confications leuied by the bishops of Rome as the place and house of Cicero when he was banished were confiscate to the Colledge of the priests and dedicated specially to the sacrifices celebrated in the temple consecrated to the goddesse Libertie Passing by I thought good to recite this summe of the ancient Romaine sacrificers to the end that vnto all it may bee knowne that all the abuses and Idolatris succeeded in the Church of Iesus Christ are not new but had their originall restored and taken of the ancient Romain Idolators As the fouÌ„dations of Masses Obites Monethminds the dispensing of many benefices annuals vacantes translations offerings and Masse boxe amercements and confiscations adiudged by the senteÌ„ce of the bishop of Rome as are also other ordinances restored by the new Romaine Bishops and continued from the one to the other To this The yeare of our Lord. 383. Blond lib. 2. de Rom. trium purpose it is recited in the Romaine histories that since the raigne of the Emperour ValentiniaÌ„ the xii of that name great sedition happened at Rome betweene the Christians the Idolatrous priestes which striued amongst themselues whether had more inriched the Church by foundations legacies bequests offerings and other inuentions in such sort that the heathen Idolatours and infidels which did vsurpe againe the temple presently called the Church of Saint Peter at Lians did fight against the Christians of Rome which would haue dedicated the same to their deuotion After the offertorie the Aleâ—ran of Titelman doth hold that the Mâ—sse-moÌ„ger must cap. 35. for a time keepe silence to figure the flying of Christ or feare of the Discipâ—es to confesse him before the Iewes Then after the sacrificer doth singe on high Per omnia secula seculorum for this that Christ after that hee was in secret did shewe himselfe openlâ—e in the house of Lazarus Then he singeth sanctus sanctus sanctus to signifie the songe of the Iewes when Christ entered into Ierusalem This musicke ended the sacrificer must secretlie murmure betweene his teeth counterfaiting sadnesse without anie turnings but yet he must plaie a dumbe moÌ„merie by signes of crosses drawen heare awaies there awaies as we shall hereafter declare After the offertorie we must come 9. part of the Masse the round host of floure to the 9. part of the Masse the most rich and most daitie for the Massalians That â—s the host or sacrifice Wherein doth consist the principall end or marke of the Masse sacrifice In the time of the Plotar in Numa â—ollux in â—nom lib. 6. Misierâ—s peractis qui sacris intererant râ—tundis paâ—â—bus quoâ— in honoreâ— deorum adhibebant stantes vescebantur nec nisi sacrificio perfecto vesci licebat Alex. ab Alex. lib. 4. cap. 17. coniurer Numa the Romanes had not yet in vse to kill and offer vp the bloud of beastes But about the end of the Masse sacrifice it was ordeyned to eate and communicate together within the temple little round Cakes consecrated to the honour of the Gods in whose name the Masse was celebrated The litle round hostes of fine floure were eaten by the sacrificer and the assistants standing and not sitting The flowre whereof they were made was called Mola whereof commeth this worde immolare to offer There were diuerse hostes that is to say diuerse litle round cakes dedicated vnto diuerse Gods like as they had diuerse sacrifices of the Masse With the same round hostes was offered the altars seruing in place of tables And whiles the sacrificer and assistants at the sacrifice did eate and communicate together the foresaide little round cakes consecrated to the honor of their Gods there was sung Hymnes and plesant songs Some playing vpon Orgaines and Cymbals Before the deuouring of this round hoste printed with pictures the Massalian Doâ—tors haue ordeyned that the sacrificer shalâ—â—se adiurations and coniuring by signes of the Crosse First he ought to make three crosses vpon the round hoste to figure the threefold doctrine of Christ To witte by the father by himselfe and by the holie Ghost in pronouncing these words Haec dona haec munera haec sancta sacrificia illibata Other Doctors Alcoranists and Massalians interpret the third crosse to signifie the treason of Iudas who deliuered his maister into the hands of the Iewes Beside the aforeâ— saide three crosses doth follow fiue more to figure the fiue daies of respit from Palme Sunday to Goodfriday or otherwise to represent the fiue wounds of Christ two in his hands two in his feete and one in his right side Of the which fiue crosses the three first must be made on the chalice and vpon the rounde hostes to figure the deliuering of Christ vnto the Priestes Scribes and Pharisees or to figure the price that Christ was sold for to wit three times ten which is 30. pence The two other crosses are seperatlie made the one being the fourth vpon thâ— host the other vpon the chalice alone to plaâ— the two persons of Christ and Iudas whicâ— the Massalian sacrificer doth continuinâ— still his mockes and mummeries stretchinâ— out his armes to figure Christ stretched oâ— the crosse Then he lifteth vp his round hosâ— printed full of pictures to cause it to be worshipped And that he beginneth againe to make three other crosses One vpon the host another vpon the cuppe and the third vpon himselfe to play the personages of three estates of those that be in Heauen in Purgatâ—rie and in Earth He smiteth afterward vpon his breast to play the personage of the theefe hanging vpon the crosse which repented himselfe But in smiting of the stomacke must bee with the 3 hinder most fingers of the hand for the thombe and the next finger be reserued to consecrate and transubstantiate the round host Moreouer hee must smite his breast three times to figure the threefold offence of the heart mouth and deede In lifting vp his voyce to represent the theefe or the centurion which confessed God in the passion Sixe other crosses are made once againe three vpon the Chalice couered to figure the three houres that Christ hanged on the crosse on liue and the three other crosses are made vpon the chalice discouered with the rounde host lifted vp againe to figure the 3. houres that christ hanged vpon the crosse dead TheÌ„ after the Massalian hath kissed his chalice there are yet 2. crosses more to figure the misterie of the bloud and water â—ssuing out of Christs side Beside the dumbe muÌ„meries abouesaid the Priest must take the couering cloth from the chalice and couer it with the plantyn to figure the breaking of the vaile of the teÌ„ple in the midst at the death of Christ This done the round host is put froÌ„ aboue the chalice and is couched vnder the corpor as to figure the burying of Christ The Priest thus hauing plaied the person of the hanged theefe of the traytor Iudas of Christ of the Publicans plaieth afterward the personage of the
sight what are our sins then neuertheles his goodnes and his pittie is more then al our wretchednes and therefore with all humblenes and lowlines and with a reuerent dread in a full trust and confidence of his great mercy let him goe vnto him for his worthines shall make him worthy let him offer himselfe in humble and hartie prayer vnto God committing vnto him both his body soule to be made by his grace and through the working of the holy Ghost in his heart a worthy partaker of this holy Sacrament that together in by and with the same hee may receiue and bee partaker of the reall naturall holy flesh and bloud of Christ through which hee may be purged of all his sinnes and receiue grace of good life For why for that cause amongst other was this holy Sacrament ordeined that a man through offering of his praiers to God and partaking of this Sacrament should aske pardon and forgiuenes of all his sinnes and grace of good life and should obtaine it If time therefore doe suffer before the receiuing of the blessed sacrament let him meditate or say on this manner Lord all things bee thine that are in heauen and in earth I desire to offer my selfe vnto thee in a free perpetuall offering so that I may be perpetually with thee in singlenes and simplicity of heart I offer mee this day to be thy seruaÌ„t in thy seruice and although I am vnworthy to serue thee yet art not thou vnworthy to haue my seruice make mee therefore worthy of that which thou art worthy of so shall I be worthy of that which now I am vnworthy of make mee as thy will is to cease from sinne that as my dutie binds mee I may serue thee I offer also vnto thee O Lord all my sinnes and offences that I haue committed before thee from the day that I might first offend vnto this day that thou vouchsafe through thy great goodnes to put away all my sinnes out of thy sight and remembrance and to cleanse my conscience of all mine offences restoring mee againe to that grace that I through sinne haue lost and that thou forgiue me al things past receiuing me mercifull Lord into the blessed kissings of peace and of forgiuenes for what may I doe but meekly confesse and bewaile my manifold sinnes continually crauing mercie of thee for the same forgiue mee merciful Lord now I beseech thee for al my sinnes dispâ—ease mee much and by the helpe of thy grace I will neuer coÌ„mit them againe but sorrow for them and be readie to dopenance and satisfaction before thy congregation Church to the vttermost of my power and abilitie for all the iniuries that I haue done to the offence of thy Church or to thâ— hinderance and hurt of any my Christian brethren or sisters by any the offences I haue committed Forgiue me Lord forgiue me my sinnes and for thy holy name saue my soule that thou hast redeemed with thy precious bloud I commit my selfe wholly to thy mercie I resigne mee into thy hands doe with me after thy goodnes and not after my wicked deseruings I offer also vnto thee al the good works which through thy grace haue beene wrought or done by me which because they are few and very imperfect through my frailtie and great wretchednes I beseech thee to amend them and sanctifie them and make them liking and acceptable vnto thee alway make them better better bring me though I be a slow vnprofitable seruaÌ„t to a blessed happy end I offer also vnto thee my prayer peaceable offering for all them that haue hindred me greeued me and wrought me sorrow and also for all them whom I haue at any time made heauy troubled grieued or iniured in thought word or deed wittingly or ignorantly that thou forgiue vs altogether our sinnes offences against thee and of each of vs against other and that thou Lord take from our hearts all enuie suspicion wrath variance pride indignation and contention and whatsoeuer may let charity or diminish fraternall loue that each of vs should haue to other Haue mercy Lord haue mercy on all them that aske thee mercy and giue vs grace that wee may receiue thy precious bodie and bloud which thou really and truly offerest vnto all and giuest vnto all thy children the true beleeuers in this blessed Sacrament that through the liuely power of this thy holy body receiued by vs in a true stedfast and vnfained faith by and through the operation of the holy Ghost wee and all thy whole Church may receiue remission of sin and obtaine euerlasting life And after this meditation let him vow and promise purpose also with himselfe through the grace of God by the working of the holy Ghost â—uer after more diligently to serue God for seeing a man is busie to serue an earthly Lord with all his diligence much more should wee be diligent to serue our Lord God and to lift vp our hearts vnto him and to consider the gâ—eatnes of God and the wretchednes of our selues how great and how worthy God is how little how vnworthie our selues are consider also the great loue of God that would take to himselfe that is so worthy the fraile weake estate of mankind not for any cause of his own but for the great loue hee bare vnto vs consider also his vnspeakable and rich mercy towards miserable and wretched sinners who not onely offered himselfe to death for vs on the crosse but also giueth himselfe to vs in the Sacrament to be our spirituall meate ann drinke and to bee fully with vs and in vs. Wherfore let euerie Christian man if hee haue time before the receiuing of the blessed Sacrament say thus in his heart Lord I know well that al workes and deserts of men be they neuer so holy are not worthy to receiue thee how much more am I vnworthy that each day sinne and as a man vncorrigible dwell still therein O Lord why do I such de pite vnto thee for to cast thee my precious Lord into the foule pit of my conscience for surely there is no dâ—â—g more stincking then my soule is O Lord what shall I doe shall I lay thee in that foule place surely Lord I durst not but in hope of thy mercies but I beleeue and am assured that thy mercies are endlesly more then all my sinne and therefore in full trust of thy goodnes I offer my selfe to receiue thee as a sicke man receiueth a medicine thou art the most soueraine salue and I am sore sicke therefore I take thee to bee made whole through thee and the sicker that my soule is the more desire I haue to be healed and the more need I haue of thee for why in healing of my deadly sicknes shall well bee shewed and commended the greatnesse of thy goodnesse that wilâ— helpe and heale so wretched a creature and bring mee to the possession of
euerlasting life through the merits of thy percious death and passion And thus must wee that are sicke in sinne receiue this healthfull medicine of the holy Sacrament the body and bloud of Christ and when we feele through it any comfort to our soules let vs ascribe that comfort not to our selues but to the goodnes of God which so comforteth and refresheth our soules by feeding vs with his own flesh and bloud of his own great mercy grace let vs thus thinke with our selues loe thus doth our Lord vnto vs to shew vs our wretchednes and miseries wherein we lie intaÌ„gled vnles we be loosed by him and to ouercome our wickednes with the plentie of his goodnes for he maketh vs that are dead in sinne to feele life and being rotten and stincking wormes to tast heauenly sweetnes O Lord God sith thou art so mercifull to vs that now liue in sinne as to feed vs with the heauenly bread of thy owne flesh and bloud in this holy sacrament by which foode through the working of the holy Ghost wee are nourished and cherished in body and soule vnto life euerlasting let our hearts from henceforth in this most cherefully reioyce that our God our spouse and our loue is made vnto vs our spirituall meate and drinke to strengthen our bodies and soules that wee may grow vp to life euerlasting the blisle of Saints the ioy of Angels the sonne of the highest father maketh himselfe our spirituall nourishing the light of the world the sonne of righteousnes the wisedome of God is made the foode of our soule the redeemer of man the brightnes of heauen the matter of all mirth and the Lord of ioy vouchsafeth for to feed vs with himselfe what kindnes what courtesie what tokeÌ„ of loue might bee more Wherefore since wee haue him let vs not from henceforth suffer our hearts to delight in any creature for it were a great vnkindnes and vile wretchednes of vs after the receiuing of so worthy a meate so precious and sweete as it is to sâ—ttle our selues to the liking and iust againe of the world and of the flesh Keepe vs therefore sweet Iesus from such wretchednes and vnkindnes and be thou our meate and our foode our lust and our liking and make vs continually to hunger after thee and to feede on thee with greedie desire for thy sweetnes sufficeth vnto all the world why vouchsafest thou merciful Lord to feed vs with this heauenly bread and with this so precious foode of thine owne flesh and bloud what seest thou in vs or what findest thou in vs or what profit shalt thou haue of vs surely none but thy great loue constraineth thee to doe thus vnto vs since therefore thou which art the soueraigne goodnes the whitenesse of endles light and mirror without spot vouchsafest thus louingly to come to vs to dwell in vs and to feede vs how is it that wee stincking wretches desire not most earnestly to welcome thee deuoutly to receiue thee it is great shame to vs but Lord we beseech thee to take away our shame and to make vs to ameÌ„d Giue vs daily this heaueÌ„ly bread make vs daily to receiue the precious body bloud of thy son our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ either ghostly or both ghostly and sacramentally through a true liuely vnfained faith so that thou maist continually be with vs and we with thee for thou hast so limed vs with thy loue and so glewed vs with thy grace that we may not depart from thee grant therefore thy grace that Christ in vs and wee in Christ may dwell perpetually and that we may worthily beare this name sith of Christ wee are called Christen By this which hath been shewed it appeareth how Christs reall naturall holy flesh and bloud is receiued in by and with the SacrameÌ„t wherin as hath beene also shewed there is not any consubstantiation nor transubstantiation It hath beene shewed also what preparation must bee vsed that wee receiue not this holy Sacrament vnworthily whereby Christ is refused and cleane shut out from vs and wee refused and cleane shut out from him to the eternal damnation of our owne soules From which danger God of his great mercy deliuer vs and giue vs grace that wee may at all times be made thankfull and worthy receiuers to the praise of his name and the attainement of euerlasting life through his onely sonne our Lord Iesus Christ to whom with the Father and the holy Ghost be all honour glory and praise now and for euer Amen LAMENTATIONS mournings and woes pronounced by the Prophet Isaiah against impenitent sinners HEare O heauens and harken Esay against impenitent sinners cap. 1. O earth for the Lord hath said I haue nourished and brought vp childreÌ„ but they haue rebelled against me A sinfull nation a people laden with iniquitie a seede of the wicked corrupt children They haue forsaken the Lord and prouoked the holy one of Israel to anger They are gone backward for they fall away more and more The whole head is sicke and the whole heart is heauie from the soule of the foote vnto the head there is nothing sound therin but woundes and swellings and sores full of corruption When you come to appeare before the Lord who requireth this at your handes to tread in my Courts and when you shall stretch out your hands I will hide mine eyes from you and though you make many praiers I will not heare for your hands are full of bloud Wash you make you cleane take away the euill of your workes from before mine eyes cease to do euill learne to do well seeke iudgement releeue the oppressed iudge the fatherles defend the widow If you consent and obey you shall eate the good things of the land but if you refuse and be rebellious you shall be deuoured with the sword for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it How is the faithfull citie become an haâ—lot it was full of iudgement and iustice lodged therein but now they are murtherers thy Princes are rebellious and companions with theeues euery one loueth gifts and followeth after rewards they iudge not the fatherles neither doth the widdowes cause come before them Therefore saith the Lord God of hosts the mightie one of Israel ah I will case me of mine aduersaries and auenge me of mine enemies and the strong shall be as tow and the maker thereof as a sparke and they shall both burne together and none shall quench them Enter into the rocks and hide thee in the dust from before the feare of the Lord and from the glory of his maiestie The high looke of a man shal be humbled and the loftines of men shall be abased and the Lord onely shall be exalted in that day For the day of the Lord of hosts is vpon all the proud and haughtie and vpon all that is exalted and it shall be made low The people shall bee oppressed one of another and euery
one by his neighbour The children shall presume against the ancient and the vile against the honorable The triall of their countenance testifieth against them yea they declare their sinnes as Sodome they hide them not Woe be vnto their soules for they haue rewarded euill vnto themselues Woe be vnto the wicked it shall bee euill with him for the reward of his hands shall bee giuen him Woe be vnto them that ioyne house to house and lay field to field till there be no place that ye may be placed by your selues in the middest of the earth This is in mine eares saith the Lord of hostes surely many houses shall bee desolate euen great and faire without inhabitaÌ„ts woe bee vnto them that rise vp early to follow drunkennes and to them that continue vntill night till the wine doe inflame them woe vnto them that are mightie to drinke wine and to them that are strong to powre in strong drinke and the harpe and violl timbrel and pipe and wine are in their feastes bâ—â— they regard not the worke of the Lord nor consider the worke of his handes Woe vnto them that speake good of euill and euill of good which put darkenes for light and light for darknes that put bitter for sweete and sweete for sower Woe vnto them that draw iniquitie with the cords of vanitie and sinne as with cart ropes Therefore hell hath enlarged it selfe and opened his mouth without measure and their glory and their multitude and their pompe and hee that reioyceth amongst them shal discend into it Make the heart of this people fat make their eares heauie and shut their eyes lest they see with their eyes and heare with their eares and vnderstand with their hearts and conuert and hee heale them Then said I Lord how long and hee answered vntill the cities bee wasted without inhabitants and the houses without man and the land bee vtterly desolate for the people turneth not vnto him that smiteth them neither doe they seek the Lord of hosts Therfore will the Lord cut off both head and taile in one day The ancient and the honorable man hee is the head and the Prophet that teacheth lies hee is the taile For the leaders of the people cause them to erre and they that are led by them are deuoured Therefore shall the Lord haue no pleasure in their yong men neither will hee haue compassion of their fatherles of their widowes For euery one is an hypocrite wicked and euery mouth speaketh follie Therefore by the wrath of the Lord of hostes shall the land bee darkned and the people shall bee as the meate of the fire No man shall spare his brother for wickednes burneth as a fire it deuoureth the briars and the thornes and will kindle in the thick places of the forrest and they shall mount vp like the lifting vp of smoke and when he shall looke to the earth behould troble and darkenes vexation and anguish yet for all this his wrath is not turned away but his hand is stretched out stil Woe vnto them that decree wicked decrees and write greeuous things to keepe backe the poore from iudgement and to take away the iudgement of the poore that widowes may bee their pray and that they may spoyle the fatherles What will you doe in the day of visitation distruction which shall come from far to whom will you flie for helpe and where will you leaue your glory without mee euery one shall fall amongst them that are bound and they shall fall downe amongst the slaine yet for all this his wrath is not turned away but his hand is stretched out still And in that day did the Lord of host call vnto weeping and mourning and to baldnes and girding with sackcloth and behold ioy and gladnes slaying oxen and killing sheepe eating flesh and drinking wine eating and drinking for to morrow we shall die And it was declared in the eares of the Lord of hosts surely this iniquitie shal not be purged from you till you die saith the Lord God of hostes Behold the Lord maketh the earth emptie and hee maketh it wast hee turneth it vpside downe and scattereth abroad the inhabitants therof and there shall be like people like priest like seruant like master like maide like mistris like buier like seller like â—ender like borrower like giuer like taker to vsurie The Earth shall be cleane emptied and vtterly spoyled for the Lord hath spoken this word The earth lamenteth and fadeth away the world is feebled and decaied the proud people of the earth are weakened The earth also decaieth because of the inhabitants thereof For they transgresse the lawes they changed the ordinances and brake the euerlasting couenant Therefore hath the curse deuoured the earth and the inhabitants thereof are desolate the inhabitants of the land are burned vp and few men are left and hee that flieth from the noyse of the feare shall fall into the pit and he that coÌ„meth out of the pit shall be taken in the snare for the windowes from an high are open and the foundations of the earth doe shake the earth is vtterly broken downe The earth is clean dissolued the earth is moued exceedingly the earth shall reele to and fro like a drunken man and shall be remoued like a tent and the iniquitie thereof shall be heauy vpon it so that it shall fall and rise no more No man calleth for iâ—stice no man contendeth for the truth they trust in vanity and speake vaine things they conceiue mischiefe and bring forth iniquity for their haÌ„ds are defiled with bloud and their fingers with iniquitie their lips haue spoken lies and their tongue hath murmured iniquitie they runne to euill and they make haste to shed innoeÌ„ct bloud their thoughts are wicked thoughts desolation and destruction is in their paths the way of peace they know not and there is no equitie in their goings they haue made them croked pathes whosoeuer goeth therein shall not know peace therefore iudgement turneth backward and iustice standeth farre off for truth is fallen in the streets and equitie cannot enter yea truth faileth and he that refraineth from euill maketh himselfe a pray And when the Lord saw it it displeased him that there was no iudgement Therfore will hee tread downe the people in his wrath and make them drunke in his indignation will bring downe their streÌ„gth to the earth and they shall go forth looke vppon the carkases of the men that haue transgressed for their worme shall not die neither shall their fire be quenched and they shal be an abhorring to all flesh O yea heauens be astonied at this be afraid and vtterly confounded saith the Ier. against impenitent sinners chap. Lord for my people haue committed two euils they haue forsaken mee the fountaine of liuing waters to dig them pits euen broken pits that can hold no water The Priests said not where is the Lord and they that should minister the law
knew me not the Pastors also offended against me went after things that did not profit Thine owne wickednes shall correct thee and thy turning back shall reproue thee know therefore and behold it is an euil thing and bitter that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God and that my feare is not in thee saith the Lord God of Hostes though thou wash thee with â—â—tre and take thee much sope yet thine iniquitie is marked before me saith the Lord thou disobedient Israel returne saith the lord I will not let my wrath fall vpon you for I am mercifull saith the Lord and I will not alwaie keep mine anger O yea disobedient children turne againe saith the Lord for I am your Lord and I will giue you pastors according to my hart which shall feede you with knowledge and vnderstanding Thou shalt call me saying my father and shalt not turne from me and thenceforth they shall followe no more the hardnes of their wicked hearts A voice was heard vpon the high places weepings supplications of the children of Israel for they haue peruerted their way and forgotten the Lord their God O ye disobedient children returne and I will heale your rebellions Behold wee come vnto thee for thou art the Lord our GGD O Ierusalem wash thy hart froÌ„ wickednes that thou maist be saued how long shall thy wicked thoughts remaine within thee in that day saith the Lord the heart of the King shall perish and the heart of the Princes and of the Priests shall be astonished the prophets shall wonder destruction vppon destruction is cried for the whole land is wasted Wherefore gird you with sackcloth lament and houle for the fierce wrath of the Lord is not turned back from vs. I beheld and lo the fruitful place was as a wildernesse and all the cities thereof were broken downe at the presence of the Lorde and by his fierce wrath For thus hath the lord said the whole land shal be desolate yet will I not make a full end and when thou shalt be destroied what wilt thou doe Thy waies and thine inuentions haue procured thee these things such is thy wickednesse Therefore it shal be bitter therfore it shall pierce vnto thine heart for my people is foolish they haue not knowen me they are foolish children and haue no vnderstanding they are wise to doe euil but to doe well they haue no knowledge Then said I ah Lord GOD surely thou hast deceiued this people saying ye shall haue peace and the sword pierceth vnto the heart They haue denied the Lord and said it is not hee neither shall the plague come vppon vs neither shall wee see sword nor famine O Lord are not thy eies vpon the trueth Thou hast stricken them but they haue not sorrowed thou hast coÌ„sumed them but they haue refused to receiue correction They haue made their faces harder then a stone and haue refused to returne How should I spare thee for this Thy children haue forsaken me and sworne by them that are no gods though I fed them to the full yet they committed adulterie assembled themselues by companies in the harlots houses They rose vp in the morning like fed horses for euerie man neighed after his neighbours wife shall I not visite for these things saith the Lord Lo I will bring a nation vpon you from farre O house of Israel saith the lord which is a mightie nation and an ancient nation a nation whose language thou knowest not neither vnderstandest what they say whose quiuer is an open sepulcher they are all very strong and they shall eate thine haruest and thy bread they shall deuoure thy sonnes thy daughters they shall eate vp thy sheepe and thy bullocks they shall eate thy vines and thy fig-trees they shal destroy with the sword thy fenced citties wherein thou diddest trust For amongst my people are sound wicked persons that laieth waite as hee that setteth snares they haue made a pit to catch men As a cage is full of birds so are their houses full of deceit thereby they are become great and waxen rich they are waxen fatte and shining they do ouerpasse the deedes of the wicked they execute no iudgement no not the iudgement of the fatherles yet they prosper though they execute no iudgment for the poore An horrible and filthy thing is committed in the land the Prophets prophecie lies and the Priests receiue giftes in their hands my people delight therein Shall not I visit for these things saith the Lord or shall not my soule be auenged on such a nation as this Trust not in lying words saying the temple of the Lord the temple of the Lord this is the temple of the Lord behold you trust in lying words that cannot profit But this thing commanded I them obey my voice I will be your God and ye shall be my people and walke you in all my waies which I haue commanded you that it may bee well vnto you But they would not obey nor encline their eare but went after the couÌ„sels and stubbornnesse of their wicked heart and went backward and not forward Therefore shalt thou speake all these wordes vnto them but they will not heare thee Thou shalt also cry vnto them but they will not answer thee but thou shalt say vnto them this is a nation that heareth not the voice of the Lord their GOD nor receiueth discipline truth is perished cleane gone out of their mouth Therfore thus saith the Lord behold mine anger and my wrath shall be powred out vppon this place vpon man and vpon beast and vpon the tree of the field and vppon the fruit of the ground and it shall burne and not be quenched and the carkases of this people shall bee meate for the fowles of the heauen and for the beasts of the earth and none shall fray them away and death shall be desired rather then life of al the residue that remaineth of this wicked familie which remaine in all the places where I haue scattered them saith the lord of Hostes How doe you say we are wise and the lawe of the lord is with vs lo certainly in vaine made he it the penne of the scribes is in vaine the wise men are ashamed they are affraid and taken lo they haue reiected the word of the lord and what wisedome is in them Therefore will I giue their wiues vnto others and their fields vnto theÌ„ that shall possesse them for euerie one from the least to the greatest is giuen vnto couetousnesse and from the Prophet euen to the Priest euerie one dealeth falslly for they haue healed the hurt of the daughter of my people with sweete words saying peace peace wheÌ„there is no peace for behold I will send serpents and cockatrices amongst you which will not be charmed and they shall sting you saith the lord Oh that my head were full of water and mine eies a fountaine of teares that I might weepe day and
night for the staine of the daughter of my people Oh that I had in the wildernes a cottage of wayfaring men that I might leaue my people and go from them for they be all adulterers and an assemblie of rebels and they bend their tongues like their bowes for lies but they haue no courage for the truth vpon the earth for they proceed from euill to worse and they haue not knowne mee saith the lord Let euerie one take heede of his neighbour and trust you not in any brother for euery brother will vse deceit and euerie friend will deale deceitfully and euery one will deceiue his frend and will not speake the truth for they haue taught their tongues to speake lies and take great paines to do wickedly Thine habitation is in the midst of deceiuers because of their deceite they refuse to know me saith the lord Therefore thus saith the lorde of hostes behold I will melt them try them for what shall I else doe for the daughter of my people their tongue is an arrowe shot out and speaketh deceipt one speaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth but his hart he layeth waite for him Shall I not visit them for these things saith the lord or shall not my soule be auenged on such a nation as this Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Hostes the God of Israel behold I will feede this people with wormewood and giue them waters of gall to drinke for death is come vp into our windowes and is entred into our palaces to destroy the children without and the yong men in the streetes Speake thus saith the lord the carkases of men shall lie euen as the dung vpon the field and as the handfull after the mower and none shall gather them Thus saith the Lord let not the wise man glory in his wisedom nor the strong maÌ„ glory in his strength nether the rich man glory in his riches but let him that glorieth glory in this that he vnderstaÌ„deth and knoweth me for I am the Lord which shew mercie iudgement and righteousnesse in the earth for in these things I delight saith the Lord. Thus saith the Lord learne not the way of the heathen be not afraid for the signes of heauen though the heathen be afraid of such Euery man is a beast by his owne knowledge for the pastors are become beasts and haue not sought the lord therfore haue they no vnderstanding and all the flocks of their pastures are scattered O Lord I know that the way of maÌ„ is not in him selfe neither is it in man to walke and to direct his steps O Lord correct me but with iudgement not in thine anger lest thou bring me to nothing power out thy wrath vpon the heathen that know thee not and vpon the families that call not vpoÌ„ thy name let me see thy vengeance on them for vnto thee haue I opened my cause O lord if I dispute with thee thou art righteous yet let me talke with thee of thy iudgements wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper why are all they in wealth that rebelliously transgresse Thou hast planted them and they haue taken roote they grow and bring forth fruit thou art neare in their mouth farre from their reines O lord thou hast ordeined them for iudgement and O GOD thou hast established them for correction Giue glory to the lord your God before hee bring draknes and or euer your feete stumble in the darke mountains and whiles you looke for light he turneth it into the shadowe of death and make it as darkenes But if you will not heare this my soule shall weepe in secret for your pride mine eie shall weepe and drop downe teares for the crowne of your glorie shal come downe froÌ„ your heads O lord though our iniquities testifie against vs deale with vs according to thy name for our rebellions are many we haue sinned against the. O the hope of Israel the sauiour thereof in the time of trouble why art thou as a stranger in the land as one that passeth by to tarry for a night why art thou as a man astonied as a stroÌ„g man that cannot helpe yet art thou O lord in the middest of vs thy name is called vpon vs O forsake vs not Thus saith the lord vnto this people thus haue they delighted to wander they haue not refrained their feete Therfore hath the lord no delight in them but he will now remember their iniquitie and visit their sinnes when they fast I will not heare their cries I will not accept them but I will consume them by the sword and by the famine and by the pestilence Wee acknowledge O lord our wickednes and the iniquitie of our fathers for wee haue sinned against thee do not abhorre vs for thy names sake cast not downe the throne of thy glory remember and breake not thy couenant with vs. Are there any among the vanities of the gentiles that can giue raine or can the heauens giue showers is it not thou O lord our God Therefore will we waite vpon thee for thou hast made all these things Then said the lord vnto me though Moises and Samuel stoode before me yet mine affection could not be towards this people Cast them out of my sight and let them depart and if they say vnto thee whither shall wee depart then tell them thus saith the lord such as are apointed to death vnto death such as are for the sword to the sword and such as are for famine to the famine such as are for the captiuitie to the captiuitie and I will appoint ouer them foure kindes saith the Lord the sword to slay and the dogs to teare in pieces and the fowles of the heauen and the beasts of the earth to deuoure and to destroy Thou hast forsaken me saith the lord and gone backward therfore will I stretch out my hand against thee and destroy thee for I am wearie with repenting Thy substance and thy treasures will I giue to be spoiled without gaine and that for all thy sinnes euen in all thy borders Behold saith the lord I will send out many fishers and they shall fish them and after I will send out many hunters and they shall hunt them from euerie mountaine and from euery hill out of the caues of the rocks for mine eies are vppon all their waies they are not hid from my face neither is their iniquitie hid from mine eies And first I will recompence their iniquitie their sinne double because they haue defiled my land and haue filled my inheritance with their filâ—hy carrions and their abhominations Thus saith the lord cursed be the man that trusteth in man and maketh flesh his arme and withdâ—aweth his heart from the lord for he shall be like the heath in the wildernes shall not see when any good commeth but shall inhabite the parched places in the wildernes in a salt land and not inhabited Blessed is
the man that trusteth in the lord and whose hope the lord is for he shall be as a tree that is plaÌ„ted by the water which spreadeth out her rootes by the riuer shall not feele when the heate commeth but her leafe shall be greene and shall not care for the yeare of drouth neither shal cease from yielding fruit The heart is deceitfull and wicked aboue all things who can know it I the lord search the heart and try the reines euen to giue euery man according to his waies and according to the fruit of his workes As the partrich gathereth the yong which she hath not brought forth so he that gathereth riches and not by right shall leaue them in the middest of his daies and at his end shall be a foole O Lord the hope of Israel all that forsake thee shal be confounded they that depart froÌ„ thee shall bee written in the earth because they haue forsaken the Lord the fountaine of liuing waters Heale me O Lord and I shall be whole saue me and I shall be saued for thou art my praise Then the word of the Lord came vnto me saying I wil speake sodainly against a nation or against a kingdome to pluck it vp and to roote it out and to destroy it but if this nation against whom I haue pronounced turne from their wickednes I will repent of the plague that I thought to bring vppon them And I will speake sodainly concerning a nation concerning a kingdome to build it and to plant it but if it doe euill in my sight heare not my voice I will repent of the good that I thought to doe for them Thus saith the Lord God of Hostes the God of Israel behold I will bring vpon this citie and vpon all her towns all the plagues that I haue pronounced against it because they haue hardned their necks would not heare my words but they said desperately surely wee will walke after our owne imaginations and doe euery man after the stubbornnes of his wicked heart Behold I will bring a plague vpon this place the which whosoeuer heareth it his eares shall tingle and I will cause them to fall by the sword before their enemies by the hand of them that seeke their liues and their carkases will I giue to bee meate for the fowles of heauen and to the beastes of the field and I will feed them with the flesh of their sonnes and with the flesh of their daughters and euery one shal eate the flesh of his friend in the siege and straitnesse wherewith their enemies that seeke their liues shall hold them strait Woe bee vnto the pastors that destroy scatter the sheep of my pasture saith the Lord. Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel vnto the pastors that feede my people ye haue scattered my flocke and thrust them out and haue not visited them Behold I will visit you for the wickednesse of your workes saith the Lord for both the Prophet and the Priest doe wickedly and their wickednes haue I found in my house saith the Lord wherfore their way shall be vnto them as slippery waies in the darkenes they shall bee driuen forth and fall therein for I will bring a plague vpon them euen the yeare of their visitation saith the Lord. Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning the Prophets behold I will feed them with wormwood and make them drinke the water of gall for from the Prophets is wickednes gone forth into all the land of Ierusalem they strengthen also the hands of the wicked that none can returne from their wickednes they are all vnto me as Sodome the inhabitants thereof as Gamorah They say still vnto theÌ„ that dispise me the Lord hath said ye shall haue peace and they say vnto euery one that walketh after the stubbornnes of his owne heart there shall no euill come vpon you Therfore behold I euen I will vtterly forget you and I will forsake you and bring an euerlasting reproch vppon you and a perpetual shame which shall neuer bee forgotten I haue not sent these Prophets saith the Lord yet they â—â—n I haue not spoken vnto them and yet they prophecied But if they had stood in my counsell and had declared my words vnto my people then they should haue turned them from their euil way and from the wickednes of their inuentions How long doetâ—e Prophets delight to prophecie lies euen prophecying the deceit of their owne heart Is not my word like a fire saith the Lord and like a hammer that breaketh the stone Therfore behold I will come against the Prophets saith the Lord which haue sweet tongues and say he sayeth behold I will come against Prophets saith the Lord that steale my word euery one from his neighbour behold I wil come against them that prophecie false dreames saith the Lord and doe tell them and cause my people to erre by their lies and by their flatteries and I sent them not nor commanded them therfore they bring no profit vnto this people saith the Lord. For thus hath the Lord God of Israel spoken vnto me take the cup of wine of this my indignation at my handes and cause all the nations to whom I send to drinke it and they shall drinke and be moued and be mad because of the sword that I will send amongst them Therefore say thou vnto them thus saith the lord of hosts the God of Israel drinke be drunk spew fall rise no more because of the sword which I will send amongst them but if they refuse to take the cup at thine hand to drinke then tell them thus saith the lord of hostes you shall certainly drinke for Ioe I begin to plague the citie where my name is called vpon and should you goe free you shall not goe quit For I will call for a sword vpon all the inhabitants of the earth saith the lord of hostes The Lord shall roare from aboue and thrustout his voice from his holy habitation hee shall roare vpon his habitation and crie aloud the sound shall be to the ends of the earth for Lord hath a controuersie with the nations and will enter into iudgement with all flesh and hee will giue them that are wicked to the sword saith the lord Thus saith the lord of hosts behold a plague shall goe forth from nation to nation and a great whirle wind shall be raised vp from the costes of the earth and the slaine of the lord shal be at that day from one end of the earth to the other end of the earth they shall not bee mourned neither gathered nor buried but shal be as the dung vpon the ground Thus my soule was farre off from peace I forgat prosperitie remembring mine affliction and my mourning the wormwood and the gall my soule hath them in remembrance and is humbled in me It is the Lords mercies that wee are not consumed because his compassions faile not The Lord is my
portioÌ„ saith my soule therefore wil I hope in him The Lord is good vnto them that trust in him to the soule that seeketh him It is good both to trust and to waite for the saluation of the Lord. It is good for a man that he beare the yoke in his youth for the Lord wil not forsake for euer but though hee send affliction yet wil he haue compassion according to the multitude of his mercies for he doth not punish willingly nor afflict the children of men in stamping vnder his feete all the prisoners of the earth Wherefore then is the liuing man sorrowfull man suffereth for sinne Let search trie our waies turne agaiâ— to the lord Let vs lift vp our hearâ— with our hands vnto God in the heâ—uens Wee haue sinned and haue rebeâ—led therfore thou hast not â—pared thoâ— hast couered vs with wrath and perseâ—cuted vs thou hast slaine not spareâ— Thou hast couered thy selfe with cloud that our prayer should not pasâ—â— thorow thou hast made vs as the of scouring and refuse in the middest oâ— the people al our enemies haue openeâ— their mouth against vs. Feare and snare is come vpon vs with desolatioâ— and destruction the ioy of our hear is gone our dance is turned to mourning therefore our heart is heauie for these things our eyes are dimme The crowne of our head is fallen woe now vnto vs that we haue sinned O thou sonne of man behold they shall put bands vpon thee and shall bind thee with them and thou shalt not goe out amongst them and I will make thy tongue cleaue to the roofe of thy mouth that thou shalt bee dumbe and shalt not bee to them as a man that rebuketh for they are a rebellious house but when I shal haue spoken vnto thee I wil open thy mouth and thou shalt say vnto them Thus saith the Cap. 5. Lord God hee that heareth let him heare and hee that leaueth off let him leaue off for they are a rebellious house Therefore thus saith the Lord God because your multitude is greater then the nations that are round about you and ye haue not walked in my statutes neither haue you kept my iudgements behold I euen I come against thee and will execute iudgement in the midest of thee euen in the sight of the nations For in the middest of thee the fathers shall eate their sonnes and the sonnes shall eate their fathers and I will execute iudgement in thee the whole remnant of thee wil I scatter into all the winds the third part of thee shal die with the pestilence with famine shall they be consumed in the middest of thee and another third part thereof shal fal by the sword round about thee and I will scatter the last third part into all windes And I will draw out a sword after them neither shall mine eye spare thee neither will I haue any pitie Thus shall mine anger bee accomplished I will cause my wrath to cease in them I will be comforted they shal know that I the lord haue spokenit in my zeale wheÌ„ I haue accoÌ„plished my wrath in them Moreouer I will make thee wast abhorred amoÌ„gst the nations that are round about thee and in the sight of all that passe by so shalt thou bee a reproch and shame a chastisement and an astonishment vnto the nations that are round obout thee when I shall execute iudgement in anger in wrath and in sharpe rebukes I the Lord haue spoken it and they shall know that I am the Lord and that I haue not said in vaine that I will doe this euill vnto them Hee that is farre off shall die of the pestilence and hee that is neere shall fall by the sword and hee that remaineth and is besieged shall Cap. 7. die by the famine Thus will I accomplish my wrath vpon them so will I stretch my hand vpon them and make the land wast and desolate in all their habitations and they shall know that I am the Lord. Crueltie is risen vp into a rod of wickednes none of them shall remaine nor of their riches nor of any of theirs neither shall there bee lamentation for them An end is come the end is come it watcheth for thee behold it is come now I will shortly powre out my wrath vpon thee and fulfill mine anger vpon thee I will iudge thee acording to thy waies and I wil lay vpon thee all thine abominations The sword is without and the pestilence and famine within he that is in the field shall die with the sword and he that is in the citie famine and pestilence shal deuoure him all hands shal be weake and all knees shal fall away as water They shall cast their siluer in the streets and their gold cannot deliuer them in the day of the wrath of the Lord they shall not satisfie their soules neither fill their bowels for this ruine is for their iniquitie when destruction commeth they shall seeke peace but shall not haue it Calamitie shall come vpon calamity and rumor shal be vpon rumor then shal they seeke the vision of the Prophet but the law shall perish from the Priest and counsel from the ancient The king shal mourne and the Princes shal be clothed with desolation and the hands of the people in the land shal be troubled I wil doe vnto them according to their waies and according to their iudgements wil I iudge them and they shal know that I am the Lord. Thus saith the Lord God Woe vnto the foolish prophets that follow their own spirit and haue seene nothing because with your lies you haue made the heart of the righteous sadde whom I haue not made sad and strengthned the hands of the wicked that hee should not returne from his wicked way by promising him life Therefore thus saith the Lord God because you haue spoken vanities seene lies therfore behold I am against you saith the Lord God and my hand shall be vpon the Prophets that see vanities and diuine lies they shal not bee in the assembly of my people neither shal they be written in the writings of the house of Israel neither shal they enter into the land of Israel for I wil deliuer my people out of your hand and you shal know that I am the Lord. And the word of the Lord came vnto mee Cap. 22. saying sonne of man say vnto her thou art the land that is vncleane thou hast offended in thy bloud that thou hast shed thou hast caused thy dayes to draw neere and art come vnto thy terme In thee haue they despised father and mother in the middest of thee haue they oppressed the stranger in thee haue they vexed the fatherlesse and widdow in thee are men that carrie tales to shed bloud Thou hast despised mine holy things and hast polluted my sabbaths in thee haue they taken gifts to shed bloud thou hast taken vsurie and the increase and
of my soule He hath shewed thee O man what is good and what the Lord requireth of thee surely to doe iustly and loue mercie and to humble thy selfe to walke with thy God Are ye the treasures of wickednes in the house of the wicked and the skant measure that is abominable The good man is perished out of the Cap. 7. earth and there is none righteous amongst men they all lie in waite for bloud euerie man hunteth his brother with a net to make good for the euil of their hands the Prince asked and the Iudge iudgeth for rewarde so they wrap it vp The best of them is a bryar and the most righteous of thē is sharper then a thorny hedge the day of thy watchmen and of thy visitation commeth then shal be their confusion Trust you not in a friend neither put your confidence in a Counsailor keepe the dores of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosome for the son reuileth the father the daughter riseth vp against the mother the daughter in law against her mother in lawe a mans enemies are the men of his owne house therefore will I looke vnto the Lord I will waite for God my sauiour my God wil heare me I wil beare the wrath of the Lord for I haue sinned against him vntill he pleade my cause and execute iudgemēt for me then wil he bring me forth to the light and I shall see his righteousnes Who is a God like vnto thee that taketh away iniquitie and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage he retaineth not his wrath for euer because mercie pleaseth him hee wil turne againe and haue compassion vpon vs he wil subdue our iniquities and cast all our sinnes into the bottom of the sea thou wilt performe thy truth to Iacob and mercie to Abraham as thou hast sworne to our fathers in old time The Lord is slow to anger but he is Naham against impenitent sinners cap 1. great in power wil not surely cleere the wicked the Lord hath his way an the whirlewinde and in the storme and the clouds are the dust of his feete The Lord is good and as a strong hold in the day of trouble and he knoweth thē that trust in him God is iealous and the Lord reuengeth the Lord reuengeth euen the Lord of anger the Lord will take vengeance on his aduersaries and he reserueth wrath for his enemies who can stand before his wrath or who can abide in the fiercenes of his wrath his wrath is powred out like fire and the rocks are broken by him O Lord how long shall I cry and Habacuck against impenitent sinners Cap. 1. thou wilt not heare euen cry out vnto thee for violence thou wilt not help why dost thou shew me iniquitie and cause me to behold sorrowe for spoyling and violence are before me and there are that raise vp strife and contention therfore the lawe is dissolued iudgement doth neuer go forth for the wicked doth compasse about the righteous therefore wrong iudgement proceedeth Then shall they take courage and transgresse and doe wickedly imputing this their power vnto their god Thou art of pure eies and canst not see euill thou canst not behold wickednes wherefore dost thou looke vpon the transgressors and holdest thy tongue when the wicked deuoureth the man that is more righteous then he O Lord thou hast ordeined them for iudgemēt and O God thou hast established them for correction Art not thou of old O Lord my God my holy one I shall not die but I wil reioice in the Lord I wil ioy in the God of my saluation The Lord is my strength he will make my feete like Hindes feete and he wil make me to walke vppon mine high places The Lord is in his holy Temple let all the earth keepe silence before him The great day of the Lord is neare it Zephaniah against impenitent sinners Cap. 1. is neare and hasteth greatly euen the voice of the day of the Lord the strong man shall cry there bitterly that day is a day of wrath a day of trouble heauines a day of destruction and desolation a day of obscurity and darknes a day of clouds and blacknesse a day of the trumpet and alarum against the strong cities against the high towers in the same day also wil I visit all those that daunce vppon the threshold so proudly which fill their masters houses by cruelty and deceipt and I will bring distresse vpon men that they shal walke like blinde men because they haue sinned against the lord and their bloud shall be powred out as dust and their flesh as dung neither their siluer nor their gold shal be able to deliuer them in the day of the lords wrath but the whole land shal be deuoured by the fire of his iealousy for he shal make euen a speedy riddance of all thē that dwell in the land Gather your selues euē gather you O nation not worthy to be loued before the decree come forth ye be as chaffe that passeth in a day and before the fierce wrath of the Lord come vpon you and before the day of the Lords anger come vpon you seeke you the lord all the meeke of the earth which haue wrought his iudgement seeke righteousnes seeke holines if so be that ye may be hid in the day of the lords wrath I said surely thou wilt fear me thou wilt receiue instruction so their dwelling should not be destroied howsoeuer I visited them but they rose earely and corrupted all their workes she heard not the voice shee receiued not correction shee trusted not in the lord she drew not neere vnto her God her Princes within her are as roaring lyons her Iudges are as wolues in the euening which leaue not the bones till the morrow her Prophets are light and wicked persons her Priests haue polluted the sanctuary they haue wrested the lawe The iust lord is in the middest therof he wil do none iniquitie euerie morning doth he bring his iudgement to light he faileth not but the wicked will not learne to be ashamed therfore waite vpon me saith the lord vntill the day that I rise vp to the pray for I am determined to gather the nations and that I will assemble the kingdomes to powre vpon them mine indignation euen all my fierce wrath for all the earth shall bee deuoured with the fire of my iealousie Sure then will I turne to the people a pure language that they may call vpon the name of the lord to serue him with one consent In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy workes wherein thou hast transgressed against me For then will I take away out of the middest of thee them that reioice of thy pride and thou shalt no more bee proud of my holy mountaine thē will I leaue in the middest of thee an humble and a poore people and they shall trust in the name of
the lord the remnaÌ„t of Israel shall doe none iniquitie nor speake lies neither shall a deceitfull tongue be found in their mouth for they shal be feed lie downe none shall make them afraid Now therefore saith the Lord of Haggai against impenitent sinners cap. 1. hostes consider your owne waies in your hearts ye haue sowen much and bring in little you eate but you haue not enough you drinke but you are not filled you claoth you but you are not warme and hee that earneth wages putteth the wages into a brokeÌ„ bagge you looked for much and loe it came to little when you brought it home I did blow vpon it and I called for a drought vpon the land and vpon the mountaines and vpon the corne and vpon the wine and vpon the oyle vpon all that the ground bringeth forth both vpon men and vpon cattle and vpoÌ„ all the labour of the hands I smote you with blasting with mildew and with haile in all the labours of your handes yet you turned not to mee saith the Lord. Thus speaketh the Lord of hostes Zacharie against impenitent sinners Cap. 7. 8. saying these are the things that yee shall doe speake euery man the truth vnto his neighbour execute true iudgment and shew mercy and compassion euery man to his brother and oppresse not the widow nor the fatherles the stranger nor the poore and let none of you imagine euill against his brother in your heart and loue no false othe for all these things are the things that I hate saith the Lord but they refused to hearken and puled away the shoulder and stopped their eares that they should not heare yea they made their hearts as an adamant stone lest they should heare the law and the wordes of the Lord of hostes sent in his spirit by the ministrie of the former Prophets therefore came a great wrath from the Lord of hostes I haue loued you saith the Lord yet Malac. against impenitent sinners Cap. 1. you say wherein hast thou loued vs A sonne honoreth his father and a seruant his master if then I bee a father where is mine honour and if bee a master where is my feare saith the Lord of hostes vnto you O ye Priests that despise my name ye say wherin haue we dispised thy name my couenant was with Leuie of life peace and I gaue him feare and he feared me and was afraid before my name the law of truth was in his mouth there was no iniquitie found in his lippes he walked with me in peace and equitie and did turne many away from iniquitie For the Priests lippes should preserue knowledge they should seeke the law at his mouth for he is the messenger of the Lord of hostes but yee are gone out of the way yee haue caused many to fall by the law yee haue broken the couenant of Leuy saith the Lord of hostes therefore haue I made you also to be despised and vile before all the people because you kept not my waies but haue beene partiall in the law from the dayes of your fathers haue you gone away from mine ordinances and haue not kept them returne vnto mee and I will returne vnto you saith the Lord of hostes but ye said wherein shall wee returne your words haue beene stout against mee saith the Lord yet ye say what haue we spoken against thee ye haue said it is in vaine to serue God and what profit is it that we haue kept his commandements and that we haue walked humbly before the Lord of hosts Therfore we count the proud blessed euen they that worke wickednes are set vp and they that tempt God yea they are deliuered Then spake they that feared the lord euery one to his neighbour and the lord hearkened and heard it and a booke of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the lord and thought vpon his name and they shall be to me saith the lord of hosts in that day that I shall do this for a flocke and will I spare them as a man that spareth his owne sonne that serueth him Then shall you returne and discerne betweene the righteous and the wicked betweene him that serueth God him that serueth him not For behold the day commeth that shal burne as an ouen and all the proud yea and al that do wickedly shal be stubble and the day that commeth shall burne them vp saith the lord of hostes and shall leaue theÌ„ neither roote nor braÌ„ch But vnto you that feare my name shalâ— the sun of righteousnes arise health shall be vnder his wings and you shall go forth and grow vp as fat calues and ye shall tread downe the wicked for they shall be dust vnder the soules of your feete in the day that I shall do this saith the lord Cum fueris felix quae suut aduersa caueto Rursus in aduersis melius sperare memento Prospice qui veniunt hos casus esse ferendos Nam leuius laedit quicquid prâ—uideris ante Nec multum time as venturi tempora fati Non timet is mortè qui scit conteÌ„nere vitaÌ„ Passibus ambiguis fortuna volubilis errat Et maneâ— in nullo certa tenaxque loco Sed modò laeta manet vultus modò sumit accrbos Et tantum constans in leuitate sua est Omnia sunt homini tenni pendentia filo Et subito casu quae valuere ruunt Tutior in terris locus est quam sedibus altis Nam fortuna leuat infima summa premit Et quodqunque libet tibi dat fortuna rapitque Irus est subito qui modò Croesus erat Singula quid repetam nil non mortale tenemus Pectoris exceptis ingenâ—que bonis Ludit in humanis diuina potentia rebus Et certam praesens non habet hora fidem Vt probet vt purget vt puniat vt mereatur Vt manifestetur gloria poena datur Itaque fac timeas et quae tibi laeta videntur Dum loqueris fieri tristia posse puta De optimo correctionis modo carmina composita ex diuersis auctoribus Moribus ingenuis cultus si charus amicus Esse nolit perfer post modò mitis erit Cumque mones aliquem nec se velit ipse moneri Si tibi sit charus nolâ— desistere coeptis Ferreus assiduo consumitur annulus vsu Interit assidua vomer aduncus humo Quid magis est aurum saxo quid mollius vnda Dura tamen molli saxa cauantur aqua Gutta cauat lapidem non vi sed saepe cadendo Corripe sic charos non vi sed saepe monendo Flectitur obsequio curuatus ab arbore ramus Franges si vires experiere tuas Obsequio tranantur aquae nec vincere postis Flumina si contra qua rapit vnda nates Obsequium tigresque domat tumidosque leones Rustica paulatim taurus aratra sumit Tempore difficiles veniunt ad aratra iuuencae Tempore
wicked cease from their tyranny and they that haue laboured valiantly shall be at rest there shal the prisoners rest together heare no more the voyce of the oppressor there shal be small and great and the seruant shal be free from his master and euery man liuing shal draw after them as before there were innumerable wee shall bee brought all vnto death and to the house appointed for all the liuing For in the hand of the Almightie is the soule of euery liuing thing and the breath of all mankinde the daies of man are determined the number of his monethes are with him hee hath appointed him as bounds which he cannot passe man knoweth not the houre of his death for when his flesh is vpon him he shal be sorrowful while his soule is in him it shal mourn but when death shal come then he sleepeth and riseth not for he shall not wake againe nor be raised from his sleep vntill the heauens be no more For all shall go to one place all was of the dust all shall returne to the dust But though after our skins wormes destroy this body yet shal we see God in our flesh whom we our selues shall see and our eies shall behold and none other for vs though our reines be consumed within vs for our redeemer liueth and he shall stand the last on the earth and he shall bring euery worke to iudgment with euery secret thought whether it be good or euill Therfore take away griefe anger and enuie out of the heart and cause euill to depart from thy flesh thinke oft on the saying of the Apostle in the 9. to the Hebrues It is appointed vnto all men that they shall all once die and after that commeth the iudgement So Christ was once offred to take away the sins of many and vnto them that looke for him he shall appeare the second time vnto saluation for we must all appeare before the iudgement seate of Christ that euery man may receiue the things that he hath done in his body according to that he hath done in his body according to that he hath done whether it be good or euill This death thē vnto which all flesh shal come is either an entrance or gate to perpetual liberty and pleasure or to perpetual prison and paine the death which maketh entrance to euerlasting paine is termed Ghostly and the sicknes which warneth of the same is also Ghostly which Ghostly sicknes and infection proceedeth of the malice of Satan and corruption of our owne wicked nature driuing all of whom it taketh hold either to errour in religion errour in life or errour in both Of errour in life the booke of Wisedome speaketh saying Seeke not death in the errour of your life destroy not your selues through the workes of your owne hands And of errour in religion it is spoken in the 106. Psalme and 39. verse Thus were they steined with their owne workes went a whooring with their owne inuentions The like wherof is affirmed in the 2. Epistle of S. Iohn where it is said He that transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ hath not God he that continueth and abideth in the doctrine of Christ he hath both the Father and the Sonne which commandement and lesson our Sauiour had taught before in the Gospel of S. Mathew the 15. chapter and the 9. verse And in vaine do they worship mee teaching doctrines commandements of men as do all the heathenish idolaters Iewes Infidels Turks Heretikes Miscreāts which do worship false gods or honour and serue the true God after a false manner according to the inuentions and commandements of men embracing doctrines and traditions for the worship and seruice of God more then are deliuered in the holy scriptures the word of God and some also contrary to the same according as doth the Court or Church of Rome and all the company of Catholike Papists disciples and followers of the Court and Church of Rome which ghostly sicknes infectiō of errour in religion errour in life or errour in both bringeth with it euerlasting death both of body and soule if the infected truely penitent renouncing and detesting all his former errours both of religion life be not washed purged and clensed in the pretious bloud of Iesus Christ the sonne of God so through Gods mercifull grace and goodnesse granted in his beloued sonne bee forgiuen and fully pardoned of the same according as S. Paul affirmeth That without bloud nothing can be made cleane and the bloud of Christ shal cleanse our conscience from all sin It is then necessarie for you and all others that looke and hope for saluation to beleeue and hold stedfastly vnto your liues end the true holy Catholike and Christian saith cōteined sūmarily in the articles of our beleefe according as the same hath bin of ancient time gathered and drawē out of the scriptures of the old new testament the holy writtē word of God and is more amply and large declared in those holy bookes with all other things taught in those bookes necessarie for a Christian man to instruct him fully perfectly and sufficiently in the way to euerlasting life Quest Do you then truely and vnfeynedly beleeue that all things pertaining to the true worship and seruice of God and for the instruction and guiding of your soule in the right knowledge of the way to euerlasting life and saluation are sufficiently and fully contained and taught in the holy written word of God of the old and new Testament and will you heartily and vnfeinedly renoūce al other faiths worship and seruice of God not being most truely conteined and taught in those holy bookes Answ I beleeue and embrace that faith worship and seruice of God conteined and taught in the holy books aforsaid as only fullie sufficient through the grace of Gods spirit to instruct and teach my soule in the way to euerlasting life and I do heartilie vnfeinedlie renounce all faithes worship and seruice of God more then that or contrarie to that which is most truelie and sufficientlie taught and deliuered in those holie bookes of the old and new Testament Reioice then and be of good comfort that god doth giue you grace to beleeue and hold stedfastly the true ancient Catholike Christian faith of our Lord Iesus Christ contained and fully taught in the holy bookes oforesaid Qu. Do you as all true beleeuers christiās confesse according as you are taught in gods holy word that you haue not spēt the time of your life past so holy vprightly as you ought to haue done hauing in thought word deed many times and waies transgressed the most holy cōmandemēts of god deseruing therby the sentence condēnation of eternall punishment and he◠fire Answ I confesse it Quest Are you truely and vnfainedly heartily sorry for it Answ ◠am and I beseech God by his grace to make me truelie penitent of all my offences
and trespasses Quest Haue you an earnest desire and stedfast purpose through the power of Gods grace to amend your sinfull life past and to lead a new life according to Gods holy will and commandements all the rest of your daies that God shall grant you life Ans I do earnestlie desire it and I beseech God who is the giuer of all goodnes to direct me by his grace so to do Qu. Do you truely vnfainedly and stedfastly beleeue that Christ the Son of God and sauiour of the world hath died and shâ—d his bloud for you and hath by his death and the shedding of his most preâ—â—ons bloud washed and cleansed your soule from sinne giuen vnto the same by his gracious imputation perfect wisedome righteousnes sanctification redemption through himselfe that your body and soule may be deliuered through the merits of his death from euerlasting damnation and obtaine euerlasting life Ans I beleeue and I beseech God of his mercie to helpe mine vnbeleefe and to increase and strengthen this faith in me vnto my liues end Quest Do you stedfastly beleeue that there is no help comfort nor saluatioÌ„ for your soule or body but through the pretious death and passion of Iesus Christ the sonne of God who knowing no sinne was made to be sinne for vs that we might be made the righteousnesse of God in him according as the Apostle declareth in the 5. of the 2. to the Corinths and last verse For he made him to be sin for vs which knew no sin that wee should bee made the righteousnes of God in him he alone being as the same Apostle affirmeth our wisedome righteousnes sanctification and redemption An. I doe stedfastly beleeue it Q. Are you hartily glad and thankfull for this great mercie bestowed vpoÌ„ you An. I am and I praâ—e God giue me grace so to be Be of good comfort then and while your soule is in you be thankfull vnto God for this his great mercy bestowed vpon you and in the precious death passion of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ put your whole trust commit your selfe vnto him and with his precious body bloud couer your soule and infold and wrap your selfe wholly in it and say vnto him after this maner O my sweet Sauiour for this thy names sake be it vnto me according to this thy name looke vpoÌ„ me a sinful wretch calling vpon thy holy name and O sauiour bee vnto mee a sauiour for thy names sake For surely there is no man iust in the earth that doeth good and sinneth not neither any that can say I haue made my heart cleane I am cleane from my sinne Thou onely art the holy of all holiest and I am the filth of all sinners but Lord if thou wilt thou canst make me cleane say thou also vnto my soule I wil be thou cleane Who can tell how oft he offendeth O clense thou me from my secret sinnes Thou Lord hast said also in the gospell that the whole neede not the Physition but they that are sick and hast also most gratiously bidden vs to come vnto thee when we feele our selues trauailed and heauie loaden saying in most sweete and comfortable words Come vnto mee all ye that trauaile and are heauie loaden and I wâ—ll refresh you I come therefore vnto thee because of thy sweet bidding sore trauailed and loaden with the burden of my sinnes which are so heauie vpon me that I am not able to looke vp yea they are more in number then the haires of my head and my heart hath failed me but Lord let it bee thy pleasure to deliuer me make hast O Lord to help me for I am sore charged and cumbred with many euil temptations my heart is also intangled and oppressed with many euil passioÌ„s which come of my flesh of the world and of the diuell and there is none that can help me or deliuer mee nor that can make mee free and safe but only thou my Lord God my onley sauiour to whom I commit me Refresh me which am so trauailed lighten me which am so burdened thou art the most soueraigne physition and my soule is also sore sick in sinne heale mee which come to bee made whole through thee the sicker that my soule is the more desire it hath to be healed and the more neede hath it of thee Turne not thy face away therefore from me neither cast thy seruant away in displeasure leaue me not neither forsake me O God of my saluation for why in healing the deadly sicknes of my soule shall well be shewed and commended the greatnes of thy goodnes that wilt helpe and heale so wretched a creature if thou receiue me into the large bosome of thy mercy the place wil not be the more straitned or lessened by me It is true Lord that I haue sinned and in the whole course of my life haue multiplied many offences and no repentance or punishment of my selfe may suffice to satisfie thy iustice But I humbly beseech thee to forgiue me O Lord forgiue me destroy me not with my transgressions bee not angry with me for euer by reseruing euill for me neither condemne me into the euerlasting damnation of hell darknes and paines prepared for the Diuel and his angels for thou art the God euen the God of them that repent and in me thou wilt shewe all thy goodnes for sure it is that thy mercies are endlesly more then mine offenses and though my transgressions are infinite yet more infinite are thy mercies Therefore if thou shalt enter into iudgement with me thy poore and vnworthy seruant I wil lay before thee the rich righteousnes of thy beloued sonne Iesus Christ my sauiour which hee hath purchased giuen vnto me by his precious death I will lay his righteousnes giuen vnto me betweene my soule and thy iudgement otherwise Lord I may not nay I dare not contend with thee for thine angry threatnings towards sinners are importable but thy mercifull promises are vnmeasurable and vnsearchable for thou art the most high Lord of great compassion long suffering and most mercifull Thou Lord according to thy great goodnes hast promised repentance and forgiuenes to them that sinne against thee and for thine infinit mercies hast appointed repentance vnto sinners that they may bee saued I therefore a most wretched sinner bewaile my manifold sinnes earnestly repent me of my former wickednes and vngodly behauiour towards thee and all my christian brothers sisters gone before me or remaining still in this present worlde for I haue sinned against heauen and against thee and I am no more worthy to be called thy sonne though for minâ— vnworthines I am not able of my selfe to purchase thy pardon hauing beene thy prodigal wastful childe which haue wasted all the substance of my life in sinne am fallen to great wretchednes yet I beseech thee blessed Lord to looke vpon mee with the eies of thy pitie and receiue me in the
nesciunt Nisi Iesum quem sentiunt Quem tuus â—mor implicaâ— Nâ—uâ— quid Iesus sapiar Felix gustus quâ—m satiat Nil est quod vltracupiaâ— Iesus decus Angelicum In aure dulce canticum in ore mel mirificum in corde nectar caelicum Desidero te millies Mi Iesu quando venies Me laetum quando facies Vultuque tuo sacies Quamdiu differs doleo Morasaegresustinâ—o Quod vultum nondum video Quem me visurum gaâ—deâ— Iesus summa benignitas Miracordis iocunditas Incomprehensa bonitas Tua me stringit charitas Bonum mihi diligere Iesum nil vlâ—ra quaerere Mihi prorsus deficere Et illi sols viuere Iesu mi delectissime Spes suspirantis animae Te quâ—runt pâ—aelachrimae Et clamâ—r mentis in timae Heâ— carnis victus vitio Intente clamare nescio In meque deficio Adte Iesu respicio Quocunque loco fuere Meum Iesum desiderâ— QuaÌ„ laetus cum inuenerâ— Quam felix cum tenurâ— Hunc affectum cum sentiâ— Nulla fit mundi mentio Summis vacat intentio Sic Semper esse cupio Hic amor ardet dulciter Dulcescit miâ— abiliter Sapit delectabiliter Delectat foe liciter Hic amor missus coelitus Haeret mihi medullitus Mentem incendit penitus Hoc delectatur spiritus O beatum incendium O ardens desiderium O dulce refrigerium Amare dei filium Iesus cum sic diligitur Hic amor non extinguitur Nec tepescit nec moritur Plus crescit accenditur Iesus sole serenior Est balsamo suauior Omni dulcore dulcior Prâ— cunctis amabilior Cuius amor sic afficit Cuius odor sit reficit Iesus in quem mens deficit Solus amanti sufficit Tu mentis delectatio Amoris consummatio Tu mea gloriatio Iesu mundi saluatio Tu moestorum solatium Tu reorum refugium Tues iustorum gaudium Et cuntorum auxilium Sequar te quocunque ieris Mihi tolli non poteris Cum meum cor abstuleris Iesu laus nostri generis Rex virtutum rex gloriae Rex insignis victoriae Iesus largitor gratiae Honor caelestis curiae Te coeli chorus praedicat Et tuas laudes replicat Iesus orbem laetificat Et nos Deo pacificat Iesus in pace imperat Qui omnem sensum superat Hunc semper mens desiderat Et illo frui properat Iesus ad patrem redijt Regnum coeleste subijt Cor meum a me transijt Post Iesum simul abijt Iam prosequamur laudibus Iesum hymnis precibus Vâ— nos donec coelestibus Cum ipso frui sedibus Finis hymni Sancti Bernardi Augustinus in libro decorrectione gratia Dicit PRima libertas voluntatis erat posse non peccare in renatis nouissima erit multo magis non posse peccaâ—e in non renatis multo minus posse nihil sed peccare prima immortalitas erat posse non morâ— in renatis nouissima erit multo magâ—s non posse mori in non renatis multo minus non posse viuere prima perseuerantiae potestas erat posse bonum noÌ„ disserer in renatis nouissma erit perseuerantiae foelicitas non posse bonum desererâ— in non renatis maledictionis in foelicitas non posse malum relinquere A Preparatiue necessary to prayer which ought to be faithfull and frequent feruent and patient WHosoeuer desireth to be most conuersant with God must apply himselfe often to his deuout praiers and to the reading of holy scriptures for in his praiers he talketh with God and in his reading of holy scriptures God talketh with him In which scripture he shall find noted that praier is sometime taken for euery good worke as vpon that saying of the Apostle Praie continually the learned do interpret that he onely may be said to pray continually that dischargeth his duty well in euery good worke continually so that a iust and righteous man neuer ceaseth to pray vntill he cease to be righteous for no man can pray or praise God continually with his lips neither is such a prayer or praise of God without the desire or consent of the heart pleasing or acceptable vnto God but hee that prayeth vnto God or praiseth God by his good workes and conuersation he doth and may continually pray and praise God most affectionatly glorifying him by his works True prayer also is thus defined Prayer is a most godly affection of the minde directed vnto God and this affection is a godly and Christian desire and euery godly and Christian desire may be termed a praier When our affection therfore and desire is directed vnto God it goeth as a messenger sent from man to God and it entreth into the sanctuary of God vnto which place our flesh cannot be admitted our praier is also a kind of petitioÌ„ preferred vnto God for al things necessary coÌ„uenient nether doth it beseeme any child of God to aske of God such things as are not meet but such things are to be asked which are necessary for the soules health neither caÌ„ any thing be said to be asked in the name of our Sauior which is not asked for saluatioÌ„ sake To pray also aright is to send forth the sorowful sighings of our soules not many eloqueÌ„t glorious words And to coÌ„mend this duty the more vnto vs these godly sayings are of great force which we finde in Eccles 18. and Ierem 33. Be not letted to pray often but cry vnto God and he will heare thee To the commendatioÌ„s also of praier the examples of all the saints of God are of great force who while they liued in the world perseueted in praier with one heart together with the women and Mary the mother of Iesus as it is said in the Acts. Our Lord and Sauiour Christ also was accustomed often to pray as in many places of the Gospell it apeareth not that he needed praier when of himselfe he had power of all things but to giue vs an example of diligent prayer he being vnwilling that we should slothfully and negligently practise that which he so diligently by his exaÌ„ple had taught It is a shame therefore for any Christian disciple to be ignorant of that which their Lord master Christ did so diligently teach as great shame it is seldome to doe that which their master Christ did so often especially seeing praier is a matter so profitable gainfull vnto vs for more may one Saint of God preuaile by his prayer then many miserable sinners can do by their force more doth one godly man get from heauen in an houre by his praier then many thousand of armed Souldiers can get vpoÌ„ earth by their force and armes Praier also will make vs to triumph ouer our spirituall enemies as Saint Isidore declareth saying This is the remedie by which we consume all the temptations of our vices that so often as we feele our selues pricked with sinne so often wee should turne our selues to seeke help by ouâ— prayers for diligent praier