.1578 ACTES 10. verse 1 FVrthermore there was a certayne man in Cesarea called Cornelius a captaine of the bande called the Italian Bande verse 2 A deuoute man and one that feared God with all his housholde which gaue much almes to the people and prayed God continually verse 3 He saw in a vision euidently about the ninth houre of the day an Angell of God comming into him and saying vnto him Cornelius verse 4 But when he looked on him he was afraide and saide What is it Lorde and he saide vnto him Thy prayers and thine almes are come vppe into remembraunce before God. verse 5 Nowe therefore send men to Ioppa cal for Simon whose surname is Peter verse 6 He lodgeth with one Simon a Tanner whose house is by the sea side He shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do verse 7 And when the Angell which spake vnto Cornelius was departed hee called two of his seruaÌ„ts a souldiour that feared God one of theÌ„ that waited on him verse 8 And tolde them all things and sent them to Ioppa THis Scripture righte honorable worshipfull dearely beloued in the Lord offereth vnto your consideration generally these thrée pointes firste a descriptioÌ„ of one Cornelius a captain caled froÌ„ Paganisme or Heathenishnes to the true knowledge of Christe secoÌ„dly the Angel his appearaunce and embassage vnto him thirdely his willing and spéedy obedieÌ„ce in performing that whiche the Angell from the Lorde charged him withall Euerye one of these generalles haue springing and growing out of theÌ„ their seuerall and particular braunches The first generall hath these speciall pointes to be noted the firste God his wonderful and mercifull kindnesse in calling the Heathen from error to the truth and his most fearefull but yet righteous iudgemente in casting off for their greate vnthankefulnesse his owne peculiar and chosen people of the Iewes The seconde Cornelius his trade and kinde of of life The thirde his vertue godlinesse The fourth his christian training vp of his familye and householde The fyfth his Almes déedes Prayers The seconde generall hath these speecially First God his calling of Cornelius by the Angell The seconde containeth the feare of Cornelius at the calling of the Angell The third the spéech of the Angel vnto Cornelius which staÌ„deth of two partes the one is a comfort vnto his longing and carefull mynde where he assureth him that his almes prayers are come vppe into remembrance before God The other is an instruction what he ought to do In the thirde generall point are to be considered Firste an euident token of Cornelius his faith Secondlye what profitte he reaped by godly instructing of his housholde Thirdly the religionnesse of the souldiour which he sent with his seruauntes on this message I wil vse no fore-spéech or entraunce garnished and set out with some Rhetoricall florishe to winne at youre handes héedfull harkening vnto that which vpon these places in the fear of God I am to deliuer vnto you or to purchase youre fauourable bearing with my plaine and simple handling of this Texte withoute curious and picked out words termes For the cause being not MaÌ„s but Gods worthelye â—baâ—engeth the greateste attention and as for painted labored and of purpose sought for eloquence I leaue it vnto them that séeke rather the praise of men than the glorie of God knowing that the worde of the Lorde simply and plainly handled is able without the help of the persuading spéeche of mans wisedome to pierce euen to the hart to diuide betwéene the thoughtes and the reines whyche effecte I praye hym for his Christes sake to graunte vnto that whyche in hys name I am to speake The fyrste braunche of the fyrste Generall namelye the callyng of the Gentiles and of casting off the Iewes THe calling of the Gentiles of the which I am to speak somewhat for that oure Cornelius was a Gentile as hereafter shall more at large appeare hath euident and plaine testimonies of holy Scripture in many and sundry places amongest the reste these chieflye He shall speake peace vnto the Heathen and his dominion shall be from sea vnto sea and from the riuer vnto the ende of the lande Againe But in the last dayes it shall come to passe that the mountaine of the house of the Lord shal be prepared in the toppe of the Mountaines and it shall bée exalted aboue the hylles and people shall flowe vnto it yea many nations shal come and say Come and let vs go vp to the mountaine of the Lord and to the house of the God of Iacob and he will teache vs hys wayes and we will walke in his pathes For the lawe shall goe forth of Sion and the worde of the Lord from Ierusalem And he shal iudge among many people and rebuke mighty nations a farre off and they shall breake their swordes into mattockes and their speares into sithes nation shall not lifte vp a sword against nation neyther shall they learne to fight any more But they shall sit euery man vnder his Vine vnder his Fig trée none shall make theÌ„ afraid For the mouth of the Lord of hostes hath spoken it For all people wil walke euery one in the name of his God wée will walke in the name of the Lorde our God for euer and euer Likewise yea al Kings shall worship him and all natioÌ„s shall serue him And againe all nations shall blesse him and be blessed in him Moreouer aske of me and I shall giue thée the heathen for thine inheritaunce and the endes of the earth for thy possession Furthermore in that day shall fiue Citties in the lande of Egipt speake the language of Canaan shal sweare by the Lord of Hostes c. In like maner let the wildernesse and the Cities thereof lift vp their voice the townes that Kedar doth inhabite Let the inhabitaÌ„ts of the rocks sing Let them showte from the toppe of the Mountaines Lette them giue glorie vnto the Lorde and declare his praise in the Ilandes And to this effect in most comfortable sorte is almoste the whole .49 chapter of this Prophesie Héereof also haue we in the Scripture manye figures and examples For what else doeth the clensing of Naaman the Syrian from his leprosie by the Prophete Elizeus signifie but that a time shoulde one daye come when as the heatheÌ„ by faith in the death and bloude of Christe shoulde be purged of the spirituall Leprosie of their soules whiche is sinne What meaneth the sending of Ionas to the great Citie of Niniuie but that God is a God of the Assyrians as well as of the Iewes a Sauiour of the Gentiles as well as of the Israelites What doe we learne by the incredible faith and wonderfull patience of Iob who was a Heathen but that God euen among the HeatheÌ„ hath those that are of hys Churche What that Christe hymselfe concerning the
swallowed vp of feare and horror but that we shold with all méekenesse lowlynesse humility and reuerence cast our selues downe before his maiestie being with al submission readye to do that which he shal thinke beste to enioyne vs For the Lord loketh that those to whom he openeth and sheweth himselfe by his worde shoulde be moued with a reuerent feare at the hearing of the same according as he witnesseth by hys Prophete Isaias Heare the word of the Lord all ye that tremble at his word And againe To him will I loke euen to him that is pore and of a contrite spirite and trembleth at my words But what is the cause beloued that at this day the word of the Lord worketh not in vs this effect of reuerence trembling and feare forsooth bicause we fasten our eyes vpon the person that speaketh with the basenesse of whome we are nothyng moued wheras if we would as indeede we ought consider that it is GOD whiche speaketh vnto vs in the person of man then would be driuen into this sluggishe nature of ours suche a feare and reuerence of the word of God as ought to be in vs which I pray God graunt vnto vs. Thirdly I cannot let passe the answere that Cornelius maketh to the Angel calling him wher he saith what is the Lord Wheras the drossie translation whiche goeth vnder the name of Ierom the cōmon translation is the Pope his owne dearling hath who is it Lord Like as in the first of Samuel and third chapter it hath very falsely rediculously that Heli hys eyes were dimme and coulde not sée the candle of the Lord vntil it was put out And in the .15 of the first to the Corinthes clean contrarie vnto the truth of the Gréek text which sayth we shal not all die but we shall all be changed it sayeth we shal all dye but shall not al be chaunged besides a greate many moe filthy corruptions whyche haue often out of this place bene shewed to be in it that you mighte learne to forsake and leaue it Al whiche errours moste of them shewed them by vs and some of them tolde them by theyr owne men I doe the lesse maruell that they stil retain for as muche as of grosse wilful ignorance in their Latyn portuses in stead of Glorie be to the father and to the sonne and to the holy ghost they sing daylye Glorie be to the father and to the sonne and to the Diuell Spiritui paradyto the wicked and infamous spirite in steade of spiritui paraclêto the spirite which is the comforter For the that there is so much differēce betwéen the two words euery boy of the grammer schole can tel And I woulde fayne learne of some Papist that holdeth that the church of Rome can not erre whether this were an error or no in steade of the holy Ghost to pray to the Diuell And bycause I were loth to sustaine their ill will for reporting this truth of them let it for me rest vpon the backe of him where I haue it whych is Polidor Vergil a man of their own who in hys fifth booke and thirtéenth Chapter of the finders out of things too too pitiously poore soule lamenteth complayneth of their waywardnesse that being tolde of so horrible a faulte will not leaue nor amende it Wherefore leauing hym in his sorrowe and his Popishe Priestes in their frowarde errour I returne to my purpose and note vnto you that al the copies so manye as I euer haue séene or hearde of haue thys reading What is it Lord so that the other Who is it Lorde being such as any that in the Gréeke tongue can set the Nominatiue case and the verbe togither might easily auoyde procéedeth of wilfull ignonoraunce and carelesse negligence and darkeneth also the meaning of the place for whyche cause onely I note it Wheras this reading What is it Lord argueth that Cornelius his minde was touched with a feare as knowing that albeit it were onelye the Angell that spake vnto him yet he had indéede to do with God whose onelye messenger the Angel was Therefore thus saying he sheweth forth a readie and willing minde euen before he knoweth to doe whatsoeuer the Lorde shoulde commaunde hym whereas we after that the Lorde hath commaunded and commaunded againe straine courtesie and take leysure to performe his wil communing with fleshe and bloude whether it be good pollicie or no to doe as the Lord biddeth whether it maye not procure vs peril and trouble But all you that feare the Lord saye with Cornelius What is it Lorde and by thy mercifull assistaunce wée wil performe and doe it There followeth the thirde braunche of this second generall namely the Angells speache vnto Cornelius saying Thy prayers and thine almes are come vp into remembrance before god Now therefore send men to Ioppa and call for Simon whose surname is Peter He lodgeth with one Simon a Tanner whose house is by the Sea side he shal tell thee what thou oughtest to doe These wordes as in the beginning I declared containe both a comforte and a commandement vnto Cornelius which both with their doctrines shal be handled in order firste the comforte bycause it is firste mentioned after this maner Thy prayers and almes are come vp into remembraunce before God. Of these wordes we maye not gather that GOD who séeth all thinges and before whose eies are manifeste those thinges whiche are done in greatest secret doth at any time forget the doings of men but the holye Ghost in this place as in manye other speaketh of God as of a manne for our better vnderstanding And for bicause if God deferre at the firste to graunt our requestes our dul nature conceiueth no better of him thā of a man that is deafe therefore that Cornelius might knowe that his praiers were hearde and hys almes déedes accepted the Angell assureth him that GOD hathe in remembraunce both the one and the other that is that God will reward them with the full lighte and knowledge of his Gospel And so in manye other places doth the worde Remember béeyng spoken of the dealing of God towardes man carrie with it a signification of rewarde So God remembred Noah and the floude ceased he remembred Abraham and deliuered his kinsman Lot out of Sodom he remēbred Rachell and gaue hir children he remembred his promisse and deliuered the children of Israell oute of Egipte So we reade that the thiefe on the Crosse saide vnto Christe Lorde remember me when thou commeste into thy Kingdome and he aunswereth this day shalte thou be with me in Paradise And in the Psalme it is saide He remēbred vs in oure humilitie and then followeth he redeemed vs. And therfore you shall finde that Dauid often prayeth to the LORDE to remember hym In thys place therefore Gods remembraunce of the prayers and almes déeds of Cornelius teacheth him that he will reward them not for their worthinesse but of his mercie
A SERMON Preached at Paules Crosse on Barthelmew day being the 24. of August 1578. Wherin besides many other profitable matters meete for all Christians to follovv is at large prooued that it is the part of all those that are fathers householders and Scholemaisters to instruct all those vnder their gouernement in the vvord and knovvledge of the Lorde By IOHN STOCKVVOOD Scholemaister of Tunbridge Psalme 119. verse 104. By thy precepts I haue gotten vnderstanding therefore I hate all the vvayes of falsehood AT LONDON Imprinted by Henry Bynneman for George Byshop ¶ To the VVorshipfull the Maister the Wardens and Assistantes of the vvorshipfull Companye of Skinners in London IOHN STOCKVVOOD Scholemaister of their free Grammer Schole in Tunbridge wisheth prosperitie in this life and euerlasting felicitie through Christ our Sauioure in the lyfe to come BEeyng my selfe Right vvorshipfull earnestly requested of many that feare GOD and sundry of my friends being laboured by others of the godly to persuade vvith me for the publishing suche doctrine as it pleased God to giue me to vtter at Paules Crosse not long sithence I haue at length yeelded vnto their earnest sute not beeing ignorante hovve manye sharp censures vvill passe vpon this my doing nor yet vvhat diuers iudgements shall be giuē of this my trauell But hovvsoeuer mē iudge or thinke as touching my self I say vvith Paule I passe very little to be iudged of them or of mans iudgement no I iudge not mine ovvn selfe There is a God that iudgeth vvho knovveth my singlenesse in this behalf and that the only marke I shoote at in the putting it to print is his glory and the further profiting of hys Churche and greater edifying of his people for if it pleased him in greate mercie to graunte such successe vnto that vvhyche vvas then spoken by mouth vnto a fevv that they vvere therby instructed to amendmente of life I doubte not but of lyke goodnesse he vvill graunte that the making heereof by vvrighting common vnto manye as it vvill longer and more surely remaine settled in their memories so it vvil also vvorke more frutefully to their putting it in dayly vre and practise And as all the vertues vvhiche are heere sette dovvne to be in Cornelius are suche as ought of euery good Christiā to be follovved so the godly bringing vp of all his family in the feare of the Lorde being on our parts after his example faithfully performed the Lord vvil in like sort blesse this needefull trauell in vs as he did in him Wherfore I am humbly in Christes name to request all your Worships vvith the rest of Cornelius his vertues chiefly to bee carefull to practise this of trayning vp your children and families in the word knovvledge of the Lorde and so shall you haue them godly obediēt gentle trustie and faithfull like as othervvise you vvil find them vvicked vnruly stubborne pickers and stealers vntrue and vnfaithfull Novv concerning my purpose of offering this my simple labour and trauaile such as it is vnto youre vvorships fauourable acceptation there bee many causes and reasons mouing me therevnto but chiefely that this vvay I might leaue vnto the vvorlde a testimonie of a dutifull and thankefull mind for your good vvilles tovvards me in placing me Scholemaister of your free Schole of Tūbridge honorably foūded by that vvorthy Knight Sir Andrevve Iud sometime Lord Maior of youre famous Citie of London and vvorshipfullye and liberally to youre great costes and charges mainteyned against the bad attemptes of those that vvente about to haue made it their ovvn priuate possession vvhiche facte of him the honorable founder and you the vvorthye mainteyners defenders I trust the L. vvill vse as good examples to moue others to do the like for the training vp of youth in the feare of God vvhich dutie I beseech him to grant me faithfully to performe tovvardes youre Schollers vnder my charge to his glory your ioy and cōforte and the benefite of his Church in time to come and that finally according to his good pleasure he vvould long blesse and prosper youre Worships to the maintenance of all good learning godlines Fare you vvel From your free Schole at Tunbridge this .4 of Septem 1578. Your VVorships most humble in the Lord to be commaunded Iohn Stockwood ¶ An Admonition to the godly and gentle Reader THE earnest sute and often calling vpon of certain godly brethren most gentle and friendlye Reader hathe at the length won at my hāds the publishing of this Sermon in print concerning the which I am thus much briefly to admonish thee namely that albeit there be more here set down than in deede was vttered at the Crosse yet was the whole ment there to haue bin spokē had not time cut off so much of it as was hādled at another place in the afternoon Hauing therfore the testimonie of a good conscienc e that herein is nothing auouched which may not well by the word be warranted I haue thoughte good to set downe the whole and the rather for that bothe the seconde and thirde partes as well as the firste whiche onely was entreated at the Crosse containe profitable admonitiō for these our times at the whiche although the euill disposed may quarrell and the wicked being galled winche and kicke for I haue not learned to sowe soft pillows vnder their elbows to lull them asleepe in their sinne yet those that are wel giuen and godly minded may I doubt not learne many lessons whiche being putte in practise will tourne to their profite and amendment of liuing As for those that are offended if there be anye suche the cause is not in mee but in themselues whiche if they can see as I praye GOD hartily they maye I hope they wil be careful to reforme such things in themselues as they are here blamed for and their own consciences crieth out vnto them to bee amisse Nay there is no estate or condition of men no not of the verye beste and moste godly but that Cornelius may be a glasse vnto them in which they maye see moste clearely represented such vertues as oughte to bee in a true Christian the wante whereof as it is in a greate manye yea earneste professoures to bee founde so I praye GOD that after the diligent viewe of them in thys glasse howe comelye they are in a true Christian and howe well they doe beseeme a righte godlye man they maye with speede be carefull to expresse them in a godly life and holy conuersation Farewel and make thine earnest and harty prayers vnto GOD to blesse his Churche wyth a riche store of faithful teachers and a moste plentifull encrease of godly learned and diligent Ministers that may open vnto his people the true meaning and vnderstanding of hys holy and heauenly worde and that the people may liue there vnto accordingly for his Christes sake Thy poore brother in Christ IOHN STOCKVVOOD ¶ A Sermon preached at Paules Crosse the .24 of August
moe yeares enioy it we haue hadde and at this present haue manye Godly zealous and learned Preachers the Lorde for his Christes sake dayly increase the number of them whiche lay before vs out of the worde God hys greate blessings bestowed vppon vs and oure greate vnthankefulnesse for them And you héere in London out of thys place and others eeuery foote are admonished and put in mynde of youre duties but both we of the Countrey and you of the Citie for the most parte contemne it We are lyke vnto the children of Israell we are wéerie of the Heauenly Manna the worde â—f life the foode of our soules for the â—bteyning whereof whych wée so scorneâ—ully despise manye of oure poore bréeâ—hren in other Countreys hazzarde both â—yfe and goodes What remayneth therfore but that GOD if we doe not â—péedyly repente shewe tokens of hys wrath vppon vs as he did vppon the Iewes And you héere of London haue good experience of that whyche a little before I spake namely that as GOD commonlye more plentifullye blesseth the greater Cities so for theyr contempte they haue more plentifull tast of hys plagues before other places For tâ—ll mée I pray you what contagious sicknesse or daungerous disease is there but for the most parte you haue the firste and the greatest visitation with it And doe you thynke that we of the Countrey scape scotfrée yet for al this what is oure behauioure towardes the worde of eternall lyfe Wyll not a fylthye playe wyth the blast of a Trumpette sooner call thyther a thousande than an houres tolling of a Bell bring to the Sermon a hundred nay euen héere in the Citie without it be at this place and some other certaine ordinarie audience where shall you finde a reasonable company whereas if you reforte to the Theatre the Curtayne and other places of Playes in the Citie you shall on the Lords day haue these places with many other that I can not recken so full as possible they can throng besides a greate number of other lettes to pull from the hearing of the worde of whiche I will speake héereafter And do you thinke that so long as these enormities are suffered the plague and such other like infectious sicknesses which in the .28 of Deuteronomie the Lorde threateneth to sende as scourges for the contempt of his worde shall ceasse and diminishe amongst you nay they be meanes for them to rage more fiercely and to cause God to sende new plagues among them for as we are wittie to committe newe sinnes so the Lord dayly prepareth new punishments to correct vs withall in so muche that he â—isiteth our newe sinnes with such newe and strange diseases as the names are vnknowen vnto vs and neuer hearde of of our forefathers yea our best Phisitions know not which way to turne theyr hands to heale them I can not but commend the laudable policie and diligente endeuour of the righte Honourable my Lorde Maior and the worshipful Aldermen his brethren for the preuenting of infection by commaundyng mens houses to be kept swéete and the streates cleane with other such like wayes But beleue me deare brethren the plague can not be carried away in a dung curte What auaileth it to haue swéete houses and stinking Soules pleasant smelling chaÌ„bers and grieuous sauoring mindes cleane fayre streates and foule and filthy hearts and consciences As I do not dislike these outward clensings so I beséeche you let euery one of vs labor for the inward purging and scouring of our Soules hauing â—he worde let vs frame our liues accorâ—ing to the word let our godly liuing be a â—estimonie of our profitable vnderstanding let vs as we be talkers so likewise be walkers as we be professours practisers as speakers doers as sayers followers and then shal our godly liuing with our right vnderstanding our christiaÌ„ walking with our vertuous talking our sober practising with our honest professing our doyng with our saying oure following with our speaking strike vppe such a pleasant harmonie and ioyfull melodye in the eares of our GOD as hée wyll bryng vppon vs in greate mercye all those blessings whiche in the forenamed 28. of Deutronomie he promiseth to those that heare and also doe all that whiche hée commaundeth whereas otherwise if we shal stil with these Iewes continue contemners of his worde we shall heare with them to our great paine and miserie Beholde yee despisers and wonder and vanishe away For I worke a worke in your dayes a worke whiche yee shall not beleeue if a man would declare it you The Lord I say for our coÌ„tempte will take his worde from vs aâ— he did from the Israelits and bestowe it on suche as will both make more accompte of it and also be more thankefull for it which by this that hath fallen out to the Iewes the LORDE for his Christes sake make vs to be We haue secondlye to learne out of thys reiection of the Iewes being as you haue heard vnited vnto GOD in suche speciall sorte as hee neuer dealte so with anye nation that GOD is not tyed to anye place or person albeit they bragge neuer so muche of antiquitie succession vnitie vniuersalitie or what other glorious or gorgious shewe soeuer they pretende but that when they scornefullye caste hym off he â—ustlye forsaketh them Let vs not thereâ—ore be deluded wyth vayne titles nor â—orne out with greate wordes It is not â—erusalem Alexandria Constantinople â—or Rome that GOD is bounde vnâ—o Let the proude Prelate of the seaâ—en hilled Citie with his purple Carâ—nalles and horned Byshoppes and the whole route of his shorne and greasie rabble come forth and shewe me if they can for their lyues the like causes that these Iewes had to glorie off and yet had they all them and many moe the greater shoulde be their punishmente in abusing them as they haue done Hath not the Pope with his adhereÌ„ts as much boasted of his gaye titles as euer these Iewes did and as proudely disdayned the true professours as euer they did the GeÌ„tiles was it not a receiued opinion within these fewe yeres that out of the church of Rome there was no saluation like as the Iewes thought the GeÌ„tiles to be altogither strangers from the promise Are not these their common out cries the Churche the Churche the Churche our most holy father most reuerende father most godly father most learned Doctors most christian Doctors most light Doctors moste lighthened I woulde saye most Seraphicall Doctours and againste vs Lollardes Heretickes Schismatickes Hugonots Lutherans Zuinglians Caluinistes Sacramentaries and what not haue they not as despightfully and cruellye handled vs as euer the Iewes did the Prophets of the Lorde yea haue they not gone beyonde them in forbiddyng vs the readyng of the bookes of our GOD and for the same burned vs and the worde of oure GOD too The Lorde therefore in great iustice hath reiected them for all their vaine bostings like as he did the Iewes
and hathe broken the yoake of their Tyrannie from this and manye other nations his name be praysed for it and in the ende with the breath of his mouth wil vtterly confounde them As you haue séene in these Iewes a fearefull example of God his wonderfull iustice in casting them off for their offences so in receyuing of the Gentiles you haue to consider a notable proofe and experience of hys surpassing loue and vnspeakeable mercie For what was there in the Gentiles ouerwhelmed with errour blynded wyth ignoraunce prone to all kinde of superstition and straunge Idolatries ouertaken with all sortes of filthynesse and moste horrible and outragious wickednesse that mighte procure hym to fauour them or to shewe hymselfe so bountious a father vnto them Of hys loue therefore of his loue and moste frée fauour was it that he vouchsaued to call them out of this greate darkenesse vnto so maruellous light and knowledge of his truth in his sonne Christ Iesus our moste louing God and mercifull Sauiour There is not therefore anye cause of boasting of our selues or of any thing in our selues for that we are nothing else indéede but a huge masse and heauy lumpe of sinne Let vs therefore ascribe all the whole glorie of our callyng vnto God that mercifullye hath called vs from errour vnto trueth from darkenesse to lighte from wickednesse to holynesse from condemnation to saluation froÌ„ death to life yea froÌ„ Hel to Heauen for vnto all these and a greate manye moe enormities are we by nature enthralled Let vs therefore enter the déeper into a true consyderation of our selues and into a thorough examination of our owne soules and consciences and then finding in our selues what indéede wée be of our selues we shall learne to set lesse by our painted sheathes and to make better accoumptes of GOD hys infinite and endlesse mercie who hath thoughte good to place vs in the roome of his owne peculiar and chosen people Agayne we sée in the consideration of the manner of GOD his calling vs of the Gentiles to the knowledge of hys Christ not requiring at our handes that we shoulde be circumcised or otherwise tyed to the obseruation of the ceremonies of Moses lawe but onely that we shoulde repente and beléeue the Gospel we sée I say euidentlye hereby that we are not saued by the Lawe nor yet by the workes of the Lawe but onlye by fayth in Christe accordyng as it is written The iuste manne shall â—iue by fayth And againe By the workes of the law no flesh can be saued or iustified by how muche the more so often as I thinke on it and truely I doe manye times thinke on it I doe greately maruayle what madnesse hath ouertaken our Arch-Papistes to besotte themselues and others with a vaine and wicked perswasion of their owne righteousnesse and an arrogante trusting to scale the highe forte of heauen by the broken and rotten ladder of man hys merytes and the corrupte workes and inuentions of their owne idle fancies For if Christe and hys Apostles neuer charged anye with the obseruations of the Mosaicall Lawe as a thing necessarye to saluation and that as appeareth in the wrytings of the Apostles it hath alwayes béene accounted an infallible note of false Apostles to pleade workes and that of GOD hys owne Law in the matter of iustification let then this second note drawn from the manner of God hys callyng of the Gentiles without inioyning them the obseruations of hys owne lawe bée sufficient in a worde to touch the shamelesse boldnesse of the Catolikes that dare shuffle in drosse trumperie of their own forging to claime righteousnes withal that I stand no longer to coÌ„uince those as iniurious to the death and bloudsheading of Christe Iesus who teache that they haue workes sufficient not only to purchase Heauen for themselues but also a surplus and ouerflow to help others withall that will pay swéetely for them in as muche as their owne conscience euery nighte when they goe to bed maye teache them if they truely examine it that of themselues they are not able to thinke so much as one good thought and therefore muste néedes ascribe saluation to the only and alone frée mercie of God in Christe laide holde on by the sure and strong hand of a constant faith workes being no maner of cause thereof at all the whiche Fryer Ferus a man of theyr owne writing vpon this tenth Chapiter of the Actes in moste plaine words doth confesse saying For so in that firste and moste great calling of the Gentiles they oughte to haue beene made equall with the Iewes without all manner of helpe of the Lawe that it mighte be now manifestly knowne that righteousnes commeth of the onely grace and election of God and not of workes than the which what can be spoken more truely more agréeable to the truth The Lord if it be his wil open their eies that in this and all other pointes they maye bowe and yéelde vnto the trueth Thus muche of the reiection of the Iewes and calling of the Gentiles by occasion of GOD his calling Cornelius being a Gentile to the knowledge of his trueth In the seconde braunche of this firste general commeth to be considered Cornelius hys profession and trade of life whiche oure present texte sayeth to bée a Capitaine of the Italian bande at Cesarea for it was an vsuall thing among the Romanes to place in the gret towns or Citties that they wonne garrisons of armed men and souldiours as well to defende them agaynste the inuasions of the Parthians whome besides manye other ennimyes they were often and verye daungerouslye encombred wythall as also to wythstande and kéepe vnder rebellion and tumultuous vproares of the Iewes if at anye tyme they shoulde attempte an insurrection and further that if néede shoulde requyre they mighte vppon shorte warning oute of these garrisons placed in euerye Towne and Cittie gather a iuste and ful army being assaulted to defend themselues These bands consisted some of more and some of fewer Souldioures some footemenne and some horsemenne The fyrste or chiefe bande contayned commonlye a thousande footemenne ouer whych was a Generall and euerye Centurye or hundreth hadde besides hys seuerall Capitayne whyche of the number of Souldiours vnder his conducte was commonlye called a Centurion or Capitayne ouer an hundreth menne Such a one was oure Cornelius who in that he is termed to be Ruler of the Italian bande we maye gather that he was bothe an Italian himself and also in good estimation with the Emperoure For as the Romaynes g thered their garrisons out of sundrye Countrie men of the whyche also they had their names like as this consisting of Italians is thereof called the Italian band so likewise did they make greatest accompts reposed most confidence in the garrisons of their own countreymen out of which also for the most part there were chosen Captaines suche as best liked the Emperoure It is I saye therefore verye
that I put you in minde to leaue it leaste the Lorde doe plague you It is set downe by the Prophet for one of the causes of the children of Israels being led into captiuity for that they kepte not the Lords Sabboth and what became of him that gathered sticks on that day I doubt not but you will remember we notwithstanding on the Lordes daye muste haue Fayers kept must haue Beare baytyng Bulbayting as if it wer a thing of necessity for the Beares of Paris gardē to be bayted on the Sunnedaye muste haue baudie Enterludes siluer games dicing carding tabling dauncing drinking and what I praye you is the penaltie of the offenders herein forsooth a flap wyth a Foxe tayle as if our Sauiour Christe had commen for his day to set vs at lybertie to doe what we liste And truely a lamentable thing it is to tell but a great deale more lamentable that it is not punished I dare boldelye stande to auouche it that there is no daye in the wéeke wherin God is so much dishonoured as on that daye when he shoulde bée best serued And muste we for these abuses thinke at the Lordes hand to scape vncorrected What shoulde I speake of beastly drunkennesse whiche so far as I can learne hath no punishmente at all What of whordome by the lawe of the moste vprighte lawe-maker that euer was being made a Capitall sinne and whyche the Euangelist Luke in the parable of the séed termeth a thorn shal we thinke that a thorne will be killed wyth spreading a white shéete ouer it when it rather craueth an axe So to think to restrain it is as endlesse and fonde a worke as to go aboute to hewe downe a greate thorne with a bull-rushe the Lord if it be his good pleasure graunte vs a sharper toole to cut both it and other stinckyng wéedes downe with all for I assure you if these vices be thus styll eyther not at all punished or else so slightly punished the Lorde will more sharpely punishe vs eyther in suche sorte as I haue shewed you he did these Iewes or in some other more grieuous as he wanteth not infinite meanes vnknowen vnto vs to punishe the contempte of his word from whēce these vices spring the which I pray God the chastisemente of these Iewes maye cause vs to shunne For the thirde braunche of my firste parte is set down that Cornelius was a Godly or a religious and deuoute man and one that feared God wher commeth to be handled Cornelius his Godlinesse and vertue The worde which is commōly translated a deuoute and a religious man and here attributed to Cornelius doth properly signifie one that doth truely and in suche sorte as he ought to doe worshippeth GOD a righte and a true worshipper of God whereby we learne that Cornelius had nowe forsaken and giuen ouer his olde Heathenish religion in whiche his father and fathers fathers in many generations had long cōtinued worshipping those for Goddes whome it pleased men so to account For the case so stoode concerning religion with the Romaines then as it did with vs in the late dayes of Poperie in which none myghte be taken for a Saincte but suche as the Pope his holynesse had Canonized for a Saint For Tertullian in his booke called an Apologie or defence againste the Gentiles Page 186. and 587. as is printed at Paris by Paruus doth shewe that it was a decrée amōgst the Romanes that none shoulde be made a God by the Emperour vnlesse he were first allowed of the Senate in so much that when Tiberius Cesar hauing hearde of the myracles of Christe woulde by prerogatiue of his Emperourshippe haue made him a God the Senate woulde none of hym bycause they had not allowed him The worlde was then growen to a trimme passe that man must forsooth be good vnto god For vnlesse God pleases man he shall be no God as Tertullian in the same place speaketh By this appeareth howe daungerous it was for Cornelius a publike magistrate to embrace Christ his religion whome the Romayne Senate so scornefully disdayned And what crueltye they vsed towardes the Christians the stories of the age do sufficiently witnesse whiche shewe that the christians were smered ouer with pitch and Rosen aliue and set on fire with torches to light their cruell Persecuters home from their banckquets in the night But it was no doubt the mightie operation of God his holy spirite that had armed him against all encombraunces that might fall vpon him who no doubt had prepared himself against displeasure losse of his office and captaineship and also losse of life too the leaste of whiche mighte otherwise haue discouraged him who amongst the Iewes also coulde sée nothing that might harte him on but rather pull him backe séeing amongst them so manifolde corruptions passing ignoraunce of the law of God a small and slender knowledge whereof was rare to be founde euen in the thousandth man of them in so much that some thinke and that very godlye that it came to passe by the special and singular prouidence of God that Cornelius mette with some zealous and learned Iewe that instructed him in the true knowledge and vnderstanding of the lawe by meanes whereof he so muche profited in religion and feare of the Lorde 1 We learne firste out of this thirde branch in that Cornelius leaueth his old heathenish religion and Idolatrie which his forefathers folowed that we must not be away from the truth neyther with multitude nor prescription of time It is a cōmon argumēnt now adays what are you better than your forefathers did not they go to masse worship Images runne on Pilgrimage fall downe before the holye sacrament of the Alter and to be shorte obserue all order of holy Church Why shoulde you therefore be so singular are you wiser or better learned than they Al these I saye and what soeuer else maye be alleaged to like purpose doeth the example of Cornelius confute who for the maintenaunce of his olde Paganisme might very wel haue recited the examples of his forefathers the long auncient continuaunce of the heathenishe religion by thousandes of yeares more aunciente than it of the Popes in comparison of his being as it were but an infant of a dayes olde Let vs therefore after his example in matters of religion set aside the practise of our forefathers and let our olde auncient customes vaile their bonnet to the worde of the Lorde For so are we directly in hys holy worde commaunded Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do euill And againe walke ye not in the ordinances of your fathers neyther obserue their maners nor defile your selues with their Idols I am the Lorde your God Walke in my statutes kepe my iudgements and do them c. Oh that our Papistes had eyes to sée this and heartes to beleeue it with earnest mindes also to followe it then woulde they not be so blinded with these
ouer vs will disappoint them of their purpose as hytherto he hath done and cause that before they haue their chaunge they themselues shall first make a change of life with death by one meanes or other In the mean season the Lorde graunt hir fewe of these doubtfull Spongiaes and great store of CorneliaÌ„s such as do boldlye but yet truely religiouslye and deuoutely serue and feare the Lorde For in those doth consiste hir suâ—este safetie and those when so euer she shall haue néede shée shall finde hir trustiest friendes For those that truelye worship God and embrace his religion will no doubte most faithfully serue and obey hir But were it so with vs as it is with manye of our brethren in other Countryes that we coulde not serue GOD truely without the daunger of our liues yet Cornelius who was in the like daunger telleth vs what to doe and so doeth also Daniel wyth Sydrach Misach and Abednago of the whiche he chose rather to be caste into the Lyons denne than he woulde make prayer to anye other than the true God and they thoughte it better to be thrown into the hote burning ouen than to worship the golden image of Nabuchaâ—nezer For this saying of Christ shal staÌ„d to the ende of the world true He that is ashamed to acknowledge me before meÌ„ I wil bee also ashamed to acknowledge him before my father in the kingdome of heauen But the case is nothing so wyth vs as it was with Cornelius We maye professe religion in safetie he coulde not without daunger we enioy the worde in peace he with persecution we with the liking of oure Prince haue the libertie of our conscience he could not serue God without the displeasure of the Emperor we néede not to feare the losse of life nor goodes he stoode in great hazarde of them bothe and yet in this greate peace prosperitie quiet safetie and libertie we stand vpon such a nice and tender point of sauing honour estimation credite fauour loue and liking that rare is that man that will venter to open his mouth for the furtheraunce of the building of Gods Churche or speake for the preferring of good and godly causes wheras in our own causes if it be for a licence that may tend to oure owne commoditie or that may enrich our owne coffers albeit to the great hindraunce of many others Lorde how will we labour toile trauel go run ride speake sue and sue againe till we haue obtained it which argueth in vs great want of zeale for the glorie of God which he for his Christes sake stirre vppe and kindle in vs We are far vnlike the good Christian Capitaine Terenti who returning with a ioyfull victorie ouer his Princes enimies Valens the Emperour badde aske what benefite he woulde at his hande for his good seruice and he shoulde haue it who hauing before his eies the furtherance of Gods glorie rather thaÌ„ the séeking of his own profite requested that the Christians which had ventured their liues in Gods cause might haue a Churche erected to serue God in aparte from the Arrian Heretikes The Emperour being much moued at this request in greate anger tore his supplication in péeces and threw it on the grounde bidding him aske some other thing that might be for his preferment but he with a heauie countenance gathering vp the péeces of his supplicatioÌ„ aunswered I haue my rewarde I will aske nothing else This was indéede a right Cornelius a deuout maÌ„ one that feared god O that al Princes had store of such Terenties aboute them that did make greter estéem of Gods glorie thaÌ„ accompts of their own gaine and commoditie so shoulde true religion more freshly florishe than in manye places it doth the moste parte being busied about their owne profite whilest it being neglected falleth miserably to decaye and ruine the Lorde for his mercies sake amende it As you haue hitherto hearde of such vertues in Cornelius as did testifie hys inwarde sinceritie towardes God namely his religiousnesse and feare of God so hereafter I wil make plaine vnto you suche outwarde exercises of his as are sufficiet testimonies of his inward godlinesse amongest the which is firste hys godly bringing vp of all his familie béeing the fourth circumstaunce of my first generall point and is contained in these words He feared God with all his housholde whiche coulde not be small he béeyng a Magistrate and Capitayne of suche countenance as you haue heard and therefore his diligence and paines no doubte was excéedyng great which hée tooke in instructing suche a number in the feare and knowledge of the Lorde wherein the holy Ghoste witnessing that they all profyted it appeareth euidently that God did wonderfuly blesse his godlye endeuour and faythfull trauaile by whiche it came to passe that to his great ioy and comforte no doubt he had now a Church in his owne house as euery true worshipper of God in hys feare shoulde labour to haue Thus you sée that Cornelius thought if not inough to be godly himself vnlesse he had his housholde godlye to he was not content himselfe alone to serue God but woulde haue his familie also to doe the like he iudged it his duty as he himselfe was religious so to make holy vnto God all those which were his he would not his selfe alone walke in the wayes of the Lorde and suffer his seruants belonging to his charge to doe what they liste to runne as they say at randone to be at their owne libertie and to liue as strangers from God but would make them partakers of that knowledge whiche he himselfe had learned whiche as it was a matter of greate paine so was it also of no mall daunger the religion of the Iewes being then in a manner vniuersally hated and disdained yea and that whiche more is of the proude and scornefull Romaynes cruellye persecuted But Cornelius was not ignoraÌ„t that it was farre better to please God than men and that the ignorance of his familie shold be laid to his charge if through his negligence and slouthfulnesse to instruct them they ran into his ignorance Therefore not weighing the scorne nor persecution of meÌ„ he walketh vprightly in the dischardge of his duetie and faithfully and painefullye teacheth his whole familie to serue and feare the LORD and in the end reapeth the fruite of hys labours namelye the profiting of hys whole housholde in the true feare of the Lorde GOD bounteously blessing his godlye care and Christian trauell We be taught hereby that it is not ynoughe for euerye man to be deuoute and religious and to feare God himselfe vnlesse he also faithfully and diligently laboure to make all his housholde and familie godly and religious to which cannot bee done without muche paine and trauel in diligent instructing them in the word of the Lorde and in the principles of Christian religion whiche duetie as it oughte of all housholders without anye exception be performed so is it almost
priuate Popishe teachers to be sought after and sifted as wel to staye the present mischiefe as also to méete with before hande the hurte that may by suffering them grow hereafter And to ende this matter in whiche albeit I haue in long I hope the necessitie and profite of it shall easily with the godlye procure my pardon I likewise hartily desire all teachers of youth not to suffer themselues to be founde lesse diligent in a good cause than the Papistes in a badde not to be lesse carefull to instructe their children in the feare of the Lorde than the Papistes are to traine vp theirs in Poperie not to be lesse mindeful to teache their schollers the true religion than the Papistes to learne theirs the false As for the rest of you beloued that are here present if any of you with CorneÌ„lius haue laboured all his familie to feare the Lorde you haue like obedient children béene carefull to performe that duetie whiche GOD hathe layde vppon you and so in the Lordes name I exhorte you to go forwarde and those of you that hitherto for want of knowledge haue omitted this duetie of instructing your families with Cornelius in the feare of the Lord nowe that it hathe béene euidentlye proued vnto you to be youre charge no person of what calling soeuer to be excepted adde not I beséeche you to youre knowledge contempte but diligent and spéedie practise and putting it in vre For it is a fearefull thing to fall into the handes of the Lorde Take encouragement by the example of Cornelius goe aboute it in the feare of GOD and earnest calling on his name so shall you haue to youre greate reioycing euerye man in his owne house a godlye Churche and with lesse disquieting of your selues with chiding and fighting you shall haue those vnder youre seuerall chardges in singlenesse of conscience to performe suche dueties towards you as in the feare of God to you they doe owe the which for his sonnes sake I beséeche him to graunte In the fifth braunche of this firste generall containing a descriptioÌ„ of Cornelius and his qualities I haue to speak of his Almes déedes and Prayer and fyrste of his Almes bicause that is first mentioned in my Texte As before wée haue séene by Cornelius religiousnesse feare of God and vertuous instructing his familie his faith towards God so nowe by hys almes appeareth that he bare a godlye and pittifull affection towardes men in relieuing euerye manne as his necessitie séemed moste to require For where it is saide that he gaue to all the people this All is to be restrained to all the poore among the people for it hadde béene no almes to haue giuen to the riche who had ynough alreadie Iohn the Baptiste taughte the souldioures that asked of him their duetie Thâ—t they shoulde strike nor accuse no man wrongfully but be contente wyth their owne wages Cornelius hath plaied the good scholler he hath not only perfectly learned that lesson but hath also taken forth an other learning besids being coÌ„tented with his owne stipend out of the same in loue and of a felowe féeling of the miseries of his poore brethren to contribute vnto their necessities for it cannot be chosen but in whome soeuer there is true Religion and the feare of God in the same also there muste néedes be loue a brotherly compassioÌ„ not only to pitie but also to helpe the wants of those that stande in néede so farre forth as by the portion of good the whiche the Lorde hathe blessed vs withall he hath enabled vs And that out of this loue this â—elow féeling this compassion this pitie did issue in Cornelius his charitable relieuing of the poore the very word it selfe whyche Luke doeth here vse for almes doth planely shewe For it properly signifieth Mercie whiche is an inwarde affection and touching of the hearte rising of the viewe of an other mans miserie and is here put figuratiuely for all outwarde dueties of Charitie whereby we doe good vnto suche as are in pouertie necessitie Wherefore in as muche as Cornelius is here said to haue bestowed much almes amongst all the people it is euident that there was in him a righte Christian hearte and bowels of mercie whiche didde yerne and as it were melt at the calamities of his brethren which did consider the band of vnitie which ought to be betwéene members of all one heade Christ Iesus who in this respect did féede foster and cherishe prouide and care for them as béeing of his own flesh and had regarde to helpe them as the very members of his owne body There is therefore no question but that Cornelius liberalitie and bounteousnesse springing oute of this fountaine of brotherly compassion was no fained counterfaite nor forged but true right and perfecte beneficence almes and liberalitie Wée learne firste out of this great almes of Cornelius that it is not sufficient to haue the name of Faith to be religious to feare God vnlesse also thys faith doe fructifie and bring forth good fruites according to that whyche Iames writeth What auaileth it my brethren thoughe a man saith he hath faith when he hath no workes can the faith saue him And againe But wilte thou vnderstande O thou vaine man that the faith which is without workes is deade And marke withall I beséeche you the manner of his speache for it maketh being rightly vnderstoode verye muche againste the Popishe Iusticiaries of oure time whiche teache oute of hym that manne is iustified by his workes whiche wordes in déede he vseth he doth not saye What if a man haue faith but what if a man say he haue faith by whiche appeareth that he speaketh of hipocrites and vaine boasters of faith For the true and liuely faith can be no more without workes than the fire withoute heate than water without moisture the Sunne without brightnesse the good trée without his good fruite And where hée sayeth that Abraham with Rahab were iustified by their workes he meaneth that their outward workes before men were testimonies of their inwarde faith before God and not that their workes were the causes of their saluation for so shoulde he be against all the Scriptures whiche teache that Faith onely doth iustifie and so likewise we shoulde make the holye Ghoste contrarye to himselfe whiche were verye wicked so muche as to thinke muche more to speake Wée therefore teache out of this example of Cornelius good déedes and suche other lyke vertuous actions of godlye men togyther with the aucthoritie of the holye Scripture that it is the parte of a Christian to doe good workes yea that whosoeuer he be that doeth no good workes he is indéede no more a true Christian than a deade carcasse a liuing man. Wherefore the Papistes doe vs greate iniurie in filling the eares of the simple and ignorant people that our doctrine is a doctrine of libertie that we teache men to liue looselie and lewdely that we are enimies vnto
good works whereas in very déede we doe the flatte contrarie We will menne to beware that they vse not the libertie of the Gospell for a cloake of maliciousnesse wée teache them to serue the Lorde in feare in holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of their life We will men to let their light so shine before men that they séeing their good workes maye glorifie oure heauenlye father whiche is in heauen But herein lyeth the difference betwéene them and vs we teache that Works come after Fayth they that they go before Faith wée that they folow him that is alreadye iustified they that they goe before him that is to be iustified wée that they are the fruites of faith they that they be the trée out of whyche Faith buddeth we that faith is the cause of workes they that workes are the cause of Faith. And with as muche truth maye they teache that lighte is cause of the Sunne that heate is the cause of fire that moisture is the cause of water To be shorte we teache that the worde of the Lorde only is the measure by whiche oure workes are to be moten they that the wil of manne and good intent But howsoeuer they teache or whatsoeuer they saye thus sayeth the Scripture and thus teacheth the worde of God without Faith it is impossible to please God. Whereof I conclude that as after the example of Cornelius a Christian muste doe good workes so must he haue Faith before or else howe glorious soeuer they séeme in the sighte of man before the Lorde they stincke and are abhominable And therefore is it also in this place verye well saide of Cornelius firste that he was a religious man and one that feared GOD and secondly that he gaue muche almes to all the people Thus you sée that in hym went firste faith religion and the feare of God and then that these were not ydle his good workes and déedes doe declare And thus lette Papistes saye what they liste wée teache that in Christians it oughte to be and with their owne eies in a greate manye they may sée it for to be and God graunte that in all those that doe professe hys name and religion it maye be I meane that all suche as doe in worde confesse Christe Iesus to be the Lorde maye in déede with Cornelius so godlye walke that by their liuing before the worlde they maye be taken for Christians Secondlye we haue here a rule gyuen vs howe to examine and trie that whiche we giue to the poore whether it he almes or no. For to haue that whiche is giuen so to be doth not consiste in the greatnesse of that whiche is bestowed but in the minde and disposition of the giuer for who commonly are so liberall or rather in very déede prodigall and lauishe as are hipocrites that in giuing gréedily hawk and hunt after the praise commendation of men and therefore as Christe sayeth blow a Trumpet before their almes but they haue their reward neyther shall the greate sums that they distribute and bestowe euer come into this reckning before the Lord that he wil accept and take it for almes that is for such a worke as doth please him bicause it is not done in such sort as he commandeth That therefore whiche we giue shal then goe before the Lord for almes if it be as the holy ghost here speaketh of Cornelius his liberalitie mercie that is to say if it procéede of loue and of a brotherlye pitying the miserie of him which is in néede as reckening him to be one of our own flesh and so in regarde of this neare bande and coniunction which God hath made betwéen vs we do as it wer out of the vowels of mercie and compassion liberallie powre oute vppon hym as one of our own members for the reliefe of his necessitie according to the measure whiche God hathe blessed vs withal For as Paule speaketh Though I feed the poore with all my goods and haue not loue it profiteth mee nothing And the Lord by his Prophet Isay commaundeth vs that we hide not oure face from our owne fleshe So you sée that if our giuing issue out of any other heads than out of loue and a fellowe féeling of the wantes of oure néedie brethren in that they be oure very owne fleshe it is as nothing before GOD. Whereof I conclude that all the large giuings of the Papists of whiche at this daye many make so greate bragges bycause they be not done in a reuerent regarde of the commaundement of the Lorde in Loue and of an inwarde being touched with the calamities of the néedie but for to be well reported of before men whilest they are aliue and to be praied for after they are dead and by the meanes of thē to be deliuered from the paines of Purgatorie so to win Heauen are indéede no almes but Pharisaicall trūpets to win a brittle blast of glorie at the hāds of men They haue therefore as Christe sayeth their rewarde that is to say the thing they soughte for to wit the praise and commendation of mē as for reward at Gods handes they neither haue nor euer shall haue vnlesse in doing theyr almes they sette before them a reuerent regarde of the Lords commaundement and in loue and mercie frame thēselues to helpe their néedie brother Wherefore deare Christians I directe my speeche vnto you whome GOD in great mercie hathe blessed with plentifull increase of the riches of this worlde whereas hée coulde haue made you inferioure to the meanest Lette Cornelius his example who gaue much almes to al the people moue you to be liberall to help the poore as he by giuing franckly to the people of the Iews being none of his natiō did therby testifie his consēt to their religion so by your giuing vnto the godly brethrē and to poore Schollers that stande in néede giue out testimonie that you all hope for one saluation in Christe for whose sake you shewe this mercie in relieuing his and youre members Giue not as Hipocrites and Papistes for praise or for to merite thereby Heauen But let that whiche you doe be done in loue and in mercie and so will it be a swéete smelling sacrifice in the sighte of the almightie And truly it cannot be chosen but if you putte vppon you loue with the tender bowels of pitie and compassion you will be riche in good workes and plentifull in giuing vnto the poore For where there is no giuing there is no loue and little giuing sheweth little pitie whereas greate loue much mercie in such as GOD hathe enriched with abilitie bringeth forth greate giuing and muche almes Deceiue not therefore youre selues with a vaine perswasion of Loue when ye will departe with nothing For loue alwayes bursteth forth into helying the thing that it loueth insomuche that a man will not suffer hys verye dogge to lacke if he loue hym muche lesse his Christian and godlye brother neither
farre ouer vnto the subieâ—ion of others that they were nowe not â—â—ely vnder the rule of Presidentes and â—eputies but also hadde in al their Ciâ—es bandes garrisons of forreÌ„ souldiâ—rs amongest the which albeit some â—nes they mette with some one suche as â—is oure Cornelius which was a thing â—oste seldome yet the miseries that vnâ—â—â— those other they suffered were wonâ—â—â—full and suche as they can better reâ—eÌ„ber that sometimes haue liued vnder the gripings of the sharpe talants of those eagree and gréedy Hawkes I meane the violence of forraine Souldioures than I am able to expresse and the Lorde if it be his will graunt that we Englishmen haue neuer laste nor experience of the like Lette vs therefore here-out learne tâ— be thankefull vnto God for placing ouer vs in great mercie so godly gratious 〈◊〉 Quéene vnder whose most quiet peaceable gouernment notwithstandyng the wiâ—ked foretellings and lying Prophesies oâ— false â—arted papists of hir maiesties detâ— at the end of this seuen and that seauen besides their malicious practises to accomplishe it for the whiche some of theâ— heades haue bin worthily exalted as â— truste the reste if they maye be knowâ— shall be as they well deserue to be Wâ— haue thus long enioied the cleare shiniâ— lighte of the Gospell and GOD granâ— hir to his good will pleasure many yerâ—â— more to raigne ouer vs stil for the bettâ—â— and more plentifull furtheraunce of tâ— preaching of his worde lette vs I say learne to be thankfull and not giue ocâ—asion throughe oure greate contempte â—nd disobedience and godlesse and farre â—nchristian liuing that God in his great â—rath and hote anger take hir maiesty â—waye from vs and with hir also his â—orde as in oure remembraunce for the â—â—ke sinnes he didde oure vertuous King Edward hir Graces moste deare and â—odly brother We were vnworthy of â—im then we are vnworthye of hir now â—e contemned the worde preached vnder â—im then we are wearie of it preached â—nder hir Maiesty now there was much â—â—aching vnder him then and small foloâ—ing there is more teaching vnder hir â—owe and a great deale lesse following For oure not folowing then he tooke froÌ„â—s oure zealous Iosias and scourged vs â—y a Marie his arme is not shortened he â—an againe for oure not following nowe â—ake away our vertuous and godly Deâ—ora and punish vs with the like Pray â—ray and most hartily beloued pray that â—e doe it not as oure sinnes haue wel deâ—erued that he shoulde doe it For if he do it as this and farre greater plagues he hathe threatned to those that are contemners of his worde by the miseries that heretofore you haue suffered in the late dayes of afflictioÌ„ you may easily gather what shal bée the state of the godlye vnder all wicked Athaliahs and mercilesse Tyrantes suche as GOD vseth to sende vppon those that haue not learned to be thankful and obedient vnto vertuous gentle and godly Gouernoures Wherefore if in the former daies of trouble wyth greate and grieuous sobbes and sighes we haue lamented oure vnthankefulnesse towardes the worde when we had it Nowe the Lorde to trie vs hath once againe sent it lette vs remember to be thankfull if then in oure miseries we coulde consider howe greate a plague it was to be punished with a Tyraunte lette vs nowe weighâ— howe greate a blessyng it is to be gouerned by so gentle merciful a Quéene if then we longed to be deliuered from the heauie yoke of forraine crueltie let vs nowe poure oute oure moste hartyâ—â— prayers for the continuaunce of oure ioyfull libertie vnder the long and prosperous raigne of oure Soueraigne Ladye if when in times before we hadde the Gospell wée broughte foorthe no fruites of the Gospell lette vs hauing nowe againe the Gospell praye to oure GOD that oure conuersation and liuing may be agréeable to the Gospell least as before I noted oure hainous offences worthilye prouoke oure GOD in greate displeasure to take from vs oure gratious Gouernesse vnder whose Christian regiment we haue thus long enioyed it and many yeares longer God graunt we may haue both hir it and in a holy and vertuous walking expresse followe it leaste for oure ingratitude we taste of the like sause that the Iewes did for their disobedience whiche as I haue hadde verye fitte occasion by theyr subiection vnto others to note so I beséeche you praye all hartilye to GOD that wée maye be warned and learned by it For truely beloued vnlesse we bring forth better fruites of Christianitie than hitherto we haue done it can not be chosen but that God must néedes punish vs with this or some other farre greater punishement if any can be greater You muse peraduenture to sée mée so fearefull and I muche more wonder to sée England so carelesse If you wil aske of me why I thinke that GOD wyll visite vs I answere for the multitude of oure sinnes and offences whiche daylye are coÌ„mitted expresly against his word and for many of them being notorious suche as he himselfe hathe commaunded to be punished with death either they are often lette passe vnpunished or else there is no punishement for them at all or if there be it is so toyishe I had almoste saide Popishe that it rather cherisheth than kylleth the sinne And bycause you shall not thinke my wordes to be as it were but a skar Crow or that I haue made muche ado aboute nothing I wil note vnto you in a worde some of them and leaue to youre iudgement whether that I haue spoken that whiche I haue spoken withoute cause or no or also as not appertayning to my matter in hand of the Iewes at Cesarea and other places being in subiection for their sins to forreine power that we may auoyde the great sinnes whyche we dayly runne into for feare of the like or greater punishment by howe much our knowledge and teaching is greater and clearer than theirs Swearing and blaspheming the name of God as it is a figure that clearly toucheth the honour of God so in hys worde is it expressely forbidden and also commaunded to be punished with death yet how outragiously and commonlye is it vsed amongst all degrées and states of people from the Lorde to the begger and from the Courtier to the Carter yea to the yong chylde of thrée yeares olde besides that I fear me a great number this Fayer and at other times doe laye their soules to paune to the Dyuell by feareful othes for their gaynes sometimes but of a pennie in vttering their wares and what punishmente I praye you is there for it It is written that the Plague shall neuer departe from the house of the swearer and thinke you then that it hangeth not ouer the lande in whiche is such terrible swearing in the cleare light of the Gospell and the offendours not touched with so much as a fillip if there were no moe but thys it is not without cause