father will loue him and we will come vnto him and make our dwelling with him he that hath my Commaundements and keepeth them is he that loueth me and he that loueth me shall be loued of my father therefor it is good for euery one of vs to kéepe Gods Commaundements that is to haue no Gods but one to sanctifie and hallow the name of God to call onely vpon him in all néede and necessitie not to take his name so lightly in vaine as we doe for no cause and vpon a very small and fond occasion the which if we do the threatnings pronounced that is he shal not be holden guiltles that taketh his name in vaine that is he shall not be vnpunished To sanctifie the Saboth day namely to rest from our works as God did from his to the intent that he may worke in vs and we to fulfill his will by hearing his word and stedfast faith and prayer to honour father and mother that is to be obedient vnto them to helpe them in their nede to cherish them to comfort them in aduersitie for it is acceptable and well pleasing vnto the Lord. To do no murther that is to hate no man to beare no malice in our minds to giue no euill words but euen to loue our enemies and to doe good for euill not to commit adultery to breake no lawfull wedlock to commit no whoredome nor vncleannesse but either to liue chaste or else to marry to steale nothing that is to vse no false Merchandize neither in bargaining weight nor measure but truely to labour in some good calling for the sustaining of the poore to beare no false witnesse that is to hurt no mans name nor fame to lye of no man but either to say the truth or else to kéepe silence To couet no mans house wife seruant goods nor any thting that is his not once to lust after our neighbours euill but hartily to loue him euen as our selues and to do vnto him after the manner as we would be did vnto vs these Commaundements it is good for vs to kéep not onely this day but as long as we liue to the honouring of the blessed name of God to the increase of his Kingdome and to the fulfilling of his Godly will all the dayes of thy life it is in good faith and stedfast beliefe to loue thy neighbour as thy selfe loue is the fulfilling of the law loue hideth the multitude of sinnes loue hath many noble conditions loue is patient and courteous loue enuieth not loue doth not frowardly loue is not puffed vp it disdaineth not seeketh not her owne is not prouoked to anger thinketh not euill reioyceth not of iniquitie but reioyceth in the truth it suffereth all things beleeueth all things it hopeth all things it endureth all things whosoeuer now hath the spirit of God and hath truly receiued the light of his word will vse these works these fruits of the spirit and this Armour of light this is the new Commaundement that our Master hath giuen vs for by this shall euery man know that we are his Disciples if we loue one another not in word and tongue onely but indéed and verily not to suffer them to want and we haue not to let them perish and we may helpe them but louingly with a good hart to distribute to the necessity of the Sâ—intâ— to feed the hungry to minister drinke to the thirstie to lodge the harbourlesse to visit the sicke and shortly to doe to euery man euen as we would they did vnto vs. It is good for euery one of vs to tell another his fault and that louingly after a brotherly correction without any desire of vengeance for it is written Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart but thou shalt plainely rebuke thy neighbour and suffer him not to sinne Thou shalt not auenge nor be mindfull of wrong against the children of thy people but shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe and as the wise man saith tell thy neighbour or friend his fault least he be ignorant and say I haue not done it or if he haue done it that he do it no more Reproue thy neighbour that he may kéepe his toong and if he haue spoken any thing amisse that he say it no more for the doctrine of Christ and the Apostles is That if any man be fallen by occasion into any fault they which are spirituall should restore such an one with the spirit of meekenesse considering themselues what is their own nature least they also be tempted If thy brother trespasse against thee saith Christ goe and tell him his fault betweene him and thee alone if he heare thee thou hast woon thy brother but if he heare thee not take yet with thee one or two that by the mouth of two or three witnesses euery word may be confirmed and if he will not vouchsafe to heare then tell it vnto the Church and if he refuse to heare the Church also then let him be vnto thee as an heathen man and a publican Now if any that is of the number of the brethren in Christ and would be taken for a Christian man indéed be a whoremonger or couetous or a worshipper of images or a rayler or a drunkard or an extortioner the Doctrine of Paule is plaine that we should not eate nor kéepe company with such this day it is good to be ware of false prophets of mens owne imaginations and dreames least we receiue the poyson of Antichrists lawes in stéed of the blessed word of God least we shoote at the wrong marke and be deceiued by such as walke in humblenesse of minde worshiping of Angels beware of false prophets which come to you in sheepes cloathing but inwardly are rauening wolues and whosoeuer transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ hath not God he that continueth in the doctrine of Christ he hath both the Father and the Sonne If there come any vnto you and bring not this Doctrine receiue him not to house neither bid him Godâ— spéed for he that biddeth him God spéed is partaker of his euill déeds for by false prophets the Lord our God doth proue vs to know whether we loue the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soule or not wherefore it shal be good for vs not onely this day but as long as we liue to walke after the Lord our God and to feare him and to kéepe his Commandements his statutes his lawes and his constitutions to harken vnto his voice to serue him and to â—leaue vnto him It is good for euery subiect to be obedient and to submit himselfe vnto all manner of ordinance of man for the Lords sake for there is no power but of God and the powers that be are ordained of God whosoeuer therefore resisteth the power resisteth the ordinance of God they that resist shall receiue to themselues iudgement for Princes are
be filled yea he cryes euery one that thirsteth come ye to the waters and ye that haue no siluer come buy and eate come say buy Wine and milke without siluer and without money he will feed his sheepe and bring them to rest though thou be lost he will seeke thee though thou hast gone astray he will bring thee again though thou be wounded he will bind thee vp though thou be sicke and weake he will make thee whole and strong Seeke him therefore this yeare and as long as thou liuest for with the Lord is mercy and with him is great redemption He hath saluation inough for thée thou néedest not to séeke helpe at any other neither is there saluation in any other therefore biddeth he thée euer come to himselfe he neuer bad thée séeke other Phisitians to heale thée of this disease for there is no helpe in the Children of men As for Corporall diseases God hath ordayned outward medicines for them in his creatures by the ministration of true Phisitians which gift of God no wise man will abhorre and thou art commaunded to honour the Phisitian with that honour that is due vnto him because of necessity for the Lord hath created him for of the most high commeth healing and he shall receiue gifts of the King but against the sicknes of sinne there is no helpe or succour but onely in himselfe as there is no saluation without him so is there euer grace mercy pardon and remission fréely in him for all such as will receiue it and be thankfull for the same CHAP. 4. Concerning the strife and trouble of this yeare and the cause thereof THe sword that I spake of partly in the first Chapter is like to be drawen this yeare for why the Sunne Mars and Mercurius cannot agrée together how accordeth the world with Christ and the Gospell they shall neuer be at one Sore eyes cannot abide the cleare light of the Sunne they will not consent to the works of darknesse neither will the beléeuers haue part with infidels and no concord with and betwixt Christ and Belial Thus can there be no agréement for they be of contrary natures againe a scorner as Salomon saith loueth not him that rebuketh him the children of this world are scornefull and therefore are they not content to be reformed by the Gospell which neuerthelesse though it haue many enemies as it hath euer had yet because it is the truth it shall beare away the victory and that shortly for God hath put into the heart of diuers Princes to fulfill his will and to hate the whore of Babylon to make her desolate and naked and shall eate her flesh and burne her with fire and vtterly to set her out of her soyle so that it appeareth euidently that Sathan shall no more haue so great dominion as he hath had in times past and now because that he séeth that his kingdome shall haue a fall he worketh and shall doe all that he can by the Children of vnbeliefe specially by the shauen Madianites Iesuites Seminaries excommunicate Papists and Catholike Romaines as they terme themselues to stirre vp warres seditions secret treasons and vtter defiances both amongest Princes and Communities for such aduersaries of the truth doe wickedly resiste the ordinance of God in the authoritie of their prince and not submit themselues to the Gospell And whereas God hath raised vp good men to preach his word the diuell is so mad at it that he hath sent them a letter of defiance by some of his members euen with such an answere as was giuen to Ieremie the prophet for they say plainely the word that thou hast spoken to vs in the name of the Lord we will not heare it of thee but we will doe whatsoeuer thing goeth out of our owne mouth as to burne incense vnto the Queene of heauen and to powre out drinke-offerings vnto her as we haue done both we our Fathers our Kings and our Princes in the Citties of Iuda and in the streets of Ierusalem and what is our peoples saying I pray you we will haue libertie of conscience according to other Nations yea and some haue their priuie Masse as is well knowne and they say we will doe as our rathers haue done beâ—ore vs for when we so did then had we plenteousnesse of victuals and were well and felt no euill but since we left off to burne incense to the Quéene of hâ—auen and to powre out drinke offerings vnto her we haue had scarsenes of all things and haue bin consumed by the sword and by famine and is not this the speaking of the Papist Atheist ignorant aud prophane people altogâ—ther neuer grace since this religion came vp ignorantly ascribing Gods plagues and punnishments for sinne to the word and the preaching thereof such strife and debate shall hâ—ppen this yeare because of the word oâ— God or the enemies thereof had rather draw their daggers at it â—nd I am perswaded it is the thing they daily looke foâ— then to be reformed but â—hâ— louers of it shall spare no labour to conâ—ert them and specially the Ministers and teachers must not 〈◊〉 but must be gentle towards all men apt to teach suffering the euill men patiently instructing them with meeknes thaâ— are contrary minded prouing if God at any time will giue them repentance that they may know the truth and that they may come to amendement out of the snare of the deuill which are taken of him at his will therefore thou louer of God and of his word when any trouble happeneth vnto thée for great are the troubles of the righteous but the Lord deliuereth him out of them all maruell not at it as though it were a strange thing but reioyce inasmuch as thou art partaker of Christs afflictions that when his glory appeareth thou maist be merry and glad be as content to be reuiled as he was who when he was reuiled reuiled not againe when he suffered he threatned not but committed it to him that iudgeth righteously for there is no disciple aboue his Master nor the seruant aboue his Lord it is sufficient for the disciple to be as his Maister is the seruant as his Lord if they haue called the Maister of the house Belzebub how much more them of his houshold So these and many other swéete words saith he himselfe vnto thée that in him thou maist haue affliction but be of good comfort for he hath ouercome the world CHAP. 5. Concerning the estates of Kings and Princes and superiour powers THe influence of the Sunne and Mars declareth euidently by all coniectures yea certainely without all doubt that Kings and Princes shall haue a prosperous yeare and me thinks I dare be bolde to say if they beginne to séeke the true honour of God and to deliuer people from oppression and to make no doubt herein Salomon which was a King himselfe and that of
great experience saith these words take away the wicked from the King and his throne shal be established in righteousnesse Séeing now yâ— God beginneth so gratiously to worke in Princes who haue not occasion to hope for great increase of prosperity in them for like as when â— Prince delighteth in lies as saith the wise man all his seruaâ— are wicked euen so when the King or Prince is a fauourer and a maintainer of the truth his people shall the more be giuen to the feare of God and I doubt not buâ— God this same yeare by the faithfull Ministration of his authorâ—ty in Kings and Princes shall bring noble acts to passe to the great deliuerance of poore people and reformation of the ignorant And let Princes remember that the power which they haue is giuen them of the Lord and the strength from the highest least they being Officers of Gods empire be negâ—â—gent in kéeping yâ— law of righteousnes but if they delight in much people let theÌ„ loue the light of wisedome which is Gods word for by it they shall gouerne the people and the nations shal be subdued vnto them whosoeuer he be then that loueth not to resist the ordinance of God let him submit himselfe to the authority of his prince and let him not bite his lippe at it Good Ezechias brakâ— the brasen sâ—â—pent that the Children of Israell worshiped so long and let it not gréeue him that the vertuous King Iosias expelled South-sayers Charmers them that had familiar spirits and the images and the Idols and all the abominations that were espied in the land of Iuda and in Ierusalem to performe the words of the law which were written in the booke that Hilkaah the Priest found in the house of the Lord let euery man rather giue thanks vnto God and be glad that Bel is deliuered iâ—to Daniels power that the falshood of Bels Priest is come to light and that 〈◊〉 Dragon is deuoured whome the peopâ—e was 〈◊〉 to worship let no man thâ—â—refore resiste this power of God that 〈◊〉 such acts by the ministration of Prâ—nces but let euery man be content to be reformed of his errour to doe well and fearâ—â— for he beareth not the sword for nought for he is the Minister of God to take vengeance on him that doth euill and be yee subiect not because of wrath onely but also for conscience sake and as the wise man saith The wrath of a King is the messenger of death be thou therefore thankfull vnto God and obedient to thy Prince CHAP. 6. Concerning the darkenes of this yeare WHen I consider the corrupt nature of Mercurius how he hath bin is and euer shal be contrary vnot Mars the Sune I find by all experience that he shall be cast a great c. darke for though that the light shine in darknes and be come in the world yet shall they whose works are euill and after the conditions of Mercurius 〈◊〉 the darkenesse more then the light and this darkenesse shall be in theâ— that liue naughtily and follow their owne abhominations for because they doe euill therefore shall they hate the light and not come to it least their deeds should be reproued and as Paule saith if the Gospell shall 〈◊〉 yet hid it is hid to them that are lost 〈◊〉 whome the God of this world hath â—linded the minde that is of the infidels that the light of the glorious Gospell of Christ which is the Image of God should not shine vnto them But where the Children of God are there shall be light and the works of light séeing therefore that the light is with thée yet a little while walke whilste thou hast it that the darkenesse fall not vppon thée for he that walketh in darknesse knoweth not whether he goeth But beléeue thou stedfastly in the light whilst thou hast it that thou mayest be the Child of light and escape the horrible darkenesse of the wicked CHAP. 7. An admonition to euery Christian what they ought dayly to doe and what to leaue vndone FOrasmuch as Almighty God hath charged by Moses that we alwayes should haue his Commaundements in our sight in our minde in our hart and that we should rehearse them continually vnto our Children and should talke of them when as we tarry in the house and as we walke by the way and when we lye downe and when we rise vp and we should binde them for a signe vpon our hands and they should be as frontlets betwixt our eyes and we should write them vpon the posts of our houses and vpon your gates to the intent that we should not forget his word his will and commaundements and least we should follow our owne imaginations therefore good Christians I thought it fruitfull to put thée in remembrance of thy duety and this could I doe no better then by these Godly Textes of holy Scripture which I haue brought héere together specially to the honour laâ—d praise of God exhorting yée that yet are negligent and forgetfull in kéeping of his lawes to take better hold and goe forward in his waies and turne not aside neither to the right hand nor to the left but beware of such as teach thée ought sauing the Doctrine of God and that thou mayest be sure what thou doest I pray Iesus Christ our onely mediatour obtayne for thée his holy spirit and giue thée a good wholesome new yeare with the true knowledge of his Godly will and encrease of his faith To day if yee will heare his voice harden not your harts euery day it is good to beléeue to learne and to doe that God hath commaunded and so likewise it is good to leaue vndone that God hath forbidden This day it is good to learne Gods word for it is yâ— vncorruptible séed whereof we are borne anew by yâ— word of God it is the foode of the soule whereby man liueth the word of God is quick and mighty in operation and sharper then any two edged sword and entreth elen vnto the diuiding asunder of the soule and the spirit and of the ioynts and of the marrow and is discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart it is good indéed to learne Gods word for all good things come to vs with it and innumerable riches there thorow therefore are they blessed that heare the word of the Lord and keepe it it is good to beléeue the word of God for he that beleeueth and is Baptized shal be saued yea God giueth them power to be his children that beléeue in his name wherefore he that cometh vnto God must beléeue for without saith saith the Apostle it is not possible to please God and what soeuer thing is done without faith is sinne it is good to kéepe the word and commaundements of God for he that loueth me saith Christ will keepe my commaundements and my
not to be feared for good works but for euill wilt thou then be without feare of the power doe well so shalt thou haue praise of the same for he is the Minister of God for thy wealth but if thou doe euill feare for he beareth not the sword for nought for he is the minister of God to take vengeance on him that doth euill wherefore we must be subiect not because of wrath onely but also for conscience sake And let vs remember the saying of Salomon that the Kings displeasure is a messenger of death At is good for Kings Princes temporall Iudges to execute their office as out of the power that God ministreth vnto them for in very déede the power is giuen them of the Lord and the strength from the highest therefore séeing they aâ—e the Officers of his Kingdome as saith the wise man they ought not to be negligent but to execute true iudgement to kéepe the law of righteousnesse to walke after his will to loue the light of wisedome to expell Southsayers Charmers expounders of dreames Idols Masses and all abominations out of their land to set vp the words of the law of God to put downe the houses of Idolatry and to sée that the law word of God be taught among the people to spare neither cost nor labour for the maintenance and defence of the same to séeke the peace wealth prosperity of their Commons to iudge euery man righteously without any wresting of the law to know no mans person in iudgement to take no gifts but euer to haue the lawes of God and to doe thereafter by them and to reade therein all the dayes of their liues that they may learne to feare the Lord their God and to keepe all the words of his law and to doe thereafter that his hart be not lifted vp aboue his brethreÌ„ that he may prolong his daies in his kingdome It is good for seruants to be obedient vnto them that are their Maisters according to the flesh with feare and trembling with singlenes of their harts as vnto Christ not with seruice to the eye as men pleasers but as the seruants of Christ doing the will of God from the hart c. as also Peter Seruants be subiect to your Maisters with all feare not only to the good courteous but also to the froward And therfore was Saint Paul so earnest to sée this ordinance of God kept namely that as many seruants as are vnder the yoake should count their Maisters worthy of all honour that the name of God and of his doctrine be not euill spoken of It is good for such men as haue sâ—â—â—ants to put away threatnings doing vnto their seruants that which is iust and equall and know that they also themselues haue a Maister in heauen and vse the counsell of the wiseman whereas thy seruant worketh truely intreat him not euill nor the hireling that bestoweth himselfe for thée let thy soule loue a discréete serâ—ant as thiâ—e owne soule defraud him not of his libertie neither leaue him a poore man if he be not obedient bind his féete but be not excessiue toward any and without discretion doe nothing therefore should euill seruants be corrected séeing they will not be the better for words for though they vnderstand them yet will they not regard theÌ„ tame thy euill seruant with hands and correction If you set him to labour you shall find rest but if you let him goe idle he shall séeke libertie for as Salomon saith he that delicatly bringeth vp his seruant from his youth at length he wil be euen as his Sonne It is good for women to be obedient and to submit themselues vnto their husbands as vnto the Lord for the husband is the wiues head euen as Christ also is the head of the Church and the same is the Sauiour of his body therefore as the Church is in subiection to Christ euen so let the wiues be vnto their husbands in euery thing as it is comely in the Lord that euen they which obey not the word may without the word be woon by the conuersation of their wiues while they behold their pure conâ—ersation which is with feare and let not their appareling be vntoward as with brodered haire Gold put about theÌ„ or in putting on of apparrell but let the hid man of the hart be vncorrupt with a méeke and quiet spirit which is before God a thing much set by for euen after this manner did the holy women which trusted in God tyre themselues were subiect to their husbands as Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him Lord it is good for men to loue their wiues euen as Christ loued the Church and gaue himselfe for it that he might sanctifie it and cleanse it by washing of water thorough the word that he might make it vnto himselfe a glorious Church not hauing spot or wrinckle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blame so ought men to loue their wiues as their owne bodies he that loueth his wife loueth himselfe for no man yet euer hated his owne â—â—lesh but nourisheth cherisheth it euen as yâ— Lord doth the Church therefore ought euery man to doe so that he loue his wife euen as himselfe and not to be bitter vnto them but to dwell with them as men of knowledge giuing honour vnto them as vnto the weaker vessell euen as they that are heires together of the grace of life that your prayers be not interrupted It is good for childreÌ„ to obey their parents in the Lord for that is right and well pleasing vnto the Lord yea the Lord will haue the father honoured of the Children and hath confirmed the authority of the mother ouer the children He that honoreth his mother is like one that gathereth treasure whoso honoureth his Father shall haue ioy of his owne children and when he maketh his prayer he shal be heard he that honoureth his father shall haue long life and he that is obedient to the Lord shall comfort his mother he that feareth the Lord honoureth his parents and doth seruice vnto his parents as vnto the Lord honour thy father and mother in deed and word and in all patience that thou mayest haue Gods blessing for the blessing of the father establisheth the house of the Children and the mothers curse rooteth out the foundations reioyce not at the dishonour of thy father for it is not honour vnto thee but shame seeing that mans glory cometh by his Fathers honour and the reproach of the mother is dishonour to the children helpe thy father in his age and grieue him not as long as he liueth and if his vnderstanding faile haue patience with him and despise him not when thou art in thy full strength for the good entreaty of thy