as did vpoÌ„ Vzzah discouraged manie weakned their hands So by their vntowardnes they caused the sauour of the Lords work to stink in the nostrels of the people And of late an other attempt haue bene giuen that waie by one of whom I must needs saie that the Lord vsed him as a meanes to bringe the trueth to light in manie points concerning the true gouernement of the Churche who I wish for the glorie of God if it had ben his good pleasure that he had stoode in integrity without swaruing and leaninge to Antichristian pride and bitternes And for me to make mention thereof may seme very hard which am not so able therin to saue my self froÌ„ the reproch of manie tongues as I am to cleare my selfe of the deseruing the same Yet notwithstanding a wound being made in the brethrens minds I haue thought it my duetie rather to labour to heale it theÌ„ to faine my selfe not to see it True it is at all times that iniquitie preuailinge causethe the loue of manie to abate For euerie iniquitie committed especiallie in those enterprises which beare the cheefest shewe of holines before the Lord and draw nearest his work procure a more greuous and speedie iudgement to cause a lamentable successe therein For as I haue alledged The ieleous God will be sanctified of those which come neare him and he cause his iudgment to beginne euen at his owne house This iudgment being beholden causeth feare and daunteth the courage of many which had begonne to steppe in the waie Euen as if two men riding through a water the former slipp into some groope and perish the other had rather turne backe and loose his iournie then to goe forward though there be space enough to goe by and auoyd that daunger At the least with feare and trembling hee seeketh out his waie And no maruell it is though the beholding of such iudgement because of iniquitie preuailinge cooleth greatlye the heat of loue and dulleth the edge of courage for a time For euen valiant Iosua thereby was striken full sore For he rent his clothes and fell to the earth at the euill sucâ—esse in the battle at Ay. And he cried Alas O Lord God wherefore hast thou broughte this people ouer Iorden to deliuer vs into the hands of the Amorits to destroie vs Would God we had bene content to dwell on the other side Iorden Oh Lord what shall I saie when Israel turne their backes before their enemies Thus he seemed to repent his coming ouer Iorden As though that iournie had not bene taken in hande in the Lorde and by him furthered and the furtheraunce thereof confirmed and honoured by a great miracle of the Lords mightie hand But the Lorde raised him vp and tolde him that iniquitie committed in Israel had caused the reproche of that vnspeedie daie Also Aaron Eleazar and Ithamar were so daseled with the iudgement which fell on Nadab and Abihu that they did not eate the Goat in the holie place as they shoulde haue done Moses was so greued at the euill successe of the children of Israel not being able to come to their rest because of their iniquitie that he chose rather to be rased out of the booke of life then to heare and see that reproche which shoulde come vnto that people and to the name of God Ieremiah wished that he had neuer bene borne because Israel in steade of a blessing had rewarded euill vnto their owne soules Rebekah when the children stroue in her wombe thought it had bene better not to haue conceyued And Dauid when he sawe the deathe of Vzzah brought not home the Arke at that time but feared and lamented saying Howe shall the Arke of God come vnto mee Great feare came on the church of Ierusalem at the terrible iudgement of Ananias and Saphira Most of these haue bene partly afraide and discouraged as though their interprise and work which was of the Lorde had in it selfe obtayned that harde happe and vnprosperous euent which proceeded of some other euill comming in by the waye But as Iosua when he had founde out the faulte and purged it renewed battell agayne and sawe the mightie power and great saluation of the Lorde for them with comfort and gladnes and as Dauid when he also had espied the faulte and redressed it renewed his indeuour and brought home the Arke with more ioye and chearefulnes and as the Disciples of Ierusalem ceassed not from giuing almes but their feare tended to this that they shoulde do it with more singlenes of hart So let not vs be offended and stumble at the sinne of anie man to giue ouer our zeale and loue vnto the Lordes cause y e trueth whereof his worde hath coÌ„firmed vnto vs. But rather let vs search out where the iniquitie is and let the offender beare his shame and rebuke howe excellent a personage soeuer he haue bene for turninge the trueth of God into a lye and let the Lord haue his glorie who is alwayes founde true when euerie manne is founde a liar And his trueth abounde the more through the lie of man vnto his glorie The children of Israel which came out of Egypt to goe into the lande of Canaan coulde not atteyne thither but their carkases fell in the wildernesse Might one haue saide therefore that they came not out by the Lords commaundement and his conduct Yes and greater was the glorie of GOD who was not hindered from performinge his promise by the vnbeleefe of that people but their vnbeleefe made his faithefulnes more appeare And their vnrighteousnes commended the Lordes righteousenesse whiche recompensed them their iust deserte and yet raysed vppe a better generation to enter into his resting place So will the Lorde euermore make his cause to stande though they whiche handle it amisse shall fall before it in the waye And as for men of greate credit and estimation the Lorde often times will make theyr weakenesse and vanitie to appeare that no glorie might bee transferred from him self to mortall men and that we should neuer make fleshe and bloud our arme neyther trust in manne in whose nostrels is breath for what is he to be esteemed Salomon the glorie of the Kings of the earth called also the Lordes beloued a spectacle for wisedome whom the Lorde vsed also for a speciall instrument vnto manie thinges yet did not hee perseuere in wisedome but became a foole in committing wickednes against the Lord. Iehu whiche valiauntlie wrought the Lordes worke at the first turned also to idolatrie and forsooke the Lorde And Gedeon a worthie instrument which the Lorde chose for his worke made the Ephod which was an instrument of euill These and manie more examples there be which teach vs that althogh we see before our eyes neuer so manie which begin in the spirite and ende in the fleshe that we condemne not their beginning neyther feare to enter
trew worshipps sake and his glorie therein appearing And as it was his life to dwell in the Courts of the Lord by often frequenting them so was it euen death and great distresse for him to be a straunger from the same as appeareth by his pitifull complaints in the daies of his banishments as when he sayeth As the Hart braieth for the Riuers of water so panteth my soule after thee O God My soule thirsteth for God euen for the liuinge God When shall I come and appeare before the presence of God His teares were his meate daye and night and hee powred out his verie harte when hee remembred the deare times past when he had gone with the multitude and led them into the house of God with the voyce of singing and prayse as a multitude that keepeth a feast But we alas declare what poore and feeble ioye we would conceyue if the Lorde would restore the glorie of his sonnes kingdome in open sight before our face and purge his Court and Sanctuarie plant vs therein when as wee being berefte of this benefite haue so small thirst so little panting braying and so little sadnes of soule and shedding of teares for this maner presence of the Lorde Yea wee heare the voyces of manie and the thoughtes of more lie open before the Lorde whereof some saye and some thinke that they haue no great neede of Christ his Ecclesiasticall gouuernement seeing they can gouerne them selues and liue in the feare of the Lord wel ynough as they imagine with them selues Therefore they sett their harts at rest But haue they more staye of them selues and towardnes vnto Godlines theÌ„ Dauid had Or doo they thinke that he was cleane absent from God that he could not praie and prayse his name Yet doo hee saie When shall I come to appeare before the presence of God And skarce could he comfort his own soule whiche was then in heauines though he hoped for a day of returne Thus he accounted that he shoulde stande before the presence of God when he should be present in the place which the Lorde did chuse to putt his name theare and shoulde enioye the sight of those things which the Lorde appointed for the tokens of his presence amonge them And therein was his great delight according as he vttereth saying O Lord of hostes how amiable ar thy tabernacles My soule longeth yea and fainteth for the courtes of the Lorde For mine hart and my fleshe reioyse in the liuing God Blessed are they that dwell in thine house they will euer prayse thee And although hee behaued him selfe carefullie before God when hee was absent from the Lords tabernacle yet he acknowledged his strength not to be so great but that there was dauÌ„ger to be feared by the want of those thinges which the Lord had appointed as meanes to holde them in his true worshippe For this cause he complaineth vnto Saul his persecutor not so much for persecutinge him as for chasinge him from the place where the Lorde vouchsafed to dwell For he saith If y e Lord haue stirred thee vp against me let him smel y e sauour of a sacrifice but if the childreÌ„ of men haue done it cursed be they before the Lord For they haue cast me out this day froÌ„ abyding in the inheritance of the Lord saying Goe serue other gods This loue to Gods house hadde Kinge Ezekiah who in his sicknes whereof woorde was brought him that hee shoulde dye was greeued for nothinge so muche as this that hee shoulde no more goe vppe into the Lordes house For this cause were his prayers and teares As appeareth by the worde which came from the Lorde by the mouth of the Prophete Thus sayeth the Lorde God of Dauid thy Father I haue hearde thy prayer and seene thy teares I haue healed thee and the thirde day thou shalt gâ—e vp vnto the house of the Lorde This zeale also loue to the Lords house appeared in the ancient fathers which returned from the captiuitie of Babilon who as they coulde not bee coÌ„forted in their exile but sate down wept by the riuers of Babel when they remembred Sion So in the ioyfull time of their returne yea in y e ioyful day of laying the foundation of the Temple which they aboue all things had desired in the middest of the ioiful shouting and singing of the residue of the people their hartes yet melted within them they wept with a loude crying in so muche that the noyse of the shoutinge could not bee discerned from the noyse of the weeping and all was for this because they had seene the former Temple And the foundatioÌ„ of this was not coÌ„parable to that What shall wee saye Did these olde men dote were they fonde vppon an outward shewe of faire building No but as their chiefe delight was in the house of god so the increase of the glorie thereof was their ioye the diminishing of the glorie therof was their sorowe and griefe of minde Thus ielous were they ouer Gods glorie that in the outward shewes and shadowes they were impatient of any want But amongst vs there is small weepinge though the buylders in their building haue left out the chiefe corner stone which should be the garnishing of all the worke They haue left out the gouernement of Christ without y e which that their Churche can bee his house though they face and brace neuer so much how should they thinke it possible For they muste knowe that Christe dwelleth not where he ruleth not He maye not bee an idle Idoll His Churche and Kingdome in this worlde is outwarde and visible and except he gouerne visiblie euen by his outwarde ordinances It is vayne for vs to say He ruleth in our hartes and in the church that we are ioyned vnto we submitt our selues to the ordinances of Antichrist Wee shall soone banishe Christ froÌ„ our hartes if we haue no more care of his glorie then so but can abide to see his Sanctuarie prophaned and polluted by that Heathenishe straunger of Rome whiche not onelie set his foote in there euery day but also erecteth there his owne altar of incense For prayers and thankes giuing must bee measured out and appointed after his fashion If euer we had seene the beautie of the first building I meane in the time of the primitiue Churche wee might wel nowe if we had not stonie hartes weepe and lament with loude crying in seeinge this buyldinge before oure eyes Not so much for that it is inferiour to the other in glorie but for that it hath neither glorie nor beautie at all being fashioned not after anie paterne shewed of God but after the deuise and counsel of man In which miserie if our notable anguishe and greeuous grones were hearde in the eares of the Lorde and in vs there were no want to call and stirre vp one another and ioyne handes for the helpe of the furtherance of the worke
sheaues with him when as by fayth hee had gotten accesse vnto y e grace wherin he stoode and reioiced vnder the hope of the glorie of God wherein hee sawe a liuelie image in his holie Arke with an vndoubted pledge of loue and fauour towardes him Thus hee fayleth not of that wherewith hee strengthened his soule in the time of weaknes temptation sayinge Why art thou caste down O my soule and why art thou so disquieted within me wayt on god for I shall yet see the time to giue him thankes for the helpe of his presence He is my present helpe and my God Thus he wayted with patieÌ„ce which taught him experience which experience brought forth the increase of his hope and his hope made him not ashamed seeing hee was not disappointed of that he hoped for but sawe the greater saluation of the Lorde in the daye of his reioycing to the further sustayning of his hope to wayte for greater things also at the Lordes hande So we see that which I haue spoken that by faith he entred into the Lords rest when as the Lorde vouchsafed to haue his resting place and holy habitation with him and by fayth he reioysed in this esteeming it aboue all other causes of ioye because he looked to those inuisibe ioyes whiche hereby were promised and sealed vnto him And nowe to applie this vnto our selues This also is a glasse which we haue not dressed our selues by for verie manie can saye Waite and tarie But whither doo we thinke that they meane vntill the Lorde helpe and further their paynefull indeuour whiche is neuer a whit or vntill they haue filled their insatiable and bottomlesse Coffers with vncontrouled traphiking For where is the disquiet and casting downe of the Soule Where are the afflictions whiche the Lorde shoulde remember as he did Dauids Which shoulde whett the edge of patience that patience might haue her perfect worke that they might be intire wanting nothing But aboue all thinges where is faith without the which it is impossible to please God And without the whiche God will not shewe his glorie before anie people to their saluation but to their confusion for want of which our Sauior Christ wrought not those miracles in some places whiche otherwise hee woulde haue done Where is this faith I saye when those which are the chiefe and principall leaders of the people which shoulde beare the Arke vppon their shoulders they saye and haue taught the people to say It is not possible it should come home and why For not only the chiefe of the Clergie but also the chief which haue y e reynes of the ciuile regiment are against the establishing of church gouernement I demaund whither it be from heaueÌ„ or from men If froÌ„ heauen with god all things are possible hee will then further his cause in our hand when we beleeue And when it shall please the Lorde to further his cause who can resist his will For theÌ„ euerie Ualley shall be exalted and euerie Hill shall be brought lowe for the loftines of menne shall be abased and the Lorde GOD onelie shall bee exalted in that daye The roughe waye shall bee made playne This will the ielousie of the Lord of hostes performe his owne arme shal susteine him to do the worke if we could beleeue yet we say it can not bee Where is that fayth whereby our Fathers subdued kingdomes wrought righteousnes obtayned the promises stopped y e mouthes of Lions quenched the violence of the fire escaped the edge of the sworde of weake were made strong waxed valiaunt in battaill turned to flighte the armies of the aliauntes Let vs feare for the greeuous iudgement of God which befell to the children of Israell in the wildernes whiche were readie to haue entred into the Lordes rest but sodainlie thorough vnbeleefe conceyued of the euill tidinges which the spies brought they did shutt the dore against them selues And what was the matter The walles were so high and the people were so stronge But the height and strength of the Lordes arme was forgotten whiche had bene stretched out vpon Pharao and Egypt vnto destruction But vpon them vnto deliuerance Euen so wee for wee woulde fayne enter into the Lordes Sion a true reformed Churche but some body is against it I knowe whereof you meane A Lyon is in the waye but Salomon saye that that is but the excuse of a â—â—uggarde Those spies were euill ynough whiche went into Canaan and brought home an euill answere But what shall we saye to those spies whiche tell an euill answere before they will steppe one foot out of the doore We haue high walls against vs also and strong Prelates whose bodyes if they were growne as farre out of square as their pompe authoritie is growne from the lines of their calling they shuld not be like the Anakims in Canaan but rather like vnto the Giaunt which the Poets haue fayned to haue stoode but vpp to the knees in the Sea where it is at y e deepest But for a meane to plucke downe this height and weaken this strength the hande of the Lord is forgotten which was stretched out euen within this generation vpon the high walles and swelling Babilonishe buildings of the Abbies and Monasteries Euen when there was no hope or likelihoode of any such thing by mans reason Then came a daie from the Lorde vppon euerie high tower and vppon euerie stronge wall to make those places voide dennes For thistles and nettles growe in their highe halles and priuie chambers and the owles shrike there and the crowes the rauens gaile there by Gods iust iudgement There came a daie also vppon all their pleasant pictures and all their galaunt images whereof they were gladd to cast some into hooles to the moules and the backes to keepe them from the fire The daie of the Lorde came also vpon the Cedars of Lebanon the Okes of Bashan euen the great mightie Cardinals Abbots Monkes and Friars and the rest of the Prelats whiche bare the sway in the land These wanted not strengthe For they were like horses prepared to battle they were cladd with iron habargions they had Lions teeth They had also crownes on their heads and stinges in their tailes For there was not one of them in whose presence to speake any thing against their idolatrie but that it was as muche as a mans life was worth These also haue the breathe of the Lords mouthe sent into the bottomlesse smoking Lake from whence they came These thinges haue the Lord done for vs euen in our fresh remembrance to beat downe the hilles and make the waie smother to the residue of our iournie He hath opened a wide dore vnto vs But we being druÌ„cken with the ease of this world haue reeled against the posts thereof fallen backwarde and lie sleaping Let vs take heede lest we sleape so longe vntill the Lorde shutte
To all our Christian Brethren in Englande which wayte for the kingdome of Christ increase of the knowledge of the trueth bee multiplied vnto them with streÌ„gth and patience and perseuerance vnto the ende MY state is known vnto manie of you my Brethren how that of certaine time though weakely vntowardly I haue striueÌ„ and withstood the yoke of spiritual bondage in the worshippe of God which the man of perdition haue yet left behinde for our sifting and trial FroÌ„ the which that I might bee deliuered the Lorde God the searcher of heartes I take to recorde that it haue bene myne onlie quarell and the cause of stirring me vp to do that which I did Concerning the whiche cause I did not thinke it lawefull for mee though I coulde haue escaped in time ynough to withdraw my selfe into any other place for myne owne liberties sake vntill I had more openly witnessed the same cause Which when it seemed good vnto God that I with some others should doo by abyding imprisonment a certayne time Then hauing offered our selues to suffer whatsoeuer our vexers should lay vpon vs and espyinge nothing like to be done vnto vs but to bee holden with lingering imprisonement and that without libertie of communicating vnto others the instruction of the same cause which we professed wee thought good rather to vndergoe some exile as it were for redeeming at least some libertie of worshipping God with safetie of conscience Which when we did and diuers of our Brethren which were willing to come vnto vs were restrayned and we were persuaded that to returne vnto them thither whereas by imprisonment we should againe be holden from them would litle anayle I haue iudged that we haue bene debters to them to bestow vpon them some thing which might helpe to increase their spirituall courage and comforte In which behalfe when the expectation of me and diuers others rested vppon some who in the ende did but slenderlie answere and satisfie thesame Then I which for my vnworthines and poore gifte hadde thought neuer to haue set foorth any thinge publikely yet was prouoked to indeuour my selfe in some parte as farre as the Lorde should make me able to satisfie that want which I thought to be great And I went about a piece of work touching Church gouernement But partlie by sicknes partly by weying the cost of the print and findinge it to be aboue my reache of abilitie I was hindered and haue let staye that worke vntill the Lorde further inable mee In the meane tyme I thought good to write some other little treatse and I chose this 122. Psalme thinking thereby to haue occasion ministred to speak of diuers of those pointes which concerne the cause meÌ„tioned And I was determined to haue spokeÌ„ somewhat brieflie vpon the whole Psalme But in the firste entraunce meetinge with those pointes which I thought good they should be discussed somewhat largelie for edifyinge sake Agayne sicknes and other causes cutting me short I was constreined to ende at this time skarce finishing the firste verse Neyther was it my desire to seeme to speak much vppon a little Texte yea I confesse that I haue passed the boundes of Scholler like handeling the Text but the thinges which offered them selues to be spoken of seemed to my iudgement to require so much measure Herein my desire vnto the lord is that my poore labour may be accepted of him and may be profitable to his people J Would haue the Reader aduertised that whereas in one place of this boke I haue these woords The Authour to the Hebrewes speake of certaine Christians which were racked c. My meaning was not but that I iudged him to speake especially of those which suffered persecution before the comming of Christ in the fleshe which beleuing in Christ to come may also well be called by the name of Chrstians Yet after it was printed I suspecting that it might be an occasion of cauilling to some I thought good to sett downe a word or two of my meaning therin PSAL. C.XXII ver I. I reioyced when they saide vnto me We will goe into the house of the Lorde RIght well is it said that wher y e treasure is there will the harte bee also which thing is seene in this seruant of the Lorde who behaued him selfe worthelie in the Arke bringinge home And as it was the Lordes worke so did he carefullie acquite him selfet hat the curse shoulde not laye holde on him whiche belongeth to the working of the Lordes worke negligentlie But that he did hee did with all his power and when hee had finished his ioyfull worke his ioye was not ended but rebowned agayne and agayne with a sweete Echo in his soule So as it was meate and drinke to him to doo the will of God so was it also his pleasure to thinke and muse vpon the same and he hath conceyued the grace of Gods spirite and hath brought foorth this Psalme as the fruite of so godlie a meditation leauing vs a glasse and paterne wherein to see the spottes of our deformed and lothesome negligence and a lanterne he hath set bright before vs that wee may see to take our waye to goe and laye hande on the Lordes plought to doo his acceptable worke Out of whose example and wordes in this Psalme wee minde by the good furtherance of God to gather some aduertisementes to stirre our selues vp yet whyles it is called to day least we should be hardned through the deceitfulnes of sinne First we haue to speake of his ioye and the cause thereof the remeÌ„brance of which he doth now feede vpon and chewe the cudd vpon this ioye of that happie daye whiche hee thus remembreth The Lorde chose Dauid from the sheepe folds to feede his people in Iacob and his inheritance in Israel And as it is spoken of him that he fed them in the simplicitie of his harte so did it eueÌ„ appeare in his first entrance of his kingdome For nothinge helde him carefull in comparison of this to haue the Lorde to vouchsafe to come home agayne vnto his people and to be at peace with them to loue them remoue shame and rebuke farre from them by returninge his holie Arke the token of his presence and the liuelie image of his countenance vppon them as the taking away thereof was the turning his backe vpon them and turning awaye his face as hee hadde threatned before for sinne And it was the reprochefull steyning of the glorie of Israel as it sayde The glorie is departed from Israel for the Arke of God is taken Therfore was the care of Dauid his zeale set on fyre within his brest which thing he mightely declared and the â—â—aine thereof appeared when he sware vnto the Lord and vowed a vowe vnto the mightie God of Iacob saying I will not enter into the Tabernacle of mine house nor come vpon my palet or bedde nor suffer myne eyes to
sleepe nor mine eye-liddes to slumber vntill I haue found out a place for the Lorde an habitation for the mightie God of Iacob Now although it be my purpose and order requireth to hasten to the cause of Dauids ioye which he heare mentioneth yet it standeth with dewe order in this place as it doeth with edifying to stande vppon his great care in wayting for that thing whiche being obteyned this his ioye succeeded For liuelie and sounde is that ioye which the harte feeleth when it is refreshed frō care griefe going before When the Lorde had deliuered his soule out of all aduersities which hee susteyned in the dayes of Saul and had brought him to the glorie of his kinglie Throne herein he shewed the simplicitie of a true harte in that hee was not chaunged by the suddain alteratiō nor his hart beguyled by those pleasures to cause him to forget God He was not highe minded hee had no proude lookes But he kept his soule as a childe that is weyned frō his mothers brest Yea at this time he throughlie weined him self frō taking pleasure in anie thing vntill the Arke of God should be brought home placed in Israel which hee calleth by y e name of the Lorde and the mightie God of Iacob Therevnto doth he sweare and vow not to haue regard vnto his own tabernacle nor house not to coūt it his home or settle him selfe therein neyther to take any sound rest vntil he had seene this busines of the Lord in dew forwardnes Thus was hee thankfull vnto the Lorde whiche had remēbred him and all his afflictions Let vs examine our selues call to minde the yeeres that are past when the fyrie sworde did hange ouer oure heades in the dayes of Queene Marie that by so weake a threede that we looked euerie houre when it should fall vpon vs whē we being straungers frō our own houses walked frō house to house at suche time as the Owles and Backes looke foorth and flye And thought it well if wee might liue so without house or land or ought else saue bare breade for the life We were as the Iewes which by Hamans meanes were solde to bee slaine and destinate to a day of death And we were as humble Hester whiche would make no request but for life onelie Nowe when wee sighed and cried for the bondage and the crie for our bondage came vp vnto God and God hearde our mone remembred his couenant Then hee brought agayne our captiuitie as hee did of Iacob then were we like vnto them that dreamed Euen for sodeine ioye doubting whither we dremed those happie tydinges or no. Then was our mouth filled w t laughter our tongue w t ioy Thē the Nations about vs said that y e lord had don great things for vs. And we sang thervnto the Lord haue done great things for vs whereof wee reioyce Christ Iesus seemed then to vs as a shining and burning Lampe and we seemed for that time to reioyce in the light thereof But our giuinge of thankes and singing prayse vnto god was skarse so good as that of the people of Israel mentioned in the fourth Chapter of Exodus who when they hearde that the Lord had visited them and had looked vpon their tribulatiō they bowed downe and worshipped But when tribulation was increased vppon them they murmured against God and his seruaunt Moyses So could we bowe downe and worshippe in the day of our deliuerance but since that time not through bitter afflictiō as did they but through too much pāpering with more fleshe then y e pottes of Egypt haue we haue waxen fatte and haue forgotten the day of our penurie and hunger Yea wee haue forgotten and forsaken the Lorde the holie one of Israel in that wee are gone backewarde And better hath the Oxe knowne his owner and the Asse his maisters cribbe then we haue known him that saued vs. For if wee knewe him we would also surelie know that he redeemed vs from that firie fornace that we should burne with more zeale of furthering his kingdome vpō earth to the aduauncing of his glorie But the people of Englande in that daye whē the Lorde did lift vp their heads were farre from the zeale and practise of Dauid who beinge aduaunced to his kingdome had not yet the thinge he would haue and gaue him selfe no rest vntill he had done dewe homage vnto the Lordes kingdome by furthering procuring and labouringe about those things whiche appertayned vnto the true worshippe of God vntill he did see them at a good staye But our Cleargie firste which should with great affliction haue laboured about the Lords worke to haue seene that firste finished before they hadde instauled them selues into their owne rowmes they contrariewise layde holde on the great liuings catch who catche might the riche Bishoprikes and fatte Benefices And as Achsaph the daughter of Caleb when her father hadde giuen her a portion of highe grounde desired still more namelie places with springes of water so was their desiring and desiring agayne For those whiche were serued with Benefices where corne grounde was most they must haue an other wher good store of pasture lie And whē they were serued w t that they muste long for one where store of sheepe are kept and then they thinke they should be well But would to god it had bin no worse affection desire then y t of Achsaph which desired the increase of her portion of that lande which the Lorde had giuen and blessed vnto her people but these men haue bene greedie of the fatte spoyle and haue not bene aware that it was the spoyle of Iericho which ought not to haue bene medled withall but to haue bene execrable thinges vnto vs. I meane not as though that wealthful spoile might not haue bin takē vse of by conuerting it another waye But those things holding still their nature strēgth which thei receiued of y e Cananitish Roman ought to haue bin to vs execrable things And euen as the lord gaue vnto y e children of Israel the first cōquest in y e land of Canaan namely ouer Iericho without bowe or sword horse horseman or anie battle or anie hande mouing of theirs in token that he would alwayes stande on their right hand and their victories should proceede from him if they would goe forwarde to fight the Lordes battell so the Lorde gaue vs this victorie not with noise of battle or tumblinge of garmentes in bloude but by his own hande alone from heauen the thing to vs vnlooked for thereby incouraging vs to marche forwarde vnder his banner and vnder the good lucke of this watcheword The Lord liueth which brought the children of Israel out of Egypt and out of Babel the Lorde liueth which haue brought agayne the captiuitie of his poore suppliantes from the yron yoke of Antichrist and the Lorde also giuing vs the earnest of assured victorie
the iurisdiction of that court which our owne conscience and the voyce almost of all the people in the lande crye out that it is popishe and Antichristian and yet not one man among a thousand haue spirit and courage to withdrawe him selfe from it neyther will they knowe it to bee a sacriledge and treason against Christe to goe and bowe before the scepter of Antichriste and flatter them selues saying that Christ rule in their harts inwardlie thei serue him inwardlie and outwardlie they serue that idoll which the Deuill haue set vpp worse farre awaye then the idoll which Nebuchadnessar set vpp in the plaine of Dura But the people saye If the Masse and images come againe they wil rather dye then they will receyue those Will you fight the Lordes battelles and will you needes chuse your owne standing Must not the Souldioures fight with that bande and wing of the enemies wherevnto their Captaine appointe them But O foolishe and blinde men For whither is greater wickednes The Masse and images or that rule and power which haue authorised and established the Masse images Whither is greater the apple or the tree whiche bringeth forth the apple For the Masse and images all other wicked ceremonies were but apples of this cursed and bitter tree of popishe gouernement And although we haue cut of a few twigges which bare some kinde of apples yet the tree remayne and the roote hath yet very deepe holde in the grounde and it bringeth foorth other cursed crabbes to set our teeth on edge withall And though the Deuill woulde beare vs in hande that they were as good apples and set as great a praise on them as he did on the apple which he feofft Eue with Yet in eating thereof the Lord shall proue our disobedience These abominations which I haue spoken of many more which I haue not named declare whither our bondage or the Babylonian bondage of the Iewes were more greuous and daungerous And if they hanged vp their harpes vpon the willow trees Whither haue we cause to sett apart Lute Cithern Uiols shalmes Cornets Sackbuts and Dulcimers and all the instrumentes of Musicke with daunsing and mirthe and to singe the songs of dolefulnes Lette vs rende our harts and not our garments Lett vs no more sitt downe to eate drink and rise againe to plaie but lett vs eat the bread of aduersitie and drinke the water of affliction and pray continually so that in praying our bitter cōplaints may ascende vp to the Lord we may rightly speak with like affection as did the poore banished Iewes saiyng Behold as the eyes of the seruants look vnto their masters and the eyes of a maidē to the hand of her mistresse so our eyes wait vpō the Lord our God vntil he haue mercie vpō vs. Haue mercy vpon vs O Lord haue mercie vpon vs for we haue suffred to much contempt Yea if we had anie grace to take to hart the reproches of the papists which mock our patched seruice and skorne vs as not able to builde our house of religion without borowing most of our stones and timber from them And cast in our tethes Where doo you tell your church Or whence haue you any iurisdiction or churche gouernement but from him whom you skorne in words namelie the Pope As in deede it is in euerie mans mouth to cry fy on the Pope yet we bowe the knee before him by submission to his Court. Therefore are we mocked of the papists as our sinnes haue deserued Which spirituall euil if our dull harts could feele we might adde also with those carefull Iewes Our soule is filled full of the mockings of the welthy y e despight of y e proud For it is a time of reproch and our shame lyeth open in the eyes of all nations if we could discerne it whyles neyther Temple is buylded wherein we may worshippe the Lord aright neyther the citie wall whereby the Heathen might bee kept out that they no more come into the lords heritage to defile his holy Temple to make Ierusalē an heape of stones Nowe therefore although we at the beginning haue not done as faythfull Dauid did to sweare and vowe vnto the Lorde concerning his acceptable work finishing with all possible speed let vs yet at the length heare the lords voyce without hardening our hartes and sweare vowe to seeke his face and builde his kingdome otherwise then we haue done and not to rest as heretofore tyll we haue performed our vowes and passed euen thorough the vallie of teares mourning digging fountaynes to quenche our thirste I meane abyding all trouble and persecution vntill we draw neare the lords rest in Sion before the time that hee sweare and seale the decree of our neuer entring in thither and so wee bee shut also from his eternall rest in his kingdome for our too much contempt of his glorie which should appeare in the aduaunced kingdome of his deare Sonne and for oure luke warme professing his name without doinge his will and working his worke Thus haue we hearde concerninge the care which Dauid had for y e bringing home the Arke It followeth to speake of the ioy which he conceyued when the Lorde vouchsafed to be with him to bende also the hartes of the people therevnto when it was broght home I reioyced when they sayde vnto mee we will goe into the house of the Lorde King Dauid according to the vowe and promise which hee made vnto the Lorde so he continued faythefull and stedfast and prepared a place for the Arke of God and pitched for it a tent and longed for the day when it should be placed there Yet for all his faythfulnes and exceeding great care it pleased God to humble him by that great iudgement whiche fell vppon Vzzah that hee might bee sifted and tried to the vttermost and the Lorde spared not Dauid in that litle thinge which was committed awrye in that the Arke was caried on a carte and drawne by Oxen which ought to haue bene borne vppon the Leuites shoulders Therefore the Lorde made him to beholde a dolefull sight in the death of Vzzah and turned his ioye into heauines for that present time Thus ielous is the Lorde alwayes for his true worshippe For he will be sanctified of those which come neare him Where is nowe anie place left for toleration of any disorder in the state of the Church when as the Lord would not tolerate beare with thus much for his seruaunt Dauids sake whose care was so great whose harte was so faithfull whose hand was so forward and his labour so painefull to restore true religion to promote the Lords glorie But what haue our reformers of religion done onely in one thinge haue they followed the example of thē which were with Dauid to help home the Arke the first time for they to ease their owne shoulders of
the burthen and to auoide that great labour which belōgeth to y e building of gods church rightlie and effectuallie haue bene cōtent to shuffle vp the matter and haue committed the cariage of the Arke to brutishe Oxen euen dumme blinde Ministers And these Oxens feete are not shodde with the preparation of the Gospell of peace therfore they stūble at euerie steppe and haue long ago ouerthrown cart Arke all althogh there haue bene Vzzahs appointed to put toe their hand helpe the oxen I meane teachers haue bin apointed to learn y e ignorant ministers to preach how thei prosper men may wel know except they had power to work miracles to make y e dumme to speake and the blinde to see and that only by teachinge But lette those Vzzahs and the appointers of them vnderstande and knowe a more excellente waye namely that the Leuites take the burthen vpon their shoulders weighe it neuer so heauie by trouble persecution and paynefull labour and let them cherefullie bring home that Arke euē Christ Iesus vppon whose shoulders the gouernement lieth and place him in his Tente pitched for him euen his Sion his Church and kingdome that he may beare that rule and gouuernement which vnto him belōgeth without so muche as the print of the foule footesteppes of Antichrist remaining in his Tabernacle to his dishonour And here it shal not be amisse vpon occasion to touche the courage of Dauid who although he was a little daūted at the firste by that miscarying of the Arke in so much that he said How shall the Arke of the Lorde come vnto me yet notwithstanding hee fainted not neyther gaue ouer his purpose but feared the Lord more and sought out more circumspectlie wher y e fault was and howe it might be redressed And agayne girt vpp his loynes and addressed him selfe with more cherefulnes yet agayne to bringe it home Manie there be in the Realme of Englande whiche haue bene zealous of Church gouuernement and of the remouing the ceremonies of mens traditions and stinted seruice and because they haue made long tarying haue had a colde offeringe and haue hoped longe of redresse by Parliamentes wherevnto they haue made sute and haue bene disappointed of their hope Therefore as though they hadde done their whole dewtie they haue set them downe and waxed colde and carelesse and haue slept on both eares and thinke that the Lord must needes nowe holde them excused vntill the Lorde cast it vpon them put into their mouthes But they muste knowe that they are not to ceasse seeking the kingdome of God and for other thinges they shall be caste vnto them without their carefull thought The kingdome of God must suffer violence of those which w t violent zeale doo drawe it vnto them Many runne but fewe gett the crowne We must so runne as wee may obteyne It is not ynough to be wishers and woulders as manie be at this daye counted religious and fauourers of gouernement because they can saye O wee muste praye we must pray thereby satisfying them selues and others being not a little gladd that they may buye it so cheape to sitt at their ease and folowe the worlde Therefore what cryes and complaintes their prayers bee maye easelie be discerned Prayers without practtse are but poore prayers the harte whiche setteth not the hande a worke do not burne with much heate We must so praye as continuing and increasing in greater feruēcie giuing y e Lord no rest nor suffering any nay though he seemeth to sende vs awaye with a rough answere as our Sauior Christe did vnto the Cananitishe woman refusing her sute and calling her dogge yet shee left him not but desired at the least that whiche a Dogge might haue euen the crummes which fall from the children and so obteyned her sute with cōmendatiō of her faith And we if we haue wished desired therwith made sute to the higher powers laboured in the behalfe of true Ecclesiasticall gouernement and yet haue returned emptie confounded because the lord haue not vouchsafed to let vs see y e Arke come home we are to feare so much y e more before the face of y e lord as it is said y t Dauid feared the lord in y ◠vnspedie day he feared God before but now his feare was increased And in this feare ought we to examine the cause why the Lord haue not made our enterprise prosperous to search our waies whither we haue taken the right pathe or no whither we haue gone to the place where it is or we haue sought it in a wronge place whither we haue put our shoulders to the burthen or we haue gone about to carte it that it might come easily vnto vs and as it were alone without oure helping hande Thus ought wee to search vntil we finde out in our selues the cause of Gods displeasure for the whiche wee are depriued of this benefite And hauinge founde the cause let vs repent and redresse that is amisse and strengthen y e feeble knees of ours making straight steppes to our feete least that which is halting bee turned out of the waye Lette vs recouer the right pathe from the which wee haue wandred wide and gyrde vppe oure loines that wee maye with more courage and swiftnes walke therin then before we haue done in our wronge false waye And some there be whiche haue atteyned vnto this knoweledge that the kingdome of God come not by obseruation and wayting and suinge here and there but is neare vnto vs euen within vs and no more is to be required but that we remoue our selues frō euill and worshippe God accordinge to his worde chusing rather to suffer the crosse then to denye Christ by slauishe giuing ouer of that authoritie libertie which he haue giuen vnto his people Some I saye haue attayned vnto this knowledge yet notwithstanding they haue bene dismayed and offended beholding the wayward footsteppes of diuers whiche haue gone before euen in the right path though not with steadie foote but haue slipped halted and falne in the waye by committing some thinge whiche haue displeased the Lorde as sometime in the chiefe Citie in Englande there were manie whiche withdrewe themselues from this spirituall bondage mentioned But some onelie making conscience at the Cappe Surplesse and therein stoode all their religion Some entring that waye despised all other but pitied them not in the bowelles of compassion that they might be brought vnto the trueth but were proude in their owne conceyte Moste of them also ignoraunt howe they should come to the ende or yet to the middest of the waye which they hadd entred neyther being humble in seeking out the same but thinking rather that they knew all things Therfore whē they wer tried and weighed manie were found too light and their miscarying of the Lords Arke and the iudgement which fell vpō some of thē as sore
into that waye but rather take heede that we walke so fast and so steadelie and so well armed that sinne doo not ouertake vs ouerthrowe vs in the waye The euill example of life shewed by those Nations which are called Christian this daye make the sauour of the Gospell to stinke before the Iewes Turkes and other Heathen which refuse therefore once to searche what Christian religion is Therefore are they still holden backe from Christe his kingdome Like recompence shall we reape if the vntowarde example of anie man quensh our zeale and care of searchinge out the Lordes cause that we shoulde not take it in hande But there are not wanting whiche vnto the slowe rūners about the lords busines laye more weight of lead vppon their feete and bringe them into a further securitie by afraying them by the example of Vzzah that they attempt not anie thinge about matters pertayninge to the Churche because they haue no callinge As though that vengeance shewed vppon Uzzah was for taking vpon him a wrong calling and not rather for dooing that whiche was no mans calling to do For there was no man in Israel whiche had anie such calling but if that hee had driuen the Cart and done as Vzzah did it is like hee shoulde haue bene spared as litle as Vzzah was And Dauid in the 13. verse of the 15. of the firste Chron. speaking to Sadock and Abiathar say not the Lorde haue made this breache amonge vs because Vzzah did euill But because we sayth he sought him not in dewe order And although hee saye also because you were not heare his meaning is not that they being present should haue done that which Vzzah did But admitte he was punished for ouerreaching his calling as in deede whosoeuer passe the boundes of dutie passe the boundes of their calling also in that respecte Is it not the callinge of euerie Christian to remoue himselfe from their communion whiche worshippe God vaynlie as by the directinge of the blinde and dumme ministerie that execrable abominatiō in Gods sight and to ioyne onlie where the Lordes worshippe is free and not bound or witholdē w t the bands of any iurisdiction of this worlde Howe can they make the kingdome of God near vs within vs if we can not by gods assistance make our selues members of his outward church kingdome in this worlde which onely hath the promise of blessing and life for euermore without the authoritie of man wayting their leysure for a cōmaundemēt therevnto And whervnto are all christians made kings priestes Haue they no calling therby to seeke y e meanes of their saluation If my saluation shoulde depende vpon the curtesie of anie in this worlde I were in most miserable takinge But the righteousnes of God dealeth other wise and our saluation dependeth vppon that king whose baner is alwayes displaied before vs and he is with vs to the ende of the worlde But now cōcerning those which are able to teache instructe in the way of the Lord they must not meddle without calling saye they although there be no callinge suffered and allowed of in a Realme or Dominion but that which they confesse to bee vtterlie vnlawfull So must the flocke of Christe tarie and be starued whilest we wayte for that which they can not direct vs where to haue or howe it should be It must be saye they by diuers true Ministers calling and allowing him and so he must be ordeyned But howe manie of the Ministers in the Realme of England dare be seene in this dooing If fayth canne not bee begotten without a Preacher and a Preacher can not be without lawfull sendinge and this be the onelie way why suffer they the people to be depriued Why are they afrayde and ashamed of the Gospell of Christe Why rather doo they not abide persecution But the lawfull calling and sending of the Ministers whiche is the onelie meane to make them haue frutefull wombes to begette faythfull children and fruteful brestes to nource the same also dewe gouuernement which is the onelie aduauncing of Christe his kingdome the cutting short of sinne and wickednes Also oure Christian libertie to worshippe God with free conscience according to his worde and our comfortable ioyning in the true felowship and communion of Saintes And to conclude the meanes of our saluation must be kept from vs vntill a ciuile law send them vnto vs although there be neuer so long delay as though they were not sent from heauen and offred to all that will receyue them We can defie the Papistes doctrine for making part of our saluation to hange vppon oure owne desertes but wee canne not taste the bitternes of the roote of this doctrine that the building of gods kingdome for the meane and furtherance of our saluation must depend vpon ciuile power and Christ Iesus with all things pertayning vnto him are made vnderlings therevnto and caused to daunce attendaunce vpon it Those which walke after this doctrine and teache men so doo break not one of y e least but one of the greatest commaundements teaching men so and therefore shall be counted least in the kingdome of God if they doe not repent And agayne concerning this calling whiche must needes bee done by diuers Ministers which will not doo it But admit they would frō whence haue they their calling sendinge and authoritie such as pertaineth to a Minister Hadde they it not from those which sitt in the chayre of Antichrist Yea howe manie are in all Christendome which haue bene so rightlie ordeyned but that their ordination haue come from the popishe Prelacie with in three or foure generations at the most Nowe if a man take a griffe of a sowre frute and plant it then take a griffe of that newe planted plant that and take of that agayne plant it the thirde time and so continewe vnto the hundreth time will it loose the sowrenes and gather sweetnesse No more can an vnlawefull callinge bring foorth a lawfull though it descende from one to another an hundred or a thousande times Therefore except they can approue the lawfulnesse of their calling to the ministerie vnder some other title then y t which thei now haue by y e Clergie it will fall out that there shal hardlie be found a Minister duelie called in all the worlde and also that there is small hope that euer ther shal be anie But whatsoeuer burthen they laye vpon vs I laie no more vpon them but that they hauinge the approuing and consent of their flocke doo the works of a Minister namely that they feede their flocke wherof the holy ghost haue made them ouerseers if they make not them selues vnworthie and that they keepe backe from them nothing that is profitable So then they muste not keepe backe nor suffer to be kept backe they standing still their libertie authoritie which the Churche should haue and the true worshippe of God in all
in bringing home the Arke of God there were then greater hope of the daye wherein we might ought to reioyce as Dauid here did Moreouer we note in Dauid that his ioye was so great in the Lorde that he conteyned not him selfe but so leaped and daunced that he seemed in the eyes of the wicked as a foole whiche vncouereth his shame and become vile For after that maner did Michal his wife reprochefullie taunte him as one whiche had so vily vncouered him self that he should be a mocking stocke vnto the Maidens of Israel But hee answered that it was before the lord who had performed vnto him so great mercie for whose cause he woulde bee yet more vile and lowe in his owne sight And saide moreouer that of the same Maidens whereof hee had spoken he should bee had in honour Whereby we see how litle he weighed to become base and lowe in the sight of the worlde so hee might sett foorth the glorie of the Lorde his God At this day amongest vs one of the greatest lettes hinderaunces of the Lordes worke finishing is for that it can not be done without the abasinge of the loftines of manie men whiche are exalted without the Lorde As for the titles of Gracious and Honourable Lords our Sauior Christ taught his Apostles that they might not bee amongest them Therefore if these men so exalted would loue and care for the Lords honour more then their owne and would willinglie giue ouer their monstrous liuings and all their worldlie pompe though they thinke it were a great shame for them and that they shoulde seeme vile before men whiche they ought willinglie to vndergoe for his glories sake who suffered the crosse and despised the shame yet if they coulde see it it would tende to their more true dignitie For of all the people in Englande whiche wayte for a more full appearaunce of Gods glorie in his house they shoulde be had in honour Where as nowe contrariewise they receyue honour onelie of a fewe flattering seruinge men within their owne houses whiche liue by bringinge dishes to their Table and almost to all the residue of the people of the lande their name is in reproche and they are become a Byworde and a common talke Our Sauiour Christ thought it no shame to abase him selfe to washe his Disciples feete by that example and manie more teaching those which will followe him that they must not thinke much to be baze and vile and dishonorable in the sight of men if they will looke for true honour in the sight of GOD. The Angel Gabriel sayde vnto Zacharias that his Sonne Iohn the Baptist shoulde bee great in the sight of the Lorde But what greatnes he had in the fight of the worlde it appeareth when as his clothing was of Camels heare his meate was Locustes and wilde honie The authour to the Hebrewes speaketh of some Christians whiche were racked and would not be deliuered that they might receyue a better resurrection They woulde needes abide torment and shame that in the Lorde they might haue their onelie refreshment and their onelie glorie And he became their glorie and the lifter vp of their heade Our Sauior Christ who thought it no robberie to be equal with God he yet in his nature of man became vile and tooke vpon him the shape of a seruaunt Hee turned his face to the striker He humbled him selfe euen to the death of the crosse Therefore was giuen him a name and dignitie aboue al names that at his name euery knee should bowe But great is the darkenes and vngodlines of these dayes when those which professe them selues to bee his Ministers doo so order their goings and conforme them selues so little vnto the image of his life that wee may sooner trace out the shewe of all the great glorie of this worlde then of Christian poorenes in spirit by their footesteppes And it is too manifest that thei are ouercome with the temptation of him whiche sayde All these glorious thinges will I giue thee if thou wilt fall downe and worship me For they declare howe hardelie they would abide themselues to be plucked vp by the rootes that they might bee planted in a better resurrection when as they will not suffer their superfluous braunches to be cut of which doo so ouerhange and annoye the lanes that the Lordes passengers can not ride on their iourneye towardes Sion There be also of the Temporaltie diuers which esteme it to vile a thing and vnsittinge for their dignitie to come vnder the censure of the church that their faultes shoulde bee looked vnto and they should be subiect to the Admonition Rebuke and Excommunication of the Minister and the Congregation Therefore they say Let vs breake their bandes in sunder and cast their cordes from vs. But if they vnderstoode the great mysterie of the Lorde and the decree which is sealed vp amongst his Disciples they should well know that their renowne glorie is no more impaired by bowyng giuing due homage to Christs Scepter then the flower and oyle of the widowe of Sarepta was diminished by giuing away part of that litle which she had vnto Elias For certainly the great and noble Potentates of this worlde if they doo not intertaine the Kingdome of Christ Iesus thoughe their name reache the clowdes yet in trueth their honour and renowne is small and skarcely to be accounted an handfull which when it is spent they die Then their name perishe and their pompe will not followe them Then is a liuing dogge better then they For doth not their dignitie goe away with them Doo they not die and that without wisdom Whereas if they would be content to giue away vnto our Elias Christ Iesus a litle of their honour by abasing themselues before his Throne of gouernement they shoulde haue neuer the lesse but a great deale the more yea the continuance of true honour for euer For they shoulde stand as the faithfull witnesses in heauen their names being registred in the booke of life According as the Prophet Esaiah speakethe of the renowne of the Church and accoūteth it the renowne of Kinges and Princes to worshipp therein with their faces towards the earth and to licke vp the dust at the feete thereof Lastlie as touching Dauids affection of ioye and his delight which he hadd to see the glorie of God shine forthe as it was declared by signes yea the whole disposing of himselfe to be great at that present time so did the continual practise of his life afterward giue token that it was intiere and vnfeined For he continued his care and studie to be an instrument to aduaunce Gods glorie Of our sone whote sone colde zeale and of our gladnes which bewraied it selfe to be more for the shining hope of our worldlie welfare then for the hope of the increase of Gods kingedome and the speedy cōming thereof And of our
speedily to the glorie of GOD. And let none vtter these wordes of vnfaythfulnes Alas what can I doo or what can twoo or three of vs doo or howe are wee like to goe forwarde So I maye saye what can a graine of Mustarde seede doo It is small to beholde But beinge caste into the grounde in dewe time and watered wee see what it dooeth and howe it spreadeth So wee maye saye what can wee doo if wee sitte still But if wee labour in the Lordes businesse so as wee giue our selues ouer to bee sowne in the earth for his truethes sake vndoubtedlie out of oure dead bones or ashes there will springe vp manie more witnesses vntill the glorious cause florishe gloriouslie But to proceede I reioyced when they sayde vnto mee c. It is written in the Chronicles that Dauid gathered all Israel togither to goe vp to Ierusalem And in that the people were so hartilie willinge sayinge That they woulde goe vp to the house of the Lorde and their feete shoulde stande in the gates of Ierusalem wee maye note this that the Lorde nowe being with Dauid after hee hadde feared before his face and carefullie sought him in dewe order hee addeth blessinge vnto blessing vnto him to make his ioye full For hee doeth not onelie make him to see the Arke come home in peace but also giue him the hartes of all the people as one man reioysinge with him and praysing the Lorde then the whiche nothing coulde refreshe and solace his minde more cherefullie ouer his grief paste Thus doth the Lord make things to succeed with them yea oftentimes more then they looke for which seeke him in feare and tremblinge and attempte to worke accordinge to his will Thus Nehemiah when his harte had conceyued that enterprise of building of the walles of Ierusalem hee not onely obteyned leaue of the King to goe thither whiche thing he hoped not for without feare but also the Lorde made him obtayne that whiche was least looked for euen helpe and furniture of Timber towardes the worke Moreouer the Lorde gaue him the hartes of the people who notwithstandinge their pouertie and fewnesse yet were incouraged to worke with vnwonted forwardnesse So Moses though hee had a frowarde companie to guyde yet when hee went about the Tabernacle makinge with all thinges apperteyning therevnto accordinge to the Lordes commaundement hee founde the peoples hartes so willinge and readie to offer and their handes so full of giftes that hee cryed Ho and commaunded them to ceasse from offringe anie more Therefore let there be no vnchearfull wordes amongest vs to weaken our handes before we begin to worke As some saye Howe is it possible Where shall wee haue fitte men for Elders Where shall wee haue sufficient Ministers ynough And where shall we haue this and that It is the propertie of a slouthfull seruaunt to tell before hee goe out howe hee is not like to speede Let vs in the middest of all streightnes and impossibilities take in hande our enterprise in the Lord with humblenes wisedome single hartednes and we shal see successe not only in those thinges which we can foresee hope for but also manie things vnlooked for of vs shal be prospered into our bosome Nowe whereas the people speak so willingly saying We will go vp into the house of the lord it declareth their forwardnes vnto a good enterprise But the King had called them stirred them vp therevnto So peraduenture it may seeme that the people are not to go vp into the Lordes house especiallie to go about such an heauenlie busines as thei now did without their Kings Princes going before them As for y e Arke though it bare a spiritu all representatiō of holy things yet it was a material thing the bringing of it home required outwarde furniture and preparation accordinglie But what the Priestes and people might haue done as touching it if the King should haue bene to slacke when I shall vnderstande it to bee doubted of aunswere shall be made as GOD shall giue leaue In the meane time it is not amisse to speake some thinge of a question whiche flyeth much abroade whiche haue bene taken vp rather of desire to intangle then of anie loue of y e truth as shoulde seeme by the disorderlie framinge and propoundinge thereof The question is this Whither the Prince or the people ought first to beginne reformation in the Church I aunswere with propoundinge other questions Can they tell whether Prince or people ought firste to turne to the Lorde Whether Prince or people ought firste to do their duetie Or whither y e head the hand or y e foot ought first to do that which seuerallie appertaineth to y e office of ech of those mēbers to do For Kings Princes ought to reform without delay or waiting for other so farr as the bounds of their calling reach and y e people they ought to reforme without al delaye or tarying for other so farr as the boūds of their calling reach also But howe farre the bounds of eche doo extende therein lieth the chief point In the name of God let Caesar haue whatsoeuer vnto him belongeth euen all ciuile power and Dominion ordayned of God And woe vnto him saye I whiche shall holde this and teache men so that there is no vse of the Magistrates sworde among Christians For that is to remoue y e doole of the great and large fielde which the Lorde haue measured out vnto them And that is also to depriue Christians of that benefite of peace whiche the Lord haue ordayned that wee should enioye by their meanes For it is written Exhort that Prayers and Supplications be made for Kinges and all that be in authoritie that vnder them we may lead a godlie and peaceable life Therefore I am thus perswaded that as the Kinges of Iuda did reforme by their ciuile power those things which outwardly were sett vp for abominations namely as they did break downe the altars cutt downe the groues burne the images with fire slaye the Preistes of Baal and suche like thinges So also it appertaineth to the Magistrates now to break downe the idolatrous altars plucke downe their buildinges burne their images with fire to slaye those which haue reuolted frō Christianitie to open idolatrie And herein wee prayse the Lorde who strengthned our Princes handes to worke so farre as was wrought therin And if our sinnes had not displeased the Lorde we shoulde haue sene more For I would to God the Arrow had not bene shott against the ground only three times but three hundred times three times that a full conquest for euer might haue bin gotten ouer those Antichristian Aramits And now concerning those abominations which remaine which partly I haue spoken of As the offices rowmes and liuinges of the Lordlie ouerrulers of many churches together with Deanes Deanaries Prebēds and Prebenshippes Cathedralles w t the Chaunters therin and their Marmaiden