beleeue and tremble If a brother or a sister be naked and be destitute of daily foode and one of you say vnto him depart in peace God send you warmenesse and clothing Notwithstandyng ye giue them not those things that are needfull to the body what shal it helpe Euen so faith if it haue no deedes is dead in it self As for ensaÌ„ple a needle is a needfull thing to make the way but a threed w t it more prositeth the workmaÌ„ And Sainct Paule to the Hebrewes writeth Fayth is a sure foundation of thinges which are hoped for and a certaintie of thinges that are not seene For by it the Elders obtayned a good report By Fayth Abel offered a more plentiful sacrifice then Cayne by which he obtayned witnesse that he was righteous God testifiyng of his giftes And in his Epistle to the Galathians Beare yee one an others burthen and so fulfil the law of Christ for if a man seeme to him selfe that he is somewhat when in deed hee is nothing the same deceiueth his owne minde Let euery man prooue his owne workes for whatsoeuer a man soweth that shall he also reape For hee that soweth in the flesh shall of the fleshe receiue corruption And hee that soweth in the spirit shall reape lyfe euerlastyng Let vs not be weery of wel doing for wheÌ„ the tyme is come we shal reape without wearinesse While wee haue therefore tyme let vs doe good vnto all men especially vnto them which are of the householde of Fayth for so shall we liue and not dye And that I wryte not these thinges forth of mens dreames or fables nor out of prophane histories painted with vaine eloquence but forth of the infallible truth of Gods worde As by the authoritie of Saint Peter in his first Epistle doeth leade vnto Knowe this that no Prophesie in the scriptures hath any priuate interpretation for the Scriptures came neuer by the will of man But holy men of God spake as they were moued by the holy Ghost Notwithstandyng it is a thing much to be lamented that any people that doe professe Christ should so loue this worlds possessions as to leaue God and theyr neighbour vnbeloued And yet such ought not to bee ignoraunt that the vertue of riches do take their leaue in this life wheras the ende of godlinesse neuer dyeth but doeth ascende vpp vnto Heauen before the hyghe Maiestie of GOD who rewardeth euery one accordyng to his workes In so much as Christ onely hauing ouercome all thinges hath prepared a Crowne of glory for all those that walke in his wayes and fyue after his commaundements and ordinaunces So shall it neuer repent any of well doyng As if all riche men dyd so loue and feare God as to feare him for his iustice and loue him for his graces and mercies extended Then woulde riche men cease to worke sinne with greedinesse who as they will take vnto them the ensamples of the godly riche Abraham Dauid and Iob. Whose maner of godly liuyng all riche men should also imitate and set before their eyes practizing the same in their conuersations as a perfect tryall to knowe a good riche man by assuring our selues that that which Gods worde warranteth is a perfect touchstone to prooue the testimony of a good conscience But God knoweth with what sorowe it may be sayd O miserable world wheras riches doe remaine and vertue and godlinesse in the most part of the people appeareth to be fledde which is to be lamented in this wyse O litle labour for a man to knowe him selfe O litle fayth in seeking to â—â—eepe Gods commaundementes And yet a straunge thing howe loth euery onâ—â— is to dye and yet a number dead in deedes and yet liuyng As it is recorded in the scriptures of the rich widowe that while she liued in all pleasure and sensuatie it was sayd of her let her alone sheepe dead As also so long as the prodigal childe lyued in his prodigalitie raunging at his pleasure so let runne at large duryng which time his father accompted him as lost vntyll hee returned beeyng touched with the consideration of his miserable estate and acknowledged his owne infirmitie and weakenes in that he had obeyed vnto his owne lust in treading of the pathes of vngodlines wherein he being weried confessed him selfe to haue beene worthily chastened doing the duetie of a childe in yeeldyng of due obedience By which meanes hee was reconciled and receiued againe into his fathers favour God grant the like retourning not onely of all the disobedient children of Englande but also of all such as are old enough to knowe what it is to disobeye God and that many suche as neither wil refourme them selues nor looke to be refoutmed Agaynst extortyng Farmers and Grasiers depending on priuate gayne ANd that the euil seed of priuate gaine is sowen and hath taken roote as well in the countrey as in Cities and Townes it is euident by the practise that many riche Farmers and Erasiers do vse in this age in place of such as God alotted vnto Adam saying In the sweat of thy face shalte thou eat thy bread tyll thou be turned again into the ground for out of it was thou taken in as muche as thou art dust and into dust shalt thou bee turned again And the Lord God seÌ„t him forth from the Garden of Eden to dresse the grounde that hee was taken out off wherby it is apparant that this professioÌ„ was it that then well pleased God in the first creation of thinges But the euil nature of man with the consent of priuate gaine hath so corrupted the way as God hath bene much greeued mooued thereby As the ensample of the riche man spoken of in the Gospell doeth well declare where God speaking in this wise sayde Take heed and beware of couetousnesse for no mans life staÌ„deth in the abundance of the things which he possesseth and he put forth a similitude saying The grouÌ„d of a certaine riche man brought foorth plentifull fruites and hee thought within him self saying what shall I do because I haue no roume where to bestowe my fruite And he sayd this will I doe I wil destroy my barnes builde greater and therein will I gather all my goods that are growen vnto mee And I will say vnto my soule Soule thou hast muche goods layde vp in store for many yeares take thyne ease eate drinke be merry But God sayde vnto him thou foole this nyght will they fetche away thy soule agayne from thee Then whose shall all those thinges be which thou hast prouided So is it with him that gathereth riches to him self and is not rich towards God By this part of Scripture it appeareth how some men haue grown in welth and yet doe contrarie to Gods liking which notwithstanding it is manifest that many rich Farmers and Grasiers haue peruerted the way of such as God requireth and as themselues ought to be For it is true
THE Triall of Truth wherein are discouered three greate enemies vnto mankinde as Pride Priuate grudge and Priuate gaine which corruptions are the disturbers of â—â—â—â—s cities common weales and peoples Jmprinted at London at the three Cranes in the vintree by Thomas Dawson and Thomas Butter 1580. ¶ To the moste great and highest soucraigne Christe IESVS HAuing written this small Treatise vnder the protectioÌ„ of thee most reuerend most sweete and almightie IESV which I did begin with intention to lyne out and directe a way vnto thee the author of all trueth and goodnesse taking the cause vppon the greatest abuses of the worlde raigning and raging euery where at this day and continuing concluded the same with exhortation of amendemeÌ„t of life according to thine expresse worde and commandements aswell by thine owne selfe pronounced out of thy most sacred mouthe at what time thou wert conuersaunt in this miserable vale and anguished with the iniquities of Ierusulem Corasm Bethsaida the whole land of Iuda yea and all the worlde and continually be fore that by the holy Prophetes which haue bin since the world began whose bookes are so ful of declamatioÌ„ against sinne and like argumentes to exhort the retourning vnto the Lorde with haste and so laborious to prepare the way vnto thee The greatest matter theÌ„ rested in hand to whom I should direct the same who might take the protection in hand of this my woorke to defend it against the maleuolent and malicious worldlings who furnished with all the suggestions of Satan that olde enemy who seaseth nullum non mouere lapidem against thee and thy truthe Resting vpon this consideration I founde the great men of the world were busied the richemen had no disposition the meane men were afearde the simple men might answer me they could not iudge And so not to trouble the great nor to hazard the small I determined to offer the same vnto thee OIESV which I present vnto thy Diuine Maiestie with bowed knees ioyned handes and all simplicitie of mind beseeching thee mercifully to looke vpon mine infirmities who for the multitude of my sinnes am vnworthy to lifte vp mine eyes to thy mercy seate and vnable to imagine any thing worthy of thine acceptance but stayed on the foundation of thy worde wherein it appeareth how thou diddest accepte of the widowes myte and how thou diddest condemne the seruant of sloth for hyding his tallent are sufficient assuraÌ„ces of thy fauourable fatherly and comfortable acceptance to such as with good intent of the fruites of their labour yelde aught vnto thee as sacrifice proceeding from the puritie of hearte whereof thou onely arâ— the searcher vnto whose tuition I doe most humbly submit my self body and soule To the Christian Reader REuerend Reader after it had pleased God to touch me diuers waies to what intent I know not to reforme I hope I coÌ„mitted me vnto the same our eternal God who pronouÌ„ceth himselfe to bee the way the truth the life vnder his protection and fauourable assistance I determined as tyme would giue me leaue to proceed try by my trauel obseruance a straighter course of life for my better proceeding therin for mine own instructioÌ„s I beganne to coÌ„pare make difference betwixt the spirit of truth the spirit of errour hauing collected sundry notes to the intent aforesaid as I passed by iudged theÌ„ ought worth I set theÌ„ down to helpe memory with inteÌ„tioÌ„ to haue brought theÌ„ into fourme to the absoluing of the matter which I had in hand WhervpoÌ„ a friend of myne viziting one at my chamber and finding me so solitary exercised and perusing my notes conceaued so good liking of myne indeuour the discourse therof as hee did not onely intreat me to perseuer therin but afterwards at sundry times very earnestly required me to put the same in print insomuch as after my often denial has importunacy was such that vnlesse I coulde haue bene content to hazard his frieudship beare the greate reproche of ingratitude I might not auoid him and so oppressed yelded graunted Whervnto I did the rather incline considering myne imminent danger surprised with deadly sicknesse ioyned with dispositioÌ„to do some thing plausible to the good In which my meaning by deferring thereof I might haue beene preuented seing the lyfe of man is so vncertaine thus by that necessity ioyned with good wil like the poore farmer who plucketh the frute before it bee seasonable or ripe because he wold bee saide to haue presented of the first frute of the yoÌ„g sapling I was forced to publish this myne abortiue yoÌ„gling ful of faults blemishes in parte wherof as I cannot excuse my selfe so muste I needes impute some fault too the Printer notwithstanding howsoeuer it fal out the giuers mind and not the thing is that which is presented which construction of this my simple labour if I shal receaue at your friendly haÌ„ds in this work that might haue required a workman of greatest skil to haue treated I shal think my self happy ymagining I haue already so done I wil vse no further intreaty heerin then I thinke standeth with good manners which consisteth in fewest woordes vttered with best meaning the frute hereof shal be that al in general may receaue the vse of that which I had written for myne owne obseruance and priuate instruction wherby euery one may be moued to the consider atioÌ„ of their faultes to the dismasquing of theyr yll colloured actions and bee appointed to dewe regarde of the heanenly mansion prepared vnto the rightuouse for their euerlasting coÌ„fort In which respect I called this little booke the Tryal of Trueth leauing the whole contents therof to the worlde and the censure to the good Beseeching the Almighty that it may please him in his mercy to giue vnto euery one that professe his name an vnderstanding hart to the attainment of a true iudgement As that after this our pilgrimage and this life ended we may together be made partakers of the life eternal Edw. Knight ¶ The Tryall of Trueth THree thinges vndid the Romans raigne viz. Young heades Priuate grudge and Priuate gaine as the principall causes of the destruction of that great Empire And I doe greatly lament it whilest I do behold so great euils in this our age raging among the people euery where in such lamentable maner that what true Christian liuing is there not touched w t the due consideration of the deformitte of the people but that if hee had not a flood of teares hee coulde doe no lesse then shed them foorth in the beholding such dayly prouoking and irritating of God too his heauie wrath for theyr so grecuous disobedience and concempt committed against him and his worde As the Prophet Ieremie was mooued and sore greued with the beholding of the sinnes and wickednes of the people committed against God in that former age insomuche as he brake foorth into these speaches All my bâ—nes
vnto my fathers house Wher as oftētimes for the space of three yeeres there appeared vnto me in a thick hedge a goodly and comfortable vision too beholde so louingly and tenderly as euer any man liuing might desire and wishe shewing suche especiall tokens of Gods great goodnesse and mercies towardes mee as I thinke neuer mortall man coulde wyshe the like which I haue euer kept secret to my selfe vntill this present time for mine owne comfort and consolation Now good maisters for Christ his sake geue eare vnto me and continue in prayers still So it is that long after I came heere to London where I was married sithēs which time I assure you I haue offended my Lord and Sauiour Christe Iesus so sore and manyfoldly by committing of such abhominable vsury as I am afrayde I shalbe condemned eternally indeede one great occasion was because I neuer gaue my selfe too prayer as I was woont to doe but spent my tyme in ouermuche worldlinesse for which my conscience did oftentimes accuse mee which striuing within mee brought mee into a marueilous greate feare of minde so that neuer man was in suche a case of long time And in this laste Tearme being in great trouble of minde the selfe same vision appeared vntoo mee againe and put mee in remembraunce of Gods especiall goodnes and graces before offered vnto mee and also in respecte of many other thinges wylled mee too leaue the trouble of the lawe and all the businesse of the worlde Sithēs which time I assure you I haue left of all and so disposed my self to liue with that which the Lorde hath sent me notwithstanding I wyll shew you stranger thinges insomuche that the seconde night after I fel sick of this my present sicknesse being of perfect memory and in my bed broade awake there appeared vntoo mee suche straunge and fearefull thinges which greatly amased mee and put me in a wonderfull feare I cannot tell what I shoulde tearme them or call them but as I remember they were like Puppets which ranne vpp and downe my chamber my bed and vpō my body tossed mee pulled mee stirred mee and so vexed me as I was neuer in my life so troubled shewing me so terrible fearefull sightes that I was almost brought to destruction vtterly so far foorth that I coulde not tell what too doe Yet at the last remembring my selfe calling too minde the wonderfull graces that my Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christe had at diuerse and sundry times shewed mee I sayde in my self O good Lord what doe all these thinges meane With that there appeared vnto me my former visiō againe and shewed me in writing all the summes of vsury money which I had receiued in my lyfe time so plainly that I read thē And indeede the summes were true euery man named with whō I had occupied that trade and the seuerall summes shewing mee so plainly euery thing as I assure you I much marueiled at it At the last I made answere too my vision and saide O Lord all these things be true indeede what shall I doe to it Then my vision made mee answere and comforted me very much and commaunded mee too repaye all the Vsury money againe to euery man as hee had shewed me the summes which came vnto 18. hūdred pounds Then he bad me pay again fiftie pound which I had gayned for buying of a house and a hundred and twenty pounds which I had gotten by strangers as Italians and suche like and because I knewe not where the saide strangers dwelt to giue it to good prisoners good men that were in Prisons And maisters I cānot tell of what religiō you be of nor to tel you the trueth I care not to the end too accuse my aduersary the Deuyll So as indeede I haue restored some part already and wil render al God willing and wyll pay all the money gayned by Vsury as my vision commaunded mee and doe so intende God willing to do tomorrowe if I liue so long If not I will desire a speciall friende of myne as my trust is in hym to see the same discharged and presently to paye out the same that my soule may abide no perrill therefore And these thinges haue iustly hapned vnto mee for I assure you I haue not vsed to pray as I was woont to doe nor neuer went to the Church at time of common Prayer because it condemned myne owne conscience for suffering mee to commit suche abhominable sinnes of Vsury and others moste detestable against the wyll of my heauenly Father who of the largenesse of his mercy so manyfold and sundry times did shew me suche euident and singuler tokens of his graces and mercies And thus my visionleft me sithence which time I assure you I haue had asmuch quietnesse as any man can wishe and haue seene such comfortable sightes as neither hearte can thinke nor tongue can expresse And so this reconciled person desired the minister being present to say the vii Psalme Glory bee to God on high and then hee thought to haue died But thē the breath being geuen him he reuiued again and fell to prayer and gaue himself wholy to quietnesse but shortly after he departed this life And as I finde of this one so reconciled to God so I can not learne but that as the number of such are very rare and contrary to many such as God hath suffered to perishe through that sinne as appeareth vnto what miserable end the trade of Vsury brought manye Iewes who occupied the same trade in this lande in former ages in suche wyse as it is affirmed in our chronicles Thatthere were certain Iewes inhabiting in y e Citie of York Insomuch as for some one of theyr profession exacted vpon a Christian for lone of money certaine of the inhabitaunts of the same Citie erected themselues to be auenged in such sort as they distressed all the saide Iewes into a Tower of the Castle there which the Christians assailed and the Iewes proffered money to bee in sauegard but the people woulde not accept it In somuche as it is saide that through the wicked counsell of one of their men of lawe all the saide Iewes so distressed agreed too cut the throates of al theyr wiues and children and to cast theyr dead bodies ouer the Walles vppon the Christians heades which horrible fact they hauing desperately perfourmed the rest not so slayne set fier on the Tower wherin they were and consumed themselues by fire Loe heere a iuste rewarde for so damnable a trade themselues to be the executioners of theyr owne wiues children heaping vengeaunce vpon them selues in a damnable maner So as it is noted 600. Iewes besides theyr wyues and childrē thus miserably dyed And as it seemeth by the story that they vndertooke so too dye for theyr lawe But Englishmen are Christiās then let such do the deedes of christianitie being forbidden by gods lawe and politike lawes haue so ordeined that no man shoulde winne or obtayne a
is no more redeemers to be looked for and the Prophets are gone before Albeit wee heare daily speakyng vnto vs from God him self and all his Prophets to the end to gather together the remnaunt of Iuda In so muche as the Prophet Ezechiel hath left vs these comfortes When the wicked man turneth away from his wickednesse that he hath done and doeth the thing which is equall and right hee shall saue his owne soule and lyue For in somuch as he remembreth him selfe and turneth him from all the vngodlines that he hath vsed hee shall lyue and not dye Albeit the Prophet Ieremy doth in this Chapter folowing lay hard to the charge of all vngodly persons taking occasion first to reprooue whoredome and swearing taking Gods name in vaine Shold I not correct this sayth the Lord should I not be auenged of euery people that is lyke vnto this Clyme vp vppon theyr walles beate them downe but destroye them not vtterly Cut of their branches because they are not the Lordes for vnfaythfully hath Israel and Iuda forsaken mee sayeth the Lorde they haue denyed the Lorde and sayde it is not hee Tushe there shall no harme or misfortune come vppon vs wee shall neyther see sworde nor hunger As for the warning of the Prophetes they take it but for wynde yea there is none of those that will tell them that suche thinges shall happen vnto them Feare yee not mee sayeth the Lorde are yee not ashamed to looke mee in the face which bynde the Sea with the sande so that it can not passe his boundes For though it rage yet can it doe nothyng and though the waues doe swell yet may they not goe ouer But this people hath a false and an obstinate heart they are departed and gone away from mee They thinke not in their heartes O let vs feare the Lord that giueth vs rayne early late which keepeth euer styll the haruest for vs yearely Neuerthelesse your misdeedes haue taken from you and your sinnes haue robbed you thereof for among my people are founde wicked persons that priuily laye snares and wayte for men to take them and destroy them And lyke as a Neâ—â—e is full of Byrdes so are their houses full of that which they haue gotten with falshoode and deceite whereof commeth their great substance and ryches whereof they are fatte and well lykyng and are runne away from me with shamefull blasphemyes They minister not the lawe ryghtfully They iudge not accordyng to equitie Should I not punishe these things sayth the Lord should I not bee auenged of all suche people as these bee Horrible and greeuous things are done in the lande Which while the Lorde dyd beholde See I pray you the louyng mercyes of the Lorde offered vnto those people and nowe speaking vnto vs by the mouthes of many godly Preachers in folowyng and obseruyng the fourme of the good Prophet Osee in daily crying out Turne from your frowarde wayes and turnyng from your disobedience with the children of Israel saying vnto the eternall God Thou arte the Lorde our God and thee will we worshyp Confusion hath deuoured our fathers labour froÌ„ our youth vp yea their sheepe their Bullockes theyr sonnes and their daughters So doe wee also sleepe in our confusion and shame couereth vs for we and our Father from our youth vp vnto this day haue sinned against the Lorde our God and haue not obeyed his voyce For reconciliation whereof it is written thus by the Prophet Ioel. Make thy moane as a Virgine doeth that girdeth her selfe with sackecloth because of her Bridegroome for the meate and drinke offerings shall bee taken out of the house of the Lord. And the Priests the Lords and Ministers shall mourne the fielde shall be wasted the lande shal be in a miserable case Wherefore in the seconde Chapter of the same Prophet it is written thus Turne you vnto the Lorde your God for he is long suffring and of great mercy Proclaime a fasting call the congregation and gather the people together warne the congregation gather the Elders bryng the children and sucklyngs together let the Bridegroome go foorth of his Chamber and the Bryde out of her Closet Let the Priestes serue the Lorde betwyxt the Porch and the Alter weeping and saying Be fauourable O Lorde to thy people let not thine heritage be brought to such confusion lest the Heathen be Lordes thereof And Sainet Paul to Timothie hath left vnto vs in this age a probable reason that the day of the Lord his translation of this worlde is neerer vpon commyng then nowe seemeth to be made accompt off This knowe that in the latter dayes shal come perillous times for men shall be louers of their owne selues couetous boasters proud cursed speakers disobedient vnto father and mother vnthankfull vngodly vnkynde trucebreakers false accusers riotous fierce despisers of theÌ„ that are good Traytours headie mynded greedy vpon boluptuousnesse more then the louers of God hauyng a similitude of godlinesse but hauyng denyed the power thereof and such abhorre For of this sorte are they which enter into houses and bryng in bondage women laden with diuers lustes euer learnyng and neuer able to come to the trueth If the consideration of such ensamples then may not mooue the people in this age to bee deepely touched with repentaunce let them take the louyng Parables of Christ of the two sonnes and of the tylman vnto whome hee set his Vineyarde A certayne man had two soones and hee came to the first and sayde sonne goe and worke to day in my Vineyarde who answered I will not but afterwards repented and went Then came bee to the seconde and sayde likewyse and hee answered I will syr but went not Wherein is expressed a wonderfull comfort first is to be considered how the Lorde our God maker of heauen earth doeth humble him selfe not onely to bee called a husbandman a housholder and suche lyke But he abaseth him selfe of mercy to vs vile earth and ashes that his sonne became man to make mankynde glorious in his sight to make all those that do not refuse his grace offered of the slaues of Saten his sonnes by adoption We are his sonnes we are his Vinyard wee are as deare vnto him as the Apple of his eye As Moyses speaketh if you can beleeue it hee sweareth that you shal be his inheritance and he will be yours If yee will onely beleeue his grace offered and beleeue him when hee sweareth Will yee call his trueth into doubt his glorye into shame by your misreliefe Better it were that all creatures should perishe Heauen man and Aungels then that GOD shoulde not haue credite or that his power and glorye in the least iotte shoulde bee diminished Hee hath called vs hys people of Englande by his worde many yeares to worke in his Vineyarde But what many one haue answered I appeale to your owne consciences which witnesseth and all the world seeth that some
we doe beare the Image of Christ let vs in tyme refraine from glutting ladyng our selues with muddy earth lyke vnto the Woluish generation but so to frame our selues to haue gladsome heartes and willing mindes to the ende to fetch water at the liuely fountaine with the woman of Samaria who could not deny but that shee had met with one who had told her all that she had done in her tyme and the same was very Christ our Lorde and Sauiour who now speaketh vnto vs out of his sacred worde bee knowyng from the beginning what hath bene done and what we nowe doe and nothing can bee hyd from him so secretly that his eares doeth not heare his eyes behold Who of a fatherly affection in his mercy hath left vnto Englande the moste perfectest meanes that euer was by the prescript rule of his worde how to know what our dueties are and howe wee should behaue our selues in this mortall and transitory lyfe Alwayes and in all our externall deedes to preferre his diuine wil pleasure before our carnall willes and affections vntyl we come to the vnspeakeable ioyes of his presence In the meane time the same our God hath assured vs by his word that after Prophets or warnings there euer after followed returnyng in yeldyng due obedience Or els alwayes hath ensued a lamentable and fearefull destruction Albeit our heauenly father hath and yet doeth deale with vs his people of Englande in the large measure of his mercy euen as a good father or master that threateneth and shaketh the rod before hee layeth on the stryâ—es which whyle the disobedient dee seeme to contenine and set light by a heauy punishement insueth which notwithstandyng when he threateneth he findeth no duetifull obedience in returning vnto him and when he warneth there is no repentance for sinne For he findeth some so obstinate and wicked as to say the way of the lord is not indifferent vnto such it may very well be sayd Nay is not your wayes rather cursed As God forbyd that any one of his litle flocke in Englande should be so obstinate and indurate hearted as to thinke that so good blessings as GOD hath powred vpon England are lent vs in vayne so to returne from vs as clouds without rayn or as an Eccho in the aire â—nlesse our owne vnworthinesse doe deserue it so to be taken from vs and to be giuen vnto a straunge people that yeâ— knowe not God As God forbyd that we should thorow our disobedience so as it were rent the mercyes of God from our selues and so become the scattered people But rather let vs the people of Englande seeke by all meanes possible to redeeme our euil spent tyme by earnest repentance and mortification subduing the lustes of the flesh with all the euill concupiscences of the same bearyng with vs free and cleare consciences agreeable to the will of God for so is the way to be at one with him as his worde doeth direct vs That to the cleane all thinges are cleane and to the frowarde all thinges are frowarde with the godly thou shalt be godly with the vncorrupt then shalt be vncorrupt And this I say further that I wryte according to the trueth and lye not let euery man examine his owne conscience I do desire no better witnes For where any man or woman so liueth as hauing no feeling desire in themselues to be at one with God sure it is an euident signe that neyther God dwelleth in them nor they in God With such God graunt that none of the people of England should at any tyme ioyne felowship but that all may growe and become 〈◊〉 members for Christ his Church by one generall consent So shall there bee no complainyng in our streetes nor no leading into captiuitie but all shall haue a ioyfull peace in conscience Thereby to glorifie God our heauenly father vnto whom with his Sonne Christ Iesu and the holy Ghost three persons and one God eternall be all honor power and dominion now and for euer Amen FINIS Our Sauiour Christ pronounceth thus much of him selfe that if we continue in his word then are we his very Disciples and shal knowe the trueth and the trueth shal make vs free Saue Lord and blesse with good increase thy church our Queen realme in peace ¶ IMPRINTED at London at the three Cranes in the Vintree by Thomas Dawson and Thomas Butter 1580. Ieremie 24. Ezechi 18. Esay 14. Apoc. 11. Gen. 11. Mach. 15. Exod. 14. Reg. 18. 17. Esay 23. Gen. 34. Dani. 13. Gen. 3. Amos. 6. Luke 6. Esay 3. Chapt. 16. Samuell 2. Esdras 4. 8. Sopho. 1. in tempore E. 3. An. Re. â—3 The. 5. Chap The way that Gentlemen may continue their ancient possessions Exod. 16. An. 2. Richa 1. An. Reg. â— Deut. 23. Exod. 22. Leuit. 25. Deut. 23. Ezech. 22. Psalm 14. Ezech. 18. The maner of vsurers gathering of their substance Matth. 12. Luke 21. Iohn 2. Micheas 6. Miche â— Esai â— Matth. â—5 Matth. 6. The property of good Bees Luke 3 Chapmen or retaylers of wares Pron 20. Peter 3. In Noahs dayes the olde world perished thorow water But this world is reserued for fyre Deut. 25. Leui. 19. Prou. 11. Math. 15. Luke 16. Iohn 10. The meanes wherby eche man may eramin in himselfe how he groweth rich to godward Mark 13. Faith is of a forcible effect and the stay of our life Iames. 2. Hebr. 11. Gal. 6. Pet. 1. Gen. 3. Luke â—â— Iob. 31. Ezech. 18. Cor. 8. An ensample of a great Turke The heart of man may be compared to a payre of writing tables Tob. 4â— Deut. 15. The Lord loueth a chearefull giuer Ephe. 6. To children Seruants Matth. 23. Pet. 2. The reedifiyng of London Bridge compared to the building and reedefiyng of the house of God Act. 7. Ring 15. What fourme ought to be obserued in the perfiting of Gods house Matth. 11. Luke â—5 Matth. 20. Matth. 5. A speciall note for all that professe Christ In the 2. boke of the Chro. Chap. 30. Ezech. 34. An order of planting or graftyng Tim. 2. Iohn 1â— Num. 11. 1â— 15. Exod. 9. 10. Gen. 22. Esdras 4. â—ooke Exod. 19. Iere. 18. Esai 48. Iere. 5. Osee 13. Act. 4. Ioel. 1. Prayers must be made out of the Closet of our heartes Tim. 2. Alamentable signe euen as it is come to passe in this age Matth. 21. Matth. 12. Marke 8. Tob. 12. Gen. 7. 19. Iohn 4. King 2â— Iohn 8.