the Lorde Iesus who had it powred vppon him without measure seeing wee that haue but a dramme thereof and that in a body of sinne are not without some reioicing effects by the power of Gods mightie spirite Herein and in such actions the power of God to a beleeuing heart sheweth it selfe to be ten thowsand times greater than in creating a thousand worlds Can the Parliament of England be desirous to glorify their God and not decree that this power of his be manifested vnto vs by deliuering euery of vs out of the tyranny of that mighty potentate who is euen the God of this world Our sauior Christ euen in respect of his manhood is so glorified of his father that man cannot augment the same yet the Apostle is plain that his honor consisteth in no other point than that euerie tongue should confesse a Phil. 2.11 him to be the Lord to the glory of God the father And least carnall men should thinke the Lord smally to esteem the glory hee gaineth by these that are called vnto the knowledge of his trueth the regard he hath hereunto is two maner of waies shewed First in that hee which was the substance and essence of the Lords owne glorious Maiesty b Phil. 2.6 equall with God c Ier. 2.3 I saie 44.26 1 Iohn 1. Rom 9.5 God himselfe made himselfe of no reputation taking vpon him the forme of a seruaunt became vile bale as we read Esai the 52 14.15.3 Phil. 2.7.8 onely to the end hee might reserue from hell some of the lost sonnes of Adam by whose saluation he should be glorified Secondly for asmuch as the chiefe end of his comming to iudgement 2 Thess 1.9 in that great and glorious daie wherin the secrets of all hearts shal appeare is to bee made glorious in his Saintes and marueilous in them that beleeue It is out of controuersie that on this daie the Lord will make the maiestie of his sonne Christ so glorious and of such rare excellencie as the verie Aungels themselues shall wonder and be astonied thereat and yet there be none others set downe in whom he shal be glorified but only those that beleeue Shal we say then the training vp of such is of smal acceptaunce in his sight God forbid Shall we think that their estate wil be any thing tolerable who in this life though they doe not further the Gospel yet will not hinder the same No truly For here be onely two estates of men spoken of either those in whom Christ Iesus shall bee glorified in euery of whose harts the Lord hath so wrought by his spirit that they desire nothing more than that he maie rule the soules of men by his woord or the other whose portion shall bee woe of soule And who are they only turks infidels papists traitors adulterers theeues murderers and such like workers of iniquity These I graunt indeed but not these alone For the Apostle giueth no such mark vnto al but he comprehendeth both the one and the other in this that they obey not the Gospell Be a man therefore accounted neuer so ciuilly honest talk he neuer so well of the Church and the dignity of the Gospel be he in shewe neuer so good a subiect vnto his prince for the diuell is not so vnwise as he wil haue al his limmes manifest breakers of the commandements but he will vse some visured oppugners of Gods glorie yet if in any sort you can perceaue that he vseth any other behauiour towardes Gods trueth than he ought to shew there whereunto greatest obedience and duety is to be yeelded take him by and by for one whom Paul meaneth Because he obeieth not but vndutifully handleth the gospel Slips I grant the children of God may haue and that very foul ones but few of them so fal as they must needs haue that to accompany them whervnto the honour of God is tied We may see then what reckoning our sauiour Christ maketh of the fruit he reapeth by the ministers labour And he wil maintaine his honour in this point by the vtter ruine of al the clippers thereof and be smally beholding as wee heare in heauen vnto them that negligently labor for the same in earth Here mark I beseech you that for as much as Sathan is permitted among vs not only to lift vp his heel against his Lord but euen to out-face him in his owne inheritance the Lord threatned very lately and doth euerie day to measure our punishment by the same line Howe likely was it had not he in mercy choked with their owne raiging spirits these vnsatiable blood-suckers Babington and his adherentes that we should haue had in this kingdome the hand of the vile against the honorable the base against the noble Isaie 3.4 the indigne against the woorthiest of the land Yea and the Lords anointed the very a Lamen 4 20 breath of our nostrils she vnder whose shadow we haue beene thus long preserued from heathen popish tortors was like to fall into their hands The Lord graunt you of this honorable assembly wise harts before it be to late to examine aright the cause of these vngodly attempts to preuent the issues of them Which shall neuer be done as long as the Parliament wil permitte Non-residences impropriate liuinges swarmes of vngodlie ministers the insolent and tyrannicall proceedinges of some ioined with pomp too too vnreasonable to keep out a learned and godlie ministerie by whose means the Lord Iesus would recouer his owne againe Persuade your selues that the Lord maie iustlie giue our possessions to strangers because an enemie is tolerated in this land quietly to enioie the right of Iesus Christ and by suffering such vngodlie practises countenanced in the action If the Spaniard French or anie the forces of Rhomish Caine haue their desire vpon vs as I hope in God they neuer shall how shall pluralities of impropriations other Church-liuings c. defend vs ours from their furie To shut vp this point all the former thinges confidered is not our petition most reasonable in regard of Gods honour Wel in respect of her Maiestie it hath manie reasons where-vpon it maie be grounded Can we euer hope to haue the tidings of saluation proclaimed in Wales vnlesse this be perfourmed in hir daies And haue we a lease of hir life Would it pleased God we had Rather the door of our hope is euerie day threatned to be shut Now therefore the Lord warneth vs to take the opportunity while it is offered Now hee taketh heauen and earth to witnes that at this instant at this Parliament at this time of her Maiesties prosperous raigne hee laieth before vs life and death good and euil saluation and damnation and that for euer We shal neuer haue the time to choose againe for anie thing we knowe And howe effectuall for the preseruation of her highnes think you would be the praiers of so manie thousand of hir people euen of the
wils of those small or great through whose hands it shal come and neuer meaneth to haue anie such thing performed as being out of hand to make an end of al and to come himselfe to sit in iudgement where his word shal be surelie countenanced The consideration whereof should make men enter deeply into their dealings herein O why should the curse of any damned soule among vs pursue the withstander of our saluation To make an end pray for vs breethren and now pray and pray againe that our God would encline mercie vnto vs in the sight of the Queene hir Counsell and all the Queenes mightie princes and that builders may be raised among vs. So let it be our God Amen THE NECESSITY laid vpon mā to a 2. Thes 1.8 Isai 53.11 know aright the eternal his creator redeemer to seiue him according vnto that knowledge which is doone of that people alone b Ephes 2.12 2. Tim. 19.10 1. Cor. 1.22 amongst whome the light of the Gospell doth shine as is not obscurely shewed by the Lordes seuere punishment vpon them that are either c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iud. 4. 15. irreligious or negligently regard desperately contemne the trueth being offered vnto them so doth it most liuely appeare by the Lords free and vndeserued d Ezek. 36.32 1. Cor. 4.7 Rom. 4.2 Iam. 1.17 yet rewarding blessings vpon all such as in an holy obedience conforme themselues according to his will What flames of vnquenchable vengeance carelesse negligence of Gods seruice the wilfull reiecting thereof hath stirred in former times amongst nations and will as long as the iust God iustly requiteth the contempt of his word kindle for euer amongst posterities I wish all men duely to consider The Lords anger for the sinnes of his owne people the children of Israel was executed vpon them to the ful euen because they hardened e Ierem. 19. their neckes and would not heare his worde The f Iere. 22.5.7 Lord sware by himselfe that the Temple should bee laide wast that he would prepare destroiers against it g Ierem. 21.5 hee himselfe with a stretched-out hand and with a mightie arme would fight against them euen in anger and in wrath and in great indignation And because h Ierem. 26.2 they would not heare him their Citie should be a curse vnto all the nations of the earth The whole i Ierem. 24.9 people should be giuen for a terrible plague to all kingdomes for a reproch for a prouerbe for a common talke and for a curse vnto all places whither he should cast them Coniah k Ierem. 22.24 the King himselfe should not escape no though hee were the signet of the Lords owne right hand yet should he be plucked thence These plagues with many others most heauy and wōfull did the Lord denounce against them by the handes of his Prophets and perfourmed by the hand of Nebucadnezzar king of Babell Because l Ierem. 40.3 they sinned against the Lord obeied not his voice therefore these things came vpon them as it is manifest Ieremy 40.3 Which are not so lightly to be set by of any as though they belonged properly vnto that time and people especially seeing the Lord iudgeth m 1. Pet. 1.17 without respect of persons and seeing that nation kingdome and people that sinneth against the Lord shal be destroied as it appeareth by the tenor of his iudgement executed vpon Tyrus Niniueh Babel and other Monarchies of the world There is no exception of the n Deut. 7.26 30.15.19 blessing and curse life and death but the blessing and the life shal bee to him that obeyeth the curse and death shal bee vpon the disobedient soule Neither was the grosse Idolatry of this people the only cause of their ruine but the Lord would haue them acknowledge a Ierem. 2.19 that it was an euill yea a bitter euil that his fear was not in them This also did the Leuits b Nehem. 3.9 after their returne confesse to haue beene the cause of their banishment euen that their King Princes Priestes did not diligently attend diligently attend I say vpon the commaundements of Iehoua And in that great day all wicked men shall know that the Lorde will surely render confusion in flaming fire not onely vnto wicked doers but also vnto them d 2. Thes 1.8 that know not God Nothing therfore but shame indignation and wrath e Rom. 2.8.9 tribulation and anguish of soule in this life can bee expected for of those people whose tongues workes are against Iehoua to prouoke the eies of his glory f Isai 3 8. and after this life a tormenting portion in that lake that burneth with fire brimstone which is the second death Of which sort al they must needs be which neuer heard of that which is the g Rom. 1 15. 1. Co. 1.21 power of God to saluation to as many as beleeue On the contrary side the prosperous estate of that nation language and people whose God is the Lorde Iehoua what hart will not reioice to see If you will knowe therefore the roote of the florishing estate of any kingdome Dauid h Psal 44.15 telleth you that it is in hauing Iehoua to be your God The children of Israell vpon this foundation were thought to be such a gorgious i Deut. 4.6 building that all other nations seemed to be but cottages and wormes-houses in respect of them For in that they k Deut. 26.16.17 18 19.34.26 had set vp Iehoua to be their God and to walke in his waies to keep his ordinances lawes and statutes and to harken vnto his voice the Lord also had set them vp that day to be a precious people vnto himselfe to make them high aboue all nations in praise in name and in glory A large declaration of the priuiledge of such a people is recorded Psalm 33. Behold the eies of Iehouah doe looke vpon them that feare him and wait for his kindnesse that hee may deliuer them from death and keepe them aliue in the time of famine And in the life to come Iohn saith of them in the Reuelation Reue. 7.16.17 that they shall not hunger any more neither shal the sunne light on them nor any heat for the lambe that is in the middest of the throne shall gouern them lead them to the liuely fountaines of water and God shall wipe away all teares from their eies Oh then what Christian yea ingenious humane naturall heart will not be greeued to see any people in such a forlorne case as not only to be bereaued of those vnspeakable blessings of the Lord whereof al they shal be partakers that fear him but also laid open vnto the weapons of his reuenging and consuming anger in this worlde and in that to come to his eternall and neuer ending wrath And who would not strain himselfe to the vtmost of his ability
vnto their petition is this Either it must be said that her highnes would not haue the Lord honored with our saluation that hue in hir daies and that she enuieth vs that good nay enuieth herself yea reiecteth the infinite reward in the life to come and assurance of safety with diuerse other benefits in this life freely offered vnto her for adding vs vnto the kingdome of his son which assertion I know they will detest and gainesay or that shee greatly longing for the honour of God and our vnspeakable good desirous of the crowne that shal bee giuen hir in the life to come will be most carefull incontinently whatsoeuer may ensue to plant the word in Wales This later is to be embraced affirmed Neither can it be said that she wil take leisure herein for that were plainly to say her Maiesty waied not the honour of Iesus Christ because many a thousand of vs should die before he were known to be a sauiour of distressed soules Shee hath otherwise learned Christ and therefore knoweth that the Lorde must not staie mans leasure when hee woulde haue anie thing perfourmed towards his seruice If one wil not do it he can finde another whom he wil honor â—â—â—h the deed Shee hath learned that it is to wâ—â—ken the Lordes omnipotencie and to teach him wisedome and discretion to goe no farther in a matter required by him than mans reasons seeth good likelie to come thereof She assureth hir selfe the Lord is discreet wise inough in commanding and therefore will doe hâ—â— will though hir kingdome should be endaungâ—red For he sufficiently recompenseth the losse that befalleth to anie while the execution of his will is attended vppon This course she tooke at hir first coronation This course I doubt not she wil take at this Parlament euen this I saie for who knoweth whether the Lord Iesus meaneth to keepe his before we haue a second proclaimed Will you therefore good gentlemen I speake vnto you my fathers my brethren my kindred and what name of loue else can be inuented my deare countrimen be mute where there is no question you shal be hard vnles the fault be in you Indeed it concerneth vs poor inhabitants of Wales verie nearly to be hard as wel in respect of our present misery as of the wonderfull calamity that is to fall vppon vs. Our case now is to bee especiallie pittied in respect of the inner man For howe many souls doe daily starue and perish among vs for want of knowledge And how many are like still to tread the same path It grieueth me at the hart to consider how hel is enlarged to receaue vs. And here the Lord knoweth and our soueraigne with this most honourable assembly shal know that I doe not complaine withour cause For our estate is such that we haue not one in some score of our parishes that hath a sauing knowledge Thousands there be of our people that know Iesus Christ to be neither God nor man king priest nor prophet ô desolate and forlorne conditiom yea almost that neuer heard of him If anie by the great goodnesse of God be called this came to passe not by the diligeÌ„ce of their pastours which are either dumme or greedy dogs that delight in sleeping as saith the Propheâ— a few honest meÌ„ excepted but either extraordinarily through reading or by meanes of their reâ—â—â—t and abode in some corner of the Church of â—ngland where the gospel is preached And lâ—â—g â—ay it be preached there to the glory of Gâ—d the felicity of our soueraign and the eueâ—â—asting good of that whole nobility and people â—hose kindnes towards strangers the Lord wilâ—â—ot forget And our Godremember Queen Elizabeth herein and wipe not out hir kindnes shewed toward thy people shew mercy vnto hir iâ— that daie good Lorde and forget hir not in this life also seing by means of fostering thy Gospell in hir land some of vs a people not regarded haue known the remissioÌ„ of our sinnes euen of our great sinnes Let this neuer be forgotten good Lord. I am caried I knowe not whither from my purposed intent These latter sort are some few gentlemen or such like The rest of our people are either such as neuer think of anie religion true or false plainly meere Atheists or stark blinded with superstition The later are of 2 sorts The first crue is of obstinate idolaters that would fain be again in execrable Rome so hold for good diuinity whatsoeuer hath bin harched in that sacrilegious nest But these may doe what they wil with vs for nether ciuil magistrat nor Bishop wil controul them They may be euen of the Parliament house least that congregation should be without some AchaÌ„ that might giue the Lord iust occasion to execrate his whole hoast Hence flow our swarmes of south saiers and enchanters such as will not stick openly to professe that they walke on Tuesdaies and Thursdaies at nights with the fairies of whom they brag themselues to haue their knowlege These sonnes of Belial who shuld die the death Leuit. 20.6 haue stroken such an astonishing reuerence of the fairies into the harts of our silly people that they dare not name theÌ„ without honor We cal them bendith û mamme that is such as haue deserued their mothers blessing Now our people wil neuer vtter bendith û mamme but they wil saie bendith û mamme û dhûn that is their mothers blessing which they account the greatest felicity that any creature can be capeable of light vpon them as though they were not to be named without reuerence Hence proceed open defending of Purgatory the Real presence praying vnto images c. with other infinit monsters The other sort is of good simple soules that would full gladly learne the way vnto saluation and spend their hart blood for the safety of their godly Prince in whoÌ„ they do claim more interest then the rest of hir subiects whosoeuer And this is almost the only happines they haue These poore soules because the Idol pastor can teach them nothing entering more deeply with themselues into the consideration of things find by the small light of religion we enioy through the meanes of hir Maiesty by the instinct of nature that there is a diuine essence who must be carefully and religiously serued and praied vnto for al blessinges that would be obtained Which things they see vnperfourmed publikely therefore priuatly they assay what they can doe But wofull estate they being not taught out of the worde of God what he is that must be serued how he requireth this to be doone inuent vnto themselues both their God and the maner of his seruice concerning saluation they either think that the Lorde is bound to saue all men because they are his creatures or that al shal be saued at the later day at the intreaty of the virgin Mary who shal desire her sonne after iudgement giuen to saue as many of the damned as may bee
honourable assembly know that the seruice of the eternall is not to be disperised withall and therefore out of hand will see the erecting thereof which shall neuer â—e do 〈◊〉 as long as any excuse wil be admitted to hinder the worde preached If impropriations Nontesfidencies were not tolerated a teaching minister in Walles might liue wel by the Church Is it not intolerable that some of our Gentle-men should haue 6. impropriate liuings Our earnest and humble petition vnto her Maiesty and this high court of Parliament is that it could please them to decree that the tenth part of euery impropriat liuing in Wales may be bestowed to the maintenaÌ„ce of a teaching minister which is so reasonable that I hope it wil be graÌ„ted And that theÌ„ minister finding hir Maiesty sufficient security may be hir farmer in euery impropriat liuing that beloÌ„geth vnto hir highnes within wales We humbly intreat that the same order may be taken with al improptiations in our counâ—rey whatsoeuer Non-residencies haue cut the throte of out Church Some that neuer preached haue three Church liuinges Many of our liuinges are possessed by students of either of the Vniuersities who neuer come amongst vs vnles it be to fleece This I hope wil be tolerated no longer seeing it is the very desolation of the Church the vndoing of the common wealth and a demonstratiue token that the Lords will watch ouer vs to euill and not to good Our petition is that none whosoeuer maâ—â— possesse 〈◊〉 one liuing and that al may be constrained to bee resident on their charges These reasonable petitions coÌ„cerning Non residencies and impropriations being graunted a great many liuinges will bee ready to entertaine a learned pastor Thus I hope al the difficulties that seemed to hinder preaching vnto vs are taken away But I maruel what will be said to bee the cause why we haue not had publicke reading in welsh to any purpose as yet The old testament we haue not in our tongue therefore the 1. lesson is read in English vnto our people in many places that vnderstand not one word of it This reading is taken to be the blasphemous masse And they giue it the very name of the masse û maû yr offairiad ar y ffereÌ„ say they when the first lesson is read that is the priest is at masse One man seene in the original by the blessing of God would bee able to translate the whole in 2. yeares more handes would make more speede The small prophets in welsh might he read vnto vs vntil we obtaine the whole which shal be ready for the Presse whensoeuer it shall please hir Maiesty and the Parliament to call for them Our humble petition is that the whole woorke may be set vpon incontinently and that some order may be taken for the charge of the impressioÌ„ The dialect that euery sheire hath almost proper vnto it selfe should not hinder this woorke For it preaching were in euery Parish the people would be stirred vp to read the worde priuatly in their houses and so become acquainted with the phrase Our ministers though neuer so ignorant yet all vnderstanding English might easily remedy this by conferring the Welsh with the English translations and so where they vnderstood not their owneroung the English might direct them they their hearers But they are far from taking this small pains I would some of them in â—0 years had learned to reade welsh at the first sight They haue made the word of God of that base and contemptible account with many of our people that they will aske to what end many thinges euen in the new testament it selfe are set downe Because they waÌ„t preaching some points of the high mysteries of saluation seeme vnto them to bee but vulgar and common thinges not beseeming the wisedome of the great God Bring some place out of Peter Paul c. and their answere wil be â—eth a wodhon ni pûneû bod hwûyn dâ—edûd gwir eû paidio What know we whether they say tru or no Is not this our case lamentable The faculties and dispensations of our Non residentes whose absence do imprint these skars of spiritual misery vnto vs wil not deliuer vs froÌ„ death No they wil not shild vs from the temporal punishments that we now sustaine which is our second misery for want of their diligeÌ„ce We feel the Lords haÌ„d many waies against vs at this time in regard of the scarcity of all thinges and especially of victuals and great number of poor Euery man among vs was either wont to sow as much corne as serued his familie al the year or to make asmuch of his sheep and other cattle as might buy the same The vnseasonable haruest 1585 yealded very little Corne. Therefore many were able to sowe nothing the last year because they had not bread corne much lesse seed The winter 1585 destroied al their cattle wel near so that now the very sinowe of their mainteinance is gone Many that liued well and thriftily are faine to giue ouer both house and home and to go a begging They were driuen the last haruest to al the shifts in the world As to rub the standing come being not halfe ripe to make them some bread thereof This famine is for our sinnes the Lord without our repentaunce faith it shal continue Read Deut. 28.15.17.18 Amos. 4.8.11 It weer folly to continue in our sin for the lord wil make vs sick againe in smiting of vs. Mich. 6.13 Leuit. 26.40 As long as the Lords house lieth wast in our land we shall sow but meere salt Haggai maketh this out of controuersie Reade the whole prophesie Al the politicke Laws in the worlde is not able to amend our estate vntill the Lordes house be builded and those sent among vs who may teach vs by praier and fasting to humble our selues before our God This was the counsel of Ioel euen in the like case and this wee must follow or abide the smart of it It were strange that our estate being so many waies pitiful would nor be redressed You shall find it as yet more lamentable by entering into the consideration of that which is like to fall vpon vs. Here first I wil not say that the estate of that kingdome is verie ruinous where there is not a preaching minister 2. Chron. 15.2.5 God forbid that wee euer should haue occasion to say that we haue no Prince Hosea 10.3 Ezra 7.23 because we feare not Iehouah as did those wicked ones in Hoshea his daies Artashash was afraide that the Lord would be angry with the King and his childreÌ„ because speedy prouision was nor had for his true seruice in Ierusalem Confer Prou. 14.18 with Hose 7.13 and see whether the estate of that Prince whose people transgresse against God as wee do euen in pollicy is very daungerous Ioshiah was gathered to his fathers because he should not see the misery that was to fall vpon a more relligious people than we are
A TREATISE CONTAINING THE AEQVITY OF AN HVMBLE SVPPLICATION WHICH IS TO BE EXHIBITED VNTO HIR GRACIOVS MAIESTY AND this high Court of Parliament in the behalfe of the Countrey of Wales that some order may be taken for the preaching of the Gospell among those people Wherein also is set downe as much of the estate of our people as without offence could be made known to the end that our case if it please God may be pitied by them who are not of this assembly and so they also may bee driuen to labour on our behalfe AT OXFORD Printed by IOSEPH BARNES and are to be sold in Pauls Church-yard at the signe of the Tygers head 1587. TO AL THAT MOVRN IN SION VNTIL THEY SEE Ierusalem in perfect beuty namely to my Fathers Brethren of the Church of England grace mercy and loue in the Lord Iesus bee multiplied IT hath beene the iust complaint beloued in the Lord of the godlie in all ages that Gods eternall and blessed verity vnto whom the very Heauens themselues shoulde stoupe and giue obesiance hath bin of that smal reckoning and account in the eies of the most part of great men as they valued it to be but a meere losse of time to yeeld anie attendaunce thereupon Hence it commeth to passe that the truth being at any time to be countenanced none very often are found in the traine thereof but the most contemptible and refuse of men And because these also being guilty vnto themselues of great infirmities and foule sinnes manie times and not ignorant that affliction is the sequele of earnest and sincere profession doe pull their neckes from the yoke and their shoulders from the burden the Lorde is constrained verie seuerely to deale with them before they can be gotten to go on his message Whereupon also followeth their endeuours in Gods owne cause not to haue the euents which they expect Example hereof Ionas may be one for all And which is farre more lamentable in as much as the drousie and carelesse security the colde and frossen affections of the godly themselues in most waightie affaires is neuer wanting their careful diligence and earnest zeale ioined with hartie and vehement praiers alwaies desired the Lord suffereth his owne cause to contract some spot from their sinful hands These considerations beloued but specially the later kept me back a great while from this action which I haue now by the goodnes of God brought to this passe you see It would be a greeuous wound vnto me all my life long if the dignitie of a cause worthy to haue the shoulders of al the princes vnder the coape of heauen for it footstoole should be anie whit diminished by my foule hands which notwithstanding I protest to haue been washed as fair as their stains would permit But I am not a little comforted two maner of waies First that the Lord knoweth he thrust me almost against my wil hereunto And for asmuch as I see the honour of Iesus Christ in whose countenance God the father hath louingly wincked at my sinnes and whose is al that I haue standeth vpon the progresse of the woorde preached among vs my silence though to the daunger of my life shal not be tray his honour Is not he a God Will he not be religiously worshipped Wil he not haue this religion framed according vnto his owne mind Hath hee not regard whether his true seruice be yeelded him or no if he haue woe be vnto that conscience that knoweth this and keepeth it secret or is slacke in the promoting hereof Seing it pleased him who also separated me from my mothers womb to stur me vp hereunto I doubt not but hee wil giue that successe of my labours that may be most to his glory Surely by his assistaunce I neither can nor will be slacke The dignity of the cause I hope wil be regarded if not importance must take no deniall in the matter of our God My second comfort is that what effect soeuer shal ensue my paines I seek not my owne but theirs whom it concerneth namely my parents and brethren according to the flesh Whose state is so miserable at this daie that I think it were verie great vndiscreetnes for me to spare anie speech that were likely to preuaile Naie I would to God my life coulde winne them the preaching of the Gospel Our sicknes is at the hart it must not be dallied with either present remedy or vndoubted perdition And so will they iudge who viewe our estate offered vnto her Maiesty and the Parliament Which was not published onely least posterities should knowe such dishonour of God either at al to haue beene or in 28. yeares not redressed vnder Queen Elizabeth our souerain As for the aduersaries who vnderstand our estate too wel and reioice at our silence I regard them not at al for what haue we amisse at this day which flowed not out of the midst of their inheritance cursed Rome that bottomles pit fornace of idolatry I haue only therein touched our calamity not touched a great part thereof To come vnto you beloued of the church of englād I know our cause shal come through many of your hands I do with teares beseech that it maie haue al the lawful fauor you find of your harts to affourd vnto Christ in his poor members It may stand in some one to dash the whole Therefore in the name of God I require al of you that you hinder not his honour the saluation of perishing souls the good to the common wealth hereby intēded If you do otherwise I praie God so many souls as perish in miserable Wales for want of preaching be not required at your hands in the daie of iudgement But beloued I promise al good things on your parts and craue not only praiers vnto the Lord for the speedy erecting of our Ierusalem but all other helpes of speech and countenaunce of motioning the matter vnto her Maiesty the Parliamēt shewing the danger of denying the great profit and necessitie of granting our petition It is your dutie which cannot bee shaken off as it appeareth by the example of Ebed-melech Ierem. 38.9 Ieremie 38.9 The like act done by the Princes and Elders of the Lande Ieremie 26.16 17. When the Princes hard Baruch read in their eares the wordes of the booke containing al the curses Iehouah had determined to bring vpon Israel and Iuda c. it is recorded by the holy Ghost that they were affraid both one and other and said vnto Baruch we wil certifie the king of these woords and did so Wherein they perfourmed nothing but that which euery one of you before the Lord is bound to doe Gods people requireth this at your handes The state of the common wealth and her Maiesties whom the Lord in mercie deliuer from all forraigne and domestical treasons crie vnto euerie one of you that can giue anie counsel Iliad 3. A counsellor must not sleepe all
night 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 You must not sleepe al night in this case but intreat the Lord her maiesty and this honourable court to raise the ministerie of his word in Wales This matter concerneth al verie nearlie The way to procure to your selues fauour with the Lord and credite with her Maiestie is to sollicite our cause and so you shal find it The more earnest you be herein the more honor shal be vnto the Lord and her Maiestie wil be the more beholding vnto you Nebuchad-nezzer an idolater blessed the Lorde because Shadrak Meshak and Abednago the seruants of the liuing God Dan. 3.9 changing the kings decree did yeeld their bodies rather than they would worship anie other God If they had been as backewarde as were other Iewes in this case howe had that notable decree to the honour of God beene promulgated ver 29. Where had been their commendation No other waie conueyeth the true fauour of anie prince vnto the subiect Prou. 10.22 Gods blessing which maketh rich and honourable is ioined hereunto Though it were otherwise yet this thing is laid vpon you be not disobedient And likely it is to be otherwise For I am affraid behold that which the Lord hath built he wil destroie that which he hath planted he will roote vp Ierem. 45.45 And doe you seeke for great things vnto your selues Seeke them not If in the daie of trouble you will be hidden you must be Ieremies you must be Hebedmeleches you must be Barucks In these three men the Lord shewed that euen in this life he maketh great difference betweene the zealous and luke-warme professors Ieremy for his roundnes in his office was beaten and put in the stocks Ier. 35.15.16 Ier. 29.26.27 Iere. 35.15.16 iudged worthy to die Ier. 29.26.27 accounted a rauer and one that made himselfe a prophet Ier. 29.26.27 a man that sought not the wealth of his people but the hurt Iere. 38.4 Hebedmelech was a noble man but some thing ouer zealous and one that would not stick to tel the king himselfe that he had yeelded vnto his noble men in a thing that was euill in all that they had doone to Ieremie the Prophet Ier. 38.5.9 Baruch was out of fauor both with prince and priest Ier. 36.19.26 because he fauoured Ieremie But when the land was made desolate and the wordes of poore Ieremie became true who then went vnto the wal Verily the king and his nobles priests and prophets And Ieremy the true seruant of the Lord must haue a whole senat of noble men sent to take him out of prison and to know his wil Nebuzaradan Nebushasban Raebsaris Neregal Ier. 39.4.13 c. the king of Babeles princes Hebedmelech should not bee giuen into the hands of the men whom he feared but bee surely deliuered because hee put his trust in Iehouah Ierem. 45.45 Baruch should haue his life giuen him for a pray Howesoeuer it goeth therefore your seruice in our cause shall bee recompensed They that know what it is to haue their iniquities forgiuen and their sinnes couered by the sufferings and passions of Iesus Christ will be wounded to see others vnder the curse The Churches of God round about vs goe to wrack in Fraunce Belgia and a great part of high Duch I would Scotland had continued in her first loue and that the hands of the builders were strengthned among you Come what will come stand you manfully in the faith my fathers and brethren and according to the counsel of Iude a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 renew the battle againe with your spiritual enimy Iud. 3. and contend with earnestnes It maie please God though the liuelie branches be cut off to quicken vs dead boughes by the vertue of our head Iesus Christ I doubt not by the Lords goodnes if the truth be established among vs through continual preaching but that al which professe Godlines in Europe shall hartilie thank the Lord for our zeal and courage therein Our nation are ful of drosse I graunt as al the sonnes of Adam are by nature and verie stonie harted But the word of God is a fire for the drosse and an hamber for the stone Ier. 23.29 And the weapons whereby the man of God warreth are not carnal but mightie through God to cast downe houldes and to bring vnder euerie imagination that is against the knowledge of God 2 Cor. 10.5 when al things shall be measured vnto vs by the measure of the sanctuarie as all must bee or else the building proue ruinous our God will be for a diadem of beutie vnto vs and for a spirite of iudgmēt he wil giue vs his spirit to please him I thought it needlesse to put hir Maiestie and the Parliament in mind that euerie thing amongst vs must be ordered according to the word it selfe For otherwise both the word and the Minister shall want a great deale of the dignitie due vnto both Suffer the scepter of the word to rule this will not be derogatorious vnto man much lesse vnto the word It wil be hard to find a yoke fellowe for that which can neither abide superior nor brooke an equal My brethren for the most part know not what preaching meaneth much lesse think the same necessarie to saluation Though they graunt it needeful they think it sufficient to heare one sermon once perhaps in al their life Therefore was is needfull for me to set downe the necessitie of preaching and of continual preaching that if they labor not for the same their bloode maie be vppon their owne heads For they cannot denie themselues to be put in mind hereof If there be anie other point of doctrine touched it tendeth also to this end The diligence beloued which I hope your learned Bishoppes Doctors and other great Diuines men of famous report haue taken in England cannot suffer you to be ignorant in these pointes Therefore take thē not as written vnto you For the case it selfe you know what it is euen that which the Lord of host will haue most seriouslie thought vpon graunted without al naie In respect wherof it commeth with Gods own letters patents wherewith all estates in the worlde naie all the Angels in heauen cannot dispence Concerning the hādling of it by me a wretch I protest my self to haue labored according to the example of the Apostle to speak as I haue beene allowed of my God seeking to win the fauour of none much lesse the disliking of anie least mans vnequall displeasure would bee contented with no lesse satisfaction than the bloode of manie a thousand soules God forbid mans infirmities in mee should bring this effect Naie it must not For be I the sonne of Adam ten thousand times compassed with neuer so manie infirmities neuer so base vile polluted and defiled yet the preaching of the word in Wals is Gods glorie and therfore must stand And yet it maie be the Lord by this supplication doth but trie the good
England as long as Queene Elizabeth hath the scepter in her hand And can any man admire that we haue al this while of her Maiesties ragine been by the iust iudgement of God without the word preached and also read as shall be shewed whereas wee neuer as yet opened our mouthes for it I am so far then from conceiuing any vnduetifull thought of my soueraigne and this high Court as transferring the cause of our ignoraunce vpon them that I protest in iustly resteth on our selues For when did that day shine this twenty eight yeares and aboue that anie among vs whom the Lorde had endued either with authority or giftes of learning haue moued this cause effectually vnto her Maiesty or the Court of Parliament Though I would wish wee had found the fauour in their sight howbeit vnworthy of our selues to be driuen vnto the mariadge of Iesus Christ against our wils that some more might solemnise the same than doe at this day to his honour and their owne eternall felicity If any man will heere demaund whether the Lorde requireth any more at the handes of this high Court in the cause of religion than is already perfourmed seeing there is not only permission graunted for al that will to professe the truth but also a commandement that none aduenture the contrary I answere he exacteth a great deale more As to see that euery inferiour person haue done his duety in the performance of that enioined vnto him for the planting of religion To see whether such Lawes as haue beene alreadie prouided in that cause haue beene put in practise if not to consider wher the fault was and see it amended To consult whether a better order may be taken for the progresse of true religion than hitherto hath been and being found to put the same in execution Againe for as much as the work is the ruling of Gods people especiallie to prouide that the gouerment may be according to the Lords owne Lawes Briefly where the word is not preached there to establish the same with speed Our whole country of Wales as yet being altogether in ignorance to endeuour themselues in deed to see the same called In a word to order euery thing in euery particular parcell of this Iland and the other according vnto the Law and testimony for the declining there-from argueth great ouer-sight and folly as it is set downe Isai 8.20 Otherwise the Lord should enioine more vnto a father or maister in the gouernment of his family than vnto a magistrate in the common wealth For a father and so a maister is not only bound to see that his sonne bee no Idolatour or swearer which would to God all fathers perfourmed but also to bring them vppe in 2 Ephes 6.2 instruction and information of the Lord. Did Abraham no more think you than command his seruants that they should take heede they serued not the gods beyond the riuers and wil them in some general sort to serue Iehouah You shall find it otherwise recorded of him Genesis 17.19 Good Iehoshuah protested that he and his house that is all those that were vnder his gouernment would serue Iehouah In whose example the doubt will not bee worth the answere Iehosh 24.14 that Iehoshuah doth content himselfe in this place onelie to haue barelie offered the trueth vnto his people and giuen them the choise whether they would professe it or no whereas his protestation importeth that as many as would be gouerned by him should serue Iehouah If they did otherwise such rebels against God were not fit to bee his people To omit that the case is far vnlike in the people of Wales and the Israelites at this time I would that all which be are the chiefe soueraigntie of anie common-wealth christian whether monarchie Aristocracie c. would plainlie declare that they should not be their subiects who would not be obedient vnto the Lord as did Iehoshuah in this place Dauid tooke a band of himselfe Psal 101.7 to keepe no such in his house Wherein it appeareth that he did both denie the same to be a cage for Idolatours and in like maner would haue al things there according vnto the will of God His care was no lesse in the common wealth as maie appeare by his great sollicitude in bringing home the a 1 Chro. 13.5 1. Chro. 15.13 Ark confessing amending his carelesse ouersight herein before committed by his earnest desire to add as much dignitie as hee could vnto the seruice of God in offering to build him an house Lastly the exhortation he made at his death-bed to the rulers his sonne Salomon proclaimeth openly what a care he had to see the Lorde honored of euery man in his kingdome I thought good in this place to set downe Dauids wordes b 1. Chro 28.8 Now therefore saith he in the sight of al Israel the congregation of Iehoua in the eares of our God keepe and make diligent enquiry for all the commandements of Iehouah your God that you may possesse this land and leaue it for an inheritance vnto your children after you for euer And thou Salomon my sonne knowe thou the God thy fathers and worshippe him with an vpright hart and with a careful soule for Iehouah searcheth the hearts and vnderstandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts if thou search for him he will be found of the but if thou forsake him he wil cast thee off for euer I see to whome I speake and therefore application needeth not Onely you are to marcke that no seruice by picce-meale but according vnto al the commandementes is allowable and that the Magistrate must practise all that God requireth of him The wil of God in any particular point of religion being vnknowen vnto him hee must make diligent search and inquiry for it himselfe keepe seeke all the commaundementes saith he In which wordes the holy ghost noteth that a good magistrate may be ignorant of his duty but giuing this caueat withall that as soone as he is put in mind thereof We must seek vntil we find and hauing sound keepe the commandements though by an inferior person he must not be borne in hande by any other that all is well for how can that be well and in good case which is not according to the Lordes wil but see reformation out of hand The necessity of obaieng is set downe in that the Lord would not spare Salomō if he did the cōtrary no though he had made a promise of fauor vnto him Further concerning the magistrates dutie in this particular care that God be honoured through his charge wee shall find in the example of good Iehosaphat who hauing in the third yeare of his raigne most a 2. Chro. 17.9 2. Chro. 19.5 notably established religion sending Leuits about throughout all the Cities of Iudah to teach i the people notwithstāding in the 18. or 17 year confer 2. Chr. 16.5 1. Kings 22.41 with the 1.
but so as reading wil serue the turne I maruel the face of mortall man wil be so brasen as to affirm this the immortal word of god loudly gainsaying it 1 Cor. 1 21. Rom. 1.16 Iam. 1.21 I wil not light a candle before the sun Though preaching be graunted necessary and the word reade no meanes to saluation yet there bee three difficulties that inferre an impossibility to haue the same in Wales The woorde in welsh neither must not can bee gotten Must nor because al should be brought to speak English of the condition the trueth were made knowen vnto them I would it were brought to passe And shal we be in ignorance vntil wee all learne English This is not hir Maiesties will wee are assured Raise vp preaching euen in welsh the vniformity of the language wil bee sooner attained But why can we not haue preaching in our owne toung Because the minister is not able to vtter his mind in welsh He maie For wee haue as manie words as in any vulgar toung whatsoeuer and we might borrow from the latine c. The straunge words would become familiar thorough custom They that defend the contrary are slow bellies and not wel minded to doe their countrie any good A good excuse for the soul quelling non resident Admit we caÌ„not haue welsh preachers yet let vs not bee without English where it is vnderstood There is neuer a market towne in Wales where English is not as rife as welsh From Cheapstow to Westchester the whole compasse of our land on the Sea-side they all vnderstand English Where Munmoth Radnock shiers border vppon the marches they all speake English In Penbrok shier no great store of Welsh CoÌ„sider Anglisey Maâ—gyâ—â—û Câ—â—rnarûon see if all these people must dwel vpon mount Gerizzin and be subiect to the curse because they vnderstand not the English toung The second difficulty is want of sufficient number of ministers The aunswere hereunto may be diuerse First the haruest is the Lords therfore if he be sought vnto laborers shal be sent Matt. 9.38 And extraordinary blessinges may be expected if his ordinance shal take place and mans remoued Might it please hir Maiestie and the Parliament to take this course the Lorde would raise those sauiours Haba 21. that are vnlikely in the fight of man Further the a Vniuersities are able to send out at this time three hundred for the work of the ministery able meÌ„ euery way with a little practise Wee neede not haue all welsh preachers therefore these also might serue our turnes and it would be very hard if a dosen of them were not of our own people Thus many being now prouided for would be such an incoragement vnto students that at the yeares end twise as many would be ready to consecrat themselues to this holy labour What an encouragement also would this be for men to send their Sonnes to the Vniuersities whereas they coulde no sooner send them thither than Colledges woulde haue places void for them Now alas our Vniuersities decay in number of students They that are already placed either dally with their studies or not apply them at all to diuinity because they see no end therof Some bound by reason of their fellowships to enter into the ministery wil make any shift to be dispenced with nay they wil giue euer their places rather than vndergoe this calling The reasons hereof bee two First the idâ—ll priesthoode hath made the most glorious function vnder the sun most contemptible Secondly they see the minister hath no assuraunce of that liuing whereunto he is inducted Euery tristing matter it now made depriuation If it shall please har highner and the Parliament to decree that euerâ—â— godly learned minister may haue as good assuraunce of his siuing for terme of his own life as any subiect in the land hath of his fee simple vnlesse he be found such an offender as his ministery wil be a reproch vnto the Gospel I doubt not but the ministery would be soone furnished with able meÌ„ A number of the idle drones now in our ministerie would become fit for that work in one year if preaching were but here and there scattered among vs and they weekely driuen to exercise Where it may bee seene that their vndoing is not intended but their good There be many worthy men in the Church of England that nowe exercise not their publicke ministery these would bee prouided for among vs. I hope they wil not bee vnwilling to come and gaine soules vnto Iesus Christ Priuate men that neuer were of Vniuerfity haue well profited in diuinity These no doubt would proue more vpright in heart as the Leuits in the like distresse 2. Chr. 29.34 then many of our learned men For the preaching in Welsh order might be taken that our breethren which are of the ministery in England should be sent home Their flockes might be otherwise prouided for they depart with consent Because the necessitie of the Church requireth it One of the 2. Vniuersities since that ioyfull 17. day of Nouember 1557. haue sent into the coÌ„mon wealth 3400. Graduats all these number of graduats a good course being taken might haue bin found in the ministery of her maiesties own planting not so few as 2. thousand ouer-plus might haue bin imploied in other functions Four-hundred of these would haue beene since that time wel placed in Wales whereas at this day we haue not 12. in all our country that doe discharge their duety in any good sort The proofe hereof I offer to stand vnto against all gain-saiers I hope this wil be considered of If not wee may be eight and twenty years more without the word preached The last difficulty is the want of maintenance for our ministers This is but a mere shift to bereaue the Lord of his honour and vs of saluation Ezechia and Iosia could alleadge the like better than we can The people of the Iews being in captiuity had nothing of their owne to builde the Temple yet because they sought the Lord in truth hee sturred vp Cyrus to prouide for them out of his owne reuenewes Hesra 6.8.9 So would he stir vp Queen Elizabeth if we sought him with an vpright hart They whose harts the Lord hath touched would thresh to get their liuing rather than the people should want preaching Our gentlemen and people if they knew the good that insueth preaching would be soone brought to contribute They should bee constrained thereunto Saluation were not bought too dear with the very flesh of our armes The honor we publickely yeeld in Wales vnto our god the word preached being not amoÌ„g vs if the lord be said to alow of which were blasphemy to conceiue he can be proued to be a meer Idoll If to dislike where is that sonne of Adam that wil presume to offer him that which hee regardeth as the killing of a man vntil he may be prouided for in a better sort Her Maiesty and this
Think not the Lorde to winke al this while at our great sins Nay thinke rather that the Lorde will throwe as with a sting the inhabitantes of our land because our pastors are become beasts haue not sought Iehouah Ier. 10.18.21 There be two Archplagues vndoubtedly to be expected for of vs the inhabitants of Wales if our petition be not graunted The first indeed containing all the exquisite torments that may be inuented yet leauing a place for the latter In a woord it is the putting out of that small light of religion which wee haue the cutting off both of vs and our posterity from belonging vnto the Lord. The reason hereof is this if the knights of our shiers and Bishops c. will not shew themselues desirous to returne vnto the Lord with earnest labour for the word preached then they doe asmuch as if they said the woord spoken vnto vs in the name of the Lord we will not heare but we wil do whatsoeuer goeth out of our owne mouth as did the wicked Iewes Ier. 44. But what was replied vnto them Verily this Vers 26. Behold I haue sworne by my great name saith Iehouah that my name shal be no more called vpon by the mouth of any man of Iuda in the land of Aegypt saying Iehouah liueth Our sinnes being like vnto theirs shall be surely rewarded alike The other punishment is the vtter ruine of our land the rasing of our names frō vnder heauē that we shal be no more a people Ieremy maketh it but a smal matter with the Lord to ouer-throw a kingdome for the sinnes of the people therein Chap. 18.7.8.9 So doth Amos 9.8 We haue not indeed as yet a barren womb giuen vnto vs but I feare me we haue brought forth children for the murtherers Though we bring foorth children yet will the Lorde slay the dearest of our bodies yea wo vnto them saith he when I depart from them Hos 9.21.17 Accoūt not these I pray you whom I haue before named to be the visions of the daies afarre off Ezech. 12.18 but tremble and feare least the Lord say the words in our daies and perform thē Thinke rather the Lord to expostilate with vs as he did sometimes with the people of the Iewes O you inhabitants of Wales why wil you dy saith the Lord Why should I giue you for a terrible plague to al the kingdoms of the earth Ier. 12.7 Why should I forsake mine house leaue mine inheritance giue the dearely beloued of my soul into the hands of her enimies Ier. 3.12.13 c. Thou disobedient saith the Lord return and I wil not let my wrath fall vpon thee for I am merciful Be thou instructed least my soule be dismembred frō thee and I make thee a lande without an inhabitant Ier. 6.8 Think these speeches I say to belong vnto you vs in respect of them be vehement The calamities of vs your kinsmé in the flesh yea your own and your childrens wil force you or els you are vnnaturall to vnfould our griefe vnto hir Maiesty and this assembly Our case is pitiful you know Our life short we know not how soone the Lord wil cal for vs. How soon he wil make an end of al. If we haue not more knowledge than as yet we haue enioied meanes to come by the same we can hope for nothing at his hand but that deadly voice I know you not You haue both a Herod in Vra◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 persuasion and necessity which driue wise men to take great matters in hand to pricke you forwarde Throw downe your selues before hir maiesty and this honourable assembly and plead for your liues and your peoples rise not thence vntill your suite bee yeelded vnto We poore people look for nothing else but destruction except our God graunt you fauour at this verie instant time in their sight I with in the Lord that if wee perish we may perish our selues alone and that Queene Elizabeth and hir counsel with the estate and the whole communalty of England may in a good conscience testifie before the Lord and say b Deut. 21.17 Our hands haue not shed the blood of these men neither haue our eies seene it I do most earnestly beseech the Lord Iehouah for his Christes sake who is great and wise in counsell seuere in punishing sinne yet aboundant in mercy and kindnes towards the brused and humble soule to turne his wrath from vs to giue hir Maiesty and this honourable court his spirit to direct them in euery action according vnto his word to make al the enimies of his truth Queen Elizabeth like c Ier. 29.22 Ahab and Zedechiah whom the king of Babel burned in the fire continue hir raigne ouer vs hasten the comming of his Sonne Christ Iesus Amen Amen Yea come quiokelie Lord Iesus To the reader Some rumor of the speedy dissolution of the Parliament enforced me from the 32 Pag. or there abouts so much being already vnder the presse to cut off more of the booke by two parts than is now in the whole The neerer I came to the ende the more hast I made I regarded not herein Amphora coepit Institui currente rota cur vrceus exit The ouersight I hope hath not been very great if any I hartilie craue pardon How tedious vngainful it was for me to dismēber the whole and sow togither the torne parts let other men iudge Some thing spoken of in the Epistle could not be well perfourmed Pag. 30. l. 22. Read through-out his dominion