him agayne by suche tokens So God wyll bothe by hys spirite poure his loue into our hearts and let vs se the care that be taketh for vs and will also by outwarde sacramentes as badges marke vs for hys people by thesame seale vs surely too hym selfe and sturre vs vp to loue him agayn and looke diligently to oure dutie If earthely lords and princes will soo safelye defende theyr seruauntes let them not doubt but God that is Lorde of lordes will defende hys people frome all daungers and wronges be they neuer so manye and soo greate if they woulde earnestly in faithe call vpon hym in the daye of their trouble forsake their owne strengthe witte and policâ—e truste in him onely Dauid sayeth wel the Lord is not delited in the streÌ„gth of an horse nor the strong legges of man but the Lorde is wel pleased with them the which feare him with them that trust in his mercy There is no waye sooner to prouoke Gods anger and make hym to forsake vs in trouble than to trust to our selues and in our owne witte strength policie for that is as muche to take the praise to oure selues from him and mistrust God that he can not or wil not defeÌ„d vs. And although we must not trust in oure selues yet wee muste vse all meanes whiche he hathe ordeined for oure defence For as we muste be diligent to do all good workes and not put our trust of saluation in them but sai with saincte Luke whan ye haue done all that I commaunded you saye ye bee vnprofitable seruauntes so we must vse alwayes lawefull to defende oure selues yet saye our help is from the Lord which hath made both heauen and earth he hath ordeyned suche meanes to saue vs by and workes by thesame our deliueraÌ„ce whan pleaseth him sometimes too shewe hys power he deliuereth vs without such ordinarie meanes And why wil God thus saue them for any goodnes in them which had so longe forgotteÌ„ him his house or for their good workes who had so loÌ„g ben so disobedieÌ„t no but euen because I haue chosen thee saieth the Lord. This is the first chiefest cause why he bestoweth his goodnes vpoÌ„ any people â–ª eueÌ„ because he hath chosen theÌ„ in Christ afore the world was made for this cause he coÌ„tinueth bestowing his blessing to the ende vpon theÌ„ whom he hath once chosen Saincte Paule reasoninge of this matter putteth twoo causes wherfore God shuld loue iustifye and chose vs either freely of grace and mercy saieth he or for the goodnes of oure woorkes If it shoulde bee for oure woorkes than sayeth he it can not be of grace and if it be of free grace loue and mercie than is it not for our woorkes neither paste nor too come for than grace shoulde not bee grace saieth he if it were not thus freely geuen If God shoulde chose vs for anye goodnes in vs than hee shoulde but doe one good turne for another and freely withoute rewarde doe nothinge whiche is mooste againste his nature that doeth good for euyll yea and where he seeth no possibilitie of goodnes or rewarde to be looked for Who hath geuen him anye thinge firste and he shal be recompensed agayne sayeth sainct Paule as though he shoulde saye no. I haue chosen you and ye haue not chosen me sayde Christe to his disciples and Apostles And as he thus chose theym soo he choses all whiche he choosen and so he will declare his fre grace loue and mercy to al which be his freely euen because it pleased hym to chose them and they deserued not to be chosen of him but rather to be caste away from hym Whan God promised too deliuer his people in like distresse by hys Prophete he sayde for myne owne sake for myne owne sake I will doe it And not onely thus in bodely deliuerauÌ„ce but in forgeuenes of sinnes he saies likewise it is I it is I whiche forgeueth thy sinnes for myne owne sake Thus freely God oure heauenly father for the loue whiche he beareth too vs in his sonne Christe in whome he had chosen vs from the beginninge and for whose sake he continueth hys fauour to vs he I saye bestowes all his blessinges freely on vs bothe in bodye and soule in this lyfe and after The will of God is the firste cause of doinge all good thinges and whan he wil all thinges worke and they him whan he wil not thei staye and cease so because his chosing of vs coÌ„meth of his free will mercy it is the firste and chiefest cause of our saluation If he shoulde be sturred too chose vs for our goodnes whiche he foresees in vs that is euer vnperfite or if for any other cause within vs or without vs than he shoulde not be the firste cause and mouer of all thinges But sainct Luke sayth In him we lyue be and are moued That whiche moues an other thinge is in nature afore that whiche is moued also it is better stronger and wyser but to say that any ting is stronger wyser or better than God is treason and blasphemie too his maiestie therfore his will is the firste cause of all our goodnes Thus our good God teaches vs comforte his people that all thinge shal turne to the best to them which loue him be the troubles neuer so many and great the maÌ„s witte can not tel how to escape Let kings and princes fal together by the eares kyl murther shewe what crueltye they can gette or lose kyngdoms warre fighte or what they can deuise God will saue and deliuer his people if it please him oute of all their handes Whan Pharao persecuted the Iewes thorough the read sea God saued his people and drouned the Egiptians In the wildernesse whaÌ„ Seon and Ogge two mightie kynges denied them vitayles and passage God destroied them bothe and gaue their landes to his people After they came to the lande promised he droue oute 7. mightie people and delte it to the Iewes and when all the Heathen people whiche dwelt rounde about them made warre againste his people hee destroyed them all In Babilon when they were prysoners vnder Balthasar kynge within the cytye and Darius kynge of the Medes with Cyrus the king of the Persians beseginge the cytye rounde aboute that none shoulde escape when the cytye was taken God did not onely deliuer hys people from all the cruell handes of these three mighty kynges but gaue them such fauour in the sighte of Cyrus that he not onely hurte them not but set them at libertie sente them home to their countrye gaue them licens too buylde this temple restored their Iewels whiche Nabucadnezer tooke awaye and gaue free licens to euery man to helpe theym with money as muche as they woulde Who coulde haue thought Gods people shoulde haue ben now deliuered oute of the handes of three Heathen kynges beinge
here to runne to their owne houses that is as muche to sai as with al their wit and power they do satisfye their owne lustes seeke their pleasures hunt and gape for their own profit â–ª to enryche them selues buylde costly houses and laye lande too lande and neuer thinke they haue inough Woulde to God they whiche preache Christ were not gyltye in not buyldinge Gods house as they shoulde as well as others bee If it be taught of contencion ambicion or vayne glory Paule sayeth he is glad that Christ is preached but woo bee to him that teaches for suche causes and preaches not for pure loue and duety to his Lord God seekinge his own glorie All preachers must saye bee their giftes neuer so greate not vnto vs Lorde not vnto vs but to thy name geue all prayse and glorie And all the bearers muste saye wee do not beleue the worde because suche a man teaches it but because God spake it for the authoritie of the gospell hanges not on the messenger which bringes it but on gods maiestie whiche sendes it For as Peter and Ihon when thei had healed the blind begger and the people maruayled sayd why do ye wonder as though we had done this by our owne power and holines so 〈◊〉 all Preachers saye wonder not at vs 〈◊〉 prayse God whose messengers we be 〈◊〉 him whose spirit he hath geuen to speake in vs. For it is not we that speake when we speak any truth but it is the holy spirit of God that speaks in vs whose instrumeÌ„ts 〈◊〉 be Thus haue all partes ben giltie of 〈◊〉 building Gods house the Lord for 〈…〉 sake forgeue vs all that which 〈…〉 and styrre vp our mindes to do our 〈◊〉 more diligentlye frome hencefoorth 〈◊〉 we maye escape the plagues whiche â—â—â—lowe verse 10 Therefore the heauens 〈◊〉 shytte vp from geuing these dewe vpon you the earth is closed from yelding their fruite verse 11 And I will call a droughte vpon the earth and vpoÌ„ the hyls vpon the wheat vpon the new wyne vpon the 〈◊〉 and vppon whatsoeuer the earthe bringeth forthe vpon man and vppon beaste and vpon all the labour of youre handes Now folowes the other kynde of perswading which the Prophet vses that is of the great plages that hange ouer their heads yf they did continue in tâ—is stubbornes and would not build gods house For although they had suffered great thinges yet these were muche greater which were to come and God would not holde his haÌ„d vntill they went earnestly about to build his house as they were commaunded In the further verse he repeates the plages in other woordes whiche he spake of before and more playnlye toke the cause of all the scarcenes that was amonge them why of so great labour they had so litle fruite and encrease Here we may see how necessarie it is often to repeate and beate in one lessoÌ„ because we be so dul to learn And althoughe many be wearye to heare one thing often yet sainct Paule saieth to the Philippians I am not wâ—arye it is profitable for you to repeate one thiÌ„g ofteÌ„ The heaueÌ„s sayeth he haue ben locked vp from geuing any dew or rayn to you and the earth hath ben so harde drye by that meanes that no fruite coulde growe Maruayle not if the earthe be barren wheÌ„ moysture comes not from heauen for nothinge can multiply here except it be blessed from heauen And this is true not onely in worldely thinges but also in spiritual giftes of the soule to teache vs 〈◊〉 loke vp to heauen and from thence to 〈◊〉 and loke for all goodnes froÌ„ gods haÌ„dâ—â— What hast thou saieth sainct Paule which thou haste not receiued of God and sainct Iames saieth euery good gift and euery perfit gift is from aboue comming from the father of light For as the rayâ—â— and dewe from aboue watering the grâ—â—â— makes it fruitful so the grace of the holye Ghoste comminge frome God the father for his sonne Christes sake styrres vp 〈◊〉 myndes to al goodnes Thus by outwâ—â—â— blessinges God will teache vs to loke â—p to hym for all goodnes For as it is betwixt the earthe and the cloudes so 〈◊〉 betwixt God and oure heartes bothe 〈◊〉 vnfruitfull except they receyue blessinge from aboue But it had ben amonge them now 〈◊〉 it was in the time of Achab when Iesabel did so persecute the true Prophetes 〈◊〉 they were compelled to hyde them selues in Caues and DeÌ„nes of the earth Eliâ—â— tolde the kynge that there shoulde bee 〈◊〉 dewe nor rayne in all the countrye but at his woorde whan he sayde it should be for God had geuen that priuilege too the Prophete to set foorth his doctrine it rained not of three yeares and a halfe nor was any dewe but greate hunger famine and â—â—arcenes of all fruites in the countrye So nowe when Gods house laye vnbuilded the heauens did not water the earth but great barennes was of all thinges This is one of the plages that God threatens to sende on all countries for contemninge his woord sayinge I wil make heaâ—â—n as harde as brasse ouer youre heads 〈◊〉 ye shall not wringe out of it a droppe 〈◊〉 or rayne to comfort the earthe and I will make the earthe as harde as yron that it shall not geue her fruite and so for false worshippinge of God all countries haue ben diuers tymes thus punished Englande hath had many great droughtes and dearthes bothe in the time of Popâ—ri the gospell but if ye marke it well you shall finde greate diuersitie betwixte 〈◊〉 In the dearthes vnder the gospell it was not for wante of thinges that God 〈◊〉 not send them pleÌ„teously but through the wickednes of man whiche in so great plenty and blessinges of God made a neâ—â—â—es dearth For farmes were raised that farmers mighte not foorthe to sell 〈◊〉 they were wont Many thinges were gotten into few mens handes thei woulde sell as thei list not as thiÌ„gs were worth â–ª according to charitie beinge content with a reasonable gaines Corne was cariâ—â— out of the realme or solde through many handes or it came to the markets euery one woulde raise the price and haue sâ—me parte of gaines some woulde feede their Hogs with it els let it foist in their barnes be eateÌ„ with myse rather then they would bring it to the market to pull doâ—â— the price Men of honor worship were 〈◊〉 come shepemaisters and grasiers tyllâ—â—â— was turned into pastur and townes 〈◊〉 graunges all not to make thinges â—â—â—per whiche might haue suffered but â—â—â—rer which was is hurtful not tollerable But since the Pope was restored 〈◊〉 haue had vnseasonable weather bothe 〈◊〉 weate and droughte the earth hathe 〈◊〉 brought foorth her fruit strauÌ„gers 〈◊〉 deuoured much of that whiche ye had All your latin processions singing of gospelâ— vnder
Alexander finding kynge Darius thus deadly wounded of hys seruaunt for iustice sake to punishe suche traytours bended doune the toppes of twoo yonge trees and tied the legges of Bessus to them and let thē swynge vp sodenly agayn and so rent him in peces Likewise Dauid when one came vnto hym telling him how he had slayne Saule his enemy thinkinge thereby too picke a thanke and get a rewarde of Dauid he was by the commaundemente of Dauid slayne and so shoulde all traitours which be false to their maisters be serued Thus the kynge beinge slaine the kingdome was broughte frome the Persians too the Gretians as the Prophete telleth here Where God saieth by his Prophete that he will destroy the kyngdome throw doune the horses and horsemen c. we be taught that God maketh kynges pulleth doune and chaunges kyngdomes frome one people too another for the sinnes of the people as Sirach sayeth and maketh to rule whome pleaseth hym The lande spued out the rulers and people in it for their sinnes and God gaue it to the Iewes Therefore let not princes trust in their greate strength and power for it is the Lorde God that geueth victory as he thinketh good whether thei be good rulers or euyl they be sette vp of God as Salomon saieth in the name of God by me kynges doe raygne and oure sauioure Christ sayd to Pilate thou shouldest haue no power ouer me excepte it were geuen thee from aboue If thei be good rulers it is Gods good blessinge and free mercye if they be euyl it is of iustice to punish oure sinnes as Iob saieth God makes hypocrites to rule for the sinnes of the people What cause haue we then in Englande to complayne that God deales so sharpely with vs that where we haue ben lōge hypocrites afore hym he punished vs of late a whyle with hypocrites too bee in auctoritie ouer vs whan the Saxons inuaded this realme droue out the Englishemen and ruled as kyngs the state of the cōmonwealth was much lyke to these our days and the lyke sinnes reygned in all sortes of men bothe hygh and lowe nobilitie people rulers and subiectes prelates and clergie the moste parte were greate hypocrites and superstitious cruel couetous proude gluttons whorehunters ambitious Therefore let vs amende or we shal be geuē vp to the Spanyardes Scottes Flemmynges or Frenchmen as we were then to the Saxons God gaue hys people into the handes of the Babiloniās and other people rounde aboute theym whiche were then the commen scourges of the worlde and so wil he do with vs as he hath done to our fathers afore vs if we doe not amende for he hateth sinne in all ages and will punishe it But as God comfortes his people here nowe buyldinge his house and sayeth he will throwe doune that kyngdome which than troubled them so he will be as good vnto vs if we worshippe hym truely and he will destroye them that trouble vs. Hys loue too his people is greatest as he saith he that touches you touches the apple of my eye So tender is our God ouer vs as we be ouer our eyes whiche be the tenderest partes of vs and he wil mooste assuredlye reuenge all displeasure done vnto vs for he can no more see his people take wronge and be oppressed now then afore times He is no chaungelinge nor his loue waxes not colde nor olde wee be hys chyldren and the members of his misticall bodye as they were now to whome he promiseth this helpe he is oure Lorde God and father louinge his chyldren and members in al ages and pouring his blessinges on them for Christes sake in whom he hath chosen them therfore he wil shew the like mercies vnto vs and of iustice reuenge all displeasures done too vs for hys sake The last verse maketh aunswere too an other obiectiō which the Iewes might haue made againste the Prophete saying If this kyngedome shal be throwen doun and so great warre shal be as though heauen earth should go together then shall we be destroyed we are but few in nūber there is but few of vs come home again what shal we do then how shal we escape being compassed about with so strong and many enemies we shal be deuoured To this God maketh aunswer biddeth them not be afrayde for in the day whē this great trouble shal come I wil take the Zerubabel my seruaunt whom I loue saieth the Lord I wil kepe thee as my priuie signet thou shal not perish saieth the mightie Lord of hostes because I haue chosē thee So good a God comfortable lorde is our God to all his people in all ages that he will leaue no doubte vntaken awaye that can discomfort his chyldren But he will satisfie all whiche can be sayde and pul al feare from vs. Therfore Zurubabel is here promised too bee deliuered out of all daūgers of that great warre trāslating of the kingdō from the Persians to the Gretians so that he shoulde catche no harme But here ryseth a harde question how this should be true that God woulde deliuer Zurubabell in that daye of soo greate trouble seinge that he liued not so longe but dyed within .14 yeares after his Prophecie Zurubabel was the firste prince of Iuda whiche ruled the people after theyr returning home frome Babylon he came home with the people was their capitayn and had now ruled a .40 yeares he ruled in all but .52 yeares as the history sayeth and this destruction of the kingdom of the Persians was not fulfilled of 145. years afterwardes or nere hande so much How could he then be deliuered in that dai and died so long afore vnto this mai be aūswered that which was said afore that promises made to kinges that fathers are dot too be applied to thē selues onely but they be made also too their chyldren subiectes shal be fulfilled in long years afterwards ▪ rather thē at the prosent so wil God exercise our faith in patiētly lokīg for his cōming whē his holy wisedom shall thinke good and not when oure foolishe rashnes shall wishe and desire hym to come Promises made vnto Abrahā Isaac Dauid and Iacob c. were not fulfilled in their dayes but to their chyldren long afterwardes so God makes promise here too these princes and rulers that all the subiectes maye knowe that they be conteined also in thesame truce and leage of God that the promise concernes them also and they shal be deliuered in that daye frome all the daūger of warre and enemies that shall come vpon them And it is as muche as though the Prophete shoulde say thou Zerubabell and thy kyngedome all thy people and subiectes be not afrayde for in those troublesome daies I wil saue you and kepe you as diligently as my rynge priuate seale And that they might the more earnestly beleue it he called hym seruaunt whereby he mighte well
deede God begynnes first geÌ„tly to punish Psal. xcix God punishes for our profit suffers loÌ„g God suffers longe Roma xi Reuela iii. RemeÌ„bringe oure sinnes plages worke good in vs. Luke xv i. Timo. i. Daniel ix Exo. xxii ii Macha vi Psalm cxix Gods punisshing is a token of his loue Malachie i God turneth to vs wheÌ„ we turne to him Deutre xxviii Preachynge moues more than plages Hebre. iiii Gentilnes is oft better thaÌ„ sharpenes The Text. God blessâ—â— theÌ„ that build hys house sendes theym preachers Zacha. i Luke â–ª ix Felix Promises made to rulers pertayne too their successors Amos. ix Hebre. xii Goddes promises satisfie the conscieÌ„ce in all doutes Daniel iâ— vii The Pope is Emperour in dede and hys ruliÌ„g is worse then the rest Darius Alexander â–ª Brother Traytours ii Reg. â— Eâ—cle x Leuiti xviii Princes stande not by theyr owne power Proue viii Ihon. xix Iob â–ª xxxiiii Zacha. ii Gods loue in all ages is greatest to his people God deliuereth hys in greatest dauÌ„gers Promises made too the faâ—her belonge to the chyldes God deliuereth his seruaunts if they wil wear his lyuerye God saueth hys people in all daungers The scripture is Gods indeÌ„ture and the Sacramentes be seales Osee. ii Seale Roma v. viii Ephe. i. God sealeth the conâ—â—â—ences of hiâ— people with the holy Ghoste Reuele vii ii Timo. iâ— â—â—al câ—lvii Although we muste vse all lawfull meanes yet truste onely in God Luke xvii Psal. cxxiiii God helpeth vs for his owne sake not for oure goodnes Rom. ii â–ª iiii Roma xi Iohn xiii Esai xlviii Esai xliii Gods will is the first cause of all Actes xvii God deliueres his people 〈◊〉 of all dauÌ„gers 〈◊〉 xxi Actes vii Daniel v. Ester vii Math. xxvii Roma viii Gods people haue the victorie by sufferinge Prouer. xxi Psal. ii Math. xxiiâ— Gene ix Gene. xi Gene. xxvii Gene. xli Exod xiiii Nume xvi i. King xii Psal. cxx Psal. xii Psal. lii lvii Esai xli Iere. xvii Psalm â–ª â— Luce. vi Psal. cxix Why Prophetes are called sights prophesers i King ix Sighte by faythe is surer than the eye Ihon. xx Ezech. xiii ii Pet. i. Abdyaâ— â–ª Ihon. â—â— Names are not geuen in vayne Abraham Zacharia Peter iii. King â–ª xviii Math xiii i. Pet. iiii Gene. xxxvi Edom. Gene. xxxvi Seir. Adam Adama An euyll father maketh not an euyll sonne nor coÌ„trarie and soo the good Ezech. xviii iii. King xii â–ª All plages beâ— froÌ„ God yet only man synnes in plagiÌ„g one an other Iob. i. Gene. xiv Esai v. viâ—â— i. Corinth ix Who hearde â—hys voyce How the message was sent Iere. xxâ—â— iii. King â—x â–ª The cause of thys warre Religion causes nerest freÌ„des to bee extreme foes The priuilege of the elder brother God refuses the Elder and glorious in the world to chose the yonger anâ— abiects The wicked shall not euer prosper â–ª nor the godly bee in miseri No true loue is where religion differs but enemies wiâ—l ioyne to ouerthrow it The Text. Beholde Esai vii Psal cxxiii Malach. i. The Prophets for the certaintie speak that to be paste that is to come Psal xxii Iere. xxxi Luc. xvi Iudg. i. Wisedom xi In all thinges looke vp too God whiche rules all Pryde Pride is onely of good thinges Beawty Sirach ix Holdes Psal. cxxvii Wyne Prouer. xxiii Women Riches i. Timo. vi â–ª Consider not creaturs in them selfs Physicke Psal. ciii Horses Ps. xxxiii xâ— Esai xxxvi Princes Psal. cxlvi Daniel iii Gene xi Psal. xiiii xlv Math. v. Sinnes of the minde be 〈◊〉 Psaâ— xii Iere. iâ— â–ª iiii King vi Gene. xii Math. xâ—â— Gene. â—â— Daniel iiâ—â— Act. xii iiii KiÌ„g â—iii Iud. vii Psal cxxiâ—â— It is called the Lords dede that the seruaunts doe Psal. xii The Text. Deut. xxviii xxxii Leuit. xxvi Leuit xix Gene. xliiii Reuela vi Iere. xlii Esai xxxvi True loue is onely amoÌ„ge the godly Psal. xli Preter temps Exo. vii xiiii ii King vii Worldly wysedom is foolishnes Ester v. vii i. King xviii Luce xx i. Corin. iii Mans witte in Gods matters is vaine fâ—oli Math. xv Ro viii Iaco iii. i. Corin. ii Prouer. xxi Theman Iere. xlix â— Iob. ii Isch. i. Coriâ— iiii Iere xvii Godly Wyse Worldly Psal. iii. Deut. xxviiâ— xxâ—ii Iosue ii Iosue ix i. King xvii One wicked plagues an other iiii Kinge ix Iacob Esau. Edom. God is slowe but he is sure The wicked be cruell the godly patient Psal. xii Roma xii Nume xx Deut. ii Roma i. i. Timo v Zacha ii The godly be corrected for a tyme the wicked for euer i. King 1â— â–ª Psal. cxxxvii Psal. lxi Mat xxvii Roma i. Exod. xxiii ii King 1â— i. King xv Papistes are worse thâ the Edomites Nero. A comparison betwixt the Edomties and Popes â–ª Luce. vi Psal lxvii Iudg. i. ii King â—iii â—viii iii.ii â— Among al iniuries god wil not suffer hys religion specially to be defaced Esai xlii Exod. xx Rom. viii Reuela vi Math. xxiii Reuela xxii The day of veÌ„geance is not ferre of Esai xlix Math. xxiii i Corin. iii i. Pet ii Ephe. ii Rom. viii ii Pet iii. Math. vii Prouer viii Psal. cxxi The Text. i Chro. xviii iiii king xiiiâ— Syon Math. xxviii i. Corinth i i. Thes. iiii Leuiti xix Luce. xii In all persecutions God defendes his prouides a plâ—ce for them to worship him in Psal. cxxxiâ— Act. i. ii Act. xâ—i â–ª Ioan. xiiii x Math. xxviii Persecution spreades the gospel abrode Psal. lxix Ioan. ii Ierem. xx Hebre. iiii Mar iii. Act iiii xv Preaching coÌ„queres more â—eighing Psalm xix Roma viii Psalm xxvi Reuela xiii i. Corinth iii Ioseph Gene. xlviii iij King vii God is mercifull too the wretchedst hys woorde woorkes either life or death mightely Roma xi Psal. â—xix Hebre â–ª i. i. Corin. i. Ruffinus lib. i. capi iii. Ruffinus lib. i. capit iii i. Corin ii ii Corin. xi Cananites Zarphat Sepharad Psalm xix Ciuitat dei lib. xxii cap. vi The diuersite of Christes kyngdome earthy Sauioâ—â— â–ª iudges i. Timo. iiii Iaco i. Roma â–ª i. Actes iiii Ioan. iâ— Ioan. xâ— Malach. ii The Pope is moste vnlyke sainct Peter i. Peter i.