the fishermans eies marres his aime and escapeth the daunger Which sithens it is so the greater the care ought to be that there be such godly wisedome and cunning in hunting them such toiles such nets as are fit for such seruice that there be such ministers as are able to handle the sword of gods word with both hāds that is to say be able to confirme the established Great need of good Foxe-hunters to reclaime the back-sliders to confute the aduersarie and if the will of God be to transforme the Foxes into sheepe such magistrates as haue a zeale to fence and hedge in the vineyard of the Lord of hostes from the subtill inuasions and vnderminings of these noysome vermine such toyles as are able to hold both the great and little Foxes For where blinde guides are placed in the watch towre and the basest liues are in the highest roomes there Foxes indaunger the flocke and many times finde more fauour then stands with the preseruation of the sheepe or safe continuing state of the best affected subiectes Pursiuants Parators In this place fit occasion is offered to speake neither may I passe it ouer with silence of a couple of terriers appointed for the hunting and vnkenelling of these Foxes whose true and hot hunting of them as it is rightly to be commended where it is to be found so the contrary doth breed great corruption in the Church and is much to be lamēted For the better redressing of these deformities which are too manifest bringing of these terriers into good hūting it would be carefullie respected of them that haue power to reforme it that they buy not their places for this is an approued truth that they will sell deare in the retaile which they bought in the grosse that is will sucke profit out of the vilest things cut mens garments off by the skirts for desire of gain hereby haue rushed horrible incōueniences both into church cōmonwealth Againe the Foxe hath many wiles wherby to make these Foxe-hounds at a fault or to hunt counter especially he hath a mixture made of cogworth broad way Vox populi penimate together with a few ratle flowers called goold maries or mary-goolds which being steeped in a little diuels milke cast into their eies makes them starke blind stops their sents hence it commeth to passe that popery beareth such swindge because papists can pay wel that adultery fornication scape without punishment because wantons haue money I say no more let this be a watch-word to them whom it especially concerneth CHAPTER 8. The principall reasons why God suffereth home-bred enemies to be in the bosome of his Church fit to be considered of such as are not throughly perswaded in this point IF the Christian Church be impugned by open enemies as Iewes Turkes Tartarians and such as haue opēly renounced the person of the great sonne of God and are cut off as rotten members men not greatly regard it But when such as are bred and nourished in the bosome of the Church seeke to vndermine and supplant it those household conflicts home-bred battailes are they which trouble many in these daies Household conflictes trouble many weake Christians O say they here is so much arguing and disputing such diuisions and diuersities of opinions that a man knowes not which way to turne himselfe To helpe such as without any good cause are thus put to a gaze They must first vnderstand that it is the will of God that his Church shall not be free from these inward offences and secondarily know the principall reasons why he will haue it so Although our God as he is the God of order and not of confusion commendeth and deliuereth vnto vs his discipline yet notwithstanding he suffereth the hypocrites for a time to haue their being amongst the faithfull vntill the full restoring and reforming of his kingdome in the last day The Church shall not be free from offences Math. 13. Which thing is taught by that of our Lord Iesus Christ where he resembleth the kingdome of heauen to a net cast into the sea and gathering all kind of fishes c. to a field wherin whilest the good husbandman soweth his wheat the enuious came and scattered his teares The Apostles also haue foretold the same that the Church of God shall be pestered with pestilent enemies and that they shall come with an efficacy of errour This know saith saint Paul that in the latter daies some shall depart from the faith 1. Tim. 4.1.2.3 and shall giue heed vnto spirits of error and doctrines of deuils which speake lies through hypocrisie and haue their consciences burned off with a hot yron c. But there were false prophets saith Saint Peter 2. Pet. 2.1.2.3 also among the people euen as there shall bee false teachers among you Which priuily shall bring in damnable heresies euen denying the Lord that hath bought them and bring vpon themselues swift damnation The mysterie of iniquitie began to worke in the Apostles time 1. Iohn 4.1.2 Thus the misterie of iniquitie began to worke in the Apostles times as appeareth in Col. 2. Galath 1. Therefore Saint Iohn exhorteth not to beleeue euerie spirit but trie the spirits whether they are of God for many false Prophets are gone out into the world And why should this trouble you so much Doe you not see that the cockle the corn growe both in one field the lillie and the thorne both on one ground the blossome and the blast both on one tree the flowre and the weed both in one garden the sheepe and the goates doe feed both in one pasture know you not that in one arke were beasts cleane and vncleane and that the Apostle saith that in one house be vessels of honour and vessels of dishonour then wonder not to see the good and the bad mingled together but consider the reasons giue God the glorie and take heed to thy faith There be two principall reasons why the Lord suffereth these houshold enemies to be in the midst of his vineyard the first is for the probation and trial of his seruants whether they be vnfainedly coupled vnto him in the spirituall bond of faith and of loue Deut. 13. If there arise amongst you saith Moses a Prophet or c. Thou shalt not harkē vnto the words of that Prophet or vnto that dreamer of dreams For the Lord your God proueth you to know whether you loue the Lord your God with al your heart with all your soule And indeed it is necassarie that we be kept in continual exercise of faith and praier of patience and constancie and therefore is it said that the Lord would not cast out before his people of Israel any of the natiōs which Iosua left when he died that through them he might proue Israell whether they would keepe his waies to walke therein or no And to this effect Saint Paul
now it may be boldlie auerred that mercy and trueth are met together righteousnes and peace haue kissed each other Now then ye noble Lords graue sages valorous captaines resolute souldiers braue gentlemen worthie citizens laborious comminaltie shew your honours your valours your worthines your trustines and painefulnes in promoting that which is and ought to be your glory rather hazard the last drop of your dearest blood then see her dishonoured without whom all your honours are but vanities Nay Peace and plentie the children of Religion if you receiue her not as you should for her owne sake yet respect her for her children and thinke it not too much to bestowe your wealth to maintaine her your honours to countenance her your authoritie to assist her your wisdomes to pleade for her against the prophane pollicie of that miscreant Machiuel who is become a counseller amongst the greatest Statesmen of Euâ—ope against hellish Atheisme which â—oeth about to perswade the world that â—here is no religion at all and especiallie â—gainst that common strumpet Romish â—uperstition who is not ashamed to borâ—ow religions name So shall you shew a â—tudious zeale and affectionate loue toâ—ards your Prince also whose prosperiâ—ie is the pillar of your peace Lastlie I haue in this treatise detecâ—ed treacherous dealings of Roman Caâ—holikes and manifested their dangeâ—ous proceedings to the view of euery good subiect the which I haue published vnder the patronage of all you that loue the Gospell whom the Almightie protect with his power and guide with his grace Yours in the Lord I. B. THE SVMME OF THE CHAPTERS Chapter 1 AFfliction hath been is and shall be the common condition of Gods Church and the lot of his inheritance The lamb standing on mount Sion is more mightie to saue then the enemie to destroy Chapter 2 The enemies of the Church are either cruell Tigres or craftie Foxes Househould enemies most hurtfull to the health of the Church Chapter 3 The true semblance betwixt a two-legged and a foure-legged Foxe Chapter 4 An oration from olde Rainard to his Iesuiticall cubbes and extrauagaunt Fox-priests wherein his experienced wilines directeth them from curious contemplation to treacherous practise Chapter 5 The semblaunce betwixt the Fox and the Lion Antichrist and Mahomet in broaching their damnable doctrines and leuieng many nations to their lawes Chapter 6 Of sundrie sorts of Foxes that are most of all troublesome to this our Church Chapter 7 Of the vnkennelling of the Foxe and the duties of the Terriers vsed for this purpose Chapter 8 Two principall reasons why Foxes are suffered in the Church Chapter 9 Eight reasons prouing all perfit papists rotten-hearted subiects to true Christian Princes Chapter 10 Twelue reasons prouing by diuinitie and true Christian pollicie that Foxes ought to be tied shorter Chapter 11 Two principall gardiens of the vineyard Magistrates and ministers where first of the duties of ministers in hunting of the Foxes Also see an enditement found against many Patrons of benefices Chapter 12 The dutie of Christian Magistrates as well Soueraigne as others in purging of the Church from these noysome vermine Chapter 13 Two Toiles wherewith Foxes must bee taken there see the miserable end of Traitors A TOILE FOR TWO-LEGGED FOXES CHAPTER I. Affliction hath been is and shall be the common condition of Gods Church and the lot of his inheritance The Lambe standing on mount Sion is more mightie to saue then the enemie to destroy THey do greatly abuse themselues which are perswaded to see the Church in so quiet and calme estate as to be without afflictions either within or without or both together within and without the contrarie experience whereof the histories of all ages doe sufficiently declare For if we looke into her continuall course heretofore It is Bellarmines dotage to make outward prosperitie a marke of the Church or consider what the spirit of God hath prophecied concerning the future state of the Church wee shall finde that it hath beene from the creation of the world vntill this day and shall be vnto the consummation therof tossed to and fro with many cruell stormes subiect to many afflictions and persecutions for proofe and experience whereof consider the estate of the Church vnder Adam Churches persecutions Was not righteous Abel a principall member thereof vnnaturally murdered by the bloudie hand of his elder Brother Genesis Thus first arose the tempest against the boate and little barke of Iesus Christ the same continued vnder Abraham Isaac and Iacob vnder Moises the Israelites tyranized by Pharao Exodus distressed in the wildernes and diuersly tempted before they could take possession of the land of promise If euer the Church enioyed a pleasant and a faire time of weather Iosua it was vnder Iosua and those which then ruled the people being most triumphantly planted in Canaan together with the seruice of God Iudges afterwards vnder the Iudges vntill Samuel for one day of faire weather â—n whole yeare of stormie and foule then behould the arke of couenant taken captiue 1. Sam. 4.11 Silo ruinated and all brought into an vtter confusion howbeit God pittying his Church raised vp Samuel by whose ministerie this storme ceassed 1. Sam. 7. and the schooles of the Prophets were reformed But this Sunne was scarce vp when horrible darknes was brought in by wicked Saule the priests themselues being massacred the sorcerers restored 1. Sam. 28.8 the people exposed to ignominy being no better then a bodie without an head 2. Sam. 2. vntill that Dauid houlding the scepter the welfare of the Church began to grow as also vnder Salomon 1. King 6.7 8. c. who furnished the Lords house â—oth within and without with a most triumphant magnificencey yet this happie state is ouerturned ten tribes â—gainst two 1. King 12. the sinagoges ruined to â—odge Iereboams calues in the Leuits expulsed the poore prophets constrained â—o be hidden in holes 1. King 18.13 and there to be sustained with bread and water 1. King 17.4 Helias himselfe being brought to that extremitie that he was faine to be fed with a Rauen. Now as for the kingdome of Iuda there the faithfull seruants of God had no worse enemies than the Kings and the Priests namely vnder Achaz and Manasses 2. King 16. 2. King 21. What grieuous affliction did the Church sustaine when in the daies of Ieremie the Chaldeans wasted Ierusalem 2. King 25. spoiled the Temple slew the Nobles before the princes face put out his eyes dishonorably led him away captiue to Babilon leauing that populous countrie admired for prosperitie a barbarous wildernes and dreadfull example of miserie To come vnto the shipmaster himselfe Luke 2.17 what colde entertainment receiued he in this world borne in a stable from thence forced to flie into the deserts of Egypt Math. 2.14 Mark 6.3 Iohn 1.4 brought vp and nourished in a poore carpenters house in a citie of so
small reputation that it is demaunded whether any good thing could come from the same Luke 4.31 From thence forced to retire himselfe vnto the rocke of Capernaum Luke 9 58. not hauing an house wherein to put his head Luke 23. afterwards as a principall malefactour crucified betwixt two theeues The Disciples were dealt withal much like to their Master Acts. as is to bee seene partly in the Actes of the Apostles Ecclesiasticall histories and partly in the histories of those times wherein Nero Domitian Dioclesian and other tirants of the like disposition liued But yet no time so bloudie as since the child of perdition was borne and hath vsurped tyranicall iurisdiction For the Church could conuey it selfe into no corner of the wildernes but this bloudhound hath found it out to pursue and persecute it what bloud by him hath been shed and what murders committed in these latter dayes France and Flanders England and Scotland can sufficiently recorde And this is the way wherein the whole Church truly Apostolike being in this world Corint 6.5 Heb. 11.38 Apo. 12.14 as waifarers and wanderers hither and thither must walke the same being foretold vnto the last day Churches preseruation Yet behold the conquering lambe Christ Iesus standing on mount Sion is more mightie to defend then the prince of darkenes to destroy the Lord of Hosts cannot forsake his tabernacle Psal 84. and though the little barke of his Church be tossed to and fro amids the seas of this troublesome world yet he which holds the sterne is able to commaund both winde and sea wherefore although from time to time it hath been hoysed to and fro with winde and waues yet the Lord hath been continually assistant to the same so as it hath neuer been ouerwhelmed neither can bee For proofe whereof see how the creator in the person of him who after was made our redeemer and deliuerer in person did runne after those two forlorne children Adam and Eue after they had fallen away from him through infidelitie applying vnto that deadly wound so soone as it was made a remedie of immortalitie farre more excellent then that whereof they had depriued themselues and all their posteritie Looke further and behold Abraham Genesis Isaac and Iacob mightely preserued notwithstanding the infinit and daungerous by-wayes wherein they walked Exodus for the space of foure hundred yeares amidst most prophane people multiplied vnto the number of sixe hundred thousand persons beside women and children Looke againe and behold the indauntable insolencie of proud Pharao vanquished by frogs by flyes by lice at the shaking of the rod of one of the seruants of the Lord of Hosts Behold afterward the Church pursued on drie land by an huge multitude of the Egyptians swallowed vp of the red sea which was as a wall on either side of the people of Israell Behold what memorable and maruellous things did hee for his people in the wildernes how hee sent bread from heauen how with the stroke of a small rodde the most hard rocks cleaue to water almost fortie yeeres long this whole multitude See and consider how it arriued at the riuer Iordane passing the riuer on drie ground Iosua 3.6 making the high walles of Ierichoe to fall downe before it battering downe dashing in peeces trampling vnder feete thirtie Kings beyond Iordan how victoriously they were placed in the land of Canaan how they beate down their enemies sometime with an oxe goade Iudg. 3.31 Iudg. 7.20 Iudg. 15.15 1. Sam. 5.4 as did Samgar the sonne of Anath sometimes with pitchers as Gedeon sometime with the iawe bone of an asse as Sampson God suffered the arke to be taken prisoner but it was to thâ— ouerthrow of the Philistians Dagon vnder the raigne of King Saul the Church did abide many a cold blast but he raised vp his seruant Dauid a King prophet to refresh the same who left hiâ— successor King Salomon a figure of the true Salomon King of peace and eternall sonne of Dauid Now to passe beyond Salomon weâ— shall finde the Lord no lesse assistant tâ— his Church then before yea euen vntâ— the consummation of this world weâ— shall finde the nearer the time anâ— tearme appointed of God approchetâ— for the execution of his promises thâ— more ardent affection will he shew to his Church who although many timeâ— he scourgeth and afflicteth the same Why the Church is afflicted he dealeth but euen as the husbandmaâ— doth with his corne which the ofteneâ— it is winnowed and sifted so much the more purer it is Neither doth he set hiâ— enemies on worke to ruinate and destroy his Church but as it were to vnthaw his people waxen stiffe and be nummed through ouermuch ease and to vnburden his Church of a greaâ— number of villanous prophane persons â—â—ept into the same For when the Chalâ—â—ans laid Iury waste led the people captiue vnto Babilon insomuch as the Church seemed vtterly rased yet how captiue and prisonerlike soeuer they were behould the Lord present with his Church behould the royall edicts for the worshipping of the God of Daniel behould the tirant Nabuchadnezzar not being content to be the chiefest amongst men made the vilest amongst beastes behould Babilon it selfe captiue Israell restored and reestablished with great priuiledges and restitution of their holy vessels And thus if wee proceed we shall euidently see how the Lord hath bin present with his Church in the spirit of comfort assistance and deliuerance how hee hath beaten downe that great mount of the Romane monarchie and daylie bloweth to ruine the beast moulded vpon this patterne and seated in the temple of God vpon the verie same seuen hilles The declaration whereof one Chapter cannot afford nay the life of one man after an other can hardly performe it But to let passe forren lands and to speake of the great loue that the Lord hath shewed towards the Church and common wealth of England Gods great mercies to England I may truly say happie are we if we continue happie and blessed are we aboue alâ— other people if we be still blessed of the Lord who if insurrection hath been moued hath suppressed it if conspiracie hath been intended reueiled it 〈◊〉 treason hath been attempted confounded it if war by forrain foes threatned hath deliuered vs from it wee dwelâ— still in saftie though threatned by Spanish tiranny we triumph in garlands oâ— oliues though threatned to weare the wreaths of Cypres we sing te deum with cheareful hearts though forren cruelty haue threatned a mournfull miserere O theÌ„ let vs neuer forget the good things that hee hath done for vs the great kindnes that hee hath shewed to let his Church Tell it to your children and them tell it to their posteritie from one generation to another euen the good things that the Lord hath don for England vnder the regiment of a gratious princesse yea tel it how by his