him selfe or who knew more then Moses Samuel Dauid Daniel or any of the Prophetes or Apostles and yet were they thereby puft vp with pride I would thinke and yf they looke well about them they shal finde the more knowledge they had of the heauenly maiestie of God the more base vile they became in their owne eyes Alas how are they deceyued that thinke the Apostle meaneth that true heauenly knowledge puffeth vp with pride Why how blind are men can they not see that he commandeth the same Corinthians not to be chyldren in vnderstanding but as concerning maliciousnes to be children but in vnderstanding to be of a ripe age Nor can they not see that he telleth the Colossians that he will not ceasse to pray vnto the Lord to fill them with all knowledge of his heauenly will in all wysedome and spirituall vnderstanding Nor can they not see that he doth the lyke vnto the Ephesians and to al others vnto whom he writeth Nor how he telleth the Romanes that the Iewes had a zeale in deede but not according to knowledge and therfore nothing worth Nor can they not see how the Prophet Dauid in lyke sort prayeth vnto the Lord that it woulde please the Lord to teach him knowledge and that not once nor twyce but many and many times But what should I speake of one or two examples when as all the Prophetes and Apostles and deare children of God haue euer most hartely desired it at the Lordes hands Since it is so then that they can not see that I would they could see consider this My people sayth the Lord are spoyled for lacke of knowledge and because they haue refused knowledge I wyll also refuse them O most fearefull sentence and most true and terrible vnto all those that haue so done as anonue you shall see at large So that by this you may see the Apostle meaneth not that heauenly knowledge doth pusse vp with pride but he meaneth suche lyke knowledge as some of the Corinthians seemed for to haue who in deede knew nothing at all as they ought to knowe because they wanted loue for though a man coulde speake with the toonges of men and Angelles and had all knowledge yet yf he haue not loue it profiteth nothing but is euen as a sounding Brasse or tinekeling Simball Agayne he meaneth suche like knowledge as the king of Tyrus had whom the Lord doth floute as he doth all others that are the like Beholde sayth he thou art wyser then Daniel there is no secrete that they can hide from thee with thy wysedome and thy vnderstanding hast thou increased thy riches and so thine hart is lyfted vp because of thy ryches And also suche like knowledge as the king of Babel had whose hart was lyfted vp so high therewith as that nothing woulde serue his turne but to exalt his throne aboue the cloudes and so to be euen like vnto the most High but full soone was he brought downe full low euen to the eating of Grasse with Oxe and Asse And likewyse such knowledge and wysedome as had that wyse Ahithophel who was puffed vp with suche swelling pride thereby that if good Hushai for wysedome and counsell be better thought of then he he goeth and hangeth him selfe for very spite and so the wyse counselling Ahithophel shewed him selfe to be according to the nature of his name that is euen the brother of a very foole And suche wysedome and knowledge the Apostle meaneth as the Grecians and all other worldlinges here amongst vs seeke after who as our Sauiour sayth attayne to woonderfull great wysedome in their generation and kinde and are full of knowledge and so puft vp with a proude conceite they haue thereof as that the word of God preaching of the Gospell as the Apostle sayth is but vnto them euen meere foolishnes And therefore sayth he vnto Timothie charge them that are rich in this worlde that they be not so high minded and that they trust not so much in vncertayne riches but in the lyuing God So that by this you see what kinde of knowledge it is that the Apostle sayth wyl puffe you vp with pride the which yf any of you haue or seeke after for to haue let him in any wyse ceasse from such wysedome and let him become a foole that so he may be made wyse in deede as the Apostle sayth Therefore once agayne I say take heede that Satan do not so deceiue you as to make you beleeue that the knowledge of the worde of God will pusse you vp with pride No yf you refuse to increase your knowledge therein you shew your selfe to be proude then in deede and wicked also for so speaketh the Prophet The wicked is so proude sayth he that he seeketh not for God but contenmeth him And God doth know innumerable there are amongst vs that do euen so For who can number the troupes of those most vile prophane beastes who notwithstanding do take the name of God in their mouthes yet do their deedes declare playnely that they say in their hartes there is no God as the Prophet speaketh of them And agayne who can number the troupes of a seconde sort Who notwithstanding their owne hartes do tell them there is a God and as the Apostle sayth they professe also that they know him and yet by workes they denie him and also say vnto him as Iob saith they do Euen depart from vs for we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes Agayne who can number the third sort Which are those vnto whom most chiefly I direct my speeches who notwithstanding haue woonderfull great zeale and also great care of the true worshyp of the Lorde yet are so grounded in a blynde conceyte they haue of foolysh zeale in mortification and also in doing well towardes men thinking that that is the onely thing the Lord requireth as that it is greatly to be feared least in the ende they wyll fall into the lyke danger of our blynde Papistes and also of the Iewes their predecessoures in that poynt whom the Apostle witnesseth of to haue a great zeale but not according to knowledge and therefore being ignorant of the righteousnesse which is in Christ went about to establishe their owne I say it is greatly to be feared least this damnable errour shoulde befall this thirde sort for truely for ought that I can perceiue they are come to the same passe of those in Esai already that is euen to say vnto other men Stande farther from vs because we are holyer then you Euen so foolyshe they are according as the Apostle speaketh to the Galathians that after they haue begunne in the spirite they woulde now seeme to be made perfect by the fleshe For truely I say for ought that can be perceiued they make more accompt of a lytle shew of humilitie and well doing as they tearme it then
but are of that wicked sort who according as the Prophet sayth haue vtterly left of to vnderstande and who in no wyse regarde to haue knowledge Therefore in any case see that you for your partes alwayes remember what the holy Ghost commaundeth you to beware of that is That you be not like the Horse and Mule which haue no vnderstanding whose mouthes are bounde vp with byt and brydle but that you be of that sort whose mouthes are alwayes open to speake of wysedome and whose â—…oonges are euer ready to talke of iudgement So that by this it may wel appeare that it is not enough for a true Christian to content him selfe with a fewe sentences of Christ and so thinke he hath enough but he that professeth him selfe to be a scholler in the schoole of Chrisâ—…e must haue a woonderfully desire to learne Christe euen so farre as that he may dwell in his hart most plenteously in all wysedome whereby he may be able to admonishe him selfe in all spirituall thinges as the Apostle sayth yea he must desire and thirst after the worde of God euen as the Hart doth after the water brookes that when he commeth thereunto he may so drinke as that he may be fylled with all fulnes of God Yea he must continually desire to be increasyng in the knowledge of God that if it be possible for him he may be able to comprehende with all Saintes what is the breadeth and length and deapth and highth of the glory that we shall receiue by Christ Yea and to knowe his loue towardes vs which in deede passeth all knowledge as the Apostle sayth So that in no wyse must we stande styll but euery one must goe on forwarde eyther by hearing of others or readyng therein him selfe euen in the vnitie of fayth to the knowledge of the Sonne of God vntyll he become a perfect man in Iesus Christe For we must not in any wyse remayne as chyldren waueryng and readie to be carried about with euery wynde of doctrine by the deceyte of men as greatly it is to be lamented we are now adayes but we must folow the trueth in loue and in all thinges grow vp vnto him which is the head that is Christ. For not to go on forward in religion is to go backward because Satan draweth most strongly that way and so to remayne in our former folly and contemptuously to cast off the worde of God yea whatsoeuer he be pretende he neuer so much zeale and shewe of holynes Yet yf his chiefest care be not continually to be increasing in the knowledge of Christe he doth nothing els but say in his hart vnto God Depart from me for I desire not the knowledge of thy wayes For the which cause as you shall see anon the wrath of God hath been extended on all the worlde euen to the vtter excluding of them from his presence and casting off from their countries For what thing can men do to please the Lord when that his worde of them shalbe reiected It is not then an outwarde shewe of foolyshe zeale or mortification that the Lord wyll lyke of No although the Papist do for his part in neuer so great zeale afflict his body eyther by whypping or lanching the fleshe with kniues vntyll the blood come foorth lyke vnto Baalles Priestes or in fasting fourtie dayes togeather lyke foolysh Apes in imitation or in dropping neuer so many prayers according to the number of his Beades or in vowing single lyfe or in running on pilgrimage or in punishing the body in what sort so euer he wil which thinges in deede haue a shew of wysedome in them as the Apostle sayth euen in this their voluntarie religion and humblenes of minde and in not sparing the body but yet they shall finde in the ende that all this is but as an abhomiâ—…ation to the Lord. And why Because they haue reiected the worde of God and ouerthrowen the principles thereof and established in steade of it the doctrines preceptes of men And so their feare towardes God is taught by the preceptes of men according as the Prophet Esai speaketh and also as those nations placed in Samaria of whom it is said They feared the Lord but serued their Images also Euen so I say do the Papistes And therefore notwithstanding all their blind zeale it must be sayd of them as of the other that is they neither feare God nor do any thing after his commandementes and therefore whatsoeuer they do it must needes be an abhomination to the Lord. Or yf the Protestant pretende neuer so great shewe of religion in his kinde or neuer so great a zeale yet vnlesse it be seasoned with the true knowledge of Christ none of all this wyll the Lord regarde or therewithal be pleased For when his worde is not delighted and esteemed as it ought to be although we now then do the thinges that it requireth yet are they not accepted because his worde was not our rule to square them by For to what purpose sayth the Lorde do you bring vnto me Incense from Sheba and sweete Calamus from a farre countrey your burnt offeringes are not pleasaunt in my sight neyther are your sacrifices sweete vnto me sayth the Lord. And why Because they had reiected the worde of the Lord therfore did these their holy actions turne vnto an abhomination So that you see that who so euer he be reade or reade not haue he tyme or haue he not no excuse shall serue him to be ignoraunt in the worde of God and so of Christe For the Lorde that knoweth best what is good and fitte for man knewe well enough in the beginning that when he appoynted but one day of seuen to be sauctified vnto his glorie that that was enough to make man voyde of all excuse And why Because that yf they woulde bestow but that one day of seuen accordyng as he hath commaunded that is not in any respect to do their owne willes or to folow their owne affayres no nor so much as to speake one vayne worde but to call the Sabboth a delight to consecrate it as glorious vnto the Lord They might I say yf they would bestow it in this sort soone learne by his holy worde to honour him with such worshyppe as he requireth and also to know a right how Christ is IEHOVAH their God who brought them not only from the bondage slauery of â—…gypt Babell or Rome but also from the bondage and thraldome of hell and death But since it is so that all men as they are borne of Adam are the chyldren of wrath and styll remayne in this captiuitie and seeing there is no meanes neyther in heauen nor earth to redeeme them thence but only by Christ and he likwise not beneficial vnto any but such as know him aright by his holy worde And hauing most gratiously bestowed this his holy
you not vnderstand that the sayinges of the prophets might be fulfilled Now if you aske me in what sort the prophets before time had testified of Christ whereby they might haue knowen him to be that Messias that should come into the worlde the answere is very plentifull and very plaine and many of them did knowe that then was the time that the kingdome of God was to appeare and all the sort of them might haue knowne as well if they had considered well of the ninth of Daniel for there doth the angel Gabriel tell Daniel when Christ the king should be killed euen to the very houre of the day wherin he dyed Likewise they had Moses and all the prophetes euen vnto Iohn to lead them as it were by the hand vnto Christ and that at sundrie times and in diuers manners so that it will not be amisse to run briefly them ouer to shew you in what sort as I neere as I can he was described vnto them First then where as Adam by his disobedience brought not onely death vpon himselfe but also vppon all his posteritie and withall lost that dominion and Lordship he had ouer the creatures of God euen the very day of his creation the verie same day was Christ proclaymed heire of the world and a ful conquerour of Satan in these wordes I will put enmitie sayth the Lord vnto Satan betweene thee and the woman and betweene thy seede and her seede thy seede shal bruise the heele of the seede of the woman but her seede euen hee that speciall seede meaning Christ shal breake thy head the which came so to passe when as the fulnesse of time was come that is when as our sauiour tooke the nature of man vpon hym and so through death destroyed him who had the power thereof that is to say the deuill this olde serpent The which seede of the woman was also sayd by Noe to be the blessed God of Sem whom also Sem resembled Hee was also sayde by the Lord himselfe to be that special one seede of Abraham Isaake and Iacob in whome all the nations of the earth shoulde be blessed Likewise he was spoken of by Iacob to be that special childe Shillo the Lyon of y â— tribe of Iuda who if he did but lye downe and couch none durst stirre him vp and that vnto hym the people should be gathered the which Lyon of the tribe of Iuda that holy man Iob saw to be his redeemer and was most assured to see him one day with his owne eyes and none other for him although wormes should destroy that body He was also sayd by the Lord himselfe to be that angel of the couenant that kept their fathers in the way and brought them into the land of Canaan as also that star of Iacob whome Balam prophet false though he were sawe to strike the costes of Moab and to subdue all the sonnes of Seth. He was also said by Moses to be that great prophet whome the Lord would rayse like vnto him vnto whom all the world should hearken as also by the Lord himselfe that he should build an house vnto his name and that he would establish the throne of his kingdome for euer and that he would say vnto him I will be thy father and thou shalt be my sonne Likewise it was sayd of Christ by the prophet Dauid that the Lord sayd vnto him Thou art my sonne this day begat I thee that forasmuch as the Lord delighted not in sacrifices he should come to doe the will of God That in his heart his whole law should fully rest That he would not conceale the righteousnes thereof but declare it in the great congregation euen in the middest of the congregation would hee declare the name of the Lord amongest his brethren and how that notwithstanding that yet would the kinges and princes of the earth assemble themselues together agaynst hym That they woulde make him the contempt of the people haue hym in derision mocke hym and nod their heades at him That they would hit him in the teeth with the trust he had in the Lord as though hys hope therein had bene frustrate That they would like bulls of Bashan nay like dogges compasse hym about pearce hys handes and feete giue him vineger to drinke cast lottes vppon his garmentes and part them amongest them and yet notwithstanding all this their spight the Prophet sheweth that the Lorde would laugh them to skorne and breake them to peeces like a potters vessell That he would set Christ as king vpon y â— holy hill of Sion and deliuer hym from the contentions of the people That hee would grant him the heathen for his inheritance and the vttermost partes of the earth for his possession That he should be the head therof and that a people whom he had not knowne should serue hym euen such as were the kinges of Tarshish and of the Iles who should bring hym presentes and also such as were the kinges of Sheba and Seba who should bring hym giftes yea and that all kings vpon earth should worship him and all nations serue hym and that as soone as they should heare hym they should obey hym and be in subiection to hym and that whosoeuer would not kisse the sonne should be sure to perish but those that would put their trust in hym should be blessed for euermore Againe it was sayd of hym by the same prophet that hee would so loue righteousnesse and hate iniquitie and be so carefull for the house of the Lord that the zeale he would haue thereof would euen eate hym vp and that the Lord woulde therefore annoynt hym with the oyle of gladnesse aboue hys fellowes That hee would cause hys name to be remembred throughout all generations euen hys glorious name for euer and euer And that all nations should blesse hym and be blessed in hym and giue thankes vnto hym worlde without end And that notwithstanding all the râ—…ge of the deuill and his ministers yet should none euill come neere vnto hym for the Lord would giue hys Angels charge ouer hym to keepe him in all his wayes that hee should not hurt hys foote agaynst a stone And that notwithstanding himselfe should be that stone which the builders would refuse yet should hee be made the head of the corner Moreouer this holy Prophet sheweth that the Lorde woulde not leaue the soule of Christ in graue neyther suffer hym his holy one to see corruption That he would rayse him vp from death to life and crowne him with glory and honour That hee should ascend on high and leade captiuitie captiue That he shoulde sit at the right hande of God vntil he had made his enimies his fotestoole And lastly that he shoulde continue there a Sacrificer for euer after the order of
most glorious in the eyes of the Lorde and be geuen as a lyght of the Gentiles that so he myght be their saluation vnto the ende of the worlde Lastly Christ was seene by this euangelâ—… call Prophet sittyng vpon his glorious and high throne and the Seraphims standing before him and crying holy holy holy is the Lorde God of hostes the whole worlde is full of thy glory And therefore the Prophet maketh a proclamation saying Beholde thou daughter Sion thy Sauiour commeth vnto thee beholde his wages is with hym and his worke before hym Aryse therefore O Ierusalem and be bryght for thy lyght is come and the glory of the Lord is rysen vpon thee Agayne it was sayde of Christe by the Prophet Micheas that notwithstanding Bethlehem were but lytle amongst the thousandes of Iuda yet shoulde there come one thence who should rule in Israel euen one whose goinges foorth had been from the beginning and from euerlastyng And by the Prophet Hosea to be that king Dauid vnto whom the Israelites should seeke of whom the Lord would say Out of Egypt haue I called thee my Sonne The which Sonne by the Prophet Ieremie was sayd to be that noble Ruler that should arise from amongst them selues as also that ryghteous branche which shoulde growe vp vnto the house of Dauid to perfourme those good thynges promised to the house of Israel and Iuda And by the Prophet â—…zekiel to be that one Sheephearde which should be set ouer them to feede them and to be a Prince amongst them and to be that plant of renowme vnto whom the crowne and diademe did specially belong as being that Michael their chiefest Prince as sayth the Prophet Daniel who woulde stande vp for their defence and so delyuer them not onely from those beastly kingdomes that long tyme ouerruled them here on earth but also as the Prophet Hosea sayth euen from the kingdome of hell and death Moreouer it was sayde of Christe agayne by the Prophet Daniel that notwithstanding Nabuchadnezzer saw hym to be but as a base stone in his base eyes yet such a stone he was in the eyes of Daniel as should dash those beastly kingdomes all to pouder That he shoulde become a great mountayne and that the whole earth should be filled with his glory That he shoulde come in the cloudes of heauen and approch againe vnto the Ancient of dayes That the Lord God woulde geue him dominion honour and a kingdome that shoulde neuer be destroyed and that all people nations and languages shoulde serue him Againe it was sayd of Christ by the prophet Amos that he should raise vp y e tabernacle of Dauid that was fallen downe That he should rayse vp the ruines thereof as in the dayes of old And therefore sayth the prophet Aggai vnto the people be not discouraged but haue patience yet a little and you shal see that euen he the glory and desire of all nations will speedily come Wherefore reioyce greatly O daughter Sion sayth the prophet Zachary shout for ioy O daughter Ierusalem because thy king commeth vnto thee euen hee doth come to thee whose name is called the branch he by whom thy temple shall be built euen one that shall beare the glory of the Lorde that shall sit and rule vppon his throne and be a priest thereon for euer euen one who notwithstanding will come but poorely as riding on an Asse yet shal all mountains be made as plaines that agaynst him will stand vp one that shall be able to bring foorth the head stone of thy temple and that with shoutinges and crying grace grace vnto it one that shal be able to saue not onely himself but Ierusalem also euen to saue Ierusalem sayth this prophet shoulde Christe be able through the bloud of his euerlasting couenant Moreouer it was sayd of Christ by the prophet Ieremie that in his dayes Iuda should be saued and Israel should dwell safely That they shoulde be no more deuided into two kingdomes as sayth the prophet Ezechiel but that they should be as one people and haue one king to raigne ouer them euen one king whose name as saith the prophet Ieremy they should call the Lord our righteousnesse And therfore sayth the prophet Micheas why doest thou cry out with lamentation O daughter Sion as though there were no king in thee Be not afrayd for one shall raigne in thee foreuer euen one that shall stand and feede in the strength of the Lord and in the maiestie of the name of the Lord his God euen one who shall be thy peace when Ashur or anie such like commeth agaynst thee And yet for al this would they value him for nought saith the prophet Zachary euen value him for thirtie smal peeces of siluer And that because they would so doe hee sheweth that the Lord would raise vp a sheepheard euen a sheepheard y â— would not looke the thing was lost neither would he heale the thing was hurt that woulde not feede the thing that would stand vp but eate the fat leaue the flocke euen one that would in no wise lay downe hys lyfe for hys sheepe And therefore it was sayd by the prophet Daniel that when Christ the true sheepheard should come That he would lay down hys life for hys sheepe and not for hymselfe That he would confirme the couenant for them and seale it with his bloud That he would cause all sacrifice and oblation to cease That he would consume wickednes and abolish sinnes That he would make reconciliation for iniquities and bring in euerlasting righteousnesse That he would seale vp vision prophecie And lastly that the whole common weale of Iudea should be consumed by that abhominable campe of the Romaine infidels euen consumed and washt away as with a floud if they would not regard this true king priest and sheepheard And therfore it was sayd by the prophet Malachie that the Lord would send his messenger before hym to prepare his way and that the Lord whome they sought should speedily come to his temple euen that messenger of the couenant whom they desired to behold But yet sayth the prophet like a purging fire and like fullers sope that so he might trie them euen as siluer is tried And therefore the Lord gaue them a speciall commandement euen in the last clause of the olde testament to remember the law of Moses his seruaunt which hee commanded hym in Horeb for all Israel with all his statutes and iudgementes all which should leade them if they would vnto Christ this Angel of the euerlasting couenant And thus you see in part after what sort the prophetes dyd paynt out Christ vnto them who when he came did al things that before were written of hym that so all thse sayinges of the prophets might be fulfilled and yet beleeued they not
shalbe done according to the rule thereof we must learne to worshyp him according to the same in no case to go one foote farther For as Moses was not to do any thyng about the Tabernacle or for the geuing of lawes statutes ordinances rites ceremonies or whatsoeuer according to his owne wyl or fantasie but in all thinges to do according to the paterne and prescription shewed him in the Mount and elswhere by the Lord no more must we in the very smallest thing we take in hand concerning the worshyp of the Lorde but in all thinges therein must we also be directed by the most pure perfect worde of God For as the Cloude was a direction to their Iornies in the Wildernesse and they not to steppe one foote forwarde or backwarde farther then by it they were ledde Euen so the Lawes there geuen by the Lord are a most perfect rule for men to walke by whyle the worlde shall stande For wherewithall sayth the Prophet shall a young man clense his way The holy Ghost doth answere Euen in taking heede thereto according to the worde of God and therefore did the holy Prophetes and Apostles alwayes pray that it woulde please the Lord to direct their steps according to the same For in no case can the Lord abide any will worship seeme it neuer so holy but in all thynges wyll he be worshypped according to his holy wyll layde downe in his holy worde for otherwyse we worshyppe him in vayne as our Sauiour sayth If insteade of the doctrine of his holy worde we obserue the preceptes and foolysh traditions of men so that To obey his holy worde as the Prophet Samuel sayth is better then al kind of sacrifice and to hearken therunto is better then the fatte of Rams Therefore let vs pray with the holy Prophet that it woulde please the Lord to encline our hartes vnto his law not vnto couetousnesse and that we may esteeme al his preceptes most pure and iust hate al false wayes and abhor al vaine inuentions Seeing that euery man is but as a beast by his owne knowledge we must learne to be made wyse by the worde of God NOw that we know the Lord hath created vs to none other ende but to set foorth his prayse glory and seeing we know also that no prayse or worshyppe wyll please him but that which shalbe done accordyng to his holy worde let vs pray vnto him with the holy Prophet that euen as it hath pleased him to make vs and to fashion vs euen so it woulde please him therefore to geue vs vnderstandyng that we may learne his commaundementes and chuse the way of trueth And agayne seeing that euery man is but as a Beast by his owne knowledge as the Prophet Ieremie doth say and seeing also the Prophet Dauid confessed him selfe so to be vntyll he went into the house of the Lorde and so through his holy worde became wyse We ought therefore to pray vnto the Lorde to geue vs grace to leaue of from leaning any longer vnto our owne wysedome as the holy Ghost vs warneth and onely to hearken withall the holy Prophetes and Apostles what the Lorde wyll say vnto vs that so his holy worde may be a Lanterne to our feete and a lyght vnto our pathes and that by his counsell alone we may be guyded as the Prophet saith euen vnto righteousnes iudgement equitie and to euery good path which thing being done and preceptes kept it shalbe vnto the Lorde a sacrifice of a more sweete smelling sent then the fatte of thousandes of Rammes and Goates or riuers of Oyle Wherefore I beseeche al you that are as my selfe euen of the simpliest sort vnto whom onely I direct my speeches and such as feare the Lord that you woulde cause your eares to hearken vnto wysedome and incline your hartes to vnderstandyng But what am I that I shoulde so beseeche you since that Wysedome her selfe doth intreate you and dayly offereth her selfe vnto you And yet because the holy Ghost commaundes that we should one exhort another I can not chuse but with the holy Prophet euen desire you to taste and see how sweete the Lord is Now if you aske me what this wysedome is that you shoulde hearken so vnto her and this vnderstanding that you shoulde so incline your hartes thereto the Lord himselfe doth tell you Behold sayth he the feare of the Lord is wysedome and to depart from euill is vnderstanding And in an other place the Knowledge of holy thinges is vnderstanding and the only way for you to finde the feare of God which is to haue wysedome and to finde the knowledge of holy thinges which is to haue vnderstandyng is for to repayre vnto the worde of God for the Lorde onely geueth wysedome and out of his mouth commeth knowledge and vnderstanding So that if you searche and seeke in the Booke of God you shall be sure to finde the knowledge of the Lord and then as he is knowen of you euen so shall you feare him and also by your continuall meditation therein you shall be sure to be made wyse vnto saluation for the worde of God is fully able so to do as sayth the Apostle and therefore in any wyse see that you alwayes pray vnto the Lorde that it woulde please him to geue you such a taste therein as that it may be more sweeter vnto your hart then the Hony or the Hony combe vnto your mouth yea and more desired for your necessitie then golde yea then much fine golde or treasures for your plentie The which the Lord for his mercies sake graunt vnto vs euery one whereby we may haue suche a feeling and knowledge therein as that the bryghtnesse of the glorious Gospel may shyne most cleerely in our mindes euen to the vtter abolishyng of our former and most damnable darkenesse Certayne Obiections vpon the former exhortation answered PEraduenture you wyl now say vnto me yf it be so that we can not attayne vnto Wisedome which is to vnderstande holy thynges and those holy thinges not to be founde vnlesse we read and meditate in the Booke of God alas that is so hard that we cannot attayne vnto the vnderstandyng thereof and agayne it is for great Clarkes and not for vs simple soules to meddle withall for many tymes the vnlearned peruert the Scriptures euen to their owne destruction and so I haue heard some say that S. Peter sayth they do so But I may say vnto you in the name of God Be not deceyued for it is the subtiltie of Satan that so perswadeth you and not you onely but almost all men generally throughout the whole world And wherfore trow you doth he so Surely to none other ende but that his owne kingdome may be the better thereby maynteyned for euen as the kingdome of God is dayly inlarged where his worde is
worde vpon vs and we lyke most brutyshe beastes hauing as yet refused the same and taken no delyght at all therein let vs harken what he sayth vnto vs. Unto whom shall I speake and admonishe sayth the Lord that they may heare Beholde their cares are vncircumcised and they can not hearken beholde the worde of the Lorde is vnto them as a reproch and they haue no delight at all therein For the Pastores they are become as beasts and haue not sought the Lord therefore haue they none vnderstanding And the wise men of the worlde they are ashamed of the worde of God Lo saith the Lord. They haue reiected the worde of the Lord and therefore what wysedome can there be in them And the people lykewyse they are spoyled for lacke of knowledge and haue also refused it Therfore heare O earth sayth the Lord I wyll cause a Plague to come vpon this people euen the fruite of their owne imaginations and because they haue refused knowledge I wyll also refuse them and as they haue not taken heede vnto my worde but cast it off euen so wyll I cast off them Wherfore seeing that the Lord hath commaunded the earth to heare what a controuersie he hath therewith and euer more hath had and onely for the contempt and reiecting of his holy worde and we as full of impietie in that kinde as euer any Nation was My purpose is to bring to your remembraunce his iudgementes of olde and to lay them before your eyes as the Prophet sayth he did before his to the end that who so is wyse amongst you as sayth the same Prophet may obserue and vnderstand these thinges and also beholde with the Apostle both the louing kindnes and the seueritie of the Lord His louing kindnes towardes all those that haue delighted in his holy word and by faith imbraced his couenantes therein conteyned and with willingnes obeyed his commandementes and his seuerity against all those that haue rebelled against him and the same That so when you haue heard seene how seuere a Iudge the Lord is you may with all speede euen while it is called To day get you to the Booke of God that so you may heare his voyce and to plough vp the fallowe grounde of your hart that so that immortall seede of the worde of God may take such deepe roote therein as that it may beget you anew euen to the bringing foorth of fruite not only of thyrty or sixty folde but also euen of a full hundreth The which the Lord for his mercies sake graunt vnto vs euery one Amen The Iudgementes of God vpon the Angelles that sinned and likewyse vpon our fyrst Parentes and the rest of the olde worlde SO farre foorth as the Scripture speaketh of Angelles or of other creatures or of any other matter els whatsoeuer so farre may we be bolde to speake and not further For the hid thinges belonge vnto the Lorde but the reuealed thynges belonge vnto vs and our chyldren for euer sayth Moses First then for those Angels which through rebellion agaynst the Lorde beganne to exalt them selues not being contented with their first estate but grudging therat and also repining at the glorious estate of Mankinde and so leauing their owne habitation and calling them the Lord hath not spared but cast them downe euen into the bottomles pit of Hell and hath delyuered them into cheynes of darknes to be kept vnto damnation euen vnto the Iudgement of the great and terrible day of the Lorde Agayne our fyrst Parentes whom the Lorde had created in so glorious an estate euen after his owne image and lykenes and giuen them rule ouer the workes of his handes and dominion and Lordshyp ouer all his creatures yet full sone forgate they his precepts and cast off his commaundementes Wherefore he suffered not them to continue in this their fyrst honour but presently tooke he away euen all their glory and so they became lyke vnto the Beastes that peryshe And through that one offence of theirs sinne entred into the worlde and death by sinne which death went ouer all men for asmuch as all men haue sinned for by that one offence the fault came on all men to their vtter condemnation And Kain their eldest Sonne who was of the wicked euen that seede of the Serpent that should begin to bruse the heele of the seede of the woman hee I say made plaine their corruption for he continued in striuing against the Lord and despised the couenant of saluation pronounced to his father Adam in Paradise the which couâ—…nant he was taught as well as his brother Abell and yet would he not imbrace the same by faith as his brother did but made a mocke thereat and trode vnder foote the Sonne of God So that this his great wickednes by the euent appeared in that he murdered his owne brother whereby hee shewed himselfe to be of his Father the Deuill who as our Sauiour sayth was a murderer from the beginning that is to say from the very first day of Adam his creation for the which cause this Kaâ—…n had an open curse and was excommunicated from the presence of the Lorde euen as a vacabonde and a runnagate giuen ouer to his owne wayes His wicked posteritie as rotten braunches of an euill roâ—…te hold on in the lyke vngodly dealings and euill sayings Unto whom Henoch the seuenth from Adam prophesied saying Beholde you wicked ones the Lorde commeth with thousands of his Saincâ—…s to giue iudgement against al men and to rebuke all the vngodly amongst them of all their wicked deedes which they haue vngodlie committed and of all their cruell speakings which wicked sinners haue spoken against the Lorde Now if you will know what they sayd the holy Ghost doth tell you how that they sayde vnto God Depart from vs for we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes and lykewise they asked what the almightie colde do for them notwithstanding he had filled their houses with all good things Yea and moreouer though Noe were a Preacher of righteousnesse vnto these wicked ones by the space of sixe score yeares all which time he prepared himselfe to the making of the Arke through the which he condemned the whole worlde yet notwithstanding they made but a floute of the threatninges of the Lord saying Where is the promise of his comming for euer since the fathers died all things continue alike from the beginning of the creation And moreouer tush say they let vs eate and drinke and take our pleasure Let vs marrie and giue in marriage Let vs build our houses huge and high and so foorth And thus were these wicked wretches willingly ignorant euen vnto the very day that Noe went into the Arke and would not know how that the same word which in the begeinning caused the waters to vncouer the earth might
houre of the day when Christe the King the most holy that Lambe of God shoulde be killed which was the ende and summe of all Moses sactifices and ceremonies and therefore they shoulde ceasse accordyng as the Angell sayth when Christ shoulde perfourme this the which fell out according to Gods decree vpon the very same day that the Lambe we now speake of was killed And lykewyse that the promyse was made to Abram and also that the commaundement came foorth for the Iewes to returne from Babell and therefore no maruell though Moses tell them it is a woonderfull day yea suche a day as is to be obscru◅d throughout their generations So that yf they shoulde haue had no more teaching but onely this to ha◅e ledde them vnto Christ they myght haue seene him most clecrely herein and had been enough to haue made them voyde of all excuse But many and manifolde wayes besides this was Christ preached vnto them as in all other their bloudie sacrifices For they might well knowe that notwithstanding the bloud of bulles and of goates and the ashes of an heifer being sprinckled sanctified as touching the purifiyng of the flesh yet was it not able be it neuer so often ◅princkled to purge and make cleane their consciences and therefore they were driuen to looke for one to come who through his eternall spirite would offer hymselfe without spot to God that so hee might purge their consciences from dead workes to serue the liuing Lord. Agayne they might well know it was neither burnt offring nor sinne offring that the Lord required or delighted in For what great pleasure could it be vnto the Lord to haue the bodie of a poore beast wholy burnt and therefore they were driuen to looke for one to come who would fully doe the will of God and in whose heart his whole lawe should fully rest and who by offering his owne body once for all should runne through all the fire of afflictions and torments due vnto man Againe he was preached vnto them by y e scape Goate for they might well knowe it was not the backe of a poore goate that could so carrie away their sinnes as neuer to be burthensome againe vpon their owne backes and therfore they were driuen to looke for one to come who should be able being cast down with the burden thereof to raise himselfe vp againe and to carry them so cleane away vppon his backe as that their owne backs should neuer be troubled againe with the weight thereof Furthermore he was preached vnto them by the cloude and pillar of fire in the wildernesse for they might well knowe that he was that pillar that gaue them the true light also that cloude that led them the right way Againe he was preached vnto them by the rocke that followed them and also by the Manna for they might well knowe that he was that spiritual rocke from whom flow gush out waters of life to all those that aske of him and likewise they might as wel know that he was that true Manna which came down from heauen of the which who so eateth spiritually shall liue for euer Againe he was preached vnto them by the brasen serpent for they might wel knowe it was he that must so ◅e lifted vp as that he that beleeueth in him should not perishe but haue eternall life Againe he was preached vnto them by the high sacrificer his whole office for they might well knowe that he was but a figure for the time present because he was not suffered to indure by reason of death and therefore they were driuen to looke for one to come whiche shoulde not be made priest after the lawe of the carnall commandement but after the power of the endlesse life that is one who should liue for euer after the order of Melchisedech being made with an othe by him who will not repent Againe seeing there came no suche perfection by the giftes and sacrifices which their high priest once a yeere offered as to take away either his owne sinnes or the sinnes of the people but that euery yeere there must be a remembrance againe because of this imperfection I say they were driuen to looke for one to come who should be able perfectly to saue those that would come vnto God by him and who would in the end appeare to take away their sinnes by the sacrifice of his owne bodie once made and so enter not into the holy places made with handes but euen into y ◠very heauen it selfe to appeare in the sight of God and there to sit for euer to make intereession for them and by whose bloud they might be bold to enter into that holy place themselues euen by that newe and liuing way which he would prepare for them not through the vaile of silke but euen through the very vaile of his owne flesh And thus was Christ preached vnto them by all the sacrifices and ceremonies done according to the law for they might well know that they were al but as shadowes of those good things which were to come Againe hee was preached vnto them in most plaine speeches euen in the first saying deliuered on the mountaine for whereas the Lord sayth vnto them I am Iehouah thy God which brought thee out of the land of Egypt out of the house of boudage it must needes be in respect of Christ that he calleth himselfe their God for otherwise he is vnto men euen A consuming fire Againe and so to conclude this speeche Christ was preached vnto them in most comfortable and also most terrible sort as by the effect they found it Behold saith the Lord I send an angel before thee to keep thee in the way and to bring thee into the place which I haue prepared Beware of him saith the Lord and heare his voyce for I tel thee he will not spare your misdeedes because my name is in him But if thou hearken vnto his voyce and doe all that I speake then I will be an enimie vnto thine enimies and will afflict them that afflict thee for mine angell shall go before thee and bring thee into the land of the Ammorites y ◠Hethites the Peresites the Cananites the Heuites and the Iebuzites and I will destroy them but if ye turne from me and serue their Gods surely it shall be your destruction Now here you see againe in what plaine words Christ was preached vnto thē for they might well know that this Angel must needes be Christ the sonne of God and so the Apostle expoundeth it euen of this Angel of the couenant which Malachie also speaketh of For who is the brightnesse of the glorie or thē ingrauen forme or the verie character of the person of the father but onely Christ In whome as the Apostle saith dwelleth all the fulnesse of the Godhead euen corporally Who although he had not as yet taken the nature of man yet he
it Being altogether disobedient to receiue doctrine though he taught them rising vp yeerely and instructed them continually yet would they not heare neyther would they remember what he had done vnto Shilo but stil prouoked hym vnto the like anger with the workes of their handes for they became such rebellious traytors that the Lordes ministers the prophetes knewe not vnto whome they should speake and admonish because the word of the Lord was vnto them as a reproch and they had no delight at all therein neyther would they take any heede thereto nor to his lawes but cast them off and rather inclined to the statutes of Omry and kept all the maner of the house of Ahab And therefore because they cast off the law of the Lord of hostes and contemned the word of the holy one of Israel his wrath was so kindled agaynst them that as a flame of fire deuoureth the stubble and as the chaffe is consumed of y e flame euen so became their roote as a rottennesse so that theyr land shooke them cleane off for in the dayes of Iehoiakim Iehoakin Zedekias the wrath of the Lord was so kindled that he stirred vp the spirite of the Caldeans that bitter and furious nation against them and gaue them into the hands of Nebuchadnezar king of Babel who carryed them into the land of Shinar euen to the place where the Hebrew toonge at the first was confounded by the foolish building of the seuentie families so likewise at this time almost vtterly lost and the Lord caused them to remaine there as dead bones for the space of seuentie yeeres vntil their owne land had payd her sabbothes according as y e Lord long before by Moses had told theÌ„ For sayth he If ye wil not obey me but walke stubbornly agaynst me and despise mine ordinances and abhorre my lawes then will I walke stubbornly agaynst you and I will scatter you amongst the heathen and will draw out a sword after you and your land shalbe wast your cities desolate then shall the land inioy her sabbothes as long as it lyeth voyd and ye shall be in your enimies land that so your land may rest inioy her sabbothes euen all the dayes that it lyeth voyd it shall rest because it did not rest in your sabbothes when ye dwelt vpon it and euen so it came to passe for hauing neglected their sabbothes of euery seuenth yeare they were carried vnto their enemies land vntill theyr owne land had her fil of her sabbothes for al the daies that she lay desolate she kept sabboth to fulfill seuentie yeares according as the prophet Ieremy did likewise tell them who for the space of fortie yeares laboured amongest them before he could make them beeleue that so it should be but yet in y â— end they found it most true for the Lord of hostes bent hys bowe as an vtter enimie agaynst them and his right hand was stretched out as an open aduersary so that he powred out his fierce wrath like fire and consumed all his pallaces and destroyed his strong holds and made her aduersaries the chiefe and her enimies to prosper agaynst her euen agaynst Ierusalem the perfection of bewtie did he cause the Chaldeans to prosper who brake downe the walles thereof and burnt the house of the Lord and the kings house and all the great houses in Ierusalem burnt they with fire and the holy vessels and all the instruments of the house of the Lord by these prophane were carryed to Babell So that notwithstanding the kinges of the earth and all the inhabitantes of the worlde would not haue beleeued as the prophet sayth that euer the aduersarie and the enemie should haue entered into the gates of Ierusalem yet now did they enter euen into the very sanctuary and made a noyse in the house of the Lord as in the day of solemnitie and stretched out their handes vppon all her pleasant thinges and thus was this famous citie made solitarie that was ful of people yea she that was great amongst the nations became now as a widdow and shee that was as a princes amongest the prouinces was nowe made tributary and the Lord caused her feastes and sabbothes to be forgotten yea he vtterly forsooke his altar and abhorred his sanctuarie so that the waies of Sion as it were lamented because no man came to her solemne feastes but in stead thereof the enimies that passed by clapped their handes at her hissing and wagging their heades at the daughter of Ierusalem saying Is this the citie that men call the perfection of bewtie and the ioy of the whole earth yea all her enimies opened their mouthes against her in y e day of her destruction saying Let vs deuoure her for certainly this is the day that we looked for we haue found it seene it therefore downe with her say the sonnes of Edom and rase her walles yea rase theâ—… euen to the very foundation thereof And thus most despitefully did all her enemies helpe forward her affliction and reioyce ouer her in this her visitation and those that were the tayle are nowe become the head and aduance themselues as Lordes ouer them but from the daughter of Sion is all bewtie departed and her princes are now become as heartes that finde no pasture yea all the noble princes of Sion which were comparable to fine gold are now esteemed but as earthen pitchers and all those that were brought vp in skarlet are nowe driuen to imbrace the doong and those that fed most delicately perish now in the streetes yea the toonge of the suckling childe cleaueth to the roofe of his mouth for thirst and the yong children aske bread but no man breaketh it vnto them but rather the hands of the pitifull women are vpon their owne children to seeth â—…em to be their meate euen vpon the fruite of their owne boâ—… children of a span long So that here we may say againe 〈◊〉 behold both the louing kindnesse and the seueritie of the Lord his louing kindnesse towardes the house of Israel and Iuda so long as they delighted to heare hys voyce and were willing to obey hys commandementes and hys seueritie so soone as they reiected the same according as by all hys prophetes he had tolde them euen so came the curse vpon them as it is written in the law of Moses The iudgementes of God vppon the Iewes after their returne from Babell vnto our sauiour Christ his birth and also of their vtter reiection within seuentie yeares after for not receiuing hym THe prophet Daniel being carried into Babylon in the third yeare of Iehoiakim king of Iuda and continuing there vnto the first yeare of Cyrus king of Persia and vnderstanding also by the scriptures the number of yeares whereof the Lord had spoken vnto the prophet Ieremie how that he would accomplishe seuentie yeares in the desolation
of Ierusalem knew very well that in the first yeare of Darius of the seede of the Medes as also of Cyrus king of Persia these seuentie yeares were expired Whereupon he turneth hymselfe vnto the Lord with fasting and in sackcloth and ashes making his confession and praying O Lord God which art great and fearefull and keepest couenant and mercy toward all them whiche loue thee and toward them whiche keepe thy commandementes but wee haue sinned and haue committed iniquitie and haue done wickedly yea we haue rebelled and haue departed from thy preceptes and from thy iudgementes For we would not obey thy seruaunts the prophetes which speake in thy name to our kinges to our princes to our fathers and to all the people of the land O Lord righteousnesse belongeth vnto thee to vs open shame as appeareth this day vnto euery man of Iuda and to the inhabitantes of Ierusalem yea vnto all Israel both neere and farre off through all the countries whither thou hast driuen them because of their offences that they haue committed agaynst thee O Lord vnto vs appertaineth open shame to our kinges to our princes and to our fathers because we haue sinned agaynst thee Yet compassion and forgiueuesse is in the Lord our God albeit we haue rebelled agaynst him For we haue not obeyed the voyce of the Lord our God to walke in his lawes which he had layd before vs by the ministerie of his seruantes the prophetes Yea all Israel haue transgressed thy law and are turned backe and haue not heard thy voyce therefore the curse is powred vppon vs and the othe which is written in the lawe of Moses the seruant of God because we haue sinned agaynst hym and hee hath confirmed his wordes which he spake agaynst vs agaynst our iudges that iudged vs by bringing on vs a great plague for vnder the whole heauen hath not bene the like as hath bene brought vpon Ierusalem All this plague is come vpon vs as it is written in the lawe of Moses yet made wee not our prayer before the Lord our God that we might turne from our iniquities and vnderstand thy trueth therefore hath the Lord made readie the plague and brought it vpon vs. For the Lord our God is righteous in all his workes which he doth for we would not heare his voyce And now O Lord our God that hast brought thy people out of the land of Egypt with a mightie hand and hast gotten thee renowne as appeareth this day wee haue sinned we haue done wickedly yet O Lord according to all thy righteousnesse I beseeche thee let thine anger and thy wrath be turned away from thy citie Hierusalem thine holy mountaine for because of our sinnes and for the iniquities of our fathers Ierusalem and thy people are a reproche to all that are about vs. Now therefore O Lord our God heare the prayer of thy seruant and his supplications and cause thy face to shine vpon thy sanctuary that lyeth wast for the Lords sake O my God incline thine care and heare open thine eies and behold our desolations and the citie wherupon thy name is called for we doe not present our supplications before thee for our owne righteousnes but for thy great tender mercies O Lord heare O Lord forgiue O Lord consider and doe it deferre not for thine owne sake O my God for thy name is called vpon thy citie and vpon thy people So here you see a prayer framed vpon a sounde grounde and squared by that iust rule of Moses and according to the forme of that by Salomon with full assurance beeing done according to that rule that the Lord would shewe himselfe a righteous iudge and therefore whiles hee was speaking and praying and confessing his own sinnes and the sinnes of his people Israel and presenting his supplications before the Lord his God for the holy mountaine of his God euen while he was thus praying which was about the time of the euening oblation came the Angel Gabriel vnto him to giue knowledge and vnderstanding of their deliuerance and not onely how that at the very beginning of his supplications the commaundement came forth to returne them from Babylon but also that from that very houre the former seuentie yeares were to be multiplied by seuen and then should Christ the king the most holy be killed and not for himselfe but to confirme the couenant of olde made for the many of all nations that would imbrace the same By the bloud of which couenant they should be freed from confusion and redeemed not onely from the bondage of the outward but also of the spirituall Egypt and Babell and which bloud beeing shed for the remission of sinnes and for a reconciliation of all their iniquities should cause all sacrifice and oblation to cease So that here this welbeloued prophet who alwayes abode constant in the true worship of his God notwithstanding the rage of the enimie was shewed the summe and effect of all Moses and was also heard in that which he required for the Lord euer in wrath remembring mercy doth also at this time remember his mercie and promise of old made vnto their fathers and so bringeth them to the holy hill of Sion agayne euen to that freshe springing mountaine from whence suche gratious streames of doctrine continually issued as were sufficient if rightly vsed to coole the intollerable heate of all the soules that euer were or shalbe in y e world thither I say were these Iewes the people of God agayne brought And from whence Euen from a most filthy pit that without any such water which deliuerance was so great and myraculous as that from this time forward they were not to say any more the Lord liueth that brought the Children of Israel out of the land of Egypt but the Lord liueth that brought them out of the land of the North and from all the landes where he had scattered them yea it was so strange and so farre beyond their expectation as that when it came to passe they were euen like vnto men that dreamed or as men amased at so sodayn a decree and their mouthes were then filled with laughter and their toonges with ioy yea they confessed that the Lord had done great and woonderfull thinges for them But full soone doe they forget it for notwithstanding all this his great mercy and iudgementes shewed vnto them yet still they rebelled agaynst hym prophaning his holy Sabbaothes agayne and making them dayes of marchandice and also ioyned themselues with strang women of y â— land contrary to the law yea they greatly neglected the worke of his holy temple and citie saying The time is not yet come that y â— Lordes house should be built but they thought it was high time to build for themselues that so they might be setled againe in their sieled houses though the Lordes house lay wast Wherfore he was
Melchisedech And therfore not onely this prophet but also the whole church desired him whom their soule most dearely loued that it would please him to shew them where his abiding was and to drawe them after him that so they might runne and behold king Salomon euen runne and beholde him with the crowne wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his marriage and in the day of the gladnesse of hys heart Agayne it was sayd of Christ by the prophet Esaiah that there should come a rod forth of the stock of Ishai and a graffe should grow out of hys rootes vpon whome the spirite of the Lord should rest euen the spirite of wisedome and vnderstanding the spirite of counsell and courage the spirit of knowledge and of the feare of the Lord. That a virgin should conceiue and bring him forth That they shoulde call his name Emmanuel that is euen God with vs That they should call his name wonderfull councellor the mightie God the euerlasting father the prince of peace And that wheras the faithfull citie had lost both iudgement and iustice Christ shoulde come and sit vpon the throne of Dauid to order it and to establish both iudgement and iustice thereon for euer Moreouer it was sayd by the same prophet that a voyce shoulde goe before hym in the wildernesse That it should cry prepare the way of the Lord make straight in y â— desart a path for our God That the glory of the Lord should be reuealed by hym and that all fleshe should see it together That the Lord would say of him Behold my seruant vpon whome I will stay myne elect in whome my soule delighteth That the Lord woulde annoynt him with his holy spirite and send hym to preache good tidinges to the poore to binde vp the broken hearted to preach libertie to the captiues and to them that were bound the opening of the prison That by hym the eyes of the blinde should be lightened the eares of the deafe be opened That the lame man should leape as an heart and the dumme mans toonge should sing for toy That he should preach that moste acceptable yeare of the Lord euen that great Iubilee wherby they might inioy bewtie for ashes the oyle of ioy for mourning and the garment of gladnesse in stead of the spirite of heauinesse And moreouer that hee should make vnto all people a feast of fat thinges euen a feast of fined wynes and of fat thinges full of marrow and of wynes fined and purified And that he should destroy the couering that couered all nations that so the people that walked in darkenes might see great light and that they that dwelled in the land of the shadow of death might say that vpon them great light had shined And that not onely should hee be giuen for a light of the Gentiles but aso for a couenant of the people euen to be the full glory of them the ioy of the whole earth because that like sheep they had all gone astray and for that they had turned euery one vnto theyr owne wayes Therefore the prophet sheweth that Christ should be wounded for al their transgressions and broken for their iniquities That the chastisement of theyr peace should be vppon hym and that with hys stripes should they be all healed That he should be oppressed afflicted brought as a sheepe to the slaughter and yet woulde he not open his mouth agaynst them That his backe shoulde meete with smyters hys cheekes with nippers his face with shame and spitting and yet would hee not hide it from them but put it forward as a flint That notwithstanding Christ would poure out his soule vnto death as an offering for theyr sinnes beare all their infirmities carrie all their inquities and sorrowes on his backe yet would they iudge hym as one plagued and smitten of God yea the prophet sheweth that they would condemne him amongest the transgressors and make his graue with the wicked That they would despise him reiect hym and accompt hym as one without forme or bewtie yea and although he should be as a sanctuary yet would they make him as a stone to stumble at and as a rocke to fall vpon euen to both the houses of Israel should he become as a snare and as a net Agayne the prophet sheweth that notwithstanding they for theyr partes would forsake him yet should hee the roote of Ishai stand vp for a signe vnto the people to the intent that all nations should seeke vnto hym because hys rest should be glorious And that the Lord would stretch out hys hand again the second time that so he might possesse the remnant of hys people euen of hys people which shoulde be left of Ashur of Egypt of Pathros of Ethyopia of Elam of Shinar of Hamah and of the Isles of the sea and that he would destroy the toonge of the Egyptian sea and with hys mightie winde lift vp his hand ouer the riuer smit hym in hys seuen streames and cause men to walke therin with shoes that so there might be a path to the remnant of hys people which should be left of Ashur euen a path to seeke vnto this signe that should be set vp not onely for the naturall Israel dispersed but also for all nations and strangers that would cleaue vnto the Lord as for them of Medyan of Ephah of Sheba of Nebaioh and Keder and that all these would bring giftes of gold of incense and of all their riches to the house of the Lord and set forth his prayses therein to the intent they might be accepted vpon him the holy aulter and that by them the house of the Lorde myght be bewtified That they shoulde say of him Lo this is our God we haue wayted for him and he wyl saue vs Lo this is the Lorde we haue wayted for him we wyll reioyce and be ioyfull in his saluation because as sayth this Prophet he should destroy death for euer and wype away teares from all faces because he would take away the rebuks of his people from all the earth And moreouer for that he shoulde haue the key of the house of Dauid committed to his charge and power geuen hym to shut and no man to open and to open and no man to shut agaynst hym and for that in mercie shoulde his throne be prepared and for that he shoulde sitte vpon it in stedfastnes in the tabernacle of Dauid iudging and seeking iudgement and hasting iustice and for that he woulde not be discouraged vntyll he had brought foorth iudgement in trueth and vntyll he had established both iudgement and iustice in the earth that so the Iles myght wayte for his law though Israel woulde not so and therefore sayth this Prophet Though Israel would not be gathered by hym yet shoulde he be
well as the former forasmuch as the popes had ten nations or kingdomes to yeeld obedience vnto theyr power as the former had to theyrs And to make the matter more playne that Idolatrous Rome was reuiued agayne by these popes saint Iohn hath another vision shewed hym which is this Hee seeth a beast aryse out of the earth hauing two hornes like vnto the lambe Meaning thereby that these popes would come as pretending great shew of religiō and as if they were the vycars of Christ that lambe of God but hee telleth you that he spake like the Dragon and that hee did all that the first beast could doe that was before hym yea and that hee caused the image of the former beast to be made and gaue hym spirite and life and made all the earth to worship hym whose deadly wound by them was healed And furthermore for their helpe therein saint Iohn sheweth you that this lambe should worke great signes and wonders euen so great as if it were to bring fire from heauen as Elyas did to the end that as hee thereby caused all Israel to turne from the worship of Ieroboams calues vnto the Lord to worship him euen so in a contrary sort woulde this lambe seeke with the signes which were permitted hym to doe to turne all men both small and great rich and poore free and bond from the worship of the Lord to the worship of the beast and to force them thereby to receiue his marke eyther in their right hands or in y t forheads or at leastwise to beare his name or the number of hys name for vnlesse they would so doe they shoulde neyther buy nor sell but be killed So that heere you see how fitly this agreeth with the other vision for the popes to be reuiuors of the former beast and also howe fitly it falleth out according to that whiche our sauiour and saint Paul before had told you that is that there should come false prophets which woulde come in sheepes clothing but inwardly be rauening Wolues and that they woulde come with all lying signes woonders and sleightes of deceice and therefore is it that our sauiour giueth vs so great charge to take heede of them And moreouer therefore is it that it pleaseth hym to paynt them out so playne vnto vs for although they woulde seeme neuer so muche to beare the hornes of a lambe or neuer so much to pretend religion or shew of holynesse yet the Lord hath so plainly noted them by one especiall mark aboue the rest as that euery simple man may know them howsoeuer they would seeme to change their shape that is their voyce the whiche you see saint Iohn sayth is all one with the Dragons And therefore although Sathan come not now as vnto Adam and Euah nor as in the daies of the primitiue Church That is although he come not now in y ◠carkas of a luttle serpent nor yet in the forme of a seuen headed beast but contrariwise euen in the skinne of a poore and simple lambe yet the voyce being the selfe and same you may knowe hym howsoeuer he transformeth himselfe It is good for you here then to consider the voyce both of the one and of the other The voyce of the serpent and of the beast commandeth that whiche God forbiddeth and forbiddeth that which God commandeth euen so doth the voyce of this counterfeit lambe as for example The voyce of God forbiddeth the making of grauen images to bowe downe vnto them but the voyce of this counterfeit lambe commandeth the making of them and the bowing vnto them The voyce of God commandeth prayer to be made vnto him alone and not vnto any other but the voyce of this counterfeit lambe forbiddeth prayer to be made vnto God alone and commaundeth it to bee made vnto Saintes withal The voyce of God sayth that whosoeuer he be that beleeueth in Christ his sonne shall be sure to haue pardon of his sinnes through the shedding of his moste precious bloudbut the voyce of this counterfeit lambe sayth that whosoeuer he be that will beleeue hym hee shall be sure to haue pardon for his sinnes through the bloud of the leaden bulles whiche for his monie hee will send hym The voyce of God sayth that better were it for hys ministers to speake fiue wordes in the church to the vnderstanding of his people that so they might say Amen thereunto then to speake ten thousand in a strange toonge vnto the which the people cannot say Amen but the voyce of this counterfeit lambe sayth better is it for hys ministers to speake ten hundreth thousand in a strange language vnto the whiche the people cannot say Amen then to speake one word to their vnderstanding least so they shoulde spye out their knauerie Agayne the voyce of God commaundeth vs not to abstaine from meates but to abstayne from sinne and celleth vs that it is not the meate which a man eateth that can defile him but the sinne that resteth in his heart and yet dare the voyce of this counterfeit lambe command men to abstaine from meates and to make them beleeue that vnles they doe so vpon such dayes as he appoynteth they shall not onely be defiled therewith but also be damned for euermore therby especially if they eate but a bit vpon good Friday Furthermore the voyce of God commaundeth marriage as a moste lawfull thing vnto all men but the voyce of this counterfeit lamb forbiddeth it as an vnlawfull thing vnto some men The voyce of God forbiddeth his ministers the exalting of themselues aboue their brethren but the voyce of this counterfeite lambe exalteth himselfe not onely aboue hys brethren but also aboue all that are called Gods and moste presumptuously setteth himselfe in the temple of the Lord God as if hee were God commaunding what him liketh and forbidding what hym li◅teth as most like a suttle serpent in one thing which is to be noted aboue all others that is whereas the voyce of the Lord God commaundeth all men to read and meditate in hys holy word that so they might weare hys cognisance and be retayners vnto his kingdome the voyce of this counterfeyte lambe forbiddeth it that so they might weare his marke be retayners vnto his kingdome And therfore is it that hee dealeth most impudently as followeth that is wheras the voyce of the Lord God commandeth vs to worship feare him that made heauen and earth the sea and all fountaines of water and that wee should giue glory to him and to the Lambe that standeth on mount Sion because he onely was worthy forasmuch as hee hath redeemed vs vnto God by hys bloud I say whereas the voyce of the Lord God commandeth vs thus to do and contrariwise forbiddeth vs the worship of the Beast or his image threatning withall that if any man doe worship the beast
confessed that they were strangers and pilgrimes on earth for they that say such thinges declare plainly that they seeke a country not hereupon earth but the desire a better that is an heauenly wherefore God is not ashamed of them to be called theyr God and hath prepared for them an heauenly eitie Now then seeing that fayth is the ground of thinges hoped for and the euidence of thinges whiche are not seene Let vs in any wise vse the meanes that God hath appoynted to come therby And seeing we are compassed with so great a cloud of witnesses Let vs also cast away euery thing that presseth downe and the sinne that hangeth on so fast and let vs runne the race with patience that is set before vs still looking vnto our Lord and Souiour Iesus Christ who is the author and finisher of our fayth And let vs aboue all thinges take heede that we despise not him that speaketh For if all these whiche before I spake of and manie more escaped not which refused those that spake on earth much more shall not we escape if we turne away from him that speaketh from heauen And seeing we know that the iudgementes of God are according to truth agaynst all them that haue so lyghtly regarded to heare and knowe and haue counted them worthy of death which haue done so let vs not thinke if we doe the same that we shall escape the iudgementes of God but that the like famine will befall vs and our nation that hath befallen others I do not meane a famine of bread as made of corne but of that heauenly bread the worde of God Therfore seeing his word is no vaine word as Moses saith concerning men but is euen their very life Let vs as y ◠Apostle sayth as new borne babes desire the sincere milke therof that so we may grow thereby both in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and sauiour Iesus Christ especially forasmuche as that in the knowledge of him standeth our eternal life no where els is he to be found but in the holy scriptures for so he hymselfe hath sayd in these words Search the scriptures for in them ye thinke to haue eternall life so you shal for they are they that testifie of me by whō you haue your life breath being and that eternally but you will not come vnto me sayth hee that ye might haue life Therefore hath the holy Ghost sayd in another place hee that obeyeth not the sonne of God shall neuer see life but the wrath of God abideth on hym Seeing therefore that the sonne hath giuen commandement to search the Scriptures and the father that we should not let them depart out of our mouthes and the holy Ghost hath pronounced a blessing onely on them whiche doe therein delight Let vs in anye wise take vnto vs as the Apostle commandeth euen the whole armour thereof and with the holy Prophet make it our onely meditation continually then shall we be sure to prosper and to haue good successe for so the Lord himselfe hath tolde vs yea then shall we be like a tree that florisheth beeing planted by the riuer side which bringeth forth her fruit in due season yea then shall our prosperitie be as a floud and our righteousnesse as the waues of the sea for then will the sonne of righteousnesse hymselfe ouershadow vs vnder whose winges we shall be sure to finde euerlasting health and safetie whereas otherwise we see that God is a consuming fire and hath troden downe the wicked that would not delight herein as wee haue seene in all ages Therfore most heartily I beseech you yea and beseech you agayne and agayne that you will alwayes remember that great commandement of the Lord our God whiche is this Euen to remember the law of Moses his seruant the which he hath commanded with al his statutes and iudgementes and also that most sure word of the holy prophetes with the commandementes of the apostles of our Lord and sauiour and to labour therein both day and night that so you may remayne no longer as children without vnderstanding but to bee of a most ripe age therin and that so it may be sayde of you This people is onely wise and of an vnderstanding heart For they haue knowne the holy scriptures from their childhood which are onely able to make them so to be Come therefore I beseeche you and let vs with the holy prophet confesse before all men say Oh how loue we the law of the Lord It is our onely meditation continually we haue had as great delight in the way of his testimonies as in all maner of riches Therefore shall our eyes preuent the night watches to meditate in hys word because the law of hys mouth is better vnto vs then thousandes of gold siluer yea we hys seruants wil continually meditate in hys statutes and hys testimonies shall be our delight and our onely councellors And because that by hys preceptes hee hath quickened vs wee will neuer forget his word but wee will still hearken vnto hys voyce that so wee may learne to feare it and diligently to obey it all the dayes of our life And we wil also set vp the Lord this day to be our God we wil walke in his wayes and keepe his ordinances hys commaundementes and his lawes for euer and his voice alone will we obey And so doing the Lord our God will set vp vs to be a pretious people vnto himselfe as he hath promised yea so shall wee be set on high aboue all nations of the earth in prayse in name and in glory yea so shall we be counted an holy people vnto the Lord whiche in time past were not a people so shall our enemies that dayly rise agaynst vs fall before our faces yea where as they come out one way agaynst vs they shall flie before vs seuen wayes yea so shall fiue of vs chase an hundreth of them and an hundreth of vs put ten thousand of them to flight as in good part of late we haue seene yea so will the Lord open vnto vs his heauenly treasure and giue vs rayne in due season whereby our land shall yeeld her increase and the trees of the field shall yeeld their fruit yea so shall our thressing reach vnto the vintage the vintage shall reache vnto sowing time yea so shall wee eate our bread in great plenteousnesse and dwell in our land in safetie yea so shall wee haue peace in our land and our sleepe be in quiet and none shall make vs afrayd yea so shall all the blessinges contained in the whole booke of God come vpon vs and ouertake vs if we shall hearken vnto the voyce of the Lord our God and obey it and delight in hys holy worde as in the chiefest