haue but lyghtelye touched we maye perceiue that no teste can be founde for mannes soule in our own inuencions But the farther manne wadeth in hys fonde intentes and fantastical imaginacion the farther he slydeth from God vnsure that he hathe done any thing acceptable in the sight of God Therfore must we which are seruaunts and creatures learning our own weaknes by the fal of others turne to our master lord and creator to know what his word cōmaundeth in the agony of cōsciēce cōsidering that the turnīg frō the creator to creatures hath bene the groūd of al Idolatry euery mā chusing to hīself the Idol of his own hart Some the son some the Moone some the .vii. starres some Saturn some Iupiter some Mars some Venus some Marcurye And dotinge farther some haue worshypped Calfes some Cockes some Serpents some Dogges some Asses some Gotes And in oure Popyshe wickednesse wee oure selues haue worshypped stockes stones and geuen diuine honours almost to all manner of creatures a vyle wafer cake did we honour as our God in dede and when that was lifte vppe betwyxte the Priestes fingers we saide we dyd se oure maker and knocked and kneeled crowched and kyssed withoute all measure And the Priest when he did eate it thoughte he did receiue hys maker and made so manye fonde gestures ioyened with infinite supersticions that thereby we may marcke if we haue nothinge elsse too leade vs that the fayened and false worshyppe of God hathe no ende not staye can neuer tell where too consyste doothe alwaye disquiet and neuer satysfye nor quiet the conscience Therefore for the loue of our own souls of the quiettinge of oure owne conscyence let vs vnfainedlye repente of al oure falsed goddes and fayned worshyppe of God and knowledg that ther is but one God whyche broughte the children of Israel forthe of Egipte from the house of bondage and hath deliuered vs the spirituall Israell frome the Egypte of synne end erroures from the bondage of the deuyll Deathe and hel and broughte vs into the lybertye of hys chyldren by the deathe of his owne sonne And by his holye spyryte poured into our heartes doth teache vs to crye father father Let vs knowledge I saye that thys Lorde our God is but one God whome we muste loue with all oure hearte with all our soule with all oure strength him must we feare and hym onlye must we worshippe and in hys name onlye maye we sweare By the whiche woordes wee maye learne that ther◠is but one God only who onlye oughte to be worshypped feared loued trusted and hooped vpon which the wordes of swearing in his name importeth Thys oure God then whose worshyppe wee doo teache is that almyghtye power whyche made heauen and earthe by hys woorde and by the same throughe hys spyryte doothe gouerne al creatures therin Sauing Israel and drowning Pharao Sauyng hys chosen of free mercy and grace and condempnynge the wycked hypocrytes by iuste iudgement Thys our God is a spyrite as Christ our aldermaster teacheth vs they whych worshyp hym must worship in spirite and truthe Ihon .iiii. And seeyng he is a spirit pure from bodyly corrupcion and therfore hauyng no neede of our bodely seruice Hys true worshyp can not consist in bodely exercise whych lasteth but the tyme it is in doinge but in the inward holines of the hart which euermore encreaseth spryngeth forth into life euerlasting Such a worshyppe therfore our Prophet teacheth whyche ariseth and springeth forth of the secret reuerence and feare of God hys sacrate magesty whych is not seruyse but child lyke wherby we are not onlye affrayed to dysplease God oure father but also prompt and redy lyke obediente chyldren to expresse in our lyuyng Iudgement and merci the two special propertyes greatest shew of hys image which appeareth vnto hys creatures Prouer. i. Therfore is thys feare called the begynnyng of wysedome and the spyryte of feare Esaa .ix. begynneth the worke whyche the other sprytes of wysdome vnderstandyng the spyryte of counsell and strengthe the spirite of knowledge and true holinesse and accomplisheth fulfilleth So that thys spirite of feare dothe go before in al the hartes of them whiche God dothe chuse to worship him in spirite and truth makinge theym afraied to do homage and worship to any thinge saue their Lorde God onlye eyther anye otherwise then hee requireth and commandeth Afraied euermore to do any thing wherin they do not know hys open pleasure Thys feare was in Cornelius befor he had the perfit knowledge of God and in the menne of Israell vnto whome Peter did saye O brethren and children of Abraham and thei amonges you which feareth God vnto you is the woord of saluacion sent in the Psas ciii Euē as the father hath mercye of his children so hath the Lord mercye of them that feare him and the merci of the Lorde is for euermore vpon them whyche feare him The cause is that they whiche do fear the Lorde are alwaies ready with heart and minde to do thinges pleasaunt vnto him and to abstaine from the contrary His displeasure do they feare like louynge chyldrene If theyr heauenly father be pleased they do reioice if he be offended they doo crye for mercye so that of hym they do teast in prosperiti of him they do hange in aduersitie accordinge to hys owne commaundemente by hys chosen vessell Dauid Call vppon me in the daye of thy trouble and I shal deliuer the and thou shalte worshippe me So that this inuocacion after some interpretoures is the true worship of God And surelye seinge Paule Romaines .x affirmeth that who soeuer calleth vpon the name of the Lorde shall be saued No manne canne denye but an eareneste callynge vppon God comprehendeth the true worshippe which God requyreth and contayneth in it perfyte religion because it hath fayth the ground of all vertues for howe canne they call vppon God whyche dooe not beleue in hym Romaynes .x. And they whyche dooe call vppon other creatures hathe affiance truste and faythe in those thinges elsse woulde they neuer call vppon theym Thys faythe spryngynge of the fyrste parte whiche was the feare and reuerence of God his hygh Maiesty supplyeth the seconde poynte of the worshippe of God whych requyreth a knowledge of God For how can we beleue in hym whō we haue not knowē Rom. x. Hereby doo wee gyue glorye and worshyppe vnto God that is too say we knoweledge hym too be true in all hys promyses And because without faythe it is impossible to please God this faith maketh vs suer that wee doo worshippe hym as wee shoulde and certifieth vs that wee bee the chyldrene of God and that oure woorckes are acceptable in hys syghte Hereby did Abell in hys sacryfyce more truly worshyppe God then dyd hys brother Caine. Abraham also and hys wyfe Sarai by faythe were the true worshyppers of God and receyued the promyse Elizabeth also gaue more glorye and worshippe vnto God
wherewith worldlye menne are pleased as gold siluer precious stones gaye ornamentes and ryche gyftes cappynge knelinge curtesies to be sought farre of at Rome Compostella or at Ierusalem But to worship hym in the house of hartes in the chamber of out breastes in the temple of oure soule wherein he hath chosen hys mansion Ther to worshyp him not wyth mans imaginacyon and chosen holynes whyche hee calleth vayne worshippe and abhorreth it But in the worshyppe whych he appoynteth and commaundeth that is as his sonne declareth in spirit and truth By vnfained reuerence of god hys sacrate magesty By faythful truste in his vnfallyble promyses By loue not counterfayte towarde oure neyghboures Whych three frutful braunches growyng forth of the man newe regenerate by the spyryte of god must needes brynge foorthe manye spiritual workes as inuocacion prayer thankesgeuynge fastynge and mournynges for synnes almes and all the woorkes of mercye and pytye Who so walketh in these woorkes hee truelye worshyppeth God and hereby are the true and false worshyppers knowen in sonder the true churche and the chuche of Hypocrytes because these woorkes fayth feare and loue was not found in the olde world therefore was it drowned because theese three partes of the true woorshyppe was not founde amonges the Iewes therefore wer they destroyed Because theese woorkes of true woorshippe were not founde in the popyshe church therefore is it subuerted and if they be not shortelye founde in oure refourmed churches they shall wyth lyke shame be subuerted and destroyed Lette vs walke humblye therfore before oure Lorde and beware of of oure fall He doothe not suffer hys chosen so longe tyme as he doothe the reprobate The voyce of the Lord dothe crye vnto the cytye The Text A wyse man wyll feare thy name Heare the rodde and who it is whych hath appointed the certaine tyme vnto it Is ther yet in the house of the wycked tresure and the false measure O abhominacion Shall I iustyfye the wycked Ballaunce and the satchell of deceytefull wayghtes Her ryche men are replete wyth rauyne and her enhabytauntes hath spoken lyes and had deceitfull tounges in theyr mouthes Therfore wyl I make the sicke stryking the and makyng the desolate for thy sinnes Thou shalt eate and not be satisfyed for miserye shall go thorowe thee thou shalte go vnto thy wyfe but shee shal he barren and that whyche she doth brynge foorthe shall I geue vnto the swerd Thou shalt sowe and not reape thou shalte tread the Oliues but thou shalt not anoynt thy selfe wyth Oyle and treade the grapes but thou shalte not drynke thy wyne Because thou haste kepte the ordynance of Amry and al the abomynacioÌ„ of the house of Achab and hast walked in theyr counsailes Therefore wyl I geue the vnto desolacion and all thy enhabytauntes to be hyssed and skorned and you shall beare the shame of my people The voyce of the Lorde The Lorde cryeth by hys preachers The Text by hys Prophetes by hys Apostles by his Messengers in al ages and al tymes to call vs to repentaunce He warneth of hys wyl and pleasure He telleth which is true worshyp and which is false And as he sayth by hys Apostle Paule Al the daye long haue I stretched foorthe my handes vnto an vnbeleuing people and a people that striueth against me Rom. x. And by hys owne son he sayth Ierusalem Ierusalem how oft wold I haue gathered the together as the hen gathereth her chyckens vnder her wynges thou wouldest not Math. xxiii Whych doothe vtter the fatherlye care of oure God alway callyng and crying vpoÌ„ vs. But who heareth his callynge who seeth hys power who feareth hys name Thusiah doth see it saith our Prophet that is to say wisdom or the wyse man wyl be warned For so doth the Hebrew interpreters expounde it And so it agreeth with the course of God his workiÌ„g at al times God calleth al. His souÌ„d of his voice goeth through the world yet scaÌ„tlicaÌ„ ther be one so wise to repent in the warning of the .vii. cities No mo wer found fearfull of God hys sore threatenynges but only Loth in the destruccion of the hoole worlde Noah was onlye founde wyse and obedyent In Ierusalem how fewe wer found obedyent when the Prophetes warned them to repente In oure world God grauÌ„t some one wise faithful maÌ„ may be found whych maye pray for vs as AbrahaÌ„ did for the Sodomits and geue warning of gods wrath hefore it fall vpon oure cities Heare the rodde the rod of God his great vengeaunce is readye shaken againste your cities The time is determined for your punishmeÌ„t Wil you not yet be warned to lay away wickednes repent of your euil waies wyl you kepe stil your euil gotten goods and treasures heaped bi extorsion How can your sinnes then â—ee pardoned My lawe commaundeth for thynges wronglye taken to paye foure foulde and fyue fould Haue you satisfyed my lawe and least your selues so greate treasures Nay you are so farre frome such equyty that of restitucion that you maineteyne styll youre bryberye and extorsyon You keepe styll in youre houses youre leane and bare measures your scant and false Bushelles too prouoke my wrathe and indygnatyon vppon you Your measure is scante of Corne and your chaffer but it is full of my wrathe and heauye dyspleasure Shall I iustyfye the wycked ballaunce Or as the Hebrew stanâ—eth wickednesse in the ballaunce If I shoulde leaue thys vnpunyshed I shoulde seame to iustyfye and alowe al the wickednesse that you do vse therein Where contrarywise I haue commaunded the too haue iuste ballaunce and euen wayghtes and true measures Leui. xix and in Deuteronomye .xxv. Thou arte commaunded not too haue dyuers wayghtes a greater and a smaller neyther to haue in thy house a bygge bushell and a small but that thou shalte haue a iuste and true wayghte an euen and true bushell that thou maye lyue a longe tyme in the land which the lord thi God geueth the. Ther furthermore art thou taught that I thy Lorde God doo abhorre hym that dothe these thinges and that I detest al vniust dealing as a thing abhominable and so doothe my seruaunte Salomon teache the. Prouerbe .xx that double waightes and dysceitefull ballaunce abhominable before thy Lord God Howe dareste thou then kepe in thy house eyther any false measure or thereby anye euyl gotten treasure Doste thou nothynge regarde me whyche haue thy lyfe breath in my hande Arte thou nothynge moued by my manyfolde benefytes nothynge afraied of my threatninges repente O repent and herken to my Prophetes or elsse my rod is readye to scourge thy wickednesse The tyme is determined by me the allmyghtye measurer of times onlesse you do repente O you wicked Marchaunts of London and and all other cities But O wicked worlde I do knowe your deuises You do hide vp your ware vntil it waxe scaÌ„t You do lessoÌ„ your measures You encrease your prices too make the pore your slaues yet
doubled That whyche he calleth the tower of the flocke because the people was gathered thyther thryse by the yere as the flocke is gathered into a folde he calleth it agayne the towre of the doughter of Sion and twyse hee saythe shall come that the Iewes shuld not despayre though they do se the time prolonged and defferred That whyche he called the fyrst kingdome hee calleth it agayne the kyngedom of the daughter of Sion promising them that the relygyon noble courage and iustice the glorye and wysdome of SalomoÌ„ or whatsoeuer was praise worthye in the begynnynge that same shal mooste fullye be restored in thys raygne of Messiah Esaye hathe the lyke in the ende of hys fyrst Chapter I shal restore thy iudges as in the beginning and the counsellers as at the fyrste Nowe whye doste thou crye wyth suche loude voyce The Text is there no kynge in the are thy counsaloures peryshed Because sorow is come vppon the as vppon the womanne that trauayleth As thoughe he shoulde saye I doo knowe my woordes wyll greue the so muche more as all thynges semeth vnto the fleshe desperate Thou dooste lacke thy noble captaynes and counsaloures vnto whoÌ„ thou haste trusted the whiche heretofore hath delyuered the. And because thou hast made flesh thy arme trustinge to muche to thy kinges and counsaloures and further haste exalted thy selfe whiche art but dust and ashes as thoughe thou haddeste power of thyne owne wythoute me and therefore are these sorowes come vpon the euen the sore panges and throwes of trauaylyng wemen Lamente The Text and sorowe O Doughter of Sion lyke the womanne trauayelynge for thou shalte nowe goo foorth of the citye thou shalte dwell in the feild Thou shalte goo to Babylon But thence shalte thou be delyuered There shall the Lorde redeme the frome the handes of thyne ennemyes Thou muste I saye to beate downe thys vayne confydence and hoope thou haste besydes me befoore chastened but be sure thou shalte bee delyuered in the ende Thus saythe the Prophete O see of the same delyueraunce Along time thou shalt looke for me and not be coupled to any housband nether yet ten of whoreyng and I wyll looke for the thou shalt be without king with out Prince and priest and after returne and seeke the Lord thy God and Dauid thy king and feare the Lord for thy good in the last dayes The Text And now shall many nacyons of the Heythen be gathered agaynst the saying she is polluted our eyes shal behold Syon and haue their desyre vpon her but they haue not knowen the thoughtes of the Lorde nor vnderstand hys couÌ„sel For he hath gathered them as a handful into the barne Aryse and threshe thou daughter of Syon for I wyl make the hornes of yroÌ„ and hooffes of brasse and thou shalt breake in peeces muche people And I shall dedycate vnto the Lorde theyr spoyle and theyr riches to the Lord of al the earth The Prophet gothe forthe to declare the state of the Iewes in the dayes of Messiah for of that tyme all do take it Now because the time is not come wherin the Iewes shall receyue oure Christ as theyr Messiah theyr God and theyr king I do iudge it vnmete for any man onlesse he haue some specyall Reuelacyon to wade anye farther then the opeÌ„ woorde of God in the secrete worckes whyche then shal be shewed nether may it be accompted as a greate â—aulte to anye of vs if we do clearlye confesse oure selues ignoraunte what or howe many nacyons shall be gathered agaynste Israell or howe they shal be destroyed but rather a greate presumptyon if we shuld rashlye to take vpon vs the cleare lyght of suche secrete misteryes Like as of the other part I suppose the rashe iudgmente of some whyche do say that the Iewes are so dampned and al together cast away that they cannot be restored as it appeareth euydentelye too bee pronounced agaynste the scryptures so ought it not to be allowed but brotherlye to be reproued As for those enemyes of theirs whyche reioyseth at thys longe captiuitie and maketh them a â—estynge stocke and a by woorde the Lorde sweareth Ezechiell .xxxvi. that they shall suffer shame and â—ewyl sanctyfye hys hyghe name whyche was polluted amonges the Gentiles and they shal knowe that he is God In the .xxxvii of Ezechiell God promyseth the restorynge of the Iewes by the raysynge of deade bones where in â—e breatheth the spyryt and lyfe whyche is the receiuinge of them wherunto Paule alludeth Roma xi saying what shal be theyr receyuynge but lyfe frome the deade Ezechiel xxxviii xxxix is this Prophecye of Micheas at the full sette foorthe who so shall haue the Reuelacyon of the spryte for to see thys wonderous woorckes as for vs to whome it is not fullye opened wee dooe praye that too the glorye of God and the renoume of hys hyghe name it maye in the due tyme be reuealed Cryinge in the meane season agaynst oure blyndenesse as did Paule wrytynge vppon the same hyghe mysterye O the profounde deepenesse of the ryches wysdom and knowledge of God howe vnsearcheable are thy wayes and incoÌ„prehensyble thy iudgements For who hath known the minde of the Lorde or who hath bene hys counsayle geuer Vnto vs it shall be enoughe whyles that tyme do trye the truthe further too consyder the ennemyes of Israell all mooste tryumphynge ouer it sodenly by the mighty haÌ„d of God destroied such as Pharao SaÌ„herib Rabsace Nebuchadnezer Antiochus Herod And oure ennemyes whyche are the spirituall Israel wonderfullye vanquished and by Christe and hys woorde put too confusion The Romyshe Antichrist wyth hys Idoles hys Cardynalles hys Byshoppes hys shauelynges Monks Chanons Fryers hys Priestes regulars and irregulers oute of al the rules and orders of honestye whych Heathen companye were entred oure lands were gathered agaynste vs. Countynge vs polluted Heretikes worthye too satysfye theyr bluddy eyes wysh our deathes hangynge and burnynge But they dydde not knowe the thoughtes of the Lorde that hee suffered theym too rage that hee myghte be glorified in the ende when they shulde be threshen to powder geuynge hys faythefull suche power that they shulde treade down al the power of theyr aduersary lyke chaffe to geue God the glorye of thys spoyle and too knowledge thys too bee hys woorcke to the glorye of hys name God graunte that we vnto whome God hathe geuen thys tryumphe be not forgetful to paye oure vowes vnto our Lorde The Prophete voweth in the personne of vs too dedycate and to geue hym not only the calfes of oure lippes but the riches and spoyle to be a moment and as he calleth it Anathema a thynge so separate vnto the Lorde that no manne may touch it much lesse conuert it to any pryuate vse Neyther is this the vow of our Prophet onelye but a playne commaundemente of God Deuter. vii Thou shalte brene wyth fyre theyr grauen Images Thou shalt not couet theyr syluer gold wherof they are
made nether shalt thou take anye thinge of them vnto the least thou offende because that it is the abhominacyon of the Lorde thy God nether shalt thou brynge anye thynge of the Idol in to thy house leaste thou be accursed like as it is Thou shalte abhorre it as fylthynes because it is Anathema and accursed So was Iherico and Amelech Anathematysed if I maye be suffered so too speake And Achan was stoned for touchynge of the one Saule was put from hys kyngdom for hauynge of the other God graunte the noble houses of Englande to suffer no lyke damnage for the turnynge too theyr pryuate vses suche spoyles as they haue gotten of theese theyr spirituall enemyes I dare say nothing but thys onlye that al men canne easylye iudge that if the Idols founde in that Babylon had beene brente wyth all theyr Iewels vnto them offered and the landes and possessyons putte to the mayntenaunce of true religion To the fyndyng of the pore to the setting forth of godlye learnynge and vertue whiche was abused in supersticion Hipocrisy we myghte haue hoped for oure zeale to godward to haue had his mercy and for our godli pollici to haue sene a star shing region Where nowe that couetousnes that foule beaste blotteth and spotteth al oure doinges in the syght of God and man we do feare the cleane contrarye God graunte vs eies to se hartes to repente for the glory of that name that truthes sake whyche we do professe ☞ Nowe shalte thou be compassed The Text with garisōs thou doughter of garysons he hath layed seyge agaynste vs wyth a staffe wyll thei strike the cheke of the iudge of Israell After the Prophete haue ended hys wonderfull prophecy of the last daies that he may the better be beleued He telleth them thynges whych many of thē shuld see wyth theyr eyes Now saith he euen now is it at hand that Ierusalem ful of people and garysons of sougiers shal be obsessed and beseyged wyth many sougyers And if dyd come so to passe in the dayes of Ezechyas when Seneheryb sent hys army to Ierusalem whych did beseyge it and brought great famine vp on them not wythstandyng there was destroyed of that great army and garyson by the angel of God C lxxxv thousande in one nyghte Agayne wythin a fewe yeares after Pharao broughte an army forth of Egypt and did smite and stay theyr good kyng Iosias and ryghteous Iudge of Iuda Lyke as also the last kynge of Israell O see was slayne in the dayes of Ezechiah vnder whome oure Prophet lyued and dyd wryte this prophecye and the chiefe cyty of Israel Samaria was destroyed the same tyme. And not very many yeares after the cyty of Ierusalem was besyeged by Nabuchadnezer Ioakim was taken prysoner and zedekiah set in hys place who caused Ierusalem to be agayn beseyged and destroyed and hym selfe had hys eyes put foorth and so was caryed prysoner Of the whych zedechias they do for the most part expound thys 〈◊〉 of theyr cheife Iudge stryken vpon the cheeke And some dothe saye that it is a prophecye of Christe whych shoulde be stryken vpon the chycke before the hye Priestes But to cause it to agree wyth that which goeth before and followeth Heare seemeth to bee set forth a prophecye what shal come vpon Ierusalem euen great misery and thynges vnto the flesh desperate and tymes past all hope to the iudgement of man How be it to the almyghty power of the euerlyuyng Lord vnto whom al godlye Prophetes and preachers alway prouoketh al thinges that he pleaseth are mooste easye to be fulfylled The Lorde is mooste neare when he seemeth farre awaye The Lorde is mooste stronge when manne is moste weake Therefore strayght wayes in the next verse folowinge oure Prophete adioyneth howe that in tymes mooste terrible when they shoulde be paste al hope their lande wyth contynuall warres all wasted theyr kynges captiued Foraine nacyons bearyng rule ouer them And that same tyme the Romaine tyraunte Augustus Caiser demaundynge a sore trybute vpon theim Forthe of a lytle vyllage not worthye to beare anye vewe in the musters and assembles of the people shulde come forthe a captayne contrarye too mannes iudgmente whyche shoulde gouerne Israell in the strength of the Lorde and the hyghe and mighty name of God So that no power of man shal be able to resyste hym as is most euidently proued in that he hath enlarged his kyngdome and spred his name through oute the hole world magry al tyraunts al persecutors al hys enemies and hath contynued it this M.d.li yeres beating downe with the breath of his mouth with oute swearde or weapon al his aduersaryes and at this daye moste gloryouslye tryumphynge ouer them The Text And thou Bethlem Euphrata though thou be lytle among the thousandes of Iuda forth of the shall come vnto me he that shall be the ruler in Israell and hys commynge forth from old from euerlastynge Therefore he wyl geue theim vnto other vnto the tyme that she which shal beare haue borne and the relydue of the brethrene shall returne too the chyldren of Israel And he shal stand and gouern in the strength of the Lorde and the highe name of the Lorde hys God O wonderful blindenes of the Iewes whych do not vnderstand or not regard thys playne prophecye of Christe princypally spoken for theyr comfort O more wonderful madnes of the Anabaptistes which wilfully refuseth the knowledge true vnderstanding hereof turning thē to the folye of theyr owne braines The Iewish Priestes and Scribes do brynge in thys Prophecye to kynge Herode at the fyrst when he demaunded wher their Messiah whome we call Christe shoulde be borne in Bethleem Iuda they do answere for thus was it prophecyed that thou Bethelem though thou be litle c. Forth of the shal come a captayne The wyse Magis so wonderfully by the spirite of God called from far countryes forth of forayne and Heythen nacions brought bi a stai to Ierusalem to teache them there of theyr owne kyng doth folow the sta◠standyng ouer thys place wher thys Prophet apointeth his natiuitye There they do fynde him and worshyp hym as God and kyng in this lytle vyllage Bethelem At hys byrth fyrste of al the Aungels appeared vnto the poore shepeherds to vtter vnto the world that thys kyngedome is not of the proude but for the poore humble and meeke vnto whome Messiah is sent Esay .lxi. and they se a wonderfull lyght and heare a voice sayinge that theyr Messiah was borne in the cyty of Dauid whych is also named Bethelem in the same chapter the fyrst of Luke because Dauid was ther born i. Samuell .xvi. and anointed kinge In the same Chapter Symeon the Prophete whyche had promise made by the spirit that he should not se death before that he shuld se this Messiah cōfesseth that this is the lyght of the Hethē and the glorye of the people Israel Anna the Prophetyse whych night day
serued in the temple wyth praying and fastynge professed thys to bee the redemer of Israel Yea the voice of God from heauen in the presence of many people doth confyrme al thys saying thys is my welbeloued sonne in whom I am well pleased heare you hym The myracles wythout number both in hys lyfe tyme when he cured al dyseases both of body and soule When he caused the wyndes to cease the seas to obeye and deathe to geue place and in hys death when he caused the heauens to shet the earth to shake the sunne to loose hys lyght And after hys death also when he caused the hels to open the graues to geue againe theyr prysonats What wyll you haue more Hys mooste ennemyes the Scrybes and Pharyseis coulde not saye in conscience but that al these wonders were doone by the fyngar of God and the sougiours wyth theyr captayne whych kepte hym at hys deathe was compelled to crye Truelye thys is the verye sonne of God Math. xxvii Yea the verye deuyls were dryuen to confesse hym to bee Iesus the sonne of God Math. viii Mark .v. Luke .viii and yet some whych do beare his name called Christians and some twyse christened as they cal it dare denye vnto hym thys glory O blasphemye intollerable yea al the power of Sathan and all the gates of hel haue not bene able to beate downe the church buylt vpon thys confession as Christ out sauioure promysed Math. xvi thoughe contynuallye thys M.D. and Li. yeares they haue wyth the swerd hangyng and burnyng moste despitefully stryuen agaynst it and yet these blynde beastes dare attempt such foly Yea thoughe the Iewes thoughe the Turkes thoughe the Aryans and the Anababtistes and al the lying rable of the deuyls sougiers labour and striue al that in them lyeth to hinder and stop the kyngdom of this child borne in despysed Bethelem as he is man but commyng forth from old from euerlastyng as he is god Yet lo it is now dilated and spred a longe tyme throughe the whole world and at thys present moste gloryously spreadeth and triumpheth ouer al. Embrace therefore the sonne least he be angrye and you doo peryshe foorthe of the way al you ragyng people and vain imaginers agaynst our Christe Y◠you gather you and sette you agaynste thys Messiah the euerlyuing lord wyl laugh you to scorne For he hath anointed him kyng vpon Sion hys holye temple He wryteth it in hys euerlastyng decree He calleth hym hys sonne he geueth hym power ouer al people to rule them wyth the yron scepter and so folowing of the kyngdome of Christ Psal ii Agaynst the aduersaryes therefore of thys kyngdome whyche are the Antychristes wherof we are so oft warned in the scriptures Suffer me I pray you to make a short digression not for any sotie arguments that I wil bring against them for that is contrarye bothe to my purpose and profession But for my zele sake simply to vtter the words of truth yf by that way we may win but any one of thē It is not sayd for noughte by the holy Apostle Heb. iiii The word of god is lyuelye and myghtye in operacion sharper then any twoo edged swearde Therfore wyl I vse the sweard of God hys holy scriptures to cutte of theyr errours desyryng oure heauenlye father wil houte whom no man can come vnto Christ to drawe some of these blynded and loste shepe home againe to hys son Christe theyr only shepperde and to hys fold holy felowship of the faithful lyuynge in Christen vnytye to the glorye of hys name and the delatinge and enlargynge of his glorious kyngdome There be .ii. sortes of the aduersaryes of thys kingdome the one denieth him to be God the other to be mā wherfore I wyll declare and proue by open scriptures Christ God and Man FYrste that the Messiah promysed shulde be verye man euen of the seede of man as we doo reade Genes iii. that the womannes seede shal breake the serpentes heade agayne Gen. xii saythe God vnto Abraham in the shal al the kynredes of the earthe bee blessed and declaringe howe thys shall come too passe in thee xvii Chapter he promyseth to Abraham and to Sarai a sede wyth whom he wil make an euerlastynge leage and couenaunte And in the .xxii. Chapter after he had broughte thys promised seede to be a slaine sacrifice as the Lorde hadde commaunded thys was again from heauen pronounced that in the sede of Abraham all nacions shoulde be blessed And in the .xxvi. Chapter vnto his sonn◠Isaac was the same promyse renewed wyth these same words In thy sede shal al the nacyons be blessed Againe to his sonne Iacob in the .xxviii. of Genesis al the kynreds of the earthe shal be blessed in the and thy seede saythe the Lorde Agayne saithe Iacob in the spyryte of Prophecye to hys chyldrene The scepter shall not bee taken frome Iuda nor the ruler from his seat whyles that Messiah do come and to him shal the people be gathered Loo thus by playne testymonies mooste auncient euen from the beginninge maye it bee proued Messiah oure Christ to be appoynted man of the seede of manne And after the troublous tymes when all theyr captaines fayled as Micha dyd Prophecy then forthe of a litle village of the tribe of Iuda shuld come oure Christe the appointed and anoynted ruler ouer the faithful Israel And to let you vnderstande whyche are the ennemyes to Christ his kyngdome that you do striue in vayne there against mark that Balaam prouoked bi the king Balaac colde speake nothyng agaynste thys kingdome which he did se more thē a thousand .d. yeres to come after hym but dydde reuerence it a farre of saying There shal ryse a starre from Iacob and a rodde from Israel whiche shall stryke the captaynes of Moab Of Iacob shall come thys greate Lorde whyche shal destroye the remnaunte forthe of the cytye Numer xxiiii Thus are the enemyes of oure Christe compelled to knoweledge hym a man of the seede of Iacob and a gloryous kynge ouer all hys ennemyes tryumphynge Agayne Deut. xviii Moses the seruaunte of God dare say thus A Prophete vp frome amonges thy brethrene euen lyke me shall the Lorde thy God raise vnto the whosoeuer shall not heare hym I wyll requyre it of him Loo nowe heare is the humilitie of Christ his man hode set forthe but so that whosoeuer is the despiser of him and hys doctryne hathe thys playnly promised that he shall gyue accomptes for it and God hym selfe wyll questyon wyth hym the cause whye he hathe refused him For so standeth the Hebrewe Beware therfore as Esay sayth and take hede vnto your selues from the man whose breathe is in hys nostrelles for wherin he is reputed though he be very man and therfore despised yet is he of the Lorde onlye regarded Agayne in the Psalme lxxxviii We do reade I haue sworn to Dauid my seruaunte for euer wyll I prepare thy sede and wyl stablish thy seate
frō generaciō to generaciō And in the Psal cxxx most playnelye The Lorde hathe sworne to Dauid and wyll not deceyue I wyll set vpon thy seate the fruite of thy wombe the whyche place holy Peter alledginge to the Iewes Actes .ii. doth name it the fruyte of the loynes of Dauid forseinge by the spyryte that suche an Artycle of oure faythe whyche shoulde be so much impugned hadde neade to bee payneted wyth moost playne woordes And what canne be more playne I praye you to declare hym too haue bene verye fleshe and verye manne then thus to haue named him too haue come of thee seede of thee loynes and forthe of the wome of Dauid And if you do stycke of the woorde and name of a manne reade .iii. kinges .ii. chapter Thou shalte alwaye haue a manne to sit in thy seat ouer Israel and in the ende the seate of Dauid shall bee stable before the Lorde for euer So that thys maye be suffycyente too all theym whyche wyth anye thynge wyll be satisfied that the Messiah and sauyoure promysed is verye man Who so wyl search mo scryptures lette hym read the .vii. of Esaye where is playnelye Prophecyed that he shall be borne of a Virgin in the iiii Chapter he is called the braunche of the Lorde and the fruyte of the earthe where bothe hys natures are touched Like as oure Prophete dothe mooste plainelye painte him foorthe in boothe kindes also sayinge that he shoulde be borne in Bethlem a village of small reputacion because it was able too make but a small noumber in the musters and taxes when the people were noumbred by hondrethes and thousandes as was then vsed and we doo vse the same styll to thys daye The whyche woordes of oure Prophete that hee shoulde come foorthe of lytle Bethlehem to rule ouer Israell doothe declare hys mannehode lyke as the woordes folowing His comminge foorthe is from old from euerlastinge vttereth hys Godhead For only God hathe bene frome euerlastynge Thus is your Messiah painted vnto you God and manne O vnbeleuinge nacyon The stone whiche you doo refuse being folishe builders is made the chief cornor stone of God his holy buildinge Esay did also vtter this vnto you in moste plaine wordes saying A child is born vnto vs a son is geuē vnto vs vpō his shulder shal be the kingdome and he shall be called meruelous the counsel geuer the myghtye God the euerlastynge father the Prince of Peace of the multiplying of his kingdome and of hys peace there shal be no ende He shall sette vppon the seate of Dauid and vpon his kingdome to sette vp the same and too stablyshe it in equitie and rightuousnes from hensforthe for euermore Esaye .ix. Heare is he named a childe borne whiche shoulde be king which oppresseth his manhode All the other wordes do moste playnelye describe the pore and propertyes of hys God heade who so shall worthelye ponder them and if nothinge canne serue to satyfye your styffe stomackes onles you haue the hyghe name of God Iouah ascribed to oure Christe youre Messiah as some of you impudently canne answer Vouchsafe to reade the Prophet Ieremy in the .xxiii. chapter and ther you shal most plainly find it so Lo the daies shal come faith the Lord and I will raise vp to Dauid a rightuous braunche and he shall raigne kinge and prospere He shal do iudgemente and iustice in the earthe In those dayes shal Iuda be saued Israel shal dwell boldly this is hys name wherewyth they shall call hym Iouah Sidkenu by interpretacion God whych is whiche hathe beene whyche shall be by whome all thynges haue theyr being is oure ryghteousnes for so muche is cōprehended in the Hebrew Iouah as was sayde in the fyrste leafe And thys is the hyghe name whyche the Iewes do agre neuer to be geuen to any creature Therfore we do conclude against thē that our Christ is God the only creatour of whō al creatures haue their essēce substaūce beyng as thys word importeth Agayn wher as it is wrytten Psalme .c.ix. The Lorde sayed vnto my Lord sytte of my right hand whiles that I make thyne enemies thy fotestole And Christ our Lord demaundeth of your Doctoures Pharyses if Christe were Dauid sonne as the scriptures compelled them too confesse How then calleth Dauid hym lord by the spyryte so longe afore And if he be Dauides Lorde howe then is he hys sonne The whiche questyon hath vexed your braynes whyche denye hym too be God thys M. ccccc yeres Therfore fall downe and worshyppe oure Christe as God lyke as the xc.vi Psalme doth teache you that al the aungels of heauen shall worshyp hym and you shal vnderstande not onlye thys questyon but al those same places of the Psalms and Prophetes whyche you doo nowe reade wyth a vayle and myste before your eyes Psalme xliiii.lxxxviii cix cxxxi Esa iiii vii viii.ix.xi.xxviii.xl.xlii.xlv.xlvi.xlix.lii liii lxii Ieremy xxiiii.xxx.xxxiii Ezech. xvii xxxiiii.xxxvii Daniel ii.ix. Mich. v. Agge ii Baruch iii. Osee xiii vi Ioel. ii Amos. ix zacharye iii. xiii Malache iii. Ionah the fygure of Christ hys deathe and resurreccion Whych places I doo note for the godly that they may se Christ to haue beene the shoote anker of the Prophetes ▪ and chyefe marke of theyr Prophecyes What shall I nede to brynge forth anye place of the newe Testament seinge that standeth hollye vpon this doctryne that Iesus Christe is God and manne and by thys you maye knowe the spirite of God saythe Saynt Ihon. Euerye spirite whych confesseth Iesus Christ to become in the flesh is of God Ihon. iiii And euery spirit which doth not confes Iesu Christ to becom in the flesh is not of God And this is the spirit of Antechrist saythe Saynt Ihon. And before in the thyrde Chap. Who is a lyer but he that denyeth Iesus too bee Christe Thys same is Antychryste whyche denyeth boothe the father and the sonne And who so denyeth the sonne neither hath the father Therefore embrace the sonne and receyue hym wyth a kysse leaste hee be angry and you do perysh forth of the way Psal ii We do know that the son of God is come and hath geuen vs hartes to know hym whych is true and we are in thys truthe in hys sonne Iesus Christ Thys is the true God and euerlastyng lyfe i. Ihon. v. We doo confesse wyth S. Paule that Christe is borne of the Iewes as touchyng the flesh which is God in al thynges to be praysed for euer Rom. ix We do professe thys faith whych holye Ihon Baptyste preached That our sauiour Christ though he dyd come after Ihon as touchyng the carnal natiuity Yet is he far mightiar then Ihon and Baptiseth vs wyth the holy Gost and wyth fyre Hys fan is in hys hand to pourge hys flower and he wyll gather hys wheate into hys barne and burne the chaffe wyth vnquenshed fyre We do beleue that at hys Baptyme the holye Goste dyd come downe inuisible
haue not earnestlye repented with mourninge and fastinge for theese abhomininacions as did the Niniuites Therefore as Olda answered too the good kinge Iosiah that the Lorde woulde shewe of his mercies vnto him because he did cutte his clothes and wepte when he hearde the threateninges of God againste his countries Neuerthelesse he woulde bring al those euilles vppon that place and vppon the inhabitauntes of the land because thei hadde forsaken God and worshipped straunge Goddes prouokinge God vnto wrathe in al the workes of their own handes So canne oure people and contrye nothynge at all repentyng of theyr former euyll but styll euer more and more prouokinge the wrathe of God vppon them Some by the desyre thei haue to theyr olde Idolles Some by theyr Sorcerers Charmes Enchantmentes soothesayinges Manye by adulterye lasciuious wantonnes and fleshlye lybertye and all by ambicion or couetousnesse pillinge pollinge and brybynge-from their brethren Looke for none other thynge onlesse they vnfaynedlye forthewith shewe the worckes of repentaunce but miserye calamitie destruction famine darthe diseases pestilence and theswearde in the ende of foraynenacyons Yea whyche is mooste terrible of al we do feale the wrathe of God so kendled amonges vs all readye that we are lyke Pharao hardened in our sinnes euen plaged contynuallye with the encrease of new vices and newe dyleases folowing Was there euer suche inuencions in any worlde for pollynge of the people was there euer suche shamelesse whordome suche wedlocke breakinge Can it be denied that Paul writeth to the Romains because they haue chaunged the glory of the God immortal in the lykenes of mortal corruptible creatures Therfore hathe God geuen theym to folowe the lustes of theyr owne heartes in vnclennes with shame to abuse theyr own bodies together Reade the Chapter to the ende and you shall see the wrath of God greuously kindled in that al the vyces ther named as the punishmentes of sinne by sinne are moste euidentlye fallen vpon vs. And we maye feale the saying of the Prophet Ose to be most true The spirit of fornicacion hath deceiued you you haue gon a whoring froÌ„ your God Therfore shal your doughters bee harlots and your wises be whores O mercyfull Lorde leade vs not into thys greuous temptacion that oure sin shoulde be punyshed wyth the encrease of syn by the geuyng ouer of vs miserable sinners to our owne lustes For who canne bee able too beate hys synnes if thou strayght obserue them O Lord Make vs not lyke Caine Pharao and Iudas whiche dyd heape synne vppon sinne But giue vs heartes lyke the Niniuites too repente for oure synnes Haue pytye vppon oure yonge Kynge whoÌ„ thou of thy mercy diddest wonderfullye vouchsafe to gyue vnto vs at what time wee waited worthelye for thy sore scourge whome thou dyddeste fashyon and preserue in hys mothers woÌ„be and bryng forth into thys lyght wyth lyke maruel of thy almighty power Whom thou haste defended and kept wyth thy myghtye arme thys tyme of hys infancye from domestical and for an enemies Vnder home in hys weake and moste teÌ„der age thou haste caused to shyne forth the cleare lighte of thys Gospell which hathe bet downe the Idolles and Idolatrous aulters through oute hys â—ealme whereby amonges the Papists Turkes and Iewes thou hast made thi Britains to be bruted How be it al this hast thou so wroughte vnder a yonge chylde that the glorye myghte come holye vnto the and to no man mortall For the glorye of thy name therefore and for Iesus Christe hys sake whose honoure we doo seeke and kingdome wee desyre haue mercye vppon hym most mercyful father Make hym faythful as Dauid zealus lyke Hezechiah repentaÌ„t as Iosiah to hys people the professoures maynetayners of thy truth against all papistes Tuckes Iewes against al the powers of Antichrist Graunt thy manyfold and great mercyes that they may abhorre theyr owne wickednes and the wyckednes of their forefathers and walke nowe lyke the chyldren of thys great lyght the chyldren of thy kyngdome Graunte we besech thee O most mercyful father vnto al them whych do professe the truth of thy Gospel vnfayned repentaunce of al theyr syns fast confydence vpon thy great mercyes the renuing of theyr lyues according to the truth of thy word whych they do professe that they maye exhort one another to walk in thy light saying wyth the Prophete Osee Come and let vs returne vnto the Lord for he hath begone and wyll heale vs he wyll stryke vs and make vs whole Graunte this O Lord God that thy name be not euyl spoken of amonges thy enemyes So be it The .vi. Chapter HEare now what the euer liuing Lord sayth The Text Arise and contende wyth the mountaynes let the hyls heare thy voyce Heare O ye hyls the iudgement of the lord by whom al thynges haue theyr beynge and you strong foundacions of the earth geue eare for the lord hath a quarel wyth hys people and wyth Israel he wyl try hym selfe My people what haue I done to you or what greuous thynge haue I appoynted the aÌ„swer vnto me Because I haue brought the forth of the land of Egypte and from the house of bondage I haue redemed thee and I haue sent Moyses AaroÌ„ and Miriam before the. O my people remeÌ„ber I prai the what counsel Balake the king of Moab did begyn and what Bileam the son of Be or did answer hym from Siftim vnto Gilgal that thou myghtest know the ryghteousnes of the lorde After the sore threatenynges of the Gentyls the prophete returneth to reproue Israel the elect choseÌ„ people of ingratitude and vnthankefulnes callyng as it were heauen and earth to witnes as in the fyrst chapter and Esay .i. And first he sayth Geue good eare for you shal heare the euerlyuyng Lord the almyghtye by whome all thinges were create and do consist speake playnelye vnto you content to humble hym selfe so low as to opeÌ„ hys quarel to vtter the causes of hys wrath and to try him self in your owne coÌ„sciences to be faultles The Prophetes of all ages they are here coÌ„maunded to contende and striue wyth the mouÌ„taines and mighty meÌ„ of the world so is it theyr great labour peril danger to cause theÌ„ by any meanes to here the word of God Therfore was it sayd in the last verse of the fyft chap. I wil be aduenged in my wrath in my fury vpoÌ„ the people that hath not herd So that to harken to the voyce of God is better theÌ„ any sacrifice Therefore is heare so oft bet into the Iewes heades Here what the lord saith Let the hils here heare O ye mountaines thus the prophet warneth as it were a Bedle or Cryar of the common place to kepe sylence and to geue dylygent harkning to the voice of the almyghty He warneth the earth and al that therin is euen the very foundacions therof to gyue good eare Shal man then be deafe and stop hys eares The
Lord calleth the heauens and thei obey The earthe frome nothynge and strayght it was presente The ragynge seas and rough floudes do harken to hys commaundement Dare man deny to heare hys Lorde by whom he lyueth and hath hys beyng shal he be brutysh and wythout vnderstandyng when all brute beastes are obedyent to the lords commaundmente Dyd not Balaams Asse both speake and vnderstāded whē the Lorde called and commaunded O mā wylt thou not heare him with out whom thou art not Doest thou not feare to fal agayne into dust and ashes when thou art at hys voyce so dul insensible Or cā thou forget his benefits by whom thou hast thy being Yea this Lord calleth the thyngs that be not as though they wer alredy He maketh the dead hodies to harkē to his voice Howe dare thou O mā turne away not geue care seyng the breath of thy bodye is in his hand He sleieth and geueth lyfe See howe the Lorde doothe humble hym selfe to thyne infirmyty and weaknesse He is contente not onelye too speake vnto thee whyche arte but duste and ashes full of syn but to shewe hys quarrell and as it were too pleate hys cause with vs that he mighte be founde true and all menne liers and therefore iustified in hys woordes and ouercome when he is iudged Let al menne therefore tremble before his face and crye vnto God to geue them eares that canne hear eyes that can se thē say with Dauid I wil hear what the Lord speaketh The Lorde calleth into their remembraunce therewith their benefites of old theyr deliuerāce How he plaged the Egiptiās preserued thē How he made thē passage through the red sea drowned theyr ennemies How he fedde them wyth Manna frome heauen not sufferynge theyr garmentes too be olde nor theyr shooes torne for the space of .xl. yeres in the wildernes he geueth thē the good meeke and louinge captaine Moyses to guyde them Aaron to preache his wyll vnto them and to praye for theym Miriam a Prophetisse a comforte too the womenne in theyr longe iournye Exo. dye throughe oute And when kynge Balacke had counsell to hyre Bilham to accursse the saith the Lord I dyd turn thy curs into blessyng who beinge thus disapointed dyd take newe Counsell of Bilham too entice the people by flatterye too Idolatrye and fornication therby to prouoke my wrathe agaynste thee wherefore I plaged the vntyll I hadde slaine .xxiiii. thousand When Pinhas the Priest styrred wyth the zeale of my glorye slewe Duke zambrye the captaine of the tribe of Simeon and Cospye the doughter of Sur the cheif Prince of the Madianits throughe the zelous enterpryse caused mi wrath to cease Nu. xxii xxiii.xxiiii.xxv In Sittam dyd I staye Balacke and Bilham I caused Moyses too destroye the Midianites withoute mercy and did gyue vnto you theyr godes cattayle and substaunce Numeri .xxxi. In Gilgall I dyd take awaye the reproche of Egipte from you I caused you to be cyrcumcysed and dyd giue you of the fruits of the promysed lande Iosue v. Al thys dyd I for the that thou myghteste knowe my ryghtuousnesse that I would keepe my promyse notwyth standynge thys manyfolde wyckednesse The lyke rebuke of their ingratitude maiste thou read Esay .i. Eze. xx Now if we wold hereby in our wycked tyme lerne to behold the in estimable goodnes of God toward vs and our vnthankefulnes agaynst so louyng a Lord We myght fully perceaue and see most euydently the wonderfull mercies of our heauenly father calling vs to repentaunce whych hath not only giuen vs bodely benefytes as he dyd vnto Israell but he hathe delyuered vs from the helly Pharao from the curses of Antichriste from the sea of erroures and erronions opinions and caused vs to eate the heauenly Manna the fleshe of hys owne sonne thereby to geue vs lyfe euerlastynge O the vnspeakeable goodnes of our heauēly father and wo to our sturdy stomakes stifeled in euyl The Text With what acceptable thing shal I present the Lord Shall I bow my selfe before the highe God Shal I come before hym wyth brent offerings wyth calues of one yeare olde Hathe the lord his pleasure in M. of rams either hys delyte in .x. M. streames of oyle Or shal I geue my first borne for myne iniquity euē the fruite of my wombe for the syn of my soule I wyl tel the mā what is good and what the Lord requireth of the euē to do iudgement to loue mercy and to walk reuerently before thy God Because that here is so iust occasion offered to declare what is the true worshyp of god which is the false and vntrue I desyre thee gentle reader to suffer me somthyng to declare this dout because it hath troubled the cōsciences of many in al worlds And also that it maye be a testimony wytnes vnto the worlds ende of our cōsciēce towards God hys true worship which haue wryttē or spoken against the false worship of the Romysh Antichrist Wherin fyrst I pray thee to marke cōsider how the cōsciēce strykē with the feare of gods iudgemētes seeketh some stay euermore would haue succour against his heauy indignacion but vnles it be quieted setled bi the truth of God his holy word it renueth astray frō god more more at lengthe foloweth fond imaginaciōs As the Hethen before the law geuen did stay theyr children to please God as they ymagened Wherfore the Lorde did dryue thē forth of theyr contries and dydde geue them to Israell in possession and warned thē of heythrush abhominacions The Iewes after the law of Moises was geuen not vnderstandyng the end of their Ceremonies dyd heape vp infynyte sacrifices Vnto whō God saith dy Esaiah he that offereth vnto me an Oxe is lyke hym that stayeth a mā and he that kylleth a beaste as hee that brayneth a dogge And hee that Offereth sacryfyce as hee that Offereth swynes fleshe hee that remembreth incence as he that offereth vnto an Idolle Theese thynges haue they chosē in their waies in their abhominacions theyr soule is delyted Oure Papistes not vnderstanding or rather not regardinge what our master Christe hadde taughte vs. Mat. xv that in vayne we do worshyp God teachinge the Doctrynes the Preceptes of men Hadde sette vppe a newe holynesse euen theyr hoole relygyon in outewarde Ceremonies of dayes and times of candelles and Belles of towchynge and of handling of blowynge and kyssyng creapynge knealynge and knockynge of gyrdles and garmentes of geuynge to theyr Idolles and aulters fyne ornaments of buylding of Chappels chauntryes and Abbayes of gaddinge to Walsingham to Canterbury to Compostella to Ierusalem to fetch Iames shels Walsingham Kynges Becketes Broches and pardon Beades where vppon muste be sayde I wote not howe manye lady Psalters And alway ten Aue Maries to one Pasternoster or elsse al was marred and infinite other madde inuencyons of mans idle braine By the whiche maddynge of mannes heade in al ages whyche I
Salomon by the flattering of his wifes was brought to Idolatrye Sampson to his owne destruccion And infinite other that haue falleÌ„ som into one vice some in an other and ar length to shamefull endes by the flatterye of fayned friendes Beware of flatterers therefore O kinges and princes for be sure when so euer you shal delite in them you shal not long continue withoute shame The moste present poyson to a Prynce is flatterye Beware I â—aye therefore For Iudas when he flattereth mooste fayre is moost readye too be traye his master Ioab when hee kisseth Amasa and and Abner and sheweth mooste frendshippe is ready to kil them Abimelech when he flattereth hys .lxx brethrene is all readye throughe ambicion appoyncted too destroye them Dadila when shee flattereth Sampson too knowe his strength hath the Philistines priuilye hid in her house Absalom dothe call to his feaste by flattery and ther slai his brother Ammon and withdraweth the heartes of the people by flattery froÌ„ hys father Dauid and at lengthe dryueth him forth of his kingdom Wherin appeareth the smal trust to be had to the wicked worldlings and crafti flatterers though they offer great freÌ„dship though thei be our brethreÌ„ though thei ly in our owne bosoÌ„s And hear mai we set before our eies who ar to be trusted in this wicked worlde so full of disceit and who are not They onlye which do seke godlines and vertue and setteth much bi the truth of the woorde of God for thys truthe is mightier then women then wine then the kinge it ouercommeth all It conquereth falshed it condempneth flattery it driueth away blindnes it causeth the blinde to se the yong scoler to be wyser then the great Doctor it trieth al it espieth all it iudgeth it condemneth al. To the author and geuer of this truth be al glorye for euer Let vs no longer trust to manne therfore or make fleshe our arme in thys our wicked time wherin al are geuen to falshode to flatterye to deceit to couetous to ambicion to lyinge slaunderynge to al euils and wickednesse But contraryewise say with our Prophet euery one of vs bothe kinge and subiecte The Text I will loke vnto the Lorde I wil trust vnto God my sauior my God wil heare me Whether it be in the day of my visitacion wheÌ„ aduersitie shal come vpoÌ„ me or in the day of prosperitie wheÌ„ these flatterers shal folow me I wil regard nothing but the Lord I wil truste to none but to God my sauiour The Lorde God is the measurer of mi trouble he can wil hear my cry deliuer me from al peril Therfore wil I cal vnto the Lord with the holy king Dauid Psa iii. Psalm iii. O God how are mine ennemies multiplied howe manye doth rise vp against me Many doth say vnto mi soul his God shal not saue him but thou O God act the sheilde ouer me My glory and the lifting vp of my head I wil cry vnto the Lord wyth my voyce and he wil hear from his holy hil O thou mine enemy reioise not against me that I am falleÌ„ The Text I am risen vp againe And thoughe I shuld sit in darknes the Lord is my lght I wyl beare the displesure of the Lord because I haue sinned against him whiles that heaueng my cause do iudgmeÌ„t for me For he wil briÌ„g me into light I shal se his rightousnes TheÌ„ mine enemi shal behold be ashamed which saith vnto me wher is the lord thy god mine eies shall behold her and now shall she be troden vnder the foote like the mire of the stretes Three thnges are here to be obserued in thys humble confession of the sinner whether thou do vnderstaÌ„d it in the persoÌ„ of a perticuler synner or in the parsoÌ„ of the multitude of Israel led into captiuity Fyrst a consideracion and know ledgynge of the synnes committed agaynst God and therefore pacience to beare and to suffer what so euer the lord shal lay vpoÌ„ theyr backs SecoÌ„dly wher such as are chastened of the Lord are alwayes of the wycked world despised reuiled and skorned vniustli and without cause whych doth augment theyr heauines Here is the aduenging therof and the iudgement of theyr innocencye towardes theyr enemies whych do persecute them committed vnto God Thirdlye here is ful and perfit fayhte of God hys fauour in the middes of the afflyccions and hope of a comfortable ende of them to the glory of god to the confusion shame and destruccion of al hys enemyes to be learned For the fyrst Dauid cryeth O Lorde enter not thou into iudgemeÌ„te with thy seruaunt for in thy syghte no lyuynge creature shal be iustified For the second part he dare be bold to say iudge me accordynge to my ryghtuousnes and the xxxv Psa thorowe out for this purpose For the third he saith Though I do syt in darcknes and in the shadow of death yet arte thou with me So fyrmelye perswaded of God hys fauoure in the middes of the trouble are the elect of God that they saye alwaye with Paule who shall separate vs from the fauoure of God shal affliccyon shal anguishe shal persecucion shall hunger shall nakednesse shall peryl daunger or swearde Naye thou haste thus appointed ordeyned and therefore warned vs longe before That we shoulde bee slayne euerye daye for thy sake and counted like shepe readye to the slaughter but in al this we do ouercome by him whiche hathe loued vs. And as Paul saith in another place we do glorye in oure afflyccion knoweinge that affliccion bringinge pacience pacience bringeth trial and hoope in the ende whiche is neuer shamed This lesson of comforte maye euerye pryuate personne fealinge him selfe smitten for hys synne learn of our Prophet But farther nowe hee speaketh in the person of the Iewes and of the hole church chosen of God and the like thinges for them maye bee marked besydes the fall of the Chaldees of Antechrist of al Tirauntes persecutoures of the elect people whiche shall by the conqueste of Christe theyr heade make all theyr enemies as theyr foote stole to treade vpon theym lyke the myre of the streate as is here prophecied Therfore must we bear pacientli a litle while and we shal satisfye our eyes with the sight of theyr fall by the iuste iudgmente of God and venginge oure cause like as they haue with oute cause vniustly triumphed ouer vs hated oppressed and murthered vs deseruing no such cruelty at theyr hands for too the Lorde longeth vengaunce And he wyll perfourme it Reade the .v. Chapter of wisdome to the end For the declaration of all thys To note also the Phrases of lyghte and darckenesse lighte signifieth knowledge and comfort Esaye ii.ix.xlii.xlix.lx.lxi Mathew .iiii. Luke .ii. Darkenes the contrary persecution blyndenesse sorowe Esaye .xiii. Lamentacions .v. Micha iii. Psam .lxix. To se also and to beholde the ennemye is to reioyse at the fall of hym whiche the
and ended when al the power of the aduersary shal be destroyied in the end of the world when the helly Pharao shal be cast into the lake of fyre and brimstone Ihon .xix To laye the hand vpon the mouth is a common phrase too keepe sylence for shame Iob. xxxviii That the Serpente lycke the duste and eateth the earthe is the cursse of God Genesis in and here it is geuen to the serpentes generacion to fal downe for feare and creepe into holes lyke wormes Wherin appeareth the almyghtye power of God and the weake arme of the wycked Therefore doth oure prophet ende wyth these exclamacions They shall tremble before oure Lorde God Thee shall they feare O Lorde Agayne What God is lyke vnto thee The Text whyche doest pardon iniquitie and passe ouer synne for the remnaunt of thyne enherytaunce he hath not setled hys wrathe for euer but he hath pleasure in mercy He wyl returne and haue mercye vpon vs. He wil tread doun our wickednes vnder hys feete and cast al our syns into the bottom of the seas Thou wylt performe thy promes to Iacob and thy mercye to Abraham whyche thou hast sworne to oure fathers from the dayes of olde After our prophet hath receaued this comfortable answer from God he rendreth thankes wyth an admiracion and comparyson of the euer lyuinge God which hath wrought these wonders the false Gods whych can dooe nothynge Wherin also he setteth forth the sinful weakenes of man whyche can attayne nothinge but by pardon and mercy according to the Psalme .xxxi. Blessed are they whose wyckednes are forgeuē and whose syns are couered Agayne happy is that man whom the Lord hath not charged wyth syn Dauid also after the consyderacion of the greate maiestye of God maketh lyke comparyson and asketh what god ther is besydes the lord Psa xvii And Moyses describeth the Lorde by these properties Exo. xxxiiii saying O Lord Lorde mercyfull and gracious God pacient and aboundaunt in pytye and truth Shewyng mercy vnto thousands takyng awaye iniquitye wyckednes and synne c. So that God whyche in hys substaunce is vnsearcheable by mercy pytye and truthe sheweth hym selfe vnto men Wherin also is comprehended the promes of Messiah made vnto the fathers by whome thys mercye and louynge kyndnes shoulde be shewed and wyth thys he endeth as doth the moost part of the prophetes to teache vs alwayes to haue confydence in God thoughe the promyse dooe seeme longe dyfferred For he is the god that is true he is faytheful he performeth wyth the largeste that he dothe promsie he is also mercifull he is pytyfull full of louynge kindenesse whych we do feale in that he did geue his own sonne to be made man of the seede of Abraham for our sakes howe canne hee but giue vs all thynges with hym To him therefore let vs geue all glorye Let vs serue hym wyth feare and tremblinge walckynge before oure God as our Prophet warneth reuerentlye doinge iudgemente and louinge mercye all the dayes of oure lyfe so shall the woes and cursses threatned vnto the wicked be turned awaye from vs and the blessinges promysed too the obedyente chyldrene be mooste aboundauntlie poured vpon vs. Graunte that wee maye this do to the honor of thy name for thy sonne our Lord Iesu Christe his sake So be it ¶ Prayse the Lord. A prayer for the kynge O Lorde euerlyuynge God Lorde of Lordes kinge of kinges Leade oure yonge kynge in thy faythe feare and loue Teache his heart thy secrete wisdome Strengthen hym therewith timelye before his people perish for the wicked dothe preuayle they do wallowe in theyr wickednes Dooe this for thy truthes sake whiche he doth professe Let not hys ennemies haue the ouer hande least they blaspheming thy truthe do saye where is hys God what relygyon hathe he professed So be it O kinge by truthe thou standeste defende thy truthe By righteouse iudgemente thy throne shall be established by wickednes subuerted Therfor hast thou the swearde by God oppointed to sette vppe the one too strike downe the other Thus do thou shal lyue se good daies O you that be subiectes vnder thys kinge of tender age be thanckefull too God for all hys wonders wroughte in hys tyme knoweledge that it is God that hathe sente him vnto vs and hathe sette forthe his truthe in his weake infancy and mightelye defended hym frome all treasonnes and traytoures rebellyons Repent of al former euyls and praye wythout ceassynge that the Lorde god may vouchsafe to guyde gouern and preserue him lōg to raigne ouer vs with the loue of Iustice Iudgement and true holynesse So be it