must vnder paine of damp nation so haue beleued thynke ye it wolde haue beene so well accepted at hys hande Where Christe y e Prophetes or Apostles or any other in his name and by his power and spirite did anye miracle wheather it were outwarde or inwarde in healynge of the body or soule the thynge after appeered soo to be and it shewed it selfe that it was doone as theye sayde they set neuer the people to beleue and woonder at thynges wherof thei heard felt nor saw nothing saue only an outward token or signe But your doynges are vncertayn euē to your selues but much more to other yet would ye haue al men compelled to beleue thē thus haue your sinnes ye your wilful sinnes long turned y e eyes of the Lorde from you and made all your doynges as the sacryfice of Cayn For ye haue forsaken the Lorde the onelye well and fountaine of lyfe and haue chosen and dygged you brokē pittes that hold no water In euery strete place haue ye burnt swete odoures and offered incens before your Idolles and haue chosen you Goddes after your owne imaginacion and serued theym after youre wyll yea as the Iewes and Heathē nacions haue ye inuented and set vp brothell howses to offre in sacrifice to your Idolles the vncleane lustes of your bodyes for many ordinances contrary to the word of God haue ye set vp whiche may neyther bee omitted nor spoken againste but must be continewed as thinges lawdable as ye say for good purposes Haue ye not also as they geuen your seede to Moloch and burnt your chyldren before Idolles in that ye procure by power brybes or flatterye or by any other vngodlye meanes to make theim mynysters or common officers more regardyng the vayne glorye of thoffice the dignitie or y e worldly profit of the same then either the health of the soules of your selues of thē or of the people whose teachers leaders gouernours ye make them the cōmon welth or the glory and honour of god Thus haue ye vnwisely forsaken the Lord for ye are sick and your mouthes out of taste and therefore so that euery rome and place bee fylled ye thinke it is well although y e persones that be in them haue scarce any one poynt of vertue requisite and nedefull to the office and place they be in Thus haue you set appoynted such to be meanes betwene god and you and to pray for you as be voyde of all honest poyntes of vertue whose doynges ar hatefull and their prayer execrable and before god an abominaciō Thus is that wooful plage and great miserie happened vnto you for your offences thretned of god by Esay who sayth The lord of hostes shall take awaye from Ierusalem and Iuda all possessions and power al meate and drinke the captain and the souldyer the iudge and y e Prophete the wyse the aged man the worshipfull of fyftye yeres olde and the honourable y e Senatours and men of vnderstandyng the maisters of craftes oratours And I will geue you childrē to be your princes saith y e lord babes shall haue y e rule of you one shalbe doing violēce wrōg to an other y e boy shall presume against y e elder and the vile persō against y e honorable for both Ierusalē Iuda must decay because both their wordes coūcels ar against y e lord and thei prouoke the presens of his maiestie to angre c. And yet neuertheles they say tushe we be safe for we bee all christians we haue gods word and his holye Sacramentes among vs and therfore y e great plagues and threatenynges of god declared by his prophetes and Apostles againste sinners shall not touche vs nor come nigh our dwellyng although thou liue more wickedlye then they O named Christianitie yet saiest thou it is spoken against Iewes Turkes Sarasins and heretikes y t dispise our holy religion and reproue our dooynges it is they that shall peryshe saiest thou for thei are worthye but we bee safe for we ar gods people Thinkest thou that they shalbe preserued and defended of God that continue and delite in stune and wickednes Or thinke ye to escape the punishmente of god due to synners with a face or outewarde apparance of holines The vertue and strēgth therof is away then art thou clearely deceiued for as it is right with god to reward the iuste for well doyng so is it also to punishe y e wicked for euill dooynges God is all good and no euil may come me hym and although his iudgementes be vnsearcheable yet be they al righteouse and true He is no respecter of persō nacion lande tyme nor place but loke who doeth right hym wil he accept and he that do the euill hym wyl he punish of what religion tong or nacion so euer he be For God is determyned as he hath plainly declared in his worde to gather together and chose out his elect from the foure wyndes from and out of al nacions vnder heauen therfore deceyue not youre selues with a name but bryng foorthe the frutes of righteousnes forthinke your old wayes and delight no lōger in vanitie but as S. Paul saith Let it suffise vnto vs that we haue spente the tyme of our lyfe past in vanitie as in eatyng drinkyng chaumbryng and wantonnes and lay from you that olde man which marreth hymself in deceyuable lustes and be ye renued sayeth he in the spirite of your vnderstandyng obey to the voyce of god do iustice and equitie hate the euill chose y e good so shal ye lyue for euer for thei that do these thynges are born of god and are made the belouing sonnes of the highest of what relygion tong or nacion soeuer thei be Circūcision is nothyng nor vncircumcision saith Paul but the kepyng of the commaundement of god saith he is altogether circumcision verily auayleth saith he if thou kepe y e law but yf thou transgresse then is thy circumcision made vncircūcision What auayleth then a christen name or baptisyng and receiuyng of Sacramentes although it be neuer so many yf there folowe not amendement of life but that the herte delite in euyll as before Haue ye not thē made your baptisme which signifieth repentaunce the new regeneracion and amendment of lyfe toward your helth of no value But it is rather an open witnesse against you that ye ar false dissembling christians and suche as haue mocked god pretendyng one thyng in face but the contrary in your hertes yf an infidell turne in his hert frō his infidelitie and do y e thynge that is equall right although he neuer receiue christen name nor outward sacrament thinke ye that he shal not be saued It is the circumcision and baptysyng of the hert in that we are washed from an euill consciēce and the lustes of the fleshe daily foughten against by the power of the spirite that is of value before god whose prayse is not
lyfe hath apered saith he and we haue sene and beare witnes shew vnto you lyfe that is euerlastynge whiche was withe the father hath now apered also vnto vs. And y e tidyngs which we haue heard of him as Ihon saith declare we vnto you that ye may haue felowship with vs oure felowshyp may be with the father and with his sonne Iesus Christe c. ¶ For as moche as it hathe pleased the eternall god which seperated me froÌ„ my mothers wombe to lighten the inward eyes of my mynde withe hys grace and thorowe the knoweledge of his word and working of his holy spirite to worke a perfect repentaunce in me and amendmente of my formoure lyfe loue constraynethe me too wyl you good bretheren to be partakers of this greate benefyte And for this cause I haue thought it necessary as well to declare vnto you the daungerouse harmes that synne bryngeth to suche as delyte and continew therein as also the vnspeakeable reward of the righteouse whiche god hath prepared for those that withe their hâ—le hartes tourne from theyr synnes and walke wyth theyr god in the way of rightuousenesse I wyll not withhold froÌ„ you good brethren that which god hath wrought in me to incourage the weake stomakes of them that now waxe faynte herted and shrynke backe that I may say wyth the Prophete Dauid Lord I do not hide thy righteousenes in my herte but my talkynge is of thy truthe sauynge health all y e day long Therefore tourn not thou thy mercy from me o lorde but let thy louyng kyndnes and truth alwayes preserue me c. ¶ For it is writen wheÌ„ I speke vnto the then open thou thy mouthe saith the lord and say who hereth let hym here who so wyll not let hym leaue for it is a frowarde housholde c ¶ For as moche as I perceyue that the earth maketh haste to bringe fourth her children and the tyme draweth fast toward the end and all flesh semeth very desirouse and as it were gredy to accomplyshe the thynge with moche haste whiche it taketh in hande be it good or euyll my desyre is also to occupie my talente accordynge to y e wyll of the geuer wherebye I may please my lorde which is my desire aboue all thynges not onely therby to gather tresure for my selfe but also to prouoke as wel my bretheren and naturall contrymenne of thys realme of England as al other nations and named Christians to bryng fourth their frutes redyly accordyng to their nature that they may be rype against the day of haruest when y e lord shall rewarde euery man accordyng to his deades Therfore beloued fathers and brethren seyng ye haue taken the name of holynes vpon you beyng called Christians of Christ and do in word professe the same estemynge your selues the trewe churche and espouse of God vpon earth as al that lyue godlye doubtles be See that ye be dilygente to obey to the word of truth which our heauenly father hath now sente and set abroade by his beloued messengers as wel within this reame of England as in all other regions on the earth as it is wryten in the eyghtenth Psalme Theyr sownde is gone owte into all landes And their wordes into the endes of y e world If ye accepte the voyce of the shepeherde then wyll he know you for his owne and lead you in and oute where ye shall all wayes fynde riche pasture Godde hathe made daye and nyghte lyghte and darkenesse sommer and wynter to the intente that all thynges myght-haue as well place and time as sufficient occasion to shew forth declare theim selues eyther good or euill Repent turne froÌ„ your euill waies with your whole hertes that ye maie beleue set your faithe on a sure ground build it on y e sure foundacion of gods holy worde and promises and then will it alwaies abide the violence of the stormes but yf ye go by groopyng and woorke at auenture be ye sure ye shal not go right for true fayth is liuely no vncertayne thynge it is surelye grounded and stablished vpon the sure rocke of Gods woorde and promise as it is written Abraham beleued God in hys promise and none opinion of his own imaginacion it was counted to hym for righteousnes but yf your faith bee without the word then is it carnall and fleshely beyng builte vpon naturall reason and therefore it is vayne and of no valure for trewe faithe is accoumpanyed with godly loue who hath the wiisdome of god for her gouernour she teacheth her chyldren as a right good nourice knowledge and nurture and leadeth them safely in the waye of lyfe and with doctrine she purgeth their hertes from all filthe and corruption eueÌ„ as god himselfe is pure She shyneth from and out of the bosome of y e highest for her clearenes doth farre excede the brightnes of the soÌ„ne whiche lighteth the whole erth with her shine Therfore O ye ignoraunte geue a diligeÌ„t eare to the voice of wisedom which daily cryeth vnto you in y e high places stretes and wayes and before the holy citie and in the gates where meÌ„ go out and in It is you O ye men saieth she whom I call vnto you O ye children of men lyfte I vp my voyce Take hede vnto knowledge saieth she O ye ignorauÌ„t be wyse in harte O ye fooles geue eare sayeth she for I will speake of great matters and open my lyppes to tell thynges that be right for my throte shal be talkyng of the truth my lippes abhorre vngodlines al the wordes of my mouth are righteousnes there is no frowardnes nor falshode therein They are all plain sayeth she to suche as wyl vnderstande and right to them that fynde knowledge receiue my doctrine saith shee and not syluer and knowledge more then fyne golde for wysedome is more worth then preciouse stones yea all the thynges that thou canst desyre are not to be compared vnto it c. ¶ Wherefore if ye wyll seeke wisdome and dwell with her shee will make you the verye frendes of god for the highest hath geuen her a commaundemente and he that made herre hath apointed her a tabernacle saying Let thy dwellynge be in Iacob thyne inheritaunce in Israel rote thy selfe among my chosen for the congregation of the rightuouse are the Children of wisedome and the lorde dwelleth amonge them in hys holye Sinay An vtter enemye to wisdome is the frowarde synner for he hateth to be refourmed and because he will not refuse thynges which he knoweth to be euyll he can come in no good way brethern consider this most excellent benefite of god dayly offered vnto you Refuse not his worde which teacheth you al wisdom Come to her brokes drinke of her cuÌ„duite for wisdom hath cast out floudes I am saith she as a great water broke oute of the ryuer c. And as a water
cūduite am I come oute of the gardeine of pleasure I saide I wyll water the gardeine of my yonge plantes and fill y e frute of my birth so my water brooke became exceadinge greate saith shee and my Ryuer aprocheth vnto the See for I make doctrine to be to all men as light as the faire morning and I shal make it saith she euer the clearer I will perse thorow all the lower partes of the earth I will loke vpon such as be a slepe lighten all theym that putte their trust in the Lorde I shall yet poure oute doctrine lyke a prophecie and leane vnto suche as seke after wisdome and their generations shall I neuer faile vnto y e holy euerlasting world ¶ Obey vnto the louing voice of God and accepte this gentle doctrine of wisedome slumber not to long in thyne owne way O thou named Christiā least the lorde be angry leaste thou fall a slepe againe in synne and so perishe vtterly by thine own folly How can theye be made hole that wyll not knowe they be sicke or howe can suche obtaine that refuse y e right way Thou thinkest thy selfe well al redy because thou hast a name that thou liuest O thou named Christian therfore thou saiste in thy selfe Tushe I am riche and incresed with goodes and haue nede of nothynge knowest not how thou art wretched and myserable poore blynde naked thou haste a name that thou liuest but thou art deade for by synne art thou subdued and thrust downe by thyne enemies euen to the brinke of hell O named Christianytie thou waft rolde vp in extreme darknes and mysery yea solde and solde again wast thou for thine offences to be a bonde seruant whereof thou art not yet delyuered for ignoraunce holdeth the in captiuitie and bringeth the a slepe that thou neyther seest nor felest thye harme but lyke an hongry man dremyng that he is eatyng wakynge hath nothinge or lyke a thyrsty man y t dreameth that he is drinkyng but when he waketh he fyndeth nothynge to refresh hym self so doth synne deceiue the and thou not ware Awake awake oute of thy heauy slepe thou Christianitie harken to y e loud voice and trompe of god which in these last daies is now blowen amongest you I mean the preachyng of the gloryouse gospell of Christ which is dayly preached vnto you and yet soundeth in youre eares O folysh people why stop you youre eares so longe from the truth and as it were styll geue youre selues to vanitie Why seke ye suche frendshyp of the worlde whiche hath nothyng to recōpence but extreame myserye Why sekeste thou reste where none is Treasure vp such thinges as are godly then shalte y u be recompensed .vij. folde but who so seeketh rest in worldly thynges his labour is in vain Consider O man thy lyfe in this worlde how short how vncerteine and daungerouse it is it is lyke a vapour or breathe saith the Apostle S. Iames y t appereth for a lytle season and then vanissheth away therfore truste not to the worlde for he is disceitfull he promyseth rest but payeth trouble he promyseth ioye and paieth sorowe he promyseth longe lyfe and payeth short totally he promyseth good and payeth euyll for nature and fortune be muche variable chaunge as the winde and therfore do they suffer no thynge here certeine O folysh man woldest y u then be thought wise and yet delytest and settest thy hole hert and pleasure in this vaine transitory world what frendshippe woldest thou haue of hym that can do you no good neither careth he lenger for the then thou maist do hym pleasure for in sorow pouertie or payne will he vtterly dispise the and laugh the to scorne in the anguysh of thy soule Soo vngodly doth this myserable worlde recompence his louers that the nighe frende so called of nature the wife that lyeth in the bosome or the Chyldren whom with busy paine and study some bringe vp intendynge by them to haue their kindnes after recompenced do nothing at all regarde them but flateryngly from the teth outward thinkyng euery day three tyll they be gone that they myght receiue the worldely goodes which their frendes do posses O mysery of all myseries thus the worlde which many so inordinately loue and set such store by for all his greate bragges and flateryng face of frendship if nature withdraw her selfe wyl not onely think hym moch burdened by them but also disdainfully abhor deteste their presence Therefore as Christe saith seke ye first y e kingdome of god the righteousenes there of and all these thynges shalbe mynistred vnto you And also Crist saith geue not ouer your membres to serue the flesh seing the beutie thereof fadethe away for he that soweth in the fleshe shall of the flesh repe corruptiō saith Sainct Paul but he that soweth in the spirite shall of the spirite reape lyfe euerlastinge Againe the apostle Iude saith Hate the filthy vesture of the flesshe for doubtles it is subiect to corruption it is also the very gate and meane whereby Sathan oure greate aduersary and mortall enemy corrupteth both bodie soule and draweth man to vtter distruction Wherfore see that ye furnish the house in tyme with an honest exercise of vertu that perfecte repentaunce make a ready way for faith and godly loue with all her noble companions to dwell with you for if the enemy finde you vnprepared he will busily seke to enter with his soudears for as moch as man is by y e transgression of Adam set at lybertie in y e knowledge of good and euyll the enemy first moueth man by consente to chose the euill and refuse the good which consent beyng coupled to the thought of mans knowledge is synne As witnesseth S. Iames saying When lust hath conceyued shee bringeth fourth synne by this meanes winneth the enemy y t gate or fyrst ward then procedinge forth in his wicked purpose he tēpteth mā duryng his life in y e tyme of youth by wātōnes delectatiō pleasure redynes of mynd to spend the tyme of this lyfe either idely or vainly that he should laboure in nothing that is good and when nature hathe some what done with these he bringeth in place euery carnal concupiscēce riot naturall wisdome and worldly honoure and riches and in age he bringeth coueteousenes vnpacient pouertie childyshe dotage and suche lyke For sone after xxx yeares are spent as age increaseth the thinges of nature dimynishe and begin to fade as a flower but the enemy alway duryng the tyme of this lyfe ceaseth not to assaulte man by synne which is most agreeing to the nature and age of the person so tempted And by suche vngodly meanes he seketh to fyll and kepe the mynd of man so busied that it cā haue no respecte to the word wyll of god nor seke after thinges y t please hym But seinge the rewarde of these is naught els but playne mysery
our selues therfore are ye cursed w t penurie ye chose ignorance for your guide wylfulnes too be your gouernour as for y e warninges of the Prophetes yee take for winde and the worde of god for a scorne because yee haue no luste thereto and thus they go wrong by reasō of wine saith the lorde they fall stacker because of stronge drinke yea the priestes Prophetes them selues go amys they are dronken with wine and weake brained thorow strong drinke They erre in seing in Iudgemente they faile For the lorde hath made Egipte dronken w t the spirite of errour saith Esai and they shall vse it in all maters euē lyke as a dronkē man gooeth spewinge aboute For Egipte shall lacke good counsell saith he so y t they shall not know what to do neither y e beginning nor thend neither vpō y e land nor water then shall the Egiptians be lyke vnto womē afraide and astonied at the lyftinge vp of the hande whiche the lorde of hoostes saith Esai shall lyfte vp ouer them c. Myserably shall the worlde be wasted and cleane destroyed for the lorde hath so determyned in hym selfe c. For the earth is corrupte of her indwellers for whye they haue offended the lawes chaūged their ordinaunces made the euerlastinge Testament of none effects and therefore shal the curse deuoure the earth for they that dwell thereon haue sinned And although these places come dayly vpon you from the lorde for your offences yet yee see it not nor regarde the matter noothinge at all O ye blynde and frowarde nations therefore though ye holde out your handes yet tourn I mine eyes from you saith the lord though ye make many prayers yet here I nothinge at all for your handes are full of bloude and ye deale alway with wyckednes because certeine synne hath no outward punyshment apointed by y e rulers for those that do them Thinke ye therfoore that God wyll forgette them The people in Christes tyme whyle he raygned vppon the earthe thoughte that thoose Galathians whose bloude Pilate myngled with theyr owne sacrifyce and the .xviii. persons vpon whome the towre of Siloah fell and slewe had beene moche greater synners then the other that suffered no such punyshmente but our sauiour Christ sayde playnely nay and excepte the other repeted they shoulde lyke wyse perisshe althoughe they suffered no suche punyshment here therefore remembre thy selfe O thou named Christianytie repente in tyme and tourne to the Lorde wyth thy hole herte Too you do I speake O yee Ignoraunt people gette ye to moornynge quyckely and poure oute your teares befoore hym that hee maye shewe mercye and tourn all wayes hys wrathe frome you c. O tourn you tourne you why will ye dye seyng the lord hath no plesure in the death of a sinner but willeth rather that he conuert and liue c. But yf ye withdraw your eares will not heare to turne frō your euil wayes then am I sory for your sakes Bee not wilfully blynde but searche the scriptures and ye shal see that no people or nacion that did suche abhominacions and hated to be refourmed since the beginnyng escaped vnpunished and would ye escape Then must ye refuse the euill choose the good seke peace and ensue or folowe it for the eyes of the lord are ouer the righteous and his eares are opē vnto their prayers but the face of the lord beholdeth thē that do euill to destroy the remēbrance of them out of the earth c. yea the cursse of the lorde is in the house of the vngodly but he blesseth the righteous Consider these thynges with your selues in time lest sinne by long custome blind your vnderstandyng so that ye iudge derknes for light and good for euill ye knowe the blynde are easye to leade out of the way wher thei sone fall and be made a pray for the enemy Wherefore beloued geue diligent eare vnto wisedom whiche hath now agayne opened her flouddes and putte forth her voyce in the streetes she booeth call before the congregacion in the open gates sheweth her wordes in the citie O ye chyldren sayeth she howe long will ye loue childishenesse how long will the skorners delite in skorning and the vnwise be enemies to knowledge O turne ye to my correccion saith she lo I will expresse my minde vnto you and make you vnderstand my wordes For who so herkeneth vnto me shal dwelle safely and haue inough w toute any feare of euill Again she saieth my sonne let not these thinges departe from thyne eyes but kepe my lawe my councel so shall it be lyfe vnto thy soule and grace vnto thy mouth thē shalte thou walke safelye in the way and thy fote shal not stumble if thou slepest thou shalt not nede to be afrayed but y u shalte take thy rest and slepe swetely thou shalt not nede sayeth she to bee afrayed of any soodayne feare neither for the violēt rushyng in of the vngodly whē it cometh for the lord shalbe beeside thee and kepe thy fote that thou be not takē O ye beloued children herken vnto wisdom Come no more in the pathes of the vngodly saieth she walke not in the way of the wicked Take fast holde of doctrine and let her not go kepe her for shee is thy life And again she saieth my sonne marke my woordes for the pathe of the rightuouse shineth as the light and is euer brighter and brighter vnto the perfite day but the waye of the vngodly is as the darknes saieth she wherin men fall or they be aware And moreouer she saith heare ye chyldren the fatherlye exhortacion and take good hede that ye maye learne wisdom yea I shall geue you a good reward yf ye wil not forsake my lawe saith wisdom c. The chief poynt of wisedom is to be willing to attain wisdom Therefore let thy hert receyue my wordes saith she and kepe my commaundementes thou shalt liue Obey vnto god and then shall ye receiue a good spirite of hym which as S. Iohn saith wyll loose the woorkes of synne geue you a will to loue him and to kepe his commaundementes for thei that ar born of hym synne not saieth he because they haue the sede remaining in them the earnest of our saluacion I meane the spyrite of truth the ioyfull coumforter whiche god hath promised that shall alwayes abyde with them that looue hym euen vnto the ende of the worlde This is he that losseth the workes of sinne and bringeth a godly desire vnto righteousnes and a longing to fulfull the wyl of god they that haue opteined a mynde to loue god are begotten borne of hym and they are knowen loued of hym And herby know we saith Ihon y e god abydeth in vs euen by the spirite which he gaue vs as it is writē To as many as receiue him giueth he
of men but of god The outward face of religion and holines only excepted what haue ye to reioyce in aboue other Hethen nacions So long as ye contynue in euill is there anye kynd of sinne and wickednes done in any heathen nacion vnder heauen that is not in the thou named christianitie What kind of pryde vainglory hipocrisie dissimulacion hatred malice or enuye is there in any other naciō that may not be found in thee Or what kynde of dronkēnes theft murther whordom or lecherye may there be found out or imagined of fleshe and blud that is not daily done and most shamefully committed in thee although ye compare your selues in wisdom and knowledge to Dauid or Salomon and yet liue wickedly wil not amend when ye are warned thinke ye to escape vnpunyshed Nay ye shall surely perysh as other like sinners haue done beefore you and drynke of y e same for thinke ye to escape with extollyng of Christes holy religion in name or wordes only or with setting vp of sacramentes and ceremonies although ye extol them to the cloudes if ye regard not to leaue synne nor to do that they teache you How can they profit you any thyng at all for god regardeth not your flatteryng titles and wordes of holynes neirher youre swete songes pleasaunt armonie swete smelles nor gloriouse sightes but he loketh vnto the herte and sercheth y e raines ye his iudgementes be and shall be accordyng to equitie after y e inward thoughtes of the herte not after the outward apperance For the corruptiō of y e thoughtes of the herte the lorde refused the offeringes and sacrifice of the children of Israel which he hym selfe had befoore commaunded saying vnto hym by his prophete Ieremye ye hepe vp your burnt offeringes with youre sacrifices and eate the flesshe as though I delyted in youre doynges but when I brought your fathers out of egipte I spake no worde vntoo them of burnte offeringes and sacrifices but this I commaunded thē saying Herken and obey my voice I wyll be your god ye shall be my people Although they brought nothyng but that they were commaunded yet God vtterly refused it at their handes because they thought to please him with the worke intended not to leaue their syns nor to forsake their owne euill and croked waies Thinke ye that god wyl accept yours which are not all grounded vpon the worde but partly inuented and set vp by natural wisedom and carnall reason ye altered and chaunged among your selues at youre pleasure Or wil ye thinke that god hath suche nede of you that he wyll accepte you eyther for youre wisedome or workes sake or y t he hath more loue and fauoure to you then he had to the Iewes in whose generatiō he both made and fulfylled his many-folde promyses yet neuerthelesse when they synned against hym he saide vnto them by Esay Heare the word of the lord ye tirauntes of Sodoma and herkē vnto the law of our god thou people of Gomorra Why offer ye so many sacrifices vnto me saith the lorde I am discontented for the burnte offeringes of wydowes saith he with the fatnes of fed beastes I haue no plesure in the bloud of Bullockes lambes and gootes when ye appere before me who requireth you to tread w t in my porches Offer me noo more oblations for it is but lost laboure saith the lorde I abhorre your incence I maye not awaye with your new incence youre Sabaothes solempne dayes your fastinges are also in vayne I hate your new holye dayes and fastinges euen from my verie herte saith the lorde c. If these notwithstandinge their offeringes and sacryfices holy daies praiers fastynges and suche lyke obseruaunces could not be accepted at the hande of God because their hertes delyted in sinne lokest y u to be accepted and so to escape vnpunished O named Christianitie Nether except y u amende and tourne from thine owne waies thou shalte not escape but surely shalte thou perisshe as they Wherefore thus saith the lord also vnto you O wicked christians which contynually delyte in synne heare y e worde of the lorde ye tyrantes of Sodoma and herken to the lawe of oure god thou people of Gomorra whi offer ye so many sacrifices vnto me c. Lerne obedience in y e landes of youre captiuytie wasshe you make you cleane put awaye youre euyll thoughtes out of my sight saith the lorde cease from doinge of euyl and violence lerne to do right apply youre selues to equitie delyuer y e oppressed helpe the fatherles to his right and let the widows complaint come before you c. Prefer the wyll of God aboue and before all thinges I saye and let that which pleseth hym be good and beste how so euer it sounde or appeere vnto you Hath there euer anye yet that stroue against God and taken in hande to teache hym righteousenes and iudgemente or to alter or chaunge hys wayes since the beginning escaped vnpunisshed If y t these thynges may not be suffred in Aungell moche les in fleshe and bloude whiche is corrupte whose beutie fadeth as a flower and wythereth awaie as hey or grasse O thou folysshe duste asshes darest thou presume againste thy creator lord to reason with hym of Iudgemente and righteousenes O thou proude Lucifer thou saist in thy herte I wyll clyme vp into heauen make my seate aboue the sterre of god I wyll syt vpon the gloriouse mount toward y e north I wyl clyme vp aboue the cloudes and wyll be lyke the highest of all yet dare I say saith y e Lorde thou shalt be broughte downe to the depth of hell c. your wisedome canne not preuayle against god and therfore shall your glorie haue a greate fall for thus saith the lorde I wyll destroy the wisedome of y e wise and caste away the vnderstandynge of the prudent for y e lord with his heauy great long swerde shall visite Leuiathan that vnuisyble serpente saithe Esai and shall flee the Whale fysshe in the See c. Againe S. Paul saith where are the wise Where are y e scribes Where are the disputers of this worlde hathe not God made y e wisedom of this world folyshnes For the folyshnes of god saith he is wyser then mē and the weakenes of God is stronger then men c. For god hath chosen the folysshe before the worlde that he myght confounde the wise and the weake before the world hath god chosen saith Paul that he myghte confounde the mightie and the vile and dispised befor y e world hath god chosen yea and that whiche is nothinge saythe he y t he myght destroy that whiche is ought that no flesshe should reioyce in his presence c. Therefore doo not iustifie your selues as pharisees neyther exalt any thyng in fleshe blud for y e thinges whiche men highly magnifie sayth y