like as he who is defiled in soule did defile al the workes that he taketh in hande euen hys prayer and sacrifices c. so thei did also defile al which kepte companye with theym by theyr euill example This kynde of teaching by parables and similitudes which be like in matter consequence and truth althoughe diuers in woordes is pithy too perswade and is vsed sundrye times in the scipturs to bringe a man to geue sentence against hym selfe As when Nathan tolde Dauid the similitude of the ryche man that had many sheepe and the poore man that had but one and that the riche man had taken the poore mans one sheepe Dauid sayd◠he had deserued death not vnderstanding that Nathan did meane Dauid him selfe to haue done this thinge who gaue thys sentence of death against him self because he had so many wyues of his owne yet coulde not be content with them but toke Urias wife also So when the woman of Thecua fayned her self to be a poore widow and her twoo sonnes hath the one kylled the other and the officers woulde haue put y◠other too deathe for murtheringe his brother she makes supplication to the kynge Dauid desiring that her other sonne mighte not be put to death for she had rather lose the one sonne which was kylled thē haue the other now put to death also For then all her comfort was gone When Dauid had graunted her request that her sonne shoulde not dye for this murther thē sayd she Why should not the king bring home againe his sonne Absalon whiche kylled his brother Ammon but suffer him to dye also banished Thus Dauid was deceiued by the woman whiche vnder the names of her owne sonnes made sute for Absalō the kynges sonne by the coūsayll of Ioab and Dauid thoughte in reason he shoulde be as ready to shewe pitie to his own son Absalon as to another and gaue sentēce so againste him selfe So the priestes here graunting that whatsoeuer touches him who is defiled in soule that thinge is also defiled to proue and geue sentence agaīst them selues condemninge all their owne dedes too be noughte and defiled because thei them selfes were wicked and defiled· What wickednes were in this people Esdras tels when he diuorces suche a nūber as had married Heathen wyues contrary to the lawe and Nehemias when he tels howe by bribery and vsurye they had polled their poore brethren gotten their goods and landes into their handes and howe they had all offended God in not byldinge this temple this Prophete teaches here plaine These with diuers other grosse sins had defiled this people therfore all that they did and touched was defiled ▪ Sinne is so vile and filthy that it defiles euen those thinges whiche God hym self hath commaunded Esay saieth your sabboth daies and other feastes my soule abhorres◠yet God had cōmaunded them his owne mouth to obserue suche feastes Esaye saith also he that offers an Oxe is as if he killed a man and he that sacrifices a sheepe is as though he brained a Dogge And again sacrifice offerīg for sin thou hast not required But Esay addeth a reason why God shoulde hate that whiche he once cōmaunded saith your handes are ful of bloud ye do not hear the widowes the fatherles c. Seing then sin hath suche a strēgth in it that it makes God to hate those things which he ordeined him selfe howe much nede haue we to take hede what we do least in thus offending God we make him to forsake both vs all that we shuld haue good of That is called holy flesh which was offered to the Lord whereof sometime the whole was burned sometime that part which remained was eatē of the Priests them that brought it to be sacrificed If that flesh then whiche was thus halowed by the cōmaundemēt of God had not thys strēgth in it to halow the lap of a garmēt wherin it was caried so the lap to halowe what thing so euer it should touche howe can the Popes coniured water whiche he cals holy make the man or house where it is sprinkled so holy that no deuils dare enter The deuill durst tempt our Sauioure Christ yet they say he feares their cōiured water as thoughe it were holier then Christ hym selfe Where hath he any promise from God of such foolishnes what cā their holy asshes holy palmes holy crosses holy belles holy creame relikes moldes chalice corporas fire candels beades or that which is their most holy relike their oyle wherwith they anointe their shauelinges Priestes and Bishops do They would make mē beleue that the oyle hath suche holines in it that whosoeuer wanteth it is no Priest nor minister Therfore in the late daies of popery oure holy bishops called before them all such as were made ministers without suche greasinge and blessed thē with the Popes blessing anointed them then all was perfit they might sacrifice for quicke dead but not marry in no case yet kepe hoores as many as they woulde If any of their such greased disciples were traitour felō or heretike that he had deserued death in token that their oyle was so holye and had entred so depe in to the flesh but bringing no holynes with it for than their anointed shuld not haue fallen so sore as they did and do before anye suche offender coulde suffer death he must firste be deposed of all that he receiued from the Pope of his orders apparell and haue all that skynne of hys croune fingers pared of or scraped because they were greased with their oyle What oyle vsed the Apostles in makinge ministers or what scripture is for it The holy flesh whiche was offered too God by his owne commaundement had not thys power to halow the thinges which it touched and yet their holy water and grease must haue it Is this like to be true doeth not all their false fayned holinesse which they putte in thinges made holy by theyr owne halowinge onely and not by God fall by this one sentence of Gods mouthe Can any thinge be more playnely spoken againste all their iuglinge then this For the same reason that is againste fleshe is against all their holy toies by what name soeuer they be called If they will not beleue God and his scripture let thē beleue the Priestes their elders and prodecessours yea and that whiche they crake so muche of that is a generall counsayle whiche they thinke can not erre The Prophete here is sent to all the Priestes and here is aunswered in all their names by generall consente and counsayle that holy flesh can not halow that thing which it touches If it be so in one halowed thīg as it is in this flesh why shoulde it not be so in all other likewise There is no creature whiche can geue that holines to an other which is in it self this thinge belonges to
freelye for the whiche he was sent Embassadoure .ii. Corinthians v. he sayeth his Embassage stoode chiefelye in this pointe to reconsile vs to God Is not the Stuardes office an highe office of greatest credite in greate mens houses and at their commaundement and appointinge all thinges be done They prouide geue all in their maisters house meate in due season c. Sainct Paul therfore saieth let a man think thus of vs that we be the seruauntes of God and Stuardes of his secrete misteries whiche be meate for 〈◊〉 soules Sainct Mathew in a parable calles the preachers Stuardes appointed 〈◊〉 Gods house to geue their felow seruants meate in due season Saint Marke called them porters in Gods house hauinge in â—â—â—maundement too watche that no theeues nor vnrulye persones come in too trouble the house They be called the light of the worlde to leade other the righte waye they be the salt of the earthe to season vs that by corruption we doe not smel euil before God They be Gods souldiours to fight for hys people as s. Paul sais No man goes to warre on his owne wages They be watchemen to geue warning when ennemies come They be Dogges to barke awake vs out of oure deadly sleepe when we forget God They be the mouthe of God that where we were not able too stande in the sighte of God if he shoulde speake vntoo vs in his glorious maiestie he doeth vouchesafe to speake vnto vs by the mouthe of hys minister beynge a man as we bee and whome we shoulde beleue to be sente from God as longe as he teaches Christ hys worde These names of trust and credite are geuen to preachers for the commeÌ„dation and settinge foorth of their office whiche they beare in Gods house and that they shoulde not thinke it a vyle but a moste worshipfull roume And to make theym more regarded the Lorde countes those iniuries done to him selfe which be done to his preachers sayinge he that despises you despises me in what rowme soeuer ye come if they will not receyue you shake the dust of youre feete it shall heare witnes againste them in the daye of iudgement And because he ioynes too the nexte saying In the messages of the Lord it doth vs to weete the faithfulnes of this Prophete in his dutie that he spekes nothing â–ª but the words of the Lord truly which seÌ„t him which rule al true preachers should folow But of this is inough spokeÌ„ in the verses before Now folowes the glad tidings of the Gospell to comfort this people with all after the great threateniÌ„gs of God which the Prophet here pronouÌ„ced in the former verses For as God workes in his creaturs that after wynter comes sommer after a storm fair weather So in the spiritual doctrine of our souls first he teaches repeÌ„taÌ„ce preaches the law threateÌ„s veÌ„geauÌ„ce for sin castes doune man in his owne sight and lettes hym looke euen into hell with fear of conscience for his disobedience but afterwardes he comforts hym rayses hym vp and heales him that this may be fouÌ„d true that is sayde of oure sauiour Christ I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentaunce they that be whole nede not the Phisicion but the sicke All the Prophetes vse thesame trade in teachinge as Esays in hys firste Chapter calleth the Iewes worse then beastes for the Oxe woulde knowe hys maister and the Asse his maister maÌ„ger but they wold not knowe their God And the rulers he calles the princes of Sodome felowes with theefes Ionas also in the beginninge of hys prophecy saieth within .xl. dayes Niniue shal be destroyed Sophones first woordes be that God will destroy man beast foole corne and fruite of the earthe but afterwardes euery one of theym prophecies of Christe promises blessinge frome God with encrease of all wealth and goodnes Likewise Ihon Baptiste began his preaching repent for the kingedome of heauen is at hande And oure sauioure Christ beganne his preachinge with the selfe same woordes Peter in his firste sermon after they receiued the holy Ghoste rebuked the Iewes sharpely for crucifyinge Christe the geuer of lyfe and for askinge Barrabas a murtherer to be deliuered vnto them but when their conscience pricked them they asked what they shoulde doe and he comfortes them biddes them repent and bee baptised euery one of them in the name of Christ. So here after the sharpe preaching of the lawe and threateninge of Gods plages foloweth the swete coÌ„fort of the Gospell for he sayeth I am with you saieth the Lorde as though he shoulde saye lette nothinge greue you neither the greatnes of the sinne that ye haue ben so negligeÌ„te in forgettinge the buildinge of this house so longe nor the greate coste as thoughe ye were not able to beare and perfourme it nor be not afrayd of the kinges officers whiche stopped you for I am with you saieth the Lorde whose power they can not withstaÌ„de whose mercie passeth your miserie and who can pardon and forgeue more than you can sinne and who shal be iudge of youre doinges and am able too forgeue all thinges trespassed against me All the ryches of the earthe is myne and I bestowe it as pleases me the heartes of kynges and rulers be in my hande and I rule them as I thinke good whan I wyll they shall shew you fauour and frendship and when they lust they shall not stoppe hurt nor hinder my worke accordinge to their desire or pleasure as muche as they woulde but those that feare and loue me I will blesse and they shall not haue anye harme and my woorkes shall prosper and go forwardes in their handes as I thynke good â–ª in despite of all their foes therefore let nothinge feare nor trouble you for I whome all thinges do obey am with you saieth the Lorde These are but few wordes in number but they are mighty in operation and working where they be receiued with an earnest faith and so mightye that whosoeuer heares and beleues them to be spoken of God is not afrayde too attempt anye thinge be it neuer so greate hard When Iacob was doubting afraid whether he should go into Egipt too hys sonne Ioseph or no God spake too hym sayde Iacob be not afrayde for I will goe doune into Egipt with thee I wil bring thee out again also Then Iacob fearinge neither the death of his sonne Ioseph nor the displeasure that mighte come to hym his if either he or yet Ioseph offended the kyng nor yet least Ioseph shoulde lose his authoritie by a new kyng as it is coÌ„moÌ„ly sene nor the ieopardy of the iourneye no nor yet any other worldly thing that coulde or might chaunce but wente into Egipte boldely with all his chyldren substauÌ„ce and was defended by God When Moises keping sheepe sawe the fyre in the bushe and
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
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
mighty Lord and merciful father which didst stir vp the Iewes too the buyldinge of thy house by the preachinge of thy Prophete Aggeus we thy miserable creatures oppressed with sinne and liuing in blindenes beseche thee for thy mercy sake haue mercy vpon vs and thrust out diligēt woorke men intoo thy haruest sende out faithfull preachers whiche maye by the harde threateninges of thy lawe and comfortable promises of thy gospel awake all thy people out of their dead slepe wherin thei lie walowing forgetting thee their dutye We haue all sinned from the hyghest to the lowest in not earnestly professinge thy holy woorde and religion Both the princes rulers and magistrates bisshops ministers of all sortes and all the people no state nor condiciō of men hath done their duetie herein vntoo thee oure onely Lorde and God Therfore we all with heauy heartes fall doune flat afore thy throne of grace and maiestie we begge craue aske thee forgeuenes of oure greate sinnes opē oure eyes O good God that we maye consider the plagues whiche thou haste layde on vs so longe for oure great disobedience towardes thee and thy woorde Geue vs newe heartes and renue thy holy spirite wtin vs O Lord that both the rulers may faithfully minister iustice punishe sinne defende and maintaine the preachinge of thy woorde and that all ministers may diligently teache thy dearely beloued flocke purchased by the bloud and death of thine owne and onely deare sonne oure Lorde and that all people maye obediently learn and folowe thy lawe too the glorie of thy holy name for Christes sake oure onelye Lorde and Sauioure ¶ The .ii. Chapter IN the .vii. moneth and the .xxi daye of the moneth was the woorde of the Lorde sente by the hande of Aggeus the Prophete sayinge verse 2 Speake to Zerubabell y◠sōne of Salathiel ruler of Iehuda and to Iosua the sonne of Iosede◠the chiefe Priest and to the remnaunte of the people sayinge verse 3 Who is left amongst you that hathe sene this house in his former glory and what a one you se it now is it not like as it were nothinge in your eies ¶ As concerning the rekening of yeares monethes and daies ynough was spoken in the first chapiter and what it is too bee sent by the hande of a Prophete who soo lust there he maye reade This message sent now in the .7 moneth and the nexte that comes in the .9 declare the good will of God towardes thē that buylde his house and howe ready God is to further all their doinges They began to worke the .xxiiii. daye of the sixt moneth and had cōtinued to the .21 daye of the .7 moneth and then leaste the feare of the kynge or the rulers shoulde discourage them they had nede to be comforted therefore Aggeus is sente vnto them agayne too encourage theym leaste they shoulde haue fainted or lefte of workinge Agayne in the .8 moneth is the Prophete Zachary sente vnto them and in the .9 moneth Aggeus is sent twise all because thei should not let their worke slip but with a courage finish it and that also they might see how true it is that to euery one that hath it shal be geuen and for them whiche woorke couragiously in the Lordes vyneyarde how wel the Lord is delited with them and blesses them Thus God knowinge the weakenes of this people euerye mooneth sendes newe messages vnto them that they maye vnderstande what a care he hath ouer them and that they shoulde trust in hym which had al thinges in his handes to rule at his pleasure and not to trust in them selues whiche of them selues coulde do nothing Let vs therfore worke in the Lords house and no doubt he will sende vs comfoorte ynough Nowe where he is bidden speake to Zerubabel the prince to Iosua the chiefe Priest and to the remnaunt of the people ▪ and so often reherses theym in this same order in this prophecie it doeth vs too vnderstande that there is one doctrine of saluation to be taughte vnto all sortes of mē and that all sortes are bounde to hear and learn thesame and besides that it teaches the prefermente of the ciuil magistrate or ruler to the priest as was noted before And herein we shall chiefly learn the wickednes of them that withholde the scriptures from the lay people saying it is not mete for them too be so muche occupied in hearinge thesame For the Prophet saith here sundry times that he was sente to all the people as well as to the rulers therfore it was their dutie to learne and heare his message as diligētly as it was the rulers And this is a greate occasion why that all rulers shoulde behaue thē selues lowly towards the people seing God hath made all thynges as concerninge saluation comon and of one sorte bothe too poore and riche that by this meanes he mighte encrease brotherly loue betwixt both partes There is one Lorde god saieth s. Paule of all bothe poore and ryche one holy Ghoste that makes vs all holy one baptisme one faithe that we beleue one sauioure Iesu Christ one father in heauen vnto whom we praye one euerlastinge kyngedome whiche we all loke for one scripture and woorte to teache vs one sacrament for vs all wee bee borne gotten dye and buried all in like and a greate knottell is of loue amongest vs seinge wee speake one language beinge of one countrye or towne and one ayre whiche we receiue one fyre Sunne Moone Starres earth herbes trees corne cattel fishe foole that we be fede on We goe stande slepe worke all alike c. All the difference that is betwixt vs is this that one is hygher in authoritie better clad or fed hathe a prouder coate or a softer bed or more store of money landes or seruauntes then an other hath whyche thinge helpe not to saluation But what vayne thinges these be to reioyce in or to despise one another for that wātes them the thinges them selues do declare For he that wantes all these not necessarie thinges to saluation is commonly better man more lustye stronge and healthfull then the other as is sayde in the verses before And to reioyce is auncient bloude what can be more vayne Do we not all come of Adam our earthly father and say we not all Our father whiche art in heauen halowed c. How can we crake then of oure auncient stocke seinge we came all bothe o◠on earthelye and heauenly father If ye marke the commō saying how gentle bloude came vp ye shall see howe true it is When Adam dalue and Eue span Who was than a gentle man And although no nation hais any thing to reioice in of them selues yet Englande hais lesse than other we glory much to be called Britans but if we consider what a vacabunde Brutus was and what a company he brought with him there is small cause of glori For the Saxōs of whome we come also there is lesse
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
punish these obstinate people for their longe disobedience it is as well the propertie of God to shew iustice and punishe sinne as mercifully to help the weake and repentaunt heart and mercy is not so in God that iustice is banished As the Lorde sayde he would whistle and with hissinge call for Nabuchodonozor to come and destroye Ierusalem so now he sendes messengers to come bidde them fighte againste Edom. Yet Nabuchodonozor in iustly punishing the Iewes and Edomites and that by the commaundemente of God sore offendeth God because he was proude of the victory cruell in murther and couetuous of spoylinge ambitious in raueinge and neuer thought he had ynough and therfore was his kyngdom afterward distroyed by the iustice of God So the dede as it is of God is good pure and iuste but beinge defiled of vs with addinge our euill affections to it as whan good wyne is put into an euil vessel It is sinne and damnable and yet is God free from all oure sinne wickednes and no causer therof but a hater and reuenger of all wickednes But here is doubted who these be the heard this voyce of the Lorde how thys message was sent to the Gentils To the firste parte I had rather saye that the Prophete speakes of him selfe in the plurall number as though they were many that hearde it whiche kinde of speaking is coÌ„mune in the scripture as Paul sayes If we haue sowen you spirituall thinges is it muche or els that the other Prophetes whiche prophesie againste Edom herde the same sayinge frome God as well as he did and they altogether or Abdias alone in their names saies we heard a sayinge from the Lorde c. And soo this sayinge shoulde be true and the rather beleued because so many did agre in one sayinge Againste Edom prophesied Esai 21.34 Iere. 49. Ezech. 35 â–ª Amos. 1 But moste plainly earnestly and orderly agreinge with this Abdia almooste woorde for woordâ— does Iere. 49. Whose wordes if ye compare with this present prophecie ye shall see the agreinge truthe of Gods spirite in his scripture a great light shal be ministred too this place therby It is no lâ—sse doubt howe this message was sent who was the minister that caried it for some thinke that Abdias was sente with thys Embassage him selfe to stirre vp Nabâ—chodonozor and his people to destroy these Edomites but other to whome I had rather agre thinâ—◠〈…〉 deuil by gods sufferance put intoo the minde of theym too worke his wil and iustice vpon them God calles Nabuchodonozor his seruaunte for suche causes althoughe the deuill moued him to it and sayes that he did him good seruice in executing his iudgemente as the hangman serues the kinge in punisshing offenders and the Ialer in prisoning theÌ„ as wel as other do in their kynde office Yet is God no more the cause of their sin and euil doing than the king is of the offences and roberies of the people but God like a righteous iudge of iustice must nedes punishe suche faultes as other magistrates doe in their common wealth But like as this voice of the lord was not herd by the eares of the body of the Prophetes but put into their myndes by the worke of God as he thought good So I thinke this message was not sente by any man but as whan Embassadors be sent or rumors of warre be certainly spred Kyngs prepare theym selues too warre so these people stirred vp of God by iustice too punishe their sinne and sette forwarde of the deuill to satisfie their wicked desyres ryse vp altogether too fight againste Edom and destroyed it So the Lord vsed the deuill as his Iaylor and hangman to be a lyinge spirite in the mouth of Achabs prophetes and send him to warre that he might there perishe and gods righteous senteÌ„ce be executed wher he sayde that the dogges shoulde licke hys bloude where they did licke vp Naboths Thus God in his scripture speakinge too men vses to speake as men for as menne by messages or rumours of robberies are stirred vp to warre so the Lorde by some mete meane as though it were by messengers woulde stirre vp the Chaldes too destroye Edom. The cause of this warre and destruction was as Ezechiell sayes .35 because the Edomites whiche should haue beÌ„ helpers vnto the Israelites in their trouble because they were not onelye neighboures their kyngdomes ioyninge together but also they came of twoo brethern Iacob Esau whiche thinge shoulde haue knitie them in brotherly loue they did not onely not help them but cruelly persecute them continually I will destroy thee sayes the Lorde and make thee desolate because yâ— hast had a continuall hate against the Israelites and diddest feare them with the swearde in the time of their trouble Amâ—s telles the same cause likewise almoste with the same woorde So thys is the case of Gods people that for their religion they shall haue enemies of their own house kinsfolke and frendes as thys day well declares And oure sauioure Christe sayde he came not to set peace but too deuide the father agaynste the sonne c. Where hatred falles betwixt brethern frendes and specially for religion it is the cruelst hate that can be This hate began betwixt Iacob and Esau for losinge hys blessinge but it continued and encreased with the tyme in their chyldreÌ„ posterite The eldest sonne as the Hebrews wryte had than priuileges afore the yonger as they haue commonly now The eldest thaÌ„ succeded in his fathers authorite was reuerenced of his brethern he had also double porcion of his fathers goods as other say and also enioyed their priesthod wher wordlings that care for nothyng so much as the worlde haue lost their worldly honor authorite how do thei rage sinne Esau whan he hadde loste and solde these thinges he sought his brothers death as our papistes that woulde be counted the elder brether losinge their worldly estimation theyr belly chere and lordlines their wealth and proude priesthode They freat and fume burne and kyll all that gaynesay theÌ„ as the Edomites did But as thaÌ„ for Cain the wicked his sede although the elder brother God chose Abel the yonger Seth and Enos for Ismael the elder Isaac the yonger for Esau Iacob for Ruben Iuda Leui and Dauid the yoÌ„gest of seuen bretherne and as of no reputation in respect of his other brethern but set too kepe shepe so God to pull doune the pride of man in these daies also choses the abiects to setfoorthe his glory refusinge the proude Pharises and disdaining holy hypocrites and at the lengthe will destroye them as he threatens here the Edomites For God to comfort his people that the wicked shoulde not euer prosper the chosen people liue in continuall miseri lest they fall awaye from God through ouer greate aduersities threatens too destroye theyr enemies and deliuer
be content with a few thinges but destroye all after them and that which thei could not cary awaye they would vtterly marre by some meanes that they shoulde haue no good of that which was left Thei would not be content with a few thinges as theues but they woulde haue all thei would not haistly runne awaye for feare of any helpe cominge too rescow them but they woulde without feare spoile tary theyr leasure searchinge all corners not caring who shall espie them And that whiche is more meruailous theues althoughe they come sodenly vpon a man geuing no warninge that a man might prepare him self to stande in his owne defence shoulde not doe so much harme as the Assirians shuld cominge not sodenly vpon them nor they vnprepared but beinge prepared and although they knew of their coming had all kinde of weapons to defend them self withall yet thei shall not be able nor bold to defende them selfes or their countrye but shoulde vtterly perish be robbed spoiled and destroied The latter similitude of grape getherers declares this more plainly Grape getherers althoughe they searche euery branche pepe vnder euery leaf lest they leaue any grapes growing behind them and yet they were commaunded in the lawe by Moyses to leaue some growing of all kinde of fruite behinde them and if they let any fall they shoulde not turnâ— again to take it vp but let the poore come geyther and gleane yet these gredy cormorantes so couetous that they neuer hadde inoughe so gredye that they were neuer fyld They woulde not leaue one cluster growinge behinde them but soo vtterlye spoyle theym that they woulde leaue nothinge at all neither for poore nor ryche Thei woulde spare neyther man nor woman old nor yong house nor lande town nor castell beastes of all sortes withoute mercy shoulde be wasted burned and destroyed The later verse shews this vtter destruction at large in fewe woordes sayinge But howe haue thei searched Esau and ranseckt their secrete thinges as thoughe he shoulde saye to them although theues robbers grapegetherers vse to doe muche harme wheresoeuer thei come nothing can escape their handes yet it shal be nothinge like vntoo this destruction that these of Babylon shall doe This destruction shal be incurable these shall spoile kyll destroye without mercy Nabuchodonozor whan he comes with his men shal search and ranseck all your secrete places corners that nothinge shall escape them In sackinge of townes men be wonte to cast their plate money Iuels and suche other treasures in to depe welles too digge theÌ„ in the earth or some priuy place wher none or fewe vses to come or few wold mistrust any thinge their to be hidde but whan he comes hide your treasurs where you lust caste theÌ„ into â—akes dunghils cesterns or blinde corners where please you it shall not skil it shal be espied and shall not esscape ye shal not haue profit of any thing ye haue He wonders at the vtter destruction of them whan he says how haue thei searched and ranseckt the secretes as if he shoulde saye it shal be vnlike vntoo all other doinges no reason woulde thinke what great crueltie in searchinge spoile shal be shewed vnto thee it shal be so horrible so contrari to mens loking for so farre vnlike too all that hais ben shewed to any other people And meruaile not at this extremitie shewed vnto you good reason it is that they which haue comforted them selues in their worldly thinges beside God that they shoulde be so corrected of God that they shoulde vnderstande that their is no help succor or comfort but in â—od and thei whiche woulde not know God in prosperite muste nowe drinke of his iustice in aduersite He had geueÌ„ pleÌ„ty to them of all fruites corne cattels all kinde of riches but this coulde not moue them to knowledge him to be their Lorde and God giuer and sauer both of man and beast therfore now must they teste of the rodde too knowe ther was a God whome they had offended God does not geue vs his benefites riches and blessinges too make vs truste in oure selfe or any other creature but to stirre vp oure mindes too heauen to loke on him trust in hym call on him and praise him therefore it was right that all these shoulde be taken from them to bringe them too the knowledge of them selues and his iustice whiche can not abide suche thinges This is the rewarde due for all suche as will not shewe merci but crueltie to them that bee in distresse thei shall finde thesame crueltie measure geuen them againe whan they shal be in nede they shall aske mercy call for help but finde none Iosephs brethren when they woulde shewe no mercy to their brother whan he desired them were straitly loked on for a time and sharpely spoken vnto whan thei came into Egipte and than they coulde confesse that God had worthely rewarded them their vnkyndenes that thei shewed their brother Ioseph Nabuchodonozor with all his cruel proude men which spoiled conquered and cruelly entreated all countries about them were serued with like measure at Cyrus handes whan he ouercame theym he destroied their cytye and conquered their countrie And as our Papistes with their spies in all corners would let no man dwel in reste but accuse complaine imprison and burne theym had rather fulfil the bloudy desires mindes of the cruell murtherers and bochers thaÌ„ shewe any gentilnes to Gods people and all to pike a thanke or gette a bribe of the proude Bishops or harde hearted neuer satisfied horsleches the lawers so theyr time will come whan thei shall fele Gods heauy wrath and displeasure against thâ— with suche griefe of conscience that they shall wishe for death and not finde it desire the hilles to couer them from the face of the lambe and yet be without comfort These be the Edomytes that persecute the true sonnes of Iacob at this day these be the false brethren that be moued neyther with the feare of Gods loue to his worde nor naturall to their brethren countremeÌ„ and kinsfolke but like brute beastes devoure all aforeth eÌ„satisfieng their owne lustes and desires encreasinge their own condemnation if they turne not and repent with teares verse 7 Euen vnto the border of thy countrie haue they caste oute thee and persecuted all men which were in leage confederate with thee the meÌ„ that made peace with thee haue deceiued thee preuailed against thee those that eate thy bread haue wouÌ„ded thee priuely there is no wisedom in hym verse 8 Shal I not in that day says the Lord destroy the wisemen from Edom wisedom from the hyl of Esau. verse 9 The strong men of Theman shal be afraide because euery one of the hyll Esau shall bee destroyed ¶ This plage that God threatens to thys people now is of two sorts that because they had double offended According as it is
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
fyre they stande by laughing boastinge theyr false doctrine craking to roote out al the loue the gospell and not to leaue one aliue that is suspecte to loue any good religion These gredy cormorantes if they se any that had a good liuing that they lyst to haue by by thei set one of their promoters or other to accuse him neuer ceased vnto thei had driuen him oute Yea when the Popes spanielles some woulde speake againste such crueltye and wishe more gentelnesse to be vsed they would most earnestlye be against it and ye cal them selfes spiritual Nero when anye euill chaunced or he had done anye mischiefe hym selfe and set fyre in Roome woulde say the christians were cause of it or had done it to brynge theym in hatered wyth the people so oure papistes if there was vnseasonable weather or any thyng did displease the people they sayde it was because these gospellers were not yet rooted out but suffered to liue whan any was content to forsake couÌ„trey house wife lands goods according to gods coÌ„maundement rather then file him self with wickednes submitting him self to their abominations thei wold raile on hym callinge him runne a gate traitor heretike and what pleased them And because thei woulde be like Edomites in all pointes whiche watched theyr crosse wayes to kyll those that escaped so the papistes if any gospeler had escaped their handes thei woulde sende commauÌ„dementes in to other countries to cal theÌ„ home laye watches spies in all corners to catche suche as they lust to haue bring theym home like prisoners whiche neuer had offended What straite watche was laide in euery hauen to catche them that came in or oute thoughe they were but poore afflicted men and banished members of Christ. What reioisinge if any was taken and what straite commissions to searche what goodes any such banished person had left behinde him and in whose handes it was that it might be taken froÌ„ them What great crakes their greate Nimrod and captayne made that he wold bringe all suche runneagates as it pleased hym to terme them to suche nede that they shoulde eate their fingers for huÌ„ger it is not vnknowen too the worlde that they mighte thus proue theym selfes true Edomites in robbing their poore brother Iacob But that we maye perceiue oure papistes to be the true seede of the spirituall Edom marke the beginning and it shall more easely appeare Edom whiche is Esau lost his fathers blessinge by whiche he shoulde haue had auctorite ouer his brother that was the chief cause of hatred toward Iacob so oure papists by cause the gospelers teache theÌ„ to be humble as Christ was and to leaue their lordlines ouer Gods flocke they persecute them to death Esau to fyll his belly loste his byrthright â–ª by whiche he shoulde haue had double portion of his fathers goodes to his brother so our Popes because they maye not haue double honor promotion riches and welth to other as their father the Pope hayes thei hate all that gaynâ— saye they Esau was roughe skinned â— wylde man of conditions and a hunter so oure hypocriticall Popes bee of cruell tough conditions hunters for promotioÌ„s â–ª yea haukers and hunters in dede geuen to all pleasure rather than to feede Gods sheepe We reade in the scripture of two notable hunters and thei were bothe nought Nimrod and Esau but amonge the Popish priestes ye shall find fewe but he can kepe a curre better than a cure can finde a hare kepe a kenell of houndes or a cast of hawkes better than many other and because thei will be conning in their occupation all kind of hunting thei huÌ„t for pluralites of benefices a tribus ad centuÌ„ tot quot yea thei can huÌ„t hoores for they say it is better to haue a boore thaÌ„ a wife so cunningly that they may teach a schole of it Edom hunted for venison and good cheare so can our belligoddes the Popes Sir Ihon smell smocke smel a feast in all parishes nere him sit at ale house carding dising bolling drinking from morning to night thinking he hais serued God wel whan he hais mumbled his matens some pece rosted ouer the fire some sodde ouer the potte some chased ouer the fieldes some chopped some chowed that if their god were not coming he could neuer set them together Other of the higher sorte can sitte drinking with their maluesey marmelade sucket figges rasens grene ginger c. and say they faste punishe their bodies goe the righte waye too heauen euen as right as a rammes horne Esau because he hadde lost aucthorite ouer his brother persecuted him so sharpely that he liued banished .20 yeares so our Edomites I had almoste saide Sodomites bannishe their brether for euer if thei can yea curse theym to hell because they maye doe muche there by their many frendes not leauing them any rowme in their purgatory because they be lordes of the soile and none shal dwel there except he take a lease and paye rent to them Esau because he woulde not obey but displeased his parentes married diuers wyues of the Heathens rounde aboute him contrary to God example of all his good forefathers so oure papistes abhorringâ— lawful mariage folow carnal hoores and liuinge in spiritual adultery worshippe false goddes images stockes and stones the workes of mans handes and folowe all mens traditioÌ„s in al countries about gaddinge from countrie to countrie a pilgrimage to bye pardons and rob Christs of his due honor But I muste make an ende of their vngodlines whiche hais no ende and let them which would see more of their doinges conferre the life of Iacob and Esau together frome the beginninge too the ende and thanne they shall easily see howe truely these Antichristes doe resemble their father Edom that all thinges whiche is here propheâ—ied maye bee well and truely applied too theym It shal be sufficient for me thus briefely at this time in these few thinges to haue compared them together haue opened the waye and gyuen an example for the ruder sort to folow in comparing theÌ„ further together setting out worthly their wickednes if any tunge or penne coulde sufficiently do it What shall be the ende and rewarde of suche cruelty pride reioisinge robbinge killing their brether the two laste verses declare The daye of vengeaunce ouer all people that haue so violently handled Gods flocke is at hande God hays borne longe ynoughe he will not see his shepe any longer deuoured he hayes taried sufficientlye for their repentaunce if they woulde haue turned hee sees there is no hope of amendemente he will now be auenged of his enemies and that most iustly For euen as thou o EdoÌ„ hayes done to hym it shal be done to thee and what measure thou hays gyueÌ„ other thesame shal be measured to thee agayne Suche punishment shall it be that it shall extende euen vnto thy infantes whiche in all other
familiar an other euen to the death Howe hath one Bishop deposed and burned an other not to be an earnester preacher then the other was but more lordely and cruell persecutour But this is euer true that Christ oure sauioure saide should folowe the preachinge of hys woorde that who so will bee his disciple must forsake him selfe and all pleasurs of the fleshe and those whiche be of his own house shall be his enemies Although this is marueylous that in suche trouble there shoulde bee ioye comforte yet this is more marueylous that after all people were thus troubled for yâ— Gospell they shoulde come vnto it beleue it â–ª receyue it not regardinge any sorow whiche was ioyned therwith no not fearinge the losse of their liues so thei might enioye it Feare maketh a man too runne awaye and not to come But this is the nature of the Gospell that the more it is persecuted the more it florishes as Dauid saith the righteous man florishes like a palme tree The palme tree is suche that if a greate waighte be layde on it the broder it spreads and florishes And as camomylle with treadinge on it and walkinge waxes thicker So the good man the more he suffereth for hys Christe the more is his faithe encreased And as the husbande manne that will reape muche must sowe muche so the moe that dye for the woorde of God the moe encrease too folowe the same As we commonly saye of the asshes of heretikes ryse vp a newe sorte It can not be but when men see one so constantly stande in defence of hys opinion that he geues hym selfe to the death for it they will begin too consider what a thinge it was that he died for and that no man will rashly cast hym selfe awaye When they see the truthe of it and God opens their eyes to perceyue they are moued to offer them selues to thesame death and ieopardy also Cypriane writes that the bloud of martirs is the seede of the Churche whereof ryse and encrease mo as of the sede in the fielde springes newe corne Augustine lykewise saieth of theÌ„ that were persecuted for Christ and his woorde they were tyed in chaynes â—orments they were whypped slain burned they were imprisoned thei were kylled torne in peeces yet they encreased Thei wer so far froÌ„ fear the not onely thei denied hiÌ„ not but the more sorow they had the mo beleued on him And wheÌ„ saint Laurence se his bishop Xistus being than Pope to be drawen to death he said Quo is patâ—â— sine Diacono quod non soles That is to saye Father whither goest thou withoute thy Diacon whiche thou waste not wont to do Well saieth he thou shalt folowe me not longe after and so it came to passe in dede for he died for Christe to It is written of one notable womaÌ„ which when she hearde tell of the daye of execution and that many shoulde bee putte too death for Christes sake she toke her child in her armes vncalled for runnes thyther that she might professe her faith and be put to death with them As she was â—uÌ„ninge shee met the officer goinge too see them put to death he seing her make such haste asked her whether she went and she tolde hym whye saieth he knowest thou not that there shal be a greate number put to death and that I goe to see it done yes saieth shee I knowe it well therefore I go that I may dye with them Then said the officer why doest thou carye thy chyld with thee and shee sayde that it may be a martir to dye for Christ. The officer meruaylinge that the Christians did not fear death sent the Emperour woorde that he woulde not go to put them too death but he shoulde sende another if he would haue it done Likewise in the Actes whan the priestes for bad the Apostles too preache anye more in Christes name and whypped theÌ„ the more they preached and thoughte theÌ„ selues happy that they were thoughte woorthye to suffer suche thinges for his names sake And for all the cruelnes of the rulers Peter turned twoo thousande at one sermon three thousande at an other which came saying Brother what shall we do beinge pricked in conscience ranne not awaye but came as the chylde to the father when he is afraide When Paule Silas had ben whypped all daye and locked in the stockes at nighte in the deepe dungeon and were watched with souldiers The chaynes fel of them the keper perceiuinge the pryson doore open by it self and thinking the prisoners were escaped woulde haue kylled him selfe But after that he see they were all there and perceiued the greate woorke of God he fell doune desired them to go in to his house wasshed their stripes beleued in Christ and was baptised There is no people vnder heauen but they haue once receiued the Gospell that can not be sayd truely of any other kynde of learninge in the worlde Their sounde hath gone throughe the whole world saith the Psalme The Philosophers neuer agreed all in one kynde of learninge but had manye sectes amongest them nor the whole worlde neuer receiued thym nor any heresye was generally receyued but onely the scripture hath ben vniuersallye taughte and receyued whiche is a sure argument of the truthe of it Aske of me â—aieth God the father to his sonne Christe and I will geue the people for thy heritage and the vttermoste partes of the earth for thy possession Many suche generall promises there bee wherein the turninge of all people on the earth too the Gospell is conteined and since the coÌ„ming of Christe perfectly fulfilled The heresye of Transubstanciation Purgatorie Priestes not too mary ministringe the Lordes supper in one kynde the Popes supremicie the Greke church neuer receiued nor yet doe And although at the counsaile at Florence a fewe semed to agree to it yet were they shente for soo doinge whan they came home it would not be receiued Before the deathe of oure sauioure Christe God hath chosen to hym but onely the Iewes to be his people but after they had refused too receiue hym for their redemer he had his Apostles go into the whole worlde preache to all creatures Now was the time come that al were called of all sortes degrees countries states many were turned vnto God There is no people vnder heaueÌ„ that can excuse them selfe by ignoraunce but they haue ben sufficiently taughte For s. Paule saieth that the Heathen before Christ was borne were without excuse for wher they knew God and worshipped him not as God therfore god gaue them vp to their owne lustes By the creature his inuisible power and maiesty maye be knowen that he is a God And therfore the mooste vnlearned is withoute excuse for this is sufficient to teache them to knowe there is but one God and too worship him as a God