mercy tovvardes vs for euer VVe confesse that our sinnes haue wel deserued thy vvrath and our vvickednesse is great ynough to prouoke thy anger and we know that thy mercies already shewed vnto vs haue beene more then our deseruinges vve haue alwayes felt thy fatherly affection towardes vs vvhen we haue shewed our selues vnnaturall children and revvarded thee euill for good Oh lord forgiue it vs forgiue our vngodly behauiour lay not our sins to our charge but continue thy mercy tovvardes vs still Looke fauourably vppon this Realme blesse va vvith thy goodnesse and defende vs from Sathan and all his ministers ouerthrow their deuelish deuices and bevvray their vngodly pollices preserue our Queene vvhome thou hast placed ouer vs let her rule faithfully in thy feare make her dayes happy and sende her a long life if it be thy good pleasure and vvhen this her earthly princely state shall ceasse giue her a heauenly kingdome where shee may reigne for euer make her counsellers vvise in thy feare to giue such councel as may tende to thy glory let he nobles know that their honors consisteth in thy worship Teach magistrates to humble themselues and seeke the aduancement of thy glory let them know that they are not placed in office by thee to gouern as they list or do that which seemeth good in their owne eyes but to suppresse sinne support vertue let them draw their swordes to cut downe vice and imbrace godlines as that which is onely their worship teach the ministerie to teach the trueth vnto their flocke and seeke the safety of thy people and not their owne priuate gayne let them not be such as can teach others and not them selues that can shere the sheepe and not feed the flocke let not the desire of filthy lucre make them carelesse to do their duety but let the remembrance of thee which wilt call them to an account cause them to haue a care of their charge Teach masters of housholdes mystresses and Dames children and seruauntes to serue thee and lead their liues in thy feare O Lord learne theÌ„ to know that to dwell vnder thy defence is only to be happy and not to obey thee is to be accursed and to heap vp for our selues wrath against the day of wrath vvhen euery man shall be revvarded according to his vvorkes let the power of thy majestie vvhich canst vvith a vvorde shake all the povvers in heauen and earth strike so deepe into our hearts that we may set more by thy fauour then all the fayre countenaunces of the world which are but vaniti let not any thing be our delight but that vvhich may please thee let nothing make vs sory but that which doth offend thy maiesty Also we beseech thee to looke vppon thy vvhole Churche vvheresoeuer with fauour beholde it comfort the afflicted members therof deliuer them with speed or giue them patience to tarry thy leasure let them not faint in that good course they haue begon that suffer for thy truch but be thou their help in trouble and lay no more vppon them then they are able to beare And although we at this time here at home haue not so great cause to complayne as many of our brethren in other countries But thou O Lord hast delt more fauourably vvith vs then with them yet let vs not be proude of our estate but giue vs heartes of humilitie to prostrate our selues before thy maiestie for vve know that our deseruings are not such nor thy hande is not so shortned but that thou canst strike vs as well as them let not so great wickednesse lodge in our brests that our prosperity shoulde make vs to forget thee for although vve sleepe now in secutitie and thinke our selues out of danger yet thou canst quickly set the nations about vs vpon our eares and giue vs ouer to a worse mischeefe euen amongest our selues thou canst soone make a whole man a sicke body and of a liuing body a dead corps and all our pleasures may soone be gone the aduersitie of one howre may make vs to forget all our sinnes haue truly deserued these and greater plagues but that thy mercy tovvardes vs hath beene great vvhich I beseech thee for euer to continue Forgiue vs our sinnes and pardon vs for thy sonne Christs sake quicken vs as thou art wont to do thy chosen giue vs a taste of the ioyes of thy kingdome that vve may knowe it is better to be a dore keeper in thy house then to dwel in the tentes of the wicked vngodly let not the vaine delights of this corrupt world lead vs vnto vanity nor let the alterations of this changeable time turne our harts from thee but teach vs to knovve that thou art alvvayes one and the same dost neuer forget such as doe put their trust in thee VVe know that thy fatherly care ouer thy children is great that they shal not loose a haire of their head but thou wilt knowe how they come forÌ„ it oh learn vs for so gret loue to loue thee againe and feare to offend so deare a Father keep farre from vs the breach of thy laws couetous mindes lying lipes swearing tongues malicious hearts vnchast and vngodly behauiour which doth offend thee and prouoke thine anger againsty vs beate down our stoute stomcks that we may stand in awe feare thy displeasure that the plagues due for our sinnes may be turned away from vs. O Lord make vs wise in time plaÌ„t in our harts a loue to thy iudgements and alwaies haue im minde that thou which madest the eye must needs see which madest the eare must needs heare and thou which seaâ—chest the hearts and reins must needs find out our wickednesse And because of our selues we are not able to doe any thing that is good but prone and apt to all kinde of sinne and wickednesse we beseech thee so to assist vs with the ayde and help of thy holy spirite that we may through the same do those things vvhich of our selues we are not able that it may be to thy glory and for the health of our owne soules Oh let these our praiers pearce the heauens and enter into thine eares and giue vs this and all other things necessary for vs from this time to the end of our liues and after death a life to liue for euer for thy deare sonnes sake in whose name vve beg it of thee in that praier vvhich he himselfe hath taughte vs saying Our father c.
doth tender his owne saluation to leaue no meanes vnsought for that might bring it to passe and to be most carefull for the same as that which doth deserue greatest labor if there be any that will say they would willingly do it if they knewe vvich vvay to beginne let * Iohn 5.39 them bring themselues acquainted vvith the vvorde of God vvhich is able to * 2. Tim. 3.16 make them vvise vnto saluation if they vvill say their knowledge is smal and the scriptures are hard to be vnderstoode let them seeke diligently * Mat. 7.7 pray hartily and knocke hard and the Lorde vvill open the doore of knowledge vnto them and giue them right hearts of a good vnderstanding if any vvill say they haue so much to deale in worldly affayres that they cannot spare one hour in the day to read the vvord of God let theÌ„ knovv except all their actions be measured by the lyne of Gods vvorde their labor is lost their time ill spent their hope is vaine their vvroks vnprofitable and * Deut. 28.17 all that they take in hande accursed if there be any that thinke themselues so well spedde that they need no more teaching let them learn to put their knowledge in practise in framing their liues according lest when they know * Luk. 12.56 much doe little their damnation be the greater if there be any that vvill say there are none so vnwise to do that which they know to be vnlawfull let them know that of that number there are too many and although the most part must of necessitie confesse that there is a God whom they ought to serue yet the diuell doth draw many with great force to liue as those that knovve no God such is the corruption of mans nature and so great are the assaultes of our enemie the diuell that vvhen vve knovv our duetie and see the path way that will lead vs vnto eternall lyfe yet through the suggestions of Satan and the deceitfulnesse of sinne we are drawne to tread the steps of death and euerlasting destruction And some there be to excuse this their fooly will defende their life though neuer so vile and that they may haue the bridle of licentiousnesse to tunne at ran done though against their consciences they will not spare to call euill good and good euill darknesse light and light darknes they that may make a faire shew in the worlde and regard not at all how manifestly they lye before the face of almighty God this fault vvas found in * Act. 5.4 Ananias Saphira his vvife for the vvhich they both lost their liues and this vvickednesse doth still remain amongst vs although the punishment be not so euidently seene of this number are so many as know their dutie and lead a life cleane contrary that knovv lying to bee a faulte and yet vvill not sticke to lye for aduantage that knovv it to be sinne to sweare and yet haue their mouthes full of vayne othes that know adultery to be abominable in the sight of God and yet liue in whordome al the dayes of their life that knovv murther to be a breach of the lavve and yet vvish their brothers throates cut that they may haue their good that know couetousnesse to be the roote of all euil and yet thinke lucre to be godlinesse that knovve the rewarde of sinne to be death and yet liue in vvickednesse al the dayes of their life these men knovve it yea and vvith all their hearts they knovv it and vvith shame ynough vvill not sticke to say it and shut vp al with tushe God is mercifull and vvith this cloake they thinke to couer their shame and by that meanes to set God besides his iudgements but vvhen they shall be arraigned before his iudgement seate to aunswere for the breache of his lavves I feare me this cloake of hypocrisie beeing founde on their backes vvill be taken for the liuery of their maister the diuell vvhom as they haue serued in this worlde vvithout any feare of God so shal they dwell vvith him for euer in fire euerlasting vvhich is prepared for him and his Angels These are the faultes of our time and such punishments doe follow such sinnes and the wickednes of the people is so great that we haue good cause to say vvith Dauid that it is * Psal 119. time O Lorde for thee to lay to thine hand But because these thinges are farre from you vvhich doe so ill like of them that you are an enemye to those that vse them you may thinke your self happie and thrise happie vvhom God hath deliuered from so great euils And for my selfe as I am by duety bounde to do you the best seruice that I may and haue receyued more benefites at your handes then euer I deserued I can but vvishe you that vvhich no man can giue you and pray for that vvhich you may obtaine that you may so serue the Lorde of heauen and earth during the time of your pilgrimage in this shorte and transitory vvorlde that vvhen this life shall cease and all vvorldly helpes shall fayle you you may haue God your father Christ your brother the holy Ghost your comforter the Angels your companions your inheritance aboue the Heauens vvith ioyes vnspeakable in a life that shall last for euer Amen Your worships humble seruant I. B. To the godly Reader THe estate of these our dayes is so dangerous the people so vngratious with sin so abounding vertue so little set by of almost al euery where the it may melt a christiaÌ„ hart to meditate thereon such negligence in Magistrates suche rebellion in subiects such carelesnes in fathers mothers and suche disobedience in sonnes daughters that wheras we looke to receiue the fruits of the earth the blessings of heauen powred out vpon vs according so the prourise of the Lorde vnto his children the maruel is great the the sun doth not skorch vs the water drowne vs the earth gape redy to deuour vs for our disobedience and vnthaÌ„kfulnes for the same What blessings are there which we haue not receiued and what sinn is ther but we haue committed what could a father do more for his owne children then to keepe them as the apple of his eye what tokens of â—asterdly impes can there be greater then to liue as vagabounds the regard not their father oh howe wel may this complaint of the Prophet be applied vnto vs that the * Esai 12. Lord hath brought vp children they haue done vnfaithfully against him ah sinfull nation a people laden with iniquitie a seede of the wicked such as haue forsaken the Lord and proudâ—ed the holy one of Israell to anger and as the Prophet Osee said of Israel so may it â—e sayd of England that * Ose 14.41 ther is no truth no mercy no knowledge of god in the land but swearing lying manslaughter theft adultery haue gotten the vpper
this be sarr from you and the name of shepheard be only to be found you are a Wolfe cloathed in a Sheepes skinne and shall haue your portion with the vngodly in that lake of fire and Brimstone which shall not bee quenched for euer Par. Truely sir it is a harde matter to finde all this in one man and although I haue not this in me yet I trust I shal haue no parte in that fierie lake whereof you speake nor there is no such daunger in the matter Gen. That you may not thinke it to be an vntruth or any inuention of mine own making marke what the scripture sayth which cannot lye Wo * Iere. 48.10 be vnto him that doth the worke of the Lord negligently Againe * Ezek. 34.2 Wo be vnto the Shepheardes that feed themselues shoulde not a Shepheard feede his flocke Paule cryed * Cor. 9.16 Wo vnto him selfe if hee preache not the Gospell and you shall one day cry Wo vnto your selfe if you preache not the Gospel * Ezeck 23.3 Wo vnto the foolishe Prophetes that followe their owne braines * Iere. 23.1 Wo vnto the Shepheardes that destroy and scatter my flocke saith the Lorde and so thruste them out that they once looke not vppon them therfore will I one day visite the wickednes of their vaine imaginations here you haue heard a great many of Woes and al these and a great many more shall fall on you if in time you seeke not some meanes to auoide them Par. In deede Syr I must needes saye you haue told me of many woes and yet I trust what so euer you say there shal none of them light on me Gen. Truely I haue sayde nothing of my selfe but that which I haue tolde you are the reportes of other men which vsed not to lye Par. And doe you thinke in deede that all these woes are pronounced against such ministers as preach not the Gospell and the if they continue in that state they shal haue them in their portion Gen. I pray you master Parson let me first aske you this question do you thinke that the Prophets and Apostles haue spoken any thing in vaine Par. I doe not thinke so but peraduenture it may be true Gen. Nay I will tell you without peraduenture that which they haue spokē is so true * Math. 5.18 that heauen and earth shal fal before that one iot that they haue said shal perish Par. I doe not deny but that the worde of God must needes stand but if you will so conster the scriptures that all ministers that preach not the Gospell shall be cryed Woe vnto you will make a mad peece of worke and sende most of the ministers in these dayes to the deuil Gen. I go not about to send any man to the deuill but I doe what in me lieth to drawe them vnto God and therefore I would wish you and your fellowes to looke to this geare in time vnlesse you repent hereafter when it will bee too late for if your dueties be neglected and this great charge can not be answeared when it shall be examined you and your fellowes shal be sure to smart for it Par. Why what would you haue me to do that you find such fault in vs. Gen. Truly I would wish you to deale no longer in the matter you haue taken vpon you and are not able to go throgh with it out repent for that which is past and amend that is to come and let it not be long a doing but take the councell of the Prophet that would haue vs to * Esay 55.6 seek the Lord while he may be found and call vppon him while he may be heard let the vngodly mā saith he forsake his owne waies and the wicked his vain imaginations and return vnto the Lorde so shall he be mercifull vnto him and vnto our God for he is ready to forgiue Oh refuse not this offer master parson as you loue your owne soule for if you take it not while you may haue it hereafter you may chance to seeke it with teares and goe without it for nowe is the acceptable time and euery tree that bringeth not foorth good fruite the * Math. 13.10 axe is layd to his roote that it may be cut downe and cast into the fire therefore be not leaue off from sinn which without shame you haue greedily committed be no longer amongst the number of thoss whome Paul spcaketh of that they are the enemies of the * Phi. 3.10 crosse of Christe whose end is damnation whose God is their belly glory to their shame which are worldly minded let no longer the loue of this world draw you frō the loue of God but * Iam 4.7 draw neere vnto him and he wil drawe neere vnto you resist the deuill and hee will fly from you purge your handes and clense your heart humble your selfe in the sight of the Lorde and hee shall lift you vp Let the same mind be in you which was in Moses who when hee was great * Heb. 11.2 refused to be called the sonne of Pharaobs daughter and chose rather to suffer aduersity with the children of God then to enioy the pleasures of sinne for a season esteeming the rebuke of Christe more riches then al the treasure of Egypt And with Sainte Paul saye that you * Phil. 3.8 account al the world but dung that you may win Christ giue ouer your liuings vnlawfully possed in this short and transitory world that you may liue for euer in the world to come Par. What do you mean by al this talk that I shuld giue ouer my benefices so you may chaunce to beginne a peece of worke which you shal neuer finish for I had as leeue loose my life as loose my liuing and I haue not had them this long to forgo thē at last therefore gentleman I shal desirs you to haue me excussd for this matter and I wil here you in any thing saue this ther is no man so vnwise I thinke to forsake his liuing and become a begger when it is in his choise to vse it at his pleasure Gen. In deed master Parson I thinke few men be so wise to doe that which may be best for them Par. What doe you account that wisedome I am sure there are many wise men of the ministerie as you know as well as I that haue more liuings then I haue and yet I thinke you can not tel me of one that doth loue the Gospell so wel that he would depart with any of his benefices to discharge his conscience Gen. In deed as you say a man shall hardly finde one amongest so many double beneficed men that will preferre the truth before their benefices or loue the Lord better then them selues but such deserue not the name of wise men for if their be any wisdome in them it is such as the prophet speaketh of that * Iere. 4.22 are
kinde of dainties and that they may not be behind hand but in their apparel as braue as the proudest themselues in their silkes their wiues in their trench hoodes and their children parinted like puppets that they may a while enioy this geare and liue at ease in this worlde they care neither what shal become of themselues their wiues and their children in the world to come but are contented flock and al shal go to the Diuel for any farther care they take for them Is this to * Iohn 21.15 feede feede feede as Christe said vnto Peter Nay this is rater to kill kil kil as the Sheepe that are led to the slaughter I thinke if the Prophet Ieremy were now liuing and did see the lamentable estate of our time be woulde say for vs as he did for the people in his time that he could finde in his heart to * Iere. 9.1 weepe daie and night for the slaughter of the people Oh that their hearts were circumcised and the vilens of their eies taken from them that they might once see vnderstand the to haue so great a charge that some must needes perishe for wante of looking vnto and to shere the sheepe and not to feede the flocke is to * Iohn 10.10 spoile murther and destroye therefore what euer he bee or by what title so euer he be called whether he be a doctour by name a Parson of manie benefices or Sir Iohn Lacklatin that can saie nothing if hee haue no more regarde but to satisfie his owne greedie desire and is carelesse for the safetie of such as doe paie him for a better worke let him think of himselfe as wel as he list yet these are the titiles that hee doth best deserue doctor Spoiles Parson Theefe and Sir Iohn Murtherer for in taking awaie of the goodes from their Parishioners without doing of their dutie is before the maiestie of God no better then theft and to let their soules perish for want of foode is to be a murtherer and spoiler of the soules of them which Christe did shâ—d his bloude for Par. But mee thinkes you mighte vse milder speeches for ther are manie of these I tel you that are of good wisedome and beare some countenance and therefore wil take it as an offence to haue these names at your hands Gen. Are they ashamed to bear the names and doe they take no shame to deserue the names doe they set more by the countenance of the worlde then by the fauoure of God haue they a more desire to please men then they haue to serue Christe can they with brasen brows commit such faultes in open places are they not ashamed so to offend before the Lorde and his Angels doe they rather chuse to liue at ease a while in this transitorie worlde then to line for euer in the world that neuer should haue endâ—or wil they persecute Christ in his members and yet saie stil they are good Christians If it be true they shew their vnsdome that it is nothing but follie and if they 〈◊〉 to bee offended with him that giueth them these names let them looke in the tenth of Ihon and there they shal find that he that regardeth not his flocke is * Iohn 10. a theefe commeth for nothing but to spoile kil and destroie he that spake the words is Christ himselfe and if because they cannot touch him they wil be offended with mee that haue saide it after him they shal be sure to make a wrong matche for in so good cause I knowe Christ wil take my parte and hauing him on my side I care not though al the worlde were set against me for if the Lord himslef take the matter in hand mark howe his enimies are like to speed he can fight with them form heauen * Iosua 10.11 with hailstones as hee did for his seruant Iosua He can send them as much * Gen. 19.24 fire and Brimston that shal consume them al as he did the Sodomites He can cause the earth to open and * Num. 16.32 swallowe them vp quicke as hee did Corah Dathan and Abiram with theire wicked companions if they thinke themselues so strong so manie in â—nmber that their aduersaries are not able to withstand them God is able in steede of other help to cause one of theÌ„ to kil * Iud. 7.22 another as it fel out amongst the Madianites and if there be any that doe escape the sword and flie vnto houses for succoure God is able to throwe downe the * 3. Kin. 20.30 walles vpon them as he did vpon the Sirians which at one time slewe seuen and twentie thousand if such as are left wil continue stil deriding the seruaunts of God he is able to send as maine shee * 4. Kin. 2.24 Beares oute of the woodes as shal deuour them al as he did for such as mocked his seruant Eliseus and if this bee not ynough there is no mischeefe that they would wish to fal vpon others but God is able to make it fal on theÌ„ selues this can the Lorde doe and greater thinges then these for what is it but that is possible with him but although he doeth with patience endure the wickednesse of his enemies for a while yet he can and wil at length plague them through lie to their vtter destruction and for his owne seruants althoughe theire enemies rage as doe the waues of the sea yet shal they not goe beyonde the boundes that the Lorde hath set them if they would cast them into prisous thinking by that means to vse theÌ„ at their pleasure God is able to send his * Act. 5.16 Angel to open the doores vnto them as he did for his Apostles by the meanes set them at liberty If they wold thrust theÌ„ into the fierie ouen thinking that waie to consume them God is able ynough to keepe them from * Dan. 3.25 burning as he did Sidrach Misach and Abednega If they woulde cast them amongst the Lions thinking that way to destroy them God is able to stop * Dan. 6.22 their mouthes the they shall not hurt them as he did for Daniel If they woulde keepo them from meate that they might kil them with hunger God is able to cause the * 3. Kin. 17.9 Kauens to feede them as he did for Elias If they woulde make a Gallowes to dispatche others God can cause them to bee hanged thereon themselues as it fel oute betweene wicked * Ester 7.9 Haman and good Mardocheus all this can the Lorde doe for suche as serue him faithfully but although he suffer them to be persecuted for a while yet he can and wil at length deliuer them oute of their enemies hands though they were as many in number as al the people in the worlde and as terrible to looke on as al the Diuelles in Hell yet shal they once haue the victory and al their foes
wel for of that minde haue I alwaies bene that it is no matter what we doe our selues nor how we liue for Christe by his death hath purchased pardon for al. Gen. Oh now I perceiue you are farre deceiued to thinke you maie liue at your pleasure and that Christe will be a baude to your sinne for Christe died not for vs to the intent that we should continue in sinne but that we * Rom. 6.4 should die vnto sinne and liue vnto righteousnesseâ— and let no man take such libertie by the death of Christ that he may liue as he list and yet goe for a good Christian for S. Paule saith * Gal 5.24 they that are Christes haue crucified the fleshe with the affections and lusts thereof and again * â— Tim. 2 9. all that will cal on the name of Christ mast depart from iniquitie Par. What are you there now I praie you let vs talke no more of that matter but let vs returne to our women againe which we had in talke but now me thought that communication did like me well I praie you by what tokens shall a man knowe a bad woman Gen. If she serue not the true God but false Gods of her owne inuention as did * 2. Chr. 5.16 Maacha whome her owne sonne Asa put from her authority and burnt the idole that she had made If she be as very a harlot as * Gen. 39.12 Putyphars wife which whould haue committed Whoredome with her seruaunt Ioseph if he had not beene the honester man Af she be as couetous as * Gen. 3.15 Rachell that was contented to giue another woman leaue to lie by her husband Iacob for a little Mandragoâ—as If she be such a one as Paul speaketh of that do waÌ„der from * 1. Tim. 5.13 house to house idle and not idle onely but as a tatler and busibodie speaking thinges that are not comly If she be worldly minded wretchedlie giuen so drunken with the same that she set more by the carefulnes of the worlde then by Christ his Gospel as did * Luk. 10.4 Martha if she be as Popeholy as the péeuishe woman in the Popishe time that could not saie their Paternoster without a payre of beades If you find anie of these in a Woman praie for her that she maie amend her maners and haue grace to come out of the snare of the diuell of whom shee is holden captiue at his pleasure Par. I praie God amend them all and now you haue shewed me how I shal know the difference betweene a good woman and a bad I praie you let me heare what good councell you would giue vnto your women and maidens that might be a staie for them in their tender yeares Gen. I would wish them aboue al things first to seeke to serue God and leade their liues in his feare and by the example of Sara Râ—â—uels daughter to fliâ—â— vnto the Lorde in al their disâ—â—esses and to say with her oute of the 〈◊〉 of a good conscience * Tob. 3.16 thou knowest Lord that I had neuer desire vnto man but haue kept my soule cleane and from â—â—â—â—â—nely lâ—st I haue not kept company with such as passe their time in sporte neither haue â—â—â—iade my self partaker with their 〈◊〉 walke in light behauiouâ—â—â— husband haue I consented to take not for my pleasure but in thy feare and in any wise I would withe them to beware of gadding by the example of * Gen. 34.1 Dina the daughter of Lea which on a time would needs go abroade to see and to be seene and loste her virginitie before she came home let them beware of proud hearâ—â— and wanton lookes by the daughters of Sion * Esai 3.16 which did walk with stretched out neckes coy lookes going tripping nicely and tinkling with their féet that these plagues fal not on them whiche the Lord promised the daughters of Sion that he would shaue their heades and discouer their filthinesse and take away the gorgeousnesse of their attire their Caules and the round tyres after the fashion of the Moone the sweete perfumes the braâ—lets and the Wimples the bonnets the slops the headbandes and the Tablets the eare ringes and noâ—eiewels the costly apparel the vailes the crisping pinnes the glasses and the fine linnen the hoods and the launs and in steed of good smel giue them stinch and for their girdle a rent and for wel set hatre baldnesse and in steed of a stomacher a sackcloth and for their beautie sunburning Par. But what shal they haue for their Dublets doe you finde that mentioned in the Scriptures Gen. No I neuer did read of it and therfore I thinke there was no abhomination so great before Par. Why is it an abhomination for a Woman to weare a dublet thinke you Gen. The holy Ghost thought so when he gaue a commaundemente to the contrarie Par. I praie you what commandement is there for it Gen. This we may find writtten in Deutronomium that * Deut. 22.5 a Woman ought not to weare that which perteineth to a man nor a man that which perteineth to a woman for all that doe so are abhomination vnto the Lorde Par. Then by this saying it is no more lawfull for a woman to were a dublet then it is for a man to weare a Peticoate Gen. In deed as you saie they be both alike and both abhominable in the sight of God Par. I thinke our gentlewomen doe not know this that they doe now a daies so much vse it Gen. Whether they doe or no I knowe not but if they doe not it is through want of knowledge in the worde of God which is the cause of this and a great manie such faultes but if there be anie that doe know it and vse it I would wish them to leaue it if they set more by the fauour of God then they do by the pride of a dublet Par. Some there may bee that will reforme themselues if they haue committed this fault through ignoraunce but manie of them I thinke wil still continue as fine as a dogge in a dublet Gen. Well let them looke to this and all other such faults as they wil aunswere for it and because ignorance is the cause of manie of these faultes some there be that would frame themselues to better maners if they knew which way I would wish theÌ„ euerie morning before they attire them selues to set the bible before them as a glasse that they maie be sure to put on such cloths as they maie seeme comely in the sighte of God and there they shal see * 1. Pet. 3.3 the Apostle wil tel them that they must beware of embroidered haire or hanging on of Golde either putting on of gorgeous apparel and the hid man which is in the heart must bee without corruption of a meeke and quiet spirite which is before God a thing muche set by and after this maner
al the Phisitians in England are not able to cure this disease Gen. Why M. Parson where dothe it greeue you Par Oh at the heart at the heart Gen I maruell what it shoulde bee that doth take you so suddenly haue you not ben so troubled with it before Par. Oh no I neuer was in this case since I was borne before Gen. Be contented to tarrie the Lordes leasure a little while and you shall see that it will mend anon Par. Oh Lord help me oh Iesu help me God and our Lady helpe me Gen. Oh M. Parson that is very ill sayde do you not thinke that God can helpe you of himselfe but that you must intreate our Ladie to do somwhat for you in so saying you haue greatly dishonored God Par. Oh the Lord forgiue it me I confesse I haue offended him in it Gen. God bee praised that you are so soone reformed But I maruaile what it thoulde bee that doth trouble you so at this time Par. Oh it lieth heauie at my heart Gen. What should it be thinke you that doth lye so heauy Par. Oh it is my sinnes which are more then I am able to beare for now I feel my selfe pricked at the heart with griefe of my former life Oh Lord be merâ—ifull vnto me a sinner Howe greeuously haue I offended so louing a father how wickedly did I enter into the ministery howe negligently haue I taught how vitiously haue I liued how many soules through my negligence haue gone to the Diuell and I haue bene carelesse and taken no thought for them oh forgiue me these mine offences or take mee out of this vale of miserye that I sinne no more Gen. Oh comfort your selfe and knowe that with the * Psal 130.7 lord ther is mercy and with him ther is plenteous redemption yea like * Psal 103.13 as a father pitieth his owne child so is the Lord mercifull to them that feare him Par. Oh how comfortable are these sayings nowe vnto me which sometime I loued not to heare thereof Oh my benefices my benefices that haue wrought mee this wo Fye vpon them fye vpon them fye vppon them Oh I was neuer so farre in loue with them as I do now detest and abhorre them Oh that al dumb doggs vnpreaching prelates popish priests non residentes and vnlearned ministers would learn by mine example to be wise in time Oh that such as can preach woulde preach and such as can say nothing would giue ouer the place whiche is vnméete for them Oh that suche as are set as Cyties vpon a high hill woulde preach Christe the Lorde and them selues seruants oh that this saying were not to true * Phil. 2.21 that euery man seeketh his owne no man that which is Christes oh that labourers might be sent into the Lordes haruest and loiteres might bee rooted out Oh that such as know nothing but to shear the Sheepe and feede themselues did nowe knowe so much as I doe for I neuer had such pleasure in keeping my benefices as I doe nowe finde ioy being willing to forgoe them You tolde me Gentleman that you thought your self happy to come in my company but I may blesse the time that euer I saw you Oh how much am I bounde to the Lorde the hath ordeined such a means to worke mee my saluation praised be his name therefore Gen. Oh the Lorde bee praised for euer that now I finde that in you which long I haue sought for My minde did giue mee that the Lord had his worke in you now experience doth teach mee that it is vnfeinedly true and I doubte not but you are now willing to forsake your benefices and to goe home with me Par. I am more willing to depart with them then euer I was to haue them and am so out of loue with theÌ„ that it gréeueth me to think on them and my desire is that I were so cleane discharged of them that I might neuer here more of them Gen. You shall not neede to take anye further care but â—â—ntent your selfe and you shal haue that which is yours and be troubled no longer Par. But thinke you not that I maye haue my monye againe that I paied for them vnto my Patrons Gen. That question is not woroth the asking for they wil be farre from making a restitution that they wil not be knowen you paide any thing for them But I pray you what did your beâ—e sires cost you Par. I thinke my three benefices did stande me one way or another aboute a fiue hundred pounds Gen. What did they so Oh vnsatiable Symmonie I praie you in what order did they deale with you and with what shame lesse faces coulde they dâ—nâ—aunde monie for them Par. I haue of a long time kept secrete their counsell but now I will disclose their pollicie First you must obserue that my three benefices I had of three Patrons â— the first after sute made vnto him saide hee was contented that I should haue it before another on this condition that I would be thankful for the same and it should cost me nothing but my friends he said were contented to bestow the same vpon me and I should not be priuy of a peny that was giuen before the mony came to be paid and then I should reape the fruites of my benefice in two or three yeares after Another of my patrons would take no mony for hee knew it to be vnlawfull but if I would bestow a dish of Angels of Apples I shoulde saie vppon him when the time of the yeare did serue hee was contented I shoulde bee heard before another but the apples muste be very ripe and as yellowe as golde My third patron was counted a man of a very good conscience and he woulde no mony at any hand but his wife must haue a gowne and that made of Satten laid with a siluer lace and the coller stiffened with as manie olde angels as came to a hundred pounde and she was so in loue with the same that if it laâ—e in her she would neuer were other fashion and when her husband saw it he liked the stuffe so wel that he woulde haue a suite of apparell of the same making so that to make them this gorgeous suite of apparel I was faine my selfe to weare a thred bare coate I knowe not how long Gen. Oh most wicked and Diuelish deuises is there such chopping and changing buying and selling of mens souls but that the mercy of the Lord is aboue al workes the for so wicked an abhomination the earth doth not grone vnder vs as being wery to beare vs. Haue they such shifts to dazle the eies of meÌ„ or do they think by such means to escape the iudgements of God Let them know that when the Lord wil make inquisition for sinne and the secretes os al hearts shal be opened this their wickednesse shall shew it selfe and without amendment shal not go vnpunished Oh how happy are