seruants to do thē seruice as in resisting the forrayne enemy shewing our selues obedient subiects vnto our prince gouerners not after a sodomicall order but after those orders y t are as wel to be alowed of God as of y e Prince or magistrats Euery one y t euill doth hateth y e light neither cōmeth to y e light least his dedes should be reproued but he y t doth truth commeth to the light that his deedes may be knowne how y t they are wrought in God He that commeth from heauen is aboue all and what he hath seene and heard that he testifieth and no man receaueth his testimony he that hath receaued his testimony hath set to his seale that God is true Which seale signifieth our Christian beliefe the which when we haue heard do forth wyth followe to the vttermost on our parts and do stedfastly stande to the same refusing no plagues that may be layde on the body for that sweete fruite of happy ioye but euen to the ende therein so to continue and then haue we beleued and also sealed But he that seeketh hys prayse that sent hym the same is true and no vnrighteousnes is in him yea and he that sent me is true Let God be true and euery man a lyer as it is written that thou mightest be iustified in thy sayinges and ouercome when thou art iudged Let vs geue none occasion of euill that in oure office be founde no fault but in all thinges let vs behaue our selues as the ministers of God in much pacience in afflictions in necessityes in anguishes in stripes in imprisonmentes in striues in laboures in watchynges in fastynges in puernes in knowledge in long sufferyng in kindenes in the holye ghost in loue vnfayned in the worde of truthe in the power of God by the armour of righteousnes of the right hande and on the lefte by honour and dishonoure by euill reporte and good reporte as deceyuers and yet true And I saw heauen open and behold a white horse and he that sate vpon him was called faithfull and true and in righteousnes he doth iudge and make battaile And I sawe an angell stande in the sunne and he cried with a loude voyce saying to all the foules that flye by the midst of heauen come and gather your selues to the supper of the great God that all flesh may be deuoured The multitude that cried are the vniuersall church or congregation of the faithfull which is also to be vnderstanded the wyfe of the lambe The lambes supper is the lyfe euerlasting for all true beleuers to rest in perpetual ioy and endeles felicitie The foules that are called to the slaughter are the true preachers of christes doctrine who are commaunded to kill and deuoure all flesh with the sharpenes of their preaching in rebuking the fleshly liuing in all degrees O Israell if thou wilt turne thee O England if thou wilt turne thee and leaue thine abhominations then turne vnto me sayth the Lord for euen as the Prophet spake vnto Israell euen the very same speaketh he vnto thee O England And if thou wilt put away thyne offences out of my sight thou shalt not be moued and shalt sweare the Lord liueth in truth in equitie and righteousnes and all people shall be fortunate ioyfull in hym Heare the wordes of the Lord O ye children of Israell for the Lord must punishe them that dwell in the lande And why there is no truth there is no mercye there is no knowledge of God in the lande but swearing lying manslaughter thefte and adultry haue gotten the vpper hande therefore shall the lande be in a miserable case and all those wycked offendours that are therin shall be rooted out The Lord kepeth not his wrath for euer and why his delight is to haue compassion thou shalt kepe thy truth with Iacob thy mercy for Abraham like as thou hast sworne vnto our fathers long ago And it shall come to passe that like as ye were a curse among the heathen O ye house of Iuda and ye house of Israel euen so wil I deliuer you that you shal be a blessyng Feare not but let your hands be strong for thus saith the Lorde of hostes Like as I deuised to punish you what time as your fathers prouoked me vnto wrath saith the Lord of hostes and spared not euen so am I determined now in these dayes for to do well vnto the house of Iuda and Ierusalem Therfore feare ye not Nowe the thinges that you shall doo are these speake euery man the truth vnto his neighbour execute iudgement truely and patiently within your portes None of you imagine euill in his harte agaynste hys neyghbour and loue no false othes for all these are y e thynges that I hate sayth the Lorde The law of truth was in his mouthe and there was no wickednes found in his lyps he walked with me in peace and equitie and did turne many one away from their sinnes Kyng Darius made a great feaste vnto hys seruauntes vnto all hys Courte and to all the officers of Media and Percia yea to all the Deputies and rulers that were vnder hym from Iudea vnto Ethiopia a 127. countries so when they had eaten and dronken beyng satisfied and were gone home agayne Darius the king went into his Chaumber and there layde him downe to sleepe and after a while a waked In the meane season the three young men that kepte the kinges person and watched hys bodye communed among themselues and spake one to an other let euery one of vs say something and looke whose sentence is wisest and moste excellent aboue the other vnto him shall Kyng Darius geue greate gyftes and clothe him with Purple and set hym nere the Kinges presence and so euerye one wrote hys meaning sealed it and layde it vnder the kinges Pillowe and sayde when the kyng ariseth we will geue him our writinges and looke whose worde the king and his chiefe Lordes iudge to be most wisely spoken the same shall haue the victory one wrote Wine is a strong thing the second wrote the King is stronger the third wrote Woemen haue yet more strength but aboue all thinges the truth heareth away the victory and this last probleme was written by Zorababel and was by the king and his counsaile estemed most best in that he preferred truth aboue al thinges True frendship and frindes ye surely shall finde where many pure hartes are made in one minde Tobias of the tribe and Citie of Nepthalem whiche lyeth in the hye countreyes of Galile aboute Naason the way towarde the West hauyng the Citie Sephet vppon the lefte syde thoughe he was taken prisoner in the dayes of Salmanazer kyng of the Assirians neuerthelesse being in captiuitie he forsooke not the way of truthe They that doo sinne in vnrighteousnes are the ennemies of theyr owne soules wherefore I tell you the truthe and wyll hyde nothyng from you
my side who And there looked out to him two or three chamberlaines And he sayd throwe her downe so they threw her downe and her bloud dashed toward the wall and toward the horses and he troade her vnder foote And so she was deuoured of dogges Why boastest thou thy selfe thou tyraunt that thou canst do mischiefe where as the goodnes of God endureth yet dayly put me now in remembraunce for we wil reason together shewe what thou hast for thee to make thee ¶ The signification THe womaÌ„ signifieth Gods loue The hart continuance of the same Hell vnder her signifieth death and destructioÌ„ vnto the careles liuers of this world the lambe signifieth the quiet conscience of the faithfull And death vnder him signieth the chaunge of life vnto all the good to immortalitie the bad to destruction righteous thy first father offended sore and thy rulers haue sinned against me The earth is the Lords and all that therein is the compasse of the worlde and they that dwell therein who shall assend into the hill of the Lord or who shall rise vp in his holy place Euen he that hath cleane hands and a pure hart and that hath not lifte vppe his minde vnto vanitie nor sworne to deceiue his neighbour What man liuing can say that he is cleane and hath not offended now therefore consider what wonderfull loue our creator hath to man when he by his holy spirite calleth vs to repentaunce to the ende that all shoulde come to hys eternall and heauenly kingdome From all misdedes wherin they haue offended against me I saith the lord wil clense them and all their blaspeemies which they haue done against me when they regarded me not I will forgeue them and this shall gette me a name and prayse and honour among all the people of the earth which shall here of the good that I will shewe vnto them yea they shalbe afrayed and astonned at all the good deedes and benefites that I will do for them God so loued the world that he gaue hys only begotten sonne that whosoeuer beleueth in him shoulde not perishe but haue euerlasting life for God sent not his sonne into the worlde to condemne the worlde but that the worlde through him myghte be saued he that beleueth on him is not condemned but he that beleueth not is condemned already because he hath not beleued on the name of the onely begotten sonne of God and this is the condemnation that light is come into the word and men loue darckenes more then light because theiâ— deedes were euil foâ— euery one that doth euill hateth the light neither commeth to the light least his deedes shoulde be reproued but he that doth truth coÌ„meth to y e light that his deedes may be knowne how â— t they are wrought in God Be ye therefore followers of God as deare children and walke ye in loue euen as Christ loued vs and gaue himselfe for vs an offringe and a sacrifice of a sweete sauour to God as for fornication and all vncleanes let it not be once named amonge you nor coueteousnes as it becommeth saintes or filthines or foolishe talking or iesting which are not comely but rather geuing of thaÌ„ks for this ye know that no whoremoÌ„ger either vncleane person or couetous person which is a worshipper of Images hath any inheritaunce in the kingdome of Christ and of God let no man therefore deceiue you with vayne wordes for because of such thinges commeth the wrath of God vpoÌ„ the childreÌ„ of disobedience be not ye therefore companions of them ye were sometyme in darcknes but now are ye light in the Lorde for vngodly communication strengthneth the body against the spirit and withdraweth the minde from al good exercise and labour and thereby deserueth the iust wrath of God and such as are worshippers of Images fornicatours such like hath no part wyth Christ in his kingdome to whome be all glory for euer Be not wise in thine owne consent but feare the Lord and depart from euill so shall thine nauell be hole and thy bones strong honour the lord with thy substauÌ„ce with y e firstlings of al thine increase geue vnto the poore so shal thy â—arnes be filled with plenteousnes and thy presse shall flowe ouer with sweete wine My sonne depise not the chastening of the lord neither faint wheÌ„ thou art rebuked of him for whom the Lord loueth him he chasteneth and yet delighteth in him euer as the father in his owne sonne if ye endure chasteninge God offereth himselfe vnto you as vnto sonnes what sonne is he whome the father chasteneth not Reioyce ye heauens and singe prayses thou earth talke of ioy ye hilles for God hath comforted his people and will haue mercy vpon his that be in trouble but Sion saide God hath forsaken me and my Lord hath forgotten me Will a mother forgette the childe of her wombe and not pitie the sonne whome she hath borne And though she do forgett yet will I not forgette thee sayth the Lorâ—e These are the wordes that the Lorde sheweth vnto Ieremy saying Thus saith the Lord God of Israel write vp diligently all the wordes that I haue spokeÌ„ vnto thee in a booke for loe the time commeth sayth y e Lord that I will bringe agayne the prisoners of my people Israell and Iuda sayth the Lord for I will restore them vnto the lande that I gaue to their fathers and they shal haue it in possession By this may it euidently appeare that God is alwayes myndefull of hys people and will not forget them although for a time he suffer them yet at the length he will visite and helpe them For when the Phariseyes had heard that he had put the Saduces to silence they came together and one of them which was a Doctour of the law asked him a question and tempting him saying Maister which is greatest commaundement in the law Iesus saide vnto him Thou shalt loue thy Lorde thy God with all harte and with all thy soule and wyth all thy minde this is the firste and greatest commaundemeÌ„t And the second is like to it Thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe in these two commaundementes hange al the law and Prophetes In this commaundement the which our Sauiour Christ spake to a Doctour of the seâ—t of the Phariseyes and Saduces in willinge them firste to loue God and next his neighbour or neighboures is plainely to be vnderstanded the loue of our Sauiour Christ towards man in declaring that he which loued God faithfully and also his neighbour should receiue for his reward the euerlasting ioyes and feliciâ—ie thâ—t soroâ— is â—endent plaine that for the great louâ— our â—auiour Christ hath towarâ—â—s man dyd not onely teach all those the which were mindefull of his euangelicall doctrine but also shedde his most precious bloud to 〈◊〉 come man from the bondage of sinne vnto the life of righteousnes and so 〈◊〉
coÌ„mite with God the father to whome be all hâ—ue iâ— and glory worlde without ende ¶ Our loue toward God LEt vs loue God for he hath loued vs first and redemed vs from all euill if we diligently follow his preceptes and commaundementes he was before all things he created all thinges by his only power and might and none but he without him was made nothing y t was made In him is life light and verity a God without beginning and without ending he came among his owne and his owne receiued hym not but as many as receyued hym to them gaue he power to be the sonnes of God Therefore harken vnto me O ye children blessed are they that keepe my wayes O geue eare vnto nurture be wyse and refuse it not blessed is the man that heareth me waiting dayly at my gate and geuing attendaunce at at the postes of my doores for who so findeth me findeth life and shall obtaine fauour of the Lorde but who so offendeth against me saith God hurteth his owne soule all they that hate me is the workers of death and deadly louers Harken also be stedfast in beliefe and seeke for none other helper and mediatoâ—r but onely Iesus Christs which is the mediatour for all mankinde to God his father and he it is the which is the preseruer none but he In the fourth of Saint Iohn it is euidently shewed in the â—â—uing communication the which our Sauiour Christ had with the woman of Samariâ— by the well side declaring plainly that he himelfe was the sonne of God and sauiour of the worlde who so therefore thatseeketh to any other mediatour redemer or preseruer then the onely god and Christ is vtterly deceiued and except speedy returne voyde from all ioye felicitie I am the Lord God which brought thee out of the land of Egipt that thou shouldest not knowe no God but me onely and y t thou shouldest haue no sauiour but only me I haue loued you sayth the lord and yet ye say where in hast thou loued vs was not Esau Iacobs brother saith the lorde yet haue I loued Iacob and hated Esau. Thou wilt saye vnto me why then blameth he vs yet for who hath benne able to resiste his will But O â—an what art thou which disputeth with God shall the worke say to the workeman why hast thou made me on this fashion hath not the potter power ouer the claye euen of the same lumpe to make one vessel vnto honour and an other to dishonour Euen so God wilâ—inge to shewe his wrath and to make his power knowne suffreth with long patience the vessels of wrath ordayned to damnatioÌ„ and to declare the riches of his glory on y e vessels of mercy which he hath prepared vnto glorye They that feare the Lord wil not mistrust his word and they that loue him will â—eepe his commaundementes they that feare the Lord will seeke out the thinges that are pleasaunt vnto him and they that loue him shall fulfill his lawe They that feare the Lord will prepare their hartes humble their soules in his sight they that feare the Lord keepe his commaundements and wilbe pacient til they se himselfe saying better it is for vs to falle into the hands of the Lorde then into the handes of men for his mercy is as great as himselfe Shoulde not a sonne honour his father a seruitant his maister if I be now a father wher is now mine honor if I be y e Lord where then am I feared saith the Lord of hostes Now to you priestes that depise my name and if ye say where in haue we despised thy name In thys that ye offer vncleane bread vppon mine alter And when thy son asketh thee intime to come saying what meaneth these witnesses ordinaunces and lawes which the Lord our God hath commaunded you theÌ„ thou shalt saye vnto thy sonne â–ª we were Pharaos bondmen in Egipt and the Lord brought vs out of Egipt wyth a mighty hand and the Lord shewed signes wonners great and euill vppon Egipt vnto Pharao and all his housholde before our eyes and brought vs out from thence to bring vs in and to geue vs the land which he sware vnto our forefathers Maruailous thinges did he in the sight of our forefathers in the land of Egipt euen in the fielde of Zoan he deuided the sea and let them goe through he made the waters to stand on an heape he rayned downe Manna also vppon them for to eate and gaue them foode froÌ„ heauen But for all this they sinned more and more and beleued not his wondrous workes therefore did he consume their dayes in vanity their yeares in trouble but he remembred his mercy towardes vs that he forgaue their misdeedes and destroyed not them vtterlly Yet for all that they greeued him with their hil alters and prouoked him to displeasure with their Images WheÌ„ God heard this he was wrouth and tooke sore displeasure at Israel While y e phariseyes were gathered together Iesus asked them saying What thinke ye of Christ whose son is he They said vnto him the son of Dauid He saide vnto them How then doth Dauid in spirite call him Lord saying the Lord sayde to my Lord sitte on my right hand till I make thyne ennemies thy foote stoole If Dauid call him Lord how is he then his sonne and none coulde aunswere him agayne one worde neither durste any from that day forth aske him any moe questions notwythstanding that Christ in y t he was man was the sonne of Dauid that is desended of the stocke of Dauid yet Dauid seing in spirit that he was God called him Lord but the Phariseyes who were all flesly coulde not perseiue so much of y e spirit Beholde a certaine lawyer stoode vp teÌ„pted him saying maister what shal I do to enherit eternall life He sayde vnto him what is writteÌ„ in y e law how readest thou And he answered said loue thy lord thy God with al thy hart and with all thy soule and with all thy streÌ„gth and with all thy mynde thy neighbour as thy selfe And he sayde vnto him thou hast aunswered right this do and thou shalt liue he willing to iustifie himselfe saide vnto Iesus Who is then my neighbour Iesus answered and sayde A certayne man desended from Ierusalem to Ierico and fell into the hands of theues which robbed him by the way and wounded him and left him halfe deade and by chaunce there came a certaine priest that same way which saw him and passed by and likewise a Leuit which also loked vppon him and passed by Then a certayne Samaritan as he iornied by came nigh vnto him wheÌ„ he saw him he had compassion on him and went to and bound vp his wounds and set him on his own beast and brought him to a common Inne and made prouision for him and on the morrow wheÌ„ he departed
serue the Lorde in the truth seeke after hys wyll and doo the thyng that pleaseth him For God is gracious and mercifull he forgeueth sinnes in the tyme of trouble and is a defendour for all them that seeke hym in the truthe And we sawe the glorye of it as the glorye of the onelye begotten sonne full of grace and truthe If ye beleue not that I am he ye shall dye in your sinnes Then sayde they vnto him what art thou and Iesus sayth vnto them euen the very same thing that I spake vnto you I haue many thinges to saye and to iudge of you yea and he that sent me is true then sayde hee to those Iewes whiche beleued on hym if ye continue in my worde then are ye my verye disciples and ye shall knowe the truth and the truth shall make you free but now ye goe about to kill me a man that hath tolde you the truth which I haue hearde of God why doo ye not knowe my speache euen because ye can not abyde the hearyng of my woorde ye are of your Father the Diuell and the lustes of your father will ye serue he was a murtherer from the beginnyng and abode not in the truth therefore ye beleue me not whiche of you rebuketh me of sinne if I say the truth why do ye not beleue me For this cause was I borne and for thys cause came I into the world that I should beare witnes of the truth and al that are of the truth heare my voyce I say the truth in Christ and I lye not if the truth of Christ be in me this reioysing shall not be takeÌ„ away froÌ„ me in the region of Achaia Wherfore because I loue you not God knoweth neuerthelesse what I do that will I do to cut away occasion that they might be found like vnto vs in that wherin they reioyce we can do nothing agaynst the truth but for the truth But let vs follow the truth in loue and in all thinges growe in him whiche is the head euen Christ. Let no maÌ„ deceiue you with vain words for because of such things coÌ„meth the wrath of God vpon the children of disobedience be not ye therefore companions of them Ye were sometime darkenes but now are ye light in the lord walke as children of light for the fruite of the spirite consisteth in all goodnes righteousnes and truth Study to shew thy selfe laudable vnto God a workeman that neadeth not to be ashamed distributing the word of God truely and iustly as for vngodly vanities of vices passe thou ouer them for they will encrease vnto greater vngodlinesse and theyr wordes shall freate euen as doth the disease of a canker of whose number is Himeneus and Pliletus which as coÌ„cerning the truth haue erred saying that the resurrection is passed al ready and do destroy the fayth of some but the sure ground of God standeth still hath this seale the lord knoweth them that are his and let euery man that calleth on Christ depart from his iniquitie This witnes is true wherefore rebuke thou them sharpely that they may be sounde in the fayth not taking heede to Iewishe fables and commaundements of men that turne away the truth If we say that we haue felowship with him and walke in darkenes we lye and do not the truth I haue not writteÌ„ vnto you as though ye knew not the truth but as though ye knewe it and knowe also that no lye commeth of truth God graunt al christian hearers and readers of his worde to be as well followers as hearers that after this life we may all raygne in the eternall and euerlasting kingdome with God the father and his sonne Iesus Christ to whome be all glory and dominion both now and euer The description of wisdome ANd the Lord spake vnto Moyses saying beholde I haue called by name Besalael the sone of Ury the sonne of Haâ—â—e of the tribe of Iuda and I haue filled him with the spirit of God in wisdome and vnderstanding in knowledge and in all maner of worke to finde out subtill feates and to worke in golde siluer and brasse And now harken O Israell vnto the ordinaunces and lawes which I teach you c. Kepe it therefore and do them for that is your wisdome The valiant and kingly Prophet Dauid in that he feared the Lord the Lord prospered hym and he behaued him selfe wisely in all his wayes and the Lord was with hym wherefore when Same sawe that he was so exceding wife he was afrayde of Dauid The dayes of Dauid drewe nye that he shoulde dye and he charged Salomon his sonne saying I go the way of all the world be thou strong therefore and shew thy selfe a man Kepe thou the watch of y e Lord thy God that thou walke in his wayes and keepe his statutes and his precepts his iudgementes and his testimonies euen as it is written in the lawe of Moyses that thou mayst prosper in all y t thou dooste and in euery thing that thou medlest wiâ—h all concerning Ioab the sonne of Zarine in that he slewe the two capitaines Abner and Amasa Deale with hym therefore according vnto wisdome and bring not his hore heade down to the graue in peace Prudence coÌ„sisteth in knowledge of things good euill ⧠Of wisdome The signification THe house which standeth on the rocke signifieth the stedfast beliefe of the faythfull The other which standeth in the valy and on sandy ground is the church of Antichrist and all popishe preaching whiche house by violence of the water which falleth froÌ„ the heigth ouer turneth it and so lieth voyde and empty Seperate them that do craftely flatter thee froÌ„ those that do faithfully loue thee least the ill men haue most profite by thee By these examples it is manifest that God hath â—lwayes and at all tymes preserued not onely those rulers and maiestrates the which haue vsed and kept hys preceptes wyth prudent wisdome and iust dealing but also as well the poore and simple hath not onely bene vnto those realmes a most prosperous sauiour in sending aboundaunce of all fertility but in the ende an euerlasting redemer vnto enlesse ioyes and most happy felicity Consider the excellent wisdome of Salomon in doyng iustice betwene the two women that stroue for the quicke childe when as the one of them through her necligence smothered her childe and by craft ment to lay her fact on the other to auoyde the blame was reproued and the true mother of the liuing childe was knowen Also God gaue SalomoÌ„ wisdome and vnderstanding exceding much and a large hart euen as the sand that is on the sea shore and Salomons wisdome exceded the wisedome of all the children of the East countrey and all the wisedome of Egipt for he was wiser then all men yea theÌ„ Ethan the Ezrahite and Hemam Chalcol and Darda the sonnes of
a thousande shall fall beside thee and ten thousande at thy right hand but it shall not come nigh thee yea with thine eyes shalte thou beholde and see the rewarde of the vngodly God beginneth iudgement at his owne house for he sendeth tribulations and afflictions vnto his church If ye be rayled vppon for the name of Christ happy are ye for the spirite of glory and the spirite of God resteth vpon you one theyr part he is euill spoken of but one your partes he is glorified see that none of you suffer as a murtherer or as a theife or an euil doer or as a busie bodie in other mens matters if any suffer as a christian maÌ„ let him not be ashamed but let him glorify God on his behalfe for the time is come y e iudgement must begin at the house of God if it first begin at vs what shal the end be of theÌ„ which beleue not the gospell of God and if the righteous scasely be saued where shal the vngodly sinner appeare wherfore let them that suffer according to y e will of God commit their soules to him with well doing as vnto a faithful creator Riches helpeth not in y e day of veÌ„geaunce but righteousnes deliuereth from death the righteousnes of the iust shall deliuer them but the wicked shalbe taken in their owne vngodlines If we had truely iudged our selues we shoulde not haue bene iudged but when we are iudged of the Lord we are chastened because we should not be damned with the world Uerely verely I say vnto you the tyme shall come and now is when the dead shall heare y e voyce of the sonne of God and they that heare shall liue for as the father hath life himselfe so likewise hath he geuen to the sonne to haue life in hymselfe and hath geuen hym power also to iudge in that he is the sonne of man Maruaile not at this the houre shall come in the which all that are in the graues shall heare his voyce and shall come forth they that haue done good into the resurrection of life and they that haue done euill vnto the resurrectioÌ„ of damnatioÌ„ For God so loued y e world y t he hath geueÌ„ his only son y e none y t beleue in him should perish but should haue euerlasting life for God seÌ„t not his son into y e world to condemne the world but that the world through hym myght be saued he that beleueth on hym shall not be condeÌ„ned but he that beleueth not is condeÌ„ned already because he beleueth not in the name of the only sonne of God He that refuseth me and receaueth not my wordes hath one that iudgeth hym the wordes that I haue spoken they shall iudge hym in y e last day There shall goe a fire before hym and burne hys enemies on euery side hys lightnes gaue shine vnto the worlde the earth saw it and was afrayd The Lords comming shalbe heard like a great noyse froÌ„ the Citie and shall reward hys enemyes on a sodayne euen as the trauayling of a wife wheÌ„ she bringeth forth a maÌ„ childe or euer she suffer the paine of the birth and anguish of the trauayle The night is passed and the day is come nye let vs therefore cast away the dedes of darkenes and let vs put on the armour of light Let vs walke honestly as it were in the day light not in eating and drinking neither in foolishnes as strife and enuiyng but put ye on y e Lord Iesus Christ and make no prouision for the flesh to fulfill the lustes of it Of y e times and seasons brethren ye haue no neede that I write vnto you for ye your selues know perfectly that the day of the Lord shal come euen as a theife in y e night when they shall say peace and no daunger then commeth on them sodayne destruction as the trauayling of a woman with childe and they shall not escape therfore let vs not sleepe but watch diligently for the comming of the Lord that at our calling we may be found occupied in all God exercises least being found idell we perish in our owne iniquitie and so come to destruction both of body soule Examine therefore euery maÌ„ amoÌ„g your selues and so spende y e dayes of thys troublesome pilgrimage that in y e ende we may come and appeare at y e generall day before y e eternall iudge who shall iudge all flesh according to theyr desartes and let vs most chiefely pray vnto God so to ayde vs wyth hys holy spirit against the temptacions of Sathan that at our appearance we may be found lawdable and glorious in the sight of that most pure and imaculate lambe Iesus Christ and to receaue y e blessed benediction when he shal say come ye blessed children into my euerlasting kingdome prepared for you from y e beginning of the world And to y e reprobate wicked ones goe ye wicked into the infernall hell prepared for you the deuill and his aungels Let all faithfull hartes pray vnto God and alwayes glorify his most blessed name vnto the which God be all glory power and dominion for euer and euer AmeÌ„ A Smalle reward I looke to haue Of such as do the truth despise No whit at all I mynde to craue But further truth in any wise All flesh is frayle and soone doth rotte As doth the flower in the fielde When man is gonne full soone forgot Therefore in tyme to truth do yelde Lament all flesh that liuing be With brinish teares and blubbrid eyen Then after death you soone shall see The christall glasse of light to shine Which glasse is Christ our Sauiour That for vs all his bloud hath shed Yelde vnto him all might and power Our only ioy and supreme head Let fickle fancie not you moue From him which can both kill and saue For like as gold so will he proue If light you way to late to craue FINIS Eccl. 14 Eccl. 16 Eccle. 10. Oseas 5. Iohn 18. Psal. 15. Ezech. 12. 1. Thess. 5 The property of the viper is the femall biteth of the males head and the yong gnaweth themselues out of their dammes belly Chitofell Aiax 2. Esd. 13. Prou. 19 Deut. 19. Prou. 17. By the Asse is meÌ„t the cruell Antechristians Iohn 12 Mark 13 Luk. 12 Rom. 8 Prou. 27. Tullius Augustinus Ambrosius Ambrosius Gen. 34. 1. Cor. 10. 1. Cor. 7. 1. Cor. 6. Heb. 13. 1. Cor. 5. Augustiâ—us Tullius Exod. 20. Deut. 5. Luk. 18. Dan. 13. Math. 14 Prouer. 6. Eccle. 23. Rom. 1. Hieronimus Luke 15. Abessa of BetheleÌ„ was iudge in Israell about thys tyme. ReguÌ„ 16. â— Reg. 13. Iudit 13. Gen. 9. Ouid. lib. 14. Iudges 17 Cor. 6. Tullius Ecclesia Boctius Eccle. 31. Osea Luk. 21. Eccle. 37. Ephe. 5. Prou. 31. Prou. 23. Eccle. 31. Rom. 12. Eccle. 23. Esau. * Heb. 12 Gen. 25. Exod. 16. Luk. 16. Percius in hys Satires Cato â—
¶ A christall glasse of christian reformation wherein the godly maye beholde the coloured abuses vsed in this our present tyme. ¶ Collected by Stephen Bateman Minister ¶ IMPRINTED at London by Iohn Day dwelling ouer Aldersgate ¶ CVM GRATIA ET PRIuilegio Regia Maiestatis per decennium 1569. ⧠The Epistle to the Reader GEuing thee to vnderstand Christian Reader the manifest power of God in considering the inestimable mercy and long sufferance of vs most miserable creatures who from tyme to tyme proueth whether we will flye from our wickednes and frowarde vsage of lyfe or no and seyng no amendmēt ceaseth not but forthwith plageth vs yea and at the length geueth vs ouer vnto our owne wretched will and beyng so deuoyd and frustrate from all hope ioy and triumphant glory we are assured as then of nothing but euerlasting death and endelesse sorrow Therefore I wishe all faithfull christians to foresée and so to prouide in tyme that neither popishe Antichrist nor any rable of false vsurped powers shall once be able to spurne or kicke against the veritie and true professours of the same The holy apostle S. Iames speaketh very louingly vnto all suche as geueth their mindes to godly exercise and study saying these wordes My brethren counte it exceeding ioy when ye fall into diuers temptations forasmuch as you know how that the trying of your faith bringeth pacience and let patience haue her perfect worke that ye may be perfect and sounde lacking nothing Herein the apostle sheweth vnto all men that by patience we must moderate our selues as if the enemy shew rigorousnes ortiranny winne him by patience but vse no superbitie or reuengemēt but yeld the cause vnto god y t which iudgeth rightly and he will in tyme be a defence vnto all such oppressed Vir duplex animo inconstans est in omnibus vijs suis a waueryng mynded mā is vnstable in all his wayes But most happy is that man that endureth in temptation for when he is tried he shall receiue the crowne of life which the lord hath promised to those which loue him and erre not my dere brethren Euery good gift and euery perfect gift is from aboue and commeth downe from the father of light with whome is no variablenes neither is he chaunged into darkenes Of his owne will begate he vs wyth the worde of lyfe that we should be the first fruites of his creatures so that as long as we obey his preceptes and be zealous furtherers of his gospell and alwayes continuing then shall all such doers be assured of most happy saluation Herein is plainly shewed vnto all the estate of euery degrée by order of picture and signification to the intent that therby euery christian Reader may the better sée the disordred abuses which daily raueth amongest vs and also the state of obedience by euery picture in like sorte signified that thereby euery Christian may the better beware the deceiuable suggestions of Sathan that neither pardon nor mumming massinges or any other popish ceremonies can any thing auayle as touchyng saluation for if it were so then Christes death was in vayne and of none effect Take hede therfore cleaue betyme to Christ his doctrine leaue of frō such superstitiō faynings of men vse the counsail of the holy apostle S. Iude which sayth Similiter hi carnē quidē maculant dominatorem aut spernūt maiestates aut blasphemant Likewise these dreamers defile the flesh despise rulers speake euill of them that are in autoritie But these speake euill of those they know not what thynges they know naturally as beasts which are without reason in those thinges they corrupt themselues Woe be vnto them for they haue followed the way of Balaam for lukers sake and perishe in the treason of Chore. These are murmurers complainers walking after their owne lustes whose mouthes speake proude thinges They haue men in great reuerence because of aduauntage But ye beloued remember the wordes which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lorde Iesus Christ how that they tolde you that there should be beguilers in the last tyme which should walke in their vngodly lustes these are makers of sectes fleshly hauing no spirite pray therfore dearely beloued that God so roote out al such enemies which kicke against the truth of his gospell so arme your selues with the armour of God considering that Sathan is moste busiest and full of rage in this oure tyme as Saincte Iohn in hys reuelation dothe manifestly expresse That we all being armed with godlines may bee able to resist in the day of our triall and to be found vigilant watchemen aspectyng the great and second commyng of our Lorde Iesus Christ. In the meane season applying our mindes to the study of vertue may be rich and plentifull in righteousnes and hope of saluation And for that your myndes among many and earnest pensiue and sorowful studies might be reuiued also in vertue I haue put forth vnto your gentle considerations this my simple trauayls which in perusing you shal well espy to be in effect as I haue named it This christall glasse wherein we may learne godly reformation whose brightnes shineth not to the beholders therof in this world a light to euery christian man but in the world to come a most precious and euerlasting brightnes in endles felicitie As I sayd a manifest shew of all couloured abuses that raigne in euery state and set in the frame of most plentiful Christian examples The substaunce wherof is the perfect glasse of godly reformation beautified with y e christall sight of all celestiall vertues right fruitfull for euery man to cary and most nedefull for this our present tyme. Thus gentle reader I bid thée most hartely farewell in him that liueth for euer By me Stephen Bateman Minister Faultes escaped In the description of Pride the second page the 16. lyne read for Dedalus Icarus and for Icarus Dedalus In the epistle of the 2. part of this boke xx line for so read for In the 30. line of the description of fayth and is God read and maker is God In the description of Ueritie is left out the sword that is signified in the figure ¶ The description of Couetousnes Aristotle Seneca To delight in treasure is a daungerous pleasure In a lyer doubtles there neuer was goodnes ¶ The signification of the picture THe deuil is Enuy the swords in his hand betokeneth mischief the purse couetousnes the globe the world the man in fooles weede signifieth carelesse couetousnes a man being ouercome with Enuy and couetousnes may be likened to a foole that is not able to rule himselfe and so the ende is death WHo so is enuious may be likened vnto Sathan who are more foolisher thē those persons the whiche are neuer satisfied wyth money Money causeth mischiefe mischief destroyeth y e soule For as it is good to y e godly by vsing it by measure so is it euel to
measure He that teacheth the liuely faith in Christ buildeth the building and doctrine of God For faith in tribulation causeth patience Let euery man see therfore whether he continue in the same Faith also maketh vs to obtayne that whiche we desire in prayer and by the which we are by the number of saintes in receauing remission of our sinnes Thus faith is our vâ—â—tory for all that is borne of God ouercommeth the world and this is the victory that ouercommeth the worlde euen our faith Who is it that ouercommeth the worlde euen he which beleueth that Iesus is the sonne of God Christ is risen from the dead and is become the first frutes of them that slepe for as by man came death euen so by man also came life euerlasting to all that faythfully beleue ¶ Of Hope The signification THe troubled seas signifie the temptations of mankinde the shippe beyng rent signifieth the dispersed churche of God who beyng tossed to and fro by the force of temptations and throwne out yet they not fearyng the boysterous windes of aduersitie but thorough assured hope in Christ they flie to the rocke of endles felicitie which is Christ. BEcause therefore that we are iustified by fayth we are at peace with God thorough our Lorde Iesus Christ by whom we haue a way in through faith vnto his grace where in we stand and reioyce in hope of the praise that shalbe geuen of God neither do we see onely but also reioice in tribulation for we know that tribulatioÌ„ bringeth pacience pacience bringeth experience experience bringeth hope and hope maketh not ashamed for the loue of God is shed abrode in our hartes by the holy ghost which is geuen vnto vs. All suche as be right Christians are not ashamed of this hope for they are well assured that by the death of Christ God loueth vs and will bring the hope of all Christians to passe Hope here is not alone but is ioyned with fayth and charitie so that the one cannot be without the other neither the one to haue the lacke of the other For as Faith cannot be iustified without workes no more can hope without charitie for as faith without workes is deade so is hope without charitie deade also Therfore it is necessary for all christians to ioyne theÌ„selues to these foure and although they be named in foure seuerall names yet but two in effect as may be very plainly vnderstanded Faith workes hope and charitie workes in the name of a plurall number signifieth all as well the euill as good But I meane those workes in the which all faithfull Christians ought to arme themselues withall and all those that with willing mindes doo further any of these vnto such the rewarde is most happy and fortunate with faithfull hope there is alwayes constant charitie the which worketh so diligently that she neuer seaseth but is still labouring by all meanes to helpe and relieue all such as of her hath neede Example herein may be compared vnto all diligent preachers furtherers of Gods worde the which neither for persecution nor preferment of liuing will once leaue of froÌ„ teaching the poore of whom they haue cure charge of such there is very fewe which signifieth most euident and playne that charitie is nere blynde and can not very well see Therefore I wishe or desire all estates so to bridle their affections that with sufficiencie eche man may so liue in this world that in y e world to come he may haue euerlasting felicitie Hope thou in the Lorde and kepe his way and he shall promote thee that thou shalt possesse the land WheÌ„ the vngodly perishe thou shalt see it But my hope hath bene in thee O Lord. I haue sayd thou art my God God is our hope and strength a very present helpe in tyme of trouble For thou lord art my hope thou hast set thine house of defence very hye My soule hath longed for thy saluation and I haue a good hope because of thy worde Thou O God art the thyng that I long for thou art my hope eueÌ„ from my youth I also cried vnto the Lord and sayd thou art my hope and my portion in the land of the liuing Blessed be the Lorde my strength which teacheth my handes to warre my fingers to fight my hope and my fortresse my castle and deliuerer my defender in whome I trust which subdueth my people that is vnder me for I suppose that the afflictions of this lyfe are not worthy of the glory which shall be shewed vpon vs also the feruent desire of the creatures abideth loking when y e sonnes of God shall appeare because the creatures are subdued to vanitie against their wyll but for hys will which subdued them in hope for the very creatures shall be deliuered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious libertie of the sonnes of God for we know that euery creature groneth with vs also and trauaileth in payne euen vnto this time not they only but euen we also which haue the first fruites of the spiritie mourne in our selues and waite for the adoption and loke for the deliueraunce of our bodies for wee are saued by hope but hope that is seene is no hope for howe can a man hope for that which he seeth but and if we hope for y t which we see not then doo we with patience abyde for it for where fayth is there is hope and where as there is no sure hope there is no christian fayth wherefore it may be right well sayd we are saued by hope That is by the most certayne and sure faith in Christes promise whiche causeth vs to hope certainly that at the tyme appointed we shall be deliuered from this great burden of the flesh The desire of y e righteous is acceptable but the hope of the vngodly is iudgement The vngodly is cast a way for his iniquitie but the righteous hath a good hope euen in death The hope that is put in a false man in tyme of neede is like a rotten tooth but let not thy soule be moued to slay him Also as there is a good hope vnto the godly which before is expressed so is there a fayned hope among the wicked and very seldome can be redressed whiche is when a man in worldly causes hopeth to bring to passe that thyng which by no meanes may be entertayned or gotten Example of one Iphis the sonne of Theucer kyng of Mesia a countrey ioyning to Hungary the which for the loue of a damosell called Anaxareten hanged him selfe Wherefore the Poetes haue fayned the saide Anaxareten to be turned into a stone because that she loued not him the which for her loue had hanged him selfe Moreouer what ensued of the Princes whiche sought the death of the Prophet Daniell their folishe vayne hope was vtterly frustrated for they thought that Daniell being once among the lyons could
we haue receiued the knowledge of the truth there remayneth no more sacrifice for sins but a feareful loking for iudgement and violent fire which shall deuoure the aduersaries This place is also spoken of in the 6. of thys epistle and also in the 12. of the Euangelist S. Mathew that in sinnyng willingly is blasphemy against the holy ghost which S. Iohn calleth y e sinne vnto death let all such therfore as spare not to blaspheme the spirit of God in resisting and rayling vpon hys worde know that their masse is no sacrifice for sinne but y t the terrible iudgement of God remaineth for them and their wicked idolatry Charitie ouercōmeth all sinne If I had the spirite of prophecy and knew all misteries all maner of cunning Also if I had all fayth in so much as I could translate and cary away mountaynes out of their places yet were I nothyng if I lacked charity Moreouer if I did distribute all my goods in feding the poore and although I gaue my body that I burned hauing no charitie it nothyng auaileth me Charitie is pacient and gentle Charitie hath enuy at no man it doth nothyng amisse it is not puft out wyth pryde it is not ambicious she seeketh not her profite she is not moued she thinketh no euil she reioyceth in no mischiefe she goeth with truth all thinges she suffereth all thinges she beleueth according to godly charitie all thinges she hopeth which is to saluation all thinges she beareth charitie neuer fayleth Thus sayth the Lord the people of Israel which escaped in the wildernes from the sworde found grace to come into their rest Euen so shall the Lorde now also appeare vnto me from farre say I loue thee with an euerlasting loue therfore by my charitable mercy I haue drawen thee to me I will repaire thee agayne O thou daughter of Israell that thou mayest be fast and sure Therfore whatsoeuer thou be that this shal read iudge not rashly but vse the Scriptures to the furtheraunce of thy health and solace and although in many points they may dislike thee yet know thou that it is the truth and thou the lyer therefore I say agayne whatsoeuer pointe or title thou happen to read and do not wel vnderstand it as if thy capacity be not able to comprehend y e meaning therof omit it to the diuine wisdom of god pray y t it may be opened reueled vnto thee thus with charitie vse thy selfe that therby it be not only a profit to thee whilest thou art liuing but also an euerlasting ioy in the world to come The hipocrites for to follow their inuencions do leaue iudgement and charitie vndone as appeareth more euident in the xi chapter of the Euangelist S. Luke God graunt for his mercy such charitie to raigne amongst vs that there may not onely be an outward shew therof but also in dede wherby we may be found at the generall day such seruaunts as were occupied and not stepyng when we shall be called Of humayne iustice and iudgement ⧠Of Iustice. The signification SHe which sitteth hauing in one hande a sworde and in the other a paire of balance is iustice also hauyng but one eye in the midst of her forehed signifieth vpright iudgement not exteming the person the balance equitie to vse no parcialitie nether for loue nor fauour the sword to cut of all rebellious persons and offenders the other are signified in the chapter Cambices beyng kyng ouer the Persians and Medes aboute the yeare of the worlde foure thousande and seuentie elected and chose one named Sisamnes to be iudge ouer his people the which for his parcialitie was complained vpon vnto the king that he had against law right condēned a man to death the matter being examined and founde true forthwith the kyng caused the sayde Iudge to be put to death and his skinne to be striped of and layd before the iudgement seat where tofore he had done the offence and also caused Ottanus Sisames sonne to succede in iudgement admonishing hym to beware of peruerse iustice by example of his fathers skinne lest beyng founde with the like fact to haue the lyke rewarde and also caused these verses to be written of him as followeth 1. Sede sedens ista iudex inflexibilis sta 2. A manibus reuoces munus ab aure preces 3. Sit tibi lucerna lex lux pellisque paterna 4. Qua recedes natus pro patre sponte datus Thou that sittest in this iudicall place Set vp right and holde thy handes from meede Thine eares from prayer and fauour from thee chace Let loue be thy guide keepe iustice I thee read Thy fathers skinne which doth thy chayre spred Haue in thy mynde fall not to like offence Lest for thy fault thou make like recompence The iudges ought to do righteous iudgement accordyng to the commaundement of God geuen by Moses vnto the children of Israell saying I charged your iudges at the same tyme saying heare the cause of your brethren iudge righteously betwene euery man and his brother and the straunger that is with him See that you know no faces in iudgement but heare the small as wel as the great and be afraid of no man for the iudgement is Gods and the cause that is to harde for you bring vnto me and I wyll heare it Iudges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy cities which the Lorde thy God geueth thee thorough out thy tribes and they shall iudge the people righteously Wrest not thou the law nor know any person neither take any reward for giftes blynde the wise and peruerte the wordes of the righteous That which is iust and right shalt thou follow that thou mayst liue and enioy the land which the Lorde thy God geueth thee Rewardes and giftes blyndeth the eyes of the wise and maketh him domme that he cannot tell men their faultes It is not good to haue respect of any person in iudgement neither to regard the outward appearaunce of men He that saith to the vngodly thou art righteous him shall y e people curse yea the comminaltie shall abhorre him but they that rebuke the vngodly in them doth God delight and a riche blessing shall come vpon them Condemne no man before you haue tried out the matter and when thou hast made inquisition then reforme righteously geue not sentence before thou hast heard y e cause but first let men tell out their tales Striue not for a matter that toucheth not thy selfe and stand not in the iudgement of sinners If there be strife betwene men they shall come vnto the law and let the iudges geue sentence betwene them and iustify the righteous and condemne y e vngodly Cursed be he that taketh rewarde to slay the soule of innocent bloud for in iudgement a mā should not agree to the voyce of many for to come by the truth Thou shalt not accept a vaine tale nether
where in Howe stedfast are thy woordes of truthe and whiche of you can rebuke or reproue them Be thou my Iudge O Lorde c. For thy louyng kindnes is euer before mine eyes and I will walke in thy truth c O shut not vp my soule with the sinners nor my life with the bloud thirsty in whose handes is wickednes and theyr right hands are full of gifts Good lucke haue thou with thine honoure ride on because of the worde of truth of mekenes and righteousnes and thy righte hand shall teache the terrible thinges But loe thou requiredst truth in the inwarde parts and shalt make me to vnderstand wisdome secretly Mercy and truth are met together righteousnes and peace haue kissed ech other truth shall florish out of the earth and righteousnes hath looked downe from heauen But thou o lord art full of compassion and mercy long suffering plenteous in goodnes truth My song shall be alwayes of the louing kindnes of the lord with my mouth will I euer be showing thy truth from generation to generation thy truth shalt thou stablish in the heauens O Lord y e very heauens shall prayse thy wonderous workes and thy truth in the congregation of saintes O Lord who is like vnto thee thy truth most mighty lord is on euery side righteousnes and equitie is the habitation of thy seat mercy and truth shal go before thy face my truth and my mercy also shal be with him and in my name shal his horne be exalted neuerthelesse my louing kindnes will not I vtterly take from him nor suffer my truth to fayle Lord where are thine olde louing kindnes which thou swarest vnto Dauid in thy truth hys faythfullnes and truth shall be thy shilde and buckler It is a good thinge to geue thankes vnto the Lord and to sing prayses vnto thy name O moste hiest to tell of thy louing kindnes early in the morning and of thy truth in the night season the workes of his handes are veritie and iudgement all his commaundementes are true they stand fast for euer and euer and are done in truth and equitie O prayse the Lord all ye heathen praise him all ye nations for his mercifull kindnes is euer more and more toward vs and the truth of the Lord endureth for euer O take not the worde of truth vtterly out of my mouth for my hope is in thy iudgementes all thy commaundementes are true Thy truth also remayneth from one generation to an other thy righteousnes is an euerlasting righteousnes and thy lawe is the truth Be thou nigh at hand O Lorde for all thy commaundementes are true Thy word is true and is from euerlasting all thy iudgementes of thy righteousnes endureth for euer Doth not wisdome cry doth not vnderstanding put forth her voyce and say my throate shall be talking of thy truth and my lippes abhorre vngodlines A Iust man will tell the truth and show the thing that is right but a false witnesse deseueth A true mouth is euer cōstant but a dissembling tong is euer chaungeable the lord abhorreth lying lippes but they that labour for truth please him A false witnesse shall perish but he that is a true man boldely speaketh that he hath hard Haue I not warned thee very oft with counsaile and learnyng that I myght shew thee the truth and that thou with the veritie mightest aunswer them that send vnto thee Wo be vnto them that make vnrighteous lawes and deuise thinges which be to hard for to keepe where through my people are oppressed and the Innocentes of my people robbed of iudgement that wisdome may be theyr pray that they may rob the fatherlesse What will you do in time of visitation and when destruction shall come from farre To whom will ye runne for helpe and to whom will you geue your honoure that he may kepe it that when I with drawe my hande ye come not among the prisoners or lye among the dead c But faythfulnesse and truth shall they trust vnto yea vnto the lord the holy one of Israel And in mercy shall thy seate be prepared and he shal sit vpon it in the truth in the tabernacle of Dauid iudging and seking iudgement and making hast vnto righteousnes In that day shall this song be soung In the land of Iuda we haue a strong citie saluation shall God appoynt in steade of walles and bulwarkes open ye the gates that the righteous people which kepeth the truth may enter in there minde is set vppon thee because thou preseruest them in peace yea in peace because they put theyr trust in thee put ye your trust alwayes in the Lord for in the Lord God there is strength for euermore let all christians ioye in this heauenly comfort the which the holy prophet of God speaketh for although it be long agone since he spake it yet is it as fruitfull to al faythful christians now in these our dayes as euer it was before God graunt that the harts of al faythful christians may be thankfull for these his inestimable benefites and mercyes shewed vnto vs in these our dayes and therefore let vs reioyce with the Israelites and say God is oure righteousnes and truth and God hath deliuered vs from the fiery and cruell malice of sathan and al papistical doctrine wherby now hauing no let nor foes to disturbe vs may so diligently shew ourselues in ech vocation that thereby Gods name may be glorified and our soules refreshed with y e heauenly foode of immortall ioyes to the which eternall and liuing God be all honour and glory for euer and euer He that feareth God will do good and who so keepeth the law shall obtayne wisdome men that go about with lies will not remember her but men of truth shalbe found in her and shall prosper euen vnto the beholding of God And aboue all things pray the hyest that he wil lead thy way in faithfulnes truth The arrogant and stifnecked Phariseyes although they beleued not y e preaching of our Sauiour Christ yet they confessed him to be the truth saying maister we know that thou art true and teachest the way of God truely neither carest thou for any mā for thou regardest not the outward appearaunce of men tell vs therefore how thinkest thou is it lawfull that tribute be geuen vnto Cesar or not But Iesus perceaued theyr wickednes sayde why tempte ye me ye hipocrites shewe me the tribute money and they tooke him a penny and he sayde vnto them whose is thys Image and superscription they sayde vnto hym Cesars Then sayde he vnto them geue therefore vnto Cesar the thinges which are Cesars and vnto God those thynges that are Gods By thys Cesar is ment all temporall rulers to whome we ought to geue all thinges that the lawe of the countrey we be in bindeth vs to geue whether it be our goodes our life our childrē or
him and with his posteritie for euer So likewise thys sayde example moueth all true Christians to be stedfast in the promyses of God and not for vayne and transitory preferment to colour or vse them but wyth singlenes of harte do them not regarding the person but the cause and in so doynge the rewarde Of Peace The Signification HE which standeth with a booke in his hand signifieth quietnes and peace to the church of God And the Woman signifieth the spouse and congregation of Christ being maried to the Lambe Christ Iesus rewarde is as much in effect vnto all such as euer it was vnto Phinies or at any other that at any time haue geuen theyr mindes vnto the obedience of gods lawes God graunt to all such zeale vnto his word that thereby we may haue the like rewarde that are now liuing in these present dayes Moreouer when the children of Israell had committed wickednesse in the sight of the Lord and they being deliuered into the hand of Madian yet the Lords compassion was such that he chose Gedeon and made him captayne ouer the children of Israel and by his mighty power deliuered them and the Lord sayde vnto Gedeon peace be vnto thee feare not thou shalt not dye for Gedeon after that he had sene the angell of the Lord was in a great feare and thought that he should haue dyed saying haue I therefore sene the angell of the Lord face to face that I should dye then Gedeon made an alter vnto the Lord and called it The Lord of peace Also the spirite of the Lord came vpon Iepthath and he passed ouer to Gilead and from thence vnto the children of Ammon and Iepthath vowed a vow vnto the Lord and sayde if thou shalt deliuer the children of Ammon into my handes then that thing that commeth out of my dores of my house agaynst me when I come home in peace from the children of Ammon shall be the Lordes and I will offer it for a burnt offering and the first that met him at his returne home was his owne daughter All the cities the which the Philistines had gotten from the Israelites the Lord restored them agayne euen from Acarom to Gathe with the costes of the same and Israell plucked them out of the handes of the Philistines and there was peace betwene Israell and the Amorites Also consider the great kindnesse of Abigaell the wife of Naball that churle when Dauid sent x. of his young men vnto him for that he had preserued his shepehardes and shepe in the wildernes saying greete him in my name and thus shall ye say peace be to thee and peace be to thine house peace be vnto all that thou hast Beholde I haue heard say thou hast shearers now thy sheepe were with vs in the wildernesse and we did them no spite neither was there ought of thy flocke minished vnto them all the while they were in Carmell aske thy laddes and they will shew thee wherefore let these young men finde fauour in thine eyes for we come in a good season and geue I pray thee whatsoeuer commeth to thine hand vnto vs and vnto thy sonne Dauid Naball hearing these wordes sayde what is Dauid and what is y e sonne of Isay there is plenty of seruantes now adayes that breake away euery man from hys master shall I then take my bread my water and my flesh that I haue killed for my shearers and geue it vnto men whom I wot not wheÌ„ce they be when the younge men perceaued the churlishnes of Naball and that for the good done vnto him to haue no recompence returned and tolde Dauid then Dauid commaunded euery man to girde his sworde to hys side and prepare themselues to destroy Naball but Abigaell Nabals wife seing the misery that was like to ensue on her husbande for his churlishnes proâ—â—ded certayne loaues and partched corne and wine and a 100. frayles of reasons and 200. topnets of figges to pacifie the wrath of Dauid and rode to mete him in the way vnknowing vnto her husband and as she came in the way Dauid met her and sayd vnto her in vaine haue I kept al that this fellowe hath in the wildernesse and he hath quit me euill for good So and so do God to the enemies of Dauid if I leaue any thing that partaineth vnto him Abigael seing the fearcenesse of Dauid agaynst her husband fel down at his feete desired him to leaue of his enterprise and not to shed bloud and so Dauid withdrew his hand and receaued of Abigaell that which she brought vnto him sayd vnto her go vp in peace to thyne house beholde I haue heard thy voyce and haue accepted thy parson He that hath not peace of the hart the mouth and the acte ought not to be called a christian man wo be vnto them that had rather haue the sigâ—â—e of abundaunce then to haue peaceable quietnesse for where the hart is fixed with the inordinate desire of the world there can neuer grow any prosperitie in the common wealth for if the subiect be in penury and haue the lacke of suffisance then is it not onely a misery to the commons but most of all to the prince or magistrates the kinges power ought alwayes to rest in his subiectes For if they he weake and feable then cannot that prince or gouernour be strong although he had neuer so much aboundance of golde or treasure for such treasure being hid and vnoccupied bredeth most miserable reproch and endlesse tormentes These thinges haue I spoken vnto you being yet present with you but the comforter which is the holy ghost whome my father will sende in my name he shall teach you all thinges and bring all thinges to your remembraunce what so euer I haue sayde vnto you peace I leaue with you my peace I geue vnto you let not your hartes be greued neither feare ye haue heard how I sayd vnto you I goe and come agayne vnto you The Lord is euen at hand be not carefull but in all thinges shew your peticion vnto God in prayer and supplication with geuing of thankes And the peace of God which passeth all vnderstanding kepe your hartes and mindes in Christ Iesu. Grace be with you and peace from him which is and which was and is to come and from the 7. spirites which are presente before hys throne froÌ„ Iesus Christ which is a faithfull witnesse and first begotten of the dead and washed vs from sinne in his owne bloud and made vs kinges and princes vnto God his father be glory and dominion for euer more Amen ⧠The fetching of soules out of purgatory FOrasmuch as the Antichristians haue a place among themselues imagined a place the which the call purgatory and so affirming it and that through their power they are able to bringe soules departed out of hell into theyr purgatory and also to sende soules thether at theyr pleasure and will I
haue thought good to search the scriptures to the intent to see if there had bene any such word or place as by their writings is alleaged there is neither word nor place in such sort to be fouÌ„d But sith they affirme such a place to be I thinke in dede as many as goe thether wheÌ„ they are deade do leaue their winding shetes behinde for at okeÌ„ which semeth y t such Prelates may put y t more cloth in their Ephod Tunicle and Rochet els it is to be thought tohse relickes should not be made so holy And for the auoyding of such superstitious imaginations I haue thought good to nominate so many places of y e scriptures as do alow this third place which they cal purgatory but nought there is to be founde as hereafter folowing in thys sayde chapiter more at large shalbe shewed In y e first of y e holy Euangelist S. Mathew is written these wordes she shall bring forth a sonne and thou shalt call his name Iesus for he shall saue his people from their sinnes all this was done to fulfill that which was spokeÌ„ of the Lord by the prophet Esay in his viij chapiter saying Beholde a mayde shalbe with childe and shall bringforth a sonne and they shall call his name Emanuell which is by interpretation God with vs which name was geuen vnto Christ because he being God was as Paul witnesseth found like vnto vs in all thinges sinne onely excepted Also in the 2. chapiter of S. Marke the Euangelist is written these wordes when Iesus saw their faith he sayde to the sicke of the paulsey sonne thy sinnes are forgeuen thee and there were certayne of y e Scribes sitting there reasoned in their hartes saying how doth this felow blaspheme who can forgeue sinnes but God onely Herein they shewed themselues altogether ignoraunt not crediting him for all the miracles that he had done and shewed among them in like doth the Pope and his fraternity beholde the scriptures but nothing at all vse them as they ought to do but altogether to their owne imaginations in as much as they haue done and do mayntayne a purgatory a place to punishe soules in after they be departed this life at their pleasures which is nothing but mere falshod and deceit ye and also are not ashamed to say that by vertue of trentall Masses pardoÌ„s and dirgies they are able to redeme those that are passed this life from all paynes and tormentes O wretched congregation o generation of vipers that are not ashamed so superbiously to brage and so arrogantly seeke to deface the truth of the liuing God for as there is but one true and liuing God no more is there any other sauiour and redemer then God in Christ Iesus which suffred for all men vniuersally and he it is that worketh our saluation and none but he Si quis peccauerit aduocatum habemus Non habemus hic maneÌ„teÌ„ ciuitatem sed futuram inquirimus Heb. 13. Beatiqui ad coenam nuptiarum Angni vocati sunt Apoc. 19. Verbum Dei comburens gladius Omnia parata venite ad nuptias Math. 22. apud deum Iesum Christum iustum ipse est propitiatio pro peccatis nostris If any man sinne yet haue we an aduocate with y e father Iesus Christ the righteous and he it is that obtaineth grace for our sinnes for he was wounded for our offeÌ„ces smitten for our wickednes Venite ad 〈◊〉 omnes qui laboratis onerati estis ego reficiam vos Come vnto me all ye that lavour and are laden and I will refresh you He saith not go to Iohn Peter or Paule much les to eyther Pope or Cardinal that any maÌ„ should pray vnto but only and soly vnto him which died on the Crosse for our sinnes and rose agayne for our iustification now must it plainly appeare as it is most euident that the Pope is an hipocrite a lyer deceauer going about to robbe God of his honour in y t he taketh vpon hym to forgeue sinnes being a miserable wretched offender himselfe wich none can do but God only Christus semel pro peccatis passus fuit iustus pro iniustis vt nos adduceret deo Christ hath suffred for sinnes the iust for the vniust for to bring vs to God and was killed as pertaining to the flesh but was quickned in the spirit Sanguis Iesu Christi emundat nos ab omni iniquitate The bloud of our Lord Iesus Christ hath purged vs from vs from all our sinnes Non mortui laudabunt te domine neque omnes qui discendunt in infernum The deade prayse not thee O Lord neither all they y t go downe into silence How then can Pope or Prelate rayse them vp forgeue sinnes when the Lord hath sayd that none prayse him that are gone downe into the sileÌ„ce O blinde guides here the blinde leade y e blind and so both falleth into the dich Quomodo facti sunt indesolationem subito defecerunt perierunt propter iniquitatem fuam O how sodenly do they consume perishe and come to a fearefull ende that seeke to maintaine their hipocriticall deuises before y e true words documents of our sauiour Christ Iesus as shall be shewed by y e life of holy S. Dunston a saint of y e Popes owne making Anno. 958. Iohn y e xij helde y e Papacie at Rome y e space of 4. yeares 10. monethes some authors write y t he raigned 9. yeares 3. monethes 5. dayes and was strikeÌ„ of a deuill as he was liyng on bed with a maÌ„s wife and so dyed within 8. dayes folowing This is he of whom the bie word rise Be as mery as Pope Iohn Unto this holy vicar of Sathan successour of Simon magus went Dunstone out of England to be confirmed Archbishop of Canterbury As soone as he was returned againe to England by authority of this most execrable monster and wicked Antichrist he gaue a strait commaundement that Priests out of hand should put away their lawfull wiues whome that brute conâ—inced hipocrite called the vessayles of fornication as more playnely appeareth in the actes of the English votaries Now to returne to the former place of purgatory King Edwine vppon the day of his Coronation lay with Alfiga or Alfgina hys Concubyne hauing then no wife Dunstone being at that tyme but a munke and Abot at Glassenbury and beyng very nere the place come and plucked them both violently from the bedde and brought them before the Archbishop Odo threatning y e woman suspencion for the which the king after that exiled the sayde Dunstone into Flaunders and wrought the munkes many other displeasures When King Edwine was dead the Archbishoppe of Florance for the good wyll that he bare vnto Dunstone wrote this lie of him as followeth WheÌ„ king Edwine was departed this life y e deuils came caried his soule to hel Dunstone knowing therof caused his