kepyng his preceptes and commandementes Moste precious in the sight of God are these three vertues Faythe Hope and Charitie and of theim all the laste excelleth and hath the souerayntie Miche 6. Micheas the prophet of god cryeth vnto vs sayeng I wyll shewe thee O man what is good and what the Lorde requireth of thee namely that thou trade thy selfe in rightousnes that thou be humble and lowly that thou haue pleasure in mercy ionyng kyndnes to walke with the Lorde thy God O the heauenly voyce and counsayle of God that soundeth vnto vs for our sauynge healthe and wherein is comprehended the wholle summe of our duetie Whiche with all humblenes we oughte to receyue whervnto we shuld with reuerence be obedient and to exalte therefore at all tymes his moste glorious name and beyng myndefull of his mercy to bee hartily thankefull as well in all kyndes of aduersitie and dolour as otherwise in any manner of prosperitie or pleasure and then for his greate mercy and loues sake to loue hym agayn Whiche can bee by no better meane To 〈◊〉 god ready is 〈◊〉 be 〈◊〉 a 〈…〉 then to showe our selues frendely and charitable vnto all men what soeuer they be without exception bicause thei are of his creation and image and preciousely redemed also by Christ as we our selues hope to be Whom the charitable heart imbraceth indifferently yea euen the whole kynde of manne whose state whether it standeth highe or low right or wrong wel or euill al must be referred to the good wil disposition grace of god we must therfore respecting herein the will of God and the stoughtenes of our bonde and promise deuise with our selues how and by what meane we myght happily do good vnto all men to the vttermost of oure power VVe muste haue feruent loue amōg oure selues for the saide loue shall couer the multitude of oure sinnes 1. Pet. 4. and by no meanes no not by thoughte yf it were possible for the clearenesse of oure owne conscience sake to hurte anye manne For as the bande of charitye is to loue god wyth all oure heartes wyth all oure lyues and wyth all oure power and strength so charitie also in Chryst doeth further extend to the loue of euery man poore or ryche good or badde holye or vnrightuouse protestante or catholyke frenche manne or spaniard chrysten or heathen faythefull or vntrue bonde or free kynsefolkes or straungers no personne excepted And as the fygure of GOD is perfecte and equall in all so lykewyse vncorruptelye wythoute affection indyfferentelye to fauoure all Whyche is agreable to the example of Chryste who woulde all menne indifferentlye without any respecte of personnes to haue the benefytte of hys holye lyfe and passion and to bee saued thorowe faythe in his bloude so great was his loue towardes vs by whose exaumple he woulde haue vs in lyke maner indifferently gladdely and with good wyll to spreade foorthe oure affections to all man after the free and most liberall distribution of charitie And what soeuer cause be geuen to the contrary yet neuerthelesse accordyng to the will of God and thorowe the vertue of pacience to beare good harte and wyll vnto euery man to vse oure selues well and to be fauourable vnto theym not onely in cherefull wordes Rom. 12. and by outward familiaritie and countenaunce whereof otherwhyles we make very nyce and straunge but also in other oure actes and deedes euen frome oure veraye hartes If they bee good menne to loue theym in Christe and yf they be euyll men to loue theim also for Christes sake And whenne they haue deserued hurt or disfauoure or that occasyon be geuen by theym of reuengemente and displeasure yet we shoulde not withdrawe oure frendeshyp frome theym and to hurte or hynder theim but to doo good vnto them Rom. 12. though they haue not deserued it For to ouercome euyll with goodnes and malice with kindnes is truely to counterfayte the perfect charitie of Iesus Christ the sonne of God the sauiour of the worlde and patron of all pietie Esa 53. Math. 26. Act. 8. Eccle. 17. who hath taught the very same doctrine for our erudition and learnyng that haue earnestlye professed his name whiche also to our example in his owne persone performed in very deede although the malicious and proude people of this world that vainly boast of Christe and hath their whole felicitie onely fixed vppon earthly vanities are the sworne seruātes of Sathan who was a dissembler proude malicious and a murtherer from the beginning by whose corruption and malice is engendred in oure hartes priuie hatred open contempt secrete murmuryng selaunder detraction sedition false accusation and finally wylfull consent to murther Suche among many other are the woorkes of the deuil and of his malignāt bloudy membres from the beginning vpon the earth And lyke as is the minister suche are the seruauntes If 〈◊〉 therfore be in deede of Christ and 〈◊〉 vnfeyned professours of his name we are also the true seruauntes of Christ and beloued of hym whome we take to be our Lorde maister our marke and perfect exaumple of lyuynge and whome we ought alwaies to haue before our eies as the only patrone of all holy conuersacion and godlye state of lyfe that euen as he hath geuen vs exaumple so we shoulde also doo Iohn 3. Ephe. 5. 1. Pet. 2. Vnto whome and beefore whose presence oure myndes shulde wholly and at all tymes appeare vncorrupted and oure soules contynuallye occupied in the meditation of celestyall or heauenlye thynges reiectynge frome vs violentlye as drosse all vayne and vnfruitful studies al hatred enmity and malice or other kyndes of fylthynes and to direct onely vnto hym all our enforcements al our pastymes and pleasures all our ententes and purposes all our rest and quietnes and finally also all the whole summe of our busines For touching proprely the perfectiō of the saide loue and charitie that we ought to haue amonge our selues and eche to other in this maner sayenge Ye haue hearde it taught in tymes paste thou shalte loue thy frende Math. 5. and hate thine enmy But I say vnto you Loue your enemy Speake well of theym that defame you Rom. 12. and speake euyll of you Blesse them that curse you doo well to theim that hate you praye for theym that vexe and persecute you that ye maye be the chyldren of your father whyche is in heauen For he maketh his Sunne to ryse bothe vppon the good and badde and sendeth raine to the iuste and vniuste For yf ye do but loue theym that loue you what rewarde shall ye haue Dooe not the Publicanes lykewyse And yf that ye speake well of theym that bee youre bretherne and dearely beeloued frendes what greatte mattier is that Do not the Heathen the same also Math. 6. Agayne If you forgeue menne theyr faultes your heauenlye father shall also forgeue you youre faultes For if our fautes shoulde trouble
to his lawes and testimonies whiche shall euer rise vp againste vs for our condemnation byeause we haue in theim so greatly disobeyed the will of god obstinately flyenge frome hym in the true faith and conuersation of his soonne Iesus the heade corner stone whiche the buylders refused and moste shamefully contemned and abused whome he onely appoynted to bee the foundation of our reste and perpetuall mansion Against whiche in any one parte therof we may not spurne to breake God handleth al thinges according to hye vvil among the povvers in heauen and among the inhabitours of the â—â—â—the and therâ—â—nonâ— that may resist his had 〈◊〉 say what doest thouâ— Daniel 4 nor seeke by any meanes to spot and deface but thankefully embrace and be ioyfull of goddes disposed wyll consideryng it is his owne doyng euen for his glories sake although it appere neuer so meruailous in our eies he wil haue it knowen that it is the onely power of his right hand that he himself hath don it Psal 10â— His works ar meruailous his right haÌ„d bringeth mighty thinges to passe yea the right hand of the Lord hath the preemineÌ„ce for the helth saluacion of his people he myghtily preuaileth in al his enteÌ„ts Ps 118. Therfore to coÌ„clude without long depeÌ„ding in admiration seing that Goddes determinatioÌ„s in rightousnes as he himself is a God of rightousnes must most certaynly appere in brightnes and of necessitie be accomplished a mongest vs againste whose will in his woorkes no man may without daunger rebel let vs examine wel our selues and trie our saluacion in truthe by the assistence of the spirite of truthe and therby know our assured leanynge staye and which way we shall rightly walke and not stand so fast in assuraunce to our aunciente termed customes and bycause the greate parte of christendome thorow simple or wilfull ignoraunce reeleth blindelye that waies nor remembryng the smalnesse and myld trade of Christes stable flocke howe pacientely they beare the crosse of Christ and suffer rather to bee persecuted then persecute vnto whome god promised strength and to be amongest theim for their coumforte euen in the middest of the tire although we wickedly iudge of them to dye obstinately vayne gloriouselye desperately most beastly VVicked vvourkers iudge vvickedly like a sort of dogs or very helhouÌ„des with such other malicious rashe and most cursed railynge iudgemente contrarye to god and the heartes of all godly men neither regarde we the example and steppes of their conuersacion The coÌ„uersation of the vvicked through shamelesse pride ambition stoughtnes couetousnes outwarde holynes vnclennesse maliciousnes cruel murther with suche lyke wickednesse spronge vp in the churche of Christe whiche are the fruites of the dyuel and thincensementes of a wicked spirit and therfore refused of the perfect and rightuous christians because they bee contrary to thexample of Christ and his holye Apostles who teacheth vs to trye spirites and to knowe the tree by the fruite but to yelde vs wyth all humblenes bothe bodye and soule Hovve to attaine the grace of god into the handes of god and referre wyth reuerence in suche tyme of controuersie theffect of our whole faith and saluacion to the wourkynge of his grace by the power of his holy spirite to the lyghtnyng of our vnderstanding and to put by doubtfulnes all controuersies sectes and diuisions One God that as we haue but one onely God god our heauenly Father Christ our onelye sauiour and the holy spirite our comforter all thre in glory equall all one in substaunce and in vnitie also all one and vndeuided One faith So we the professours of his name may haue but one onely quicke and lyuely faith in one religion the true rule of christ to the knit tyng of oure hartes in christen vnitie and to bee vndeuided The vertue of christen vnitie to the feclyng in our selues the true peace of God and thexercise of goddes heauenly charitie wherby our eyes shall ber opened to see and receyue his very perfecte and louely obedience reuerently to submytie our selues to all his holy and most godly ordinaunces and with a thankefull and mylde christen spirite accordyng to our most bounden duetie to pray for the Queenes moste excellent maiestie that God for the greatnes sake of his mercy wyll hencefoorth blesse hir preserue her and prepare so for her that her reigne maye bee longe and prosperous amongest vs with muche ioy honour wealthe strengthe and victorie ouer her ennemies that she maye the more quietely in the feare of God seke aboue all thynges the glory of God in rightuousnes accordyng to the truthe of his wourde and that his ministers also vnder her may bee endued with the spirite of truthe that his truthe in rightousnesse maye beautyfully and cleerely shyne thoroughout her graces dominions to his euerlastynge prayse and that we beeynge also blessed vnder her higâ—es hande with ready prepared hartes for the grace of God may haue sufficient of all thynges to the sustentation of oure earthely bodyes subduynge alwayes the enemies of the common wealthe that we her humble and louynge subiectes maye reioyce thorowe hir highnesse in the greate mercies of God and be thankefull louyng more perfectly one another and applye oure selues with more pitifull and tender heartes to see oure poore neyghbours and christen brotherne better relieued and prouyded for that God in Iesus Christe maye styll vnto the ende holde his mercyfull hande ouer vs and finishe his good wourke vpon vs newly agayne begunne to the exaltation prayse and glorye of his moste blessed holy name whiche alone is worthy all honour and glory Amen The peace of God the father through our lord Iesus Christ by the workyng of his holy spirite in you abyde in all your harts and kendle in you the fyre of his loue Amen IF we the chyldren of Adam depely wold consyder and ponder diligently from the beginnyng the maiestie of thimmortall God In beholdyng symply and with all humblenes both externely and with our inward senses his omnipotent power and workemanship in heauen and in erth the merueilouse order of his doynges Gene. 1. and his most happy entent towardes mankind in the same what greate appearaunce there was of his moste deere and syngular loue that after the creation first of heauen and earth as also the depe and bottomlesse seas and all thynges innumerable in theym conteyned and by hys blessynge tencreace and multiply for the redy vse seruyce and pleasure of man howe he then in tyme made man a creature amonge all other his louelye creatures moste glorious beautyfull and semely yea and after his owne ymage and symilitude a liuyng soule breathyng into him the breath of life Gene. 2. Eccle. 32. 1. Cor. 15. how he made him lorde and ruler and to haue dominion ouer all gaue names vnto all maner of cattall fowles of th aire and beastes of the fielde how he planted a gardeyn of pleasure and there
euery common welthe among the degrees of men some naturall frendly and charitable men that seeketh gladly the preferment of their countrey by their vertue and wisdō so to the cōtrary there be many other also that are vnnaturall very vnfrendlye vnlouinge to the same and alwaies seeke the hynderaunce therof by their craste and subtletie Of whome we maye saie with compassion and pitie because worthilie there hāg ouer them the daunger and pricke of misfortune O vnnaturall and strange people peruerse and vntoward to the vse of vertue And vnfrendly for the comfort of your countrey before whom standeth alwaies the vrefull face of goddes iustice For yf in these or such other like thinges offence be committed shall it not then be manyfest of thee what so euer thou bee that the charitie of God abideth not in thee or that an euyl spirite possesseth thee What is this but that the deuyl preuaileth againse thee when thou art rebellious againste the wil of god or hateful to thy countrey Thou hast not sought th aduancement of Goddes glorye Thou haste not directly answered to thy vocation thou hast sought onely thyne owne wealth and commoditie Thou art disobediēt and false to the kyng thou hast craftily deceyued hym and his moste vertuouse counsaylours thou lyuest vnder hym an vnnaturall and wicked subiecte thine hert is vnsounde towardes hym thou art sclaunderous to his personne Thou careste not for hys lawes Thou dishonorest hys nobilitie neyther loueste thou hys people thou haste shutte vp thy compassyon from theym thy poore neyghboures thou haste not soughte theyr commoditye whome thou oughteste to loue as thy selfe but rather haste styrred theym vp as muche as in thee hathe lyne to dispeyre of the grace of god to disobey the wourde of god to breake withoute feare the true peace of god to hasarde in madnes both body soule to make rebellion and vproure agaynste hym theyr annoynted Kynge and naturall prince as in the dayes of darkenes or great ignorāce of god to dāger his person to put in hasarde vnder him his whole dominiō empire although of late dayes the myghtie hande of god thorough the power of his grace to his onely praise hath so stayed the hartes of the people that thy most wicked attempte hath not taken place O blessed therfore be the name of God for euer that hath wrought so mercifully in vs to the lyghtnyng of our darknes and to works in vs his reuerent feare and obedience wherby the people of god the cōmons of this realme hath bene quiete paciently in all thynges to susteyne the sharpe rodde of his iustice whiche he of late hath bitterly layde vpon vs for oure former disobedience and great vnthankfulnes in the daies of his mercyfull visitation amongest vs who in tyme accordynge to the greattenesse of his mercye in Iesus Christ and for the loues sake in hym he to his elect hath and wyll retourne againe his ioyfull countenaunce vppon vs and wourke myghtily for vs contrary to the expectation of his and our moste wicked enemies Psal 89. yea euen in such wise that thei shal se peciue it be ashamed because he our god hath mercifully leaned vnto vs blessed vs holden vs vp and cōforted vs. Thou therfore what so euer thou be the arte a maynteyner of thyne owne only state rather by corrupted auarice vntrewe dealynge or fylthy gayne then truely in the feare of god without dissimulation or doublenes accordynge to the duetie of goddes faithfull seruaunte and the kinges obedient subiect to the prayse of God to the honoure of the kyng and comfort of his people thou playnely approuest thy selfe the verye ennemy of God a disobediente rebellious subiect to the kyng and a wilfull spoyler or murtherer of his people Thou arte wourthy no better to be termed amonge the people in a common wealth before God and to the knowledge of the kyng than an open ennemy a secrete sower of sedition and a priuie worker of rebelliō wherby the kyng the appointed high minister and seruant of God thy liege lorde and soueraigne and his derely beloued people the flocke of Christ may be greatly vexed and in daunger of confusion althoughe I saye suche cursed instrumentes and workers of mischiefe as thou arte God prospereth good ententes ar oftentymes by the grace of GOD swyftely preuented and the iuste confusyon thorough thy very occasion to lyghte vppon thine owne pate Thynges that are well deuised and entended from a good hart to a good ende god prospereth theym bringeth theim well to passe but the wicked deuises and ententes of an euill hart to a wycked ende VVicked de 〈…〉 of 〈◊〉 god prenented are often of God preuented and comme not so to passe but as a stone vehemently reboūding from the rocke or hard wall doth stryke or hurte hym that threwe it to his greate perill and danger Reuoke therfore thyne euell ordre to the supportacion of thyne own state Preuēt betimes an incōuenience and beware that thou be not rightly vsed and susteyne the curse of god Feare him and honour thy kynge be obediente to his lawes and loue dearelye his people Bridle I lay thyne vnlauful attemptes least thorow the iustice of god the Kynges auctoritie also fall vpon thee for he beareth not a sword for nought but wourthily for the sharpe punishemente and cuttinge of of suche rotten membres noysome and destroyful caterpillers Roma 13. engendered in the commen wealthe of an euyll wynde and pestilent ayre of the deuil that spileth and deuoureth the louely buddes tender grene leaues faire freshe fleures and plesant frutes plentifully flourishyng ouer all the head the braunches and the beautyful renoumed stocke of this Englishe common wealth And finally what soeuer member thou be or artificer inhabiting within thy cuntrey Artificers and other that bearest the name of a christen subiect and abusest thyne honest estate vocation through corrupted auarice falseboode or subtletie not duely wayeng the true order and frendshyp in a common wealthe appointed and stablyshed by thauctoritie of god and the kynges lawes to the comsorte of the people thou shalt also manifest thy self to be void of grace not to be of Christ not to haue in thee the charitie of god nor to lyue in his feare and vnder the obedience of thy kynge and therfore as a disobedient and wylfull malefactour both to God and the kyng thou shalte wourthyly by due iustice stand in daunger of them bothe to thyne vttre ouerthrowe and destruction th one iustely condempnynge thee and the other mynystrynge his vengeaunce vpon thee For as thou art the very aduersary of god mischeuouse hard harted and euill willynge to goodnes so wyll he by some meanes Eccle. 21. sende the bitternes of his wrath vppon thee and it shall destroye the euen as the stubble Therfore O thou enemy of rightuousnes thou vncharitable vnnaturall wycked man Herken in few wourds vnto the voice of the holy ghost by the
myghtye hande and power Haste thou not sent by all meanes possyble the experience of thys bryckle lyfe Remembrest thou not that with one only blast Iob. â—â— the dimme lyghte of thy candle of lyfe is vtterlye extincts and put oute And that it is in suche wyse dynged that there remayneth in it no spark of hope for thy light to retourne agayn And that the lyght beyng ones loft the waxe lieth waste the heate abateth the â—nuffe smoketh it corruptly stinketh it quickly consumeth and sodeinely falleth to asshes Haste thou not thus thought of mans mortalitie and falle Eyther haste thou presumed vppon Goddes sufferaunce or wantonly fyxed thyne hart to daliaunce Hast thou not yet aptely prepared thy selfe to God a repentant synner for the multitude of thy sinnes and iniquities Haste thou not in thee the charitie of god Haste thou presently wrath in thee agaynst thy neyghbour Either hast thou maliciouslye of wicked set purpose detracted thy neighboure to the spoylyng of hys good name and same He that is stiffenecked and vvill not yeld to the grace of god and he reformed shal sodainly vvithout helpe bee rooted out and destroyed Prou. 29. losse of goodes losse of frendes or losse of lyfe Haste thou not soughte with a sorowfull harte to bewaile thy wickednesse to God and to be reconciled agayne vnto thy neighbour accordyngs to the wyll of god Hath the deuell so blynded thee or poysoned thine harte wyth pryde malyce contempt or scornefulnes that then wylt contynue in stoughtnesse and be ashamed of well dooynge to knytre thy selfe in the bonde of peace and amitie wyth thy frend or enemy thy poore neighbour thy christeÌ„ brother or sister Hast thou oppressed hym or craftilye deceyued hym Hast thou bene slacke in doynge thy duetie to hym Hast thou ben pittles or vncharitable to hym Hast thou thus sette at naught the preceptes and holye counsailes of God Eyther haste thou so fyred thy selfe to the worlde refusynge the grace of GOD that thou hast not yet found time to be stowe and set in good ordrs to his glorie the vaine things of this world fore seing the sodaine visication of God or the swiftnes cruelty of me deathe Eccle. 24. Eccle. 41 the messenger of god Hast thou not herd that at my commyng I tary not Hast thou not bene taughte to byspase thy goodes and to be charitable vnto thy freende and accordynge to thyne habilytye to reache out thyne hande and geeue vnto the poore and to wourke ryghteousnesse before thy death to the saÌ„ctifieng of thy soule in Iesus christ Examine thy self what thinkest thou Feelest in thy coÌ„science the due iustice of god and the terrour of me deth hys messeÌ„ger Doth the sorows of deth now compasse thee and the huge flouds of iniquity make the afraid hath the paines of hel fastned vpoÌ„ thes the straÌ„gling snares of deathe ouertaken ther Shrinkest thou now at mee Feelests now in thine hart my deadlye gripes Seest thou nowe no waye to flye nor longer dayes to amende thy lyfe And is ther therfore now in thee a feareful hope of ioyful life and condempnatioÌ„ in thy conscience to eternall death for thy leuds folly and forgetfulnes of the wille of God Ah the more accursed and dampnable is thine estate neither do I pitie thee no no lette hell fyre deuoure thee or all the tormentes of hell fasten vpon thee for as I fynde thee so muste I surelye take thee I maye not passe the boundes of my commission And as I thy mortal enemye Death 〈…〉 regarde not thy present state of dampnacion to eternal death so wyll I now not defer so â—â—uruec thy soule from thy body and wyl byolently wyth my force deforme thee waite and consume thy beautye and take from thee my breath of lyfe And as thou hast hath hards and seene or manye that haue sustayned my pâ—â—â—es â—urye and ouerage so wyth 〈◊〉 my moste violent cruetâ—â—â— I new take â—â—om thee thy me O the arear terrour and sharpenes of â—eam 〈…〉 O sodayn and â—â—râ—or crueltie O the mercyles meisenger or the 〈◊〉 most â—euere god than thus in â—oâ—yne cutteth vs thorre from 〈◊〉 curshly reiâ—â—â—e â—eâ— rather wer may â—ny with lamentation We for euer â—ee 〈◊〉 thâ—ie 〈◊〉 and damnnable sowles whose benummed and dull senses hath ben wylfully stopped from the apte seelynge and receiuyng of the diuine grace and voice of god wrootyng and cumblyng lyke swine in the myre of their carnall and filthye affectes wandryng the byepathes of Sathan refusyng the straight wate of Christe and contempnyng the moste pure and vndefiled law of the higheâ—â— Whose byrthe whenne they be borne 〈…〉 shall bee to cursynge and when they dye the curse shal be their portion For horrible is the death of the vnrightuous He shall neuer come our of darknes the flame shall drie vp his braunches and with the blast of the mouthe of god he shal be taken awaâ—e O â—ure wilful and stiffnecked wickednes that hasteneth vpon vs goodes heauy â—â—â—oâ—gnation and wrath heapes of his plagues to torment our flelâ—he the violence of deathe to shorten this lyfe If we aâ—â—er escape euerlasting death For as â—ynne preuaileth against vs to the iustice of God hangeth ouer vs. And because we are the seruauntes of 〈◊〉 we shal also receiue the reward of 〈◊〉 whiche is death Rom. â— 6 as it was playnely signified vnto vs from the beginnynge by the mouthe of God Gene. 2. when Adam whose children we are disobeied and transgressed the wourde of God We with our forefathers to the destruction of thys lyfe must all drynke of the cuppe of death VVe muste drinke all of the cup of death who dyuersely knocketh before he stryketh to warne vs of our ende But who regardeth that Who harkeneth gladly to the knocke or call of death Eyther who alwaies duely receiueth that monishementes of deathe for a remembrance of his ende by deathe thorough innumerable sygnifications and exaumples of lyuynge thynges whether it hee in their rysynge or fallynge in theyr quicknyng or decaying or in their vncertaine liuyng and moste certain dying besides the fickle course of mans short life felt approued in al times ages eueÌ„ froÌ„ the yong tender infant to the youthful middle age so forth to the gray heded croked old age as also these daily familiar messengers that is Many strange diseases violent plagues great perils hard fortunes sodein deathes with such other like as before mencioned prepared for sinne eyther partly worthily felt vpon his owne flesshe or fully performed before his face vpon others whâ— I therfore consider but a little the forgetfulnes great frailtie and vsual disorder of mankynd in this behalfe and behold to the contrary the great workes of God and the most mercyful order of all his doynges towards man for thvpright conuersation good life and saluation of man As I can not herein but highely magnifie praise the