him waâ— called faithâ—ull and true This is the onely and true sonne of God which is called faithfull iust and true bicause hâ— is founde faithfull and vnfallible in hys promises and woorde for the Lord saith the Psalmist is very righteous in all his wayes true in his sayings pâ—rfect in all his doings He cannot but teach a right and speake a trouth for he is the truthe him selfe No more cannot those which are indued with his spirite who leadeth and conducteth them in all truthe He hath done according to iustice and equitie in condemning that wicked and abhominable whoore in destroying that filthie sinagoge of Sathan in dâ—liuering and exalting his poore afflicted Churche First of all he did fight in his owne persone as a worthy Champion against the deuill hel and damnation whom he hath ouercome conquered and vanquished by his owne death and glorious passion And now doth he ouerthrow the Deuill and all his adhereÌ„ts by the meanes of his faithful seruaunts distributers of his holy woord and mysteries which he nowe graciâ—usly sendetâ— vnder the figure of the white horsse For his seruaunts as Abacuck testifieth are lustie and wel animated horsses whom the Lord conduâ—teth which ar as Ieremie calleth them whiter than snow by the meanes of their vnfained and vndefiled faith And his eyes were like as a flame of fire mightie and cleare Whereby is not only vnderstanded his godly wisdome and knowledge whereby he knoweth and iudgeth al things but also all the heauenly and spirituall giftes of the holy Gâ—ost Behold sayth Zacharie vpon the only stone which S. Paule expoundeth to be Christ shal be .vij. eyes which are the .vij. spirites of god wherwith god doth ligâ—ten the hearts of his chosen and kindleth the fire of his loue in y e minde of his faithful His word is a laÌ„tern to their fâ—eâ—e hys law anâ— testimonies are pure and vndefiled giuing light to the eie And vpon his heaâ— were many crownes Euen as the same was séene being a figure of Christ vpon the head of Iesus the sonne of Iosedech the high Priest to signiâ—ie that Iesus Christ is the soueraigne and king aboue al kings which hath power in heauen and earth for euer He ruleth and gouerneth al nations with an irâ—n rod. For he is the Lord of hostes the euerlasting king of glory He is a mightie and puissaÌ„t gouernoure setting ouer the Mount Sion his holy hil He giueth prosperitie and gouernment to Kings and his elect and chosen are crouned in him with grace and mercie for euermore For he reserueth in heauen for vs an inheritance immortall and vndefiled Againe he hath layed vp for them that keepe the faith a crowne of righteousnesse and wil giue a crowne of life to them that be faithfull vnto the death c. All warrefares and victories of the saincts depend vpon him only And he had a name written to wit almighty maruellous and feareful Adonai Emanuel a name aboue all names euen the holy one of Israell the Lorde of Sabaoth the Lord of hostes our redemer sauiour and righteousnesse No man knewe this name but hym selfe and them whiche he hathe reueled it vnto neither fleshe nor bloude nor Heathen Turke Iew or false Christian is able to coÌ„prehend thys name â—right Albeit they haue good signes and tokens yet no man can say that Iesus is the Lord without the inspiration of the spirite of God who openeth the very truth of God The number of Gods elect are also signified or comprehended vnder this name which the world can not acknowledge nor vnderstand And he was clothed with a garment dipt in bloud His mortall bodie which he tooke vpon him for our redemption was so sore beaten and greuously wounded that from the soule of the féete to the very crowne of the head euen from top to toe nothing was lefte whole or sound This mighty Champion is he which came from Edom and Bosâ—a whose garmentes were sprinkled with bloud his clothes were rayed euen as of those that tread the wine presse For his manhoode suffred most shameful painâ—full death He him selfe alone trode the wine presse of his wrath and had none to helpe him He his owne self was wouÌ„ded for our sinnes and our infirmities were layd vpon him and by his stripes we are healed And his name was called the word of God Christ Iesu the sonne of god is that eternall and euerlasting word of God which was from the beginning by God by whom also heauen and earth are made and all that in them is the verye â—mage of his substance in whom the father is represented wherby also we vnderstand and know the wil of the father for the word of God is a true guid of the conscience This word was made flesh that is became maÌ„ for our sakes sauing iusâ—ifying and glorifying all those that beleeue on him And the warriers which were in heauen followed him vpoÌ„ white horses These are the true faithfull ministers which follow their maister and câ—ief captain Christ Iesu vpon white horsses that is in innocency of life and godly coÌ„uersatioÌ„ which they professe These horsses are nothing else than their mortal bodies redy to battaile For true christiaÌ„s mortifie their flesh y t concupiscence therof bring their carnal lusts vnder subiectioÌ„ their bodies obedient to y e spirit They become seruauntes to righteousnesse and not to sinne they are worthy Souldiers of God for they follow the Lord of â—ostes suche an armie saw the seruauÌ„t of the Prophet Elizeus in Doathim in a visâ—on They wâ—re clothed with fine linnen white and pure signifying the simplicitie and innoceÌ„cie which they haue in Christ Iesus their captaine and good and perfect gifts which the Lord giueth them As S. Iohn him selfe expounded them a little before where he sayeth that the fine linnen are the true iustifications which they haue of none other but from theyr head Christ. These are y e spirituall weapons wherof S. Paule speaketh saying Though we walke in the flesh yet we do not war after y e flesh for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through god to cast down holds and out of his mouth weÌ„t a sharp sword which is that wonderful iudgment of his word Through this sharpe sword are the faithful and beleuers saued to â—ife euerlasting and the wicked infidels iudged to euerlasting death and damnation For it is vnto some a sauior of life vnto life and to others a sauior of death vnto death With this sword shall be cut of the dead braunches which in him beare no fruicts and the rotted members from the body In like manner shal be the good from the bad and the Goates from the shéepe with this sword deuided and separated Oh how terrible fearefull and sharpe shal be the iudgement of the
Lord the rod and scepter of his dominion against the wicked in those dayes as he shall say Goe from me ye curssed into euerlasting fire Again how comfortable ioyful a thing shall it be for the elect to see them selues exempted of this condemnation and to haue the fruition of that souerain blessednesse in eternal glory For he it is that treadeth the wine presse of the fiercâ—nesse and wrath of almighty God That is he shall poure forth his vengeaunce vpon the proud and infidels and shall punish them most greuously with his strong mightie arme stretched ouer their heads striking them in his rage furie wherunder all things are set And I saw an Aâ—gell standing in the Sunne signifying the Apostles and al true ministers of the word of god which stand in the bright cleare sunne of righteousnesse which is Christ Iesu that amiable and shining morning starre And these worthy witnesses stand fast in a stedâ—ast assuraÌ„ce of faith in his name against the whole multitude of Antechrist without mouing of their féete from y e well grounded stone which is Christ Iesu which for nothing in this world be it persecution paine torment or deathe will shrincke therefro And he cried with a loude voyce to all the Foules that did flie by the middes of heauen This voice cried and shall call vntil the worldes end with a feruent and constant mind vnto al foules which flie vnder heauen to them which are humble of mind and beâ—â—me spiritual through faith and heauenly giftes These fâ—ying foules laying aside quite abolishing all worldly plesures or corruptiblenesse lift themselues vp aboue their affections on hie and make their coÌ„uersation to be in heauen and lead héere in earth an heauenly life These are the choseÌ„ soules which the father féedeth and sustaineth wythâ—ute their own deserts Such a one was AbrahaÌ„ in Mesopotamie Moyses in Sinai Helias vpon y e mount Carmelus Daniel amoÌ„gst y e lions â—aul in Damasâ—o S. Iohn in Pathmos and many moe euen herein England and in other places and shal be to the worlds end The maner of their calling is Come assemble you in vnitie of faith and mind knit your selues togither in Christ Iesu in loue which is the bond of perfâ—ctnesse that the peace of god which passeth al vnderstanding kéepe your hearts mindes in Christ Iesu our Lord. Prepare ye sayth the Angel to come to that great and supernaturall good supper of the Lord Which is that eternall and euerlasting refreshing of the soul. Come on and tast of the most daintiest dishes most sumptuous fare which neuer eye hath séene neither care hath heard neither came into mannes heart which God hath prepared for them y â— loue him learne out of gods holy word what his good wil pleasure is folow the same in life maners flie from al worldly pleasures Liue soberly temperately chastly righteously in the feare of god attending and waiting vpon the coÌ„ming of our Lord and God Finally order and frame your life so that ye may eat tâ—e flâ—she of kings that ye may by exhortation and ensample teach the worldly gouerners to conuert vnto the Lord and to forsake all maner of filthie carnall and sinnefull lustes And that ye may eat the flâ—sh of all captaines and mightie men pluck down the hie minded hearts of tiraÌ„ts to bring vnder their â—rueltie and loftie stomacks deuour also the flesh of the worldly rich and proud maÌ„ cause him to leaue of al worldly pleasures â—xcesse and manifolde vanities And the flâ—she of horsses â—nd of them that sit on them And the flesh of al fre men boÌ„dmen and of smal and great Regard neither horsses nor them that sit on theÌ„ but teare their flesh in péeces Spare no man neyther hie nor low rich nor poore bond nor frée but checke and taunt them that they leauing their old wicked wayes turne to the lord As for the obstinate and stubborn which wil not bow but resist break them and hew them in pieces punish the wicked and carnall worldlings of what degree so euer they be and these beastly Antechristes cruel Grashoppers which sit on them take away the pride and loftinesse from these loitering prelates and idle bishops and also of theÌ„ that imitate and follow their mischeuous hipocrisie deliuer the oppressed and turne back the cruell persecution from the innocents poure downe thy wrath ouer the wicked according to their desertes and let none escape Imitate the Eagle and Kite resort there where as the dead carkasses men without liuely faith and drouned in sinne be Teache euery one to walke honestly in their vocation let Princes vnderstand that it behoueth them to be learned and wise in all scieÌ„ces but aboâ—e al in the holy Bible which be the Scriptures and that it becometh theÌ„ to walke in the feare of god not to do al things vnaduisedly and according to their owne pleasure but orderly as reason and equitie doth require not to oppresse the poore innocents and fatherlesse but to aid succoure and helpe them and to punishe the wicked and malefactors nor vse exfortion in taxing ouermuch their commens subiects The rich welthy that they be merciful good stewards distributers of y e gifts of God coÌ„mitted to their charge To the hipocrites Idolaters that they leaue of their vaine trust or confidence in any creatures returne vnto the liuing God Again the whoremonger that he goe no more like a beast and Mule in whom is no vnderstanding after other mennes wiues but rather take his own wife to flie al occasions of euil CoÌ„maund the ruler to be faithful in his calling and the Commons louingly to obey The wife to be true and obedient to hir husband againe the husband to be friendable and louing to his wife defend hir cherish and nourish hir euen as Christ defended his Church and cared for hir Children to be obedieÌ„t to their Parents the Parentes not to prouoke their children to wrathe And the seruaunts to obey them that be their masters c. Thou shalt eate the flesh of the Giantes and drinke the bloud of the Princes of the earth of the Weathers of Buckes and Bulles which shall be slayne at Basan And I saw the Beast and the Kings of the earth and their armie That is these Ruffians and lecherous Bishops Monkes Abbots and the rest of these shauelings of Antechrist with the Princes of this world cruel tyrantâ— catchpols and hangmen of the Beast are assembled together to consult and gather souldiours and set them out to fight against him which sate vppon the white horse to make warre against Christ and his beloued Churche his chosen and peculiare people his seruaunts which without any kind of doubt or wauering follow him They séeke I say to kil and slay
these pleasant birdes bicause they did eate and consume their fleshe They rebuked their euill corrupt maners and vnrighteous dealing their wicked and abhominable life therefore they make warre against Christ where so euer the worde of God was sincerely preached and taught the glorye of God preferred and the securitie and naughtinesse of mannes sinfull and abhominable life reproued there hath alwayes insurrections tumultes and seditions risen amongst the hipocrits of traiterous enterprizes For the word of God is a signe of contradiction and the stone of offence These Princes and captaines with their most cruel souldiers are set on prouoked and stirrâ—d by the malice of these Idolatrous Bishops and Prelates euen as Pilate and Herode were moued of Annas and Caiphas to put Christ to death And as Felix gouernour of Iurie at the request pleasure of Ananie the hie priest kept S. Paule in prison The Emperor Traian and other tyrants should neuer haue persecuted the Christians vntil this day if their horsses had not bene pricked so fast and so often with the spurres of wicked and leuâ—e Prelats And what diligence endeuour they haue done to ouerthrow vanquishe and roote out the truthe may be seene by their letters wrytten and sent to so many Kings and Princes No small a doe had they to bring Iohn Wicliffe in discredite and slaunder with the people the which after he had ben buried fortie yeares toke vp his bones and burned them with fire and cast the ashes into the riuer shewing their tiranny vpon his bones whome they coulde not be reuenged of in his lyfe time no not for all their requestes and sutes made to the kyng of Englande Richarde by name Againe Sigismunde the Emperor wold neuer haue done contrary to his promise fortified by a safe conduct graunted vnto Iohn Hus to goe and come safely to the Counsell at Constance and in a manner forced hym for if he would be the image of the beast an obedient child of the Romish church he must doe all as it pleased them It is manifest what diligence and trauaile they haue assayed what violence and force they haue vsed to banishe and chase the truth of the Gospell out of Germanie what practises craftie policies and fetches they haue sought to deface it here in Englande and what crueltie and tyrannie they shewe in France to the vtter destruction of the countrey we haue séene and see and yet dayly at this instant seele they And aboue all haue we felte and 〈◊〉 yet féele the experieÌ„ce of it in low Germany our natiue countrey and Flaunders where as soone as Gods worde was sincerely preached and the Gospell of Iesu Christ opeÌ„ly declared O how SataÌ„s kingdome was rente diminished how idolatrie and superstition was brought low all excesse surfetting dronkennesse all wickednesse and vice all pride naughtinesse beat down forsaken The whooremongers adulterers began to be ashamed of their filthinesse priests Friers misliked of their estate and durst not say Masse go on procession funeral other of their abhominatioÌ„s they couered their crounes let grow their beards hid theÌ„selues yea demed y t they were such Many light women were conuerted many ruffians baudes were astonied for y t they saw their houses not so much haunted as before These with y e rest of the spiritual baudes and ruffians were well ashamed and wist not where to hide theÌ„selues bicause of y â— light which did shine so bright in the worlde On the other side consider how the kyngdome of Christe increased augmented and multiplied daily how the honor of God was set foorth the name of the Lorde was magnified and inuocated praised and blessed Howe many people whiche hitherto haue liued like ignorant doltes in al securitie beastlynesse were then come to knowledge and vnderstanding leauing their former life gaue theÌ„ selues to vertue godlinesse cleauyng to that whiche they heard expressed it in their life coÌ„uersation Last of al it was maruel to see how charitie humilitie sobriety honesty al other godly exercises y e works of the spirite wer put in practise amongst this new springing churche and contrarywise the dedes of the flesh forsaken layed aside But that great dragon the diuel that olde serpent who from the beginning hated the truth mans felicitie seing his kyngdom go to wrack hys gay finely disguised church dâ—cay hys pilferyng trashe beggerly Ceremonies nothing set by yea and seing his beastly bodie al his membres by y e preaching of Gods word so cleane vncouered and beaten to the grounde did waxe madde and outragious Wherefore he moued stirred vp kings who entring in allegiance and alliaunce with his Antechrist gathered a counsell against the Lorde and his churche to scatter and put asunder hys flocke aud to kill and slay his chosen Which thyng afterwarde they practising made them vp and not without treason inuaded the countreys there not to gouerne accordyng to iustice and equitie but violently and tyraÌ„nously to rule and reigne yea notwithstanding their priuileages enacted and giuen by acte of parliament confirmed and established by othe of the Prince him selfe haue they yet against all reason and lawe oppressed the commons and innocents As for the christians it is too well knowne howe they are vsed therfore I leaue of to speake any more of that matter not mistrusting but that it shall be declared at large of some diligent writer But what is their purpose The Lorde against whom they striue is too strong he knoweth all theyr enterprises and imaginatioÌ„s laugheth them to scorne He seeth their fall and ouerthrowe and the victorie of his chosen and the deliueraÌ„ce of his people is in his hande Let them rage neuer so sore lette them murther and slay neuer so many blessed are they whiche die in the Lorde they shall neuer be able to roote oute the truth muche lesse to obtaine any victorie agaynste God for the Lambe is strong and abideth valiantly vpon that vnmouable inexpugnable mounte Syon hauyng wyth hym an hundreth and .4400000 These be as many as haue receyued hys true faith and are the true séede of Abraham hauing the seale of the holy Ghost bearing the name of their father engraued on their forhead redéemed bought from the earth predestinated and chosen to life euerlasting whiche are not defiled with women whose soules and faith are not spotted with false doctrine or idolatrie and superstition papistical These ar virgins which receiue not the false hipocriticall and whoorish doctrine of y e Antechrist These be the virgins whereof the holy Ghost speaketh and not them only as they saye whiche neuer maried else Abraham Moyses Dauid Zacharie Peter Philip and the reste of the godly whiche haue bene maried coulde haue ben of the number of those virgins for they iudge mariage to be vnclâ—ane and a deede of the
desolation of Rome And to the ende we myght speake more at large of the thing I haue taken foure visions out of the reuelation of S. Iohn where as the holy ghost by S. Iohn setteth him out in his colours I saw a beast sayth S. Iohn rising out of the sâ—a signifiyng the congregation of the wicked and proude hypocrites which exalt and aduaunce them selues as the Ceder trées of Libanus they are vnnaturall and beastly like vnto Elmas the inchanter ful of fraude and guile full of falshod and pride they are whelpes and generations of the deuyll subuerting the ways of the Lord. Thys beast is described here as the pale horse in the fourth age the cruel Grashoppers in the fift age and the mad horsses with LioÌ„s mouths in the vj. age This beast meaning the odible fals damnable errors pestiferous inspirations of the diuel which at this time reign in the beastly meÌ„bres of that monstrous body of the beast as namely in the outragious bishops spiritual lawyers priests hypocrites and false Magistrates for their heads are their subtiltie and their hornes signifie their tyrannous might It had also ten crownes vpon his ten hornes signifiyng their greate dominion and superioritie throughout the whole worlde The diuell is their prince and Captayne most cruell and that through the iniquitie and ingratitude of the people but in this point differ the dragoÌ„ and the beast from the diuell and his membres Sathan and his carnal and beastly congrâ—gation for he had seuen crounes vpon his seuen heades and they haue ten crownes vpon their ten heads mening that that which he onely hath stirryng vp of the thyng that haue they The signification wherof is that Sathan is only of abilitie and power to blowe into their eares the thing whiche they with violence and by force maintayne where as he is but able by fansies and inspiration there are these his méete instruments to perfourme it put in execution by violence and power by menaces and compulsion Wher as he he dallieth onely by playe there do they seriously force and violently compell When he hath only engendred and fouÌ„d out any error or false doctrine they with al diligence as an infallible truth allow confirme and stablishe it and make of it a necessarie article to beleue on as they haue put in practise their purgatorie auricular confession transubstantiation worshippyng and carying about of dumb Idols Images the hearing of latin seruice Masse and other abhominations As he hath found out any lye as he is the fatâ—er of all lies and hath ben since the beginning so may they holde it for a perfecte written veritie makyng it of good authoritie and might as experience may testifie they haue done Hereout and such like it is manifest that they being hys ghostly ministers and spirituall instrumeÌ„ts may eâ—ecute effectually more wickednesse than he him selfe alone as their works may wel testifie SathaÌ„ was not of power to put Christ to death if it had not beÌ„ through Iudas into whom he entred afterward by the bishops Scribes who persecuted him vnto deth The Apostles tru ministers other witnesses of Christ shold neuer haue beÌ„ persecuted whipped scourged tormeÌ„ted and miserably slaine neither shold they at this present if these popish prelates did not folow maintain their old accustomed maners and fulfil y e mesure of their fathers And vpon his heads were names of Blasphemie against the Lord and his Christ. Al this is nothing else than their shining glorious titles wher with they suborne and make great their supremacie their estimation as holy and blamelesse to bee regarded among men and before the world wherevnder is couered comprehended all maner of iniquity What ar Popes Cardinals patriarks legates chief heads archbishops pronotaries archdeacons officialls commissaries prebendaries vicars lorde abbot master or doctor and suche like what are these I say else but names of blasphemie for these offices titles are not of the holy ghost neither is there any mention made of them in the holy scripture What is it I pray you else than a great abhomination blasphemy that the Pope claimeth to him selfe to be the most holy father to be the Uicare of Christ God on earth supreame head of the Church the only steward of the gifts graces and misteries of God What meaneth it that Priests and Bishops do arrogaÌ„tly ascribe to theÌ„ selues to be Bridegromes to stand in Gods stead to haue power to pardon sinne and to be our Ladies clean and vndefâ—led knights What be these else than names of blasphemie For they are nothing else as Zacharie termeth theÌ„ hauing no care of féeding of the flock but through â—â—â—re negligence and slouth sette a side preaching of the word through these vain titles than very offending Idols Their Decrées Decretals traditions rules ordinaunces statutes customes of the Fathers general Counsels Sinodes and other of their vsages not grounded on the word of God and his wil are nothing else but dampnable hipocrisie and diuelish dissimulation blaspheming the name of the Lord. For the names of blasphemy on his heade is nothing else but to maintaine vnder an honest and vertuous shew that which is blasphemous to his own aduaÌ„cement This beast was like the Leopard spotted and blemished tokens of inconstancie chaungeablenesse and temeritie His feete like to a Beares feete fearful and horrible il fauored of fashion and deformed signifying crueltie stubbornesse stoutnesse and vncleanesse And his mouth as the mouth of a Lion declaring héereby the pride theft murther and all kinde of wickednesse of those Prelates Daniel saw in a vision a Lion wherto that proud kingdom of the Assirians and Chaldees were to be compared Unto the Beare which he sawe was likened the barbarous and rude realmes of the Medes Persians By the Leopard is meant the vnstedfast kingdome of the Grecians The Assirians and Chaldees were for their stealing and Pride rebuked and curssed of the Prophets Esay Nahum and Abacuck The Medeans and Persians kept the people of God in captiuitie and bondage As it is to be séene in the bookes of Hester Paralipomenon and Esay The Grecians also were very spitefull and full of reproche to the people of God in the time of that cruell Tyrant Antiochus as it appeareth in the Booke of the Machabees But this beast whiche S. Iohn speaketh of here dothe comprehende all these thrée which Daniel saw namely the bodye like vnto a Leopard pawes like vnto a Bear and the mouth to the Lion Whereby the holy Ghost teacheth vs that within thys one curssed Popedom or kyngdom of Antechrist should be as much and more abhomination Idolatrie fornication murther and all kind of wickednesse as were in all these thrée realmes aforesaid As at this day it is to be séene and we haue had good experience No where raigned at any time more pride idlenesse cruelty Idolatry fornication adultery vncleannesse Sodometrie
conâ—ession or at the least the fashion of it and other more superstitions For the beast seketh al meanes to recouer yea hath brought to passe that the eyes of many learned ministers and pastors waxe dimme and as it were asléepe so that they do not narowely searche or diligently trie euery matter by the onely touchstone of Gods holy word but weigh them rather by deceiuable custome and take their course to the fathers and their good intents Although they are sure and throuâ—hly persuaded the Pope to be very Antechrist that these names are put out of their bookes yet are these ceremonies before of no value or at the least indifferent nowe of necessitie to be obserued and kepte as godly rites honorable and singular ornaments Although they say the Masse to be of no value in Latin yet in their own language to be a sacrifice propiciatorie other haue a greate trust and confidence in saying Dimitte nobis or any other like thing not vnderstanded Some will vpholde and maintaine the free wyl in man Other some wyll not bee Papistes but are well halfe yea and worse than Papistes Also the wounded head of the beast is healed and redressed in some places by force and power of worldly princes the whiche muste fight for the Pope and in suche tyme and place as it seâ—meth him good slaying kyllyng and burnyng all such as he commauÌ„deth destroying their owne realmes murtheryng and banishing their good and true subiects bicause they séeke the honoure of GOD and to serue hym arighte These Princes bée as it were bewitched and drawne by a subtill kinde of flattery in calling them ignominiously most christen princes defendours of the vniuersall and catholike fayth meanyng the Romish decrées And after thys sorte is healed and cured the wounde of the Beast by the meanes of these oyntmentes and Chirurgians And the whole worlde sayeth S. Iohn did wonder at the beast c. The foolish people worldly and carnall minded not vnderstanding the wysedome of the holy ghost imbracyng all those glorious and ioylye sightes as godly meritorious and spirituall matters and wondryng at them worshypped exalted and made muche of it yea aboue the things ordeined and instituted of GOD. whose blyndenesse is growne to suche grossenesse that they wyll not nor can forsake theyr olde and more than outragious kynde of worshippyng whiche is rather custome than religion For wheÌ„ they haue any hope that theyr wicked custome shal continue they clap their handes and crie oute â—or ioye with Baals priestes Gaudeamus And they worship the Dragon who gaue power to the beast that is to say they reioyce in their mindes hoping that their kingdome shall abide and stande chiefly when they sée his head againe whole and sounde that is their gouernour the godly prechers burned the Instructers of the people slayne or banished persecuted and put to silence as it hath ben practised in our natiue couÌ„trey of low Germanie All those that worshyp the Dragon worship the beast also for as those whiche honour Christ honor hys father also in lyke maner all those whiche adore Antechrist that is to say consent and holde of his traditions masses and ordinaunces all those I saye worship the diuel of whom they haue receyued all his wickednesses Who is like vnto the beast namely in out ward shew of holynesse or obseruation of false rites and Ceremonies Who is able to warre against him say they consyderyng that worldly princes are readie to defend his quarrell and take his parte The papists goe about by all meanes possible be it by crafte or subtiltie by force or violence to maintain their adulterous fained disguised churche in hir diseased estate power and holy shewe no kinde of wickednesse craftinesse or policie leaue they vnassayed or vnattempted to make them to bée regarded of the people for holy and spiritual men of gret power worthinesse and estimation It foloweth in our text And there was giuen vnto him a mouthe to vtter great and blasphemous things When Gods truth was reueled vnto them they thaÌ„ked him not but became vain in their imaginations and therefore God gaue them ouer to vncleane lustes of their owne hearts blinded with vnbeliefe and peruerted minds so y t wheÌ„ they thought to be very wise becam then stark fooles Now vtter they in their counsells consistories sermons blasphemies agaynst God and his Christ. They make the people by straight lawes to cleaue to them and all their Romishe and beggerly ceremonies and vile borrowed trumperies be it neuer so great a grief to them The holy and sacred scriptures may not once be red neither may it be had in the mother tong For the Scripture say they must be expouÌ„ded as pleaseth them according as they think good for their own aduantage And how trow ye could thys wound of y e beast else wel be healed for the infallible word of God which be the Scriptures hath giuen him this wound They wyll not that Christe be our alone and sufficient Sauior without our owne merits deseruings The Lords supper whiche in holy Scripture is called the Communion of the body and bloude of Iesus Christ must be wyth them a new crucifiyng of hys bodie Wherin as in a play or Comedie one creature alone playeth fiue or sixe personages or players partes namely of Iudas Anna Cayphas Herode Pylate and the Iewes Weâ—lorke is called of them vncleane notwithstandyng it was instituted as a good and vndefiled ordinaunce of God him selfe no papisticaâ— vowes of Monkes and Friers may be broken although it be sufficiently proued to be most wicked and diuelish and hath ingendred a thousande Sodomites Again that without the blind mumbling and laying on of the priests hande synnes can not be forgyuen as they say for in déede by this one vowe their kyngdome is maintained And more other abhominations are vttered by his mouth yâ—t dayly be of which to make it shorter and not to trouble the reader ouermuch I wyll leaue rehearsing of them yet muste I néedes touche by the waye the great blasphemie whiche they commit in saying that the entryng into the holy Church coÌ„sisteth onely by the meanes of their greasing shauyng excluding herewithall all other of what estate or condition soeuer they be calling them lay meÌ„ and vnder the pretence of this false title they take vppon them to bée sauiours of mens soules affirmyng their Masses to be sacrifices propiciatorie for the quicke and the dead iustifiyng helping and comfortyng and ex opere operato sauing and redéemyng man And ouer their abhominable and stinkyng troupe of Antechristes they create make Emperours and kings chiefe gouerners only to be maintained and defended by them in their malicious wickednesse Kings princes are ordeined of God to be heades and rulers in ciuile and pollitike matters but God forbid that a godly and vertuous Prince whom they disdayn and are rebellious disobedient vnto should be called their head and claymâ— a
Signifying and representing all manner of false Prophets vngodly teachers which are in their intents purpose wholy and altogither beastly idle carnall and corrupted They are also abhominable in the imagitions of their malitious harts not seking god but their belly not y e honor of christ but their own aduancemeÌ„t vain glory They rise out of the earth enclined giuen wholly to earthly worldly wisdom The desire and lust which they haue to raign in this world maketh theÌ„ to preach not for any loue or zeale which they bear to truth The desire of money couetousnesse thrusteth them in Thei go forward in al kind of wickednesse shall continue til the Lord destroy theÌ„ euen as the godly goeth on in vertue godlinesse til y â— time that they shall sée â—od face to face in that euerlasting Sion This beast was a murtherer from the beginning first of all in Cain and consequently in the carnal children of this world Namely in Cham the first vnshamefast sonne of Noe in Ismael Esau in Iames and Iambres in Balaam and al the false prophets of Baal in Annas and Caiphas in Baricha and Diotrephe and is now a dayes risen again in Friers Monkes Chanons Priests and Chanters as euery one haue he neuer so little a sparcle of light in him may easily sée and perceiue especially in their cathedral church where they haue their â—ull course Thys beast had .ij. horns like the Lamb but couÌ„terfaited altogither fals For she spake like thâ— Dragon The horns of Christ are hie great wherout only springeth the sweete comfortes of the promises of God giuen to his Church congregation and people Gods word is right and the Scepter of the auâ—thority of Christ and the rod of his righteous ordinaunces that wheresoeuer this worde ruleth there are none other straÌ„ge scepters institutions or customes The Lambe of God vpon the Mount Sion signifying Christ Iesus hath seuen hornes for in him consisteth the fulnesse of al truth This beast hath but iâ— hornes and those counterfaited and false They haue well a shew to be Christes hornes but of a truth they are not These then do signifie the corruptyng and falsifiyng the meaning both of the old and new Testament expounded and wrested to a worldly and carnal vnderstanding Wherout it is too apparant and manifest that it is but a false shew ful of dissimulation and altogither contrary to the Lordes meaning not discearning the true meaning of the holy Ghost This letter without the spirite of God is death and nothing agreable vnto Christ neither hath any regarde vnto him He is the truthe and life this is very lies and death His word is spirite and life theirs is but sounding Erasse or tinkling Cimbal fantasticall â—ained Sophistical and crafty although they séeme to haue a likenesse to Christ yet are they to none more vnlike They are onely the hornes of the beast to maintain the kingdome of Antechrist and not of Christe for Christes â—yngdome is not of thys worlde They chaunge the true vsage of the good creatures of God making Idols of trees adornyng and deckyng stockes and stones with golde siluer silke veluet and other iewelles turning the holy estate of Matrimonie into shamefull whoordome and to all kinde of vnchafte liuyng to make vs to wander from that seruice which God hath commaunded vs to their false moste abhominable superstitions so to abolishe and make of nâ—ne effect Gods commauÌ„dement and to establish their wicked traditions to bring leade men at length to detestable idolatrie wherof they are ful and to worship things forbidden And for the maintenaÌ„ce of their estate they haue wyth the ayde and helpe of Sathan their chief captaine wrested chopped and chaunged the scriptures to proue the adoratioÌ„ of the departed Saintes to be necessarie their masse meritorious and their workes of supererogation profitable their purgatorie to bee a fearefull and horrible thyng and other innumerable These beastly asses and belly God byshops are not ashamed to saye that by the â—yter whyche they doe weare is represented the olde and newe Testamente whiche to be true they defende wyth toothe and nayle They confesse as it is in deâ—de that they do weare but the figure of the thyng for it is but a shadowe in déede and an outwarde shewe not to the glorie of â—od but their owne ambition profite and coÌ„moditie séeking an occasion to persecute the very truthe They are of a truthe the false Prophetes the very limmes of Sathan deceyuers Wolues hie mynded inconstant shakyng wyth all manner of wyndes traitours and very folowers of Iudas dreamers liers idolaters enimies and aduersaries of truthe and veritie serpents and generation of vipers Foxes destroying the vineyarde of the Lorde deceiptful workers â—aintyng pastors blynde watchmen dumbe dogs diuels incarnated wycked or euill routes insatiable beastes whose belly is theyr god and their end perpetuall confusion and shame All these and many more names the holy Ghoste doth attribute vnto them bycause they myngle the swéetenesse of the word of God with the bitter worme wood of their Traditions so that almost the whole worlde is defiled with the dregs of their inuentions This beast did all that the first beastâ— coulde do before him This beastly generation hath the selfe same lying power to deceiue the pâ—ople and vnder the shew of holynesse to continue and vpholde thoroughout all the worlâ—e the same abhohominations as that greate Antâ—christe hath done euery where Namely vnder the Pope in Euâ—ope and in Asia and in Affrike vnder Mahomet Fynally there hath Sathan his chayre wheâ—e any sâ—range worsâ—yppyng or false seruyng of God is admitted And he caused the earthe and them that dwell therin to worship the beast They make not those onely to commit idolatrie that are ignorant and blinde but force suche as haue knowledge and vnderstandyng Oh how many are at this instant in Brabant Flandeâ—s and the low countrey and else where whiche agaynst their belefe conscience and the holy ghost maintain allowe and permit the maniâ—est â—abylonicall abhomination communicating the venemous dregges of the barbarous cup of these Baals priestes They had rather to tarrie ignominiously in this beggerly trashe and filthie ceremonies than to be depriued of this worldly friâ—ndshyp to forsake father mother childreÌ„ estate office and liuing banished persecuted or aduenture their liues and if néede so require to loose it for the truthe so delectable and swéete these worldely pleasures are vnto them They rather with Samuels sonnes wyll perishe transgressing the ordinances of GOD and with Dathan Chore Abiron be swallowed vp and sinke into Hel amongst the wicked than to suffer wyth Christe any trouble contempte reproche pouertie or other calamitie Suche I say as séeke and loue the commoditie and ease of their owne fleshe
as are not afrayde of this worde but obstinatly cleaue faste to their false doctrine and ordinaunces also those whiche beyng striken of this sworde and beléeue not nor repentyng them of their misdedes frame their lyfe accordyngly shall perishe without doubt with this sword for euermore And all the foules are folkes whiche God of hys mercie hathe chosen and plucked from these worldly pleasures and naughtie desires shall be howesouer the matter goeth filled with their fleshe whether they be saued or damned For if they be saued these shall be gladde bycause that theyr numbre is increased Againe on the other syde shall they reioyce when that they sée the wicked and obstinate through thâ— iuste iudgement of God punished The righteous sayeth Dauid séeing the vengeaunce of God shall reioyce and shall washe their féete in the bloud of the wicked Euen so shal the vngodly which resist God and his holy worde with al their vainglorie and pompe sodainly and with a greate noyse perishe The Lorde shall destroy them for euer The wicked doers sayeth Dauid fall they are cast downe and are not able to stande Agayne he sayeth As for the vngodly they shal perishe and come to naught and when the enimies of the Lorde are in theyr floures they shall vanishe yea euen as the smoke shall they consume away They shall perishe in their wickednesse like a shadow and wither away as the thistle and lyke the chaffe and dust which the winde scattereth away from the grounde so lykewise the way of the vngodly shall perish This wyll suâ—ely come vpon the wicked as it hath done in al ages and as we haue séene it with our eyes and dayly shall â—ée it more and more But they which feare God and loue hym shall obtayne hys grace and mercy and shal enioy his faithâ—ful promises the inheritance of his euerlasting kyngdome as ye may heare nexte folowing I sawâ— sayth S. Iohn a newe heauenâ— and a new earth S. Peter sayth also that euery thing going before the iudge shal be clensed and purified and not consumed for al things must be changed and made cleane of all corruptiblenesse He meaneth not sayeth Aretes that the creatures shoulde consume away and be no more but onely y t they seruing to a better vse shoulde be renued so the godly and chosen shall be deliuered two maner of wayes that is to say Here in this worlde from sin hereafter of death damnation so shall be led conducted vnto the true libertie ioyfull inheritance of y e children of God The first heauen defiled with the pryde of the angels and the fyrst earth corrupted with the manyfolde wyckednesses of man were passed away altogether and shall be no more not that the veritie of them shall vanishe but the nature complection and qualitie of them shal change and turne into sinceritie and perfection And there was no more seaâ— y t is y â— vaine inconstaÌ„t people were no more for al prickings remorse of conscience al desperation mistrustfulnesse doubt shall be taken quite from y â— godly chosen All kind of anger sorow aduersity shal be turned into ioye and peace of the holy Ghost all hindrance feare persecution tyrannie violence and aduersitie whyche we endure héere in the troublous sea of thys worlde shal ceasse at the day of the lord when we shall sée hym face to face And the sea shall be no longer subiect to vanitie than all other creatures but shall be purified from all corruption and shall henceforth be so cleare as any christall although it remaineth the same substaÌ„ce And I Iohn sawe by reuelation and permission of God the holy Citie new Ierusalem come downe from God out of heauen By good reason is this holy Citie the congregation and churche of God called newe Ierusalem come downe from God hir Creatour and maker for she is holy not of hir self but of him that made hir and chose hir to be his welbeloued spouse prepared lyke a bride â—â—immed for hir husbande for she is purified and made newe againe as the well trimmed bride for hir husband the lambe Christ Iesus This bride shall hereafter through regeneration and renuing of the holy Ghost shew glorious perfect holy so long as she coÌ„tinueth here she maketh no accompt of any thing in this worlde but doth gouerne hir selfe accordyng to that rule which he hir husband hath lefte hir namely his holy woord But héerafter shall she being deliuered froÌ„ sinne wretchednesse and all kinde of corruptions more perfectly follow his steppes She is called new héere on earth for so much as she hath laide off and put away throughe the vertue of Gods holy spirite the olde man with all his lustes and hath no fellowship with the vnfruitefull workes of darknesse But heereafter shal she be new by his fauoure and grace for so muche as she shall be deliuered from sinne deathe and all manner of corruption She is called the new Ierusalâ—m both héere and hereafter bicause that all their Citizens are of one beliefe yet shall they be heereafter of like glorie and vnitie Héere hir Citezens are among the Sainctes and the familie of God and there shall they be both children and inheritors with Christ she came downe from god out of heauen hir Christian faith is neither of fleshe nor bloud but by the gratious Reuelation of the heauenly father But Ierusalem sayth S. Paul which is aboue is frée and mother â—uer vs all She is that Citie which God hath builded She is furnished with the gift of faith and w t the fountaine of life prepared and trimmed to be a faire and glorious churche without any spotte or wrinckle She is clensed from hir sinnes through his bloud she is very costly and wel fauoredly adorned beautified with ioy peace long suffering pacience and other more vertues of the spirit euen as an honest and true Bride is dressed and trimmed for hir louing deare husband The bride sayth Dauid standeth on thy right hand in a vesture of fine gold But hir raiments so long as she is on earthe are inuisible they are spiritual iewels of the soule and mâ—nde and not of the body And I heard sayth S. Iohn in the midst of this last vision a mightie voice out of the heauen the euerlasting and onely throne of GOD a voyce saying after this sort â—nto me Loke vp and beholde for your owne and al other beléâ—uers coÌ„moditie and instruction the holy Tabâ—rnacle of the Lord which shall be with the chosen for euer is also héere wyth the Militant Church vpon earth Moreouer consider that euery beleeuing soule is a Temple of the holy Ghost As Christ him selfe testifieth He that loueth me and keepeth my word I and my father will come to him and dwell with him In like manner speaketh God
shall wax colde But so many as beare more loue to God and séeke more to please hym than the diuell they must take good heede to do that which pleaseth him according to his reuealed wil For whom it is not sufficient to know Antechriâ—t to blame him to speake and reporte of him as his doings deserue but it is requisitâ— for them most chiefly to confesse the name of the Lorde euen from their very hearts to honour feare him to beleue and put all confideÌ„ce in hym to loue hym and as neere as we can to expresse him in oure conuersation thorough loue vnfayned therby to shew oure selues to be hys Disciples For not euerye onâ— sayeth oure Sauioure Christe that sayeth Lorde Lorde shall enter into the Kyngdome of heauen but suche as doe the will of my father Again saythe Christe Whosoeuer louethe hys lyfe héere in thys worlde shall loose it and who so hateth his lyfe here for my names sake shal kéepe it to life euerlasting Againe he that will be my Disciple let hym folowe me and where I am he shal be also Who so serueth me my Father shall honoure hym The seruaunte is no better than hys maister and a messenger is no more than he that sente hym If we kéepe the commaundements of Christe we shall remaine in his loue euen as hée did the will of hys father and remayned in his loue Hys commaundement is that we loue one an other as he loued vs let vs therfore henceforth leade a good lyfe coÌ„uersation according to the wyll of the Lorde and frame our lyfe to the doctrine and exaumple of our maister and Lorde Iesu Christ in kéeping the commaundementes of the Lorde Christe Lette vs not be wrathfull but loue one an other Praye sayeth the Lorde for them that persecute you and speake euyll of you and be ye perfect as I am perfecte That thys our sinful body might be destroyed and that henceforth wée serue syâ—ne no more for he that is dead is frée from sinne Let vs then thinke that we are dead to sinne and liue not to our selues but to our Lorde and Sauâ—our Iesus Christ. Let not sinne saith the apostle S. Paule raigne in your mortall body that ye shoulde obey the lustes thereof but be ye true seruantes of righteousnesse vnto life not seruaunts of sinne of the fleshe or the world â—o death neyther gyue ye henceforth your meÌ„bres as weapons of vnrighteousnesse vnto sinne but as weapons of righteousnesse vnto GOD. For when we were the seruauntes of synne we were not vnder righteousnesse what frute had we then in those things wherof we are nowe ashamed for the ende of those things is death but contrarywise the fruite of rightousnesse is euerlasting life Brethren it is now tyme to awake from sléepe forasmuche as the nyghte is passed and the day approcheth and is euen at hande God hath fréely sent his true and faithful ministers and giueth his woord pleÌ„tifully to be preached let vs cast away then the workes of darkenesse and take vnto thée the armour of light walke honestly as in the daye time not in gluttonie dronkennesse nor in chambering wantonnesse nor in strife nor enuying but put ye on the Lord Iesus Christ take no thought for the fleshe to fulfill the lustes thereof but according to the good pleasure of God in al spiritual exercises The workes of the flesh are notorious manifest as adulterie fornication vncleanesse wantonnesse Idolatrie witchcraft hatred debate emulation wrathe contentions heresies enuie murthers dronkennesse gluttonie and suche like The workers whereof are y e most wretches and miserable slaues that euer wer yea they are threatned that who so euer coÌ„mitteth such things shall not enherite the kingdom of heaueÌ„ On the other side the fruitâ—s of y e spirit are loue ioy peace long suffering geÌ„tlenesse goodnesse faith méekenesse temperancie and suche like After this sort ought euery christian maÌ„ to walke being carefull to mortifie his own flesh exercising himself in these good works which God hath prepared for him to walke in casting of the old maÌ„ which is corrupt through deceiuable lusts be ye therfore renued in y e spirit of your mind and put ye on the new man which after god is created in righteousnesse and true holinesse Wherfore cast of lying speak euery man true vnto his neighbour For we are members y e one of the other Be angrie but sinne not let not the Sunne goe down vpon your wrath neither giue place to the Diuell Let him that stole steale no more but let him rather labour and work with his hands the thing that is good that he may haue to giue him that néedeth Let not corrupt communication procéed out of your mouth but that which is good to edifie withal that it may minister grace vnto the hearers And gréeue not the holy spirite of God by whom ye are sealed vnto the day of redeÌ„ption Let all bitternesse anger and wrath crying and euil speaking be put away from you with all maliciousnesse Be ye courteous one to an other and teÌ„der hearted forgiuing one an other eueÌ„ as god for Christs sake forgaue you Be ye then followers of god as dear children walk in loue eueÌ„ as Christ hath loued vs hath giuen him self for vs to be an offring and a sacrifice of a sweet smelling sauor to god So then fornication and all vncleannesse or couetousnesse let it not be once named amoÌ„g you as it becometh sainctes Neither vse ye filthinesse nor foolish talking neyther iesting which are things not comely but rather giuing of thaÌ„ks For this ye must know that no whoremonger neither vncleane persoÌ„ nor couetous person which is an Idolatour hath any inheritaunce in the kingdom of Christ of God Let no man deceiue you with vaine wordes for by such things cometh the wrath of God vpon the children of disobedience Be not therefore companions wyth them for so much as ye were once in darknesse but are now light in the lord walk therfore as it becometh children of light for the fruite of the spirit is in all goodnesse righteousnesse and truthe Approue and assay that which is pleasing to the Lord and haue no fellowship with the vnfruitful works of darknesse but euen reproue them rather take ye heede that ye walke circumspectly and wisely not like the foolish but as the wise and redeeme y e time for euen these dayes are euill and dangerous days Therfore be ye not ignorant but replenished with knowledge and spirite Let the woord of God dwell in you plentuously in all wisdom teaching and admonishing your own selues in psalms spirituall songs synging
Was there euer any were he neuer so wicked which turned to the Lord not receiued No surely for God is mercifull long suffering and readie to forgiue He heareth in the day of trouble and he is at hande to all them that call vpon him He is a protectoure and defendoure of all those that séeke him in truthe and trust in him But fie vpon them curssed are they that are faint hearted inconstant wauerers vntempered braines yea mockers and very libertines fearing men poore princes more than God which haue a greater care of these transitorie goodes and haue muche rather to please the worlde than God bycause they looke for none other God héere than to haue that they luâ—te and desire for their belly yea they say in their heartes there is no God They would gladly leaue to God the heauens so that they might râ—maine vppon the â—arth They know none other heauen then héere on earth which rather might be called an hel than heauen bicause we all are subiecte to many infirmities Bisides that they caÌ„not haue héere any rest or quietnesse in minde or conscience Neyther can they haue things as they would be they neuer so rich These men as they are altogether worldly carnal so can they neuer come to any knowledge of God For the worldly and naturall men canne not perceiue the things which are of the spirite of God neither consider they the gloryous maiestie of God neither are they so muche as once carefull of the life to come Woe be vnto the sinnefull lips slouthfull hands to the sinner which keepeth two wayes Woe to the dissolute of heart for they shall not be defended bicause they beleeue not Woe vnto the vnpacient that haue lost and forsaken the right way to decline and wander in the crooked way Woe vnto them for what shall they say when the Lord shall searche them out Let vs loue the Lord therfore all we that feare him Let vs put our confidence in him let vs remaine faithful and let vs walke according to his holy will let vs searche diligeÌ„tly after those things which please him let vs prepare our heartes and frame our selues to be acceptable in hys fight and humble our soules before his face let vs paciently abide the time vntil he send vs succour helpe and comfort saying It is better to fall in the hands of men than in the hands of the Lorde for as he is great and mightie so is he also merciful Let vs then be pacient and not shrinke yea rather let vs manfully striue in the middest of our troubles afflictions and miseries knowing that aduersitie engendreth pacience pacience trial or probation probation hope hope shall not be ashamed for the loue of God is poured into our hearts Goe forwarde then my brethren to all good works and make your selfe sure to the Lord and to the power of his might Take vnto you therefore the whole armour of God that ye may be able to resist in the euill day Stand therfore hauing your loynes girded with the truth hauing on the brest plate of righteousnesse and your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospell of peace Aboue all take vnto you the shield of faith wherewith ye may quenche the fierie dartes of the wicked Take vnto you also the helmet of saluation and the sword of the spirite which is the worde of God and pray without ceassing in all your assaultes and necessities making your prayers in huÌ„blenesse of the spirite Be diligent and watchfull Be you wise and suttle like Serpents simple without fraude or guile as Doues Be sober watche for your aduersarie the Deuil who goth about like a roaring Lion séeking whom he may deuoure He vseth a thousand sleights setches many kinds of wayes diuers and sundry meanes to entrap and snare by Resist ye him therfore be stedfast in faith and defende thy selfe with the armor right nowe before mentioned Beare your selfe manfully confirm and refresh your self euery time with that excellent meat of the spirite which doth not perish which is the word of god that ye might withstand him both day and night like a good souldior and all his assaultes Take ye héede therefore to giue any place to euill but set your selfe valiantly and couragiously against him at what time he shall assault you either by faire or foule meanes by flatterie in shewing you the riches the glorye and pompe of this world to none other ende and purpose than to entrap and deceiue you or by crueltie persecution or trouble to ouercome and vanquishe you if ye hearken vnto him any manner of way And bicause he can transforme him â—elfe into an Angell of light it is requisite and necessarie that euery sprite be proued by the touche stone of Gods holye worde if so be that it agreeth therewith so must it be holden for good be beléeued and followed But if so be that it in any parte be contrary to that it muste according to the Apostle S. Paules saying be accurssed Let no euill take any roote in your heart but pluck it out forthwith God is meeke holy long suffering mercifull and altogither good but féeling that any one bringeth any thing contrarye to these particularities appropriated vnto God be ye sure that that spirite is not of God from those refraine your selfe resisting them wyth the weapons before mentioned Be sober and humble in mind content with a litle not caried away of couetousnesse after the richesse and glorye of this world neither be ye seduced by the pleasure of carnall concupiscence and voluptnousnesse of this world which are deceitfull and bring great paines to them that folow after them But to kéepe your self the rather cleane from the thraldom of them way and consider how vain vncertaine and vile a thing it is what euill procéedeth froÌ„ it Againe remember that all flesh is graâ—se hay and all the glory honor force and might of it as the floure of the field The grasse withereth and the floure fadeth away Yea all Princes and people are but hay where ouer if y e breth of the Lord doe but blow it becommeth dry the floure of it falleth But y e word of the lord abideth for euer Thou lettest man Lord saith Dauid passe away as the hearbe which is greene in the morning and at night is cutte downe The time of our life is thrée score and x. yeres and thoughe men be so strong that they come to foure score yeares yet is their strength then but laboure and paine What is man sayeth he or what is thâ— wisedome of man The numbre of hyâ— dayes are a hundreth yeres at the moste and a thousand yeares compared vnto eternitie are not so much as a drop of water to the whole sea or as a little duste vnto the sandes of Affrike for that commeth to an ende and
eternitie hath none ende but continueth alwayes All fleshe waxeth olde as a garment and all that is made and can be séene shall perish in season The generation of fleshe and bloude is suche that when one is borne an other dieth One kyngdome increaseth an other decreaseth Who so euer committeth wickednesse shall perish with them Blessed is the man which through wisedome exerciseth hym selfe in al goodnesse and declareth holy things with vnderstaÌ„ding This many of the Heathen Philosophers and other Pagans could well discerne and iudge of by naturall reson the which also did contemne and forsake riches greate estimation and authoritie bicause of many labours paines and vnquietnesse and other euyls whiche herehence procéede for to passe ouer spende their time in more quietnesse would not be intangled with any kind of thing that mighte hynder them of their studie and other exercises Cecilius Metellus a valiaÌ„t captain wold neuer receue the office of Dictator which was offered him neither the charge of a CoÌ„sul or magistrate saying that he wold spend that in quietnesse y t he had gotten by great trauaile and paine in y e warres The Philosopher Anatillus dyd refuse to be gouernoure of Athenes saying that he would be rather a seruaunt of good men than a hangman of the wicked Nicodius did not regarde nor made any accompt of the great tresure which kyng Cyrus sent him for a present to go with him to war Aristotle forsooke the good entertainment of Alexander the great bicause he had rather be at Athenes to reade to his scholers after his accustomed maner Philosophie Apollonâ—us Thianeus leauyng hys owne natiue countrey toke his iorney to go thoroughout whole Asie to goe to sée the philosopher Hirarchus in Indie M. Curius contemned the great sum of gold the Samnites offred him The great Philoâ—opher Crates mentioned in y e beginning of our boke cast al his goodes riches into y e sea The inhabiters of the Isle of Varales being aduertised of the aâ—arice couetousnesse of their nâ—ibors threw al theyr tresure their gold siluer into the sea bicause they shold not take occasioÌ„ to make warre against them for their goods Upon a day in the presence of Phillip king of the Macedonians was moued a question among the philosophers namely What was the greatest thing in this worlde Whereunto one aunswered It was the Sunne the next sayd the sea the thirde the mount of Atlas the fourth sayd that great and learned Poet Homere Shortly euery one â—ayd that which semed him best But the wisest of them all aunswered after thys sorte The greatest and most coÌ„mendable thing is the heart and courage of Man whyche dothe not regarde worldly and transitorie Riches But I coulde rehearse here a greate many more of examples yf neede shoulde so require and tyme serue But if the Heathen haue done thys howe muche more â—ught ChristiaÌ„s to do that in knowledge discretion which they dyd in ignoraÌ„ce And to draw your selues the rather from all vayne and transitorie thyngs whiche leade men vnto all euill and to addresse your selfe with heart and mind towards the Lorde ye must call to remembrance often the wrath which shall come to the seruants of vnrighteousnesse the childreÌ„ of the worlde the fleshe and the deuill at the last day Agayne call to minde that worthie reward and glorious inheritaÌ„câ— whiche the children and seruants of God haue prepared for them The tyme passeth and is turned from mornyng vntil euening Therfore be ye wyse and haue the feare of God before your eyes kéepe your self from doing of euil in these dangerous dayes The foole hath no consideration of the time but the wise man vnderstandeth all that belongeth to knowledge and taketh héede to instruction He which findeth wisedom estéemeth it and maketh much of it A wittie man in talk sayth the wise man walketh wisely Also they haue knowen veritie and iustice and haue searched after true iudgement Withdrawe your selfe then if ye will bâ— counted wise before God from the vanitie of this present worlde and caste aside all manner of voluptuousnesse pleasure and carnall Concupiscence For yf you folow the peruerse iudgement of the worlde and giue the bridle to the wicked desires of the body it will cause your enimies to reioice ouer you Let it not greue you to sée y e wicked prosper to be regarded and to come to high promotion Be not ye abashed or displesed for consideratioÌ„ of teÌ„porall felicitie which god gyueth here vpon earthe vnto the vngodly wicked and carnall libertinâ—sâ— to Epicures bellygods and other seing they are of no continuaunce they shal fall vanyâ—he and come to naught they shall consume lyke smoake and perishe like the herbe and floure of the fieldes But truste ye in the Lorde and go forward from goodnesse to better Christe Iesu our Sauiour to the comfort of all troubled Christians warneth vs saying Feare not ye him which killeth the body seing he can not hurt the soule whiche is in the Lordes kéepyng though y e body be neuer so miserably tormented or yll intreated yet are we sure that God shall raise it vp agayne and so body and soule being ioyned receyue euerlasting ioy and blessednesse Contrary wyse all the wicked which persecute the true membres of Christ as doth at thys day that wycked tyrant the Duke of Alba with all his adherents very hangmen and cruel murtherers of the Pope shall haue an ylfauored and shameful end here in this worlde and hereafter haue eternall ignominie and confusion in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone The reward in deede of all such tyrantes and wicked ones as nowe be or euer were as Neâ—o Dioclesian Dioscore Maximian Iouian Maxence Licinus Constantius Phocus and many more other whose fearefull and terrible examples ought to moue the cruell tyrantes of our dayes were it not that they by the iuste iudgement of GOD were hardened in theyr wycked malicousnesse Examynyng then the naughtie ende of these wicked tyrantes and waying again our good end and â—ure consolation which we gather out of the worde of God we ought by good reson to reioyce and be glad of oure estate from the bottom of our harts to thanke the Lorde oure God that it hath pleased him to cal vs to such a good state and that he hath thoughte vs worthy to suffer any thing for his name sake Then be of good cheere and take courage and takyng thy crosse on thy shoulder followe stoutely Christ Iesu thy kyng and only head â—ut if thou wilt do this thou must contemne cast of and forsake euen as Christ did al couetousnesse worldly honor carnal lusâ—s concupiscence and thou shalâ— finde that it is much easier to serue the Lord thaÌ„ to â—e a slaue to this wretched world for hys yoke is light his burden is easy Be ye therfore streÌ„gthned coÌ„forted by vertue of gods holy spirit neither purpose or desire either by worde or déede
with grace in your hearts giuing thanks always to god the father of our Lord Iesus Christ submitting your selues one to the other in the feare of God Wiues submit your selues vnto your husbandes as vnto the Lord for the husband is the heade of the wife euen as Christ is the heade of the Church and is the sauioure of his bodie Therefore as the Church is in subiection vnto Christ Euen so let the wiues be to their husbandes in euery thing Ye husbands loue your wiues dwel with them as men of knowledge giuing honor vnto the woman as vnto the weaker vessell euen as they which are heires togither of the grace of life Euen as Christ loued the Church and gaue him selfe for it that he might sanctifie it and clense it and make it vnto himself a glorious Church without any spot or wrinckle but that it should be holy and without blame So ought men to loue their wiues as their owne bodies for he that loueth his wife loueth him self For no man euer yet hated his owne flesh but nourisheth cherisheth it as the Lord doth his Churche for we are members of his bodye of hys flesh and of his bones For this cause shal a man leaue father and mother and shall cleaue to his wife and they twaine shall be one flesh Children obey your parents in the Lord for this is right Honour thy father and mother which is the first coÌ„maundement with promisse Againe ye Fathers prouoke not your children to wrath but bring them vp in instructioÌ„ information of the Lord. Ye seruauntes must obey vnto them that be your bodily maisters according to the flesh with fear trembling in singlenesse of your heart as vnto the Lord. Not with seruice to the eye as men pleasers but as the seruants of Christ doing the wil of God from the heart with a good will seruing the Lord not men being well assured that whatsoeuer good thing any maÌ„ doth that same shall he receiue of the lord whether he be bonde or free Therefore ye maisters doe the same thing vnto them putting away threatening knowing that you haue a maister also in heauen with whom there is no respect of persons Finally I beséech you all indifferent of what estate condition or calling so euer ye be that ye wil shew your self an ensample in word and conuersation in all good workes kéeping your selfe alwayes vnder discipline and true doctrin without any damage of preiudice to any keeping the word whole irreprehensible y t the aduersaries might be ashamed hauing no occasion to speake euill of you with the truthe Therefore submit your selues to Princes rulers and powers and be readie to euerie good worke Accuse or blame no man be ye not spiteful coÌ„tentious or wrathful but amiable and peaceable shewing louing kindnesse and courteousnesse to all men Girde the loynes of your heart Stande manfully and put your whole trust and coÌ„fidence in the grace which is now offered Let your loue be vnfained Abhorre that which is euill and cleaue to y t which is good Be affectioned to loue one an other with all reuerence Be not slouthful or negligent to do seruice but be feruent in spirite Frame your seâ—fe according to the time Reioyce in hope be patient in tribulation coÌ„tinue in prayer distribute vnto the necessitie of the Saintes giuing your selfe to Hospitalitie Blesse them which persecute you blesse I say â—ursse not if it be possible as much as in you is Haue peace wyth all men Be all of one minde of one concorde and one iudgement That nothing be done throughe contention or vaine gloryâ— but that in méekenesse of minde euery man esteeâ—e other better than him selfe Let no man séeke his owne but the profite of other men Be â—eruent in loue haue brotherly loue among you without the which al other things are nothing to speake of of what faith so euer we boast our selues to haue Loue is courteous long suffering not enuious not guileful nor puffed vp desireth no dishonestie It séeketh not â—ir owne is not prouoked to anger it thinketh no euill it delighteth not in vnrighteousnesse but reioyseth in the truthe endureth all things hopeth in al things and neuer faileth Through very loâ—e and charitie is Christ Iesu become man for vs and hath humbled him selfe in al kind of obedieÌ„ce through loue and suffered death on the Crosse to saue vs. So then let vs abide in charitie and doe well without wearinesse for that which man soweth that same also he shal reape If he sowe in the fleshe he shall reape againe of the fleshe perdition But if he sowe in the spirite he shall reape of the spirite life Therefore continue in wel doing although ye suffer rebuke and ignominie of the world Be humble and méeke with Abraham Moyses and Dauid Be long suffering and pacient with Iob and Thobie in al kind of troubles aduerâ—ities tribulations The Lord alwayes vseth to send his rods first of all ouer his house therfore when he chastneth vs for our sinnes which we haue done in times past we must paciently beare it It must be of necessitie that the godly suffer persecution to exercise their faith and shew their loue and feruencie Abraham was proued héere of the Lord Iob troubled and molested and were both found faithful and coÌ„stant The Apostles were mery and glad that they were fouÌ„d worthy to suffer iniurie wrong contempt hatred for y e name of Iesu Christ. The Lord trieth and proueth the godly as golde in the fornace He chasteneth al them which hée loueth and scourgeth euery sonne which he receiueth It is only faith which ouercommeth all euill and obtaineth victorie through pacience The fruite springing vnto eternall life is maruelously assaulted in the godly whilest we be héere in this world The things must néedes fall vpon vs séeing we are vnperfect Let vs therefore be stedfast and vnmoueable hauing a good hope alwayes in our affliction trouble or persecution in the losing forgoing be it of our friends or goods yea our bodies y t we shal be recoÌ„peÌ„sed greatly for a litle trouble which we heere indure God wil proue trie vs and receiue vs if so be we abide constant as an acceptable sacrifice of sweâ—te sauoure Let vs then depend wholy vpon him and he shal kéepe vs let vs hope and trust vpon him and he wil not forsake vs let vs stedfastly cleaue vnto him he shall not leaue vs destitute Therefore my deare brethren let vs consider and ouerrunne al ages and times and diligently marke if at any time any one was put to confusion and shame which trusted in the Lorde He which called vpon him in faith and confidence was he euer forsaken or contempned of him