and persecutes them that loue Christ and his woord or wil not beleue him his doinges to be aboue the scripture all these thinges he would not do except he thought his wais the better Howe many orders of monkes Freeres Nunnes Chanons Heremites Pylgrymages Pardonnes Reliques Sainctes Masses Holy water hathe he sette in hys Churche whiche all the scripture castes awaye as noughte because they bee not taughte vs by God but inuented by the Pope for hys vantage and vayne glorie What diuersitie is amoÌ„g them although they charge the gospelers with the falselye when thei put their holines in their coats some saye a whyte Coule is more holye some saye a blacke an other sorte a graye Some saye masse of Requiem is beste other saye of Scala coeli Some of the fiue woundes some of 〈◊〉 Lady Some praye to one sainct as 〈◊〉 in gods fauour and some to other Some vse trinite knots and other sainct Katâ—â—â—rins Some haue saincte Tronions 〈◊〉 other oure Ladies and many the golâ—â—â— Fridayes In the schooles some holde 〈◊〉 sainct Thomas some of Duns and 〈◊〉 of Gabriel or Bacon Some holde of Fraâ—â—â—ces in religion some of Dominike 〈◊〉 of Augustin but the holiest was s. 〈◊〉 For as Fasciculus temporum saies he was 〈◊〉 holy that he broughte too heauen 〈◊〉 5555. Popes .24 Cardinals .2000 Archebishops .7000 Bishops .15000 Deanes 5000. Abbots .74 beside many Nunnes and holy Sisters and Priestes O holy â— Benet that was more holy than so many Popes Freeres Cardinals c. And wrâ—â—ched Popes that can bringe other to heauen and not them selues Some priestes saie matins masse and after Yorkes vse some of Sarum some Bangor and other of common sanctorum But neuer one seekes Christ as he shoulde accordinge too the scripture They haue made them schoolemaysters whom they will folow of their own deuisinge where as God the father hathe appointed his sonne Christ and sayd this is my welbeloued Sonne in whom I am well delited heare hym And he is that Prophete of whom Moyses wrote saying the Lorde youre God will rayse a Prophete from among youre brethren like vnto me hym shall ye heare and that soule whiche will not heare him shall perishe He is the wisedome of God the father by whome he hath shewed his mercie and power to the whole worlde and by whome he hath confounded the mightie and wise of the world and he is God withoute beginninge These other whiche they call sainctes or rather make them their Gods are founde of late and it is not manye yeares synce they liued It is not since Fraunces Augustine and Dominic lyued muche aboue â—00 years and if those be the pillers of Gods churche now howe did it stande afore their daies If these be the meanes to bringe vs to heauen now howe do they that died before that these men were born and knowen God witnesses of his sonne Christ that he is the Lambe whiche was slayne from the beginninge of the worlde and that by his deathe the sinnes of the whole worlde are forgeuen that whatsoeuer we aske hym in his name he will geue vs. We haue no suche promise made vs in any other creature and therefore if we aske any thing in their names God nedes not to geue it vs for he hath not bouÌ„d him selfe by any promise as he hath to his son Christ. God hath not found a new way of late for vs to be saued by but hath apointed one means for all ages by which only we shal please him that is the merites death of his deare sonne Christ Iesus 〈◊〉 Lord. He is the strong rocke vpon whom what house soeuer is buylded shall stande all other be builded on the sande therefore shall fall Therfore Englande howe canst thou escape the greate plages written in thys booke that had banished the worde of God that the people might not haue it nor read it the shepe heard not the voice of the true shepeheard but the straunge language of Wolues Hierelinges thefes yea thou wast come to suche a shamelesnes and hatred of Gods woorde that thou could not suffer the clere light of the gospel to shyne nor the shryl trumpet of Gods moste holye woorde to sounde in thine eares whiche would confound all such enemies of God to haue any place at al in thee Marke wel EnglaÌ„d in how miserable an estate thou wast that thou mightest not hear God speake to thee by his woorde nor beleue what he teaches thee but whatsoeuer pleases the Pope to commaund thee or the parliameÌ„t to decree What are those bishops woorthye to haue which in one yeare space coÌ„firmed the preaching of the gospel of christ and pure minestringe of Gods sacrameÌ„ts and thesame men within thesame yeare with thesame impudent mouthes blasphemous tunges brought in the Pope set by Idols banished Christe and his holye supper appointed for all men that wil to receiue it together toke awaye his holye gospell and sacrameÌ„ts and placed by their authoritie the masse for one shaueling to eate vp all and blesse the people with the empty Chalice and burned his preachers to fyll their bellies Moyses commaunded suche blasphemers of gods name to be stoned and yet they beare the name and title of ministers in Christes churche If the Iewes deserued all these vengeaunces because they didde not buylde gods house what had thou O Englande deserued in this defacinge and pullingâ—-doune and haste thus chauÌ„ged gods house into a denne of theeues and made it the Popes market place to bye and sell Heauen Hell and Purgatorie to deceiue christen soules and deface the deathe and passion of oure sauioure Christe Thou didst set vp Idols to be 〈◊〉 and sought helpe at stockes stones therfore howe muche nede haste thou 〈…〉 vnto God that he woulde geue thee 〈◊〉 rulers for thou must beleue as they 〈◊〉 and if they loue not God thou shalte heare him speake vnto thee by his worde if 〈◊〉 will not worship God arighte thou 〈◊〉 not be suffered to do it if thou would Can any people escape vnpunished 〈◊〉 thus mockes God Or if Gods mercy 〈◊〉 not vnspeakeable coulde he haue 〈◊〉 his handes thus longe but haue 〈◊〉 oute his vengeauÌ„ce and throwen his thâ—â—â—derbolts in euery corner of thee to 〈◊〉 thee before these dayes If thou wilt not glorify God in repentinge he will glorifie him selfe in destâ—â—nge thee Marke howe manye daies 〈◊〉 hath forborne to punishe thee so manye dayes haste thou had of his endlesse merci â–ª graunted thee to repent in and if thou 〈◊〉 it not by times loke not for the contrary but thou shalt be made an example to the whole worlde a laughinge stocke too thy enemies a pray and slaue to all countries rounde aboute thee What can be thoughte of those which will euer folowe that whiche the prynce desires but that they seeke their owne pleasure and profite with all diligence whiche the prophete cals
our appointed time If this were well considered it woulde make our proude Peacockes feathers too fall when we remember frome whence we come and whither we shall and how we be not able too thinke of oure selues a good thoughte but that all oure goodnes is geuen vs of God and vnto him we bee traytours and theeues if we be proude of his giftes and geue not him worthy thaÌ„kes for them but take the prayse to oure selues Thus by degrees doth God encrease his plages and threatning not destroying vs at the firste but by layinge on vs one litle rodde at the first he biddeth warneth vs to beware of the next for that wil be greater if we amend not this he doth by his other Prophetes also In Osee he coÌ„pares hym self to the mothe Lyon in punishing for the mothe doth not eate vp clothes hastely but by leasur by litle and litle but the Lyon deuoureth vp all at once So saieth God I will be no more onely as a mothe in clothes in punishing you so gently and by leasure for by that gentle kynde of punishinge ye waxe wors◠〈◊〉 worse but I will come now as a LioÌ„ and destroye you quickely for ye abuse my geÌ„tlenes and I can not hold my handes any longer beside you Lorde soften oure harâ— hearts that wher we be gilty in thesame fault of negligent buyldinge thy house we may heare and feare those great 〈◊〉 teninges towardes vs wee maye driâ—â—â— thee and obtayne mercy for our sins paâ—â— and here after be more diligente too serue thee verse 12 Then Zerobabel the sonne of Salathiel and Iosua yâ— sonne of Iehozadac the hyghe Priest and all the remnauÌ„t of the people gaue eare vnto the voyce of the Lorde their God and vnto the woordes of Aggens the Prophete â—â— as much that the Lord their God sent hym and the people were afraid in the sight of God verse 13 13 And Aggeus the messenger of the Lorde sayd in the messages of the Lorde to the people sayinge I am with you saieth the Lorde ¶ Hitherto from the beginninge hathe ben nothinge but chydinge and threateninge for their greate negligence in buyldinge Gods house nowe folowes the profite and commoditie that came by suche a sharpe kynde of rebukinge They began to geue eare vnto it marke it and were afrayde too heare and consider those plages whiche yet hanged ouer their heads they beleued those sayinges too bee true whiche Aggeus sayde vnto them and thei â—eared God This is the ordinary way that God vseth to teache by whiche the scripture sets before vs to learne too beleue in God and feare him First to rebuke sinne and declare the anger of God towardes sinners and preache repeÌ„taunce as Ihon Baptist and oure sauioure Christe began to preache repent the kyngdome of God is at haÌ„de Fayth commeth by hearing saith sainct Paule and hearinge by the woorde of God therefore he that will beleue and haue his fayth encreased must be diligent in the scriptures too heare sermons and marke what God saieth vntoo vs there What maruayl is it if the Papistes haue so litle faith seing thei reade not the scripture and hold opinion that it is not necessary yea not to be suffered that the scripture should be muche read or taughte but the Popes lawes customes and decrâ—es The whole scripture hath these .ii. chiefe partes into the whiche it is deuided the lawe and the Gospell the lawe contaynes properly the setting forth of sinne threatninges curses Gods anger toward sinâ—â— remorse of conscience for thesame daÌ„nation hel despaire the Gospel contains coÌ„fort hope forgeuenesse mercies in Christ heauen saluation agrement with God Thus teaches s. Paule sayinge the lawe workes anger within a man in conscieÌ„ce towards him self for displeasing his 〈◊〉 God and also declares what is sinne the angre and iust iudgement of God for sin By the law comes the knowledge of syn Agayn he saieth I had not knowen coueting lusting and desiring for any vnlawfull thing to haue ben sinne except the law had said thou shalt not lust nor couet The gospel is the power of God to saue al that beleue in Christ whiche saieth come to me all ye that laboure and are laden I will refreshe you thus God loued the worlde that he gaue his onelye begotten sonne c. with many suche like promises as if any man sinne we haue an aduocate with the father c. this profit came here to this people by preaching the law of God and threatninges vnto theym that they whiche were afore so forgetful of their duties now hearing the great anger vengeaunce of God that hanged ouer their heads ready to fal on them it styrred them vp to do their duties and fear God Thus maye we here se the fonde tender eares of them which would not heare nor haue the law preached but all together the swete comfortable promises mercies in Christ nor can not abide the anger of God iuste iudgement for sinne to be taught saying it bringes a man into dispaire and that it is not nowe in the time of grace mete too be preached A man as he is made of bodye soule so hath he the lawe geuen hym too beate doune the lustes of the fleshe and keepe hym in due feare to his Lorde and God least the soule should despaire when it coÌ„siders the greatnes of the sinne whiche the fleshe and mynde drawes hym to he hath the coÌ„fort of Christ offered vnto him in the gospell So least we be proud forget God we haue the lawe geuen too set before vs the righteousnesse of those thinges which God requires of vs oure weake vnableâ—nes to fulfill thesame and the righteous sentence of deathe and Gods anger proâ—nounced vpon all that fulfill not thesame lawe But least we shoulde despayre 〈◊〉 haue the vnspeakeable mercies of God â—â—â—fered vnto vs in his sonne whiche by hys death hath conquered death and paied the full price for the sins of the whole world He biddeth vs when we feele oure owne weakenes vnablenes to fulfill his law to come vnto hym aske help and mercy at his handes and doubte not thereof but it shal be graunted For as we see in iudgementes here amongest vs there is a royal seate set where the iudge sittes he that is accused standes at the barre holdes vp his hande heares his enditement redde witnes is broughte in againste him and â—â— iustly condempned to death so we shal see Iesus Christe the righteous iudge of the worlde that will not be brybed sit in hys seate of maiesty at the laste daye all the companye of Aungels about him and we shall stande at the barre as accused enâ—yted for breakinge that righteous lawe of his woorde the deuill whiche entised vs so to do shal beare witnes that to be true yea and our own conscience also the feaâ— of
Apostles and Peter Shoulde we not beleue this resurrection because that wemē taught it first Apollo a mightye learned man in the scriptures submitted hym selfe to be further taught in true religion of Priscilla and Aquila◠simple man his wyfe Timothy Ihon the Euangeliste were bothe verye yonge when they were called to be preachers Peter the elder Apostle is content to be rebuked of Paull his yonger Iudith that good woman corrected the Elders Priestes and Rulers in Bethulia mistrusting Gods helpe and prouidence for them whē they woulde yelde vp the Citye Dauid a man accordinge to Gods owne heart heares most willingly the Prophet Nathan rebuke hym who was of muche lesse estimation then he And kynge Ezechias heareth Esai rebuke him of his faultes These and suche other examples be written to teach vs that the elder in what authoritie so euer he be or by what name so euer he be called shoulde willingly suffer the iuste rebuke of the yonger bringinge the woorde of God for hym Further where he addes this twyse sayinge the Lorde their God the Lorde their God it is verye comfortable for all sinners that haue longe lyen in sinne that they shoulde not dispaire of Goddes mercie but spedely turne by repentaunce The longe sufferinge of God is farre aboue our desertes had suffered this people thus longe to lye in sin yet had not caste them of but doth vouchesafe to send his Prophet to thē to rebuke them stirre them vp to their duties calling him selfe their God whiche had forgottē forgeuen all their former disobedience who nowe was woulde continue their good gracious and mercifull Lorde and God styll Who can dispaire too obtayne grace and pardon for all his greate offences seinge set before him the louinge gētlenes of oure good God and maister which offereth vndesired his mercies so plētifully to so hard a hearted and disobedient people his free pardon A poena et culpa from all payne due to sinne or the gylte thereof whiche alsoo calles him selfe their God and by continual earnest cryinge of this his Prophete awakes them out of this deadde sleepe of sinne wherein they had lyen so long and left his house vnbuylded It is commonly saide saieth Ieremye if a man put away◠his wyfe for adulterye will he take her agayne yet thou sayeth God to his people although thou hast played the harlot with many hoores yet turn vnto me and I wil receiue thee againe sayeth the Lorde thy God O mercifull Lorde praysed be thy holy name for thy gentle offers and liberall promises offered vnto vs in thy sonne Christ Iesu oure Lorde Thou standest at the doore of our conscience knockinge too be let in offeringe thy selfe to dwell with vs if we would receiue thee There is no time so longe that a man hath run from God in nor any time so short to aske forgeuenes but if he will turne God is ready to forgeue him The Gentiles hadde lien in synne aboue foure thousande yeares from the beginninge of the worlde to the deathe of Christe withoute any true teachinge or knowledge of God and yet whan they receiued the Gospell by the preaching of the Apostles they were most gently receiued of Christe into the number of his people The thefe hanginge on Christes right hand on the crosse askinge mercy in the houre of deathe obtained it So that neither the greatnes of sinne nor the longe tyme that man hathe continued in it nor the shortnes of tyme to aske forgeuenes in can stoppe the great vnspeakeable mercies of God to pardō the sinnes of the whole worlde Why should we than mistrust the goodnes of our God seinge he is the maker of thesame lawe whereby we shal be iudged also able to dispence withal pardon the breakers of thesame lawe if he will who also shal be Iudge and Executer of thesame lawe as pleases him But that the people should rather beleue his woorde he saieth the Lorde their God sente him no straunge God but the mightie God of hostes and the liuing God of Israel nor he ranne not before he was sent but soberly looked for the callinge of God and then did his message faithfullye This is an example for all ministers too folowe that they doo not with bribery or flattery thrust them selues into any office but paciently tary the calling of the Lord their God which can and wil call them at suche tyme as he iudges them necessarye to serue him Who woulde be so bolde to bye a Benefice or flatter for a Bishoprike if he did thinke them to be offices in Gods house and that they must make a count to God for his people He that comes before he be sent for oftentimes comes before he be welcome and he that climbes in at the wyndowe is a thefe for the doore is made to come in by But because these Popishe prollers seke not the profit of the flocke but to fyll their bellies thei care not how thei come by it so they maye haue it and thinke they haue done God good seruice the people well content when they teache them neuer a woord of scripture but haue saide Masse made cōiured water or song an Antiphone of our Lady If they hadde this true stedfaste opinion of God as they ought to haue that he were a louinge father to his household and a wise maister that could and woulde set wise Stuardes ouer his house and that whosoeuer presumed to take any office in his house vncalled were a theefe and should be sharpelye punished A man coulde not hire them for money to take any cure of teaching Gods people vntill they were inward moued of God to do it for loue to the people not for their owne gayne Thei woulde also prouide to be ordinarely called by man leaste he which should teache and se others kepe good order should be proued the first breaker of all good lawes orders If a straunger shoulde violently thrust in him self to be the Shepeheard of thy shepe thou wouldest aske him whoo sent for him what he had to do there and thou wouldest rather thinke him to be a thefe and a murtherer of thy Sheepe then a trusty seruaunt So surely if thou come to take charge of gods people before he inwardly moue thy conscience to pitie hys people and outwardly by order cal and place thee where he thinkes good he will iudge thee a theefe a Wolfe a deuourer and not a feeder After they hearde that the woorde of God was sent vnto them by Aggeus and had wayed and considered diligently how true his sayinges were that so many yeares they had suffered soo greate plagues they beganne so feare and beleue that the threateninges folowinge woulde alsoo proue true and than they humbled theym selues in the sight of God and were afraid in dede This profit had thei by hearing the word of God that thei knowledged their owne sinnes that thei
to know whether they should be suffered to go forward in their buylding or not But God so moued the kyngs heart that he gaue theÌ„ not onely libertye to buylde but money alsoo to do it with all by the strength of God they had not onely geuen the enterpryse but also went forwarde in their building askinge no licence at all of anye man before they were complayned on This strength hath Gods woord wheÌ„ it is worthelye receiued that it maketh a man to forget his owne profite yea laÌ„des wyfe chyldren goodes and life maÌ„fully to beare death pryione fyre and displeasure of princes so that he maye do his dutye to his Lorde God and escape his displeasure Peter who denied his maister at the voice af a handmayde after he had receiued the holy Ghoste was bolde to confesse hym before lordes and princes euen to the deathe Paule in furious rage of his persecution was striken doune and of a wolfe rose vp a lambe Nicodemus that afore durst not be knowen to be Christes disciple or beare hym any good wil after durst aske the body of Pylate and bouâ—dly buried it Thus where true fayth is geueÌ„ to God commaundinge any thing to be don or to the preachinge of hys woorde it makes of haters louers of fearfull bolde of persecuters preachers and doeth wholye chaunge the nature of manne as Dauid sayeth The lawe of the Lorde is without spot turninge the mindes of men Thys was neither treason nor rebellion against the kynge to do that which God by his prophete so straitly commaunded as was declared and noted before but they were rather traytours to God that had not of soo many yeares gone more earnestly aboute that buildinge of Gods house as God willed them to do And where he calles God their God yet after so great and longe disobedience it commendes vnto vs the long suffering and merciful goodnes of our God that wil not forsake vs for a fault or twoo nor in a yeare or twoo but continually beareth with vs callinge vs to hym by all meanes possible and woulde not one of the leaste too perishe All the daye longe sayeth God by his prophet Esay I haue stretched out my handes to a people that speakes against me and faytheles But of this is inough spoken before And where he addeth this and sayeth they went wrought in the Lords house the .xxiiii. daye of the .vi. moneth and the â–ª same seconde yeare of Darius it teaches vs the earnestnes of them towardes theyr woorke nowe after they were thus awaked and sturred vp out of their sleepe They had but three wekes and .iii. daies bothe to heare this preaching of Aggeus and to make ready their tooles to woorke withall whiche time had ben litle inough to haue prepared their tooles in although they had not hadde any other busines too haue ben occupied withall The prophete was sent from God the first daye of the .vi. moneth as appeares in the firste verse nowe the .xxiiii. daye of the same moneth they began to renue their woorke with a lusty courage so the whole tyme both too heare the preaching and prepare all thinges necessarie For their greate woorke was but three weekes and three dayes Soo earnestly doeth true â—aithe woorke where God is truely feared and his commaundement reuerently obeied that thei can not be quiet vntil they haue done that whiche God commaundes There is nothinge now that can hinder them froÌ„ this woorke neither the feare of the kynges displeasure nor the costlines of the greate worke nor the gredines of their owne profite whiche they sought so muche before neither the greatnes of their disobedience in so longe forgetting their lorde God but with one minde and courage thei sette vp this great costly woorke manfully continuinge in it happely finish it in 4. yeares space notwithstanding the great lets hinderaunce and accusations that were made againste them to the kynge other diuers wayes many This promise that God had made theÌ„ that he woulde be with them had so encouraged them the nothing coulde stop them frome their woorke but as Dauid goinge to fighte with Golias was not afrayd of al his strength harnes nor yet his power and mighte but sayde thou commest agaynste me trustinge in thyne owne strength and I come to fight with thee with this litle slinge and fewe stoones in the name of the lyuynge God of Israel so they were bolde in him onely to sette on thys great woorke If they were thus sturred vp by thys litle preachynge what dulnes shall wee thynke too bee in oure selues that after suche continuall cryinge and callinge can not be awaked to do our duties Is it any maruayle that God doeth so often and soo greuouslye plague vs seinge we shoulde without all excuses doe it whiche he commaundeth vs and yet in so long tyme we can not be broughte too feare hym as wee shoulde doe We maye also learne what a treasure it is to haue Gods worde amoÌ„gst vs seinge it is the ordinarie way that he hath ordeined to bring vs vnto hym by what a grefe it is too want the continuall preachinge of thesame and also the wickednes of the Papistes that thus do robbe the people of it and woulde make them to beleue that it were not necessary for theÌ„ but bringes them in to heresies and that it is the mother of all heresie and mischief that there was neuer good worlde since the scripture was in Englishe with such like blasphemies But if we marke the scriptur throughly in all ages we shall finde yâ— in good kings dayes whiche maintained Gods woorde his true religion as Dauid Salomon Iosaphat Ioas Ezechias Iosias in Iuda onely there was more pleÌ„ty of all worldly blessinges then there was in all Israell beside where as the scripture was not regarded Again if ye marke wel all the auÌ„cient heretikes eueÌ„ from the beginning as Arrius Pelagius UaleÌ„tinus MarcioÌ„ Sabellius Donatus Eutyches c. You shall finde none at all or verye fewe that were vnlearned but all for the moste part were great clarkes and by this reason theÌ„ the learned rather then the vnlearned shuld be kept from the scriptures if reading the scripture make heretikes For men fail chiefely into heresies when they trust too their owne wittes learning forsakinge or not submitting their wittes vnto gods wisedom coÌ„teined in hys infallible worde and truth If they will let the people heare the scripture in sermons I canne not tell why they shoulde not be suffered to reade it Why shoulde rather heresy come by readinge then by hearinge Naye thys is their meaninge they woulde haue no preachinge nor yet readinge sauinge of their dirty dragges of popery which maintaines their ydle lordelines where as the scripture setteth out their wickednes whiche they will not haue knowen nor yet once touched The Lorde for hys mercie sake defende vs from their tiraÌ„ny Amen ¶ A prayer MOst
sayd with a voice heard from heauen This is my welbeloued sonne in whome I am well pleased hear hym Or els it maye well be taken for the promise whiche is written in the .22 of Exodus where it is sayde beholde I wil sende my aūgel or messenger before thee and he shal leade thee in the waye shall driue all thy ennemies oute before thee whose lande thou shalte posses This Aūgell was Christe Iesus who is called the Aungell of the greate counsayle because he broughte from the bosome of his father the secrete counsayle of God and preached hys greate loue to the worlde An aungell is no more but a messenger or Embassadoure from God to declare and preache his will and pleasure to the worlde And that Christe was present with the Israelites and guided thē in the wildernesse Sainct Paule telleth playne that they tempted Christe and murmured agaynst him and Christe was the rocke The meaning and effecte of this promise is no more but that as God was presente with their fathers whan he brought them out of Egipt and deliuered them oute of al daungers were thei neuer so many nor so great brought them in to the land that he promised thē So he woulde nowe be present with them deliuer them and finishe their woorke yf they woulde woorke earnestlye neyther mistrusting hys mercie but that he would be with them and defende them againste the rulers whiche hated them nor fearing his power but that he was able too perfourme his promise vnto them If wee mistruste eyther his good will towardes vs that he will not or hys power that he can not delyuer vs wee prouoke his anger too deuoure vs and can not looke for helpe at his handes to saue vs for nothing offendes hys maiestie more then mistrust vnfaithfulnes or doubtinge as sainct Iames sayth he that doubtes is like a waue of water driuen with wynde too and fro and that man whiche so doubtes can lok◠too obtayne nothinge at Gods handes he gyues all hys giftes too them that bee faythefull and beleue that hee is bothe a true God perfourmyng all that he promyses merciful and willing to help al which in their neede call vpon hym and able too fulfill all that he saieth They that either doubte or denye his offered mercie or power to helpe denye hym to be a God Therfore feare not but beleue me too be youre God and I will deliuer you and defende you as I did youre fathers and ye shall finish this temple by my protection As I did bring them into the lande which I promised them ▪ droue out their enemies and gaue them the lande to dwell in So according to this promise it came to passe to this people now for in .4 yeares space next folowing they finished that tēple as Esdras teaches So good spede had they after that they beleued his promise that he woulde be with them But here maye be moued a greate question howe this is true that God saieth by this Prophet here that he broughte them out of Egipt whā this people neuer came there but about a .1000 years before Moyses brought out their fathers through the read sea where Pharao was drouned after that he would not beleue the great wonders wrought in his sight nor fear the Lord that had so oftē greuously plaged hym for hādling his peple so cruelly The scripture vses oft to geue that which was done to the fathers as thoughe it were done to the chyldren As when Melchisedecke tooke tithes of Abraham he is saide also to haue takē tithes of Leui whiche was not borne of many yeares after because he was conteined in the loynes of Abraham and afterwarde borne of his stocke and sede So likewise saieth sainct Paule By one man sinne entered into the worlde and by syn death and hath gone through all in whō all haue sinned So we all that now liue or hereafter shall doe all before vs haue sinned in Adam and broken Gods commaundemente as well as Adam did because we were conteined in his loines as it were parte of him and toke our sinfull nature of him in his sede posteritie As we see those ryuers which spring out of littel welles are of thesame nature that the head and springe is whereof thei come though they runne .2 or 300. myle of thorough diuers countries and as those crabbes are soure this daye that growe on the crabbe tree whiche is .200 or .300 yeares olde because the first roote and plāte was sower So wee all be sinfull that be borne of Adam and soure as he was because he the first tree was suche a one the spring whereof we come was corrupte filthye So likewise God saieth he broughte thys people out of Egipt whiche neuer hadde ben there because he deliuered their fathers thence in whose loynes they were conteined and should haue ben born ther and subiect to thesame slauerie that their fathers were if God of his greate mercie mightie power had not deliuered their fathers thence and broughte them into the lande whiche he promised them And as the mercie whiche had ben receiued in times paste is a token argument of like merci and grace to be shewed when soeuer wee stande in the like neede and distresse soo here that they shoulde loke for a sure helpe at Goddes hande nowe in these daungers that they were in he putteth theym in remembraunce of that greate deliueraunce whiche not their fathers onelye but they also had before out of Egipt that they should not be afraide now but loke for sure help The daunger was greater before oute of whiche thei were deliuered and yet they escaped it So now Gods power and good will beinge no lesse towarde theym then before they shoulde loke for the like helpe of God as before He promises theym here that his spirite shoulde dwell with them therefore they shoulde not be afraide For as before he sent his Aungell to guyde them in the wildernesse so now he woulde sende hys holy spirite vnto them to dwell with thē whiche shoulde teache them all thinges that they doubted of or were ignoraunte in shoulde comforte theym in all daungers and distresse and deliuer them from al perilles that were towarde them therfore they shoulde not feare But as the other parte of the promise concernes Christ whiche shoulde come to deliuer them out of spirituall bōdage and slauerye of sinne and the spiritual Egipt So this part here concernes the sendinge of the holy Ghoste whome Christ sayde he woulde send to dwell with vs and be our comfortour to the ende And as the buylding of this second tēple betokens the churche of Christ builded by the preaching of the Gospell So here is the holy Ghoste promised whiche he sayde should not come excepte he wente awaye from them Thys spirite is called a comforter because he strengthēs vs in all our trouble he
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
Christe alone for of his fulnes al we haue receiued as saint Ihon saieth And where we haue giftes of the holye spirite by measure so muche as pleases god of his goodnes to geue Christ oure Lorde and sauiour had the fulnes of the spirite without all measure that of hys fulnesse wee all might receiue part Christ hath the fulnesse of the gifts of the spirite so muche that although he geue part too vs all yet he hath nothinge lesse him self For as the Sunne geues light plentifull to the whole world and yet kepes the self same light within it self so oure sauioure Christe God and man hath the perfite fulnes of all goodnes in him selfe and yet geues part to vs as he thinkes good not losinge anye pece of that he hath him selfe but lightninge oure darkenes with that light which he hath withiÌ„ him self Saint Paule saith he is our wisedom righteousnes holines and redemption because he geues vs all these thinges As it is in fleshe soo is it in all other creatures although a probable obiectioÌ„ to the contrari maye be made out of the scriptures them selues Oure sauiour Christe saying woo to the Scribes and Pharise is which taught that he which swore by the temple or the aultar was nothing but if he swore by the golde of the temple or the offering on the aultar he was in faut semes to teache contrarye for he ads vntoo more sayinge that the temple makes the golde holy and the aultar the offring and that he which sweares by the aultar sweareth by it and those thinges whiche be on it and he that sweares by the teÌ„ple sweares by it him whiche is in it as thoughe the temple the aultar made other things holy Sainct Paule speakinge of the marriage of the faithful and the vnfaithefull saieth that the vnfaithful part is made holy by the faithful But here you must marke that this holines which sainct Paule speakes of beloÌ„ges nothing to the saluation or forgeuenes of sinne of the vnholy party but teaches that such mariage to coÌ„tinue is not vnlawful whoredome the chyldren so borne be not bastards HeatheÌ„s That other holines in the temple and the aultar is but suche a holines as Moyses teaches in his law which than was a ceremony but is now taken away therfore beloÌ„gs not to vnto vs. Any thing is called holy by the law of Moyses which is dedicated to serue god in any kind of ceremoni or seruice in the temple is no more turned to serue man in any kind of ciuil matter or in his house or els which by his institution signifies some holy thing vntoo vs. But these be called holy not because any holines for saluation is in them or that they can geue holines to other things but because the ende vse where vnto they be turned is holy Nothing beside man caÌ„ receiue this true holines for faith is the instrument means wherby true holines is receiued which profit to saluation whereof the Prophete speakes here chiefely But it is not so with the euilnes sinne of man for yâ— doeth not only defile the man when it is in him but all that the euil maÌ„ doth is euil also as all the touches the thing which is defiled is defiled also For as a carâ—on doeth not onelye smell euill it selfe but infectes all that come nere it So that man whiche is defiled in soule doth defile all thinges that he takes in hand Ualentianus a christiaÌ„ man turned from Idolatrye to the knowledge of Christ afterwarde made Emperour when other had cast vpon him suche holye water as thei made to their Idols he was angrye with theym that they defiled hys coate and smote the priest that gaue hym the holy water moued him to sacrifice For he thought as truth is that whatsoeuer was consecrated too Idols was soâ— filthye that it defiled whatsoeuer it touched if it was receiued with such opinion of holines as they thought Some read here if he that is defiled by the deadde doe touche c. the sence is bothe one of this that Many vncleane thinges were in Moyses lawe that whosoeuer touched theym shoulde bee vncleane also as he that touches a dead body shal be vncleane .7 days and he that hathe the fluxe of seede shal be vncleane he that touches the bed where suche haue lyen or sits where they haue sitten shal be vncleane also But this is not so muche for the vncleanes whiche is in the dead body or the sede by nature for bothe be the good creatures of God as the vnder this figure God woulde teache vs that we shoulde not as muche as touche sin whiche is the death of the soule Likewise the euyll lustes whiche raygne whaÌ„ the flux of the sede is be the causes which make them vncleane which suffer suche diseases and affections So that whether we reade he that is defiled in soule or he that is defiled by the dead it is sinne that bothe do meane For that not onely defyles but killes the soule which doth it And sinne is such that it defiles all that touch it as Strack saieth comparing it to pitch He that touches pitche is defiled with it Sainct Paule saieth also euil communications corrupt good maners Dauid saieth the sinners prayer is turned into sinne The good man therefore makes all his woorkes good and the euill defiles euery good thinge he takes in hande This verse teaches plaine that the hole life of an euill man whatsoeuer hee doeth is defiled For as sainct Paule requires of a good man that whether he eate or drinke or whatsoeuer he do he shoulde do all to the glorie of God So the euil man if he eate drinke slepe wake talke worke â–ª or be Idle all is defiled before the Lord. For an euil tree can not bring foorth good frute nor figges growe on bryers yea let him studye praye faste geue almisse bye â—rentals geue his body to be burned or do what he can deuise and it is defiled If I had all faith saieth sainct Paule so that I coulde make mountaines to sturre out of their places if I knowe all secretes geue my goods in almes and my body to be burned I am nothinge better it profites me nothinge if I lacke charitie All euyl men lacke charitie For by this shall ye bee knowen too be good men and so my schollers if ye loue one another sayeth our sauiour Christ therefore whatsoeuer they do it is defiled The good man if he eate or drinke he doth it with thankes giuinge to God for suche sustenaunce righteously gotten and soberly takes it to refreshe his weake nature that he may the better serue his Lorde God If he woorke vse marchaundise or anye other kynde of lyfe he doth it so much for his own as for the comen profit But the euil man either geues not due thankes for his meate
first verse coÌ„taines generally that whiche the verses folowinge declare by particulars The pride violence iniuries wrongs and robberies that thei shewed toward their brother Iacob be the causes of this their destruction Iacob EdoÌ„ are not here taken for the two brethren the sonnes of Isaac but for the hole seede stocke posterite chyldren and issue borne of them bothe so that as hatred began in Esau against Iacob in their fathers lyfe yea in their mothers wombe in so much that Esau persecuted his brother Iacob to deathe so sore that Iacob was caused too flee to his vncle LabaÌ„ so the hatred persecution enemite did coÌ„tinue in their children vnto this time was fulfilled that the Prophet speakes of here whan the posterite of Esau was vtterly destroied And this is comfortable both for the long sufferinge of God afore he doe extremely punishe and also a true profe of his iustice that although he do differ his punishing long yet he is a righteous iudge and will come at the length and be auenged on his enemies and deliuer his chyldren that haue ben so loÌ„g oppressed vnder their enemies Therefore as the good nede not to be disscouraged as thoughe their God cared not for them so the wicked shall not triuÌ„phe as though they might do what they list God woulde not call them to a count They had thus persecuted Iacob and his posterite aboue a thousande yeare that continually afore thei were destroied and coulde neuer be satisfied of their crueltie therefore partly too stoppe their raginge and bring them to the knowledge bothe of God them self partly to feare other for folowinge the like exaÌ„ple if they shoulde be vnpunished but specially for the crying of the poore oppressed people whoÌ„ God takes in to his custodie to be their tutor the Lorde will rise to shewe him selfe glorious mighty and merciful pull doun his enemies deliuer his oppressed as Dauid sayes for the misery of the poore and the sighinge of the wretched I will rysâ— says the Lorde c. Why should Gods people than be dismaide whan they be persecuted seinge they haue so mighty a iudge that canne and will deliuer them whan it shall be metest for his glorie their comfort Refer the vengeaunce to me says the Lorde and I wil reuenge it Let vs therfore submit our selfs vnder his handes patiently loke for his coming for no dout he will come When Moses led the people through the wildernes and came nere the boundes of Edom he asked licence to passe throughe their contree kepinge the high wayes hurting them in no behalfe in so much that they woulde paye for the water that they draÌ„ke but they more like no men then cosins cominge of the same stocke and father beinge not contente with this churlishnes to denie theym passage threatens them forther that if they wold not passe by all their countrie not once be so bold as to entre within their coastes they would by and by feight against them with all their power So Moyses to kepe peace ledde the people by a great compasse round about and what sayde God to this did he bid destroy them No but cleane coÌ„trarie he bade them not to feight agaynst them not onely theym but he sates vnto them thou shall not harme EdoÌ„ because he is thy brother Note here the patience longe suffering of Goddes people that wolde not once attempt to reuenge such displeasures vnkindnes and iniuries done vnto them and againe note the churlishnes of feined frends hypocrites and dissemblers whiche will shewe no gentelnes to Gods people though they maye do it withoute their hurte o displeasure of anye man Is not the worlde full of suche vnthankefull vnkinde and vnnaturall folke at thys daie S. Paul complaines of suche as caste of all naturall affection that shoulde be amonge men as whan thei whiche be all of one house stocke and kindred comen of one great grandfather or auncetors bee so cruell one againste an other the nature whiche workes in bruiâ—e beastes hays no place in them one to loue or help an other he calles theÌ„ Sine affectu as though he shuld saye if nature canne not worke nor moue them whiche moues stoones trees herbes and beastes what hope is there that the Gospell whiche is so farre aboue and contrarie to nature should take any place in them So sainct Paull calles theym whiche doe not prouide for theym and theirs wors than infideles Therefore it was necessarye some greate plague too fall on this people that hadde so ferre forgotten nature that they woulde not let theym passe throughe their countrie nor drinke of their waters which thei would paye for But this is the merke betwixte Gods chyldren and the diuels the Gospeler the papiste the true christian an hypocrite that the one will suffer wronge doe good for euyll praye for theym that hate hym bee contente wyth a lyttell not murmuringe but the bloudy papiste is proude cruel murtheringe oppressinge the innocent merciles hatinge withoute reconciliation euer sekinge to hurte that thei maye liue like lordes of the lande idel bellygods What a comfort is thys for Goddes poore afflicted people â–ª that although God doe longe suffer them to bee vexed of their enemies yet he wil not suffer them to be ouerwhelmed but he will vtterly roote out the wicked whan he beginnes to execute his iustice on them He that touches you says God to his people by the Prophete Zacharie touches the appel of myne eye What parte of man is more tender than the eye or whiche parte doe we take more care for than that yet if the eie be sore or dimme of sight we will laye sharpe bytinge waters or pouders in it to eat oute the webbe perle or blearednes so will God although he loue his people so tenderly lay sharpe bytinge salues purging medicines corrosines lauÌ„cings lettinge bloude yea and cutte of rotten membres lest the hole body perish or rotte awaye But all that is for fatherly loue to driue vs vnto him to make vs weri of the worlde to purge carnall cares eat out the dead rotten phantasies of our mindes let out the brused bloude or cut awaie by death some for the example of other too strengthen them boldly to confesse the truth and glorifieng of his name by suche concâ—nstant witnes of our weake natures A littell worldly shame as it is thoughte of worldly but not godly men maie light on Gods people for a time but euerlastiÌ„g shame shall confounde their enemies for euer afore God A short temporal punishment maye greue Gods chyldren for a tyme but their haters shall bee vtterly destroyed for euer The Israelites were asshamed for a time in their captiuitie whaÌ„ Esau ioined with Nabuchodonozor to destroi them yet afterward were brought home agayne but now shoulde these bee vtterly destroied for euer without recouerie The Philistines for a tyme made the
them selues to the fire for the trueth Their weapoÌ„s were their tonges penne inke paper neuer sheddinge bloude but their owne and euer seking how to saue other mens soules sparing no labor nor fearing any displeasur So mighty weapons is the vndefiled law of the Lorde turning soules and hearers that neyther lyfe nor death aungels nor powers thinges present nor to come can pull them from the loue of oure God offered in Christ Iesus This fire that he speakes of here is the might of the holy ghost which came on the apostles in firie tuÌ„gs and so kindels the hearts of all the receyue the woord that it burn vp al carnal affections and worldly lustes so that for the glorie of God they care not what thei suffer Dauid prayes oft for this fire burne my renes and heart And Ihon in his reuelation sayes that these which be neyther hote nor colde God will spue them oute of his mouthe it is therefore a good fire that burnes vp the stuble whiche is false doctrine superstition and all euils as S. Paul calles it if any maÌ„ buyld hay wode stuble it shall perish c. The house of Iacob and Ioseph shall be the preachers and Esau shall be thus happely burned vp froÌ„ his former fylthy lyfe and turned too the Lord. The house of Ioseph coÌ„taines two tribes Ephraim and Manasses whiche were the chyldren of Ioseph but chosen taken of Iacob to be as his own sonnes whan he blessed theym all lyinge on hys death bed and made them equall enheritors with his own chyldreÌ„ of the land promised And because Ieroboam which first set vp the golden calues in Dan and Bethel and so prouoked all Israel to sinne Idolatrie in whiche they continued so many yeares was of the house of Ioseph and stocke of Ephraim lest thei shoulde thinke them selfs to be cast away of God and their sinnes coulde not be forgeuen he sayes thei shall be so hote folowers and setters foorth of Christ that they shal be lyke the flame shal turne Esau the geÌ„tils Heathen wicked men to the knowledge worshipping of the true God Such a merciful louing God is our Christ that eueÌ„ those that haue ben most traitors enemies to him he wil cal theÌ„ to most high honor Peter all the rest of the apostles denied our sauiour christ whaÌ„ he was takeÌ„ of the Iewes raÌ„ne awai froÌ„ him but he forsaked not theÌ„ nor cast not theÌ„ out of their apostleship but sent theÌ„ into al the world to preache the word of lyfe grace saluatioÌ„ gaue theÌ„ more fulnes of the holy ghost than thei had afore And because it is vncertaine in the scripture whither any of the Apostles were of the tribe of Ephraim yet in the later ende and whan all sort of Iewes shal be coÌ„uerted to the Lorde and so all Israell shal be saued if this be not yet performed in theÌ„ or but partly performed it shall be afore the laste daye more fully Thy woorde is fierie sayes Dauid and therfore it is no meruaill if it burne them vp that heare receiue it The woorde of god is not lyke other histories or learninge which do not moue or elles but litel sturre the hearers but suche grace and strength is gyuen by it to the ministers and hearers of the same that eyther it turnes them that heares it too a godly zeale and loue towarde his glorie and an vpright lyfe or elles it castes them in to the burninge fire of hell as the Apostle sayes He makes his aungelles spirites or winde â–ª and his ministers a flaminge fire and agayn the preachinge of Christes crosse is foolishnes too them that perish but to them that bee saued it is the power of God In the disputacions againste the Arrians where all the learned men could not confute Arrius a man vnlearned stoode vppe makinge a simple confession of his fayth openly and where as longe as thei thoughte to ouercome him by disputinge and by reasons He euer had to aunswer theym withall whan this simple playne man trustinge not to eloquence nor learninge but in the mighte of Gods spirite onely sekinge the glorie of God beganne to speake hee see such grace in his woordes and power ioyned withall that he was not able â—oo withstande it Arrius grauÌ„ted his one errour and the other to saye true So sainct Paul writinge agaynste false Prophetes saies his preachinge was not in eloqueÌ„te woordes of mannes wisedome but in power of the spirite and althoughe he was not eloquent in woordes yet not ignoraÌ„t in knowledge Thus shall hypocrites Antichristes and vnbeleuers be ouercomen by the mighte of Gods woorde and the holy Ghoste workinge with all and not by any worldly witte strength or politie as the Apostles preachinge toke place turned the hole worlde to receiue theyr doctrine after thesame sort But where he sayes there shall be no remnant of Esau left that shall be fulfilled in the latter daye where the wicked shall be cast into vnquenchable fire for in the meane time the good and bad shall be blend together so that wicked hypocrytes Idolaters shall be consumed bothe in thys world and after but in the fulnes of time whan God hays apointed and not whan we thinke for thei shal preuail a time as this wicked seede of Esau did for the trial of the good and exercise of their faithe that all men maye knowe that the godly loue the Lord vnfainedly Thus the house is put for them that be of the house of Iacob and Ioseph and not so muche for the carnall seede as for theym that haue and folowe the faythe of Iacob and Ioseph whiche be onely they that bee ordeined to lyfe And because they shoulde not doubt of the performance of the thing he addes the Lord hais said it As though he should sai this is no mans tale but the liuing Lord God that made both heaueÌ„ earth haue all things at his commaundemeÌ„t whiche is truth it self can not lie whiche is bothe able and wil performe it hais saide these wordes therfore they must nedes come to passe All men be liers but God onely can not be deceyued nor deceiue whatsoeuer he hais said that he wil performe CaÌ„ ye find any thing that he said he would do since the worlde was made but he hays done it beleue him therfore in this thing to for he will do it in dede The next verses which coÌ„tein so many people by name I thinke do not signifie these people onely to be counted for that is to possesse them to the faithe but all gentils people should receiue the word and these be putte by name specially because thei were the next countries about them and always their open enemies For if these whiche were euer moste bitter enemies should be conuerted by them much more other countries that were not so ernest