the iurisdiction of that court which our owne conscience and the voyce almost of all the people in the lande crye out that it is popishe and Antichristian and yet not one man among a thousand haue spirit and courage to withdrawe him selfe from it neyther will they knowe it to bee a sacriledge and treason against Christe to goe and bowe before the scepter of Antichriste and flatter them selues saying that Christ rule in their harts inwardlie thei serue him inwardlie and outwardlie they serue that idoll which the Deuill haue set vpp worse farre awaye then the idoll which Nebuchadnessar set vpp in the plaine of Dura But the people saye If the Masse and images come againe they wil rather dye then they will receyue those Will you fight the Lordes battelles and will you needes chuse your owne standing Must not the Souldioures fight with that bande and wing of the enemies wherevnto their Captaine appointe them But O foolishe and blinde men For whither is greater wickednes The Masse and images or that rule and power which haue authorised and established the Masse images Whither is greater the apple or the tree whiche bringeth forth the apple For the Masse and images all other wicked ceremonies were but apples of this cursed and bitter tree of popishe gouernement And although we haue cut of a few twigges which bare some kinde of apples yet the tree remayne and the roote hath yet very deepe holde in the grounde and it bringeth foorth other cursed crabbes to set our teeth on edge withall And though the Deuill woulde beare vs in hande that they were as good apples and set as great a praise on them as he did on the apple which he feofft Eue with Yet in eating thereof the Lord shall proue our disobedience These abominations which I haue spoken of many more which I haue not named declare whither our bondage or the Babylonian bondage of the Iewes were more greuous and daungerous And if they hanged vp their harpes vpon the willow trees Whither haue we cause to sett apart Lute Cithern Uiols shalmes Cornets Sackbuts and Dulcimers and all the instrumentes of Musicke with daunsing and mirthe and to singe the songs of dolefulnes Lette vs rende our harts and not our garments Lett vs no more sitt downe to eate drink and rise againe to plaie but lett vs eat the bread of aduersitie and drinke the water of affliction and pray continually so that in praying our bitter cōplaints may ascende vp to the Lord we may rightly speak with like affection as did the poore banished Iewes saiyng Behold as the eyes of the seruants look vnto their masters and the eyes of a maidē to the hand of her mistresse so our eyes wait vpō the Lord our God vntil he haue mercie vpō vs. Haue mercy vpon vs O Lord haue mercie vpon vs for we haue suffred to much contempt Yea if we had anie grace to take to hart the reproches of the papists which mock our patched seruice and skorne vs as not able to builde our house of religion without borowing most of our stones and timber from them And cast in our tethes Where doo you tell your church Or whence haue you any iurisdiction or churche gouernement but from him whom you skorne in words namelie the Pope As in deede it is in euerie mans mouth to cry fy on the Pope yet we bowe the knee before him by submission to his Court. Therefore are we mocked of the papists as our sinnes haue deserued Which spirituall euil if our dull harts could feele we might adde also with those carefull Iewes Our soule is filled full of the mockings of the welthy y e despight of y e proud For it is a time of reproch and our shame lyeth open in the eyes of all nations if we could discerne it whyles neyther Temple is buylded wherein we may worshippe the Lord aright neyther the citie wall whereby the Heathen might bee kept out that they no more come into the lords heritage to defile his holy Temple to make Ierusalē an heape of stones Nowe therefore although we at the beginning haue not done as faythfull Dauid did to sweare and vowe vnto the Lorde concerning his acceptable work finishing with all possible speed let vs yet at the length heare the lords voyce without hardening our hartes and sweare vowe to seeke his face and builde his kingdome otherwise then we haue done and not to rest as heretofore tyll we haue performed our vowes and passed euen thorough the vallie of teares mourning digging fountaynes to quenche our thirste I meane abyding all trouble and persecution vntill we draw neare the lords rest in Sion before the time that hee sweare and seale the decree of our neuer entring in thither and so wee bee shut also from his eternall rest in his kingdome for our too much contempt of his glorie which should appeare in the aduaunced kingdome of his deare Sonne and for oure luke warme professing his name without doinge his will and working his worke Thus haue we hearde concerninge the care which Dauid had for y e bringing home the Arke It followeth to speake of the ioy which he conceyued when the Lorde vouchsafed to be with him to bende also the hartes of the people therevnto when it was broght home I reioyced when they sayde vnto mee we will goe into the house of the Lorde King Dauid according to the vowe and promise which hee made vnto the Lorde so he continued faythefull and stedfast and prepared a place for the Arke of God and pitched for it a tent and longed for the day when it should be placed there Yet for all his faythfulnes and exceeding great care it pleased God to humble him by that great iudgement whiche fell vppon Vzzah that hee might bee sifted and tried to the vttermost and the Lorde spared not Dauid in that litle thinge which was committed awrye in that the Arke was caried on a carte and drawne by Oxen which ought to haue bene borne vppon the Leuites shoulders Therefore the Lorde made him to beholde a dolefull sight in the death of Vzzah and turned his ioye into heauines for that present time Thus ielous is the Lorde alwayes for his true worshippe For he will be sanctified of those which come neare him Where is nowe anie place left for toleration of any disorder in the state of the Church when as the Lord would not tolerate beare with thus much for his seruaunt Dauids sake whose care was so great whose harte was so faithfull whose hand was so forward and his labour so painefull to restore true religion to promote the Lords glorie But what haue our reformers of religion done onely in one thinge haue they followed the example of thē which were with Dauid to help home the Arke the first time for they to ease their owne shoulders of
the dore and naile it vppe also with an othe in his anger if he haue not done it already Seing then y e Lord haue giuen such an onset doing so great things for vs bringing vs thus farr on our way out of Egypt let vs take heed there be not in vs an euill harte and vnfaythefull to departe from the liuinge GOD least we be depriued But let vs go on our way cherefullie and feare not the heate of the daye nor the darkenes of the night For the Lorde shall create vpon euerie place of mount Sion and vpon the assemblies thereof a cloude and smoke by daye and the shining of a flaming fire by night for vppon all the glorie shall be a defence and a couering shall be for a shadowe in the daye for the heate and a place of refuge and couert for the storme and for the rayne Neither let vs feare for the highe walles of Iericho I meane the Antichristian Canon lawe whiche is the strength of his gouernement For by fayth y e walles of Iericho fell down at the blastes of the Trumpettes And what are al the execrable buildings of Antichrist which still remayne amongest vs that they should stande before the Lords Trumpetters if they haue fayth and doo not onely blowe their blastes but also compasse the Citie as ofte as they shoulde and blowe their blastes in due time and place as the Lorde haue appoynted Moreouer let vs knowe that as the walles of Iericho fell downe so also by fayth the walles of Ierusalem were builded vp For Nehemiah misdoubted not eyther the fewnes either the pouertie of the Iewes eyther the malice of the enemies but stept vnto the woorke in the middest of those vnlikelihoods for the whiche their aduersaries did mocke them drylie saying What doo these weake Iewes will they fortifie themselues Will they make y ◠stones whole agayne out of the heapes of dust seeing they are burnt And another answered Although they builde yet if a Foxe goe vppe hee shall euen breake downe their stonie wall So therfore when the harte of gods people shall be to worke encouraged by fayth so that their handes also bee strengthened and put to the busines though neuer so manie Ammonites Ashdodims be wroth and conspire al togither to come against Ierusalem to hinder the building thereof yet shal God bringe their counsell to nought For God is in the middest of it therfore shall it not be moued God shall helpe it very earlie Thoughe the nations rage against it the kingdoms be moued God shall vtter his voyce and the earthe shall melt God shall speake vnto them in his wrath vexe them in his sore displeasure He will persecute them with his tempest and make them afraide with his storme So shall the haters of Sion be ashamed and turned backwarde For the Lord of hostes is with vs the God of Iacob is our refuge when we are vnder his Baner and fighte his battles without vaine feare For he will teach our handes to warre and our fingers to fight He will break the Bowe and cutte the Speare and burne the Chariots with fire But our armes will he strengthen so that they shall breake euen a bowe of steele And our feete will he make like Hindes feete that by the myght of our God we shall leap ouer the highest wall which Antichrist hath reared And though our haters vexe vs manie times they shall not preuaile against vs. Thoughe they plowghe vpon our backes the righteous God shall cutt their cordes in sunder Thoughe they woulde deuoure vs quicke yet God will not giue vs as a praye vnto their teethe Waite therefore and knowe that the Lord is God He will be exalted amonge the heathē he will be exalted in the earth Let vs giue him glorie therefore by trusting in him that we may take his worke in hande and further it with all our might not suffering our eyes to beholde nor our hartes to consider the impossibilities of finishinge the same For God is faithefull who hath promised saying To him that disposeth his waie aright I will shewe the saluation of God Againe concerning Dauids reioysing in the day when the people assembled willingly to accompanie him at the bringinge home of the Arke and the Lorde made all thinges to prosper It semed to be the fullest soundest ioye that euer he hadd bothe for that he then daunced and leaped and sprange as one rauished and fullie possessed with an heauenlie pleasure and also taketh refreshement as it appeareth in this psalme in remēbring meditating and singing of the happines of that time whiche teacheth vs what affection wee shoulde put on in matters pertaining to the Lords glorie as when his kingdome is builded and furthered when he is well known amongest vs and his Name is great as in Israel his Tabernacle with vs as in Salem and his dwellinge as in Sion We reade of Dauid that when the Lorde had giuen him to see his sonne Salomon placed in the throne of the kingdome he worshipped vppon the bedde and saide Blessed be the Lord God of Israel who hath made one to sitte on my Throne this daye euen in my sight This also was a godly reioysing as it is a godlie and commendable thing in all Kinges Princes to haue care to see that matter so well ordered and disposed in the time of their life as much as in them lie that the people whose safetie the Lorde haue committed to their care and charge maye enioye continuance of peace and welfare after their deceasse that ther bee no inuasion nor going out nor crying in the streetes of their dominions afterward As also it is godly and commendable to ioie and blesse God whē he giue them to see with their eyes the hope of a good staie within their kingdoms which is so farre from derogating from their honour and renowne that it tendeth greatlie to the increase aduancement of the same For Dauid tooke this for an honorable salutation at his seruaunts hands when they saide God make the name of Salomon more famous then thy name and exalt his Throne aboue thy throne This I say was one ioye of Dauids yet not comparable to the other as appeared in that his care to beholde this thinge was not so vehement and he was neere to haue ouerslipped too longe the laying of his hande to the furtheraunce thereof in respect of Adoniahs ouer hastie attempt and he had neede of stirringe vp by the sute of Bethsaba and the aduertisement of Nathan the Prophet Whereas in the other busines of bringing home the Lords Arke he neded no spurres to pricke him on forward Flesh bloode kindled not that zeale in him but the Lorde hadd inflamed his harte with the Spirit of loue and fire And this burninge affection of loue bare he from time to time vnto the Lords holy Tabernacle for his
in bringing home the Arke of God there were then greater hope of the daye wherein we might ought to reioyce as Dauid here did Moreouer we note in Dauid that his ioye was so great in the Lorde that he conteyned not him selfe but so leaped and daunced that he seemed in the eyes of the wicked as a foole whiche vncouereth his shame and become vile For after that maner did Michal his wife reprochefullie taunte him as one whiche had so vily vncouered him self that he should be a mocking stocke vnto the Maidens of Israel But hee answered that it was before the lord who had performed vnto him so great mercie for whose cause he woulde bee yet more vile and lowe in his owne sight And saide moreouer that of the same Maidens whereof hee had spoken he should bee had in honour Whereby we see how litle he weighed to become base and lowe in the sight of the worlde so hee might sett foorth the glorie of the Lorde his God At this day amongest vs one of the greatest lettes hinderaunces of the Lordes worke finishing is for that it can not be done without the abasinge of the loftines of manie men whiche are exalted without the Lorde As for the titles of Gracious and Honourable Lords our Sauior Christ taught his Apostles that they might not bee amongest them Therefore if these men so exalted would loue and care for the Lords honour more then their owne and would willinglie giue ouer their monstrous liuings and all their worldlie pompe though they thinke it were a great shame for them and that they shoulde seeme vile before men whiche they ought willinglie to vndergoe for his glories sake who suffered the crosse and despised the shame yet if they coulde see it it would tende to their more true dignitie For of all the people in Englande whiche wayte for a more full appearaunce of Gods glorie in his house they shoulde be had in honour Where as nowe contrariewise they receyue honour onelie of a fewe flattering seruinge men within their owne houses whiche liue by bringinge dishes to their Table and almost to all the residue of the people of the lande their name is in reproche and they are become a Byworde and a common talke Our Sauiour Christ thought it no shame to abase him selfe to washe his Disciples feete by that example and manie more teaching those which will followe him that they must not thinke much to be baze and vile and dishonorable in the sight of men if they will looke for true honour in the sight of GOD. The Angel Gabriel sayde vnto Zacharias that his Sonne Iohn the Baptist shoulde bee great in the sight of the Lorde But what greatnes he had in the fight of the worlde it appeareth when as his clothing was of Camels heare his meate was Locustes and wilde honie The authour to the Hebrewes speaketh of some Christians whiche were racked and would not be deliuered that they might receyue a better resurrection They woulde needes abide torment and shame that in the Lorde they might haue their onelie refreshment and their onelie glorie And he became their glorie and the lifter vp of their heade Our Sauior Christ who thought it no robberie to be equal with God he yet in his nature of man became vile and tooke vpon him the shape of a seruaunt Hee turned his face to the striker He humbled him selfe euen to the death of the crosse Therefore was giuen him a name and dignitie aboue al names that at his name euery knee should bowe But great is the darkenes and vngodlines of these dayes when those which professe them selues to bee his Ministers doo so order their goings and conforme them selues so little vnto the image of his life that wee may sooner trace out the shewe of all the great glorie of this worlde then of Christian poorenes in spirit by their footesteppes And it is too manifest that thei are ouercome with the temptation of him whiche sayde All these glorious thinges will I giue thee if thou wilt fall downe and worship me For they declare howe hardelie they would abide themselues to be plucked vp by the rootes that they might bee planted in a better resurrection when as they will not suffer their superfluous braunches to be cut of which doo so ouerhange and annoye the lanes that the Lordes passengers can not ride on their iourneye towardes Sion There be also of the Temporaltie diuers which esteme it to vile a thing and vnsittinge for their dignitie to come vnder the censure of the church that their faultes shoulde bee looked vnto and they should be subiect to the Admonition Rebuke and Excommunication of the Minister and the Congregation Therefore they say Let vs breake their bandes in sunder and cast their cordes from vs. But if they vnderstoode the great mysterie of the Lorde and the decree which is sealed vp amongst his Disciples they should well know that their renowne glorie is no more impaired by bowyng giuing due homage to Christs Scepter then the flower and oyle of the widowe of Sarepta was diminished by giuing away part of that litle which she had vnto Elias For certainly the great and noble Potentates of this worlde if they doo not intertaine the Kingdome of Christ Iesus thoughe their name reache the clowdes yet in trueth their honour and renowne is small and skarcely to be accounted an handfull which when it is spent they die Then their name perishe and their pompe will not followe them Then is a liuing dogge better then they For doth not their dignitie goe away with them Doo they not die and that without wisdom Whereas if they would be content to giue away vnto our Elias Christ Iesus a litle of their honour by abasing themselues before his Throne of gouernement they shoulde haue neuer the lesse but a great deale the more yea the continuance of true honour for euer For they shoulde stand as the faithfull witnesses in heauen their names being registred in the booke of life According as the Prophet Esaiah speakethe of the renowne of the Church and accoūteth it the renowne of Kinges and Princes to worshipp therein with their faces towards the earth and to licke vp the dust at the feete thereof Lastlie as touching Dauids affection of ioye and his delight which he hadd to see the glorie of God shine forthe as it was declared by signes yea the whole disposing of himselfe to be great at that present time so did the continual practise of his life afterward giue token that it was intiere and vnfeined For he continued his care and studie to be an instrument to aduaunce Gods glorie Of our sone whote sone colde zeale and of our gladnes which bewraied it selfe to be more for the shining hope of our worldlie welfare then for the hope of the increase of Gods kingedome and the speedy cōming thereof And of our