they shall fynde present comfort and peace patiently to beare all such sorow as shal be laide on them When as Emperours were not Christened greate was the persecution yet coulde they not preuaile When heresies began to springe in the Church than God raised vp Augustine and others to withstande them and the mo that they were the more was the truth tried out and florished but after that the Pope had conquered all good learning decayed and the deuell thereby had lulled all on sleepe then came this outwarde worldly peace where the moste parte submitted them selues to the beast and his peace was the bitterest thinge that coulde be before God and greatest trouble to all good consciences For then outwarde peace broughte in Lordely pryde whiche harmed more then any persecution as Bernarde sayeth But nowe after that the light appeares agayn with what peace of conscience can and doe men offer them selues to the fire thoughe the Pope and his clergye rage lyke Lyons or mad dogges What great learning hathe God reueled in our time more then before and chiefly it hath ben done because of errours heresies sectes and controuersies that be abroade that Gods chosen people should not lyue in blindnes styl that his goodnes may be knowen And althoughe persecution be great yet God strengthens his to dye for his truth in most quiet peace to the shame of their persecutours Wher there is no striuinge there is no victorye where ther is no victory there is no praise nor reward Therfore God of his gret loue that his people may haue most noble victories greatest reward suffreth them to be troubled by the deuyll hys ministers but not to be ouercomen Where the tormentours rage because thei can not ouercome the simple souls holding fast the faith which thei would pul from them for the whiche thei striue God so strengthens hys that they suffer all tormentes with more peace of conscience then the tormentours delaye it on theÌ„ whiche deuise the deaths for them But not onely this inwarde peace but an outwarde alsoo was geuen them as longe as they displeased not the Lord. God coÌ„maunded that euery man amongst the Israelites should come thryse a yeare to IerusaleÌ„ to worship him there least thei should grudge saying who shal defend our countrie when we are gone so far froÌ„ home our enemies wil inuade and destroy vs God promises that he will defende their couÌ„try in the mean time that thei shuld haue no harme Thus thei beleuing God were bold to go to IerusaleÌ„ to serue God leuing none at home to kepe their goods landes but a few wemen chyldren So we if we would serue the Lord a righte maintayne his true religion our enemies shoulde not hurt vs but wemen and chyldren shoulde be able to defende vs if wee will not serue him as he hathe appointed there is no worldly power able to defend vs but we and they shall perishe altogether verse 10 In the .xxiiii. daye of the .ix. moneth and the second year of Darius was the message of the Lorde sent by the haÌ„de of Aggeus the prophet saying verse 11 Thus sayeth the Lorde of hostes Aske I praye thee yâ— priestes the law sayinge verse 12 If any man beare holy flesh in the lap of his garmeÌ„t do touche with his lappe bread or brothe wyne oyle or anye kynde of meate shall it bee made holy the Priestes aunswered and saide no. verse 13 And Aggeus sayd if he that is defiled in soule do touche any of these whether shal it be defiled the Priestes aunswered and said it is defiled verse 14 Aggeus aunswered sayd So is this people and so be these folke before my face sayeth the Lorde and so is all the woorke of their handes and whatsoeuer they bringe hyther it is defiled ¶ For the rekeninge of monethes years dayes and such other particular wordes â–ª we sayde ynough before Now is the Prophet sent to appose the priestes in the law of God and make theym geue sentence againste them selues The lippes of the Prieste kepe knowledge and they shall aske the lawe of his mouthe saieth Malachy And therfore to see what knowledge they had in the lawe of the Lorde what aunswer they woulde make he was sent to examine them and he puts foorthe hys question so wisely that he makes them to condemne them selues by their owne iudgement He is bidden them aske theÌ„ oute of the lawe of God and not out of the Popes lawe nor yet any mans lawe whiche often through bribes is ended as a man is frended but out of Gods boke which with out parcialitie speakes indifferentlye on all partes and neither feares the riche for his might and authoritie nor hath foolish pitie on the poore for his pouertie but vprightly iudges right and condemnes sin wheresoeuer it is founde If the priestes in Moyses law had this charge geuen theÌ„ to be so cunninge in the scriptures yâ— they shoulde be able to aunswere all doubtes whiche coulde be asked them How much more shoulde oure Priestes nowe be able by the scripture to teache all which be ignoraunte and aunswere all doubtes that can bee moued for saincte Paule sayeth a minister shoulde be able too exhorte wyth holsome doctrine and confute false But if ye wante one too keepe a Curre rather then a Cure to be a Hunter or a Fawkener to be an ouerâ—ear of your workemen to be youre stuarde or loke to your sheepe and cattell too be youre Gardiner kepe youre Orcharde or write youre busines who is meter for anye of these businesses then syr Ihon lackelatine What a wickednes is thys that they shoulde take such paynes to be so cuÌ„ninge in these thinges that God lookes not for oâ— them and in those thinges that God hathe charged theym withall they can saye nothing at all they be dumme Dogges not able to barke in rebukinge sinne blynd guides not able to rule their flocke but if the worlde be on their side they can theÌ„ playe the woode Dogges bytinge snatching at euery man near them and let no honest man dwel in rest by theÌ„ but accuse burne and condemne all that speake against their mischiefes If there be a treÌ„tall to be saiee or any money to be gotteÌ„ for masses Diriges Relikes pardons c. then who is so ready as they they can smell it out a great sorte of myles of But if a man waÌ„t comforte in conscience woulde vnderstaÌ„d his duety towards God or Gods goodnes towardes vs they be blinde beastes ignorant doltes vnlearned asses and can saye nothing but make holy water bid them saye a Ladies psalter The questions which he putteth forth here teÌ„d to this purpose that by one thing which is like he may proue an other lyke For loke as halowed fleshe did not halow these thinges which it touched so did not the goodnes whiche was in some of them make the rest holy But
yeares together and as it were diuidinge the whole worlde betwixte theym the one in the East the other in the West haue waxen greate Rulers that a man coulde scarse tell whether was the mightier as iust scourges sent of God to punish the world for not maintaining his word But now the Popes wickednes sutteltye by Gods woord beinge declared opened to the world his power waxes lesse the Turkes power increases because he kepes his people in ignoraunce so that if Gods mercy be not much more then oure deseruinges it is to be feared that be shal ouecome ChristeÌ„dom For the cold slackenes of the people princes to builde Gods house true religion will care for no religion at all if they maye not haue the olde â—urty dregges of popery So God giues vp in to all blindnes them that forsake hys light and forsakes them that forsake him and caste him of But many would haue not longe ago said what nede we to fear these plagues are not we come home agayn to oure holy father the Pope to oure holy mother the churche is not our old litle god come home agayne to vs haue we not our aulters copes masses trentais the wil bring vs thorough purgatorie for a litle money howe wickedly so euer we had liued our holy father the Pope by his legate the Cardinal or by his pardons wil absolue vs a paena et culpa that is froÌ„ all punishmeÌ„t from sin yea and from al faute or giltines of syn geue vs as many daies years of pardon as we list What shuld greue our coÌ„scieÌ„ce hauing thus many wayes to heauen Are not we much better then our holy brethreÌ„ which wil none of all these to saue them but onely Christ thinke hym onely sufficient for the sinnes of the whole world Is not this house well builded that hathe so many stroÌ„g pyllers Can God be angry with vs that haue bought broughte him so many things into the churche to delyte hiÌ„ withal We haue gylded many goodly ymages pleasaunt to loke at delite the eyes if he will haue any mirthe we haue goodly singing and striuing who can fet the highest note we haue swete Organes for the eare and sweete frankencense for the nose what woulde God haue more Where not the churches before like barnes bare and naked and nowe are they trymme that anye God woulde dwell in them Haue we not done God good seruice trow ye No surely for God dwels not in TeÌ„ples made with haÌ„des of wood stone but in the heart of maÌ„ nor yet is worshipped with mans inuentioÌ„s but as he willed and taught him self And this is it that pulles all these plages on oure headdes For as the Iewe is moste styffe in his religion â–ª so the Turke defeÌ„des his by might power the Pope maintaynes his with fyre and faggot the Anabaptist Arian Libertine are as busye in corners to turn many vnto them and yet all these be enemies to Christe sekinge to serue God an other waye than he thaught them and to saue them selues by some other meanes then by onely faithe in him whiche was sent to teache vs his fathers will whiche none knew but onely he they to whom he hath taughte it and too saue theym all whiche shal be saued so these and all other whiche buylde their religion other waies than God apointed are traitors vnto him and procure his vengeaunce For he there is not with me saieth Christ is agaynstâ— me and he that gathered not with me scateres abroade Moyses when he was in the hyll with God had the facion of the tabernacle and tent shewed vnto him like vnto the whiche God willed him to make an other where the people shoulde reâ—orte to worship hym vntil the temple was builded by SalamoÌ„ And least he shoulde deuise any thinge of his one head or inuente an other facion God geues him warninge sayinge See that thou make it like vntoo that facion whiche was shewed thee in the hyl deuise nothinge of thy selfe neither put to take awaye nor chaunge any thing but onely contente thy selfe with that whiche I shewed thee This is so notable a lesson that it is repeated in the .vii. of the Actes and the .viii. to the Hebrues because it should be kept in memory and diligentlye obserued of all men in al ages that they should not be curious in deuisinge a new way to serue God of their owne imaginacion but submit their wit to Gods wisedome and be content with that whiche he hath appointed for that onely is good and all inuencions of man as they bee of man displease him Likewise Dauid whan he woudle haue buylded God a house to haue ben worshipped in God appeared vnto hiÌ„ and tolde him he shoulde not do it but Salomon his sonne should builde it God shewed him also the facion that he shoulde buylde it after which facioÌ„ Dauid taught Salomon and prepared all mettals necessary to do it withall in his life tyme least they shoulde haue deuised some facion of their owne as mans brayne is neuer content too bee ruled by Gods wisedome but pleases him selfe in his owne inuentions better then in the whiche God teaches hym And this Temple also that the Prophetâ— speakes of here whiche they were sente home too buylde by kinge Cyrus whose mynd God moued to restore them to their countrye and so liberally to help them to the buyldeng of so costly a woorke is appointed to them by coÌ„mission how broade wyde long hygh and thicke it should be as it was vnto Salomon before If none of these Moyses Dauid SalomoÌ„ Esdras nor none of the people might buylde these temples and houses of woode and stoone so hygh wyde long thicke broade or any other facion as they lust them selues but muste folowe and are straightly chargeâ— often and sundry times so to do that Patarne copy example and facion precisely which God apointed them muche lesse in this spirituall house of Gods buildinge which is chiefly by the preachinge of hys woord may we deuise any thinge of oure selues but exactly folow that which God hath taught vs content our selues therwith thinking that most sufficiente learning able to saue oure soules moste true and holye and all other too be dreames lyes fantasies and vanitie in comparison of this The law of the Lorde sayeth Dauid is pure turning souls the witnes of the Lord is true and geues wisedom to litle ones c. And agayne the woordes of the Lord are pure as siluer which is tried seuen tymes But how many wayes hath the Pope deuised to buyld his house and authoritie that a man may chose whiche him lust too folow so that he folow not Christe For sayth he in his hart euery one is as good or better than that which Christ ordeined This to be true a man maye easely proue him to thinke because he perswades men to folow his deuises
anye beaste And it is not the onely with one creature or twoo that they disdayn to serue vs willingly but euery one as sainct Paul saith The creature is subiecte too vanitie not willingly but for his cause whiche hathe made it subiect vnder hope Here we see that no creatur would serue vs willingly but for Gods cause whoe hath soo pointed them to doe So that of them selues we can get no profite nor seruice of those that haue no life without muche laboure and taminge them by strengthe and violence which haue lyfe yet for the hope they both haue to be deliuered from this seruice for the tyme they doe obey vs accordinge too Gods ordinaunce Also in the destruction of these his creatures that they should not serue such euil men God declares him selfe not onely 〈◊〉 be the mighty Lorde in making and creatinge them but also a merciful god in blessinge them with fruitful encrease whan his people serued hym rightly and also a righteous iudge in taking them away for our sinnes when they be not so plentifull as they haue ben to vs. For as plenty of them is a token of his mercy and fauour that it is he onely which regardes loues feedes noorishes and increases the leaste creatures which he hath made So the taking them away or the baren vnfruitfulnes of them is a signe of his anger displeasur It is not as ye commonly say S. Antonie saue my Hogge saincte Loy my Horse sainct Blase my house saincte Appollony help in the tooth ache sainct Roche for the plage c. But he that made all saues all guides all rules all feedes all blesses all encreases all takes theÌ„ froÌ„ vs at his will and pleasure as Iob saieth the Lord gaue it the Lord toke it awai c. These were lessons that the Heathen people and we also might should haue learned by the making and ruling of the world that God did rule all thinges and because they did not they were iusty punished Shall then we Christian men thinke God to be weary of ruling his creatures put them to some Romish saincts handes that are more able and willing to rule theÌ„ better then he can and wil If this were true sainctes should be more merciful able willing to help then God him self which can do nothinge but loue hates nothing that he made but so to thinke were most horrible blasphemy against his maiesty for he should be an euil lord master if he so lightly regarded his seruaunts his creatures that he woulde put theym too other mens rulinge God hathe not left him self withoute witnesses saieth saincte Luke geuinge rayne and fruitefull times As these woorkes were sufficient witnesses to the Heathen of Gods goodnes and that he ruled all and that their iuste condempnation folowed if they didde not beleue So is vnseasonable weather with takinge awaye his fruites iust tokens of hys anger for oure sinnes Therefore where we haue thesame workes sufficient witnesses vnto vs bothe of his anger and good wil and also his wonderfull workes writen in the scriptâ—â—â—â— to teache vs what can we saye for oure selues if we do not worship him oure onely God sekinge helpe at his onely hande in whome onely it is to be founde and receyued God doth not onely make all things but ruleth theym also accordinge too his good will and pleasure he is not weary of well doinge but guydes euen the least of his creatures He makes grasse to growe on the hils and herbes to serue men he geueth meate to the cattell and to the younge rauens yea he fedes the byrdes of the ayre which worke not nor spynne sowe nor mowe reape nor cary into the barnes And briefly to speake all thinges doeth looke saieth Dauid that thou shouldest geue theÌ„ meat in due season if thou open thy hande and fede them they are full of goodnes but if thou withdrawe thy hande they fall vade awaye perish and turne into earth wheâ— of they were made Thus must al wheat wyne oyle fruites of the earth beastes perishe for the sinne of man and not buildinge Gods house but thei prosper and increase to theym whiche loue hym mayntayne his true religion and feare him The two last wordes where he saith Man and al handy labour shal be destroied also they be more notable in the Hebrue then can be well expressed in one woorde in English For where the Hebrue hathe diuers woordes to signifie a man as Isch and those be noblemen Aenosch and they be so called of their sorowes and infirmities they be subiect to Here is written Adam whiche betokens the common sort of people The woorde that here signifieth labour betokens not euery kinde of labour as that whiche is easye or for pleasur but it signifies that labour whiche the poore man doeth vntill he be weary eueÌ„ the vylest and sorest drudginge labour By the whiche bothe wee are taughte that God woulde not spare the simplest and basest man liuinge but as they hadde sinned in not buildinge his house so should they perishe least they shoulde thinke or saye we did not this faulte but oure rulers or we were not able to take it in hande or if thei had begon wee woulde haue folowed or suche like fonde excuses God requires his house to be buylded his woorde religioÌ„ to be kepte and maintained as well of the lowest as the hyghest and they whiche do not shall not escape vnpunished Therefore wicked is that saying vnder persecution let the Preacher stande too it what doeth it belong to me If the maister 〈◊〉 teache oughte not the scholer too learne â–ª Maye the scholer denye or dissemble wyth God and the maister must not What priuilege hays the scholer more too doe euill than the maister That is sinne to the one the other He that denies me afore meÌ„ says Christ I wil denie him afore my father Man hathe this generall name geuen him too bee called Adam of an other Hebrue woorde that signifieth the earthe Adama whiche woorde was placed afore when he said he woulde destroye all that the earthe bringeth foorthe in latine Man is also called Homo ex humo which allusion likenes in woordes we can not well speake in Englishe but it is as muche to saye Man is called earthe because he is made of earth as Ieremy saith Earth earthe earth heare the woorde of the Lorde And Abraham talkinge with the Aungel of God demaunding diuers questions said let not my Lord be greuâ—â— if I yet once again aske my lord seinge I am earth asshes This shoulde put vs in remembraunce that is as ofte as we hear this name AdaÌ„ that we are earth ashes â–ª and are come of the sinfull seede of Adam our first father who was made of the earth and for breaking Gods coÌ„maundemeÌ„t returned into earth againe from whence he came as we shal al at
Apostles and Peter Shoulde we not beleue this resurrection because that wemē taught it first Apollo a mightye learned man in the scriptures submitted hym selfe to be further taught in true religion of Priscilla and Aquila◠simple man his wyfe Timothy Ihon the Euangeliste were bothe verye yonge when they were called to be preachers Peter the elder Apostle is content to be rebuked of Paull his yonger Iudith that good woman corrected the Elders Priestes and Rulers in Bethulia mistrusting Gods helpe and prouidence for them whē they woulde yelde vp the Citye Dauid a man accordinge to Gods owne heart heares most willingly the Prophet Nathan rebuke hym who was of muche lesse estimation then he And kynge Ezechias heareth Esai rebuke him of his faultes These and suche other examples be written to teach vs that the elder in what authoritie so euer he be or by what name so euer he be called shoulde willingly suffer the iuste rebuke of the yonger bringinge the woorde of God for hym Further where he addes this twyse sayinge the Lorde their God the Lorde their God it is verye comfortable for all sinners that haue longe lyen in sinne that they shoulde not dispaire of Goddes mercie but spedely turne by repentaunce The longe sufferinge of God is farre aboue our desertes had suffered this people thus longe to lye in sin yet had not caste them of but doth vouchesafe to send his Prophet to thē to rebuke them stirre them vp to their duties calling him selfe their God whiche had forgottē forgeuen all their former disobedience who nowe was woulde continue their good gracious and mercifull Lorde and God styll Who can dispaire too obtayne grace and pardon for all his greate offences seinge set before him the louinge gētlenes of oure good God and maister which offereth vndesired his mercies so plētifully to so hard a hearted and disobedient people his free pardon A poena et culpa from all payne due to sinne or the gylte thereof whiche alsoo calles him selfe their God and by continual earnest cryinge of this his Prophete awakes them out of this deadde sleepe of sinne wherein they had lyen so long and left his house vnbuylded It is commonly saide saieth Ieremye if a man put away◠his wyfe for adulterye will he take her agayne yet thou sayeth God to his people although thou hast played the harlot with many hoores yet turn vnto me and I wil receiue thee againe sayeth the Lorde thy God O mercifull Lorde praysed be thy holy name for thy gentle offers and liberall promises offered vnto vs in thy sonne Christ Iesu oure Lorde Thou standest at the doore of our conscience knockinge too be let in offeringe thy selfe to dwell with vs if we would receiue thee There is no time so longe that a man hath run from God in nor any time so short to aske forgeuenes but if he will turne God is ready to forgeue him The Gentiles hadde lien in synne aboue foure thousande yeares from the beginninge of the worlde to the deathe of Christe withoute any true teachinge or knowledge of God and yet whan they receiued the Gospell by the preaching of the Apostles they were most gently receiued of Christe into the number of his people The thefe hanginge on Christes right hand on the crosse askinge mercy in the houre of deathe obtained it So that neither the greatnes of sinne nor the longe tyme that man hathe continued in it nor the shortnes of tyme to aske forgeuenes in can stoppe the great vnspeakeable mercies of God to pardō the sinnes of the whole worlde Why should we than mistrust the goodnes of our God seinge he is the maker of thesame lawe whereby we shal be iudged also able to dispence withal pardon the breakers of thesame lawe if he will who also shal be Iudge and Executer of thesame lawe as pleases him But that the people should rather beleue his woorde he saieth the Lorde their God sente him no straunge God but the mightie God of hostes and the liuing God of Israel nor he ranne not before he was sent but soberly looked for the callinge of God and then did his message faithfullye This is an example for all ministers too folowe that they doo not with bribery or flattery thrust them selues into any office but paciently tary the calling of the Lord their God which can and wil call them at suche tyme as he iudges them necessarye to serue him Who woulde be so bolde to bye a Benefice or flatter for a Bishoprike if he did thinke them to be offices in Gods house and that they must make a count to God for his people He that comes before he be sent for oftentimes comes before he be welcome and he that climbes in at the wyndowe is a thefe for the doore is made to come in by But because these Popishe prollers seke not the profit of the flocke but to fyll their bellies thei care not how thei come by it so they maye haue it and thinke they haue done God good seruice the people well content when they teache them neuer a woord of scripture but haue saide Masse made cōiured water or song an Antiphone of our Lady If they hadde this true stedfaste opinion of God as they ought to haue that he were a louinge father to his household and a wise maister that could and woulde set wise Stuardes ouer his house and that whosoeuer presumed to take any office in his house vncalled were a theefe and should be sharpelye punished A man coulde not hire them for money to take any cure of teaching Gods people vntill they were inward moued of God to do it for loue to the people not for their owne gayne Thei woulde also prouide to be ordinarely called by man leaste he which should teache and se others kepe good order should be proued the first breaker of all good lawes orders If a straunger shoulde violently thrust in him self to be the Shepeheard of thy shepe thou wouldest aske him whoo sent for him what he had to do there and thou wouldest rather thinke him to be a thefe and a murtherer of thy Sheepe then a trusty seruaunt So surely if thou come to take charge of gods people before he inwardly moue thy conscience to pitie hys people and outwardly by order cal and place thee where he thinkes good he will iudge thee a theefe a Wolfe a deuourer and not a feeder After they hearde that the woorde of God was sent vnto them by Aggeus and had wayed and considered diligently how true his sayinges were that so many yeares they had suffered soo greate plagues they beganne so feare and beleue that the threateninges folowinge woulde alsoo proue true and than they humbled theym selues in the sight of God and were afraid in dede This profit had thei by hearing the word of God that thei knowledged their owne sinnes that thei
freelye for the whiche he was sent Embassadoure .ii. Corinthians v. he sayeth his Embassage stoode chiefelye in this pointe to reconsile vs to God Is not the Stuardes office an highe office of greatest credite in greate mens houses and at their commaundement and appointinge all thinges be done They prouide geue all in their maisters house meate in due season c. Sainct Paul therfore saieth let a man think thus of vs that we be the seruauntes of God and Stuardes of his secrete misteries whiche be meate for 〈◊〉 soules Sainct Mathew in a parable calles the preachers Stuardes appointed 〈◊〉 Gods house to geue their felow seruants meate in due season Saint Marke called them porters in Gods house hauinge in â—â—â—maundement too watche that no theeues nor vnrulye persones come in too trouble the house They be called the light of the worlde to leade other the righte waye they be the salt of the earthe to season vs that by corruption we doe not smel euil before God They be Gods souldiours to fight for hys people as s. Paul sais No man goes to warre on his owne wages They be watchemen to geue warning when ennemies come They be Dogges to barke awake vs out of oure deadly sleepe when we forget God They be the mouthe of God that where we were not able too stande in the sighte of God if he shoulde speake vntoo vs in his glorious maiestie he doeth vouchesafe to speake vnto vs by the mouthe of hys minister beynge a man as we bee and whome we shoulde beleue to be sente from God as longe as he teaches Christ hys worde These names of trust and credite are geuen to preachers for the commeÌ„dation and settinge foorth of their office whiche they beare in Gods house and that they shoulde not thinke it a vyle but a moste worshipfull roume And to make theym more regarded the Lorde countes those iniuries done to him selfe which be done to his preachers sayinge he that despises you despises me in what rowme soeuer ye come if they will not receyue you shake the dust of youre feete it shall heare witnes againste them in the daye of iudgement And because he ioynes too the nexte saying In the messages of the Lord it doth vs to weete the faithfulnes of this Prophete in his dutie that he spekes nothing â–ª but the words of the Lord truly which seÌ„t him which rule al true preachers should folow But of this is inough spokeÌ„ in the verses before Now folowes the glad tidings of the Gospell to comfort this people with all after the great threateniÌ„gs of God which the Prophet here pronouÌ„ced in the former verses For as God workes in his creaturs that after wynter comes sommer after a storm fair weather So in the spiritual doctrine of our souls first he teaches repeÌ„taÌ„ce preaches the law threateÌ„s veÌ„geauÌ„ce for sin castes doune man in his owne sight and lettes hym looke euen into hell with fear of conscience for his disobedience but afterwardes he comforts hym rayses hym vp and heales him that this may be fouÌ„d true that is sayde of oure sauiour Christ I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentaunce they that be whole nede not the Phisicion but the sicke All the Prophetes vse thesame trade in teachinge as Esays in hys firste Chapter calleth the Iewes worse then beastes for the Oxe woulde knowe hys maister and the Asse his maister maÌ„ger but they wold not knowe their God And the rulers he calles the princes of Sodome felowes with theefes Ionas also in the beginninge of hys prophecy saieth within .xl. dayes Niniue shal be destroyed Sophones first woordes be that God will destroy man beast foole corne and fruite of the earthe but afterwardes euery one of theym prophecies of Christe promises blessinge frome God with encrease of all wealth and goodnes Likewise Ihon Baptiste began his preaching repent for the kingedome of heauen is at hande And oure sauioure Christ beganne his preachinge with the selfe same woordes Peter in his firste sermon after they receiued the holy Ghoste rebuked the Iewes sharpely for crucifyinge Christe the geuer of lyfe and for askinge Barrabas a murtherer to be deliuered vnto them but when their conscience pricked them they asked what they shoulde doe and he comfortes them biddes them repent and bee baptised euery one of them in the name of Christ. So here after the sharpe preaching of the lawe and threateninge of Gods plages foloweth the swete coÌ„fort of the Gospell for he sayeth I am with you saieth the Lorde as though he shoulde saye lette nothinge greue you neither the greatnes of the sinne that ye haue ben so negligeÌ„te in forgettinge the buildinge of this house so longe nor the greate coste as thoughe ye were not able to beare and perfourme it nor be not afrayd of the kinges officers whiche stopped you for I am with you saieth the Lorde whose power they can not withstaÌ„de whose mercie passeth your miserie and who can pardon and forgeue more than you can sinne and who shal be iudge of youre doinges and am able too forgeue all thinges trespassed against me All the ryches of the earthe is myne and I bestowe it as pleases me the heartes of kynges and rulers be in my hande and I rule them as I thinke good whan I wyll they shall shew you fauour and frendship and when they lust they shall not stoppe hurt nor hinder my worke accordinge to their desire or pleasure as muche as they woulde but those that feare and loue me I will blesse and they shall not haue anye harme and my woorkes shall prosper and go forwardes in their handes as I thynke good â–ª in despite of all their foes therefore let nothinge feare nor trouble you for I whome all thinges do obey am with you saieth the Lorde These are but few wordes in number but they are mighty in operation and working where they be receiued with an earnest faith and so mightye that whosoeuer heares and beleues them to be spoken of God is not afrayde too attempt anye thinge be it neuer so greate hard When Iacob was doubting afraid whether he should go into Egipt too hys sonne Ioseph or no God spake too hym sayde Iacob be not afrayde for I will goe doune into Egipt with thee I wil bring thee out again also Then Iacob fearinge neither the death of his sonne Ioseph nor the displeasure that mighte come to hym his if either he or yet Ioseph offended the kyng nor yet least Ioseph shoulde lose his authoritie by a new kyng as it is coÌ„moÌ„ly sene nor the ieopardy of the iourneye no nor yet any other worldly thing that coulde or might chaunce but wente into Egipte boldely with all his chyldren substauÌ„ce and was defended by God When Moises keping sheepe sawe the fyre in the bushe and
is the spirite of truthe because he leades vs into all truth and putteth vs in remembraunce of all thinges whyche Christ him self caught before but no new doctrine he bringes of his owne And because our sauiour Christ is taken from vs in hys bodelye presence he promises vs that this spirite shall dwell with vs not for a tyme but too the ende and therefore wee shoulde not feare But is this a sufficient cause too perswade a man that he should not fear the power of kinges or worldly trouble because the spirite of God dwelles with hym yea truly For what spirite can preuayle against the holy spirit which is the power of God It is written of Gedeon whan he enterprised that venterous acte to fight againste Gods enemies that the spirite of the Lorde bid clothe and defend Gedeon as our clothes doe vs and so he obteined that noble victorie with so few agaiÌ„st so many And not to be afraide in suche trouble is the woorke of the holy Ghoste as Esaie called hym the spirite of boldnes strength and wisedom Peter whan he denied hys maister for the woordes of an handmaide after he receiued the holy Ghoste did and durste confesse hym too the deathe before princes and rulers So sayde oure sauiour Christe to hys Apostles when ye shal staÌ„d before Kyngs and rulers take no thought what or howe ye shall speake for in that houre it shal be geuen vnto you what you shall speake For it is not you that speake but the spirite of youre father which speaketh in you And although to worldly wisedome thys spirite seemes but a small thinge yet it is moste true that s â–ª Paule saith that which is folishnes before God is wyser then me and that whiche is weake before God is stronger then men And he that hath this spirite dwellinge in hym needes not too feare any power be it neuer so greate for if God be for vs who shall be againste vs and if he take his breath and spirite from the mightiest princes they are troubled vade awaye verse 6 For thus saieth the Lorde of hostes yet one litle time shal be and I will trouble the heauens and the earth the sea the lande verse 7 And I will trouble all people and the desire of all people shall come and I wil fyll thys house with glory saieth the Lorde of hostes ¶ The Prophete goeth on forth with this comforth to all people and promises not onely that God woulde be with theym in hys buyldinge whiche they shoulde finish in fewe yeares folowinge but intoâ— the temple also which thei did now build God woulde sende his sonne Christ Iesus to preache his fathers will whom all people looked for and desired hys comminge and he woulde fyll that house with glory that they shoulde not neede to care for the smalnes of it if they woulde onelye with courage woorke God woulde fulfill the rest And that they shoulde know him too be able to fulfyll hys promise he cals hym selfe by the glorious name of the Lorde of hostes so often here in these verses that they maye vnderstande all creatures too bee at hys commaundement that none coulde preuaile againste that whiche he woulde haue done as is saide before But this is a straunge kynde of comforte too tell theym of suche a trouble as shoulde trouble heauen and earth sea laÌ„d and all people and yet they should be glad of it and that it shoulde come not long after The tyme when this trouble chauÌ„ced was about .500 yeares after that this prophete had thus spoken and yet he cals it but one litle time And this maye well bee called a litle tyme in respecte of God with whome all thinges are present before hys sighte withoute tyme and a .1000 â–ª yeares with hym is as yesterdaye which is paste and he hym selfe is before all times not coÌ„teyned in tyme but liuing for euer wythout tyme. Or els it is called a little tyme in respect of that longe time wherin their fathers had so long looked for the coÌ„ming of Christ and so muche desired hym and yet see hym not It was now aboue 3000. yeare since he was promised to AdaÌ„ about 2000. since he was so often spoken of too Abraham and .1000 since it was renued to Moyses and after to all the Prophetes from tyme too tyme in respecte of whiche 500. maye well be called a litle tyme. This trouble whiche he sayeth shoulde trouble heauen earthe sea lande and all people is described by these mightie wordes to set out the greatnesse of the trouble by the figure called Hyperbole and not the trouble was suche that heauen earth sea and lande shoulde feele it be troubled therewith whiche are insensible creatures and can feele nothinge that troubles them but thus by these woordes the scripture vses too tell the greatnes of any thinge that it speakes of Moyses and Esaye because the people were harde hearted and woulde not heare their sayinges to set foorthe theyr hardnes of heart and the greatnes of that message which they had froÌ„ God to speake saye thus â–ª Heare ye heaueÌ„s and geue care thou earth c. Sainct Paule saieth by the like figure euery creature grones and trauayles lookinge for the laste daye wherin they shall be deliuered froÌ„ this vayn corruptioÌ„ wherin they serue not because deade creatures can grone or trauayle but for the great desire that they haue to see that day of oure redeÌ„ption fulfilled as the woman whiche trauels grones desires too be deliuered out of her payn to be restored to her former quietnes or els it may be taken that all creatures in all these places should be troubled But if this trouble shoulde be so great how can it be a promise of ioye and comfort Who can be merye to hear tel of such a greate trouble Surelye this is not promised to the euil but to the good For as our Lord maister Christ saieth speaking of the trouble that should be in the destructioÌ„ of Ierusalem the latter ende of the world woo be to theÌ„ that be with chyld geue sucke in those daies the wicked shall wish the hyls to fal on theÌ„ hide theÌ„ â–ª thei shuld seke for death â–ª it shuld flee froÌ„ theÌ„ So he saith to the good in the midst of all the desperat â—orow wherin the euil man caÌ„not tel what to Lifte ye vp your heades and bee merye for your redemption and deliueraunce is at hande So after this shorte time that he speaketh of this greate trouble whiche shall be at the byrthe preachinge miracles and deathe of oure sauioure Christe shoulde be but onely to the wicked For the good men shoulde as muche and more reioyce because of that daye of saluation and redemption was comen he whome all people looked for had now appeared to the comfort of all good men And thys trouble shoulde not be so
I geue peace saieth the Lorde of hostes ¶ There were twoo chiefe reasons whiche discouraged them from this buyldinge whiche were meete yea and necessarie to be pulled oute of their myndes And therefore the Prophete chiefely touches these twoo The first was the kings before time who had forbidden to buylde and their officers whiche were as diligēt to stoppe them The second was pouertie for that by the greate vsurye bribery and oppressiō of the rulers they were so nedy that they were not able to finish it For the first God sets him self against the king as though be shoulde say though the kings power be great yet I am greater though he forbid yet I bid though he be againste you yet am I with you saieth the Lorde of hostes What harm can they all do◠vnto you whā I am with you Who can hurt whan I wil defende For their pouerty they shoulde not feare for all gold siluer ryches and treasure is myne saith the Lorde and I geue as muche as litle when where howe longe and to whome I list All be my stuardes and too me shall make an account it is not their owne to spende as they will but as I appoint Although churles be nyggardes and will not part with it vnthrifts doo waste and misspende that which they haue and neither of them wil further thys my woorke yet feare not ye for I in whose handes are all heartes and all ryches will see moue their myndes and bringe the matter so too passe that my house shall not lie vnbuylded for lacke of money I aske no more of you but too doe as muche as in you lieth Put your good willes to and woorke let me alone with the rest although ye knowe not howe to come by money I haue wayes ynough and wil not see you want And although this promise be made to this particuler people in this present matter of buyldinge Gods house yet it serueth not for that onely case but it is a sufficiēt comforte for all them which take the lords woorke in hande what kynde thinges so euer it be so that it be too set foorthe hys glorie not our owne that in suche godly enterprises wee shall not lacke but haue ynough to finish it and do it withall And besides that if we beleued this to be a true saying that God did speake it and woulde perfourme it it woulde woorke muche goodnesse in vs. Fyrste it will woorke such a feare in vs towardes God that for no nede or vantage we would take or yet get one pēnye wrongfully either by flatterye periurye vsurye briberye lyinge stealinge disceit false waightes and measures or by anye other vnlawful meanes For who durste take one halfe penny if that he were perswaded that it were Gods hys Lorde and maker who hates and punisheth all falsenesse Who dare be a theefe and a traytoure to God that is in heauen who made and rules all in earthe But because he thinkes it to be suche a mans that God seeth him not and man shall not perceiue it withoute all shame he deceyueth man and robbeth his Lorde God and heauenlye father Therfore whan the deuill puttes in thy heare to get any thing wrongfully thin◠with thy selfe What shal I do shal I be a theefe to my lorde God who made me and saued me these goodes be not this mans onely but they be my lord Gods who hath made him hys stuarde ouer them vntoo whome he muste make account of them And althoughe I can deceiue man in gettinge of theym yet God seeth all thinges and nothinge is hyd from hym If true faith considered these things thus no mā woulde nor durst vse any deceyte in anye kynde of thinge Secondely if this sayinge were duely considered that all golde and siluer is the Lordes who durst mispende or waste one farthing of it vnthriftly vpon things not necessary God hath geuen man all hys creatures to serue for hys necessary vse But too be a dronkarde a hore hunter a gamner a swashebuckeler a ruffin too waste hys money in proude apparel or in haukinge hunting tennyes or in suche other vnprofitable pastimes but onely for necessarie refreshinge of the witte after greate study or trauayle in weghty affayres he hathe I saye not alowed thee one mite Reade the scriptures through and thou shalt not finde where gentelmen be alowed to waste their money vpon vayne pastimes or vnprofitable more than the poore simple man is In all good common wealthes there bee no lawes that geues more liberty to sinne to the ryche then too the poore God oure heauenly father like a ryche wise stuarde deales hys money abroade to vs his seruauntes some more some lesse as he thinkes good And saieth vnto vs al worke vntil I come encrease this porcion that is geuen you Poore and ryche hath this sayde vnto hym and euery one shall make an accounte vntoo hym it shal be sayd to euery one Make account of thy stuwardship Looke in the lawe of God and there shalt thou fynde howe too bestow thy money And if thou can not finde it agreinge with Gods woorde it is euill howe soeuer thou bestowe it For as a ryche man geueth hys man money sendes him too the market and biddes hym not bestowe his money as he liste but appointes hym howe too doe it thus muche vpon suche thinges and thus much vpon other So God hath geuen vs hys scripture as a rule to folowe in bestowinge his money or other giftes And although men or thinges be not there named where on to bestowe it yet the degrees and sortes of bothe as the poore and necessaries be oftē beaten into our heads Gentlemen yong ruffelers maye not saye as they commōly vse Is not my money myne owne Maye I not spende it as me luste who shall correct me what woulde ye haue me to doo Shall I buyld Castels and Towers with it I haue more than I can get spente the next rent daye is at hande Shall I be a loute and sit in a corner Nay it becōmeth a gentleman to make merye and raffle it Shall I not make good cheare that other may fare the better Let me make merye whan I am yong I will waxe sadde wise and thryue whan I am olde But thou which thinkest thus remēber the euyll stuarde which whan he was called to account and could not discharge his rekeninge gaue awaye his maisters goods that he mighte maintaine hys idlenes But he was put out of office as all they shall be caste from Gods face whiche likewise vnprofitably spende that porciō whiche God hath geuen them Thinkest thou that God will allowe this accounte if thou saye Thus muche is spent vppon hoores this at cardes this at dyce this on maskinge thys on mumminge thys at bearbytynge c. Naye nor yet on massinge gyldinge of sainctes payntinge of stockes and stoones settinge vp roodes byinge of Popishe pardons geuinge money too this
theÌ„ if thei will abide his leasure But as destruction is here prophesied to Edom for their crueltye so shall all haters of Gods people perishe at the length Where as difference is in religion their can be no true hearte nor stedfast loue for seinge God is loue it selfe that loue whiche is not in God but reased of carnall and worldely reasons whaÌ„ the world turnes must nedes chaung shew it selfe what a loue it was and where it was grounded but that which is buildâ— on God will continue because hâ—e chauÌ„ge not all theyr chauÌ„ge with tyme. These Edomites ioyned them selues with Nabuchodonozor whan he came to destroye Ierusalem as Pylate and Herode which afore were enemies agreed too crucifye Christ oure Lord and as our papistes did now with the Spaniardes to destroy the Gospell and hys professors verse 2 Beholde I will make thee a littel one among the HeatheÌ„ thou shal be very much despised verse 3 The pride of thy heart hays deceyued thee because thou dwelles in the open places of the rocke and in the heightâ— is thy dwelling and says in thy hearte who shall drawe me to the earth verse 4 If thou wil climbe vppe as high as an Egle and if thou will make thy nest amonge the clowdes from thence I will make thee come doune says the Lorde ¶ Where as the scripture vses to put this woorde behold it betokens some notable thinge to folow as whan the Prophete sayde Beholde a mayde shall conceiue and beare a sonne he signified that it shoulde be a notable byrthe and conceyuinge of a chyld and coÌ„trary to the course of nature and that the chyld whiche was borne shoulde be wonderfull So sayes Dauid Beholde I was conceyued in sin betokeninge the greate corruption infirmitie and defiling of oure nature in oure conception Beholde as the eyes of the seruaunts are at their maisters hand says Dauid signifiyng that he would be more diligente in watchinge what the Lorde God woulde doe and what were his holy will for him to do â–ª than the lowest and diligentest seruaunts woulde be to watche what their maisters woulde will commaunde them to doe In thesame sense says the Prophete here Beholde marke it well what I will saye vnto thee for it is no small mater and truely it shal come to passe Likewise in threatninges in our owne tunge we vse to saye marke what I saye too you take hede to your selfe for I â—este not Remember my woordes well for I will be euen with you and I will do it in dede and such like sayinges Behold marke well says the Lord what I saye I will make thee a litle one among the Heathen thou that thinkes so highly on thy selfe and thinkes thy selfe to be so strong so mighty and greater than thy felowes I will make thee a litell one amonge the people where thou dwellest and lesse thaÌ„ any people about thee Thou flatterst thy selfe of thy strength might power multitude stronge holdes and too be greater than thy neighbours people or countries about thee and thinkes none is able too conquer thee or pull thee doune or worthy too be compared vnto thee but I will pull thee doune says the Lorde I will cut thy combe I will abate thy streÌ„gth pluck doune thy courage and highe stomacke I will throw doune thy castels and stronge holde and whatsoeuer thou reioicest in I will take it froÌ„ thee and make thee more vyle and slaue lesse and weaker than any people round about thee Thou shalt wel know that there is a God which can and will be auenged on all high myndes and will let al suche lusty stomackes see what it is to be proud in their owne eyes and rebelles against him and his people God castes in their tethe that where he hadde geuen theÌ„ a narow place to dwel in amoÌ„g the hyls they were proud of it as though it were the plenteoust place in the counâ—rye Thei were proude of a thinge of nought in comparison of other places as Malachie sayes the Edomites I haue placed in the mount Seir. He speakes not all these woordes in number order but so many in effect and purpose to thesame meaninge he writes them in the preteriâ— temps as though the thing were done past For so al the Prophets vse to speake by the preterit temps such things as shal not be done of many yeares after and yet shal as certainly come to passe as though thei were now done and past In this sort sayde Dauid Thei haue wounded my handes and feete as thoughe the thinge were done and past which was not fulfilled vnto Christ our Lord had suffered Also of the murther of the chyldren by Herode spake Ieremye as though it had ben done and past A noyse was heard in Rama wepinge and much lamentinge with infinite such other like which were not fulfilled of many yeares after And because the hole countrye and people pleased theym selues so highly and stoode so muche in their owne conceite God threatens them fâ—rther that they shal be much despised The righteous iudgement of God is-commoÌ„ly to punish vs by thesame partes wherin we offend him The riche gluton that sinned so greuously in his feasting baÌ„ketting now desires a drop of cold water can not haue it Adonibezec whiche had cruelly vsed his victories had chopped of the haÌ„ds fete of .60 kings whom he conquered made theÌ„ gather vp the cruÌ„mes vnder his table with the dogs was vsed after the same sort him self whaÌ„ he was ouercomen by the Israelites Thus teaches the wise man By what thing a maÌ„ sinnes he shal be punished by thesame This people had much many years despised the Israelites without cause thei had highly auauÌ„ced theÌ„ selfs in their owne conceate therfore iustice requires that thei should be despised again should vnderstand how vile a thing pride is in the sight of god how horribly it procures his gret anger to fal vpoÌ„ vs whaÌ„ we one despise another And although Nabuchodonozor was the woorker of this destructioÌ„ minister executiÌ„g gods iustice vpon this wicked people of Edom yet the Lord sayes him self that he will do it and it shall be counted hys dede So Iob sais that the Lord had gyuen and takeÌ„ awaye his goods although the Caldes and Sabes robbed him as wee noted afore Thus muste we in all thinges that be done whether thei be good or euil except sinne whiche God hates and causes not not onely looke at the second causes whiche be but Gods meanes and instruments wherby he workes but haue a further eye and loke vp to God If thei be good thinges that he bestowes vppon vs thynke not nor meruayll not so muche at the manne or the meanes whereby it is wrought but lowly praise the Lord God which hays vouchesaued to vse such away to thy comfort and if it be euil aduersitie that is fallen vpon
man will see his house pulled doune ouer his head but he will restore it A good burgmaister and ruler of a citie will prouide necessaries for his that he hais rule ouer therfore seinge our God hays taken all these names and offices on him doubt not but he will doe his part for vs if wee doe not runne from him He settes not deputies to doe his office nor is not wery of well doinge He beares not the name of these offices and refuses the labor as men doe but he sais by Salomon My delite is to be with the chyldren of men and by Dauid he neither slumbers nor slepes that watches Israel verse 17 But in the hyll Syon shal be eschaping and there shall be holines and the house of Iacob shall possesse the enheritaunce of them which possessed hys verse 18 And the house of Iacob shall be fire the house of Ioseph the flame and the house of Esau for stuble shal burne them and shall deuoure thē and there shal be no remnant of the house of Esau for the Lorde hays spoken it verse 19 They shall possesse the south parte of the hyll Esau the playne countrie of the Philistines and they shall possesse the countre of Ephraim and the coūtrie of Samaria Bēiamin shall possesse Galaad verse 20 And the captiuite of this hoste of the chyldrē of Israel those whiche be the Cananites vnto Zarphat and the captiuitie of Ierusalem whiche be in Sepharad shall possesse the cytyes of the South verse 21 And there shall come sauiours in to the hyll Syon to iudge the hyl Esau and the kyngdome shall be the Lords ¶ Marke here the diuerse ende of the good and bad the persecuted and the persecutor the true Christian and the hypocrite the gospeller and the papiste The wicked florishes for a time but his ende is euerlastinge damnation the manne of God lokinge for an other kyngdome than on the earth is content to beare the crosse here vnder hope of that which is to come The stocke of Esau hays hitherto triumphed againste Iacob Goddes people but now whan his wickednes is ripe the Lord rewarde him accordinge to his desertes The hyll Esau afore reioiced in his strōg holdes wealthy countrie and the leages made with al neighbors round about thē but now in the hill Sion shall be safe esscapinge whan Edom shal haue no place to flee vnto In Sion that is Ierusalem and Goddes elect beloued people shall be holines the true worshipping of God the hole sanctuarie and temple where Gods holy name shall be called vpon where as Esau in the meane time is defiled with Idolatrie and geuen vp to the handes of the gentils Yea and furthermore Iacob shal possesse the lande of them that possessed his And although God haue promised to godlines not onely in the worlde to come but in this life also great blessings as appeares by Iob Abraham Isaac Iacob Dauid Iosias Ezechias Iosaphat whiche were of greate ryches yet this place doe I not thinke to be so vnderstand that Iacob should euer possesse the landes of Esau although the scriptur says that Dauid Iacob ouercame the Edomites But I think rather vnder this outward kingdom to be prophetied that the kyngdom of Christ as the Prophetes vse by worldlye prosperite to declare the spiritual felicite by the preachinge of the Gospell shoulde be enlarged in those coūtries which were now enemies to God and his people and so the spirituall seede of Iacob the Christians shoulde by preachinge conferre and possesse Esau his lande and the gentyls whiche so sore hated and persecuted them afore This is the nature of Goddes people to be good to the◠which hate them and to winne them all to God which haue done them moste displeasures and this is the nature of God to cal thē which be hys vtter enemies soften their stony hearts to make theym meete houses for the holy ghoste to dwel in in the middest of their raging persecution to smite them doune as he did Saul raise them vp make thē Paules of wolues sheepe of haters louers of the truthe Thus shall Esau be destroied whan his Idolatrie superstitiō false goddes such wickednes shall be taken awaye and Iacob shall possesse him whan he shal turne him too the true worshipping of the liuing god forsaking their Idols superstitions and folow true religion What can be counted a greater conquest than to conquere the deuil make all people subiect to Christ. After rebukinge their sinne threatening them iuste punishment for thesame now folowes cōfort as euer after the lawe preached folowes the gospel after correction comes grace pardō Siō is the church congregation of Christe faithfull men beleuing in him so that whosoeuer flees thither shal be safe whosoeuer is not vnder his winges in the nūber of christen people shal perishe in the dai of his wrath As all liuing creatures which were not in the Arke with Noe did perishe with the waters so al that be not of goddes houshold shal be cast into outward darknes This other promise that God makes here vntoo the faithfull seede of Iacob that hays hys faith is most notable confortable In the hyl Sion the church of Christ there shal be the holy one as 70. reade or holines as other or the sanctuarye as summe holy place to worship God in purely It skilles not muche whiche we reade for the sens◠is al one the meaning is that the churche and faithful people of Christ shal not wāt the true religion knowledge of god For the church of Christ is the spouse of Christ and his mistical bodye and if mortal men loue their wyues bodies so derelye that they wil not forsake them or leaue theim comfortles muche lesse will Christe oure sauiour not forsake vs after that he hays redemed vs seing he bought vs and loue vs so derely beinge hys ennemies Thys is than the greatest token of goddes loue to hys people whanne he gyues them hys true religion and therefore mooste earnestly too bee enbraced of vs And thys is the blessinge taken frome Esau and geuen to Iacob If we reade the holy one he is Christe whiche promised to bee with vs to the ende of the worlde he is made to vs of God oure father righteousnes holines wisedom and redemption because that who soeuer is holy receyues it of him and none is holy that hais it not of him though he haue bulles calues pardons reliques holy water holye asshes holy palmes holy crosse yea and all the holines that is in Rome if he haue not the spirite of Christe I am sure they will not saye they sell the holy Ghoste whan they sell pardons for that were symony therfore thei bye no holines in them If we reade holines than it is an vpright lyfe true faith with pure worshipping of God This is the wil of God says sainct