that called thē out of darkenesse into his marueylous lyght into the which through the great mercy of God their paynful trauel industrye dayly preaching we were trayned accordīg to the same a whyle we walked Alas in dede but a whyle for al to soone we began to be weary of our welfare we disdayned wel doing waxed forgetful of the great goodnes of almyghty god toward vs we were vnthankefull for the great benefites receaued at his hands we herkened not diligently to the worde◠of God pronounced by his messangers but necglected our duties both toward God and hys mynisters yet not withstandyng our peruers carelesnesse then such was the pity mercy of God tendering vs as the father his childrē that he would not sodenly so sharply deale with vs as our desertes deserued for so litle regarding so worthy a Iuel his holy woorde but rather louyngly warned vs by the mouthes of his seruaūts chosen vessels to kepe vs that we should not fal frō hym They I say cryed out to vs for the amendment of our lyfe that we should leaue of synne and wickednesse and follow vertue that we shold remember the great mercye wonderful worke of god in reueling his truth vnto vs. And that we should with earnest and zelous hartes embrace it whyle we had the light to beleue in the light that we might be the children of lyght least darknes again ouerwhelmed vs. Thus were we then daily taught and put in remembraunce Feruente was the loue of Goddes worde in these hys chosen and carefull were these shephardes for the flock committed to their charge but careles we were coldly affected nothyng regarding or passing for their godly admonitions and warnings which our carelesnes when they perceiued and that gentle and louyng persuasions woulde not preuaile then thundred they oute the plages whiche god had prepared being then euen at hande for vs and wherof we might assure oure selues vnlesse spedye repentaunce and amendment of oure former wickednes and dissolute lyfe And was it not then preached and daily by them cryed out in our eares that if we wold not hearken vnto the words of the lord pronoūced vnto vs by his ministers and with obedient heartes walke accordyng to the same Deu 28.4 that then we should go wast and be made an ensaumple a iesting stock to all nacions Ye was it not by thē most certainly saide that if we continued in our vnthankfulnes God woulde geue vs into the handes and gouernment of a forraine prince Deute 28 Ieremy 5 Barn◠4 and that god woulde bryng a natiō vpon vs from far whose tongue we shold not vnderstand which shold neither regard the person of the olde nor haue compassion on the young Did they not threaten vs in the name of the lord with sworde hunger pestilence if we considered not the great blessings of god beyng thankefull for the same and framed our lyues according to hys gospell Amos 8 Did they not with Amos prophecy of the hunger of the worde of god to come vpon vs and that we should go from sea to sea and from the South to the East to seeke it and should not find it were not these terrible threatninges dailye preached and pronounced vnto vs the rather to moue and stirre oure heartes and myndes to loue embrace gods truthe and the better to consider the louyng kyndnes of God towardes vs But alas all would not helpe the gentle persuasions the terrible threatnyngs as wel the one as the other wer in vayne So much were we with carelesnes corrupt wallowing in wickednes so fylthelye infected with vyce so much contemnyng spirituall instructions so lustyng after carnall thynges of this worlde so addicte to our own willes so puft vp with pryde so little brotherly loue amōgest vs so altogether care lesse that we neither regarde God nor his ministers we were not obedient to the voice of our teachers Pro 5. nor harkened not vnto them that informed vs The warnyng of the Prophets we toke but for wynd Rom. 6. * we were the seruauntes of synne and did not obey with harte vnto the forme of doctryne whereunto we were deliuered we were hearers of the worde but not doers we deceyued our selues Iames 1. for he that heareth the word and doth it not is like vnto a man that beholdeth his bodelye face in a glasse for as soone as he hathe looked vppon hym selfe he forgetteth foorthewith what his fashion was but happye is the hearer and that dothe folowe whiche we dydde not but wholy neglected and therefore dyd kyndle the wrathe of the lorde against vs And the lord then hydyng his face and swete countenance from vs perfourmed his promise and iustelye poured vppon vs the plages wherewyth he punisheth those that disobeye his godlye wyll and transgresse his holye lawe and commaundements For did not then the king of glorye and power whose heauye wrathe thorough our peruersnes we had purchased sodenly take from vs our noble and prudent prince king Edward the vi so worthye an ympe so vertuous so forwarde so gratiously grounded in christian religion so altogether geuen to aduaunce and set forth the glory of god as that the like of him in godly skil and of so tender yeares the earthe didde not conteyne The lyuyng god had so blessed him endued and so plenteously replenished his princely harte with a spirituall and heauenly vnderstanding that he had made him more meeter to inhabite the holy heauens there to he hold the mighty maiesty of god thē to continue on this corrupt erth amōgest vs wicked wretches that liued in security waxed forgetful of the great benefits and vnspeakable blessings of our heauenly father And therfore did god take from vs our so ioiful a iuel our pereles prince with him the word of life the swete comfortable gospel of Iesu Christ whiche nourished and was the pretious preseruatiue of our soules And for our vnthākfulnes suffred vs again to be made dronke with the spirite of error and as the lothesome dogge to his vomyte or the filthy sow to her wallowing in the myre so were we turned agayne to our olde abhominations we worshipped idoles we serued straunge gods of wood and stone we did the workes of the heathen whereby we highlye offended the maiesty of the almightie who therefore gaue vs ouer into the hands gouernment of a straunge king and nation according as he promised by the mouth of Ieremy Ierem 8 * sayinge I will geue theyr wines vnto aleantes and their fieldes to destroyers and so it came to passe for they who vtterlye hated vs reigned ouer vs we were subiect I saye vnto a nation fully infected with filthy idolatry and all abhominations of the Romish superstitious hipocrisy a nation with whome for their presumption and pride not Lucifer him selfe in his chiefest arrogancye might compare a vitious people which daily deuoured both wiues and widowes
TRVTHE tryed very comfortable to the faithfull but a discomfort to the enemies of God Newly sette forth by I. S. Prouerbes 10. Prouerbes 11. The memoriall of 〈…〉 shall haue a good report but the name of the vngodlye shal stink and their hope shall perish and the vngodly shall fall in their ovvne vvickednes The preface to the Reader AS the budding branches of euery good materiall tree at their due tyme thorough the mighty worke of God bryng forth fruite pleasaunt and comfortable for the contentation and refreshyng of the outwarde man althoughe not eche branche or bough replenished with lyke quantitie So likewise the branches of the beautiful tree of gods eternal truth thorough hys gracious appointment bryngeth forth such fruite as is for the comfort and sustenance of the inwarde man the spirituall soule and thoughe euery branche be not endued with like aboundance or replenished with lyke quantitie of swete perswasions yet not in the quantitie onelye but as well in the qualitye consisteth the vertue of eche thynge And for as muche as we shall render accomptes of the talentes receyued and therefore are admonished whether they bee fewe or manye muche or lyttell yet dyligentlye to employe and bestowe theym to the aduancement of gods glory and the edifyeng of our christen brethern I therfore as one of the vnprofitablest vnfruitfullest and moste vnworthiest the name of a branche of that tree yet being desyrous to imparte vnto others suche fruite as God hathe indued me with and to employe my talent to the glorie of God and the comforte of my bretherne haue therefore enterprised this lyttell woorke whiche althoughe not in that sorte and order as if it had bene touched by the handes of the learned yet I nothyng mystrust but that the gentill reader wyll conceyue the beste of my good wylle and meanyng And forasmuch as the maner of many men when newe workes come to their handes is to satisfie them selues with readyng here there a piece and being soone wearie theyr trauaile to none effect I haue therfore thought good to require thee gentill reader not to thinke it troublesome to reade and againe to rede ouer these so few leaues whiche vnto the godly mynded shall be both pleasant and comfortable and as herein thou shalt perceiue the terrible punishmentes iust plages which god hath in store for the transgressors of his preceptes and neglectours of hys wordes to the ruine decaye and ouerthrow of that people and contrey so shalte thou lykewyse beholde his vnspeakable and inestimable benefites and blessynges whyche he of his almighty mercy most plentyfully and abundantly poureth vpon that people and countrey where his holy and blessed word with thankful hartes is embraced Of which both in this realme of Englād we haue had the experience as to the reader shall most perfectlye appeare Thus partly for the declaryng my dutie to God the zeale I beare vnto his truth as also my harty desyre of the continual prosperous estate of my contrey as nature forceth me I haue through the sufferance and assistance of God symply fynished my enterprise begon geuynge hym whollye the prayse Amen VVold god the smart which we for sin So late did worthely tast Might cause vs loth the wickednes That now aboundes so faste That God may spare our soules from death And by his mighty power Preserue vs still from those that seeke Our freedome to deuoure For sure if still we dwell in sinne And liue in carelessenes Such wofull plages shall soone ensue As I cannot expresse Be warned in time and feare the lord And with pure myndes and heartes Embrace gods truth folowe the same Such are the christians partes Then those which yet his truth resiste God shall iustly rewarde That neither of the lorde nor yet of soueraigne haue regarde But stubburnly against the lawe of God and Quene contende Whose wylful wickednes at last Shall worke their woful ende And suche as feare the lorde their God Shal certainly be blest And shall after this life enioye In heauen eternall rest Truth tryed very comfortable to the faithfull but a discomfort to the enemies of god Newly sette forth by I. S. 1562. HAuyng zelously waied considered the great benefite and blessing that god of his infinite mercy hath againe so louingly and mercifully bestowed vpon vs his people of England me thoughte I say my self of duety forced euen for conscience sake to stirre vp the myndes of others my brethren by puttyng them in remembraunce of the same least we agayne neglectyng and beyng forgetfull of oure bounden duetye towardes god our heauenly father in this behalf shoulde woorthely feele a greater and more greuous smarte and plage then that which we alreadye thorough our late frailtye and forgetfulnes haue tasted of call therfore to mynde my bretherne howe that of longe and manye yeares before the lighte of the Gospell appered and shyned amongst vs here in Englande bothe we and oure fathers were seduced walkyng blyndly in darknes and in straye pathes lyke loste shepe without theyr shepherde we were nouryshed fedde and pampered vp with foolishe fantasies and dotynge dreames of mans inuention with trifles I say were we trayned in the broade pathes that led to pardition drawne by the guydes of Antichriste destroyers as much as in them is both of body and soule Oh cankred caterpyllers thoroughe whose subtill meanes diuelishe delusions we were so blynded that we neither knew god nor howe to walke in his holy ways but styll kept ignorant from all godly knowledge vnderstanding It wold be to tedious to make here a rehersall of the whole number of the not necessarie and nedelesse ceremonies practised through the peuyshnes of Balams balde ones and therfore I wil not but only treate a lyttell of the woful worshippyng of ymages and the detestable Masse whych bothe they myghtily maintained cōtrary to the sacred scriptures as manifestly shall appere And fyrste howe greuously offended we the maiestie of the almighty God takyng from hym the honor onely due vnto hym and geuynge the same to carued grauen and molten ymages Psalm 135. and ydols hauing mouths and speake not eyes and see not eares and heare not neither hauing any breath in their mouthes being but stocks and stones the workes of mens handes and yet howe wickedly worshipped we them runnyng and gaddyng on pilgremage to them to make amendes for our synful lyfe sekyng at their hands remissiō of sins which is no where to be sought nor had but at the hands of god only as witnesseth the Euangelist Marke Who sayeth he can forgeue synnes Mar. 2. Math. 9. Iohn 24. Act. 4. but God only Christ is the way truth and lyfe no man cometh vnto the Father but by hym neyther is there saluation in any other nor yet is there any other name geuen vnto men wherein we must be saued but the name of Iesu Christ and yet not withstandynge we then destitute of this godly knowledge and vnderstandynge wandred
from place to place from countrey to countrey to offer to cary and bryng to them that neyther sawe nor felte but yet receauers they had that refused nothing al was fyshe that came to the net with theÌ„ these pâ—â—feryng pilgrimages had that papisticall broode Romyshe â—able deuised for their own lukers sake which though beneficiall to themselues yet moste abhominable in the sighte of God and a playne robbyng of God of the honour and reuerence only due vnto hym wherof thoughe they were not ignoraunt yet careles Secondly touching the Masse which was their chiefe staffe to stand by howe were we by them persuaded coniured and brought to beleue the same to be a sacrifice to put away the sinnes bothe of the quicke and the dead and that by the vertue ther of as they saide they transported soules from purgatorye to paradise purchased eternall saluation ye what sore was it not a salue for or what diseases wold it not cure And after the wordes of consecration spoken then no bread nor wine to remaine but were forthwith altered and turned into the very body and bloude of Christe ye the very same proportion of body that honge on the crosse to be there foorthe commyng at their commaundemente they had hym in a strynge in suche subiection to plucke him to them and put him from them at their owne pleasure the creator to be subiect to the creature Oh abhominable blasphemye oh diuelishe detestable and shamelesse sacrificers directly denying the death of Iesu Christe to be onely sufficient But now beholde therefore what they are and what theyr owne doyngs declare them to be euen the very enemyes of Christ Iesu they kepte the symple ones ignoraunte and shewe themselues to bee euen they Ro. xvi whome Paule willed vs to be ware of who with their flatteryng woordes and sweete preachynges deceaue the heartes of the innocentes These I saye be they of that viperous generation of that fylthye broode that oure Sauiour Christ warneth vs of Math 24. Mar. xiii by the holy Euangelist Mathew * If any man say vnto you to here is Christe or there is Christe beleue them not For there shall aryse false Christes and fals prophets shal do great myracles wonders in so much that if it wer possible the very elect shold be deceiued And alas howe were we poore selye wretches and innocentes in bondage wretchedly wrapped in captiuitie of many yeares subiect to these gredy whelpes of Antichrist who without all shame and destitute of godly feare continual lye poured out vppon and in maner drouned vs with innumerable blasphemies and hipocritical superstitious ceremonies ageinst God and his truthe Thus were we by them led towardes destruction of body and soule Thus were we through that wicked Romish trayne still kepte from the bryght beames of gods holy worde And beyng thus in our chiefe extremitie at an exigent euen at the pytte brynke of pardition beholde the mercyfull goodnes of our almyghty God the God of our forefathers Abraham Isaac and Iacob beholde I say the great care of God for his people who he so derely hath bought euen with the precious bloude of his sonne Christe behold how God here tendred the workes of his owne handes ye and behold the sweete and comfortable promyses of our sauiour Christe moste louingly performed Nothyng saith he is in secrete that shall not come abrode Mar. 8. nor any thyng hyd that shall not come to light be knowâ— For lost plesed our heauenly father of his free mercy then that his worde should be a lanterne to our feete Psal 119. Maâ— â— and a lyght to our path wais where as before we walked in darkenes now dyd the blynde see and the deafe heare and to the poore was the gladde tidyngs preached Psalm 19. This woord gaue lyght and brought foorth vnderstanding euen vnto the very babes it offred an euerlasting enheritance vnto all those that with constaunt faithe did or doo imbrace it God stirred vp then his faithful ministers to pronouÌ„ce the same his wil vnto vs Psalm â—7 to winne his people vnto hymselfe Oh how mercifully dyd god then blesse vs and shew the light of his countenance vpon vs geuyng vs true and skilful shepardes to guide vs euen such as at his hands had receiued a spiritual vnderstanding They preached vnto vs the kyngdome of god to be at hand They preached vnto vs the lost shepe of Israel the gospel of the kingdom of god They preached repentance Mathe. â— * Freely they receyued eueÌ„ of the good gyfte of god And freely they gaue agayn so that thorough the sounde and true doctrine of Iesu Christ taught by them we were led to the strayght and narrowe waye that leadeth vnto lyfe Mat. 7. Note therfore nowe gentyl Christian the great diuersitie in this pointe beetwene the fantasies dreames and inuentions of the perillous papistes and how much they varye and disagre with the truth of god taught vnto vs by the faythfull ministers of his most holy and inuincible worde The Romish broode taught vs that with gadding on pilgrimage and offring of money and trifles to stockes and blockes our sinnes were forgeuen vs and that those worme eaten ambassadours and painted Idoles were as mediators to take vp the matter betwene god and vs but S. Iames sayeth Iames. iâ—â— that these bee lyers against the truth and their wisedom not to discend from aboue but is earthly naturall diuelish and therfore to be detested abhorred and vtterlye despised But the true pilgremage in dede was taughte vs by the trustye messangers of their Master Christ Petâ—er 2. And which of al Christians ought continually to be obserued and followed and this it is Iame â— â— that we abstayn from sleshely lustes which fyght agaynst the soule to visit the prisoners and succourles people the fatherlesse in their aduersity to clothe and couer our nedy naked brethren with som holsom and comfortable garment c. But not to apparrell the blunt blocke that neyther feeleth heate nor colde and howe is it then possible they shoulde help vs or do vs any pleasure that cannot helpe themselues ye what neede we anye other mediatour or intercessour Iohn i. but him whome we haue alreadye to be our aduocate with the father euen Iesu Christ that righteous one And thus dydde those holy men of God teache vs they taughte vs Christ alone to be oure intercessour and aduocate and that God alone absolueth and freelye forgeueth vs for Christ his sake all our sins if we earnestly repent and beleue as witnesseth Peter we are saith he 1. Peter 1 iustified by faithe only in Christ his blood let this be sufficient in this pointe And now to the second pointe concernyng the reall presence of Christ to be in their Masse whiche the Papistes continually taught earnestly affirmed and with tooth and nayle mainteined Note now I say here the true vnderstanding thereof taught vs by Christ his
ministers which they lerned in the boke of life vppon whiche foundation the apostles and auncient fathers and doctours of the Church in this pointe haue builded as vpon a most sure and infallible rocke Hebr. ix Act. 7.17 Esay 66. Christe saith Paule is not entred into the holy places that are made with handes whiche are but similitudes of true thynges but is entred into the very heauens for to appeare now in the sight of God for vs. Euery priest is ready daily ministring and oftentymes offreth one maner offrynge Hebr. x. whiche can neuer take awaye synne but this man after he had offered one sacrifice for synnes satte hym downe for euer on the right hande of God and from hensfoorth taryeth till his foes be made his footestoole Ye shal haue poore folke always with you Math. 26. Iohn 12. Mark 14. Iohn 7. but me shall ye not haue Also Sainte Iohn in hys vii Chapiter ye shall seke me and shal not fynde me wher I am thether can ye not come Athanasius likewise in his crede sayth that Christ ascended into heauen and sytteth on the ryghte hande of God the father almyghtie from whence he shall come to Iudge the quicke and the dead And more ouer in the articles of oure fayth the thyrde daye he rose agayne from the dead he ascended into heauen and sytteth on the righte hande of God and from thence he shal come to Iudge the quicke and the dead which iudgement of the quicke and the dead if it be already past then is Christ really present as the papystes affyrme But if that dredful day be yet to com as it is the part duty of Christians to beleue although it be not farre of then is not Christ now with vs as in hys humanitye Mat. 16. Marce. 8. Luc. 9. but shal come in the glorye of hys father with hys Angels and then shall reward euery mā accordyng to his dedes at whose cōmyng God graunt we may be found readye and not slepyng Wel then for as muche as that one offrynge of Iesu Christ being all in al and onely sufficient To what entent or purpose should we haue such so many daily sacrifices for what are they but a very plain denial of Christ crucifyed to be a sacrifyce only sufficient for those that beleue to haue saluation therby And thus good Christian brethren although ther be in holy scripture many more places to bee alledged which myght be applyed and aptly serue for the satysfyeng o◠Christian consciences in this point that Christ sitteth at the right hand of the father as touchyng hys humanitye Yet I praye you let these for briefnes presently bee sufficiente and hereby may ye now see how the iugglyng Masse Priests haue abused the Sacrament of the body and bloude of Christ whiche mystery of all the faythfull oughte thus to be vnderstanded and for this purpose did Christ our sauior institute ordaine and leaue it vnto vs to be vsed That thou Christian shouldest come there vnto with a penitent hart for thy former offences fullye and earnestlye purposyng through the assistance of the almighty to put vpō thee the new mā which is created after god in righteousnesse and holynes of truth stedfastlye beleuynge that through the passion bloudshed and death of Christ vpō the Crosse which the bread wyne as holy signes do represent thou hast I say obtayned full remyssion of thy synnes And in thys fayth with reuerence and humblenes of hart eate and drynke the mysteries of the body bloud of Christ And this glorious worke hath oure almyghtye and gratious God the father wrought in by his sonne Iesu Christ our sauiour for the saluatiō of as many as stedfastly beleue the same And thus is to be vnderstanded of this pure holy Sacrament and not that after the subtyl sorcerye and coniuration of the priest being finished the bodye of oure sauiour Christe to be forth with there in the ful proportion of hys humanitye For as Sainte Austen witnesseth the bodily presence of Christe concerninge his humanitye is in some one place of heauen but hys diuyne presence was is and shal be there here and in all places where it shal please hym alwaies ready to assiste those that faythfully ar gathered together in his name And agayne he sayeth as concernyng the presence of hys fleshe The Church had Christ but a fewe dayes yet nowe it holdeth hym faste by fayth though it see hym not with eyes Cirillus lykewyse wryteth that all thoughe Christe toke awaye from hence the presence of his body yet in the Maiesty of his Godheade he is euer here Also Gregory affirmeth that Christ is not here by the presence of hys fleshe and yet is absent no where by the presence of hys Maiestye And thys I take to be so playnly sayd to satysfye in thys poynt as that there nedeth no more rehearsall of any other authors But if thys suffyse the not resorte then vnto the golden booke of that worthye Cramner late Archebyshoppe of Canturburye where thou mayest haue grounde woorke and sure foundation sufficient to buyld thy faith vpon in thys poynt and then with an vpryght conscience iudge indyfferently howe muche the dyuelishe and erronious doctrine inuented by the papists dysagreeth and varyeth from the sacred woorde of God and the opinions and mynds of the fathers and the Doctors of the primatiue church Wel thus were we instructed thus had we I say the truth of god taught and opened vnto vs we were dayly fed and nourished with the liuely words of god In the settyng forth and teachyng wherof when the preachers had diligently traueled and through their zelous earnestnes in the declaration of their Master Christ hys message they had so instructed and taught vs that thereby we were somewhat trayned from the daungerous perillous pathwaies of perditiō wherin we were before blyndly led and that by the assistance of God through those hys ministers wee were broughte to some vnderstandyng and knowledge of hym and hadde some taste and swetenesse of the Gospell of Iesu Christe which is the pleasaunt path way the leadeth to eternall saluation Then seased they not but continually and louyngly exhorted vs not to bee forgetfull of the greate mercye that God hadde so louynglye shewed in the reuealynge of hys truthe vnto vs styl puttyng vs in remembrance to perseuer in the same Proue 23 applying our hartes vnto learning and our eares vnto the words of knowledge 2 Timo 3 to cōtinue in reading the holy scriptures which is able to make vs wise vnto saluation throughe the fayth whiche is in Christ Iesu Thus wer we thē taught ye infinite numbers of godly instructions were geuē vs by these schoole masters worthy of their office 1 Peter 2 These wer true instructors these were they that Peter speaketh of euen the true prophets of the chosen generation of the holy natiō peculiar people that shewed vs the vertues of him
slaues in mysery in darkenes and in the shadowe of death hath made vs free men to haue vse the libertye and freedome of our conscience which is a treasure of treasures Now hath god comforted vs after the tyme that he punyshed plaged vs and for the yeares wherein we haue suffered aduersity he hath shewed vnto vs hys mercy and to our children hys glory Oh that men woulde therefore prayse the goodnesse of the Lorde Psal 107 and the wonders that he doth for the children of men who of hys mere mercy hath deliuered vs from those that robbed and spoyled vs and were to strong for vs and hath satysfied the emptye soule and fylled the hungry soule with good wherefore my good brethren as oure mercyfull and gratious God hath so done hys maruelous woorkes that they ought to be had in remembraunce as in the day of our trouble we called vpon the Lord for helpe who hath now deliuered vs geuen vs our hartes request so should we likewyse now with earnest hearts willyng myndes performe that which we thē promysed vnto the Lord our God which was amendment and newnesse of life which I hartely wyshe and desyre of God may be the which also the Lord doth loke for at oure handes and he will not be mocked with all But alas that notwithstandinge I see rather a forgetfulnesse in our selues and synne and wickednesse rather most shamefully to abound then any amendmente of lyfe or reformation of oure wycked manners What pryde what whoredome what theft what dronkennesse what blasphemye and swearyng what vsurye what gredye and vnsatiable couetousnesse what vntrue dealyng is daylye vsed no regarde of woorde or promyse no skante the bondes or hande writynges with seale vppon seale is auaylable or sufficient without trauais in the lawe and expence of money Sinne I saye is made but a sporte for pryde is accompted for cleanlines whoredome for a pange of youthe thefte a shifter the drunkard a good companion the desperate swearer a lustye courtier the gredye couetuous vsurer a ware thriuyng manne the vntrue and subtyll dealer pregnaunt and fyne wytted Thus synne is accoumpted none offence and as it appeareth there is neyther regarde or care for the punishmente of the magistrate nor feare of the plage of God for the same But my brethern do not these abhominable filthye and corrupte thynges whiche stynke before the face of GOD and declare that we thynke in oure heartes there is no god Shall we dwell in the tabernacle of the Lorde or reste vpon his holy hyll that lyue thus carelesly carnallye and beastly No but he that leadeth an vncorrupte lyfe that dothe the thynge that is righte and speaketh the truthe from hys harte that vseth no deceyte in hys tongue and dothe no yll to his neighbour but perfourmeth that he promyseth vnto hym and that setteth not by the vngodly but maketh much of them that feare the Lorde that geueth not hys money vppon vsurye nor taketh rewarde against the innocent and that in all theyr doynges haue the feare of the Lorde before their eyes And these bee they that GOD wyll blesse vppon the earthe and in the worlde to come they shal be partakers of eternall glorye But howe groweth this carelesnes and impudencye of lyfe amongest vs which nowe so shamefully aboundeth Truely thoroughe neglectyng to heare the woorde of God preached and not beleuynge it when we haue harde it whiche when we hadde not thenne we hungred for it and nowe that it hathe pleased God to geue it agayne vnto vs we begynne agayne not to care for yt But my bretherne be not so vnthankfull for the greate benefyte of GOD. Consyder bee myndefull and thynke vppon the dolefull dayes passed forgette not the terriblenesse thereof remember I say the manifolde Godlye admonitions and warnynges for the amendement of our wicked dissolute lyfe in the laste tyme of the Gospell the great myserye and pitefull plages that were pronounced and foreshewed by the electe ministers of Iesu Christe to come vpon vs onles then spedye repentaunce and amendement But how littel regarded we the same til crueltye had catched vs and that the flame of fyrye faggottes flewe aboute oure eares Let not therefore that merciles and tyranous tyme the smarte whereof so latelye felte be already forgotten but let the same rather prouoke and moue vs lyke Christians to geue better hede now vnto the swete lessons Godly admonitions and daylye warnynges of Gods messangers whiche he of his louyng kyndnes and greate mercye hath thus once agayne sente amongest vs to declare hys will vnto vs who dayly cry out repentaunce repentaunce in the Lordes name who most louyngly and fatherly pityeth our destruction if his warnyng may helpe whiche alas preuayleth nothyng as appeareth For we are as ill naye rather worse then wee wer before but my brethren if ye be so carelesse that ye respect not the ambassage and fatherly warnynges of the almyghtye pronounced by hys electe and chosen ministers Yet be not so diuelishe desperate so lyghtly to regard the maruelous and straunge doinge and worke of the Lord hymself euen the almyghty who trulye is not pleased but hyghly offended with oure heathenyshe manners wherof let the fearefull fyer from heauen whiche so sodenly consumed that huge and myghty monument and temple of Poules be witnesse and let the sundrye straunge procreation monstrous shape as well of children as also of beastes beare recorde of oure monstrous and beastly lyfe remember also the verye heauens heauily bewailyng our wo and misery to come whose late daily droppyng showres dolefully preached vnto vs the heauye wrathe of god for our wickednes to be at hand ye hanging ouer our heads onlesse betime we turne vnto the lord what christian conscience quaketh not to thynke vpon the premysses turne therfore and lette amendement of life appeare in tyme or els to heauy will the burdeyns bee for vs to beare whyche God for oure disobedience and wickednes wil lay vpon vs I therfore exhort you for Christes sake that for as muche as in oure conuersation and liuing we haue swarued from god therby deseruynge his heauie wrathe and displeasure so we may endeuor our selues tenne times to turne agayne and seeke the lorde euen from the bottome of our heartes with wepyng fastyng and prayeng and for as muche as nothyng is better than to feare God and nothyng sweter than to haue a respecte vnto the commaundementes of the lord Syrach 23 let vs be meke and lowely to heare the woorde of god the gladde tidynges of Iesu Christe preached and not slacke to beleeue it * For where no knowledge of gods woorde is Syrach 5 Prouer. 15 the soule is not well and vayne are all those in whome no knowledge of god is Let vs therfore take hede to our selues Sapi 22 and keepe well our soules that we forget not the thinges that our eies haue sene let our lyuyng bee agreable vnto the doctrine
whiche we professe that we geue not the ennemies of the Lorde a cause to raile for happy is he that readeth and they that heare the worde of god and kepe those thynges that are written therin Reuela 1 and otherwise we are but slanderers of the gospelle And therfore let vs take away our euill thoughtes out of the sight of God cease to doo euill seke iudgement help the poore oppressed Esay 1. be fauorable to the fatherles defend the widow then shal our sinnes as red as scarlet be made as white as snow and then as God of his mightifull mercy hath brought downe and suppressed the stoute mountaynes and hygh rockes Baruch 5. Psâ—l â—â— 17. the ennemyes of hys truthe whiche maintained theyr owne welthines with oppression and who also haue long bene glad and reioysed at our late decaye so shal he likewise force them whose ioye is nowe turned to sorow still to mourne in theyr owne destruction and we shall encrease and not diminishe but styll quietlye inhabite enioy and peaceablye possesse oure swete blessed land the floweth with milke hony which god hath geuen vs to our vnspeakable comforte and the greate glorye of oure almighty heauenly father with whome after this transitorye life ended we shal bee partakers of hys heauenly kingdome To that immortal god therfore with his only sonne oure sauiour Iesu Christe and to the holye ghost that swete comforter be al praise and glory for euer and euer Amen Finis ê™ I. S. A praier or geuing of thankes for our deliuery from the hands of our enemies restoryng vnto vs the fredom of our conscience MOst puisaunt mighty and euerliuing God the god of all consolation the comforter of the comfortles the helper vp of such as were fallen the mercifull free forgeuer of the penitent sinners we sorowfull and sinfull wretches thy poore and sely creatures acknowledge confesse our greuous offences ye we protest before thy maiestye against our selues our disobedience our abhominable detestable and wicked sinnes which we most greuously against thy diuyne maiestie haue committed in transgressyng thy holy commaundements neglecting thy sacred word and despisyng the godly admonitioÌ„s and warnings of thy ministers the preachers teachers of the same for the whiche oure moste heynous and horrible crime as of thy iuste iustice it pleased thee to take from vs and worthily to dispossesse vs of that heauenly treasure inestimable dwelling the onely substaunce of our soules thy liuely and euerlasting worde thorough want wherof we daily decayed pitifully perished and grewe more and more into sundry and manifolde miseries ye bothe we and oure countrey in daunger of vtter destruction till of thy only goodnes and heauenly clemency according to the multitude of thy mercies and not of our desert turning thy face from our sinnes forgetting our vnworthines and rather carefully pitieng our wofull and miserable state it pleased the agayne to restore vnto vs the fredome of oure conscience and in time to lay to thy hande for the defence of thy people against their enemies who thorough their violeÌ„ce had oppressed their flock and troden thy truth vnder foote and diddest delyuer vs from the raging madnesse and tyranny of that mercycylesse gredy rauenous and Romyshe bloudsuckers euen as thou by thy myghtie power delyueredst Danyell foorth of the den from the hungry lyons therby cuttyng our sacke of sorow in peces turning our misery to mirth our woe to wealth and clothynge vs with ioye and gladnesse and haste also gathered together the remnant of thy flocke dispersed in sundry countreys to feede nowe with vs togyther vppon the holsome pleasant and swete pastures of thy sacred word here in our natiue blessed and fruitfull countreye of Englande which we through thy vnspekable and great mercy to the praise of thy holy name and our comfort doo quietly and peasibly possesse So nowe muste gratious and eternall God and heauenly father we selye wretches of our selues moste vyle and voyde of all goodnesse without thy assistaunce and fatherly care for vs prostratyng oure selues before thy maiestie do with vnfained harts most humbly beseche thee that this cherefull lyght of thy countenance may continually shyne vpon vs and our contrey and that it may please thee more more to poure out thy holy spirite vppon vs that by the assistance therof wee maye bee folowers of the swete comfortable doctrin now daily pronouÌ„ced taught by thyn elect chosen ministers neuer herafter go back agayn nor fall from thy truth but imbrace it stil go forward in the same according to our profession that our vertuous life may be an exaÌ„ple to the wicked that sinners may be conuerted vnto thee be stil fauorable O'lord be now euer a defence vnto thy people of England els where soeuer thy gospell is taught and let no more thy heritage of England be brought to coÌ„fusion geue vs no more ouer nor suffer vs neuer hereafter to be a reprofe amoÌ„g our ennemies neither suffer any more suche as be strangers to thy truth to gouerne vs that the blood of innocentes be no more spilt but good lorde for thy mercye sake mollyfie the stony heartes of those wilful ones that in time they may mekely tast the sweetenes of thy glorious gospel learne to know the and become of the number of the flocke of thy folde that we may be glad and reioice at their conuersion but if they shal still frowardly obstinately persist in their wilfull and wicked blyndnes despise thy holy lawes disdain the truthe crokedly contende and rebelliously resiste the godly religious procedinges of our moste gratious and soueraign princesse quene Elizabeth to whom we humbly besech thee to graunt a long ioiful and prosperous raign to the more magnifiing and extolling of thy glorious name and the comforte of this thy realme and people of England by thee committed vnto her gouernmeÌ„t whom also thou haste appointed and by thy holy worde autorised chiefe and supreme gouernor Then lord we pray the and reuerently requeste thee as thou arte an ennemye to the wicked doers abhorrest the bloud thyrstye and deceitefull and broughte their pomp and power to noughte So let their wickednes fal vpon their own heades and poure out thy indignacion vpon them that they may perishe together in our syght to their vtter confusion and neuer more be able to ryse vp nor rebell agaynst thee and thy Christ nor preuail against or molest thy flock but be thou our heauenly shepard euer in the myddest of vs that we alwayes may beyng as one flocke of one folde drawynge together by one lyne with godly and zelous hartes christianlike professyng one truthe euen thy gracious gospell and plentifully yeldynge foorth the fruites of the same may continually receiue thy heuenly venediction vppon vs and our contrey that our pastures may be â—â—â—ne and the earthe bryng foorthe and yelde her encrease that in due tyme we may with thankes geuynge reape and gather the fruites therof to our comfort ioyfully making our boast of thy praise and all the dais of our lyfe serue thee our Lord God in holinesse and rightuousnesse To whom with the sonne and the holy ghost one onely and eternall God bee all praise glorye and maiestie for euer and euer Amen Finis Imprinted at LoÌ„don by Henry Sutton for Edward Sutton dwellyng in Lumbarde strete at the signe of the Cradell The .xxi. day of December in the yere of our Lorde 1562. Perused and allovved according to the Quenes maiesties iniunctions