Linguistic DNA - Concept Modelling Demonstrator

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	good_a	great_a	people_n	3,792	5	4.4298	3	true

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A17692	Foure godlye sermons agaynst the pollution of idolatries comforting men in persecutions, and teachyng them what commodities thei shal find in Christes church, which were preached in French by the moste famous clarke Ihon Caluyne, and translated fyrst into Latine and afterward into Englishe by diuers godly learned men.; Sermons. Selected sermons. English	Calvin, Jean, 1509-1564.; Horne, Robert, 1519?-1580.	1561 (1561)	STC 4438; ESTC S118061	86,020	218

as bouÌ„tiful prodigal in sheddiÌ„g the martyrs bloud as thei wil yet this must be that thei shal make a reckening horrible accompt of the effusion of that deare and precious blood yea euen to the vttermost droppe But nowe in thys time thei do scornefully and proudly laugh when thei burne the faithfull men and after they haue dipt washed them selues in their blood they become so dronken that they care nothing at al what murthers thei do But if we wyll haue this stay and moderation of mind that we can paciently abide god wil at the last declare that it was not without a cause that he so greatly estemed our life and had it in so great honour In the meane while let vs not take it to grief yf it be now bestowed to confirme garnish the gospel which excelleth heauen and earth in worthines And that we may be more surely persuaded that god wil neuer leaue vs as abiectes in the hands of the enemies let vs not forget that same saying of Iesus Christ wherein he saieth that it is he himself whoÌ„ men do persecute in his membres God had said before by Zachary who so toucheth you toucheth the sight of mine eie This is much more expressed if we suffer for the gospell sake it is euen as the sonne of him selfe were and suffered in that affliction Therefore let vs thinke so that Iesus Christ must forget himself if he should haue no care and thought of vs at the time when we be in prison and danger of life for his cause and glory let vs also know that God wyl take al the contumelies and iniuries as done against his owne sonne Let vs come to the seconde place of consolation which is one of the greatest among gods promises that god wyll so hold vs vp wyth the vertue of his spirit in these afflictions that our enemies whatsoeuer they do nor Satan their chiefe captaine shal in any thyng go awaye with the ouerhand And truly we do see howe in that necessitie he doth shew the succour and helpes of his grace For the inuincible stoutnes and constancie of minde which is sene in the true martyrs is a notable token of that same most mighty power which god vseth in his sainctes There be two things in persecutions greuous tediouse intolrable to the flesh whereof the one consisteth in the checkes and rebuks of men the other in the payne tormeÌ„t of the body In both these kinds of temtations god doth promise so his assistaunce that we shal easely ouercom al the infamie violence of the grefes and payn And truly what he promiseth he doth performe in dede with most manifest and assured helpe Let vs then take this bucklere to defend vs against al feare and let vs not measure the power of gods spirit so sclendrely that we shuld not thinke and beleue that he wil easely ouercome all the iniuries bitternes and contumelies of men And of this diuine and inuincible operation emong all other we haue a notable example in this our age A certaine yonge man who liued godlylye here with vs in this cytie when he was taken at Dornick was coÌ„demned with this sentence that yf he wold denye the coÌ„fessioÌ„ of his faith he shuld be but beheaded but yf he perseuered in his purpased opinion he shuld be burned When he was asked whether he wold do he answered plainly he who will geue me thys grace to dye patiently for his name wil also work by the selfe same grace that I may abide broyling and burniÌ„g We oght to take thys sentence not as pronouÌ„ced of a mortall maÌ„ but of the holy gost that we shold thinke that god caÌ„ so wel coÌ„firme make vs ouercom al payns tormeÌ„ts as to moue vs to take any other kinde of meker death in good part Yea we see often times what coÌ„staÌ„cy he geueth to euel wicked men who suffer for their euel dedes and wickednes I do not speake of such as be obstinat hardned in their wickednes which haue no repeÌ„taÌ„ce but of theÌ„ which do perceaue coÌ„solatioÌ„ by the grace of Iesus Christ so do take suffer quietly with good wil most greuous sharpe pain as we see a notable example in the thefe who turned at the death of our lord Iesus christ Wil god who assisteth with so great power wicked men that suffer coÌ„dingly for their euell actes forsake them who defeÌ„d his cause wil he not rather geue theÌ„ inuincible power The third place of promises which god promiseth to his martyres is the fruit which thei oght to loke for of their sufferiÌ„g of death it self yf nede so requier But this fruit is that after they haue set forth honoured gods name edified his church with their testimonie they may be gathered together in immortall glory with the lord Iesus But because we haue spoken largely inough before of this reward of eternal glory it is now sufficient to renue the memorie of those thiÌ„gs that are already spoken Wherfore let the faithful learn to reare vp their head to the crowne of immortall glory whereunto god doeth call them let them not take the losse of this life greuously coÌ„sidering the greatnes and worthines of the reward And that thei may be sure and perfectly persuaded of this so great a good thing as can not be expressed with any speache nor in thought be comprehended nor with any honour inough estemed let them haue continually before their eyes this like and conformable reason with our Lord Iesus Christ that in death it selfe they beholde life as he by ignominie of the crosse infamie came to glorious resurrection wherin all our felicitie triumph and ioy consisteth Amen The thirde Sermon VVHEREIN THE FAITHFVL are admonished how greatly thei oght to esteme it to liue in the churche of god where they may purely and with libertie worship him taken forth of this sentence of the. Psalm 27. One thing haue I demanded of the lorde that wyll I require that I may dwel in the house of the lord al the dayes of my life that I maye see the beautie of the Lorde c. ALthough amonges men there be soche a varietie defference of myndes and desyres that it is a world to se them yet do all consent and agre in this one poynte moste plainly that with hole harte mynde thei are occupied in the worlde Euery one I graunt wyll haue some what apart wherin he doth set his hole felicitie and wherunto he wyll applye and therevpon bestowe all his care and study and the whole trade of hys lyfe But this vanitie beareth rule generally in al that thei seke their felicitie and principal coÌ„moditie none other where but in this present life subiect to corruption The which thing declareth moste euidently that men whiche haue caste downe their myndes hope and iudgemen from the dignitie and excellencye of their nature are so degenerat and growen out

man can let him that is to say that he mourne day night with dauid Thine altars o lorde There is none other thing that I desyre but thine altars o my God and my kinge And the fere of this most holy loue and desire oght so enflame al good hearts that thei shold not thinke it painfull to suffer ani thiÌ„g that can come no not to consume themselues wholy by this so great zele and desyre neither that there sholde be any tyme so long differred which shold quenche or diminishe this feruent desyre but rathere continally require this thing most carefully that they maye once be broght vnto Christes folde Moreouer euery man oght to considre thys by hymselfe howe he maye moste speadily get himselfe to the standerd so soone as our lord shal graunt any liberty to come therunto Finalli to make an end of this exhortatioÌ„ now it remaiÌ„eth that we do diligeÌ„tly note that which dauid adioygneth that is That he will behold the beawty of the lord consider his temple For it is not enoghe that we shulde be exercised in the outward order discipline of the church except we haue our eies bent and speciall regarde to this end that we maye know god himselfe euer more and more There be two thinges which are heare required the one that we do occupy the time of the preachings publike praiers with all care diligence the other that we do vnderstand the cause of our assemblies comming together in the churches For many do come thither drawen with a certane folishe deuotion thinking that thei haue done their hole deuty yf they come forthe into that place shew theÌ„selues once in the temple let vs take heade therfore diligently deare brethren that we do not fal into any fault of negligence of ignoraunce or of folishnes For it is greatly to be feared lest the most part of theÌ„ that ar herew t vs mai be coÌ„demned in the one of these two vices that either thei are negligeÌ„t to come to these assembles in the church or els they do not whaigh with themselues nor well vnderstaÌ„d wherfore thei do come thither How many are they the come to the sermones which wold be most glad neuer to heare of any sermons But I will not speake of theÌ„ which in the hole course of their life do shew theÌ„selues manifest contemners of God I do speake of the contempte which is many who wolde neuer remeÌ„bre to come to the sermon but that the sonday doth monishe them moue them to com thither and that for maner sake only as thoghe they wolde then make vp the nomber of mani runiÌ„g together to god The bell may well ring daily call theÌ„ together But it is sufficient for suche if then at last they come forth in the ende of the weke vnto the church company of the coÌ„gregation Thei are called four times euery soÌ„day but thei come very notably if thei once may be seene to haue beene there For there be many of them also whych take to them thys lyberty that they wyll scarse come euery .xv. Daye And surelye the moste parte prooueth thys prouerbe to be trewe that beyng nygh to the Churche they are verye farre from god And some of them be of that sort which haue lefte their contrey that they might serue god who yet in this part of gods seruice do shew theÌ„selues ouer negligent What oght we thaÌ„ to do Seing god doeth so shew himselfe vnto vs let vs beholde his beauty not passe by the meanes whereby we may most clearely haue the fruition coÌ„templation of this his beautie That is to say to that we may be moued as it were rauished with the loue of him as S. Paul saith that we be transformed changed into his simitude likenes And to come to this point we must consider more diligently earnestly then we haue accustomed what god doth propouÌ„d vnto vs in his church For what is the cause I pray you why we do take so smale profit of the sermons sacrameÌ„ts but that we giue no diligence to the things that are their spoken done We haue our eares beaten with continual doctrine wheras our minds are voide barren of good mocions not touched with any good affection Moreouer also there be some that here neuer the whole sermon but here there a word or half a word rather with out regard Wherfore Dauid saieth not without great cause that he woulde go to the temple of the lord to visit and regard it with great care diligence and the whole study of his minde And doubtles the excellent treasures of the great wisedome of god which are therein set forth vnto vs are most worthy to haue the eies of our minds wholy bent set thervpoÌ„ But as I haue now touched god would not haue vs to beholde these treasures only to please our eies so to depart wtout any profit Let vs therefore vnderstand that the doctrine of christ hath then shewed in vs her force fruit when our mindes life maners are so chaunged that we can worship god purely serue him wtout corruption And this is it that Dauid saith psalm lxxxiiii That thei which dwell in the house of the lord shall prayse him for euer Wherfore theÌ„ do we assemble our selues iÌ„to one place whi is that gospel preached vnto vs why do we vse baptisme the lords supper but that god shuld be praised magnified by vs with all kind of praises the which praise standeth not only in the lips but continueth al the life long and florisheth for euer Therefore saith he in another place I wil wash my hands O lord in innocencie then wyll I enter vnto thyne altare Now do we see what is the true lawfull vse of all the order in the church to wit that we beyng diligently instructed therein may worshyp God purely and as becometh hys seruaunts In the olde time vnder the law thei that came to the temple to worship god especially the preistes wheÌ„ thei shuld execute their office they continually washed them selues This ceremony in dede is passed awaye but the truth that yet remaineth oght of vs alwayes to be mainteyned and practised And because we nowe do knowe all the wais meanes wherby we may atteyn to the most perfit pure worship of god wherefore we must enter and holde the way of life more warely theÌ„ others For the more furtherance that we haue graunted vs by god so much lesse of excuse shal be left onles we do appli the same both vnto our vse profite also to the true worship of god For if we do stumble by the waye it is not because we doe not see a plain troden way before our fete And if we do stray forth of the way wander without assuraunce we can not blame god therfore as though he did not continually set vp the clear light of

constancie which he requireth in his word We muste also admonishe and solicite them by al wayes not to rest in places where men are fast on slepe in their voluptuousnesse but to applie diligently this thought and wyl that thei confesse the glorie due vnto god For we are not taught of god onely for our selues but that euery man after the measure of his faith shuld brotherly communicat with his neighbors and distribute vnto them that thing he hath learned and knowen in gods schole Nowe se we then that it is profitable yea truly necessary so well to our selues as to our brethren that the remembrance of this doctrine shulde be renued very oft especiallye seyng the text it selfe which we shal expound doth leade vs to the same purpose Dauid doth openly protest and as it wer doth make a solemne vow that he wil neuer be partaker in the sacrifices of Idolaters and also that he wyll so detest and greuously hate the idols that he wyl not at anye time once name theÌ„ as though he shuld defile his mouth in naming them This is not the fact of som one man but the example of Dauid the most excellent kinge and prophet which oght to be vnto al gods children a certain comon rule to ryght and godly life And to th entent we may the better perceaue this thyng and more vehemently be moued with the true fear of god the cause is to be noted which he addeth wherein truly resteth as it were a certain foundation of that same alienation and offence wherby he doth most greatly abhorre the communion of idolatours The lorde saieth he is myne enheritaunce But is not this thing comon to all faithful and godlye men There is no man truly whych wold not glorie in so excellent athyng And this is sure without al doubt that god being once geuen vnto vs in the person of his sonne doth dayly entise vs to possess him But ther be veray fewe which ar so affected in this part as the greatnes and worthines of this same mater shuld seme to aske and deserue Nether truly can we by any meanes possess god onles on this condition that we also be come hys Dauid therfore of good right and worthely did set the foundation of hys godlynes and religion in this sentence and reason seing that god is his enheritaunce he wil refrain from all pollutions of idoles which do turne vs from God hymselfe This is the cause why the prophet Esay when he had vpbraided the iewes that they had geuen themselues to fals and strange goddes whoÌ„ they had made added afterwarde theis saith he ar thy portion signifieng by these words that god doth deny to the worshippers of idoles all bond felowshyppe of couenante and disenheryteth them and vtterly depriueth them of that so infinitly great benefite whiche he wold haue bestowed on them geuing him selfe vnto them Som man will except and sai that the prophet entreateth in that place only of them which put their affiance in idoles and deceaueth them selues thorow opinion and incredulitie I graunt but this also I answar yf they that do transferre gods honour vnto idoles are vtterly separated and cut of from his felowship they also doe are and decline some what from him which doe feine them selues to consent to supersticions thorow feare and weakenesse of mynde For no man can in heart or any conformable fashion or in wyll and in purpose of minde or faining or by any true or fained waye approch to idols but he must so far go back froÌ„ god Wherefore let this sentence be thorowly persuaded and remaine depely printed in our heartes that thei which seke god with a tru and pure minde to the ende to possesse him for their enheritance wyll haue no communion and felowship with idoles with whome god hath that diuorce and debate that he wold haue al his to proclaim and make continuall and deadlye war vpon them And in this place Dauid by name doth expresse that he wyll neuer be partaker of their oblations nether haue theyr names in his mouth and talking He might haue said on this wise I wil not deceyue my self with vnwise and folishe deuocions of the vnbeleuers I will not put my trust in suche abuses nor I wil neuer forsake goddes truth to folow these lies but he speaketh not on this maner but doth rather promise constantly that he wyll neuer be coÌ„uersant among theyr ceremonies Therfore he doth testifie so far furth as concerneth the seruice of god he will abide continually in al puritie and holynes both of bodye and soule And first in this place we muste consider whether this be not idolatrie to signifie and declare by outward tokens our agremeÌ„t with those supersticions wherwith the seruice of god is corrupted vtterly peruerted Thei that swim as the coÌ„mon saying betwixt two waters allege this saiyng seing that god wold be honored in spirit idols caÌ„ by no meanes be honored vnles a maÌ„ put his trust in theÌ„ But to this may be easly answered that god doth not so require the spiritual seruice adoration of the minde that he granteth and remitteth the other part of our nature vnto idols as though that part shuld seme nothing at al to belong vnto him For it is said in many places that the knees must be bowed before god also the hands lifted vp to heauen What then surely the chief honor that god requireth is spiritual but the outward signification wherbey the faithful do testifie that it is god only whoÌ„ thei serue and honour must so immediatly folow that thei must at one time be ioined together But one place shal so suffice for al to coÌ„fute that obiection which thei snatch of one word that thei shal be plainly rebuked conuict In the .iii. chap. of Daniel it is writteÌ„ that Sidrach Misach Abdenego refused denied vnder any maner of colour to consent vnto the superstition set vp erected by Nabuchodonosor declaring that thei wold in no wise honor his gods If these goodly wittie sophisters had bene there at that time wold haue laught to scorne the simplicitie of these thre seruants of god For I suppose thei wold haue taunted them with such like words you folish meÌ„ this truly is not to honor them seing you put no affiance in these thynges There is no idolatrie but where there is deuocioÌ„ that is to say a certain bending application of the minde to honour and worshippe the idoles But these godly men did folowe a better wiser counsell for this answer which thei made proceded not of their owne wit but rather of the holy gost which moued theÌ„ thus to speake whoÌ„ if we wil not resist we must accept this place this example as a certen rule definicion that idolatry is an outward action against gods honor yea although it procede not froÌ„ the wil and purpose of the mind but be only colourable and feined In which matter thei make goodly

of him whom he hath slaine whose horse he rideth on We saie they seke the supper of Iesus Christe and when we can not being opprest vnder that tyrannie wher in we dwell haue the same pure we must be content with that which is left to vs loking for the helping hand of God For such a goodly and pretie excuse By cause they haue no right and perfect vse of the supper as though thei had gotten a prouison they witness and openly profess that they haue not Iesus Christe the eternall and only preste and therfore euerie weke do seke a new sacrifice to put away their sinnes For all this is in the high masse as wel as in that which is saide in the name of Nicholas or for the dead In which thing they fein them selues to worshipe an idole yet do boste that thei seke Iesus Christ and because they wold not seme to fight against god without swerd or buckler thei bring obiect the authoritie of this or that man as though the absolutioÌ„ of any one manne may exempt and deliuer them that they be not coÌ„demned of god I wil not saie that thei lye greuouslye when thei alege such men as thei do for the defence of their cause But in case it wer so that a deuout and godly maÌ„ wer somtime of this minde that he thought it was nothing euel to come to the high masse yet afterward when he knoweth the truth yf he doth disalowe and condemne his former iudgement his latter is so muche the more to be beleued for that God hathe brought him or rather compelled him to disalowe the same because he perceueth plainly knoweth that he is ouercome in that thing which he before did greatlye embrace alowe But what nede we herin to stirre the truth as yf we shuld bloundre and trouble a water that is pure and clear Do they think that with the iudgment and sainge of a mortall man they maye stop god and hedge him in We knowe that ther is nothing besides the truth that in iudgment oght to preuaill without the respect of any person this matter is such that the parish or high mass is instituted to sacrifice Iesus Christe to reconcile the fauour of god both for quick dead and also that a pece of bred shuld be ther worshipped as though it were the soÌ„ne of god I do not examine thorowli al the abominations and wickednes that are in that mass for they be almost innumerable But I do reherse only the worse grosser Now let them that do but feine a consent with suche wickednes and corruptions washe their hands so clean as they will yet shall they neuer be more iust and innocent then Pilate But this is a meruail that this good religiouse parishioners at easter time do seke some by chappel or some mockchristian moÌ„k whiche maye prepare and deliuer vnto them the apish and couÌ„trefet supper Yf the high mass is most nearest the supper of Iesus Christ as they say it is why do they not obserue kepe it But how after that they haue bene at the highe mass euery sonday thorow the year because they wold seme to coÌ„municat in the sacrament of the supper a right thei sodenly shake of and forsake the high mast But we shuld no meruaill at such inconstaÌ„t they saye for this is a sure due punishment for them which haue layd no foundatioÌ„ at ani tim of truth in ther mindes that they shuld alwaies wauer and be contraie to theÌ„ selues in al thiÌ„gs they do and take in hand As touching that same hypocriticall supper I know that they be of this minde that thei suppose it to be the greatest iniurys to the selues that may be when it is rebuked improued But what can we do in that matter seinge it is nothinge agreable to Christes rule Nether do I finde fault with this that they do it secretly for I know that the supper was neuer better celebrated nor more deuoutly theÌ„ when the disciples went into some secret place to flye the tyrannye of the enmies But here ar two faults truly not to be suffered One that they whiche doe make suche a supper like apes do falsly and corruptly countrefet the true supper of Christe do feine that they kepe and worshipe their masse The other is that the minister whiche for the moste parte is some religious man the rather to dissemble the mater doth not that office as a christian but as a prest of the popish professioÌ„ And in this thei suppose thei haue an honest and sure defence yf the masse saier haue not this purpose to shew the bread wine to them to be worshipped if he leaue out the canon wherin ar conteined many great impieties and if he deliuer the sacrament to all that be present vnder both kinds But when they shall come before the highest iudge then shall they fele the fruit that they sought by suche glosing and lies yea truly they oght now already to perceaue it For I do iudge those same goads and prickes wherwith their consciences ar prikt and wounded to be agreuous fealing of that same iudgment And truely thys cause must be decided and plainly debated in that same place and courte where the trueth hath her graue true witnesses For to be short thei theÌ„ selues do know them selues giltye of that mater whieh they haue purposed to declare bothe to godes enemies and also to the common people But god must neds denye hym selfe yf he allowe the order and doing of that professioÌ„ If all the meÌ„ in the world with one mind and purpose wold coÌ„spire to pronounce these men ryghteous yet none be he neuer so ready and mightye can excuse and deliuer them from thys but thei shal be thought to halt on both sides And god doeth declare by his prophet that no such halting of any man shal be euer allowed before him As touchiÌ„g the man whom thei chose to be the minister of their supper it is a folysh thing to abuse his persoÌ„ as though thei could seme to make him an apte man to that office and function Yea but the vertue of that same sacrament say thei resteth not in the vertue of the ministers That I grant and adde this to also yf any deuil shuld minister the supper it shuld be neuer the worse On the contrary part if an angell shulde sing masse yet then shulde it be no whit the better But we are nowe in another question that is whether orders geuen by the pope to a monk do make him apt to the office and and function do a pastour If thei say contrary that thei perceiue that thiÌ„g doth mak nothing to the purpose that thei do not chose in that sort the thing it self sheweth coÌ„trarie But let it be that thei as touching the minister haue no such respect Yet muste I abide in that outwarde profession which thei take vpon them worship yea

of the ChaldeaÌ„s It is not reason that the tiranny of men shoulde break or any deal diminish from vs that due honour we ow vnto god Here is no exceptioÌ„ or pretence of preuelege which high or low riche or poore may or ought to vsurpe vnto them selues Let al men therefore bow downe their neck with moste humilitie submit them selues to god Let the poore maÌ„ haue the true fear of god let him not say vnconstantly I know not what to do least god answer him nether know I what to do with thee The riche and wealthy men let theÌ„ not like drunken sloggards slepe in their wealth and consume in their prosperity and abundance of al thynges as it wer in a certain draftubbe but rather after the example of S. Paule let them learn to esteme al that as dirt and dammage which doth withdraw vs from godly christian life or may seme any thing to hinder vs. We also whiche liue here in rest quiet enioyeng the vse of the greatest and singuler benefits of god let vs not forget that I touched in the beginning that we apply these things to our learning that what so euer hereafter befall vs or into what soeuer countrey we shal be led yet may we alwayes constantlye abide in the pure confession of our faith detesting al idolatrous religion superstitions and abuses which are against gods trueth do obscure his honour and vtterly subuert his religion The .ii. sermon conTEINING AN EXHORTATION to suffer persecution that we may therein folow Iesus Christ and his gospell taken of this saying in the .13 Cap. to the Hebrues Let vs go forth to him without the gates and suffer rebuke with him AL the exhortations which can be made to instruct vs to suffer paciently and constantly for Christ Iesus name and his gospel shall not much moue vs onles we know and be perfectly persuaded of the right truthe and worthenes of the cause wherfore we contend For when we be in that Ieoperdie danger that we must loose our lyfe we ought to be most certain of that thing wherfore we enter to so great perill But that constauncye and firmnes of minde caÌ„ not be had onles it be depely fouÌ„ded in a certaintie sure perswasioÌ„ of faith Ther be many which will vnaduisedlyâ— rashly ventre to dye for certain folysh opinions inuented of their own brain But suche forwardnes of minde ought rather to be thought a furiousnes then a christian zeall and loue For assuredly ther is no firmnes other of minde or wit or of common sence in these men which do cast them selues in to peril with such hardie rashnes How so euer it be god wil not acknowlege and take vs for his martirs and witnesses without a good cause For death is coÌ„mon for all men also the condemnation of theues and of gods children the sufferaunce of shame and punishment semeth to be al one but god maketh a difference betwixt theÌ„ because he can not denie and forsake his own truth This also is required that we haue a sure witnes void of al errour of that doctryne whiche we will defend â–ª Wherfore as I said ther is no exhortation so weightie that can moue and perswade vs to suffer for the gospel but yf a true certaintie of faith be imprinted in our hartes For to put our lyfe in danger without any coÌ„sideratioÌ„ vnaduisedly and chaunceably is most against nature And so to do shuld be thought rather rashnes theÌ„ christian boldnes Morouer god aloweth nothing that we do onles we be plainly perswaded that it is for his name sake and for his cause that the world is so against vs doth hate vs. But when I speak of suche certaiÌ„tie and perswasion of minde I do not only vnderstand this that we shuld know to discern and iudge betwixt the true religion and folish opinions constitutioÌ„s of men but also that we be thorowly perswaded of euerlasting lyfe and the â—roune promised vnto vs in heaueÌ„ after â—ure conflict in this world Let vs now marke wel that these two reasons do partaine to oure dutye and muste be Ioyned to gether that the one may â—n no wise be separated and disioyned from the other It is mete therfore to take oure begynning of thys that we vnderstand and know what is our Christian religion what faith it is that we oght to holde and folow what rule of lyfe god hath geuen vs. Nether must we only haue our minds instruct with thys godly doctrin but also haue our mindes so armed and prepared that we maye freli and boldly damne all errours lies and superstitions which Satan hathe brought in to the world to corrupt the pure simplicitie of gods doctrine Therfore it is no meruaill that ther is so small a number of men that haue a ready mid and desier to suffer for the gospell and that the greatest part of them the profese them selues Christans knoweth not the power of the Christian religion and there own profession All meÌ„ in a maner are negligeÌ„t and haue no desier or very small to here and read who thynketh it sufficient yf they haue gotten some small taste of the Christian faith And thys is the cause why there is sene in these no surety and constancie of minde and that so sone as they come in to any conflict they are so abashed as though thei shuld hiÌ„ bi vtterly perish for which coÌ„sideratioÌ„ our desier oght to be greater to pursue and serche oute most diligently gods truth that therw t our hartes may be perswaded with out any doubt Nether is this al to haue suche knowledge and vnderstanding For we see many so well trauailed in gods doctrine that thei seme as though thei were stained died ther with in whom neuer the less there is no desier and loue of god no more truly then if thei had knowen nothinge at any time of the godly doctrin but by a certain vnsure light and wauering opinion But what other cause is there of this so great vncertaintie and leuitie but that thei did neuer perceaue in there minde the maiestie of the holi scripture And truly if we wold rightly waye that it is god that speaketh to vs theirin we wold here him with more diligence attention and reuereÌ„ce If we wold think in reading the scripture that we are in the schole and discipline of angels we shulde haue an other maner of desier to exercise our selues in that doctrine which is set forth to vs to confort strenghtheÌ„ instruct our miÌ„ds now we se what is the wai to prepar our selues to patieÌ„ce sufferauÌ„ce for the gospel that is so to go forward in the doctrine thereof that being throughly persuaded of the true religion and that doctrine which we oght to holde and defende we may nothing esteme and despise al the fraudes and illusions of the deuell and al the inuencions of men as things not only of value but also execrable because they

true fear of god to the loue of the worlde I cofesse in dede that all thinges are as they both thinke and speake But if their body were in daunger they were admonished where they might finde both learned and mete physicions and also propre healthefull remedies other helpes either to restore or preserue their healthe then I saye they woulde not say that thei cared not for it or sette lyght by it because that in all places dyseases may come vnto men I graunt that in what place soeuer we be we shall finde infinite occasions to do euelle corruptions and intisemets of the worlde but ther is great difference whether we haue ayds helpes where with we maye other be kepte in office or eles hauing erred from our office maye be restored or whether we be altogether depriued of them let it be agred that vices nowe doe reigne and are of lyke force in the worlde so that by ther poison the air is infected no lesse theÌ„ with a pestilence are we not in better condition theÌ„ other in that we haue such remedies as are geuen of God to his children wherew t we may ether driue awaye from vs greuous deseases now coming and assauting or els purge and put them awaye being nowe presente Further more I thinke that both the doctrine of the gospell when it is purely preached and also the sacraments when their lawfull vse is kepte and also common praiers and other meanes besydes are alwaes very necessary to styre vs vp and to admonishe vs that we be not infected with the corruptions and tentations of the worlde as it werewith certaine poisons Now all men do know that there is none of all these so great so holsome remedies and benefits in the papistry but coÌ„trarywise all wickednes and extreme danger of losse of life and saluation Wherfore let vs take head that we do not refuse the help that god most mercifully offereth in this great necessitie wherin we stand iÌ„ nead of great help toward our saluation yet ther be some that vomet forth more euidently the fylthe and dissease of their stomake what say thei shal we go to that church wherin with our great grife we shal see those motions and offences which now being vnknoweÌ„ vnto vs do not offend our eies and myndes if there were soche regimeÌ„t and order of the church those places wher the gospell is preached which were to be required for our edification if we were sure to finde none ther but angels which might leade vs into paradise we wolde runne thither with all haste diligence But when we shall come thyther we shall heare many things that shall soore offend vs and see many mo then were necessary Ther wyll be many men prone to al maner of wickednes impudencie which do diffame sklander the gospell by their disolute lyfe vanities pompe pride and dronkenes wylbe more coÌ„mon then were conuenient Moreouer which is moste greuous and intollerable of all many shall shew themselues there so vnruly outrageous contemners of god the more wickednes shall appeare in their lyues then emongs the papists forthermore emongs the magistrates and them that should execute iudgement ther wil be found as much corruption disorder vnrightousnes as iÌ„ other places And also in theÌ„ that are apointed to preach the gospel many things shal appear which shal seme worthy of reproche rebuke For some of theÌ„ wil be neglent in the ministry or so occupied iÌ„ their priuat domestical busines that the fidelitie diligeÌ„ce sincerity that thei shuld sew forth shal not be much regarded of theÌ„ And which is the worst of al amoÌ„g this kind of meÌ„ ther be som so geuen to pleasures that they are prone to al lustes of the flesh belly chere care for nothing els but to liue at ease and to pamper the fleshe and that thei may doe this at more libertie they ioyne theÌ„selues with wicked meÌ„ hauÌ„t their coÌ„pany in all mischief vilany Well let vs grant so that there is ten times more euill there then ther is in dede or then men do phaÌ„tasy yet must this excuse be vain alwais vnto theÌ„ which make them lets impediments vnto them that thei shold not com to the church of god And that we maye proue this matter let vs mark the example of Dauid that we haue in hand with more depe coÌ„sideration diligence Was ther such iustice integritie obserued in the daies of Saull I besech you in the iudgement other offices as the state of the common welth the dignitie of the church required Nay coÌ„trariwise we do hear the great coÌ„plaints which dauid maketh ofteÌ„times of the malice of the frauds deceits of the fearcenes the pride both of the king of others that wer iÌ„ autoritie iÌ„ iudgemeÌ„t in coÌ„mon offices And for the priests and Leuites did thei the office of the priesthod ministery of holy things so purely and godly the thei had iust cause to reioyse for theÌ„selues the church Or may we not rather gather that the most part of theÌ„ did folow the coÌ„mon vices corruptioÌ„s yea by their flattery fostred nourished wickednes And as touching the people common multitude thei wer ful of hipocrisie manifold sins crimes most manifest yet for all that Dauid doth not therfore abhorre that assembly nether refuseth to com entre into the church nether yet quensheth nor diminisheth his desire that he had to se it It is a very greiuous sore tentation I do grant For the more earnestly that a maÌ„ is moued with the zele desire of the honor of god the more great cause hath he to sorow morne wheÌ„ in the polutioÌ„ of his church he doth se him most greatly to be dishonored but the meanes to ouercom all these incoÌ„modities impediments is declared by Dauid to wit that we seke the face of the lord that we set al our pleasur and felicitie of life fully contented in the sight beholding therof that against al the greues that sataÌ„ doth raise against vs we determine coÌ„clude that nothiÌ„g is more pleasant nor delectable then to dwel in the temple of god wher his face mai be sene thus shal we remeÌ„bre as oft as such offeÌ„cs ar offred vnto vs that sataÌ„ laboreth after his vsual maner to dazel our eies to troble vs But herein let vs be wise constant the we be neuer drawen away from the coÌ„templation therof but that we take our hole and full pleasure of the moste comfortable beholdyng of the same The miserable ydolaters oght to make vs ashamed For if any of them after he haue consumed bothe his body in goyng a folish pilgrimage when he commeth vnto that place whither he purposed do finde an hoste which doth aske money of hym out of all reason or verlets and cruell knaues which doth him iniurie or couetous priests that

be borne that is to saye there shall be greate aboundaunce The Christians doe almost with one accorde refer it to Christ and thinke that the prophet doeth render the cause why they shoulde be counted amongest the cytesens of Ierusalem whych hitherto were straungers sore enemis because Christ shuld be borne there whose duetie it is to gather meÌ„ scatered as membres torne a sonder into the vnitie of fayth hope of euerlastyng life As for the first interpretation because it is altogether wasted it nedeth no refutation As for the seconde because it is more sutle then sounde I doe not receiue The 5. verse And of Zion it shall be said A man and a man is borne in it and the most hiest shall establishe it He continueth the same sentence that newe citizens shall be gathered into the church of god out of diuerse partes of the worlde Howbe it he vseth another figur that strauÌ„gers shal be counted amongest the holye people as though they had bene borne of the father Abraham He saide in the former verse The Chaldeans and Egiptians shal become of the housholde of the church The Ethiopans Philistines and the men of Tyre shall be counted amongest hys chyldren Nowe he doth adde in steade of a confirmation that there shal be an infinite multitude of new seed so that the citie shal be filled with a great people which was desolate for a time and afterwarde was but halfe full with a litle nomber of men And this which is here shortely promised is declared more at large of Isay Prayse O thou barren whych diddest beare children for the chyldren of the desolate forsaken are mo then of her whych is maryed Make large the place of thy tent stretche out the cordes and strengthen thy stakes c. Likewise Thy children shal come from farre lifte vp thine eies rounde about for all these shal be gathered to thee And in the xliiii Chapter almost the same maner of speache is fained or at leaste one which draweth neare to this which is here This man shall say I am of the lorde he shal be called by the name of Iacob This man shall write with his owne hand I am the lords and he shall call himselfe after the name of Israell Neyther dothe the prophet without cause signifie by the worde of bearing that the Egiptians Chaldeans and such like shoulde be of the flocke of Gods people For although by nature they were not borne of Zion but ought to be grafted in by adoptyon into the bodye of the holye people yet because our entrye into the church is the second birth this maner of speakyng doth agre very well For Christ doth take the faith full to him in marriage with thys condicion that they forget theyr owne people and their fathers house Psalme .xlv. and being fashioned and borne a new of incorruptible seede into newe creatures maye begin to be the sonnes both of God and of the church Gal. iiii And surely we are borne a new in to the heauenly life none other way then by the ministery of the church But in the meane season we must marke the difference that the apostle putteth betwixt the earthly Ierusalem which as it is a seruaunt so engendreth children to subiection and the heauenly which bryngeth forth fre children by the gospell In the second parte of the verse the long duryng of the same is declared for often times it cometh to passe that the soner that cities doe creepe vp into a wonderfull height the shorter whyle doeth their prosperous state endure And least that the felicitie of the church should seme after this sorte to be vnstable the prophet doeth pronounce that her stabilitie shall be of the lord as though he should saye that it were no merueil though other cities did shake were subiect to diuerse inclinations because they are tossed with the world haue not euerlasting kepers But new Ierusalem is of another sort whose eternitie being grounded in the powre of god shal stand though heaueÌ„ earth fal The 6. verse God shall count his people by writing he was borne there Selah The prophet meaneth that the name of Zyon shall be so famous that all shall with most feruent desire go about to be counted in the numbre and degre of the citezens thereof For he speaketh of a moste honorable degree as though he should say when god shall make a count of the nations them whom he will chiefly honour he wyll accounte rather to Zion then to Babilon or any other cities For this shall be a greater dignitie to be in the lowest degre amongest the Citizens of Zyon then any other where to be of the chief yet in the meane season he admonisheth vs from whence men that are straungers get such honor so sodenly to wit of the free gyft of god And surely thei which are the seruants of the deuyll and of sinne can neuer get by their owne diligence the fredom of the heauenly citie It is the lord alone who placeth the people in their seueral degrees as it semed good to him and whereas the condicion of men is a like he putteth difference betwixt one another As for the writing whereof he maketh here mencion pertayneth to the callynge for although he hath written his children in the booke of life before the creation of the worlde yet he then counteth them at length in the numbre of his childreÌ„ when as he doth seale them being regenerate with the marke of the spirit of adoptioÌ„ Aswell the syngers as the players on instrumentes all my fountaynes are of thee The 7. verse Partly the great shortnes partly the doutfull signification of one worde doth make the sentence dark As for the word fountaines there is no dout but that it is translated from the right signification vsed here by a Metapher But for all the that expounders do differ in the declaration of the Metapher Some do expound it hope some affections some the inward thoughtes How be it I would gladly agre to their sentence which interpret it songs if the proprietie of the tonge wold suffer it But because it may seme to far fetched I do receiue that which is most agreable to reason to wit that the countenance is signified for the rote from the which it is deriued doth signifie an eye Nowe must we se what that other membre signifieth Aswell the syngers as the players on instruments It is an abrupt maner of speaking but al men do agree of the sence thereof to wit that there shal be such cause of ioye that the prayse of God shall be set forth with singyng both without instrumentes and also with instrumentes of musicke Therefore he doth establishe that which he saide afore of that great glorious restauration of Sion for by the greatnes of the ioy and manifolde singing of praise he declareth how great the felicitie thereof should be But in the meane season he describeth the end of al the giftes which god doth so liberally powre on his church to wit that the faithfull do witnesse their thankfull minde towardes him with himnes songes More ouer that the prophet declareth that he dothe embrase the church with a syngular loue care and studye to the intent he myght exhorte and kindle all faithfull by his example to the same affection According to thys saiyng let my ryght hande be forgotteÌ„ if I do not remembre thee Ierusalem in the begynyng of my ioye For then finallye are all our affections in the churche when as we gather our selues froÌ„ the wanderyng and vaine distruction of the mynde and despyse the dignities delicate thynges ryches and pompe of this worlde and are content wyth that onelye spirituall glory of the kyngdome of Christ FINES Prynted at London by Roulande Hall dvvellyng in Golding Lane at the signe of the three arrovves 1561.

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