e lord be abhomynable in y e sight of god Lay away your hygh reasōs let gods word although it seme simple rude lede you seke not to ioin your wisdom w t god lest in couetyng to clyme so high ye take a gret fall obedience is an acceptable offering Therefore put salt on your sacrifice that it may be wel accepted at your hādes for thus hath the lord promised with his own mouth c. If ye wicked amende your waies counsels yf ye wyll iudge right betwixte a man and hys neighboure if ye wyll not oppresse the strannger the fatherlesse and the wydow If ye will not shede inocent bloud in this place If ye wyll not cleaue vntoo straunge goddes to youre owne distruction then wyll I let you dwell in thys place for euer c. If ye bee louynge and righteouse ye shall enioy of the beaste thynges that dwelle in the lande saith the lorde but if ye be obstinate and rebellyous ye shall be deuoured wyth the swearde Wherefore conuerte and tourne with your hole hertes from your euyll waies O ye named Christians washe ye vii tymes in Siloah that yee maye be clensed from youre offences anointe your eies w t eie salue that ye may see walke in the steppes of Christ whose religion thou haste professed and whose name thou so well louest O thou Christianitie brynge forth worthy fruictes of repētaunce as sobrenes and amendment of lyfe that the thicke seales may fall from youre eyes y t ye may see the perfecte way of lyfe For except ye vtterlye renounce and forsake at the least in affection all that is in you of flesshe and bloud yea and your owne lyues whiche ye loue soo well ye can not see the glorie of god nether be partakers of his eternall kyngdome Therefore as Christe saith enter in at the strait gate and walke in thys narrow waye for although the pathe fro the flesshe be nothing pleasaunte yet thende leadeth our soules vnto rest For what is he saith the lord that geueth ouer his hert to come vnto me ye shall be my people I wyll be your god But beholde on y e other syde shall the wrathe of the lorde breake out saithe Ieremi as a stormy weather as a myghtie whirle wind and shall fall vpon the heades of the vngodly the tetrible displeasure of the Lorde shall not leaue of tyll he haue done and perfourmed the intente of hys hearte which in the latter daies saith the Prophete ye shall vnderstande c. For at that same tyme I shal be the god of all the generations of Israel saithe the lorde and they shall be my people c. Neuerthelesse sayth he whom I take in hande to roote oute to destroye or to waste awaie any people or kyngdom if that people against whome I haue thus deuysed conuerte from their wickednes ymediately I repente of the plage y t I haue deuysed to bringe vpon theym saith the lorde c. Our god is alwaies mercyfull vnto them y t prepare their hertes by obedience and repentaunce to receiue his holy spyrite for like as rayne and snow cometh down from thence and turneth not thyther again but watereth the earthe maketh it frutefull and greene that it may gyue corne and breade to the sower so the worde whiche cometh out of my mouth saith the lord shall not tourne again voide vnto me but shall accomplyshe my wyll prospere in y e thing where vnto I send it c. Therfore seyng god wyll now repaire the decayed places of his temple make youre conscience cleane that ye may be leanynge stones being fastened to Christe by faith and loue whiche is the head corner stone in whom euery buildyng coupled ioyned togyther saith Paul is made an holy habitation for god in the spirite c. For God dwelleth with them that be of an humble spirite and of a contrite herte which stand in awe of his worde yea he hath promysed to dwel and abide with them for euer and to gyue thē a newe herte and to write his law therein soo that they shall not nede to say one to an other know y e lord for they shal know me from the lest to the most of them saith the lorde for I wyll forgeue their mysdeades and wyl neuer remembre their sinnes any more for the sonne of God hathe appered saithe S. Ihon to take awaye synnes in hym is no synne and who so euer abydethe in hym sinneth not c. For to as many as receiue hym gyueth he power to be the sonnes of god euē those that beleue in his name saithe he which are not born of bloud nor of the wyll of man but of god or here now O Israel Reioyce and be glad for thy redemer lyueth he hath sene thyne oppression and his eyes do pytie the. Therefore wil he visite y e and gather y t out frō amonge all nations where thou art scatered holden in captiuitie for thine offences but yet not forsaken for with an euerlasting loue hath he loued the therefore hath he raised vp for the y e mightie horne of healthe in the house of Dauid of whose kingdome there shall be none ende neither hath he spared his own sonne but geuen hym yea hys lyfe y t he loued soo well for thy sake to make an euerlastyng at tonement betwixte him the for thine offences He hath promised to leade y e safe by his holy spirite daily to defend the frō and oute of all daungers Therfore he calleth euermore gretly vnto y t saying Come vnto me my beloued for I am he y t for myne own sake pardoned thine offences caste thy syns into y e bottome of y e see Make none excuse neyther prolong y e tyme but come immediatly my beloued brethrē natural coūtreimē to this most ioyful supper or feast which our merciful father hathe of his owne good wyl prepared made ready for you yea of long tyme hath he called you by his seruauntes prophetes saiyng Here obey my voice thē shal ye be my people I wil be your god it appereth he hath not forsakē you for as a most gētle louing father hath he sēt his holy word y e sōne of god y e very true patrone image of his most godly substāce to deliuer you frō al captiuitie blindnes but y e naciōs y t oppres the Iacob hold his seruant Israel in captiuitie wil he iuge neuertheles y e lord hath promised w t his own mouthe y t if any strāger wil turne to y e lord with his hole hert y t thē y e same strāgers shal haue inheritāce in Israel euē as sōnes doughters saith y e lord almighty what can there be more done for vs therfore turne to y e lord with youre hole hertes circumcise youre fore skynnes y t ye may
and distruction bothe of bodye and soule what folysh blyndnes is it for men to set their loue so inordinatelye vpon suche thynges wherein is neuer rest nor peace and to seke the seruice of suche maisters as be very Aucthors of all trouble and mysery and the bond seruantes of synne and corruption that serue thē Wherfore stryue daily against your lustes and mortyfie your affections compell youre fleshe to be ruled and ordered by the rules of Christe prescrybed in the sacred worde of god vnto you Then doubtles our heauenlye father wyll not onelye loue vs take vs for hys dear children but also for Christes sake so that we yet continew in faith beare our imperfection durynge the tyme of this lyfe clearelye forgeue and forget our synnes And make vs partakers with oure sauioure Christe of hys eternall kyngedome and glorie Therfore O ye Christined nations call to remembraunce the longe time of your captiuitie blyndnes of mynde which hath very far exceded the tyme of the captyuitie of the Hebrues the chyldren of Israel or of any other congregations professyng the truth before you neuertheles the mightie lorde of powers y e onely God of Israel hath now remembred his promyses and accordyng to hys oulde wonte hath he loked mercyfully vpon vs for his names sake yea he hath now herd thy mornyngs O Israel he is come downe to delyuer Iacob his chosen w t a myghtie hand a stretched out arme But as S. Paul saith I speake not these thynges ceyued not y e loue of the truth saith he God shall sende them strong delusion that they shuld beleue lyes that all they might be dampned saith he which beleue not the truth but had pleasure in vnrighteousenes c. Neuertheles god hath now remembred Israel his electe for he wyll alway haue compassion vpon Iacob his chosen therefore is he now mynded to shew mercy and to delyuer his people for our Lordes Ieloussy is waxen greate to see hys truth dayely thus traiterousely troden vnder foote of hys enemyes and cleane defaced vnder a coloure of truthe and wyth a counterfaicte dysguised holynes and outwarde pretence of vertue whereby the symple ignoraunte synners be disceiued for bycause the pathes of christ be so troden out many can find nothyng of the way Thus the mysterie of iniquitie as Paul saith workth in his place wherby the synfull man is opened and the sonne of perdition whiche is an aduersarie is exalted aboue all that is called God or of God for the vaine glorie of man apereth on earth to haue the vpper hande Is not natural or carnal reason and worldly wysedome most hyghliest esteemed Who amongeste men knoweth anye thynge lyke or that may be compared vnto it Where is the wisdome of God become Is it not vtterly dispised of the blynde worlde and set at naughte and not regarded When ye se y e abhomynation that betokeneth desolation spoken of by Danyel the Prophete saith Christ stande in y e holy place or as S. Mark saith where it ought not Let hym that readethe it vnderstande it Thus is flesshe and bloude that is to saye the man of synne exalted extolled and praysed whiche sheweth hym selfe as god and as thoughe ther were no power aboue him And sytteth in the holy temple whom the lorde neuetthelesse shall consume with the spiryte and breath of hys mouth And wythe the apparaunce of hys comynge euen hym saith Paul whose comynge that is exaltynge or settynge vp is saithe he by the workyng of Sathan withe all lyinge power signes and wonders in all deceiueablenes of vnrighteousenes c. ¶ Neuertheles our god hath taken part againste flesshe and bloud because it is become his verie enemy and he hath said I wyl destroy the wisedome of the wyse and caste awaye the vnderstandyng of the prudent that no flesshe should reioice in hys presence for the lorde shall step fourth as he dyd vpon the mounte Pirazim saith Esaye and shall take on as he dyd in the dale of Gibion that he may brynge fourth his deuice yea hys stronge deuyce and fulfyll hys worke therfore make no mockes at it saithe the Prophete that your captiuytie or blyndenes increase not for I haue hearde the lord of hostes say that there shall fall a soden distruction and plage vpon the hole earth saith Esay therefore take heade and heare my voice ponder and marke mye wordes well for the lorde shall fight against all them that muster them selues agaynste the hyll of Sion saith the prophet And with his myghtie two edged sworde shall he smyte the Heathen they shall be at theyr wittes ende they shall be abasshed stacker and reele to and froo c. ¶ Therefore thus saithe the lorde against all them that call them selues of the congregation of god and yet are not because they lyue vngodly and are the bond seruauntes of syn ye shalbe dronken but not with wine ye shal fal but not thorow dronkennes for the Lorde shal geue you an harde slepyng spirite and hold doune your eyes namely of your prophetes and heades which shoulde see them shall he couer so that al visions shalbe vnto you as the wordes that stand in a sealed lettre c. For thus saith the lorde for so muche as these people drawnie me wyth their mouthes praise me holly with their lyppes where as their hartes neuertheles be far from me and the feare that they owe vnto me that turne they vnto mens lawes and doctrines therfore wyll I shew vnto this people a maruelouse terryble great thing saith the lorde namelye this I wyll destroy the wisedome of the wise and the vnder standynge of the learned men shal perysh Therfore wo be to them that seke so depe to hyde their ymaginations before the lorde which reherse their counsels in the darknes say tush who seeth vs or who knoweth vs. Therfore must Ierusalē Iuda decay saith the lorde because their words coūsels are against y e lorde they prouoke y e presence of his maiestye vnto anger y e changyng of their coūtenaunce saith y e prophete bewrateth them yea they declare their owne synnes theym selues as the Sodomites and hide them not Woo be to their soules for they shalbe heauely rewarded saieth the lord then shall they say O happie are the godly for they may enioye the frutes of their studies but wo be vnto the vngodlye and vnrighteouse for they shall be rewarded after their workes O my people rybauldes oppresse thee and women haue rule ouer thee O my people thy leaders deceiue thee saith y e lord and treade out the way of thy fote steppes The lorde is here to common of the matter saith Esai and stādeth to giue iudgement with the people for y e lord shall come forth to reason with the princes Senatours and shall say thus vnto them saieth Esay It is ye that haue burned vp my vyneyarde and the robberye of
of men but of god The outward face of religion and holines only excepted what haue ye to reioyce in aboue other Hethen nacions So long as ye contynue in euill is there anye kynd of sinne and wickednes done in any heathen nacion vnder heauen that is not in the thou named christianitie What kind of pryde vainglory hipocrisie dissimulacion hatred malice or enuye is there in any other naciō that may not be found in thee Or what kynde of dronkēnes theft murther whordom or lecherye may there be found out or imagined of fleshe and blud that is not daily done and most shamefully committed in thee although ye compare your selues in wisdom and knowledge to Dauid or Salomon and yet liue wickedly wil not amend when ye are warned thinke ye to escape vnpunyshed Nay ye shall surely perysh as other like sinners haue done beefore you and drynke of y e same for thinke ye to escape with extollyng of Christes holy religion in name or wordes only or with setting vp of sacramentes and ceremonies although ye extol them to the cloudes if ye regard not to leaue synne nor to do that they teache you How can they profit you any thyng at all for god regardeth not your flatteryng titles and wordes of holynes neirher youre swete songes pleasaunt armonie swete smelles nor gloriouse sightes but he loketh vnto the herte and sercheth y e raines ye his iudgementes be and shall be accordyng to equitie after y e inward thoughtes of the herte not after the outward apperance For the corruptiō of y e thoughtes of the herte the lorde refused the offeringes and sacrifice of the children of Israel which he hym selfe had befoore commaunded saying vnto hym by his prophete Ieremye ye hepe vp your burnt offeringes with youre sacrifices and eate the flesshe as though I delyted in youre doynges but when I brought your fathers out of egipte I spake no worde vntoo them of burnte offeringes and sacrifices but this I commaunded thē saying Herken and obey my voice I wyll be your god ye shall be my people Although they brought nothyng but that they were commaunded yet God vtterly refused it at their handes because they thought to please him with the worke intended not to leaue their syns nor to forsake their owne euill and croked waies Thinke ye that god wyl accept yours which are not all grounded vpon the worde but partly inuented and set vp by natural wisedom and carnall reason ye altered and chaunged among your selues at youre pleasure Or wil ye thinke that god hath suche nede of you that he wyll accepte you eyther for youre wisedome or workes sake or y t he hath more loue and fauoure to you then he had to the Iewes in whose generatiō he both made and fulfylled his many-folde promyses yet neuerthelesse when they synned against hym he saide vnto them by Esay Heare the word of the lord ye tirauntes of Sodoma and herkē vnto the law of our god thou people of Gomorra Why offer ye so many sacrifices vnto me saith the lorde I am discontented for the burnte offeringes of wydowes saith he with the fatnes of fed beastes I haue no plesure in the bloud of Bullockes lambes and gootes when ye appere before me who requireth you to tread w t in my porches Offer me noo more oblations for it is but lost laboure saith the lorde I abhorre your incence I maye not awaye with your new incence youre Sabaothes solempne dayes your fastinges are also in vayne I hate your new holye dayes and fastinges euen from my verie herte saith the lorde c. If these notwithstandinge their offeringes and sacryfices holy daies praiers fastynges and suche lyke obseruaunces could not be accepted at the hande of God because their hertes delyted in sinne lokest y u to be accepted and so to escape vnpunished O named Christianitie Nether except y u amende and tourne from thine owne waies thou shalte not escape but surely shalte thou perisshe as they Wherefore thus saith the lord also vnto you O wicked christians which contynually delyte in synne heare y e worde of the lorde ye tyrantes of Sodoma and herken to the lawe of oure god thou people of Gomorra whi offer ye so many sacrifices vnto me c. Lerne obedience in y e landes of youre captiuytie wasshe you make you cleane put awaye youre euyll thoughtes out of my sight saith the lorde cease from doinge of euyl and violence lerne to do right apply youre selues to equitie delyuer y e oppressed helpe the fatherles to his right and let the widows complaint come before you c. Prefer the wyll of God aboue and before all thinges I saye and let that which pleseth hym be good and beste how so euer it sounde or appeere vnto you Hath there euer anye yet that stroue against God and taken in hande to teache hym righteousenes and iudgemente or to alter or chaunge hys wayes since the beginning escaped vnpunisshed If y t these thynges may not be suffred in Aungell moche les in fleshe and bloude whiche is corrupte whose beutie fadeth as a flower and wythereth awaie as hey or grasse O thou folysshe duste asshes darest thou presume againste thy creator lord to reason with hym of Iudgemente and righteousenes O thou proude Lucifer thou saist in thy herte I wyll clyme vp into heauen make my seate aboue the sterre of god I wyll syt vpon the gloriouse mount toward y e north I wyl clyme vp aboue the cloudes and wyll be lyke the highest of all yet dare I say saith y e Lorde thou shalt be broughte downe to the depth of hell c. your wisedome canne not preuayle against god and therfore shall your glorie haue a greate fall for thus saith the lorde I wyll destroy the wisedome of y e wise and caste away the vnderstandynge of the prudent for y e lord with his heauy great long swerde shall visite Leuiathan that vnuisyble serpente saithe Esai and shall flee the Whale fysshe in the See c. Againe S. Paul saith where are the wise Where are y e scribes Where are the disputers of this worlde hathe not God made y e wisedom of this world folyshnes For the folyshnes of god saith he is wyser then mē and the weakenes of God is stronger then men c. For god hath chosen the folysshe before the worlde that he myght confounde the wise and the weake before the world hath god chosen saith Paul that he myghte confounde the mightie and the vile and dispised befor y e world hath god chosen yea and that whiche is nothinge saythe he y t he myght destroy that whiche is ought that no flesshe should reioyce in his presence c. Therefore doo not iustifie your selues as pharisees neyther exalt any thyng in fleshe blud for y e thinges whiche men highly magnifie sayth y
power to be y e sons or children of god euen thoose that beleue in his name which are not born of bloude nor of the wyll of the flesh nor of the wyll of man but of God The vngodlye are the bonde seruauntes of synne because they are carnally minded their hertes hate god thoughe theyr lyppes praise hym which is all goodnes yea the onelye well and fountayne there of They lacke true obedience too the word and wyll of god therfore can they not optain to that rightousnes which before god is alowed For theire hertes and eares are vncircumcised y t they wyl not heare to learne obedience leaste they should conuerte and be healed And therfore runne they astray and establysh their own righteousnes for vnfaithfully haue they denied the lorde in dede and said it is not he Tush say they there shal no misfortune come vpoÌ„ vs we shal see neither sweard nor hunger as for the warnynges of the prophetes thei regard it not There is almost none neyther that will tell theÌ„ their synnes nor geue them warnyng of the plagues that are come vpoÌ„ them or shall happen vnto theÌ„ for from the least to the moste they hang altogether vpon couetousnes and from y e prophet to the priest thei go altogether about with falshod and lies c. For lyke as a net is full of birdes so are theyr houses full of that whiche they haue gotten with falsehode and disceit saith the lord Here of cometh theyr great substaunce and rychesse and hereof are they fatte and welthye and are runne awaye fro me with shamefull blasphemies sayth the lord they minystre not the lawe they make no end of the fatherles cause they iudge not the poore according to equitie shoulde not I punysh these thynges saythe the lorde Should I not be auenged of all such people as theese be Horrible and greuouse thinges are doone in the lande the Prophetes teache falsely and the priestes folowe theÌ„ and my people hathe pleasure therein May such thinges at any time or in anye people be vnpunysshed Therefore repente and tourne from your euyll waies that ye may enter into the rest of God and kepe his holy Sabothes for they that enter into the reste of god do cease frome their owne workes saith Paul as God dyd cease from his the vii daye and excepte ye keepe the holy feaste of tabernacles y t is to say cease from your owne wyl and from doing your own workes The Lorde wyll consume you in his wrath and vtterly destroye you in his soore displeasure For thus sayth the lorde I am excedynge gelouse ouer Ierusalem and Sion and am soore displeased at the careles heathen for I was but a lytle angrye and they dyd theyr beste that I might distroy theÌ„ Neuerthelesse I wyll tourne me againe in mercy toward Ierusalem so that my house shall be builded in it saith the lorde of hoostes c. Cry and speake thus sayth the lorde of hostes my Cities shall be in good prosperitie againe the Lorde shall yet comforte Sion and choose Ierusalem yea Hierusalem shalbe in habited with out any wall for the multitude of the people cattell that shall be therein yea I my selfe saith the lorde wyll be vnto her a wal of fyre round about and wyl be honoured in her For although the children of Israel sytte a longe whyle wythout Kyng or Prince withoute offeryng and aulter with out priest reuelacion yet shall the children of Israel conuerte saith the prophete Oseas and seke the lorde their god Dauid their king and in the latter daies saith he they shal worship the lord his louyng kindnes Therefore seyng that God hath nowe called you by his grace be not negligent to come and se that the herte be establyshed with grace and not with y e vain pleasures of this world whiche shal not profite theÌ„ that haue their pleasure and felicitie in them For who so dooeth not righteousnes is not of God yf we say we haue felowship with him and yet walke in derknes saith S. Iohn we do lye doe not the truth Therfore se that ye loue not the world neyther the thinges that are in y e world for the world passeth away and the lustes thereof but he y e fulfilleth the wyll of god abydeth for euer and hereby knowe we that he abydeth in vs euen by the spirite whiche he hath geueÌ„ vs. And they that ouercome shall obtain a croune of glorye and I wil geue to euery one of you saith the veritie of god accordyng to his workes c. Babes flee from the worshippyng of idols I meane froÌ„ seruyng of your owne lustes and learne to serue the liuyng god in spirite in a cleane hert wasshed froÌ„ an euil conscience with reuerence and godly feare for our god saith Paul is a consuming fier To as mani as walk accordyng to this rule peace and mercie be vpon them and vpon Israel of god So be it ✚ The grace of our lord Iesu Christ be with your spirites Amen Geue praise only to god yours as charitie byndeth me H. H. ✚ Dieu et mon droit QVI MAL Y PENSâ— HONY SOYT 1. Peter 2. ¶ Be ye subiecte to euery humayn creature for the Lordes sake whether it be to the Kyng as supreme head or to the Magistrates which be sent by him to the punishement of the euyll dooers but to the prayse of the well dooers for so is the wyll of God Heb. i. a Apoc. 6. 1. Cor. 3. c Roma i. Ihon. i. i. Ihon. i. Psal 39. Ezec. 3. Named cristians Psal 18 Rom. 16 Ihon. 10 Psal 65 Gala. 6. Gene. 13. Eccle. i. i. Ihon. Prou. 3. c Eccle. 24. Apoca. â— Esaye 29. Iames. 4 O bestes vngodly very vnnaturall Mat. 6. d Gal. 6. By the fall of Adam the inward eye of maÌ„ was opened in the knouledge of good and euyll Iam. 1 c. Mat. 5. c Christe saith who so loketh on a wyfe lustynge hath commytted adultry with her Exody 20 Deutro 5 Rom. â— In earthe worldly wisedome hath gotten the chayre or vpper seat Apoca. 12. Esay 14. Daniel 9 Mat. 24 Mat. 13. The man of sinne is exalted he sitteth in the estimation of men wheare god ought to syt for chief 2. Thess 2 Esay 11. Daniel 8. God fighteth alwai against the man of synne to ouercoÌ„e and to subdue hym 1. Corr. 1 Esa 18.37 4. Reg. 5. Iere. 13. c The heathen are suche as do not beleue Esai 29. Abdi 1. The churche of god in name but not in deade must perysshe Esay 3. Ezeche 13 Esay 5. Miche 3. VeneÌ„ and poyson is false doctrine and ensamples of naughtie liuyng Esai 1. Esai 11. Esai 11. Abac. 2.6 Exody 2. Esai 11. Nylus signifieth the See of trobles aduersitie Ier. 51.50 Iere. 46. and 30. Esai 44. 43. d A prayer Apoca. 3. Luke 1. Ezec. 44. Esai 1. Leuiti 26 The sacramentes be kepte but the vertue is gone Much labour loste Actes 8 Ihon. 2. The myracles of Christ and his apostles were not onely in face and wordes but were done in veritie the signes be kepte but the power is gone The sacrifice of vngodly are abhominatioÌ„ before the lorde Gene. 4. Iere. 7. a. Iere. 32. s Esai 3. The named churche vpon earth Sapien. 4. What an elder is by the scripture loke Sapience 4. chapter Rom. â— An vntrue professer of Christe is worse then an infideele Ezechi 8. Peter 3d Circumcise therefore the fore skyn of the hert saithe the lorde and be no mor stiffe necked Deutr. 10. Deades be acepted for y e mannes sake that doth them and not y e man for the goodnes of the deades Ierem. 7. Deutro 10 Esai 43. The people are coÌ„tente to be bounde to all that man can ymagyn so y t they myght haue lybertie to synne and abyde styl in their owne lustes the laÌ„des that professe Christ teache the faith and minister sacramentes ceremonies diuerslye Esai 1. b Iere. 6. Amos. 5. Mich. 6. Esai 58. Esai 1. God aloueth not y e deades of those y t be euyll Esai 1. c 2 Pete â— Esai 40. 1 Peter 1. Psal 89. Esai 14. Apoca. 12 Carnall wisedome seketh allwayes to exalte it selfe agâ—â—nste god Esai 29. 1 Corin. 1. 〈◊〉 1. Esai 27. The lord shall destroy all y t is in man of desâ—he and bloud 1 Cor. 1. Nothing of flesshe bloud shall reioyce before god Luke 16. Iere. 7. Exodi 22. zacri 8. Leuiti 10 Esai 1. The pols or water of Siloah signifyeth repeÌ„tance or rather y e lauer of regeneration IhoÌ„ 9 Eye salue is inward knouledge of y e truth Mat. 7. Iere. 33. Iere. 18. Esai 55. Ephesi 2. Ezechi 2. Ezech. 36. Ieremi 31. Esai 51. Ihon. 1 Ihon. 1. Luke 1. Psal 113. Leui 19.14 The fore skynnes signifieth y e iustes of y e flesh and mind whiche muste be cutte awaye All y t holdeth nor y e religion of Christe indede as well as in worde are heathen infideles Esai 13. The elect must be tried by trybulacion aduersitie All that is of flesshe must be doen awaye The staffe is y e worde wherwith the world is smitten Ezech. 34. Hornes signyfyeth strength Iere 30. Miche 5. Ezech. 33. To deale with equitie truth men saye playnelye they can not lyue Psal 13. Esai 28. They y t truste in their own wisedom or in any other thiÌ„g of flesshe bloud shal surely erre and be disceiued Esai 19. Egipte signifiethe y e congregation of wylfull synners Esai 24. Esai 1. Luke 13. Ezech. 18. 3. Par. 3. Psal 33. Prou. 3. Pro. 22.8 Pro. 22. Prouer. 1 Prouer 4. 1. Io. 3. Where y e Spirite of god is saieth Paule there is libertie 1. Io. 1. Io. 1. He that is an enemy to vertue goodnes hateth god The lorde wyll visite theÌ„ whose fore skiÌ„ne is vncircuÌ„cysed Iere. 6.8 Oseas 3. Ieremi 5. That is not onelye on these but aswell on al other such lyke zacha 1. zacha 1. zacha 2. Oseas 3. He that both righteousenes is of god To walke in darknes is to do suche deades as wee all did before we knewe the truthe 1. Io. 3. Apoca. 3.
A Consultorie for all Christians Most godly and ernestly warnyng al people to beware least they beare the name of christians in vayne Now first imprinted the .xxx day of Ianuarie Anno. M.D.xlix At Worceter by Iohn Oswen Cum priuilegio 〈◊〉 ad imprimendum â—olâ—m Per septem 〈◊〉 Ephesians the .iiij. ii I beseche you bretheen bound in the lorde that you walke worthely in the vocation wherein you be called with all humylitie and gentlenes with pacience supportynge one an other in loue beyng dilygent to kepe the vnitie of the spyrite in the hande of peace beynge one body and one spirite as you be called in one hope of your vocation There is one lorde one faith one baptisme one god and father of all which is aboue all and thorow all and in all vs for to euery one of vs is there grace geuen after the measure of the gyfte of Christe ¶ The copie of the Kynges Maiesties most gratious priuiledge EDwarde the sixt by the grace of God kyng of Englande Fraunce and Irelande defender of the faith and of the churche of England and also of Ireland in earth the supreme head To all maner of Printers boke sellers and other our officers ministers and subiectes gretyng We late you were that of our especial grace we renderyng the godly edifiyng and ease of our louyng subiectes within our Principalitie of Wales and marches of the same by thaduise and coÌ„sent of our most dere vncle Edwarde Duke of Somerset Gouernour of our person and Protectòur of all our realmes dominions and subiectes and other our counsailours haue graunted and geuen priuiledge and licence and by thies presentes doo graunt and geue priuiledge and lycence vnto our welbeloued subiect Iohn Oswen of our citie of Worceter Printer and to his factours and assignes to print reprint vtter and sell or cause to be printed reprinted vttered and solde so many of euery kynde of boke or bokes whiche haue or shalbe set forth by vs by thaduise aforesaid for seruice to be vsed in our Churches minystration of Sacramentes and instructioÌ„ of our said subiectes as shall onely suffise for the Churches and our subiectes within our said Principalitie and marches any other licence or priuiledge to the contrary in any wise notw tstanding AND also of our especiall grace by thaduise and consent aforesaid we haue graunted and geuen priuiledge and lycence and by thies presentes do graunt and geue priuilege and licence vnto the saide Iohn Oswen and to his factours and assignes to print vtter and sell or cause to be printed vttered and sold to all person and persons of whatsoeuer estate degree or condition they be al maner of bokes conteinyng any storye or exposition of Gods holy scripture or of any part thereof beyng not contrary or against y e same which at any time heretofore haue bene or hereafter shalbe made translated or coÌ„piled by the same Iohn Oswen or by his meanes instigatioÌ„ industrie or procuremeÌ„t and at his costes charges of whatsoeuer qualitie or sort the saide bokes or any of theÌ„ shalbe so y t the true copies of euery suche bokes be first diligently seen perused and alowed by suche person or persons as we shall froÌ„ time to time therunto assigne and apoint before they be put to any sale or vtteraunce And further our minde and pleasure is by thies presentes we doo straightly charge inhibite that no person or persons of whatsoeuer estate degree or coÌ„dition he or they be do at any time hereafter print or reprint or cause to be printed or reprinted priuely or appertly any of the bokes aforesaid or any parte or parcell of theÌ„ duryng the space of .vii. yeres next after the printing or reprintyng of the same bokes by the sayde Iohn Oswen his factours or assignes so that the same Iohn his factours assignes shall and may haue the profitte aduauntage coÌ„myng growyng of the printyng and reprintyng of suche bokes in recoÌ„pence alleinatioÌ„ of his industry paines charges in that behalfe to bee susteined Wherfore we wil straightly charge coÌ„maund al singuler our subiectes aswel printers bokesellers as al other persons within al our dominions that thei or any of theÌ„ do not presume to print vtter or sell or cause to be printed vttered or solde within any our dominions any of the bokes aforesaid by y e said Iohn made coÌ„piled or translated or any parcell of theÌ„ contrary to the true meanyng of this our present lyceÌ„ce priuiledge vpoÌ„ pain that euery offeÌ„der therin shal forfait to our vse al suche bokes and euery of theÌ„ where soeuer they shall bee fouÌ„d Willyng therfore coÌ„maundyng all our officers ministers subiectes as they teÌ„dre our fauour will auoide our high indignatioÌ„ that they euery of theÌ„ if nede shal require do aide assist y e same Iohn Oswen his factours assignes in the due exercisyng executioÌ„ of this our preseÌ„t â—â—eÌ„ce priuiledge with effect accordyng to the true meanyng of y e same In witnes wherof we haue caused these our letters to be made patentes Witnes our self at Westminster the sixt day of Ianuary the seconde yere of our Reigne A Consultorie for al Christians GOD in tymes paste diuerslye many waies spake to the fathers by prophetes but in these last daies hath he spoken vnto vs as S. Paule sayeth by his sonne whoÌ„ he hath made heyre of al thinges and by him hath he now declared his most godlye will vnto vs that we might obtain life in him whose most excellent cleare brightnes hath long time been darkened and as S. Iohn saieth hid as with a sackeclothe made with heare y t is to say with a fayned ryghtuousenes grounded vpoÌ„ naturall wysdome and carnall reason inuented and set fourth by man So that the bright shynyng beames of goddes truth coÌ„teyned in the holy scriptures might in no wise appere by reason of that dark vaile or cloud to the eyes or mynde of men whiche is not yet wyth all men taken awaye Neuerthelesse when they tourne to the lorde saith Paul the vayle shalbe taken awaye for no doute saithe he y e lord is a spirit and where the spirite of the lorde is there is lybertie And seyng that god which is ryche in mercy hathe once againe put downe y e great power of the enenemy broken down his brasen gates and by vyolence taken the praye as a spoyle froÌ„ out of the mouth of the LyoÌ„ yea victoryously hath he delyuered his truth y e longe time hath of his enemies be holdeÌ„ in boÌ„dage captiuitie we haue herd and sene these thinges obeyed do beleue Therefore am I not ashamed to testyfye the truthe vnto the worlde because it is the poure of God vnto saluation to all them that do deleue And as Sainct IhoÌ„ saythe the onely trewe lyghte whiche lyghteneth all menne that come into the worlde our handes haue handeled of the worde of lyfe for
lyfe hath apered saith he and we haue sene and beare witnes shew vnto you lyfe that is euerlastynge whiche was withe the father hath now apered also vnto vs. And y e tidyngs which we haue heard of him as Ihon saith declare we vnto you that ye may haue felowship with vs oure felowshyp may be with the father and with his sonne Iesus Christe c. ¶ For as moche as it hathe pleased the eternall god which seperated me froÌ„ my mothers wombe to lighten the inward eyes of my mynde withe hys grace and thorowe the knoweledge of his word and working of his holy spirite to worke a perfect repentaunce in me and amendmente of my formoure lyfe loue constraynethe me too wyl you good bretheren to be partakers of this greate benefyte And for this cause I haue thought it necessary as well to declare vnto you the daungerouse harmes that synne bryngeth to suche as delyte and continew therein as also the vnspeakeable reward of the righteouse whiche god hath prepared for those that withe their hâ—le hartes tourne from theyr synnes and walke wyth theyr god in the way of rightuousenesse I wyll not withhold froÌ„ you good brethren that which god hath wrought in me to incourage the weake stomakes of them that now waxe faynte herted and shrynke backe that I may say wyth the Prophete Dauid Lord I do not hide thy righteousenes in my herte but my talkynge is of thy truthe sauynge health all y e day long Therefore tourn not thou thy mercy from me o lorde but let thy louyng kyndnes and truth alwayes preserue me c. ¶ For it is writen wheÌ„ I speke vnto the then open thou thy mouthe saith the lord and say who hereth let hym here who so wyll not let hym leaue for it is a frowarde housholde c ¶ For as moche as I perceyue that the earth maketh haste to bringe fourth her children and the tyme draweth fast toward the end and all flesh semeth very desirouse and as it were gredy to accomplyshe the thynge with moche haste whiche it taketh in hande be it good or euyll my desyre is also to occupie my talente accordynge to y e wyll of the geuer wherebye I may please my lorde which is my desire aboue all thynges not onely therby to gather tresure for my selfe but also to prouoke as wel my bretheren and naturall contrymenne of thys realme of England as al other nations and named Christians to bryng fourth their frutes redyly accordyng to their nature that they may be rype against the day of haruest when y e lord shall rewarde euery man accordyng to his deades Therfore beloued fathers and brethren seyng ye haue taken the name of holynes vpon you beyng called Christians of Christ and do in word professe the same estemynge your selues the trewe churche and espouse of God vpon earth as al that lyue godlye doubtles be See that ye be dilygente to obey to the word of truth which our heauenly father hath now sente and set abroade by his beloued messengers as wel within this reame of England as in all other regions on the earth as it is wryten in the eyghtenth Psalme Theyr sownde is gone owte into all landes And their wordes into the endes of y e world If ye accepte the voyce of the shepeherde then wyll he know you for his owne and lead you in and oute where ye shall all wayes fynde riche pasture Godde hathe made daye and nyghte lyghte and darkenesse sommer and wynter to the intente that all thynges myght-haue as well place and time as sufficient occasion to shew forth declare theim selues eyther good or euill Repent turne froÌ„ your euill waies with your whole hertes that ye maie beleue set your faithe on a sure ground build it on y e sure foundacion of gods holy worde and promises and then will it alwaies abide the violence of the stormes but yf ye go by groopyng and woorke at auenture be ye sure ye shal not go right for true fayth is liuely no vncertayne thynge it is surelye grounded and stablished vpon the sure rocke of Gods woorde and promise as it is written Abraham beleued God in hys promise and none opinion of his own imaginacion it was counted to hym for righteousnes but yf your faith bee without the word then is it carnall and fleshely beyng builte vpon naturall reason and therefore it is vayne and of no valure for trewe faithe is accoumpanyed with godly loue who hath the wiisdome of god for her gouernour she teacheth her chyldren as a right good nourice knowledge and nurture and leadeth them safely in the waye of lyfe and with doctrine she purgeth their hertes from all filthe and corruption eueÌ„ as god himselfe is pure She shyneth from and out of the bosome of y e highest for her clearenes doth farre excede the brightnes of the soÌ„ne whiche lighteth the whole erth with her shine Therfore O ye ignoraunte geue a diligeÌ„t eare to the voice of wisedom which daily cryeth vnto you in y e high places stretes and wayes and before the holy citie and in the gates where meÌ„ go out and in It is you O ye men saieth she whom I call vnto you O ye children of men lyfte I vp my voyce Take hede vnto knowledge saieth she O ye ignorauÌ„t be wyse in harte O ye fooles geue eare sayeth she for I will speake of great matters and open my lyppes to tell thynges that be right for my throte shal be talkyng of the truth my lippes abhorre vngodlines al the wordes of my mouth are righteousnes there is no frowardnes nor falshode therein They are all plain sayeth she to suche as wyl vnderstande and right to them that fynde knowledge receiue my doctrine saith shee and not syluer and knowledge more then fyne golde for wysedome is more worth then preciouse stones yea all the thynges that thou canst desyre are not to be compared vnto it c. ¶ Wherefore if ye wyll seeke wisdome and dwell with her shee will make you the verye frendes of god for the highest hath geuen her a commaundemente and he that made herre hath apointed her a tabernacle saying Let thy dwellynge be in Iacob thyne inheritaunce in Israel rote thy selfe among my chosen for the congregation of the rightuouse are the Children of wisedome and the lorde dwelleth amonge them in hys holye Sinay An vtter enemye to wisdome is the frowarde synner for he hateth to be refourmed and because he will not refuse thynges which he knoweth to be euyll he can come in no good way brethern consider this most excellent benefite of god dayly offered vnto you Refuse not his worde which teacheth you al wisdom Come to her brokes drinke of her cuÌ„duite for wisdom hath cast out floudes I am saith she as a great water broke oute of the ryuer c. And as a water
the poore in youre house wherfore do ye oppresse my people and marre the faces of the innocentes And thus sayeth the prophete shal y e lord of hostes reuile thē therefore Wo be to those proude boastyng spirites which liuing wickedlye teache their flockes by poure and penaltie and not rather by ensamples of vertue godly lyuyng Wo be to those whose hertes are double whiche with theyr mouthes boast proude thinges and flatteryng vertue theyr wrathe is as the angry Lyon or as the shee beare robbed of her whelpes whiche euery occasion kendleth as fire the drie flaxe Wo be to those false prophetes whiche vnder the name of gouernours and teachers doo the deades of false deceyuers seruyng their owne lustes and yet saye do as we byd you and all is forgeuen Wo be to those Ipocrites wanderyng starres to whome the myste of darkenes is reserued for euer whiche coulourably for the bealy and for lucres sake pray for other and yet neither forsake sinne nor amende their owne lyues Woo be to those deceytefull messengers of Sathan whose hertes are exercysed with couetousnes hauyng eyes full of adultrye that can not cease to synne And although they goe wrōg them selfes yet they say thei be sent of god to teach and leade other the right way Wo be to those paynted tōbes and stinking sepulchres ful of all filth and corrupciō which oftentimes spake of faythe penance and loue and yet cōsume the tyme of their lyues in vanitie and idlenes keepyng theyr belyes from hungre and theyr throtes from thryst Wo be to those murtherers of the soules of men which thorough flatterye sowe pelows as the prophete sayeth vnder the armeholes of the people to to the entent they may bryng theim a slepe in blindnesse and sinne that they myght suspecte none of their doynges Wo be to those blynde guydes and most wicked generacion by whose carelesse lyuynge true repentaunce is almost banyshed and thrust out of place and amendment of lyfe is laughed to skorne and not regarded Wo be to those filthye spottes which haue thus forsaken the right way count it pleasure to liue deliciously for a season whiche as ragyng waues of the Sea foome oute theyr filthynes and shame Woo be to those serpentes adders broodes whiche moste greuously corrupt the inhabyters of the earth with their venem and deadly poyson and to mainteyn ambition pryde couetousenes voluptuous and beastly liuyng peruert al thynges and preposterously tourne it out of frame Wo be to the vngodlye the beast all his warriers which maliciously do euyll and fighte continually against the lord of powers and all his true souldiers Woo be to those bishops pastours and lawiers of what name and place so euer they bewhiche boast of power and auctoritie to rule and gouerne other and yet haue no respecte to their owne soules For heuily and miserably shal thei be rewarded that beare the name of christen people whiche seke holynes onely by outward sacramentes and signes not regardyng what the hert inwarde conscience bee and also saye in your selfes tushe we be well inough for the holy lawes ceremonies and Sacramentes of god are remaining among vs and thereby we are knowen to be his people Neuertheles be thou of good cumfort O thou litle worm Iacob and thou despysed Israell for thy redemer liueth feare neyther y e proude boastyng nor threatenynge of thyne ennemies for the Lorde standeth by thee to defend and deliuer thee for the mightye god of hostes wyll now take in hand to conquere the rēnaunt of his people whiche are left aliue from the Assirians Egipcians Arabians Morians Elamites Caldees Antiochiās and Ilandes of the sea for the the earth shalbe full of y e knowledge of the Lord sayth Esay Euen as though the water of the sea flowed ouer the earth And then shall the Gentyles whiche are vnbeleuers knowe that our God hath mercifully heard the lamentable cōplaint of the poore oppressed and remembred his couenaunt made with Abraham Isaac and Iacob his choosen Therefore the Lord commaundeth you to let his people go ye Heathen nacions and ennemies of righteousnes that we may sacrifice vnto the Lord our god for the lorde hath now seene the heauy burdens wherewith ye dailye oppresse his people and therefore is he come to deliuer thē with a mightie hand and a stretched out arme ye y e Lord shal cleaue the tong of the Egipcians Se saith Esay and with a mightie wynde shall he lyft vp his hand ouer Nylus and he shall smyte his seuē streames make men go ouer dry shod and thus shal he make a way for his people y e remaineth from the Assirians lyke as it happened to the Israelites what tyme they departed oute of Egipte c. But if you wyll not let hys people goo O yee enemyes of righteousenes y t they maye serue hym after his wyll then wyll he poure hys plages vpon you as he did vpon Egipte and vpō other nations among whom he scatered hys people for their offences to the intent they myght teache you righteousenes that ye myght repent and turne from your euyll waies and lerne to know the name of the lorde which is greate in Israel and myghtie in Sion for as touchyng Israel and Iuda thus saith the Lorde they shall not be forsaken of their God of the Lorde of hoostes of the holy one of Israel noo thoughe theye haue fylled all their lande full of synne c. For I wyl not consume the but chasteine y e and correcte the and y t with descretion saith the lord neither wyl I spare the as one that were faultlesse for thus saith the lorde O Iacob and Israel thou art my seruaunte I haue made the y t thou mightest serue me O Israel forgete me not saith the Lorde as for thyne offences I driue them a waye lyke the cloudes and thy synnes as the myste tourne y t againe vnto me and I wyl delyuer the saith the lorde Therfore tourne againe O thou dispysed people vnto the lorde forsake thy syns leaue thyne own wylful waies thē shalte y u be deliuered in the landes of thy captyuitie and be taken as a spoile from and oute of the mouthe of the deuourer whiche seketh to fyll hym alwaye of the. Cry to god from the very herte to delyuer the from the violente hande of thyne oppresser pour downe thy teares daily before hym and say O euerlastynge god and my father I beseche y e remembre the poore oppressed deale fauourablye with vs for thyne owne sake for thou arte our onely surgion Shew mercy vpon vs O father for Chrystes sake shew mercy vpon vs the worke of thyne owne handes Haue compassion vpon thy people O lorde that greuousely haue synned against the for by reason of our synnes haue we longe tyme bene thus exyled and kepte from the and the enemye hath sore preuayled against vs. O be thou mercyfull and take awaye our
synnes let our iniquities no more displease the. O Lorde forget not thyne owne accustomed mercyes Is our hurt so great that it may no more be heled Turn our hertes vnto the that wee maye seke thy wyll praise thy name and walke in thy waies O lorde wee knowe that thou only art our god whose nature and propertie is to shewe mercy yea and that thou art alwai readye O lorde but oure syn lyeth heauye vpoÌ„ vs presseth vs sore down quicken vs with thy holy spirite O lorde and lyft vs vp we beseche the with thy holy hande and strengtheÌ„ vs dayly with thine arme that we may praise the with ioyfull lyppes and magnifie the O eternall God oure onely sauyour father Sonne and holye ghoste c. Refuse not thou thy helth O thou Englysshe nation seeyng god hath loued the aboue many other and hath sent hys worde the sonne of god the very true patrone and ymage of hys moste godly substaunce vnto the too call the frome thyne own waies that thou mightest be made his owne people too serue hym accordynge to his wyll with reuerence and godly feare Say not in thyne hert I am ryche and encreased with goodes and haue neade of nothinge least thou be reproued but anointe thyne eyes with eye salue saithe the veritie of God that thou maiste see and know how thou art wretched poore blynd and naked I couÌ„sell the saith Christe bie of me golde tryed in the fyre that y u maist be ryche and white raymente that thou maist be cloothed that thy filthy nakednes do not apeare c. Therfore althoughe thou haste gotten a name that thou liuest let it not disceiue the but obey to the word of god turne frome youre Ignorance and knowledge your synnes caste youre selues downe that the lord may lyft you vp and shew mercy vpon you for he casteth downe the proud and exalteth the lowly If ye thynke youre selues heyres with Christ and gods chyldren where is youre loue and readye obedience towarde his will Where is the victorie which ye haue gotten against your flesshe synne and the deuyll the extreame enemies of vertue and godlynes against whoÌ„ at the tyme of your profession and baptisme ye promysed manfully to fighte durynge the tyme of your lyues and to renounce and vtterlye forsake Sathan all his workes Boast not of the name onely O ye christened natioÌ„s but shew your deades for that it is that must testify with you Remembre therfore from whence thou art fallen O thou blynde and ignoraunte people tourne to the lorde that thou maist be healed knowledge thye synne which is greate then shall it be forgeuen the. How longe write thou mocke with thy god and beare a double hert that goeth two waies ye pretende in face to haue a greate zeale and too be very feruent in the waye of the lorde but youre hertes run after your couetouse lucre and daily ye walke in youre owne waies lyue after your owne lustes and yet ye say tusshe we be well inouâ—â—he When wilte thou leaue of O thou wilful nation and why wyll ye thus perishe thorow your owne folly Truly excepte ye doo repente and tourn from your euyl waies what name of holynes so euer ye haue ye caÌ„not be made the sonnes or Children of god because ye haue refused y e way of life nor yet receiue any inheritance in his euerlasting kingdome for this saith y e lord our mercifull god of all the straungers that dwell among y e chyldren of Israel No straunger whose herte and flesshe is not circumcysed shall come with in my sainctuary Therfore dear lye beloued and longed for at my herte I pray you cut away your carnall desires and fighte against your fleshly lustes too subdu them that ye dwel w t in y e holy sainctuarye and receiue enheritaunce amonge sonnes and daughtours Againe this saith the lord washe you make you cleane put away your euil thoughts out of my sight cease from doyng euill and violence learne to do right apply your selues to equitie deliuer the oppressed helpe the fatherles to hys right let the widowes coÌ„plaint come before you c. And is it not so then saith the lorde though your sinnes be as red as scarlet shal they not be whiter then snowe And thoughe they were like purple shal they not be like white wol Is it so If you belouinge and obedyent ye shall enioy the best thinges that growe in y e land but if ye be obstinate and rebelliouse ye shall be deuoured with the swerde for thus the lorde hath promised with his own mouth O ye named christians coÌ„sider y e tyme paste present to come loke your owne waies wander no longer astray refuse not the lighte of the gloriouse gospell of God for it is the lyfe of your soules Remembre y e long time of your captiuitie whiche doubtles happened for your offences surely it passeth far the bondage and captiuitie of y e Hebrues or children of Israel in y e daies of Helyas Helizeus Ieremie and other prophetes Iosias Ezechias and many other kinges of Israel Iuda in whose tyme the people with their princes and priestes forsoke the law of y e lorde went a whoringe after straunge goddes because of their sins god gaue them vp to their own lustes and let them folowe their blynde Imagination yet was not their fal lyke vnto thine O Christianitie nor their hurt to be compared w t thine for thou haste not onely exceaded in thy fall but much more in the long tyme of thy myserable captiuitie and although thou be dayly called yet hast thou no mind to rise come to be made hole ye hold the name of y e people of god as they did but few do y e deedes ye hold y e sacramentes signes and cerimonies appointed in the churche of God as they saye but ye haue loste the strengthe and vertue of them For not with standynge youre daily ministration both youre selues and the people to whom ye minister yea bothe ye and they abide styll in youre owne lustes which declare playnely that your synnes be nother forgeuen nor taken awaye Is it not because ye are wicked that your praiers be not hearde as perfecte and holye mens haue bene before tyme For wheare they praied and layde on theyr handes god affirmed their doinges with his holy spirite soo that they receyued knowledge and their vnderstanstyng was opened and their mindes were obediente to the wyll of God If the doinges of the Apostles had bene so vncerteine that no thynge thereof hadde appered outewardelye saue onely wordes all remayninge as before euery man in his owne waies thinke ye they should haue ben so well beloued or if Christe at the mariage in Cana of Galile had sente the gouernoure of the feast water to gyue his gestes in the steade of wyne althoughe he had tolde theym it had bene good wine and that they
be made right Israelites of y e promysed sede receiue inheritaunce as naturall sonnes in y e house of Israel the faithfull congregatiō To you wicked people malicious tirantes y e seke to spoile deuour Iacob his peple to rote out Israel his chosē y e lord sendeth word let Israel go ye heathē natiōs y t he may do me sacrifice at my wyl vpon y e moūtaines for he is my eldest son perfite is y e iudgemēte of hym y e floweth in righteousnes perfitely shal the lord of hostes fulfyll the thyng that he hath determyned in the middes of the world for I will punish y e wyckednes of the world and y e synnes of the vngodlye sayeth the lord y e hye stomakes of y e proud wyll I take away lay downe the boastyng of tyrauntes ye I wil make a man dearer thē fine gold a man to be more worth then a golden wedge of Ophir for I will shake the heauē that the earth shall remoue oute of her place c. For the Lord shall smite the world w t the staffe of his mouth and with y e breath of his mouth shal he slea the wicked but mercifully wyll he delyuer his chosen and deuide the good frō the euil for thus saieth y e lord god Behold I wyll seuere the fatte shepe from the leane And for so muche as ye haue shot y e weake shepe vpon the sides and shoulders and runne vpon thē with your hornes so long til ye haue vtterly scattered them abrode I will helpe my shepe so y t they shall no more be spoyled yea I will discerne one shepe from an other I wyll rayse vp vnto thē one onely shepeheard euen my seruaunte Dauid he shall feede them and he shalbe their shepeherd and I the lord wilbe their god and my seruaunte Dauid shalbe their prynce euen I the lord haue spoken it c. Moreouer I will make a couenaunt of peace with thē saith the lord and driue all euill beastes out of the land so that they may dwell safely in the wildernes slepe in the woodes good fortune and prosperitie wyll I geue them and vnto all that be round about my hyll a prosperous shower and rayne wyll I send them in due seasō that the trees in the wodde may bryng forth their frintes and y e groūd her encrease they shalbe safe in their land and shall knowe that I am the lord which haue broken their yoke and delyuered them out of the handes of those that held thē in subiection they shall no more bee spoyled of the Hethen nor deuoured with the beastes of the lande but safelye shall they dwell and no mā shal fray them I wyll set vp an excellent plant for them so y t they shall suffre no more houngre in the lande neyther beare the reprofe of the Heathen any more Thus shal they vnderstād that I the Lord their god am with them and that they euen the house of Israel are my people saith the lord god ye mē ar my flocke ye are y e shepe of my pasture and I am youre God c. O ye people turne frō your croked wayes and from youre owne frowarde imaginacions ceasse leaue of from your own fayned dissimulacion Darest y u so dissemble with God and to play the part of an infidel or vnfaithfull hypocrit before hym Thynkest thou to hyde thy self vnder thyne owne shaddowes from hym that made thee and put thy herte in a secrete place Or wylte thou thynke to hyde thy sinnes with deceit that the highest which searcheth y e her◠and y e raynes shall not reproue thy wayes ye come togyther as god sayde to the Iewes by his prophet after the maner of a greate people to heare his word at the mouth of the preacher or prophet but in no wyse wyll ye do thereafter In your mouthes lykewyse ye shewe youe selfes as though ye were feruent but your heartes goo after youre owne couetous lucre and as a balade that hath a swete tune and is pleasaunt to syng so is the Preacher vnto you his wordes wyll ye heare saith the lord but ye wil not do thereafter c. For vaine glorie and lucre ye make croked lawes wherby ye laye snares for the feete of the symple and wolde ye that noo man should reproue your waies The mouth of the disceitful is right well with you alowed but he that speaketh the truth shal not escape vnpunisshed for crafte disceyte and falshode is suche an vniuersall thinge that to deale with equitie and truth men say playnelye they can not lyue and thus vertue is so generally contempned that it is nigh a common reproche for a man to do well O lord as Dauid saith when wilte thou loke vpon this O restore my soule frome the wycked rumoure of them and my darlynge from y e Lyon for they are stained with their owne workes and runne a horinge after their own ymagination for daily do they blaspheme thy name slaunder y e foote steps of thyne anointed yet wil they be knowen for such as know their god hold of him ar feruēt in his wais For thei say in their hertes tusshe God seeth it not the highest regardeth none of these thynges although god by longe pacience suffer such thinges at their handes loking and tariyng for thy amendmente O Christianitie thinkest thou y t it wyl be forgoten Hath there euer any nation which cōmitted like abhominations before y e escaped vnpunisshed And dost y u thinke to escape Naye thou shalte surelye drinke of y e same thou shalt not be forgotē but thy synnes shall truly be recompensed in the euen into thy bosome god shall tourne thy clothes ouer thye heade O thou filthy herlot y t thy filthynes may many festely appere also and seyng thou art a people y e runnest in thine own wilfull wayes and saiest tusshe there shal no faulte be found in all my doinges therefore stom blest thou in the clere day fallest in the darke yea grope do ye as blynde men after youre own ymagination but because ye let your handes deale with wickednesse ye can not fynd y e right way For as the Psalme saith your fete are swift to shed bloud destructiō and wretchednes are in youre waies but the way of peace haue ye not knowen O yee frowarde people heare the word of the lord giue your eares to doctrine and dispise not good coūsell seke frendship of god by vertu not by flaterie for y e lord is alway frendly to them that put their truste in hym but ye call your selues christians and yet commyt wickednes with your mouthes ye extolle Christes worde name lawes and sacramentes but in your deedes ye dishonour him for as longe verely as ye delite in euyll your deades are hated of God and yet saye with dysceite wyll we escape and withe nymblenes wyl we defend
our selues therfore are ye cursed w t penurie ye chose ignorance for your guide wylfulnes too be your gouernour as for y e warninges of the Prophetes yee take for winde and the worde of god for a scorne because yee haue no luste thereto and thus they go wrong by reasō of wine saith the lorde they fall stacker because of stronge drinke yea the priestes Prophetes them selues go amys they are dronken with wine and weake brained thorow strong drinke They erre in seing in Iudgemente they faile For the lorde hath made Egipte dronken w t the spirite of errour saith Esai and they shall vse it in all maters euē lyke as a dronkē man gooeth spewinge aboute For Egipte shall lacke good counsell saith he so y t they shall not know what to do neither y e beginning nor thend neither vpō y e land nor water then shall the Egiptians be lyke vnto womē afraide and astonied at the lyftinge vp of the hande whiche the lorde of hoostes saith Esai shall lyfte vp ouer them c. Myserably shall the worlde be wasted and cleane destroyed for the lorde hath so determyned in hym selfe c. For the earth is corrupte of her indwellers for whye they haue offended the lawes chaūged their ordinaunces made the euerlastinge Testament of none effects and therefore shal the curse deuoure the earth for they that dwell thereon haue sinned And although these places come dayly vpon you from the lorde for your offences yet yee see it not nor regarde the matter noothinge at all O ye blynde and frowarde nations therefore though ye holde out your handes yet tourn I mine eyes from you saith the lord though ye make many prayers yet here I nothinge at all for your handes are full of bloude and ye deale alway with wyckednes because certeine synne hath no outward punyshment apointed by y e rulers for those that do them Thinke ye therfoore that God wyll forgette them The people in Christes tyme whyle he raygned vppon the earthe thoughte that thoose Galathians whose bloude Pilate myngled with theyr owne sacrifyce and the .xviii. persons vpon whome the towre of Siloah fell and slewe had beene moche greater synners then the other that suffered no such punyshmente but our sauiour Christ sayde playnely nay and excepte the other repeted they shoulde lyke wyse perisshe althoughe they suffered no suche punyshment here therefore remembre thy selfe O thou named Christianytie repente in tyme and tourne to the Lorde wyth thy hole herte Too you do I speake O yee Ignoraunt people gette ye to moornynge quyckely and poure oute your teares befoore hym that hee maye shewe mercye and tourn all wayes hys wrathe frome you c. O tourn you tourne you why will ye dye seyng the lord hath no plesure in the death of a sinner but willeth rather that he conuert and liue c. But yf ye withdraw your eares will not heare to turne frō your euil wayes then am I sory for your sakes Bee not wilfully blynde but searche the scriptures and ye shal see that no people or nacion that did suche abhominacions and hated to be refourmed since the beginnyng escaped vnpunished and would ye escape Then must ye refuse the euill choose the good seke peace and ensue or folowe it for the eyes of the lord are ouer the righteous and his eares are opē vnto their prayers but the face of the lord beholdeth thē that do euill to destroy the remēbrance of them out of the earth c. yea the cursse of the lorde is in the house of the vngodly but he blesseth the righteous Consider these thynges with your selues in time lest sinne by long custome blind your vnderstandyng so that ye iudge derknes for light and good for euill ye knowe the blynde are easye to leade out of the way wher thei sone fall and be made a pray for the enemy Wherefore beloued geue diligent eare vnto wisedom whiche hath now agayne opened her flouddes and putte forth her voyce in the streetes she booeth call before the congregacion in the open gates sheweth her wordes in the citie O ye chyldren sayeth she howe long will ye loue childishenesse how long will the skorners delite in skorning and the vnwise be enemies to knowledge O turne ye to my correccion saith she lo I will expresse my minde vnto you and make you vnderstand my wordes For who so herkeneth vnto me shal dwelle safely and haue inough w toute any feare of euill Again she saieth my sonne let not these thinges departe from thyne eyes but kepe my lawe my councel so shall it be lyfe vnto thy soule and grace vnto thy mouth thē shalte thou walke safelye in the way and thy fote shal not stumble if thou slepest thou shalt not nede to be afrayed but y u shalte take thy rest and slepe swetely thou shalt not nede sayeth she to bee afrayed of any soodayne feare neither for the violēt rushyng in of the vngodly whē it cometh for the lord shalbe beeside thee and kepe thy fote that thou be not takē O ye beloued children herken vnto wisdom Come no more in the pathes of the vngodly saieth she walke not in the way of the wicked Take fast holde of doctrine and let her not go kepe her for shee is thy life And again she saieth my sonne marke my woordes for the pathe of the rightuouse shineth as the light and is euer brighter and brighter vnto the perfite day but the waye of the vngodly is as the darknes saieth she wherin men fall or they be aware And moreouer she saith heare ye chyldren the fatherlye exhortacion and take good hede that ye maye learne wisdom yea I shall geue you a good reward yf ye wil not forsake my lawe saith wisdom c. The chief poynt of wisedom is to be willing to attain wisdom Therefore let thy hert receyue my wordes saith she and kepe my commaundementes thou shalt liue Obey vnto god and then shall ye receiue a good spirite of hym which as S. Iohn saith wyll loose the woorkes of synne geue you a will to loue him and to kepe his commaundementes for thei that ar born of hym synne not saieth he because they haue the sede remaining in them the earnest of our saluacion I meane the spyrite of truth the ioyfull coumforter whiche god hath promised that shall alwayes abyde with them that looue hym euen vnto the ende of the worlde This is he that losseth the workes of sinne and bringeth a godly desire vnto righteousnes and a longing to fulfull the wyl of god they that haue opteined a mynde to loue god are begotten borne of hym and they are knowen loued of hym And herby know we saith Ihon y e god abydeth in vs euen by the spirite which he gaue vs as it is writē To as many as receiue him giueth he