from Idolatrie Iohn 13 13. Ye call mee Maister and Lord and ye say well for so am I. 1. Iohn 4 12. No man hath seene God at any time If we loue one another God dwelleth in vs and his loue is perfect in vs. Iohn 1 18. No man hath seene God at any time the onely begotten Sonne which is in the bosome of the Father he hath declared him 1. Cor. 12 3. I declare vnto you that no man speaking by the spirit of God calleth Iesus execrable Also no man can say that Iesus is the Lorde but by the holy Ghost The houre commeth now is Iohn 4 23 24. when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and trueth for the Father requireth euen such to worship him God is a spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and trueth And that euery tongue should confesse Phil. 2 11. that Iesus Christ is the Lord vnto the glory of God the Father These shall fight with the Lambe Reue. 17 14. and the Lambe shall ouercome them for he is Lord of Lordes and King of Kinges and they that are on his side called and chosen and faythfull And he hath vpon his garment and vpon his thigh Reue. 19 16. a name written The King of Kinges and Lord of Lordes I thanke him which hath made mee strong that is 1. Tim. 1 12 Christ Iesus our Lord for he counted me faythfull and put me in his seruice Who onely hath immortalitie 1. Tim. 6 16 and dwelleth in the light that none can attayne vnto whom neuer man saw neither can see vnto whom be honour and power euerlasting Amen OF ANTICHRIST and false Christes WHO is a lyar 1. Iohn 2 22. but he that denieth that Iesus is Christ the same is the Antichrist that denieth the Father and the Sonne And euery spirit which confesseth not that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh 1. Iohn 4 3. is not of God but is the spirit of Antichrist of whom ye haue heard how that he should come and now already he is in the world 1. Iohn 4 5. They are of the world therefore speake they of the world and the world heareth them 2. Iohn 7. Many deceyuers are entred into the worlde which confesse not that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh He that is such one is a deceyuer and an Antichrist Math. 24 5 Many shall come in my name saying I am Christ and shall deceiue many 2. Thes 2.9 Euen him whose comming is by the working of Satan with all power and signes and lying wonders Mat. 24 24. Mar. 13 22. There shall arise false Christes and false Prophetes and shall shew great signes and wonders so that if it were possible they should deceiue the very elect 1. Iohn 2 18 19. Babes it is the last time and as ye haue heard that Antichrist shall come euen now are there many Antichristes whereby we know that it is the last time They went out from vs but they were not of vs For yf they had been of vs they would haue continued with vs. But this commeth to passe that it might appeare that they are not all of vs. EXHORTATION Mat. 24 23. Mar. 13 21. Mat. 24 25. IF any shall say vnto you Loe here is Christ or there beleeue it not Beholde I haue tolde you before Wherefore if they shall say vnto you Beholde Mat. 24 26. he is in the desart goe not foorth beholde he is in the secret places beleeue it not Then they shall say to you Beholde heere Luk 17 23. or beholde there But go not thither neither folow them Take heede that ye be not deceiued Luk. 21 8. for many will come in may name saying I am Christ and the time draweth neare folow ye not them therefore And Iesus answered and sayd vnto them Math. 24 4. Mark 13 5. Take heede that no man deceiue you Let no man deceiue you with vayne wordes Ephes 5 6. For such thinges commeth the wrath of God vpon the children of disobedience Let no man deceiue you by any meanes 2. Thes 2 3. for that day shall not come except there come a departing first and that that man of Sinne be disclosed euen the sonne of perdition OF FALSE PROPHETS false Doctrine and Teachers SOnne of man Eze. 13 2 3. prophecie against the Prophets of Israel that prophecie and say thou vnto them that prophecie out of their owne hartes Heare the worde of the Lord. Thus sayth the Lord God Woe vnto the foolysh Prophets that folow their owne spirite and haue seene nothing And if the Prophet be deceiued when he hath spoken a thing Eze. 14 9. I the Lord haue deceiued that Prophet and I will stretch out mine hand vpon him and will destroy him from the middes of my people Israel Eze. 22 25. There is a conspiracie of her Prophetes in the middes thereof like a roaring Lion rauening the pray they haue deuoured soules they haue taken the riches and precious thinges they haue made her many widowes in the mids thereof Ier. 23 9 11 21. Mine hart breaketh within me because of the Prophets all my bones shake I am like a drunken man and like a man whom wine hath ouercome for the presence of the Lord for his holy words For both the Prophet and the Priest doe wickedly and their wickednesse haue I founde in mine House sayth the Lord. I haue not sent these Prophetes sayth the Lord yet they runne I haue not spoken to them and yet they prophesied Ier. 14 14. The Prophetes prophesie lyes in my name I haue not sent them neither did I commande them neither spake I vnto them But they prophesie vnto you a false vision and diuination and vanitie and deceitfulnesse of their owne hart Ier. 27 15. and 29 9. I haue not sent them sayth the Lord yet they prophesie a lye in my name that I might cast you out and that ye might perish both you and the Prophets that prophesie vnto you 1. Tim. 2 1. This know also that in the last dayes shall come perilous times 2. Pet. 2 1. There were false Prophetes also among the people euen as there shal be false Teachers among you which priuily shall bring in damnable heresies euen denying the Lord that hath bought them and bring vpon themselues swift damnation And many shall folow their damnable wayes 2. Pet. 2 2. by whom the way of trueth shal be euyll spoken of There are certayne men crept in Iude. 4 18. which were before of olde ordeyned to this condemnation vngodly men they are which turne the grace of our God into wantonnesse and denie God the onely Lord and our Lord Iesus Christ This first vnderstande 2. Pet. 3 3. that there shall come in the last dayes mockers which will walke after their lustes The Prophet that shall
A Hedgerovv of Busshes Brambles and Briers or A Fielde full of Tares Thistles and Tine Of the vanities and vaine delightes of this Worlde leading the way to eternall damnation with seuerall Exhortations or oauiats for the carelesse to shun and beware the same Now newly compiled by I.D. The workes of the flesh are manifest which are adulterie fornication vncleannes wantonnes Idolatrie witchcraft hatred debate emulations wrath contentions seditions heresies enuie murthers drunkennes gluttonie and such like whereof I tell you before as I also haue tolde you before that they which do such thinges shall not inherite the kingdome of God Gall. 5. Imprinted at London by William White for Iohn Browne and are to be solde at his shop in Fleete-streete at the signe of the Shugerloafe 1598. To the gentle and friendly Reader THere are in forraine countries gentle Reader certayne men called by the name of Quacksaluers who vse in Fayres Markettes and open places to shew foorth in desiphered cullors many infirmities griefes and diseases which doe afflict and reigne in mans body and withall they lay open in viwe of the people diuers waters powders and drugges of diuers sortes as remedies for the same And also there they doe tell and expound vnto the beholders aswell the nature and qualities of the same diseases as the vertue force and efficacie of the same Drugges to the intent the hearers and beholders may take knowledge and receiue benefite thereby The which ensample gentle Reader being in my simple opinion very good and christian like I haue immitated by laying open before our eyes in this small Booke folowing according to my small skill and knowledge the Vanities and vayne delightes of this Worlde and haue named it as me thinkes most fit A Hedgerowe of Bushes Brambles and Briers or a Fielde full of Tares Thistles and Tine of the Vanities and vayne delightes of this Worlde leading the way to eternall damnation with seuerall exhortations or cauiats for the careles to shunne and beware the same That as I haue reduced another Booke into a smaller volume called Paterickes Places a Treatise concerning the doctrine of Fayth and the doctrine of the Law which is the onely marke to shoote at and the onely meanes to obtaine saluation So by reading and vnderstanding of both we might thereby learne to choose the right and good way and to shunne and flie the wrong and busshie bad way as for a familiar example If two men were set in a playne to runne a race for a great prize and it were decreed that he which came first to the ende of the race should haue the prize for his rewarde The one steppeth aside out of the way amongst Busshes and Briers seeking after Butterflies whereby he looseth the prize the beholders would not onely thinke him a vayne man but would also deride and laugh him to scorne for his vanitie foolishnes Euen so gentle Reader wee hauing two wayes layde before our eyes one leading to damnation and the other to saluation it were a great follie or rather madnesse for vs to leaue the right way and to take the wrong Therefore it behooueth vs to be warie and carefull that we chouse the right way for it is described vnto vs by our Sauiour Christ to be verie narrow straight Math. 7. and few there be that finde it And let vs examine our selues that yf we be intangled in any Brier of this Hedgerow we striue to get out in time least being caught by one Brier and carelesse to get loose an other also layeth holde and so by degrees we be fastened and ouerwhelmed in the Hedge as when we would get loose we can not Math. 25. and the night come vpon vs at vnwares whereby we be taken tardie as the foolish Virgins Reue. 12. and our aduersarie or accuser bring vs before the Iudge placing vs amongst those careles liuers after the lustes of the flesh and workers of iniquitie on the left hand Luk. 13. and the Iudge pronounce that heauie sentence Math. 25. Depart from me ye cursed into euerlasting fire prepared for the Deuill and his Angels But rather let vs thinke vpon or take example by the seely Sheepe feeding by the Hedge or in the Fieldes so soone as he findeth him selfe caught by the Brier he foorthwith turneth and windeth himselfe about to get loose againe and deferreth not the time but will so struggle and striue that in the ende he will get loose albeit he leaue some of his Wooll behinde him And Sainct Paul teacheth vs to cast off the olde man Ephes 4. which is corrupt through the deceiueable lustes Ephes 5. and put on the new man which after God is created in righteousnesse and true holinesse Tit. 2. And willeth him that hath stollen to stoale no more hauing no fellowship with the workes of darknesse but deny vngodlines and worldly lustes And that we should liue soberly and righteously and godly in this present worlde walking in the spirit Gal. 5. and doing and performing the fruites of the spirit which is loue ioy peace long suffering gentlenes goodnes fayth meekenes temperancie agaynst such there is no law for they that are Christes haue crucified the flesh with the affections and the lustes If we liue in the spirit let vs also walke in the spirit that we may be set amongst the number of those on the right hand and the Iudge will say vnto vs Math. 25. 1. Iohn 2. Come ye blessed of my father inherite the kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the worlde For those that walke in the spirit loue God and are good and righteous and doe those thinges that please him therefore such must not doubt but that God will also giue them the crowne of righteousnes To which we pray him he will graunt vs. Amen Your welwiller in the Lord and most vnworthy I.D. The Contentes of this Booke 1 Of the Worlde and the Prince thereof our accuser aduersarie and enemie 2 Of Sinne and Sinners 3 Of Images and Idolles 4 Of Antichrist and false Christes 5 Of false Prophettes false Doctrine and Teachers 6 Of worldly Wisedome 7 Of Riches and Rich-men 8 Of Pride and Proude-men 9 Of Whoredome and Whoremongers 10 Of Drunkardes and Gluttons 11 Of Couetousnesse 12 Of Vsurie and Vsurers 13 Of false Weightes and Measures 14 Of Swearing 15 Of Lying 16 Of Backbiters and Talebearers 17 Of Scorning and mocking 18 Of Anger and Wrath. 19 Of Enuie Hatred and Strife 20 Of Slouth and Idlenes 21 Of the Tongue and euyll speaking 22 Of feigned Friendes and friendshyp 23 Of Witches and Sorcerers 24 Of Fooles 25 Of Wicked and euyll Men. 26 Of hard stonie and stubborne Hartes 27 Of the workes of Darknesse and workes of the Flesh 28 A godly Prayer and confession of our sinnes vnto God The ende of the Table OF THE WORLDE AND THE PRINCE THEREOF OVR ACCVSER ADVERSARIE AND ENEMIE BE sober and watch 1.
them and of their children after them Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your hart Deut. 10 16 and harden your neckes no more OF THE WORKES OF DARKNES and workes of the Flesh Gen. 6 5. THE Lord saw that the wickednesse of man was great in the earth Gen. 8 21. And all the imaginations of the thoughtes of his hart were onely euyll continually Ephe. 4 18 19. Hauing their cogitation darkoned and being strangers from the lyfe of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the hardnesse of their hart Which being past feeling haue geuen them selues vnto wantonnesse to worke all vncleannesse euen with greedines Rom. 1 21. Because that when they knew God they glorified him not as God neyther were thankfull but became vayne in their imaginations and their foolysh hart was full of darknesse Mark 7 21 22. For from within euen out of the hart of man proceede euyll thoughtes adulteries fornications murthers theftes couetousnesse wickednesse deceit vncleannesse a wicked eye backbyting pride foolyshnesse All these euyll thinges come from within and defyle a man Gall. 5 19 20 The workes of the Flesh are manifest which are adulterie fornication vncleannes wantonnes idolatrie witchcraft hatred debate emulations wrath contentions seditions herisies enuie murther drunkennes gluttonie and such lyke whereof I tell you before as I also haue tolde you before that they which do such thinges shall not inherite the kingdome of God Many will say to me in that day Lord Lord Math. 7 23. haue not wee by thy name prophecied and by thy name cast out deuyls and by thy name done many great workes Then shall ye begin to say Luk. 13 26.27 We haue eaten and dronken in thy presence and thou hast taught vs in our streetes But he shall say I tell you I knowe you not whence ye are Depart from mee all ye workers of iniquitie Away from mee all ye workers of iniquitie Psal 6 8. for the Lord hath heard the voyce of my weeping Then shall he say vnto them on the left hand Math. 25 41 Depart from mee ye cursed into euerlasting fire which is prepared for the deuyll and his angels EXHORTATION THE nyght is past and the day is at hand Rom. 13 12. let vs therefore cast away the workes of darknesse and let vs put on the armour of light And haue no felowshyp with the vnfruitfull workes of darknes but euen reproue them rather Ephe. 5 11. The grace of God Tit. 2 11 12 that bringeth saluation vnto all men hath appeared And teacheth vs that we should denie vngodlines and worldly lustes and that we should lyue soberly and righteously in this present worlde Walke in the spirit Gall. 5 16. and ye shall not fulfill the lustes of the flesh Gal. 5 22 23 24 25. The fruites of the spirit is loue ioy peace long suffering gentlenesse goodnesse fayth meekenesse temperancie against such there is no law For they that are Christes haue crucified the flesh with the affections If we lyue in the spirit let vs also walke in the spirit Math. 7 13. Enter in at the straight gate for it is the wyde gate and brode way that leadeth to destruction and many there be which goe in thereat Luk. 13 24. Striue to enter in at the straight gate for many I say vnto you will seeke to enter in and shall not be able FINIS A GODLY PRAYER AND CONFESSION OF our Sinnes vnto God O MOST merciful Lord God and my tender and deare Father vouchsafe I hartely beseech thee to looke downe with thy fatherly eyes of pittie vpon mee a most vile and wretched sinner which lie heere prostrate in hart before the feate of thy bottomlesse mercie for I confesse I haue most greeuously sinned against the throne of thy glory and before thee O Father in so much as I am no more worthy to be called thy sonne neuerthelesse forasmuch as thou art the God and Father of all comfort and desirest not the death of a sinner but like a true Samaritan takest thought for my seely wounded soule Make mee I pray thee by infunding thy precious oyle of comfort into my woundes ioyfully to runne with the lost Sonne vnto the lappe of thine euerlasting pittie For loe thou art my hope and trust in whom I onely repose my selfe hauing in thee full confidence and stedfast fayth and so I say with a very true and faythfull hart trusting only in thy mercie I beleeue in thee O God the Father in thee O God the Sonne and in thee O God the holy Ghost three persons and one true and also very God besides whom I acknowledge none other God in heauen aboue nor in the earth beneath yea and I poore miserable sinner doe accuse my selfe vnto thee deare Father that I haue sore and greeuosly offended thy Almighty goodnesse and maiestie in the committing of mine abundant and manifolde sinnes and wretchednesse which exceede the number of the Sandes in the Sea and haue not kept the least of thy most godly and blessed commaundementes lyke as thy righteousnes may require and demaunde the same of me which if thou Lord shouldest so require there were no helpe or hope in me but that I must needes perysh and be damned for euer I confesse also that I haue not honoured thee lyke my God nor dread thee lyke my Lord loued thee lyke my Father nor trusted in thee lyke my creator and Sauiour Thy holy and dreadfull name vnto whom all honour glory of duetie belongeth haue I vsed in vayne I haue not sanctified the holy dayes with works which be acceptable vnto thee nor in instructing my neighbour in vertue accordingly I haue not honoured my Parentes nor been obedient vnto them The high powers rulers which take their authority of thee I haue not been willingly obedient vnto I haue not kept myne hart pure and cleane from man slaughter theft adulterie enuie malice hatred disdaynefulnes pride couetousnes drunkennes gluttonie wantonnesse backbyting slaunder falsehood and false-witnes bearyng but haue in my hart and minde wyshed and desired my neighbours goodes and thinges I haue folowed the great Prince of this worlde Satan which hath been a lyar euen from the beginnyng in concupisence of the flesh in deceitfulnesse in all kinde of euyll and wicked lyuing in thought worde and deede in dispayre and also mysbeliefe But in what manner soeuer that I haue offended and sinned agaynst thy eternall Maiestie for no man knoweth throughly his sinnes as the prophet witnesseth whether it hath been by day or els by nyght yea euen from my chyldhood vnto this day were it in wordes workes or thoughtes secretly or openly O most mercifull God and heauenly Father I am most sorie for it euen from the bottom of my hart yea and my soule mourneth for very sorow within me O most mercifull Father that I am not a thousande tymes more soryer then I am Howbeit in token of my great and vnfeigned repentance though all hartes be knowen well ynough vnto thee I do cry and call vnto thee for refuge in the bitternesse of my hart and soule Lord God and Father haue mercie Lord God and Sonne haue mercie and Lord God holy Ghost haue mercie Spare mee good Lord of thine infinite mercie both now and all the dayes of my life and graunt mee of thine aboundant grace so as I may change my sinfull life and put off the olde man with all his euyll concupisence and deceiueable lustes and that I may die vnto the worlde and so goe foorth in a new life Strengthen thou mee O Lord I humblie beseech thee in a true humble lowlie and perfect hart faythfully to loue hope and trust in thee Giue my soule most heauenly Father the grace of thy holy spirit to desire thee onely in thee onely to reioyce and repose my selfe and that I may vtterly renounce and forsake the vanities and vaine affiance and delightes of this worlde so that thou mayest finde mee readie with the good Seruant in the midnight of my death which shall sodaynely steale vpon mee like a theefe eare I be aware Bee thou vnto mee at that time of neede O Lord a Tower of strength a Pallace of refuge and a defencible God namely against the face of the feende who like a roring Lyon wil be then most readie to deuoure me and against desperation which then wil be busie to grieue and assayle mee Graunt mee most mercifull Sauiour that when death shall shut vp the eyes of this my mortall body yet that the eyes of my soule may still beholde and looke vpon thee with a liuely and perfect fayth that when death hath taken away the vse of my tongue and outward senses yet that my hart and soule may cry and say vnto thee O Lord into thy handes I giue and commit my soule Lord Iesu receiue my spirit vnto thee Fetch then againe Lord God the Father I humblie beseech thee that which thy wisedome and puissant might hath shapen and fashioned Fetch then againe Lord God the Sonne that which thou hast so wisely and carefully gouerned and bought with the deare price of thy most precious blood Take then againe thou Lord God holy Ghost that which thou hast kept and preserued so louingly in this region of sinne and vale of miserie Vnto whom as of right and duetie belongeth be all honour power prayse and glory for euer and euer worlde without ende Amen Despise not a man that turneth himselfe away from sinne nor cast him not in the teeth withall but remember that we are all worthy blame Ecclus. 8.5 Imprinted at London by William White 1598.