iiii Rom. iii Rom. vii Roma i. Math. xi Iohn v i. Ioh. ii Law Gospel Cala. iii. Math. ii Alexander Sin must be rebuked in al estates Esay i. iii. king xvii Ezech. iii. Disdaine not to heare and learne of the simplest Iohn xviii paul ii Papistes chauÌ„ge witâ— the world The elder must not disdain to learne and heare his fault of the yonger Rom. iiii Luk. xxiiii Acte xviii i. Timo. 4. Galath ii Iudith 8. ii Reg. xii 4. Reg. xx Mercy is ready to al repentant Ierem. iii. Reuel iii. Ministers muste not thrust themselues in office Psal. cxi i. Ihon iiii The Lawe is to be preached Gala iii. Iob ix Feare goes before and loue foloweâ— Psal. xix Feare for loue feare to escape payne Feare is lyke the thunder Worldlines decayes the mynistery The preachers office is worshipfull Aungel Preachers be aungels Reue. i. ii Marke i. Fphe vi Stuardes i. Corin iiii Math. xxiiii Mark xiii Porters Lyght Salt Math. v. watchmen Dogges Esay lvi Mathew Math ix The law is firste to be taught and then the gospell Math. i i. Actes iii. Gene. xlvi Goddes helpe promised stireth vs vp to enterprise greate things Exod. iiii Iudg. vi Math. xxviii· Iohn xvii Rom. viii Actes xvii The text Roma xiii Sin is a slepe and death of the Soule The law kils the Gospell quickens Esay lviii Pro. xxix Preching is most necessarye Math. iiii Eccle. vii Roma x. ii king xii iiii Kin. xxii Galath ii ii Chro. xiiii To heare preaching all men ought Philip. iii. Math xxv i Tim. iiii Titus iii. â— King xii Actes â–ª xv The Pope erres The ciuil ruler is aboue the Priestes They that buyld not the Lords house slepe in sinne Math. vii and xxâ— iiii Kin. xviii â—i Cor. ii Preachingâ— maketh vs new meÌ„ of coward◠〈◊〉 Esdre v Actes ix Iohn iii and xix Psal. xix God is longe suffring Esay lxv Faithfull loue seekes no delayes i. Kinge xvii Scripture is necessarye for all men no cause of euill The Text God sendeâ— preachers to theym that serue him â–ª Al thinges to saluation are geuen to al sortes of men â—n lyke Ephe. iiii How authoritie began Esdra iii. Diuers good affections in religion â—he crosse must be born strongly though it seme long Psal c.xxxvii Math. xxiiii iii. King vi iii. King x. The diuersity of the Popes Church and Christes ceremonies Actes xv Luke xvi The text They that haue fallen most ar most to be comforted Mark xvâ— â–ª Absolution It is one faith by which wâ— are receiued 〈◊〉 gods peoâ—â—â— which 〈◊〉 grow 〈…〉 of 〈◊〉 by 〈◊〉 we be 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 in al â—orâ—â—â— men Let vs workâ— and the profit commit to God i. Cori. iii. xvâ— Math â–ª xiii â— Cor. i. Luke xvi i. Ro. xiâ—â—i iiii Reg â–ª vi Deut. xviii Math. iii. Christ promised was present With oure fathers before he was borne Esay ix i. Cor. x. Esdras vi That which the father had is 〈◊〉 saide to 〈◊〉 the childreÌ„ Hebâ—â— vii Roma v. Mercy receiued afore time is an argument of like to be showed in trouble to come or present The holye ghost is promised to the builders Iohn vi Iohn xiiii Iude. vi Esay xi i. Tim. i. Math. x. i. Cor. i. Psal â–ª c.iiii. Rom. x The text Great trouble for christ is ioy to the good and though it be long it semes shorte but the euyll be vexed sore at it Deu. xxxii Esay i. Roma â–ª viii â–ª Luc. â—â—â— â–ª Mat. xxiiii â–ª Luke ii â—say xlviii Math iâ— hon vii Actes iiii Math xiiii Luke â—xii â—â—h xxviii Actes iiii Act. xxvi xvâ—â— â–ª Papistes feare the Gospel â–ª in dedes deny Christ â–ª Math. x. Psal. xâ—â—â— â–ª Persecution increases the Gospel boldeneth men Ciuitate liber xxii cap. vi Actes v. iiâ—â— Actes ii iiii Actes xvi Psal. x. No doctrine hath ben generally receyued but the Gospell Psalm ii None can bee excused by ignorans Roma i. Anthony The creatures of God are rather lay mâ—â— bookes the ymages Christ is desired of al good men Luke ii Luke i. Luke â— i. Corin. i The glory of Christ in hys Churche Actes ii iiii Actes viii The Text. God will not see his buylders want If we beleued all ryches too be the Lordes we wold neyther get them wrongefullye nor spend theÌ„ wastfully No degree by alowed vainti too waste hys goods Luke xix and .xvi. Lâ—ke x. â— Psal. lxxiiâ— Iob. xxi Iere. xiâ— Abac. i. To refer al to Goddes wysedom staies the minde in all trouble i. King â–ª iii. Iob. i. Esay lix Math. vi iii Reg. xvii Exod. xvii â–ª Ihon. ii iii. Reg. xvii The faithfull can not lacke necessares iiii King vii Roma viii what thinges make a teÌ„ple to please God best Esdras ii Luke ii Ephes. ii Ihon. xvi Ihon. xiiii Esay xxxviii worldly peace is moste greuous â–ª in persecution the conscience quiet Exo. xxxiâ—ii The Text. Mala. ii Priestes shuld be learned in the scripture Timo. i. Similitudes be a good kiÌ„d of teaching ii Reg. xii ii Reg. xiiii i. Esdras x Nehem. v Synne defiles those thinges that God him self commaundes Esay lxvi Psalm xl Holy flesh Popes haue no scripture for their halowing of thinges Nothing halowed by the Popes tradidicion can halow an other thinge Christe onely maketh vs holy onely hath the fulnes of holines i. Cor xii Ihon â–ª iii â–ª i. Corin. i. Math. xxiii i. Corin. â—ii Holy Synne defiles not onely the man him self but euery thing that he doth and all that vse hyâ— company Num. xiii Leuit. xiii Eccle xiii i. Cor. xv Psal. cix i. Cor. x. The lyfe of the wicked is all holly dâ—fyled i. Cor. xiii Ihon. xiii We bee not madâ— righteous by woorâ—â—â— properly Luke vi Gene. iiii The woorke is good for the mans sake 〈◊〉 i. ii Titus i. Româ— xiiii Synne condeÌ„nes but good woorkes saues not Roma vi i. Cor. xv ii Timo. ii Euil compani is to he auoyded iii. Reg. â—â—i Deutero â–ª vii Iudge xvi Math. xii An euil minister makes not the Sacrament or word euill i. Cor. xi Math. xxiii i. Corin. i We maye not communicate at Popish masses Baptisme of Papists is not so euyl as the masse yet faythfull ministers are to be preferred to baptisme Ezech xviii â–ª i. Reg xv Disobedience to God defiles all our doynges Gods commaundement must be kept withoute excuse The Text. Gods doynges shoulde teach vs whether they be good or plages We can not worthely coÌ„sider Gods plages withoute a speciall grace Gods doyngs are diligently to be considered i. Cori◠◠〈◊〉 â—i iâ— Luc. xvâ—â— Iames. v. Roma xv The plage of one is a warninge too the rest Iosua vii 〈…〉 iiii offeÌ„ders must be triâ—d punished that the plage maâ— cease Psal. cxlviii All thoughe God vse hys creatures in punishinge yet hee cals it his own dede Iob. â— Gods loue iustice the deuils malice mans crueltye apeare in one
owne nature set afore vs. For as trees growing on the toppe of hils haue a rough barke crooked knots longe bowes and therfore vnmete for any buildinge vntil thei be fallen pylled squared drawen home and can do nothinge of all these them selues so we as long as we be wanderinge in the mountaynes wylde woodes of this world being highly mynded and in greate wealthe or authoritie aboue others as on an hyl We haue frowarde proude myndes and not meete for Gods house vntil we bee made lowlye in oure owne sightes and fall flat doune at Christes feete haue the rough barke of oure olde Adam pulled of and our croked affections cutte awaye be mortified and drawen home by the learning of his word and working of his holy spirite For that whiche is hygh and set by amongest men is abhominable afore God and as s. Paul saieth we are not able of our selues as of oure selues too thinke a good thoughte muche lesse than to cast away all this frowardnes of our corrupt nature vntil god bring vs home and make vs mete for the buyldinge of his house which he doeth by preachinge as it is written how shal they beare without a preacher for faith comeâ— by bearing and hearing comes by the worâ— of God and oure sauiour Christ sayeth by sainct Ihon No man comes to me excepte my father drawe him As the scriptur calâ— a good man the good tree that bringes foorth good fruite and the euil man the euil tree with euil fruite so the Philosopher desines a man to be a tree with the roote vpwarde For as a man receiues at the mouth norishmente for the hole bodye and haiâ— his head decked with heyre so the tree by the roote drawes norishing to it deckeâ— his bowes with leaues and as the heade of maÌ„ is vpward so is the rote to the tree though the vnlearned beleue it not Many other thinges there bee wherein they bee like the one the other but I wil not stand to reherse all God graunte vs suche preachers that we maye heare and so too beare that we may beleue and so to beleue that we may beare good fruite be drawen home lyke good trees all frowardnes cut of and we made mete for the buyldinge of gods house Nowe briefly to consider how God performed his promises in beinge delited in that house shewing them his glory tho hole historye of the Machabees and other like doe declare and tell the greate glorie whiche appeared in them the kynge sent Heliodorus to bringe him the treasure of the teÌ„ple but Onias the good high prieste woulde not deliuer it but with his felowes stode stil loking for help from God in their priestly apparel according to the law and that was delited in their doinge trustinge and callinge on him it appeared than for he shewed his mighti glori in defendinge them that maintayned his religion not yelding to tyrants punished Heliodorus for layinge violeÌ„t handes on the money whiche was layd vp there for the fatherles and wydowes Likewise Alexander the great whiche conquered al couÌ„tries about him after he had gotten Tyrus and SidoÌ„ sent to Ierusalem for a tribute thinkinge it to smal a thinge not worthy the cost and labor to cary his hoste thither for the winning of it that they woulde yelde vntoo him for a woorde yet whan the highe Priest fearing God more than him denied to be his subiect and tributary Alexander came with all his power purposinge to haue destroied all but the Priestes meting him in their Priestly apparel not to fight but to see howe God woulde defende his people Alexander lighte of his horse worshipped the highe Priest and confessed him to be the onelye God whose Priest he was and that in his country afore he came forth he saw a like vision bidding him do no wronge to suche men and afterwardes he graunted them great liberty and did them no harme But most wonderfully this glorie appeared that where euery man must go thrise a yeare to Ierusalem too worship sacrifice God promised and performed it that he woulde defende their lande vntill they came again Their lande was compassed rounde with their enemies they left noâ—â— at home but women and children yet God was so wel delited in this their doinge yâ— as longe as they did it thei prospered and no enemies durst inuade their land while they were worshippinge God But when they did it not they were ouercome and lost their lande If all men in Englande shoulde goe thrise in the year to LondoÌ„ leauing none at home but womeÌ„ chyldren as thei did to Ierusalem and tarie there eight daies for soo longe continued their feaste wâ—â— woulde thinke the Scots all rouÌ„d about vs woulde inuade our countrie but if we were as ernest in religion as they were God woulde defende vs as he did them no enemy shoulde hurt vs whan we kept religion we wanne BulleÌ„ whan we fel from it we lost Calis But the great glory of all was shewed in this temple and God declared himself to be wel delighted in it firste whan oure Sauioure Christ came and sat disputinge with the doctours in it healed the sicke preached the will of his father and droue out the biers and sellers After also when the Apostles did the like when the Eunuche of Queene Candace moued with the glorie of God and that temple came so farre of to worship there which al other like do declare sufficiently what opinion of Gods glorie was there commonly iudged to be And how God is nowe delited with oure assembles when wee come too praye vnto hym and heare his woorde Sainct Paule teaches saying If ye speak in a straunge tunge an vnlearned man come in amongest you he will saye ye are madde but if ye expounde that whiche is redde he is rebuked of all and he will fal doune worship God saye God is amoÌ„gst you Suche an earneste defender of his glory is God that he wil geue it too no other and so loues he buyldinge of this his house that if there bee but twoo or three gathered in his flame with feare reuerence of his maiestye sekinge his glory not their own he wil be amongest them How God hath ben delited in al aged in the buylding of this his spiritual house by the preaching of his gospel the glorious deaths of all his holy Martirs froÌ„ time to time do declare but now latelâ— in EnglaÌ„d by the cruel persecution of the bloudy bisshops for the maintaininge of their wealth their ydolatry their Antichrist the Pope whose haÌ„gmeÌ„ thei were we al haue sene it yea al good consciences hath abhorred their madnes in burning the inâ—â—centes pullinge vp the dead haue praysed God for strengthninge his poore creatures againste all their mad rages furious rebelling against God man The almighty god grauÌ„t vs like
God sayde vntoo him that he woulde sende him to kinge Pharao to deliuer hys people he was afraide merueyled yâ— he being but a shepeheard should be sent on such a message to so mighty a prince But after that God had promised him that he woulde be with him he was encouraged and toke in hande to go to Pharao on his embassage to lead Gods people oute of Egipt When God sent his Aungell too Gedeon threashing his corne and sayd he shoulde deliuer the people from their enemies which inuaded their countrye and laye as thicke in nuÌ„ber as Greshoppers do in the fielde Gedeon doubted at the matter vntyll such time as God said vnto him that he wold be with him And after triall of his fayth in the promise made vnto him he durst with .100 naked men hauing no weapons but earthen pottes a fire braÌ„d horns in their haÌ„ds set on their enemies which fledde all awaye as soone as they hearde the pâ—t sheardes knocked together Oure sauioure Christe after hys Ascencion sending his Apostles into the whole worlde to preache and baptise addeth no greater thinge to comforte them with all in this great and daungerous enterprise that so fewe vnlearned men shoulde conquere the whole world but saythe behold I am with you euen too the ende of the worlde What good successe their preachinge had we at this present daye yet feele and see and also howe he is presente alwayes with his euen too the ende and howe true his prayer is that he didde not praye onely for his Apostles but for all that should beleue on hym by their preachinge WhaÌ„ sainct Paule sayeth that he was perswaded that neither nakednes pryson huÌ„ger persecution nor lyfe neither deathe aungels nor powers could pull hym from the loue in Christ Iesu He had nothinge is strengthen hym self withall but that God promised that he was with him and then he boldely sayde if God bee with vs whoo can be against vs All be but dust worms and vylenes in his sight nothing can preuayle againste those whome he doeth assist with his grace Therfore whan we doubte to take in hande anye good woorke whiche agrees with the woorde of God for any worldlye reasons or carnal fear let vs styrre vp our fayth and heare God speaking and saying vnto vs I am with you be ye not afrayd If thy conscience beare thee sure witnes that thou sekest nothinge but the glory of God the profite of his people no doubt God will asist thee in suche enterprises offers this hys promise to thee also sayinge I am with thee be not afrayde but go on forwardes and I will blesse thy doinges seme it neuer so hard or vnpossible to thee verse 14 The Lord waked vp the spite of Zerubabel sonne of Salathiel prince of Iuda and the spirite of Iosua sonne of Iosedec the high Prieste the spirite of all the remnauÌ„te of the people and they went and wroughte in the house of the Lorde of Hostes theyr God In the .xxiiij. daye of the sixt moneth in the second year of kynge Darius ¶ This is a notable Metaphore worthely sets foorth the nature of sin in that he saieth the Lord waked vp the spirite of all this people for sinne is a sleepe of the soule hauing no feare nor feling of God so long as a man lyes in it It is nowe tyme saieth sainct Paule to awake out of slepe meaning sinne God in his woord by such outward bodely thinges declares vnto vs the nature of spiritual thinges both good and euill As the dead body lyes rottinge stinking in the graue fearfull to looke on and greuous too remember so when wee lye buried in sinne we stinke in the sight of God he can not abyde to loke at vs nor will remember vs. And as we when the body lieth on slepe in the bedde whiche is an image of our graue can neither se fele heare taste smell vnderstande nor yet moue out of the place vntil we be awaked nor can take any pleasure at al in any one creature of God So when we lye walowinge in sinne we neyther see the maiestie of God with the eyes of oure faythe nor feele hys mercies offered vntoo vs in hys deare sonne and oure onely Sauioure Christe Iesus nor yet can wee taste at al howe sweete the Lorde is Oure eares are stopped from hearing good counsayll we perceiue nothinge at all of Gods goodnes towards vs his word is not sauery vnto vs neither yet bee wee moued or stirred vp too doo anye one good woorke of charitie But nowe it pleased the Lorde pitying their miserie too wake them vp out of thys dead sleepe and sette them in hande with buylding of his house agayne But where he had preached too them both the law the gospell threatnings coÌ„fortes with the plages they were moued to nothing but feare as is saide in the verses before but after they hearde the glad tidinges of the gospell that God promised to be with them then they were awaked out of their sleepe and wroughte lustely So it is the gospell that quickenes and geues lyfe but the law kylles feares and threatens For as after sleepe the bodye being awaked it is freshe lustye stronge and couragious to do his worke so after the fearful threatninges of the law when we heare the gladde tidinges of the gospell that God will be oure Lorde and dwell with vs the minde is comforted strengthened moued vp to do his dutye And as a man is iudged too be wakinge when he canne doe the office of a manne as talke woorke write or suche like so is manne awaked out of the slepe of sinnes when he lyues in charitie feares God walkes accordinge to his lawe in hys vocation Further as wheÌ„ a man lyes in hys dead slepe he can not awake except some noise awaken him or some other call hym 〈◊〉 can we not arise oute of sinne excepte the spirite of God or his preacher which is his watcheman with often cryinge vnto vs awake vs. Crye therefore and feare not saieth Esaye the prophete lifte vp thy voice lyke a trumpette and tell my people their wickednes So that it is the truÌ„pet of Gods woorde continually sounding in oure eares whiche is the onely waye too awake vs out of this sinfull slepe But the Papistes turne thorder and saye cease and crie not holde thee peace sai nought lyue in rest and bee still and so let all goe to hauoc and the people perishe Thus we maye learne here the necessitie of preaching and what inconuenieÌ„ce folowes where it is not vsed Where preachinge fayles saieth Salomon the people perishe therefore let euery man kepe hym selfe in Gods schoolehouse and learne his lesson diligently for as the bodye is norisshed with meate so is the soule with the woorde of God as sainct Mathew saieth A man doeth not liue by bread onely but
muche to the bodies and goodes of the wicked men as to the mynde and conscience nor this ioye shoulde not be so muche worldly and outwarde to the good as too the soule and inwarde Greate worldlye peace was in all the worlde when oure sauioure Christe was borne but that peace whiche the Aungels sange glorie be to God in hygh in earth peace is rather the peace of conscience because God and man were now reconciled and peace was made betwixt vs and God because his sonne had taken oure nature vpon hym and was made man but vnto the wicked it maye alwayes well be sayd there is no peace too the wicked sayeth the Lorde What a trouble was Herode in whan the wyse men came asked where was he that was born king of the Iewes The scripture sayeth that Herode and all Ierusalem was troubled at this questioÌ„ Herode thoughte he shoulde lose his kingdome and the scribes Phariseis thought that their authoritie was gone whiche thinge greued them so much that thei had rather haue hadde no Christe then loste that authoritie But Herode deuises a policie to saue him selfe withall and kylles all the chyldren that were twoo year oldâ— and vnder thinkinge amongest theym all he shoulde haue kylled Christe and he had rather haue kylled all then the onely Christ shoulde escape What a trouble was he in whaÌ„ he caused such a murther for fear or a yonge chylde What reason is it that suche a kynge shoulde so much feare a yoÌ„g chylde But God prouided well ynoughe for hys sonne and was as wyse readye mercifull to saue deliuer hys soÌ„ne christ as the other was subtil and cruel to murther him for Herode had rather slea all yâ— chyldren then that one Christe shoulde escape God had Ioseph take Marie and the chylde Iesus and â—lee into Egipt tarye there vntyll he gaue hym contrary word What trouble were the Scribes Phariseis in whan for his doctrine preachinge and miracles whiche were so wonderful that they coulde not tell what to saye but sometimes saide Do we not saie wel that thou arte a Samaritan and haste a deuil another time they woulde haue throwne hym doune of the hyll and agayn thei say it hath not ben heard of frome the beginninge that any man hath opened the eies of hym that was born blinde and agayn a manifest wonderfull signe they haue wrought we can not denie it and also yf we let hym alone thus the whole worlde will folow him Howe was the other Herode which beheaded Ihon Baptist troubled when he heard of his miracles wold haue hadde him to haue wrought some in his sighte Howe was Pilates wyfe troubled in her dreame for hym and sente her husbande woorde that he shoulde not medle with him howe gladly woulde Pilate him selfe haue deliuered hym wasshed his hands to declare his innocencie and sayde he founde nothinge woorthye of deathe in him Howe were all the Priestes afearde when they heard tel that he was rysen froÌ„ death and gaue money to the watchemen to â—aye hys Disciples came and stole hym aâ—â— ye when they slept Why shâ—uld they feare a dead man â—f we were a man only he coulde not hurte them if a God they coulde not withstande him â–ª What trouble were the priestes in when they forbad the Apostles to preache any more in Christes name and folowed the counsel of Gamaliel sayinge if it were of God they coulde not abolishe it Why shoulde they bee afrayde of a deadde man Howe was kynge Agrippa troubled whaÌ„ Paule had defended his cause and sayde to hym thy greate learninge O Paule maketh thee madde How were the great learned Philosophers in AtheÌ„s troubled when Paule preached the resurrection of the dead and of Christe and sayde What meanes this sawer of newe doctrine hee semeth too teache newe Gods What a trouble was the Emperour Tiberius in when Pilate wrote to him of the preachinge miracles of Christ and he demaunded that the whole parliament of Rome woulde worshippe hym as a God But they consideringe that he is a gelous God and that he will haue no other worshipped with him but all honor muste be geuen to him onely denied him to be a God or yet to be worshipped there as God What caused Pope Leo the x. to bee so afraide whan Zuinglius beganne too preache the Gospell but that hee perceyued the lighte of Gods woorde woulde deface his pompe pryde and sette abrode all his wickednes too the worlde to be laught at and least he should go forwarde in preachinge and rebuking hys abhomination he sent hys letters too him sealed vnder hys bull of lead willing hym too holde his peace and preache no more suche of thinges he woulde geue hym what liuinge and as many bishoprikes as he woulde yea to be a Cardinall and whatsoeuer he woulde aske excepte his owne seate to be Pope But be lyke a true Preacher went on forwardes in hys busines settinge vp Christe and pulling doune Popery What makes the Pope at this daye hys Clergy too burne persecute empryson all that loue the Gospell but that they feare to loose their lordlines make their bellye 's their God and woulde lyue at ease like lords of the lande What makes theÌ„ to denye Christ to be a Goâ— not so muche in playne woordes as in doctrine dedes couertly but that they se they get muche ryches by reliques pylgrimages sainctes masses pardons c. whiche do as much in effect as denye Christes too bee God because they seeke helpe by these meanes in their troubles and forgeuenes of sinnes with comforte of conscience which all belong so vnto Christ that whosoeuer sekes them other wayes or els where then at his handes onely do as muche as in them lyes as to make Christ no God robbe hym of that honour whiche is due to him only and geue it to Gods of their own making What maruayle is it if they folow the olde decree of the Romaynes in their parliament where they denied Christ to be receiued and worshipped for a God because he shoulde not haue all honour alone as it is due to him onely Thus we se what great trouble it is to the wicked to haue Christ and his doctrine to come abroade and how true this was that the Prophet saith here and what trouble hath ben and shal be too the ende where the Gospell is preached The father shal deliuer the soÌ„ne to death and the sonne shall ryse agaynste the father so shal the mother against the daughter and the daughter against the mother brother againste brother c. whiche thinges we all see at this daye to haue comen to passe Howe many wyues rather then they woulde forsake God haue suffered death forsaken husbande chyldren goodes and countrye and willinglye banished theym selues and so haue many good husbandes also Howe hath one brother persecuted another One frende
though they neuer reade scripture who so euer doth not worship him by this naturall knowledge is iustly condēpned We reade of Anthony that holye father whiche lyued in wildernes and beinge so farre vnlearned the he could not reade was asked of his frēd how he passed the time away seing he liued alone had no bokes yes saith Anthony I wāt no bokes for all the creatur◠of God are my bokes I read learne his maiesty out of his creatures as you do out of your bokes And surelye thei be goodly bokes to be loked on to be hold the Sūne the Moone stars birds fishes beastes herbes corne grasse trees hyls ryuers c. And he is worse then a beast that can goe looke at all these and not loue prayse wonder at his strength power wisedom and goodnes whiche hath made all these to serue vs. The starres kepe so good an order course in their mouinges the vertue of herbes help diseases and all fishe foule beastes fede and serue man whiche thinges come from him who is Lorde of nature not of them selues These maye better be called laye mens and the vnlearned peoples bokes than ymages and idols whiche bee like vnto whome soeuer it pleases the painter to make them like If all the ymages of any one sainct were laide together they woulde all be vnlike one too another in many pointes and what a Monster shuld he be that shoulde be like all these If the reliques as armes head legges scalp heire teeth ▪ c. were together in one place that are saide too be worshipped in many ▪ some should haue two or three heads moe legs and armes than a hors woulde cary their gylded cootes painted faces should teache rather to be proude and to playe the harlot than sobernes simplicitie holines and lowlines as becommes the godly and saintes in dede After when he addes the desire of all people shall come there is prophecied thecomminge of Christ in oure flesh nature to redeme vs from the bondage of hel syn and death whiche thinge al good men frō the beginninge haue desired It was a ioyfull thinge to perceiue Christe to come by the eyes of faith and happy was he to whome it was geuen to vnderstande and beleue in him to come but more happy did they thinke theym selues whiche did not onely beleue in hym to come but see hym present in fleshe Simeon a righteous mā alwayes occupied in praier desired to liue tyll the daye when he might see the Lord whiche request God graunted him when the chylde Iesus was presented in the tēple by his mother he tooke the chylde Iesus in his armes praised God and sayde Lorde now lettest thou thy seruaunte departe in peace accordinge too thy woorde For mine eies haue sene thy sauīg health and so was well contented to dye after he had his desire Ihon Baptist beinge yong in his mothers wombe leaped for ioye as soone as his mother hearde the salutation of the virgine Marie comminge vnto her Anna the Prophetesse a widowe liuinge in fasting and prayer continuallye chiefely desired to see the daye of hys comminge Many kynges and Prophetes saieth sainct Luke haue desired to see that daie and haue not sene it Suche a greate desire for the encrease of their faythe haue all good men had to see Christ in our fleshe and nature that we might by his death bee deliuered from the slauery of hel sinne and death What a misery is it too be in bondage of consciences for our sinnes and Gods righteous iudgement and what a comforte is it to knowe that God is recōciled to vs by the death of his sonne This is the desyre of all good men whiche is fulfilled too vs in Christ. And he is called the desire of all people by the Hebrue phrase which is as muche to saye as moste desired So sainct Paule calles hym not onelye righteous peace maker but righteousnes and peace it selfe for soo haue suche woordes more strength when they be pronoūced like substantiues then the adiectiues haue What a desire had Esaye the Prophete whan he cried woulde to God thou wouldest burst the heauens and come doune For this peace that God sayeth he wil fyll thys house with glorie muche was saide afore But there he sayde onely he woulde shewe his glorie and nowe hee sayeth he will fyl it with glorie And this is to comforte them that were so sory because this house was litell in comparison of the other olde one and nothing so costli and glorious The fulnes of this glorie appeared whan Christe preached hys Fathers will healed diseases wroughte miracles rebuked the Scribes with their tradicions c. as was sayde before What greater glorie can be than to doe good too them whiche be hys enemies to helpe thē whiche can not helpe them selues and too doe it so frely that he looke for no reward in so doinge but euen of free pitie which he had on vs seinge vs lie in such miserie did shewe suche mercy as to redeme vs to take vs for his chyldren louers frendes to teache vs helpe vs and geue vs grace too doe his will worshippe hys maiestie feare hym and loue hym knowe oure owne weakenes and pardon oure negligence oure infirmitie oure forgetfull and vnthankefull disobedience Greate glorie was shewed in this house when as Alexander the greate called Magnus submitted hym selfe too the hyghe Prieste Gods minister confessinge his God to be the true God where afore he was purposed too haue destroyed Ierusalem and also whan Iudas Machabeus wyth hys bretheren after manye noble victories restored Gods religion But none of these fylled this house with glorie but some parte of it Onely Christe our Lord in whome is the fulnesse of the Godhead filleth this house with glory Christ filled this temple so ful of hys doctrine miracles by hym selfe and his Apostles that the fulnes thereof ranne throughe the whole worlde for there it began as in a springe and nowe hathe fylled the whole worlde therewith So liberall is he that he geueth not onely a parte but full and heaped measure euen to the toppe that it flowes ouer What a glorie of God was shewed in this house whan oute of all countryes vnder heauen were gathered deuout men to worshippe God there And after that the Apostles receyued the holye Ghooste whan Peter in his sermons conuerted .5 thousande Howe farre spread was thys glorie when the Eunuche of Quene Candace moued with the great reporte of that gorgious Temple came thither for too worshippe But thys wirkes the mighty Lorde of hostes woorkes whiche hathe all thinges at commaundemēt and truely fulfilles all his promises euen vntoo the ende verse 8 Golde is myne and siluer is myne saieth the Lorde of hostes verse 9 Greater shal be the glorie of this later house then of the further sayeth the Lorde of hoostes And in this place will
they shall fynde present comfort and peace patiently to beare all such sorow as shal be laide on them When as Emperours were not Christened greate was the persecution yet coulde they not preuaile When heresies began to springe in the Church than God raised vp Augustine and others to withstande them and the mo that they were the more was the truth tried out and florished but after that the Pope had conquered all good learning decayed and the deuell thereby had lulled all on sleepe then came this outwarde worldly peace where the moste parte submitted them selues to the beast and his peace was the bitterest thinge that coulde be before God and greatest trouble to all good consciences For then outwarde peace broughte in Lordely pryde whiche harmed more then any persecution as Bernarde sayeth But nowe after that the light appeares agayn with what peace of conscience can and doe men offer them selues to the fire thoughe the Pope and his clergye rage lyke Lyons or mad dogges What great learning hathe God reueled in our time more then before and chiefly it hath ben done because of errours heresies sectes and controuersies that be abroade that Gods chosen people should not lyue in blindnes styl that his goodnes may be knowen And althoughe persecution be great yet God strengthens his to dye for his truth in most quiet peace to the shame of their persecutours Wher there is no striuinge there is no victorye where ther is no victory there is no praise nor reward Therfore God of his gret loue that his people may haue most noble victories greatest reward suffreth them to be troubled by the deuyll hys ministers but not to be ouercomen Where the tormentours rage because thei can not ouercome the simple souls holding fast the faith which thei would pul from them for the whiche thei striue God so strengthens hys that they suffer all tormentes with more peace of conscience then the tormentours delaye it on theÌ„ whiche deuise the deaths for them But not onely this inwarde peace but an outwarde alsoo was geuen them as longe as they displeased not the Lord. God coÌ„maunded that euery man amongst the Israelites should come thryse a yeare to IerusaleÌ„ to worship him there least thei should grudge saying who shal defend our countrie when we are gone so far froÌ„ home our enemies wil inuade and destroy vs God promises that he will defende their couÌ„try in the mean time that thei shuld haue no harme Thus thei beleuing God were bold to go to IerusaleÌ„ to serue God leuing none at home to kepe their goods landes but a few wemen chyldren So we if we would serue the Lord a righte maintayne his true religion our enemies shoulde not hurt vs but wemen and chyldren shoulde be able to defende vs if wee will not serue him as he hathe appointed there is no worldly power able to defend vs but we and they shall perishe altogether verse 10 In the .xxiiii. daye of the .ix. moneth and the second year of Darius was the message of the Lorde sent by the haÌ„de of Aggeus the prophet saying verse 11 Thus sayeth the Lorde of hostes Aske I praye thee yâ— priestes the law sayinge verse 12 If any man beare holy flesh in the lap of his garmeÌ„t do touche with his lappe bread or brothe wyne oyle or anye kynde of meate shall it bee made holy the Priestes aunswered and saide no. verse 13 And Aggeus sayd if he that is defiled in soule do touche any of these whether shal it be defiled the Priestes aunswered and said it is defiled verse 14 Aggeus aunswered sayd So is this people and so be these folke before my face sayeth the Lorde and so is all the woorke of their handes and whatsoeuer they bringe hyther it is defiled ¶ For the rekeninge of monethes years dayes and such other particular wordes â–ª we sayde ynough before Now is the Prophet sent to appose the priestes in the law of God and make theym geue sentence againste them selues The lippes of the Prieste kepe knowledge and they shall aske the lawe of his mouthe saieth Malachy And therfore to see what knowledge they had in the lawe of the Lorde what aunswer they woulde make he was sent to examine them and he puts foorthe hys question so wisely that he makes them to condemne them selues by their owne iudgement He is bidden them aske theÌ„ oute of the lawe of God and not out of the Popes lawe nor yet any mans lawe whiche often through bribes is ended as a man is frended but out of Gods boke which with out parcialitie speakes indifferentlye on all partes and neither feares the riche for his might and authoritie nor hath foolish pitie on the poore for his pouertie but vprightly iudges right and condemnes sin wheresoeuer it is founde If the priestes in Moyses law had this charge geuen theÌ„ to be so cunninge in the scriptures yâ— they shoulde be able to aunswere all doubtes whiche coulde be asked them How much more shoulde oure Priestes nowe be able by the scripture to teache all which be ignoraunte and aunswere all doubtes that can bee moued for saincte Paule sayeth a minister shoulde be able too exhorte wyth holsome doctrine and confute false But if ye wante one too keepe a Curre rather then a Cure to be a Hunter or a Fawkener to be an ouerâ—ear of your workemen to be youre stuarde or loke to your sheepe and cattell too be youre Gardiner kepe youre Orcharde or write youre busines who is meter for anye of these businesses then syr Ihon lackelatine What a wickednes is thys that they shoulde take such paynes to be so cuÌ„ninge in these thinges that God lookes not for oâ— them and in those thinges that God hathe charged theym withall they can saye nothing at all they be dumme Dogges not able to barke in rebukinge sinne blynd guides not able to rule their flocke but if the worlde be on their side they can theÌ„ playe the woode Dogges bytinge snatching at euery man near them and let no honest man dwel in rest by theÌ„ but accuse burne and condemne all that speake against their mischiefes If there be a treÌ„tall to be saiee or any money to be gotteÌ„ for masses Diriges Relikes pardons c. then who is so ready as they they can smell it out a great sorte of myles of But if a man waÌ„t comforte in conscience woulde vnderstaÌ„d his duety towards God or Gods goodnes towardes vs they be blinde beastes ignorant doltes vnlearned asses and can saye nothing but make holy water bid them saye a Ladies psalter The questions which he putteth forth here teÌ„d to this purpose that by one thing which is like he may proue an other lyke For loke as halowed fleshe did not halow these thinges which it touched so did not the goodnes whiche was in some of them make the rest holy But
or gettes it wrongfully layes it vp nigardly or els spendes it vnthriftely And in all his labour sekes hys owne profitte with the hurt of others therefore it is synne By this is also proued this great controuersy whether we be made righteous by woorkes or faith For if workes should make vs righteous then the good workes which an euil man doth should make him righteous But the Prophete saieth here that whatsoeuer the euyll man doth it is defiled Therfore the man must be good before the worke be good as our sauioure Christ saieth Eyther make the tree good and the frute good or make the tree euyll and the frute euil And as the frute makes not the tree good but shewes and geues it to be a good tree So it is in the euyl frute and the tree The soure crabtree makes the crabbes bitter and not the crabbes makes the tree euyll As the tree is so is his frute and as the man is suche is hys lyfe A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringes foorth good thinges and an euyl man out of the euyll treasure of his heart bringes foorth euyll But the heart the man is euyll before the dede be euyll not in tyme but in the order of nature For as in a well spring looke what taste the water hath at the head of the spring thesame it hath when it runnes foorthe So if the heart of man be defiled which is the springe whereof comes hordom adultery murther and all other oure doinges the deedes muste nedes be nought which come oute of suche a defyled headde and springe So that if we wil doe any good dede we must be good meÌ„ trees before in Goddes sighte and election of God that our fruite and dedes mai be good For out of an euyll roote can not come good fruites God loues the dedes for the maÌ„s sake â–ª whiche doeth theym rather than the man for the good woorkes that he doeth As God looked firste at Abel and then at his giftes but to Cain his offeringes he loked not because Abel was a choosen vessel of God therefore God receiued his offeringes and Cains were not receyued because he was not of that number For as a scholemayster will take in good part the diligence that his scholers can do and if he see them put their good willes theretoo he wil beare with their faultes and teache them their lessons But to stubburne and frowarde he wil shew no gentelnes but cast them of So God with those whome he hath chosen in Christe before the world was made will bear with their infirmities and wyncke at their littell faultes teache them to do better prayse their well doinges and gentellye correcte their faultes But his enemies and outcastes because whatsoeuer they doe is hypocresye he loues them not but euen theyr prayer is turned to sinne and whatsoeuer they do is defiled because they be not graffed chosen in Christe Iesus as the wyse man saieth the wicked man and his wickednes are hated in like of God Thus the man makes the woorke good rather then the woorke makes the man good in Gods sight and iudgemente be it neuer so godly to the outwarde shew in the eye So if the heart of man and conscience be defiled it defiles the good creatures of God whiche otherwise be good and lawefull Sainct Paule speakinge of meates saieth all be cleane and laweful to theym whiche be cleane but to the vncleane nothinge is cleane but their myndes consciences be defiled For â—f a man eate but a pece of bread and thinke that it is not lawfull for him to do so he sinnes because he doeth it not of fayth and so the coÌ„scieÌ„ce wantinge fayth is defiled For whatsoeuer is not fayth is sinne and he waÌ„tinge true knowledge that God made all things to serue man nowe throughe supersticion and a defiled conscience serues that creature whiche shoulde serue hym and so defiles that whiche of it selfe God hath created holy cleane and mete to be eaten at al tymes with thankesgeuing All this comes by reason of sinful superstition in the man whiche not beleuinge the scriptures that all meates be laweful for all men at all times wantes faythe and so hath hys conscience defiled which defiles the meat whiche he eates Where as they commonly reason our euill woorkes condemne vs therfore our good woorkes saue vs this place of the Prophete teacheth the contrarie reason For all the Priestes in their general counsaill graunte that he whiche is defiled in soule defiles al thinges which he doth yet they denye that if a holy thinge touche an other thing vnholy that it maketh it holy also So that sinne hath greater strengthe to defile other thinges then goodnes hath to make other things holy Sainct Paule reasoninge of thesame matter teaches vs howe to conclude saying the rewarde of sinne is death and then he sayeth not the rewarde of vertue and good woorkes is euerlasting lyfe but he saieth euerlasting lyfe is the free gift of God Thus must we reason than bothe as the Prophete doeth here sainct Paule in thesame ease that oure euyll is more able too condemne vs then our goodnes is to saue vs. This shoulde also be a sufficiente warninge for vs too beware what companye we ioyne our selues vnto For sinne in one man is of so great force that it defiles all the company he is in Thus teaches sainct Paule euyll communication corruptes good maners The wickednes whiche is in these meÌ„ it crepes like a caÌ„ker which infects alwaies the next part vnto it vntyl it haue run through infected the whole bodye So the wicked neuer cease vntill they haue drawen vnto them all suche as kepe their companye What is a more daungerous thinge than too kepe companye with vnthriftes Haue not many which before they knew such vnthriftynes were sober and honest but after they haue ben tangled with suche euyll men solde house and lande some became beggers many hanged Haue not many honest yong men by keping coÌ„pany with swearers and horehunters become open blasphemers and geue them selues to al vnhappines So in companing with Papists and to please the worlde manye haue forsaken the truth which thei knew and profest and are become open enemies and persecuters of God and his people Did not Salomon fall too Idolatrie with marriyng Heathen wyues Did not God forbid marriage with the Heathen least they shoulde entyse vs to Idolatry Was not Sampson ouercome in keping coÌ„pany with Dalida What a proud presumptioÌ„ then is this to thinke I am stroÌ„g inough wise inough to take hede to my self in what company so euer I shal come For except you be wiser then SalomoÌ„ or stronger then Sampson thou shalt be ouercome as thei were When thou shalt sit amonge Papistes heare them blaspheme thy God and praise their Idolatrye howe canste thou escape
is the spirite of truthe because he leades vs into all truth and putteth vs in remembraunce of all thinges whyche Christ him self caught before but no new doctrine he bringes of his owne And because our sauiour Christ is taken from vs in hys bodelye presence he promises vs that this spirite shall dwell with vs not for a tyme but too the ende and therefore wee shoulde not feare But is this a sufficient cause too perswade a man that he should not fear the power of kinges or worldly trouble because the spirite of God dwelles with hym yea truly For what spirite can preuayle against the holy spirit which is the power of God It is written of Gedeon whan he enterprised that venterous acte to fight againste Gods enemies that the spirite of the Lorde bid clothe and defend Gedeon as our clothes doe vs and so he obteined that noble victorie with so few agaiÌ„st so many And not to be afraide in suche trouble is the woorke of the holy Ghoste as Esaie called hym the spirite of boldnes strength and wisedom Peter whan he denied hys maister for the woordes of an handmaide after he receiued the holy Ghoste did and durste confesse hym too the deathe before princes and rulers So sayde oure sauiour Christe to hys Apostles when ye shal staÌ„d before Kyngs and rulers take no thought what or howe ye shall speake for in that houre it shal be geuen vnto you what you shall speake For it is not you that speake but the spirite of youre father which speaketh in you And although to worldly wisedome thys spirite seemes but a small thinge yet it is moste true that s â–ª Paule saith that which is folishnes before God is wyser then me and that whiche is weake before God is stronger then men And he that hath this spirite dwellinge in hym needes not too feare any power be it neuer so greate for if God be for vs who shall be againste vs and if he take his breath and spirite from the mightiest princes they are troubled vade awaye verse 6 For thus saieth the Lorde of hostes yet one litle time shal be and I will trouble the heauens and the earth the sea the lande verse 7 And I will trouble all people and the desire of all people shall come and I wil fyll thys house with glory saieth the Lorde of hostes ¶ The Prophete goeth on forth with this comforth to all people and promises not onely that God woulde be with theym in hys buyldinge whiche they shoulde finish in fewe yeares folowinge but intoâ— the temple also which thei did now build God woulde sende his sonne Christ Iesus to preache his fathers will whom all people looked for and desired hys comminge and he woulde fyll that house with glory that they shoulde not neede to care for the smalnes of it if they woulde onelye with courage woorke God woulde fulfill the rest And that they shoulde know him too be able to fulfyll hys promise he cals hym selfe by the glorious name of the Lorde of hostes so often here in these verses that they maye vnderstande all creatures too bee at hys commaundement that none coulde preuaile againste that whiche he woulde haue done as is saide before But this is a straunge kynde of comforte too tell theym of suche a trouble as shoulde trouble heauen and earth sea laÌ„d and all people and yet they should be glad of it and that it shoulde come not long after The tyme when this trouble chauÌ„ced was about .500 yeares after that this prophete had thus spoken and yet he cals it but one litle time And this maye well bee called a litle tyme in respecte of God with whome all thinges are present before hys sighte withoute tyme and a .1000 â–ª yeares with hym is as yesterdaye which is paste and he hym selfe is before all times not coÌ„teyned in tyme but liuing for euer wythout tyme. Or els it is called a little tyme in respect of that longe time wherin their fathers had so long looked for the coÌ„ming of Christ and so muche desired hym and yet see hym not It was now aboue 3000. yeare since he was promised to AdaÌ„ about 2000. since he was so often spoken of too Abraham and .1000 since it was renued to Moyses and after to all the Prophetes from tyme too tyme in respecte of whiche 500. maye well be called a litle tyme. This trouble whiche he sayeth shoulde trouble heauen earthe sea lande and all people is described by these mightie wordes to set out the greatnesse of the trouble by the figure called Hyperbole and not the trouble was suche that heauen earth sea and lande shoulde feele it be troubled therewith whiche are insensible creatures and can feele nothinge that troubles them but thus by these woordes the scripture vses too tell the greatnes of any thinge that it speakes of Moyses and Esaye because the people were harde hearted and woulde not heare their sayinges to set foorthe theyr hardnes of heart and the greatnes of that message which they had froÌ„ God to speake saye thus â–ª Heare ye heaueÌ„s and geue care thou earth c. Sainct Paule saieth by the like figure euery creature grones and trauayles lookinge for the laste daye wherin they shall be deliuered froÌ„ this vayn corruptioÌ„ wherin they serue not because deade creatures can grone or trauayle but for the great desire that they haue to see that day of oure redeÌ„ption fulfilled as the woman whiche trauels grones desires too be deliuered out of her payn to be restored to her former quietnes or els it may be taken that all creatures in all these places should be troubled But if this trouble shoulde be so great how can it be a promise of ioye and comfort Who can be merye to hear tel of such a greate trouble Surelye this is not promised to the euil but to the good For as our Lord maister Christ saieth speaking of the trouble that should be in the destructioÌ„ of Ierusalem the latter ende of the world woo be to theÌ„ that be with chyld geue sucke in those daies the wicked shall wish the hyls to fal on theÌ„ hide theÌ„ â–ª thei shuld seke for death â–ª it shuld flee froÌ„ theÌ„ So he saith to the good in the midst of all the desperat â—orow wherin the euil man caÌ„not tel what to Lifte ye vp your heades and bee merye for your redemption and deliueraunce is at hande So after this shorte time that he speaketh of this greate trouble whiche shall be at the byrthe preachinge miracles and deathe of oure sauioure Christe shoulde be but onely to the wicked For the good men shoulde as muche and more reioyce because of that daye of saluation and redemption was comen he whome all people looked for had now appeared to the comfort of all good men And thys trouble shoulde not be so