God both suffereth and appoynteth Whan Pylate sitting in iudgement sayde to our sauiour Christ knoweth thou not that I haue power Ioan. 19 to crucifye the and haue power to deliuer the Christ aunswered thou couldest haue no power at all agaynst me excepte it were geuen the from aboue Euen so maye we saye of the worldly tyrauntes Thei shal haue no power at all against vs except it be geuen them from aboue And the holy apostles in their prayer vnto God sayde that whatsoeuer Herode and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and people of Israel did Act. 4. against Christe they did nothinge but that the hande and the counsayl of God had determined before to be done No more shall the tyrauntes of this worlde do any thynge agaynste vs but that whiche God before hath determined to be done froÌ„ euerlasting Of this historie of Peter therfore may we learn two notable thinges Fyrst that God than moste chiefly helpeth whan thinges be brought to greatest extremities SecoÌ„dly that the tyrauntes of this worlde can not take away a Christen mans lyfe nor yet do any more agaynste hym than the good wil pleasure determinacioÌ„ appointement off God is in whose hande alone as the wyse Eccle. 11 man sayeth is bothe prosperite aduersite lyfe death ¶ The. xij Chapter SEyng whan that we are taughte by so many credible histories that God dothe at all tymes helpe but chiefly whaÌ„ thinges be broughte vnto an extremitie agayne that no man can take away the lyfe of any faythfull man tyll God apoynteth let vs not doubte but that God will bothe heare oure prayers and helpe vs also and deliuer vs althoughe for a season he semeth to differre hys helpe and to leaue vs in the bryers He is the father of mercye and God 2. Cor. 1. Esa. 39 of all consolacion Hys haÌ„de is not so shortened but that he is able too helpe neither is hys eare so stopped but that he both can and will heare vs. God is faytheful saieth 1. Cor. 10 the Apostle whiche will not suffer you too be tempted aboue your strengthe but shall in the middes of the temptacion make a waye that ye maye be able to beare it Let vs not therefore despayre though presente helpe commeth not from God at the fyrste callynge but rather go for the to praye vnto God after the example of the Cananite and not to be weary tyll we haue obtayobtayned Math. 15. our request of the Lord our God folowyng the counsayll of the Psalmographe whych sayeth O tarrye thou the Lordes leasure be strong take a good hart vnto Psal. 31. the and paciently abyde the pleasure of the Lorde In silence and hope sayeth the Prophet Esaye shall be youre strengthe Here to pertayneth the sayeng of Ieremy It is Esa. 30. LameÌ„ 3. good wyth silence too abyde the sauynge health of the Lorde If we on this manner behaue our selfs toward the Lord our god we shal without fayle shortely beholde the wonderfull workes of God We shal se the doune falle of oure enemies with all theyr tyranny papistrie Idolatrie supersticion ceremonies masses decrees counsaylles customes c. We shall se the glorious Gospel of our Sauiour Christ spring agayne growe encreace prosper florish and tryum phe We shall se God truly honored not after the fonde fantasye of men but accordinge to hys blessed will and commaundement We shall se Antichrist that sonne of 2 Thes. 2 perdicioÌ„ slayne wyth the breath of the Lordes mouth and sathan troden vnder oure fete God graunte it maye be shortely Amen ¶ A brief rehersall of the whole Epistle THus haue ye hearde moste dere brethren howe it came to passe that the true re ligioÌ„ of our Sauiour Christ was taken awaye from vs and in the stead therof a supersticious and idolatrous kynde of worshippyng God placed amonge vs vnto the great disconforte and vnspeakable sorowe of all faythfull Christians Ye haue hearde also by what meanes this plague maye be turned awaye and howe the true and syncere doctrine of Christe maye be restored vnto vs. The cause of Gods wrath toward vs as ye hearde was oure ingratitude and vnthankefulnes yea oure synnefull lyfe wickednes whiche was groune vp vntoo suche an heyghte that God coulde no longer dissemble the matter but muste nedes take awaye hys blessing from vs. We were vnthankefull for the heauenly benefyte off hys blessed worde yea we in a manner lâ—…thed and abhorred hys Godly ordinaunces euen as the vngodly Israelites were weary Nâ—…me 11 of the celestial Manna agayn our lyfe was nothynge agreable to the holy wil of God but defyled with pryde enuye couetousnes fornication adultery swearing glotonye dronckennes With all their kynde of wyckednes vnto the greate dishonoure of the name of God whiche we professe it therefore coulde none otherwyse but come too passe that God should be auenged of these thynges take awaye his holy woorde and throwe vs agayne into the deuelishe darkenes of the papishe Egipte For as he fylleth Luc. 1. the hungry with good thynges so sendeth he the ryche emptye awaye And as our Sa Math. 5 uioure Christe pronouncheth them blessed whiche hunger and thyrste after righteous nes and promiseth that all suche shal be satisfyed and haue their desyre euen soo are they cursed whiche haue no delighte in the worde of God and from such shal the bles singe of Christes Gospel be taken awaye and the cursed tradicious of menne shal be throwen vpon them as the Psalmographe sayeth he wolde none of the blessing it shal therfore be taken awaye from him Hereto Psal. 109. agreeth the saying of our Sauiour Christ the kyngdoÌ„ of God shall be taken froÌ„ you Math. 21. shal be geuen to a natioÌ„ that bringeth forth the frutes of it Agayn this is condeÌ„nation that lighte is come into the worlde men haue loued darkenes more than lyghte For Ioan. 3 their workes were euel Nowe to recouer the fauoure of God and to turne awaye hys heauy displeasure from vs that he maye once agayne lyghten hys glorious louing countenaunce vpon vs and blesse vs with the moste blessed benefite of hys sonnes Gospell the meanes as ye hearde is earnest repentaunce of oure former lyfe humble knowledginge of oure synnes vnto God vndoubted faythe in the mercifull promises of God the father setforth vnto vs in the moste precious bloude of oure Sauiour Christe diligent inuocation and constante callinge on the name of God for remission of our synnes for mercye grace fauoure peace reste of conscieÌ„ce c. Pacient abyding of the Lordes leasure and fynally a continuall meditacion practise of a new lyfe If we on thys manner returne vntoo the LORDE oure God let vs not doubte but that he will shortly turne vnto vs mer cifully beholde vs and once agayne blesse vs wyth the heauenly benefyte of hys blessed woorde that we here on earthe maye knowe hys wayes and hys sauynge
to escape came vnto Chryste awoke hym and sayde Master saue vs we peryshe Christe aunswered Why are ye afrayde O ye of littell faythe Then he arose and rebuked the wyndes and the sea there folowed a great calme O the tender mercye of the Lorde oure God towarde all suche as in the time of theyr trouble fie vnto his name as vnto a stronge bulwarke Thys historye teacheth vs that thoughe the seas and the wyndes yea though the deuel the worlde ryse rore rage ruffle against vs neuer so much yet if we fie vnto God with harty faythfull praier he wil surely helpe vs so that nothinge shal hurte vs seme oure case neuer so miserable our daunger neuer so perillous The waues of the sea are mightye sayeth the Psalmographe rage horri Psalm 93 bly yet the Lorde that dwelleth on hye iâ—… mightier The lyke historye rede we of Peter whiche whan he saw Christe walkinge on Math. 14 the sea sayde Lorde bid me come vnto the on the water Christ sayde come And whâ—… Peter was come doune out of the shippe he walked on the water to go to Iesus But whan he sawe a mighty wynde he was afraide And whan he beganne to syncke he cryed sayeng Lord saue me And immediat lye Iesus stretching forth his haÌ„de caught hym and sayde vnto hym O thou of litle fayth wherefore dedist thou doubte O the merciful fauour of the Lorde oure God towarde his weake feble creatures Here fynde we the sayeng of the Prophete true A broosed rede shall he not breake smoking Esay 42. flaxe shal he not quenche But as I maye at the laste come too the history of our Sauiour Christ Who seeth not â—…he mightie power of God in raisinge vp Christe crucifyde dead whan all reason and wisedom of men thought it a thing Mat. 27. impossible The Iewes now promised theÌ„ selfs many fayre holy daies great safegard muche quietnes and continuall rest seynge they had brought Christ their head enemye to his long home as they vse to say Euen as oure Papistes at this present daye promise them self many good morowes greate Papistes assuraunce of their wealthy liuinges long rest perfect establishement of their kyngedome and sure saffetie for euer forasmuche as they haue now gotteÌ„ agayn their deuelishe and abhominable Masse their vnfruteful Latin seruice their beggarly ceremonies c. haue so handled the matter that the true preachers beyng put to silence thei alone both at Paules crosse and els where are the trompet blowers not of Christes Gospell but of that Romishe Antichrâ—…es dyrtie deuelish decrees as their sermons if thei be worthy that name now of late haue manifestly declared vnto the great derogation of Gods glorie the dishonoure of hys holy Gospell and the vnspekeable sorowe of all faithful and Christe hartes The Iewes but specially the Bishops the Priestes Mat. 26. 27. the Scribes the Lawers the Phari seis the Saduceis founde the meanes to laye hande on Christ to bynde him to cary him vnto the hye powers to accuse hym to condemne him to crucifie him to kyll Note him Yea beynge buried and a greate stone rolled to the bodre of the sepulche they sealed the stone and sette watch men with bylles halbardes gleyues sâ—…aues speares pyâ—… kes all manner of weapon to kepe Christ doune that he shoulde ryse nomore and trouble the holy religious and spirituall fathers with hys doctrine as he dyd afore But what is the power of this worlde before God very weakenes and the wysedome 1. Cor. 3. playne folishenes For whan they thought them selfes sure ynough of Christ for euer rysing agayne and them selfes set in suche a goodly staye as no misfortuyne coulde chaunce to them and to their kyngedome Christe by the power of hys Godhead Math. 28 rose agayne a tryumphante and victorious conquerour of all his enemies and raygneth nowe in the glorye of hys father for euer and euer And shortlye after the doctrine of Chryste whyche they soughte by all meanes possible too destroye and for the whyche they so hated Christe that they thoughte hym vnworthye too lyue dyd so aryse spryng growe encreace prosper and floryshe that it was not onelye taughte in Iewrye and Samaria but also in all the partes of the worlde and the Iewes for theyr vnthankefulnes and disobedieÌ„ce after certayne yeares with theyr countrye vtterly peryshed and came to noughte After Bevvare ye papistes thys sorte without all doubte shall it come to passe with oure papistes For where as they thynke prosperously longe too raygne by suppressynge the worde of God and hol dynge doune yea quenchyng the glorious light of Christes Gospell the Gospell off Rom. 1 Christe whiche is the power of God shall moste triumphantly ryse agayne maugre the enemies florysh and prosper and they with all theyr pompe pryde vanitie super sticion papistrye hypocrisye Idolatrye ceremonies masses decrees constitucions counsayles customes c. shall perishe and come to nought For God hymself sayeth I will honour them that honour me and I wyll brynge them to shame that do dishonoure 1. Reg. 2. me And oure Sauioure Christe sayeth He that falleth vppon thys stone shall be broken Math. 21. on peces but vppon whomesoeuer it fall it shall crushe hym all to pouder Here to pertayneth the sayenge of sainct Paule 2. Tim. 3. They resiste the trueth beynge men of a corrupte iudgement and lewde as concerning the fayth but they shall preuayle no lenger For their madnes shall be knowen too all men Agayne the God of peace shal treade Rom. 16. sathan vnder your fete â—…hortly ¶ The. xi Chapter MOreouer in the Actes of the Apâ—…stles Acto 12. we rede that after king Herode had kylled Iames the brother off Ihon with the swearde he layde hande on Peter and put him in pryson committing him to foure quaternions of souldiours to be kept entendinge after Easter to bringe him forth to the people and so to kyll him But prayer was made without ceasing of the congregacion to God for him Here Peter was apprehended caste into pryson bounde with chaynes warders appointed to kepe him all thinges so handled that he should by no meanes escape but all tymes be redy at the firste call to be broughte forth vnto death Peter loked continually for present deathe Herode and the Iewes perswaded them selfs to be sure of Peter to kyll him at their pleasur as though thei had slaine him all redy But beholde the mightye power of God whiche fyndeth a meanes to deliuer his seruauÌ„tes whan reason seeth no way to escape The night before that Peter should be brought forth to death there was a very diligente watche because they wolde be sure of him Peter him self was bounde with twoo chaynes Two souldiours also kepte him in the pryson one on the one side of him and another on the other syde Besydes this there were
kepers set before the dore to kepe the prysō All thinges were as sure as might be Peter was paste all hope of deliueraunce He committed the matter vnto God gaue him self to reste loking the next daye after to haue bene slayne And whyle Peter was Note vve◅ despaire no◅ a slepe and had geuē ouer the matter God wrought and sent his aungell into pryson vnto Peter which wonderfully broughte him out of pryson and deliuered him from all daunger Rede the chapter O the almighty power of the Lord our God in the deliueraunce of his seruauntes If God de termineth too saue alyue who is able too put to death Here se we the sayeng of oure Math. 1◅ Sauiour Christ to be true that all the hay res of oure head are numbred and that not ◅ne of them shall perishe without the good will of our heauenly father Here is that verified which is spokē by the Psalmogra Psal. 34. phe the aungel of the Lord py◅cheth his tēt rounde about them that feare him deliuereth them Great are the troubles of the righteous but the Lord deliuereth thē out of all He kepeth all theyr bones so that not one of them shal be brokē The Lord deliue reth the soules of his seruaūtes all they that put their trust in him shall not be forsaken The tyrauntes of this worlde maye threaten persecute empryson chayn locke Not◅ beate buffet c. But the lyfe of a Christen man can they not take awaye before the tyme commeth that God hath appoynted If the deuitles coulde not enter intoo the swyne and so droune them before Christ Math. 8. gaue them leaue much les can the lymmes of the deuyll kyll any faythfull man before God geueth them lycence What coulde sathan do to Iob before God gaue hym libertie to plague hym and yet coulde he exercyse Iob. 1. 2. hys cruelnes agaynste Iob no further thā he was appoynted of God Saul persecuted Dauid purposynge cruelly too kyll hym but Dauid escaped hys handes That wicked quene Iesabell threatned and 1. Reg. 19 3. Reg. 19 sware too slea the prophete Helias but the Lorde preserued hym and she afterwarde was moste miserably slayne The Godly woman Susanne thorow false accusatiōs of the two wicked Iudges was at the point Dan. 13. to be stoned vnto death but God wonderfully deliuered her from the handes of her enemies Esau burned with an immortall hatred agaynste hys brother Iacob because Gen. 33. of the blessynge wherewyth hys father had blessed hym and purposed fully to kyll hys brother But Iacob prayed to the Lord and so mollifyed Esaus harte in so muche that when Iacob thought that both he and hys shoulde haue bene slayne hys brother Esau came gentilly vnto hym louingelye embrased hym kyssed hym frendly and for very ioye wepte so myghty is God to mollefye tyrauntes hartes whan it pleaseth hym and to make them gracious and fauorable too hys seruauntes Howe ofte rede we in the historye of the Gospell that the Iewes wente aboute too kyll Christe and yet layde they no hande on hym The Euangeliste sheweth the cause sayenge For Ioan. 7. hys houre was not yet come But whan the tyme came that God hadde appoynted from euerlastynge than preuayled the wycked agaynste the manhoode of Christe layde hande on hym bounde hym and fynally putte hym too death as Christ sayde vnto them Ye become out as vnto a thefe Luce. 22. wyth sweardes and staues Whan I was bayly with you in the Temple ye stretched forthe no hande agaynste me But thys is euen youre houre and the power of darkenesse Certayne of the Phariseis sayde vnto Christe Get the out of the waye and Luc. 13. depart hēce For Herode wil kil the. Crist aū swēred Go tel the foxe behold I cast out deuels heal the people to dai to morow the. iij. day I make an ende For it can not be that the Prophet perish any other wher then at Ierusalē Here se we both the tyme the place apoīted where Crist shuld dye Euen so goeth it with the faithful Where No◅ whā God appointeth the membres off Christ likewise shall dye For it lygheth in no tyrauntes power to take awaye the lyfe of the faythfull tyll God appointeth bothe the tyme place as Christ sayde vnto Pylate Thou couldest haue no power at all against Ioan. 19. me excepte it were geuen the frome aboue God alone hath the keyes of death Apoc. 1 hell Rede we not in the Actes of the Apostles that certayn men about the number of xl conspyred Paules death and made a Acto 23. vowe that they wold neither eate nor drink tyll they had kylled Paule Yet for all their solēne vowe they were deceaued For God deliuered Paule out of their hādes Could ◅sau hurt Iacob the sea hynder the Israe lites the whale destroye Ionas the fyre cōsume Gene. 33. Exod. 14 Ionas 2. Dan. 3. 6 act 12. 28 the. iij. ionge men the Lyons deuour Daniel the falsse Iudges slea Susanna Herode kyll Peter the venomous adder destroye Paule at Milete Nothinge les God hath the deuell the worlde the fleshe and all thynges that are in hys power and ruleth them all at hys pleasure Loke how farre he suffer thē to go and to do so farre go they and do they and no further seme they to rage neuer so muche as Dauid witnesseth the Lord hath geuen a commaunde Psal. 148. ment and none shall go beyonde it Fyre hayle snowe yse vaporous stormy wyndes accōplish hys worde Agayne thou hast Psal. 118. limited the waters theyr boundes whyche they maye not passe God gaue vs oure Note lyfe no man therefore can take it awaye withoute hys appoyntemente We are Gods people he therefore will defende vs from all euell We are the workemanshyppe of Gods handes no man therefore shall destroye vs I speake of oure bodyes withoute hys fatherly prouidence We are shepe of Gods pasture no wolfs therfore shall deuoure vs but at hys appoyntetement The Aungels of God haue chardge Psal. 34 ouer vs they pytche their tentes rounde aboute vs and watche continually for the saffegarde and defence of vs what thā can miserable man do agaynste vs be he Emperoure Kynge Pope Bishop or any other tyraunte If the deuell the Lyons the sea the fyre the wyndes the serpentes c. can do no harme to the faythfull without bothe the sufferaunce and determination of God let vs not feare the worldlye tyraūtes although neuer so mighty fearce and cruel whyche are nothyng els but vyle fleshe earth asthes duste and dong whose tyranny is lyke too a staffe of rede whose imaginacions counsayles and deuyses are vayne folyshe and of none effect whan the Lorde God take the parte agaynste them whose glorie was the floure of the felde For they shall do no more against the ellecte and chosen people of God than