synnes let our iniquities no more displease the. O Lorde forget not thyne owne accustomed mercyes Is our hurt so great that it may no more be heled Turn our hertes vnto the that wee maye seke thy wyll praise thy name and walke in thy waies O lorde wee knowe that thou only art our god whose nature and propertie is to shewe mercy yea and that thou art alwai readye O lorde but oure syn lyeth heauye vpoÌ„ vs presseth vs sore down quicken vs with thy holy spirite O lorde and lyft vs vp we beseche the with thy holy hande and strengtheÌ„ vs dayly with thine arme that we may praise the with ioyfull lyppes and magnifie the O eternall God oure onely sauyour father Sonne and holye ghoste c. Refuse not thou thy helth O thou Englysshe nation seeyng god hath loued the aboue many other and hath sent hys worde the sonne of god the very true patrone and ymage of hys moste godly substaunce vnto the too call the frome thyne own waies that thou mightest be made his owne people too serue hym accordynge to his wyll with reuerence and godly feare Say not in thyne hert I am ryche and encreased with goodes and haue neade of nothinge least thou be reproued but anointe thyne eyes with eye salue saithe the veritie of God that thou maiste see and know how thou art wretched poore blynd and naked I couÌ„sell the saith Christe bie of me golde tryed in the fyre that y u maist be ryche and white raymente that thou maist be cloothed that thy filthy nakednes do not apeare c. Therfore althoughe thou haste gotten a name that thou liuest let it not disceiue the but obey to the word of god turne frome youre Ignorance and knowledge your synnes caste youre selues downe that the lord may lyft you vp and shew mercy vpon you for he casteth downe the proud and exalteth the lowly If ye thynke youre selues heyres with Christ and gods chyldren where is youre loue and readye obedience towarde his will Where is the victorie which ye haue gotten against your flesshe synne and the deuyll the extreame enemies of vertue and godlynes against whoÌ„ at the tyme of your profession and baptisme ye promysed manfully to fighte durynge the tyme of your lyues and to renounce and vtterlye forsake Sathan all his workes Boast not of the name onely O ye christened natioÌ„s but shew your deades for that it is that must testify with you Remembre therfore from whence thou art fallen O thou blynde and ignoraunte people tourne to the lorde that thou maist be healed knowledge thye synne which is greate then shall it be forgeuen the. How longe write thou mocke with thy god and beare a double hert that goeth two waies ye pretende in face to haue a greate zeale and too be very feruent in the waye of the lorde but youre hertes run after your couetouse lucre and daily ye walke in youre owne waies lyue after your owne lustes and yet ye say tusshe we be well inouâ—â—he When wilte thou leaue of O thou wilful nation and why wyll ye thus perishe thorow your owne folly Truly excepte ye doo repente and tourn from your euyl waies what name of holynes so euer ye haue ye caÌ„not be made the sonnes or Children of god because ye haue refused y e way of life nor yet receiue any inheritance in his euerlasting kingdome for this saith y e lord our mercifull god of all the straungers that dwell among y e chyldren of Israel No straunger whose herte and flesshe is not circumcysed shall come with in my sainctuary Therfore dear lye beloued and longed for at my herte I pray you cut away your carnall desires and fighte against your fleshly lustes too subdu them that ye dwel w t in y e holy sainctuarye and receiue enheritaunce amonge sonnes and daughtours Againe this saith the lord washe you make you cleane put away your euil thoughts out of my sight cease from doyng euill and violence learne to do right apply your selues to equitie deliuer the oppressed helpe the fatherles to hys right let the widowes coÌ„plaint come before you c. And is it not so then saith the lorde though your sinnes be as red as scarlet shal they not be whiter then snowe And thoughe they were like purple shal they not be like white wol Is it so If you belouinge and obedyent ye shall enioy the best thinges that growe in y e land but if ye be obstinate and rebelliouse ye shall be deuoured with the swerde for thus the lorde hath promised with his own mouth O ye named christians coÌ„sider y e tyme paste present to come loke your owne waies wander no longer astray refuse not the lighte of the gloriouse gospell of God for it is the lyfe of your soules Remembre y e long time of your captiuitie whiche doubtles happened for your offences surely it passeth far the bondage and captiuitie of y e Hebrues or children of Israel in y e daies of Helyas Helizeus Ieremie and other prophetes Iosias Ezechias and many other kinges of Israel Iuda in whose tyme the people with their princes and priestes forsoke the law of y e lorde went a whoringe after straunge goddes because of their sins god gaue them vp to their own lustes and let them folowe their blynde Imagination yet was not their fal lyke vnto thine O Christianitie nor their hurt to be compared w t thine for thou haste not onely exceaded in thy fall but much more in the long tyme of thy myserable captiuitie and although thou be dayly called yet hast thou no mind to rise come to be made hole ye hold the name of y e people of god as they did but few do y e deedes ye hold y e sacramentes signes and cerimonies appointed in the churche of God as they saye but ye haue loste the strengthe and vertue of them For not with standynge youre daily ministration both youre selues and the people to whom ye minister yea bothe ye and they abide styll in youre owne lustes which declare playnely that your synnes be nother forgeuen nor taken awaye Is it not because ye are wicked that your praiers be not hearde as perfecte and holye mens haue bene before tyme For wheare they praied and layde on theyr handes god affirmed their doinges with his holy spirite soo that they receyued knowledge and their vnderstanstyng was opened and their mindes were obediente to the wyll of God If the doinges of the Apostles had bene so vncerteine that no thynge thereof hadde appered outewardelye saue onely wordes all remayninge as before euery man in his owne waies thinke ye they should haue ben so well beloued or if Christe at the mariage in Cana of Galile had sente the gouernoure of the feast water to gyue his gestes in the steade of wyne althoughe he had tolde theym it had bene good wine and that they
A Consultorie for all Christians Most godly and ernestly warnyng al people to beware least they beare the name of christians in vayne Now first imprinted the .xxx day of Ianuarie Anno. M.D.xlix At Worceter by Iohn Oswen Cum priuilegio 〈◊〉 ad imprimendum â—olâ—m Per septem 〈◊〉 Ephesians the .iiij. ii I beseche you bretheen bound in the lorde that you walke worthely in the vocation wherein you be called with all humylitie and gentlenes with pacience supportynge one an other in loue beyng dilygent to kepe the vnitie of the spyrite in the hande of peace beynge one body and one spirite as you be called in one hope of your vocation There is one lorde one faith one baptisme one god and father of all which is aboue all and thorow all and in all vs for to euery one of vs is there grace geuen after the measure of the gyfte of Christe ¶ The copie of the Kynges Maiesties most gratious priuiledge EDwarde the sixt by the grace of God kyng of Englande Fraunce and Irelande defender of the faith and of the churche of England and also of Ireland in earth the supreme head To all maner of Printers boke sellers and other our officers ministers and subiectes gretyng We late you were that of our especial grace we renderyng the godly edifiyng and ease of our louyng subiectes within our Principalitie of Wales and marches of the same by thaduise and coÌ„sent of our most dere vncle Edwarde Duke of Somerset Gouernour of our person and Protectòur of all our realmes dominions and subiectes and other our counsailours haue graunted and geuen priuiledge and licence and by thies presentes doo graunt and geue priuiledge and lycence vnto our welbeloued subiect Iohn Oswen of our citie of Worceter Printer and to his factours and assignes to print reprint vtter and sell or cause to be printed reprinted vttered and solde so many of euery kynde of boke or bokes whiche haue or shalbe set forth by vs by thaduise aforesaid for seruice to be vsed in our Churches minystration of Sacramentes and instructioÌ„ of our said subiectes as shall onely suffise for the Churches and our subiectes within our said Principalitie and marches any other licence or priuiledge to the contrary in any wise notw tstanding AND also of our especiall grace by thaduise and consent aforesaid we haue graunted and geuen priuiledge and lycence and by thies presentes do graunt and geue priuilege and licence vnto the saide Iohn Oswen and to his factours and assignes to print vtter and sell or cause to be printed vttered and sold to all person and persons of whatsoeuer estate degree or condition they be al maner of bokes conteinyng any storye or exposition of Gods holy scripture or of any part thereof beyng not contrary or against y e same which at any time heretofore haue bene or hereafter shalbe made translated or coÌ„piled by the same Iohn Oswen or by his meanes instigatioÌ„ industrie or procuremeÌ„t and at his costes charges of whatsoeuer qualitie or sort the saide bokes or any of theÌ„ shalbe so y t the true copies of euery suche bokes be first diligently seen perused and alowed by suche person or persons as we shall froÌ„ time to time therunto assigne and apoint before they be put to any sale or vtteraunce And further our minde and pleasure is by thies presentes we doo straightly charge inhibite that no person or persons of whatsoeuer estate degree or coÌ„dition he or they be do at any time hereafter print or reprint or cause to be printed or reprinted priuely or appertly any of the bokes aforesaid or any parte or parcell of theÌ„ duryng the space of .vii. yeres next after the printing or reprintyng of the same bokes by the sayde Iohn Oswen his factours or assignes so that the same Iohn his factours assignes shall and may haue the profitte aduauntage coÌ„myng growyng of the printyng and reprintyng of suche bokes in recoÌ„pence alleinatioÌ„ of his industry paines charges in that behalfe to bee susteined Wherfore we wil straightly charge coÌ„maund al singuler our subiectes aswel printers bokesellers as al other persons within al our dominions that thei or any of theÌ„ do not presume to print vtter or sell or cause to be printed vttered or solde within any our dominions any of the bokes aforesaid by y e said Iohn made coÌ„piled or translated or any parcell of theÌ„ contrary to the true meanyng of this our present lyceÌ„ce priuiledge vpoÌ„ pain that euery offeÌ„der therin shal forfait to our vse al suche bokes and euery of theÌ„ where soeuer they shall bee fouÌ„d Willyng therfore coÌ„maundyng all our officers ministers subiectes as they teÌ„dre our fauour will auoide our high indignatioÌ„ that they euery of theÌ„ if nede shal require do aide assist y e same Iohn Oswen his factours assignes in the due exercisyng executioÌ„ of this our preseÌ„t â—â—eÌ„ce priuiledge with effect accordyng to the true meanyng of y e same In witnes wherof we haue caused these our letters to be made patentes Witnes our self at Westminster the sixt day of Ianuary the seconde yere of our Reigne A Consultorie for al Christians GOD in tymes paste diuerslye many waies spake to the fathers by prophetes but in these last daies hath he spoken vnto vs as S. Paule sayeth by his sonne whoÌ„ he hath made heyre of al thinges and by him hath he now declared his most godlye will vnto vs that we might obtain life in him whose most excellent cleare brightnes hath long time been darkened and as S. Iohn saieth hid as with a sackeclothe made with heare y t is to say with a fayned ryghtuousenes grounded vpoÌ„ naturall wysdome and carnall reason inuented and set fourth by man So that the bright shynyng beames of goddes truth coÌ„teyned in the holy scriptures might in no wise appere by reason of that dark vaile or cloud to the eyes or mynde of men whiche is not yet wyth all men taken awaye Neuerthelesse when they tourne to the lorde saith Paul the vayle shalbe taken awaye for no doute saithe he y e lord is a spirit and where the spirite of the lorde is there is lybertie And seyng that god which is ryche in mercy hathe once againe put downe y e great power of the enenemy broken down his brasen gates and by vyolence taken the praye as a spoyle froÌ„ out of the mouth of the LyoÌ„ yea victoryously hath he delyuered his truth y e longe time hath of his enemies be holdeÌ„ in boÌ„dage captiuitie we haue herd and sene these thinges obeyed do beleue Therefore am I not ashamed to testyfye the truthe vnto the worlde because it is the poure of God vnto saluation to all them that do deleue And as Sainct IhoÌ„ saythe the onely trewe lyghte whiche lyghteneth all menne that come into the worlde our handes haue handeled of the worde of lyfe for
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
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
e lord be abhomynable in y e sight of god Lay away your hygh reasōs let gods word although it seme simple rude lede you seke not to ioin your wisdom w t god lest in couetyng to clyme so high ye take a gret fall obedience is an acceptable offering Therefore put salt on your sacrifice that it may be wel accepted at your hādes for thus hath the lord promised with his own mouth c. If ye wicked amende your waies counsels yf ye wyll iudge right betwixte a man and hys neighboure if ye wyll not oppresse the strannger the fatherlesse and the wydow If ye will not shede inocent bloud in this place If ye wyll not cleaue vntoo straunge goddes to youre owne distruction then wyll I let you dwell in thys place for euer c. If ye bee louynge and righteouse ye shall enioy of the beaste thynges that dwelle in the lande saith the lorde but if ye be obstinate and rebellyous ye shall be deuoured wyth the swearde Wherefore conuerte and tourne with your hole hertes from your euyll waies O ye named Christians washe ye vii tymes in Siloah that yee maye be clensed from youre offences anointe your eies w t eie salue that ye may see walke in the steppes of Christ whose religion thou haste professed and whose name thou so well louest O thou Christianitie brynge forth worthy fruictes of repētaunce as sobrenes and amendment of lyfe that the thicke seales may fall from youre eyes y t ye may see the perfecte way of lyfe For except ye vtterlye renounce and forsake at the least in affection all that is in you of flesshe and bloud yea and your owne lyues whiche ye loue soo well ye can not see the glorie of god nether be partakers of his eternall kyngdome Therefore as Christe saith enter in at the strait gate and walke in thys narrow waye for although the pathe fro the flesshe be nothing pleasaunte yet thende leadeth our soules vnto rest For what is he saith the lord that geueth ouer his hert to come vnto me ye shall be my people I wyll be your god But beholde on y e other syde shall the wrathe of the lorde breake out saithe Ieremi as a stormy weather as a myghtie whirle wind and shall fall vpon the heades of the vngodly the tetrible displeasure of the Lorde shall not leaue of tyll he haue done and perfourmed the intente of hys hearte which in the latter daies saith the Prophete ye shall vnderstande c. For at that same tyme I shal be the god of all the generations of Israel saithe the lorde and they shall be my people c. Neuerthelesse sayth he whom I take in hande to roote oute to destroye or to waste awaie any people or kyngdom if that people against whome I haue thus deuysed conuerte from their wickednes ymediately I repente of the plage y t I haue deuysed to bringe vpon theym saith the lorde c. Our god is alwaies mercyfull vnto them y t prepare their hertes by obedience and repentaunce to receiue his holy spyrite for like as rayne and snow cometh down from thence and turneth not thyther again but watereth the earthe maketh it frutefull and greene that it may gyue corne and breade to the sower so the worde whiche cometh out of my mouth saith the lord shall not tourne again voide vnto me but shall accomplyshe my wyll prospere in y e thing where vnto I send it c. Therfore seyng god wyll now repaire the decayed places of his temple make youre conscience cleane that ye may be leanynge stones being fastened to Christe by faith and loue whiche is the head corner stone in whom euery buildyng coupled ioyned togyther saith Paul is made an holy habitation for god in the spirite c. For God dwelleth with them that be of an humble spirite and of a contrite herte which stand in awe of his worde yea he hath promysed to dwel and abide with them for euer and to gyue thē a newe herte and to write his law therein soo that they shall not nede to say one to an other know y e lord for they shal know me from the lest to the most of them saith the lorde for I wyll forgeue their mysdeades and wyl neuer remembre their sinnes any more for the sonne of God hathe appered saithe S. Ihon to take awaye synnes in hym is no synne and who so euer abydethe in hym sinneth not c. For to as many as receiue hym gyueth he power to be the sonnes of god euē those that beleue in his name saithe he which are not born of bloud nor of the wyll of man but of god or here now O Israel Reioyce and be glad for thy redemer lyueth he hath sene thyne oppression and his eyes do pytie the. Therefore wil he visite y e and gather y t out frō amonge all nations where thou art scatered holden in captiuitie for thine offences but yet not forsaken for with an euerlasting loue hath he loued the therefore hath he raised vp for the y e mightie horne of healthe in the house of Dauid of whose kingdome there shall be none ende neither hath he spared his own sonne but geuen hym yea hys lyfe y t he loued soo well for thy sake to make an euerlastyng at tonement betwixte him the for thine offences He hath promised to leade y e safe by his holy spirite daily to defend the frō and oute of all daungers Therfore he calleth euermore gretly vnto y t saying Come vnto me my beloued for I am he y t for myne own sake pardoned thine offences caste thy syns into y e bottome of y e see Make none excuse neyther prolong y e tyme but come immediatly my beloued brethrē natural coūtreimē to this most ioyful supper or feast which our merciful father hathe of his owne good wyl prepared made ready for you yea of long tyme hath he called you by his seruauntes prophetes saiyng Here obey my voice thē shal ye be my people I wil be your god it appereth he hath not forsakē you for as a most gētle louing father hath he sēt his holy word y e sōne of god y e very true patrone image of his most godly substāce to deliuer you frō al captiuitie blindnes but y e naciōs y t oppres the Iacob hold his seruant Israel in captiuitie wil he iuge neuertheles y e lord hath promised w t his own mouthe y t if any strāger wil turne to y e lord with his hole hert y t thē y e same strāgers shal haue inheritāce in Israel euē as sōnes doughters saith y e lord almighty what can there be more done for vs therfore turne to y e lord with youre hole hertes circumcise youre fore skynnes y t ye may
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
power to be y e sons or children of god euen thoose that beleue in his name which are not born of bloude nor of the wyll of the flesh nor of the wyll of man but of God The vngodlye are the bonde seruauntes of synne because they are carnally minded their hertes hate god thoughe theyr lyppes praise hym which is all goodnes yea the onelye well and fountayne there of They lacke true obedience too the word and wyll of god therfore can they not optain to that rightousnes which before god is alowed For theire hertes and eares are vncircumcised y t they wyl not heare to learne obedience leaste they should conuerte and be healed And therfore runne they astray and establysh their own righteousnes for vnfaithfully haue they denied the lorde in dede and said it is not he Tush say they there shal no misfortune come vpoÌ„ vs we shal see neither sweard nor hunger as for the warnynges of the prophetes thei regard it not There is almost none neyther that will tell theÌ„ their synnes nor geue them warnyng of the plagues that are come vpoÌ„ them or shall happen vnto theÌ„ for from the least to the moste they hang altogether vpon couetousnes and from y e prophet to the priest thei go altogether about with falshod and lies c. For lyke as a net is full of birdes so are theyr houses full of that whiche they haue gotten with falsehode and disceit saith the lord Here of cometh theyr great substaunce and rychesse and hereof are they fatte and welthye and are runne awaye fro me with shamefull blasphemies sayth the lord they minystre not the lawe they make no end of the fatherles cause they iudge not the poore according to equitie shoulde not I punysh these thynges saythe the lorde Should I not be auenged of all such people as theese be Horrible and greuouse thinges are doone in the lande the Prophetes teache falsely and the priestes folowe theÌ„ and my people hathe pleasure therein May such thinges at any time or in anye people be vnpunysshed Therefore repente and tourne from your euyll waies that ye may enter into the rest of God and kepe his holy Sabothes for they that enter into the reste of god do cease frome their owne workes saith Paul as God dyd cease from his the vii daye and excepte ye keepe the holy feaste of tabernacles y t is to say cease from your owne wyl and from doing your own workes The Lorde wyll consume you in his wrath and vtterly destroye you in his soore displeasure For thus sayth the lorde I am excedynge gelouse ouer Ierusalem and Sion and am soore displeased at the careles heathen for I was but a lytle angrye and they dyd theyr beste that I might distroy theÌ„ Neuerthelesse I wyll tourne me againe in mercy toward Ierusalem so that my house shall be builded in it saith the lorde of hoostes c. Cry and speake thus sayth the lorde of hostes my Cities shall be in good prosperitie againe the Lorde shall yet comforte Sion and choose Ierusalem yea Hierusalem shalbe in habited with out any wall for the multitude of the people cattell that shall be therein yea I my selfe saith the lorde wyll be vnto her a wal of fyre round about and wyl be honoured in her For although the children of Israel sytte a longe whyle wythout Kyng or Prince withoute offeryng and aulter with out priest reuelacion yet shall the children of Israel conuerte saith the prophete Oseas and seke the lorde their god Dauid their king and in the latter daies saith he they shal worship the lord his louyng kindnes Therefore seyng that God hath nowe called you by his grace be not negligent to come and se that the herte be establyshed with grace and not with y e vain pleasures of this world whiche shal not profite theÌ„ that haue their pleasure and felicitie in them For who so dooeth not righteousnes is not of God yf we say we haue felowship with him and yet walke in derknes saith S. Iohn we do lye doe not the truth Therfore se that ye loue not the world neyther the thinges that are in y e world for the world passeth away and the lustes thereof but he y e fulfilleth the wyll of god abydeth for euer and hereby knowe we that he abydeth in vs euen by the spirite whiche he hath geueÌ„ vs. And they that ouercome shall obtain a croune of glorye and I wil geue to euery one of you saith the veritie of god accordyng to his workes c. Babes flee from the worshippyng of idols I meane froÌ„ seruyng of your owne lustes and learne to serue the liuyng god in spirite in a cleane hert wasshed froÌ„ an euil conscience with reuerence and godly feare for our god saith Paul is a consuming fier To as mani as walk accordyng to this rule peace and mercie be vpon them and vpon Israel of god So be it ✚ The grace of our lord Iesu Christ be with your spirites Amen Geue praise only to god yours as charitie byndeth me H. H. ✚ Dieu et mon droit QVI MAL Y PENSâ— HONY SOYT 1. Peter 2. ¶ Be ye subiecte to euery humayn creature for the Lordes sake whether it be to the Kyng as supreme head or to the Magistrates which be sent by him to the punishement of the euyll dooers but to the prayse of the well dooers for so is the wyll of God Heb. i. a Apoc. 6. 1. Cor. 3. c Roma i. Ihon. i. i. Ihon. i. Psal 39. Ezec. 3. Named cristians Psal 18 Rom. 16 Ihon. 10 Psal 65 Gala. 6. Gene. 13. Eccle. i. i. Ihon. Prou. 3. c Eccle. 24. Apoca. â— Esaye 29. Iames. 4 O bestes vngodly very vnnaturall Mat. 6. d Gal. 6. By the fall of Adam the inward eye of maÌ„ was opened in the knouledge of good and euyll Iam. 1 c. Mat. 5. c Christe saith who so loketh on a wyfe lustynge hath commytted adultry with her Exody 20 Deutro 5 Rom. â— In earthe worldly wisedome hath gotten the chayre or vpper seat Apoca. 12. Esay 14. Daniel 9 Mat. 24 Mat. 13. The man of sinne is exalted he sitteth in the estimation of men wheare god ought to syt for chief 2. Thess 2 Esay 11. Daniel 8. God fighteth alwai against the man of synne to ouercoÌ„e and to subdue hym 1. Corr. 1 Esa 18.37 4. Reg. 5. Iere. 13. c The heathen are suche as do not beleue Esai 29. Abdi 1. The churche of god in name but not in deade must perysshe Esay 3. Ezeche 13 Esay 5. Miche 3. VeneÌ„ and poyson is false doctrine and ensamples of naughtie liuyng Esai 1. Esai 11. Esai 11. Abac. 2.6 Exody 2. Esai 11. Nylus signifieth the See of trobles aduersitie Ier. 51.50 Iere. 46. and 30. Esai 44. 43. d A prayer Apoca. 3. Luke 1. Ezec. 44. Esai 1. Leuiti 26 The sacramentes be kepte but the vertue is gone Much labour loste Actes 8 Ihon. 2. The myracles of Christ and his apostles were not onely in face and wordes but were done in veritie the signes be kepte but the power is gone The sacrifice of vngodly are abhominatioÌ„ before the lorde Gene. 4. Iere. 7. a. Iere. 32. s Esai 3. The named churche vpon earth Sapien. 4. What an elder is by the scripture loke Sapience 4. chapter Rom. â— An vntrue professer of Christe is worse then an infideele Ezechi 8. Peter 3d Circumcise therefore the fore skyn of the hert saithe the lorde and be no mor stiffe necked Deutr. 10. Deades be acepted for y e mannes sake that doth them and not y e man for the goodnes of the deades Ierem. 7. Deutro 10 Esai 43. The people are coÌ„tente to be bounde to all that man can ymagyn so y t they myght haue lybertie to synne and abyde styl in their owne lustes the laÌ„des that professe Christ teache the faith and minister sacramentes ceremonies diuerslye Esai 1. b Iere. 6. Amos. 5. Mich. 6. Esai 58. Esai 1. God aloueth not y e deades of those y t be euyll Esai 1. c 2 Pete â— Esai 40. 1 Peter 1. Psal 89. Esai 14. Apoca. 12 Carnall wisedome seketh allwayes to exalte it selfe agâ—â—nste god Esai 29. 1 Corin. 1. 〈◊〉 1. Esai 27. The lord shall destroy all y t is in man of desâ—he and bloud 1 Cor. 1. Nothing of flesshe bloud shall reioyce before god Luke 16. Iere. 7. Exodi 22. zacri 8. Leuiti 10 Esai 1. The pols or water of Siloah signifyeth repeÌ„tance or rather y e lauer of regeneration IhoÌ„ 9 Eye salue is inward knouledge of y e truth Mat. 7. Iere. 33. Iere. 18. Esai 55. Ephesi 2. Ezechi 2. Ezech. 36. Ieremi 31. Esai 51. Ihon. 1 Ihon. 1. Luke 1. Psal 113. Leui 19.14 The fore skynnes signifieth y e iustes of y e flesh and mind whiche muste be cutte awaye All y t holdeth nor y e religion of Christe indede as well as in worde are heathen infideles Esai 13. The elect must be tried by trybulacion aduersitie All that is of flesshe must be doen awaye The staffe is y e worde wherwith the world is smitten Ezech. 34. Hornes signyfyeth strength Iere 30. Miche 5. Ezech. 33. To deale with equitie truth men saye playnelye they can not lyue Psal 13. Esai 28. They y t truste in their own wisedom or in any other thiÌ„g of flesshe bloud shal surely erre and be disceiued Esai 19. Egipte signifiethe y e congregation of wylfull synners Esai 24. Esai 1. Luke 13. Ezech. 18. 3. Par. 3. Psal 33. Prou. 3. Pro. 22.8 Pro. 22. Prouer. 1 Prouer 4. 1. Io. 3. Where y e Spirite of god is saieth Paule there is libertie 1. Io. 1. Io. 1. He that is an enemy to vertue goodnes hateth god The lorde wyll visite theÌ„ whose fore skiÌ„ne is vncircuÌ„cysed Iere. 6.8 Oseas 3. Ieremi 5. That is not onelye on these but aswell on al other such lyke zacha 1. zacha 1. zacha 2. Oseas 3. He that both righteousenes is of god To walke in darknes is to do suche deades as wee all did before we knewe the truthe 1. Io. 3. Apoca. 3.