what Counsells haue decreed what custome hath confirmed and what the Pope his vnlawfull soueraignetie hath established which seemeth to vs all one as if he had said The Scriptures are to no purpose or as good as nothing Of which opinion was Cardinall Hosius who in his booke De expresso Verbo Dei Fol. 242. in lit F. writeth thus Vanus est labor qui scripturis impenditur It is but lost labour that is spent in the scriptures Nos Dei de caelo sententiam potius expectabimus VVee will rather expect Gods pleasure from heauen Scriptura enim creatura est egenum quoddam elementum For the Scripture is a creature and a certaine needy element And in conclusion he pronounceth Sentence definitiue in this wise in Epilogo ad Sigismundum regem Poloniae Quod Ecclesia docet expressum Dei verbum est quod contra sensum et consensum Ecclesiae docetur expressum Diaboli verbum est That which the Church teacheth by the Church I trow meaning the Pope and his Cardinalls is the expresse worde of God what is taught against the meaning and consent of the Church is the expresse word of the Deuil And long before him Guido editus An. 1495. hee which compiled that sottish booke Manipulus curatorum to iustifie the whole matter stuffe of Confirmation putteth this downe for a Maxime infallable truth In Tract 3.1 Par. 2. de mat confir Licet non inueniatur in canonicis epistolis Diui Petri tamen Dominus Papa habet in decretis Romanae ecclesiae c. That though it bee not found in the canonicall Epistles of S. Peter yet our Lord the Pope hath it in the decrees of the Church of Rome this mounteth farre aboue and beyond all other authoritie whatsoeuer Thus Christ must Surrender to Beliall the Spouse must giue place to Babilon Truth to falsehood and the written worde to vnwritten verities humane traditions must be hote and liuelie letters and the scriptures cold dead Elements if wee hunger our meate must bee chaffe in steed of wheate and if we call for drinke it must come from their broken and puddlepits full of mire and filth Ier. 2.13 which neither haue nor are able to hold the water of power to refreshe the withered soule of man for the veines of the fresh and cleare springing waters they haue stopped vp that by this drift the sayings both of Ieremy and Esaie verified in the Iewes as well pore as rich haue beene brought on vs. The Elders of the Iewes saith Ieremie sent their little ones to the wells and they finding no water with shame and confusion returned with their vessels emptie The poore and the needye saith Esaie 41.17 sought water but no where found they any their tongue was euen withered with thirst Euen so these men by breaking in peeces the pipes and conduits and by damming and choaking the fountaines of liuing waters with dirte and mire haue brought the people of God into a pittifull thirst and this was a misery and a rufull state we haue felt it let vs beware We are counselled if we will follow counsell and we are warned if we will take warning to beware of such deceiuers least otherwise it come to passe that as the Serpent beguiled Eue through his subtiltie so our minds should be corrupt from the simplicity that is in Christ 2. Cor. 11.3 If they bring with them Esaies commission and crie as he doth Heare and hearken for the Lord hath said Let vs receiue them as embassadours sent vs from God and let vs beleeue them Otherwise if they breed suspition let vs make proofe as did those noble men of Beroea noble not so much for birth as for courage in embracing the word of God with all readinesse and as they did Act. 17.11 let vs searche thr scriptures daylie and diligentlye whether the thinges which they teach be so or not And then if vpon due trial proofe wee finde that they bring vs counterfet coyne that they come with the Reuelations of men which flow not from the mouth of the Lorde what countenance soeuer they carry where they Angells from heauen that did vs the message by the commandement of Saint Paul to the Galathians 1.8 let vs hold them accursed And yet there are that say and will say The Lord hath said it when the Lord neuer spake the worde Such are the Prophets of Antichrist not vnlike vnto those of Israel which Prophesied after their own fantasie and said the Lord saith it albeit the Lorde had not spoken Eze. 13.7 But beholde what the worde of the Lorde is against such Prophets which follow their owne spirite and teach the people the counsailes of their own hearts I am against them mine hand shal be vpon the Prophets that see vanitie diuine lies they shall not be in the assemblie of my people neither shall they bee written in the writing of Israel Verse 8.9 to wit in the booke of life in which the true Israelites are written neither shall they enter into the land of Israell and that because they haue deceiued my people saying peace which Ieremie 6 14. calleth a sweet word but it was not so for there was no peace one built vp a wall and others daubed it with vntempered morter Eze. 13.10 But saith the Lord Ver 13.14 I will destroy the wall which they haue daubed with vntempered morter and bring it downe to the ground by a stormy wind which shall breake forth in my wrath and by a greate shower in mine anger and hailestones in mine indignation so that the foundation thereof shall be discouered and it shall fall they shall be consumed in the midst therof and shall know that I am the Lord. Thus will the Lorde accomplish his wrath vpon the wall and vpon them that daubed it with vntempered morter euen with their own deuises vnder the authoritie of Gods word If then the Lord will thus deale with the wall and with the daubers that daubed it with vntempered morter let the builders take heed how they build the wall and the daubers howe they daube it least the Lorde pull downe both wall and morter Ver 15. and they say the wall is no more neither the daubers thereof And this much of the first part namely how Esaie by way of exclamation hath inioyned by the commaundement of God the heauens to heare and the earth to hearken vnto the message which hee is willed to doe vnto them from the mouth of the Lord. Nowe the Prophet goeth onward with the Lords most lamentable complaint concerning the ingratitude of his people for whome he had done many and great good turnes The complaint is this I haue nourished and brought vp children but they haue rebelled against me A most grieuous complaint which consisteth of two partes In the first he expresseth his benefits bestowed vpon them In the second hee declareth their ingratitude and rebellion against him Hee expresseth his benefits towardes them in
FVLFORDO ET FVLFORDAE A SERMON Preached at Exeter in the Cathedrall Church the sixth day of August commonly called Iesus day 1594. in memoriall of the Cities deliuerance in the daies of King EDVVARD the sixt Wherein is intreated of the goodnes of God toward Man and of the ingratitude of Man toward GOD. By IOHN CHARLDON Doctor of Diuinitie In which also some fewe thinges are added then omitted through want of time Psal 127.1 Except the Lord keepe the Citie the keeper watcheth in vaine LONDON Printed by Iohn Danter and are to be sold by VVilliam Barley at his shop in Gratious streete 1595. ⧠To the worshipfull Master Thomas Fulford Esquire loued in the truth of all that haue known the truth for the truths sake Mercie peace and loue be multiplied in Iesus Christ YOV had from mee which you desired the Sermon preached at Exeter in commemoration of the Citties deliuerance or at the least you receiued the very summe substance thereof which I supposed might haue contented you and the zealous Gentle-woman your wife without further adoo but finding you and hir greatly inclined to vulgar profit and to make common vnto many which was then vttred vnto fewe that so the benefit of it might redound also vnto many knowing you both to bee such as truely and sincerely loue and fauour the holy Gospell of Iesus Christ and the Ministers thereof and seeing your request to stand with so good reason and Godly purpose and that my Office and function bindeth mee to doo all the good I can to the Church of God â— Pe. 5 2 and that willingly of a ready mind to satisfie your honest desire and charitable meaning haue suffred that poore Exercise to bee published which I doe presente vnto you as a simple New-yeares-gift Of which if any take benefit let them first praise God and next thanke you that according to the rule of Christ will haue the meanest talents and graces of God bee they fiue Mat. 25 15. or two or one many or few more or les deliuered his seruants for the worke of his seruice to bee well and profitably employed and occupied that gaine and increase may come thereby Luk. 19.10 and not to bee laid vp in a napkin or hidde in the earth to the good of none And so beseeching the Lorde to kindle daily more and more in you and in your good wife many such holy motions of his blessed spirit and to establish you in euery worde and good worke I wil commend you vnto him and to his might who is able both to fulfill whatsoeuer waÌ„teth in you throgh his riches with glorie in Iesu Christ and also of power to keepe you that you fall not to the very day that you shall be presented faultles and without blame before the presence of his Maiestie with ioy In the meane while quench not the Spirit grieue not that holy of God by whome you are sealed to the day of redemption I will pray alwaies for you that GOD may settle and confirme you and make you worthy of his calling that the name of the Lorde Iesus may be glorified in you and you in him Pray you also for mee for I trust that through your praiers I shall the sooner be giuen vnto you againe The Lorde bee with you London the first of Ianuarie 1594. Yours in Christ Iohn Charldon AD D. THOMAM FVLFORDVM 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Non mea sunt quae nune mitto tibi sed tua quare Ne tua detineam quae tua mitto tibi Quae mea si dicas tua tanta modestia fulget Vt cum parua feram magna dedisse putes AD EVNDEM TOTIVS CONCIONIS 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Die mihi corda virum quae sic dementat Erinnys Vt. spernant magni iusta colenda Dei Si poteris narra quali furor incitet oestro Pectora quae perhibent nos ratione regi Bos possessorem nouit cognouit asellus Praesepe et Domini bestia tarda sui Fuste nimis rigido quanuis pulcetur asellus Bosque sub immenso pondere pressa cadat Terga grauata tamen praebent fericuda magistri Vtráque seruitium bellua victa subit Ast genus electum Christi diuina propago Dura negat tenero colla premenda iugo Aspectant coeli fastum tellusque fatiscens Quae nostrae testes proditionis erunt Aethereae volucres â—eluti Grus Turtur Hirundo Brumales norunt annumerare dies At nos quos docuit patris Sapientia summi Quos nutrit pascit sustinet ornat amat Quos ab immani Jethalis fauce Leonis Seruat hostiles dat superare manus Nos inquam Domini praesagia non meditamut Temnimus ah potius tradita scita Dei Obtusasaures praecludimus Aspidis instar Ne feriant sophiae ferrea corda soni Vastorum solito bellamus more Gigantum Déque sua volumus pellere sede Iouem Nunc vbi turgescit nimiá pinguedine corpus Obruit nostrum nulla procella caput Bella damus superis ventosus pectora fastus Obliti veteris conditionis agiâ— Tu tamen alme parens hominum qui fecta gubernas Suscipe quas moesto fundimus ore preces Tu gemitus nostros nostri suspiria cordis Exaudi solitâ pro bonitate Deus Pristina chare pater nobis peccata remitte Postmodo dáque tuis carnea corda pater Nou caperis fuso vitulorum sanguine centum Nec caperis longo thuris honore pater Te placare solet quoniam compunctio cordis En compuncta damus corda benigne pater Ne nos abijceas igitur quos dextra creauit Sit nobis charitum candida iuncta cohors Conseruet ma nos miseratio magna misellos Inde tibi nomen mite parentis erit AD EVNDEM Discito Fulford Sit tibi Christus Iussa Iehouae Mens tua gestitâ— Fronte Serena Scire laboras Pectore puro Quomodo possis Discito Christum Viuere sanctè Anchora vitae Sanctáque tandem Prora salutis Tecta Superni Fons bonitatis Cernere coeli Vita perennis Voluito libri Dogmata sacri Itur ad arces Consule Christi â—andide â—homa Dicta magistri Temnito mundum Consule Christum Dilige Christum Is tibi pandet Dilige Christos Voce paterna Praemia Christi Qua ratione Sunt diuturna Cuncta gubernes Praemia mundi Ille docebit Sunt peritura Te pederecto Nunc tibi multa Claudere cursum Nunc tibi paucae Alta Sionis Singula nostra Moenia saluo Singula nulla Scandere gressu Mors truculenta Claustra â—onantis Mors fuâ—ibunda Sydera laeto Auferet vno Visere vultu Tempore duro Est via Christus Parta labore Vera salutis Omne caducum Est via salua Quicquid habetur Tuta quieta Concidit omne Hâc licet ire Floris Imago Hâc penetrare Sole micante Coelica magni Fulua recedit Castra parentis Vt fugit vmbre Haec via munda Lubrica transit Haec via
his sonne Christ shed abroad in our hearts by the holy Ghost vnto eternall life This our God for our peace hath smitten of late yeares Sihon of Rome and Og of Spaine who sought to make the Lords heritage an abhomination that so to this very day the heritage standeth as it did it is as it was and in as good plight if not better it remaineth in the hand of the right owner we trust that it shall still remaine euen in the hand and possession of Israel his seruant for which we do and shall praise his holy blessed name for euer This our God the lord God of hosts hath made vs a mighty nation a fearefull and a terrible to all the Princes Potentates of the earth He conducteth vs not by Iosua but by a Iesus not to a terrestrial but to a celestial Canaan the lād of eternall felicitie whose brightnesse is God whose light is the lambe the lot of the faithfull and the possession of the saued The Lord finding vs in this vale of miserie as he found Iaacob in the land of a roaring wildernesse Deuteronomie 23.9.10 hath ledde vs by his spirite taught vs by his worde gouerned vs by his grace and kept vs as the Apple of his eye As the Eagle he stirreth vp his nest he fluttereth ouer vs his young ones stretcheth out the winges of his mercie taketh and beareth vs on the same to the best and surest places of the earth that so we eate the fruites of the fields and sucke honie not from the stone as did the Iewes but from the Bee and oile not from the rocke as they but from the Oliue we eate the butter of kine and the milke of sheepe with the fat of Lambes and Rams fed not in Bashan but in England with the fat of the graines of wheate and for good and perfect digestion we drawe from the enemy the licour of the red grape This our good and gratious God hath caused vs to multiply as the bud of the field We are to the knowledge of the nations round about vs increased and waxen great many of vs haue gotten many goodly and excellent ornaments Our breasts are fashioned our haire is growne The Lorde hath giuen vs riche and precious iewels bracelets for our hands chaines for our necks frontlets for our faces earings for our eares beautifull things for our heads in which would God we did not delight and reioyce so much as we do The Lord hath decked vs with gold and siluer our raiment is of the finest linnen and silke and broidered worke we eate fine floure and honie and oile yea better things than euer did the Iewes and thus wee become beautifull more than the sonnes and daughters of Zion and we are growne into a kingdom God graunt not into pride The Iewes in the first of Haggei vers 8. are commanded to go vp to the hill Lebanon which was not within the borders of Iewry but of Zidon Tyrus Ezra 3.7 frō thence to bring home Cedarwood for the building of the Temple Truly a figure of the Lordes aboundant mercie and most comfortable for vs Gentiles that albeit wee bee not borne of Iewes yet we are trees meete to builde Gods house with and God willeth vs to bee brought home vnto him by the preaching of his worde that wee may be plankes or boardes bases or props sides or postes pillars or beames rafters or tenons one thing or other of that house wherein himselfe will dwell and he delighted with vs and among whome he will declare his glorie Beside all these which hath beene alreadie obserued for a blessing vpon Israell and Iudah Esa 5.1.2 the Lord hath planted his vineyard in a very frutful soile he hath giuen it a skilfull vinitor one indued with all gifts and qualities necessarie for regiment euen a learned religious gentle mercifull gracious and louing Prince by name Elizabeth the rest of God the seauenth of God and fulnes of the othe of God a great blessing the Lorde continue it and make vs thankfull for it This skilfull vinitor our gracious Soueraigne comparable for fortitude with Iosua for magnanimitie with Gedeon for victories with Macchabeus for wisedome with Salomon for zeale with Hezekiah for deutoion with Dauid hath caused the stones that pestered the vineyard to bee gathered out the briers and thornes to be grubbed vp rubbidge and whatsoeuer was noysome to be remooued 2. Thes 2.3 Antichrist the man of sin with his trash and traditions to bee exiled that nowe the fielde is cleared the vineyard clensed the Church purged and all this concluded and more without any great sedion or tumult at all It was the Lordes doing and it is wonderfull in the eyes of as manie as doe truely behold it No vineyard no Church no people vnder the heauens more inriched with the blessings of God so that the Lord may iustly say vnto vs as he did vnto his people of old Es 4.5 what more could I haue done vnto my vineyard which I haue not done vnto it The Lord haue the glorie for it and he in his mercie preserue keepe and maintaine the vinitor our gracious queene in health wealth peace and prosperitie that to the ioy and comfort of all her loyall heartie true trustie subiects she may long continue liue and reigne an old mother in Israel he that from the verie bottome of his heart doth not so wish and praie and say Amen the rauens of the valley pick out his eyes and the young Eagles eate them vp Pro. 30.17 This vineyard so planted in a most fruitful ground cleansed from stone thorne brier watered with the dew of Gods truth cherished with his Sacramentes pruned with the two edged sword of his most holy spirit vnder propped with the authoritie of zealous magistrates fortified with good and godly lawes to keepe both roote and braunche in order hath brought foorth many a goodly and pleasaunt grape amongst others peace spirituall and peace ciuill peace toward God peace amongst men and amongst our selues and so the peace of conscience which passeth all wisdome and vnderstanding pleasant grapes and a riche blessing He that hath felt the euill of warre can best speake of the good of peace Warre as a Locust maketh scarcitie but peace like vnto the morning and euening dew worketh plenty as Eras Apo. lib. 6. noteth Croesus king of Lydia by this onely argument preferred peace before warre Quòd pacis tempore filii sepelirent patres in bello contrà patres sepelirent liberos that in the time of peace children did burie their fathers contrariwise in warre fathers did burie their children So contrarie is the fruite of warre to the fruite of peace which we through the benefit of God vnder his Anointed haue enioyed long time without any effusion of bloud to speake of except of a sort of Archtraitors who receiued but the rewarde they deserued and which I pray God all traitours with their adherents may receiue
no vncleane thing The frute will be this You shall eate your bread in plenteousnes and dwell in your Citie safely Leuit. 26.5 6. God will send peace in the land and ye shall sleepe and none shall make you afraid He will couer you vnder his wings Psal 91.4 and you shall bee safe vnder hys feathers his truth shall be your shield and buckler You shall not be afraid of the feare of the night nor of the arrowe that flyeth by day for he shall giue his Angels charge ouer you vers 11. to keepe you in all your wayes And this will the Lord doo for you and much more if you feare loue serue obey him For he will receiue you he will be a father vnto you and you shall bee hys sonnes and daughters 2. Corinth 6.17 18. hee will dwell with you and walke among â—ou he will be your God and you shall be â—â—s people Leu. 26.12 Finally that I may conclude with the Prophet with whom I began if ye consent and obay ye shall eate the good things of the lande Esaie 1.19.20 But if ye refuse and bee rebellious yee shall be deuoured with the sword for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it This same our Lord God who alone pondereth 2. Chron. 6.30 trieth ruleth the harts of the sonnes of men Pro. 21.2 guide vs our harts to the loue of him 1. Thess 2.4 mollifie and soften vs Act. 1.34 and them by the gratious and mighty working of his holy and blessed spirit 2. Thess 3.5 that we may sensibly feele perceiue how good and louing a God and mercifull father hee hath beene and is vnto vs and that we may shew our selues thankfull and obedient vnto him liuing vnto his lawes and embracing his word and obeying his commandements so dooing wee shall be the Lords chiefe treasure aboue all people â—he will fight for vs as he did for the Israelites his elect chosen children he will carrie vs on Eagles wings as he did them throughout the dangers and troubles of this wofull Egypt till wee come to the hauen of perfect rest to the land of the celestiall Canaan where we shal haue the fruition of endles ioyes 1. Cor. 2.6 which eye hath not seen neither eâ—re hath heard neither haue entred into the hart of man prepared of God for them that loue him Of which ioyes God of his infinite mercie grant vs all to be partakers through the merites and death of Iesus Christ his sonne our Lord and sauiour to whome with the holy Ghost triple in person but one in substance be praise and glory and wisedome and thankes honour and power and might for euermore Apoc. 7.12 Now let vs pray O Lord thou that liuest for euer which beholdest from thy holy hill the things that are done vpon earth heare and hearken we beseech thee vnto the Prayers of thy seruants and receiue into thine eares the petitions of thy creatures Looke not O Lord vpon the multitude of our iniquities and haue no respect to the number of our sinnes let it not bee thy will to destroy vs which appeare worse before thee than the Oxe and Asse for the Oxe knoweth his owner and the Asse his Masters Cribbe but we thy children whom thou hast nourished and brought vp as a most louing father haue not knowne and wee that in time past were not a people but nowe thine owne people haue not vnderstand VVe must acknowledge and confesse vnto thee our Lord and God that euen the byrdes of the Ayre as the Storke and the Turtle and the Crane and the Swallow doo better knowe and obserue the times of their comming then we the iudgments of thee our God Our misdeedes are great and they presse vs downe as an heauy burden Our iniquities are as the sand of the sea in number before thee Thou hast O Lord many and iust causes to doe with vs according to our offences because wee haue not kept thy commandements neither haue walked in duty and obedience before thee but haue rebelled as did thy people the Iewes VVee haue the sickenesse of our Fathers wee haue done amisse and dealt wickedly Notwithstanding O Lord wee trust that thou wilt be fauourable and gracious vnto vs. In a contrite heart and an humble spirite let vs be receiued Deale with vs thy seruants which put their trust in thee after thy louing kindnes and according to the multitude of thy mercies so shalt thou be called mercifull and we shall haue great cause to praise and glorifie thee both for this and all other thy former benefits specially for that as vpon this day thou diddest deliuer vs and our Citie out of the handes of our wicked enemies and hatefull foes which sayd that they would burne our dwelling places and kill our yong men with the sword dash our sucking children against the ground and make our infants as a pray our virgins a spoyle which also sayd we will diuide the booty our lust shall be satisfied vpon them and then wee will draw the weapon and our hand shall destroy them But thou the Lord of Hoasts which art great and glorious maruelous and inuincible in power whose voyce no creature can abide diddest soone bring them and their deuises to naught Thy right hande was glorious in power thy right arme brused the enemy In thy great glory thou diddest ouerthrow them that rose against thee thou diddest send forth thy wrath which consumed them as the stubble and by the blast of thy nostrels the waters came which ran mightily through the channels of our streets so drowned the labours of their hands And so from that day to this as the Egle doth her yong ones thou hast carried vs vppon the winges of thy mercy out of all dangers for which and all other thy blessinges most gracious and louing father we shall from age to age remember thee and thy goodnes this shall bee a feast day vnto vs and our posterity we that are now and they that are to come shall sing prayses vnto thee exalt thy name Thou O Lord wast and art our strength and power thou wast and art our saluation thou hast beene and art our refuge our defence our castle and the rocke of our might thou art our God thou art the God of our fathers we will magnifie thee And here also wee are bolde to make our deuout and harty prayers vnto thee Lord almighty and father of vs al that thou after thine accustomed mercy wilt vouchsafe continually to remember vs from thy holy mount to looke downe vppon vs. Keep vs Lord as the apple of thine eye graue vs as another Zion vppon the palme of thine handes and let our walls bee euer in thy sight VVhen men shall rise vp against vs and shall be wrathfully displeased at vs if wee turne to thee with all our hearts and with all our soules and confesse thy name and pray and make supplication before thee in this house heare thou then O Lord in heauen in the dwelling place of thy habitation what prayer and supplication so euer shall bee made of any man or of all thy people and pardon the sinne of thy seruants and bee mercifull to the transgressions of thy children punish vs not according to our deserts deliuer vs not whom thou hast purchased for a spoile vnto captiuity and death sell vs not into the hands of our enemies round a-about vs giue vs not ouer for a pray vnto their teeth make vs not for a Prouerbe of reproch to the Nations farre and neere lest they aske where is now their God Let not the Heathen say which haue heard the fame of thee because the Lorde was not able to saue this people in the land that he gaue them or because hee hated them therefore hee hath left them in the handes of spoilers to spoile them and of the Nations to raigne as Lordes ouer them Lord we are thy people and thine inheritance which thou deliueredst of olde by thy mighty power and preseruedst by thy stretched out arme Let this greatnes of thy power continue withdraw not thy accustomed fauor from vs hide not thou thy face from vs in the time of troble but be thou mercifull vnto vs according to thy great mercies Let all the earth be filled with the brightnesse of thy glory let all such that beare euill will at Zion which seeke to lay thy vineyard wast which thou so graciously hast planted fortified on euery part to bring thine heritage to confusion be confouÌ„ded by thy great force and power and let their strength bee broken that they may knowe that thou which art called Iehouah art alone euen the most High ouer all the earth Finally O Lorde carry vs thy people by thy great mercie whom thou deliueredst bring vs we beseech thee in thy strength vnto thy holy habitation plant vs in the mountaine of thine inheritance which is the place that thou hast prepared for to dwell in euen in the Sanctuarie O Lorde which thine handes shall stablish make vs ioyfull Citizens of thy holy Citie Hierusalem which is aboue goe before vs both by day and by night in the pillar of thy fauour and goodnesse to leade vs the way that we may safely passe through this vale of misery and wretchednesse and finish this our pilgrimage with ioy And lastly that through the ayde and assistance of our true Ioshua thy son Iesus Christ we thy children hauing passed all difficulties may rest and dwell with thee our father in the Kingdome of all happines and felicitie Euen so Lord Iesus Nomb. 6.24 The Lord blesse you and keep you the Lord make his face to shine vpon you and be mercifull vnto you the Lord lift vp his countenance vpon you and giue you peace to your City and your selues now and euer Amen Soli Deo Gloria FINIS
sana Gloria secli Haec via certa Vna manebit Haec via pastus Arx paradisi Diriget omnes Caetera fumus Hâcque beatas AD VRSVLAM THOMAE Fulfordiconiugem Orthodoxam Vrsula funesto flerem tua carmina fata Biblia si scirem te coluisâ—e parum Ast munit contra falsi praeludia mundi Messiae pectus pagina sancta tuum AD EANDEM Lesbia cantabat lasciua poemata Sappho Vrsula coelestis clara trophÄ™a Dei. Lesbis amica chelyn Phoebo dedit Vrsula Phoebo Vota feret fido pectore clausa suo Vrsula Sola Deo tua sit seruire voluptas Gaudia vera putes gloria sinis erit AD EANDEM Vrsula collectos cernis flaccescere flores Et verno nitâ—das deperiâ—sse rosas Anglorum spectas marcescere lilia peste Quae fuerant oculis lilia digna tuis Hinc subolere potes quaenam sit gloria mundi Quae tacitè tenues soluitur in cineres IT IS VVRITTEN IN the first Chapter of the Prophet Esaie 2. 3. Heare O heauens and hearken O earth for the Lord hath saide I haue nourished and brought vp children but they haue rebelled against me The Oxe knoweth his owner and the Asse his Masters Crib but Israel hath not knowne my people hath not vnderstand OF these you expect the interpretation and meaning but first let vs pray together that God of whome is euery good giuing and euery perfect gift may giue vnto you eares to heare his worde with frut may open vnto me the dore of vtterance Coll. 4.3 to speake the misterie of Christ that I may vtter it as it becommeth mee to his glorie to your comfort to the increase of his church O Eternall GOD and mercifull father wee thy poore seruaunts present our selues before the throne of thy Diuine Maiestie entirely desiring thy fatherly goodnes to graunt that thy worde may take such deepe roote in our hearts that it may fructifie bring forth an hundreth sixtie or thirtie folde so much as shall seeme best to thy heauenly wisedome And next vnto this we pray thee O Father to bee gratious and mercifull to thy whole militant Church dispersed farre and wide vppon the face of this earth especially to the two principall members of the same 1. Tim. 2. 1.2 England and Ireland And whereas by thy holy Apostle Paul we are willed to make praiers and supplications for all men for Kings and Princes and for all that are in authoritie we humbly and hartily pray and beseeche thee to blesse and preserue thy chosen seruaunt our dread Soueraigne Elizabeth by thy grace of England France and Ireland Queene defendresse of the true auncient and Apostolike faith and in all causes and ouer all persons within these hir Maiesties Dominions next and immediatly on earth vnder thee supreame Gouernesse Blesse O Lord we beseech thee both hir and all hir most Honourable Councellors against all domesticall and forren foes that thy Church so prosperously begunne may bee builded and fullie finished according to the platforme of thy most sacred and holy word And to this ende wee pray thee also O Lorde to visite comfort and cherrish with the spirit of thy grace the Archbishops Bishops and all other inferior Ministers to whom thou hast assigned the preaching of thy Law and the charge of thy chosen that they may bee found good Stewards oâ— thy will and true disposers of thy secretes and that by their labours sanctified of thee thy poore sheep which wander and goe astray in the vale of darkenes and shadow of death may bee brought home to thy sheepe sold vnder one shepheard thy sonne Christ the great shepheard of the sheepe and Bishop of our soules Wee recommende likewise to thy fauour and goodnes O Lord all the Rulers and Commons of this Realme that the Rulers with courage and in a reuerent feare of thee according to the trust committed vnto them may carefully and truely iudge thy people at all seasons and that the Commons in their seuerall degrees may liue and abide in Christian duety and obedience toward their superiors and in Godly loue and charitie one towards another We beseech thee O Lord that in like measure of thy grace thou wilt vouchsafe to water with the dewe of thy blessing the two notable Vniuersities of this Lande Oxford Cambridge that from age to age they may send forth Bezaleels and Aholiabs filled with the spirit of wisedome vnderstanding and knowledge to worke together with all the wise hearted all maner workemanship for the seruice of the Sanctuary for the vniting of the Saints for the worke of the Ministery and for the edification of the body And here O Lord for as much as we are all thy children sheep of thy pasture we call vppon thee for all our poore and afflicted brethren which by any meanes any where do grone vnder the Crosse for the testimony of thy eternall truth that according to thy promise it woulde please thee to giue them the fulnes of consolation patience and constancie that they may chearfully abide whatsoeuer fierie tryall it shall please thy heauenly wisdome to put them vnto that both by their life and by their death thy truth may be sealed Antichrist that man of sinne ashamed and the Kingdome enlarged of thy deare sonne Iesus Christ For these and all other thy graces what so euer which thou knowest to be needfull and necessary for vs and thy whole Church we make our humble hearty praier vnto thee our God and father which art the father of mercies and the God of all comfort according to that maner and forme which Christ thy sonne our Master in his Gospell hath taught vs. Our Father c. A SERMON PREACHED AT EXETER Esaie 1. verse 2. 3. Heare O heauens and hearken O earth for the Lord hath saide I haue nourished and brought vp children but they haue rebelled against me The Oxe knoweth his owner and the Asse his Masters Crib but Israel hath not knowne my people hath not vnderstand THese words which I haue read vnto you Men Fathers and BrethreÌ„ beloued in the Lord diuide themselues into two parts an exclamation and a complaint The exclamation is conteined in the first part of this second verse and is made not vnto men but vnto the heauens aboue and vnto the earth beneath Heare O heauens saieth the Prophet and hearken O earth For because the Iewes refused to tread the paths of the Lord and to walke in his waies because they were like vnto the serpent the deafe Adder that stoppeth his eare at the voice of the charme rcharme he neuer so wiselie Psal 58.4.5 Therefore now by the Lords appointment hee speaketh vnto deafe and dumbe creatures and saith Heare O heauens and hearken O earth As if he should haue saide because the ingratitude and impietie of men is such that they will not heare nor hearken vnto the voice of the Lorde I will speake vnto the heauens and earth and the heauens though
vpon this his vehement exclamation and outcrie vnto the heauens and earth had shewed thē first what they should heare than whome they should heare But it was more forcible and pearcing yea and more requisite too that the prophet shuld first shew them whome they should heare than what they should heare VVhen Man doth speake the word is not so wel accepted receiued as when the Lorde doth speake The message that is done from a Prince is more highly esteemed than that which cometh from a Subiect VVhen the Prince speketh let the Subiect hold his peace but when the Lord speaketh let all flesh giue eare The Lion hath roared saith Amos who will not bee a fraide the Lord God hath spoken who can but prophesie Amos. 3.8 worthie is his Maiestie to bee reuerenced and obeyed of all his creatures which are in earth whose voice nothing whether aboue or beneath whether in heauen or in earth sensible or insensible ought to disobey Heare then O heauens and hearken O earth for the Lord hath saide In which latter words for the Lord hath saide the Prophet commendeth vnto vs three speciall points 1 First the excellencie and worthines of the word of God which Dauid preferreth before gold before much fine gold which hee counteth sweeter than hony the hony comb Psal 19.10 For it is that honye whose sweetnes doth both delight the soule and also temper the troubles of this life that they become tollerable and easie It is that fire which burneth vp and consumeth the figge leaues of vanitie and wickednesse of mans hart whatsoeuer It is that which dropeth as the rain which stilleth as the dew as the shower vpon the hearbes and as the great raine vpon the grasse Deut. 2.2 It is the sword of the spirit Eph. 6.17 Sharper than any two edged sword entring through euen to the deuiding a sunder of the soule and the spirit and of the ioyntes and marowe Heb. 4.12 It is that graine of mustard seede Math. 13.31 which at the first is verie small but taking roote increasing in the children of God groweth to such an height that it reacheth the verie hart minde of man It is that seed whose rootes take such deepe hold are so firmelie fastned that it neuer ceaseth from growing till it bring the whole man into the quiet possession of the kingdome of God It is the forcible seede of regeneration by which through the working of the spirite of God all must be regenerate and borne a new as many as desire to bee made partakers of the eternall inheritance It is that word of truth by which God the father the fountaine and welspring of all goodnes according to his free mercie euen of his owne will begate vs that we should be as the first frutes of his creatures Ia. 1.18 So writeth Saint Peter in his 1. Epistle 1. Chapter verse 23. Borne a new not of mortall seed but of immortall by the word of God who liueth for euer If I might stand vpon this point I could bring many most excellent places of Scripture for the worthines hereof and for the great benefits which Salomon describeth and which Dauid confesseth to haue receiued by the same as namely that hee had perished in the multitude of his sorrowes if the comforts thereof had not refreshed his soule Pro. 4. Psa 94.19 Secondarilie the prophet in these words For the Lord hath saide declareth in what estimation and reuerence his word is to bee had the ministers thereof that his word is to be receiued not as the word of men but as it is indeede the word of God which also worketh in them that beleeue 1. Thes 2.13 that the Ministers thereof are to bee esteemed as the Ministers of Christ disposers of the secrets of God 1. Cor. 4.1 whome hee that contemneth contemneth God himselfe For as Moses saide vnto the Isralites The Lord hath heard your murmurings which ye murmur against him for what are we Your murmurings are not against vs but against the Lord. Ex. 16.8 Againe concerning them the Lord from his owne mouth saith vnto Samuell they haue not cast thee away but they haue cast mee awaie that I shoulde not reigne ouer them 1. Sa. 8.7 Our Sauiour to the Disciples he that heareth you heareth me and he that despiseth you despiseth me and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent mee Lu. 10.16 And the Apostle vnto the Thessalonians he that despiseth vs despiseth not man but God who hath sent his holie spirite among vs. 1. Thes 4.8 3 Thirdly out of these wordes For the Lord hath said we learne that the Prophets of God were wont as often as they published any thing worthy admiration whether it were to set forth Gods iustice or to recōmend his mercie to say This saith the Lord or the Lord hath spoken it thereby declaring that they vttred nothing of their own minde but that which they had receiued from the mouth of the Lord. Which practise was vsuall not only with the prophets but also with Christ and his Apostles For Christ said vnto the Iewes I doe nothing of my selfe but as my Father hath taught me so I speake these things Io. 8.28 Againe I haue not spoken of my selfe but the Father which sent me he gaue me a commandement what I should saie what I should speake Io. 12.49 S. Iohn his Apostle likewise That which we haue seene and hearde declare wee vnto you 1. Io. 1.3 S. Paul in like sort That which I deliuered vnto you I receiued of the Lord. 1. Co. 11 23 So in his Epistle to the Romanes intreating of the manner and order of Iustification he putteth this queston for what saieth the scripture Rom. 4.3 And in sundry other places when hee laboureth to proue what he had saide he citeth the Scriptures giuen by inspiration of God therefore profitable to teach to improue to correct and to instruct in righteousnes that the man of God may bee perfect and prepared vnto euerie good worke 2. Tim. 3.16 VVhich diuine and heauenly practise of the Prophets of Christ and his Apostles would God the Papists of our daies would once endeuour to imitate and followe But they still like vnto their forefathers plunged with them in the bottomles pit of ignorance or rather giuen in the haughtines and mallice of hart to deceiue preferre the Popes holines before the Scriptures and the Scriptures which our Sauiour Christ vsed and confirmed with so manie miracles and at last sealed vpp with the effusion of his precious blood which came by inspiration of God 2. Tim. 3.19 which the Prophets Apostles Fathers as often as was needfull alleged for testimonie and proofe these men haue vsed and yet vse to call a bare dumme vnprofitable and deade Letter They tell vs not what the Lorde hath saide but what men haue saide as Pardoners Priests Friers and Popes them selues as Alexander Gregorie Iohn Clement and others like They note vnto vs
prophet begā to prophesie after that God had blessed him maruellously had giuen him many notable victories thereby was grown to be strong lifted vp his heart and vsurped the priests office and went into the temple of the Lord to burne incense vpon the altar of incense and when he was willed to leaue off would not but waxed wroth as it is in the second of Chronicles and 26. chap. v. 19. Ierusalem a faithfull citie and which had promised fidelitie vnto God as a wife to her husband is now become a common harlot and a filthie strumpet Esa 1.21 She was once full of iudgement and iustice was lodged within her brest but now she is full of rauen crueltie and deceit verse 22. Her siluer is become drosse and her wine is mixt with water The testimonies of the Lord which sometime were pure and without drosse like vnto siluer that is tried with fire are now defiled with pharisaicall traditions and doctrines of men The commandements of the Lord which were like vnto pure wine reioycing the heart through watery dregs haue lost their strength colour and beautie verse 23. The princes of the people were rebellious and companions of theeues they loued giftes and followed after rewardes they iudged not the fatherlesse neither did the widowes cause come before them Ierem. 2.8 The Priests said not so much as where is the Lorde and they that should minister the lawe knew not God Deut. 32.15 He that should haue beene vpright when he waxed fatte and grose and was laden with fatnesse spurned with his heele and forsooke the Lorde that made him regarded not the strong God of his saluation And therefore the state and condition of Iudah Ierusalem being thus corrupt whom neither the benefits of God could win nor his punishments amend the Lord by his Prophet dooth iustly charge them with ingratitude and disobedience in this sort They haue rebelled against me Wherein they did rightly imitate and follow their forefathers Psal 78.8 a stubborne and rebellious generation a generation whose heart was not aright and whose spirit was not faithfull vnto God For no sooner had God brought thē out of Egipt out of the house of bondage with a mighty hand and stretched out arme Psal 106.7 but they forgate his great goodnesse and rebelled at the Sea euen at the red Sea Exo. 16.3 In the wildernesse of Sin they grudged for bread and flesh Exod. 17.2 and in Rephidim for water They made a calfe in Horeb Exod. 32.4 worshipped the molten image Psa 106.19 They maliced Moses Aaron the holy one of the Lord. v. 16. They would haue stoned Caleb and Ioshua Nom. 14.10 They ioined themselues vnto Baal peor did eat the offrings of the dead Psa 106.28 They sacrificed their sonnes and daughters vnto deuils shed innocent bloud euen the bloud of their sonnes and daughters whom they offred vnto the idols of Canaan Deut. 32.17 gods whom they knew not new gods that came newly vp forsooke the Lorde God of their fathers which brought them out of the land of Egipt and followed other gods as Baal and Ashtaroth the gods of the people that were round about them and bowed vnto them Wherefore the wrath of the Lord was hote against Israel and he deliuered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them and solde them into the hands of their enemies round about them Notwithstanding the Lord raised vp Iudges which deliuered them out of the hands of their oppressours ve 16. but they would not obey their Iudges for they wet a whoring after other gods and worshipped thē Iudg. 10.6 as the gods of Aram Zidon and Moab the gods of the children of Ammon and of the Philistins forsooke the Lorde God and serued not him And thus they rebelled and their posteritie to the dayes of Iohn the fore-runner of Christ and his Apostles insomuch that of Christ before him of Iohn the Baptist they are called Progenies viperarum the generations of vipers Mat. 3.7 And because they were the children of them which murthred the prophets fulfilled the measure of their fathers Mat. 23.31 the lord vpbraideth casteth in their teeth not onely their owne but also their fathers malice Many a time would the Lord haue gathered them together Matt. 23 37. as the hen doth her chickens vnder her wings but they would not And therefore did Stephan to their faces charge them with stubbornesse and rebellion calling them Act. 7.51 stifnecked and of vncircumcised hearts and eares alwaies resisting the holy Ghost as their fathers did So that though Israel and Iudah after a sort could colour their rebellion and stifnesse of heart against the Lord and against his annointed with the multitude of sacrifices Esa 1.11 with the burnt offerings of Rams and fat of fed beasts with the bloud of bullockes of Lambes and of goates with the obseruation of new moones Sabbaths and solemne daies with the stretching out of hands and making many praiers yet we see what they are and the Lord who alone looketh into the harts of all by the prophet here chargeth the very Rulers to be rebellious companions of theeues ve 23 yea and the whole packe of them for their impietie and wickednesse to be like vnto the princes of Sodoma and people of Gomorah The application And now to applie these former points vnto our selues before we come to the exaggeration of this peoples ingratitude and vnkindnesse let vs take some short view whether our condition be the same with the condition of Israel and Iudah or whether ours be better than theirs was The Lorde our God as yee all know hath nourished and brought vp vs his children in as good and ample manner as euer he did the Iewes his elect and chosen people He hath giuen vs for our comfort Psa 8.7.8 the beasts of the field the foules of the ayre and the fishes of the sea He brought vs out of the yron fornace of Romish Egipt at what time the Egyptian tyrants made vs wearie of our liues with sore labourin the clay and bricke of hellish superstition and with all maner of bondage which they laide vpon vs most cruelly Hetherto the Lorde hath gone before vs by day in a pillar of a cloude and by night in a pillar of fire to lead vs the way and to giue vs light that we might go both by day and by night out of all danger He hath giuen vs Manna frō heauen not Manna of which the Fathers did eate in the wildernesse and are dead but a liuing Manna a Manna that giueth life vnto the world a Manna of which he that truly eateth shall liue for euer Ioh. 6 38. The Israelites after they had drunke of the water out of the rocke thirsted againe but of the water which he shall giue vs if we once drinke we shall neuer be more a thirst Joh 4.14 for it is the water of life euen the grace and loue of God in
promised with the mouth what of it Christ if hee were here on earth should not neede so much a whip to driue them out of the Church so fewe come there as hee should neede a great sort of whips and that good ones to driue them thither As for the Bishops which they wished to be remoued mitred ones were thrust out of their holdes sooner than they thought and exiles and other very zealous men placed in their steads But what of those then and of their successors now Euen as of the Bishops and Elders of the Churches in saint Pauls time Reuiled euill spoken off made Os pericatharmata tou cosmon as the filth of the world 1. Cor. 4.13 Panton peripsema the ofscowring of all thinges vnto this time the very practise of auntient Sectaries who by dispraising and reuiling others sought to purchase fame and glorie to themselues But this is not all for Captaine Cuffe of the bouncing band of all Surebies the olde sheep ebiter which pricketh at the bodie and spareth not the fleece will haue their Mannors and landes to make his brats Gentlemen Their houses must goe downe their liuings must be clipped or clean taken away and they set to petrie pensions The Captaine with the helpe of his surebies like an other Xerxes will suppe vp whole countries before him and snatch vp houses and woods dales and mountaines vallies and hills people and all into the budget of his wrath Hauocke must be made of the Churches inheritance without contradiction either of Prince or people els the trumpet soundeth à stylo ad macheram Tertul. de prescrip pag. 110. Sect. 15. Sirs no more words but blows and al for Church patrimony vnder the colour of religion Captaine Cuffe belike in his Itinerario or Kalender of miles smelt that Abbey lands c. so well pretended to be employed to the inriching of the King maintaining of schooles and releeuing the poore were vnto some very sweete and the best feather of their taile who perhaps hauing spent the better part if not the totall vppon backe and belly himselfe could bee content to consume in like proportion the remnants that are left Heare ye this O Elders and hearken ye all inhabitants of this Citie whether such a thing hath beene in your daies or yet in the dares of your fathers The Palmer worme hath his part and so hath the Grashopper and canker worme and now residuum erucae the residue of the canker worme 〈◊〉 the Caterpiller eate if hee may Such is the thankefulnes which these and others yeeld both to the Lorde and also to them who haue ministred and to this day doo minister in his sanctified labours It is presupposed that some Clergie men haue too little some too much and some nothing at all to liue by and therefore very requisite that iust and equall diuision were made that all might bee sufficiently prouided for A deepe charity dipped in as deep hypocrisie But Sirs of the corporation of Mal-contents who shall make the diuision There is iust cause why we may stagger at putting the Church patrimony to arbitrement lest while diuision bee pretended some Quintus Fabius adiudge the better part thereof to the Senate of Rome Cicero Offic li. 10. Et ita erit nouissimus error peior priore And so shall the last errour bee worse than the first Matthew Chapter 27. verse 64. But all this is the wicked working of Satan the moulder of mischief whose drift hath been euermore to decay learning that there should be none learned in the Scriptures to commit the flockes vnto which hee attempted to accomplish First by seducing spirits Secondarily by force of tyrants and now lastly by impayring the liuings of the Ministers of the worde to the intent that they oppressed with pouertie should forsake the Ministerie so the little miserable flocke of Iesus Christ left destitute of the foode of life should become in time like vnto the horse and mule which haue no vnderstanding Psal 32.9 In regard whereof what good Christian is there which may not vpon so iust occasion iustly cry out in the bitternesse of his heart O tempora O mores O times O manners seeing the times so dangerous and men in their manners so monstrous whome the Lorde notwithstanding hath nourished and brought vp as his children and yet doth but they rebell For in what one point can they more significantly expresse and make knowen their rebellion against the Lorde than by battering the walls and shaking the foundations of his Church than by annoying his seruaunts the Prophets contrary to his commaundement touch not mine annointed and do my Prophets no harme Psal 105.15 than by diuiding mangling and impairing the portions of the Leuites as in the daâ—â—s of Nehemiah cap. 13. vers 10. which caused them for that they receiued not according to the Lawe prouided in that case to forsake the house of God as not able to execute the worke any longer and to flee euery one away to his owne Land This it was and will be when the Lords portion is pinched the mouth of the Oxe musled that treadeth out the corne it must needs breed and bring Anarchy and confusion euen the riune vtter ouerthrow of all good learning and true religion For take away once the patrimonie and maintenance of the Church at which that Axe of theirs striketh especially as at a sweete and pleasant roote and intreate the Lords Ambassadors as Hanun did Dauids messengers 2. Sam. 10.4 ye take away learning take away learning ye take away teaching Dauids messengers sent to comfort Hanun must of forc tarry at Iericho with shame inough vers 5. vntill their garments bee lengthened and their beards growen when will that be when the children of Ammon vers 6. band themselues and hire other to worke them if they may some further despite And so you may lightly coniecture what will become of the Church of Christ For where no vision is the people decay Pro. twentie nine Chap. and 18. verse Howbeit beloued we hope better trust that the Lord of Hoasts in his accustomed mercye will continue a strength vnto Israel and a defence for Iudah yea wee trust that Iehouah will so blesse vs out of Zion Psal 128.5 that we shall see our Ierusalem to flow with prosperity peace plenteousnes and true religion all the daies of our life that the destroyers of the vineyard Psal 80.13 and young Vine which the Lord hath made so mightie and strong for himselfe shall perish in their appointed time at the rebuke of the countenance of our God But if so be the Lords arme bee stretched out toward vs if his wrath be kindled against vs if matters fall out in the ende otherwise than well let vs burden and blame no man but our selues for wee are a crooked and rebellious nation as badd as euer were the Iewes if not worse and looke what sinnes raigned among them Ezec. 16.49.50 and we haue exceeded