sawe their obstinate perseueraunce in Sinne My Spirite shall not alwaies striue with Manne because he is but fleshe his daies shalbe an hundreth and twentie yeres Genes vj. And a little after in the same Chapter I will destroye from the Earth the Man whom I haue created from Man to Beast to the creepyng thyng and to the Foule of the Heauen c. These wordes did Noah in his daiely Sermons preache and beate into their heades withall also buildyng the Arke accordyng as God had commaunded hym and that in the full space of an hundreth yeres But thei were so senselesse of their estate and so frozen in the dregges of their accustomed Synnes that thei laughed him to skorne and grewe still more and more obstinate and rebellious The Sinnes wherefore God brought the Floud vppon the Worlde as it appeareth in the same sixte Chapter of Genesis were that the Soonnes of God that is the Children of the holie Fathers degenerated from the Faith and knowledge wherein thei had been trained taught For seing the daughters of MeÌ„ that thei were faire thei tooke them wiues of all that thei liked Of whom were borne mightie Gyantes and lawlesse Tyrantes whiche did all thynges accordyng to their owne lustes and as beste liked themselues This was the cause why God punishing their sinnes drouned the whole Worlde And tourned the Cities of Sodom and Gomorrhe into ashes condemned them and ouerthrewe theÌ„ and made theim an ensample vnto them that after should liue vngodly THis third example is of the fiue Cities whiche God destroied as we read Genes xix Ezechiel also in his xvj Chapter speakyng hereof in the persone of God and appliyng his woordes by waie of vpbraidyng to Hierusalem saieth This was the iniquitio of thy Sister Sodom Pride fulnesse of Bread abundauÌ„ce of Idlenesse both in her and in her daughters neither did she strengthen the hande of the poore and needie but thei were hautie and committed abhomination before me therefore I tooke theim awaie as pleased me Sodome and Gomorrha and the Territories thereof till the Lorde destroyed them were as Moses witnesseth Genes xiij as the Paradise or gardein of the Lorde aboundyng and flowyng with plentie of Wine and Oile in theim all thynges that to the life of man were either necessarie delightfull or commodious were in moste aboundaunce to bee had in so muche that the common sorte beleeued that God hymself had chosen it for his owne peculier habitation and dwellyng And therefore as Moses in the same Chapter saith the people thereof were wicked and exceeding sinners against the Lorde leadyng their liues accordyng to the leuell of their owne leude lustes Whiche inordinate beastly and wicked lustes their owne vaine curiositie and the greate plentifull aboundaunce and Idlenesse whiche thei enioyed procured and brought vnto them As wee at this daie by experience doe set that the wealthier aâ—y Cities be the wantoner and dissoluter life the people therein lead but where Famine Penurie or other extremities pinche there the Citezeins are nothyng so muche giuen to loosenesse and Sinne. And therefore God vseth to exercise and enure those that be his and whom he loueth with hard cheere and slender pittaunces because they maie the better walke in integritie of life These therefore are the three dreadfull Examples wherewith S. Peter threateneth the vngodlie whiche he here aptly alledgeth and bringeth in as fitlie hittyng the persones of whoÌ„ he here speaketh who he saieth liued euen as these Sodomites and Gomorrheans did whose greeuous punishement is heere laied before them for their greater terrour And therefore these thynges agree in eche respect and verie fittly are to be applied namely and specially vnto the Pope with his Cardinalles Bisshoppes Munkes Friers Nunnes and all the rest of his filthie Spiritualtie and rumpwood retinue For thei beyng appoincted to be as it were Angels in the places of Apostles truely to preache and expounde the Woorde of God in steade of beyng suche Angelles for the name Angell is a worde of Office and not of Nature signifiyng a Messenger or an Embassadour wherevppon all Preachers of the Truthe who are the Messengers of GOD are called in the Scriptures Mala. ij j. Cor. xj by y e name of Angels thei do cary vs headlong with themselues into the dungeon of error and quite reuolte from their loyall allegiaunce to GOD by mere Pride and Apostacie like these of whom S. Peter here speaketh aduauncyng theimselues aboue God and will haue no Lorde ouer them but bee Lordes themselues and of them selues And yet will thei bee called Apostolicall hauyng nothyng in theim but onely a vaine braggyng shewe of the bare name and title as heere afore in this Chapter thei are named by the name Angelles who properly are not so This blasphemous route therefore of Pope and Popelynges for that thei haue conspired with the Deuill against God and denied hym that is their Creatour are kepte faste fettered in Chaines of darkenesse vnto damnation whose Iudgement as he saied afore ceasseth not neither dooeth their damnation sleepe although as yet it bee not fullie and completly come vpon them Againe thei bee herein also like vnto the old Worlde who although thei haue the Prophetes and the Woorde of GOD preached vnto them yet did thei blaspheme and as it were defy hym and as Moses writeth of them tooke to theim selues Wiues accordyng to their owne lustes and likynges and became mightie Tyrauntes and Gyantes in the earth Gen. vj. Now a little let vs see whether all the properties and dealynges reported by Moses to be in those men of the old World bee not nowe moste manifestly resiaunte and inuested in our Popishe Clergie For thei now be greate mightie and dreadfull Tyrauntes thei liue of all menne moste delicately moste riotouslie and euen as thei liste theimselues thei haue moste aboundaunt store and plentie of all thynges thei oppresse the Worlde and with their tyrannous exactions and bloodie cruelties ouercrowe all Christendome and yet maie no manne speake one woorde or once open his mouthe against them no not Kynges and Princes Againe if thei bee disposed to take a waie a mannes Wife or his daughter from hym thei maie with suche impunitie dooe it that no man maie dare so muche as complaine of their violence and if any doe complaine yet are thei themselues the iudges of the matter and so it shall be euen as good to saie nothyng at all for amendes hee shall haue none at all Finallie by all the shiftes and driftes by all the waies and meanes that thei can possibly deuise to pill and poll robbe and spoile rake and scrape by cosonage pillage exaction tribute commaundementes licenses depredations and al other suttle trickes whatsoeuer thei hale and pull thei catche and snatche vnto theim without hoe without measure without conscience without shame And if any manne in any sorte laye his lawfull claime or touche any thyng whiche thei pretende to be theirs and whiche thei haue in theirs
handes yet thought I it good to write the same againe vnto you to thintent I might bee as a Remembrauncer to you as it is the duetie of al true Apostles to bee to perseuere and continue in that doctrine which ye haue learned to practise and exercise it and to liue accordyng to the preceptes rules and directions thereof not thinkyng that I doe preache any other thyng vnto you now then ye haue afore bothe heard and learned The Churche that is at Babylon elected together with you saluteth you SAlutations were wont in this sorte to bee sent by letters The Churche saieth he that is at Babylon saluteth you There were twoo greate Cities of this name the one in Chaldaea the other in Aegypt whiche is now called Alkair Rome also by an Allegorie is called Babylon because of the greate confusion of villainous vices beeyng gathered thither as into the common Sinke of the worlde And some would faine haue it to be here so taken But I can not bée brought to that opinion The woorde by interpretation signifieth Confusion It is moste like to bee that Babylon in Assyria or Chaldaea where Saincte Peter was the Apostle of the Circumcision And Marcus my Sonne SOme saie this was Marke the Euangelist whom he calleth his Sonne not after the Flesh but after the Spirit As sainct Paule likewise calleth Timotheus and Titus his Soonnes and writeth to the Corinthians that he had begotten them in Christ Greete ye one an other with the kisse of Loue. THis custome of Kissyng is now growen out of vse Wee reade in the Gospell that Christ kissed his Disciples whiche was a custome then in those Countreis Of this Kisse Sainct Paule also maketh often mention Act. xx.j. Cor. xvj ij Cor. xiij Rom. xvj Peace bee with you all whiche are in Christe Iesus Amen THat is whiche faithfullie beleeue in Christe And this is the ende of this his former Epistle wherein he commendeth theim vnto the protection and tuition of Almightie God who mercifullie graunt that wee maie throughlie vnderstande and effectuallie keepe and practise the doctrine comprised in the same Amen ⧠An Induction or Preface of D. Martine Luther into the seconde Epistle generall of Sainct Peter SAinct Peter perceiuyng and foreseyng that the true pure doctrine of Faithe should after his daies be corrupted obscured and dimmed writeth this Epistle wherein â—e meetetâ— with two errors at once arisyng out of the false vnderstandyng of this doctrine of Faithe and giueth moste profitable lessons of either parte to witte first that no man ascribe any suche strength or force to VVoorkes as that thei should be any waie able to iustifie vs before God for that is the effect of Faithe onelie Againe that no man should thinke that Faithe can bee without Good woorkes For wee can no soner preach of Faith how that it alone without the helpe of any our Good woorkes maketh vs iuste and acceptable before GOD but straightwaies some are readie to barke against vs saiyng that then it is needelesse and bootelesse for any manne to doe any Good deedes and this wee knowe by daiely experience is the common speech and saiyng On the other side when we vrge and teache Good woorkes praise them then Faithe falleth and looseth muche of her dignitie So that wee see it to bee a verie hard matter in this behalfe to kepe a right meane speciallie where there is want of painfull and faithfull Preachers Now the Lorde teacheth vs that we should attribute all our Iustification before God vnto a sincere Faithe in Christe Iesus But when wee haue thus soundly preached inculked this infallible doctrine of Faithe we must also teache that Good woorkes muste needes ensue Because wee maie not at any hande so long as wee be in this life bee idle without dooyng some woorke All this doeth Sainct Peter in this Epistle pursue and discourse vppon at large meetyng with those who peradueÌ„ture out of his former Epistle had foded themselues with a false opinion and mistaken his meanyng in thinking Faithe to bee sufficient although there be no good VVorkes at all And vpon this poinct is the firste Chapter of this Epistle specially written wherin he teacheth and willeth the godlie to approue and declare the certaintie of their Faithe by their Good workes The seconde Chapter is against them whiche extoll VVorkes onelie and throwe doune Faithe And therfore he warneth vs aforehande of false teachers and seducers whiche by newe doctrines of their owne deuise should darken and abolishe this assuraunce whiche eche one ought firmely to haue of Faithe for he sawe what detestable iugglyng Apostacie add departyng awaie from the Faithe would bee in the worlde whiche euen then beganne as Saincte Paule saieth ij Thess ij The Mysterie of Iniquitie doeth alreadie woorke Jn the third hee plainlie describeth and setteth out the impietie of those that make a mockage and ieste of the woorde of God and sheweth that in the latter daies the people through vnbebeleef and lacke of feare of the Iudgement of the laste daie shalbee euen as Epicures whollie giuen to the fleshe This Epistle therfore is written to forewarne vs to shewe our Faithe by our VVorkes but yet not so that we should haue any confideÌ„ce or trust in our VVorkes or thinke them any whitte or in any respecte meritorious or auaileable towarde our saluation The second Epistle Generall of Sainct Peter ¶ The first Chapter SImon Peter a seruant and an Apostle of Iesus Christe to you whiche haue obteined like precious faith with vs by the righteousnesse of our GOD and Sauiour Iesus Christe Grace and peace bee multiplied to you by the knowledge of God and of Iesus our Lorde Accordyng as his godly power hath giuen vnto vs all thinges that perteine vnto life and godlinesse through the knowledge of hym that hath called vs vnto glorie vertue Wherby most greate precious promises are giueÌ„ vnto vs that by theÌ„ ye should be partakers of the godly nature in that ye flee the corruptioÌ„ which is in the world through lust Therefore giue euen al diligence thereunto ioyne moreouer vertue with your faithe and with vertue knowledge And with knowledge temperance and with temperance patience and with patience godlinesse And with godlinesse brotherly kindnesse with brotherly kindnesse loue For if these thinges bee among you and abounde they will make you that ye neither shalbe ydle nor vnfruitfull in the knowledge of our Lorde Iesus Christe For he that hath not these thinges is blind and can not see farre of and hath forgotten that he was purged from his olde sinnes Wherefore brethren giue rather diligence to make your callyng and election sure for if ye doe these thinges ye shall neuer fall For by this meanes an entring shalbe ministred vnto you abundantly into the euerlasting kingdome of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christe Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you alwaies in remembraunce of these thynges though that ye haue knowledge and be
Worlde This is alreadie saieth Iude begunne to bee put in practise For wee reade that this mischiefe of Bishoppes seeking Lordly authoritie and higher prerogatiue then other Christians beganne aboue a thousande yeares agoe whiche thyng in the Epistles of Hierome is euidently to bee seen And deny GOD the onely Lorde and our Lorde Iesus Christ SO also writeth Sainct Peter in his Christs But that Deniyng as it is there and here in 〈◊〉 is not with the mouthe for outwardly in woordes thei confesse that GOD is the Lords but in their woorkes and dealynges thei flatly deny the Lorde Christ not acknowledgyng hym to bee their Lorde but chalenge rather a Lordinesse and predenimation vnto themselues For when as thei Preache that Fastyng Pilgrimage buildyng of Abbaies Chastitie Obedience Pouertie and suche like is the right high waie to felicitie thei thâ—reâ—â— miserablie seduce and drawe men from the truthe to them wretched Workes vtterly suppressyng concealyng and keepyng Christ doune Which is no lesse then if thei should saie Christ auaileth that nothyng neither can his woorkes and 〈◊〉 fires any whitte helpe thee Thou must needes trust to thy self and merite Heauen with thyne owne Workes And thus thei â—â—ny the Lorde who hath bought and redeemed vs with his owne precious bloud as S. Peter afore declared I will therefore putte you in remembraune for as muche as ye onto knewe this how that the Lorde after that he had deliuered the people out of Aegipt destroied them afterward whiche beleeued not The Angels also whiche kept not their first estate but left their owne habitation he hath reserued in euerlastyng chaines vnder darknesse vnto the iudgement of the greate daie As Sodome and Gomorrhe and the Cities aboute them whiche in like maner as thei did committed Fornication and followed strange fleshe are sett forthe for an ensample and 〈◊〉 the vengeaunce of eternall Fier HEre he inferreth three seuerall examples whereof the two last are meÌ„tioned why S. Peter One onely he here addeth more and 〈◊〉 it of the children of Isral whom God by many wonders brought out of the Lande of Egipt and who for their vnbelief dyed in the Wildernesse and were destroyed so that of sixe hundreth thousande men beside women and children vnder twentie yeares that came out of Egipt there were left no moe but onely twaine Num. xj This example he bringeth for an admonition and terrour as if hee should saie let those that are called by the name of Christians and vnder colour thereof turne the grace of God into wantonnesse take heede and looke well to themselues least that happen vnto them whiche light vppon the Israelites And truely since the tyme that blind Poperie beganne and the clere light of the Gospell was couered and restrained from beeing publiquely preached one plague hath still fallen in the necke of an other whereby GOD hath still from tyme to tyme taken reuenge of the vnbeleeuers and giuen them ouer into the very Iawes of Sathan Likewise notwithstandyng these Dreamers also defile the fleshe THese Doctors Teachers he calleth Dreamers because that as when one dreameth he thynketh himself to haue somewhat and to see many thynges whiche in truth are but vaine phantasies and when he awaketh and seeth himself to haue nothyng then perceiueth he all to bee but a dreame so maketh he no accoumpt thereof So whatsoeuer these iuggling Rabbines and Lordly maisters doe saie is nothyng but mere dreames whiche they shall one daie when their eyes shalbee opened well finde and know to haue been nothyng at all And namely when thei goe about to perswade men that their shauen crounes their forked Cappes their wilfull Pouertie their counterfaite Chastitie their vowed Obedience suche like trashe and guegawes are thinges very acceptable vnto God Herein they merueilouslie bleaâ—â— themselues in their owne imaginations and thinke themselues to see that whiche in deede is but false and phantasticall and no better then a very fonde and foolishe dreame as in truthe all this their trashe and tromperie is before God nothyng els but mere dreames and lyes Therefore in callyng them Dreamers he did very wel and hit them home with their right name for that with their dreames they seduce and beguile bothe themselues and the Worlde This vice of liuyng looselie and wantonlie the Apostles doe peculiarly attribute and ascribe to those whiche bee greazed Priestes and marked Baalamites God long agoe foretolde vs that they should bee a Sect liuyng without Wiues And Daniell also prophecying of the kyngdome of the Pope foretolde long agoe that their lust should be vpon women Dan. xj because he foresawe that thei would be suche as could not abide to bee linked in lawfull mariage with any women but burne in lust and wicked concupiscence And this is one of the outwarde iolie vertues not muche vnlike to that their other inwarde properties namely that they are dreamyng Sleepers And despise gouernemente and speake euill of theÌ„ that are in aucthoritie THeir third qualitie is that thei refuse to bee subiecte to the Temporall Sworde and Ciuile Magistrate But wee knowe and so teache that so long as wee liue vppon Earth wee are bounde by the Worde of GOD to yeeld our obedience vnto Magistrates For the Faithe of Christe doeth not violate infringe and disanull externall Pollicie and therefore it is not lawfull for any man to exempt hymself from his obedience toward them Wherevpon we see it plainly and consequently prooued that the Popes Canons and Decrees touchyng Ecclesiasticall Immunitie bee nothyng but verie deuises and inuentions of Sathan Yet Michael the Archangell wheÌ„ he stroue against the Deuill and disputed about the bodie of Moses durst not blame hym with cursed speakyng but saied The Lorde rebuke thee THis is one of the places for the whiche this Epistle was of the old Fathers not allowed and receiued for Canonicall because he here alledgeth an example whiche is not read els where in any place within the whole bodie of the Bible Namely that Michaell the Archangell contended with the Deuill about the bodie of Moses This contention some thinke grewe herevpon because there are so many notable stories written of Moses namelie in the laste of Deuter where wee reade that the Angell of God buried hym but that no man knoweth of his Sepulchre where it is vnto this daie Againe because the Scripture testifieth of hym in the same Chapter that there arose not a Prophete in Israell like vnto Moses whom the Lorde knewe face to face c. Seyng therefore in what greate estimation and reuerence Moses was among the Iewes some of the Interpreters and Expositors that write vpon that same laste Chapter of Deut. saie that Moses was buried by God and that his Sepulchre was neuer hitherto knowen or founde by any man Whiche God did to the intente the Iewes should bee kept from all occasion of committyng Idolatrie whereinto thei might easily and quickly haue slipped if thei had had the bodie of so noble and renoumed a
to require Hee appointeth no certen tyme as the Pope hath doen how long wee must faste but leaueth it to euery ones iudgement so to fast that hee bee alwaies sober that hee doe not so surcharge his bodie with ouermuche eatyng and drinking but that he maie haue the perfect vse of reason and knowe how to vse his senses aright and how to liue profitably and beneficially to others in his vocation For it is a very preposterous absurde and vnprofitable thyng to giue a generall precept hereof vnto the whole people or to the Churche for asmuche as wee are vnlike among our selues one hath a strong bodie another a weake so that it is needefull for one to absteine muche for an other to absteine little that the bodie maie neuerthelesse remaine in health and bee fit to doe good workes Againe there bee some that deale cleane contrarily and thinke thei doe very well in fastyng nothyng at all supposyng that thei maie without respecte of tyme eate what thei will But herein thei doe not well for albeit thei haue somewhat tasted of the Gospell yet haue thei profited little or nothyng like vnto the former For thei haue profited no further but onely to contemne the Lawes of the Pope Thei will not girde vp their mynde and senses as Peter here biddeth neither do thei bridle the desires of their bodie that the sluggishnesse and lasciuiousnesse thereof maie bee repressed It is good to faste howbeit the right Faste in deede is to giue the bodie no more nourishmente then is needefull to preserue it in healthe also to exercise it with labours and watchynges least this old Asse of ours become more wanton and lasciuious then is meete Let hym bee restrained and bridled and obedient to the Spirite whiche Saincte Peter calleth here to bee sober Not as some are wont to faste who so excessiuely engorge and pamper them selues with fishe and the beste sortes of wine at one diner that thei make their beallies like a Taber or Drumme with stuffyng and crammyng them so full Truste perfectly on the grace that is brought vnto you SVche is Christian Faithe that with all affiaunce it wholie trusteth to the woorde of God quietly committeth it self vnto it and confidently attempteth whatsoeuer it teacheth Whereupon S. Peter saith then are the loynes of the mynde girded vp then is your faith sincere and sounde when ye doe quietly and confidently commit your selues to the Worde of God and be bolde vpon trust therein hauyng no regarde whatsoeuer thyng of yours commeth into perill whether it bee riches or good name bodie or euen the life it self Excellently therefore hath he in these wordes described a sincere and vnfeined Faithe For Faithe must not be sluggishe and sleepie whiche is rather a dreame then a Faithe but it must bee liuely and effectuall so that one would with all confidence offer him self to all afflictions and troubles whatsoeuer and depende wholy on the Woorde esteemyng indifferently whatsoeuer state God sendeth that wee maie patiently susteine aduersitie as well as enioye prosperitie As for examples sake when I must dye I must confidently commit my self to Christe I muste quietly offer my life for his sake and trustyng to the Woorde whiche can not deceiue I muste boldly and couragiously triumpht ouer myne aduersaries It is needfull moreouer that Faith should passe through without declinyng any waie and that it suffer it self to be hindered and terrified by no meanes that it remoue frō the eyes whatsoeuer it seeth heareth or feeleth Suche a faithe doeth Sainct Peter require whiche consisteth not in thinkyng and woordes but in mightie power and effectuall vertue Further saieth sainct Peter Trust perfectlie on the grace that is brought vnto you that is to saie You haue not deserued this exceadyng greate grace but it is euen freelie offered and brought vnto you For the Gospell whiche declareth and publisheth this grace vnto vs wée our selues haue neither deuised nor found out but the holie Ghost hath sent it frō heauen into the worlde And what thyng is it that is brought vnto vs Forsooth euen the thinges whiche wee haue afore mentioned Namelie that whosoeuer beleeueth in Christe and cleaueth faste vnto his woorde hath together with hym all the benefites and blessynges whiche bee his in so muche that he is thereby euen a Lorde ouer Synne Death Deuill and Helle and is moste certainly assured of euerlastyng life This so greate a treasure is brought home to vs as it were to our owne doores and laied vp in our bosomes without any our owne helpe merite or deseruyng yea euen vnhoped and vnlooked for when we neither knewe of it nor so muche as once thought of any suche matter And therefore the Apostle exhorteth vs that wee should boldlie and vndoubtedlie looke for this Grace because that God whiche offereth and bestoweth the same vpon vs can not in any wise lye By the reuelation of Iesu Christe GOD offereth his Grace to none but by Christ and therefore without this Mediatour lette no mā presume to come into his sight as we haue afore admonished For he will heare no manne but hym that bryngeth with hym Christe his moste deare Sonne to bee his Aduocate and Spokesman as one whom he onely hath respecte vnto and for his sake to all those that by Faithe cleaue faste vnto hym And therefore he requireth at our handes that we acknowledge his Sonne as the persone by whose blood wée are at one with hym and now dare to present our selues before hym For to this ende came our Lord Christ who taking flesh and blood vnto him ioyned hymself with vs that hee might obtaine pardon and purchase Grace for vs at y t hādes of his Father By this faith in Christ were all the Prophetes and Patriarches saued For it behooued all menne generally to beleeue this promise made vnto Abraham In thy seede shall all Nations bee blessed And therefore the Iewes Turkes and all thei that repose any truste in their owne workes hopyng thereby to winne heauen haue no Faithe at all in them And therefore dooeth Peter saie Grace is brought to you but yet by the reuelation of Iesu Christe or to speake it more plainly by this that Iesus Christe is reuealed vnto you In the Gospell it is shewed vnto vs what Christe is that we maie throughly knowe hym namely that he is our Sauiour that he taketh awaie our Sinnes that he deliuereth vs out of all miseries that he reconcileth vs vnto his Father and that without any our workes he doeth iustifie and saue vs. Who soeuer doeth not thus acknowledge Christ is altogether deceiued For albeit thou knowe hym to bee the Sonne of GOD who died rose againe and sitteth now at the right hande of his Father yet hast thou not thereby throughly knowne Christ neither shall this knowyng of hym any whitt auaile thee vnlesse thou proceede a steppe further and bothe knowe and also beleeue that he did all these thynges for thee to helpe relieue and comfort
righteousnesse without Christ the further of is he from true righteousnesse and the deeper is hee plunged and drouned in the gulphie dungeon of blindnesse and iniquitie makyng himself guiltie of this most precious bloud Other grosse externall vices are in effect little to bee made accoumpt of in comparison of this odious Sinne that teacheth vs to attaine our iustification and righteousnesse by workes and whiche frameth a worshipping of God according to the imagination of mans idle braine and phantasie For by this meanes that most innocent bloud of Christ is dishonored and moste shamefully blasphemed Euen as the Gentiles and Heathen people did farre more grieuously sinne in honouryng the Sunne and Moone whiche thei thought to bee the true worshipping of God then thei did in committyng any other faultes whiche thei were out of all doubt to be sinfull and lewde And therefore humane iustification and righteousnesse is nothyng els but a mere blasphemie of GOD and of all offences that man is able to commit the moste hainous And so those thinges that now the worlde embraceth and accoumpteth for the right worshippe of God and for the perfect waie to iustification are accoumpted greater Synne in the face of God then any other faultes whatsoeuer Of the which sort are the professed orders of religious Cloysterers and Munkes and whatsoeuer els hath any glorious glitteryng shew in the iudgement of the world and yet neuerthelesse are cleane without faithe And therefore whosoeuer he bee that by any other waie or meane seeketh the grace of God then by his Blood better is were for hym neuer to come in the sight of GOD as he that with his owne beggerlie righteousnesse doeth more and more displease and offende his diuine Maiestie As of a Lambe vndefiled and without spotte HErevpon againe doth Sainct Peter expounde and interprete the Scriptures For this Epistle although breef and short is wonderfull effectuall pithie and riche So a little afore where he speaketh of their vaine conuersation in pursuyng the traditions of their Fathers he did as it were lightly touche sundrie places of the Prophetes as namelie that place in the xvj of Ieremie The Gentiles shall come vnto thee from the endes of the worlde and shall saie Surelie our Fathers haue inherited Lyes and Vanitie c. As though he should saie euen the Prophetes foretolde that you should be redeemed from the traditions of your Fathers After the same sorte he here also leadeth vs into the Scriptures where as he saieth You were redeemed with the precious blood of Christ as of a Lambe vndefiled and without spotte For here dooeth he expounde that whiche is read in the Prophetes and Moses as that in the liij of Esaie He was brought as a sheepe to the slaughter And the figure meante in the xij of Exod. by the Paschall Lambe All these thynges dooeth he here interprete and saieth This Lambe is Christe who as it behooued hym to bee without blemishe or spotte so also was he vndefiled and without spotte whose blood was shedde for vs. Who was ordeined before the foundation of the worlde but was declared in the laste tymes WEE haue deserued nothyng at all ne yet so muche as euer desired this thyng that the precious blood of Christe should bee shedde for vs and therefore there is no cause or matter herein whereof wee maie lawfullie of our selues glorie or make any bragge All glorie apperteineth onely to GOD who without any our â—â—â—ites promised â—eueiled and manifested that whiche from euerlasting euen before the fouÌ„dation of the worlde was laied he had foreseen and foreordeined And in the Prophetes were these thynges promised but yet couertlie not plainlie and openlie but now after the resurrection of Christ and sendyng of the holie Ghoste are openlie preached and plainly published throughout the worlde This is now the laste tyme as Saincte Peter saieth in whiche wee are whiche from the tyme of Christes Ascension continueth till the daie of the laste Iudgement For so doe the Apostles and Prophetes call it and Christe hymself tearmeth it the laste howre Not that the daie of Iudgement shall shortly approche and come anone after the Ascension of Christe but because that after this preachyng of the Gospell of Christ there should bee none other And that wee should not looke for any further reuelation or more manifestation of Grace then is now alreadie reueiled and manifested Heretofore alwaies one reuelation was shewed after an other Wherevpon in the vj. of Exod. the Lorde saieth My name Adonai haue I not reueiled vnto them For albeit the Patriarches knewe GOD yet had thei not suche a manifest declaration and preachyng of God as afterward was published and sette out by Moses and the Prophetes Now there was neuer any preachyng heard of in all the worlde notabler or more manifest then the Gospell wherefore it is also the last as the whiche after the course of those former tymes expired is in this laste age reueiled vnto vs. Furthermore also accordyng to the accoumpte and computacion of tyme the ende of the worlde is not farre of as S. Peter in his seconde Epistle and third Chapter declareth saiyng One daie is with the Lorde as a thousande yeres and a thousande yeres as one daie For his meanyng thereby is to call vs awaie from the earnall computation of this tyme because we should esteeme thereof accordyng to the iudgemente of GOD. Wherein certainly the laste time and finall ende is fullie come For that small tyme that is lefte behinde remainyng is with GOD as nothyng Saluation is now reueiled and throughlie perfected onely God suffereth the worlde thus still to stande and continue to the intent he might be the more throughlie honored and glorified albeit as touchyng hymself he is so perfectly reueiled that it is not to bee looked for that he shalbe any perfectlyer manifested For your sakes whiche by his meanes doe beleeue in God that raised hym from the deade and gaue hym glorie that your Faithe and Hope might bee in God FOr your sakes saieth he is the Gospell reueiled For God his Christ had no neede therof it was doen for our healthe and saluation to the ende that wee should beleeue in hym Neither haue we of our owneselues strength and power so to dooe but through Christe who maketh intercession vnto his Father for vs Who was raised from the deade that he might raigne ouer all thynges in somuche that he whiche beleeueth in hym hath all the good thynges that bee his and by hym ascendeth vp to the Father And by this meanes haue we faithe in God and through this faithe also hope Onely faithe is it that must saue vs but yet a sure and firme faithe in God For unlesse God helpe thee thou shalt be sure euer to remaine helplesse and therefore it is to no purpose though all the men in the worlde doe neuer so muche fauour thee The fauour of God is onely necessarie wherein thou maiest glorie that he is thy Father and
how we ought to behaue our selues in our workes and dealinges towards our Neighbor The seconde Chapter WHerefore laiyng aside al maliciousnesse and all guile and dissimulation and enuie and all euill speakyng As newe borne babes desire that sincere milke of the worde that ye may growe thereby If so bee that ye haue tasted how bountifull the Lorde is To whom commyng as vnto a liuing stone disalowed of men but chosen of God and precious Ye also as liuely stones bee made a spirituall house an holy Priesthood to offer vp spirituall sacrifices acceptable to God by Iesus Christ Wherefore also it is contained in the Scripture Behold I put in Sion a chiefe corner stone elect and precious and he that beleeueth therein shall not be ashamed Vnto you therefore whiche beleeue it is precious but vnto them whiche be disobedient the stone which the builders disalowed the same is made the head of the corner And a stone to stumble at and a rocke of offence euen to them whiche stumble at the worde beeyng disobedient vnto the whiche thyng they were euen ordeined But ye are a chosen generation a royall Priesthood an holy nation a people set at libertie that ye shoulde shewe forthe the vertues of hym that hath called you out of darkenesse into his merueilous light Whiche in tyme past wore not a people yet are now the people of God which in tyme past were not vnder mercie but now haue obtained mercie Dearely beloued I beseche you as strāgers pilgrims absteine from fleshly lustes whiche fight against the soule And haue your conuersation honest among the Gentiles that they whiche speake euill of you as of euill doers maie by your good woorkes whiche they shall see glorifie God in the day of visitation Therefore submitte your selues vnto all maner ordinance of man for the Lordes sake whether it bee vnto the King as vnto the superiour Or vnto gouernours as vnto thē that are sent of him for the punishment of euill doers and for the praise of them that doe well For so is the will of God that by well doyng ye maie put to silence the ignorance of the foolishe men As free and not as hauyng the libertie for a cloake of maliciousnesse but as the seruantes of God Honor al men loue brotherly fellowship feare God honour the Kyng Seruants bee subiect to your maisters with all feare not onely to the good courteous but also to the froward For this is thankeworthie if a man for conscience towarde God endure griefe sufferyng wrongfully For what praise is it if when ye bee buffeted for your faultes ye take it paciently but and if when ye doe well ye suffer wrong and take it paciently this is acceptable to God For hereunto ye are called for Christe also suffered for you leauyng you an ensample that ye should follow his steppes Who did no sinne neither was there guile founde in his mouth Who when he was reuiled reuiled not againe when he suffred he threatened not but committed it to hym that iudgeth righteously Who his owne self bare our sinnes in his bodie on the tree that wee beyng dead to sinne should liue in righteousnesse by whose stripes ye were healed For ye were as sheepe goyng astraye but are now returned vnto the sheepherde and bishoppe of your soules HEre beginneth he to teache vs the right works of a Christiā life the true fruites of the same Wee haue oftentymes afore shewed that in these two thinges Faithe towardes God and Loue towarde our neighbour doeth consist and is contained the whole life of a Christian Also that this Faith of Christe is not giuen to any but that there remaine neuerthelesse in our fleshe so long as wee here liue many naughtie concupiscences lustes and desires sithins that none here in this worlde can be so holie but that he liueth in the fleshe and whatsoeuer is in the flesh the same can not be perfectly cleane Therefore saieth sainct Peter be ye so instructed that ye may abstaine frō the Sinnes which as yet adhere and cleaue vnto you and against them see that ye continually fight for those be the most daūgerous and most pernicious enemies that we haue which lye within our owne bosomes and in the middest of our fleshe and bloud dooe watche sleepe and liue with vs as it were some troublesome Guest of whom when a man hath once harboured and taken hym into his house he can not againe be ridde Wherefore seeing that Christ through Faith is all and wholly yours and that you bee now possessed of his sauyng healthe and all other his benefites and graces knowe ye now that this charge and duetie lyeth vppon you that you laie aside all maliciousnesse or whatsoeuer is euill all guile that is that none deale with an other vnfaithfullie and dissemblinglie let there not bee seene any falshood in fellowshippe amōg you as the prouerbe is neither any craft and treacherie whiche God hee knoweth is now adaies too rise But as it becommeth vs that bee Christians in all poinctes towarde God to deale not feinedly and crookedly but directly sincerely and with a pure harte so also towardes men it is our partes to deale plainly simply and iustly that no man ouerreache or vndermyne an other in buying selling or suche like So saieth sainct Paule Ephes 4. Put awaie liyng and let euery man speake truthe vnto his neighbour The truthe is this that your speeche bee yea yea and naye naye Dissembling is when one sheweth him self an other maner of man outwardly then he is inwardly in minde affected It behoueth therefore and is required of euery man that he beare and shew hym self suche outwardlie as hee is in deede and in harte inwardlie A Christian ought so to liue that he maie not care though all men see and knowe what he thinketh in his harte as he that in all his conuersation and life seeketh nothyng els but to glorifie God and to be seruiceable vnto his neighbour not fearing any man at all For euery one ought to shewe hymself suche an one in the verie secretes of his minde as he is outwardly accoumpted and not vnder the visor of honestie to deceiue and bleare the eyes of the people Sainct Peter further saieth that wee must also laye aside Enuie and euill speakinges Wherein hee doeth very aptlie and well reproue those vices that among men are vsuall and common in their mutuall traffiques and dealinges This vice of euill speakyng is a sinne now adaies very common and rife quickly slipped into and sooner committed then a man would weene Therefore take heede to your selues saieth he of this fault yea although ye haue the Spirite to the intent that ye maie by proofe know what be the fruictes of the Spirite As newe borne Babes desire the sincere milke of the worde that ye maie growe thereby HEre hee bryngeth in a similitude and his meaning thereby is this ye now are newe borne by the worde of God and therefore so
externall and outwarde Policies as the maintenaunce defence and fortification of Cities building and making of Bridges appointyng and assessyng of Tributes Receite of Reuenues mainteinyng and continuyng of peace defendyng their Territories Landes and Dominions and settyng order for punishement of Malefactours and Offendours Therfore eche Christian maie without daunger naie willingly and of his owne accord not compulsiuely and forciblie ought to yeelde his obedience vnto suche a Prince sithens he chalengeth no authoritie ouer his Conscience Therefore now if either Emperour Kyng or Prince should aske mee what my Faithe is I ought plainly to confesse and protest the same vnto him not for any his commaundement but for that I otherwise am bounde to confesse my Faithe openly before all men as often as occasion is offered Now if he should proceede further with me commaundyng me to beleeue this waie or that waie then muste I saie after this sorte vnto hym Noble Prince your charge is in respect of an externall Principalitie and Empire looke well to that your authoritie reacheth not to encermeddle with the Kyngdome of God it is not lawfull for you to eueroache vppon the sanie nor to vsurpe vnto your self that which belongeth to him alone and therefore herein I maie not obeye you You can not well abide that any other should chalenge any right vnto him self within any of your Dominions yea if he should but onely passe through the rankes of your Watchmen setting them at naught as though thei had not to deale with hym you would I saie I am sure pursue such a one with Gūnes Glaues and other store of Partiall prouision And how then can you think that GOD will suffer you to attempt to pull him out of his Seate and to set your self in his place Sainct Peter calleth here the ciuile Magistrate onely the Ordinaunce of man and therfore their authoritie stretcheth not as of themselues to enact and commaunde any thing vppon the Statutes of God and poinctes of our Faithe Seruants be subiect to your maisters with al feare not onely to the good courteous but also to the froward For this is thankeworthie if a man for conscience towarde God endure griefe sufferyng wrongfully For what praise is it if when ye bee buffeted for your faultes ye take it paciently but and if when ye doe well ye suffer wrong and take it paciently this is acceptable to God SAinct Peter hitherto hath taught vs how wee should be subiect vnto the ciuil Magistrate and what honour wee ought to giue vnto the same In the discourse whereof wee haue declared how farre it extendeth and how the same Magistrates are not to stretche their authoritie further then their limited Commission neither to ouerrule matters of Faithe All whiche is spoken of Magistrates in generall and therfore this doctrine appertaineth vnto all Now he speaketh of suche Magistracie as appertaineth not to the whole Cōmonwealth but to certaine priuate persones And first of all how a Familie ought to bee gouerned and how Seruauntes in an householde ought to demeane and behaue themselues towarde their Maisters The meanyng of all whiche his wordes in effect is this Seruauntes both men and women are Christians aswell as others hauyng one and the same Worde one Faithe one Baptisme all other benefites besides aswell as any others and therefore in the sight of God are nothyng inferiour to any other Onely here in this worlde in this externall and tēporall life there is some difference for in that respecte thei are of lesse accoumpt and estimation and therein beeyng inferiours and vnderlinges they are bounde to waite and obeye Therefore seeyng that God hath called them to that estate thei ought so to frame and enure themselues in their dueties that thei shew their subiection and testifie their submission vnto their Maisters honour them reuerence them be seruiceable vnto them and carefullie looke to their dealinges and businesse Wherevppon the Prophete Dauid Psalm Cxxiij borowyng from them a very apt and proper similitude signifieth thereby how diligently thei ought to attende vnto their Maisters and Maistresses As the eyes of the Seruauntes looke vnto the handes of their Maisters and as the eyes of a Maiden vnto the handes of her Maistresse so do our eyes waite vpō the Lord our God whiche is as muche to saie as Seruauntes and waiting Maidens ought with submission and feare to doe whatsoeuer maie please their Maister and Maistresse God requireth it and therefore thei ought with cherefull and willyng myndes to doe it That which thou thus doest accordyng to the Word of God and Faithe bee assured is acceptable and allowed of God And therefore these are the best workes of al others that a man can woorke so that a man maie here perceiue that hee needeth not to got farre to dooe other Woorkes What thy Maister commaundeth his Seruaunt or the Maistresse her Maide that hath God commaunded to be doen of thee Think it not to bee the bare commaundement of man although it be vttered and doen by man And therefore thou oughtest not to consider and respect what maner a Maister he is whom thou seruest whether he be good or badd gentle and curteous waiwarde and churlish but thinke this rather what maner a Maister soeuer he bee yet is it my duetie truely and faithfullie to serue hym and diligently to applie my self in his businesse and that for Gods sake who requireth the same at my handes remembryng also that my Lorde Iesus Christe for the redemption and freedome of me became a Seruaunt This is the true doctrine of life whiche ought continually to bee inculked and beaten into the heades of all men but alas the blindnesse of our age is so greate that it is nowadaies almoste quight abolished and vtterlie extincte And this doctrine is of suche sorte that none can well embrace and like of it sauyng onely true Christians who haue their lesson for the same out of the Gospell And therefore if thou wilt be the true child of God frame thy mynde so to serue thy maister as if Christe hymself were present and commaunded thee euery particuler charge to doe For so writeth saincte Paule Ephe. vj. Seruauntes bee obediente vnto theim that are your Maisters accordyng to the fleshe with feare and tremblyng in singlenesse of your hartes as vnto Christe not with seruice to the eye as men pleasers but as the seruauntes of Christ doyng the will of GOD from the harte with good will seruyng the Lorde and not men And againe Coloss iij. For ye serue the Lorde Christe Oh that our Monkes and Nunnes now adaies were in that state that these poore Seruaūtes are what ioye might thei haue in their consciences and to giue God thankes for his benefites There is neuer a one of theim that can truely saie God hath commaunded me to heare a Masse to sing Mattins to mumble vp the Seuen houres or suche like Trumperies For there is not so muche as one woorde thereof spoken in all the
is not hereby required at our handes to saie that he whiche hath harmed vs hath doen therein well and iustly For the Iudgment that is betwene God and thee is of a farre other sorte then the iudgment betweene thee and me I maie foster and nourish in my harte hatred euill lustes and dissolutes desires wherein I nothyng at all hinder or harme thee as thou likewise hurtest not mee in that whiche thou doest but yet before God I am vnjust and haue deserued sharpe punishment and therefore if he punish me for the sinne he dealeth iustly with me and doeth me no wrong for I haue deserued it If he doe not punishe me but pardon my trespasse offence yet he doeth therein iustlie for alwaies and in all thinges iustice and righteousnesse is to bee ascribed vnto hym albeit herevpon it followeth not but that he doth vniustly which persecuteth mee For although I haue grieuouslie sinned and am guiltie of hainous offences before the Maiestie of God yet haue I not thereby wronged hym that without cause persecuteth mee Therfore when God giueth leaue to the Deuill and euill persones to haue power to woorke any harme vnto thee and to afflict thee hauyng doen no harme vnto them knowe this that God vseth them as Executioners of his Iustice that thou maiest thereby learne that godlesse persons and wrongfull practises are to the godlie thinges bothe good expedient and profitable For so reade we Ezech. xxix of Kyng Nebuchadnezzar where the Lorde by his Prophete saieth Dooest thou not knowe that he is my seruaunte and serued a greate seruice for me And then he further saieth Behold I will giue hym a rewarde for I haue not as yet recompenced hym for the labour and seruice that he did for me I will giue vnto hym the lande of Aegypt for his labour and it shall bee the wages for his Armie for he serued againste it and thei wrought for me saieth the Lorde God This Kyng had neither right nor aucthoritie ouer the Egyptians but GOD had bothe And therefore it pleased hym by this Kyng and his Armie as by his instrumentes to take punishement on theim And in this sorte also are euill and gracelesse persones the Seruauntes of GOD and serue hym because thei should not bee fedde at his hande francklie and freelie without doyng somewhat for their liuyng For God commonlie franketh and pampereth theim full of these Temporall pleasures and worldlie delightes in lieu whereof he vseth their ministerie and seruice to woorke his will and that thei should Butcherlie persecute his Sainctes Whiche purpose of God because these bloodie Wolues by their fleshelie reason can not looke into thei thereby nozzle themselues in this errour that thei thinke themselues to deale therein verie well and godlie Whereas in deede thei are in this present worlde onely rewarded with wealth prosperitie Pompe Dignities Reuenues Iurisdictions and Seigniories and that for none other cause but for that thei bee Gods Hangmen and Executioners to persecute the godlie Christians And therefore if thou pacientlie suffer and sanctifie God in thy dealynges yeeldyng vnto hym thankes for all thinges whatsoeuer it pleaseth him to sende vnto thee there is no doubt but all goeth well with thee For he will neuer faile them that vnfeinedlie truste in hym but will assuredlie throwe and caste thy persecutours excepte thei earnestlie repent into hell fire there to bee perpetually tormented euen for the wronges that thei haue dooen vnto thee whereas thée he will mercifullie receiue into endlesse blisse and felicitie And therefore be contented to let hym iudge and requite for of hym shall euery one receiue accordyng to his desertes An example hereof wee haue in the holie man Iob. Who after that all his goodes were consumed his Cattall taken awaie his Children slaine and al that he had wasted brake out into no worse woordes then these The Lorde hath giuen and the Lorde hath taken awaie againe euen as it hath pleased the Lord so is it come to passe blessed be the name of the Lord. Iob. j. And when as his wife came to hym mocking and skornyng hym saiyng What meanest thou What gettest thou by this thy vprightnesse Blaspheme God and dye But he said vnto her Thou speakest like a foolishe woman what Shall wee receiue good at the hande of God and not receiue euill Wherefore euen as it hath pleased him so is it come to passe as the Lorde hath giuen saieth he so hath he taken awaie againe It was not God that gaue and the Deuill that tooke awaie but yet the Deuill was the meane or Instrumēt whereby all this was doen but he did it none otherwise then as a minister or Tormentor appoincted therevnto by GOD. This man righly sanctified God wherefore God also highly commended hym and wonderfully enryched and dignified hym And bee readie alwaies to giue an answere to euery man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you and that with meekenesse reuerence WEE must needes confesse that sainct Peter writeth these wordes vnto all Christians in general aswell to Popes and Popishe Clergie as to the Laitie to Women aswell as to Men to yong aswell as to old of what state sexe or condition so euer they bee willyng euery one that professeth Christianitie without any exception to hold fast the sure ground worke of their Faith wherby thei maie at all tymes bee able to yeeld a reason of the same and to aunswere for it when and wheresoeuer occasion requireth The Laytie hitherto hath been debarred and inhibited the readyng of the Scriptures in whiche practise the Deuill vsed a meruailous suttle deuise to terrifie abashe waine and estraunge men from the Scriptures wherein the more to bee lamented he preuailed and attained to the verie ende and pitche of his firste conceiued drifte For thus thought he with hymself If I maie once bryng to passe that the Laitie may not read the Scriptures I doubt not but within a while I shall driue the Popes themselues from the Scriptures also to the studie of Aristotle and of the Schoolemen Whereby it shall come to passe that ere it bee long thei shall babble and prate on nothing so muche as their owne dreamyng deuises and make a Religion of their owne foolishe and absurde phantasies and as for the Laitie thei shalbe driuē to haue none other instruction but what it shall please the Clergie to tattle and preache vnto them For if it were otherwise and that the Laitie also might bee suffered to reade the Scriptures then should the Popes also theimselues bee driuen to applie the Scriptures least thei should be iustly reprehended of the Laitie and their falshoode and forgerie detected But marke these woordes of Sainct Peter thus generally spoken vnto vs all that we should all bee readie to yeeld an accoumpt and reason of our Faithe When thou diest it is neither I nor yet the Pope that is able to helpe thee if thou stande not vppon a sure foundation of the hope
otherwise choose but willingly not for filthie lucre sake but of a readie mynd Here he comprehendeth in one worde all that whiche the Prophete Ezechiell in the xxxiiij Chapter of his Prophesie writeth concerning Pastors or Bisshoppes The meaning of this place is thus Not onely feede ye but take ye care also and prouide for them that thei want nothing and where any standeth in necessitie or neede there see that ye relieue them and in eche respect doe the partes and dueties of right 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is good Watchmen and faithfull Espialles Looke out least daunger appeare stande alwaies preste and readie on your guarde and diligently beholde and espie out of your Watch-tower what it is that is wantyng or what it is that is befallen vnto euery one within your charges Hereby wee maie well perceiue and knowe that a Bisshoppe is euen the same that is here meant by an Elder And therefore it is not true whiche some saie that a Bisshopricke is a dignitie and a Bisshop onely he that weareth a forked Mitre Episcopacie is not a name of Dignitie but of Office for he that is inuested with that name and tytle ought to looke to his Flocke to be carefull for it and to serue as a good Watchman to see abroade learne what thinges be amisse any where within his charge As if there be any that is weake hauing his conscience wounded hym ought he to confirme comforte and heale if any fall him ought he to lift vp againe and so as other defectes arise to bee readie to helpe whereby Christian people maie bee sufficiently looked vnto and prouided for bothe in Soule and in Bodie This is the reason that hath moued mee heretofore oftentymes to saie that if wee would institute a right Christian Common wealth it were necessarie that in euery Citie there should bee three or fower Superintendentes to take care and regarde ouer the Churche and Congregation and to reforme and restore whatsoeuer therein is amisse or wantyng And here he toucheth two speciall poyntes ynough almost to terrifie and discourage any man from bearyng authoritie ouer the people or to take this greate charge and burden vpon hym For first there bee some vertuous and honest men who half vnwillynglie are drawen into the Ministerie and function of Preachyng for that thei see it to be a painfull and laborious office to skoute aboute euery where to see how the Sheepe liue to succour and helpe them that bee in want to strengthen and raise vp them that bee waueryng and readie to fall and finallie to haue suche diligent care and continuall watche ouer them that the Wolfe finde no entraunce to inuade and come russhyng in among them yea in that he must not sticke to laie downe his life for their preseruation and safegarde And also for that it is suche an harde matter of so great difficultie trulie to discharge the office of a godly Pastor yea of so greate daunger also because it must be throughly executed that not vnwillingly or as though it were by constraint True it is that no man ought to intrude himself into that Office but if he â—â—â—hereunto called and required he ought willingly to take it vpon hym and to discharge and perfourme as muche as to his function and office appertaineth For thei that take this matter vpon theÌ„ vpon necessitie and constraint and haue neither courage nor pleasure in the same shall neuer with any profite fruitfully discharge or execute their office Againe there bee others worse then these which take this Office vpon them for none other ende but for filthie Lucre to scrape and rake together wealth and to pamper and cramme their bellies These fellowes seeke onely for the Wooll and the Mylke of the Sheepe but as for good pastures for them thei care not and with this scabbe is the Popishe Clergie horriblie infected And this is a moste hurtfull daungerous noysome and filthie Vice then whiche there can not bee any so dishonorable or shamefull for him that taketh on him the name and charge of a Christian Bisshoppe or Pastor Whiche was the thing that caused both the Apostles Peter and Paule and also the Prophetes so oft to recorde and inculke it This caused Moses to saie Num. xvj I haue not taken so muche as an Asle from them neither haue I hurt any of them And Samuell also Ye know that I haue not taken any mans Oxe or Asse from hym nor doen wrong to any c. j. Sam. xij For if he that hath this charge and function of feeding the Flocke be gréedily giuen to scraping together of richesse and wealth and to gape after filthie Lucre suche a one I saie is hymself easilie and soone chaunged from a Pastor into a Wolfe But of a readie mynde THat is euen with pleasure Let the Pastor or Bisshoppe applie his Office and vocatioÌ„ and that with a readie willingnes Thei that thus cherefully proÌ„ptly and zealously discharge their function are those which as thei dooe their dueties willingly so dooe thei not greedily pull the fleeze from the Sheepe There bee therefore twoo sortes of false Pastors The one sorte occupie their roume grudginglie and vnwillingly the other willingly and gladlie but yet for gaine and filthie lucre Not as though ye were Lords ouer Gods heritage SVche are thei that are willing to take the office vpon them for dignitie sake because thei would liue pompouslie and beare greate swaie and authoritie in the Worlde He therefore exhorteth Bisshoppes Elders Pastors that thei practise not any Lordly tyrannie ouer the Flocke as though the people were their Slaues and Vnderlings or as though they had suche authoritie and Lordshippe ouer them to commaund what thei list For wee haue but one Lorde whiche is Christe and he it is whiche gouerneth our Soules Elders and Pastors haue no further charge theÌ„ to féede And here in one word Saincte Peter vtterly ouerthroweth all the kingdome of the Pope and concludeth that no Bisshoppe hath any authoritie somuche as in one worde to clogge and tye the consciences of the faithfull to the obseruation of their preceptes For they themselues ought to bee Seruauntes and Ministers and to saie Thus saieth the Lord and these be the Words of Christ it is not wee the woordes are none of ours and therefore ye ought to doe that whiche is here commaunded Accordyng to that whiche Christe saieth Luc. xxij The Kynges of the Gentiles reigne ouer them and they that beare rule ouer them are called gracious Lordes but ye shall not bee so Contrary wherevnto the Pope boasteth and braggeth saiyng Wee ought to bee Lordes and to vs onely it belongeth to exercise chief rule and supreme authoritie But that ye maie bee ensamples to the Flocke And when the chiefe Shepeheard shall appeare ye shall receiue an incorruptible croune of glorie SEE that ye bee the formost in the battaile vsyng suche honest conuersation that your life maie bee a Lanterne to giue light
are in countenaunce and credite accoumpted and reputed for the best and the grauest Clerkes Therfore this must be holden as a firme generall rule that no man whosoeuer he be interpretyng y e Scripture after his owne humour is to bee credited no although he alledge and bryng Scripture for hymself because the true Sense thereof can not by any meanes bee attained and founde by the priuate enarration of Man In this poynct haue stumbled and foulie failed our Graund maisters and teachers whiche haue heretofore taken vppon them to expounde and interprete the Scripture As when thei expound and stretch that saiyng of Christ Matth. xvj Thou art Peter c. to be meant of the Pope which addle interpretatioÌ„ is of mans owne deuise and forged by the Expositours themselues to drawe it to the pitch of their own conceit and to serue their owne turnes and therefore not to be credited for that thei be not able to prooue by Scripture that this name Peter any where signifieth the Pope but wee are well able to proue that Christ is the Rock as S. Paule saith j. Cor. x. This interpretatioÌ„ is true and sound for we are sure thereof and knowe that it is not deuised and inuented by man but grounded and drawen out of the very Word of God For those thinges that are written mentioned in the Prophetes were not inuented and deuised by men but holy meÌ„ spake as thei were inspired and mooued by the holie Ghost And thus endeth this firste Chapter wherein Sainct Peter hath first taught vs the right and true good Woorkes in deede whiche wee ought to practise and walke in thereby to notifie and declare our Faithe And next that in the Church of Christe there ought nothyng to bee preached but onely the Worde of God which remaineth and continueth for euer and by the whiche our Soules are saued and made to liue eternallie Now next here followeth a fruictfull admonition wherein bothe Christ and his Apostles warne vs diligently to beware of false Preachers And this also must wee with all diligent care looke vnto that wee suffer not our selues to bee bereaued and cozened of this right and power of examining iudging and proouyng doctrines neither to be so pent in and curbed that we should staie and expect till we see what the Councelles define and decree what wee shall beleue and what not keepyng our heades so vnder their girdles that thei would not willingly suffer vs to beleeue and embrace any thyng but what they list to set downe ratifie and determine ¶ The second Chapter BVT there were false Prophetes also among the people euen as there shalbee false teachers among you which priuily shall bryng in daÌ„nable heresies euen denying the Lorde that hath bought them and bryng vpon themselues swift damnation And many shall followe their damnable waies by whoÌ„ the waie of truth shalbe euill spoken of And through couetousnesse shall they with fained wordes make marchandise of you whose iudgement loÌ„g agone is not farre of and their damnation sleepeth not For if God spared not the Angels that had sinned but cast them downe into hell and deliuered them into chaines of darknesse to be kept vnto damnation Neither hath spared the olde world but saued Noah the eight person a preacher of righteousnesse and brought in the flood vpon the worlde of the vngodly And turned the Cities of Sodom and Gomorrhe into ashes condemned them and ouerthrewe them and made them an ensample vnto them that after should liue vngodly And deliuered iust Lot vexed with the vncleanly conuersation of the wicked For he being righteous and dwellyng among them in seeyng and hearyng vexed his righteous soule from daie to daie with their vnlawfull deedes The Lorde kâ—oweth to deliuer the godly out of tentation and to reserue the vniust vnto the day of iudgement to be punished And chiefely them that walke after the fleshe in the lust of vncleannes and despise the Gouernement which are presumptuous and stande in their owne conceit and feare not to speake euill of them that are in dignitie Whereas the Angels which are greater both in power and might giue not railyng iudgement against them before the Lorde But these as brute beasts led with sensualitie and made to bee taken and destroyed speake euill of those thinges whiche they know not and shall perish through their owne corruption And shall receiue the wages of vnrighteousnes as they which count it pleasure to liue deliciously for a season Spots thei are and blottes delyting themselues in their deceiuings in feastyng with you Hauyng eyes full of adulterie and that can not cease to sinne be guilyng vnstable soules they haue hartes exercised with couetousnesse thei are cursed children Whiche forsakyng the right waie haue gone astraye following the waie of Balaam the sonne of Bosor which loued the wages of vnrighteousnesse But he was rebuked for his iniquitie for the dumme Asse speakyng with mans voyce forbade the foolishnesse of the Prophete These are Welles without water and Cloudes caried about wiâ—h a tempest to whom the blacke darknesse is reserued for euer For in speakyng swelling wordes of vanitie they beguile with wantonnes through the lustes of the fleshe them that were cleane escaped from them whiche are wrapped in errour Promising vnto them libertie and are themselues the seruauntes of corruption for of whom soeuer a man is ouercome euen vnto the same is he in bondage For if they after they haue escaped from the filthinesse of the worlde through the knowledge of the Lorde and of the Sauiour Iesus Christ are yet tangled againe therein and ouercome the latter ende is worse with them then the beginnyng For it had been better for them not to haue knowen the waye of righteousnesse then after they haue knowen it to turne from the holy commaundement giuen vnto them But it is come vnto them accordyng to the true prouerbe The dogge is returned to his owne vomit and The sowe that was washed to the wallowyng in the myer But there were false Prophetes also amoÌ„g the people euen as there shalbe false teachers among you ALL true Prophecie hath his proceedyng from the holie Ghost and so hath had froÌ„ the beginnyng of the worlde and shall haue till the ende of the same so that nothyng is to be preached but the sound and sincere Worde of God Howbeit it hath alwaies béen seen that as there haue been true Prophetes sincerely vtteryng the pure Woorde of the Lorde so haue there still been false Teachers and malicious Seducers And shall so hencefoorthe continue till the ende of the Worlde When ye therfore haue the true Worde of God thinke none otherwise but y t ye also shall haue false Teachers This admonition maie stand for a generall and infallibe rule that wheresoeuer the Worde of GOD is sincerely preached and taught there also by and by arise false Teacher's and dissemblyng Hypocrites The reason is because although the Worde bee preached to all yet doe not all embrace
heard and God is moste humbly to bee desired and praied vnto to turne his heauie wrath and plague from vs. For this calamitie and wretchednesse commeth not vpon vs by chaunce or blinde fortune but it is sent vnto vs from God as a plague for our wickednesse and impietie as S. Paule witnesseth ij Thes ij Because saieth he they receiued not the Loue of the truth that they might bee saued therefore shall God sende them strong delusion that they should beleeue lyes For if this punishment and reuenge of God had extended no further but to the perishing onely of these false counterfaite and seducing Teachers thēselues it might haue seemed very tollerable but now they hauyng maistered and ouerruled the whole Worlde at their own pleasures they haue caried with them to hell whole multitudes of people that haue beene bewitched and enchaunte◠with their spirituall sorceries There is no remedie therefore for vs to recure this mischiefe but to prostrate our selues before the mercie seate of almightie God in all feare and humilitie moste penitently confessyng our faultes and suppliauntlie imploryng his diuine grace and assistaunce◠that it might please him to vouchsafe to remoue and take awaie this plague from vs. It is earnest and hartie praier wherewith wee must impugne and withstande these false and deceiptfull Teachers for Sathan our Aduersarie the Deuill will not bee driuen awaie with any other weapons ¶ The third Chapter THis seconde Epistle I now write vnto you beloued wherewith I stirre vp and warne your pure myndes To call to remembraunce the wordes whiche were told before of the holie Prophetes and also the commaundement of vs the Apostles of the Lorde and Sauiour This firste vnderstande that there shall come in the laste daies mockers whiche will walke after their lustes And saie Where is the promes of his comming for since the Fathers died all thynges continue alike from the beginnyng of the creation For this thei willyngly knowe not that the Heauens were of olde and the Earth that was of the water and by the water by the woorde of God Wherefore the worlde that then was perished ouerflowed with the water But the Heauens and Earth whiche are now are kepte by the same Woorde in store and reserued vnto fire against the daie of Iudgemente and of the destruction of vngodlie men Dearely beloued bee not ignoraunt of this one thyng that one daie is with the Lorde as a thousande yeres and a thousande yeres as one daie The Lorde is not slacke cōcernyng his promise as some men count slackenesse but is pacient toward vs and would haue no man to perishe but would all men to come to repentaunce But the daie of the Lorde will come as a Thief in the night in the whiche the Heauens shall passe awaie with a noyse and the Elementes shall melte with heate and the Earth with the woorkes that are therein shalbe burnt vp Seeyng therefore that all these thinges must bee dissolued what maner persones ought ye to bee in holie conuersation and godlinesse Lookyng for and hastyng vnto the commyng of the daie of God by the whiche the Heauens beeyng on fire shal be dissolued and the Elementes shall melt with heate But we looke for newe Heauens and a newe Earth accordyng to his promise wherein dwelleth righteousnesse Wherefore beloued seyng that ye looke for suche thinges bee diligent that ye maie bee founde of hym in peace without spot and blamelesse And suppose that the long sufferyng of our Lorde is saluation euen as our beloued brother Paule accordyng to the wisedome giuen vnto hym wrote to you As one that in all his Epistles speaketh of these thinges emong the whiche some thynges are harde to bee vnderstande whiche thei that are vnlearned and vnstable peruert as thei doe also other Scriptures vnto their owne destructiō Ye therefore beloued seeyng ye knowe these thynges before beware least ye be also plucked awaie with the error of the wicked and fall from your owne stedfastnesse But growe in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ to hym bee glorie bothe now and for euermore Amen This secōd Epistle I now write vnto you beloued wherwith I stirre vp and warne your pure mindes To call to remembraunce the wordes which were tolde before of the holy Prophets and also the cōmaundement of vs the Apostles of the Lorde and Sauiour IN this Chapter wee are admonished to bee in a readinesse and euery minute of an hower to looke for the last daie And first S. Peter declareth vnto them how that he hath not written this Epistle to theim purposely and with intent to laye doune vnto them the foundation of Faith for that had he laied doune very substancially effectually and sufficiently afore but to excite and stirre them vp and to admonishe and put them in remembraunce that thei forgett not those thinges whiche thei had afore heard and receiued but rather that thei should perseuere in that sinceritie of mynde and vnderstandyng whiche was requisite fitte expediente and appertinent vnto true Christianitie For the office and duetie of all true Preachers is not onely to teache but also continually to admonishe and exhort Because so long as wee bee clad with this fleshe and bloud wee haue greate neede to haue the Worde of God to dwell plentifully in vs to raigne beare soueraigne authoritie in vs whereby wee maie resist the motions suggestions delites and concupiscences of the Fleshe and with faithfull constancie valiantly subdue resist and striue against the lustes thereof This first vnderstande that there shall come in the last dayes mockers whiche will walke after their lustes And saie Where is the promise of his commyng for since the fathers dyed all thynges continue alike from the beginnyng of the creation THere bee some yet at this daie very waueryng and ficklemynded being caried awaie through certaine reasons sette downe in a Booke entituled and written of Antichrist in whiche Booke is declared that before the latter daie men should fall into suche grosse and Deuilish errour as to denye God and to mocke deryde all that thei heare preached of Christe and of Domesdaie And this saiyng is true from whence soeuer it was borowed But it ought not so straictly to bee taken as though the whole World should fall into suche a generall Apostacie and so vniuersally blaspheme God but that the greater parte and portion thereof should fall awaie For we see it now plainly come to passe and more and more dailie will it burst out that when and where the Gospell shall be published and openly preached among men many wicked shall be wraie themselues and the inward hartes of many shalbe openly detected whose wickednesse and impietie now secretly lurketh is dissimuled And the number now adaies is not small that beleeue little or nothyng of the latter daie neither thinke that euer it will come Of suche mockers and skorners S. Peter here forewarneth vs tellyng vs that there should be
wherein God himself will dwell For he not onely dwelleth in the Heauens but euery where and therfore where he is there shall the elect also bee Wherefore beloued seeyng that ye looke for such thynges bee diligent that ye maie bee founde of hym in peace without spot and blamelesse FOrsomuche saieth he as ye haue escaped so great mischieues and daungers and shall come to suche and so great ioyes this ought not a little to moue you to contemne and despise all the thinges of the Worlde and with pacient myndes to suffer what aduersitie soeuer shalbe allotted vnto you and this is it that he saieth ye ought diligently to endeuour yourselues to liue without spot and blame and after this â—orce in peace to expect and looke for that daie And suppose that the long suffryng of our Lorde is saluation IN that hee so long spareth you and deferreth his iudgement and doth not by and by iudge you think ye it your greate gaine and auaile He hath cause enough to be angrie with you and euen by and by to take present reuenge vpon you but suche is his mercie and clemencie y t he spareth you pardoneth all your transgressions Euen as our beloued brother Paule accordyng to the wisedome giuen vnto hym wrote to you As one that in all his Epistles speaketh of these thinges among the whiche some thinges are hard to bee vnderstande which they that are vnlearned and vnstable wrest as thei do also other Scriptures vnto their owne destruction SAinct Peter here giueth expresse testimonie and allowaunce of the sounde doctrine contained in S. Paules Epistles whiche prooueth that this Epistle was written long after the Epistles of Paule And this is one of those places whereby a man maie take occasion to thinke that this Epistle was not written by S. Peter as also an other senteÌ„ce a little afore in this present Chapter expressed dooeth insinuate and purporte where he saieth that God would haue no man to perish but would all men to come to repentaunce For it seemeth to sauour of a lower spirite and to carie a meaner grace then to one inspired with an Apostolicall spirite is vsuall Yet is it not altogether incredible nor amisse to thinke this Epistle to bee written by Peter For seeyng that in this Epistle his purpose and meanyng was not to write of Faithe but of Loue and Charitie be purposely abazeth hymself in his Style as the nature of Charitie alwaies is to dooe to the intent thereby to humble hymself to his Neighbour as on the other part Faith alwaies mounteth and lifteth vp it self to Godwarde And this 〈◊〉 he well see would come to passe that many light and vnstable Spirites would wrest and wring inuert and peruert S. Paules wordes in sundrie places For that in his Epistles there are some Textes harde to bee vnderstoode as where he saieth that no man is iustified by workes but by Faithe onely Rom. iij. Againe that the Lawe was giuen to knowe Sinne. Rom. iiij vij And moreouer Where sinne abounded there grace abounded muche more Rom. v. and suche like places For assoone as they heare this they straight ways breake out into these or y e like speeches â—f it be thus we will liue ydlie and merilie wee will doe to good worke at all and yet shall wee neuerthelesse be saued and iustified and after this sorte euen nowadaies doe they â—aise on vs and shamefullie helpe vs faiyng that wee in our Sermons condemne and dispraise good Workes But wee maie not thinke it any meruaile or straunge thyng seeyng thei haue not spared to wrest and misconstrue S. Paules wordes Ye therefore beloued seyng ye knowe these thinges before beware lest ye bee also plucked awaie with the errour of the wicked and fall from your owne stedfastnesse But growe in grace and in the knowledge of our Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christe to him bee glorie bothe now and for euermore Amen SEyng therfore ye perfectly know all these thinges afore declared and are certainly giuen to vnderstande that many false Teachers shalbee chopped and foysted in among you to seduce the Worlde and many froward mockers shal wilfully mistake and wrest the Scriptures not beyng willyng to vnderstande them aright it greatly standeth you vpon to take good heede to your selues and moste carefully to beware of them least with their false and erroneous doctrine thei carie you awaie from the right Faithe but looke rather that ye dailie encrease in godlinesse and knowledge that from daie to daie through continuall preachyng and exercise of the Worde of God ye maie bee more and more confirmed and strengthenes And here wee are to beholde and note the greate care that the Apostle had ouer them which had now receiued the Faith whiche caused hym to write vnto them these twoo Epistles wherein is largely and plentifully layed doune al and whatsoeuer is expedient and necessarie for a Christian man to know yea concernyng those thynges also whiche are to come God graunt vnto vs his grace that we maie both rightly vnderstand also effectually keepe and obserue the same to the glorie of his holy and blessed name and to the comforte and consolation of our own Soules and consciences Amen ⧠THE GENERALL Epistle of S. Iude. IVDE a seruaunt of Iesus Christ and brother of Iames to theim whiche are called and sanctified of God the Father and reserued to Iesus Christ Mercie vnto you and peace and loue bee multiplied Beloued when I gaue all diligence to write vnto you of the common Saluation it was needefull for me to write vnto you to exhorte you that ye should earnestly contende for the maintenaunce of the Faithe whiche was once giuen vnto the Sainctes For there are certaine men crept in whiche were before of old ordained to this condemnation vngodlie men thei are whiche tourne the grace of our God into wantonnesse and deny God the onely Lorde and our Lorde Iesus Christ I will therefore putt you in remembraunce forasmuche as ye once knewe this how that the Lorde after that he had deliuered the people out of Egypt destroied them afterward whiche beleeued not The Angelles also whiche kept not their first estate but lefte their owne habitation he hath reserued in euerlastyng chaines vnder darkenesse vnto the Iudgement of the greate daie As Sodom and Gomorrhe and the Cities about theim which in like maner as thei did coÌ„mitted fornicatioÌ„ followed strauÌ„ge Flesh are set forth for an ensample suffer the vengeance of eternall Fier Likewise notwithstaÌ„dyng these dreamers also defile the Fleshe and despise Gouernement and speake euill of theim that are in aucthoritie Yet Michaell the Archangell when he stroue against the Deuill and disputed aboute the bodie of Moses durste not blame hym with cursed speakyng but saieth The Lorde rebuke thee But these speake euill of those thynges whiche thei knowe not and whatsoeuer thynges thei knowe naturallie as beastes whiche are without â—eason in those thynges thei corrupt themselues Wo bee vnto them
the Christian Congregation whereas in deede thei be but the Spotts and Wennes of the Common wealth the Skumme and Filthe of the people and the detestable vizardes of hypocriticall holinesse thei keepe iolie cheare and fare moste deliciously accordyng to the old Adage or Prouerbe whiche calleth delicate and daintie cates morselles for a Priest Finallie thei are without feare and care verily thinkyng that Sathan hymself is not able to ouerthrowe them The flocke thei feede nothyng at all but are rather themselues the rauenous Wolues that deuoure and eate vp the Sheepe Thei are Cloudes that are caried on high and swaied alofte in the Aire For thei haue enstalled themselues in the chiefest places and beste roumes and carie all the credite and countenance in the Churche thei ought to teache others but thei care nothing at al for that suffryng them to bee caried hither and thither into the Foggie miste of errour and ignoraunce by the Deuill the professed enemie of mankinde Thei are also fruitlesse and naked Trees such as are in the beginning of Winter bearing neither fruite nor leaues yet thei occupie a roume as other Trees doe Thei beare a shewe of the Bishopps of Christ but thei haue in them no peece nor parte neither of hym nor yet of his Woordes or Workes but are dead at the rootes They are also ragyng waues of the Sea that is euen as the windes in the Sea do tosse and stirre the waues this waie and that waie so are thei also caried whither soeuer Sathan driueth them They foame out their owne shame euen as a pot that hath a greate heate vnder it thei are so full of malice that it runneth ouer at the brim thei are so nozzeled in spightfulnesse and crueltie that their swellyng and cankered stomackes can not holde it but must needes cast vp and vomite out all their beastly filthinesse and therwith also defile and pollute others They are wandryng Starres such as they call planetes retrograde hauyng their motion backwarde in like maner these fellowes whose life and doctrine is nothyng but errour seduce and beguile bothe themselues and all those that followe them And therefore there is reserued for them the mist of darkenesse for euer In these wordes and examples Iude hath depaincted and set out our Massyng mates and pollshorne Prelates who vnder the name of Christ and of the Churche doe bring in a Sea of moste lewde and execrable maners and yet neuerthelesse vnder pretence thereof dooe catche and rake vnto themselues all the wealth of the Worlde and bryng all mens heades vnder their girdles And Enoch also the seuenth from Adam prophecyed of suche saiyng Behold the Lorde commeth with thousandes of his Sainctes to giue iudgment against all men THis place is not any where read in the Scripture which is an other reason why some of the auncient Fathers would not admitt receiue this Epistle as canonicall howbeit this is no sufficient cause whereby to disallowe or reiect any Booke for S. Paule also ij Timot. iij. nameth Iannes and Iambres two aduersaries of Moses whose names notwithstandyng are not read in the whole Byble beside Howsoeuer mens iudgements haue béen or bee we will not presently stande vpon that poinct But this is true that God from the beginnyng of the Worlde hath euer reueiled his Woorde to some wherein to the beleeuers grace and saluation is promised but to the vnbeleeuers iudgement and damnation is threatened and so it still continued euen till the Ascension of Christ from whiche tyme the Word of God hath been openly and generally preached ouer all the Worlde But before the natiuitie of Christ GOD still chose some to himself whom he vsed as it were a certaine threede from hande to hande to deliuer the manifestation and publication of his Word first from Adam to AbrahaÌ„ then from him to Dauid and so to the Virgin Marie the mother of Christe and others moe to whom he reueiled and deliuered his truth The Gospell therfore was alwaies preached in the world but neuer so openly as now in these latter daies After this sorte did this Patriarch Enoch preache and publish the Word of the Lorde whiche vndoubtedly he had learned of his Father Adam by influence from the holy Ghost For it is recorded of hym in the Scriptures Gen. v. that he led an vpright and godly life and therefore was taken vp of God and was no more seen Wherevppon sprong that fable that hee should come againe before the daye of Iudgement whiche thing is not to bee looked for vnlesse wee will vnderstand it in this sense that he shall come againe in spirite namelie for that his preachyng dooeth fitly iumpe and agree to the tyme next afore the generall Iudgement as here this present place very truely agreeth thereto wherein he speaketh so certainly of the laste Daie as if he had presently seene it with his eyes The Lorde saieth he commeth with thousandes of his Sainctes that is with an infinite multitude For these words must needes be vnderstood onely of the last Daie wherein the Lorde will come to Iudgement with all his Saintes For when he first came into the Worlde he came not with many thousandes of his Sainctes but alone and that not to iudge but to giue Grace And to rebuke all the vngodlie among them of all their wicked deedes whiche they haue vngodlie committed THis place doth Iude not vnaptly here inferre directly sounding against false Guides and counterfaite Teachers whiche he knewe in greate swarmes should come a little afore the last Daie but it seemeth also very aptly to beare this interpretation and signification that the Lorde at his comming will first destroye and quight ouerthrowe the Pope with al his imperious PoÌ„tificalitie For to such a great mischieuous euill there is none other helpe or remedie for the vtter abolishyng and quite takyng of hym awaie For so long as the Worlde endureth there will neither bee ende of hym neither can there any reformation and amendment in hym be hoped for And truely this place can not bee vnderstoode of any other then of our Papistes who so miserably and lamentablie seduce the Worlde For a more forlorne desperate and wicked life then that of the Papistes can not possiblie be imagined wherein as thei impiously alreadie wallowe so wil thei still continue worse and worse pretending notwithstanding greate sanctimonie and holinesse vnder the name of Christe whom thei vse as a cloke to contriue and hide all their villaynous treacherie Vnder the name of Papistes wee may vnderstande both them and all the rable of seducyng Imposters and deceiuers beside which shal come a little before the last Daie and all suche as embrace and followâ— their godlesse impietie This place therfore that he here alleâ—geth is to be vnderstood of the last daie of Iudgement Wee see of whom he speciallie meaneth that the saied Iudgement is to be looked for Whervpon wee conclude that our tyrannous Shauelinges and shauen Tyrauntes are with tremblyng