night 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 You must not sleepe al night in this case but intreat the Lord her maiesty and this honourable court to raise the ministerie of his word in Wales This matter concerneth al verie nearlie The way to procure to your selues fauour with the Lord and credite with her Maiestie is to sollicite our cause and so you shal find it The more earnest you be herein the more honor shal be vnto the Lord and her Maiestie wil be the more beholding vnto you Nebuchad-nezzer an idolater blessed the Lorde because Shadrak Meshak and Abednago the seruants of the liuing God Dan. 3.9 changing the kings decree did yeeld their bodies rather than they would worship anie other God If they had been as backewarde as were other Iewes in this case howe had that notable decree to the honour of God beene promulgated ver 29. Where had been their commendation No other waie conueyeth the true fauour of anie prince vnto the subiect Prou. 10.22 Gods blessing which maketh rich and honourable is ioined hereunto Though it were otherwise yet this thing is laid vpon you be not disobedient And likely it is to be otherwise For I am affraid behold that which the Lord hath built he wil destroie that which he hath planted he will roote vp Ierem. 45.45 And doe you seeke for great things vnto your selues Seeke them not If in the daie of trouble you will be hidden you must be Ieremies you must be Hebedmeleches you must be Barucks In these three men the Lord shewed that euen in this life he maketh great difference betweene the zealous and luke-warme professors Ieremy for his roundnes in his office was beaten and put in the stocks Ier. 35.15.16 Ier. 29.26.27 Iere. 35.15.16 iudged worthy to die Ier. 29.26.27 accounted a rauer and one that made himselfe a prophet Ier. 29.26.27 a man that sought not the wealth of his people but the hurt Iere. 38.4 Hebedmelech was a noble man but some thing ouer zealous and one that would not stick to tel the king himselfe that he had yeelded vnto his noble men in a thing that was euill in all that they had doone to Ieremie the Prophet Ier. 38.5.9 Baruch was out of fauor both with prince and priest Ier. 36.19.26 because he fauoured Ieremie But when the land was made desolate and the wordes of poore Ieremie became true who then went vnto the wal Verily the king and his nobles priests and prophets And Ieremy the true seruant of the Lord must haue a whole senat of noble men sent to take him out of prison and to know his wil Nebuzaradan Nebushasban Raebsaris Neregal Ier. 39.4.13 c. the king of Babeles princes Hebedmelech should not bee giuen into the hands of the men whom he feared but bee surely deliuered because hee put his trust in Iehouah Ierem. 45.45 Baruch should haue his life giuen him for a pray Howesoeuer it goeth therefore your seruice in our cause shall bee recompensed They that know what it is to haue their iniquities forgiuen and their sinnes couered by the sufferings and passions of Iesus Christ will be wounded to see others vnder the curse The Churches of God round about vs goe to wrack in Fraunce Belgia and a great part of high Duch I would Scotland had continued in her first loue and that the hands of the builders were strengthned among you Come what will come stand you manfully in the faith my fathers and brethren and according to the counsel of Iude a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 renew the battle againe with your spiritual enimy Iud. 3. and contend with earnestnes It maie please God though the liuelie branches be cut off to quicken vs dead boughes by the vertue of our head Iesus Christ I doubt not by the Lords goodnes if the truth be established among vs through continual preaching but that al which professe Godlines in Europe shall hartilie thank the Lord for our zeal and courage therein Our nation are ful of drosse I graunt as al the sonnes of Adam are by nature and verie stonie harted But the word of God is a fire for the drosse and an hamber for the stone Ier. 23.29 And the weapons whereby the man of God warreth are not carnal but mightie through God to cast downe houldes and to bring vnder euerie imagination that is against the knowledge of God 2 Cor. 10.5 when al things shall be measured vnto vs by the measure of the sanctuarie as all must bee or else the building proue ruinous our God will be for a diadem of beutie vnto vs and for a spirite of iudgmēt he wil giue vs his spirit to please him I thought it needlesse to put hir Maiestie and the Parliament in mind that euerie thing amongst vs must be ordered according to the word it selfe For otherwise both the word and the Minister shall want a great deale of the dignitie due vnto both Suffer the scepter of the word to rule this will not be derogatorious vnto man much lesse vnto the word It wil be hard to find a yoke fellowe for that which can neither abide superior nor brooke an equal My brethren for the most part know not what preaching meaneth much lesse think the same necessarie to saluation Though they graunt it needeful they think it sufficient to heare one sermon once perhaps in al their life Therefore was is needfull for me to set downe the necessitie of preaching and of continual preaching that if they labor not for the same their bloode maie be vppon their owne heads For they cannot denie themselues to be put in mind hereof If there be anie other point of doctrine touched it tendeth also to this end The diligence beloued which I hope your learned Bishoppes Doctors and other great Diuines men of famous report haue taken in England cannot suffer you to be ignorant in these pointes Therefore take thē not as written vnto you For the case it selfe you know what it is euen that which the Lord of host will haue most seriouslie thought vpon graunted without al naie In respect wherof it commeth with Gods own letters patents wherewith all estates in the worlde naie all the Angels in heauen cannot dispence Concerning the hādling of it by me a wretch I protest my self to haue labored according to the example of the Apostle to speak as I haue beene allowed of my God seeking to win the fauour of none much lesse the disliking of anie least mans vnequall displeasure would bee contented with no lesse satisfaction than the bloode of manie a thousand soules God forbid mans infirmities in mee should bring this effect Naie it must not For be I the sonne of Adam ten thousand times compassed with neuer so manie infirmities neuer so base vile polluted and defiled yet the preaching of the word in Wals is Gods glorie and therfore must stand And yet it maie be the Lord by this supplication doth but trie the good
A TREATISE CONTAINING THE AEQVITY OF AN HVMBLE SVPPLICATION WHICH IS TO BE EXHIBITED VNTO HIR GRACIOVS MAIESTY AND this high Court of Parliament in the behalfe of the Countrey of Wales that some order may be taken for the preaching of the Gospell among those people Wherein also is set downe as much of the estate of our people as without offence could be made known to the end that our case if it please God may be pitied by them who are not of this assembly and so they also may bee driuen to labour on our behalfe AT OXFORD Printed by IOSEPH BARNES and are to be sold in Pauls Church-yard at the signe of the Tygers head 1587. TO AL THAT MOVRN IN SION VNTIL THEY SEE Ierusalem in perfect beuty namely to my Fathers Brethren of the Church of England grace mercy and loue in the Lord Iesus bee multiplied IT hath beene the iust complaint beloued in the Lord of the godlie in all ages that Gods eternall and blessed verity vnto whom the very Heauens themselues shoulde stoupe and giue obesiance hath bin of that smal reckoning and account in the eies of the most part of great men as they valued it to be but a meere losse of time to yeeld anie attendaunce thereupon Hence it commeth to passe that the truth being at any time to be countenanced none very often are found in the traine thereof but the most contemptible and refuse of men And because these also being guilty vnto themselues of great infirmities and foule sinnes manie times and not ignorant that affliction is the sequele of earnest and sincere profession doe pull their neckes from the yoke and their shoulders from the burden the Lorde is constrained verie seuerely to deale with them before they can be gotten to go on his message Whereupon also followeth their endeuours in Gods owne cause not to haue the euents which they expect Example hereof Ionas may be one for all And which is farre more lamentable in as much as the drousie and carelesse security the colde and frossen affections of the godly themselues in most waightie affaires is neuer wanting their careful diligence and earnest zeale ioined with hartie and vehement praiers alwaies desired the Lord suffereth his owne cause to contract some spot from their sinful hands These considerations beloued but specially the later kept me back a great while from this action which I haue now by the goodnes of God brought to this passe you see It would be a greeuous wound vnto me all my life long if the dignitie of a cause worthy to haue the shoulders of al the princes vnder the coape of heauen for it footstoole should be anie whit diminished by my foule hands which notwithstanding I protest to haue been washed as fair as their stains would permit But I am not a little comforted two maner of waies First that the Lord knoweth he thrust me almost against my wil hereunto And for asmuch as I see the honour of Iesus Christ in whose countenance God the father hath louingly wincked at my sinnes and whose is al that I haue standeth vpon the progresse of the woorde preached among vs my silence though to the daunger of my life shal not be tray his honour Is not he a God Will he not be religiously worshipped Wil he not haue this religion framed according vnto his owne mind Hath hee not regard whether his true seruice be yeelded him or no if he haue woe be vnto that conscience that knoweth this and keepeth it secret or is slacke in the promoting hereof Seing it pleased him who also separated me from my mothers womb to stur me vp hereunto I doubt not but hee wil giue that successe of my labours that may be most to his glory Surely by his assistaunce I neither can nor will be slacke The dignity of the cause I hope wil be regarded if not importance must take no deniall in the matter of our God My second comfort is that what effect soeuer shal ensue my paines I seek not my owne but theirs whom it concerneth namely my parents and brethren according to the flesh Whose state is so miserable at this daie that I think it were verie great vndiscreetnes for me to spare anie speech that were likely to preuaile Naie I would to God my life coulde winne them the preaching of the Gospel Our sicknes is at the hart it must not be dallied with either present remedy or vndoubted perdition And so will they iudge who viewe our estate offered vnto her Maiesty and the Parliament Which was not published onely least posterities should knowe such dishonour of God either at al to haue beene or in 28. yeares not redressed vnder Queen Elizabeth our souerain As for the aduersaries who vnderstand our estate too wel and reioice at our silence I regard them not at al for what haue we amisse at this day which flowed not out of the midst of their inheritance cursed Rome that bottomles pit fornace of idolatry I haue only therein touched our calamity not touched a great part thereof To come vnto you beloued of the church of englād I know our cause shal come through many of your hands I do with teares beseech that it maie haue al the lawful fauor you find of your harts to affourd vnto Christ in his poor members It may stand in some one to dash the whole Therefore in the name of God I require al of you that you hinder not his honour the saluation of perishing souls the good to the common wealth hereby intēded If you do otherwise I praie God so many souls as perish in miserable Wales for want of preaching be not required at your hands in the daie of iudgement But beloued I promise al good things on your parts and craue not only praiers vnto the Lord for the speedy erecting of our Ierusalem but all other helpes of speech and countenaunce of motioning the matter vnto her Maiesty the Parliamēt shewing the danger of denying the great profit and necessitie of granting our petition It is your dutie which cannot bee shaken off as it appeareth by the example of Ebed-melech Ierem. 38.9 Ieremie 38.9 The like act done by the Princes and Elders of the Lande Ieremie 26.16 17. When the Princes hard Baruch read in their eares the wordes of the booke containing al the curses Iehouah had determined to bring vpon Israel and Iuda c. it is recorded by the holy Ghost that they were affraid both one and other and said vnto Baruch we wil certifie the king of these woords and did so Wherein they perfourmed nothing but that which euery one of you before the Lord is bound to doe Gods people requireth this at your handes The state of the common wealth and her Maiesties whom the Lord in mercie deliuer from all forraigne and domestical treasons crie vnto euerie one of you that can giue anie counsel Iliad 3. A counsellor must not sleepe all
wils of those small or great through whose hands it shal come and neuer meaneth to haue anie such thing performed as being out of hand to make an end of al and to come himselfe to sit in iudgement where his word shal be surelie countenanced The consideration whereof should make men enter deeply into their dealings herein O why should the curse of any damned soule among vs pursue the withstander of our saluation To make an end pray for vs breethren and now pray and pray againe that our God would encline mercie vnto vs in the sight of the Queene hir Counsell and all the Queenes mightie princes and that builders may be raised among vs. So let it be our God Amen THE NECESSITY laid vpon mā to a 2. Thes 1.8 Isai 53.11 know aright the eternal his creator redeemer to seiue him according vnto that knowledge which is doone of that people alone b Ephes 2.12 2. Tim. 19.10 1. Cor. 1.22 amongst whome the light of the Gospell doth shine as is not obscurely shewed by the Lordes seuere punishment vpon them that are either c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iud. 4. 15. irreligious or negligently regard desperately contemne the trueth being offered vnto them so doth it most liuely appeare by the Lords free and vndeserued d Ezek. 36.32 1. Cor. 4.7 Rom. 4.2 Iam. 1.17 yet rewarding blessings vpon all such as in an holy obedience conforme themselues according to his will What flames of vnquenchable vengeance carelesse negligence of Gods seruice the wilfull reiecting thereof hath stirred in former times amongst nations and will as long as the iust God iustly requiteth the contempt of his word kindle for euer amongst posterities I wish all men duely to consider The Lords anger for the sinnes of his owne people the children of Israel was executed vpon them to the ful euen because they hardened e Ierem. 19. their neckes and would not heare his worde The f Iere. 22.5.7 Lord sware by himselfe that the Temple should bee laide wast that he would prepare destroiers against it g Ierem. 21.5 hee himselfe with a stretched-out hand and with a mightie arme would fight against them euen in anger and in wrath and in great indignation And because h Ierem. 26.2 they would not heare him their Citie should be a curse vnto all the nations of the earth The whole i Ierem. 24.9 people should be giuen for a terrible plague to all kingdomes for a reproch for a prouerbe for a common talke and for a curse vnto all places whither he should cast them Coniah k Ierem. 22.24 the King himselfe should not escape no though hee were the signet of the Lords owne right hand yet should he be plucked thence These plagues with many others most heauy and wōfull did the Lord denounce against them by the handes of his Prophets and perfourmed by the hand of Nebucadnezzar king of Babell Because l Ierem. 40.3 they sinned against the Lord obeied not his voice therefore these things came vpon them as it is manifest Ieremy 40.3 Which are not so lightly to be set by of any as though they belonged properly vnto that time and people especially seeing the Lord iudgeth m 1. Pet. 1.17 without respect of persons and seeing that nation kingdome and people that sinneth against the Lord shal be destroied as it appeareth by the tenor of his iudgement executed vpon Tyrus Niniueh Babel and other Monarchies of the world There is no exception of the n Deut. 7.26 30.15.19 blessing and curse life and death but the blessing and the life shal bee to him that obeyeth the curse and death shal bee vpon the disobedient soule Neither was the grosse Idolatry of this people the only cause of their ruine but the Lord would haue them acknowledge a Ierem. 2.19 that it was an euill yea a bitter euil that his fear was not in them This also did the Leuits b Nehem. 3.9 after their returne confesse to haue beene the cause of their banishment euen that their King Princes Priestes did not diligently attend diligently attend I say vpon the commaundements of Iehoua And in that great day all wicked men shall know that the Lorde will surely render confusion in flaming fire not onely vnto wicked doers but also vnto them d 2. Thes 1.8 that know not God Nothing therfore but shame indignation and wrath e Rom. 2.8.9 tribulation and anguish of soule in this life can bee expected for of those people whose tongues workes are against Iehoua to prouoke the eies of his glory f Isai 3 8. and after this life a tormenting portion in that lake that burneth with fire brimstone which is the second death Of which sort al they must needs be which neuer heard of that which is the g Rom. 1 15. 1. Co. 1.21 power of God to saluation to as many as beleeue On the contrary side the prosperous estate of that nation language and people whose God is the Lorde Iehoua what hart will not reioice to see If you will knowe therefore the roote of the florishing estate of any kingdome Dauid h Psal 44.15 telleth you that it is in hauing Iehoua to be your God The children of Israell vpon this foundation were thought to be such a gorgious i Deut. 4.6 building that all other nations seemed to be but cottages and wormes-houses in respect of them For in that they k Deut. 26.16.17 18 19.34.26 had set vp Iehoua to be their God and to walke in his waies to keep his ordinances lawes and statutes and to harken vnto his voice the Lord also had set them vp that day to be a precious people vnto himselfe to make them high aboue all nations in praise in name and in glory A large declaration of the priuiledge of such a people is recorded Psalm 33. Behold the eies of Iehouah doe looke vpon them that feare him and wait for his kindnesse that hee may deliuer them from death and keepe them aliue in the time of famine And in the life to come Iohn saith of them in the Reuelation Reue. 7.16.17 that they shall not hunger any more neither shal the sunne light on them nor any heat for the lambe that is in the middest of the throne shall gouern them lead them to the liuely fountaines of water and God shall wipe away all teares from their eies Oh then what Christian yea ingenious humane naturall heart will not be greeued to see any people in such a forlorne case as not only to be bereaued of those vnspeakable blessings of the Lord whereof al they shal be partakers that fear him but also laid open vnto the weapons of his reuenging and consuming anger in this worlde and in that to come to his eternall and neuer ending wrath And who would not strain himselfe to the vtmost of his ability
and beyond all his might to make knowen the case of such a people vnto those who both can and also would find a remedy therunto For mine owne part because I see the spirituall miserie wherein wee nowe liue in the Country of WALES for want of the preaching of the Gospel and the great plagues that are like vndoubtedly to fall vpon vs for the same I cannot but be so asfected toward these our calamities as in respect of the Lords honor the desire of the saluation of my breethren my loyall obedience vnto her Maiesty and the discharge of my own conscience I doe alwaies from the bottome of mine heart wish and pray for the redresse heereof nowe by writing with all humility and submission in the feare of God lay open our estate first vnto the consideration of your excellent Maiesty my dread soueraigne Queene Elizabeth vnto whom only of all the potentates of the earth I owe all obedience and seruice in the Lord Iesus and next vnto the viewe of your high court of Parliament desiring you vpon my knees in the name of the great God the creator and preseruer of heauen and earth whose honor is now in hand that our petitiō may be so throughly waied as our necessity requireth The summe whereof is that it would please your Maiesty this honorable assembly in a zealous and a godly compassion to regard the lamentable and wofull estate of vs your poore subiects breethren which liue at this day altogither without the knowledge of a Isai 43.11 ◠a sauing God because we haue not b 2. Chro. 15.2 teaching Ministers among vs that some order may be taken by your Maiesty and the estate whereby wee may bee freed from that destroieng grosse darckenesse of ignorance wherein we nowe are bewrapped to the woe of our soules for euer And so by our true conuersion vnto the Lorde we may auoid euerlasting death and preuent the fiercenesse of the wrath indignation which we see iustly to hang ouer vs in this life The remedy of this our grieuous case is only had and no other way by speedie d Luk. 10.2 Matth 9.8 prouiding vnto vs such pastors as may feede vs with the food of life the pure worde of God and bring vs home vnto the only a 1. Pet. 5.4 Heb. 13.20 Luk. 22.25 Mark 10. Lord of pastors sheepeheards the Lord Iesus This is the summe of al my dread soueraigne that I your base vassall haue emboldened my selfe to offer vnto you and this your high court of Parliament wherein I protest that in respect of my weakenesse al maner of waies the basenesse of my condition I intreated the Lorde to send vnto you by the hand of him whom b Exod. 4.13 hee should sende that is by one endued with such giftes and authority also as whereby the suite might haue purchased some countenance and so be found more auaileable and plausible But considering that this mine endeuor might be a means to stirre vp some such and that the Lorde is the Lord of countenance credit and fauour therefore can adde vnto his own cause the good liking of men either more or lesse as seemeth best vnto him which only guideth the harts of the children of men And that he is then fullie seen for his own glories c Rom. 4.2 Ezek. 36.32 sake to bring the worke to passe that tendeth to the saluation of any when hee vseth most abiect and vnfit tooles I doe not doubt if it be his good pleasure but that this supplication though put vp by a sinfull weake hand shal haue all the intertainment that the message of the liuing God desireth to haue And although our estate beeing duly waied doth with most patheticall pierceing cries that may moue againe the very flinty rockes make intreaty for it selfe and declare the vnanswerable necessity either of hauing our petitions graunted or of the torments of our soules in hel fire for euer and our fatal ruine in this life yet I thought it most needefull in this briefe treatise to set downe some of the reasons whereupon our petition is grounded that by the view of them it may appeare how daungerous a thing it is in the sight of God and man to deny our suite And here verilie the cause may be seene at the first sight to be inuironed with a two-fould wall as it were of most iust and apparant equity First in respect of the honour of God whereat especially it aimeth Secondly in regard of man whom it doth not a litle concerne Whether therefore you do consider the Lord himselfe whom we disdain and contemn for want of better instruction out of his woord by our vngodlie liues or her gracious Maiestie and this honourable assembly who are bound before the Lorde with an vncancelable band to see the eternall verity of the Gospell of Iesus Christ taught vnto obeied of al the inhabitants within the precincts of her Maiesties dominions or my deere brethren and countri-men whose ioiful and happy felicity is this way sought for you shall find the supplication to be full of dutifull endeuors towardes the maintenance of Gods glory the safe estate of this kingdome our soueraign whom the Lord long preserue ouer vs hurting none full of equity on all parts Wee desire to haue the knowledge of our God and the Lawes of his kingdome whose subiectes in name wee professe our selues and in deede ought to bee made knowne and taught vnto vs. We desire that the tyranny of Sathan who a 2 Cor. 4.4 Ephes 6.2 2.23 exerciseth a regencie in the hearts of all them amongst whom Gods trueth hath not beene taught may be ouerthrown b Rom. 1.16 Heb. 4.12 Ier. 23.29 by the powerfull arme of God the worde preached c Iam. 1.21 who can saue our soules Now therefore to you right honorable worshipful and reuerend of this Parliament with al humility be it spoker in the audience of our God in the presence of Iesus Christ and in the witnesse of euery child of God who shall read this litle treatise we most earnestly and vehemently as in the cause of Iesus Christ and in the cause of our soules entreate and beseech you cry and cal vpon you to do your endeuors that Sathan may no longer keep vs in bondage which ought to be imploied in the seruice of our God and that the Lorde Iesus his throne may be established in our hartes d 1. Cor. 6.19 3.16 as it ought to be in those which are his members What interest hath sathan in vs that wee should be permitted to be at his beck and leaue vndoone the duty we owe vnto our most beneficial louing God euen by the law of creation Why should he preuaile more with you which continually seeketh your destruction ours than Iesus Christ whose loue towardes vs was sealed with the losse of his life euen then when we were his enimies Wil you
if men knew the sinne of resisting the Gospell to bee so hainous they would perhaps further our suite or at least not hinder it But because the preaching of the woorde is thought no better than folly of worldly wisemen it commeth often to passe that the reiecting of a suite tending thereunto is made a thing of smal moment And although in very deed this sinne be high treason against the Lord yet the offenders herein will auouch themselues to seeke the honor of God no lesse than the earnest furtherers of the woorde preached yea though they throw al their blockish and wilful reasons in the way to stop the passage of it And least men shoulde terme them by their rightname they thinke the excuse will stand in good steede to saie they cannot see how the hindering of the Gospell should bee so odious in the sight of God and therefore no reason why they should be thought kickers against the heauen seeing they in euery point fauour the proceedings of their Prince But how vaine and ridiculous is their excuse For shal a traitour be therefore acquited because he offending against the Lawes of God and his soueraigne as in transferring the praerogatiue due vnto his Prince vnto a forraine Idolatrous shauen priest protesteth that he neither acknowledgeth not seeth his actions therein to bee traiterous Or shall Pellagians Papists Arians c. auoid the names and punishments of heretickes because they affirme nothing but that whereof by the strong delusion of Sathan they are persuaded I trow not No more can hee be said to doe any thing lesse than to iustle against the heauen and him that dwelleth therein which putteth his shoulder against the progresse of his woord though his owne corruption will not suffer him to perceaue this his rauing madnesse As therefore you of this honourable assembly would not bee taken defacers of Gods glory so in most humble wise I admonish you not to oppose your selues in any sort against this our petition and as you would find fauour at the handes of the iudge of al the woorld in the day of iudgement and bee acquited before Iesus Christ and by him further his honour to the vttermost of your power Regard whose cause it is what account hee maketh of it how derogatorious it is vnto his glory for you to deny vs the Gospell I know it will bee aunswered here that her Maiesty and the Parliament deny the true seruice of God vnto none and haue taken order that no false religion should bee vsed of anie subiect in this land Which thing also I doe affirme from my hart and thank God for and the Lord wil not forget Queene Elizabeths kindnesse in this thing towards his house I adde moreouer that if any the people of this Realme want the same in particular which hee hath granted all in general it is her wil they should acquaint the Parliament with their cause where they ought to bee heard Hitherto therefore tendeth my speach If we th people of Wales making our estate known shall not haue it redressed by this assembly that then the ouerthrowe and weakning of Christes kingdome is intended thorough this meanes by them that shall binder preaching to be graunted vnto vs our calling adding great strength thereunto Let all know therefore how greatly it tendeth to the honour of the most high God which he wil maintaine as the apple of his eie against al the euil willers thereof vnto their vtter ruine and shamefull confusion both of body and soule that the lamp of the Gospell should bee set on fire amongest vs and that a repulse should bee giuen to Iesus Christ by repelling this our cause Good my Lords whose honour in the feare of God I desire thinke with your selues that the Lord of heauen being now reiected of most nations of the earth is thrust into this poore Iland of England as into the furthest westerne partes sauadge America and that continent excepted but surely his entertainment here if one handmaid had not better cherished him had beene very cold He hath often threatned vs to depart by taking her with him from such vngrateful subiectes as wee are Particular men he hath by his seueral blessing and the sound of his woord from the highest to the lowest sollicited vnto his seruice Alser the most part refused This one time he wil try whether the whole estate of the land will allowe him anie larger demaines than hitherto he enioied And therefore he now knocketh by this our suite at the doore of the Parliament to know whether we the people of Wales shall bee graunted him as his herytage If it be denied he protesteth that hee will stay no longer He expecteth an aunswere Haue a regard what ye doe A greater matter cannot be consulted vpon What a shameful thing were it for man to deny his God that which most concerneth his glory Alas the day what hinderance wil it be vnto any of you to haue vs poore Welshmen celebraters of the honour of our God And what pleasure will it bee vnto you to haue him departed from this kingdome in a rage because he is not heard in that thing wherein he most delighteth And beleeue me I am highly afraid he will take your denial so vnkindly that England shal feele by the taking away of his Gospell what a gest it vngratefully lost Therefore as I said before so I say againe that our suit is not sleightly to be looked vnto much lesse denied because vppon the graunting of it not onely the saluation of many thousand soules but also the glory of the most mighty God relieth It were extreme madnesse for vs to be cold in that suite wherein we woulde haue others whom it concerneth not so much to be vehement and earnest And we might iustly both before God and men fry againe in our condemnation if we were not most earnest in a matter of such weight Saluation is not bestowed vpon them that care not whether they haue it or no Nay our Sauiour setteth downe that seeking for it will not serue but there must be great striuing vsed and that with agony and contention a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Striue saith hee b Luk. 13.24 to enter in at the strait gate for many I tel you wil c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seeke to enter and shal not be able Maruel not therefore if we leaue no stone vnturned to come by that which is so precious and so hardly found But the obiection ministreth greater strength to our argument For either the Parliament must deale most iniuriously with her Maiestie and saie it is not her will to haue Christ Iesus raigne ouer vs which far be it from entering into anie mans heart or that they will in a cause so directly tending vnto Gods glorie and the good of the weale publicke resist that which she most of al would haue decreed This later hath not beene found and I hope neuer will be in the Parliament of
England as long as Queene Elizabeth hath the scepter in her hand And can any man admire that we haue al this while of her Maiesties ragine been by the iust iudgement of God without the word preached and also read as shall be shewed whereas wee neuer as yet opened our mouthes for it I am so far then from conceiuing any vnduetifull thought of my soueraigne and this high Court as transferring the cause of our ignoraunce vpon them that I protest in iustly resteth on our selues For when did that day shine this twenty eight yeares and aboue that anie among vs whom the Lorde had endued either with authority or giftes of learning haue moued this cause effectually vnto her Maiesty or the Court of Parliament Though I would wish wee had found the fauour in their sight howbeit vnworthy of our selues to be driuen vnto the mariadge of Iesus Christ against our wils that some more might solemnise the same than doe at this day to his honour and their owne eternall felicity If any man will heere demaund whether the Lorde requireth any more at the handes of this high Court in the cause of religion than is already perfourmed seeing there is not only permission graunted for al that will to professe the truth but also a commandement that none aduenture the contrary I answere he exacteth a great deale more As to see that euery inferiour person haue done his duety in the performance of that enioined vnto him for the planting of religion To see whether such Lawes as haue beene alreadie prouided in that cause haue beene put in practise if not to consider wher the fault was and see it amended To consult whether a better order may be taken for the progresse of true religion than hitherto hath been and being found to put the same in execution Againe for as much as the work is the ruling of Gods people especiallie to prouide that the gouerment may be according to the Lords owne Lawes Briefly where the word is not preached there to establish the same with speed Our whole country of Wales as yet being altogether in ignorance to endeuour themselues in deed to see the same called In a word to order euery thing in euery particular parcell of this Iland and the other according vnto the Law and testimony for the declining there-from argueth great ouer-sight and folly as it is set downe Isai 8.20 Otherwise the Lord should enioine more vnto a father or maister in the gouernment of his family than vnto a magistrate in the common wealth For a father and so a maister is not only bound to see that his sonne bee no Idolatour or swearer which would to God all fathers perfourmed but also to bring them vppe in 2 Ephes 6.2 instruction and information of the Lord. Did Abraham no more think you than command his seruants that they should take heede they serued not the gods beyond the riuers and wil them in some general sort to serue Iehouah You shall find it otherwise recorded of him Genesis 17.19 Good Iehoshuah protested that he and his house that is all those that were vnder his gouernment would serue Iehouah In whose example the doubt will not bee worth the answere Iehosh 24.14 that Iehoshuah doth content himselfe in this place onelie to haue barelie offered the trueth vnto his people and giuen them the choise whether they would professe it or no whereas his protestation importeth that as many as would be gouerned by him should serue Iehouah If they did otherwise such rebels against God were not fit to bee his people To omit that the case is far vnlike in the people of Wales and the Israelites at this time I would that all which be are the chiefe soueraigntie of anie common-wealth christian whether monarchie Aristocracie c. would plainlie declare that they should not be their subiects who would not be obedient vnto the Lord as did Iehoshuah in this place Dauid tooke a band of himselfe Psal 101.7 to keepe no such in his house Wherein it appeareth that he did both denie the same to be a cage for Idolatours and in like maner would haue al things there according vnto the will of God His care was no lesse in the common wealth as maie appeare by his great sollicitude in bringing home the a 1 Chro. 13.5 1. Chro. 15.13 Ark confessing amending his carelesse ouersight herein before committed by his earnest desire to add as much dignitie as hee could vnto the seruice of God in offering to build him an house Lastly the exhortation he made at his death-bed to the rulers his sonne Salomon proclaimeth openly what a care he had to see the Lorde honored of euery man in his kingdome I thought good in this place to set downe Dauids wordes b 1. Chro 28.8 Now therefore saith he in the sight of al Israel the congregation of Iehoua in the eares of our God keepe and make diligent enquiry for all the commandements of Iehouah your God that you may possesse this land and leaue it for an inheritance vnto your children after you for euer And thou Salomon my sonne knowe thou the God thy fathers and worshippe him with an vpright hart and with a careful soule for Iehouah searcheth the hearts and vnderstandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts if thou search for him he will be found of the but if thou forsake him he wil cast thee off for euer I see to whome I speake and therefore application needeth not Onely you are to marcke that no seruice by picce-meale but according vnto al the commandementes is allowable and that the Magistrate must practise all that God requireth of him The wil of God in any particular point of religion being vnknowen vnto him hee must make diligent search and inquiry for it himselfe keepe seeke all the commaundementes saith he In which wordes the holy ghost noteth that a good magistrate may be ignorant of his duty but giuing this caueat withall that as soone as he is put in mind thereof We must seek vntil we find and hauing sound keepe the commandements though by an inferior person he must not be borne in hande by any other that all is well for how can that be well and in good case which is not according to the Lordes wil but see reformation out of hand The necessity of obaieng is set downe in that the Lord would not spare Salomō if he did the cōtrary no though he had made a promise of fauor vnto him Further concerning the magistrates dutie in this particular care that God be honoured through his charge wee shall find in the example of good Iehosaphat who hauing in the third yeare of his raigne most a 2. Chro. 17.9 2. Chro. 19.5 notably established religion sending Leuits about throughout all the Cities of Iudah to teach i the people notwithstāding in the 18. or 17 year confer 2. Chr. 16.5 1. Kings 22.41 with the 1.
Kin. 16.29 went through the people from Bersheba to mount Ephraim and brought them againe vnto Iehouah the God of their fathers so litle a thing was it in his eies to haue once verie notablie reformed his people vnlesse he did the same as often as need required Religious Ioshia 2. Chro. 33.29 caried the like heart with him The good king rent his clothes his heart melted within him with weeping and wringing of handes he humbled himselfe before his God and immediatly set vpon the reformation of euery thing amisse as soone as he perceiued the Lord to be dishonored by neglecting the performance of his will in any point But what needed he to haue taken all these paines He had a promise all should go well in his daies and after him his people were sure to smart for their former sinnes He had doone well for his part fals-religion was expelled in the 1. yeare of his raigne this being the 18. Iudah Ierusalem were purged from their high places time would not serue to establish euery thing according vnto the lawe of Moses the people were simple not capeable of the gouernment required by the worde of God his nobility by reason of their long continuance in Idolatry not so well perswaded of the true religion he sought to establish It was very new vnto them their weakenes were to be born-withal Yea they must haue the liberty of their consciences Perhaps they who should haue beene most forward as the high priest and others were found very great enimies vnto all good proceedings It may bee they looked that all should bee committed vnto their handes as the pope hath done in times past For what had a ciuil magistrate to doe with setting in order things belonging vnto religion These and many other hinderances hee had I grant 2. Chro. 34.3 But looke when the zeal of the Lords house hath eaten vp any how easily they swallow all occasions that might hinder the true worship of God in any that belongeth vnto them And therfore that very yeare euen then when he was farther instructed by examining the booke of the Lawe of Moses concerning his duty he gathered the people from the greatest vers 30 31 32 to the smallest priest and Leuite read the woord of the couenant in their eares and made a couenant before Iehouah to keepe his commaundements his statutes and his testimonies with all his heart and with all his soule He cause al that were found in Ierusalem and Beniamin to stand vnto it So farre was hee from bearing with any in their Idolatrous perswasions that could not for consciences sake forsooth but turne backe from Iehouah the God of their fathers that as it is recorded of him hee a verse 33. compelled all that were found in Israel to agree vnto the couenant to serue Iehouah their God which they did al his life In which actiō religion being now receiued by publicke consent hee did not only according to the commandement a Deut. 13.69 the example of his pre decessors the b Ius 22.21.19 whole cōgregation in the booke of Ioshua and godly king Asah c Chro. 15.13 who de creed that whosouer would not serue Iehouah should be stoned whether he were small or great but also that which the wonderfull and great woorkes of God wrested from e Dan. 3.29 Neubuchadnezzer and almost nature it selfe shewed vnto king Artashash f Ezra 7. a6 Gods honorbeing precious in the eies of this assembly as I hope it is wil driue them to follow these godly examples and to looke with the eies of an Egle into the estate of our Church in Wales yea compel vs by authority rather than faile to honour sanctifie the Lord by the knowledge of our saluation For then he is said to gaine a name and maiesty to himselfe when he is seene to forgiue sins not for mans desert but for his own g Isai 4.8.9.12 glory sake and he is then knowen to be the Lord when hee is h Ezek. 76.23 sanctified in his people For indeede none is able either to forgiue sinnes or to sanctify the prophane hart of man but the Lord himselfe Therefore the prerogatiue aboue all others giuen to out sauior christ in the reuelation is that when there was none found in heauen or earth or vnder the earth worthy to looke vpon the book sealed with seauen seals muchlesse able to open it he the lyon of the tribe of Iudah performed both But who knoweth this saue they Ephes 2.13 that are redeemed by his blood And his blood clēseth none but these i which heard the worde of trueth euen the gospel of saluation preached vnto them The way then to procure that the people of Wales maie cry with a loude voice Woorthie is the lambe to take the booke open the seales thereof Reuel 5.12 because he was killed and hath redeemed vs to God out of euery kindred and tongues people and nation is to bestow the worde preached vpon them And howe greatlie the calling of men vnto saluation augmenteth both the might and the exceeding riches of Gods strength shal be easily gathered if you doe but consider that the treasury the iewell house and wardrobe as I may say of Gods glorious in heritance in the Saints and the exceeding greatnes of his power towardes them that beleeue is no other way discerned but by the spirite of reuelation through the knowledge of god as the expresse woords of the Apostle do enforce Ephes 1.18.19 All which proceed from hearing the worde of truth verse 13 as he set down before The wordes which the Apostle vseth to expresse the meaning of the holy-ghost doth most euidentlie conuince that they who felt not this power in themselues count the Lord to be but a weakeling For although the contemplation of nature 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. the mouing of the heauens and the creatures therein contained may afforde some glimse of the might that is in the creator yet this is not indeede so much as a shadowe of the other wherein the Lord is said to exercise the power of his own right hand As first in giuing the Lord Iesus a conquest ouer al the k Coloss 15 principalities and powers of his enimies making him to triumph ouer them and that l Heb. 2.10 18.4 5. 5.7 by weakenesse sufferings crosses calamities temptations yea and death it selfe then in raising him from death to giue him a name aboue all names and to make him the head of al. Secondly in vs his poore members sauing our helplesse and damned soules woorking mightily in our sinful stony hearts by the conuersion of vs vnto him giuing vs poore flesh and blood a conquest also ouer our owne fleshe and the rebellious motions thereof and which is more ouer the prince of the world himselfe Assuring our vnbeleeuing hartes of his loue towardes vs shewing how mightie his spirite was in
vnto their petition is this Either it must be said that her highnes would not haue the Lord honored with our saluation that hue in hir daies and that she enuieth vs that good nay enuieth herself yea reiecteth the infinite reward in the life to come and assurance of safety with diuerse other benefits in this life freely offered vnto her for adding vs vnto the kingdome of his son which assertion I know they will detest and gainesay or that shee greatly longing for the honour of God and our vnspeakable good desirous of the crowne that shal bee giuen hir in the life to come will be most carefull incontinently whatsoeuer may ensue to plant the word in Wales This later is to be embraced affirmed Neither can it be said that she wil take leisure herein for that were plainly to say her Maiesty waied not the honour of Iesus Christ because many a thousand of vs should die before he were known to be a sauiour of distressed soules Shee hath otherwise learned Christ and therefore knoweth that the Lorde must not staie mans leasure when hee woulde haue anie thing perfourmed towards his seruice If one wil not do it he can finde another whom he wil honor â—â—â—h the deed Shee hath learned that it is to wâ—â—ken the Lordes omnipotencie and to teach him wisedome and discretion to goe no farther in a matter required by him than mans reasons seeth good likelie to come thereof She assureth hir selfe the Lord is discreet wise inough in commanding and therefore will doe hâ—â— will though hir kingdome should be endaungâ—red For he sufficiently recompenseth the losse that befalleth to anie while the execution of his will is attended vppon This course she tooke at hir first coronation This course I doubt not she wil take at this Parlament euen this I saie for who knoweth whether the Lord Iesus meaneth to keepe his before we haue a second proclaimed Will you therefore good gentlemen I speake vnto you my fathers my brethren my kindred and what name of loue else can be inuented my deare countrimen be mute where there is no question you shal be hard vnles the fault be in you Indeed it concerneth vs poor inhabitants of Wales verie nearly to be hard as wel in respect of our present misery as of the wonderfull calamity that is to fall vppon vs. Our case now is to bee especiallie pittied in respect of the inner man For howe many souls doe daily starue and perish among vs for want of knowledge And how many are like still to tread the same path It grieueth me at the hart to consider how hel is enlarged to receaue vs. And here the Lord knoweth and our soueraigne with this most honourable assembly shal know that I doe not complaine withour cause For our estate is such that we haue not one in some score of our parishes that hath a sauing knowledge Thousands there be of our people that know Iesus Christ to be neither God nor man king priest nor prophet ô desolate and forlorne conditiom yea almost that neuer heard of him If anie by the great goodnesse of God be called this came to passe not by the diligeÌ„ce of their pastours which are either dumme or greedy dogs that delight in sleeping as saith the Propheâ— a few honest meÌ„ excepted but either extraordinarily through reading or by meanes of their reâ—â—â—t and abode in some corner of the Church of â—ngland where the gospel is preached And lâ—â—g â—ay it be preached there to the glory of Gâ—d the felicity of our soueraign and the eueâ—â—asting good of that whole nobility and people â—hose kindnes towards strangers the Lord wilâ—â—ot forget And our Godremember Queen Elizabeth herein and wipe not out hir kindnes shewed toward thy people shew mercy vnto hir iâ— that daie good Lorde and forget hir not in this life also seing by means of fostering thy Gospell in hir land some of vs a people not regarded haue known the remissioÌ„ of our sinnes euen of our great sinnes Let this neuer be forgotten good Lord. I am caried I knowe not whither from my purposed intent These latter sort are some few gentlemen or such like The rest of our people are either such as neuer think of anie religion true or false plainly meere Atheists or stark blinded with superstition The later are of 2 sorts The first crue is of obstinate idolaters that would fain be again in execrable Rome so hold for good diuinity whatsoeuer hath bin harched in that sacrilegious nest But these may doe what they wil with vs for nether ciuil magistrat nor Bishop wil controul them They may be euen of the Parliament house least that congregation should be without some AchaÌ„ that might giue the Lord iust occasion to execrate his whole hoast Hence flow our swarmes of south saiers and enchanters such as will not stick openly to professe that they walke on Tuesdaies and Thursdaies at nights with the fairies of whom they brag themselues to haue their knowlege These sonnes of Belial who shuld die the death Leuit. 20.6 haue stroken such an astonishing reuerence of the fairies into the harts of our silly people that they dare not name theÌ„ without honor We cal them bendith û mamme that is such as haue deserued their mothers blessing Now our people wil neuer vtter bendith û mamme but they wil saie bendith û mamme û dhûn that is their mothers blessing which they account the greatest felicity that any creature can be capeable of light vpon them as though they were not to be named without reuerence Hence proceed open defending of Purgatory the Real presence praying vnto images c. with other infinit monsters The other sort is of good simple soules that would full gladly learne the way vnto saluation and spend their hart blood for the safety of their godly Prince in whoÌ„ they do claim more interest then the rest of hir subiects whosoeuer And this is almost the only happines they haue These poore soules because the Idol pastor can teach them nothing entering more deeply with themselues into the consideration of things find by the small light of religion we enioy through the meanes of hir Maiesty by the instinct of nature that there is a diuine essence who must be carefully and religiously serued and praied vnto for al blessinges that would be obtained Which things they see vnperfourmed publikely therefore priuatly they assay what they can doe But wofull estate they being not taught out of the worde of God what he is that must be serued how he requireth this to be doone inuent vnto themselues both their God and the maner of his seruice concerning saluation they either think that the Lorde is bound to saue all men because they are his creatures or that al shal be saued at the later day at the intreaty of the virgin Mary who shal desire her sonne after iudgement giuen to saue as many of the damned as may bee
couered vnder her man till this being graunted al the damned souls shal be there shrouded and so saued from helsiar This is the cause why our people make but a mocke of sinne They thinke the soule only shal goe to heauen not the body also whence it commeth that they say they care nor what becommeth of their bodies so their soules may bee saued They ascribe sauadge cruelty vnto God the father because he punished mans sinne so seuerely euen in his son Christ the Lord Iesus they commend Nû waâ—th genûfâ—â—him amy tady gwr â—râ—ûlon hinnûâ—onûd cydymmaith da ûwr mab I care not saith one for the father that cruel man but the sonne is a good fellowe Durst wee once conceiue these base cogitations of our Prince I know it would not be tolerated And I hope this religious and wise assembly will procure that the Lord may haue some more reuereÌ„ce at our hands Because the poor creatures can hear nothing at the mouth of their minister how their sinnes may be hidden their iniquities couered it is a common saying euen among those who care not for Rhomish Antichrist that it was a good worlde then when a man might haue a pardon for his sins in such and such a place for one 4 d. They see no felicity where mere ignorance of saluation is A false perswasion thereof they thinke better than none at all Man must haue religion true or false Our people learn one of another most blasphemous praiers This they doe so much the rather because in them they commeÌ„d them selues families c. vnto the tuition of some saint whom they think most fauourable vnto them and best able to grant their petitions My hart bleedeth to think howe these villanies with other vngodly songs are learned of good painfull soules with greedines I know masters of families that teach these vnto their housholds If they meete with any who can write and read they wil demand of him whether he can teach them euer a good praier against such a disease in man or beast Vngodly welsh bookes are fraught with these Idolatries If conscience would not keep me from vttering an vntruth before my soueraigne monarch yet fear of punishment should containe me But this I protest before Iesus Christ who shall iudge all euen according vnto their woordes and in the presence of al the world that the onely staffe stay of al priuat religion among our people the 2 sorts of men before named I exempt are latine praiers praying vnto Saints superstitious obseruations with vngodlie welsh songs and books If these things 〈…〉 meate Atheisme would ouer grow vs. Surely the reading ministery hath nor so much as wrought in the harts of anie almost the persuasion of one true God It were folly to goe about to heale the disease and let the cause remains Concerning that which is reade there is no man but thinketh very reuerently thereof And we praise the Lordâ— that we haue so much publikely by meanes of his highnes whereas in the daies of blindnes we had nothing but professed idolatry Take but a view of our liues and you shal see also what effect reading hath brought to passe There be many sinnes essential almost vnto our nation Profaning the name of God in common talk is prodigious aâ— affirmations or negations will bring thirty â—â—â—hes out of a great many Some shieres of South wâ—les haue gotten them an ignominious name by this sin I dare write that which I durst not vtter in words They are called gâ—ûr eig Dû◠Looke the punishment of swearing Deut â—8 5â— Leuit 〈◊〉 15.16 This is the 〈◊〉 book Zach. 13. Look the Law of concealing an oath Leu. 5 â— and you shâ—â—â— finde that the Parliament shoulde haue great â—â—gard to damme the springes of this sinne by the word preached What a hand we haue had in adultery fornication the great number of illegitimate and base born among vs doe 〈◊〉 I would our Princes and Leuit had not beans chiefe in this trespasse The punishment hereof in the Bishops court is derided of our people For what is it to theÌ„ to pay a litle money or to run through the Church in a white sheete They haue made 〈◊〉 and songs of this vulgar penance Neither iustice of peace not minister wil see the execution of the lawes prouided in this case Though they did seeing the Lords ordinance is not obserued it would not preuaile The seat of iudgement in our coÌ„mon courts is turned into wormwoode A man cannot haue his right in a yeare or two though his euidence be vnaunswerable They haue gotten many shifts wheÌ„ al failes one wil stand viz. excommunication The plaintife without al right maie be excommunicated in the Bishops court and so not absolued in a whole yeare Al which time hee is no person fit to prosecute his right in the common law It is irksome to think how hardly a poor man can keepe any thing from the eues of great countenaunce Though he seeth his own sheep or other cattel feed within two miles of him in some mens pastures he dareth not aske them Quaffing surfeting is too too common Al are become Ismaels Euery mans hand against them and theirs against all other Church men and all will haue their right by the sword for by the word they neuer seek it These thinges I doe not set downe to disgrace my deare countrimen I beare them another hart My purpose is to shew that all the good politique lawes in the woorld cannot wash awaie these our stains The nitre that washeth purely the word of the Lord must doe it A conscience must be wrought in our people else they wil neuer leaue their idolatry swearing adulterie and thee uery They that know the country know how litle hold the straightest and seue rest laws in the world wil take on a great many If it be the wil of the Parliament therfore we shal be bettered let the word be preached among vs. We haue preaching How often Quarterly It is not so For to that one parish where there is one ordinary quarter sermon we haue tweÌ„ty that haue none The number of fit preaching ministers in wales can easily proue the truth hereof Wee paietithes alwaies and therefore we should haue preaching alway for he that laboureth not must not eat 2. Thess 3.8.10 continuall preaching is Gods ordinaunce Eph. 4.12 therefore man must not dispence with it Confer Rom. 8.9 with Eph. 13.2 Tim. 4.2 Acts. 20.18.19.20.31 1 Thess 2.10.11 Heb. 5.12 Acts. 20.16 Colos 3.16 1. Pet. 1.23 Matt. 9.38 The seuerall reasons drawen our of these places of Scripture maie proue the necessity of continual preaching either in respect that it is Gods decree or that mans nature requireth it They that dense this may learne their duty by Iacobs diligence in keeping of sheep Gen. 31.40 So may they that set others to take the ouersight of the Lordes sanctuarie Ezec. 44.8 and blush Preaching is graunted conuenient
but so as reading wil serue the turne I maruel the face of mortall man wil be so brasen as to affirm this the immortal word of god loudly gainsaying it 1 Cor. 1 21. Rom. 1.16 Iam. 1.21 I wil not light a candle before the sun Though preaching be graunted necessary and the word reade no meanes to saluation yet there bee three difficulties that inferre an impossibility to haue the same in Wales The woorde in welsh neither must not can bee gotten Must nor because al should be brought to speak English of the condition the trueth were made knowen vnto them I would it were brought to passe And shal we be in ignorance vntil wee all learne English This is not hir Maiesties will wee are assured Raise vp preaching euen in welsh the vniformity of the language wil bee sooner attained But why can we not haue preaching in our owne toung Because the minister is not able to vtter his mind in welsh He maie For wee haue as manie words as in any vulgar toung whatsoeuer and we might borrow from the latine c. The straunge words would become familiar thorough custom They that defend the contrary are slow bellies and not wel minded to doe their countrie any good A good excuse for the soul quelling non resident Admit we caÌ„not haue welsh preachers yet let vs not bee without English where it is vnderstood There is neuer a market towne in Wales where English is not as rife as welsh From Cheapstow to Westchester the whole compasse of our land on the Sea-side they all vnderstand English Where Munmoth Radnock shiers border vppon the marches they all speake English In Penbrok shier no great store of Welsh CoÌ„sider Anglisey Maâ—gyâ—â—û Câ—â—rnarûon see if all these people must dwel vpon mount Gerizzin and be subiect to the curse because they vnderstand not the English toung The second difficulty is want of sufficient number of ministers The aunswere hereunto may be diuerse First the haruest is the Lords therfore if he be sought vnto laborers shal be sent Matt. 9.38 And extraordinary blessinges may be expected if his ordinance shal take place and mans remoued Might it please hir Maiestie and the Parliament to take this course the Lorde would raise those sauiours Haba 21. that are vnlikely in the fight of man Further the a Vniuersities are able to send out at this time three hundred for the work of the ministery able meÌ„ euery way with a little practise Wee neede not haue all welsh preachers therefore these also might serue our turnes and it would be very hard if a dosen of them were not of our own people Thus many being now prouided for would be such an incoragement vnto students that at the yeares end twise as many would be ready to consecrat themselues to this holy labour What an encouragement also would this be for men to send their Sonnes to the Vniuersities whereas they coulde no sooner send them thither than Colledges woulde haue places void for them Now alas our Vniuersities decay in number of students They that are already placed either dally with their studies or not apply them at all to diuinity because they see no end therof Some bound by reason of their fellowships to enter into the ministery wil make any shift to be dispenced with nay they wil giue euer their places rather than vndergoe this calling The reasons hereof bee two First the idâ—ll priesthoode hath made the most glorious function vnder the sun most contemptible Secondly they see the minister hath no assuraunce of that liuing whereunto he is inducted Euery tristing matter it now made depriuation If it shall please har highner and the Parliament to decree that euerâ—â— godly learned minister may haue as good assuraunce of his siuing for terme of his own life as any subiect in the land hath of his fee simple vnlesse he be found such an offender as his ministery wil be a reproch vnto the Gospel I doubt not but the ministery would be soone furnished with able meÌ„ A number of the idle drones now in our ministerie would become fit for that work in one year if preaching were but here and there scattered among vs and they weekely driuen to exercise Where it may bee seene that their vndoing is not intended but their good There be many worthy men in the Church of England that nowe exercise not their publicke ministery these would bee prouided for among vs. I hope they wil not bee vnwilling to come and gaine soules vnto Iesus Christ Priuate men that neuer were of Vniuerfity haue well profited in diuinity These no doubt would proue more vpright in heart as the Leuits in the like distresse 2. Chr. 29.34 then many of our learned men For the preaching in Welsh order might be taken that our breethren which are of the ministery in England should be sent home Their flockes might be otherwise prouided for they depart with consent Because the necessitie of the Church requireth it One of the 2. Vniuersities since that ioyfull 17. day of Nouember 1557. haue sent into the coÌ„mon wealth 3400. Graduats all these number of graduats a good course being taken might haue bin found in the ministery of her maiesties own planting not so few as 2. thousand ouer-plus might haue bin imploied in other functions Four-hundred of these would haue beene since that time wel placed in Wales whereas at this day we haue not 12. in all our country that doe discharge their duety in any good sort The proofe hereof I offer to stand vnto against all gain-saiers I hope this wil be considered of If not wee may be eight and twenty years more without the word preached The last difficulty is the want of maintenance for our ministers This is but a mere shift to bereaue the Lord of his honour and vs of saluation Ezechia and Iosia could alleadge the like better than we can The people of the Iews being in captiuity had nothing of their owne to builde the Temple yet because they sought the Lord in truth hee sturred vp Cyrus to prouide for them out of his owne reuenewes Hesra 6.8.9 So would he stir vp Queen Elizabeth if we sought him with an vpright hart They whose harts the Lord hath touched would thresh to get their liuing rather than the people should want preaching Our gentlemen and people if they knew the good that insueth preaching would be soone brought to contribute They should bee constrained thereunto Saluation were not bought too dear with the very flesh of our armes The honor we publickely yeeld in Wales vnto our god the word preached being not amoÌ„g vs if the lord be said to alow of which were blasphemy to conceiue he can be proued to be a meer Idoll If to dislike where is that sonne of Adam that wil presume to offer him that which hee regardeth as the killing of a man vntil he may be prouided for in a better sort Her Maiesty and this
Think not the Lorde to winke al this while at our great sins Nay thinke rather that the Lorde will throwe as with a sting the inhabitantes of our land because our pastors are become beasts haue not sought Iehouah Ier. 10.18.21 There be two Archplagues vndoubtedly to be expected for of vs the inhabitants of Wales if our petition be not graunted The first indeed containing all the exquisite torments that may be inuented yet leauing a place for the latter In a woord it is the putting out of that small light of religion which wee haue the cutting off both of vs and our posterity from belonging vnto the Lord. The reason hereof is this if the knights of our shiers and Bishops c. will not shew themselues desirous to returne vnto the Lord with earnest labour for the word preached then they doe asmuch as if they said the woord spoken vnto vs in the name of the Lord we will not heare but we wil do whatsoeuer goeth out of our owne mouth as did the wicked Iewes Ier. 44. But what was replied vnto them Verily this Vers 26. Behold I haue sworne by my great name saith Iehouah that my name shal be no more called vpon by the mouth of any man of Iuda in the land of Aegypt saying Iehouah liueth Our sinnes being like vnto theirs shall be surely rewarded alike The other punishment is the vtter ruine of our land the rasing of our names frō vnder heauē that we shal be no more a people Ieremy maketh it but a smal matter with the Lord to ouer-throw a kingdome for the sinnes of the people therein Chap. 18.7.8.9 So doth Amos 9.8 We haue not indeed as yet a barren womb giuen vnto vs but I feare me we haue brought forth children for the murtherers Though we bring foorth children yet will the Lorde slay the dearest of our bodies yea wo vnto them saith he when I depart from them Hos 9.21.17 Accoūt not these I pray you whom I haue before named to be the visions of the daies afarre off Ezech. 12.18 but tremble and feare least the Lord say the words in our daies and perform thē Thinke rather the Lord to expostilate with vs as he did sometimes with the people of the Iewes O you inhabitants of Wales why wil you dy saith the Lord Why should I giue you for a terrible plague to al the kingdoms of the earth Ier. 12.7 Why should I forsake mine house leaue mine inheritance giue the dearely beloued of my soul into the hands of her enimies Ier. 3.12.13 c. Thou disobedient saith the Lord return and I wil not let my wrath fall vpon thee for I am merciful Be thou instructed least my soule be dismembred frō thee and I make thee a lande without an inhabitant Ier. 6.8 Think these speeches I say to belong vnto you vs in respect of them be vehement The calamities of vs your kinsmé in the flesh yea your own and your childrens wil force you or els you are vnnaturall to vnfould our griefe vnto hir Maiesty and this assembly Our case is pitiful you know Our life short we know not how soone the Lord wil cal for vs. How soon he wil make an end of al. If we haue not more knowledge than as yet we haue enioied meanes to come by the same we can hope for nothing at his hand but that deadly voice I know you not You haue both a Herod in Vra◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 persuasion and necessity which driue wise men to take great matters in hand to pricke you forwarde Throw downe your selues before hir maiesty and this honourable assembly and plead for your liues and your peoples rise not thence vntill your suite bee yeelded vnto We poore people look for nothing else but destruction except our God graunt you fauour at this verie instant time in their sight I with in the Lord that if wee perish we may perish our selues alone and that Queene Elizabeth and hir counsel with the estate and the whole communalty of England may in a good conscience testifie before the Lord and say b Deut. 21.17 Our hands haue not shed the blood of these men neither haue our eies seene it I do most earnestly beseech the Lord Iehouah for his Christes sake who is great and wise in counsell seuere in punishing sinne yet aboundant in mercy and kindnes towards the brused and humble soule to turne his wrath from vs to giue hir Maiesty and this honourable court his spirit to direct them in euery action according vnto his word to make al the enimies of his truth Queen Elizabeth like c Ier. 29.22 Ahab and Zedechiah whom the king of Babel burned in the fire continue hir raigne ouer vs hasten the comming of his Sonne Christ Iesus Amen Amen Yea come quiokelie Lord Iesus To the reader Some rumor of the speedy dissolution of the Parliament enforced me from the 32 Pag. or there abouts so much being already vnder the presse to cut off more of the booke by two parts than is now in the whole The neerer I came to the ende the more hast I made I regarded not herein Amphora coepit Institui currente rota cur vrceus exit The ouersight I hope hath not been very great if any I hartilie craue pardon How tedious vngainful it was for me to dismēber the whole and sow togither the torne parts let other men iudge Some thing spoken of in the Epistle could not be well perfourmed Pag. 30. l. 22. Read through-out his dominion
whole welsh nation Which she now wanteth in asmuch as they knowe not themselues bound by reason of a 1 Tim. 2.2 the commandement to pray for their Prince because the same was neuer taught them When I consider that an infinite number of vs truelie conuerted in the feeling of such a great benefit receaued at hir hands would giue the Lorde no rest daie or night but still bee begging of him to blesse our vertuous Queene Elizabeth with the blessinges of a regenerat heart and a prosperous quiet gouernment when I call to mind what an earnest and ardent affection a true Christian beareth vnto his Prince especially who bestowed on him the meanes of saluation and the promise of God annexed to such praiers I cannot in duty but beseech hir Maiestie not to be wanting vnto hir owne safety euen in this one thing Which should not a little moue hir seeing it was of such great moment to stir vp b Ezra 6.10 Cyrus to the speedy erecting of gods honour at Ierusalem Moreouer you may be assured dread soueraign both that we and our children for euer wil blesse our God that he hath enclined mercy vnto vs in your eies And also our calling wil be a testimony of your burning zeale vnto the truth among all the ages to come euen to the enemies of your good name Whereas on the other side the continuance of our blind ignorance wil be I fear me a blemish vnto your credit in obedience I speak it among our wofull posterities and the enemies of God for euer For what will our children that rise after vs and their children say when they shal be brought vp in grosse superstitiō but that it was not Queene Elizabethes will that we their Parentes should haue that true religion she professed made knowen vnto vs. Will not the enemies of Gods truth with vncleane mouthes auouch that shee had little regarde vnto true or false religion anie further than it belonged vnto hir profite I would some of them did not slaunderously cast abroade amongst our people that she careth not whether the gospel be preached or not preached If she did wee also shoulde bee most sure to enioy it after twenty eight yeares and vpward of most prosperous raigne These thinges derogating from her Maiesties honor in a most villanous sort must be withstoode thorough hir selfe and this whole assembly by making prouision for vs betimes of the food of our soules Because I see this most notably detracteth from hir I cannot in duety but repell and gainsay this slander and with as loud a voice as ynck and paper can sound affirme and publish that she would haue the truth made knowen vnto al her people and wish al of them to be prophets Which thing I trust in God shall bee manifested vnto the woorld euen at this Parliament wherein Wales shal be alotted vnto Iesus Christ for his inheritance And good reason why it should be so because thereupon standeth the mainteinance of hir credit Of al the men in the world therfore she may be least beholding to them that will not deal earnestly in our behalfe And we the inhabitantes of Wales may thinke that very straunge that one suite tending generally to the benefit of vs al will not bee graunted vnto vs in twenty eight yeares and that vnder hir Maiestie whose good will towards vs is no Iesse we are assured then to the rest of hir subiects If wee doubted heereof behold at this time opportunity is offered to take away all suspicion Where-as the neglecting of our cause beeing generall as it is wil not bee without some occasion of ielousie as though we were contemned not accounted of but as thrown into the most baren corner of the land so thought vnworthy to haue the seed of Gods woord sowen amongst vs vnworthy to haue the seruice of the same God with hir Maiesty and the rest hir subiects You that are godly wise counsellers in matters of estate look whereunto the shutting out of our most humble petition may tend For all the good faithful seruice that euer hir graund-father father brother kings of eternal memory hir sister or hir selfe haue found at the hands of anie of our nation we beseech her this one reward that we may enioy the woord of God and leaue it for an inheritance vnto our children with this memorial also that it is Queen Elizabeths reward aswel for the faithfulnes she hir self found in vs whereof we are already by hir prosperous Raigne recompensed as also for the good wil our poore parents haue declared to the loffe of their liues vnto her noble progenitors This would neuer be forgotten and I know it will be aunswered againe with the forwardst readines to yeeld dutifull seruice vnto hir highnes that any prince could hope for at the hands of hir or his most louing subiects It might greeue vs the lesse to be denied the gospel vnlesse the same were the inheritance which our fore-fathers the Cymbrûbrittons many hundred yeares agoe possessed in this lande For although at this daie wee cannot cal true religion by the right name yet are not our superstitious obseruations the blossoms of that auncient truth our forefathers professed and sealed with their blood But the impes of that lifelesse and brutish stock of Rome planted in England by Augustine that proud friar whose tyranical proceedings our diuines in Wales resisted euen to the losse of their liues That these trash be but of small continuance among vs in respect of the antiquity the trueth hath had I proue because the vetie mother of them the execrable Masse was but yesterday as it were knowen vnto vs. Shewed by two reasons First among the cartloades of oathes which wee haue our people cannot tel for their liues how to sweare by the masse Secondly we haue the masse at the end of none of our holy daies For Christmasse Candlemasse c. wee name the day of the natiuity the holy daie of Marie c. Which things doe prooue the Masse to haue had but colde entertainement among vs but within this later age wherin ignorance and idolatrie by the iust iudgement of God tooke such deepe roote in England that it can ouer our land also The equitie then of our petition appeareth also in that we aske nothing but the possession and inheritaunce of our fathers to be restored vnto vs which they coulde not alienate from their children This were a sitte place to stir vp my deare countrimen to bee earnest in obteining that iewell which is woorth all their riches besides beeing their owne right but their forwardae in other causes persuadeth mee they wil not bee slacke in the matter of the soule And why should they not be earnest Doe they not see our daunger to be so manisest that no wise man would spare either woords or life to be deliuered there-from Are they not assured they shall be heard The reason amongst many that might persuade them of hir Maiesties readines to yeeld