are set in a pâ—rrilous place and in great danger of falling I know many of your fellowes that can saie well and make almoste as faier a shew as this but when they come to searching and their secretes are wel knowne betweene their wordes and their déedes there is found greate difference they can all saie they are set to execute iustice but when it should be put in practise they straine curtesie who shall begin and few loue so wel to execute iustice as they doe to neglect it thoroughe corruption of bribes for iustice wil be solde for many and the diuell maie haue your soules for gaine and as for your religion it is al in your lips and it is to bee found no where else it will bee boughte for goodfellowship and you can frame youre selues to euerie companie amongst the holy you can counterfaite grauitie saie as they do but when you come in companie where they keepe other rule you can be as bad as the worste I can speake by experience of more then a good manie of you that it is but dissimulation all that euer you doe you can prate talke and make so faire a shewe in words as though they were so holie that the best reports were to bad for you but hee that might open your budgets and looke in your boxes and take a viewe of your liues your liuings which you haue purchased the houses that you haue builte the goods that you possesse and the mony that hath bought you all this which you haue gotten by pilling polling bribing vsurie and such like should find that if you had your deseruing hanging were to good for you Gen. You are verie plain M. par I fear me you begin to wax angry in anie wise be ware of that for the * Iam. 1.20 wrath of man doth not worke that which is righteous before God Par. No Gentleman I am not angrie but I am somwhat plaine with you for you haue bene méetlie plain with me and therfore I am the bolder with you Gen. But you must be aduised what you saie and impute these faultes whereas you finde them Par. So doe I for I spake not to anie but such as haue these faultes in them but this is the troth of it you gentlemen are so tender that you maie not be touched you can be contented to talke your pleasure of other men but your selues take scorne to be tolde of your owne faultes you can see moates in othermens eies kéepe beames in your owne you stimble at strawes and leap ouer blockes you straine at gnats and swallow Camels you laie heuie burthens vpon other mens shoulders but wil not lift at them your selues with one of your fingers and yet you gentlemen neuerthelesse thinke well of your selues and that there is no fault but in vs of the ministerie but he that might make an anatomie of all the partes of you and searche you throughly should find al these and a great many more faults then I haue spoken of Gen. Although you finde these faultes in some yet you maie not condemne all for as there are manie such as you speak of so there are some which deale wel and truelie I meane not to eâ—cuse anie that deserue not commendations but if my selfe were as faultie as those whome you speake of my conscience would condemne me for dealing vniustlie and I confesse that it is a hard matter in so greate an office to deale vprightlie but seeing we are called of god to defend his cause we ought to set to it head and shoulders that no iote thereof maie fall to the ground and the harder the matter is to be brought to passe the more paine ought we to take about the same that we may be found faithfull seruants to make a iust account of so great a stewardship I know that in a matter of iustice we ought neither to * Exod. 23.2 reuerence the mightie nor esteeme the person of the poore to perfect iustice that * Leui. 19.15 Exo. 23.8 gifts blinde the eies of the wise and * Eccle. 40.12 bribing is forbidden and I haue not forgotten what the wise man saith of negligent Magistrates heare * VVis 6.2 learne saith he ye that be iudges of the earth giue eare yee that rule the multitudes and delite in the number of people the power is giuen you of the Lorde which shall trie your workes and search out your imaginations how that ye beeing his officers haue not giuen true iudgement haue not kept the laws of righteousnesse nor walked after the wil of God this doe I know to be true and at this doe I quake and tremble for euen as the * Psal 123.2 eies of seruaunts looke vnto the handes of their masters and the eies of a maiden vnto the handes of her mistresse so ought we to attend vpon the Lorde our God no prince so mightie no estate so stout but he must stoup at the Lords beck and tremble at his countenaunce nor no man that euer was is or shall be * Rom. 14.12 but shall once appeare before the maiesticall seate of the mightie Iehoua to acknowledge him to be the onelie Lorde aboue all others and he that will not submit himselfe as unworthie to be made his footestoole shal one daie find that the wickednes of so proude a heart hath wrought him his vtter destruction that this fault may not be found amongst vs let other mens harms teach vs to beware proude * Dan. 5.20 Nabuchâ—dâ—noser was for his pride chaunged from a man to a beast harde harted * Exod. 14.28 Pharao was for his disobedience drowned in the red sea * 2. Chr. 33 1â— Manasses for his idolatrie was linked with bolts of yron Saul for his good intents yl wrought was * 1. Sam. 15.28 rent from his kingdome Herod for his vaine glory was eaten vp with lice * Act. 12.23 Mar. 27.5 and Iudas for his trecherie was giuen ouer to desperation who knoweth this and will not know himself What vain man wil set himselfe against his God or what miserable creature wil not submit him selfe to him that made him Oh that they knewe that God * Iam 4.6 1. Pet. 5.5 Luk. 14.12 resisteth the proude and giueth grace vnto the lowly and that such as humble them selues shal be exalted such as exalt them selues shal be brought lowe Then shoulde they be as wise as Solomon as faithful as Abraham as patient as Iob as iust as Iosua and be found with Dauid euen mâ—n after the lords own hart for it is God that wil make all his enemies his footestoole and giue vnto wicked Magistrates a hard * VVis 6.6 iudgement This is our duetie looke so it as we will although we be neuer so * Psal 99.1 rebellious yet hee is king still Par. I perceiue gentleman that you haue learned by many examples what you ought to doe and if
doth tender his owne saluation to leaue no meanes vnsought for that might bring it to passe and to be most carefull for the same as that which doth deserue greatest labor if there be any that will say they would willingly do it if they knewe vvich vvay to beginne let * Iohn 5.39 them bring themselues acquainted vvith the vvorde of God vvhich is able to * 2. Tim. 3.16 make them vvise vnto saluation if they vvill say their knowledge is smal and the scriptures are hard to be vnderstoode let them seeke diligently * Mat. 7.7 pray hartily and knocke hard and the Lorde vvill open the doore of knowledge vnto them and giue them right hearts of a good vnderstanding if any vvill say they haue so much to deale in worldly affayres that they cannot spare one hour in the day to read the vvord of God let theÌ„ knovv except all their actions be measured by the lyne of Gods vvorde their labor is lost their time ill spent their hope is vaine their vvroks vnprofitable and * Deut. 28.17 all that they take in hande accursed if there be any that thinke themselues so well spedde that they need no more teaching let them learn to put their knowledge in practise in framing their liues according lest when they know * Luk. 12.56 much doe little their damnation be the greater if there be any that vvill say there are none so vnwise to do that which they know to be vnlawfull let them know that of that number there are too many and although the most part must of necessitie confesse that there is a God whom they ought to serue yet the diuell doth draw many with great force to liue as those that knovve no God such is the corruption of mans nature and so great are the assaultes of our enemie the diuell that vvhen vve knovv our duetie and see the path way that will lead vs vnto eternall lyfe yet through the suggestions of Satan and the deceitfulnesse of sinne we are drawne to tread the steps of death and euerlasting destruction And some there be to excuse this their fooly will defende their life though neuer so vile and that they may haue the bridle of licentiousnesse to tunne at ran done though against their consciences they will not spare to call euill good and good euill darknesse light and light darknes they that may make a faire shew in the worlde and regard not at all how manifestly they lye before the face of almighty God this fault vvas found in * Act. 5.4 Ananias Saphira his vvife for the vvhich they both lost their liues and this vvickednesse doth still remain amongst vs although the punishment be not so euidently seene of this number are so many as know their dutie and lead a life cleane contrary that knovv lying to bee a faulte and yet vvill not sticke to lye for aduantage that knovv it to be sinne to sweare and yet haue their mouthes full of vayne othes that know adultery to be abominable in the sight of God and yet liue in whordome al the dayes of their life that knovv murther to be a breach of the lavve and yet vvish their brothers throates cut that they may haue their good that know couetousnesse to be the roote of all euil and yet thinke lucre to be godlinesse that knovve the rewarde of sinne to be death and yet liue in vvickednesse al the dayes of their life these men knovve it yea and vvith all their hearts they knovv it and vvith shame ynough vvill not sticke to say it and shut vp al with tushe God is mercifull and vvith this cloake they thinke to couer their shame and by that meanes to set God besides his iudgements but vvhen they shall be arraigned before his iudgement seate to aunswere for the breache of his lavves I feare me this cloake of hypocrisie beeing founde on their backes vvill be taken for the liuery of their maister the diuell vvhom as they haue serued in this worlde vvithout any feare of God so shal they dwell vvith him for euer in fire euerlasting vvhich is prepared for him and his Angels These are the faultes of our time and such punishments doe follow such sinnes and the wickednes of the people is so great that we haue good cause to say vvith Dauid that it is * Psal 119. time O Lorde for thee to lay to thine hand But because these thinges are farre from you vvhich doe so ill like of them that you are an enemye to those that vse them you may thinke your self happie and thrise happie vvhom God hath deliuered from so great euils And for my selfe as I am by duety bounde to do you the best seruice that I may and haue receyued more benefites at your handes then euer I deserued I can but vvishe you that vvhich no man can giue you and pray for that vvhich you may obtaine that you may so serue the Lorde of heauen and earth during the time of your pilgrimage in this shorte and transitory vvorlde that vvhen this life shall cease and all vvorldly helpes shall fayle you you may haue God your father Christ your brother the holy Ghost your comforter the Angels your companions your inheritance aboue the Heauens vvith ioyes vnspeakable in a life that shall last for euer Amen Your worships humble seruant I. B. To the godly Reader THe estate of these our dayes is so dangerous the people so vngratious with sin so abounding vertue so little set by of almost al euery where the it may melt a christiaÌ„ hart to meditate thereon such negligence in Magistrates suche rebellion in subiects such carelesnes in fathers mothers and suche disobedience in sonnes daughters that wheras we looke to receiue the fruits of the earth the blessings of heauen powred out vpon vs according so the prourise of the Lorde vnto his children the maruel is great the the sun doth not skorch vs the water drowne vs the earth gape redy to deuour vs for our disobedience and vnthaÌ„kfulnes for the same What blessings are there which we haue not receiued and what sinn is ther but we haue committed what could a father do more for his owne children then to keepe them as the apple of his eye what tokens of â—asterdly impes can there be greater then to liue as vagabounds the regard not their father oh howe wel may this complaint of the Prophet be applied vnto vs that the * Esai 12. Lord hath brought vp children they haue done vnfaithfully against him ah sinfull nation a people laden with iniquitie a seede of the wicked such as haue forsaken the Lord and proudâ—ed the holy one of Israell to anger and as the Prophet Osee said of Israel so may it â—e sayd of England that * Ose 14.41 ther is no truth no mercy no knowledge of god in the land but swearing lying manslaughter theft adultery haue gotten the vpper
him that you haue offended and not me Gen. Why is there suche an offence in swearing one little othe as by my faith Gen. Yea no doubt although the othe seeme little in your eies yet the offence is great in the sight of God and I maruaile that you which haue taken vpon you to be a teacher are now to learn that lesson therfore I woulde wishe you either learne to leaue your swearing or leaue your name of teaching for commonly suche a master such schollers and where the blind lead the blinds they both fall into the dike Par. Me thinkes you take vppon you to be master controller and I thinke you haue since our first talke spoken more then you can prooue Gen. No master parson I meane not to Controle you but I seeke by all meanes to amend you and as for that which I haue saide or doe meane to saie I doubt not but I am able to auouch it by the word of God and if you thinke that you can disproue me and proue that you saye by the scripture I am contented to be taught of you Par. Naye I promise you I haue no scripture Gen. What haue you no scripture then you are woorse then the Diuell for he had some scripture when he * Mat. 4.6 tempted Christe he was not without scripture but you say you haue none and therfore in that respect you are inferiour to the diuell Par. Truely Gentleman you make but a homely comparison but I am contented you shal say your pleasure Gen. And you are a very homely minister that you shame not to say you haue no knowledge in the scripture What a pitiful thinge is this that you whiche are in the roome of a master and haue manie schollers to teache and see well brought vp or else a hard an account to make that you are altogeather without knowledge You take it vpon you to be on of them that will giue light as a randell to them that sit in darkenesse and are placed in Moses chaire to shew the law of the Lorde vnto his people but I perceiue you may goe amongste the number of those shepheards whom the * Esai 56.16 Prophet complaineth of that are altogeather without vnderstading that are blind that are dumbe dogges and cannot barke For I see well you are no preacher of the word Par. No in deed it was neuer my bringing vp Gen. What can you say nothing then you maye goe learne of Balaams Asse for he * Nom. 22.27 could saie somewhat and feare before the Angel of the Lorde but you can say nothing nor fear the iudgements of God due for so great a sin although you are in such estimation that you are called master parson yet you are worse then Blaaams Asse in condition Par. I thinke I am so not bad as you make me for I can read the word vnto the people and is not that sufficient Gen. No that will not suffice for one of your calling must not onely read the word but be able to expound the same and suche thinges as are harde to be vnderstoode to make plaine vnto the people for faith commeth by hearing * Rom. 10.14 and hearing by the word of God and howe shall they heare without a Preacher and Solomon sayth where * Pro. 11.14 Gods worde is not preached the people goe to decay so that you may now see if you be not starke blind how farre you are out of the way and how vnfitte you are to haue the charge ouer soules which are vnable to preach and cannot vse that ordinary meanes to saue the people which is ordeined to bring them vnto faluation Par. I perceiue you are a Puritant out right you are one of these new mē that would haue nothing but preaching it was neuer merry world since that sect came first amongst vs for I dare be hold to say that there was more good fellowship in the old time and all thinges were better cheape when wee had little preaching or none at all and a man might haue more for a peny then he can haue now for a groat therfore I think we haue now so much preaching that wee are the worse for it Gen. What master parson are you of that minde that the preaching of the word of God which is the greatest blessing that we haue amongst vs is the cause of our vnhappines Oh in any wise thinke not so for the vngodly people in the time of the Prophet Ieremie were of the same wicked opinion and tolde him the like tale that when they did * Iere. 44.17 seruice vnto the Queene of Heauen they were in prosperity and had all things plemie but when they did leaue such vngodly behauiour all thinges went wrong with them and their estate was vn happy and therefore they though that to serue God was the cause of their punishmentes but the Prophet tolde them as I may tel you that * Iere. 44.22 our sinnes are the cause of our troubles and we are punished for not walking in the waies of the Lord. Therefore master parson you are farre deceiued to thinke that the preaching of the Gospell doth hurt the people and now I well perceiue that there is not that in you which I thought to haue found in a man of your calling therefore to discharge mine owne dutie and for the loue I beare vnto the truth I will according to my small knowledge shew you what is the duetie of true sheepeheardes of the which number I know you would goe for one First it is sayde in the prophesie of Ezechiel that the * Ezek. 33.7 shephard is made a watch man ouer his flocke to giue them warning from the lorde and if they sinne and he shew them not of it that then they shall dye in their sinnes their bloud shall be requyred at the pastors handes but if hee giue them warning and thye amend not they shall die in their sinnes but the minister hath saued his own soule another Prophet saith that the Priests lippes shoulde * Mal. 2.7 keepe sure knowledge that the people may seek the law at his mouth because hee is the messenger of the Lorde of Hostes And the Apostle Paule sayth that a minister * 2. Tim. 3.2 must be baamelesse watching sober apt to teach not greedy of filthy lucre holding the mistery of faith in pure conscience and Peter agreeing with him would haue them to feed * 3. Pet. 5.2 their flocke not as though they were Lords ouer their parishioners but that they giue a good ensample vnto them of wel doing and that of good will and Paule in another place would haue them to be instant in * 2. Tim. 4.2 season and out of season and no time exempted wherein they may be doing good This is your duetie and if this be in you then doe you play the part of a wise seruant whom his master when hee commeth shall finde wel doing but if
they rule them Par. Me thinkes there shoulde not be all these faultes in them that you speake of for there are some of them that are very good fellowes and keep good houses which doth deserue great commendations Gen. In deede there are some of them that loue to fare well and can make their guests good cheere but this is not it M. Parson that they ought onelie to bee carefull for nor it is not such sacrifice that pleaseth God for do you thinke that the Lorde will be bolde with your owne inuentions which the vanitie of your own brains hath brought forth with the keeping of a great house for great men and feeding onlie the bodies of the people when as the Lorde doth chieflie require that the soule which is the principallest part should be best fed or will you giue the fruites of your benefices for the sinne of your soule or doe you thinke that the Lorde hath as greate pleasure in burnt offernings as when his voiyce is obeyed No M. Parson know it and knowe it so well that you neuer forget it that to * 1. Sam. 15.22 obey is better then sacrifice and to harken is better then the fat of Rams for rebellion is as the sinne of witchcraft and stubbernesse is as the wickednesse of idolatrie whose rewarde is an euerlasting life full of continuall miserie Par. I marnaile that other men as wise as you can not see these faultes as well as you if these bee faultes I woulde faine know the cause thereof Gen. Truely I can shewe yon no other cause nor knowe not to what and they giue themselues to the loue of so manie liuings but only for the desire of filthie lucre which doth spring of a conetous minde which is the roote of all euill and now may we take vp againe the complaint of the Prophet * Iere 24.2 like priest like people that * Iere. 6.13 from the lest vnto the most they hang all vpon couetousnesse and from the Prophet vnto the priest they go about falshood and lyes the priestes * Miche 3.11 preache for lucre and the Prophetes prophesie for gaine but * Iud. 11. woe be vnto them for they haue gone the way of Caine and are vtterly giuen ouer to the erroure of Balaam for Iucres sake and without amendment shall perishe in the gainesaying of Cora they are such as Paule speaketh of that can * Rom. 2.22 teach others and not them selues they preach that a man shoulde not steale yet they steale they abhorre Idols and yet commit sacriledge they make their boast of the lawe and yet through breaking of the law they dishonour God and cause his name to be euill spoken of Par. What thinke you of these doctors which are men of great learning and of the number of those whome we speake of howe is it possible they should so be deceiued Gen. I pray you M. Parson can you tell mee what was the cause that all the words which Pharaoh heard from the Lord and all the myracles that were wroughte before him coulde not make him to obeye God but still to constinue in his wickednesse before hee was ouergotten in his sinne Par. I haue hearde that it was because his heart was hardened Gen. You say very true for that * Exod. 14.17 was the onely cause therof and the same disease of hardnesse of heart hath taken such holde in the stomackes of these whom we speake of that it hath made them so sicke that I feare me it hath brought many of them to their graues Par. If it be true that they are deceined I maruel why they seek to bear the names of doctors and to couet such promotion as many of them are in Gen. I know not for my part what to thinke them nor what they meane by these glorious titles and great liuings but that they are such as Christe spake of that * Mat. 23.6 loue the vppermost seats at feasts and to sit in the cheefe places of the Sinagogues and loue greetings in the Market places and to be called of men Rabbi Rabbi Par. What can you see nothing else in them but that then I perceiue I can see more then you for suche as they are that heare the names of doctors are in some credite and estimation amongst the people shal the sooner be beléeued in that they say and the worde that they preach will be the better imbraced Gen. Oh M. Parson you are deceiued in your sight I thinke you lack your spectacles that you can see no better if the worde of God should work more in the people being deliuered of great men and such as are in authoritie I maruel that Christe had not foreseene it which was equall with his father in glorie and yet made himselfe of no reputation during the time of his being vpon the earth when he had alwaies a care to goe about his fathers businesse whiche was to preach the gospell that as many as were ordeined vnto eternallife might haue redemption through him in his hloude and why had he not chosen the great and mightie men of the world and made them his Disciples but chose rather poore Fishers men of no estimation in the worlde to be ministers of his word distributers of his misteries but you are deceiued M. Parson and that is true which Sainte Paule saithe that * 1. Cor. 1.27 God hath chosen the foolish things of this world to consound the wise and the weake things of the worlde to confound the mightie and things of no reputation despised to bring to naught those thinges that are highly essteemed that no flesh should reioice in his sight Par. For all this I cannot yet be perswaded but that it is lawful for a preacher to haue as manie benefices as he can get he that cannot preache maie haue three or four and be verie wel dispensed withal for you see that it is so and if it ought not to be so men are worse then madde to doe that which is not lawfull Gen. In deede it is too true that it is so with the most parte although not with all and therein they shewe their madnesse for amongst a great many of them onelye a fewe ercepted which the Lorde dothe reserue to himselfe and hath giuen better heartes vnto if hee be once a minister hee thinkes by and by that hee is made onelye to get him manie liuinges and if hee bee a Preacher and haue a wife and children he hath a conscience large ynough to wish for as many benefices as he can get but if his greedie desire can not so be satisfied yet if it bee possible he will haue three at the least one for himselfe another for his wife and a thirde for his children and that they maye haue these liuinges to maintaine themselues so that they may goe amongst the Gallants of the worlde that their diet may be of the best their tables traught with all
in the old time did the holie women which trusted in God attire themselues let them take heede in anie wise the they put not on pride with their apparel for * Iam. 4.6 God resisteth the proude and giueth grace vnto the lowlie This is the counsel that I woulde wishe them to take which is not mine own aduise but the couÌ„sell of the holie ghost which did know what was best meete for them and therefore I would wish al such as feare God gladly to accept it Par. In deede I thinke the counsel bee good and how it wil bee accepted hereafter I cannot tel but I am sure that it is nowe litle or nothing regarded neither doe I thinke that amongst the moste part it wil be any thing followed for women wil bee fine and handsome I tel you say you what you wil. Gen. If they set more by the fauoure of God then they doe by the praise of man let them frame themselues to that order which God himselfe by the mouth of his seruants hath set down and he wil blesse them and make them ioyful mothers of vertuous children and shal spend their daies in happinesse and end their liues in peace if not they shal one daye finde that their glorie wil be their shame such pride is their vtter destruction and the breach of Gods lawes their euerlasting confusion Par. They are bound to thanke you for your good wil but I feare mee a greate manie of them woulde like you better if you had held your peace Gen. I knowe not nor I care not what thanks I haue for the same but that which I haue saide is for good wil that I beare vnto them and to discharge my duetie which I owe vnto God Par. I praâ—e you sir if a man woulde chuse a good wife amongest the like of all these women whom you haue spoken of by what tokens shal she bee knowne Gen. Saloman doth teach vs that fauor * Pro. 31.3 is deceitfull and beautie is a vaine thing and a woman that feareth the Lorde is only to be praised Therefore to chuse a good Wife by Salomans aduise is in a Woman to respect the feare of God as the chéefest thing that is to be sought for Par. And I praie you Sir haue your selfe met with so good a one as you speake of Gen. Truelie it is not for me to answere to that question but such as she is I prayse God for her and this she could saie in making â—hoise of a husband that she wold non but him that would chuse a wife for vertue for hee that marrieth his Wife for riches promotion beautie or such like which are the delights of a corruptible eye and maye soone vanish and vade awaie when the woman shal want these thinges the good man wil lacke his wife and for her selfe if shee might haue al the worlde in iointer and a husband that coulde bring her al world lye delightes and yet without vertue is like a painted sepulchre that is faire withoute and within ful of deade mens bones But where the marriage is made for vertue which doth continue for euer they shal bee sure alwaies to loue and liue wel together Par. If you haue founde so good a Wife you maie think your selfe happie Gen. I doe confesse it and knowe it to be the greatest blessing that in this worlde man may possesse For examples to teache vs what inconueniences wicked women vnto their husbandes haue wrought * 3. Kin. 11.4 3. Kin. 21.9 Salomons wiues did turne his heart and caused him to commit idolatrie wicked Iezabel wrought the destruction of her husband as wel as herselfe Iob his * Iob. 2.9 wife bid him curse God and die and the wise man saith that it is better to dwel with a * Eccle. 25.8 Lion and a Dragon then with a wicked and a brauling woman Par. You are verie ful of your Scripture I maruel how a man of your calling coulde atteine to this knowledge for you haue manie lets and a great charge to looke vnto which in my iudgement woulde occupie so much of your time that you might not haue leasure to studie for this learning Gen. It was my first studie before I had so great a charge to knowe howe I mighte aunswere it before I tooke it in hande for in al my affairs I ought to make the * Psal 119. statutes of the Lorde my counsellers that I may be sure alwaies to bee wel aduised of that which I take in hand Par. What you are a Gentleman and me thinkes this grauetie dothe not become you for you must be lustie as the world goeth now a daies or else you wil bee little or nothing set by Gen. Howe I am accounted of in the worlde I set no store for I hunt not after the praise of men if I did I * Gal. 1.10 could not bee the seruaunt of God I am contented to let the worlde goe as it is with the vanities thereof leaue the idle praises of a vaine man to those that loue them and my selfe doe esteeme them no better woorth then a blast of winde blown into the ayre whiche is come vnlooked for gone we knowe not whither but if there be any that wil think euil of mee for framing a life to liue according to the worde of God I woulde they knew the daungers are greate and their enimies more then they are ware of for by what meanes they may chaunce to plucke al the powers of heauen and earth aboute their eares for the cause is the Lordes and although hee do a while * Psal 50.2 Pro. 12.6 wink at their sin yet in the end he wil laugh at their destruction Therfore I woulde wishe them to bee wise in time and be no longer a friende to filthinesse and an enemie to vertue but let them thinke it sufficient to haue spente the time past of their life in * 1. Pet. 4.3 wantonnesse drunkennesse gluttonie and such like and to return though long first yet at last that the Lord may haue mercie vpon them Par. You say wel but yet there is a time for al things I thinke you are not alwaies in your booke nor so holy but that you can be contented to vse lawful exercises which are fit for a Gentleman as hauking hunting and such like Gen. Lawful exercises being lawfully vsed I can very wel like of and as for hauking and hunting they are such exercises as many men in these daies do make them their occupations and as the thinges are indifferent beeing indifferently vsed so as they are now amongst the most part put in practise they are shamefully abused Par. I pray you Sir let me know what you dislike in these thinges mee thinkes there is no such fault to be founde therein I pray you giue me leaue to speake for theÌ„ for I loue to keepe a Hauke my selfe and course a Hare sometime me thinkes it is a goodly sport Gen.
mercy tovvardes vs for euer VVe confesse that our sinnes haue wel deserued thy vvrath and our vvickednesse is great ynough to prouoke thy anger and we know that thy mercies already shewed vnto vs haue beene more then our deseruinges vve haue alwayes felt thy fatherly affection towardes vs vvhen we haue shewed our selues vnnaturall children and revvarded thee euill for good Oh lord forgiue it vs forgiue our vngodly behauiour lay not our sins to our charge but continue thy mercy tovvardes vs still Looke fauourably vppon this Realme blesse va vvith thy goodnesse and defende vs from Sathan and all his ministers ouerthrow their deuelish deuices and bevvray their vngodly pollices preserue our Queene vvhome thou hast placed ouer vs let her rule faithfully in thy feare make her dayes happy and sende her a long life if it be thy good pleasure and vvhen this her earthly princely state shall ceasse giue her a heauenly kingdome where shee may reigne for euer make her counsellers vvise in thy feare to giue such councel as may tende to thy glory let he nobles know that their honors consisteth in thy worship Teach magistrates to humble themselues and seeke the aduancement of thy glory let them know that they are not placed in office by thee to gouern as they list or do that which seemeth good in their owne eyes but to suppresse sinne support vertue let them draw their swordes to cut downe vice and imbrace godlines as that which is onely their worship teach the ministerie to teach the trueth vnto their flocke and seeke the safety of thy people and not their owne priuate gayne let them not be such as can teach others and not them selues that can shere the sheepe and not feed the flocke let not the desire of filthy lucre make them carelesse to do their duety but let the remembrance of thee which wilt call them to an account cause them to haue a care of their charge Teach masters of housholdes mystresses and Dames children and seruauntes to serue thee and lead their liues in thy feare O Lord learne theÌ„ to know that to dwell vnder thy defence is only to be happy and not to obey thee is to be accursed and to heap vp for our selues wrath against the day of wrath vvhen euery man shall be revvarded according to his vvorkes let the power of thy majestie vvhich canst vvith a vvorde shake all the povvers in heauen and earth strike so deepe into our hearts that we may set more by thy fauour then all the fayre countenaunces of the world which are but vaniti let not any thing be our delight but that vvhich may please thee let nothing make vs sory but that which doth offend thy maiesty Also we beseech thee to looke vppon thy vvhole Churche vvheresoeuer with fauour beholde it comfort the afflicted members therof deliuer them with speed or giue them patience to tarry thy leasure let them not faint in that good course they haue begon that suffer for thy truch but be thou their help in trouble and lay no more vppon them then they are able to beare And although we at this time here at home haue not so great cause to complayne as many of our brethren in other countries But thou O Lord hast delt more fauourably vvith vs then with them yet let vs not be proude of our estate but giue vs heartes of humilitie to prostrate our selues before thy maiestie for vve know that our deseruings are not such nor thy hande is not so shortned but that thou canst strike vs as well as them let not so great wickednesse lodge in our brests that our prosperity shoulde make vs to forget thee for although vve sleepe now in secutitie and thinke our selues out of danger yet thou canst quickly set the nations about vs vpon our eares and giue vs ouer to a worse mischeefe euen amongest our selues thou canst soone make a whole man a sicke body and of a liuing body a dead corps and all our pleasures may soone be gone the aduersitie of one howre may make vs to forget all our sinnes haue truly deserued these and greater plagues but that thy mercy tovvardes vs hath beene great vvhich I beseech thee for euer to continue Forgiue vs our sinnes and pardon vs for thy sonne Christs sake quicken vs as thou art wont to do thy chosen giue vs a taste of the ioyes of thy kingdome that vve may knowe it is better to be a dore keeper in thy house then to dwel in the tentes of the wicked vngodly let not the vaine delights of this corrupt world lead vs vnto vanity nor let the alterations of this changeable time turne our harts from thee but teach vs to knovve that thou art alvvayes one and the same dost neuer forget such as doe put their trust in thee VVe know that thy fatherly care ouer thy children is great that they shal not loose a haire of their head but thou wilt knowe how they come forÌ„ it oh learn vs for so gret loue to loue thee againe and feare to offend so deare a Father keep farre from vs the breach of thy laws couetous mindes lying lipes swearing tongues malicious hearts vnchast and vngodly behauiour which doth offend thee and prouoke thine anger againsty vs beate down our stoute stomcks that we may stand in awe feare thy displeasure that the plagues due for our sinnes may be turned away from vs. O Lord make vs wise in time plaÌ„t in our harts a loue to thy iudgements and alwaies haue im minde that thou which madest the eye must needs see which madest the eare must needs heare and thou which seaâ—chest the hearts and reins must needs find out our wickednesse And because of our selues we are not able to doe any thing that is good but prone and apt to all kinde of sinne and wickednesse we beseech thee so to assist vs with the ayde and help of thy holy spirite that we may through the same do those things vvhich of our selues we are not able that it may be to thy glory and for the health of our owne soules Oh let these our praiers pearce the heauens and enter into thine eares and giue vs this and all other things necessary for vs from this time to the end of our liues and after death a life to liue for euer for thy deare sonnes sake in whose name vve beg it of thee in that praier vvhich he himselfe hath taughte vs saying Our father c.