after able to helpe theÌ„ selues nor theyr neyghbours nor yet to profyt y e publique weale of theyr countrey O gapyng wolfes O raÌ„pynge lyons O insatiable dogges O crafty foxes What crafte deceate subtilite falshode vse marchauntes in byyng sellyng Howe reioyse they whan they haue begyled theyr christeÌ„ brother What a sporte haue they to deceaue a simple hobbe and playne fellowe of the countrey How fayre do they speake to hys face lowte hym behynde his backe How false sleyghtye wares do they vtter for true and good The other men of al occupacioÌ„s vse lyke crafte and subtilite Fewe walke vpryghtely All gyue theyr mynde to couetousnes No man studieth to serue the publique weale w t theyr science as they are bounde to do All seake theyr owne profyt and not that whyche is Iesus Christes Where is y â— christen charite become whiche seakethe not her owne Let no man seake his owne sayth saynt Paule but the profyt of other Howe do many Gentyll meÌ„ not only get into theyr haÌ„des other meÌ„nes landes and tenementes y t they maye lyue lyke Lordes alone in a towne and yet kepyng slender houses and hongry hospitalite but also after suche sorte let out theyr loÌ„des to other yea and that for so hygh a pryce as they were neuer wonte to be iÌ„ tymes past iÌ„ so moch y â— they whiche hyre theÌ„ are vtterly beggered redact to extreme pouerte By this means is the galant pompe lasciuious pleasures of Gentyll menne mayntened but the poore fermers are greatly empouerished hospitalite is decayed releuynge of the poore people is vtterly layd asyde the coÌ„mon wealth is miserably oppressed penury scarsenes dearth of all thiÌ„ges is brought into y â— Realme Few are able to helpe theyr Prynce whaÌ„ nede requirethe No man is able to set forth hys chylde vnto learnyng wherby it is come to passe that such blynde ignorancy and rude Chaos of baâ—barous and rusticall maÌ„ners reynge nowe in the world vniuersally These thynges desyre are dresse God graunte it maye come to passe shortely What shal I speake of certeÌ„ ritch and gredy cormorauntes those locustus and caterpyllers of the common weale whiche whan they haue plenty of grayne and se abundans therof reygne amonge the people are greately greued therat and do not only not sel theyr owne corne to mayntayne the coÌ„modide of y e poore but also by other mennes grayne hoorde it vp vntyll they haue made a great dearth and than scarsenes of corne beyng in euery place bring they forth theyr grayne sell it vnto the vtter empoueryshment extreme vndoynge of the poore cominalte O cruell murtherers and vn mercifull bloudsoupers The wysâ— man sayth the bread of the nedy is the lyfe of the poore he that defraudeth hym of it is a mansleare Salomon also sayth Who so hooredeth vp his corne shall be cursed amonge the people but blyssynge shall lyghten vpon theyr heades that sell it How can these deuouring caterpyllers than escape the vengeaunce of God that hangeth ouer theyr heades seynge they esteme more theyr owne priuate fylthy lucre than the welth of so great a multitude God mought once quenche theyr outrageous insatiable thyrst of couetousnes gyue theÌ„ grace to vse his giftes vnto the profyt of the Christen people As touchyng the common byers sellers barga yne makers what falfe swerynge crafty iâ—glynge and deceatfull gyle do they vse amonge them that they maye begâ—le theyr christen brothers How lytle is this cammaundement of S. Paule obserued among them Let no maÌ„ go to farre and defraud his brother in bargaynyng for the Lorde is a venger of all suche thynges Dothe not he thyncke hym selfe moost wyse y â— can moost deceaue his neyghbour Here is a wonderful charite and an harty neyghbourhoode As I may come to y e grosser synnes what whoredom reygneth ther nowe a dayes Howe lytle is honorable wedlocke estemed Howe many wyncke I wyll not saye laughe at y â— abhominable vnclennes which not a fewe commytte at this tyme Who careth though it be knowne y â— he hath lyghen wythe an whore all nyght and so defyled hymselfe men haue so rubbed theyr forhedes now a dayes and become past all shame so lytle ponyshment also is there ap poynted for this fylthy abhominacion I would whoredome were not growne vp into suche boldnes that it dare compare wythe holy matrimony for pleasaunt easy lyuyng I would stynckyng fornicacioÌ„ were not so had in price that it were preferred aboue honorable wedlocke I woulde there were not which whaÌ„ they haue wrought wickednes glorye rejoyse and boste of it vnto the euell example of other What shall I speake of false wytnes bearers which for a lytle mony or for hatred borne towarde the parsoÌ„ are redy streyghtwayes to gyue false euidence yea and to be sworne also that it is true whan nothynge is more false So that by theyr vniust and false wytnes bearynge the innocent is wrongefully condeÌ„ned the wycked hathe the vppermoost hande Thorowe such is muche innocent bloud also oftentymes shedde O pitefull case O lameÌ„table chauÌ„se Would God al false witnes bearers were handled according to the commaundemeÌ„t of God Deutronomy the .xix. SalomoÌ„ sayth A false witnes shal not escape vnponyshed and he that speaketh lyes shall peryshe I let passe manslaughter thefte glotony surfetyng dronckeshyp dysyng cardyng quarellyng with an whole see of euels mo which at this daye reygne in the worlde Do not all these thynges prouoke God vnto anger and make hym displeased wyth vs Howe can God be in oure army and make the warres to prosper seynge that they for whome the battell is are wicked and replete w t all synne and abhominacioÌ„ Certes this our iniquite must he redressed it we wyll haue God mercifull vnto vs blysse our endeuours in martiall affaires But as I may leaue of to speake of grosse and corporal vices turne my communicacion vnto spirituall matters what shall we saye vnto y â— Idolatry supersticioÌ„ false worshypipyng of God confidence in ceremonies trust in popysh pardons gaddyng on pylgrymage gyldyng of ymages settyng vp of candelles c whiche reygne yet in diuers places of the worlde What a sorte of ydle moÌ„struous sectes also are there yet noryshed in many Realmes vnder the pretexte of holynes which do nothyng but lyke gredy cormorauÌ„tes deuour the paynfull laboures of other mennes handes Moreouer howe slacke almooste vniuersally are the curates spirituall sheppardes to do theyr office Howe negligeÌ„t are they to fede chri stes flocke wyth the sincerite of goddes word How lytle do they esteme the soules of theyr parysheners for whose saluacion oure Lorde Iesus Christe disdayned not to haue hys blyssed body brokeÌ„ and his precious bloud shed so y t they maye deuoure the sat of the shepe gorgiously be clad with theyr wolle Howe many
Ieremy that maketh flesh his arme whose harte departeth from the Lorde But blyssed is that man that trusteth in the Lorde whose hope the Lorde hym selfe is For he shall be as a tree that is planted by the water syde whiche spreadethe oute the roote vnto moystenes so that ne neadethe not to feare whan the heate commethe and hys leâ—ues shall be grene c. Wo be vnto theÌ„ sayth the Prophet Esaye that go downe into Egypt for helpe trust in horses coÌ„forte them selues in charettes because they be many and in horse meÌ„ because they be lusty and strong and haue not put theyr confideÌ„ce and trust in the holy one of Israel Agayne what presuÌ„pcioÌ„ is this that y u trustest vnto Or by what couÌ„cel or strength doste thou determyne to go to warre vpon whome doste thou trust seynge y â— castest thy selfe of froÌ„ me Lo thou puttest thy trust in a brokeÌ„ staffe of rede I meane Egipt which he that leaneth vpoÌ„ it goeth into his hande shuâ—teth hym thorow The Lorde is our captayne y e Lorde is our law gyuer the Lorde is our kynge he it is that shall saue vs. For he gyueth strengthe to the wery one power vnto the faynt Chyldren are wery faynte the strongest men â—aull lyke weakelynges but they y e truste in the Lorde shall be endewed with strengthe They shall haue wynges lyke Aegles they shall ronne not â—aull they shall walke not be wery Feare not saythe God for I am w t the. Turne not once backe for I am thy God I haue made the strong I haue holpen the the right hand of my ryghteous one hath takeÌ„ the. Behold all they shall be confounded ashamed that fyght agaynste the. Yea they shalbe as thogh they were not the meÌ„ shall perysh that once speake agaynst the c. I wyll go before the bryng downe the proud arrogant of the earthe The brasen dores wyl I breake burst the yron barres And I wyll gyue the y â— hyd treasures the thynge whiche is secretly kepte that thou mayst know that I am the Lorde The vnryghteous shall perysh at one clappe as Dauid sayth the remnauntes of the vngodly shall vtterly be destroyed but the health of the ryghteous is of the Lord he is theyr defeÌ„der in the tyme of trouble The Lorde shall healpe them delyuer them he shall set them free from the wycked yea he shall saue theÌ„ in dede because they haue putte theyr trust in hym Agen the Lorde is my lyghte my healthe whome then shall I feare The Lord is y e defender of my lyfe for whome than shall I be afrayde WhaÌ„ the wycked came vnto me for to eate my flesh they that wrought me ony wo and were myn enemies stoÌ„bled fell so that now although an hoost of men were layd agaynste me yet shall not my hart be afrayd And though there rose vp warre agaynst me yet wyll I put my trust in hym God hymselfe also sayth by the Psalmographe for asmoche as he hath trusted in me I wyl deliuer hym yea I wyll defend hym seynge he hath knowen my name He cryed vnto me I wyl fauourably heare hym I am wyth hym in tribulacioÌ„ I wyll delyuer hym glorify hym I wyll replenyshe hym withe longe lyfe and at the last I wyll shew him my sauyng health All the scriptures heretofore rehearsed declare euidently that God alone is the myghtye helper that he only it is whiche gyueth the victory of theyr enemies to his people that is to so many as beleue trust in hym and that withoute hym all hymayne industry labour wyt conueyaunce pollecy c. are of none effecte yea rather hurteth than profytteth hyndereth then furdereth destroyeth than sauethe Blyssed is that londe whiche hath God theyr mercyfull Lorde puyssaunt defender For they shall prosper in al thinges and what so euer they shal take in hand shall vndoubtedly come vnto good effecte nether shall ony maÌ„ be he neuer of so greate baleaunce myght streÌ„gth puyssaunce and power be able to do them ony harme If God be on oursyde who is able to preuayle agaynst vs as the holy Apostle Paule sayth But it wyll be demaunded peraduenture how God maye be made so mercyfull that he wyll gyue vs y e victory of our enemies I aunswere by oure vnfayned conuersion from wickednes vnto true godlynes We heard bâ—fore that al the plages that God casteth vpon vs whyther they be battell honger pestilence or ony other chaunse vnto vs for our synfull abhominable lyuyng wher w t God is so greatly prouoked vnto anger Agayne that he wyll not cease thus to plage vs if he loueth vs vntyl we earnestly repent studiously amende our lyfe If he seeth y t none amendment wyll followe his correccion yet wyll he go forth styll to ponyshe vs and neuer cease vntyll he hath rooted vs our memory oute of the earth because his holy name may be no more blasphemed among the Hethen thorow our wyckednes and abhominacion Your misdedes sayth Esay haue seperated you froÌ„ your God your synnes haue hyddeÌ„ his face from you that he should not heare you For your handes are defyled wyth bloud â–ª your fyngers with vnrighteousnes Your lyppes speake leasynges your tonge setteth out wickednes No man regardeth ryghteousnes no man iudgeth truely Euery man hopeth in vayne thynges imaginethe deceate conceaueth werynes bryngeth forthe euell They brede cockatrice egges weaâ—e the spyders webbe who so euer eteth of theyr egges dyeth but if one treadeth vpon them there coÌ„meth out a serpeÌ„t Theyr webbe maketh no cloth nether can they couer theÌ„ wyth theyr labours Theyr dedes are the dedes of wickednes and the worke of robhery is in theyr haÌ„des Theyr feete runne vnto euell they make haste to shed innocent bloude Theyr councels are wycked councelles harme destruccion are in theyr wayes but y e way of peace they know not c And a lytle after our offenses are many before the O Lord our synnes testify agaynst vs yea we must nedes confesse that we offende and knowledge that we do amysse namely transgresse dissemble agaynst the Lorde and faull awaye from our God vsyng presuÌ„ptuous traytorous imaginacions castyng false matters in our hartes For equite is gone asyde and ryghteousnes stondethe a farre of Trueth is fallen downe in y â— strete that thyng that is playne open maye not be shewed Yea truethe is layde in presonne he that refraynethe hym selfe from euell must be spoyled When the Lorde sawe this it displeased hym sore y â— there was no where ony equite He saw also y â— there was no man whiche had pitie therof or was greued at it And he helde hym vp by hys owne power cleued to his owne ryghteousnes He putrighteousnes on hiÌ„ for
a brest plate set y â— helmet of helth vpoÌ„ his head He put on wrath in stede oâ— clothyng toke gelousy about him in stede of a cloke lyke as whaÌ„ a maÌ„ goeth forth wrothfully to recoÌ„peÌ„ce his enemies to be reuenged of hys aduersaries namely y â— he myght recoÌ„â—eÌ„s reward y â— ilaÌ„des wherthorow y â— name of the Lord myght be feared froÌ„ y â— risyng of y â— sonne to the goyng downe of y e sonne For he shall come as a violent water streame whiche the wynd of the Lorde hath moued Hytherto haue I rehearsed the wordes of the Prophet Esay wherof we learne that our wickednes is y â— cause of Gods wrathe toward vs notwythstandyng if we cease from our iÌ„iquite God wyl surely fauour vs turne awaye his wrathefull displeasure pardonne our synfull iniquite forgyue our wycked lyuyng wype awaye our vnclennes and be our myghty shelde defender ageÌ„st all our enemies as he sayth in another place youre handes are full of bloud Notwythstondyng wash you make ye clene put awaye your euell thoughtes out of my syght cease to do euell learne to do well seke iudge meÌ„t helpe y e poore oppressed delyuer y â— fatherles defend y e wydow come on your waye reproue me saythe the Lord. If your synnes be as red as scarlet yet shall they be made as whyght as snowe And if they were like purple yet shal they be like white wolle Yea yf ye wyll be conteÌ„ted and heare me ye shall eate the good fruytes of the earth If ye wyll not but prouoke me vnto wrath ye shall be deuoured with y e swerde for thus hath the Lorde promysed wyth hys owne mouth It is commonly sayd sayth God by y e Prophet Hieremy if a man putteth awaye his wyfe she goeth from hym and marryethe another husbonde shall he resorte ony more vnto her Is not that woman than defyled vncleane But as for the thou hast played the harlot w t many louers yet turne agen to me sayth the Lorde I wyll receaue the. Thou stynckynge Israel turne agayne sayth the Lorde and I wyll not turne away my face froÌ„ you for I am mercifull saythe the Lorde and I wyll not be angry for euermore Thus se we y â— though God dothe plage vs for oure wyckednes yet if we repent amende our synfull lyuynge he wyll haue mercy vpoÌ„ vs turne awaye his anger from vs. For the Lordes hande is not so shortened that it can not healpe nether is his eare so stopped that it maye not heare To obtayne therfore his fauour that he maye fyght for vs get vs the victory ouer our aduersaries the only moost nexte waye is to redresse our noughty maÌ„ners to walke in the pathwayes of his holy commaundementes to do that which he wylleth vs to do So may we be sure thorowe his diuine valeaunce to subdue all our enemies as he hymselfe testifieth sayeng If ye walke in my commaundementes kepe my preceptes ye shall pursue your enemies and they shall fall before you Fyue of you shall chase an hondred straungers and an hoÌ„dred of you shall put to flyght ten thousande But if ye wyll not heare mâ— but despyse all my commaundementes I wyll set my face agenste you ye shall fall before your enemies ye shalbe subdued to them that hate you yea ye shall flye whan no man pursueth after you For if we enter battell with our aduersaries yet be polluted wyth synne surely God wyll nether fyght for vs nor yet w t vs. God is not the captayne of wicked noughty people He fightethe not for them y t embrace iÌ„iquite but for suche as seake after true godlynes pure innoceÌ„cy loue to walke in his moost holy commaundementes To suche as are transgressours of his holy word yet dare presume to enter battell to looke for helpe at his haÌ„d he sayth se y â— ye go not vp that ye fyght not for I am not amoÌ„g you vnlesse ye be plaged before your enemies If such fyght it shall chaunse vnto them as it dyd vnto y â— Israelites which whaÌ„ they had greuously offeÌ„ded God disobeyed him would contrary to the commaundement of God take vpon theÌ„ to fight agenst the Amnorites but for theyr disobedieÌ„ce notwithstonding theyr myghty valeaunce polletyke wisdome in martial affaires they were chased awaye kutte hewed greuously slayne So shal it chaunse to the wycked and vngodly Iosue hadde a manifest promyse made to hym of God that he should sudue the cananites enioye theyr lâ—nde peasably that therfore he neded not to feare for to fyght agenst them yet notwythstondyng loste he at one tyme the felde his meÌ„ were slayne put to flyghte for the synne of one man whiche contrary to the commaundement of God had takeÌ„ of the excoÌ„municate thynges For the offens of hym alone could not y â— chyldreÌ„ of Israel stond before theyr enemies for asmoche as God was not wyth them If the synne of one man deserued so great vengeaunce that for his offence only many were slayne put to flyght what shal we than saye vnto that army which is replete wyth all kynde of synne as whoredome fornicacion adultrye thefte tyranny shedyng of innoceÌ„t bloud sweryng glotony dronckenshyp c. How is it possible for them to prosper How can God be among them to fyght for theÌ„ to gyue theÌ„ the victory If we wyll subdue our enemies we muste seake all means possible to haue God on oure syde We maye not only prouide that we scoore of the rust of our harnes that it be clene but that we also put out of our brestes the rusty fylthy synnes that haue cankred oure soules so long so become pure and clene For what is the cause that our battels do but lytyll prosper many tymes but onlye that we be synfull God is angry wyth vs Could that Nerolyke tyraunt the great Turke haue subdued so moche of Christendome if we had lyued accordynge to our profession Na verely our synnes haue gotten him so many victories Our wyckednes hath made vs captyue thraull to his tyrannye Let vs looke what synne reygneth amonge vs let vs vtterly wype y â— out so shall we prosper agaynst the violence of our enemies It was not wythoute a cause y â— God after AcaÌ„ the sonne of Carmi of whom I spake before had transgressed his holy precepte by takyng of the excommunicate goodes commaunded Iosue that he should sanctify the people â—yd theÌ„ sanctifye them selues before they wente ony more to battell kyll hym whyche had so traÌ„sgressed agenst the Lord. For whaÌ„ that was done they prosperred tryumphantly euer after in all theyr warres God gaue theyr enemies into theyr haÌ„des they enioyed the lond in peasable possession Although this sanctifyeng of y e Israelites dyd coÌ„sist in externall ceremonies as
of them dayly hunte hawke fyshe what not after spirituall promocions and whan they haue them neglecte theyr office be absent frō theyr benefices cōmit theyr cure to suche vnlearned prestes as canne scasely iudge betwene A and B what a nōber also of them come vnto theyr benefices non per ostium sed aliūde that is to saye not by the doore Christ nor for ony mynde or loue y t they haue to the glory of God and the saluacion of christen mēnes soules but for the desyre of fylthy lucre for an easy lyuyng for to be called master Parsonne M. Uicare M. Curate M. Chaplen c Howe lytyll liberalite do they shewe to paryshners Howe longe is theyr hande in receauyng shorte in gyuynge Howe wycked and abhominable is theyr lyuyng Howe colde litle feruent are theyr prayers Howe rare seldome are theyr studies in the holy scriptures wherin they are bounde to be occupyed both day and nyght Are these fytte prestes to stonde betwene the people God to pacifye his wrath Are these fyt prestes to make intercession for the synnes of the people Are these fytte prestes to whom the flocke of oure Lorde Iesus Christe should be commytted Our Lord be mercifull vnto vs. Undoubtedly there is greate scasenes of sheppardes whan it is come to this poynte that wolues muste haue the cure charge of shepe I feare moche that if this great absurdite be not redressed shortely the flocke of Christ shall be miserably spoyled rēt torne and deuoured God sende vs once suche sheppardes as maye fede his flocke wyth godly doctrine and vertuous lyuynge Agayne to whom is it vnknowē what dissension reygneth among y ◠Spiritualte Temporalte as they are called now a dayes in many places Seldome doth the one reporte well of the other The laye man hateth the preste the prest agayne bur nethe not in charite The laye man thyncketh all y t euer the preste hath is to moche seyng he taketh so lytle payne in settyng forth Gods word and in doynge hys duty The preste agen thyncketh all to lytyl though he maye dispende hondreds yearely and do nought for it Wyll this commaundement of GOD by his holy Apostle neuer be looked vpon earnestly put in execucion Qui non laborat non manducet He that labourethe not oughte not for to eate Certes vntyll the prestes be more seriously bent to loue God and his worde to preache the Gospell of Christe to lyue accordyng to theyr office they shall neuer be estemed nor regarded among the people but hated contēned and detested Let the prestes remember the sayenge of God the father by his Prophet take hede betymes Seynge therfore thou haste refused knowlege I wyl refuse the so y e thou shalt no more be my prest Agayne by the Prophet Malachy The lippes of a prest shal kepe knowledge and at his mouth shal men require the lawe for he is a messanger of the Lorde of hoostes But as for you O ye prestes ye are gone clene out of the way and haue caused ma ny to be offended at the lawe Ye haue broken the couenaūt of Leuy sayth the Lord of hoostes Therfore haue I made you to be despysed to be of no reputaciō among all the people because ye haue not kept my wayes but bene parcial in the law Here may all men se why prestes are so lytle regarded at thys daye verely because they hate knowledge kepe not y e wayes of our Lord God nor endeuoure them selues to fede Christes flocke wyth Goddes moost blyssed worde If they wyll therfore be had agē in price reuerēt estimacion as it is conuenient let thē cast away theyr olde manners shyne as the lyght of the worlde sauour as y ◠salte of the earth loue God and his word preach Christes Gospell purely meditate in the lawe of the Lord both day and nyght dissuade no mā from readyng the holy scriptures exhorte all men vnto pure innocency and a christen state of lyuynge aboue all thynges be the very same vnto the people in dede that they professe in worde So shall they recouer theyr olde dignite and be had in honour of al mē Yea so shal y ◠lay men haue them in reuerēce as true spiritual fathers giue them double honoure minister vnto them abundauns of all thynges receaue them as an Aungel of God yea as Christ Iesus himselfe and be redy at all tymes euē to dygge out theyr eyes to do them pleasure as Saynt Paule wryteth Furthermore nowe that y ◠lyght of Gods word is come abroad amog diuers nacions how vnthanckefully is it receued How many wynke and speare theyr eyes because they wyll not se it Howe many are obstinately blynde What a nomber is there that had rather walke styl in y e darkenes of mens tradicious thā in y ◠glorious lyght of gods trueth Yea I wolde there were not y ◠perse cute this open verite of Gods word theyr conscience bearyng wytnes y ◠they do euell and condemnyng thē for so doyng This is the condemnaciō sayth Christ that lyght is come into the world and men haue loked darckenes rather than lyghte For theyr workes were euel Euery one that doth euell hateth the lyght nether comethe he vnto the lyght because his workes shoulde not be reproued But he that workethe the trueth cometh vnto the lyght that his workes maye be perceyued that they are done by God Another sorte of people there are whyche receaue Gods worde at the fyrste entraunce very ioyfully and make moche of it shewyng them selues so feruent that they wyll seme to be ready for to gyue theyr lyues for it But full soone is theyr whot loue colde For whā they se that the worde of God fyghteth so manifestly wyth theyr wycked lyuynge and condemneth theyr ambicion pryde couetousnes effeminate māners c than are they wery of it despyse it caste it awaye being lothe that any man shoulde meddle wythe all Thā do they contemne the celestial Māna chose rather to be fed wyth the greasy fleshe pottes of Egipte Thā fall they agen vnto theyr olde blyndnes so that this cōmon sayeng may wel be verefyed of them The dogge is turned to his vomet agayne and the sowe that was was wasshed to her wallowyng in the myre Better had it bene for thē not to haue knowen the waye of ryghteousnes thā after they haue knowne it to turne frō y ◠holy cōmaūdemēt gyuē to thē There be yet another sorte of people which desyre to be called gospellers and earnest fauourers of Goddes worde promisynge many thynges for the glorye therof and yet in theyr conuersacion are they no lesse wycked than the other be They cōfesse that they know God but wyth theyr dedes they deny hym and are abhominable and disobedient vnto all good workes discommēdable Thorow theyr iniquite the name of God is