An Exhortatyon or Warnynge to beware of greater plagues troubles then are yet come vppon thys Realme for the synnes and wyckednes that hath bene is yet dayly commytted there in M.D.LI. ¶ Ieremye xx b ¶ All the daye longe am I despysed and laughed to scorne of euerye man because I haue now preached longe agaynst malycyous tyranny and shewed them of destruction for the whych cause they cast the worde of thee Lorde in my teeth take me euer to the worste ☞ Abacuc i. O Lord how longe shal I crye and thou wylte not heare how longe shal I cōplayne vnto thee sufferynge wrōge thou wilt not help why lettest thou me se werynes labour tyranny violence ar before me power ouergoeth right for the lawe is toarne in peces ther can no ryght iudgemēt go forth and why the vngodly is more sette by then the righteous this is thee cause that wronge iudgemēt procedeth The Prologue ⧠Gylis Coucheman to all Christē Readers vnto whō this boke shal come Wysheth grace mercye peace frō God the father of our Lorde Iesus christe wyth encreace of repentaunce and amendemēt of lyfe thorow our Lord and onely Sauyour by the workyng of the holy spyryte Amen LYke as the almyghty eternal god of his tēdre mercy loue not onely created mā at the begīning after his own similitude likenes but also whan he was loste most graciously redemed hī broughte hym out of bondage Euē so whan mā neyther regarding his wonderful creation nether his most deare redemption gropethe in darckenesse in vyce and blyndnes lyeth in the deuils prison and goeth in the way of dāpnacion God alwayes setteth vp hys lighte before hym sendethe thee message of hys worde vnto hym sheweth him what case he is in geueth hym warnynge openeth the pryson dore calleth him out of the deuyls seruyce telleth him what daunger it is to bee hys bondman or seruaunte vnto synne Thys doth God alwaye before he punishe plague the worlde This I say hath euer ben the worke of god sēce the begynning as the stories and Prophetes of al the holy Byble doeth testyfye And thoughe we had no writinges of gods actes in times past yet hath he practysed and vsed thys same his wonderfull worcke of mercye vppon vs nowe in oure dayes so that lyke as we muste nedes cōfesse that we ar created of god redemed by his only mercy in hys deare sōne Iesus christ So can we not denye but that we haue hearde his holy message had no lesse preachinges warninges of daūgers to come then other haue had before our dayes Yea euē the same merciful god that sēt Noe to preach righteousnesse vnto thee wicked world and cōuerted the Niniuytes by his word in the preaching of the prophet Ionas hath done euē so with vs in euery cōdicion some thākes be to hī therfore hath he brought out of darknes into hys wonderful light out of the deuyls seruice into the kīgdō of his most deare sonne But alas wo to this vnthankful world for like as a great nōber that be in prysō of sathā wil not come forth whā thei ar called the dore set opē but go on stil stōblinge in darknes whan the lanterne of light is offred them Euen so yf any mā playe a wyse mās part do as he is warned by gods worde he shal haue a greate sort Thei that forsake the law prayse thee vngodlye but soche as kepe the lawe abborrethe them prou xxviii yea a nōber of scornefull mockers the whych because the man wyl not daunce in the deuils morys with theym nor kepe theyr company in the bondage of synne vyce neyther rōne with them vnto like cōfusyon that wyll laughe him to scorne mock him euē to his face lyke as whan a true poore mā cometh out of prysō he shal haue mo to stād gasing and gaping vpō him thē to do him good or to helpe hī to his fees euē so now that god of his mercy hathe called some of vs out of Sathās prysō frō the worldly wicked doers my lordes fole with his cōpanions stādeth staring vpō vs mocked vs because we sit not styl with other prysoners in sīne vice ther goeth an apostle sayth one ther goeth one of the new brethrē Foules abhorreth thē that eschueth euyll prou xiii c sayth another ther goeth a iustifier of hī self saith another ther goeth one that wyl lyue wtout sinne sayth another and thus is it come to passe that who so euer wil folowe Christ and hys doctrine and forsake euyl in his lyfe conuersation he is despysed hated of the world also mocked iested vpon But the disciple is not aboue his master nether the seruaunte aboue hys lorde for yf they haue called the good man of the housholde Belzabub how moche more shall they cal thē of hys houshold so Yf I were a fleshelye felowe a preacher of lyes tolde them that they myght syt bybbing bollynge be dronkē o that were a Prophete for thys people Mich. ii c O Lord why doo men so moch mocke vs scorne vs for wel doyng surely I can not tell except it be for thys cause that they be nothinge mynded to folowe christ thē selues for yf they were they wolde not do so O Lord wher to is thys worlde come for lyke as we had neade in tymes paste to haue soch an Apostle as holy S. Paule was to rebuke the vayne cōfydence that mē dyd put in theyr worckes to tell vs that no worke of our doyng but fayth of goddes workinge doeth iustifie vs in hys syght Euen so now we had no lesse nede of soch an Apostle as was holye S. Iames to rebuke thys horrible vnthākefulnes of men that professinge them selues to be christiās to holde of Christes old fayth are yet dead vnto al good worckes receyue not the word of god in mekenes cast not away al vnclennesse maliciousnes but are swyft to speake to talcke to iangle to take displeasure and are forgetful hearers of thee worde and not lyuers there after boastynge theym selues to bee of gods pure vndefyled relygyon They say that they knowe god but with theyr dedes they do denye hym Titu ii c and yet refrayne not theyr tongues frō euyl viset not the poore the frendlesse and thee desolate in theyr trouble nether kepe them selues vndefyled from thys worlde What an occasyon might soche an apostle as holy S. Iames was haue to wryte another yea a more sharper Epystle seynge so manye pretendynge to be of Iesus christes olde faythe and relygyon and are yet so parcyall and haue soche a carnall respecte of persons are not ryche in faythe but despyse thee poore practyse not thee lawe of godly loue talcke Iangle of faythe not hauinge the worckes therof cloth not thee naked helpe not the poore too theyr ryghte nor regarde
to be their only sauiour redemer the whych knowledge in his holy worde I praye too God that it may chauÌ„ge alter theyr lyues so that wher as thei weâ—e wont to talke speake of Christe in wordes that they nay now preach him in their â—yues conuersation He that coÌ„mitteth sinne is of the deuyll i. Io iii. b For what a greate shame is it to vs that take christ to be oure â—auiour mayster whereof we take our names are called christians professe him in wordes as S. paul saith and wyl denie him in our dedes Titum i. c For what soeuer oure wordes talkes be it is our lyues worckes that declareth whose disciples we are and therfore saith S. Iohn i. Io. iii. b by this ar the childreÌ„ of god knowen the chyldreÌ„ of the deuyl Therfore deare wel beloued brethreÌ„ in our sauiour Christ remeÌ„bre what ye haue professed in your baptyme you your parentes for you remembre I saye how that you haue promysed toâ— forsake the deuyl and al hys workes to cleue vnto chriâ—â— and do his wil worckes 〈◊〉 to become a christiaÌ„ in christ and to fyght manfully wyth hym agaynste the deuyll theâ— world the flesh to folow hym in lyfe conuersation Now my brethren ye know what a promise that is made betwene man man howe that promise that is made with man ought to be kept not broken yf it fortune too be brokeÌ„ by negligeÌ„ce ye know what a dauÌ„ger to the world ther lyeth on it Now yf the promyse made with man oughte to be kept vpoÌ„ payne of a dauÌ„ger Know ye therfore my brethren that the promyses whych is made with God ought moch more to be kept not broken vnder the daunger of eternal condempnation Ye haue promysed also â—o fyghte agaynst the worlde your owne fleshe Now yf ye geue ouer youre selues to serue both the worlde and your owne lustes and affections also how do ye fyghte thincke you knowe ye not sayth S. paul that to whoÌ„ soeuer ye geue ouer your selues to serue Rom vi b Ioh viii c ii pet ii â— his seruauntes ye are to whom soeuer ye do obeye whether it be of synne vnto deathe or of obedience vnto righteousnes Therfore dearlye beloued be sure that the enemye do not deceaue you as he deceaued Eua making you beleue that you maye do what you wyll yet please god Be not deceiued with him For yf ye do that whyche 〈◊〉 synne thaÌ„ ar ye the seruaÌ„teâ— of synne ye know that thâ— rewarde of synne is deathâ— condempnatioÌ„ But yf ye dâ— that which is good in the lighâ— of god thaÌ„ at ye sure that yâ— be the chyldren of God Buâ— ye muste be sure that the enemie make ye not beleue that to be good whyche is euyll therfore trye youre worckes wyth gods word psa cxviii as Dauid sayth Lord thy word is a laÌ„terne vnto my fete a lyght vnto my pathes therefore what soeuer worke it be trieâ— it by gods word yf the word wyl alowe it to be good do it yf not then do it not how holy or good soeuer it seme to be in your owne selfe For it maketh me lamente in my harte to see howe the world is deceiued by the sutteltye of the enemye in carying them away so in the vanyte of vaine thinges of this worlde for a greate manye there bee that professe christe and his relygyon and yet do walcke so carnalli and so laciuiously at large as though ther were no law nether yet god yea verely they be enemies vnto the gospel of god whose ende bee ye sure is dampnacion and their glory shall be to their owne shame they are so carnally mynded wyl not stryue agaynste it yea yet who soeuer shulde be so bold to say vnto theym that they were not of god they wold surely deny it and say yes for I am christened and therfore am I of god as wel as you as though al laye in receyuyng of baptyme only Titum i c And these be they that S Paule speaketh of sayinge they coÌ„fesse wyth their mouthes that they know god 〈◊〉 to be hys seruauntes Thee folysshe bodyes saye in their hartes â—ushe ther is no god psal xiii a but with their dedes they do deny him be none of his for so moch as they are abhomynable iâ— their doynges and vnto all good workes discoÌ„meÌ„dable And ther is another sort also whyche walkethe not so broade outwardly but hath a shew like vnto holines but they are as christ sayth lyke vnto a painted supulcre whiche sheweth fayre and bewtyfull outwarde math xxiii d but within they are ful of dead mennes bones and all fylthynes Euen so are they for they wyl shewe theym selues very holye at thee churche and else wher but whan ye shal haue any thyng to do wyth them ye shall fynde theym full of malyce and al kynde of wyckednes with in proue theym whan ye wyll and ye shall fynde theym euen soche people as it wold lamente anye chrysten harte to se it For yf they goo to the churche and there saye and number a certayn praiers after their own ymagynacion ther to heaâ—e and se certayn ceremonies mynystred they thynke to be safe all that daye maye do what they lyst or to bie sel begyle deceyue the poore and symple people yea and to syt and spende the tyme at tables and cardes or some other vaine pastime al the day after there to syt sweare talke vaine ydle wordes do not remeÌ„ber that christeâ— sayth that they shall geue accomptes of euery ydle word that they speake at the daye of Iudgemente mat xii d and yet besydes that yf ye doo angeâ— them or speake against their doynges ye shall fynde that they wyll not bee pleased no not scarse wyth bloud and is not thys a myserable blyndnes caste vppon theym of the enemye thyncke you that they shal seme to theym selues to be so holye and so wel for vsynge this trade of lyfe outward whan there is nothyng well wythin for yf they wold trye theym selues by goddes word as is sayde before they shuld fynd them selues farre from the lyfe of a chrystyan of Christe buâ— the serpent hath so deceiued theym that they bee at peace wyth them selues and nede nothyng to do more but to kepe thys outewarde trade of lyfe Also they thinke to winne heauen by the folowynge of the olde law in kepyng of the outward sacramentes â—eremonies therof But yf ye axe them the sygnyficatioÌ„ of a sacrament and thee promyses annyxed to them How can they haue vnderstandyng that are workers of wickednes psalm lii a. or of a ceremonye they can not tell what it meanethe but saye hath no god lefte them for vs too kepe and obserue what nede we any more promyses or sygnyfycatyons O thou
suttyll enemye full well knowest thou that thee outwarde worke wythoute the promys as litle profiteth theym as doeth the sygne at the tauernes dore to theÌ„ thaâ— be a thyrste whan ther is nâ— wyne wtin to be had And ye wyl they seke theyr iustificatyon in the outwarde workâ— therof onely ii ii iii a And this is the cause aâ— the apostle sayth euery onâ— is become a pryuate louer oâ— them selues and not of theyâ— neyghbours And how doâ— they loue them selues thynâ— you After this maner doeth thee worldinges loue theÌ„ selues verely they ar become couetous bosters proud cuâ—sed speakers disobedyeÌ„t vnto fathers and mothers vnthaÌ„kfull vnholye churlyshe stubborne false accusers riatours fearse dispisers of theÌ„ which are good traitoures heddie hie miÌ„ded gredy vpoÌ„ voluptuousnes more thaÌ„ the louers of god hauing a similitude of godly lyuynge but haue denied the power therof but soche abhorre sayth S. paul O lord what a miserable world is this whan the people bee in thys case that they haue no feare of god before their eies but think that â—hey be in good state of liuiÌ„g whaÌ„ thei liue thus farre wide froÌ„ the truth of the doctrine of the gospell doth not remember that we ought to loue our neyghbors as our own self seke their welth edyfyinge to theyr comforte We are bounde to loue god wyth all our hartes powers and oure neighbors as oure self and so is all the lawe the prophetes fulfylled mat xxii d But the wicked worldlinges ar in this mind now the lord geue them grace to repente and amende it that yf they maye haue all thynges at theyr wyl pleasure they care not although the poore nedy neighbor sterue be in lack or peryshe in the meane whyle for they saye yf I be wel clothed warme what care I who goethe naked suffre colde yf I bee wel fed with the best and finest meate and lack none what care I who is an hungred and perysh for lacke of the worst meate yf I bee well couered wythe a fayre house gorgeouslye decte and in all poyntes trymmed with the beste what care I who dwelleth in a house vncouered rainynge in in euery corner spyllyng and destroying all that he hath and the house lyke to fall downe vpoÌ„ his head yf I may syt warme and at ease and at reste takinge no payne hauinge money ynoughe and all thinge broughte home too me what care I who is colde takyng paâ—ne and haue noo reste nor ease nyght nor daye lacking money al thing that shuld do theÌ„ good yf I may haue my rentes and farme broughte home to me wythout any studye what care I though the farmers care studye nyght and day hauing nether coat nor cloke to couer hym hys wyfe or his children withal no nor yet eat a good meales meat in a yere Thus farre is the loue of the worlde gone froÌ„ the loue of god that they care not one for another nether do they coÌ„syder that we al shuld be membres of one body Yf they dyd remember that we were al members of one bodye I thinke verelye that natural loue wold compel them indifferently one to care for another and one to loue another al though theâ— were no coÌ„maundemeÌ„t of loue spokeÌ„ of nether in the old testameÌ„t nor yet in the new For this we al know that the meÌ„bres of one body be so vnited knyt in loue together to the body The righteous wyl coÌ„sider the cause of the poore but the vngodly regardeth no vnderstaÌ„ding Prou xxix that yf one member fortune to take hurte or harme al the rest suffer paine grief with hym or yf one meÌ„ber be had in honor al the rest is glad reioyce with hym also soch is the loue that partayneth to the meÌ„bers of the body Therfore for hys sake that dyed to redeme vs al coÌ„syder I say remeÌ„ber that we al be meÌ„bers or shuld be to one head whych is christe that we do now awake out of synne cast awaye froÌ„ vs the clokes of dishonestie and become louers of god in his meÌ„bers knowe that what soeuer ye doo to one of thee leaste of these my brethren sayth Christe ye do it vnto me Remembre this that our Sauiour Christ sayth thus his owne self also â—hat who soeuer geueth to one of these lyttle ones a cup of colde water in my name I tel you sayth he he shal not lose his reward Now yf this lyttle loue shewed vnto one of his creatures shall not be vnrewarded be ye sure the moche more shal the wrong iniuries done vnto theÌ„ be rewarded vnto condempnation Yet once agayne therefore I saye remember thys vnfayned loue that thee eternall God hadde vnto the whole worlde Yea hys loue was so great towardes maÌ„kynd beyng yet his enemie that he gaue his only dearly beloued soÌ„ne to the death to redeme theÌ„ from the bondage thraldoÌ„ of the deuyll O what coulde he doo more for vs theÌ„ to geue thys imaculate vnspotted lambe for vs to vs that who so euer now wyll repent of the lyfe that is past beleue truste onli in him he shal be sure to be saued for hys sake so he continue to the ende And he requyreth nothing so moche of vs as to loue one aÌ„other yea by thys loue sayeth he shal al men know that ye are my disciples Now to the coÌ„trary yf we loue not one another then is it a playne case that we be none of hys saye what we wyll for the kingdom of god standeth not in wordes but in power for loue is the fulfylling of the hole lawe Yea he hath not onely geuen vnto vs this Iesus alone but he hath geueÌ„ vs also al thinges wyth hym yea he hath geuen vs his eternal and euerlasting worde to be our comfort to rule to gouerne our liues by to shew vs all the good wyll of oure heauenlye father towardes vs in for Iesus christes sake Yea what more coulde he haue done that he hathe not done for vs. But now yf he loke amoÌ„geste vs for equyte he shall fynd in stede of equyte wroÌ„ge And yf he loke for righteousnes he shall haue vs full of mysery wretchednes as the Prophete sayeth for the more good he doeth vnto vs Esay â— thee more he increaseth vs with his giftes benefytes the more we go astray wantonly froÌ„ him prouoke him vnto wrath with our owne ydle vayne mad inuentions for as it is wrytteÌ„ whan vanitie ydlenes getteth the ouerhand among the chyldreÌ„ of men Psal xl al are ful of the vngodly NotwithstaÌ„dinge the more we receaue of him the more we ought to be thankefull vnto him for it the more we shuld be studious careful to bestowe theÌ„ to his honor glory seking alwayes his honour and prayse And not to bestow them to fulfyl our owne fylthy carnal desyre