is no more redeemers to be looked for and the Prophets are gone before Albeit wee heare daily speakyng vnto vs from God him self and all his Prophets to the end to gather together the remnaunt of Iuda In so muche as the Prophet Ezechiel hath left vs these comfortes When the wicked man turneth away from his wickednesse that he hath done and doeth the thing which is equall and right hee shall saue his owne soule and lyue For in somuch as he remembreth him selfe and turneth him from all the vngodlines that he hath vsed hee shall lyue and not dye Albeit the Prophet Ieremy doth in this Chapter folowing lay hard to the charge of all vngodly persons taking occasion first to reprooue whoredome and swearing taking Gods name in vaine Shold I not correct this sayth the Lord should I not be auenged of euery people that is lyke vnto this Clyme vp vppon theyr walles beate them downe but destroye them not vtterly Cut of their branches because they are not the Lordes for vnfaythfully hath Israel and Iuda forsaken mee sayeth the Lorde they haue denyed the Lorde and sayde it is not hee Tushe there shall no harme or misfortune come vppon vs wee shall neyther see sworde nor hunger As for the warning of the Prophetes they take it but for wynde yea there is none of those that will tell them that suche thinges shall happen vnto them Feare yee not mee sayeth the Lorde are yee not ashamed to looke mee in the face which bynde the Sea with the sande so that it can not passe his boundes For though it rage yet can it doe nothyng and though the waues doe swell yet may they not goe ouer But this people hath a false and an obstinate heart they are departed and gone away from mee They thinke not in their heartes O let vs feare the Lord that giueth vs rayne early late which keepeth euer styll the haruest for vs yearely Neuerthelesse your misdeedes haue taken from you and your sinnes haue robbed you thereof for among my people are founde wicked persons that priuily laye snares and wayte for men to take them and destroy them And lyke as a Neâ—â—e is full of Byrdes so are their houses full of that which they haue gotten with falshoode and deceite whereof commeth their great substance and ryches whereof they are fatte and well lykyng and are runne away from me with shamefull blasphemyes They minister not the lawe ryghtfully They iudge not accordyng to equitie Should I not punishe these things sayth the Lord should I not bee auenged of all suche people as these bee Horrible and greeuous things are done in the lande Which while the Lorde dyd beholde See I pray you the louyng mercyes of the Lorde offered vnto those people and nowe speaking vnto vs by the mouthes of many godly Preachers in folowyng and obseruyng the fourme of the good Prophet Osee in daily crying out Turne from your frowarde wayes and turnyng from your disobedience with the children of Israel saying vnto the eternall God Thou arte the Lorde our God and thee will we worshyp Confusion hath deuoured our fathers labour froÌ„ our youth vp yea their sheepe their Bullockes theyr sonnes and their daughters So doe wee also sleepe in our confusion and shame couereth vs for we and our Father from our youth vp vnto this day haue sinned against the Lorde our God and haue not obeyed his voyce For reconciliation whereof it is written thus by the Prophet Ioel. Make thy moane as a Virgine doeth that girdeth her selfe with sackecloth because of her Bridegroome for the meate and drinke offerings shall bee taken out of the house of the Lord. And the Priests the Lords and Ministers shall mourne the fielde shall be wasted the lande shal be in a miserable case Wherefore in the seconde Chapter of the same Prophet it is written thus Turne you vnto the Lorde your God for he is long suffring and of great mercy Proclaime a fasting call the congregation and gather the people together warne the congregation gather the Elders bryng the children and sucklyngs together let the Bridegroome go foorth of his Chamber and the Bryde out of her Closet Let the Priestes serue the Lorde betwyxt the Porch and the Alter weeping and saying Be fauourable O Lorde to thy people let not thine heritage be brought to such confusion lest the Heathen be Lordes thereof And Sainet Paul to Timothie hath left vnto vs in this age a probable reason that the day of the Lord his translation of this worlde is neerer vpon commyng then nowe seemeth to be made accompt off This knowe that in the latter dayes shal come perillous times for men shall be louers of their owne selues couetous boasters proud cursed speakers disobedient vnto father and mother vnthankfull vngodly vnkynde trucebreakers false accusers riotous fierce despisers of theÌ„ that are good Traytours headie mynded greedy vpon boluptuousnesse more then the louers of God hauyng a similitude of godlinesse but hauyng denyed the power thereof and such abhorre For of this sorte are they which enter into houses and bryng in bondage women laden with diuers lustes euer learnyng and neuer able to come to the trueth If the consideration of such ensamples then may not mooue the people in this age to bee deepely touched with repentaunce let them take the louyng Parables of Christ of the two sonnes and of the tylman vnto whome hee set his Vineyarde A certayne man had two soones and hee came to the first and sayde sonne goe and worke to day in my Vineyarde who answered I will not but afterwards repented and went Then came bee to the seconde and sayde likewyse and hee answered I will syr but went not Wherein is expressed a wonderfull comfort first is to be considered how the Lorde our God maker of heauen earth doeth humble him selfe not onely to bee called a husbandman a housholder and suche lyke But he abaseth him selfe of mercy to vs vile earth and ashes that his sonne became man to make mankynde glorious in his sight to make all those that do not refuse his grace offered of the slaues of Saten his sonnes by adoption We are his sonnes we are his Vinyard wee are as deare vnto him as the Apple of his eye As Moyses speaketh if you can beleeue it hee sweareth that you shal be his inheritance and he will be yours If yee will onely beleeue his grace offered and beleeue him when hee sweareth Will yee call his trueth into doubt his glorye into shame by your misreliefe Better it were that all creatures should perishe Heauen man and Aungels then that GOD shoulde not haue credite or that his power and glorye in the least iotte shoulde bee diminished Hee hath called vs hys people of Englande by his worde many yeares to worke in his Vineyarde But what many one haue answered I appeale to your owne consciences which witnesseth and all the world seeth that some
Ezechiel it is written thus If a man nowe heare the noyse of the Trumpet and will not be warned and the Stewarde come and take him away his bloude shall bee vpon his owne head for hee heard the sounde of the Trumpet and woulde not take heede therefore his bloud be vppon him But if he will receiue warning he shal saue his lyfe Moreouer if the watchman see the sworde come and shew it not with the Trumpet so that the people is not warned if the sworde come then and take any man from amōg them the same shall bee taken away in his owne sinne but his bloud will I require at the watch mans hande So is it required at the handes of all good Gouernors in this age that the order of plantyng may be obserued in suche fourme that euery tree may be so orderly planted and ingraffed that there may be no confused growyng For it is written that suche as are not ingraffed in Christ shall be pulled vp by the rootes wherefore it behooueth that euery good Tree may be framed to be comfortable and defencible to the other his neighbour and stander by beyng all of one Orchard the higher to the lower and the lower not to be slacke in vpright growyng to the end to doe their office duetie and good will vnto the higher For so is it required by the worde of God and no politike wisedome rightly may deny the same as that when any stormy weather should happen to blowe vp that then suche as before would haue beene iudged Okes shoulde not shew them selues as tottering reeds subiecting them selues to bee ouerrunne with euery sickle and sythe But that rather against the time that god shal please by his prouidence to call vs vnto him more nearer by any Crosse of tribulation that wee the people of this age may rather goe forwarde to meete with God in all reuerence and valiantly to fight vnder his banner Then that we should goe backeward with faintyng heartes and seeke to hide our selues from his presence which no man may escape for that his glorious presence is euery where both on high vpon the Mountaies and beneth in the vallies How much more ought we miserable creatures to bee vigilant and that by continuall prayer and watching thereby to mooue his Godhead not to be greeued nor displeased for our disobedience in transgressing of his Commaundements And that it may please him in his mercie to accept of our contrition in our returning euery one forsaking his frowarde and vngodly wayes And that with such repentaunce and mortification as sinne may be abandoned and haue no place any longer to dwell in our mortall bodyes And not to seeme too haue more care of thinges temporall then of things eternall For so nowe is it required at our hands in good earnest thereby to stop the mouthes of all enemies as that other nations beholding the perfect fourme of our returning may haue iust cause so to say of England Lo these are the people whome God hath chosen vnto him selfe and that the troubles of our neyghbours may sounde a continuall watche worde in our eares to amendment of our former euil liuing or els wee may assure our selues that wee doe but hasten the lyke measure of Gods displeasure towardes vs which I pray God graunt to keepe farre from Englande And in the manner of our returnyng let vs take and sette before our tyes this holesome doctryne of Saint Paule to Timothie in his fyrst Epistle I exhort therfore that aboue all things Prayers supplications intercessions and giuyng of thanks be had for all men For Kynges and all that are in authoritie that wee may lyue a quyet and a peaceable lyfe with all godlinesse and honestie For that is good and expedient in the sight of GOD our Sauiour which will haue all men to bee saued and to come vnto the knowledge of the trueth For there is one God and one Mediatour betwixt God and man Euen the man Christ Iesus which gaue him selfe a raunsome for all men That it should bee testified at this tyme I tell the trueth in Christ and lye not Beyng the teachers of the Gentiles with fayth and veritie I will therefore that the men pray euery where liftyng vp pure handes without wrath or doubting Likewyse also the women that they aray them selues in comely apparel with shamefastnesse and discreete behauiour not with broydered heare eyther gold or pearles or costly aray but as becommeth women that professe godlines thorow good works Let the women learne in silence with all subiection in such wise as all suche as pray may obtaine the benefit of prayer which ought to be framed in all zealous maner and with such a dutifull obedience as we doe owe vnto God in making our prayers and supplications As we haue sundrye ensamples set owne vnto vs by the word of God First howe Christ him selfe when he prayed vnto God the Father that if it were his will the bitter cup of his passion might passe away from him not for that Christ was afrayd of death but that hee woulde leaue vnto all his Disciples the true fourme of prayer desiryng nothing but that which is good and to edifie with all and alwayes to commyt our willes vnto his will not that our will be done but that his will be done and fulfilled with such obedience as Christ when he prayed lifted vp his eyes vnto heauen And also Moyses Aaron when they prayed for the people of Israel it appeareth that they did it with their hāds holdē vp and their eyes lookyng vp vnto heauen as a true testimony that their hearts were therevnto framed and setled But when Moyses ceassed from lifting vp of his handes and eyes those people were ouerthrowen And howe much prayer of good men hath alwayes preuailed The ensamples are not fewe As when Moyses prayed for Pharao the plagues seased Abraham liftyng vp his eyes sawe the place where God had appointed him to offer vp his Sonne Isaac Abraham for the Sodomytes Moyses for the fathers that sinned in the wildernesse Samuel and Dauid for the destruction and Solomon for them that came into the Temple and Elias for them that receiued raine and for the dead that he myght lyue and Ezechias for the people in the tyme of Senacharib And all those receiued the fruit of their prayers And in this our age no doubt of it by the good prayers of godly men powred out before the Lorde God for the beholdyng of the people of Englande in suche an acceptable a tyme as God hath bene mooued in his mercyes to protect his flocke hitherto in a miraculous wyse with nowe full twentie yeares past of returnyng which large tyme no doubt of it hath pleased God in his mercy to vouchsafe to assigne vnto vs the people of England the rather for the good affectiō which he hath and doth beare vnto our so gratious and soueraigne Queene vnder whom by Gods
haue deceitfully sayd lyke Belials childrē answered that ye woulde goe and worke in your fathers Vineyarde and haue not done it and othersome lyke rebellious haue plainly sayde they would not But what is in this great matter required it onely remaineth that all do repent and returne vnto the Vineyard with the first Sonne For neuer shall ignoraunce excuse any lande or nation as it is plaine in the first to the Romaynes neyther can any people be receiued without the fruit of repentance not onely to acknowledge our sinne to lament them but to amend our liues and to make streight the Lords pathes and to be well garded with obedience vnto God in doyng the workes of righteousnesse in executyng Gods preceptes to the resistyng of Satan and sin But if neyther the meanes of Gods mercyes offered nor his punishement threatned for sinne may not mooue obstinate people to returnyng vnto the Lorde in good earnest and that they will looke for signes lyke vnto the Scribes and Pharises temptyng Christ saying maister giue vs a signe vnto wheme Christe answered The euill and adulterous generation seeketh a signe but there shall no signe be giuen them saue the signe of the Prophet Ionas Insomuch as wee of this age neede to looke after no further signes or wonders then the word of God and daily experience leadeth vnto For Ierusalem and Damasco neuer possessed more greater blessinges then Englande nowe doeth nor none of those Cities neuer enioyed more pompe then London nowe possesseth And it is certaine that Christ preached three yeares in those two famous Cities and the Countreys vnto them adiacent And after fortie yeares Ierusalem was destroyed so long a time dyd God giue vnto them of repentaunce and returning from their froward wayes wherein those people so proudly walked in disobedience And the same God of long tyme hath called his litle flocke of Englande as the remnaunt of Israel by the largenesse of his mercy offered But the same seemeth to haue taken so little effecte as that a great number with the consent of disobedience haue taken occasion by their owne wickednesse to prouoke almyghtie God vnto displeasure in suche lamentable wyse as many are become enemyes and betrayers of their owne soules for which their so greeuous contempt none may escape the punishement As it hath bene declared in all notable punishmentes from the beginning For when the originall worlde perished by water when Sodom and Gomorrha was consumed by fyre And finally when Ierusalem was horribly destroyed doeth any man thinke that all were lyke wicked it is euident that they were not Neuerthelesse although some were young and dyd not know what oppression ment neyther coulde defile them selues with beastly and vnlawfull lustes some were pitifull and gentle of nature and dyd not thirst for the bloud of Christ his apostles But did any in the time of Gods visitation escape the plagues vēgeance which did apprehēd the multitude Let the scriptures witnesse and the histories be considered which plainly doe testifie that by the waters all fleshe in earth at that time dyd perishe Noah and his family reserued That none escaped in Sodome and in the other Cities adiacent excepte Lot and his two daughters And euident it is that in that famous Citie Ierusalem in that last destruction of the same none escaped Gods vengeance except so many as before were dispersed And what the cause was of this Gods seueritie we are forbidden to dispute with God But let all men by these examples learne betymes to flee and auoyde to commit such lyke abominations as the proude contemners of God doe prosecute if the residue list not to bee partakers of theyr plagues And yet the causes are euident for which GOD brought so horrible destruction vppon those Cityes manifestyng that wee shoulde bee subiect without grudgyng vnto Gods will and iudgementes which in them selues are most holy and iust Wherefore it behooueth that we of this age should all humble our selues vnder the mightie hande of God in such wyse as he in his mercy beholding our humilitie may bee mooued to turne away his wrathfull displeasure from vs. For in the originall worlde none was found in authoritie that eyther dyd resist tyranny or oppression that vniuersally was vsed eyther yet that earnestly reprehended the same In Sodome was none found that dyd gainstande that furious and beastly multitude that dyd compasse about and besiege the house of Lot None would beleeue Lot that the Citie should be destroied And finally in Ierusalem was none founde that studied to represse the tyranny of the Priestes and therefore of one vengeance temporall were they all partakers Which examples in sundry places before touched ought to mooue euery one that hath any feelyng iudgement in them selues to the deepe consideration of their dueties in this last age perillous tymes Seeyng it is written that those that doe not labour to their power to correct euill doe consent to doyng of euil And let it not be forgotten howe that Ionas the Prophet was but three dayes in his deliueryng of the Lordes message vnto that great Citie of Niniuee That after fortie dayes the same Citie shoulde be destroyed And those people knowyng them selues guiltie of transgression of Gods commaundementes beleeued the Lorde and proclaimed fasting with one accord among them all and put on sackcloth as well the great as the small the rich as the poore The Kyng did cast off his costly aray y t he was wont to weare and put on sackcloth as then the manner was of declaring repentance for he feared God In so much as God beholdyng their contricion in an acceptable tyme turned from his forepurposed destruction which was pronounced to haue fallē vpō that great Citie after fortie daies according to the message of Ionas had not both the King the people bene touched with so zealous affection vnto God his word As they beleeued the Lordes message without any further doubtyng and those people founde fauour in Gods fight As God graunt Englande in rendering of their due obedience to do the like in expressing our vnfeigned repentance by our outward actions for wee can not excuse our selues by ignorance as to say that we want of such like warning For common experience may teache sensible men that if one man receiue a hand writing from an other great credite is giuen therevnto especially when there is fayth and confidence betwixt the partie who sent the writing and the parties vnto whom the same is sent In so muche as euery man and woman ought to examine in them selues what confidence euery one doeth repose in God his written worde and what zealous loue euery one beareth in his heart toward the same And let vs not be vnmindfull that there is a time to laugh and a tyme to weepe a tyme to go forwarde and a tyme to goe backwarde Wherby all are forewarned from goyng backwarde like the frowarde nature of the Sea Crabbe But rather seeing that
we doe beare the Image of Christ let vs in tyme refraine from glutting ladyng our selues with muddy earth lyke vnto the Woluish generation but so to frame our selues to haue gladsome heartes and willing mindes to the ende to fetch water at the liuely fountaine with the woman of Samaria who could not deny but that shee had met with one who had told her all that she had done in her tyme and the same was very Christ our Lorde and Sauiour who now speaketh vnto vs out of his sacred worde bee knowyng from the beginning what hath bene done and what we nowe doe and nothing can bee hyd from him so secretly that his eares doeth not heare his eyes behold Who of a fatherly affection in his mercy hath left vnto Englande the moste perfectest meanes that euer was by the prescript rule of his worde how to know what our dueties are and howe wee should behaue our selues in this mortall and transitory lyfe Alwayes and in all our externall deedes to preferre his diuine wil pleasure before our carnall willes and affections vntyl we come to the vnspeakeable ioyes of his presence In the meane time the same our God hath assured vs by his word that after Prophets or warnings there euer after followed returnyng in yeldyng due obedience Or els alwayes hath ensued a lamentable and fearefull destruction Albeit our heauenly father hath and yet doeth deale with vs his people of Englande in the large measure of his mercy euen as a good father or master that threateneth and shaketh the rod before hee layeth on the stryâ—es which whyle the disobedient dee seeme to contenine and set light by a heauy punishement insueth which notwithstandyng when he threateneth he findeth no duetifull obedience in returning vnto him and when he warneth there is no repentance for sinne For he findeth some so obstinate and wicked as to say the way of the lord is not indifferent vnto such it may very well be sayd Nay is not your wayes rather cursed As God forbyd that any one of his litle flocke in Englande should be so obstinate and indurate hearted as to thinke that so good blessings as GOD hath powred vpon England are lent vs in vayne so to returne from vs as clouds without rayn or as an Eccho in the aire â—nlesse our owne vnworthinesse doe deserue it so to be taken from vs and to be giuen vnto a straunge people that yeâ— knowe not God As God forbyd that we should thorow our disobedience so as it were rent the mercyes of God from our selues and so become the scattered people But rather let vs the people of Englande seeke by all meanes possible to redeeme our euil spent tyme by earnest repentance and mortification subduing the lustes of the flesh with all the euill concupiscences of the same bearyng with vs free and cleare consciences agreeable to the will of God for so is the way to be at one with him as his worde doeth direct vs That to the cleane all thinges are cleane and to the frowarde all thinges are frowarde with the godly thou shalt be godly with the vncorrupt then shalt be vncorrupt And this I say further that I wryte according to the trueth and lye not let euery man examine his owne conscience I do desire no better witnes For where any man or woman so liueth as hauing no feeling desire in themselues to be at one with God sure it is an euident signe that neyther God dwelleth in them nor they in God With such God graunt that none of the people of England should at any tyme ioyne felowship but that all may growe and become 〈◊〉 members for Christ his Church by one generall consent So shall there bee no complainyng in our streetes nor no leading into captiuitie but all shall haue a ioyfull peace in conscience Thereby to glorifie God our heauenly father vnto whom with his Sonne Christ Iesu and the holy Ghost three persons and one God eternall be all honor power and dominion now and for euer Amen FINIS Our Sauiour Christ pronounceth thus much of him selfe that if we continue in his word then are we his very Disciples and shal knowe the trueth and the trueth shal make vs free Saue Lord and blesse with good increase thy church our Queen realme in peace ¶ IMPRINTED at London at the three Cranes in the Vintree by Thomas Dawson and Thomas Butter 1580. Ieremie 24. Ezechi 18. Esay 14. Apoc. 11. Gen. 11. Mach. 15. Exod. 14. Reg. 18. 17. Esay 23. Gen. 34. Dani. 13. Gen. 3. Amos. 6. Luke 6. Esay 3. Chapt. 16. Samuell 2. Esdras 4. 8. Sopho. 1. in tempore E. 3. An. Re. â—3 The. 5. Chap The way that Gentlemen may continue their ancient possessions Exod. 16. An. 2. Richa 1. An. Reg. â— Deut. 23. Exod. 22. Leuit. 25. Deut. 23. Ezech. 22. Psalm 14. Ezech. 18. The maner of vsurers gathering of their substance Matth. 12. Luke 21. Iohn 2. Micheas 6. Miche â— Esai â— Matth. â—5 Matth. 6. The property of good Bees Luke 3 Chapmen or retaylers of wares Pron 20. Peter 3. In Noahs dayes the olde world perished thorow water But this world is reserued for fyre Deut. 25. Leui. 19. Prou. 11. Math. 15. Luke 16. Iohn 10. The meanes wherby eche man may eramin in himselfe how he groweth rich to godward Mark 13. Faith is of a forcible effect and the stay of our life Iames. 2. Hebr. 11. Gal. 6. Pet. 1. Gen. 3. Luke â—â— Iob. 31. Ezech. 18. Cor. 8. An ensample of a great Turke The heart of man may be compared to a payre of writing tables Tob. 4â— Deut. 15. The Lord loueth a chearefull giuer Ephe. 6. To children Seruants Matth. 23. Pet. 2. The reedifiyng of London Bridge compared to the building and reedefiyng of the house of God Act. 7. Ring 15. What fourme ought to be obserued in the perfiting of Gods house Matth. 11. Luke â—5 Matth. 20. Matth. 5. A speciall note for all that professe Christ In the 2. boke of the Chro. Chap. 30. Ezech. 34. An order of planting or graftyng Tim. 2. Iohn 1â— Num. 11. 1â— 15. Exod. 9. 10. Gen. 22. Esdras 4. â—ooke Exod. 19. Iere. 18. Esai 48. Iere. 5. Osee 13. Act. 4. Ioel. 1. Prayers must be made out of the Closet of our heartes Tim. 2. Alamentable signe euen as it is come to passe in this age Matth. 21. Matth. 12. Marke 8. Tob. 12. Gen. 7. 19. Iohn 4. King 2â— Iohn 8.