insomuche as it is too bee thought that if the Diuell should come to an Vsurer and demaund his share of interest that the vsurer woulde put it in practice to defeate his partner for it is not to be thought otherwise but that hee who hath so many shiftes too check his Christian brethren wyl not be vnprouided of one shift to mate the Deuill In the meane time tyll they come to scratching for the game the Vsurers neglect not the help of theyr vngracious Brokers to the ende they may not forsloe no time vpon Billes of sales and otherwyse to helpe to drawe the Vsurers into Hell wyshing all suche whyle they haue time and space too pray too GOD that it maye please hym in his mercy so too touch theyr heartes with suche a repentant minde speedily to returne from committing suche abhominations least that suche their facting doe turne to theyr owne harmes and too the Deuilles profite For it is most true that those thinges which haue byn mens delightes in this life as causes of offences shall eftsoones be made the instrumentes of theyr tormentes in time to come vnlesse the grace of God in this lyfe may mooue them more duetifully to obedience towardes GOD and theyr Prince with loue to theyr neighbours as euery Christian man ought to do As floods that flow against their kind are best restrained by contrary wynd So such as ryse inordinately must be repressed by pollicy But vnto suche as after many warnings from God and his worde deliuered by the mouth of his ministers and nothing may moue the frowardnes of the Vsurer to returne from hallyng synne together as it were with Cartropes Then may it rightly be saide to all such O yee foolish Galathians who hath bewitched you O yee generation of Vipers who hath taught you to flee from the vengeance to come In deed ye may flee but ye shall not escape for God hath a cuppe prepared for suche and they shal drink the
bitter draught of his vēgeance and receiue the rewarde of iniquitie In dislyking of which wofull estate God be thanked there are a number in London and els where whose appetites may not be framed neyther would if they might feede on such euill conditioned substance as is accumilated and gotten together by the wicked trade of Vsury but do rather abhorre the same as too loathsome a feeding for a Christian mans profession by reason of the yll disgestion which the same doeth carry w t it for experience teacheth y t such vnprofitable substance may not well agree nor continewe with those who do fill and cloy their stomackes therwith And surfiting therby can not be at quiet tyl such tyme as they haue discharged and vnladen them selues thereof againe although to their great indangering both of body and soule For assuredly such yll gotten substance is of an infectious condition and euill operation As appeareth by this doctrine of S. Luke where it is written Take heed lest at any tyme your heartes bee ouercome with surfiting and drunkennes and the cares of this worldes lyfe and so the day come vpon you vnwares For as a suare shall it come vpon all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth Watche you therefore continually pray that ye may escape al those things that shal come and that yee may stande before the Sonne of man and the better to drawe on all Vsurers and all vngodly persons to the ende that their deformities myght become loathsome vnto them selues I woulde to God that euery one dyd beare it written in the forehead of their heartes As it is written in the Prophesie of Abdy Lyke as thou hast done so shalt thou vs done with all For so is the way to finde grace and mercy w t God that euery one both man and woman do refourme thē selues and refraine frō hauing to do with the felowshyp of vngodlines as that no man to lye for his own auaile to accuse wrongfully to preuent deceitfully or frawdulētly So rich men should not be enuied for their riches nor poore men oppressed by reason of their pouertie thē shold mutual loue be maintained in a common wealth farre different to suche euils as the euil nature of priuate grudge priuate gaine hath inforced in the hearts of men which worketh much trouble amongest the people wher so great euils haue araied thēselues against the peace of the lande as more plainly appeareth by the manifolde contentions dailye mooued and slyred among the people in theyr goyng too lawe one with another yeldyng them selues to euery vayne passion of theyr myndes as it is to be noted by the abuse in that behalfe Against the frowardnes and absurditie of Clyents at the Lawe ALthough it bee true that the lawe is necessary in euery commō wealth for keepyng of the people in their due obedience and that euery man maye inioy his own according to the peace of the lande yet the abuse of the lawe is not so expedient for oftentymes it so falleth out that what some Lawyers do so gainfully get many their Clyents forgoeth more peruersly As for insample may bee discerned by the tyde Boates in the passing too and fro London Howe one commeth vp with the wynde by easie labour an other goeth downe against the tyde by painefull toyle and not without danger of shipwracke so to bee put to their shiftes especially when a sodaine storme ariseth vnlooked for with a contrarye wynde for in suche cases passengers are most subiect to be indangered indamaged which notwithstanding it fareth not so with those that doe come vp the very self same tyde keeping the Lee shore hauing both winde and tyde with them seldome sustaining any damage in their course be the winde neuer so contrary to others that goe downe Albeit suche as come vpp are not freed of all misfortune as some times subiecte to bee ouerrunne by a greater shippe or vessell or such like casualties which as they do seldom happen by reason of the good conducte of the Lodesman yet it can dot be denyed but that such casuall blastes may happen as are most too bee feared when the wether waxeth darke and glummy But for better proofe that the euill of priuate grudge and priuate gaine doth more profite to the Lawyers then vnto any other profession it is easie to bee discerned by the diligence that is vsed by a great number of people traueiling from farre to the ende to helpe the Lawyers in with their haruest which is foure Termes or seasons of the yeare duryng which tymes many Lawyers are diligent husbandes for them selues in their attending and gathering of their priuate gaine But howe stack many of them be in dispatchyng of their Clyentes causes doeth manifestly appeare by the prolonging of their sutes by all dilatory means Insomuch as notwithstanding it is to be thought that there is no Counseller at the lawe worthie so to bee allowed but that vpon perfect instructions deliuered vnto him hee is able to say or should say of his learned knowledge whether the case so put vnto him be in right and truth to be mainteined or not But this Maxime with many is a Fallax in the law for that the same is not agreeing with many of that profession So to play the part of expert cunnyng Surgions who sounding the depth of their patients wounds will foorthwith minister a speedie curyng salue But rather too many haue cunnyng to playe the parte of an yll conditioned Surgion who hauyng sounded his Patients griefe and vpon tryall finding that his Patient hath any store of hearbes in his Gardeine straightway will apply a detractiue plaister thereby to trye their cunnyng and so doeth practice the same so long as they finde theyr Pacient to haue any suche hearbes as will worke to their myndes And in the meane tyme such beareth his poore Patient in hande that his griefe had beene sooner cured if some tyme one impediment some tyme an other had not hyndered the cause in working accordyng to the quilities and slintes of the lawe tyll suche tyme as all his Patientes hearbes are spent by the froward meanes of such Surgions and many a man so left comfortlesse and voide of hope of recouery of that which by good meanes might better haue beene holpen or els not to haue beene taken in hande at all Notwithstandyng it is certayne that hearbes doe worke much in curing but the better if they be applied in their right nature and condition in such sort as men can not vse the Surgions practise without much payne to be indured by his patient especially if the Surgion bee indurate of hart So assuredly men can not goe to lawe one with an other with suche quietnesse of mynde as it is by some supposed For proofe whereof if men would examine in them selues howe difficult a thing it is for Christian bretheren too spende their tyme in folowing lawe matters It will easily appeare that
As for ensample howe many nowe in this age are so greedily set vpon couetousnes as to incroche into one mans hands so many tenements and houses as by all meanes possible hee may compasse eyther in buying the fee-simple or els the graundelease ouer the tennantes heades in suche wyse as hauyng obtayned the same and doing some small reparations thereupon then doeth the new Landlord not onely inhaunce the rent for which such Tenements went before tyme But also the Tenaunt must giue a large fyne besides some reparations left vndone for him to doe for the easement of the house although the poore Tenantes purse bee so wronged therby as oftentymes it so falleth out that all the shiftes that hee can make may hardlye recouer so chargeable a sicknesse as happeneth to many by suche yll meanes in such sort as sometimes the tenant groweth in so weake a case as not able to abyde the ayre or to goe out of the dooers by reason of the infection of priuate gain being an euil in this case not much different from vsury and so muche the more to be sorowed where the people can apply themselues to no better trade then hauing compassed a peece of money before hand to frame thereby a heauy burden wherwith to lade their poore bretheren as it is too too true that there are many suche as haue weake handes and feeble knees to doe good but are strong enough to keepe down their weaker brethren And very fewe is the number that do labour truely in the Lords pathwayes in any their vocations but from time to time it is too manifest howe the Lordes wayes haue beene peruerted by the corrupt nature of mankinde in all ages By meanes wherof Christ his religion hath bene greeuously hindered as it is euidēt by one notable ensample as hereafter foloweth Sometyme there was a great Turke whose name was called Soldanus Egypti who was touched with the consideration of the profession of Christ his religion as that he was mooued and stirred in mynd to haue forsaken his abominable errour and become a Christian So as he might bee ascertayned that the lyues of Christians were agreeable to their profession Wherevpon in the consideration of his intention after hee had long pondered with him selfe howe hee might best bee resolued in so weightie a cause he determined to breake the matter vnto one nere about him in whome hee had most confidence and vnto him the said great Turke declared the some of his intention and findyng his trustie friende readye to accomplishe his request who secretly was furnished about that busines So that in short time he arriued in some parts of Italy as a part of Christendom to the end there to discouer the maners and behauiours of the people where bee founde the maner of their liuyng so farre vnagreeable to the professiō of the names of Christians as the saide messenger of the. Turkes had no neede to make any long abode in those partes for any better tryall So as hee hauing attayned the effect of his message which hee had giuen in charge he returned again from whence hee came and made relation vnto his master the great Turk in this wise True it is that those people where I haue byn in Christendome that beare the names of Christians doe in their outwarde appearaunce professe to serue a Godwhom they knowe note and otherwise theyr lyues in deedes are distayned with all abominable loathsome sinne and wyekednesse Whereuppon the sayd great Turke hauyng taken some pause brake out in these speeches or the lyke And is it so then I decest and defie them and theyr religion In suche odeous and reprochfull wyse as may bee an ensample to all partes of Christendome where as Christ is professed in words and contemned in deedes In so much as we are to praye to GOD to keepe the Turkes spyes out of this parte of Christendome vntyll a more vnifourme order of liuyng may bee founde ioyned with our profession in suche godlye conuersation as that Englande especially maye become a Lanterne to other our neyghbours who haue not as yet so large measure of Gods louyng kyndnesse as it hath pleased him in his mercy to extende vnto Englande aboue other nations For the which Englande is the more indebted and accomptable vnto God in the consideration whereof euery member ought to bee so heedefull in yelding their due obedience as that if it were possible the very Turke may be mooued to acknowledge Christ And that the enemyes spyes may haue no iuste cause to vse any suche manner of reproouyng the people of Englande But that euerye one of the congregation maye be stirred to frame theyr lyues in godly conuersation and not to delyght to take ensample of euill doyng but rather to be doing that which is good and to edifie with all As not compelled therevnto but of loue and zealous affection vnto God who by his word hath left vnto vs perfect ensamples howe to behaue our selues in obedience vnto him our Prince and rulers As Saincte Paule to the Romaynes playnely setteth downe Let euerye soule bee subiecte to the Superiour powers And againe in his Epistle to Titus he hath set downe speciall exhortations how those that professe Christ should behaue them selues in godly conuersation of lyfe But alas there are a number of people in this age both men women who by the settyng on of the couetous Deuill and the consent of dilobedience doe not cease to take in hand many wicked deeds and euill actions the most parte whereof are yet vntolde In so much as it may be sayde who might offende and hath not offended Wherefore let euerye one in tyme refraine from their froward waies and to cease from committyng of sinne with greedines And not so to ouerweene or thinke of them selues to be suche as in deed they are not For it is true that although any man or woman doe possesse beautie or riches or any other good gift yet suche thinges are vnperfite in vs so long as wee doe remayne in this vayle of miseryes as our sundry imperfections do declare But all are as a lumpe of clay lying vppon the face of the earth remayning at the choyse and will of the Potter to apply and woorke it at his pleasure who oftentymes in the workyng findeth the clay to fram◠but badly to the workemans mynde by reason of the sundry imperfections which lye hidden therein Whereby the same becommeth in the woorkyng so full of crackes and flawes not sitting to the vse for which it was mēt in the workemans beginnyng And so oftentymes it falleth out with the heartes of men which ought to bee prepared as a payre of writyng tables which serue for to noate in all remembrāces and as in infancy none can write so long are they easie to be kept cleane But once beyng growen to iudgement to discerne of good and euill If we haue blotted the tables of our heartes with euill thinges the same must first bee
against Iuda Lest God beholdyng suche a confusion come and say vnto thee as vnto the figge tree Neuer man eate fruit of thee hereafter while the world standeth Yet Christ him selfe hungering In consideration whereof it is to bee noted that although the founders vnder God of his house here in Englād which God euer mainteyne and increase are nowe willyng haue bene of long tyme with the aduise of the best workmen that might be had in so carefull a worke and about so weightie a cause suche as God be thanked haue not seassed to take great paynes in Englande for the perfecting of so woorthie a worke and therein many good people about London and in other places haue and doe declare them selues very studious and paynfull to haue the same perfourmed In so muche as God be praysed there are some certaine that willingly and gladly doe shew them selues to bee faythfull labourers in the house of God But the greater number besides seeme to be suche as in very deed woulde be accompted good labourers in Gods Vineyarde who in deedes doe appeare playne to bee but Loyterers when as the maister of the Vineyarde shall come to tryall It is true hee wyll not deny his good Stewardes Bailiffes and faythfull seruauntes their due rewarde At what tyme all the contrery will be founde to be too too negligent in suche their duetifull businesse some of obstinate frowarde and malicious myndes and some by foolishe ignoraunce lyke vnto the fyue foolishe Virgines And many suche as doe flatter themselues with the parable of those whō the good husbandmā was willyng to retayne in his Vineyarde and gaue vnto him for his hyre that came at the thirde houre of the day as large as vnto those which entered at the first houre and dyd beare the heate of the day Whereby it is manifest that the same good husbande man who is our Sauiour Christ hath alwayes had a lyke care for all in generall and will deny none of their hyre that came vnto him in any tyme in mind to be accepted But alas what may be sayd or thought of suche as doe deferre and set off their commyng into the Lordes Vineyarde euen vntyll their laste houre And then perhaps doe as it were looke ouer the hedge and doe commyt their good deeds to bee sent after them by Executors in hope to receiue their rewarde w t the first Wherein is not to be forgotten that although our heauenly husbandman hath dealt and doeth deale so fauourably in his mercyes with so many as hee findeth sorowful and careful to lyue with him And not obstinately or willingly to pine them selues away for want of a litle paines taking wherby to procure vnto themselues foode and rewarde which I doe so muche the more lament whyle I doe beholde a number whose lyues doe bewray that they care not to haue to do with God nor his house suche as may not be persuaded to enter into the same and other some such and that for the most parte who if they happen a litle to enter in they soone wax weary and so stealeth foorth againe In so much as it is very doubtfull that any suche shall haue any part of reward with the true labourers but rather shal want foode when as they shall be hungrye and thirstie and shall alwayes be drye And so in case to perish for want of that which they so contemptuously and negligently refused when the large measure was offered vnto them through Christ his merites and louing kindnesse In so muche as rather it is to be desired that all those that haue any feeling desire in them selus to come into the Lordes Vineyarde and to dwell with God in his euerlasting māsion may refuse no paynes to bee ioyned vnto him in ioyfull gladnesse of Ghostly rauishing which is to be sought from the high to the lowe with all due humilitie reuerence vnto God loue to our neighbours obedience vnto our soueraigne vdder whose protection next vnder God we doe enioye our being and continuyng in so good a woorke for the which euery true member of England is bound daily and hourely to pray vnto God that so good a foundation of the house of GOD may become so well framed and perfected as to encrease remayne vnremoueable to the euerlasting comfort of all the professors As is testified by the scriptures The earth shall fayle all things therein conteined but the worde of God abideth euerlasting and one iotte of his worde shall not fayle And when we haue done all that euer we can doe yet shal we be but vnprofitable seruants By these words some may doubt what they ought to doe in so weightie a matter it is in these fewe wordes declared That wee ought to preferre the glory of God the promotyng of Christ his Euangil that is his word and the saluation of our soules aboue all things in the earth So shall we bee sure that though all the worlde besides were in an vprore and troubles Though warres and contentions plagues pestilence and all inconueniences were round about vs yet shold we be defended and protected For so is Gods louyng promises vnto so many as with willyng and obedient heartes doe seeke to be preserued in his folde expressing their inwarde desires by their outward conuersation and actions By reason whereof many haue beene stirred to forsake their froward wayes and return vnto the Lord by ensample of Kyng Ezechia as foloweth And Ezechia sent to all Israel and Iuda and wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasses that they shold come to the house of the Lorde at Ierusalem offer passeouer vnto the Lord God of Israel And the Kyng helde a counsell with his Lordes all the congregation at Ierusalem to keepe the feast of passeouer in the seconde moneth And the tenour of his letters was this You sonnes of Israel returne to the Lorde God of Abraham Isaac Iacob and he shall returne to the residue that resteth from the handes of Assur Be not as your fathers and as your brethren were who haue transgressed against the Lorde God of their Fathers who hath made them desolate as you see Holde not your heartes therefore But giue your hands to the Lorde returne to his Sanctuary serue him and hee shall shewe mercy vnto you to your sonnes and daughters that be in bondage for he is pitifull and easie to bee entreated Thus farre dyd Ezechias by letters and messengers prouoke the people declined from God to repentaunce not onely in Iuda where he raygned lawfull Kyng but also in Israel subiecte then to an other Kyng And albeit that by some wicked men his messengers were mocked so lacked they not theyr iust punishmentes For within sixe yeares after Samaria was destroyed and Israel ledde captyue by Salmanazar So dyd not this zealous King Ezechias desist to prosecute his dutie in restoring the religion to Gods perfect ordinance remauyng all wickednes And again in the Prophecie of