sleepe nor mine eye-liddes to slumber vntill I haue found out a place for the Lorde an habitation for the mightie God of Iacob Now although it be my purpose and order requireth to hasten to the cause of Dauids ioye which he heare mentioneth yet it standeth with dewe order in this place as it doeth with edifying to stande vppon his great care in wayting for that thing whiche being obteyned this his ioye succeeded For liuelie and sounde is that ioye which the harte feeleth when it is refreshed frō care griefe going before When the Lorde had deliuered his soule out of all aduersities which hee susteyned in the dayes of Saul and had brought him to the glorie of his kinglie Throne herein he shewed the simplicitie of a true harte in that hee was not chaunged by the suddain alteratiō nor his hart beguyled by those pleasures to cause him to forget God He was not highe minded hee had no proude lookes But he kept his soule as a childe that is weyned frō his mothers brest Yea at this time he throughlie weined him self frō taking pleasure in anie thing vntill the Arke of God should be brought home placed in Israel which hee calleth by y e name of the Lorde and the mightie God of Iacob Therevnto doth he sweare and vow not to haue regard vnto his own tabernacle nor house not to coūt it his home or settle him selfe therein neyther to take any sound rest vntil he had seene this busines of the Lord in dew forwardnes Thus was hee thankfull vnto the Lorde whiche had remēbred him and all his afflictions Let vs examine our selues call to minde the yeeres that are past when the fyrie sworde did hange ouer oure heades in the dayes of Queene Marie that by so weake a threede that we looked euerie houre when it should fall vpon vs whē we being straungers frō our own houses walked frō house to house at suche time as the Owles and Backes looke foorth and flye And thought it well if wee might liue so without house or land or ought else saue bare breade for the life We were as the Iewes which by Hamans meanes were solde to bee slaine and destinate to a day of death And we were as humble Hester whiche would make no request but for life onelie Nowe when wee sighed and cried for the bondage and the crie for our bondage came vp vnto God and God hearde our mone remembred his couenant Then hee brought agayne our captiuitie as hee did of Iacob then were we like vnto them that dreamed Euen for sodeine ioye doubting whither we dremed those happie tydinges or no. Then was our mouth filled w t laughter our tongue w t ioy Thē the Nations about vs said that y e lord had don great things for vs. And we sang thervnto the Lord haue done great things for vs whereof wee reioyce Christ Iesus seemed then to vs as a shining and burning Lampe and we seemed for that time to reioyce in the light thereof But our giuinge of thankes and singing prayse vnto god was skarse so good as that of the people of Israel mentioned in the fourth Chapter of Exodus who when they hearde that the Lord had visited them and had looked vpon their tribulatiō they bowed downe and worshipped But when tribulation was increased vppon them they murmured against God and his seruaunt Moyses So could we bowe downe and worshippe in the day of our deliuerance but since that time not through bitter afflictiō as did they but through too much pāpering with more fleshe then y e pottes of Egypt haue we haue waxen fatte and haue forgotten the day of our penurie and hunger Yea wee haue forgotten and forsaken the Lorde the holie one of Israel in that wee are gone backewarde And better hath the Oxe knowne his owner and the Asse his maisters cribbe then we haue known him that saued vs. For if wee knewe him we would also surelie know that he redeemed vs from that firie fornace that we should burne with more zeale of furthering his kingdome vpō earth to the aduauncing of his glorie But the people of Englande in that daye whē the Lorde did lift vp their heads were farre from the zeale and practise of Dauid who beinge aduaunced to his kingdome had not yet the thinge he would haue and gaue him selfe no rest vntill he had done dewe homage vnto the Lordes kingdome by furthering procuring and labouringe about those things whiche appertayned vnto the true worshippe of God vntill he did see them at a good staye But our Cleargie firste which should with great affliction haue laboured about the Lords worke to haue seene that firste finished before they hadde instauled them selues into their owne rowmes they contrariewise layde holde on the great liuings catch who catche might the riche Bishoprikes and fatte Benefices And as Achsaph the daughter of Caleb when her father hadde giuen her a portion of highe grounde desired still more namelie places with springes of water so was their desiring and desiring agayne For those whiche were serued with Benefices where corne grounde was most they must haue an other wher good store of pasture lie And whē they were serued w t that they muste long for one where store of sheepe are kept and then they thinke they should be well But would to god it had bin no worse affection desire then y t of Achsaph which desired the increase of her portion of that lande which the Lorde had giuen and blessed vnto her people but these men haue bene greedie of the fatte spoyle and haue not bene aware that it was the spoyle of Iericho which ought not to haue bene medled withall but to haue bene execrable thinges vnto vs. I meane not as though that wealthful spoile might not haue bin takē vse of by conuerting it another waye But those things holding still their nature strēgth which thei receiued of y e Cananitish Roman ought to haue bin to vs execrable things And euen as the lord gaue vnto y e children of Israel the first cōquest in y e land of Canaan namely ouer Iericho without bowe or sword horse horseman or anie battle or anie hande mouing of theirs in token that he would alwayes stande on their right hand and their victories should proceede from him if they would goe forwarde to fight the Lordes battell so the Lorde gaue vs this victorie not with noise of battle or tumblinge of garmentes in bloude but by his own hande alone from heauen the thing to vs vnlooked for thereby incouraging vs to marche forwarde vnder his banner and vnder the good lucke of this watcheword The Lord liueth which brought the children of Israel out of Egypt and out of Babel the Lorde liueth which haue brought agayne the captiuitie of his poore suppliantes from the yron yoke of Antichrist and the Lorde also giuing vs the earnest of assured victorie
the burthen and to auoide that great labour which belōgeth to y e building of gods church rightlie and effectuallie haue bene cōtent to shuffle vp the matter and haue committed the cariage of the Arke to brutishe Oxen euen dumme blinde Ministers And these Oxens feete are not shodde with the preparation of the Gospell of peace therfore they stūble at euerie steppe and haue long ago ouerthrown cart Arke all althogh there haue bene Vzzahs appointed to put toe their hand helpe the oxen I meane teachers haue bin apointed to learn y e ignorant ministers to preach how thei prosper men may wel know except they had power to work miracles to make y e dumme to speake and the blinde to see and that only by teachinge But lette those Vzzahs and the appointers of them vnderstande and knowe a more excellente waye namely that the Leuites take the burthen vpon their shoulders weighe it neuer so heauie by trouble persecution and paynefull labour and let them cherefullie bring home that Arke euē Christ Iesus vppon whose shoulders the gouernement lieth and place him in his Tente pitched for him euen his Sion his Church and kingdome that he may beare that rule and gouuernement which vnto him belōgeth without so muche as the print of the foule footesteppes of Antichrist remaining in his Tabernacle to his dishonour And here it shal not be amisse vpon occasion to touche the courage of Dauid who although he was a little daūted at the firste by that miscarying of the Arke in so much that he said How shall the Arke of the Lorde come vnto me yet notwithstanding hee fainted not neyther gaue ouer his purpose but feared the Lord more and sought out more circumspectlie wher y e fault was and howe it might be redressed And agayne girt vpp his loynes and addressed him selfe with more cherefulnes yet agayne to bringe it home Manie there be in the Realme of Englande whiche haue bene zealous of Church gouuernement and of the remouing the ceremonies of mens traditions and stinted seruice and because they haue made long tarying haue had a colde offeringe and haue hoped longe of redresse by Parliamentes wherevnto they haue made sute and haue bene disappointed of their hope Therefore as though they hadde done their whole dewtie they haue set them downe and waxed colde and carelesse and haue slept on both eares and thinke that the Lord must needes nowe holde them excused vntill the Lorde cast it vpon them put into their mouthes But they muste knowe that they are not to ceasse seeking the kingdome of God and for other thinges they shall be caste vnto them without their carefull thought The kingdome of God must suffer violence of those which w t violent zeale doo drawe it vnto them Many runne but fewe gett the crowne We must so runne as wee may obteyne It is not ynough to be wishers and woulders as manie be at this daye counted religious and fauourers of gouernement because they can saye O wee muste praye we must pray thereby satisfying them selues and others being not a little gladd that they may buye it so cheape to sitt at their ease and folowe the worlde Therefore what cryes and complaintes their prayers bee maye easelie be discerned Prayers without practtse are but poore prayers the harte whiche setteth not the hande a worke do not burne with much heate We must so praye as continuing and increasing in greater feruēcie giuing y e Lord no rest nor suffering any nay though he seemeth to sende vs awaye with a rough answere as our Sauior Christe did vnto the Cananitishe woman refusing her sute and calling her dogge yet shee left him not but desired at the least that whiche a Dogge might haue euen the crummes which fall from the children and so obteyned her sute with cōmendatiō of her faith And we if we haue wished desired therwith made sute to the higher powers laboured in the behalfe of true Ecclesiasticall gouernement and yet haue returned emptie confounded because the lord haue not vouchsafed to let vs see y e Arke come home we are to feare so much y e more before the face of y e lord as it is said y t Dauid feared the lord in y ◠vnspedie day he feared God before but now his feare was increased And in this feare ought we to examine the cause why the Lord haue not made our enterprise prosperous to search our waies whither we haue taken the right pathe or no whither we haue gone to the place where it is or we haue sought it in a wronge place whither we haue put our shoulders to the burthen or we haue gone about to carte it that it might come easily vnto vs and as it were alone without oure helping hande Thus ought wee to search vntil we finde out in our selues the cause of Gods displeasure for the whiche wee are depriued of this benefite And hauinge founde the cause let vs repent and redresse that is amisse and strengthen y e feeble knees of ours making straight steppes to our feete least that which is halting bee turned out of the waye Lette vs recouer the right pathe from the which wee haue wandred wide and gyrde vppe oure loines that wee maye with more courage and swiftnes walke therin then before we haue done in our wronge false waye And some there be whiche haue atteyned vnto this knoweledge that the kingdome of God come not by obseruation and wayting and suinge here and there but is neare vnto vs euen within vs and no more is to be required but that we remoue our selues frō euill and worshippe God accordinge to his worde chusing rather to suffer the crosse then to denye Christ by slauishe giuing ouer of that authoritie libertie which he haue giuen vnto his people Some I saye haue attayned vnto this knowledge yet notwithstanding they haue bene dismayed and offended beholding the wayward footsteppes of diuers whiche haue gone before euen in the right path though not with steadie foote but haue slipped halted and falne in the waye by committing some thinge whiche haue displeased the Lorde as sometime in the chiefe Citie in Englande there were manie whiche withdrewe themselues from this spirituall bondage mentioned But some onelie making conscience at the Cappe Surplesse and therein stoode all their religion Some entring that waye despised all other but pitied them not in the bowelles of compassion that they might be brought vnto the trueth but were proude in their owne conceyte Moste of them also ignoraunt howe they should come to the ende or yet to the middest of the waye which they hadd entred neyther being humble in seeking out the same but thinking rather that they knew all things Therfore whē they wer tried and weighed manie were found too light and their miscarying of the Lords Arke and the iudgement which fell vpō some of thē as sore
the dore and naile it vppe also with an othe in his anger if he haue not done it already Seing then y e Lord haue giuen such an onset doing so great things for vs bringing vs thus farr on our way out of Egypt let vs take heed there be not in vs an euill harte and vnfaythefull to departe from the liuinge GOD least we be depriued But let vs go on our way cherefullie and feare not the heate of the daye nor the darkenes of the night For the Lorde shall create vpon euerie place of mount Sion and vpon the assemblies thereof a cloude and smoke by daye and the shining of a flaming fire by night for vppon all the glorie shall be a defence and a couering shall be for a shadowe in the daye for the heate and a place of refuge and couert for the storme and for the rayne Neither let vs feare for the highe walles of Iericho I meane the Antichristian Canon lawe whiche is the strength of his gouernement For by fayth y e walles of Iericho fell down at the blastes of the Trumpettes And what are al the execrable buildings of Antichrist which still remayne amongest vs that they should stande before the Lords Trumpetters if they haue fayth and doo not onely blowe their blastes but also compasse the Citie as ofte as they shoulde and blowe their blastes in due time and place as the Lorde haue appoynted Moreouer let vs knowe that as the walles of Iericho fell downe so also by fayth the walles of Ierusalem were builded vp For Nehemiah misdoubted not eyther the fewnes either the pouertie of the Iewes eyther the malice of the enemies but stept vnto the woorke in the middest of those vnlikelihoods for the whiche their aduersaries did mocke them drylie saying What doo these weake Iewes will they fortifie themselues Will they make y ◠stones whole agayne out of the heapes of dust seeing they are burnt And another answered Although they builde yet if a Foxe goe vppe hee shall euen breake downe their stonie wall So therfore when the harte of gods people shall be to worke encouraged by fayth so that their handes also bee strengthened and put to the busines though neuer so manie Ammonites Ashdodims be wroth and conspire al togither to come against Ierusalem to hinder the building thereof yet shal God bringe their counsell to nought For God is in the middest of it therfore shall it not be moued God shall helpe it very earlie Thoughe the nations rage against it the kingdoms be moued God shall vtter his voyce and the earthe shall melt God shall speake vnto them in his wrath vexe them in his sore displeasure He will persecute them with his tempest and make them afraide with his storme So shall the haters of Sion be ashamed and turned backwarde For the Lord of hostes is with vs the God of Iacob is our refuge when we are vnder his Baner and fighte his battles without vaine feare For he will teach our handes to warre and our fingers to fight He will break the Bowe and cutte the Speare and burne the Chariots with fire But our armes will he strengthen so that they shall breake euen a bowe of steele And our feete will he make like Hindes feete that by the myght of our God we shall leap ouer the highest wall which Antichrist hath reared And though our haters vexe vs manie times they shall not preuaile against vs. Thoughe they plowghe vpon our backes the righteous God shall cutt their cordes in sunder Thoughe they woulde deuoure vs quicke yet God will not giue vs as a praye vnto their teethe Waite therefore and knowe that the Lord is God He will be exalted amonge the heathē he will be exalted in the earth Let vs giue him glorie therefore by trusting in him that we may take his worke in hande and further it with all our might not suffering our eyes to beholde nor our hartes to consider the impossibilities of finishinge the same For God is faithefull who hath promised saying To him that disposeth his waie aright I will shewe the saluation of God Againe concerning Dauids reioysing in the day when the people assembled willingly to accompanie him at the bringinge home of the Arke and the Lorde made all thinges to prosper It semed to be the fullest soundest ioye that euer he hadd bothe for that he then daunced and leaped and sprange as one rauished and fullie possessed with an heauenlie pleasure and also taketh refreshement as it appeareth in this psalme in remēbring meditating and singing of the happines of that time whiche teacheth vs what affection wee shoulde put on in matters pertaining to the Lords glorie as when his kingdome is builded and furthered when he is well known amongest vs and his Name is great as in Israel his Tabernacle with vs as in Salem and his dwellinge as in Sion We reade of Dauid that when the Lorde had giuen him to see his sonne Salomon placed in the throne of the kingdome he worshipped vppon the bedde and saide Blessed be the Lord God of Israel who hath made one to sitte on my Throne this daye euen in my sight This also was a godly reioysing as it is a godlie and commendable thing in all Kinges Princes to haue care to see that matter so well ordered and disposed in the time of their life as much as in them lie that the people whose safetie the Lorde haue committed to their care and charge maye enioye continuance of peace and welfare after their deceasse that ther bee no inuasion nor going out nor crying in the streetes of their dominions afterward As also it is godly and commendable to ioie and blesse God whē he giue them to see with their eyes the hope of a good staie within their kingdoms which is so farre from derogating from their honour and renowne that it tendeth greatlie to the increase aduancement of the same For Dauid tooke this for an honorable salutation at his seruaunts hands when they saide God make the name of Salomon more famous then thy name and exalt his Throne aboue thy throne This I say was one ioye of Dauids yet not comparable to the other as appeared in that his care to beholde this thinge was not so vehement and he was neere to haue ouerslipped too longe the laying of his hande to the furtheraunce thereof in respect of Adoniahs ouer hastie attempt and he had neede of stirringe vp by the sute of Bethsaba and the aduertisement of Nathan the Prophet Whereas in the other busines of bringing home the Lords Arke he neded no spurres to pricke him on forward Flesh bloode kindled not that zeale in him but the Lorde hadd inflamed his harte with the Spirit of loue and fire And this burninge affection of loue bare he from time to time vnto the Lords holy Tabernacle for his
in those battels which were to insue in the behalfe of his sonnes kingdome against his professed enimie Antichrist if we would haue bene so gracious as once to haue taken them in hande But we refused to goe to the battle anie more though the Cananite dwelled still in the lande and bare the sworde to slaye euerie true Israelite therewith I meane that man of Rome who by his Cananitishe offices and Canons of his lawes standing still in their strengthe beareth the scepter right vp eueÌ„ a rodde for the righteous Thus haue we behaued our selues not as faithful Iosua and his souldiours whiche froÌ„ Iericho ceassed not to goe forward to more battels and therein sawe y e great saluation of God fightinge for them when the Sunne and Moone stoode still in heauen and hasted not to goe downe for a season But we haue done more like the Amalekites whiche inuaded Zicklag which did eate drinke and daunce manie dayes because of the great spoyle they had taken vntill suddaine slaughter vengeance came vpon theÌ„ in the middest of their mirth So let vs take heed that wee do not so long eate and drinke of the spoyle and daunce in securitie vntill that Dauid Christ Iesus come at vnawares and take awaye all and our liues therewith also in most iust iudgement Wee also haue done as that other generation of the Iewes which arose vp after Iosua which regarded their owne ease more then the Lords commaundement and his glorie which stoode vpon the rootinge out of those wicked ones whose sinne was ripe their daie was come those Cananites Perezites and Iebuzits suffered they to dwell still amonge them Therefore the Lorde saide that they shoulde be thornes to their sides and their Gods should be their destruction as it came to passe Euen so haue we tenne times more made couenant with that cursed broode of Antichrists birdes not only entring into neare familiaritie with the men but also borowing manie of their ceremonies intertaining their forme of seruice for the most part being turned but from Latin to English and yet which is worse holding our neckes vnder their gyrdles by making our selues willing slaues to their Ecclesiasticall sworde And because this practise could sonest be atchiued and this vngracious work could most spedelie be iumbled vp then was it counted Pollicie to wipe mens noses with and to giue them amocke But be not deceiued God is non mocked who redemed you from aduersitie to this ende that you should deale wisely and faithfullie in all his house Therefore it did stand you vpon to haue takeÌ„ better aduisement in the reforming of religion and matters about Gods worshippe knowinge that aboue all thinges it is a matter most curious And you shoulde with feare and much trembling setting apart your owne effaires for a season as Dauid did here and that with a solemne vow making that you would first seeke the building of Gods kingdome you should thus I say haue bene conuersant in this busines knowing that theÌ„ all things wold haue prospered with you You shoulde also haue known y t the lord in his worship might not admit ani strang deuise vnder pretense of pleasing some nor might admit anie mingling of his wisedome with mennes wisedome anie tolerations of vanities with a smoothe and fayned promise to take them away in time to come Why did the Lorde shewe such a terrible and fearefull example vpon the two sonnes of Aaron Nadab Abihu as to skortche them with fire from heauen Because they tooke fire for their censeres from the hearth whiche they should haue taken from the Altar And they were but yong schollers in those ceremonies the obseruations were manie and it was at the firste beginninge of their trayning to practise yet the Lordes ielousie burned w t fire And why Had the Lord so great regarde for a coale of fire was it not to leaue a fearfull monument for all men to beholde that they might take heed least in matters pertaining to the worshippe of God they alter and chaunge euen the least thinge If any man want skill let him withdrawe himselfe For it is written Take heed to thy foote when thou entrest into the house of God be more neare to heare then to giue the sacrifice of fooles for they knowe not that they doo euill Beholde howe manie in the Realme of England haue done and dailie doo presume to set in their feete into Gods house and haue not learned how to sacrifize aright Offer not they the sacrifice of fooles And they will not knowe that they do euill But to returne to those which haue bene chiefe maister workemen in the reformation of religion at the fâ—rste Can they not beholde howe that for wante of this faythefull zeale whiche was in this seruaunt of God Dauid For want of dewe feare trembling carefull crying for the spirite of wisedome and whole attending vppon the Lordes worke with hartes free from worldlie intanglings And for want of that intier loue and charitie which seketh not her owne thinges but those which are Christes and her poore brethrens I say for want of these things and being drunken with that new vessell of wine of worldlie concupiscence then set a broche Can they not espie howe they haue drawne their liues so farre wrong that skilfull workemen yea nowe euery bungler can not but wonder to see suche worke For they haue framed their timber some toe longe and some toe short in such sort that the buildinge hangeth all on the one side tottering and reeling with euerie wind and waiteth but for a blast from the Lorde to cause it to fall and to slaie all those which haue committed theÌ„selues to such a false building And as for the forme fashion of the house where was the paterne which God shewed Moses in the mount It was to be fouÌ„d but it was not sought the hast was so great to other things Therefore because the Lords paterne was refused no maruaile thowgh hee refused to send his spirit of wisedome vnto those which stood in stead of Bezaleel and Aholiab and the rest of the workmen For veiwe and trie out this reformation Looke vnto your brethreÌ„ of other nations rounde about which haue reformed if they haue admitted such thinges as you who yet notwithstanding come short enoâ—gh 〈…〉 duetie But looke vnto the worde of God and espie out there how manie coales of fire you haue takeÌ„ not from the altar Christ Iesus but from the smoking chimneis of the Cananites which dwelt in the land the Papists I meane Therefore repent and returne or else take heede of the Lords fire from heauen who although he vse more patience and longe sufferaunce towardes you then he did towardes Nadab and Abihu yet be you assured that he hath not nowe lesse regard and ielousie for the bodie then he had then for the shadowe And whereas some saye what It is a house though it be a
speedily to the glorie of GOD. And let none vtter these wordes of vnfaythfulnes Alas what can I doo or what can twoo or three of vs doo or howe are wee like to goe forwarde So I maye saye what can a graine of Mustarde seede doo It is small to beholde But beinge caste into the grounde in dewe time and watered wee see what it dooeth and howe it spreadeth So wee maye saye what can wee doo if wee sitte still But if wee labour in the Lordes businesse so as wee giue our selues ouer to bee sowne in the earth for his truethes sake vndoubtedlie out of oure dead bones or ashes there will springe vp manie more witnesses vntill the glorious cause florishe gloriouslie But to proceede I reioyced when they sayde vnto mee c. It is written in the Chronicles that Dauid gathered all Israel togither to goe vp to Ierusalem And in that the people were so hartilie willinge sayinge That they woulde goe vp to the house of the Lorde and their feete shoulde stande in the gates of Ierusalem wee maye note this that the Lorde nowe being with Dauid after hee hadde feared before his face and carefullie sought him in dewe order hee addeth blessinge vnto blessing vnto him to make his ioye full For hee doeth not onelie make him to see the Arke come home in peace but also giue him the hartes of all the people as one man reioysinge with him and praysing the Lorde then the whiche nothing coulde refreshe and solace his minde more cherefullie ouer his grief paste Thus doth the Lord make things to succeed with them yea oftentimes more then they looke for which seeke him in feare and tremblinge and attempte to worke accordinge to his will Thus Nehemiah when his harte had conceyued that enterprise of building of the walles of Ierusalem hee not onely obteyned leaue of the King to goe thither whiche thing he hoped not for without feare but also the Lorde made him obtayne that whiche was least looked for euen helpe and furniture of Timber towardes the worke Moreouer the Lorde gaue him the hartes of the people who notwithstandinge their pouertie and fewnesse yet were incouraged to worke with vnwonted forwardnesse So Moses though hee had a frowarde companie to guyde yet when hee went about the Tabernacle makinge with all thinges apperteyning therevnto accordinge to the Lordes commaundement hee founde the peoples hartes so willinge and readie to offer and their handes so full of giftes that hee cryed Ho and commaunded them to ceasse from offringe anie more Therefore let there be no vnchearfull wordes amongest vs to weaken our handes before we begin to worke As some saye Howe is it possible Where shall wee haue fitte men for Elders Where shall wee haue sufficient Ministers ynough And where shall we haue this and that It is the propertie of a slouthfull seruaunt to tell before hee goe out howe hee is not like to speede Let vs in the middest of all streightnes and impossibilities take in hande our enterprise in the Lord with humblenes wisedome single hartednes and we shal see successe not only in those thinges which we can foresee hope for but also manie things vnlooked for of vs shal be prospered into our bosome Nowe whereas the people speak so willingly saying We will go vp into the house of the lord it declareth their forwardnes vnto a good enterprise But the King had called them stirred them vp therevnto So peraduenture it may seeme that the people are not to go vp into the Lordes house especiallie to go about such an heauenlie busines as thei now did without their Kings Princes going before them As for y e Arke though it bare a spiritu all representatiō of holy things yet it was a material thing the bringing of it home required outwarde furniture and preparation accordinglie But what the Priestes and people might haue done as touching it if the King should haue bene to slacke when I shall vnderstande it to bee doubted of aunswere shall be made as GOD shall giue leaue In the meane time it is not amisse to speake some thinge of a question whiche flyeth much abroade whiche haue bene taken vp rather of desire to intangle then of anie loue of y e truth as shoulde seeme by the disorderlie framinge and propoundinge thereof The question is this Whither the Prince or the people ought first to beginne reformation in the Church I aunswere with propoundinge other questions Can they tell whether Prince or people ought firste to turne to the Lorde Whether Prince or people ought firste to do their duetie Or whither y e head the hand or y e foot ought first to do that which seuerallie appertaineth to y e office of ech of those mēbers to do For Kings Princes ought to reform without delay or waiting for other so farr as the bounds of their calling reach and y e people they ought to reforme without al delaye or tarying for other so farr as the boūds of their calling reach also But howe farre the bounds of eche doo extende therein lieth the chief point In the name of God let Caesar haue whatsoeuer vnto him belongeth euen all ciuile power and Dominion ordayned of God And woe vnto him saye I whiche shall holde this and teache men so that there is no vse of the Magistrates sworde among Christians For that is to remoue y e doole of the great and large fielde which the Lorde haue measured out vnto them And that is also to depriue Christians of that benefite of peace whiche the Lord haue ordayned that wee should enioye by their meanes For it is written Exhort that Prayers and Supplications be made for Kinges and all that be in authoritie that vnder them we may lead a godlie and peaceable life Therefore I am thus perswaded that as the Kinges of Iuda did reforme by their ciuile power those things which outwardly were sett vp for abominations namely as they did break downe the altars cutt downe the groues burne the images with fire slaye the Preistes of Baal and suche like thinges So also it appertaineth to the Magistrates now to break downe the idolatrous altars plucke downe their buildinges burne their images with fire to slaye those which haue reuolted frō Christianitie to open idolatrie And herein wee prayse the Lorde who strengthned our Princes handes to worke so farre as was wrought therin And if our sinnes had not displeased the Lorde we shoulde haue sene more For I would to God the Arrow had not bene shott against the ground only three times but three hundred times three times that a full conquest for euer might haue bin gotten ouer those Antichristian Aramits And now concerning those abominations which remaine which partly I haue spoken of As the offices rowmes and liuinges of the Lordlie ouerrulers of many churches together with Deanes Deanaries Prebēds and Prebenshippes Cathedralles w t the Chaunters therin and their Marmaiden