sayd yf ther be but .xl. and so froÌ„ .xl. to thyrtie to .xx. so to ten but ther could not ten be found therin wherfore al the rest perished Gene. xix saue iust lot and his wife his two doughters For the messengers that were sent for to destroy the cytie said vnto lot hast thou yet here any sonne in law or sonnes or doughters whosoeuer beloÌ„geth vnto the said they bryng them out of this place for we muste destroye thys place because thee crye of them is greate before the lord which hath sente vs to destroy theÌ„ then wente Lot forth spake to his soÌ„nes in law which shuld haue maried his daughters gaue theÌ„ warning said O stand vp get you out of thys place for the lord wyl destroy this cytie Neuertheles they toke it but for a sport and wolde not beleue hys saying wherfore they peryshed wyth the reste as I feare me we of thys Realme are lyke to do yf we wyll not bee warned in tyme for thus is it wrytten by the Prophete as foloweth after but it may wel be sayde vnto vs nowe in thys Realme the more is the pitie Iere vii c Thus sayeth the lorde of hostes the god of Israel ye heape vp your burnt offringes with your sacrifices eate the flesh but wheÌ„ I brought your fathers out of Egipt I spake no wordes vnto theÌ„ of burnt offrynges sacrifyces but this I coÌ„mauÌ„ded theÌ„ saying herkeÌ„ obey my voyce I wil be your god ye shall be my people so that ye walk in al the wayes which I haue coÌ„mauÌ„ded you that ye may prosper Exod ix a ☞ But thei were not oâ—edient no more ar we they inclined not their eares therunto no more do we but weÌ„t after their owne ymaginacioÌ„ after the nacyons of their owne wicked hart And euen so do we or rather wors yf it be possyble And so they turned theÌ„ selues away conuerted not vnto me sayth the lorde eueÌ„ so do we turne our selues away froÌ„ the lord with our own ymaginacioÌ„s We ar lyke the deef adder that scoppeth her eares that she shulde not heare the voyce of the charmer charme he neuer so wysely Psal lvii a and Actu vii â— some with one thyng some with another some with cardes some wythe dice some with tables some with bowles some with shoting some with dauÌ„syng some with huÌ„ting some with hawking some with hoore huÌ„ting some with gay clothing of this fashioÌ„ of that fashion al becut be pouÌ„sed more like HeatheÌ„ people or players thaÌ„ those that doth professe the holy religioÌ„ of christ for we wil not coÌ„uert vnto the lord withall our hart And this haue they done froÌ„ the time that youre fathers came oute of Egipte vnto this day sayth the lord eueÌ„ so haue we done euer since the time that we were first brought out of the boÌ„dage of the Bishop of Rome by the lighte of the gospell Ierem. vii and .xxv. and xxix Neuertheles I sent vnto theÌ„ my seruaÌ„tes all the prophetes sayeth the lord euen so hath he done vnto vs I rose vp early sayeth the lord set theÌ„ worde eueÌ„ so hath he done vnto vs yet wold thei not herken no more wyll we nor offer me theyr eares no more wil we but were obstynate worse thaÌ„ theyr fathers sayth the lord euen so be we thou shalte nowe speake all these wordes vnto them as they are now spoken vnto vs but thei wil not heare the sayth the lorde no more wyll we Thou shalt crye vpon them for to turne froÌ„ theyr synnes as some ther be that crie vnto vs but they wyll not answere the sayth the Lorde no more wyl not we Therefore shalte thou saye vnto them as it may be now sayd vnto vs. This is the people that neither heareth the voyce of the lord their god nor receyueth his correction faithfulnes trueth is cleane roted out of theyr mouthes as it is cleane gone froÌ„ vs. For we be all aduouterers and a shrynkyng sort Ierem ix we bend our tongues like bowes to shote out lyes as for the truth we maye not away wyth all to folowe it for we go froÌ„ one wickednes to aÌ„other yea one must kepe hiÌ„ self froÌ„ another no man may safely trust his owne brother for one brother vnder minethe another Mich vii a and one neyghboure begylethe another yea one dyssembleth wyth another and we deale with no trueth yea our tongues are lyke sharpe arowes to speake disceipte For although we heare and reade can say also that the lord lyueth is a rewarder of soch euyl wickednes yet wyll we sweare to deceyue The plagues for synnes Although we do coÌ„fesse that god hath scourged plaged vs wyth warres pestelence derth hunger for oure sinnes yet wyl we not repente we wyl confesse also that the lord doeth sende all these for our correction amendemeÌ„t of lyfe but yet we wyl not receyue it Neyther yet amend And thee cause why is thys that we are so pufte vp with pryde and ouerwhelmed with crueltye and vnryghteousnesse that wee wyll neyther heare nor se nor yet amend for as it is wrytten whan vanyte and ydlenes getteth the ouer hand amonge the chyldren of men Psalm â—i al ar full of the vngodly Ierem. v. â— for lyke as a net is full of byrdes eueÌ„ so ar their houses full of that whyche they haue gotten with falshed dysceypte And hereof commeth theyr great substaunce and riches hereof ar they so fat so welthy and ar runne awaye from the lorde wyth shamefull blasphemyes for they mynyster not the lawe they make no ende of the fatherles cause O ye Iudges ye geue senteÌ„ce for gâ—ites Mic. iii â— they iudge not the poore according to equite and ryght shuld not I punish these thinges sayth the lord shuld not I be auenged of al soch people as these be ☜ horrible greuous thiÌ„ges ar done in the laÌ„de the prophetes teach falsely the priestes folow them my people hathe pleasure therein what wyll come therof at the last verelye destructyon yf we do not repent for there is nothyng now to turne the wrathe of god froÌ„ vs but onely repentaunce amendment of lyfe for the lord hathe blessed vs with soch a plenteous blessing so longe time not onely with the frutes of the erth but also with his knowledge of his holi sacred word of lyfe by hys preachers we do not amende that it semethe vnto me that the tyme is at hand that the lorde wyll punysshe so sore that we shall not be able to abyde it â—i Cor. i c For al the promises of god are yet in hym and ar Amen in hym to the prayse of God And surely the promyse of God is to send and geue his people al thinges necessary plentuously Yf than
not theyr necessyte haue but a deade faythe declare not by good and Godly worckes the true and olde faythe of Christ and are but vayne beleuers haue not the effections workyng lyuing fayth that Abraham had Howe wold holy Saynt Iames reproue these bryngers vp of straunge doctrynes false opynyons these blasphemers backbyters belyers of good men false teachers of goddes trueth dyssemblers wyth the same carye fyre as they saye wythe one hande and water in the other preteÌ„ding to be lerned and yet bryng not forthe thâ— worckes of good conuersâ—cion in mekenes out of god wysdome but in frowardnesse and oute of carnal doctryne are churlysshe anâ— vneasye to be intreated Wherefore moste dearâ— Readers who so euer of yoâ— hathe bene slacke to folowe thee good lyfe and Godlye conuersatyon that Sayncte Iames and all thee holye scrypture besydes requyreth to bee in theym whyche professe thee holye relygyon of oure sauyoure Christe lette hym nowe take better hold turne agayne to thee truth And folowe that louynge exhortacyon whyche holye S. Iames makethe in thee latter ende of hys Epystle Iame. v. b and lette vs that haue receyâ—ed thee holye relygyon of Chryste in dede not onelye bee contente too abyde anye storme or trouble for it or to bee mocked scorned and persecuted yea and put to death therfore yf it so please god but also euerye one of vs to hys power in hys harte by feruent prayer in his mouth by good woordes and in all hys bodye by vertuous conuersacyoÌ„ and good Christyan workes helpe and laboure that thee blessed word of god maye haue thee due honoure belongynge therevnto and that the same whiche it hathe loste thorowe the vngodly behauiour of so me may thorowe thee grace and goodnesse of God bee wonne agayne in oure gooâ— lyuing that god maye hauâ— of vs better seruauntes ouâ— Prince true subiectes ouâ— neyghbours more vnfayned louers then many haue beâ— before vs. AMEN ¶ The Prologue to the Ministers ANd now to al you thaâ— haue taken the name oâ— Pastours shepeherdes and leaders of thee flockes as ye wold be called as faâ— forth as I can iudge of you ye are the greateste cause of the vnthankefull receauinge of the woorde of God and that thee people walcke so carnallye and so lasciuiously as they doo for ye your selues walcke so broade and so farre wyde from the trueth of the gospel that the verye babes can spye it in you yea and thee verye papystes that be enemyes to thee Gospell also For they saye Beholde theyr lyuynges how they goo theym selues that shoulde be thee shewe token too all theyr flockes saye they marcke theyr wyues also saye they how trimmelye they be decked of the newe fasshyon wyth theyr hayre layde abroade hauynge on gorgyouse apparell as mynyuere cappes french hoodes Frockes and Cassockes garded stytched and brodered wyth lace yea and rynges vpon theyr fyngers more lyke ladyes and gentyl wemen then thee wyues of mynisters say they yea cleane contrary and agaynst the doctrine of S. peter and S. Paul also i pet iii a i tim ii b as ye ful wel knowe by theyr Epystles But surely I maruayle howe ye dare take vppon you to teache the CongregatioÌ„s seing that ye can not or wyll not teache nor rule youre owne selues and youre wyues But it is lytle maruayle in dede consyderynge what ye seke in youre teachynge and the state that ye walcke in and the porte that ye beare O ye pryestes ye teache for lucre o ye prophetes ye prophecye for money mych iii. c for it wyll not bee mayntayned wythe a lytle and therefore ye hadde nede of that ye seke whych is I feare greate rewardes and greate lyuynges for youre doynges too mayntayne youre pryde wythall or elles it wyll not holde longe and than al youre glorye is loste in thys worlde But ye oughte to seke goddes honour and glory only and not your owne And because ye doo not so Therefore thus sayethe thee Lorde Ezechiel xxxiiii a Wo bee vnto you shepheardes that fede youre selues Shoulde not thee shepheardes fede theyr flockes sayethe thee Lorde but ye haue eaten vp thee fatte ye haue clothed youre selues wyth the wol thee beste fedde haue ye slaine but thee flockes haue ye not noryshed the weke haue ye not holden vp thee sycke haue ye not healed thee broken haue ye not bounde togeather thee oute castes haue ye not broughte agayne thee loste haue ye not soughte but churlysshelye and cruellye haue ye ruled theym sayethe thee Lorde yea ye haue eaten vppe thee synnes of thee people as thee Prophete sayethe and haue coraged them in theyr wyckednesse and thus all ye Pryestes are become lyke vnto thee people or rather worse I feare Ose iiâ—i b for where shall ye haue a pryeste in anye parysshe but he is geuen too one vayne thynge or other They take the moste shamefull men by the hand flattering theÌ„ so that thei caÌ„ not returne from theyr synnes Ier xxiii b eyther to shotyng bowlynge hawkynge huntyng cardynge dycesynge quayttynge loggettynge penyprycke tables or one vayne pastyme or other ye or else a tauerne haunter or a good companyon as they call theym whych is cleane contrarye to the rule of Saynt Paule whyche sayeth that thee mynysters muste be honeste i. tim iii. b and not double tonged not geuen too moche wyne neyther too fylthye lucre but hauynge the mysterye of faythe in pure conscyence and lette theym fyrste bee proued and then lette theym mynyster sayeth he yf they bee founde blamelesse euen so muste theyr wyues bee honeste not euyll speakers but sober and faythfull in all thynges O Lorde yf we shoulde haue no mynysters wythe in thys Realme excepte we shoulde fyrste proue theym and fynde theym faultles accordynge too thee rule of S. Paule I doute we shoulde fynde very fewe that is mete for thee offyce thee more is thee pytye that it is not better loked vnto by thee Bysshoppes who hathe the auctoryte geuen vnto theym of thee hygher power of thee chosynge and prouynge of theym before they come too thee offyce for thee pryestes lyppes shoulde bee sure of knowledge sayth the lorde than menne maye seke thee lawe at hys mouthe Malac. ii for he is a messenger of the Lorde of hostes c. necessary to the bodye So that on bothe partyes loue shal be sought the congregations wylbe edifyed encreased god thorowe you shall be praysed And that it maye thus come to passe lett vs all praye wyth one hart one mynde that we maye ther to agre to saye AMEN An ExhortacioÌ„ or warning to bewaâ— of greater plagues troubles then are yet come vpoâ— thys Realme for the synneâ— wickednes that hath bene and is yet dayly commytteâ— therin GRace mercy and peace from Goâ— the father of our Lord Iesus christe with increase of knowledge in his holy euerlasting word be with al those that professe Christe take hym
when they haue it they be vnthaÌ„ke full for it become vayne wycked in theyr ymaginations as we are nowe in thys Realme Euen lyke vnto the childreÌ„ of Israel Nume xi psa lxxviâ— i Corin x what must folow verely euen as it dyd vnto theÌ„ rede the places for what shuld the lorde do that he hath not done for vs. He hath geuen vs a land that is so plenteous that we lack nothinge that we can desyre or aske yea not onely that but also he hath put almoost all realmes nations in feare drede of vs the which shuld be a great cause that we shulde be thankeful vnto him only for it But it is so come to passe now the more is the pytie that euery one wyll saye that my wysdom deu viii d my streÌ„gth my forecaste polycye haue done it brought it to passe and as it were reioyce in theÌ„ selues and not prayse God for it which onely is worthy of all prayse for all thinges Wherfore yf we wyl not take hede in tyme The vngodly flyeth no maÌ„ chassinge hym but the righteouse standeth styf as a Lyon pro xxviii a Le xxvi b pro xxviii â— it wyll come to passe that as all Realmes nacions haue stand in awe fled before vs euen so wyll the lord make vs afrayd and flee before al natioÌ„s to turne our backes towardes theÌ„ not our faces whaÌ„ nede is Nowe yf it come thus to passe surely it is oure synnes wickednes that is the cause therof for it is thus written also by the prophet Iob for the wickednes synne of the people god maketh an yâ— Hereby do I proue thinke that it is so lyke to come to passe as I haue sayde for thus is it wrytteÌ„ by the wysdom of god Ecclesia â— Iere. xxvii Danie iiii Because of vnrighteous dealinge wronge blasphemies diuers deceytes a realme shal be translated froÌ„ one people to aÌ„other Now truely here be the causes that I do feare suspect in vs very moche for surely in my iudgement there was neuer more wronge amonge men thaÌ„ is now in these oure dayes neuer more blaspheming of gods holy name thaÌ„ nowe neuer more deceyptes than is now yea I thinke beleue verely that ther was nothing so moch in the tyme of ignorauÌ„ce before the gospell was knoweÌ„ as there is now for theÌ„ the people had some feare of GOD before their eyes but nowe there is no feare of god before theÌ„ at all iiii Esdrâ— viii t. but as it is wrytten they haue taken lybertie despysed the hyest thought scorne of hys lawe and forsaken hys wayes moreouer they haue trodeÌ„ downe hys righteous and sayd in their hartes that ther is no god yea and that wittingly O Lorde who wyll geue my head water ynough a well of teareâ— for mine eyes that I might wepe nighte and day for the slaughter of my people c. Iere. ix a O lord who wolde not lament to heare see this that thee people doo so cleane coÌ„trary to their knowledge yea also cleane contrary to that they haue promysed by profession in theyr Baptysme to theyr onely sauiour redemer who is so mercyefull a God that he is ready too forgeue euery one that turneth vnto hym vnfaynedly wyth al theyr hart Wherfore turne you turne you vnto the Lord O wherfore wyl you perishe in your synnes O turne you take now the couÌ„sayl of the lord which sayth by hys prophet Esaye Wasshe you Esayâ— i. c. make you cleane putte away your euyll thoughtes frome you ceasse from doynge euyl and vyolence and learne to doo right and apply your selues wholy to equytie and ryght delyuer thee oppressed helpe the fatherles to hys ryghte let the wydowes complaynt come before you see that ye now walke in the wayes and statutes of the lord god of Israel for he is a righteous god rewardeth euery one accordinge to his worckes Psalm vâ—â— For god is a righteous Iudge sayth the Prophet and he is euer threatening yf men wyl not turne he hathe whet his swerd he hath beÌ„t his bowe made it redy he hath prepared him the weapoÌ„s of death ordeyned his arowes to destroye O take these warninges of the Lordes owne mouth I beseche you seynge that ye wyl not take none of hys seruauntes As for the warnynge of the prophets they take it but for wynde Ierem. v. b remember Lots two soÌ„nes in law that shuld haue maried his two doughters whan Lot gaue theym warninge to flee the wrathe of god which came vpoÌ„ the Cytie thee people therein they toke it but for a sporte Gen. xix c and wolde not Wherefore they were destroyed with thee wycked Euen so you yf ye take the wordes of god but for a sport and wyll not bee warned of your synnes and wyckednes in tyme ye shall sureli perish in dede Althoughe god do reserue you here in this worlde to what ende or purpose I can not tel yet shall you be sure of eternall condeÌ„pnacyon in the worlde to come by hys promys But lord who beleueth our preachinges or geuethe any credence vnto our sayinges Esa liii a Iohn xi â— Roma .x. e WhaÌ„ thei sawe thee boldnes of Peter and Iohn vnderstode that they were vnlearned laye men they maruayled Actu iiii b for we ar dyspised among al people because we be vnlearned as they call learnynge of the vnyuersytes for they do not consyder neyther yet know or els they wyll not what is learnynge neyther what is vnderstandynge as thee holye ghoste doeth defyne it in the holy scriptures for thus doeth the wysdom of god proue learnynge and vnderstaÌ„dyng in the scriptures of God fyrste thus sayth Iob Iob xxviii c. to feare the lord is wysdome to forsake euyl is vnderstaÌ„dyng Lo here the prophetes doeth approue acknowledge learning whiche is good and accepted in thee sight of god is to be a feard to offend god And to depart froÌ„ euil is ryght vnderstaÌ„dinge sayth he also Dauid in the Psalmes doeth saye Psal cx c the feare of the lord is the beginning of wysdoÌ„ a good vnderstaÌ„ding haue al they that do therafter yea the prayse of it endureth for euer sayth he lo here doeth Dauid praise well doyng not wel saying only Prou ix v Also SalomoÌ„ saith in the boke of the prouerbes the feare of the lord is the begiÌ„ning of wisdoÌ„ the knowledge of holy thinges is vnderstanding And thus do I approue by these scriptures that the chefe lerning which before god is accepted alowed is to know the holy scriptures of god thaÌ„ by this knowledge to feare him to departe froÌ„ al euil so to walke in his way al our life loÌ„ge vnto thou ende But the world doth alow him to be lerned that caÌ„ say many wordes set it out with many painted scole