singular comfort and vnto the vtter confusion and destruccion of Anti christ and of hys kyngdome ¶ The. viij Chapter ANd albeit that ye do not perceauâ—… ContinuaÌ„câ—… in praiâ—…r Psal. 12â—… remedy straight wayes yet cease not to praye but as the eyes of seruauntes looke to the handes of their masters as the eyes of a mayden vnto the hande of her maystresse euen so let your eyes wayte vpon the Lorde youre God vntill he haue mercy on you He will vndoubtedly come Abac. 2 Heb. 10 not tarrye whan his godly wisdome seeth the tyme yea that on suche sorte as shall make moste for his glory and your coÌ„forte For the poore shall not alway be forgotten the pacient abiding of the meke shal not perish Psalm 9. for euer The Lord will be a defence for the oppressed euen a refuge in due tyme of trouble as he hym selfe witnessâ—…th sayeng For the comforteles troubles sake of the nedye and because of the depe syghynge of Psal. 12. the poore now will I vp sayth the Lorde will helpe euery one froÌ„ him that swelleth againste hym and will set hym at rest Remember this sayeng of the prophete Esaye Esa. 30 In silence and hope shall your strenght be And thise sentence also of Ieremye It is Thre 3. good with sylence to tarrye for the sauyng healthe of God Murmure not agaynste God nor appoynte hym not hys tyme but paciently abyde hys working referring all Pacience thinges to hys godly pleasure and submittinge your wil to his blessed will whiche alwayes both willeth and doeth that thing that is best for hys glory and for oure salua cion In your pacience sayeth our sauiour Christe shall ye possesse your soules We Luc. 21. are commaunded too heare the woorde off God with an honeste and good harte too Luc. 8. kepe it faste and to bringe forthe the frute therof with pacience The tryall of youre fayth sayeth s. Iames bringeth forthe pacience but let your pacience haue a perfect Iac. 1. worke that ye maye be perfecte and whole and sounde on euery parte To the Hebrues Heb. 10 also it is written Caste not awaye youre confidence whiche hath greate rewarde to recoÌ„pence For ye haue nede of pacieÌ„te that after ye haue done the will of God ye might receaue the promyse For yet a littell whyle and he that shal come will come wil not tarry Pray therfore with pacieÌ„ce pacieÌ„tly abyding the good pleasure of God and his most gracious working Let youre fayth hope neuer departe from God but whan thinges become to moste extremitie reasoÌ„ iudgeth hauocke vtterly to be made and all thinges too be paste remedye than sâ—…eke moste faste to God to his promises let not your holde go but in the middes of death hope for lyfe loke for deliuerauÌ„ce at the Lordes haÌ„de Be lyke vnto hym that Iob. 13 sayde Though he kylleth me yet wil I put my trust in hym Saye with the Psalmographe the Lorde is my light my sâ—…luacioÌ„ whom then shall I feare The Lorde is the Psal. 27. strength of my lyfe of whome then shall I be afrayde When the wicked euen myne enemies and my foes came vpoÌ„ me to eate vp my flesh they stoÌ„dled and fell Thoughe an hoste of men were layde agaynst me yet shal not my hart be afrayd though there rose vp warre against me yet wil I put my trust in him For know ye this to be the pro Gods propertie in his seruauntes pertie of God He first casteth doun before he lifteth vp as we may se by Ioseph Dauid Daniel such other And whaÌ„ thinges seme to be past all remedy thaÌ„ he setteth to his haÌ„d maruelously helpeth that he mai shew hiÌ„ self to be an almighty Lord valeauÌ„t ruler of all creatures that there is no wysdome no forecast no couÌ„sâ—… that caÌ„ Prou. 21 preuayle against the Lord as Dauid sayth The Lord bringeth the counsaylles of the Psal. 33. Heathen to nought and maketh the deuyses of the people to be of none effect and casteth out the counsailes of princes But the counsayl of the Lorde shal endure for euer and the thoughtes of hys harte from generation to generation ¶ The. ix Chapter THat God sheweth hys present helpe In greatest extremities God chiefly helpeth moste of all in greatest extremities diuers histories declare euidentlye in the holy scriptures whereof parte briefly to touche it shall not be oute of the waye that we may learne in the middest of greatest euels not to despayr of the mighty workyng of God but to conceaue asure hope and to loke for all good thinges at the haÌ„de of the Lorde our God Who knoweth not vnto what great extremitie the chyldreÌ„ of Exod. 14 Israel were brought after their deliuerauÌ„ce out of Egipte Came they not to this point in their iourneye that before theym there was no waye to go into but the readde sea wherin they must nedes be drouned if they wente forwarde and behynde them was kynge Pharao with all his armye redy to slea them if they tarryed Here naturall reason sawe nothinge but presente deathe Before them was the readde sea vnable to be passed thorowe and behynde them theyr mortals foâ—… with his bloudy cruel hooste redy to kyll them Oh to what extremities are the Israelites come Yet beholde Psal. 145 1. Cor. 10 that mercifull God whiche is euer true faythful in his promises founde a way for them to escape where all reason witte wisedome discrecion experience and pollecye of man coulde do nothing in the matter He caused the sea to diuide it self so that in the middest therof he made a drye pathe for his people safely to passe thorow the sea standing on bothe sydes of them lyke two walles and the Israelites beynge once passed thorowe that whiche was a safegarde too Gods people was an vtter destruccion to their enemies For the sea ate the commauÌ„dement of God closed agayne together and drouned Pharao with all his companye O the wonderful workes of God Agayn when they were come into the wildernes Exo. 16. 17. where neither meate nor drincke was to be gotteÌ„ and they iudging after na turall reason thoughte that euery one off them shoulde there moste miserablye haue dyed for wante of socour how dyd the heauenly father in that extremitie prouide for his people by sending them meate froÌ„ heauen and geuinge them moste pleasaunte swete waters euen out of the harde rocke 〈◊〉 drincke O the excedinge greate ryches of the Lord our God To whome is the historye of Ioseph vnknowen Gene. 39 who beyng miserably kept in pryson certayne yeares withoute iuste cause euery man despayred of hys deliueraunce at any tyme. But whan all thinges semed to be paste remedy and the matter brought to vtter desperacion concerninge his commynge out God setteth too hande dothe not onely deliuer Ioseph out of
THOMAS BECON ⧠A confortable Epistle too Goddes faythfull people in Englande wherein is declared the cause of takynge awaye the true Christen religion from them howe it maye be recouered and obtayned agayne newly made by Thomas Becon Abacuk 2. Thoughe the Lorde tarye yet wayte thou for hym for he will vndoubtedly come yea and that oute of hande Imprynted at Strasburgh in Elsas at the signe of the goldeÌ„ Bibel in the moneth of August In the yeare of the LORDE M. D. LIIII The Epistle ¶ The fyrst Chapter TO the faythfull Christians wheresoeuer they be dispersed thorowoute the realme of Englande Thomas Becon wisâ—…heth grace mercy and peace from God the father with perfect knowlege of hys dearly beloued sonne Iesu Christ our Lorde and alone sauyour thorow the halowinge of the holy Ghoste vnto the true and vnfayned obedience off Gods moste blessed will with an earnest fayth in the merciful promises of God and assured hope of obtayninge thesame vnto euerlastinge lyfe AMEN IT greatly reioyceth me mosâ—…e deare brethren to heare of thys youre constancye and stedfastnes in beleuing confessing the glorious Gospell of our sauiour Iesus Christe whiche as the apostle Rom. 1. sayth is the power of God to saue so many as beleue namely in these perillous and troublesome dayes wherin we se so many sturte backe and runne awaye from the coÌ„ fession of Gods trueth whiche whan the weather was calme they semed constantly to professe and folowe the fonde fantasyes of menne that speake not Gods worde but theyr owne drowsy dreames and idle imagi nacions brought into the church of Christ by suttle sathan and hys marked marchauÌ„ teâ—… vnto the great disturbaunce of the Chri sten common wealth so that if it were possible the very electe and chosen people off God thorow theyr â—…ugsing might be seduced Mat. 24. and led from the waye of truthe As ye haue godly begonne so manfully go forthe vnto the ende that ye maye receaue a full ioye and a perfect reward of the Lord your God in that daye whan he gloriously shal apeare and rendre to euery one accordinge to hys dedes that is to saye prayse honor and immortalite to them which continew in good doyng and seke eternall lyfe But vnto them that are rebellious and disobey the trueth and folowe iniquitie shal come indignacioÌ„ and wrath tribulacion and anguishe But be it knowen vnto you deare brethren that this thing that hath happened vnto vs in thys realme of Englande Roma 2. I meane the takynge awaye of Gods true religion and the thrusting in of paâ—…istrye in the steade therof vnto the greate vnspeakable sorowe of all true Christen hartes ought not to seme vnto you newe straunge and vnloked for but rather suche a thynge as hath hytherto many tymes bene declared vnto you by the preachers and ye your selfs godly coÌ„sydering the corrupt maners and vnluckye chaunces of thys realme did ryghte well the same aforesee and greately lament For diuers signes had we longe before besydes the godly admonicions of the faythfull preachers whiche playnly declared vnto vs an vtter subuersyon of the true Christen religioÌ„ to be at hande except it were preuented by hasâ—…ye and hartye repentaunce What shall I speake of that godly and mighty prince Edward duke of Somerset whiche in the tyme of his Pro The 〈◊〉 of Somerset tectorship dyd so banyshe Idolatrye out of this our realme and bring in agayn Gods true religioÌ„ that it was woÌ„der so weyghty a matter to be brought to passe in so 〈◊〉 a tyme Was not the vngentle handlyng of hym and the vnrighteous thrustinge hym out of office and afterward the cruel mur thering of hym a man yea a myrrour off true innocencye and Christen pacience an euident token of Gods anger agaynste vs The sudden takynge awaye of those moâ—…e goodly verteous yonge Impes the duke of Suffolke and hys brother by the sweating The 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 and his brother syckenesse was it not also a manifesâ—… token of Gods heauy displeasure towarde vs The death of those two most worthy godly learned men I speake of M. Paulus M. Paulus Fagius D Martine Bucer Fagius of D. Martine Bucer was it not a sure Prognostication some greate mishappe concerning Christen religion to be at haÌ„de But as I may passe ouer many other at the laste come vnto that whiche is moste lamentable and can neuer be remembred of any true English harte without large teares I meane the death of oure most godly Prince and Christen kyng Edwarde the. VI. that true Iosias that earnest Rynge Edvvarde the 〈◊〉 destroyer of false religion that feruent setter vp of Gods true honor that mooste bounteous Patrone of the godly learned that moste worthy mayntayner of good let ters and vertue and that perfecte liuelye myrrour of true nobiliâ—…e and syncere godlines was not the takyng away of hi alace for sorow asure signe and an euident tokeÌ„ that some great euel haÌ„ged ouer this realm of England Who considering these thynges as I may speake nothing of the wicked Grosse gospelers nes of those meÌ„ which made the worde of God a cloke of their naughtines of their insatiable couetousnes of their intollerable pryde of their volupteous wanton lyuing c. perceaued not a shepwracke of the Christen religion too be at hande as it is alace for pytie come to passe at thys daye All good men feared the decaye of Goddes true honoure in thys realme that we feared that hathe chaunced howe coulde it otherwise come to passe Gods blessing was offered vnto vs â–ª but we thorow our wicked and vnthankefull lyfe refused it Shal not therfore blessing be taken away cursinge come in the place therof as it is written he wolde not haue the blessing it shal therfore Psal. 109. be farre from hym ¶ The. ii Chapter IF the kingdom of God be proffered vnto vs and we set not by it are we not worthy Englande blessed â–ª 〈◊〉 to loose it What realme synce the Apostles tyme was euer so abundantly replenished with the knowledge of Christes Gospel yea that in so few years as this realme of England was But alace howe was it regarded Who repeÌ„ted who know ledged hys synne from the very hart Who called on the name of God in spirite and truthe Who framed hys lyfe accordynge to hys knowledge It is therefore come too passe as our Sauiour Christ longe before threatened the kyngdoÌ„ of God shal be takeÌ„ Math. 21. froÌ„ you shal be geueÌ„ to a natioÌ„ that bringeth forth the frutes thereof God planted this realme of EnglaÌ„d a pleasaÌ„t goodly vineyarde dressing and trymming it after Esa. 〈◊〉 the beste manner lokynge contynuallye to haue some worthy frut therof but wâ—… in the stead of naturall grapes it broughte forthe wylde beryes vnwholsome and vnnaturall was it not worthye too be layde wayste to be troden vnder foote and to be
vs. the Christen common weale of the true Israelites â—…erely oure ingratitude our vnthankefulâ—…s oure vnkyndnes yea oure churlyshenes towarde God and hys holye worde hath caused all these miseries worthely to fall vpon vs. We were weary of the heauenly Mauna and had a pleasure to returne vnto Egipt where we myghte syt among the greasy flesh pottes eatynge beffe and brewes knucle depe and haue our deyntye fyshes our meloâ—…s our cucuÌ„bers oure onyons oure garleke oure lekes c. therfore accordinge to the fylthye lustes of oure wicked hartes hath God dealte with vs sent vs agayn into the popishe Egipte to feâ—…e vpon the pestilente leauen of the papisticall Phariseis euen the beggarly ceremonies â—…feling tradicions and dyrtye decrees of men in steade of Gods holy worde vnto the horrible and dredeful damnacioÌ„ of our soules as he sayth by the Psalmographe My people wold not hear my voyce Israel wolde not obeye me therefore gaue Psal. â—…1 I them vp vnto their owne hartes luste let theÌ„ folow their own imaginatioÌ„s Here vnto agreeth the sayinge of s. Paule Because 〈◊〉 thes 2. they receaued not the loue of the truthe that they might be saued therfore wyll God send theÌ„ a sâ—…roÌ„g illusioÌ„ to beleue lyes Is not this the sayng of our sauior Christ this is condeÌ„nacion that light is come into Ioan. 3. the worlde meÌ„ haue loued darkenes more thaÌ„ light for their workes were euell The thing therfore that brought this coÌ„deÌ„nacioÌ„ this darkenes this blyndnes vpoÌ„â—…s is the hating of the light of Gods worde our vnthankefulnes for the benefites of Christes Gospel our sinful lyfe replenished with all kynd of wickednes These thinges these thinges made God to withdraw the moste pleasauÌ„t coÌ„fortable light of his louing coÌ„tenauÌ„ce froÌ„ vs to suffer the prince of dar kenes to shadow vs with his winges of hellish ignorauÌ„cy deuelish blindnes vnto our great discoÌ„fort coÌ„tinual sorow God haue mercy on vs blesse vs shew vs the light of his coÌ„tenaÌ„ceÌ„ be merciful vnto vs that Psal. 67. we may know his way vpoÌ„ the earth his sauing health amoÌ„g all natious Amen ¶ The. iiij Chapter BUt what is now to be done shall we Hovvâ—… the Christen 〈◊〉 ligion 〈◊〉 be recoâ—… red caste away all hope Shal we yelde our self to the priâ—…e of darknes Shal we suffer our selfs coÌ„tinually to be wrapped couered in with the dredefull cloudes of popysh blyndenes God forbid Yea rather let vs with a lusty courage bold spirite hunte out seke some meanes wherby we may be dispatched of this moste miserable plague wherewith we are at this present iustly stryken for our vnthaÌ„kefulnes wicked lyfe so recouer the fauor of God that we may once agayn walke in the heaueÌ„ly light of his moste glorious coÌ„tenauÌ„ce Synne as we hearde afore drowe awaye Sinâ—… froÌ„ vs the benefite of Goddes moste blessed worde of hys true religioÌ„ as the prophet sayth Your wickednesses haue made a wal Esa. 59. betwen you your God your sines hyde his face froÌ„ you Now must we therfor seke how to apease the wrathe of God kyndled agaiÌ„st vs. Uerely the meane how to make God merciful vnto vs is froÌ„hensforth to Remedies againste the vvrathe oâ—… God auoide that which was the cause of Gods displeasur agaiÌ„st vs of the takiÌ„g away of his blessed worde froÌ„ vs I meane syn Syn must be takeÌ„ awai froÌ„ amoÌ„g vs or els câ—…we neuer be recoÌ„ciled vnto God nor obtaiÌ„ his fauour so far is it of that we shall recouer the heaueÌ„ly benefite of his glorious gospel For the Lorde our God is suche a God as 〈◊〉 wickednes The euell can not Psalm 5. dwell by hym nor the vnrighteous abyde in hys sight Syâ—…e therfore which droue God out of oure hostâ—… and with hym the â—…ght of hys blessed worde muste be weded oâ—… bothe of oure haâ—…e and lyfe that we maye be pure before the Lorde oure God 1. Cor. 6. 〈◊〉 hym in spirite and bodye So shall we 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…emples for his godly 〈◊〉 to dwel in whom yf we once receyue iâ—…to oure hartes with hym we maye be sure to enioye all good thynges Nowe to put awaye synne the fyrste remedye is earâ—… and vnfayned repentaunce Let vs all RepeÌ„tauÌ„ce euen from the very hart be inwardly sorye for oure vnthaÌ„kefulnes and disobedience agaynst Gods moste blessed will Let vs eueÌ„ with teares as Peter and Magdalene dyd Matt. 26. Luc. 7. lament and bewayle oure wretchednesses beyng moste hartely sory that we euer offended so louyng a father and so mercifull a Lorde For this vnfayned repentaunce harty â—…ewayling of our synnes is an accep table sacrifice vnto God as Dauid sayth A sacrifice vnto God is a troubled spirite a Psal. 51. broken and humble hart God will not despysâ—… Yea God him selfe sayth by the Prophet Unto whome â—…hall I loke but vnto hyâ—… that is â—…owe brought and of a broken Esa. 66. spirite â—…nd standeth in awe of my wordes this way of obtayning Gods fauor taught Esa. 55. Iere. 3. Eze. 18. Math. 〈◊〉 Mar. 1. Moses and all the Prophetes Ihon Baptiste Christ and al his disciples as the holy scriptures testefie For with out repentauÌ„ce nothing is to be had of God but wrath dis pleasure and euerlasting damnatioÌ„ as our sauiour Christ sayth Except ye repent all sorte of you shall perysh But where true repentaunce cometh an earnest hate off Luc. 1â—… synne with a feruent studye of innocency amendement of lyfe there lyghe the grace mercy fauour and good wil of God bent out for the penitent synner as God hym self sayth by the Prophet If the vngodlye turne awaye frome all hys synnes that he Ezec. 18. hath done and shall kepe all my statutes do iudgement and righteonsnes he shal suâ—…ely lyue and not dye All hys offences shal nomore be layde before hym but in hys righteousnes that he hath done shal he lyue For I haue no pleasure in the deathe of a synner sayth the Lord God but rather that he turne from hys wicked wayes and lyue Agayn as surely as I lyue sayth the Lorde Ezech. 〈◊〉 God I haue no delighte in the deathe of a synner but rather that he should turne froÌ„ hys waies and lyue Turne ye turne ye froÌ„ your euell wayes and why will ye dye O ye house of Israel Diuers examples haue we hereof in the holy scripture as the Examples of repeÌ„taÌ„ce chyldren of Israel the Niniuites Dauid â—…anasses Peter Magdalene the thefe and suche other â–ª which after they repeÌ„ted fouÌ„d fauoure at the mercifull hande of God As we haue folowed them in synning doyng euel so let vs folow them in repenting and doyng wel Than maye we be sure to fynde lyke fauour with them For it is written Psal. â—…4 the Lorde is at hande for them
prysonne Gene. 41 but he also bringeth hym to suche honoure and dignitie that he is made chiefe ruler ouer all the lande of Egipte nexte vnto the Kynge O the singular good will of the Lord our God towarde his faithfull and louing seruauntes What shall I speake of that moste noble 4. Re. 18. and faythful kyng Ezechias which beynge in moste greuous daunger bothe he hys contries thorow the tyranny of Sennacherib that moste proude kyng of the AssyriaÌ„s which was at hande to destroy both hym hys realme not perceauing how he hys people with al their witte pollecy streÌ„ght were able to enter battel with so mighty an enemy vtterly despairing of his own might power lameÌ„ted his cause vnto the Lorde his God which so petied the sorowful estate of kyng Ezechias of his people that euen the same night he sent his auÌ„gel which slew 4. Re. 19. in the hooste of the AssyriaÌ„s an c. lxxx and fyue thousand so that Sennacherib with the rest of his hooste fled which shortly after as he was worshipping his fals God was slayne of his owne sonnes in the idolatrous teÌ„ple O the pricelike puissauÌ„ce of the Lord our God in defending hys faithefull people Notable is the historie coÌ„tayned in the boke of Hester concerninge the Iewes which were the people of God where we Hest. 〈◊〉 rede that wicked AmaÌ„ beyng hyest in autho rite with kyng Ahasuerus for displeasure that he bare vnto Mardocheus the Iewe because he wold not bowe the knee vnto hiÌ„ reuereÌ„ce him procured of the kynge a coÌ„mauÌ„dement to be directed vnto all his officers magistrates that all the Iewes that were within the kynges dominions should be destroyed And as for Mardocheus AmaÌ„ had prepared for him a new payre of galowes of l. eubites hye purposinge to hange hym the next days folowing Here was nothing at haÌ„de nor to be loked for but present death and destruccion All was lyke to go to hauocke all thynges were brought to such an extremitie The commission is written and sealed with the Kynges owne rynge Postes are sente wyth it into all the kynges landes the daye is appoynted that all Iewes both yonge and oldechyldren and women should be destroyed in one daye What is here too be sene but present death The Iewes are not an handfull in comparison of their enemies so that vtter destruccion lygheth bent out for them no way there is to escape it so farre as rea son can iudge But now behold Gods workinge and here shall ye fynde that thynge true whiche Salomon hath The kynges Pro. 21. hart is in the hande of the Lord lyke as are the ryuers of water he may turne it whyther so euer he will Aman whiche before Hest. 7. was so muche set by of the kynge is nowe sodenly so farre fallen from the kynges fauoure Bevvare ye papistes that he is commaunded to be haÌ„ged vpon those same gallowes that he had set vp for good Mardocheus so that Mardocheus was made ruler of all that AmaÌ„ had was exalted vnto hye dignitie that that maye be founde true whiche we rede in the Psalme I sayde vnto the fooles deale not Psal. 75. so madly to the vngodly set not vp your borne Set not vp your horne on hye and speake not with a styffe necke For promocion coÌ„meth neither from the East nor froÌ„ the West nor yet frome the Southe And why God is the Iudge he putteth doune Psal. 37. one and setteth vp another Agayne the vngodly seeth the righteous and seketh occasioÌ„ to slea hym But the Lorde will not leaue hym in his hande nor condemne him whaÌ„ he is iudged Immediatly after also was a contrary commauÌ„dement sent out by the Hest. 8. 9 postes with all haste froÌ„ the king streightly charging all the inhabitantes of the kinges Maie not God thus vvorbe in the Oâ—…enes hart for his faithful seruauntes in time to come dominions by no meanes to trouble or too vexe the Iewes but to take them as moste dere faithfull and louinge subiectes of the Kinge and if anye wolde withstande the Kinges commaundement in this behalfe that the Iewes shoulde gather them selfes together and slea their enemies and take awaye their goodes Thus sodenly was sorow turned into ioye heauines into myrth sadnes into gladnes slauery into honoure darkenes into lighte and deathe into lyfe O the vnspeakable power of the Lord oure God To whome is the historie of the. iij. iong Dan. 3. men vnknowen which because they wold not worship the goldeÌ„ Image at the kinges commaundement were cruelly caste into an whote breÌ„ning ouen Who wolde not haue iudged their lyfe vtterly loste But God which helpeth in moste extremities so prouided that the fyre did hurte them nothing at all no not so muche as an hayâ—…e of their head perished with the fiire nor no parte of their garmentes Whole sounde came thei out of the brenninge fornace vnto the great glory of God O the fatherly care of the Lorde our God for all such as cleue to hys holy and blessed worde The history of casting the prophet Daniel Dan. 6. into the denne of Lyons because contrary to the Kynges commaundement he prayde vnto the Lorde hys God is not vnknowen to them that rede the holy scriptures Who durst haue promysed Daniel any lyfe beiâ—… thus caste doune vnto the hungrye cruell Lyons yet God was present with hym stopped the Lyons mouthes that they dyd not once hurte hym O the louing kyndnes of the Lorde oure God towarde all theym that call on hys holy name and putte theyr truste in hym I passe ouer the histories of the cytiesins of Bethulia of Iob of Thoby of Susan and of diuers other contayned in the olde testament which in al their necessities and troubles calliÌ„g on the name of god proued hys presente helpe whyche by no meanes wolde suffer them to perish All these thinges Rom. 14 are written for our learnyng that thorow pacience and comfort of the scriptures we should haue hope ¶ The. x. Chapter TAke one or twoo examples out of the new Testament for the confirmatioÌ„ of our faythe in this behalfe that we maye learn God to be one and the same louing Mala. 3. father in all ages neuer more doubt of his fatherly goodnes towarde vs but coÌ„ ceaue an assured hope and perfect truste off hys present helpe euen in the depest of our aduersities as he sayeth Though I walke thorow the valley of the shadow of deathe I wyll feare no euell for thou arte wyth Psal. 23. me Whan Christ and hys disciples were in the shippâ—… Christe at a certayn tyme slept In the meane whyle their arose a greate Math. 8. tempeste in the sea in so muche that the shyppe was couered wyth the waues The disciples perceauynge them selfes too be in greate daunger and peryll of drownynge and not knowynge what to do nor how
to escape came vnto Chryste awoke hym and sayde Master saue vs we peryshe Christe aunswered Why are ye afrayde O ye of littell faythe Then he arose and rebuked the wyndes and the sea there folowed a great calme O the tender mercye of the Lorde oure God towarde all suche as in the time of theyr trouble fie vnto his name as vnto a stronge bulwarke Thys historye teacheth vs that thoughe the seas and the wyndes yea though the deuel the worlde ryse rore rage ruffle against vs neuer so much yet if we fie vnto God with harty faythfull praier he wil surely helpe vs so that nothinge shal hurte vs seme oure case neuer so miserable our daunger neuer so perillous The waues of the sea are mightye sayeth the Psalmographe rage horri Psalm 93 bly yet the Lorde that dwelleth on hye iâ—… mightier The lyke historye rede we of Peter whiche whan he saw Christe walkinge on Math. 14 the sea sayde Lorde bid me come vnto the on the water Christ sayde come And whâ—… Peter was come doune out of the shippe he walked on the water to go to Iesus But whan he sawe a mighty wynde he was afraide And whan he beganne to syncke he cryed sayeng Lord saue me And immediat lye Iesus stretching forth his haÌ„de caught hym and sayde vnto hym O thou of litle fayth wherefore dedist thou doubte O the merciful fauour of the Lorde oure God towarde his weake feble creatures Here fynde we the sayeng of the Prophete true A broosed rede shall he not breake smoking Esay 42. flaxe shal he not quenche But as I maye at the laste come too the history of our Sauiour Christ Who seeth not â—…he mightie power of God in raisinge vp Christe crucifyde dead whan all reason and wisedom of men thought it a thing Mat. 27. impossible The Iewes now promised theÌ„ selfs many fayre holy daies great safegard muche quietnes and continuall rest seynge they had brought Christ their head enemye to his long home as they vse to say Euen as oure Papistes at this present daye promise them self many good morowes greate Papistes assuraunce of their wealthy liuinges long rest perfect establishement of their kyngedome and sure saffetie for euer forasmuche as they haue now gotteÌ„ agayn their deuelishe and abhominable Masse their vnfruteful Latin seruice their beggarly ceremonies c. haue so handled the matter that the true preachers beyng put to silence thei alone both at Paules crosse and els where are the trompet blowers not of Christes Gospell but of that Romishe Antichrâ—…es dyrtie deuelish decrees as their sermons if thei be worthy that name now of late haue manifestly declared vnto the great derogation of Gods glorie the dishonoure of hys holy Gospell and the vnspekeable sorowe of all faithful and Christe hartes The Iewes but specially the Bishops the Priestes Mat. 26. 27. the Scribes the Lawers the Phari seis the Saduceis founde the meanes to laye hande on Christ to bynde him to cary him vnto the hye powers to accuse hym to condemne him to crucifie him to kyll Note him Yea beynge buried and a greate stone rolled to the bodre of the sepulche they sealed the stone and sette watch men with bylles halbardes gleyues sâ—…aues speares pyâ—… kes all manner of weapon to kepe Christ doune that he shoulde ryse nomore and trouble the holy religious and spirituall fathers with hys doctrine as he dyd afore But what is the power of this worlde before God very weakenes and the wysedome 1. Cor. 3. playne folishenes For whan they thought them selfes sure ynough of Christ for euer rysing agayne and them selfes set in suche a goodly staye as no misfortuyne coulde chaunce to them and to their kyngedome Christe by the power of hys Godhead Math. 28 rose agayne a tryumphante and victorious conquerour of all his enemies and raygneth nowe in the glorye of hys father for euer and euer And shortlye after the doctrine of Chryste whyche they soughte by all meanes possible too destroye and for the whyche they so hated Christe that they thoughte hym vnworthye too lyue dyd so aryse spryng growe encreace prosper and floryshe that it was not onelye taughte in Iewrye and Samaria but also in all the partes of the worlde and the Iewes for theyr vnthankefulnes and disobedieÌ„ce after certayne yeares with theyr countrye vtterly peryshed and came to noughte After Bevvare ye papistes thys sorte without all doubte shall it come to passe with oure papistes For where as they thynke prosperously longe too raygne by suppressynge the worde of God and hol dynge doune yea quenchyng the glorious light of Christes Gospell the Gospell off Rom. 1 Christe whiche is the power of God shall moste triumphantly ryse agayne maugre the enemies florysh and prosper and they with all theyr pompe pryde vanitie super sticion papistrye hypocrisye Idolatrye ceremonies masses decrees constitucions counsayles customes c. shall perishe and come to nought For God hymself sayeth I will honour them that honour me and I wyll brynge them to shame that do dishonoure 1. Reg. 2. me And oure Sauioure Christe sayeth He that falleth vppon thys stone shall be broken Math. 21. on peces but vppon whomesoeuer it fall it shall crushe hym all to pouder Here to pertayneth the sayenge of sainct Paule 2. Tim. 3. They resiste the trueth beynge men of a corrupte iudgement and lewde as concerning the fayth but they shall preuayle no lenger For their madnes shall be knowen too all men Agayne the God of peace shal treade Rom. 16. sathan vnder your fete â—…hortly ¶ The. xi Chapter MOreouer in the Actes of the Apâ—…stles Acto 12. we rede that after king Herode had kylled Iames the brother off Ihon with the swearde he layde hande on Peter and put him in pryson committing him to foure quaternions of souldiours to be kept entendinge after Easter to bringe him forth to the people and so to kyll him But prayer was made without ceasing of the congregacion to God for him Here Peter was apprehended caste into pryson bounde with chaynes warders appointed to kepe him all thinges so handled that he should by no meanes escape but all tymes be redy at the firste call to be broughte forth vnto death Peter loked continually for present deathe Herode and the Iewes perswaded them selfs to be sure of Peter to kyll him at their pleasur as though thei had slaine him all redy But beholde the mightye power of God whiche fyndeth a meanes to deliuer his seruauÌ„tes whan reason seeth no way to escape The night before that Peter should be brought forth to death there was a very diligente watche because they wolde be sure of him Peter him self was bounde with twoo chaynes Two souldiours also kepte him in the pryson one on the one side of him and another on the other syde Besydes this there were
kepers set before the dore to kepe the prysō All thinges were as sure as might be Peter was paste all hope of deliueraunce He committed the matter vnto God gaue him self to reste loking the next daye after to haue bene slayne And whyle Peter was Note vve◅ despaire no◅ a slepe and had geuē ouer the matter God wrought and sent his aungell into pryson vnto Peter which wonderfully broughte him out of pryson and deliuered him from all daunger Rede the chapter O the almighty power of the Lord our God in the deliueraunce of his seruauntes If God de termineth too saue alyue who is able too put to death Here se we the sayeng of oure Math. 1◅ Sauiour Christ to be true that all the hay res of oure head are numbred and that not ◅ne of them shall perishe without the good will of our heauenly father Here is that verified which is spokē by the Psalmogra Psal. 34. phe the aungel of the Lord py◅cheth his tēt rounde about them that feare him deliuereth them Great are the troubles of the righteous but the Lord deliuereth thē out of all He kepeth all theyr bones so that not one of them shal be brokē The Lord deliue reth the soules of his seruaūtes all they that put their trust in him shall not be forsaken The tyrauntes of this worlde maye threaten persecute empryson chayn locke Not◅ beate buffet c. But the lyfe of a Christen man can they not take awaye before the tyme commeth that God hath appoynted If the deuitles coulde not enter intoo the swyne and so droune them before Christ Math. 8. gaue them leaue much les can the lymmes of the deuyll kyll any faythfull man before God geueth them lycence What coulde sathan do to Iob before God gaue hym libertie to plague hym and yet coulde he exercyse Iob. 1. 2. hys cruelnes agaynste Iob no further thā he was appoynted of God Saul persecuted Dauid purposynge cruelly too kyll hym but Dauid escaped hys handes That wicked quene Iesabell threatned and 1. Reg. 19 3. Reg. 19 sware too slea the prophete Helias but the Lorde preserued hym and she afterwarde was moste miserably slayne The Godly woman Susanne thorow false accusatiōs of the two wicked Iudges was at the point Dan. 13. to be stoned vnto death but God wonderfully deliuered her from the handes of her enemies Esau burned with an immortall hatred agaynste hys brother Iacob because Gen. 33. of the blessynge wherewyth hys father had blessed hym and purposed fully to kyll hys brother But Iacob prayed to the Lord and so mollifyed Esaus harte in so muche that when Iacob thought that both he and hys shoulde haue bene slayne hys brother Esau came gentilly vnto hym louingelye embrased hym kyssed hym frendly and for very ioye wepte so myghty is God to mollefye tyrauntes hartes whan it pleaseth hym and to make them gracious and fauorable too hys seruauntes Howe ofte rede we in the historye of the Gospell that the Iewes wente aboute too kyll Christe and yet layde they no hande on hym The Euangeliste sheweth the cause sayenge For Ioan. 7. hys houre was not yet come But whan the tyme came that God hadde appoynted from euerlastynge than preuayled the wycked agaynste the manhoode of Christe layde hande on hym bounde hym and fynally putte hym too death as Christ sayde vnto them Ye become out as vnto a thefe Luce. 22. wyth sweardes and staues Whan I was bayly with you in the Temple ye stretched forthe no hande agaynste me But thys is euen youre houre and the power of darkenesse Certayne of the Phariseis sayde vnto Christe Get the out of the waye and Luc. 13. depart hēce For Herode wil kil the. Crist aū swēred Go tel the foxe behold I cast out deuels heal the people to dai to morow the. iij. day I make an ende For it can not be that the Prophet perish any other wher then at Ierusalē Here se we both the tyme the place apoīted where Crist shuld dye Euen so goeth it with the faithful Where No◅ whā God appointeth the membres off Christ likewise shall dye For it lygheth in no tyrauntes power to take awaye the lyfe of the faythfull tyll God appointeth bothe the tyme place as Christ sayde vnto Pylate Thou couldest haue no power at all against Ioan. 19. me excepte it were geuen the frome aboue God alone hath the keyes of death Apoc. 1 hell Rede we not in the Actes of the Apostles that certayn men about the number of xl conspyred Paules death and made a Acto 23. vowe that they wold neither eate nor drink tyll they had kylled Paule Yet for all their solēne vowe they were deceaued For God deliuered Paule out of their hādes Could ◅sau hurt Iacob the sea hynder the Israe lites the whale destroye Ionas the fyre cōsume Gene. 33. Exod. 14 Ionas 2. Dan. 3. 6 act 12. 28 the. iij. ionge men the Lyons deuour Daniel the falsse Iudges slea Susanna Herode kyll Peter the venomous adder destroye Paule at Milete Nothinge les God hath the deuell the worlde the fleshe and all thynges that are in hys power and ruleth them all at hys pleasure Loke how farre he suffer thē to go and to do so farre go they and do they and no further seme they to rage neuer so muche as Dauid witnesseth the Lord hath geuen a commaunde Psal. 148. ment and none shall go beyonde it Fyre hayle snowe yse vaporous stormy wyndes accōplish hys worde Agayne thou hast Psal. 118. limited the waters theyr boundes whyche they maye not passe God gaue vs oure Note lyfe no man therefore can take it awaye withoute hys appoyntemente We are Gods people he therefore will defende vs from all euell We are the workemanshyppe of Gods handes no man therefore shall destroye vs I speake of oure bodyes withoute hys fatherly prouidence We are shepe of Gods pasture no wolfs therfore shall deuoure vs but at hys appoyntetement The Aungels of God haue chardge Psal. 34 ouer vs they pytche their tentes rounde aboute vs and watche continually for the saffegarde and defence of vs what thā can miserable man do agaynste vs be he Emperoure Kynge Pope Bishop or any other tyraunte If the deuell the Lyons the sea the fyre the wyndes the serpentes c. can do no harme to the faythfull without bothe the sufferaunce and determination of God let vs not feare the worldlye tyraūtes although neuer so mighty fearce and cruel whyche are nothyng els but vyle fleshe earth asthes duste and dong whose tyranny is lyke too a staffe of rede whose imaginacions counsayles and deuyses are vayne folyshe and of none effect whan the Lorde God take the parte agaynste them whose glorie was the floure of the felde For they shall do no more against the ellecte and chosen people of God than
God both suffereth and appoynteth Whan Pylate sitting in iudgement sayde to our sauiour Christ knoweth thou not that I haue power Ioan. 19 to crucifye the and haue power to deliuer the Christ aunswered thou couldest haue no power at all agaynst me excepte it were geuen the from aboue Euen so maye we saye of the worldly tyrauntes Thei shal haue no power at all against vs except it be geuen them from aboue And the holy apostles in their prayer vnto God sayde that whatsoeuer Herode and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and people of Israel did Act. 4. against Christe they did nothinge but that the hande and the counsayl of God had determined before to be done No more shall the tyrauntes of this worlde do any thynge agaynste vs but that whiche God before hath determined to be done froÌ„ euerlasting Of this historie of Peter therfore may we learn two notable thinges Fyrst that God than moste chiefly helpeth whan thinges be brought to greatest extremities SecoÌ„dly that the tyrauntes of this worlde can not take away a Christen mans lyfe nor yet do any more agaynste hym than the good wil pleasure determinacioÌ„ appointement off God is in whose hande alone as the wyse Eccle. 11 man sayeth is bothe prosperite aduersite lyfe death ¶ The. xij Chapter SEyng whan that we are taughte by so many credible histories that God dothe at all tymes helpe but chiefly whaÌ„ thinges be broughte vnto an extremitie agayne that no man can take away the lyfe of any faythfull man tyll God apoynteth let vs not doubte but that God will bothe heare oure prayers and helpe vs also and deliuer vs althoughe for a season he semeth to differre hys helpe and to leaue vs in the bryers He is the father of mercye and God 2. Cor. 1. Esa. 39 of all consolacion Hys haÌ„de is not so shortened but that he is able too helpe neither is hys eare so stopped but that he both can and will heare vs. God is faytheful saieth 1. Cor. 10 the Apostle whiche will not suffer you too be tempted aboue your strengthe but shall in the middes of the temptacion make a waye that ye maye be able to beare it Let vs not therefore despayre though presente helpe commeth not from God at the fyrste callynge but rather go for the to praye vnto God after the example of the Cananite and not to be weary tyll we haue obtayobtayned Math. 15. our request of the Lord our God folowyng the counsayll of the Psalmographe whych sayeth O tarrye thou the Lordes leasure be strong take a good hart vnto Psal. 31. the and paciently abyde the pleasure of the Lorde In silence and hope sayeth the Prophet Esaye shall be youre strengthe Here to pertayneth the sayeng of Ieremy It is Esa. 30. LameÌ„ 3. good wyth silence too abyde the sauynge health of the Lorde If we on this manner behaue our selfs toward the Lord our god we shal without fayle shortely beholde the wonderfull workes of God We shal se the doune falle of oure enemies with all theyr tyranny papistrie Idolatrie supersticion ceremonies masses decrees counsaylles customes c. We shall se the glorious Gospel of our Sauiour Christ spring agayne growe encreace prosper florish and tryum phe We shall se God truly honored not after the fonde fantasye of men but accordinge to hys blessed will and commaundement We shall se Antichrist that sonne of 2 Thes. 2 perdicioÌ„ slayne wyth the breath of the Lordes mouth and sathan troden vnder oure fete God graunte it maye be shortely Amen ¶ A brief rehersall of the whole Epistle THus haue ye hearde moste dere brethren howe it came to passe that the true re ligioÌ„ of our Sauiour Christ was taken awaye from vs and in the stead therof a supersticious and idolatrous kynde of worshippyng God placed amonge vs vnto the great disconforte and vnspeakable sorowe of all faythfull Christians Ye haue hearde also by what meanes this plague maye be turned awaye and howe the true and syncere doctrine of Christe maye be restored vnto vs. The cause of Gods wrath toward vs as ye hearde was oure ingratitude and vnthankefulnes yea oure synnefull lyfe wickednes whiche was groune vp vntoo suche an heyghte that God coulde no longer dissemble the matter but muste nedes take awaye hys blessing from vs. We were vnthankefull for the heauenly benefyte off hys blessed worde yea we in a manner lâ—…thed and abhorred hys Godly ordinaunces euen as the vngodly Israelites were weary Nâ—…me 11 of the celestial Manna agayn our lyfe was nothynge agreable to the holy wil of God but defyled with pryde enuye couetousnes fornication adultery swearing glotonye dronckennes With all their kynde of wyckednes vnto the greate dishonoure of the name of God whiche we professe it therefore coulde none otherwyse but come too passe that God should be auenged of these thynges take awaye his holy woorde and throwe vs agayne into the deuelishe darkenes of the papishe Egipte For as he fylleth Luc. 1. the hungry with good thynges so sendeth he the ryche emptye awaye And as our Sa Math. 5 uioure Christe pronouncheth them blessed whiche hunger and thyrste after righteous nes and promiseth that all suche shal be satisfyed and haue their desyre euen soo are they cursed whiche haue no delighte in the worde of God and from such shal the bles singe of Christes Gospel be taken awaye and the cursed tradicious of menne shal be throwen vpon them as the Psalmographe sayeth he wolde none of the blessing it shal therfore be taken awaye from him Hereto Psal. 109. agreeth the saying of our Sauiour Christ the kyngdoÌ„ of God shall be taken froÌ„ you Math. 21. shal be geuen to a natioÌ„ that bringeth forth the frutes of it Agayn this is condeÌ„nation that lighte is come into the worlde men haue loued darkenes more than lyghte For Ioan. 3 their workes were euel Nowe to recouer the fauoure of God and to turne awaye hys heauy displeasure from vs that he maye once agayne lyghten hys glorious louing countenaunce vpon vs and blesse vs with the moste blessed benefite of hys sonnes Gospell the meanes as ye hearde is earnest repentaunce of oure former lyfe humble knowledginge of oure synnes vnto God vndoubted faythe in the mercifull promises of God the father setforth vnto vs in the moste precious bloude of oure Sauiour Christe diligent inuocation and constante callinge on the name of God for remission of our synnes for mercye grace fauoure peace reste of conscieÌ„ce c. Pacient abyding of the Lordes leasure and fynally a continuall meditacion practise of a new lyfe If we on thys manner returne vntoo the LORDE oure God let vs not doubte but that he will shortly turne vnto vs mer cifully beholde vs and once agayne blesse vs wyth the heauenly benefyte of hys blessed woorde that we here on earthe maye knowe hys wayes and hys sauynge