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
not theyr necessyte haue but a deade faythe declare not by good and Godly worckes the true and olde faythe of Christ and are but vayne beleuers haue not the effections workyng lyuing fayth that Abraham had Howe wold holy Saynt Iames reproue these bryngers vp of straunge doctrynes false opynyons these blasphemers backbyters belyers of good men false teachers of goddes trueth dyssemblers wyth the same carye fyre as they saye wythe one hande and water in the other preteÌ„ding to be lerned and yet bryng not forthe thâ— worckes of good conuersâ—cion in mekenes out of god wysdome but in frowardnesse and oute of carnal doctryne are churlysshe anâ— vneasye to be intreated Wherefore moste dearâ— Readers who so euer of yoâ— hathe bene slacke to folowe thee good lyfe and Godlye conuersatyon that Sayncte Iames and all thee holye scrypture besydes requyreth to bee in theym whyche professe thee holye relygyon of oure sauyoure Christe lette hym nowe take better hold turne agayne to thee truth And folowe that louynge exhortacyon whyche holye S. Iames makethe in thee latter ende of hys Epystle Iame. v. b and lette vs that haue receyâ—ed thee holye relygyon of Chryste in dede not onelye bee contente too abyde anye storme or trouble for it or to bee mocked scorned and persecuted yea and put to death therfore yf it so please god but also euerye one of vs to hys power in hys harte by feruent prayer in his mouth by good woordes and in all hys bodye by vertuous conuersacyoÌ„ and good Christyan workes helpe and laboure that thee blessed word of god maye haue thee due honoure belongynge therevnto and that the same whiche it hathe loste thorowe the vngodly behauiour of so me may thorowe thee grace and goodnesse of God bee wonne agayne in oure gooâ— lyuing that god maye hauâ— of vs better seruauntes ouâ— Prince true subiectes ouâ— neyghbours more vnfayned louers then many haue beâ— before vs. AMEN ¶ The Prologue to the Ministers ANd now to al you thaâ— haue taken the name oâ— Pastours shepeherdes and leaders of thee flockes as ye wold be called as faâ— forth as I can iudge of you ye are the greateste cause of the vnthankefull receauinge of the woorde of God and that thee people walcke so carnallye and so lasciuiously as they doo for ye your selues walcke so broade and so farre wyde from the trueth of the gospel that the verye babes can spye it in you yea and thee verye papystes that be enemyes to thee Gospell also For they saye Beholde theyr lyuynges how they goo theym selues that shoulde be thee shewe token too all theyr flockes saye they marcke theyr wyues also saye they how trimmelye they be decked of the newe fasshyon wyth theyr hayre layde abroade hauynge on gorgyouse apparell as mynyuere cappes french hoodes Frockes and Cassockes garded stytched and brodered wyth lace yea and rynges vpon theyr fyngers more lyke ladyes and gentyl wemen then thee wyues of mynisters say they yea cleane contrary and agaynst the doctrine of S. peter and S. Paul also i pet iii a i tim ii b as ye ful wel knowe by theyr Epystles But surely I maruayle howe ye dare take vppon you to teache the CongregatioÌ„s seing that ye can not or wyll not teache nor rule youre owne selues and youre wyues But it is lytle maruayle in dede consyderynge what ye seke in youre teachynge and the state that ye walcke in and the porte that ye beare O ye pryestes ye teache for lucre o ye prophetes ye prophecye for money mych iii. c for it wyll not bee mayntayned wythe a lytle and therefore ye hadde nede of that ye seke whych is I feare greate rewardes and greate lyuynges for youre doynges too mayntayne youre pryde wythall or elles it wyll not holde longe and than al youre glorye is loste in thys worlde But ye oughte to seke goddes honour and glory only and not your owne And because ye doo not so Therefore thus sayethe thee Lorde Ezechiel xxxiiii a Wo bee vnto you shepheardes that fede youre selues Shoulde not thee shepheardes fede theyr flockes sayethe thee Lorde but ye haue eaten vp thee fatte ye haue clothed youre selues wyth the wol thee beste fedde haue ye slaine but thee flockes haue ye not noryshed the weke haue ye not holden vp thee sycke haue ye not healed thee broken haue ye not bounde togeather thee oute castes haue ye not broughte agayne thee loste haue ye not soughte but churlysshelye and cruellye haue ye ruled theym sayethe thee Lorde yea ye haue eaten vppe thee synnes of thee people as thee Prophete sayethe and haue coraged them in theyr wyckednesse and thus all ye Pryestes are become lyke vnto thee people or rather worse I feare Ose iiâ—i b for where shall ye haue a pryeste in anye parysshe but he is geuen too one vayne thynge or other They take the moste shamefull men by the hand flattering theÌ„ so that thei caÌ„ not returne from theyr synnes Ier xxiii b eyther to shotyng bowlynge hawkynge huntyng cardynge dycesynge quayttynge loggettynge penyprycke tables or one vayne pastyme or other ye or else a tauerne haunter or a good companyon as they call theym whych is cleane contrarye to the rule of Saynt Paule whyche sayeth that thee mynysters muste be honeste i. tim iii. b and not double tonged not geuen too moche wyne neyther too fylthye lucre but hauynge the mysterye of faythe in pure conscyence and lette theym fyrste bee proued and then lette theym mynyster sayeth he yf they bee founde blamelesse euen so muste theyr wyues bee honeste not euyll speakers but sober and faythfull in all thynges O Lorde yf we shoulde haue no mynysters wythe in thys Realme excepte we shoulde fyrste proue theym and fynde theym faultles accordynge too thee rule of S. Paule I doute we shoulde fynde very fewe that is mete for thee offyce thee more is thee pytye that it is not better loked vnto by thee Bysshoppes who hathe the auctoryte geuen vnto theym of thee hygher power of thee chosynge and prouynge of theym before they come too thee offyce for thee pryestes lyppes shoulde bee sure of knowledge sayth the lorde than menne maye seke thee lawe at hys mouthe Malac. ii for he is a messenger of the Lorde of hostes c. necessary to the bodye So that on bothe partyes loue shal be sought the congregations wylbe edifyed encreased god thorowe you shall be praysed And that it maye thus come to passe lett vs all praye wyth one hart one mynde that we maye ther to agre to saye AMEN An ExhortacioÌ„ or warning to bewaâ— of greater plagues troubles then are yet come vpoâ— thys Realme for the synneâ— wickednes that hath bene and is yet dayly commytteâ— therin GRace mercy and peace from Goâ— the father of our Lord Iesus christe with increase of knowledge in his holy euerlasting word be with al those that professe Christe take hym
termes flattering deceiuing the poore innoceÌ„tes although the life be as farre froÌ„ a christian life as white froÌ„ black light froÌ„ darcknes But I say the holy gost doth also affirme it to be trewe that whosoeuer hath al the learninge that is coÌ„tained in al the bokes that is wtin the vniuersites yf it were possible for one man to haue it he hathe no promyse of god to vnderstaÌ„d the scriptures of god a ryght and to be saued Wycked meÌ„ decerne not the thiÌ„ge that is ryght but they that seke after the Lorde discusse al thinges Pro xxviii excepte he departe froÌ„ euyl coÌ„tynew with wel doyng vnto the ende I haue not said this to dispraise learnyng but to put al meÌ„ in remeÌ„braunce that they shulde not trust so moche in learnyng that they shuld leaue wel doing to think learning sufficient into saluacioÌ„ For learninge is good the gift of the holy ghost geuen to the glorye of god profyt and coÌ„fort of the congregacyoÌ„s yf it be accompanyed with vertue godly lyuynge But yf it be accompanyed with pryde vayne glorye couetousnesse enuye hatred malyce and gorgeous apparel vaine pastymes all thynges that pertayne to a worldly carnal lyfe not sekynge no mortyfycation of the flesh What doeth it profyte verelye nothynge but procure goddes wrathe too that person that hathe it for so moche as he doeth abuse thee good gyftes of god geuen vnto hym to set forthe hys glory and prayse in the congregacioÌ„s and doeth seke but his own pryuate welthe prayse and vayne glory onely And thys is the spyrytuall wyckednes in heauenlye thynges that Saynte Paule speakethe of to thee Ephesyans thee .vi. Eph. vi b Chapter But as it is sayde before thee worlde doethe not alowe oure sayinges nor beleue it neyther wyll they folow it because we do not set it forth with sclole learnyng and paynted eloquence Yet notwythstanding we speake the trueth tel the people of their sinnes because we wolde not haue them peryshe with the coÌ„dempned and because we do so and walk not with them in the same excesse of riote as they do in eating and drynckyng in sportyng and playing in the lustes of thee flesh We ar reuyled yet we blesse we ar persecuted suffer it we ar euyl spokeÌ„ of yet we pray .i. cor iiii b. in waÌ„toÌ„nes in al maner of ryatous liuyng Therfore speake they euyl of vs care not what thei say of vs but as S. Peter sayth they shal geue accoÌ„ptes vnto hym for it that is redy to Iudge bothe quycke and the deade But Saynte Paul was not ashamed to confesse and saye my brethren whan I came vnto you i Cor ii a. I came not in gloriousnes of wordes or of wysdom shewynge vnto you the testimony of god neither shewed I my self that I knew any thing among you saue Iesus christ eueÌ„ the same that was crucified and I was amonge you in weakenes and in feare and in moch trymblynge And my wordes my preachynges were not wythe intysynge wordes of mannes wysdome but in shewynge of thee spyryte and power that youre fayth shuld not stande in the wisdoÌ„ of men but in the power of god sayth he Euen so I my brethreÌ„ do not shew you the wordes of god with the wisdom of meÌ„ but in the power and wythe the spyryte of the Lorde as my conscyence is wytnes before god to thee helynge of you too thee knowledge of god and saluacyon of youre soules Nether do I seke the praise of meÌ„ but of god who ought onli to haue al praise neither do I seke youres but you neyther wolde I haue your faith staÌ„d in him that hath moch learning his lyfe nothinge agreyng to the same but let your fayth staÌ„de only vpoÌ„ god his word and let hym that fearethe god departeth from euyll be youre shew token to folow after For it is writteÌ„ Mat. vii b Not al they that saye mayster maister or lord lorde shal enter into the kyngdome of heauen but all those that do the wil of hym that is in heauen sayth christe manye shall saye vnto me Lord Lord haue we not prophecied in thy name haue we not cast out deuyls in thi name haue we not done many great miracles in thy name And then wyl I acknowledge vnto theÌ„ sayth christ that I neuer knew theÌ„ wherfore depart from me ye workers of iniquitie Lo note here I pray you what wyl be sayd to the euil wicked doers all thoughe they haue neuer so moch learninge neuer so moch wysdoÌ„ neuer so moch eloqueÌ„ce yea though they haue neuer so many spiritual gyftes of grace yf they be euyll wycked doers it wyll be sayde vnto theÌ„ depart from me ye workers of iniquitie Therfore yf any man wyll be of christ he muste be a newe creature as for olde thinges he must cast them away as the prophet sayth Ezâ—â— xviii â— cast away all vngodlynesse that ye haue done and make you a new harte a new spyrite neuertheles al thinges are of God whyche hath reconcyled vs vnto him self by Iesus christ and hath geuen me thys mynde to tell vnto you thys attonemente that God was in Christ and made agreemente betwene the world and hym self and imputed not theyr synnes vnto theym whan soeuer they repent and turne from them and therefore hath bounde me nowe in conscyence to testifye thee same vnto you in wrytinge We are not as many ar why the chop â—hauÌ„ge with the wordâ— of god but eueÌ„ out of purenes out of god in the syght of God so speake we in Christe ii Cor i. d Now theÌ„ am I a messeÌ„ger in the rowme of christ eueÌ„ as though god dyd besech you thorow me so pray I you in Christes steade that ye be at one wyth God for he hathe made him to be synne for vs whyche knew no synne that we by that meanes shulde be that ryghteousnes which before god is alowed I as an helper therfore doo exhorte you that ye receaue not the graces of God in vayne Esa xlix b for he saith I haue heard the in the tyme excepted in the day of saluacion haue I succoured the behold sayth he nowe is thee excepted tyme nowe is the daye of saluatioÌ„ whaÌ„ is thee daye and tyme of saluatyon verelye euen whan soeuer god offreth to anye man repentaunce by thee openynge of hys worde vnto hym that he maye see hys owne Synnes and the great mercy of God offred vnto him in Christ Iesu than I say is the day and tyme of saluatioÌ„ to that person offered yf he be thaÌ„ wylling to receaue it inbrace it with teares for hys synnes Wherfore my welbeloued brethren be it knowen vnto you that the lord is not slack to fulfyl his promise as som men counteth hym sayeth tushe seing that the dayes of punishment are so slack in coÌ„ming al the prophecies ar of none effect I tel you therfore thus sayth the Lord god The dayes are euen at hand that euery thing which hath ben prophecied shal be fulfylled Ezec. xii d Ther shal no vysyoÌ„ be in vayne neither any prophecye fayle among the chyldren of Israel for it is I the Lorde that spake it what soeuer I the Lord spake it shall be performed in hys tyme not be slack in comminge Wherfore for the loue and tender mercye of God yf ye beleue thys to be trew or haue any sparckle of loue or feare in you be ye warned in tyme be diligente that ye maye be found before him in peace wtout spot and vndefyled and count the longe suffering of the Lord your saluatioÌ„ And nowe to all you that wyll be warned of these sayinges wryting in dede do knowe it before hand beware least ye be also pluckt awaye thorowe the errour of the wycked and fal from your owne stedfastnes but grow in grace in the knowledge of our Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christe And take the counsayle of the holy ghost whiche sayth Esay iii. b Away awaye get you out from thence touch no vncleane thing God out from among soch be clene all ye that beare thee vessels of the Lorde And agayn S. Paul sayeth Come out froÌ„ amonge theym and seperate your selues sayth the Lord and touch no vncleane thing and so wyll I receaue you sayth the Lord and be your father and ye shal be my sonnes and daughters saith the almighty Lord vnto whom wyth the sonne and the holye ghost be all honoure and glorye AMEN The Lorde of all mercy sende vs Preachers wythe power that is to saye trew expoundes of the worde of God and speakers to thee hartes of men and delyuer vs froÌ„ Scrybes Phariseis Hypocrytes and all false Prophetes teachers AMEN ¶ Geue al prayses vnto God onely for he is worthy and none but he G.C. ¶ Imprinted at London in Paules Church yearde at the sygne of the starre By Thomas Raynalde
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