goodes whiche shoulde haue necessarely ben bestowed to the buyldinge of gods house we shoulde not haue felt gods rodde so sharpeli but God would haue ben pleased and shewed his glorie amonge vs. But whan men would not geue laÌdâ fast inough to Abbeys than the Pope rather than his chapleÌs should want would robbe many Parisshes to fede his moÌkes God graunt that the gospell maye restore that iustly whiche the Pope toke wrongfully awaye and gaue them yet a rightâ name of impropriations because improperly thei be takeÌ away properly belong to the parishes The workemaÌ is worthy hys byre he that serues the gospel muste lyue of the gospel Therfore those impropriacions whiche take awaye the Preachers liuinge be againste the woorde of God But what doeth this belong to vs or oure time doth goo require of vs to build him Abbeis Nunries Chauntries c. no surely but this was an outwarde exercise for that grosse harde harted people for a time to be excused in that they should not buylde temples to Idols ⪠and teacheth vs to buylde god spirituall house wherin we maye offer spirituall sacrifices prayers to him where in he is well delited will shew his Maiestye This house is nowe for vs to be vnderstande generallye the hole churche and companye of Christians and the bodye and soule the hearte minde or conscience of all ChristiaÌs particularly wherein god dwels by his holy spirite as sainct Paule saieth to the Corinthians Do ye not knowe that your bodyes be the temples of the holy ghoste and whiche he hath sanctified to be kept holy for him self alone by Baptisme and for the whiche Christe hath died that we mighte liue by ãâã whome he hathe redemed with hys ãâã and wasshed cleane from all sinne ãâã shoulde liue no more to our owne lustes and desires but to him that hath redemed vs. It is written that God dwels not in Tempels made with handes nor is worshipped with any worke of maÌnes haÌdes but he is a spirite an inuisible substance and wil be worshipped in spirite truthe not in outwarde woordes onely of the lippes but with the depe sighes grâninges of the heart and the hole power of the mynde and earnest hearty callinge on hym in prayer by faithe And therfore he doeth not so muche require of vs to âuyld him a house of stone and timber but hath willed vs to praye in all places and hath taken awaye that Iewish and Popish holinesse whiche is thoughte too be more in one place than an other All the earthe is the Lordes and he is present in all places ⪠hearinge the peticions of them which call on him in faithe Therfore those Bishops which thinke with their coniured water too make one place more holy than the reste are no better than Iewes deceyuinge the people teachinge that onely to be holy which thei haue censed crossed oyled and breathed vpon For as Christ saide to the womaâ thinkinge one place to be holier to ãâã than an other Woman beleue ãâã time is come whaÌ ye shal worship ãâã ât Ierusalem nor in this byl but the true worshippers shal worship God in spirite truthe so is it now saide the place makes not the man holy but the man makes the place holy and ye shal doe worship youre Idols stockes stones neither at Walsingham Ipswich CaÌterbury nor Shene for God chuses not the people for the place sake but the place for the people sake But if ye be in the middest of the fielde God is as ready to heare youre faithfull prayers as in any Abbey or Nunrye yea a thousand times more for the one place he hates as defiled with Idolatry and the other he loues as vndefiled and cleane If the good man lye in pryson tyed in chaynes or at the stake to be burned for Gods cause that place is holy for the holines of the man the presence of the holy Ghooste in him as Tertullian sayeth Yet there shoulde be common places appointed for the people too assemble and come together in to prayse oure God For where the Apostle rebuked them whiche woulde not resorte with the rest of the Christians to make their common praiers together to hear his woorde and receiue his sacraments it proues they had some common place to resort to And where saincte Paule requires that all thinges should be done in a comely order what can be more comely or agreing to good order then ãâã haue a time appointed and a place too resorte vnto together to worship oure onely God Nay how shal they come together ââcept place and time be appointed Howe shal they know when whither to resort vnappointed How canne the sheepehearde teache his sheepe if he haue not a folde to gather them together in In the Apostles time when the rulers were not christened they resorted into priuate houses and chauÌbers by the water side ãâã worship their God but when princes became christened they had churches appoâââted for them yet all these prayers preachinges that were priuely in parlers and by the waterside were as pleasaunte too God yea better peradueÌture for coÌmonly they came of a greater and better lâue ãâã faith as ours be now Those also whiche than were buried in no halowed churche nor churcheyarde nor christeÌ moldes as they be called when it is no better then other earth but rather worse for the coÌmââââ that Bishops vse about it were no worse then they which were buried with al soleÌnitie It appeares in the gospel by the Legion liuing in graues the widdows some going to burial Christ buried withoute ãâã Citie c. that then thei buried not in halowed Churchyeardes by any Bishops but in a seuerall place appointed for thesame purpose without the Citie which custome remains to this day in many godli places As that theÌ was lawful no hurt to the ded so is it nowe one place is as holy as an other to be buried in sauinge that coÌly order requires the bodies not to be cast awai because thei were the temples of the holy ghost shal be glorifed at the last dai again but semely to be buried an honest place to be kept seueral froÌ beastes vnreuereÌt vsing thesame for thesame vse It is Popish to beleue that which the bishops doe teach that place to be more holi then the rest which thei haue halowed as thei sai with washing it with their coÌiured water crossing ceÌsings processioÌs c. that God wil hear our praiers afore one Idol or Image rather then an other or in one Abbey as pleases theÌ to apoint him rather than an other Wher it pleases theÌ to grauÌt mani daies of pardon ther God must hear their praiers soner work mo miracles so God is become their seruauÌt shal be wher thei wil apoint him But blessed be the God our lord which by the
Mary when the Aungel saluted her woÌdred that God would cal such a poore mayden virgyn to be the mother of his sonne But euer he that thinks him self vnworthy God takes him as worthy those that thinke so highly of theÌ selues that they be worthy God refuses makes vnworthy Therefore let euery man that feeles him self in conscieÌce withdraweÌ froÌ doing his duty to god by any kynd of sin say thus to him self Is it tyme for thee to delite thy self in this or yâ kynd of synne gods house vnbylt Think yâ god hath left this in writing to rebuke hiÌ styrre him vp to be more diligeÌt in repairiÌg his house wherin god dwels And let eueri maÌ coÌfort him self that god not onli requires but takes in good part the least seruice that the poorest maÌ liuing caÌ do And as he saide afore in the seconde verse this people sayeth it is not tyme to buylde c. nothinge the vnkyndenes of that people to whome he had so often and longe ben so louinge a Lorde and maister So he sayeth now this house lyes waste to set out before them yâ greatnes of theyr disobedience that they did not neglect and leaue vnbuylt a common house a Bishopâ palaice or an Abby but that house wherin God him selfe sayde he woulde dwell where onely they shoulde offer their sacrifices whiche onely not oute of the whole worlde but amonge the places townes cytyes in all Iewry he chose by name too be worshipped in in whiche onely he was moste delited and made promys to Salomon in the dedicacion of thesame that he woulde heare the prayers of the that there called vpon hym in faith That house thei did not onely suffer it to decaye but were so forgetful of it that they let it lye waste desolate layde no hande to it as thought it belonged not to them nor it were theyr duety they hadde so farre forgotten God whiche willed them so straightely to do it The Lord for his mercy sake graunt that thesame vnkyndnes maye not be layde iustly against vs whiche leaue that house vnhuylt yea treade vnder oure feete like filthy swyne wherin not the sacrifices of Moyses are offered but for the saluation of whiche Christ offered his bodye a sacrifice to be kylled and his bloude shed and in whiche his holy spirite dwelles if thorough vnthankefulnes we driue him not awaye This house is the holy churche of Christe generally and oure owne bodyes and soules particulerly which be not only membres and partes of his misticall body but the temple and house where the holye Ghoste dwelles where in he wil chiefly be worshipped verse 5 And now thus sayth the Lord of hostes coÌsider in your harts your owne waies verse 6 You haue sowen muche and broughte in but litle ye haue eaten and not ben satisfied ye haue dronke and not ben filled with drinke ye haue ben clothed and not kept warme ye haue wrought for wage put your wages in a purse with a hole in the botome ¶ Although ye haue lien loÌg without consideratioÌ of your duty toward God hys house buylding haue ben sore punished of god not knoweÌ the cause of it haue sought your pleasur profit but not obtained them being so blinded in fulfillinge your worldly lustes yet now the mightye Lord of hostes power whome all other creaturs except you obey giues you warning now to coÌsider better in youre heart your tyme past not so negligeÌtly wey the working of god with you for he hath loÌg punished you to haue had you to amend ye regard it not at all Synne of it self is darkenes whosoeuer walkes in sinne ⪠walkes in darkenes knowes not what he doeth if a man geue him self to be ruled by sin it makes of fooles mad men darkenes so the reasoÌ that it knowes not what to do or saye They had thus many yeares ben plaged knew not the cause why but layd it on some other chauÌce then not building gods house which was the chief cause or els like insensible beastes without the feare of God regarded it not as though it had come of some natural cause god had not plaged their sinne But as his disease is most perillous which lies sicke feeles not his sickenes nor can not coÌplayne of one parte more than an other for thaÌ the disease hathe equally troubled the whole body so they which lye walowing in syn so forgetting God al goodnes that thei felâ no remorse of conscieÌce are desperate almost past all recouery yet God most mercifully dealing with this people sendes his Prophet to warne them sturre theÌ oute of their slepe that their thei should no longer so lightly wey Gods displeasure towardes them but depely wey why and wherfore these plages were thus poured vpoÌ them The scholemaister correctes not his scoler nor the father his child but for some fauts for their amendment no more hath God sent these plages to you so many yeares but to remeÌber you of your disobedieÌce towards him that ye should turn to hym But if the leude scoler or vnthrifty sonne do not regarde the correction laid vpoÌ him nor coÌsider not the greatnes of his faulte nor the displeasure of his father or scholemaster ther is no goodnes to be hoped for of him so is it w e you if ye thus lightly or els not at all coÌsider your lyfe paste Gods dealing with you how euil things haue prospered with you all the time ye thus haue disobeyed god WheÌ the life of maÌ pleases god saies SalomoÌ all things prosper go forwards with him but whaÌ he offendes his god all creaturs turn to his hurt hinderaunce If thou heare the voyce of the Lord thy God saith Moyses and kepe all the commaundementes which I teache thee the Lorde wil make thee greater than al other people thou shalt be blessed in the citie and in the fielde thy chyldren the fruitâ of the earth and all thy cattel thy shepâ ⪠Oxen shal be blessed and increase but yf thou heare not the voyce of the Lorde thy God and kepe his coÌmaundements thou shalt be cursed in the towne in the fieldâ thy chyldren shal be cursed and the fruitâ of the earth and the fruit of thy cattel thy sheepe and thy Oxen the Lord will sende vpon thee nede and trouble and destructioÌ on euery thinge thou goest aboute vntyll he destroye thee c. These plagues when they fall in any country are not lightlye to be considered But as the Phisicion seing in a glasse by the water the disease within the body by the learninge searches out the cause of the disease and ministers good things for thesame so in lokinge in the glasse of gods worde the diseases and sinnes which are in common wealthes we shall soone perceyue the cause of these plagues wholsomely minister some
is the spirite of truthe because he leades vs into all truth and putteth vs in remembraunce of all thinges whyche Christ him self caught before but no new doctrine he bringes of his owne And because our sauiour Christ is taken from vs in hys bodelye presence he promises vs that this spirite shall dwell with vs not for a tyme but too the ende and therefore wee shoulde not feare But is this a sufficient cause too perswade a man that he should not fear the power of kinges or worldly trouble because the spirite of God dwelles with hym yea truly For what spirite can preuayle against the holy spirit which is the power of God It is written of Gedeon whan he enterprised that venterous acte to fight againste Gods enemies that the spirite of the Lorde bid clothe and defend Gedeon as our clothes doe vs and so he obteined that noble victorie with so few agaiÌst so many And not to be afraide in suche trouble is the woorke of the holy Ghoste as Esaie called hym the spirite of boldnes strength and wisedom Peter whan he denied hys maister for the woordes of an handmaide after he receiued the holy Ghoste did and durste confesse hym too the deathe before princes and rulers So sayde oure sauiour Christe to hys Apostles when ye shal staÌd before Kyngs and rulers take no thought what or howe ye shall speake for in that houre it shal be geuen vnto you what you shall speake For it is not you that speake but the spirite of youre father which speaketh in you And although to worldly wisedome thys spirite seemes but a small thinge yet it is moste true that s ⪠Paule saith that which is folishnes before God is wyser then me and that whiche is weake before God is stronger then men And he that hath this spirite dwellinge in hym needes not too feare any power be it neuer so greate for if God be for vs who shall be againste vs and if he take his breath and spirite from the mightiest princes they are troubled vade awaye verse 6 For thus saieth the Lorde of hostes yet one litle time shal be and I will trouble the heauens and the earth the sea the lande verse 7 And I will trouble all people and the desire of all people shall come and I wil fyll thys house with glory saieth the Lorde of hostes ¶ The Prophete goeth on forth with this comforth to all people and promises not onely that God woulde be with theym in hys buyldinge whiche they shoulde finish in fewe yeares folowinge but intoâ the temple also which thei did now build God woulde sende his sonne Christ Iesus to preache his fathers will whom all people looked for and desired hys comminge and he woulde fyll that house with glory that they shoulde not neede to care for the smalnes of it if they woulde onelye with courage woorke God woulde fulfill the rest And that they shoulde know him too be able to fulfyll hys promise he cals hym selfe by the glorious name of the Lorde of hostes so often here in these verses that they maye vnderstande all creatures too bee at hys commaundement that none coulde preuaile againste that whiche he woulde haue done as is saide before But this is a straunge kynde of comforte too tell theym of suche a trouble as shoulde trouble heauen and earth sea laÌd and all people and yet they should be glad of it and that it shoulde come not long after The tyme when this trouble chauÌced was about .500 yeares after that this prophete had thus spoken and yet he cals it but one litle time And this maye well bee called a litle tyme in respecte of God with whome all thinges are present before hys sighte withoute tyme and a .1000 ⪠yeares with hym is as yesterdaye which is paste and he hym selfe is before all times not coÌteyned in tyme but liuing for euer wythout tyme. Or els it is called a little tyme in respect of that longe time wherin their fathers had so long looked for the coÌming of Christ and so muche desired hym and yet see hym not It was now aboue 3000. yeare since he was promised to AdaÌ about 2000. since he was so often spoken of too Abraham and .1000 since it was renued to Moyses and after to all the Prophetes from tyme too tyme in respecte of whiche 500. maye well be called a litle tyme. This trouble whiche he sayeth shoulde trouble heauen earthe sea lande and all people is described by these mightie wordes to set out the greatnesse of the trouble by the figure called Hyperbole and not the trouble was suche that heauen earth sea and lande shoulde feele it be troubled therewith whiche are insensible creatures and can feele nothinge that troubles them but thus by these woordes the scripture vses too tell the greatnes of any thinge that it speakes of Moyses and Esaye because the people were harde hearted and woulde not heare their sayinges to set foorthe theyr hardnes of heart and the greatnes of that message which they had froÌ God to speake saye thus ⪠Heare ye heaueÌs and geue care thou earth c. Sainct Paule saieth by the like figure euery creature grones and trauayles lookinge for the laste daye wherin they shall be deliuered froÌ this vayn corruptioÌ wherin they serue not because deade creatures can grone or trauayle but for the great desire that they haue to see that day of oure redeÌption fulfilled as the woman whiche trauels grones desires too be deliuered out of her payn to be restored to her former quietnes or els it may be taken that all creatures in all these places should be troubled But if this trouble shoulde be so great how can it be a promise of ioye and comfort Who can be merye to hear tel of such a greate trouble Surelye this is not promised to the euil but to the good For as our Lord maister Christ saieth speaking of the trouble that should be in the destructioÌ of Ierusalem the latter ende of the world woo be to theÌ that be with chyld geue sucke in those daies the wicked shall wish the hyls to fal on theÌ hide theÌ âª thei shuld seke for death ⪠it shuld flee froÌ theÌ So he saith to the good in the midst of all the desperat âorow wherin the euil man caÌnot tel what to Lifte ye vp your heades and bee merye for your redemption and deliueraunce is at hande So after this shorte time that he speaketh of this greate trouble whiche shall be at the byrthe preachinge miracles and deathe of oure sauioure Christe shoulde be but onely to the wicked For the good men shoulde as muche and more reioyce because of that daye of saluation and redemption was comen he whome all people looked for had now appeared to the comfort of all good men And thys trouble shoulde not be so
assure him selfe that yf earthely lordes and maysters wil defende their seruauntes much more he that was kynge of heauen and earthe and Lord of Lordes mooste tender and louinge of hys subiectes woulde not see hys seruauntes oppressed violentlye troden vnder foote nor throwen doune but he would be their mighty deliuerer reuenge their wroÌgs What can he greater comfort to any people than to heare God vouchesafe too call him selfe their Lorde God and maister them hys seruauntes If this be thought soo greate a promotion that an earthelye lorde will take vs too his seruice speake cherefully to vs set vs in some office or let vs weare his lyuery it is muche more too be estemed to be seruauÌt to Iesus Christ to beare his crosse for that is his lyuery to fighte vnder his baÌner and haue hym for our capitayne Men do commonly sue too be seruauntes vntoo noble men weare their lyueryes that whosoeuer seeth their coate maye feare them and vnder theyr maisters name they mai rule in their couÌtrye like lords of the lande do wrong whaÌ they lust and euery man shall cal it right and thoughe they were slaues afore yet now they shal be euery gentilmans felow ⪠but they whiche weare Christes lyuerey be obedient and louing to all do no wroÌg but suffer praye for them which persecute them and do good for euill This lyuerye we muste weare if we will bee the lordes seruauntes and partakers of his promise and deliueraunce in the daye of trouble This similitude which the Prophete vseth of a ringe that God woulde keepe him as safely as his ring is takeÌ of kings and Princes which emoÌg all things kepe their seale signet and ringe moste surely either them selues or betake it too some moste trusty frende to kepe If the seale should be counterfeated stolen or blaÌckes sealed with it what hurt or treasoÌ might be done thereby their landes offices or treasure mighte be geuen away the subiectes sturred to rebellion or the destruction of the hole common wealth might folow thereon Therfore that thei mighte moste certainly perswade them selues that in that troublesoÌ time of warre destruction of the kingdome of the Persians thei shoulde be moste safely kepte he saieth he wil kepe theym as hys ringe and seale that is too saye mooste safely And as when a frende sende his ringe or seale for a token to his frende it signifieth that he loueth hym moste derelye too whome he sendeth suche a pledge of loue frendship and also teacheth him that where he seeth his frendes ringe he shoulde not denye him his request nor doubte of the message that it shoulde be counterfeated so whan he names his ringe here they shoulde not doubt of his loue towardes them nor mistrust hys promise For as with vs whan Doctors be created thei haue a ring geuen them as a ceremony of honour and aucthoritie and in marriage the husbaÌd geueth hys wyfe a ringe for a sure pledge of loue so God our sauioure vnder this similitude of a ringe commendes his honour that he hath called vs vnto to be hys seruauntes and chyldren the loue he beares vntoo vs in that he hath marryed vs vnto hym in hys sonne Christe by the weddinge ring of sayth And the wedding apparell appeareth when Osee sayeth I will marye the to me in faith iustice iudgement mercie and many mercies Under this name of a seale he commeÌdeth vnto vs also bothe his outward visible sacraments and the inwarde grace of the holy Ghoste working in our consciences by them Saincte Paule .iiii. to the Romaines called Circumcision a SacrameÌt of the olde lawe the seale of the righteousnes of faythe and as that was a seale in that time to our fathers of righteousnes so be our sacrameÌts too vs in these dayes seales of Gods promises vnto vs al haue one strength vertue The scriptur of God is the indentur betwixt God vs wherin is conteined both the promises grace and mercy the God offereth to the world in hys sonne Christ also the conditioÌs which he requires to be fulfilled in our behalf the sacraments are the seales set to his indeÌture to strengthen our faith that we do not doubt For as it is not ynough to write the conditions of a bargain in an indenture except it be sealed soo God for oure weakenes thought it not sufficient too make vs promise of his blessinges in writinge in hys scripture but he woulde seale it with hys owne bloude and institute his sacrameÌts as seales of thesame truth to remaine too be receiued of vs in remembraunce of him and strengthning our faith Baptisme is a sacrament sealed by God and sealinge our consciences that God taketh vs for his chyldren and seruauntes and we offer and binde our selues to serue hym onely as a lorde and father The supper is also a sacrament wherein he fedes vs spiritually thus takeÌ into his seruice with his owne precious body and bloude and we rekening with oure selues where in wee haue offended hym aske mercye nothinge doubtinge to obtayne it and renewe oure bonde to hym whiche we haue so often broken and promise too doe soââ more So that when God geueth these hys sacramentes to vs by his ministers wee receyue thesame the bargayn is ful made betwixt God and vs the writinge sealed deliuered we are become his people and he oure God we to serue loue honour and worshippe hym and he too helpe deliuer defende and prouide for vs al necessaries This inwarde sealinge of the conscience whiche is the seconde sorte of sealinge is where God poureth his loue so plentifully into our heartes by the holy Ghoste which is geuen vs that he beareth witnes too oure spirite that we be the childreÌ of God and sturreth vp oure myndes to call hym father father we haue a taste and felinge that God hath chosen and sealed vs for hys people with the holy Ghoste promised as saincte Paule sayeth This is a sure tokeÌ to a faythfull hearte that he is the chylde of God and God his father and of this he takes so greate comforte that in what trouble soeuer he fall he knoweth that God doeth it not of hate but of loue trieth hys faith that other may knowe thesame how earnestly he loueth his God and that nothinge can be so stronge to pull hym oute of his Goddes handes not for his owne strengthe but that God whiche holdeth hym is stronger then all Of suche as were thus sealed saincte Ihon in his Reuelation speaketh whan he sayeth That of euery tribeâ there were .12 thousande sealed and saincte Paule teacheth Timothee that this grounde worke stand stroÌg hauing this seale the Lord knoweth who be hys For as noble men princes beare a loue to their seruauntes and for a witnesse of thesame will geue their outward Coignessance Badge and liuery wherby they maye be knowen from others sturreth vp their myndes to loue
man will see his house pulled doune ouer his head but he will restore it A good burgmaister and ruler of a citie will prouide necessaries for his that he hais rule ouer therfore seinge our God hays taken all these names and offices on him doubt not but he will doe his part for vs if wee doe not runne from him He settes not deputies to doe his office nor is not wery of well doinge He beares not the name of these offices and refuses the labor as men doe but he sais by Salomon My delite is to be with the chyldren of men and by Dauid he neither slumbers nor slepes that watches Israel verse 17 But in the hyll Syon shal be eschaping and there shall be holines and the house of Iacob shall possesse the enheritaunce of them which possessed hys verse 18 And the house of Iacob shall be fire the house of Ioseph the flame and the house of Esau for stuble shal burne them and shall deuoure theÌ and there shal be no remnant of the house of Esau for the Lorde hays spoken it verse 19 They shall possesse the south parte of the hyll Esau the playne countrie of the Philistines and they shall possesse the countre of Ephraim and the couÌtrie of Samaria BeÌiamin shall possesse Galaad verse 20 And the captiuite of this hoste of the chyldreÌ of Israel those whiche be the Cananites vnto Zarphat and the captiuitie of Ierusalem whiche be in Sepharad shall possesse the cytyes of the South verse 21 And there shall come sauiours in to the hyll Syon to iudge the hyl Esau and the kyngdome shall be the Lords ¶ Marke here the diuerse ende of the good and bad the persecuted and the persecutor the true Christian and the hypocrite the gospeller and the papiste The wicked florishes for a time but his ende is euerlastinge damnation the manne of God lokinge for an other kyngdome than on the earth is content to beare the crosse here vnder hope of that which is to come The stocke of Esau hays hitherto triumphed againste Iacob Goddes people but now whan his wickednes is ripe the Lord rewarde him accordinge to his desertes The hyll Esau afore reioiced in his stroÌg holdes wealthy countrie and the leages made with al neighbors round about theÌ but now in the hill Sion shall be safe esscapinge whan Edom shal haue no place to flee vnto In Sion that is Ierusalem and Goddes elect beloued people shall be holines the true worshipping of God the hole sanctuarie and temple where Gods holy name shall be called vpon where as Esau in the meane time is defiled with Idolatrie and geuen vp to the handes of the gentils Yea and furthermore Iacob shal possesse the lande of them that possessed his And although God haue promised to godlines not onely in the worlde to come but in this life also great blessings as appeares by Iob Abraham Isaac Iacob Dauid Iosias Ezechias Iosaphat whiche were of greate ryches yet this place doe I not thinke to be so vnderstand that Iacob should euer possesse the landes of Esau although the scriptur says that Dauid Iacob ouercame the Edomites But I think rather vnder this outward kingdom to be prophetied that the kyngdom of Christ as the Prophetes vse by worldlye prosperite to declare the spiritual felicite by the preachinge of the Gospell shoulde be enlarged in those couÌtries which were now enemies to God and his people and so the spirituall seede of Iacob the Christians shoulde by preachinge conferre and possesse Esau his lande and the gentyls whiche so sore hated and persecuted them afore This is the nature of Goddes people to be good to theâ which hate them and to winne them all to God which haue done them moste displeasures and this is the nature of God to cal theÌ which be hys vtter enemies soften their stony hearts to make theym meete houses for the holy ghoste to dwel in in the middest of their raging persecution to smite them doune as he did Saul raise them vp make theÌ Paules of wolues sheepe of haters louers of the truthe Thus shall Esau be destroied whan his Idolatrie superstitioÌ false goddes such wickednes shall be taken awaye and Iacob shall possesse him whan he shal turne him too the true worshipping of the liuing god forsaking their Idols superstitions and folow true religion What can be counted a greater conquest than to conquere the deuil make all people subiect to Christ. After rebukinge their sinne threatening them iuste punishment for thesame now folowes coÌfort as euer after the lawe preached folowes the gospel after correction comes grace pardoÌ SioÌ is the church congregation of Christe faithfull men beleuing in him so that whosoeuer flees thither shal be safe whosoeuer is not vnder his winges in the nuÌber of christen people shal perishe in the dai of his wrath As all liuing creatures which were not in the Arke with Noe did perishe with the waters so al that be not of goddes houshold shal be cast into outward darknes This other promise that God makes here vntoo the faithfull seede of Iacob that hays hys faith is most notable confortable In the hyl Sion the church of Christ there shal be the holy one as 70. reade or holines as other or the sanctuarye as summe holy place to worship God in purely It skilles not muche whiche we reade for the sensâ is al one the meaning is that the churche and faithful people of Christ shal not waÌt the true religion knowledge of god For the church of Christ is the spouse of Christ and his mistical bodye and if mortal men loue their wyues bodies so derelye that they wil not forsake them or leaue theim comfortles muche lesse will Christe oure sauiour not forsake vs after that he hays redemed vs seing he bought vs and loue vs so derely beinge hys ennemies Thys is than the greatest token of goddes loue to hys people whanne he gyues them hys true religion and therefore mooste earnestly too bee enbraced of vs And thys is the blessinge taken frome Esau and geuen to Iacob If we reade the holy one he is Christe whiche promised to bee with vs to the ende of the worlde he is made to vs of God oure father righteousnes holines wisedom and redemption because that who soeuer is holy receyues it of him and none is holy that hais it not of him though he haue bulles calues pardons reliques holy water holye asshes holy palmes holy crosse yea and all the holines that is in Rome if he haue not the spirite of Christe I am sure they will not saye they sell the holy Ghoste whan they sell pardons for that were symony therfore thei bye no holines in them If we reade holines than it is an vpright lyfe true faith with pure worshipping of God This is the wil of God says sainct
them selues to the fire for the trueth Their weapoÌs were their tonges penne inke paper neuer sheddinge bloude but their owne and euer seking how to saue other mens soules sparing no labor nor fearing any displeasur So mighty weapons is the vndefiled law of the Lorde turning soules and hearers that neyther lyfe nor death aungels nor powers thinges present nor to come can pull them from the loue of oure God offered in Christ Iesus This fire that he speakes of here is the might of the holy ghost which came on the apostles in firie tuÌgs and so kindels the hearts of all the receyue the woord that it burn vp al carnal affections and worldly lustes so that for the glorie of God they care not what thei suffer Dauid prayes oft for this fire burne my renes and heart And Ihon in his reuelation sayes that these which be neyther hote nor colde God will spue them oute of his mouthe it is therefore a good fire that burnes vp the stuble whiche is false doctrine superstition and all euils as S. Paul calles it if any maÌ buyld hay wode stuble it shall perish c. The house of Iacob and Ioseph shall be the preachers and Esau shall be thus happely burned vp froÌ his former fylthy lyfe and turned too the Lord. The house of Ioseph coÌtaines two tribes Ephraim and Manasses whiche were the chyldren of Ioseph but chosen taken of Iacob to be as his own sonnes whan he blessed theym all lyinge on hys death bed and made them equall enheritors with his own chyldreÌ of the land promised And because Ieroboam which first set vp the golden calues in Dan and Bethel and so prouoked all Israel to sinne Idolatrie in whiche they continued so many yeares was of the house of Ioseph and stocke of Ephraim lest thei shoulde thinke them selfs to be cast away of God and their sinnes coulde not be forgeuen he sayes thei shall be so hote folowers and setters foorth of Christ that they shal be lyke the flame shal turne Esau the geÌtils Heathen wicked men to the knowledge worshipping of the true God Such a merciful louing God is our Christ that eueÌ those that haue ben most traitors enemies to him he wil cal theÌ to most high honor Peter all the rest of the apostles denied our sauiour christ whaÌ he was takeÌ of the Iewes raÌne awai froÌ him but he forsaked not theÌ nor cast not theÌ out of their apostleship but sent theÌ into al the world to preache the word of lyfe grace saluatioÌ gaue theÌ more fulnes of the holy ghost than thei had afore And because it is vncertaine in the scripture whither any of the Apostles were of the tribe of Ephraim yet in the later ende and whan all sort of Iewes shal be coÌuerted to the Lorde and so all Israell shal be saued if this be not yet performed in theÌ or but partly performed it shall be afore the laste daye more fully Thy woorde is fierie sayes Dauid and therfore it is no meruaill if it burne them vp that heare receiue it The woorde of god is not lyke other histories or learninge which do not moue or elles but litel sturre the hearers but suche grace and strength is gyuen by it to the ministers and hearers of the same that eyther it turnes them that heares it too a godly zeale and loue towarde his glorie and an vpright lyfe or elles it castes them in to the burninge fire of hell as the Apostle sayes He makes his aungelles spirites or winde ⪠and his ministers a flaminge fire and agayn the preachinge of Christes crosse is foolishnes too them that perish but to them that bee saued it is the power of God In the disputacions againste the Arrians where all the learned men could not confute Arrius a man vnlearned stoode vppe makinge a simple confession of his fayth openly and where as longe as thei thoughte to ouercome him by disputinge and by reasons He euer had to aunswer theym withall whan this simple playne man trustinge not to eloquence nor learninge but in the mighte of Gods spirite onely sekinge the glorie of God beganne to speake hee see such grace in his woordes and power ioyned withall that he was not able âoo withstande it Arrius grauÌted his one errour and the other to saye true So sainct Paul writinge agaynste false Prophetes saies his preachinge was not in eloqueÌte woordes of mannes wisedome but in power of the spirite and althoughe he was not eloquent in woordes yet not ignoraÌt in knowledge Thus shall hypocrites Antichristes and vnbeleuers be ouercomen by the mighte of Gods woorde and the holy Ghoste workinge with all and not by any worldly witte strength or politie as the Apostles preachinge toke place turned the hole worlde to receiue theyr doctrine after thesame sort But where he sayes there shall be no remnant of Esau left that shall be fulfilled in the latter daye where the wicked shall be cast into vnquenchable fire for in the meane time the good and bad shall be blend together so that wicked hypocrytes Idolaters shall be consumed bothe in thys world and after but in the fulnes of time whan God hays apointed and not whan we thinke for thei shal preuail a time as this wicked seede of Esau did for the trial of the good and exercise of their faithe that all men maye knowe that the godly loue the Lord vnfainedly Thus the house is put for them that be of the house of Iacob and Ioseph and not so muche for the carnall seede as for theym that haue and folowe the faythe of Iacob and Ioseph whiche be onely they that bee ordeined to lyfe And because they shoulde not doubt of the performance of the thing he addes the Lord hais said it As though he should sai this is no mans tale but the liuing Lord God that made both heaueÌ earth haue all things at his commaundemeÌt whiche is truth it self can not lie whiche is bothe able and wil performe it hais saide these wordes therfore they must nedes come to passe All men be liers but God onely can not be deceyued nor deceiue whatsoeuer he hais said that he wil performe CaÌ ye find any thing that he said he would do since the worlde was made but he hays done it beleue him therfore in this thing to for he will do it in dede The next verses which coÌtein so many people by name I thinke do not signifie these people onely to be counted for that is to possesse them to the faithe but all gentils people should receiue the word and these be putte by name specially because thei were the next countries about them and always their open enemies For if these whiche were euer moste bitter enemies should be conuerted by them much more other countries that were not so ernest
here to runne to their owne houses that is as muche to sai as with al their wit and power they do satisfye their owne lustes seeke their pleasures hunt and gape for their own profit ⪠to enryche them selues buylde costly houses and laye lande too lande and neuer thinke they haue inough Woulde to God they whiche preache Christ were not gyltye in not buyldinge Gods house as they shoulde as well as others bee If it be taught of contencion ambicion or vayne glory Paule sayeth he is glad that Christ is preached but woo bee to him that teaches for suche causes and preaches not for pure loue and duety to his Lord God seekinge his own glorie All preachers must saye bee their giftes neuer so greate not vnto vs Lorde not vnto vs but to thy name geue all prayse and glorie And all the bearers muste saye wee do not beleue the worde because suche a man teaches it but because God spake it for the authoritie of the gospell hanges not on the messenger which bringes it but on gods maiestie whiche sendes it For as Peter and Ihon when thei had healed the blind begger and the people maruayled sayd why do ye wonder as though we had done this by our owne power and holines so ãâã all Preachers saye wonder not at vs ãâã prayse God whose messengers we be ãâã him whose spirit he hath geuen to speake in vs. For it is not we that speake when we speak any truth but it is the holy spirit of God that speaks in vs whose instrumeÌts ãâã be Thus haue all partes ben giltie of ãâã building Gods house the Lord for ãâ¦ã sake forgeue vs all that which ãâ¦ã and styrre vp our mindes to do our ãâã more diligentlye frome hencefoorth ãâã we maye escape the plagues whiche âââlowe verse 10 Therefore the heauens ãâã shytte vp from geuing these dewe vpon you the earth is closed from yelding their fruite verse 11 And I will call a droughte vpon the earth and vpoÌ the hyls vpon the wheat vpon the new wyne vpon the ãâã and vppon whatsoeuer the earthe bringeth forthe vpon man and vppon beaste and vpon all the labour of youre handes Now folowes the other kynde of perswading which the Prophet vses that is of the great plages that hange ouer their heads yf they did continue in tâis stubbornes and would not build gods house For although they had suffered great thinges yet these were muche greater which were to come and God would not holde his haÌd vntill they went earnestly about to build his house as they were commaunded In the further verse he repeates the plages in other woordes whiche he spake of before and more playnlye toke the cause of all the scarcenes that was amonge them why of so great labour they had so litle fruite and encrease Here we may see how necessarie it is often to repeate and beate in one lessoÌ because we be so dul to learn And althoughe many be wearye to heare one thing often yet sainct Paule saieth to the Philippians I am not wâarye it is profitable for you to repeate one thiÌg ofteÌ The heaueÌs sayeth he haue ben locked vp from geuing any dew or rayn to you and the earth hath ben so harde drye by that meanes that no fruite coulde growe Maruayle not if the earthe be barren wheÌ moysture comes not from heauen for nothinge can multiply here except it be blessed from heauen And this is true not onely in worldely thinges but also in spiritual giftes of the soule to teache vs ãâã loke vp to heauen and from thence to ãâã and loke for all goodnes froÌ gods haÌdââ What hast thou saieth sainct Paule which thou haste not receiued of God and sainct Iames saieth euery good gift and euery perfit gift is from aboue comming from the father of light For as the rayââ and dewe from aboue watering the grâââ makes it fruitful so the grace of the holye Ghoste comminge frome God the father for his sonne Christes sake styrres vp ãâã myndes to al goodnes Thus by outwâââ blessinges God will teache vs to loke âp to hym for all goodnes For as it is betwixt the earthe and the cloudes so ãâã betwixt God and oure heartes bothe ãâã vnfruitfull except they receyue blessinge from aboue But it had ben amonge them now ãâã it was in the time of Achab when Iesabel did so persecute the true Prophetes ãâã they were compelled to hyde them selues in Caues and DeÌnes of the earth Eliââ tolde the kynge that there shoulde bee ãâã dewe nor rayne in all the countrye but at his woorde whan he sayde it should be for God had geuen that priuilege too the Prophete to set foorth his doctrine it rained not of three yeares and a halfe nor was any dewe but greate hunger famine and ââarcenes of all fruites in the countrye So nowe when Gods house laye vnbuilded the heauens did not water the earth but great barennes was of all thinges This is one of the plages that God threatens to sende on all countries for contemninge his woord sayinge I wil make heaâân as harde as brasse ouer youre heads ãâã ye shall not wringe out of it a droppe ãâã or rayne to comfort the earthe and I will make the earthe as harde as yron that it shall not geue her fruite and so for false worshippinge of God all countries haue ben diuers tymes thus punished Englande hath had many great droughtes and dearthes bothe in the time of Popâri the gospell but if ye marke it well you shall finde greate diuersitie betwixte ãâã In the dearthes vnder the gospell it was not for wante of thinges that God ãâã not send them pleÌteously but through the wickednes of man whiche in so great plenty and blessinges of God made a neâââes dearth For farmes were raised that farmers mighte not foorthe to sell ãâã they were wont Many thinges were gotten into few mens handes thei woulde sell as thei list not as thiÌgs were worth ⪠according to charitie beinge content with a reasonable gaines Corne was cariââ out of the realme or solde through many handes or it came to the markets euery one woulde raise the price and haue sâme parte of gaines some woulde feede their Hogs with it els let it foist in their barnes be eateÌ with myse rather then they would bring it to the market to pull doââ the price Men of honor worship were ãâã come shepemaisters and grasiers tyllâââ was turned into pastur and townes ãâã graunges all not to make thinges âââper whiche might haue suffered but ââârer which was is hurtful not tollerable But since the Pope was restored ãâã haue had vnseasonable weather bothe ãâã weate and droughte the earth hathe ãâã brought foorth her fruit strauÌgers ãâã deuoured much of that whiche ye had All your latin processions singing of gospelâ vnder
sayd with a voice heard from heauen This is my welbeloued sonne in whome I am well pleased hear hym Or els it maye well be taken for the promise whiche is written in the .22 of Exodus where it is sayde beholde I wil sende my auÌgel or messenger before thee and he shal leade thee in the waye shall driue all thy ennemies oute before thee whose lande thou shalte posses This AuÌgell was Christe Iesus who is called the Aungell of the greate counsayle because he broughte from the bosome of his father the secrete counsayle of God and preached hys greate loue to the worlde An aungell is no more but a messenger or Embassadoure from God to declare and preache his will and pleasure to the worlde And that Christe was present with the Israelites and guided theÌ in the wildernesse Sainct Paule telleth playne that they tempted Christe and murmured agaynst him and Christe was the rocke The meaning and effecte of this promise is no more but that as God was presente with their fathers whan he brought them out of Egipt and deliuered them oute of al daungers were thei neuer so many nor so great brought them in to the land that he promised theÌ So he woulde nowe be present with them deliuer them and finishe their woorke yf they woulde woorke earnestlye neyther mistrusting hys mercie but that he would be with them and defende them againste the rulers whiche hated them nor fearing his power but that he was able too perfourme his promise vnto them If wee mistruste eyther his good will towardes vs that he will not or hys power that he can not delyuer vs wee prouoke his anger too deuoure vs and can not looke for helpe at his handes to saue vs for nothing offendes hys maiestie more then mistrust vnfaithfulnes or doubtinge as sainct Iames sayth he that doubtes is like a waue of water driuen with wynde too and fro and that man whiche so doubtes can lokâ too obtayne nothinge at Gods handes he gyues all hys giftes too them that bee faythefull and beleue that hee is bothe a true God perfourmyng all that he promyses merciful and willing to help al which in their neede call vpon hym and able too fulfill all that he saieth They that either doubte or denye his offered mercie or power to helpe denye hym to be a God Therfore feare not but beleue me too be youre God and I will deliuer you and defende you as I did youre fathers and ye shall finish this temple by my protection As I did bring them into the lande which I promised them ⪠droue out their enemies and gaue them the lande to dwell in So according to this promise it came to passe to this people now for in .4 yeares space next folowing they finished that teÌple as Esdras teaches So good spede had they after that they beleued his promise that he woulde be with them But here maye be moued a greate question howe this is true that God saieth by this Prophet here that he broughte them out of Egipt whaÌ this people neuer came there but about a .1000 years before Moyses brought out their fathers through the read sea where Pharao was drouned after that he would not beleue the great wonders wrought in his sight nor fear the Lord that had so ofteÌ greuously plaged hym for haÌdling his peple so cruelly The scripture vses oft to geue that which was done to the fathers as thoughe it were done to the chyldren As when Melchisedecke tooke tithes of Abraham he is saide also to haue takeÌ tithes of Leui whiche was not borne of many yeares after because he was conteined in the loynes of Abraham and afterwarde borne of his stocke and sede So likewise saieth sainct Paule By one man sinne entered into the worlde and by syn death and hath gone through all in whoÌ all haue sinned So we all that now liue or hereafter shall doe all before vs haue sinned in Adam and broken Gods commaundemente as well as Adam did because we were conteined in his loines as it were parte of him and toke our sinfull nature of him in his sede posteritie As we see those ryuers which spring out of littel welles are of thesame nature that the head and springe is whereof thei come though they runne .2 or 300. myle of thorough diuers countries and as those crabbes are soure this daye that growe on the crabbe tree whiche is .200 or .300 yeares olde because the first roote and plaÌte was sower So wee all be sinfull that be borne of Adam and soure as he was because he the first tree was suche a one the spring whereof we come was corrupte filthye So likewise God saieth he broughte thys people out of Egipt whiche neuer hadde ben there because he deliuered their fathers thence in whose loynes they were conteined and should haue ben born ther and subiect to thesame slauerie that their fathers were if God of his greate mercie mightie power had not deliuered their fathers thence and broughte them into the lande whiche he promised them And as the mercie whiche had ben receiued in times paste is a token argument of like merci and grace to be shewed when soeuer wee stande in the like neede and distresse soo here that they shoulde loke for a sure helpe at Goddes hande nowe in these daungers that they were in he putteth theym in remembraunce of that greate deliueraunce whiche not their fathers onelye but they also had before out of Egipt that they should not be afraide now but loke for sure help The daunger was greater before oute of whiche thei were deliuered and yet they escaped it So now Gods power and good will beinge no lesse towarde theym then before they shoulde loke for the like helpe of God as before He promises theym here that his spirite shoulde dwell with them therefore they shoulde not be afraide For as before he sent his Aungell to guyde them in the wildernesse so now he woulde sende hys holy spirite vnto them to dwell with theÌ whiche shoulde teache them all thinges that they doubted of or were ignoraunte in shoulde comforte theym in all daungers and distresse and deliuer them from al perilles that were towarde them therfore they shoulde not feare But as the other parte of the promise concernes Christ whiche shoulde come to deliuer them out of spirituall boÌdage and slauerye of sinne and the spiritual Egipt So this part here concernes the sendinge of the holy Ghoste whome Christ sayde he woulde send to dwell with vs and be our comfortour to the ende And as the buylding of this second teÌple betokens the churche of Christ builded by the preaching of the Gospell So here is the holy Ghoste promised whiche he sayde should not come excepte he wente awaye from them Thys spirite is called a comforter because he strengtheÌs vs in all our trouble he
Paul your holines As they haue but one God so they will worshippe him onely and as he hais taught them and not after the deuise of man thei will also studie for a holy life as God commaundes Be ye holy for I am holy And if we reade a holy place or sanctuari to worshippe God in it is true also for in all persecutions in the spite of the Pope and all Antichrist there hays ben in all ages and shal be for God so sayinge can not lye true professors of God althoughe the moste parte of the worlde was blinded So Christe coÌforts his sayinge feare not thou litel flocke Thus in Christes churche in spite of their foes shall euer be Christ the heade knit to the bodye necessarely and as he is holy so shal he make them holy that heng vpon him so gouerne them by his spirite that they shall euer folow a holy kinde of lyfe fleinge mischiefe and vnclennes and so shal thei haue also his sanctuari and holy place where to resort to worship their God here is worde and call vpoÌ him AbrahaÌ Isaac Iacob Dauid in their waÌdrings called vppon their God taughte their chyldren too feare the Lorde made their sacrifices and God reueled him self to them againe and neuer forsaked them In the captiuite of Babylon thoughe not in the temple yet they coulde by the water bankes singe psalmes on their instrumentes Whanne Christ was crucified the disciples kepte them together in a chamber praying and loking for the cominge of the holy Ghoste after whan persecution beganne some went to other countries some from house to house teachinge prayinge communicatinge and dealinge to the poore Paule sayes at Philippes by the water side thei were wonte too praye and in the middes blindnes of all Poperi hayes there euer ben some good men teachinge true doctrine and openinge their blasphemies for this can not be false that Christ promised his churche When the spirite whicâ is the comforter shal come he shall leade you into all truthe I will be with you vnto the ende of the worlde he that is of God heareth the woordes of God you heare not for because ye are not of God And my shepe heare my voice a straunger they doe not folow Therefore let all that be vnder the crosse and persecution se thei assemble together to praise God openly confesse him if it be possible or at the leste as muche as they maye folowing the example of the faithfull christians in the beginninge whiche in spite of their foes coulde not be holden from assembling together with prayers and songes afore the daye was lighte nor lette any papiste reioyce againste goddes scatered and persecuted flocke for this is the state and condition of goddes people and preachinge the gospell that they shal not want a crosse yet God will performe this promise that in Sion the holy one Christe will be with them to gouerne them in holines of lyfe purenes of religion and an earnest fayth trustinge in God and will geue theym a place to call vpon hym in that his might mercy grace to his people may appeare to the worlde in the sight of his enemies Whan Abraham and Iacob fledde into Egipte the EgiptiaÌs learned God which afore neuer heard of him in the captiuite of Babylon the Caldees Assyrians Babylonions Medes and Parsians with al other people amonge whome the Iewes were scatered lerned God of them WhaÌ persecution beganne in Ierusalem after Christes Ascension the disciples scatered by persecution went and preached Christ to the Heathen whiche afore heard not of him In Englande after Wiclefs death whan persecution arose some died for the trueth constantly some fledde into Boemia and broughte the gospell thyther where it continues to this day although bothe Emperoure and Pope with al their mighte many sharp battels and bloudde sheddinge woulde haue rooted it oute What great assaulte the poore Waldeses haue suffered at diuers French kings handes goinge aboute to haue destroied them for their religion beinge a fewe in number and yet coulde neuer deface theÌ this .360 yeares it is piteous to heare Thus is this euer true that in Sion the true church of Christ shal be the holy one Christ sanctifieng all that beleue in him there shal be holines in faithe religion maners to the prayse of God there shal be also a sanctuari and holy place with asseÌbles in spite of their foes and persecutioÌ does not hurt but rather increase and further true religion thoughe not in the greater yet in the better parte of men For who soeuer the holy ghoste does enflame with an earnest zele to his religion they canne not kepe it within them they canne not abide to see their God and his woord blasphemed thei will braste oute and declare their faith and saye the earnest loue towardes thy house hais eaten me as oure Sauioure Christe did whan he see the teÌple his fathers house so misused and hys religion contemned he gate whippes and droue them out Ieremie sayes the worde of God was to hym as a burninge fyre in his hearte and closed within his boones that he was not able too keepe it within him but woulde brust out This victory is sette oute more at large in the nexte verses folowinge where hee sayes the house of Iacob shal be fyre the house of Ioseph the flame and the house of Esau the stable c. Here is no description of horse haines gunnes any greate hoste or such other worldly things where in princes doe conquire and triumphe As the house of Iacob is spirituall and the kyngdome of Christe so be the weapons souldiers and victorie The swords where with thei faught were as the apostle sais the woorde of god which is sharper than any twooedged swoord and perâes more the soule conqueres the affections pulles doune hygh stoÌmackes deper than the swoorde can the bodye The gunnes were the Apostles words as Iames and Ioan were called the sonnes of thunder because with suche great power thei thundered terribly preached and feared carnall mindes more than the thuÌder does and threw doune sinne more than any gunnes coulde the walles Whan Peter at two sermons conuerted 5000. and Paul filled all countries frome Ierusalem to Illyzicum with the gospell what Emperour is able to bee compared of suche men of warre Whan Charles the .5 Emperour beganne to raygne Luter and Zuinglius began thesame time to preache and whither he hays throwen doune stopped and hindered the gospell more with al the help that his gostly and superstitious prelates coulde gyue than they with their scholers haue set it foorth and shewed the wickednes of Popery defaced his pompe let them selues iudge The Pope with his partakers haue had strength power politie wit wisedome armure gunnes horses harnes men and money and whatsoeuer they could deuise these other haue foughten with preachiÌg writing and giuing
xv iiâ Reg. xiiii i Reg. xvii Naum. iii. To be rebuked of vnthaÌkefulnes is the greatest grefe to a louing heart Mich. vi Esay i. Iere. viii Excuses of our negligeÌce be vayne i. Esdra iiii i. Chro. xxiii Luke xiiii God acceptes and requires the seruice of the simplest All things to saluation are geuen indiffereÌtly to the poore ryche The rulers ministers are to be blamed if the people offende thorowe theyr negligence For as brethren they must agre to promot Gods glorye Exod. iiii Num. xxv Ezechiel iii. xxxiii i. Reg. iiii i. Timo. iii. Ezech. xxxiiii To admit an vnable minister is too be partaker of the euill that he doeth i. Timo. v. Roma i. Math. v. An vnlearned minister is not to be suffered in the ministery Wee are lyke the Iewes in longe negligence i. Esdre ii Ester iii. The Text. Gods house is to be bylt before our own Math. vi Vsury vnlawfull Nemi v. All sinne is forbidden a lyke if it lette Gods house Dronkards Esay v. Sluggards Amos. vi Prollers Esaye v Ambitious i. Timo. vi Marchaunts Vnthrifts God allowes the ryche nothinge more to misuse thaÌ the poore Ephe. iiii ⪠Luke xiii No excuse is alowed in not byldinge Gods house i Esdre iiii Daniel vi Actes iiii God is rather to be obeyed then man Luke xiiii Math. v. Luke xvii Princes maye haue houses to their degre so they build Gods house firste ii Reg. vii Psal. cxxxii Vaine excuses in not byldinge Gods house be not alowed Fearfull Prouer. xxii Prouer. xxvi Slouthfull Worldlings Prec xi Prec xi The Gospel is neuer without enemies Iames. iiii Math. vi ii Timo. iiii i. Cor. xv Roma xv i. Cor iii HoWe far the weake is too be born with all Math. xv i. Cor. vii i. Cor. viii Gala. v. All sorts haue woorke in Gods house to doe Exod. xxxv i. Timo. iiii Roma xiii He that thinkes lowlest of himselfe is metest afore God to build Iudg. vi i. Reg. ix Amos. vii Luke i Euery man think this to be spoken to hym selfe The worthynes of the place maketh the faut greater being neglected iii. Reg. viii Cods house The Text. i. Ihon. ii SiÌne maketh vs withoute feling of God and his plages Pro. xvi Deut. xxxiii The cause of Gods plage is diligently to be searched Psal. xxiiii Our labour is in vain except God blesse vs. Kauntus Psal. lxxv Psal. xxxvii No desire caÌ be ruled but by grace keping it vnder Ouidius i Cor. x. Eate not so that it make the vnlusty to serue God Luke xvi A âhinne dyet with the fear of God is better than feastinge Daniel .i If God blesse them and thy meat it skyls not howe course it bee if no the best can not fede thee Exod. vii Ihon. ii To fede oure bodies is as great a miracle as anye Norishingâ The coÌmons of Gods workes makes them to seme no miracles which of theÌ selues be woÌderfull i. Reg. xix Siââââaining in a man wil leââ nothing that he haÌthe do him good Costly apparell and aboue their dâgrees Exod. xvi Deuter. xxix English apparell Math. â Iames. v. âail gotten gooddes neuer thriue· Proue xi Toby iâ Toby iiii ⪠Iere. vi Euill gotten gooddes wasteâ that whiche is trulye come by The Text. Targ. dwel in it with glorye An example for prechers i. Esdras iii. iii Reg. v. The HeatheÌ be called too bee membres of Christes churche The painfull labor must be borne without respect Necessarye church goods are not to be ãâã awaye Goddes house generallye is the whole church or euery particuler person i. Corâ xââ Actes vii Ihon. iiii â Timo. ij God is worshipped in spirite all places Ihon. iiâi ii Macha v. CommoÌ places of prayer are to be appoynted Heb. x. i. Cor. xiiiâ ⪠Actes xvii Marke v Luke vii Burials out of church or the yarde Hebru ix Bishops blessings make nor places more holy nor god too heare vs soner there then els where The vse of churches Goddes house generall perticular i. Timo. iii. Hebru i. Cor. vi i. Pet. ii Edifiynge The spirituall house of God Ephe. ii This house nedes continual repayringe helpe of al degrees Psal. cxxvii Psal. xix All offenders must be corrected indiffirently Ezech. xviiâ Deut i. Exod. xxiii Math. v. We are lyke to trees ii Cor. iii. Roma x Iohn vi Heliodorus ii Macha iii. God is much delited in the buildinge of his house Alexander Exod. xxxiiii Luke ii Actes viii i. Corin. iiii Math. xviii Most happines is to haue God delited ãâã vs though we suffer death for it Math. x. i. King ii Math. â The Text. The euyl bee rather moued with threate tâânges Beholde No strengthe can put away the plage of God Godâ house False religioÌ is the coÌmon cause of plages Romaines Saxons Normannes Mat. xxii False religion hath caused al Countries to be plaged Exo. viii ix.x Daniel iiii Mahomet the Pope began their authoritie at one tyme. Gregory He that desires to be aboue all Bisshops is Antichrist The Bishop of Rome is graunted to be aboue al other bishops Carnall foole the Popes ⪠churche Actes vii Math. xi No religion is to be had but that whiche Christe taught Exod xxv Esdras vi Psal. xix xii The Pope thinks his lawes better then Christes Papists differ among them selues in opinioÌs of holiest thinges Christ is only scholemaister of his scolers the Papists agre not in themselues Mat. xvii Deu. xviii Actes iii i. corinth i Frauncis Dominic Apoc. xiii Iohn xviii Saluacion onely by Christ. Englande repent Al build their owne houses rather then gods Phillip i Psal. cxix The praise is gods Actes iii The Text. It is profitable to repeat one thing oft Phili. iii. Al good thinges from heauen i. Cor. iiii Iames. i. False religion wil not let the heauens raine nor the earth be fruitfull iij. king ⪠xvii Iames v. Deut. xxviii The diuersity of plages vnder the gospel and poperye Amos. viii Esay xlv Choreb drougth Chereb sworde Moria Sion ⪠No place so holy as to defend the wicked Ieremy vii i King iiii i. Mach. i Math. xxiiii God threateÌs that we may auoyde them Gods threatninges haue in them a condicion euer Ionas iij Ieremy xviii God geues warning before he plages Amos. iii ii Peter ii Gene. xix Calling As sone as God cals all thinges obey Psal. cxlviii Gen. i. âsay v. Proââ The horribleâeâ of thys synne not to build gods bouse is procured by the plages Through sin no creature would willingly serue man Psal. viii The disobedieÌce of creatures shoulde remember vs âf our fal and gods anger toward sinne Roma vii Gods maiestie is declared in his creatures and saints do not rule them Iob. i. Act. xiii Psa. cxlvii Psal. cxlv and ciiii Isch. Aenosch Adam ⪠None is excused from building gods house Homo Ier. xxii Gen. xviii It is profitable to remember wherof we be Osee. v. The Text. Angel Math. iii Roma x. Law Gospel Rom.