be of the coÌ„pany of the aungelies Iohn 1. 1. Cor. 6. 1. Cor. 11. and the sonnes of God the heyres of immortalitie the membres of his body and oure bodies the temples of the holy ghost our myndes the ymages and the secrete habitatle of the deitie 1. Cor. 1. And therfore most worthyly we acknowledge hym to be oure only sauiour and redemption our rightuousnes and sanctification our onely iustifier and reconciliation to god the father and haue therefore promysed to reuerence his glorious and most excellent name Pro. 18. Act. 4. whervnto the rightuous flieth as vnto a stronge castell for theyr strength safegard and saluation whiche is moste blessed and prayse worthy for euer Amen Thus I say yf we the spotted chyldren of our synfull father The remeÌ„braunce of the vvourhes of god leadethe vs to the knovvlege and loue of god woulde happyly remembre as we haue professed the meruaylous woorkes of GOD and the order of his dooynges in the begynnynge as haue been here but briefely touched besydes the innumerable exaumples of his omnipotencye mercy and also his Iustice signified vnto vs throughout his holy scriptures and that we also our selues haue bothe felts and seene in our daies to thexaltation of his owne glorye and to the blessyng greate comfort and reioicing of his deare obedient and most louynge freendes and to thutter ouerthrowe rooting out and destruction of his cursed and moste malicious ennemies Roma 1. we shoulde haue good cause not onely to acknowlede hym an omnipotent God and immortall holy rightuous and mercyfull and therefore in a certain maner for those his moste blessed and singuler graces a farre of with a stipper loue as dyd our father Adam to loue hym agayne but rather wee should haue good occasion to loue hym vnfeynedlye Exod. 2â— Deute 6. as obedient and constant chylderne accordynge to hys mooste holy commaundemente euen wyth all oure heartes wyth all oure soules and with all oure strengthe and power and feare to offende hym because also we know hym to be a iust god and terrible in wourking his reuengement against his enemies for their dissimulation vnthankefulnesse disobedience coldenes and slippernes Then forasmuch as we here see whereby tacknowledge God and his loue and for his loue to loue hym agayn and for his iustice to feare hym I thynke it at this present conuenient some thynge to touche particularly of our loue to God Math. 2â— Eccle. 1. whyche is the fyrste and greattest commaundement as also to ours neighbours and then of the feare of god that shoulde alwaies possesse our heartes whiche is the ryghte and true seruice of god wherby we shal the better knowe our selues oure louely obedience to god and our loue also and duetie towards our neyghbours But before herin I procede any further I make myn huÌ„ble suite vnto you my deere countrey men my neighbours louyng frendes and christen brethern that the ground of your hartes beyng well wrought moilified and softe tempered with the dewe of goddes grace ye wyll nowe paciently heare and aptly receiue this exhortation offered vnto you not from me most wretched synner but rather from hym an by his onely good motion from whom procedeth all vertue and goodnes Philip. 2. whiche also woorke the in vs bothe the wyll and also the deede euen of his good wil and fauour that the lyuely seedes or plantes of his heauenly and diuine spirite beyng fyrmly sette or deepe sowen in your hartes faste roote maye there bee taken that naturally in tyme without delay like forward impes and freshe flourishyng braunches in the gardeyn or vine yard of Christe Eâ—dr 5 Iohn 15. the quicke and liuely buddes blossomes leaues and the louely fruites of hys fatherlye encrease and blessyng may appeare wourthys hys gloriouse contentation beautifulle large and seemelye and to the senses of youre owne soules sweete in taste comfortable delicate and deyntie So that the operacion of loue that moste singuler and acceptable vertu to god shal haue power force in you wherof I wyll nowe procede groundynge myne intention onelye vppon the enemytie and malice of mankynde howe agaynste goddes wyll and the lawe of nature our hartes are cursedly bente Thorough small occasioÌ„ our hartes are â—endeled to mischiefe not onelye vppon good occasion or for great causes as we vse to term them but for euery triflinge lyght matter also we wyll quarell and fall oute one wyth an other one countrey or kyngdome agaynst another natural countreimen one against another by mutanies conspiracies ciuill warres and commotions yea natural brotherne one seeke to destroye another suporiours also and inferiours spirituall menne temporall menne Riche men poore menne familiar companions neere Neighbours and frendes And fynallye euen frome the prynce to the poore plough man or moste wretched wandring begger we are all deuided we are all fledde frome Christ the serpent hath deceiued vs for we haue all rebelled and haue broken the bonde of the peace of god Heauen and earth if we list to knowe it beare manifest witnesse agaynste vs of oure cursednes hardenes of harte and maliciousnes Whose vnnaturall and rare seene signes signyfieth vnto vs the yre of god for our chosen way of iniquitie god by his mercy sendeth them vnto vs and before our eyes to admonyshe vs to putte vs in feare and to remember his iustice and that wythoute spedye repentaunce his swifte vengeance by some terrible meane shall shortly ouerrunne and consume vs. Whereof the true mynysters and preachers of the wourde of God Straunge signes signifieth vnto vs the comminge of goddes vvrath hath and doo frome tyme to tyme before the imminence falle of the wrathe of god thundered in our eares our moste detestable and wycked state of lyfe and the terrour also of his most bytter reuengement duely therafter ensuyng Our consciences condemneth Of the whiche also our owne consciences beareth witnesse agaynst vs they preache vnto vs the wourme gnaweth in vs it vexeth and tourmenteth vs and describeth playnly vnto vs our most iust damnation to come And as Sathan hath seemed sleightily to compasse vs and by his craftyingins to wouÌ„d and ouerthrowe vs and leade vs captiue from the lyghtesome and lyuely waie of Christe into his moste lothesome hypathes of dackenes daunger and deathe So we thunexperte souldiors in the campe of Christe and vtterly voyde of the fencible armour of god without resistence cowardely suffer our selues to sustayne the deuyls most damnable and deadly darts and to be vsed as his bond slaues and cursed instrumentes Faynte courage in christen souldiours to wourke in all mischieues his moste noysom appointed purposes And for the probation wherof whether is this truly sayd or not VVe feare neyther god not the feuil God and his lawes we esteeme not of our othes promises we passe not of goddes kingdom we thinke not his power we regard not his only glory we seke not whiche ende go foreward we care not
and pastures geueth thee greate encreace of corne and all maner of cattaile for the assuraunce firste of thyne owne welfare that thou wyth a reioycyng hart and thankes geuing to him for his bountifulnesse shouldest accordingly as a good seruaunte and faythful stewarde of hys benefites not onelye to receyue theym preserue theym and in due tyme distribute theym as thine habilitie shall requyre either free lye with a charitable hart to thy poore couÌ„treymen in their necessitie for the deare loues sake thou hast to God but also at the least for a sufficiet and competent gayne to make sale that the coÌ„men wealth of thy countreye may the rather through moderacion and good order of thy prises lyuelye flourysihe and the poore membres of Christ wel contented and nourished which is the ground of thy vocation dutye that the name of god in thine obedience may bee lyfted vp and magnified If thou woldest in this behalfe obiect for thy selfe the raisinge of rentes to be an impedimeÌ„t the thou canst not as thou woldest vse thy vocation duly for the welth of thy couÌ„trey I passe ouer with silence the auaricious most notable euil coÌ„mendyng it to the deuil from whense it camme humblye beseching almyghty god for the greatnes of his mercies sake for the loue that he hath to his people in Iesus Chryste so to wourke the confusion thereof that al thinges in time to hys prayse maye be broughto to their pristinate and former state onelye requirynge of thee that arte a manne of god the vertu of thy good wil and charity to bewaile vnfainedlye this great wyckednes crept in amongest vs and to plucae it downe as much as in thee shall lye and not to vphold it to the coÌ„forte of the people whyche shal be thy sufficient discharge before God to his praise to the quietenes of thyne owne conscience to the good encouragemeÌ„t of others and to the purchasyng vnto thy selfe praier frendly report and all honest and good mens fauours But yf thyne harte be otherwise corruptly fixed vpon fylthy auarice onely without the feare of God regardynge the state of thyne owne welfare and to enriche thy selfe with craftye abuse in withholdynge VVho so hoâ—deth or hideth vp corne shal be cursed among the people but the blessing of god shal light vpon his heade that selleth it Prouer. 11 secrete hoordynge hydyng buryeng wilfull spoylyng raisynge of prices or vncharitable denyeng not to haue that whiche in deede thou haste or to withhold thy diligent good will from labouryng tyllynge temperyng and sowyng the erth And so foorthe to seeke as muche as in thee shall lye good encreace and frendely furtherance of all thynges vnder thyn hande ioynynge thy good wyll to the wyll of god to put by dearthes and further a common wealth in thy countreye to the comforte spectally of the poore people and that they maye happilye lyue by thee or elles that thou of a naughtys and euyll conscience onely for priuate wealthes sake flatteringly thoroughe the coloure of necessitie or fallynge into pouertie Deceiptful enemies of the commeÌ„ vvealth by chargeable seruyce in marciall affaires or otherwyse thou suest to the vertuouse and noble couÌ„saylours and other thy frendes to be frendelye vnto thee and to bee thy gracious good lordes and medyatours in thy beehalfe vnto the kynges maiestie for the graunt of a lycence in recompence of thy seruyce to carye ouer beyonde the seas a certayne suÌ„me of grayne peraduenture by requeste one thousande quarters c to make thy market or otherwyse certayne dyckers of leather or suche lyke commodities of the realm whereby thou shouldest bee relieued sygnifienge vnto theyr honoures formallye forgyng a false tale not wayeng the vertues of suche godlye actes and lawes as hath bene from tyme to tyme for suche purpose appointed and stablished neyther charitably considerynge in deede the present scarcitie of thy countrey to the increace of famin and destruction of the people neither yet regardyng the wrathe of God the indignation of thy prince nor heauys displeasure of hys nobilitye doest declare I saye what superâ—luous store is thorougheoute the realme and that there is largely and more thenne sufficiente bothe for the countreye and also to serue thy tourne yf yt would please their honours to graunt thee thy requeste doubtynge also the lesse to obtayne thy sute because thou sayeste it is not chargeable to the Kynge wherebye thou shouldest bee welle recompenced and the Kynge not charged And the rather binding theym to creditte thee because thou knowest their honours to be both wise vertuouse and faithful to their countreye and that they will not in anye wyse as nere as they canne graunt any thinge corruptlye that shoulde bee preiudiciall or hurtefull to the coÌ„men wealthe forasmuche as they be honourable pityfull and sworne fathers to the same thou craftily vndermyneste theym thou diligentlye pliest theÌ„ and art euer before their faces and rounding in their eares bringinge in before their honours certaine wytnesses peraduenture one at the least of whome they haue some knowledge to testifye of thyne honestye of thy good seruice of thy pouerty and so forthe and that thy suite maye not bee hurtefull to the commen wealthe for all thynges are true that thou sayest they beare the face of honestye of good estimation or peraduenture lyke gentlemenne althoughe in verye deede nother so nor so but by due probation thoroughe suche vnnnaturall and vngentle sutes playnelye tryed menne lyke vnto thy selfe and approued enemies of the commeÌ„ wealth if men should creditte the whole voyce of thy countreye for that ye are all partakers or one commoditie And whenne thou hast thus by this meanes or such lyke simple preteÌ„ce obtained thine vnsemelye sute and caryest wyth thee thy coÌ„mission into the countreye fullye to serue and satisfye there thy hungey or gredy turne thou abusest also the vertue of thy commission thou art vnreuerent thou art vnquiet troublesome an outefacer of the people thou rangest at libertye thou ouer reacheste and straynest thy conscience tylle it cracke agayne for thou art entred into the sweete thy luste muste be satisfied and thou art fully fixed to haue thorowly at the least thy full fraighte for thy vyage how so euer in what order the pryses be made or the moneye to the sellers disbursed and payed These doings I say louing brothern or such seke out of order wher or wheÌ„ so euer they be committed and done in any common wealth are truely very villanous and vnsemely base shiftes of reprochefull and lewd shifters and not meete for the degree of honestie whether of gentlemen men of wourship seruisable souldiours landed meÌ„ scruyng men or such also as only and insufficiently lyue by arte by seruice by office frendship or fee for they may vndoubtedly by the grace of god seke manye other waies honestely and in good order according to vertue to the augmentation of their well wisshed and wourthy honeste lyuyng But as there bee in
good name of god for such his fauorable most gracious doinges So again I must most greuously lament bewaile sorowfullye the fraile state of man through vnthankfulnes disorder of lyfe and great forgetfulnesâ— namely of goodes determination touchyng our short and familiar passage or th end of this life wherby with godly good vnderstanding we should alwais the better frame our selues in liuynge and with the more ioyfulnes peace quietnes of conscience that the terror of deth also shuld euer the lesse molest vs by whome we feele in oure selues that moste horrible and poysoned bitter stinge which so defileth and woundeth oure weake consciences drawynge vs to enemitye to impaciencie and rebellion to forgetfulnes to incredulitie and distruste of gods mercye wyth suche other euen the spottes and foule deformities of synne and iniquitie whereby also we muste iudge that iustly of our selues to be but the seruaÌ„tes of sin stand therfore in dauÌ„ger of gods wrathfull iudgemeÌ„t to eternal death and occasion therfore geuen to expresse wyth sorow and wo our most wretched and frayle estate feelinge in oure selues iuste reproche shame and confusion of face fearefull trembling deadly sighing bitter wayling most harty and inwarde gronynge for thys our weakenes and greate imperfection These thynges I saye thus consydered of vs how caÌ„ we in suche distres but lamente all the sorte of vs and say wyth groninge desires for grace and better memorye as subiectes continuallye in handes to the slaughter vnder suche a careles most pitiles and publique enemy O death deth thou most cruell and deadly aduersarye seeynge we are not at any tyme of power able to preuayl bodily against thee or with force to wythstande thee Iere. 13. Act. 12. nor can finde fauoure in thy sight to staye thee neyther canne wage thee by anye meanes to deferre thy doynges I woulde most ioyefully wyshe that we were at least so happye alwayes to remember thee for our health and felicitie as we continually haue experieÌ„ce of thee Prou. 1. Iohn 3. seeing we must assuredly and vnwares abide thy dint I say therfore how it is ordeined that we shal al die neither may we escape in the ende the force of deathe Iacob 5. For we plainly se from tyme to tyme that goddes power by death shal styfle our breath and fynyshe our ende Ah what shall we then sale Seynge there is no resystence agaynste the violente force of thys messenger deathe Psal 147. what shall we then vnreuerentlye agaynste god esteeme of our selues What shal then auaile amongest vs 1. Cor. 1. our vnprofitaÌ„ble and vayne studies and our busied heades for fantasies Where shall then become our nice and light affections our solitie our deyntie desires earthelye delyghtes What shall wee then gaine by our haught courage the moste foolyshe and vayne brute of stoughtnesse Where shall thenne lye our lifted vp heades our hygh lookes our forged canntynaunces our fayre faces and our stretched out neckes Euen there full lowely truely where our â—â—mble and fyne feete oure tripping toes and the whole body of erth shallye By the order and decaye of all things mâ—nes deathe is signified The ordre and state of al thinges vpon the earth beynge or lyuyng in theyr kynde vppon the earth dothe playnelye signifie vnto thee O thou man or woman euen in the middest of she ruste and folitie what thou arte and whereunto also thou shalte For as they are altogether but earthly verie vanitie transitorious and flitting sommetime beautifull and seemelye frethely in floures flourishyng youthfull frutefull and well pleasynge the eye healthfull puissaunte fortunate and happy to the contrarye in tyme foule and vnseemelye wythered and deformed â—loe and vnfrutefull infected enfebled Man is in the number of vayne thynges infortunate vnhappy So thou also in the numbre of vaine thinges although of greater estimation and price before god who hath endued thee wyth hys good graces and gyftes aboue all the rest of his creatures to hys prayse and thy ioye if thou well note it haste thine order and turnes in tymes prescribed thee nothyng auaileable to grounde vpon nothyng certain or sure nor neuer abide in one state God Goddes immortalitie is not more certayne then the mortalitie of man is certaine touchynge the state of hys most pure immortall and incomprehensible maiesty is not more certaine by hys own power for euer to endure and raigne in glory wyth his aungels and blessed sainctes in heauen worlde wythout ende then thou corruptible mortall and earthelye creature shalt here holde thy felicity but earthly and at aduenture nothynge certayne nor stable nothyng pleasaunte or sweete nor nothynge wourthye any hungrys delyghte whereunto thou maiest happily cleaue or leaue of assuraÌ„ce but altogether shal be vnto the but vnstable lightnes vanity very foÌ„dnes misery and most certainlye to ende It maye well bee sayth of those that onely seke this lyfe and glory in the pleasures of thys worlde they folowe but fantasies and a vayne shad owe Whyche when they thynke to be surest of vanyssheth away and is nothynge For let vs nener so muche applye to thys lyfe beewrappe oure selues Vayne trauell frame fashion and flatter oure selues wyth the vayns delyghtes thereof and seeke by al meanes possyble to now sell and stablysâ—he oure selues therein in vayne and most foolyshe shall be our trauaile we haue our tymes prescribed to dye we are al planted within the limits of death all flesshe is but as grasse death muste be oure ende frome the earthe we came yea verye earth we are And as we beynge but earthe were bredde in the entrayles of the earth and are nourished vppon the earthe and by the earthe so are we also cyted by deathe to retourne to the earthe agayne For the graue muste bee oure house Eccle. 11. Psal 104. Iob. 16. Iob. 7. and from whense also wee shall neuer retourne agayne vntill the day of Christes generall iudgemente Neyther shall oure eyes see any more the vayne piâ—asures of the earthe O full well described Ieremy of oure vnstable lumpysshe and moste grosse nature Iere. 22. and of the shorte contynuaunce of our lyues when he called vnto vs in fewe wourdes faleng O thou earth earth earth And as we earthlye creatures are not able to saye that we holde any thynge certaine in this lyfe whether it be life yt selfe tymes belongynge to lyfe or thinges necessary for this life so there is nothynge so certayne against life Luke 12. as death though the times of death be vn certayne in what kynde so euer we sustayne hys force either in bedde or out of bedde by force of lawe by dinte of swourd by rage of fyre by peril of water or by innumerable other wais and casuall chaunces vnder all whiche Roma 5. Hebre. 9. we liue in subiection to dye And notwithstandinge that wyth greate griefe and careful studies in the fiesh we rub thorough