pitilesse persecutors of him in his meÌ„bers haue bene there so long reserued where with the Lord as well appeareth is greuously offended and therefore hath layed the greater burden vpon vs. Wherfore we see the to much mercy is as well hurtfull to the offendours as condigne punishement for theÌ„ is necessary Ieremy 28. Deute 13.18 ★ who if they were cut away from vs we shoulde be voide of euill wherefore I would those stumbling blockes were remoued according to the saying of S. Paul Gallath 5. I would God they were cut of from vs which do disquiet vs. And with Iob I say Iob. 24. oh that all compassion vpoÌ„ them were forgotteÌ„ 1. Thessal ◠‡ for they displease God hinder men from their saluation God therfore for his great mercysake graunt that the sworde of Iustice no longer ruste in the scabberde but that it may be put to the vse that God hath apointed it that such may iustly receiue that which vniustlye they haue done vnto the clect seruants of God and that as well the obstinate Papistes as also the carnall Gospellers may feele the wayght thereof or else it wyll be still the longer the worse To much mercy marâ—eth good manners for to manifest it is at thys day in Englande that the ouermuch mercy pitifulnesse maketh a presumpteous and carelesse people which if it be not the soner redressed let vs assure our selues the thys plague of pestilence wherewith wee haue lately perished so fast is but a beginning of sorrowes and a declaration of a more heauy greuous vengeance of God to come vpon vs which if for the neglecting the punnishing of sinne and for not maintaining of Gods quarel be wilfully purchased theÌ„ woe woe woe will be vppon vs for God will then so handle vs as he neuer did before Ezechiel 5. who hath plentye of plagues in store yea Leuitic 2â— euen readye hangyng ouer our heads Wherefore good brethren let euery one of vs enter into himselfe and well beholde the monstrousnesse of our beastly behauiour that so shamefully aboundeth considering that where the vineyarde bringeth forth the best wine the Lord doth keepe it and in due time water it and preserueth it daye and night from the enimy that he do it no harme Esay 27. but where the vineyarde yeldeth and bringeth forth bryers and thornes the Lorde will runne thorow it by warres and wil make the strong cities desolate and the habitation forsaken God who made created the people wyll not fauour them Beware I say therefore oh EnglaÌ„d be warned be not tolong carelesse for it is manifest ynough vnlesse we will be wilfull blinde Esay 26. that the hand of the Lord is lifted vp against vs we haue felt the heauy burden therof vpon vs. The Lord graunt vs therfore grace speedy amendement of our life least the Lord in his wrath make of our Cities blessed famous fruitfull countrey an heape of broken stones Esay 17. as he did wyth Damascus or with the walled Citye of Aroer whereof hee threatned to make soldes of cattaill and so we purchase to ourselues sorrow without hope of comfort from the which misery that the Lord our God in whose hands we are as the claye in the potters may defende vs let vs speedely and continually in all humblenesse of heart in weeping fasting and praying in maner and forme following inuocate the name of God our heauenly father to whom wyth the sonne and the holye Ghost be all praise and glory world without ende Amen â‚ The Prayer OH most puissant mighty king the god of our forefathers and of thy people Israel who turnest man to distruction and then againe art gratious and mercifull deliuer nowe from perill vs poore wretches that with vnfayned heartes call vppon thee although our wickednesse past hath most highly offeÌ„ded thee oh Lord our God and hath bene most grieuous in thy sight who therfore hast layd thy heauy hande vpon vs the smart wherof wee haue felte to our great discomfort although not so sharply as our wickednesse well deserued yet nowe Lorde at the humble sute of vs sorowfull sinners ceasse thy anger withdrawe thy dreadfull hande and let thy mercye quenche the flame of thy furye looke downe vpon vs beholde the miserye of thy feeble flocke that are almost drowned in the dungeon of dolour stop not thyne eares at the crying of our lamentable and mourning voyces but comfort vs relieue vs and suffer not the sourges of sorrowe to ouerwhelme vs but rayse thou vs vppe that are fallen giue vs a Godlye consideration of the wonderfull woorke of thy late wrathfull indignation vppon vs by the ouerthrowe and distruction of the great number of oure Brethren whome in thy ireful desetued displeasure by death thorowe Plague thou hast taken from vs that thereby wee being warned may henceforth eschewe and auoyd the importable burthens of thy heauy vengeaunce that thou reseruest in store for Sinners Preserue good Lorde the Queenes moste excellente Maiestye and graunt hir to our coÌ„fort a long and prosperous raigne make hir zealous seruent in the tryall of thy truthe prouing of thy will and testament and oh lord forgiue our enimies that haue ben persecuters of thy people and selaunderers of thy truth and Gospell tourne their hearts if so it be thy heauenly wil if not but that they bee of the number of those whose hearts thou hast hardened bicause they should not vnderstand the mysteries contayned in thy holye word nor the vnspeakeable comfort coÌ„tayned in the same then suffer theynâ— Lord no longer to shaddow themselues in secret corners priuyly to worke theyr perillous pretence poysoning thy people wyth the pestilent persuasion of daÌ„nable doctrine but according to thy promise which is that the generation of the wicked shal be without honour so stand now vp Lord of hosts and be no longer mercyful vnto thy enimies that of malicious wickednesse resisting thy truth Psaline 59. do grenne as dogges at thy people but thorow thy Godly motion so moue the heart of our most gratious Queene as Iehu in the defence of thy Gospell and people to drawe the sworde committed to hir by thee to cut away from the face of the earthe those rebellious ennimies and sworne aduersaries agaynste thee and thy Gospell to weede and roote out the rotten members that infect and poy son the body of the common welth that then the noisom number and remnant of the wicked being swept out with the beesom of destruction the flocke of thy folde thorow thy mighty assistance and gratious helpe and furtheraunce maye all the dayes of our lyfe be at defiaunce with Sathan vtterly forsake abhorre cast of the patched lothesome wycked weede of our olde Adam and being apparelled and adorned wyth the gladsome garment and riche attyre of righteousnesse we may shine in all vertue and be pleasaunt and acceptable in thy sight to the praise and glory of thy holy name and our eternall comforte To thee oh God the Father the Sonne the holy Ghost three persons and one immortal inuisible and euerliuing God be all praise and dominion for euer and euer Amen Giue God the prayse I. S. Imprinted at London in Whitecrosse strete by Henry Denham Anno Domini 1564.
of suche vice as I know not how it might haue bene put to a better vse to haue benefited the common wealth or sometime likewise in London with a little carting it is remembred though to many that discrue it come not to the promotion And therfore according to the olde prouerb better is sometime a frende in court than a penny in purse But take heede I say yee Magistrates beware of parcialitie Yet to saye truth whether carting or a flappe wyth a Fore tayle all is to one purpose and therefore euen as good neuer a whit as neuer the better for carting doth but make them carelesse and shamelesse and rather to continue in theire beastlinesse than bring them to honesty and repentaunce of their euill Wherefore if it be not the soner otherwyse looked to and a sharper sause prouided for such filthye whores whoremongers yee shall shortlye in place of honest modest Matrones and vndefiled virgins haue the Realme replenished with a company of cankered corrupte lothsome whores whereof the filthy flocke encreaseth a pace and to fast And here may yee see and bcholde howe vice aboundeth for lacke of the iuste rewarde that therunto belongeth which should be seuere iustice for neglecting whereof as the Magistrates incurre the displeasure of God so are the wicked that still sleepe in theire sinne incouraged to become and continue the members of the deuill But oh ye Magistrates looke to your charge oh yee lothsome whores and whoremongers let Sodome and Gommorra be your looking glasses wherin without your repentaunce and amendement of your beastlye lyfe yee may moste plainely beholde your vtter destruction But now to proceede The abuse of the Saboth day as concerning the Sabboth daye or rather the Lordes day how well it is obserued I reporte mee to those delicate feeders whose seruaunts euen iust vpon that daye when they shoulde be at Churche to heare the deuine seruice and haue theire duties taught them must then forsoth runne a gadding from market to market to make prouision for a dishe of needenot for the latter course when there is alredye to much for the first which wasteful money were better bestowed in the workes of Faith helping by charity thy needefull brethren that haue not so wel to fyl their hūgrie bellies but the is forgottē or scant thought on Also other some there bee who when they should congregate themselues in the Temple or Church which is a place appointed to inuocate the name of GOD and to praise him for his manifolde benefites then are they packed vp togither in Tauernes and Alehouses yelling for vittailes to fill their filthy paunche But oh beastlye bellie whether is the Lorde thy God or thou fyrste to be serued Iwys I remember there was not long a go a godlye order made in London by the Lorde Maior and the worshipfull the Aldermen that the doores of tauernes and vittailing houses should be kept shut in seruice time which order is commēdable if it were obserued according to the good meaning that the doores should I saye be kept shut in seruice time to keepe out such bellie bibbers but now they first fill and furnishe their houses w e gestes and then they shutte the doores But alas what mockery is this with God the Magistrates God and the Magistrats mocked by the typplers which are but harborers of vnthriftes for the which vnlesse they maye feele the smarte it wil be the longer the worse before it be better For in vaine are good lawes made vnlesse they be thorowlye executed and therefore I wishe that there were certaine in eche parrishe appointed that on the Saboth daye might visite the vitailing houses and as well to make report of those that are the receyuers of such gestes that they might for so receiuing of them bee considered according to their deseruing as also to driue from thence those gredie gluttōs that minde so much theire bellies and bring them to Gods banketting house that he might haue more store of gests to feede Faithfullye with hungrye spirites vpon his holy worde which is the comfortable foode that nourisheth the soule of man and that the Children and seruaunts by the godly and vertuous lyfe of those theire Parentes and Maisters might both learne to knowe their duties to God praising his holye name as also theire due obedience to their elders The want of good ensample of Elders is the distruction of Youth for want of whose good examples and their to much libertie giuing the riotous youth the more is the pitie runne to fast hedlong to destruction But no maruell for neither cā an euill tree bring forthe good fruite nor thornes can bring forth Grapes and therefore such carpenters such tooles and such maisters such seruants But yet a little more concerning the abusing of the Lordes day vpon the which almost euen as though of necessity the beares at Parris garden muste be bayted Beatbayting on the Sabboth abhominable but so vglye are not the beares as the ydle lookers on are beastly God for hys mercye defende that the deuyll baite not the soules of suche as delight so beastlie to spende the day of the Lorde God of Saboth But to proceede on that daye the maisters and schollers of Fence muste shewe themselues and their cunning whereas after oft meeting with foynes and florishes and dealing of desperate and bosterous blowes they part wyth broken heads maimed armes hands and bloody faces finishing vp the matter with such swearing terrible tearing of GOD that it is great wonder that God w e the sworde of hys displeasure layeth not on loade amongst them beating their weapons to their heades and them into the earth Loe thus is the day of the Lorde turned to the daye of bloudsheading and blasphemie thorow the schole houses of Fence naye rather of mischiefe Schoole-houses of Fence brede theeues to fede the gallowes for thereby are to many loitering schollers vacabundes encouraged to mischief bearing themselues so bolde of their Fence that they are as readye to keepe a standing in the hye wayes as the strongest theefe in England and so in the ende to many the more is the pitie for all theire cunning are to seeke of Fence to keepe their necks from the halter Loe what folly Fence bredeth And thus wyth these many other abuses is the Lordes daye polluted But let vs not thinke that the Lorde our God who punished wyth Death the man for gathering stickes onely on the Saboth daye Numeri 15 wyll leaue vs vnpunished that so shamefully abuse the same which so expressely he hath commaunded to be kept holy and appointed to worship hym on Let vs be assured wee shall knowe the price thereof as well as also for the wonderfull wickednesse the otherwyse raigneth amongst vs that are voide of all Godlinesse and full of abhomination and sinne For truely there is amongst vs no purenesse in heart no truthe in mouthe no vprightnesse in dealing
The Pitifull estate of the Time present A Christian consideration of the miseries of this time with an exhortation to amendement of Life compiled by one zealous in the Lawe of God And set forthe by Publike Autority being perused and allowed by the same Wisedome 6. Giue eare yee that rule the multitudes for power is giuen you of the Lord strength from the highest which shall trye youre workes and searche oute your ymaginations howe that yee being Officers of hys Kingdome haue not executed true Iudgement wherefore ye shall haue the sorer punishment ¶ Imprinted at London in Whitecrosse strete by Henry Denham The Preface to the Reader AS ACCORDING to the saying of Saint Paul Rom. 15. all that is written is written for our instruction and learning that wee might fashion oure selues to the good wyll and pleasure of GOD in following of vertue and embracing that is good forsaking vice and detesting that which is euill I therefore hereby moued and occasioned did peruse of late a booke of small volume which hath to name the Triall of truthe set forth a yeare passed and more in the which booke as the Auctor zealouslie made a briefe discourse of the sundrie visitations and punishments of God for our forgetfulnesse of him thorowe our sinfull wickednesse so did he likewise brotherly warne admonishe vs to leaue forsake and abhorre our accustomed euill and Christianlike exhorte vs to liue in newnesse of lyfe putting vs in remembraunce that the Fier which fell froÌ„ heauen so quickely defacing the buge Temple of Paules the straunge and monstrous shape as well of Children as of beastes wherof there were diuers and sundrye with also the vnseasonable time then thorow the dailye dropping showers were altogither plaine declarations and tokens of Gods vengeaunce and heauy wrath to come vpon vs and more sharply to punnishe vs than euer he did before where of we might assure our selues vnlesse with hearty repentaunce and specty amendment of our wicked life wee tourned vnto the Lorde our God And this in maner was the effect of that little worke wherein it appeareth that the Auctor was more carefull for vs than wee are for oure selues For notwithstanding that he with also many others haue not ceassed thorow their continual daily and painefull trauaile in writing and setting forth of Godly Bookes wherof neuer since Christes time more plentye than of late yeres hath bene teaching instructing persuading exhorting admonishing and in Goddes behalfe threatening vs by all meanes possible seeking to drawe vs from euill to good from worse to better from sinne to godly lyfe that we might learne to do the wil of our heauenly Father yet are wee for all this so vnmindefull of GOD and of his good gifts in his creatures and our mindes so set and busied in the vaine and transitory things of this worlde that wee are not at laysure to know God nor by hearing and reading to learne how to attayne vnto the world that is permanent and euerlasting but eyther the workes so set forth for our instructioÌ„ are so long that we caÌ„not intend to reade them thorow although in the meane we bee neyther idle nor yet wel occupied or else if they be short then soner red ouer than wel coÌ„sidered and followed as the crooked conditions and wickednesse of vs wretched people of England doth to euidently declare whose abhominations are so vile detestable in the sight of God as that I caÌ„not but maruell how either wee dare presume to aske or hope to haue any thing at the hands of our HeaueÌ„ly Father that might be beneficial or necessary for vs but rather loke for present destruction to be roted from the face of the Earth nothing regarding the many and often warnings of God by his ministers neither yet his louing correctioÌ„ which with fauor hitherto we haue had â–ª alas how oft hath he called vs hoÌ„e so carefully so louingly so fatherly tendering vs euen as the Father his children yet we will not come but still so muche neglect his mercifull goodnes that nedes he must of his iustice being a gelous god that hath pmised to visit the sins of the fathers vpoÌ„ the children vnto the thirde fourth generation of them that hate him euen punnish with sorrowe to vs our sinnes and laye vppon vs the heauie burthens that oure wickednes hath worthilye deserued for where the shaking of the rodde will not helpe or preuaile there must needes sharpe strokes followe and wee shall haue them let vs assure our selues thereof except spedie amendement of our wicked life and carnest reformation of our moÌ„strous manners which as I heartilye wishe and bicause I woulde as much as in mee is be a meanes to prouoke and stirre vp my brethren thereto â–ª whose forgetfulnesse of their duties towardes God I heartelye lamente and bewaile haue therefore thought it my part though with eloqueÌ„ce vnacquainted by pleasantnesse of stile to please the Reader yet 〈◊〉 this simple sorte plainely to declare my good will tendering as nature forceth mee the welfare of the whole body of this Realme of Englande whereof although I be but a weake yet thorowe the grace of God a well willing member Reade and discerne The Pitifull estate of the Tyme present OH WRETCHED AND gracelesse people why do we so long tempt the Lord our God and thorow our diuellish doinges deny him we deny him I saye in that wee beeing a people voyd of all Godly seare still continue carelesse and neglecte the keeping of the holy preceptes and commaundements of our eternall and euerliuing GOD whome we thorow the leudnesse of our lyfe do so shamfully abuse and offende For alas how doth all kinde of vice rather increase than diminish Vice florisheth in England For who heareth not the horrible vice of blasphemy and swearing so brimme and rife in the mouth of young and olde of all degrees as well in courte as in countrey Otheo coâ—mon in olde and yonge that almost euery toung is embrued w e bloudy othes which though it highly offend the Maiesty of God and worthily deserueth sharpe correction and punnishment yet not all so considered but euery one still suffered to sweare and forsweare sincking in their sinne Filthy whoredome likewise The whor dome of Englande stinketh be fore the face of God which in all degrees and places as it is to bee hated as most shamefull in the sight of the Almightie so would God that houses of fame and estimation were not as well spotted therewith as are the brothell houses whose gracelesse inhabitaunts are limmes of the deuill And lamentable is it to see in Englande at this daye from the Courtyer to the Carter that stincking sinne is so common that it is rather accompted an ordinarie pastime than an odible offence whordom accounted no Sinne which as it stincketh before the face of God so is it left vnpunished sauing now and then in Bridewell a place so necessarye for the redresse
theeues enryche themselues A wylfull bancktout a theefe all one Theeues I say for thefte it is and no better and yet is it nowe a dayes made an ordinarye occupation And where is the redresse or which of them as beefore I sayd doth not what hym listeth Well woful is it to see that among Christians such partes should be played and more lamentable is it that still it is suffred Couetousnesse is a perillous poyson and yet though loth I am to wryte it I know no estate or vocation in England that is not infected therewyth euen from the mountaines to the valleyes And therfore to cōclude wher the rage of corrupt couetousnesse raygneth the right of iustice must nedes be minished I would it wer not so but alas it is to manifest ‡ But must not God needes punnish vs in whom there is no truthe nor knoweledge of hym Oseas 4. but vntruthe lying swearing adultry thefte and all manner of suche fylthynesse Are these things a declaration of brotherly loue amongst vs Gallat 5. doe we as we woulde be done vnto loue we our neighbours as our selues that thus byte and deuour one an other Oh intollerable wickednesse and oh mischieuous and pestilent people But hath our Heauenly Father reuealed the light of his Gospell vnto vs that wee in such shamefull wyse should abuse hys great mercy no no wherfore to the Carnall Gospellers as well as to the Impudent Papistes I saye bee no longer carelesse but learne to knowe the will of the Lorde and doe it Let worde and deede be one Professe and followe or else we are but slaunderers enimies of the Gospell and the blessing and great good gyftes of God the lyght of hys Gospell is euill bestowed vpon vs shewing our selues to be the enimies of Iesu Christ and of his truth the spoilers Counterfaytes are wee and plaine dissemblers wyth God and the Worlde yea euen a people in whome scant one sparke or propertye appereth that vnto Christians appertayneth for if we were Christians we woulde followe Christes lore ‡ who being the Way Iohn 14. the Truth and life we renoūce and go from the Waye decline from Truth and forsaking Life doe thorow our wicked meanes seeke to our selues Death and distruction The Lorde bee mercifull vnto vs for we are growen to this point that we neyther feare the Lorde our God nor stande in awe of the Magistrates And what is the cause but for that the good lawes made by them for the punishement of offenders are no better executed but in a manner eche one left to himselfe to doe what he listeth But truely euen as much doe the Magistrates offende GOD in not punishing the offenders as they that commit the offence For all this euill commeth of sufferaunce Sufferaunce breedeth inconuenience but to muche sufferaunce causeth care and to muche sufferaunce breedeth disobedience And is it not sufferaunce that tickeleth the talketiue tonges of the wicked and euyll dysposed so shamefullye and sclaunderouslye to reporte and speake euill of the blessed worde of GOD and doctrine of Iesu Christ and of the Preachers and Teachers of the same vnreuerentlye iesting and scoffing at them as dailye they doe euen like vnto Diotrephes that of arrogancye exalted himselfe Iohn 3. Ep◠dispised the doctrine of the Apostles iesting at them with malitious wordes And what is it else but sufferaunce that so animateth the obstinate Archpapistes so stoutely to continue in their Romish heretical errour contrarye to the will of God and their due obedience to their Prince But no maruell therefore though the common sort so carelesly continue in their euill The Archpapistes Ringleaders to mischiefe when the Ringleaders to mischiefe the Archpapistes beyng the maintayners of Idolatrye breakers of Wedlocke theeues murderers and rebels against the Prince in Gods and hir procedings are thus suffered to wallowe still in the poysoned puddell of their wicked wyll and yet remaine vnpunnished But yet as it is not ynough but a perillous matter for one mā to cal another thefe vnlesse he be able to proue it So I likewise to trye the to be true which here I haue written of them wyll therefore make due proofe thereof as well for mine owne discharge as also to satisfye the reader And first that they are maintainers of Idolatrye Archpapistes maintayners of Idolatry the great number of people whome God hath yet spared alyue wytnesse wyth mee howe they when they were in authority or rather when God suffered them to bee as whippes scourges to vs for our forgetfulnesse of God how they then I saye thorowe their violent cōpulsion forced the people to the great derogation and dishonour of God to erect Idolls and garnish the Church and House of God with Mahomets which as in the booke of Wysedome is specified neyther haue bene frō the beginning nor shall continue to the ende Wisdō 14. but haue only bene inuented thorow the wealthy Idlenesse of men but wherewith yet they I saye then so charmed and enchaunted the mindes of many of the simple ignoraunt people wyth theyr Idolatrous infection as that I woulde to GOD there were not nowe in these dayes to manye that worshipping in hugger mugger in Coffers and Corners their senslesse Babilonicall blockbabes thynke they please God better than to come to bee instructed by the hearing of the worde of GOD preached Thus haue they I saye seduced the people from the true and liuing Lorde to worshippe straunge and vnknowen Gods and honouring of abhominable Images ‡ whiche is the begynning and ende of all euill Wisdō 14◠shewing themselues thereby to bee the manifest enimies of the Almighty Deutro 13. and as Moises doth note and name them false Prophetes dreamers and maintainers of wicked Idolatrye which beyng a spirituall whoredome and an abhomination so grieuous and haynons in the sight of God as that hee hath alwayes abhorred and extremely punnished it yet are they wyth tooth and naile supporters of the same Wherfore as God by the mouth of Moyses playnely expresseth that they ought not to be pitied nor reserued and kept as they yet are Deut. 13.16 so doth he also appoynt them their reward Ieremy 26. which is that they should be destroyed wythout compassion Zachar. 13. And accordingly did Elia with 450. false Prophetes of Baal at the broke Kison 3. Kings 16 2. Chro. 34. Also Iosia who burned the bones of the Priestes vppon the altares of the Idols But nowe to goe forwarde wyth my proofe Breakers of wedlocke I sayd they were as most true it is they be For although that Christ as by the autority of the scriptures doth permit vnto euery man without exceptiō that cannot liue chaste 1. Cor. 7.9 Timoth. 3. as well spirituall as temporall his wife to liue togither in that holy and blessed state of matrimonie ordayned by God for the auoyding of hatefull whordome ★ who being once coupled according to the lawes
of God no man ought to seperate or put asūder yet notwithstanding that Leuitic 17. Math. 19. Marke 10. how did they I say abuse and shamefullye seperate diuers and sūdry of the ministerie then matched in matrimony Papistes breakers of wedlock dealing as cruelly wyth them therefore as if they had committed some notorious offence disallowing in the ministery then that to be necessary which Christe in his time for his Apostels did see to be conuenient and necessary And Paul witnessing the same sayth 2. Corin. 7. It is better to marrye than to burne but he sayth not It is better to take a whore than to marrye as a greate many of their beastly broode of lecherous Massepriestes did who as they woulde not marry so liued they not Casté but Cauté played the whoremongers and some Palam defiled theyr neighboures wiues committed dayly incest and were euen fellowe companions to the Sodomites whose beastlinesse these Mitered men oft wincked at and woulde not see the wyckednesse of their God Bels belly gods but looked thorow the fyngers at them as some of thē to wel know to their shame though they say nay and lye as their generatiō hath always bene accustomed who neuer will do other But though for their wicked whoredome they haue in thys world escaped the punishment due for the same Hebru 13. yet shall God shut them out of hys Kingdome into euerlasting fier vnlesse they repent which God graunt they may But now to proceede theeues also I sayde they were Papistes are theues Iohn 10. ‡ and so S. Iohn calleth them that come not but to steale destroy of which number they are so shewed themselues to be when they not only did breake into Gods orchard stealing from vs the fruit of life but also lopped and destroyed the flourishing braūches that plenteouslye yelded forth the fruite therof Ieremy 12. ‡ Treading downe the Vineyard and pleasant portion of the Lorde of malitious purpose to leaue it waste and to make it a wyldernesse stealing away the heauenly treasure of Gods Sanctuary and wyth consciences moste filthily defiled filling and replenishing the Lords house with robbery falshed and therfore agayne I say theeues and also enimies to God that loue him not ‡ For how can they 2 Iohn 4. loue God whome they haue not seene when thei loued not their brethrē with whome they were dayly conuersaunt For it is not so long agoe to bee yet forgotten how vnmercifully they dealte wyth the seely faythfull flocke of Iesu Christ who by the diuine inspiration and good gyft of the holy Ghost setting forth the glory of God plentifully preseruing the holsome and dilectable doctrine of Iesu Christ wherwith almighty god had richly replenished them and wherwyth they dayly taught and trayned vs to know the wil of our heauenly father They did I say forbid to teach the truthe and would not suffer them to preach Christe vnto the people but notwithstanding the expresse cōmaundement of God almighty who straytly charged them ‡ that they shoulde not touche his annoynted Psalm 105. nor do his Prophets any harme yet did they rigorously recompence them turmoyling and tossing them frō post to piller mocked them buffeted them with roddes beat them imprisoned them hungersterned them 1. Iohn 3. ‡ and euen as Cain to hys brother Abell so did these Tiraunts most cruelly murder their innocēt brethren Papists at murderers and with fier consumed to ashes the flesh of Iesus Christ in his mēbers ‡ whose beautifull feete brought vs tydings of good things Roma 10. euen the peace of the Gospell of Christ our Sauiour And why did they thus to them ‡ bycause their workes were good and their owne euill 1. Iohn 3. they being of the offpring of those that killed the Lord Iesus and the Prophetes and nowe likewise thirsted for the bloud of these innocent martirs and therefore murderers from the beginning 1. Regū 15. ‡ But now I cal to remembrance how Samuell the zealous Prophete of the Lord calling for King Agag the enimy of God and murderer of his people to whome after he had sayde these words as thy sword hath made womē childelesse so shal thy mother be childelesse did then in the zeale of God he we King Agag in peeces Oh cruel murderer and sheader of innocent bloud The rewarde of a murderer worthily rewarded But if Agag being a King was not spared how well haue these then deserued to haue the same curresye being continuall committers of shameful things mercilesse oppressors cruell persecutours of Fatherlesse and Wyddowes shedders of innocente bloud vnsatiable murderers wylfully working the mercylesse motions of theire hatefull heartes thorowe whose terrible tyrannye many mothers were lefte child clesse and many children fatherlesse and motherlesse that were of the familye of the faythfull in Iesu Christ of which most terrible tragedye though the whole worlde can witnesse yet remaine those murderers vnrecompenced with Agags iust rewarde But last of all that I sayde they were rebellious Papists a◠rebellious let their stubborne and disobedient behauiour towardes their Prince be witnesse in that they so arrogantlye contend with their Soueraigne despising and resisting the worde of GOD which by the Princes moste Gracious proceedings to the vnspeakeable comforte of all hir graces true faythfull and louing Subiectes is thanked be God therefore moste entierly and truely set forth and taught which they vtterlye detest and followe the imaginations of their owne heartes and still continue in their euil Loe these be of them that had so blinded the worlde wyth their counterfait holinesse that they were counted and thought to be without spot and yet moste grieuous transgressours and full of all iniquitye and poyson refusing to doe that whych by Goddes law they are commaunded and regarding rather the vsurping monstrous Pope that Romish beast and Antichrist than fearing God and respecting theire due obedience to their Soueraigne moste gratious Prince and liege Ladye who as Salomon sayth Prouer. 16. ought to be feared as a Lion and whose displeasure is a messanger of death who therefore although they feare not I saye for the loue that saythfull Subiectes beare to their Prince of duety 1. Peter 2. yet I thynke they shoulde feare loue and humbly obeye hir for the loue and feare of him ★ that shall call the heauens from aboue and the earth Roman 13. Psalm 50. that he may iudge hys people ★ against which day of vengeaunce when shall bee opened the ryghteous iudgement of GOD 2. Thessal 1. Rom. 2.13 such stubburn-hearted contencious rebelles that followe iniquitye disobeye and resiste the truthe and the higher powers which is the ordinaunce of GOD and that eythers cannot or wyll not repent doe but heape vnto themselues the wrath of God who will reward them with trouble and anguish of soule to euerlasting damnation Esay 46. A charitable exhortation to
the Papistes Wherfore O ye presumpteous priests that are of an hye stomack but farre from righteousnesse as yee haue bene terrible tyrauntes and your handes full of bloud so now put from you the violence and myschiefe of your mindes and as ye haue not ignorantlye but arrogantly fought againste the God of glory so call now to him for the assistaunce of his holy spirit that it may please him therewith to strengthen you agaynst your aduersary the diuell that hee no longer bewitche you nor wythdraw your mindes from God for now ye sayle stumble in your iudgement being ignoraunt as yong children Esay 28. and bycause yee wyll not hearken vnto the voyce of God pronounced by his chosen vessels hee suffereth you to be tangled snared and to fall backwardes in youre wylfulnesse 1. Peter 1. Leane therefore no longer vpon the weake staffe of antiquity which both you and many men ground themselues vpon doing as their fathers did for as well our Forefathers as also our selues haue done vnrighteouslye and haue not kept the way which the highest commaunded vs and therfore custome without truth is not alloweable but is an olde errour Pray thefore vnto the Lorde God to open your eyes that yee may spye out the wonderous things in the lawe of God Psalme 119 ★ Seke him with your whole heartes vnfaynedly that ye may walk in his wayes leauing the wicked and wylfull blindnesse wherein you haue so long bene nouseled and be no longer as Fooles that make good sport of Synne but foresee your wickednesse which as the Lorde according as the Scriptures make mention hath punnished in Princes being the highest and to whome he hath giuen the gouernement of his people so will he not surely leaue it vnrecoÌ„penced in popish priests but aswel in priestes as in al people generally of what vocation or calling soeuer that repining the truthe of Iesus Christ and wilfully wallowing in wickednesse and sinne careleslye continue in the same he wyll hisite and for their rewarde giue them to drinke of his displeasure and heauy wrath Wherefore I asmuch as in mee is exhort you in the Lorde to become obedieÌ„t children ‡ and to retourne wyth the prodigall childe from your grosse feeding on swinecods and with hearty repentaunce meekely and humbly to tourne to your heauenlye Father Luke 25. feeding on hys heauenly worde that wee your brethren might reioice of the finding of you that were loste reuiuing of you that were dead 1. Peter 5. ‡ Submit therfore your selues in loâ—â—linesse of heart vnder the mighty hand of God and shewe your due obedience and bee subiecte to your most gracious and mercifull Prince be no more diuelishe wilfull but godly willing arme your selues I saye wyth singlenesse of heart as ministers to worke the will of our heauenlye Father not compelled but willinglye not wyth proude and lordely stomacks but meekely giuing good exaÌ„ple to the flock of Iesu Christ of which as yee haue bene mercilesse sposlers destroyers and famishers so now thorowe the most gracious operation of the Almightye yee may become repairers feeders and nourishers of the same that when the chiefe shepehearde shall appeare ‡ hee may exalt you when the time is come 1. Peter 5. that then ye maye receiue an incorruptible crowne of glory which I besech God for his great mercy sake to graunt vnto you the ys may I saye become hys seruauntes and wyth ioy in him possesse the earth during his good pleasure and after thys lyfe to haue the fruitioÌ„ of the lyfe euerlasting Be therfore no longer the maysters of errour pussed vp wyth pride but the Disciples of truth shewe your selues no longer as brute beastes naturallye made to be destroyed whose heartes God hath so hardened for that yee shuld not hearken vnto his worde bicause he would haue you rooted from the earth But leaue in tyme your disobedience for disobedient children shall finde no rest wherefore if yee still presumptuouslye proceede as yee haue begonne ‡ knowe that presumptuousnesse goeth before distruction and after a proude stomacke there followeth a fall Prouer. 16. Deutro 17. Esay 5. for the Lorde abhorreth all suche as are of a proude stomacke and wyll not suffer them to escape vnpunnished ★ but will recompence them theire wyckednesse and destroye them in theire owne malice ‡ hycause they rebell against hym Psalme 94 Psalm 107. Therefore I saye once againe as one that from the bottome of my hearte wyshe your conuersion to GOD take heede and tempt the Lorde God no longer neyther presume to muche of the mercye of your Prince for yf ye doe surely God wyll in the ende put in hir Graces heart as most excellent ‡ euen sent of and by him Rom. 13. Wisdom 6 for the punnishement of the wicked and to the praise of the good to consider that as a Mother who being tender ouer hir Children with ouermuch cockering them doth but make them so wanton and carelesse that they regarde hir not and so sparing the rodde hurteth hir Children and harmeth hir selfe so likewyse that hir grace thorowe hir greate lenity and mercy in to long suffering you doth but make you the more forgetfull of youre dueties to your so gracious a Prince moue you the rather to worke your selues woe wyth practising of that that might be hurtful to hir highnes which the almighty god of Israel defend But yet is it to be feared and iust cause hath hir Maiestye to bee out of hope of youre conuersion to God and to haue you hir faythfull and true Subiects hereafter that in so long a tyme of respecte haue not hadde the grace to learne to feare God and to knowe your duties to hym and youre so gratious and mercyfull a Prince ‡ Iob sayth that if a tree bee cut downe Iob. 14. there is some hope sayth hee that it will sproute out and shoote forth the braunches againe and a roote being waxen olde and deade in the grounde yet when the stock getteth the cente of the water it will budde a newe bring forth bowes but howe long hath the Queenes Maiestye euen as a mother of mercye thorow hir gracious goodnesse and great lenitye made the tryall hereof in you reseruing and watering you all this while with hir mercye to trye thereby if shee could cause you to bring forth the florishing brauÌ„ches and beautifull buddes of repentaunte heartes thereby as well to benefite your selues as also others thorow the good example of your humblenesse who notwithstaÌ„ding stubbornely continue the longer the worse shewing your selues therefore not to be of those trees or roote that Iob speaketh of but rather playnelye painting forthe yourselues in your perfecte colours and shewing your selues to be the same that certaynely yee are A graceles papist and a rotten roote one in effect euen rotten rootes voide of Godly sappe and into whome no inoysture of godly vnderstanding or knowledge can enter Wherefore