¶ AN ARMOVRE of Proufe Very profitable as well for Princes noble men and gentlemen as all other in authoritie shewing the firme fortresse of defence and hauen of rest in these troublesome times and perilous dayes Made by Iohn VVoolton Minister of the Gospell ¶ IMPRINTED AT LONDON by Iohn Shepperde Anno. 1576. COR. VNVM VIA VNA ¶ To the right honorable Sir VVilliam Cicil Knight Lord Burleigh and Lord high Treasurer of England Iohn VVoolton wisheth the fauor of God continual health and prosperous selicitie THere is engraffed and deeply rooted in mans minde an error and false opinion whiche euen immediately after his dounefall did spring and shew it selfe out of originall sinne to iudge of Gods Prouidence according to wordly euents and if sometime hee see the better side and iuster cause oppressed fraudulently and tirarmously then he eyther denyeth altogither Gods care ouer mortal men or else doubteth of the equitie of the cause and giueth iudgemeÌ„t that those which are ouercome haue the weaker title and are cast away from God and that the conquerours and victors doe defende the sincere parte and better title and and are accepted of God And this thing commeth to passe especially in matters of religion where men according to the estate of kingdomes and inclination of the people do weigh and esteme the truth of the same I his greeuous error if it continue any space in mans brest it breedeth in some an Apostasle and vtter departing from God In othersome troublous motions and flitting mindes whiche in time do quenche in man all sense of godlynesse and at last carieth him headlong into a godlesse contempt of Religion or driueth him downeright into dreadfull desperation For mans minde which was created to searche out the truth and to â—olâ—wâ— the same is not able to indure those conflictes and assaultes of a vexed mind and sorely I am of this opinion that the gnowings and frettings of the conscience which arise by meanes thereof are more dolorous than any torments whiche mans body may sustayne Pompeius Magnus ariuing at Mitelenen after that famous foughteÌ„ fielde of Pharsalie discourseth with Cratippus his whose race of life and maketh large mentioÌ„ of his aduerse fortune and lastly drowned in the gulfe of despaire viterly denyeth Goddes prouidence by cause in a iust and good quarrelf as himselfe thought God suffered him to fall And Demades that eloquente orator and graue Senator of Greece giuing as holesome counsaile in matters touching the commoÌ„ wealth as eyther ThemistocleÌ„s Miltiades or Pericles was woÌ„t to alledge for himselfe that frowarde fortune and vnhappie desteny did frustrate his deuises VVhiche voyce albeit euen then it escaped not iust repreheÌ„sion of the wise yet it paynteth liuely vnto vs the ruine of the Attyke commoÌ„ wealth the greate perilles and daungers in all cinill regiment and the declining of Empires and kingdomes VVe liue no doubt in the last times and old age of the world which is feeble and doing for by common eourse of nature after vigor and strength foloweth inclination and fayntnesse and tho end of things is always weake VVherein we see the rage of Sathan to spurre mens myndes to ward furie to stirre vp troubles cruell warres and all kind of calamities euery where and for that he knoweth the restitution of mankinde to approch and hys time short he omitteth nothing vnattempted to drawe great swarmes and companies of the worlde to forsake nuereligion and to runne into ignorance and blasphemy And that I may let passe those that vpon the coastes of Hungary depart froÌ„ vs to the Turke persuaded with wealth and prosperous successe of his wares VVhat Tragedies dothe the Diuell moue on each side of vs to terrifie men from folowing Christ his ensigne and from a free and liberall profession of his most sacred and câ—ernall Gospell In Scoplande we haue heard of dayly slaughters and butchery of Christes children where it is now a common sleight to minister an Italian dramme vnto their Princes and trayt crously to murder the peeres and nobles of their land The dealings of the Duke of Aluâ— and his successor in the lowe countries are more lamentable where no lawes no faith no promises are kepte no antiquitie of noble families regarded no faithfull seruice to theyr Prince and countrie remembred no silence nor abiuring of â—rue religion accepted but Spanishe crueltie executed uppon all ages degrees and fexes without any consideration besides these no spoyle nor robberie of mens substaunes no extreame punishments nor torments no rasing of townes and Cities no adulterie nor filthy Sodomy can coÌ„tent their monstrous and most vile natures and appetites All good natures tremble and quake at the reports of the French eruelty exceeding Pharâ—â— and Nero in all rage and tirannie whose proceedings are such that we may gather that their determinate mindes and purposes are noâ—â—tâ—eeasse vntill they haue the hart bloud of all those in whom any sparke or breath of Christian Religion at any tyme heretofore hath hath appeared and so driuing away the shining brightnesse of the Gospell to reduce the Romish Idoll and to exalt him in all Europe as the chiefe Monarche agayne For now they cloke not their malice with pretence of suppressing rebellious subiects but lynking vnto them the Spanish natioÌ„ do most euideÌ„tly professe them selues the sworne enimies of Christe his espouse and the chiefe defenders and Champions of Babylonish Idolatrie The puissance and greate mighte of that side theyr terrible executions and the froward euents of lawful and godly enterprises languisheth and wholly discourageth many men that heretofore haue giuen some countenance vnto the Gospell And no mortall wight were able to continue in so sharp and endlesse a battel firme and constant without an vndoubted assurance of Gods prouidence and fatherly care ouer them VVherefore godly men comfort themselues with a grounded faith being tossed too and fro in vehemente stormes and tempestes and do knowe that the sonne of God guideth the sterne of his shippe and as hee promised so hath he in deede exhibited his holy spirite by whome hee giueth vnto his children courage and strength to giue testimonie of the trueth without dred in the middle of all punishments and â—â—rmeÌ„ts Touching the fornamed Tirants 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 me God hath giuen stout stomackes â—â—â—till 〈◊〉 greete victories whereby they are growâ—h into a licetious boldnesse bending 〈…〉 â—â—ght against Christ his Church wee 〈…〉 our selues that God wil withdrawe 〈…〉 his generall graces that he will depriâ—â— them of all their of nâ—ments in body and mind that he wil leaue them vnto themselues as he forsooke Pâ—mpey â—lcibiades Alexander and such like VVe haue an especiall example hereof in Valerianus the Emperour who in the beginning for his vpright iustice and valiant hart was deerely beloued of the Senate and common people but afterward setting himselfe against Gods Church became captiue vnto Sapores king of the Persians who vsed his head as aâ—ootostoole
care eased and relieued In tymes of darknesse none were thought to serue God but such as went into the church to heare mattins and masse But S. Paul the organe and instrument of God tracheth that a Magistrate sitting in iudgement hearing pleas examining causes succoring the widdow and orphane and pronouncing sentence according to iustice and equitie doeth God true and faithfull seruice Wherefore albeit many griefes cares sorrowes calamities and incommodities doe accomber this lyfe doe waste and consume them yet haue they this consolation I execute this my condition and estate by Gods ordinance and calling whither therefore God prolong or shorten my dayes it forceth not I lyue and dye in that function whiche is acceptable vnto god And God surely doth not onely gouerne their externall doings but boweth inclineth theyr harts and denises after his will and pleasure according to the saying of the most prudente Salomon The Kings hart is in the hande of the Lord as the riuers of water he turneth it whether soeuer it pleaseth him Thus you see with what waightie words the spirit of God extolleth their callings and that not withoute brgent 〈◊〉 For if we take away the Magistrate or wilfully violate their sacred authoritie we take the sunne out of the world we abandon truth and peace we make the whole earth a denne of theeues CHAP. 2. The seconde consolation drawen from Gods manifolde promises to help and defende the Magistrate IF Princes or Magistrates dyd turmoyle and tumble in their regiment without Gods speciall help and prouidence no maruell it were if the thought and care of one day did vtterly ouerwhelme and oppresse them But therefore haue they an vnspeakeable solace that God both conferreth dominion and rule at his owne pleasure and also directeth and guideth them accordingly vsing them only as externall instrumeÌ„ts And his exceeding greate loue is most euident toward them in that to euery Magistrate and Prince in their dominions be appointeth speciall Angels to defende strengthen and conserue them Wherof we haue an example in y Prophet Daniel where mention is made that the Angell Michaell sloode on the Israelites side against their enimies It were impertinent to this matter to alledge mens opinions of Angels wherin there is some diuersitie But this is truely gathered that as the wicked fiende Beelzebub sendeth legions of Diuels into Princes palaces to stirre vp seditions and to bring in al kind of calamities so Gods Angel pitcheth his camp round about them and if they feare God they haue always more nuÌ„ber with them than against them to shield theÌ„ from the darts of Sathans Souldiers and to bridle their malice and furie The Philosophers into whom nature poured viuacitie and sharpnesse of wit did see that monarchies and kingdoms could not coÌ„tinue by humane policie were constreyned to cofeffe that by Gods prouidence kings kingdomes 〈◊〉 maintained defended The Fathers of the first age amongst the Gentiles vsed first before they wente to the Eloction of their prince to offer sacrifice to their gods crownd him King who by Oracle was pronounced most meete to the office wherein they haue opened their minds in this matter verily y without gods help they are able to accomplish nothing agayn the through his help they are able to 〈◊〉 Wâ— Somnius that Philoâ—pher â—â— Egypt betâ— how Great Alexander went to off 〈…〉 vnto Iupiter of Ammo in Egipt 〈◊〉 many 〈◊〉 naturlled he answered wel That al men were vndor Gods hand and poyce but to 〈◊〉 he and to be a prince is the highest and greanst benefite He added moreouer that God was a parent ginerally vnto al me but that he especially a dopted vnto himself as his most louing childreÌ„ y princes magâ—â—rats And certen it is that many who haue him cast out by the it parentes or kinssblke as it were an vntimely fruite haue vin by Gods singular prouidence preserued yea being obiected to Beastes haue bin of buite beastes nourished and at last became greate Princes and Lords of the world We reade in histories that Romulus was nourished of a Woolfe Cyrus of a Bitche Abidus of a Doe Hiero of Bees that broughte hony into hys â—ppes And finally that I may not omit king Dauid who in his yong yeeres was a refuse among his brethren in his fathers house how woÌ„derfully was he preferued from the mouth of the Lion and Beare howe miraenlously was the yong Babe Moses taken out of the deepe waters and appointed to leade the children of Israell through the redde Sea. Such ensamples bothe prophane and diuine if they are to be called prophane that minister so good matter do playnely declare that such as are ordeyned to be Princes and Rulers are euen from the houre of their virth receyned into Gods Iutele and protection The summe and effect thereof consifleth in this that the Magistrate haue onely and alwayes before his eyes Gods prouidence and mercy in his sonne Christ so shall he and all his businesse be farre from perill and daunger and safely stand without all compasse of gunshot Let him remember Gods earnest promise to the Israelites obeying his commaundements If thou hearken vnto my voyce and do all that I speake then I will bee an enimie vnto thy enimies and will afflicte them that afflict thee If hee feare God in deede this notable promise will more encourage him than all Castles Towres munitions and Armies For if God will be an enimie vnto their enimies let their aduersaries deuise imagine conspire and bend all force against the Magistrate they cannot preuayle they cannot vndermine or supplant them so long as God defendeth the Magistrate and fighteth against their enimies How is it possible that the one shoulde preuayle and the other perish Dauid hauing approoued the trueth of Gods promise in him selfe farre aboue hys expectation vttereth this sentence I wil loue thee deerely O Lord my strength The Lord is my rocke and my fortresse and he that delyuereth me my God and my strength in him will I trust my shielde the horne also of my saluation and my refuge And agayne Thou diddest cause thy Iudgemente to bee heard from Heauen therefore the Earthe feared and was still When thou O God arose to iudgement to all the meeke of the worlde The worthy Captayne Iosua called to ruls and conduct Israel into the lande of Promis receyueth most heauenly encouragements at Gods mouth speaking vnto him in this wise There shall not be a man able to withstande thee all the dayes of thy lyfe Is I was with Moses so wil I he with thee I wil not leaue nor forsake thee Let not this Booke of that law departe out of thy mouth but meditate therein day and night Haue not I commounded thee to be strong and of a good courage feare not for I the Lord thy God will be witâ— thee whethersoeuer thou goest These wordes are mightie and ardent which
all Princes magistrates ought to apprebende and bolde fast They were withoute doubt written to thys ende that all such as continue in Gods feare might knowe wherevnto to trust For whatsoeuer things are written afore time are written for our learning that wee through pacience and comforte of the Scriptures myghte haue hope Whensoeuer then any Prince or Magistrate will make Gods word his chiefe solace and treasure will loue and feare God and trust in his grace and mercie he shall haue God his righte arnre his buckler and shield his patrone and defender that bee may quietly and safely lay him downe to sleepe and take his rest for that the Lorde of heauen and earth susteyneth him And therein obserue and diligently recorde the often repetition of these wordes Be strong and of good courage If he had bin a milkesoppe and faint harted in his office he coulde not haue serued God nor executed his calling nor prouided for hys army This example if the mightie would folow they shuld not be so easily coÌ„fouÌ„ded they shoulde not hazarde and make shipwracke of their fame honor and dignitie We see worldly Princes onely or principally to depende vpoÌ„ their wisedome streÌ„gth and riches ignorant as it should appeare that all Potentates are by Gods Prouidence adâ—aunced and set vp and by his hand displaced and pulled downe For preferment is neyther from the East nor from the West nor from the South but God is the Iudge he maketh lowe and be maketh high Such men therefore leaning to suche brittle and weake posts are wounded vppon the splinters and shiuers their fall and ruine is greate their shame and ignomie is greater the triuÌ„ph of their enimies is greatest of all That noble and Godly Prince Dauid may be liuely example and spectacle vnto all Christian Magistrates For being rich and mightie yet hee accoumpted the promises of the Lorde and confidence in the liuing God to be his principall Armory The saluation of the righteous men shal be of the Lord he shal be their help in time of trouble for the Lorde shall help them and deliuer them he shall deliuer them from the wicked and shall saue them bycause they trust in him And agayne at such time as he was to be annoynted King and to assume that great office and charge he comforteth him selfe in the holy Ghost after this manner The Lord is my light and my saluation whome shall I feare the Lorde is the strength of my life of whome shall I bee afrayde When the wicked euen my enimies and my foes came vpon me to eate my fleshe they stumbled and fell Though an host pitched agaynst me mine hart shoulde not be afrayd Though warre be raised agaynst mee I will trust in this One thing haue I desired of the Lord that I will require euen that I may dwell in the house of the Lorde all the dayes of my life to beholde the beautiâ— of the Lord and to visite his temple For in the time of trouble he shal hide me in his Tabernacle in the secret place of his Pauilion shall he hide me and set me vpon a Rocke What neede many authorities in so cleare a case You see euidently that God withstandeth and resisteth the most puissant and fierce enimies of hys Magistrates that he promiseth to coole theyr courage to mitigate their madnesse and to represse their rage Agayn that what commoditie and ornament soeuer may beautifie their calling God giueth and graunteth farre aboue their expectation Which wondeful loue and mercie of God for that some Nemroth and mightie men of this worlde being as it were drunken with their so prosperous successes haue not aknowledged they haue at the last bin made seruile slaues too obiect and cruel rascalles and being a little before baughty as Lions haue bin for their vnthankfulnesse throwne downe theyr honor layd in the dust and them selues haue layne in the way like dead Dogges Wherefore these considerations ought alwayes to be in the eyes and mindes of Princes and magistrates that they may feare and reuerence God and repose their confidence rather in his maiestie thaÌ„ in outward power streÌ„gth For to what purpose are expert Captaynes and Souldiers Irmies well ordered store of all munition plentie of victuall Are not all these lost in a momente and euen as wee doe cut downe greene grasse so the God of heaueÌ„ confoundeth all the glorie of warre of battell What a huge power had Holofernes at the seege of Bethulia what policie and counsayle was vsed to stoppe the water from them so to inforce them to yeelde theyr Citie yet how easily did God destroy and scatter suche a Captayne suche an Armie so many engins of warre by the hand of a woman What shall we say of so many kings as were linked togither agaynste Iosua and so many nations againste the onely Israelites in the time of Gideon and others Who woulde not haue perswaded him selfe of his good successe And who woulde not haue exhorted the Israelites to yeelde them selues especially if they had compared armour to armour ancients to ancients men to men countrey to countrey But how foolish and fondly did they triumph before the victorie Let Princes and Magistrates ceasse let them ceasse I saye to fire theyr hartes in Castels Fortes Captaynes Armies monie or any lyke thing whiche worldlings haue in price and only esteeme Let them rather consider the terrible threats of God left in this worlde whereby men are drawen from fragile to firme things from flesh to spirit from maÌ„ to god God speaketh by the mouth of Esay Wo vnto them that goe downe into Egipt for help and stay vpon horses and trust in charets bycause they are many and in horsemen bycause they are very strong but they looke not to the holy one of Israell nor seeke vnto the Lorde for when the Lorde shall stretche out hys hande the helper shall fall and they shall altogyther fayle Dauid speaketh in lyke manner The Kyng is not saued by the multitude of an host neyther is the mighty man deliuered by greate strength A horse is a vayne help and shall not delyner any by hys great strength Beholde the eye of the Lorde is vppon them that feare him and trust in his mercie to deliuer theyr soules from death and to preserue them in famine In these wordes the spirite of GOD comprehendeth all suche tâ—ings as menne make accompt of to atchieue waightie affayres yet they so paynte them out with significante tearmes that if all worldly might were knitte togither you maye not ascribe victory vnto them for that they shall vanish away like smoke and bee scartered like chaffe before the face of the wind in the day of battell It is the Lord alone then at whose hande wee must aske counsayle It is the Lorde that when man determineth prosperitie in pulling backe his hand sendeth aduersitie And agayne it is he alone that when men
ye execute not the iudgementes of man but of the Lorde and there is no iniquitie with the Lorde our God neither respecte of persons nor receyuing of reward Wherefore the Lord stablished the kingdom in his hande and the feare of the Lord fel vpon all the kingdomes of the lands that were rounde about Iudah and they durst not fighte agaynst him and straungers brought Iehosaphat presentes and giftes and the Arabians brought him flocks of sheepe and Goates and hee prospered and grewe vp an high and his kingdome florished exceedingly Amasias the xij King of Iuda hauing warre with the children of Seer hyred one hūdreth thousād men of Israel to help him in battaile but a man of god came vnto him saying O King let not the army of Israel go with thee for God hath power to helpe thee and to cast downe Wherefore the King returned those men accordyng to the saying of the Prophet with his owne people couragiously went to the Salt valey and encountered with his enimyes and slewe ten thousandes and other ten thousande dyd the children of Iuda take alyue and caryed them to the toppe of a rock and tumbled them downe headlong and they all burst to peeces Ezechias the xvj King of Iuda with an earnest zeale embrased true religion and so perfitlye serued the Lorde that after him was none like vnto him among all the Kings of Iuda neyther were there any suche before him who being meruellously tempted and 〈…〉 the huge mightie army of the Assyrians and terrified with the blasphemous speech of Rabsaces turned vnto y Lord went into the temple lay prostrate sayd O Lord our God I beseech thee saue thou vs out of their hands that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou ô lord art only god which prayer the lorde harkeneth vnto answereth thus Bicause thou hast praied vnto me cōcerning Synachereb king of Ashur I will put my hooke into his nostrels my bridle into his lips wil bring him back again the same way he came he shal not enter this citie nor shoote an arrow there nor come before it with shield nor cast a mount against it And the same night the Angel of the lord went out smote in the campe of Ashur an hundred foure score fiue thousand when they roase early in the morning behold they were all dead corpses So Synachereb King of Ashur departed returned to Niniuie And as he was in the temple worshipping of Nisroh his god Adramelech Sharezer his sonnes slew him with the sword they escaped into y lande of Ararat and Esarhaddon raigned in his steed Out of these histories I gather three obseruatiōs first that God cōmonly tempteth his chosen 〈…〉 ighty aduersaries that their faith may be more perfit thā gold tried with the fire Secōdly that if they stedfastly trust in him he blesseth their coūtrey with treasure riches replenisheth their land with great plenty of valiant soldiers Thirdly that God wil not suffer the heathenish people and irreligious nations to treade his children vnder their feete but with small powers confoundeth their ten hundred thousandes in the day of battayle My first note appereth plainly in the raign of y late Iosias and presētly in our Hester who laboring in the new building of Gods tiple good lord what a nūber of subtile and bloudy enimyes haue whet their teeth against this little Ilande on euery side but let vs not be dismaid for al the papists in Europe adioyning to thē the Turk are not able to come once to the field with ten hundred thousād mē as Zerach of Ethiopia did against Asa if they were able to passe that number haue we not legions of Angels vnder Christ his standerd against them Secondly Asa and Amazia Kings of Iuda fearing the liuing god had vnder them a florishing cōmon wealth wer able to make thre hūdred thousād fighting mē This our coūtrey of englād hath wāted no tēporal blessings since god blessed vs with his word gospel neither do any monumēts and chronicles of England make record of so many able men at one tyme as are now to bee founde in this little Eland I haue hard it reported of credible men who by commission had authoritie to make a bewe of such things that in the Countie of Deuon only there hath bin sounde fourtie thousand comely and likely men for the sield so that if euery county in Englande doe matche the same according to their proportions there is no doubt but out powers will eyther surmount or answere that lande whereof I spake afore in number of warlyke men Lastly bowsoeuer this little region hath bin stored with men of warre heretofore yet a small handfull hath ouermatched a huge hoste and most commonly if I terme it aright a thinne Garryson hath suppressed and surprised many mightie armies of their enimyes as in Eoward the third his dayes at Cressy where xix thousand English men put to flight one hundred thousande frenchmen and slew xxx thousande at Poyters wher the blacke Prince lauing but a wing of men in respect of their enimyis tooke prisoners Iohn the French King Phillippe his sonne seuen Earles besides Barons and Knightes That blacke Prince as historyes declary had the courage and harte of a Lyon they mighte aswell haue commended in him the constante fayth and assured hope of a godly and religious Captayne For seeing his power so farre vnequall to his aduersaryes and his meyny halfe sorowfull hee vttered suche voyces as all godly englishe Capitaynes in lyke case ought to expresse Well syrs sayth hee albeit we be but sewe in regarde to the multitude of our enimyes let vs not bee abashed therefore for the victory lyeth not in the multitude of the people but where it pleaseth almightie God to giue it Therefore trust in him and take English mens hartes vnto you this day for if God wil this dayes victory shal be ours and if we dye wee haue a good quarell With which wordes he anymated and encouraged his souldyers Henry the fifth hauing in all but xv thousand discomfited the flower of France at the battayle Agincourte where sixe French men men were in the fielde agaynst one Englishe man and at the ende of the battayle the nobl◠Henry caused a retraite to be blown brought all his armye togither willing them to gyue thankes to God by whose almightie power they bad receyued that victory and euery one kneeling down swng Not vnto vs Lord not vnto vs but vnto thy name giue the glorye c. So that it euidently appeareth that thys noble Prince had a perfit fayth and truste in the ayde of the lord which heard his prayer and regarded his fayth and miraculously in mercy gaue him victory In the dayes of the King of famous memory Henry the eight Kyng Iames of Scotlande the fourth came into
come to me euen according to my hartes desire Which wordes wheÌ„ that woithy Bishop heard he spake vnto his company and sayâ—â— Away hence sins with all speade God loueth not this house he hath no mansion here And see the sequele They were not gone farre froÌ„ that 〈◊〉 hifore the earth suddainely opened and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vp the man with all that eueâ— he had so that nothing was saued both 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 do 〈◊〉 are that God is not preseut where the 〈◊〉 was absent and 〈◊〉 cannot 〈◊〉 in firme 〈◊〉 where God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For Saint 〈◊〉 the Apostle sayth Ye haue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 on the 〈◊〉 and in wantonuesse you haue 〈◊〉 you◠〈◊〉 in a day of 〈◊〉 yt haue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 killed the iusti 〈…〉 〈◊〉 you The 〈…〉 O Lord if I 〈◊〉 with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with thee of thy 〈…〉 the may of the 〈…〉 they in wealth that 〈…〉 hast â—â—â—â—ted the 〈◊〉 they haue taken 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 in their moâ—â—â— far 〈◊〉 their mints but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lord pull them out like 〈◊〉 for the 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 them for the day of 〈◊〉 And 〈…〉 is greate diffedence in the days of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the iustâ— the â—â—iust speaking after this manner For beholde the day conuâ—â—th that shall burne as 〈◊〉 and all the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and all that do 〈◊〉 shall he 〈◊〉 and the day that 〈…〉 sayth the Lorde of hosts and shall leaue thenâ— neyther oote neither braunche but vnto you that feare my name shall the sunne of righteousnesse arise and healthe shall be vnder hys wings and yee shall goe foorthe and growt vp as fat Calues Let no good man thereforestumble at the prosperitie of the vngodly let them not seeke to haue any part of the vnhappie portion of the wicked Sith that as Dauid writeth In the hande of the Lord there is a câ—â— and the wine is red it is full mixt and he powreth out of the same surely all the wicked of the earthe shall wring out and drinke the drâ—gges thereof Nowe as some wicked and bloudy Tirants prosper and come vnto a quiet ende so some good Princes and magistrates are afflicted and cruelly murthered Good Ionathas is slaine of the Philistines Iehoas King of Iuda walking in the wayes of the Lord is trayterously inurthered by his owne seruants Iosias vnto whome no king of Iuda eyther before him or after him mighte be compared in sincerenesse of hart and holinesse of life was slayne by wicked Pharao Necho king of Egypt at Megiddo And if we consider our own stories wee shall reade of King Aluâ—â—d who was indued with great knowledge in al learning as well prophane as deuine of feruente zeale and of a vertuous and godly life yet hee beeing oppressed with more number of enimies than any other did leade an vncertayne troublesome and vnquiet life and forsaken of his friends wandered in the wood countrey of Sommerset shire and had skant to liue withall King Iohn studying to represse the Popish Tyrannie in England and to reduce the true knowledge of God was poysoned by Simon a Monke of Swinsteed King Henry the sixt surnamed the Saint for that ther was in him all vertues and a speciall studie for the health of his soule the sauing wherof be esteemed to be the greatest wisedome and the losse thereof the extremest follie yet was he trayterously murthered in the Towre by Richard Duke of Glocester And euen nowe the most trayterous lamentable and cruell murder of many thousand of Christes meÌ„bers in France aswell high and lowe men women and children doth preache vnto vs Gods wonderfull dispensation in punishing his Church Albeit the causes of these calamities are many yet I will not throughly prosecute them being not so pettinent to my purpose but will contente my selfe with that whiche seemeth to mee amongst the rest to bee moste comfortable namely that they are signes and tokens of immortalitie and of eternall felicitie For seeing God hathe promised to his children all good things and permitteth the vngodly to oppresse them notwithstanding he confirmeth by expert and euidente witnesse that hee alloweth and approueth Iohn Baptist Paule and suche like It consequently followeth another time and place to remayne when Iohn and Paule shall be comforted Herode and Nero punished according to the saying of Peter The tyme is come that iudgemente must begin at the house of god If it first begin at vs what shall the ende be of them whiche obey not the Gospel of God Gods chosen and electe children therefore are afflicted in this life by gods peculiar counsayle And againe the wicked seeme to be blessed in this world but the electe haue no portion in this worlde nor the reprobate in the world to come Yet doth not God alwayes suffer his children to grone vnder the yoke of affliction but comforteth and refresheth them as Bernard sayth God is angry indeede when he seemeth not to be angry and Chrisostome As golde reteyneth still his coulour and brightnesse both in water and fire but Hay and Strawe runne abroade in the water and are consumed with the fire Euen so fareth it with the godly and the vngodly for when the godly are in prosperitie they are as golde in the water in aduersitie they are more brighte and beautifull as golde in the fire And againe the wicked being in prosperitie are scattered abroade like water in aduersitie they perish as Hay in the fornace Now if God do any long space trie vs in the stormes of miserie calamitie whereas he is able euery moment to releeue vs yet doth it not before he perceiueth vs purified and prepared to repeÌ„tance For as the goldsmith taketh not his golde out of the fornace before it be exactly tried cleÌ„sed froÌ„ the drosse so doth not god take his sernaÌ„ts out of the fornace of afflictioÌ„s before he seth theÌ„ clensed froÌ„ grose affectioÌ„s and carnal appetites wholly bent to newnes holines of life If then Princes noble men do tast at any time of miseries and calamities they oughte patiently to suffer the same seeing that they are Gods chastisement and correction seruing to their better perfectioÌ„ And moreouer in the middle of their troubles they are taught by the examples of good and godly princes to flee vnto the liuing God by ardente inuocation prayer both for y there is no danger so greate out of the whiche God is not able to deliuer them And again no accombrance be it neuer so light smal out of the which they are able to wind themselues vnlesse God with a speciall care prouidence put too his helping hand It then the prince or magistrate his owne person be in danger of death through some greeuous â—â—â—hesse let him call to his remembrance the example of Ezechias let him settle his hope in God let him bewayle his sinnes with bitter teares God will sende some Esaias who shal administer vnto him comfort
mounting vpon his horse and in his olde age vnskinned him from the toppe of the head vnto the plant of the foote so that at last he found an ouermatch stirred vp by God that taught him how tender in the sight of the Lord are the woundes of his saints Their places are prepared no doubt albeit somewhat deferred the stacknesse thereof wil be recompenced with the weight of the same Cayne his fraâ—recide was punished in the seuenth generation Bias his opinion is noted of the wise who when he sawe a wicked monster prosper say de Asshredly that felow must needes be punished albeit I liue not to see it The historie of Bessus serueth herevnto who murthered his owne father and liued long after in greate prosperitie vntill at the last passing by a nost of chittering birdes as he went to a solemne banquet wel accompanyed in great madnesse threw down the nest with his speare saying These birdes doe righte and daye with their noise lay vnto my charge the murther of my father whervpon he was apprehended condemned and executed Let no man therfore fret bycause of the greene bay tree in Libanus stay but a little and the leaues will fail the tree will rotte away and the plague thereof will no where be founde And touching our selues I see no cause why we should in the quarrel of our God conceyue such trernoling and feare at the great strength and tyraâ—nie of our enimies as many carnall men nowe do VVhen Hierusalem was in greate distresse and daunger of mighty â—nimies Esay the Prophete is sente from the Lorde with thys iniunction In silence and in confidence shall bee your strength VVhat is this silence and what is this confidence First it is our duetie to suffer afflictions patiently Secondly not to busie our selues out of our vocation Thirdly not to mistrust Gods helpe and so carnally to enter into vngodly leagues and vnlawfull friendships as the kings of Iuda leaned sometime vppon the Egyptians nowe vppon the Syâ—ans and in the ende were made slaues vnto them and cast out of Gods fauour for so speaketh the prophete Iehu vnto Iehosaphat â–ª VVouldest thou helpe the wicked and loue them that hate the Lorde for this thing the wrath of the Lord is vpon thee Agaynste such difference and vnlawful defenses are these wordes spoken In silence and confidence shall be youre strength that is to saye awaite vppon Gods haÌ„d runne not to the Egyptians Turks Papists and to haue help of them Your cause is good and iust the almightie regardeth you and if you bee put to the worse yet is it better to suffer calamities than with vnhonest deuises to hurt a good matter Let no man faint therfore bycause now adayes many worthy men endewed with the giftes of Gods spirite are Tirannously murthered by most â—ile and dishonest persons Such troubles the Church neuer wanted but hath passed them all and shall continue vntill Christes comming to iudgement The face and countenance of Gods Church is not alwayes after one maner It is sometime ample faire and glorious sometime smal halfe darke and contemptuous in the world Muche like the Moone who according to hir place receyueth from the Sunne sundry beames so that the Diuell shall neuer be able vtterly to extinguish hir light for euen in hir wane shee spreadeth hir out at large and waxeth rounde and full againe And albeit some braunches of the Church be cut off and perish yet the roote and stocke of the same abideth alwayes sound and vncorrupte In the conseruation whereof the pleasure of almighty God is to excercise our faith hope and inuocation and to giue vs to vnderstand that he will not permitte mans deliberations to take place in the regiment of our liues but to acknowledge our protection to come from aboue least we might proudely boast Our â—wne handes haue done these things If the Church be not coÌ„serued by those meanes whiche carnall reason deuiseth or at what time our harts do earnestly wishe it or by such men who according to our iudgement are of sufficient wisedome and strength to archieue it wee are euen then by vse experience taught that the regimeÌ„t of Christes congregatioÌ„ much varieth froÌ„ ciuill policie For vnto promises of teÌ„poral blessings a condition of calamitie and affliction is most comonly annexed wherin the beautie of Christs espouse shineth most clerely in that she beareth constantly and patiently for Gods cause pelne and miserie and at the last is deliuered miraculously and gloriously VVe haue a mirror hereof in that notable promise made to Abraham and to his posteritie by Isaac In thy seede shall the nations of the earth be blessed froÌ„ which blessing Ismael is not only excluded but also cast out and banished Yet surely out of Ismael by his son Kedar that mighty nation of the Arabians often mentioned in the Scripture did issue and spring and from his eldest sonne Nabaioth descended the Nahatheans a people in Arabia faelici of whome the Poets speake much in their monumentes attributing vnto them the same name Mahomet the first author of the Turkish blasphemie and the erector of the Saracens kingdome deriueth his progeny by a long contract from the said Ismael whose posteritie do rule wide and broade throughout Asia Atricke and parte of Europ eue at this day do not cesse to make continual warre with AbrahaÌ„ his children that is to say with the true Church of Christ But Iacob the heire of the blessing and hys children are ledde by and by into exile out of the â—and of promise becoÌ„meth subiect to a strange king in Egypt where his posteritie endured hard seruitude and detestable slauery many yeeres Eâ—au in the mean season enioyeth at home pleasant â—est pcace and in plenty and wealth multiplyeth and encreaseth that nation called Edumites Now albeit the Israelites seeme to be abiect from god yet they are preserued wonderfully most worthy euident tokens of Gods fauor toward them are shewed in the land of Egypt and lastly with Gods mighty hand and stretched out arme they are deliuered from Pharao his cruelty and are reduced into their naturall countrey God do the not therfore giue euents and successe by such meanes and wayes nor at such times as humane reason craueth and desireth but with his long tarying sharpneth our faith and kindleth an â—ardent inuocation in vs and so eyther mitigateth or wholly taketh away miseries and calamities Albeit the ayd coÌ„fort of the holy Ghost doth neuer shew it selfe more manifestly than in assisting comforting the godly againste the fierce and outragious torments of the wicked whereby they are kept from despaire stayed from denying their God and preserued from murmuring repining against his maiestie VVherefore let all men that haue a place in Christes Church rest and stay them selues vpon God in these days of ours wherin the world runneth vpon
Morall guyding his subiectes according to the same And as this ordinance is of God so hath it byn of most auntient tyme For in Noha his dayes immediatly after the floud when God gaue leaue to mortall men to kill liuing creatures for their foode and sustentation he forbad them to eate beastes being yet aliue in their bloud as Wolues deuour lambes and as the Griphon renteth doues least men abusing such livertie might in tyme being fleshed as it wer in crueltie kill one another and shead mannes bloud The liuing Lorde requireth a kinde of pittie and mercy towards creatures albeit vnreasonable not to deale with them as with insensible things wherein Cato Censorius is iustly reprehended of Plutarch who without all humanitie solde his bondmen now olde and altogither wasted in his seruice God therefore thundereth a seuere intermination or threatning saying whoso sheadeth mannes bloud by man shall his bloud be shead For in the Image of God hath he made man In which wordes of the Lord we see the institution of a Magistrate to the end he should succour and defend the poore and innocent from iniurie and vyolence and correct and punish the transgressours for their faults and offences In tymes paste Kings and rulers therefore cōsidering not only the antiquitie but also the dignitie of their calling to be of God haue in their stiles vsed this Phrase N. By the grace of God King. Acknowledging that all preeminencye of Maiestie aucthoritie and power of Emperours Kings Princes and of all other Magistrates and officers whatsoeuer are giuen and conferred by God himselfe Which cogitation is verye profitable not onlie to represse the insolencie and hautinesse of mynde which commonly accompanieth dignitie and authoritie being very pernitious in all regiment but also much furthereth to the better administration and discharge of their calling in the feare of god For as they see and vnderstand themselues appointed in their places and degrees by God euen so are they seriously put in mynd that they must yelde an accompte of all their doings to him and therefore they will endeuour with all their power strength to obey and serue him with all feare and reuerence according to the saying of the King and Prophet Be wise now therefore yee Kings be learned ye iudges of the earth Serue the Lord in feare and reioyce in trembling Now as we learne the worthinesse of this calling by the light of Gods worde so may we see the same in the Gentiles folowing the light of most woorthie titles and names as the Persians who both called their Kings Gods and lying prostrate before them signified an opynion of their royall myndes and maiestie Afterward the Grecians excelling in all science and learning called their Princes Pastors or feeders of the people with which name excellent Homere hath celebrated woorthie Agamemnon Mynander aptly and briefly calleth a King The liuely Image of God. Albeit that saying seemeth to bee drawen out of Hesiodus an auntient Poet who numbred noble vertouns Princes amongst the Gods attributing vnto them after this life a kinde of diuine power ouer men Which opinion was afterward receiued both of the Grecians and Romaines as it is most euident to them that obscrue their languages For as amongst the Romaines all such as were translated for their noble actes amongst the number of the Gods were called Indigetes as if you woulde saye dwellyng with the Gods. So the Atheniensians named suche worthie wightes Iupiters sonnes of God enioying heauen as it were by right of inheritance But in proces of tyme the Romaynes most honorably termed their Emperours and nobles Fathers of their countrey and added the names of Royaltie and Maiestie And finally accompting such speeches not answerable to their great enterprises and exploits they erected vnto them Images Altars Chappels Churches Holidayes and Sacrifices Which doings if you trie by the touchstone of true religion I confesse they will appeare drosse and be founde blame woorthy Yet I say by some sparke or glimse of nature or by some celestial inspiration they reuerenced nexte and immediatly vnder God the creator of things and somdeale adored the Magistrates These examples must needes please all sache as doe not barbarously reiecte the light of naturr and the Ladie of man Reason I meane and vnderstanding But most pithie perswasions comfortable consolations are drawen out of the welles of liuing water not only quencting mens drye and thirstie affections in this lyte but springing to life euerlasting Almightie God therfore in the regiment and policie of his owne people the Israelites after their entrance into the lande of Promise first appoynted Iudges and then Kinges vnto whome hee made the common people subiecte which authoritie and secular power of Magistrates Christ him selfe and the Apostles haue allowed and confirmed The answere of Christ touching paying of Tribute euen to a Heathen Magistrate is most euidēt Giue saith he to Caesar those things that belong to Caesar and vnto God those things that belong to God. Which precepte Christ himselfe fulfilled in paying Tribute The blessed mother of Christ Marie the virgine accompanied with Ioseph wente to Bethleem to bee taxed among other Citizens and subiectes The speeche of Christ to one of his company caryeth weight with it Put vppe thy swoorde in his place for all that take the swoord shall perith with the swoord In which sentence wee see the power of the Secular swoorde allowed hauyng annexed vnto it ordinarye and lawfull correction and punishment whereby priuate murders and other offences may be stayde and letted It followeth then of the premisses that thys condition of lyfe is bolye and acceptable to God whereby the disobedient are brideled and the innocent maynteyned and conserued Sainte Paul the chosen vessell enlargeth and expoundeth the wordes of hys maister Let euery soule be subiecte vnto the highe powers for there is no power but of God and the powers that bee are ordeyned of god Whosoeuer therefore resisteth the power resistech the ordinaunce of God and they that resist shall receyue to them selues iudgement for Princes are not to bee feared for good workes but for euill Wilt thou then bee without feare of the power doe will and so shalte thou haue prayse of the same for hee is the minister of God for thy wealth but if thou doe euill feare for he beareth not the swoord for naught for he is the minister of god to take vengeance on him that doeth euill Wherefore you must be subiect not bicause of wrath onlye but also for conscience sake For for this cause ye pay also Tribute for they are Gods ministers applying themselues for the same thing In this place the holie ghost calleth three tymes the Magistrate by the name of Gods minister And is not this a true a stedfast and an excellent comforte Is not the great and heauie burden of Magistrates made lighte Is not their pensiue myndes and carefull
haue heauinesse in the euening sendeth ioy in the morning and deliuereth them out of al distresse I Woulde not haue any to gather hereof that I reiect the foresight and prudent policie of the Magistrates for no man but he that is starke madde wold haue them so witlesse that as the superstitious Iewes woulde not take armour vpon them for their necessarie defence on the Sabboth day so that Princes shoulde cast away lawfull meanes to defend them selues But I vrge this to my port habilitie that they first seeke help at Gods had and then mans lawfull ayde which wheÌ„ they haue on euery side well furnished themselues withall euen then I exhorte them also to depend totally vppon god And I woulde not haue them dull or slouthfull for albeit God do without intermission care and labour for them yet they ought to be workers withall if I may so speake and folow him shewing them the way and if any want by humane imperfection I woulde haue them to solace them selues in the perfection of god For as in maladies and sicknesse of our bodies we go vnto the Phisition to recouer health Euen so it is fitte and conuenient in some times and seasons to haue in readinesse munimentes of warre to withstand our enimies God is not pleased with carrlesnesse he is tempted and displeased with negligence in all conditions and callings The conflict of Christ with the Deuill in the wildernesse teacheth vs not to be idle And the wise man Syrach sayeth He that loueth daunger shall perish therin They must therefore bend all their force to saue and preserue their charge They ought to approoue all good meanes and vse all honest consultations to ordeyne profitable and commodious things for the common wealth But this caution ought alwayes to be obserued that they doe not make the Lady the handmayde and the handmayde the Lady but that they make the Lorde their shootanker that they so procide artillarie and engins of warre that the Lorde may be the moderatour and director of the same otherwise without God weapons will wooke their owne woundes and strength will be their confusion Proude Pharao folowed the Israelites with so mighty an Army that the hearts of the Israelites melted with feare but God was againste him who stroke his shoulders with a suddayne terrour and vnpinned the Charret wheeles and tooke them away with so mighty and miraculous a bande that the Egiptians cried we will flie we will flie for the Lord fighteth for Israell When the two Tyrauntes Eugenius and Arbogastus endeauoured after the example of Iulianus the Apostata to reduce the superstition of the Gentiles into Europe and were furnished with many thousandes of bloudy Panims that Theodosius the Emperiour hymselfe was strikeÌ„ with fear and herror at their vieâ—e be himself spent al the night in prayer and receyued comforte in a vision of good euent The day folowing the battayle was ioyned in the first charge many of Theodosius souldiers were put to flight the Emperour being in a great agonie of mind falleth flat vpon the ground he sigheth and groneth in his soule he perceth the heauens with prayer he is heard of God who raising a mighty strong wind blowing toward the face of the Tirants which violently turned backe againe the arrowes and dartes sent from the infidels host into their owne harts and bowels And finally God with his elementes fighting against them put them to most horrible shamâ— and confusion For Eugenius falling vppon his knees before the Emperoure to obtayne mercie had his head cut off by Theodosius Souldiours beyng in some rage and Arbogastus the author of that calamirie and bloudshed after he had fledde two dayes and sawe no hope of life he fell lyke vnto Saul vppon his sword and powred out his bloud Of this miraculous victory writeth the Poet Claudianus O nimium dilecte deo cui militat aether Et coniurati veniunt ad classica venti Whosoeuer therefore can say truly of them selues Some trust in Chariols and some in Hories but wee will remember the name of the Lord may be bold to say that whiche foloweth in the Psalm They are brought down and fallen but we are risen and staÌ„d vpright But that the difference betwene dinine and humane help may be more lueulent I thought it conuenient to adioyne the speeche of Dauid vttered at what time he marched against moÌ„strous Goliath the Philistine For out of the wordes of that most renoumed captaine and champion this diuersitie will appeare Thou sayth Dauid coÌ„mest vnto me with a sword and with a speare and with a shielde but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts the God of the hoste of Israell whome thou raylest vpon This day shall the Lorde close thee in my hande and I shall smite thee and take thy head from thee and I will giue the carkases of the host of the Philistines this day vnto the foules of the heauens and to the beastes of the earth that all the world may know that Israell had a God and that all this assemblie may know that the Lorde saueth not with sword nor with speare for the battayle is the Lordes and he will giue you into oure handes Suche was the voyce and hearte of Dauid wherin his inuincible faith is euident to haue done more woÌ„derful things thaÌ„ either his enimies or his own couÌ„â—reymen wer able to doe wyth policie or armoure Surely this notable courage in the name of the liuing Lord might happely seeme in the eyes of carnall men to be rashnesse and not boldnesse foolishnesse and not wisdome that a dwarffe would fight with a Gyant a boye with a man of florishing age vnarmed against one wel armed ignorant of war against an old beaten souldier a sherphook a sling against a spear sword and shield Ind yet the victorie fell to this vnlikely side suche an approued cote armour is Gods name which all men ought to accompt their chiefe poste and piller their hauen sure anker Achior Captayne of the sonnes of Aminon in that his notable oration before Holofernes confirmeth that the Iewes whilest they sinned not before their God prospered against their puisant enimyes euery where not with bowe swoord or shielde for it was the Lord that with his miracles and wonders fought for them and gaue them victorie in the day of battayle Therefore to conclude this place you playnly see that Princes Magistrates ought not only to be busied in prouyding humayne helpe but their principall care ought to bee in seruing the Lord in obeying his worde and fearing his holy name so may they safely settle and grounde themselues vppon gods most comfortable promises which he can and will performe bothe bicause hee is able and moste of all power and might and also is louing and mercifull and will fulfill the desires of them that feare him and call vppon him faithfully The thirde
Consolation is in the great loue and fauour of God toward the Magistrate commaunding his people most seuerely to reuerence and obey them As by a secrete inspiration and inwarde motion of nature we are taught to loue and reuerence our parentes euen so by the same wee are induced to obey and honour the Magistrates And as God doth reuenge with most sharpe punishementes the wilfull stubbornenesse of the one so doth he neuer holde giltlesse the disobedience of the other end therfore hee giueth a serious and seuere precept by his electe and chosen vessell Saint Paul that men should giue to the higher powers tribute feare and honour calling them by the name of his officers or ministers by whose hande as he doeth punishe the wicked so doth he cherish and defende the good and innocent Which title giuen by God maketh them more noble and renouned than their robes and ornaments of silkes purple siluer gold or pretious stones yea if you put together all dignitie of the earth all these will not so auaunce a Magistrate as one shorte title giuen him by god Dauid vseth a lyke still saying God standeth in the assembly of Gods bee iudgeth amongest Gods. Heere the heauenly Prophet calleth them Gods which name so high and full of maitstie they haue by reason of their office and ministerye which they execute in Gods roome heere in earth in doing of iudgement and iustice in punishing sinne and iniquitie in comforting the widdowes and fatherlesse in desending the vertuous and innocent And in another place Thou shalt not rayle vppon the Goddes neyther speake euill of the rulers of the people Heere Sainte Hierome translateth Elohim Dijs in englishe Gods bicause of the workes annexed as is aforesayde exeeuteth to their office and callyng Nowe to omitte in Gods lighte howe pretious and deare the magistrats are let vs weigh the ineuitable necessitie and vnspeakable commoditie that the higher powers bring to mortal meÌ„ which we may gather from gods mouth who threatning vnto the Iewes subuersion and destruction of themselues and their Citie speaketh in thys wise The Lord of hostes will take away from Ierusalem from Iuda the stay strength euen all the stay of bread and all the stay of water The strong man and the man of war the Iudge and the Prophete the prudent and the aged The Captayne of fiftie and the honorable and the counseller and the cunning artificer and the eloquent man And I will appoynt children to be their Princes babes shall rule ouer them You see that when good rulers and counsellers doe wante in common wealthes in steede of ioye there ariseth sorow in steede of charitie discorde in stead of peace warre in steade of prosperitie all miserie and calamitie For to take away the Magistrate is euen as you would take the expert shipmaster out of the ship or as you would set wylde horses to drawe a Charet without a guyde Whereof the one runneth headelong vppon rockes and quicksandes the other ouerturneth all not without extreme perill and daunger to themselues For in such seasons and tempest the wordes of the same Prophet are alwayes verified The people shal be oppressed one of an other and euery one by his neighbour the children shal presume against the auntient and the vyle against the honorable when euery one shal take hold of his brother of the house of his father c. And for that without Magistrates no societie and felowship can stand amongest men seeing by the infection of the deuill all are readie and inclined to offer iniuries and wronges and to commit detestable and abhominable actes the will of almightie God is that we should not only honour them but also most earnestly pray for their long happie coÌ„tinuance by whose meane we are shielded from woe and misery Who as Plutarch writeth doe partly distribute gods gifts and partly conserue them amongest men standing alwayes as King Alfonsus was wont to say in defence of the lawe and people watching alwaye for the peace and safetie of the same Hereof wee haue president in the worthie letters of Hieremie the Prophet seÌ„t to the Iewes who were led captiues for their sinnes and iniquities from Ierusalem into Babilon by the hand of Nabuchodonozer Seeke saith God the prosperitie of the Citie whether I haue caused you to be caryed away captyues and pray vnto the Lord for it for in the pâ—ace therof you shall haue peace Sainte Paul in effect giueth lyke precept to his people and congregation saying I exhort therefore that first of all supplications prayers intercessions and giuing of thankes bee made for all men for Kings and for all that bee in aucthoritie that wee maye leade a quyet and a peaceable way of life in all godlinesse and honestie For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our sauiour These and such lyke places may woorthely and in deede comfort and staye the mynde of Princes for they doe argue and giue a firme and an infallible document the liuing Lorde to haue a singular prouidence ouer rulers and gouernours Tertullian declareth how earnestly the Primatiue Church prayed for their Princes in these words Wee Christians cast vp our eyes to heaueÌ„ our haÌ„ds spred abroad bicause they are cleane our heads vncouered bicause we are not ashamed without any monitor bicause wee praye from the bottom of our beartes and doe make intercession vnto God for all Emperours the it would please his maiestie to giue vnto them long life sure palace trustie honest subiectes quiet regiment and in fine all good things that maye come to man There is extante a paterne and example of perfite prayer for Princes indyted by the holy ghost and penned by his principall secretarie Dauid throughout the twentie Psalme with an assured promise that God will heare such praiers which Psalme I wish all noble men to make familiar vnto them Now albeit in these words of God alreadie produced sufficient might seeme to bee vttered for the ancthoritie and consolation of Princes yet the almightie Lorde not satisfied therewithall proceedeth in restreyning subiects in slauÌ„derous speeches cursed thoughtes against their Magistrates Thou shalte not rayle vppon the Iudges neither speake euill of the ruler of the people Which precept Salomon the wysest that euer was or shal bee expoundeth at large in thys wyse Curse not the King no not in thy thought neither curse the rich in thy bedchamber for the birds of heauen shal carie thy voice y which hath wings shall declare the matter Men for the most part think their loyaltie well discharged if they shew not disobedieÌ„ce externally neither doe they accompt it any offence if their hartes boyle with rancor and malice But Salomon saith the matter is far otherwise shewing true and faithful obedience to consist not only in the hand but also in the harte wee haue a coÌ„mon saying thought is free
narration which bicause it is not onlye pleasant but profitable I thought it not vnmeete for this place There goeth a greth a great talk in Italie of a woman who being brought vp in spinning and carding or otherwise berye simply was as soone as shee came to womans state rapte as it were and inspired not onlye with a spirit of prophesie but indued with lerning in such sorte that shee was had in greate admiration of all men Lazarus Bonami an Italian a man of greate name for his knowledge was moued with the great fame to visit hir and to approue the trueth of the same for it was giuen out of hir that she wold as she was caryed with inward motioÌ„s intreat and discourse of humayne and deuyne learnyng profoundly and absolue and answere vnto the most difficulte and barde questions At bys comming he demmauÌ„deth hir which was the best verse in all Vergil his work she answered Discite iustitiaÌ„ moniti non temnere diuâ—s And further added with some behemencie Thou arte answered Bonami Departe trouble me no more And assuredly shee was not deceyued for if you turne all Prophane Poets in Greeke or Latine no one verse may be in any respect hereunto compared But to my purpose I am of thys opinyon that in moste lamentable cases of subiectes euen in meere seruitude men ought to vse all modestie and humilitie toward their princes least by malaparte and obstinate dealing they rather exasperate and incense them than pacifye and coole them Fierce Lyons beyng dalyed withall cherished and gentlye stroked doe laye asyde after a sorte their sauage crueltie and beyng pleasantly wrastled with will shewe themselues weake but if a man shew roughnesse and sharpenesse and vse vyolence and force he shall wishe himselfe without the compasse of their claspes So is it with princes and Magistrates who in some respectes are of lyke nature and inclination with Lyons whose heades as I sayd may be stroked but softly smothlye but if a man wring and pricke them or otherwise offend them he is but cast away And if ther happeÌ„ or arise some intollerable Tyrant or if a good and vertuous Prince doe degenerate into wickednesse and doe oppresse his people yet suche burdens art seldome eased with suche leuers But it happeneth for the most parte that the grudgyng people whom Salomon chastized with roddes and loded with light burdens Reboam corrected with scourges and ouercharged with heauy lodes As the Poets deuise of the monster Hidra whose head when Hercules cut off he saw two arise out of band in the same place the Prince therefore and Magistrate howe socuer hee bee inclyned hee is Gods gyfte but he is a most heauenly treasure if be execute his calling with equitie iustice vnto whom such men as shewe disobedience are termed in scripture the sonnes of Beliall And this is vndoubtedly true that if at any tyme the prince appeare ouer weake for rebelles if he bee contemned and at last vanquished then the Lord himself descendeth into the field to reuenge the contumelie and iniurie done to his officer as in the Chapiter folowing shall more aboundantly appeare Wherefore it apperteyneth to subiectes not only for conscience sake and to auoyd damnation but also for worldly peace and quietnesse euen in the seuere and sharpe regyment of their Princes to referre them and their cause to almightie God who onlie is able by his inestimable power eyther to alter their myndes and actions for the subiects comforte or vtterly to take them awaye for their quietnesse Hereof wee haue many examples seruyng for the instruction and admonition of suche as be placed in high dignitie but especially for the solare and comfort of seelie subiectes being weried with the burthenous yoke of mercilesse Magistrates where in the wonderfull iudgement and counsayle of God doth in nothing more manifestly shewe themselues We reade of such as were euen now aduaunced to the highest dignitie and adorned with all glory and honor by and by to be throwen downe suddenly by incredible meanes and al their power and strength to haue bin layde in the dust Who can denit but that Gods dealing with Nabuchodonozer the Lorde of the whole earthe farre exceedeth mans capacitie who for his intollerable pride susteined a new punishment lying out amongst brute beasts and wandring with them vntill seauen yeeres were come and gone Moreouer we reade partly in Scripture partly in other credible monumentes that by Gods dispensations proude Tyre to haue bin prostrate and ouerthrowen by the Egyptians the Egyptians to haue bin ouerthrowen by the Assyrians the Assyrians to haue bin spoyled by the Chalde is and Babilonians the Babilonians to haue bin vanquished by the Medes and Persians the Persians by the Greekes the power of the Greekes agayne to haue bin conquered by the Romanes and we see lastly the maiestie of the Romane Empire dayly weakened by that cruell enimie of Christendome the Turke who in taking our Castles and Cities accompteth it but a sporte to wade in the bloud of his owne Souldiers so that hee may attayne hys desire It were a long processe exactly to prosecute all causes of suche mutations and chaunges in Empires and Kingdomes but this shall be sufficient for my purpose to notifie out of the holy Scripture by the example of the Kings of Iuda and Israell who albeit they were by Gods election appointed to rule his chosen people had receyued more excellent benefites at Gods hand than the Princes of the Gentiles yet if at any time they shewed themselues vnthankfull if they became stubborne and declined from Godlinesse they felt by by the sword either of the Babilonians or of the Assyrians or of some other enimie and sometime were led into most lamentable captiuitie and bondage Therefore it is the Lord that at his owne pleasure without any occasions of mortall men doth alter and transpose kings kingdoms It is God that exalteth bringeth lowe that blesseth and beateth Princes Magistrates in suche times and places as it seemeth best to his maiestie so that the subiects neede not to deuise and busie themselues with violence to reforme or depose their gonernors And seeing that as the wise man sayth The gouernour of the earthe is in the hande of the Lord wheÌ„ time is he shall set vp a prositable ruler ouer it It is the part of subiectes thankfully and dutifully to reuerence suche whome God hath appoynted to supply his own place in Earth And surely our owne quietnes may perswade vs y conseruatioÌ„ of all estates may requite vs and Christian religion will straitly coÌ„maund vs so to do namely to restrayne out thoughts tongs hands froÌ„ doing any thing against those that be placed in authority ouer vs. But here riseth question of the boundes of obedience whether subiects ought to obey their magistrates if they commaunde things contrary to the law of God and the lawe of nature
see that good princes magistrates haue bin preserued from the furious hands of their enimies abroade and at home IT is a great coÌ„fort for godly and Christian Magistrates to haue before theyr eyes the worthy examples of Kings Princes in the old Testament and to obserue their famous and renoumed or rather miraculous actes which they did not by their own power and policie but by the ayde and prouidence of god Whereby they may both confirme and settle their confidence and faith in him and also haue presente admonition in all their distresse by the example of others what wayes and meanes they may vse to auoyde perilles and dangers Abraham the father of the faithfull being driuen into many greeuous miseries and calamities and tost too and fro with great carke and care yet for that he perseuered firme in faith and hope he was neuer forsaken of God but always deliuerd out of distresse Ind moreouer God gaue him glory in y day of batel For wheÌ„ Lot his brothers son was led away captiue froÌ„ Sodome he broght out of theÌ„ that were borne and bredde in his house three hundreth and eighteene persons and pursued diuers Kings sinit them destroyed them and recouered Lot his family and his substance and placed him in his house agayne Ioseph the Patriarche breyng solde into Egipt where he liued an alient and straunger and afterward was cast into Prison yet trusting in the liuing God he was not only set at libertie but also called to suche honor and dignitie that vnder Pharao he was chiefe ruler of the land of Egipt Carnal reason would thinke it vnpossible that a seelie poore Israelite being sold to straungers and loden with bolts of iron in prison shoulde aspire to suche authoritie But these are y wonderfull works of God who is nigh vnto all those that call vpon him faithfully And againe The Lorde restoreth my soule and leadeth me in the paths of righteousnesse for his names sake Yea though I should walke through the valley of the shadow of death I will feare no euill for thou art with me thy rod and thy staffe they comfort me Moses that notable Prophet was almost drowned in many greeuous calamities wherein mans reason coulde deuise no helpe nor fynde comforte especially when bee went before the children of Israel being preserued with a mightie armye hanyng before him the read Sea and the mountaynes on euery fyde but he both knew what God could doe and beleued also that God would cause the Sea to soake into the earth or to stand like a wall on both sydes whereby the Israelites might marche through on drye lande and that the same shoulde returne agayne to bys course and drowne all the Egiptians than in any one â—ote fayle in his promises or relinquish his elect and chosen people Gods word can not be false and therfore the Prophet saith Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lorde and whose helpe the Lord is and in an other place In an acceptable time haue I heard thee and in a day of saluation haue I helped thee and I wil preserue thee Iosua succeding Moses casted many bitter cuppes before hee was able to subdue and caste those seuen wicked nations but of the laÌ„d promised vnto the Iewes buÌ„t resting vppon that ioyful and sweete promise of God As I was with Moses so will I be with thee I will not leaue thee nor forsake thee be vanquished his enimyes and placed Gods people in the lande of Chanaan Gideon iudge of the Israelites accompanyed with three hundreth souldiers only went agaynst y mightie army of the Madianites Amelechites and other easterne people who came into the land of Israel with their Tentes as thicke as Greshoppers in multitude so that they and their Cammelles were without number hee vanquished them and put them to flight for the spirite of the Lorde came vpon him and he beleued the word of the Lord promising him victorye Daniel by the malice and â—ny of the Courtiers was cast into the Lyons denne yet through gods protection he was preserued safe and sound the reason is expressed in the Text Bicause he trusted in his God whereat the Kyng wonderyng and reioysing commaunded Daniell hys accusers their wyues and children to bee put in his place and the Lions had the maistery ouer them and brake all their bones in peeces or euer they came at the ground of their denne Dauid entyrely beloued of God elected accordyng to Gods owne hearte and thryce anoynted Kyng of Israell ledde yet a lyfe full of many miseries and calamities contemned of his wife Micholl for that hee seemed oueâ— precyse in the obseruyng of Ceremonies Saul conceyued deadly feude agaynst him and often sought to kill him Absolon his owne sonne defyleth his bedde and rebelleth against him Besides this what assaultes susteyned he the Phylistines the Moabites the Syrians the Idumites great and mightie nations yet hee is patiente in hys house constante in hys Kyngdome and victorious agaynst strauÌ„ngers For the almightie was his refuge hys hope and hys Protectour and therfore it was vnpossible for hym to bee confounded and destroyed Which for that hee approued passyng all humayne expectation bee singeth after this manner In thee O Lorde haue I put my truste lette mee neuer bee confounded delyuer mee in thy righteousnesse I will bee gladde and reioyce in thy mercye for thou haste seene my trouble and thou baste knowne my soule in aduersityes And thou haste not shutte met vppe in the hande of the enimye but haste set my feete at large Asa Kyng of Iuda abrogated horrible Idolatrie and superstition and commaunded Iudah to seeke the Lord God of their fathers to do according to do according to his coÌ„maundemeÌ„t and be tooke away out of at the Cittes of Iuda the high places the images therefore the kingdome was quiet before him hee built stronge Cities in Iuda and hee had no warre many yeares bicause the Lord gaue him rest Afterward there came agaynst him Zerach of Ethiopia with an hoste of ten hundreth thousand men and three hundreth Chariots Then Asa went out before him and set the battayle in aray and cryed vnto the Lord his God saying Lorde it is nothing with thee to helpe with many or with no power helpe vs O lord our God for wee reste on thee and in thy name we come against this multitude O lord thou arte our God let not many preuayle agaynst thee So the Lord smote the Ethiopians before Iudah and they fled and the men of Iudah caryed away a mightie great spoyle and returned to Ierusalem Iosaphat folowed his father Asa in clensing the temple and reforming true religion he set Leuites in Ierusalem for the iudgement of the cause of the lord and he appointed Iudges in the land through out the strong Cities sayd vnto them Take heed what ye do for
England with one hundred thousande at the least as all histories agree Paulus Iouius noteth the malaparte confidence of Iames in his hoste that he thought himself able with spear-men to holde vp heauen if it had bin slydying but behold xxvj thousand Englishe men encountereth him vanquisheth his strength and slew the king with the most part of the nobilitie of ScotlaÌ„d at BrauÌ„ston in Cheuiot Finally the field foughteÌ„ at Mouscleborough is fresh in most mens memory where God punished the periury of the Scots with the losse of xv thousand soldiers miraculously without any great effusion of english bloud for there perished not aboue one hundred on our side gaue vnto our countreymen a tryumphant victory Such examples are plentie but I haue chosen a fewe giuing occasioÌ„ vnto noble men therby to fixe their hartes vppon Gods fatherly prouidence in all their distresses and to sing with diuine Dauid The King is not saued by the multitude of an hoste neither is the Gyant deliuered by great strength A horse is a vayn thing and shall not deliuer any by hys strength beholde the eye of the Lorde is vppon them that feare him and vppon them that trust in his mercy to deliuer their soules and to preserue them in famyne And as God Defendeth good Princes agaynst soren enimyes so doth he most seuerely shew his wrath and powre his borrible and sharpe punishmentes vppon Rebelles and Traytors at home Chore Dathan and Abiron rebelling agaynst Moses were swalowed into the earth quicke and perished with a new and horrible kynde of death Absolon rebellyng agaynst his father was put to flight by Dauid vis army and seking to escape through the woods as his mule ranne vnder a thicke oke his heare was intangled in the boughes and he taken vp betweene the heauen and the earth and the mule that was vnder him weÌ„t away so Ioab the Captayne came and ranne him through wyth dartes Sybas the sonne of Bochrus conspiryng agaynst Kyng Dauid had a wretched ende his head 〈◊〉 of by the counsayle of a prudent woman in Abela and the same was caste ouer the walles to Ioab The acte of the sonne of Ebed is notable who with a seditious oration styrred the men of Sichem to disobey Abimelech beyng in deede but a Tyrant for hee monstrouflye murdered about seuentie of his bretherne yet God fauoured not that cause but suffered Abimelech to vanquish those Rebelles and vtterly to subuert then Citie The enterprise of the children of Ephraim against good Iephthe had lyke euent for there fell of them by the handes of Gylead two and fourtie thousand Theudas Gaulonites made a shewe of earnest â—eale and loue to deliuer his countreye from seruitude and therefore by his pleasaunt perswasions allured many to arme themselues agaynst the Romaynes but he was slayne and his folowers as Gamaliel declared were dispercled and brought to nought And in our owne countrey we may beholde the seditious dealings of VVatte Tyler Iacke Strawe Iohn VVall and others who albeit they were fanored of the moste parte and had an army of 60. thousand men yet being in their chiefe ruffe Watte was slayne and they lyke sheepe scattered aâ—road Thomas Flamocke and Mighell Iosephe the blackesmith procured the Cornish men to rebel agaynst their Prince and assembled such a company that they astonied al good and faithfull subiectes but their power was discomfited at Blackeheath their chiefe Captayne the Lorde Audeley beheaded Thomas Flamocke and Mychaell Iosephe were drawen hanged and quartered and their quarters pitched on stakes after the manner of Traytors to warne others to beware of like crimes and offences Fynally the vnhappy insurrectioÌ„s in the dayes of King Henry the eight of King Edward the â—xt and of our soueraigne Lady the Dueenes maiestie made vnder pretence of defending the faith and holye church and of deliueryng the common wealth from oppression do with ruful ruine of noble families with sauage spoil of goodly countreys with dreadfull executions of couragious personages paynt before all mennes eyes the hatefull hatred of almightie God agaynst Rebelles and Traytors and there withall doe shewe Gods fatherly prouideÌ„ce in assisting good Princes and noble men being enuironed on euery syde with enimyes and oppressed with extreme miseries and calamities Notwithstanding I graunt some speciall examples may bee founde repugnaunt to the premisses and it commeth to passe now then that wicked and seditious persons prosper and preuail that good lawful magistrats decay perish which things haue wonderfully astonied the myndes of mortal men moued them to think that eyther there is no God or at the least that there is no diuine prouidence at all ouer earthly things for if ther were any effectual care theÌ„ surely the world shuld go happely with the godly vnhappely with the vngodly Such firy darts wound euen ChristiaÌ„s reasoning thus with themselues if almightie God do care for earthly creatures and especially for the church why did godlesse Cain kil godly Abel why did y lecherous filthy struÌ„pet oppresse clean chast Iosephe why was the holy prophet Esay giuen into y hands of cruel Manasses whi did not y pietie of religious Dauid touer him from so many stormes tempestes why did God suffer y slinking Gote Herodias to behead him than whoÌ„ ther was no greater amongst the sonnes of women why was y monstrous Tyrant very froth of mischiefe Nero suffred to murder those two notable disciples of Christ truÌ„pets of true religioÌ„ Peter and Paul Marcus Cato wheÌ„ tidings came vnto him inâ— Cicil that great Pompei through fear of Caesar had forsakeÌ„ Italy he cryed out saying O immortal Gods how obscure and variable are your coÌ„solations in humayne affaires For vnto this daye haue you fauored Pompei not so exactly ministring equitie and iustice but now in defeÌ„ding coÌ„mon libertie and in a most iust cause of his couÌ„trey you haue forsakeÌ„ him Pompei himselfe scaping y sword in the fielde foughteÌ„ at Pharsalia sailed to Mytelene where Cornelia his wife made hir abode repairing to y Philosopher Cratippus lameÌ„ted much his aduersitie questioned whither ther were any prouideÌ„ce at all And now in France who seeth not poyseners trucebreakers Tyrants bloudit Papists to ttiumph again obedieÌ„t and ouer câ—edulous subieus oppreste professours of true religioÌ„ murdered honorable gray whyte heads are cleft asuÌ„der y great bellies wombs of Ladies gentlewomeÌ„ are ripped infantes and sucking babes are with pykes perced and fynally no kinde of crueltie vnpractised Albeit such lameÌ„table calamities of good meÌ„ and sauage libertie of wicked meÌ„ both in churches coÌ„mon welaths seeme to take away gods prouideÌ„ce yet god to remoue such doubts hath set before meÌ„s eyes his workes ordinarie extraordinary hath added thereunto his expresse manifest word thereby shewing the properity and aduersitie come not to men by
and salue for his greeuous sore If a plage and PestileÌ„ce of his people astone him let him folow king Dauid offer for his people the sacrifices of an humble lowly hart ther is no doubt but the consuming pestilence shal ceasse If famine and penurie may which thee can almost be no greater miserie do affect his land let him endeuor to get some prouident Ioseph to releeue the deere yeeres of Egypt in his countrey If the earth 〈◊〉 and become barraine let him call vpoÌ„ God some Elias by his prayers wil open the heauens to send downe their moisture or some Elizeus who wil shew vnto Iâ—â—am Iehosaphat whole riuers of water to releeue them If sworde and fire in wars doe make him tremble or if in the day of battell be despaire of victorie let him recorde with hymselfe that it lieth in Gods hande to reskew him and his men and to rescue him with good Ezechias who with prayer preuayled more than Sennacherib with his hundred thousands If it please God to throwe him into â—riles or into captiuitie he may not for al this despaire but with Manasses turning vnto the Lord let him hope to be deliuered out of the dungeon in Babylon and to see his Citie Hierusalem againe If his people rebell on euery side Dauid teacheth him to say The Lords wil be done Yet in that meane time he ought to desire God to infatuate the deuises of his aduarsaries and God will appoint some faythful Chusu to bring to nought the counsayls of trâ—iterous Achitophell and will â—asse by some 〈…〉 Aâ—salon Iâ— his 〈…〉 with the 〈◊〉 〈…〉 which tribulation being 〈…〉 other most greeuous as David 〈…〉 when he saw 〈…〉 murther yet if he reâ—â—â— God will 〈◊〉 Nathan to ereste and comfort him And finally what tribulation soeuer the magistrate tast of whether it be spitituall or corporall publike or priuate let him make the liuing God his shooteanker and looke for consolation and comfort at his hand Nowe if they thus cleaue vnto almightie God let them not doubt but he will succoure and deliuer if not the fleshe yet the spirite if not their bodies yet certainely he will not permit their Soule to perish for that GOD whiche deliuered the three children out of the fierie fornace and Daniel out of the Lions denne suffered the Machabees Vincentius and infinite Martires to die in sharp tormentes and yet he is the God of the one and of the other He therefore saueth some miraculously to confound Idolatrie he permitteth othersome to perish in their bodies that the strong pacience of Martirs may be seene and that the tormentes of the vngodly may be the heauier in Hell fire When Vincentius was rent and al to torne vppon the racke and after cast vppon the hote coales he spake to the Tirant Dacianus Shew all furor and crueltie vpon me that thou art able by Gods power I shall bee more firme and patient in suffering than thou in afflicting Whence came such courage and boldnesse Surely all the cogitations of the godly men are settled vppon the rocke the sonne of god Without him the godlye would shrinke euen into the quagmire of desperatioÌ„ but knowing their cause they lift vp theyr heads and march after their Captayne Iesus Christ And being armed with the shielde of faith whereby they haue an assured estate in the life to come they force not much what may come to their mortall bodies neither doe they thinke it a miserable ende if they die with 〈◊〉 sword in the fire vpon the gallowes or by any other wayes so it be for the name of the Lord Iesus And if wee consider examples it will euidently appeare that many of Gods elect died not in their beds a naturall death Abel was murthered of his owne brother The Prophet beeing sente to Hieroboam was destroyed by a Lyon. Esay was sawen asunder through the mids Ieremy like as Stephen also was stoned to death Iames being throwen downe from the Pinacle of the temple was slayn of a fuller Peter was fastried to that crosse Paul was executed with the sword Many such examples are extant Besides these the famous men amongst the Heathen died miserably touching the world The good Socrates was poysoned Euripides was forne with 〈◊〉 Sophocles was choked with a berrie of a grape Very sorowfull cumbrance greefe of minde killed Homer But Socrates accompted it coÌ„fort inough for good men to die innocently for good deserts to receyue vndeserued punishments Christs Apostles accord with the same who reioyced y they were found meete to sustayne contumelies for the name of the Lord Iesus the reason is thus If we be spoyled of our goodes in this world we haue other treasures in heauen if we be here exiled we are ther receyued into gods family if we be murthered a dore is opened vnto vs to euerlasting lyfe wherfore let princes noble meÌ„ coÌ„temne such perils tolerate such crosses if it please god to lay theÌ„ vpoÌ„ their shoulders Which thing they shal be able to do if they set before their eyes y day wheÌ„ the Lord will giue vnto his chosen a quiet kingdom will wipe away al teares froÌ„ their eys wil voutsafe to make theÌ„ partakers of his euerlasting kingdom But as for the vngodly which haue florished in the earth he will throw theÌ„ into vtter destructioÌ„ wher their plesures shal be recoÌ„penced with payns their laughing with weping grinding of teeth their peace shal be vnquieted with the worme of the conscieÌ„ce they shal behold the godly whome they haue persecuted killed raigning ouer them in all blessednesse For this is that iustice whereof the Apostle speaketh to ease those that be vniustly afflicted and to punish the oppressors of the godly at that day when the Lorde Iesus shall be reueled from heauen This surely ought to comfort not only noble but all christian men and this is their triumph ouer the world the flesh the Diuell and all his members to fixe their hartes and mindes vpon the resurrection when the Lorde will poure vppon his enimies fire and brimstone storme and tempest for their portion and will crowne his owne children with glorie honor and immortalitie Only vnto God be honor and glory Man iudgeth corruptly according to the euâ— of worldly matters â— frutes of a â—ubting minde matters of eligion gonies of the inde and conience intolleble ompeyus Aagnus â—emades Occasions that moue wordling to relinquishe Religion VVhat end abydeth the enimies of the Gospell Valerianus Sapores Chaldaeus Paraphr cui contradicit tamen Caluinus Plutarchus Psal. 37. VVhat Christians ought to do in these perilous dayes Esay 30. No leagues are to be made with Gods enimies 2. Para. 19. Ieza 30. 31. 48 Psal. 32. The estate of Christes Church in this worlde The lighte of Christes church neuer wholly quenched Iudi. 7. VVhy God helpeth not according to mans policie and deuises Ismael