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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A09659	A godlie exposition vpon certeine chapters of Nehemiah, written by that worthie byshop and faithfull pastor of the Church of Durham Master James Pilkington. And now newly published. In the latter end, because the author could not finish that treatise of oppression which he had begonne, there is added that for a supplie, which of late was published by Robert Some, D. in Diuinitie	Pilkington, James, 1520?-1576.; Foxe, John, 1516-1587.; Some, Robert, 1542-1609. Godlie treatise of the church. In the ende .. a treatise against oppression.	1585 (1585)	STC 19929; ESTC S114273	162,441	172

whose cause speciallie I haue taken this labour 1. Eliasib the hie Priest gat him vp and his breethren the Priests and builded the sheepgate 2. And next vnto him builded the men of Iericho AFter that Nehemiah had so stoutly answered Sanballat and his fellowes encouraged his countriemen to the building of the walls all sortes of them pluck vp their stomachs and are no more afraid but lustelie fall to their worke And among other Eliasib the high Priest and the rest of the Priests also gat them vp and tooke in hand to repaire the sheepegate which went toward mount Oliuet and so the wall all a long vnto the towre Hananeell Such goodnes commeth by hauing a stout Captaine where the people be faint-harted Aggeus complaineth in the building of the temple that Prince Priest and people were fallen on sleepe vntill he came with message from the Lord to awake them then they fell lustely to worke So now here after ' that Nehemiah came with commission both from God and the King they lingered their building no more but boldly went on forward with it though it had lyen many yeares vnlooked at now in the beginning they had many stout brags Chabrias as Plutarch doeth write was wont to say that an host of harts should be more feared if a Lion were their Captaine tben an host of Lions should be if a hart were their Captaine teaching what profit commeth by a stout Captaine and so it fareth in Gods cause too Saint Paul considering what a chargeable office was committed vnto him and how fearefull a thing it was to preach Christ a fore Princes and wicked people desireth the Ephesians to praie for him that he might haue vtteraunce giuen him boldlie and freelie to doe his message in preaching the gospell He desireth the same thing of the Colossians 4. Chap. And the. 2. Thessalonians 3. So that where we see this boldnes in preaching ioyned with wisdome and discretion we maie perswade our selues that it is the gift of God in such a man and aboue the nature of man to doe it This lesson is giuen to all good builders of Gods spirituall house that they should not feare him that will kill the bodie and cannot hurt the soule but feare him that can cast both bodie and soule into hell And Saint Iohn saieth in the Reuelat. 21. that those which be fearefull shall haue their parte in the burning lake of brimstone with murtherers adulterers and idolaters And by the example of Eliasib and the Priests which disdained not to be admonished and learne their duetie of Nehemiah comming from the courte we shall learne humblenes of minde and not disdaine to be admonished of our duetie at meane mens hands They are not offended at him nor thinke him sawcie to counsell and teach them which were teachers of others but are content to ioyne in this worke with him and the rest yea boldlie to begin and giue good example to the rest as their duetie was and to incourage others So no estate must disdaine to be warned of his duetie and to be encouraged though it be by meane men for all sorts high and lowe learned vnlearned are fearefull and forgetfull of them-selues vntil God stirre them vp by his word holie spirit and messenger And reason it was that as they were shepheards to the people so they should build the sheep-gate which was at the East-end of the Citie where the temple was in the vttermost wall where the sheepe came in that were offered in sacrifice and whereof they had their partes according to the law This gate maie well be compared to Christ Iesus who sought the lost sheepe and was sacrificed as a lambe and is the gate whereby onelie we enter his shepheards must be the builders of it and bring the people into the folde Many good lessons might be plucked out of the interpretation of the names herein contemed and what were signisied by them but those be meeter for the learned which can by order of learning keepe them selues in compasse and applie all things to the rule of faith then to the vnlearned which haue not that iudgement And where the men of Iericho ioyne with the hie Priest in this building it teacheth that not onely priests Citizens must build Gods Citie but also countriemen yea those that dwelt farthest of and be lest regarded must put to their helping hand It is commendable in both that neither the Priests refused their aide and they that dwelled farthest of were the first that came to worke So must all that be of Gods houshould help to build euen the simplest and basest as well as the best for as he is God of all so he will haue all to serue and worship him If either Nehemiah or any other had taken this worke in hand alone it would haue bene thought great arrogancie in them others would haue disdained that they should haue all the praise of so great a building alone Common things would be done with common consent and the common aide of them to whome it perteineth would not be refused Iericha was the first citie that Iosue ouerthrew for their wickednes and it is now the first that commeth to help this building So great a change commeth when god turneth the hearts of the people Without this gate was that watring place or sheep-poole whereof S. Iohn writeth in the 5. cap. and where the sheepe were washed that came to be offered 3. The fish-gate builded the sonnes of Senaah they couered it set on the doores lockes and barres 5. The great men of Thecoa put not their necksto the worke of the Lord. THis gate was at the west end of the citie where the fishers came in atthe Sea coast with their fish to sell. If a man would stand on figures and allegories this gate may well signifie Christ who made his Apostles and Preachers fishers of men who by him brought and daily bring them into this spirituall Ierusalem for he is onely the doore whereby all must enter into the Lords citie These men like good builders leaue nothing vndone that might fortifie that gate for they set on not onely the doores but also bolts and lockes So must Gods Church be made strong by lawes discipline and authoritie that rauening Lions nor filthie Swyne rush not in and disquiet or deuour Gods people and the holesome doctrine must be confirmed with strong arguments and reasons against false teachers Much controuersie there is now about discipline which euery man graunteth to be necessarie and desireth to haue but whether this that is so vehemently vrged be the right way to strengthen the Church as stronger doores lockes and barrs that should keepe out all rauening wolues and wild beasts or they be like to spiders copwebs that wil catch a weak flie let the great drones burst thorow I leaue it to the consideration of the wise I wilbe no partaker of these troublesome contentions And if a

When Belsazar King of Babilon made his drunken feast to his great men and called for the vessels and Iewels which Nebuchadnezer hrought from Ierusalem that he and his harlots might eate and drinke in them in despite of the liuing God of Israell A hand appeared writing on the wall which Daniell expounded when none of his sowthsayers could doe it and said his Kingdom should be taken from him and so it came to passe For the same night Belsazar was slaine and Darius King of the Medes possessed his Kingdome A iust rewarde for al such drunken mockers of God his people Religion and Ministers and yet our merrie tossepots will take no heede Sara saw I smaell playing with Isaac her sonne and said to Abraham cast out the handmaid and her sonne for he shall not be heire with my sonne But S. Paul alledging the same text calleth this playing persecution saith as he that was borne after the flesh didpersecute him that was borne after the spirit so it is now but the scripture saieth cast out the handmaide and her sonne for he shall not be heire with tbe sonne of the free-woman so shal all scornefull mockers Iesters and Railers on God his worde Religion and People be cast out into vtter darknes and not be heires of gods Kingdome with his children This playing and mocking is bitter persecution and therefore not to be vsed of good men nor against good men and louers of Religion yet at this day he is counted a merie companion and welcome to great mens tables that can raile bitterlie or iest merely on the ministers Such is our loue towards God his worde and ministers but sure he that loueth God and the worde in deede cannot abide to heare the Preachers ill spoken of vndeseruedly I cannot tell whither is worsse the scoffer or the glad hearer If the one had no pleasure in hearing such lewd talke the other would not tell it The other thing they charge the Iewes with all is Rebellton falling from the King and setting vp a Kingdome amongst themselues When Elias rebuked Achab and the people to returne vnto the Lord Achab saith vnto him art thou he that troubleth Israeli nay said the Prophet it is thou and thy fathers house rebuking him and teaching trueth was counted troubling of the common wealth and the King What was the cause that King Saul and his flatterers hated poore Dauid so much and so cruellie sought his death but that the people songe after that Goliah was slaine that Saul had killed a thousand and Dauid his ten thousand which was as much to saie as they thought that Dauid was a mightier man then Saul and meeter to be King Daniel set open his windowes and contrary to the Kings commandement prayed thrise a day vnto the liuing Lord and therefore was accused of disobedience to the King and cast to the Lions den to be deuoured of them The Israelits in Egipt when God blessed them and encreased them to a great people were accused that they waxed so many wealthie that they would rebell against the King and therefore to keep them vnder were oppressed by the taskemasters and set to make Bricke for their buildings When our Lord master Christ Iesus was borne the wisemen asked where the King of the Iewes was Herod was mad and killed all the children of two yeares olde and vnder lest any of them should come to be King and put him downe When our sauiour Christ said his kingdome was not of this world then said Pilate thou art a King then Whereupon the Iewes tooke occasion to accuse him of treason and said eueryone that maketh him selfe a King speaketh against the Emperour for we haue no King but the Emperour The Apostles were accused that they had troubled the common-wealth by preaching Christ and filled Ierusalem with their doctrine contrarie to the commaundement of the Priests and Elders Iason was drawen out of his owne house for lodging Paul being accused that he had troubled the world and disobeyed the Emperour When Saint Paul had preached Christ in Athens he was accused for troubling the state by teaching his new doctrine thus euer the building of Gods house by preaching of the Gospell hath bene charged with rebellion disobedience to Princes and troubling of the common-wealth and peace But good men haue not bene dismaied at such bigge wordes but with good courage haue proceeded in their worke hauing the testimonie of a good conscience that they be not guiltie of anie such thing 20. And I answered This was the first push but not the worst that they had to discourage them for proceeding in this building and not vnlike but it made some afraid to heare such bigg wordes and so great matters laide to their charge by men of such authoritie as they were But as they were not ashamed so vniustlie to accuse Gods people so Nehemiah steppeth forth as boldly aunswereth for them all and defendeth their doings A worthie example for al those that be in authoritie to follow they haue not the sword committed vnto them in vaine they ought to defend both by word and deede in their well doings those that be committed vnto them Their duetie is not to suffer Gods enemies to inuade or hurt sclaunder or blaspheme those that they haue charge ouer but draw the sword if neede be to driue awaie such wolues and punish such wicked tongues It is not as we commonlie say when any daunger or persecution ariseth for the doctrine or that the ministers are vntruely reported of let the preachers defend it it is their duetie and vocation we are not learned it belongeth not to vs our care is for the common-wealth onely Religious magistrates will neyther doe so nor saie so they will not suffer as much as in them lieth the Church Religion doctrine nor the ministers to be ill spoken of reuiled defaced nor ouerrunne They be mouthes to speake for Gods people as Moyses was vnto Pharao they be hands to fight for them they be Rulers to defend the good and punish the euil Iephthe when the Ammonites fought against Israel defended the cause in disputation by words and after in battaile with sword The good King Ezechias when he receiued the blasphemous message and letters from Rabshakeh against God his Temple people and Religion he seeketh by all meanes to defend them all and encourage the people not to fall awaie from their God in that great daunger When Holophernes railed on God and his people Achior and Iudeth defend them and shee cutteth of his head When the great Giant Golias reuiled the people of God and prouoked them to fight with him hand to hand if they durst for the victorie none we found that durst doe it but poore Dauid with no strong weapons but his sling and a few stones killed that lustie champion and deliuered his people When Dathan Chorah and Abiram with 〈◊〉 fellowes railed against

man would studie for an exan ple of this I cannot tell where he might find a fitter These poore men of Thecoa worke willingly diligentlie but the Richer sorte were to stif-necked would not stoope nor obey the superiours of the worke for so the Hebrew word signifieth him that is appointed a ruler Master as wel as it doeth signifie the Lord God and diuers of the best learned doe so turne it into latin Euorie companie of workemen had their ouerseers appointed to direct keepe them in order that euery one should not doe what he list worke when and where he list nor loyter and be idle other companies did obey their Masters of the worke but these richmen were to proud This kinde of speach they put not their neck to the worke is taken of oxen which being made for the yoke to draw should teach al labourers in gods building as wel lay men as kircke men to be painfull as the Oxe not to stately to stoope vnder the yoke The scripture sundrie times commendeth this painful laboring by the example of the plough the Oxe As he that putteth his hand to the plowgh looketh c. thou shalt not mussle the mouth of the Oxe c for no kinde of people are exempt neither poore nor rich learned nor vnlearned man nor woman but they must bend bowe their neckes vnder the yoke be not ashamed nor to stately to worke at the building of Gods Citie The proud Pharisaicall Popish fryers Monks which haue so many priuileges from their father the Pope may not say Domine nos sumus exempti we may not worke the solemne Prelate the fine fingred dames nor the Surlie Lords of the land the daintle trim Courtier nor the loftic Lawier are exempt but euerie one must bowe his neck in his vocation painfully to worke at Gods building as in this Chap. ye shall haue examples of all these sorts that painfully wrought at this building But I feare me that if after the order of this dicipline which is so greedely sought many doe like of it because it is so gentle the Rich would not care for it but liue as they list If their consistorie of Seniors were sett in theyr seats with their Pastor in euerie Church with their full authoritie in all causes ecclesiast they should finde many proud Pecocks that would not bend their necks vnder the yoke of such simple sily woodcocks as euery parish presently is able to giue For as yet in few places shal able men be found that dare wil wrastle with the rich in correction A proud Thacker of Thecoa would laugh them to scorne and contemne their dispiling discipline For they that wil contemne correction the lawes and officers standing as they be it were also necessarie to haue the Princes powre dores of yron Bolts of brasse and locks of steele to bind thē fast Ad alligandos reges eorum in 〈◊〉 nobiles eoruminmanicis 〈◊〉 then with such kinde of dealing to be mocked They would stoutly saie Disrumpamus vincula eorum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iugū ipsorum We reede of Ambrose that excommunicated the Emperour Theodosius and how humblie he obeyed it but whether was more to be praysed he that durst doe it or the other that would obey it I cannot tell and I know not where in a good cause the like hath bene done since though the proud Pope for his wicked authoritie hath attempted and atchieued the like sundrie times against Emperours In deed excommunication rightly executed is a fearful bond to all good consciences for it locketh vp heauen gates throweth into the pit of Hell yet worldlie men that feare not God nor loue his people are more afraid of prison yron chaines and fettershere then of gods eternal wrath there Such therfore must haue a sharper consistorie then our Seniours be God for his mercies sake graunt vs a worthie discipline for such stif-necked Thekoits For the simple ones wil be more easilie ruled with a gentle discipline Such as haue the wealth and authoritie of the countrie giuen them ofGod to benefit and defend the countrie withal are not worthy to liue in the countrie if they withdraw their helping hand from their countrie as these Thekoits did now The Porters of euery Citie great mens houses are commonlie tall big bold men to keepe out vnruly people and reason is that it should be so for els al men would be bold to trouble the gates So must the ministers and rulers of Gods house whome the holy ghost calleth his Porters be more stout men strong then euerie realme is able to setvp in any parish Surely the hauing of these seniors might doe much good in many matters but in my opinion after another sort then as yet is put downe which I refer to the determination of the wisest how many Papists at this day do contemne the Church al the discipline in it because it is sosoft and if the feare of the magistrates sword did not more bridle thē then any honest feare they would daiely increase in boldnes contempt of al orders Ifye did but Excōmunicate thē they would hartely thank you laugh you to scorne for they willinglie excommunicate them-selues and will come at no congregation and vnder pretence of your excommunication they had iust pretence of absenting them-selues and neuer would seeke reconciliation God graunt all such obstinate contemners of his Church his word their iust deserued discipline This ouermuch softnes that is vsed an opinion of some that be zealous in religion whereby they thinke they may not punish an ill man for his conscience religion doth much harme imboldneth thē in their il doings surely in my opinion they that haue autority wil not correct such wilful dealings be partakers and mainteyners of others ill doing and fill both the Church and common-wealth with disobedient persons 6. The olde gate builded Ioiada c. they recoueredit and set on the dores Lockes and Barres BEcause this setting on oflockes dores Bars is sundrie times rehearsed here it shall suffise once to declare it and not to fill vp bookes with much writing trouble others with often reading of it Dores serue to let men in out to shut them in or keepe them out Locks serue against treasons or conspiraces within and Barres serue against open enemies and violence without So must Gods Church be fensed and strengthned with sundrie doctrine and discipline to instruct the ignorant comfort the weake raise vp them that be fallen encourage the forgetfull bridle the vnrulie and confute al errors This promise God made to his Church that hell gates should not preuaile against it It hath bene oft sore assaulted and yet neuer conquered and neuer worsse delt with then by her owne children and feyned friends rather then by open enemies as this day wel prooueth no force it hath a watch-man that

to be suffered in any company so Gods Citie will not suffer such ill doers to liue amongst them but cast them out The Staires which be spoken of in the 15. verse and the Tombe of Dauid in the 16. verse conteyne good lessons in them if they be well applied forall outward things in this worldlie Ierusalems building haue a signification in them to teach vs to build the spirituall Ierusalem By these Staires the King came downe from his Palace on the hill Sion into the lowest parte of the citie and by the same steps all Suters went vp into the Pallace to make their petition So the mercifull Lord Iesus by taking our nature on him and being made man in his mothers wombe came downe from the boosome of his father in heauen into the lowest parte of the earth yea and humbled him selfe vnto the vilest death and hell too that we by the same ladder Steps and Staires of humblenes may climbe by faith from vertue to vertue into the heauens by Christ Iesus our Lord who is our onelie spokes-man and meane-maker vnto that high and mightie king God his father And as Dauid borne in Bethlehem when he had reigned 33. yeares ouer all Israel was buried in Ierusalem and great treasures laid in the graue with him with parte of which Hircanus deliuered the citie when cruel Antiochus besieged it so Christ Iesus borne in Bethlehem in the 33. yeare of his age was crucified and buried in Ierusalem in whose graue we finde great treasures of our Redemption for both our filthie 〈◊〉 sinnes are there buried with him and the sweet Balmes Spices Oyntements that he was imbalmed withall are there to be found by faith and no holines of the place that is forgiuenes of sinnes rising with him to life euerlasting in heauen In the 17. verse and the rest of the chapter following to the end is almost no great matter to be noted but the earnest 〈◊〉 of the Lenites and Preists which were sonie cheise men and Rulers as appeereth here and their bondseruants to set forward this building and for the most parte in repayring the innermost walls in the 1. and 2. warde Wherby we shall learne that they were not so beggerlie as manie would make them in our daies if they might haue their will but of good wealth How vaine are those foolish exemptions which the Pope giueth to his shameles shauelings that they should not beare the common burthens of the Church and common-wealth Saint Paul biddeth them and all others to pay tribute and taxes to whom they bedue and shew their obedience to the high or powers in all Godly things as well as any of the Laitie Our sauiour Christ paid tribute for him selfe and Peter and willed the Pharisies to doe the like but these vnprofitable Pharisaical drones because they will be most vnlike to him will pay none at all There is yet remayning here amongst vs a sorte not Popish as they pretend but carnest builders of Gods house in their owne opinion where in deed they be the ouerthrowers of it which are in effect as il Pharisies as the Papists be They wil take a benifice cute of soules promising solemnlie to feed the flocke but whe they haue turned their back they haue a dispensation in a box to lie from it and flock aud floute who so euer would haue them to continue there and doe their duetie con tending by lawe they may doe it stand on their defence Domine nos exempti sumiv God for his mercie sake take awaie such lawes graunt disereete officers that wil not dispence so vnaduifedly with euerie one for smal causes as is too commoblie vsed and giue those vnprofitable Caterpillers such remorse of conscience that they will take paines to seede the flock as wel as they feede them-selues eating vntil they sweat againe become Pillers to vphold Gods Church not powlers of his people nor so greedie to picke their pursses and plucke of the fleece as painfull to releeue and comfort the weake both in bodie and soules with holesome doctrine and corporal sode as the great God wil aske a straict account of them at the last day where their dispensation may not be pleaded nor will be alowed nor the dispensor can 〈◊〉 excuse him-self not them but both like wolues and 〈◊〉 shalbe charged Vae pastor Idolism 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 eorum de manu 〈◊〉 Ezec. 3. Full litle doe such men consider what assewel God hath committed to their charge and lesse they 〈◊〉 the charge 〈◊〉 haue taken in hand Iesus Christ came downe from heauen to preach his fathers wil vnto his 〈◊〉 sheepe and 〈◊〉 his pretious blood to purchase vs 〈◊〉 and these Idle laborours will not take paine to visit teach or feede them whom our Lord God hath bought so deerly God amend vs nll This second measure another part of building which is so of spoken of here is thought of the most parte of writers to be the second ward and wal which was called 〈◊〉 where the 〈◊〉 Prophtes and learned men did dwell and was deulded into 〈◊〉 man his portion to build or els were they appointed first to build the halfe hight of the wall for a time to be some succour for them against the enemies Some were so earnest in building that they finished the second hight vnto the top of the wall afore other had built the halfe hight As in the 20 verse 〈◊〉 burst out in a heat for soreadeth the hebre 〈◊〉 being angrie both with him felfe and others that were so 〈◊〉 in working and had done no more and in a 〈◊〉 rose vp and finished his portion in a short time Such anger is good when a man is offended with him-selfe or others that they be so slow in seruing their God and building his house it will make him more earnest and diligent afterwards In the 〈◊〉 verse 〈◊〉 is commended that he built so farre as the 〈◊〉 of the high Priest raught A small praise if the house were not of some greatnes And so other Priests against their houfes in the verses following and in the 28 verse I do but note it because that manie disdaine that any ministers should haue a house of any countenaunce But among all builders none are worthie more praise then these 〈◊〉 be They were no Iewes borne but descended from those heathen 〈◊〉 which deceiued Iouse by puttingon olde shoes and hauing 〈◊〉 bread in their bagges clowted sackes and broken bottles feining them selues to haue come a long iorney to be receiued amongst gods people By law the Iewes should haue destroied all heathen people at their entring in to the land of promisse but where by this pollicie Iosue had graunted them life libertie and so could not destroy them for his promise sake he gaue them to the Lord to serue the Priests in carying water cutting wood and such other drudgery works for the sacrifices So that Hebrew word signisieth

striuing who shall be Peters successour in authoritie but I feare Iudas hath more followers which cowardlie and greedelie for a little money hinder betraie and vndermine both the faithfull builders and building If it be heynous treason to betray one man whom thou owest dutie reuerence and faithfull seruice vnto it must needes be much more heynous in a Citie a Campe a Church or anie societie where faithfulnes should be found to deceiue runne awaie deale dissemblinglie or to disswade discourage and withdraw anie or manie from their dutifull obedience labour diligence and faithfull dealing to the dishonour of God the ouerthrow of Religion and hurt of his people God for his mercie sake roote out all desperat Iudases from among all faithful companies that they may not discourage others and speciallie from among the flocke of Christ whom he hath so dearlie bought that the Lords building may goe forward lustelie What these Romish rubbish be I had rather leaue it to other mens considerations then by blotting of paper and filling mens eares with such filthines stand to rehearse them but among many I thinke none worsse then manie lewde dispensations which such idle lubbers seeke for whereby their dutie is vndone But manie a good builder will not build on the sand but dig to the sad earth and the good husband will plucke vp the weedes afore he sow good Corne so surelie in Gods Church ill doctrines Ceremonies Customes and Superstitions must be rooted out afore good Lawes Orders wholsome doctrine gouernment can take place 11. And our enemies saied The malice of Sathan by his members Is so great against the building of Gods Citie that by all meanes openly and priuilie inward enemies and outward faire words and foule Sword fire and fagget warre or peace Teaching or holding their tongue knowledge or Ignorance vndermyning or Conspiracies and all other deuices whatsoeuer they let none slip but trie all that they may ouerthrow all and not so much to doe them selues good as to hinder others to set vp them-selues in the sight of the world and to deface the glorie of God but in the end all is in vaine and our God shall haue the victorie They will not yet vse any open violence but cunningly come on them vnawares be on them afore they know it or looke for it secretly prepare all things necessary for their purpose and steale on them priuilie that they shalbe in the midst of them afore they wot where they be they will kill them shed their blood mercilesly murther them and make that building to cease ouerthrow the walls pull downe the Bulwarkes and so ouerwhelme them that they neuer dare attempt anie such building any more O monstrous malice against thy Lord to thine owne destruction in hindring his building and his immortall praise in defending of it What foolishnes is this to striue against the almightie a wretched worme on the earth to rebell against the lords holie will and determinate pleasure in heauen Nothing greeueth them so much as to see this worke goe forward if this worke were laied a sleepe their harts were wel eased but our God in patience letteth them vtter their malice that in his iustice he may ouerthrow them In this Serpentine craftie and deuilish dealing of these wicked men appeereth the old Serpentine deuilish nature and malice of Sathan that old cankered enemie of God and man from the beginning God saied to the Serpent that the seede of the woman should tread vppon his heade and the Serpent should tread vpon his heele Craftie and subtil men when they will worke a mischiefe goe priuilie about it to deceiue the good man as the Serpent if he will sting a man will not looke him in the face but steale on him priuilie when he seeth him not God endued man when he made him with such a maiestie in his face afore he fell to sinne that all creatures did reuerence and feare him and although sinne hath much defaced and blotted out that Noble Maiestie and grace that God endued him with yet it is not vtterly disgraced and taken awaie but some sparke and Relique remaineth at this day that no wilde nor venemous beast dare looke a man in the face boldlie and hurt him but will giue place for the time and seeke how he may priuilie wound or hurt him when he seeth him not It is good wisdome therfore for euery man that shall be in daunger of anie such hurtfull beastes allwayes to looke them in the face and beware when he turneth his eie from them that they sodenlie and subtillie leape not on him and hurt him These craftie and subtill foxes therefore like the seede of the Serpent would not openlie inuade nor gather anie great power of men against them but at vnawares steale on them priuilie afore they should suspect anie such thing This is the nature of wicked men so craftelie to vndermine the Godlie The next propertie of the Serpent that appeereth in these diuellish men is that they mercileslie would murther them when they hadde once thus sodainly inuaded them Sathan was a murtherer from the beginning as Saint Iohn saieth and therefore no maruell ifhis Children be bloodsuckers like vnto the father when he would not spare the innocent Lamb of God Iesus Christ but most cruellie crucified him why should we maruell to see himby his wicked Childrenso greedelie seeke to shed innocent blood still The last propertie of Sathan appeereth here most plainlie in these wicked men in that they would so gladlie ouerthrow this building of Ierusalem that it should neuer be thought on anie more Sathan is the Prince of this world and therefore cannot abide another King to reigne nor anie kingdome to be set vp but his owne and for mainteining of that he will striue by his members vnto death If a man would describe a Papist I know not where he should finde a more liuelie Example then these men be The Papist is close and subtill in going about to worke his feate on a sudden as these men were afore it be spied if God vtter it not Their bloodie hearts and hands haue filled all countries in all ages with shedding innocent blood but especially this age plainely declareth to them that will not be willfullie blinde howtrue it is Those bloodie mariages in Fraunce of late which were pretended to be made for peace loue and quietnes shallbe witnesses against them of these kinde of dealings though they reioyce in their mischiefe vnto the worldes end Saint Paul calleth the Deuill not onely a Prince but a God of the world because he disdaineth the glorie of God and would haue that honour giuen vnto him-selfe And that ye maie easilie see who is his truely begotten sonne looke who sit teth in the Temple of God boasting him selfe as God as Saint Paul saieth who sitteth so deepely in ignoraunt mens Consciences that they dare not offend him but thinke him to be holiest who taketh in hand to