AN ADMONITION or vvarning that the faithful ChristiaÌ„s in London Newcastel othere may auoide Gods vegeauÌ„ce both in thys life and in the life to come 〈◊〉 by the Seruaunt of God John Knoâ—…es The Persecuted speaketh ¶ I fear not for death nor passe nor for bands Only in God put I my whole trust For God wil requyre my blod at your hands And this I know that once dye I must Only for Christ my lyfe if I gyue Death is no death but a meane for to lyue 〈◊〉 To the faithfull in London Newcastel and Warwicke to all others wythin the Realme of England that loue the commyng of our Lord Jesus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wisheth coÌ„â—…aunce in godlynes to the ende Vâ—…hen I remember the feareful threatninges of God pronouÌ„ced against â—…ealmes and â—…ous to whoÌ„ the lyght of Gods word hath bene offered and contemptuously by them refused as my harte â—…fainedli mourneth for your present state dearely beloued in our Sauiour Iesus Christ so do the whole powers of my body tremble and shake for the plages y â— are to come But that Gods true woorde hath bene offered to the Realme of England can none denye eccept such as by the Diuel holden in boÌ„dage god iustly so punishyng their proude inobedience haue neither eyes to see nor vnderstandyng to discerue good from bad nor darknes froÌ„ light â—…inst whoÌ„ none other wise wil I coÌ„ tend at this preset theÌ„ did the prophet â—…gainst y â— stifnecked stubburn people of Iuda saying ☞ The wrath of the Lord shal not be tourned away tyl he hath fulfylled y â— thoughts of his hart And thus leaue I them as of whose repentaunce there is smal hope to the haÌ„des of him that shal not forgot their horrible blasphemies spokeÌ„ in 〈◊〉 of Christes truth and of his true minysters And wyth you that vnfaynedlye mourne for the great 〈◊〉 of Gods true religion purpose I to communicate such counsel admonition now 〈◊〉 mine owne pen â—…somtimes it pleased god I shuld proclaime in your cares The end of whiche my admonition is that euen as that you purpose and intend to auoid Gods vengeaunce both in thys lyfe â–ª in the lyfe to come that so ye auoid and flye aswel in body as in spirite al felowship societie wyth idolatours in their idolatrie You shrincke I knowe euen at the first but if an Oratour had the matter in handling he would proue it honest profitable easy and necessary to be done and in euery one point were store inough for a long â—…ration But as I neuer laboured to 〈◊〉 any man in matters of â—…ligion God I take to record in my conscience 〈◊〉 by the very 〈◊〉 and playne infallible truth of Gods word no more mynde I to doo in thys behalfe but this I affirme that to 〈◊〉 from idolatrie is so profitable and so necessarye vnto a Christian that vnlesse he so do all worldly profit tourneth to his perpetual disprofit and condempnation Profit apertâ—…th either to the bodies or clâ—… to the soules of our selues and of our 〈◊〉 Corporall commodites consist in such thinges as maÌ„ chiefely 〈◊〉 for the body as rytches estimation long life healthe and 〈◊〉 in earth The only comforte and ioye of the soule is God by hys word â—…lling ignoraunce 〈◊〉 and beath in the place of these placyng true knowledge of him selfe and with the same iustice and life by Christ his Sonne 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of these aforesaid 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 theÌ„ of 〈◊〉 it is that we auoid 〈◊〉 for plaine it is that the soulâ—… hath neither lyfe nor comfort but by God alone wyth whom idolatours haue no other participatioÌ„ theÌ„ haue y e Diuels And albeit that abhominable idolatours for a moment triumphe yet approcheth the houre when Gods vengeaunce shal strike not only their soules but euen theyr vyle 〈◊〉 shall be plaged as God before hathe threatned Theyr Cities shalbe 〈◊〉 their land shalbe layd waste their enemies shal dwel in their strong holdes there wyues and daughters shall be deâ—…led their children shall fall in the â—…dge of the sweard Mercy shall theâ—… fynde none because they haue refused the God of all mercy when louinâ—… and long he called vpon them You 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I haue hereof to God 〈◊〉 I appoynt no time but that these and 〈◊〉 plages shal fall vpon the 〈◊〉 of England and that or it be longe I am so sure as that I am that 〈◊〉 god lyueth This my affirmation shal displease many shal content fewe God whâ—… knoweth the secretes of harts knoweth that also it displeaseth my self and yet lyke as before I haue bene coÌ„pelled to speake in your presence and in the presence of others such thyngs as were not pleasable to the eares of mâ—… wherof alas a great part this day are come to pas So that I am compelled now to write with the teares of myne eyes I knowe to your dyspleasure But deare brethren be subiecte vnto God and gyue place to hys wrathe that we may escape hys euerlastyng vengeaunce My penne I trust shal nowe be no more vehement then my tonge hathe bene oftner then once not only beâ—…ore you but also before the chyese of the â—…alme What was said in Newcastel â—…arwicke before the sweate I trust yet some in those places beareth in mynde What vpon the daye of Alsayntes that yeare that the Duke of Somerset was last apprehended let â—…castel wytnes What before him â—…hat then was Duke of Northumberland in the towne of Newecastel and in other places mo What before the Kynges Maiestie at Wyndsor â—…ton Court and Westminster And finally what was spoken in London in mo places then one when Fyers of soye and â—…otous bancketinges were made at the proclamation of Marye your Quene If men wyl not speake the stones and tymber of those places shall cry in fyre and beare record that the truthe was spoken and shall absolue me in that behalfe in the daye of the lorde Suspect not brethren that I delyte â—…n your calamytyes or in the plages that shal fal vpoÌ„ that vnthankfull nacion No God I take to recorde that my hart mourneth wythin me that I am cruciate for remembraunce of your troubles But if that I shoulde â—…ase then dyd I as well agaynst my conscience as also against my knowledge and so should I be gylty of the bloud of those that pearished for lacke of admonition yet should the plage not a moment the longer be delayed for the Lord hath appointed the dai of his â—…geaunce before the whych he fendeth trumpets Messengers that hys elect watching with praiers soâ—… may by his mercye escape the vengeaunce that shal come But you would â—…now the groundes of my certitude God grannt that hearing them ye may vnderstaÌ„d and stedfastlye beleue the same My assurauÌ„ces are not the 〈◊〉 of Merline neyther yet the darcke sentences of prophane prophets but the playne truth of Gods worde the 〈◊〉
yet to remayne lyke wycked if it be not worsse wyth the time of Ieremi Now let vs search what followed in Iuda Mischief vpon mischiefe notwythstaÌ„dyng the coÌ„tinuall and longe cryinge of the Prophetes while finally God in hys anger toke away good kyng Iosias because he was determined to destroi Iu da as before he had destroied Israell After the death of this godly King great was y â— trouble dyuers sondry were the alterations in that common wealth Their Kings taken prisoners 〈◊〉 after another in short space what other were the miseryes of that stubborne nation O God for thy greate mercyes sake let neuer thy small and troubled flocke within the Realme of England learn in experieÌ„ce But in al these troubles no repeÌ„tauÌ„ce apeared as by the Prophet you may lerne for thus he cryeth Thou hast stricken theÌ„ O Lord but they haue not mourned Thou hast destroied theÌ„ but thei haue not receiued discipline they haue hardened theyr faces harder then stones they wyl not conuert The whole laÌ„d is wasted but no man wyl wey ponder nor consider the cause Thys people wyl not heare my woordes they talke in the wickâ—… inuencion of their owne harts they go after other gods to worship and serue them And of the Prophetes natural frendes of the meÌ„ of â—…nathot some plainly said Speake no more to vs in the name of the lord least thou dye in our handes Selyke these men had smal fantasy to Gods Prophet But yet shal a SermoÌ„ and that which ensued the same made in the beginning of the raigne of â—…him sonne to Iosias make euident better knowen how much the people were bent to idolatrye and to heare â—…alse Prophetes after the deathe of theyr good â—…iynge The Prophet is commaunded by God â—…o stand in the court or entresse of the â—…ordes house and to speake to all the Cities of Iuda that then came to worshyp in the house of the Lord is coÌ„manded to kepe no word backe 〈◊〉 paraduenture sayth the Lord they wyl harken and turne euery man froÌ„ his wycked way The teâ—…or of his sermon is thys Thus saith the â—…ord if ye wil not obei me to walke in mi lawes whych I haue geuen you and to hear the wordes of my seruauÌ„tes the Prophetes whom I sent vnto you â—…ng vp â—…times and styl sending If 〈◊〉 wil not heare them I say then wil I do to thys house as I did vnto Silo and wyl 〈◊〉 thys City to be abhorred of all the people in the eartheâ—…care not the words of the Prophets that sai vnto you ye shal not serue the â—…nge of â—…bylon I haue not sent them saith the Lord how 〈◊〉 then are bold to prophecye lyes in my name â—… If you â—…ue care vnto theÌ„ both you and your false Prophetes shal perish Here is syrste to be noted that the people was alreadye entred into iniquity and specially straight after the death of theyr King into idolatry froÌ„ which the Lord by his Prophet labored to cal them backe threatnyng vnto them desolation if they proceded to rebell Secondarelye it is to be obserued that amongst theÌ„ wer false Prophets not that they were so knowen and holden of the people no they were holden and esteemed for so they bosted them selues to be the true Churche of God that coulde not erre for how should the law perishe from the mouth of the priest These false Prophetes were maintainers of idolatry and boldly they promised to the people prosperity and good lucke wherwith the people wer so abused â—…ynded that the wordes of Ieremye dyd rather harden their hartes then pâ—…ouoke anye to repentaunce as the consequentes declared For his Sermon ended the Priestes and Prophetes the whole people apreheÌ„ded Jeremy with one voice cried he is worthy of y â— death Great was y â— vprore agaynst the poore Prophet in which apparatli he could not haue escaped the death if the princes of Iuda had not hastelie come from the Kinges house into the tempel had taken vpoÌ„ them the hearing of the cause in which after much debate whyle some defended and some accused the Prophet most vehemently the text sayth the hande of 〈◊〉 the sonne of Saphan was with Ieremy that he should not be geueÌ„ in to the hands of the people to be killed Here of you may easly consider beloued brethren what wer the maners of that wicked generation immediatly after 〈◊〉 death of their good kyng and how they wer encouraged to idolatry by false prophets But in al thys tyme the Prophet ceasseth not moste faithfully to execute his office For all be it 〈◊〉 thys he might not enter into the temple for he was forbyddeÌ„ to prrach yet at Gods commaundemeÌ„t he writeth his Sermons and causeth them to be openly read in the temple Alas I feare we lacke Saruch after they came to the eares of the â—…saile and last to the king And all be it in dispite they were once brent yet is Ieremy coÌ„maunded to write againe and boldlye to saye Iehoiakim shall haue no seede that euer shall syt vpon the seate of Dauid Their Carion shal be cast to the heate of the daye to y e frost in the night And I shal viset saieth the Lorde the iniquitie of hym of his seede and of his seruauntes and I shall bryng vpon them vpon the dwel lers in Ierusalem and vpon all Iuda all the calamities that I haue spoken against them 〈◊〉 when these wordes were spoken and wrytten so they were contemned despised that they durst cry let the counsaile of the holy one of the Israel come we wil follow the 〈◊〉 of oure owne hartes Yet no wordes of hys threatninges were spoken in vaine for after mani plageâ—… 〈◊〉 bi the mischeuous father the wycked and myserable sonne in the third moneth of his raygne was led prisouer to Babilon But now when the time of their desolarioÌ„ approcheth God sierreth aboue them such a king 〈◊〉 Prophetes and Prestes as their own hartes wyshed eueÌ„ such as shuld wychout repugnaûce lead theÌ„ to their 〈◊〉 again that they who neuer 〈◊〉 in the truth myght fyl theyr bellyes wyth horryble lyes Zedechias was â—…yng and suche as long had resisted poore Jeremy had now gotten in their hand the fearful 〈◊〉 of correction Phaâ—… and his companioÌ„s led the Kynge as they lyst 〈◊〉 goeth 〈◊〉 a place of 〈◊〉 The hyll auâ—…ers 〈◊〉 with incense 〈◊〉 his bell â–ª Gods 〈◊〉 y t vengeauÌ„ce of God was poured upoÌ„ them and upoÌ„ them whoÌ„ they disceiued get the daye they long looked for In conclusioÌ„ so horrible wer the abhominations that newly were 〈◊〉 that the lord cryeth to hys sore troubled flocke what hathe my well beloued to do in my house meaning in the tempell of Jerusalem seing the multitude committeth such abhominatioÌ„ Thei haue pro uoked me to anger burnyng incense vnto Baal Which greate abhominacion when
porciaÌ„ shalbe saued nor yet that the city shalbe builded for euer again because it is accursed of God â—…ere is a playne declaration what God requyreth of them that wil continue in leage with hym and what he hath damned by his 〈◊〉 woord And do we 〈◊〉 beloued brethren that the immutable God wyl 〈◊〉 at our idolatry as that he sawe it not semg he commaundeth iudgement to be eccecuted so seuerely against idolatours and against such as onli prouoked or solicited others to idolatri that neither should bloud nor affinity neither multitudâ—… nor ritches saue suche as offend neither yet that we shoulde 〈◊〉 their offences but y â— we shuld be the fyrst that should accuse brother sonne daughter or wife And why because he intendeth sayeth Moises to bryng the froÌ„ the Lord thy God who led the forth from the land of Egipte â–ª and therfore let him dye that al Israel hearyng may feare and presume not after to commit the like abhominatioÌ„ Let nothing pertaining to such a man or citie cleaue vnto thy hand that the Lord may turne froÌ„ the furour of hys wrath and be moued ouer the 〈◊〉 most tender mercye and affection and that he may multiply the as he hathe sworen vnto thy fathers In these wordes most â—…uidently is eâ—…spressed vnto vs why God wil that we auoid aâ—… felowship with idolatry wyth the maintainers of the same In which are thre thyngeo 〈◊〉 to be noted Fyrst that the holye Ghost instrâ—…cteth vs that maintamers of idolatrie and prouokers to the same intend to drâ—…w vs from God and therfore he commaundeth vs that we shal not conceale theyr impietie but that we shal make it knowen and that we shal punish it if we wyl haue the leage betwene vs and God toÌ„ stande sure And here is the firmament of my first cause why it is necessary to auoid idolatrye because that otherwyse we declare our selues lyttle to regarde yea to haue broken 〈◊〉 demed that holy league whiche is betwirt vs and God thorow Iesus Christ. Secondly It is to be noted that Idolatry so kindleth the wrath of God that it is neuer quenched 〈◊〉 the oftenders al that thei possesse be destroied from the earth that by fyre It maye appeare that this is a scuere and rigorous iudgemeÌ„t but let y â— cause be conâ—…idered then shal we vnderstaÌ„d that in the same God sheâ—…eth vnto vs his most singuler loue declaring himselfe enemy to our enemyes For all those that wold dram vs froÌ„ God be they Kings or Quenes being of the 〈◊〉 nature are enemyes vnto God and therfore wil God y â— in suche cases we declare our selues enemies vnto theÌ„ And last it is to be noted that obedience geuen vnto God in taking 〈◊〉 â—…eaunce vpon Idolators by such meanes as GOD hath appointed is a cause why God sheweth his mercie Why he multiplieth vs and embraceth vs with fatherly loue wher contrary wyse by consenting with Idolatry are the mercies of God shut vp from vs and me cut of from the body of Christ to wither and rotte as trees without moister But now shal some demanÌ„d what then Shal we go to kil al Idolators That were the office and dutie of euery ciuile maiestrate within his 〈◊〉 and iurisdiction But of you is required only to auoyd perticipation and company of that abhomination â–ª aswel in body as in soule as Dauid Paule plainly teacheth Dauid in his eâ—…ile in the middes of Idolators saith I wil not offer theyr drink offerings of blouâ—… neither yet will I take their name in my mouth And Paule saith You may not be pertakers of the lordes Table â–ª and of the table of deuils you may not drinke the Lords cuppe and the cuppe of deuils As these two places of Scripture plainlye resolue the former question so do thei confirme that which is before saide that the league betwene vs and God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of all Idolatrye First plaine it is that in â—…ath in Corrinthus was no smale noumbre of Idolators whan Dauid was ther in ecsile and whan s. Paule wrote his Episile yet nether saith Da uid that he will kil anye in that place because he was not their maiestrate nether geueth Paule any suche commaundement But in one thing they both agree that suche as hath societie and leage with God must so 〈◊〉 Idolatry that no part of the body be â—…efiled therwith for Dauid sayth I wil not take theyr names in my mouth As though he would say so odious are the names of false and â—…aine goddes that the mencion of them is righteously compared to stinckynge dounge and vile carion which nether can be eaten nether yet smelled without disyleasor of such as haue not lost the iudgementes of their sences And therefore sayth Dauid I wil not defile my mouth with them That is I wil neuer speke one fauourable word of them I thinke much lesse woulde he haue crouched and kneeled before them for any mans pleasure Aduert brethren that Dauid inspyred with the holy gost knew no suche shiftes as worldly wyse men imagyâ—… now a daies that they may kepe their hartes pure cleane to God though theyr bodies daunce with the Dyuel Not so beare brethren not so the temple of God hath nothing to do myth 〈◊〉 The cause ecspresseth Dauid in these wordes for the lord him selfe 〈◊〉 my porcion and in my inheritaunce Great is the cause if it be depely â—…sidered Dauid illuminated by the holy Gost saith eueÌ„ the selfe same thing which before we haue alledged of the Apostles wordes that God myll not part spoile with the 〈◊〉 permitting him to haue the sctuice of the body he to stand coÌ„tent with the soule hart or minde No brethreÌ„ Dauid 〈◊〉 thys the foundament and reason whi he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 offer sacrifice to idols neither yet defile hys mouth w â–ª theyr names because saith he y â— lord is my porcion As he would say Such is the condition of the leage betwene 〈◊〉 my god that as he is my 〈◊〉 of defence against my enemies preseruyng and norishing both the body soule So must 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whole his in body and soule For my God is of that Nature that he wyll suffer no porcion of hys glory to be geuen to another In confirmation of this saith 〈◊〉 after he had rebuked theyr idols and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 These are thy portion And Ieremy lykewyse in 〈◊〉 of theÌ„ saith 〈◊〉 thy bedfellowes delyuer the cal vpon them and let theÌ„ heare the. Thou hast commytted for nicatioÌ„ and whoredome wyth stocke and stone The Prophetes meanynge therby that Idolatours can haue no leage nor couenaunt with God in so 〈◊〉 as their hartes be alienated from hym which the seruice of their bodies doth testifie And therfore renounceth God such leage and bond as was before offered for Esay wold saye Euen such as thou haste chosen such shal be thy porcion And Ieremy
theefore he sayth These be but poore ones they are foolish they know not the wai of the Lord nor the iudgemeÌ„t of their God I wil go to the 〈◊〉 and I wyl talke wyth them for 〈◊〉 know the wai of the Lord the 〈◊〉 mentes of their God But what fyndeth he amongest them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in these wordes They haue al broken the yoke they haue heaped 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one mischiefe vpon another From the least vnto the most all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vpoÌ„ auarice gape for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the priest to the prophet euer maÌ„ 〈◊〉 â–ª leth disâ—…ytfully Behold theyr â—…ares be 〈◊〉 they cannot aduert the word of god is a rebuke vnto theÌ„ they delite not in it they haue coÌ„mitted abhominable myschiefe What this abhominatioÌ„ was god sheweth to â—…echiell all had forsaken God in theyr hartes in so much that a great nomber openlye had tourned theyr backes vnto God and made sacrifice to the Sunne euery man in his 〈◊〉 secret closet 〈◊〉 wemen mourned for that they were not permytted to commit open abhomination Is it not to be wondred that al estates 〈◊〉 so corrupt vnder so godlye a prynce But our prophet 〈◊〉 procedeâ—… in his complaint saying they cannot repent neither yet thincke shame thei haue demed the Lord saide it is not he we shal neither 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nor 〈◊〉 â—…ou heare the obedyence that the Prophet found amonges the princes of 〈◊〉 And yet I say 〈◊〉 it not to be wondred that the 〈◊〉 whyche was so wel manured broughte forthe no better grapes â–ª They had a â—…ynge most godly minded they had prophetes for 〈◊〉 was not alone moste â—…aythful and feruent they were 〈◊〉 nished by â—…uers plages and alwaies the prophets cried out for repentauÌ„ce and yet folowed nothynge but open contempt of 〈◊〉 and of hys MesseÌ„gers Their 〈◊〉 was 〈◊〉 the mornynge 〈◊〉 it 〈◊〉 not althoughe they coulde 〈◊〉 theyr mouthes The Lorde lyueth yet were theyr othes nothing but lyes Fynde me one man that doth 〈◊〉 iustice c. And to him wil I be merciful saith the Lord. Here 〈◊〉 narrowe 〈◊〉 inquisicion 〈◊〉 so greate a multitude 〈◊〉 like ther haue not 〈◊〉 very many wheÌ„ he that knoweth the secret thoughts searcheth so 〈◊〉 But before we procede 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this matter 〈◊〉 shalbe 〈◊〉 to see how these 〈◊〉 do agree â—…yth our estate tyme. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 y â— we 〈◊〉 not Gods word offered 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 none eccept an 〈◊〉 papist 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 had a 〈◊〉 of so godli 〈◊〉 towardes vertue and chiefly towards Gods truth y t none froÌ„ the beginning passed him and to my knoweledge none of hys yeares dyd euer matche hym in that behalfe if he myght haue bene â—…ord of hys owne wyl In thys meane tyme if 〈◊〉 did abound let euery man accuse hys own coÌ„science for here I am not minded to spetyfye al that I know neither yet is it necessarye 〈◊〉 some crymes were so manifest and so hainous that the earthe could not hyde the innoceÌ„t bloud nor yet could the heauens without shame behold the craft the disceit the violeÌ„ce and wrong that openly was wrought and in the meane ceason the hande of God was busy ouer vs and hys true Messengers 〈◊〉 not sylence You â—…nowe that the â—…ealme of Englande 〈◊〉 visited wyth strauÌ„ge plages and whether it were euer prophecied that 〈◊〉 plages were to â—…olow 〈◊〉 apeale to the 〈◊〉 of your own coÌ„scieÌ„ce But what insued here vpon 〈◊〉 I shame to rehearse it vniuersalll contempt of al godly admonitioÌ„s hatred of those that rebuâ—…ed theyr 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thoâ—…ig of such as could inuent most vilany against the preachers of God In this matter I may be admitted for a sufficient wytnes for I heard saw I vnderstode knew with the sorowe of my harte the manyfest contempte and the craftie deuices of the deuil aswell against those most godlye Preachers that this last â—…ent 〈◊〉 M. D. â—…iii were apoynted to preache before the Kynges Maiestye as also against al others whose touges wer not tempered by the holy water of the court to speake it playnly who flattering against theyr owne consciences coulde not say al was wel and nothyng needed reformation What reuerence and audience was geuen vnto Preachers thys last â—…ent by such as then wer in authoriâ—… their own countenauÌ„ces declared assuredly euen such as was geueÌ„ to 〈◊〉 Thei hated such as 〈◊〉 their 〈◊〉 and stubbornely they sayd We wyll not amend 〈◊〉 yec how boldli theyr 〈◊〉 wer 〈◊〉 such as wer present can witnes with me Almost ther was none who dyd not prophecy and plainly speake the plages that are begone and assuredly shal end Master Grindal playnly spake the death of the 〈◊〉 Maiestye complaining vpon his houshold seruauÌ„ts who neither shamed neither feared to raile against the word of God and against the true preachers of the same That godly and â—…ruent man Master leuer playnly 〈◊〉 the desolation of thys common wealth And Master Bradford whoÌ„ God for Christ his sonne sake comforte to the ende spared not the proud est but boldlye declared that Gods vengeaunce shortly should stryke those that then were in authoritye because they lothed and abhorred the true word of the euerlasting God and willed them to take ensample by the late Duke of Somerset who became so cold in hearing Gods word that the year before his last aprehencion he woulde go to viset his Masons would not daunger hym selfe from his Galery to 〈◊〉 to hys Hall for hearing of a Sermon God punished hym sayd that godlye preacher and that sodainly and shall he spare you that be doubble more mycked No he shal not wyl ye or wil ye not ye shall dryncke the cup of the Lords wrath Iudicium Domini Iudicium Domini the iudgement of the Lord the iudgement of the Lord cryed he wyth a lamentable voice and weepynge teares Mâ—…ster haddon mostlearnedly opened the causes of the by passed plages and assured them that the worsse 〈◊〉 after to come if repentauÌ„ce shortlye were not founde Much more I heard of these foure and of others which now I may not rehearse And that which is to be noted after that the whole counsail had said they would here no mo of theyr Sermons they were vndyscryte fellowes yea and prating Knaues but I wyl not speake al for if God continue me in thys trouble I purpose to prepare a dysh for such as then led the 〈◊〉 pea and who but ther But 〈◊〉 they haue bene at the schoole of Placebo and there they haue learned among ladies to daunce as the Dyuel lyst to 〈◊〉 agaynst those whoÌ„ God hath striken Seyng now reasteth to them no place of repentauÌ„ce nothing mynde I to speake but suche as lyue to thys day wold be admonished that he that hathe punyshed one wyll not spare the reast But to our matter These presideÌ„ts I iudge sufficient to proue thys oure age to haue bene and
God had shewed not onli to â—…eremy who then was in Jerusalem but also to Ezechiel being prysoner in Babilon their bodies being separate in prophecie they did bothe agree that whole Israel Iuda should be 〈◊〉 Thus 〈◊〉 Ezechiell 〈◊〉 vpon al the abnominations of the house of Israell they shall fall by the sâ—…rd by â—…ieluce hunger he that in far of shal dye of the plage 〈◊〉 that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shal fal by the sweâ—…d 〈◊〉 that is left and is beseged shal dye by huÌ„ger and I shal compleat my â—…rathe vpon them And Jeremy sayth Beholde I wyl geue thys citie in the hand of the 〈◊〉 in the hand of 〈◊〉 Kyng of Babylon who shall take it The 〈◊〉 verely shal euter into it they shal burne it wyth fyre they shal burne it and the houses in which they brent 〈◊〉 to Baall c. The chyldren of Israell and the chyldreâ—… of Iuda haue don nothing from their youth but wickednes and that before myne eyes to prouoke me to anger They haue tourned vnto me theyr backes and not their faces they their Kinges their princes their prophets their priestes whole Iuda al the city of JerusaleÌ„ Thei wold not hear nor be reformed Thei haue set vp their dong so termeth he their idols in the place that is coÌ„secrat to my name And wheÌ„ the Kynge of Babylon was lying about the citie he saieth to the messengers of Zedechias who are sent to demaund of the Prophet what shoulde become of thys Citye The Caldees shal take thys City and shall burne it with fire yea if you had kylled all the host of the Caldes that besegeth you and if the killed man were left euerye man should rise in his tent and shuld burne this Citie wyth fyre He that abideth in thys Citye shall dye eyther by sweard by huÌ„ger or by pestilence But he that shal go forthe to the Caldes shall lyue and shal wyn his soule for a pray And to the liyng in 〈◊〉 askyng hys counsaile he boldly saith If sodenly thou shalt go foorth to the princes of the Babilonians thy soule shal lyuc and thys Citye shall not be brent wyth fyre But yf thou go not forth to the captaines of the Babylonians thys city shal be geuen ouer in the handes of the Caldees who shall burne it wyth fyre neyther yet shalte thou escape theyr handes Thus did these ii Proplietes as al so dyd others before them playnelye speake the desolation of that place for such offences as before hath bene rehearsed But how pleaseth such message the Citie of Jerusalem the Priestes Princes and people of Iuda and what reward receiued Jeremy for his long trauel painful preaching Derelye euen such as Phaâ—…hur his counsel iudged meete He spaâ—…e against the temple said they He prophecied mysthiefe against the Citie he faynted the hartes of the souldiars and of the people but principally he was vnfriendly to the faith that Phasâ—…hur taught the people to wyt the faithe of their 〈◊〉 fathers who alwaies rebelled against God And therfore he was reputed an 〈◊〉 accused of sedition and dampned of treasoÌ„ Plam preachings were made against at that he had spoken and such 〈◊〉 was promysed that within ii yeares should the yoke of 〈◊〉 be broken froÌ„ the neckes of al the people and the vessels of the Lordes house together myth all pleasures shuld be brought agayne to Ierusalem Now dyd they abound in wine and with oile 〈◊〉 pleasing blessed amoÌ„gst the people were such Prophets Ieremye had troubled them and therfore he must dye to pryson shall he go for the king can deny nothing to his princes of whom Phasâ—…ur appeareth to haue bene chiefe chauncelour by whoÌ„ was not only the king but al y â— whole multitude so blinded that boldly they durst crye no mischaunce shal come to vs. We shall neither se pestilence not hunger the king of Babilon shall neuer come against this land In the midst of these stormye troubels no other comforte had the Prophet then to complame to his God at whose coÌ„maundement he had spokeÌ„ And in this his coÌ„plaint he is so kyndled against their idolatry and great vn thaÌ„kfulnes that he crieth as in a 〈◊〉 O thou Lord of hostes the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the iust thou that seest the raynes of the hert let me se thy vengengeaunce taken vppon thâ—…m for vnto the haue I referred my cause As thiâ—… prayer was moost searfull to his enemyes if they had sene the efficacy therof So by the same was the Prophet assured that Gods wrath was kiÌ„dled against that sinfull nacion and that it shoulde not turne backe til he had perfourmed the cogitations of his owne hert I appeale to the conscience of euery indifferent in 〈◊〉 what one point differeth the Regiment maners and state of England this day from the â—…boue rehersed estate of Iuda in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 daies excepte that thei had a kinge a man as apeareah of nature 〈◊〉 aâ—… then cruel who sometimes was in â—…reated in the Prophetes favour 〈◊〉 also required him of counsaile in some daungers And yeu haue a Quene a momaÌ„ of a stoute stomake more â—…iffe in opinion then flexible to the truth who in nowise may abide the preseÌ„ce of gods Prophetes In this one thing you disagre in al other thinges so like as one â—…ut is to another Theyr King was ledde by pestilent preistes Who guideth your Quene it is not vnknowne Vnder such came idolatry to the height againe â—… wold to God that the worsse were not among you In Jeruâ—…aleÌ„ was Ieremy persecuted for speakyng the truth and for rebuking their idolatri What prison wyth in London tormenteth not some true Prophet of God for y â— same causes And O thou 〈◊〉 of darknes wher that idoll of late dayes 〈◊〉 first erected thou â—…mer of London In the do mo 〈◊〉 then one suffer 〈◊〉 and trouble whom God sâ—…al comfort according to his promis and reward their 〈◊〉 euen as they haue deserued And in that dai shalt thou tremble and suche as shall purpose to defend the shal perish with the because thou wast first defyled in that most abhominable idoll Consider deare brethren if al thinges as pertaining to iniquitie be a like betwene EnglaÌ„d and Iuda before the destruction therof 〈◊〉 if England be worsse then Iuda was in those daies Seyng God spared not them shal we thincke that the Lords vengeauÌ„ce shal sleepe mans iniquitye beyng so 〈◊〉 â–ª No deare brethren he that hath vnder standing must know the coÌ„trary and he to whom the Lordes mouthe hathe spoken must shew the causes why the Land shalbe waste It may offend you that I call England worsse then was vnthankful Iuda but if good and euident reasons adduced mai take place then I feare not iudgement From IerusaleÌ„ many passed away at the admonicion of the Prophet leuing al thei had rather then thei wold abide