a meruailous deliuerance sent forth a Captaine out of his owne Host a holy Angell which in one night slew an hundred somescore and fiue thousand of their Enemies So through this strong and sterne foe should come against vs yet let vs not be dismayed if we repent heartily for our sinnes pray earnestly vnto God trust to him no doubt but hee will in mercy looke vpon vs and worke some meanes for their confusion as hee did in 88. beyond our expectation there bee more with vs then with them GOD is on our side it is his quarrell he will defend his Church if we continue constant in his seruice feruent in prayer One Moses by prayer saued a whole Nation from a fearefull destruction when the people forgetting Gods commandement made them a God of gold and worshipped it and so prouoked the holy one of Israell that hee was minded to make a cleane riddance and consume them vtterly for it Moses stepping into the gap and praying for them stayed his hand The people sinne God is angry drawes his sword lifts vp his hand to strike and Moses lifts vp his hands in prayer and so long as he prayes God cannot strike his hands were held by Moses prayers Let me alone Moses saith God let me alone that my wrath may waxe hot against them for I will consume them at once but I will make of thee a mighty people It seemes Moses by his prayers did hinder and hold God backe from destroying Israell prayer is like a chaine or manacle to tye the hands of an angry Lord Vincit inuincibilem It ouercomes him that ouercomes all things And therefore Moses he still prayes O Lord turne from thy fierce wrath and change thy minde from this euill toward thy people and such was the power of his prayer that GOD altered his sentence turned from his anger destroyed them not as he had intended Though Gods anger bee kindled against this Land for our sinnes yet if some Moses doe stand in the gap if some holy deuout and faithfull men doe intercede for it no doubt but God will bee mercifull And herein lyes our strongest consolation for as God would haue spared sinfull Sodome if there had bin but fifty but fiue and forty but forty but thirty but twenty nay but tenne righteous therein So vndoubtedly it is for some good peoples sake that GOD hath spared vs so long for though many are sinfull yet it is to be hoped there is here and there a Moses that holds vp his hands here and there a Lot that grieues for the sinnes of the time here and there an Abraham that makes request for Sodome for their sakes GOD spares the whole let them continue constant in Gods seruice zealous in prayer yea let vs all betake our selues to earnest and hearty prayer for now it is time and more then time so to doe Spare vs good Lord spare vs wee beseech thee O remember not our olde sinnes and offences but haue mercy vpon vs and that soone for else wee are like to come to great misery helpe vs O God of and saluation for the glory of thy name O deliuer vs and be mercifull vnto our sins for thy names sake Or as the Prophet Ioel exhorts Let the Priests the Ministers of the Lord yea and all the people weepe betweene the Porch and the Altar in the Lords house and let them say Spare thy people O Lord spare thy people and giue not thine heritage into reproach that the Heathen should rule ouer them Let not this furious bloud-thirsty and cruell Nation worse then the Heathen euer set footing in this Kingdome or haue dominion ouer vs but let the Crowne flourish vpon his head on whom thou hast vouchsafed in mercy to place it the man of thy right hand whom thou hast made strong for thine owne selfe cloath his Enemies with shame and confusion be as a wall of fire to him and his Realmes Let those that rise vp against him be like Sisera and Iabin who perished at Endor and became as the dung of the earth make them and their Princes like Oreb and Zeb yea make all their Princes like as Zeba and Zalmana O my God make them like a wheele and as the stubble before the winde Let them fall vpon the edge of the sword that they may be a portion for Foxes so shall the King reioyce in thy strength exceeding glad shall he be of thy saluation For why he putteth his trust in thee and in thy mercy O thou most high let him not miscary So we that be thy people and Sheepe of thy Pasture shall giue thee thankers for euer and will be shewing forth thy praise from one generation to another So shall thy name be glorified thy Son magnified thy truth defended thy Gospell propagated thy poore Church comforted which we humbly beseech thee to graunt O Father of mercies and God of all consolation for our blessed Sauiour Iesus Christ his sake to whom with thee and thy holy Spirit three glorious persons one eternall omnipotent God be giuen all honour glory praise and power now and euermore FINIS Sen. de ben lib. 1. cap. 8. Gen. 49. vers 25. Psal 71 12. Psal 107.34 1 Chron. 15.2 Ioseph de bell Iud. lib. 7. cap 3. Ezek. 16.48.51 Master Fox Acts and Monu pag. 126. Ier. 36.23.24 Cedren hist pag. 542. Alcoâ—a Azoar 2.3.6 Vid. Phil. Morn lib. de veritat relig Christ c. 33. p. 608. Crudelitat Hispan in Indies patrat Hispaenice conscript per episcop Bar thol Casaâ—Ì„ natione Hispanum latine excus Francosurti 1598. a Pag. 7. b Pag. â— c Pag. 6. d Pag. 25. e Pag. 96. f Pag. 4. g Pag. 82. h Pag. â—â— i Pag. 67. k Pag. 31. 78. l Pag. 20. m Pag. 8. Praefat. ad Anton. August praefix ante Oser de gest Eman. pag. 15. n Pag. 35. o Pag. 9. p Pag. 10. q Pag. 11. r Pag 99. 108. Å¿ Pag. 60. t Pag. 50. u Pag. 46. x Pag. 29. y Pag. 28. z Pag. 100. Benz. hist Ind. a Pag. 19. 101. 2 Reg. 24.13 M. Fox act mon. pâ— 155. 165. vlt. edit Hen. Hunting lib. 6. Ric. Knowlles his Turkish History in the life of Mahomet the great 1 King 21.19 2 Chro. 2â— 2 Chron. 32. Exod. 32.11
the sinne within would ouerthrowe all So imagine we were what we are not imagine we were as well prouided as I could wish we were as strong as we could desire Imagine our Name were ready all our Shipps tigged manned and victualled all our Ports and Block-houses fortified all our Coasts guarded all our Beacons watched all our Castles repaired all our men Armed and our Land inuiron'd with a wall of iron round about yet it is to be feared we haue a Traytour within that will betray vs all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the euill the sinne which is within the Land will spoyle all vnlesse we repent vnlesse God bee mercifull vnto vs. There are especially three sinnes which are great enemies to the State to the strength and welfare of this Kingdome and which vnlesse they be in time supprest will gnaw the very heart strings thereof asonder Pride Gluttony Drunkennesse vpon which three more is consumed wastfully then would maintaine a strong and sufficient Army able to withstand any forraigne force the Drunkards idle expences would serue to victuall the Ships the Gluttons superfluity would feede a Campe our excesse in apparell would shorethen cloath an Army The second domesticall foe that makes a forraigne foe more dreadfull to vs are the Papists false-hearted Spanish-hearted Papists I meane who haue a tongue for the King and a heart for his enemies Iacobs voyce Esaus hands who if the day should come would bee glad to set their helping hand to cut the throat of their natiue Country If all were true within our selues we neede nor so much to feare a forraigne Enemy but what a weake and vnstable thing Regnum diuisum is our Sauiour tells vs it is feeble impotent 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it cannot stand 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it comes to desolation Math. 12.25 One said of the Thracians that they were the strongest Nation of the world and yet they were but weake Strong and weake too how could that be Yes they were strong so long as they were true among themselues and ioyned and vnited all their forces together they were weake being diuided and at variance one against another Wee are like the Thracians strong and weake wee haue the name of a powerfull and strong Nation and this were true if we were all true within our selues and held altogether in one but considering the faction and diuision which is in our Land considering how many well-wishers the Spaniard hath and what a potent party the Pope hath in this Land wee are but weake And herein lyes all our feare all our Enemies hope for if we haue false brethren amongst vs who will bee ready at euery turne to open the dore and let the Thiefe in if we haue flye Foxes who will shew the way for the wilde Bore to destroy and wilde Beasts to deuoure If we haue Vipers who will reioyce to gnaw out the bowels of their owne mother If there be Canaanites in the Land who will be prickes in our sides and thornes in our eyes a snare and destruction to vs who if the time should come would rise against vs and help our Enemies we are but weake we haue cause to feare Ierusalem had not so soone beene wonne by Vespatians sonne had it not beene for ciuill discord within the Citie and nothing more to bee feared for the ruine of our Nation then ciuill dissention domesticall foes Therfore let vs vse the best means we can for the diminishing suppressing of them for the first domesticall foe sinne we may euery one set a helping hand to the suppression of it euery man will bee ready to persecute and execute a Traytour let vs make speede to execute this arch-traytour sinne let vs hate it in others loathe it in our selues whatsoeuer sins we find ourselues guilty of let vs now at last forsake them kill mortifie crucifie them so shall we not neede so much to feare a forraign foe if this domesticall foe be crush'd vnder And though it lye not in euery mans power to subuert the second yet let vs pray vnto God to conuert them as for those which will not be conuerted let vs beseech God to continue it in the heart of his Maiestie and the Magistrates whō it concernes to curb them and keepe them vnder not to let them haue the reines too much at liberty lest they take head like a pampred Palfry throw their Rider bring a ruine to their King and Country in the end But imagine they should all proue true Subiects and abhor to giue any ayde to a forraigne foe yet how can they be trusted hauing so often tript but imagine the Leopard should change his spots and the black More his skinne imagine they should become new men and refuse to ayde the Spaniard in the Popes quarrell and at the Popes commaund yet we haue cause still to feare for this Enemie is of sufficient power himselfe alone It is a strong foe which was the second property Compared in my Text to an Eagle to a flying Eagle What is the strength of Spaine the world knowes of what power hee is ioyning his Forces with the Eagle I meane with the Emperour whose Armes and Ensigne is the Eagle Christendome hath felt by wofull and sorrowfull experience What hath Spaine of late dayes vndertaken with the Eagle or for the Eagle or vnder the Ensigne of the Eagle but they haue effected it and gone thorough with it to the purpose Bohaemia is subdued Silesia vanquished Morauia conquered the Pals graue oppressed the Laut-graue distressed Breda sacked and all by the combination of Spaine with the Eagle The Spaniard is now stronger then euer hee was all this time of our long peace wherein wee haue slept securely in vtramque aurem without any feare without any care neuer thinking of a wett day to come they haue done all they can to strengthen themselues and to prepare for this time of war all this whil that we haue sought sued for peace they haue more then made themselues ready for battell their huge Armado in 88. was nothing to the number of Ships which now they haue So that comparing our weaknesse with their strength their skilfulnesse with our vnaptnesse their readinesse with our want of experience their sedulity with our securitie our danger is great we haue no better refuge then to fly to the mercy protection of the Almighty who hath hitherto mightily defended vs. Arise therefore O Lord God of Hosts maintaine thine owne cause and fight for vs bee thou assistant to the Armies of our Friends and Allies prosper thou the Worke of that renowned King of Denmarke who is now in the Field to fight thy bartell ô prosper thou his handy worke for if they should miscarry or sit still for want of supply wo be to vs in the next place haue at England looke to thy house Dauid Tua res agitur paries cum proximus ardet Gebal and Ammon and Amalek Spaine and the Pope and
plentifull manner he hath not dealt so with euery Nation no not with any Nation no Nation in the world hath such store of heauenly Manna so much knowledge of the truth so much preaching of the Word so much glorious light of the Gospell of peace as we haue Thus we see we goe hand in hand with them in the first step wee haue receiued Ingentia beneficia infinite vnspeakable benefits and mercies as well as they Let vs now see if wee haue not Ingentia peccata as great sinnes as euer they had would I could say wee haue not Haue wee beene more thankfull to God for his fauours more obedient to his commandements then they Would I could say we haue God hath beene as gracious to this Vineyard of England as euer hee was to the Vineyard of Israell both in planting in pruning in watering in hedging in defending it but we haue not yeelded the fruites the Grapes he expected I feare I may say with Moses wee haue returned to him the fruits of Sodome and Gomorrah our Grapes are Grapes of gall our clusters are bitter our Wine is the poyson of Dragons and the cruell gall of Aspes Deut. 32.32 Sinne and wickednesse vnthankfulnesse iniquity impiety these are the Grapes these the fruites neuer so much knowledge and light abounded and yet neuer so many workes of darknesse neuer so much Preaching neuer so little performing neuer did men know the will of God more perfectly neuer did men doe the will of God more carelesly And as it was said there was neuer lesse wisedome in Greece then when the seauen wise men liued there so it is thought there was neuer lesse piety neuer lesse charity neuer more iniquity in our Land among most men then now when the light of the Gospell shines most gloriously amongst vs. O barren vnfruitfull vnprofitable Vineyard May we not feare that God will now indispleasure forsake it breake downe the hedge thereof and let in the wilde Bore to roote it vp and the wilde beasts to deuoure it Hath Israell felt his rod and may not England feare his scourge Are we more deare to him then they were Or is hee more tyed to vs then to them O no if we partake of their sinnes we may expect their plagues The time would bee too short for me to trace all the sinfull steps wherein we haue followed them onely this I may say there was no sinne knowne among them which doth not abound among vs. Wherefore as the Prophet comparing Iudah with Sodome and Samaria affirmes that shee was corrupted in her wayes more then they both and had iustified them by her sinnes so if we looke into the sinnes of our Land we shall finde that shee hath iustified and exceeded both Sodome and Samaria and Iudah also in her filthinesse O sinfull England Sodome thy sister hath not done neither shee nor her daughters as thou hast done and thy daughters for surely Sodome neuer knew the painting and pranking and pride of our Land neither hath Samaria nor Iudah itselfe committed halfe of thy sinnes but thou hast multiplied thine abominations more then they Yet Sodome and Samaria and Iudah are ruinated and haue drunke the cup of Gods fury long agone and doest thou sleepe secure O wretched England without any feare Sure thy iudgement sleepeth not When Calice was taken from England by the French men in the time of Charles the fift one asked the English men in scorne and derision when they would winne Calice againe a wise Captaine hearing it made answere Cum vestra peccata erunt nostris maiora When your sinnes shall bee greater then ours meaning that whensoeuer God giueth any land ouer to the sword to be inuaded and ruinated it is for the wickednesse of the Inhabitants for the sinnes of the Land but now Nostra peccata maiora our sinnes exceede the sinnes of Israell may wee not more then feare to tast of the same sauce with Israel Ingentia supplicia infinite huge punishments as well as they Neuer did our Land as I can read enioy so long a peace and neuer did men make so ill vse of such a blessing Often hath it beene afflicted with this calamitie of Warre and Inuasion First it was ouerrunne by the Romans then by the Picts then by the Saxons then by the Danes then by the Normans and if we examine the records of those times wee shall finde it alwaies imputed to sinne Sinne the cause of all the miserie Gildas an ancient Historian writing of the destruction of the Britaine 's by the inuasion of the Saxons saies it was for their sinnes and reckoning vp a Catalogue in the ende he shutteth vp all with this sad Epilogue Non igitur admirandum est degeneres tales patriam illam amittere quam praedicto modo maculabant It was therefore no wonder at all to see that such degenerate and wicked men did lose that countrey which they had so polluted by their sinnes And in another ancient History written as the Author saith ad cautelam futurorum for the warning of future ages instanced by master Fox I finde the inuasion of the Danes ascribed to the like cause In primitiua quidem Anglorum Eclesia c. In the primitiue Church of the Englishmen Religion did most clearely shine but in processe of time all vertue so decayed that in fraud in treachery none seemed like vnto them piety was neglected iniquity respected wherefore Almighty God brought vpon them Pagan and cruell Nations like swarmes of bees which spared neither women nor children as Danes Norwegians Gothes Suevians Vandals and Frisians who destroyed their sinnefull Land from one side of the Sea to the another from man also vnto beast And may we not feare the like scourge now haue not we contaminated and polluted this Land by our abominable and horrible sins more then euer they did their sins were ignorāces ours presumptiō theirs omissiō ours rebellion the sins of our Land are greater now then euer they were I am perswaded if our Forefathers were now aliue they would be ashamed blush to see such a degenerate sinfull posteritie As St. Paul told the Corinthians there was fornication such found among them as was not named among the Gentiles so there is such so much wickednes foūd now among vs in our land as was scarce euer heard or named among our ancestors They had Plus conscientiae minus scientiae we Plus scientiae minus conscientiae more cōscience though lesse science then we we haue more science but lesse conscience then they We haue iustified them they were righteous in respect of vs Their hospitality is now conuerted into riot luxurie their frugality into pride prodigalitie their simplicitie into subtilty their sincerity into hypocrisie their charity into cruelty their chastitie into chambring their modestie into wantonnes their sobrietie into drunkennes their Church building into Church-robbing their plaine dealing into dissembling their workes of compassion and mercy into workes
case let vs all lay it to heart I haue heard of a Marques of Brandenburge who was wont to say he had in his Countrie three Monasteries which were three Monsters one of the Dominicans who had abundance of Corne and yet had no Land to sow another of the Franciscans who were full of Money and yet receiued no Rents the third of Saint Thomas order whose monkes had a great many Children yet had no wines Wee are like to be a Monster and wonder a Prouerbe and a common talke to all people as it is verse 37. For vnlesse our Soueraigne be supplied that some course may speedily be taken for our defence wee shall haue neither Lands nor Rents nor Money nor Corne nor Wiues nor Children nor any thing else in safety but all will fall into our enemies hands Lord open our eyes that we may see the danger we are in and in time prouide for it lest when it be too late wee wish wee had When you see this strange strong and sterne Foe at your gates your Countrey wasted your Houses fired your Citie besieged when you heare the clangor of the Trumpet the clamor of the wounded the clattering of the harnesse the beating of the Drumme the roaring of the Ordnance the thundring of the Cannon when you see your wiues rauished before your faces your friends slain your children murdered your Infants dashed against the stones or broached on the Pike and all the Land made nothing but the Shambles of Castillian and Ignatian Butchers then you will wish but alas too late would to GOD wee had in time beene warned would we had parted with halfe our estates rather then lose all and come to this lamentable slauery and misery God in mercy put it into all our hearts to consider seriously of it that euery man according to his ability may condescend vnto the necessitie of the time Now for a conclusion All that hath beene spoken may serue as a strong motiue to stirre vs vp with speed to turne vnto God that hee may turne vnto vs and turne from vs this fearefull calamitie Let vs repent heartily and cry vnto him mightily to spare vs to be mercifull vnto vs. Vncessant praiers repentant teares are most powerfull to procure Gods mercy to diuert his iudgement he is mercifull and will receiue our Prayers he is pittifull and will regard our teares His Sword was once drawn against Niniueh a fearefull doome pronounced Yet fourty dayes and Niniueh shall be destroyed The King and his Nobles and all the people fall to repentance they fast they pray they humble themselues to sackcloath and ashes their sinnes cry for iudgement their repentance for mercy there was a contention betweene them which should out-cry the other their wickednesse ascends vp on high knockes at heauen gate clamours lowd in the eares of God Iustice my Lord vengeance vengeance Their repentance ascends higher and cries lowder in the eares of God mercy good Lord mercy spare vs O spare vs we beseech thee Repentance gets the victory GOD is not so much enclined to iudgement as to mercy he regards not the cry of sinne if he once heare the cry of sinners he accepts their sorrow and humiliation he puts vp his sword hee holds his hand hee sees them turne from their wicked wayes and he turnes from his fierce wrath he sees them repent of their euill deedes and he also repents of the euill hee pronounced against them The sinnes of our Land like the sinns of Nintueh are ascended vp on high and cry alowde for reuenge to the GOD of heauen but our religious King hath proclaim'd a Fast hee and his Nobles haue led the way if we with him and them send vp repentance and prayers and teares to cry alowd in Gods eares they will dull the cry of our sinnes that he shall not heare it and dull the edge of his sword that it shall not wound vs. Wicked Ahab had grieuously sinned and a terrible sentence was past vpon him yet vpon his repentance though it were but superficiall in outward shew GOD was mercifull and spared him Seest thou not sayes God to Elijah how Ahab is humbled before me because he submitteth himselfe before mee I will not bring that euill in his dayes but in his sonnes dayes will I bring euill vpon is house If God were so mercifull to that wicked man vpon his false fained repentance how much more if we turne vnto him with true vnfained repentance will he be mercifull to vs not bring this euill in our daies A second meanes to diuert this iudgement is vncessant prayer wonderfull is the force of praier with the God of heauen when the Moabites and Ammonites and they of mount Seir came vp against Ierusalem with an huge Army the people were amazed not knowing what to doe for they were not able to stand before such a multitude in battell Iehosophat proclaimes a Fast the people all fall to their prayers desire GOD to ayde defend and deliuer them O Lord God of our Fathers art not thou in heauen and raignest not thou ouer all the Kingdomes of the Heathen and in thine hand is power and strength and none is able to withstand thee O our God wilt not thou iudge them for there is no strength in vs to withstand this great multitude neither doe wee know what to doe but our eyes are toward thee And such was the force of their prayers that GOD gaue them the victory without fighting any stroke the Lord himselfe became the Warriour and laid ambushments for their Enemies saith the Text and made them sheath their swords in one anothers bowels till they were all destroyed When Senecharib came into the land of Iudah with a mighty Host and tooke the strong and defenced Cities thereof Hezekiah and the people what did they In the first place they vsed the best meanes for their safety they stopped vp the fountaines of water that their Enemies might not bee refreshed therewith they built all the broken wall they raised vp the Towers they repaired Millo in the Citie of Dauid they made many Darts and Shields they mustered the people of the Land and set Captaines ouer them teaching vs what to do It is not enough to sit still and cry Lord haue mercy vpon vs without vsing meanes for our defence and safety for GOD workes by meanes be it small or great and therefore Hezekiah vseth the best meanes hee can to withstand and keepe out the Enemie and then he and his people pray vnto God for a good successe and rely on him as then surest stay for help and deliuerance Feare not neither bee afraid of the King of Ashur nor for all the multitude that is with him for there be more with vs then with him with him is an arme of flesh but with vs is the Lord our GOD for to helpe vs and to fight our battels And the Lord seeing their confidence and hearing their prayers gaue them