vnfained hart we may desire not only an end of our troubles for that shal come to vs by death but also of al the troubles of the churche of God which shal not bee before the comming again of the Lorde Iesus The thirde cause I collect of Moses wordes to the Israelites saying The Lorde thy God shal cast out these nations by little and little before thee Hee wil not cast them out all at once lest perchaunce the wilde beasts be multiplied against thee And also when thou shalt enter into that lande and shalt dwell in the houses that thou neuer buildest and that thou shalt eate and bee filled giue thankes vnto the Lorde thy God and beware that thou forget him not and that thou say not in thy hearte The strength of mine own hand hath brought these great riches vnto mee In these woordes are twoo thinges appertaining vnto our matter most worthie to bee noted First that Moses saieth that the Lorde will not at once but by little and little destroy those nations adding the cause least perchaunce saith hee the wilde beastes bee multiplied and make vpâ—o are against thee The seconde that when they had abundance that then they shoulde declare themselues mindeful of God his benefites and that they should not thinke that their owne power wisedome nor prouision was any cause that they had the fruition of those commodities By these Presidents the holy Ghost teacheth them that like as they did not possesse nor obtaine the first interest of that lande by their owne strength but that the Lorde God did freelie giue it to them so likewise were they not able to brooke nor enioy the same by any power of themselues For albeeit that God shoulde haue in one moment destroied al their enemies yet if hee shoulde not haue beene their perpetual safegarde the wilde beastes shoulde haue troubled them And if they had demaunded the question why wilt thou not destroy the wild beasts also he answereth least thou forget the Lorde thy God and say in thy heart my strength hath obtained this quietnesse to my selfe Consider deerely beloued that such things as the spirite of God foresawe dangerous and damnable vnto them the same things are to be feared in vs for al things happened vnto them in figures They were in Egypt corporally punished by a cruel tyrant wee were in spirituall bondage of the Deuil by sinne and incredulitie God gaue to them a land that flowed with milke and hony for which they neuer laboured God hath opened to vs the knowledge of Christ Iesus which we neuer deserued nor yet hoped for the same They were not able to defende the land after they were possessed in it wee are not able to retaine our selues in the true knowledge of Christ but by his grace onelie Some enimies were left to exercise theÌ„ Sinne is left in vs that we may learne to fight If enemies had not beene wilde beasts should haue multiplied amongest them If such beastes as wee thinke most doe trouble vs were not permitted so to doe worse beastes shoulde haue dominion ouer vs that is to wit Trust in our selfe arrogancie obliuion forgetfulnes of that estate from which GOD hath deliuered vs togither with a light estimation of all Christes merites which sinnes are the beastes that alas do deuour no smal nuÌ„ber of meÌ„ Neither yet let any maÌ„ thinke that if al kinde of crosses were taken from vs during the time that wee beare the earthly Image of Adam that wee shoulde bee more perfect in vsing the spiritual giftes of God to wit the remission of sinnes his free grace and Christ his iustice for which wee neuer laboured than that people shoulde haue beene in vsing of those corporall giftes And Moyses saith vnto them Beware that thou forget not the Lorde thy God Hee who knoweth the secretes of heartes giueth not his preceptes in vaine if man his hearte had not beene prone and readie to forget God and to glorie in his owne strength God had not giuen this precept and repeated it so diligently For hee neither doeth nor speaketh in vaine but knowing what thinges be most able to blinde and deceiue man the wisedome of God by his contrarie preceptes giueth him warning of the same Experience hath taught vs howe such beastes haue troubled the churche of God to speake nothing of the time of the Prophetes of the Apostles or of the primitiue church What trouble made Pelagius by his heresie affirming that man by natural power and free wil might fulfil the lawe of GOD and deserue for himselfe remission and grace And to come a little neere to our owne age hath it not beene openly preached and affirmed in schooles and set out by writings that onelie faith doeth not iustifie but that workes doe also iustifie Hath it not beene taught that good workes may goe before faith and may prouoke God to giue his graces What hath beene taught of man his merites and of the workes of supererogation some openly affirming that some men haue wrought more good woorkes then were necessarie to their owne saluation I pray you consider if these men saide not our hande and our strength hath giuen these thinges vnto vs. What were these Diuelishe heresies and others that haue infected the whole Papistrie Assuredly they were cruel and rauenous beastes able to deuour the soules of al those vpon whome they get the vpper hande but the mercifull prouidence of our God willing our saluation wil not suffer vs to come to that vnthankefulnesse and obliuion And therefore heere hee permitteth vs of our enemies with his Apostle Paule to be suffered to the ende that wee may mourne for sinne and hate the same that we may knowe the onelie mediatour and the dignitie of his office that we may vnfaynedly thirst the comming of the Lorde Iesus and that wee neither bee presumptuous lightly esteeming Christ his death neither yet vnmindful of out former estate and miseries And so this cuppe is as it were a medicine prepared by the wisedome of our eternal Phisition who onelie knoweth the remedies of our corrupt nature Aduerte and marke deere mother that al commeth to vs for our most singular profite It is a medicine and therefore presently it cannot bee pleasing But howe gladly woulde wee vse and receiue when the bodies were sicke how vnpleasant bitter soeuer it were to drinke that medicine which would remoue sicknesse restore health But Oh how much more ought wee with patience and thanksgiuing to receiue this medicine of our fathers handes that from our soule remoueth many mortal diseases his holy Ghost so working by the same such as is pride presumption contempt of grace and vnthankefulnesse which bee the very mortal diseases that by vnbeliefe doe kil the soule And doeth restore vnto vs lowlinesse feare inuocation of God his name remembrance of our owne weakenesse and of God his infinite benefite by Christ receiued Which bee the very euident signes that Iesus Christ liueth in vs 〈◊〉
against the spirit euen in the howre of their greatest perfection in such maner that al power al iustice and al vertue proceeding from vs is so contaminate and defiled that the very workes which wee doe must be purged by an other and that therefore can none of them be infallible groundes of our praier neither yet a sufficient cause why we should be heard But the goodnesse of God as it is infinite so can it not bee defiled by our iniquitie but it pearceth through the same and wil shewe it selfe to our consolation euen as the beames of the bright Sun pearce through the mystie and thicke cloudes and bring downe his natural heate to comforte and quicken suche hearbes and creatures as through violence of colde were almost falne into deadly decaie And thus the onely goodnesse of God remaineth in al stormes the sure foundation to the afflicted Against which the Deuil is neuer able to preuaile The knowledge of this is so necessarie to the afflicted conscience that without the same it is verie harde to withstande the assaultes of the aduersarie for as he is a spirite most suttle and vigilant to trouble the children of God so is it easie to him to deâ—ace and vndermine al the groundes and causes that be within man especially when wee are in trouble yea he can persuade that we lacke those thinges which most assuredly we haue by Gods free gift and grace As for example if wee desire to bee deliuered from trouble and anguishe of conscience with Dauid and Iob sodeinely can the Deuil obiect what appertaineth their example vnto thee they had many notable and singular vertues which thou lackest if wee desire remission of sinnes with Magdalen with Peter or with any other offenders he hath these dartes readie to shoote they had Fayth but thou hast none they had true repentance thoâ— arâ—e but an hypocrite they hated sinne and continued in good woorkes but thou reioycest in sinne and dooest no good at al. By these meanes can hee who is the accuser of vs and of our brethren â—uer finde out some craftie accusation to trouble the weake conscience of the afflicted so long as it resteth vppon any thing that is within it selfe and til by operation of the holie Ghost wee are ranished and refte vp to the contemplation of our GOD so that our mindes are fixed onely vppon Gods infinite goodnesse clayming by the same to receiue mercie as Iob doeth in his former woordes the sense and meaning whereof is this O Lord thou madest mee when yet I was not thou gauest mee soule and bodie when I neither knewe nor vnderstoode what thy power was thou seddest and nourishedst mee when I coulde doe nothing but weepe and mourne And thy mercifull prouidence vnto this day hath preserued my life and yet neither I nor my woorkes coulde profite thee for thou whose habitation is in heauen needest not the helpe of man And as for my woorkes such as the fountaine is such must the water be my heart is corrupted how then can any thing that is cleene proceede from the same And so what euer I haue receiued that either was is or hereafter shalbe within my corrupt nature al proceedeth froÌ„ thine infinite goodnesse which begunnest to shew thy mercie before that I knew thee caÌ„st thou then leaue mee thus in my extremitie I graunt and confesse that I haue offended but is there any creature cleane and perfect in such perfection that without mercie he may abide the trial of thy iustice or is there any iniquitie now in me which thy wisedom did not know before And thus I appeale to thy mercy which springeth from thy infinite goodnes O deere mother when thy afflicted soule can thus forsake and refuse what euer is in man can stay it self how litle soeuer it be vpoÌ„ Gods infinite goodnes theÌ„ are al the firie darts of the Deuil quenched he is repulsed as a coÌ„founded spirit It shal hurt nothing albeeit the stormie teÌ„pest cease not sodainely It is sufficient that this anker be cast out which assuredly shal preserue your ship that shee violently runne not vpon the forelande of desperatioÌ„ This I write beloued in the Lorde knowing what hath beene your complaintes heeretofore in that you found your faith faint that you could not repent your former euil life chat yee found no disposition nor readinesse to good workes but were rather carried away of sinne wickednesse If al this had beene true yet had yee beene in no worse case then was the Apostle Paule when hee cried O wretched and vnhappie man that I am who shal deliuer mee from this body of sinne But I assuredly know that the chiefe part of your trouble proceedeth from malice enuie of the Diuel who would perswade to your hearte that yee delighted in those things which to you were most displeasing For howe oft haue ye complained vpon the weakenes of your faith How oft haue yee lamented the imperfection of your fleshe The teares of your eies haue wiâ—nessed before God that yee delighted not in such thinges as your aduersary falsly layeth to your charge For who vseth continually too mourne in those thinges that are pleasing to his hearte if they bee present with him at al times Or who wil desire thinges pleasing to bee remoued from him yee haue mourned for your weakenesse and haue desired your imperfection to bee remoued and yee haue detested all sortes of idolatry How then can yee think that yee can take any pleasure in the same Despâ—ire not although that al remembrance of Gods goodnesse or worthinesse bee remoued from your minde yee haue Dauid Iob Daniel and al other the Saints of God in equal sorte with you of Dauid and Iob yee haue hearde and Esay making his heauie complainte for the plagues of the people of Israel openly confesseth that al had sinned that their right eousnes was nothing but filthinesse that none sought God that none called vpon his name And Daniel in his prayer like wise confesseth that al had wrought wickedly that al had declined from God yea and that none had submitted them selues to GOD nor yet had made supplication vnto him albeit hee had punished their former inobedience and therefore saith hee that they did not alledge their owne iustice in their prayers Consider deare Mother that no mention is made of any righteousnessâ— that was within them selues neither yet doe they glory of any workes or vertues that they had wrought before for they vnderstood that God was authour of all goodnesse And therefore to him only apperteineth the praise But as for their sinnes they vnderstood them to bee the infirmities of their owne fleshe and therfore boldly called they for mercy And that by Gods infinite goodnesse which is no lesse free vnto you then vnto theÌ„ according to the riches of his liberal graces which plentifully he powreth foorth vpon al them that cal on the name of the Lord Iesus The third and
last grounde of Dauids praiers was the glory and and praise of Gods name to be shewed and vttered in his life as in these wordes hee declareth For there is no remembrance of theâ— in death who landeth thee in the pitte As Dauid woulde say O Lorde howe shal I pray and declare thy goodnesse when I am dead and gone downe in to the graue I is not thy ordinary course to haue thy myracles and wonderous works preached vnto men by those that are buried and gone downe into the pit those that are dead make no mention of thee in the earth And therefore O Lorde spare thy seruant that yee for a time I may shewe and witnesse thy wonderous woorkes vnto mankinde These most godly affections in Dauid did ingender in him a vehement horror and feare of death besides that which is natural and common to al men bicause he perfectly vnderstood that by death hee shoulde be letted any further to aduance the glory of God Of this same he complaineth most vehemently in the 88. Psalm where apparauntly hee taketh from the dead sense remembrance feeling and vnderstanding aledging that God worketh no miracles by the dead that the goodnes of God cannot be preached in the graue nor his faith by perdition and that his meruellous workes are not knowne in darkenesse By which speache we may not vnderstand that Dauid taketh all sense and feeling from the dead â—either yet that they which are dead in Christ are in such estate that by God they haue not consolation and life no Christ him selfe doth witnesse the contrary but Dauid so vehemently expresseth their estate and condition because that after death they are depriued from al ordinatie ministration in the Church of God None of those that are departed are appointed to bee preachers of Gods glory vnto mankinde But after death they ceasse any more â—o aduannce Gods holy name heere amongest the liuing on earth and so shall euen they in that behalfe be vnprofitable to the congregation as touching any thing that they can do either in body or soule after death And therefore most earnestly Dauid desired to liue in Israel for the further manifestation of Gods glory Heere is to bee obserued a short but yet a most necessary note which is this what the thinges bee which wee ought principally to seeke in this transitorie life Not those for the which the blinde world contendeth and striueth but God and his louing kindnes to ward mankind his amiable promises and true religion to be aduanced and preached vnto others our brethren that be ignorant For if we doe not we may rather bee counted beastes then men dead stocks not liuing creatures yea rather thinges that bee not at al then substance hauing either being or life Seeing that the heauens declare the glory of God the earth with the whole contentes thereof what euer they bee doe geue praise to his holy name the Sea floods and fountaines with the wonders conteined in the same do not ceasse to make manifest the wisedome the power and the prouidence of their creator what then shalbe saide of man that neither seeketh neither regardeth Gods glory Yea what shal bee iudged of those that not onely hinder Gods glory but also declare them selues enimies to such as woulde promote it I must speake my conscience with a sorowful heart they are not onely dead but they are also of the nature of him by whose malice and enuie death entred into the worlde that is of the Diuel But them I omit at this present because their accusation doeth not muche apperteine to this our matter whereof nowe I must make an ende somewhat contrary to my minde For so I am compelled by some present troubles as wel of body as of Spirite The fourth part of this Psalm I omit til more opportunitie for it doth not much appertaine to the spiritual crosse but it is as it were a Prophesie spoken against all such as reioyce at the troubles of Gods elect who assuredly shalbe confounded and sodenly brought to shame when the Lord shal heare the voices of the sore afflicted Now dearely beloued in our Sauiour Christe Iesus seeing that the spiritual crosse is proper to the children of God seeing that it is geuen to vs as a most effectual medicine aswel to remome diseases as to plant in our soules most notable vertues such as is humilitie mercy contempt of our selues and continual remembrance of our owne weakenesse and imperfection And seeing that you haue had most euident signes that this same medicine hath wrought in you a part of al the promises receiue it thankfully of your fathers hand what trouble soeuer it bring with it and albeit that the fleshe grudge yet let the spirite reioyce stedfastly looking for deliuerance assuredly yee shall obteine according to the goodwil promise of him who cannot deceiue to whom bee glory for euer and euer before his congregation Amen Now seeing it is vncertaine beloued mother if euer we shal meete in this corporal life which wordes I wil not that yee take in any displeasure for if God continue you in life me in health I shal attempt to speake with you face to face within lesse time theÌ„ is passed since the one of vs last saw the other And be ye assured beloued mother that neither shal it be the feare of death nor the rage of the Diuel that shal let me therfore I beseech you take not my wordes in that part as though I were not minded to visite you againe no I assure you that onely Gods hande shal withholde mee But because our life doeth vanish as the smoke before the blast of wind my conscience moueth me to write vnto you as though I should â—â—ke from you my last good night in earth The summe whereof is this to exhort and admonish you euen as that yee wil haue parâ— with Christ Iesus to coâ—tine we in the doctrine to the ende which before the world ye haâ—e professed For before God before Christ Iesus his soâ—ne and before his holy angelles neither shame I â—o confesse neither doubt I to affirme that the doctrine which you and others haue hard not only of my mouth but also faithfully taught by the mouthes of many others of whom some are exâ—lâ—d some cruelly cast into prison and the rest commanded to silence is the onely worde of life and that al doctrine repugning to the same is diabolical erronius which assuredly shal bring death and perpetual condemnation to al those which shal therto condiscend and agree And therefore Mother be not moued with any winde but sticke to Christe in the day of this his battel also I admonish you too auoide that abhomination which oft yee haue heard by me affirmed to be damnable idolatrie God I take to record in my conscience that neither then neither now I spake nor doe speake for pleasure or hatred of any liuing creature in erth whatsoeuer that it be but as my coscience
therefore destruction shal sodainly fal vppon them But with what kinde of plagues they shalbee stricken in this life and whome GOD shall appoint to execute his 〈◊〉 vppon them that I remit to his good pleasure and further reuelation But their manifest inquitie is vnto mee an assured assurance that long they cannot escape the 〈◊〉 of them most iustly deserued But in the meane season beloued brethren twoâ— thinges yee must auoide the former that yee presume not to bee reuengers of your owne cause but that yee resigne ouer vengeance vnto him who onely is able to requite them according to their malicious mindes Secondly that yee hate not with any â—arnal hatred these blinde cruel and malicious tyrantes but that yee learne of Christ to pray for your persecutors lamenting and bewayling that the Deuil shoulde so preuaile against them that headlong they shoulde runne body and soule to perpetual perdition And note wel that I say wee may not hate them with a carnal hatred that is to say onely because they trouble our bodies For there is a spiritual hatred which Dauid 〈◊〉 a perfect hatred which the holy Ghost engendreth in the 〈◊〉 of Gods elect against the rebellious contemners of his holy statues And it is when 〈◊〉 more lament that Gods glorie is suppressed and that Chrisâ—es flocke is defrauded of their wholesome foode theÌ„ that our bodies are persecuted With this hatred was Ieremie inflamed when he praied let me see thy vengeance taken vpon thine enemies O Lorde With this hatred may we hate tyrants and earnestly may we pray for their destruction be they kings or Queenes Princes or Prelates And further yee shal note that the praiers made in the feruencie of this hatred are before God so acceptable that often times he that praieth obtaineth the selfesame thing that the external words of his praier doe meane as Dauid Ieremie and other of the Prophetes sawe with their corporal eies the whote vengeance of God powred forth vpon the cruel tyrants of their age I am assured that some which this day do â—ob grone vnder your tyraÌ„nous bishops shall see the like vpon the Pestileâ—t Papistes within the Realme of England This my affirmation proceedeth not froÌ„ any coniecture of mans phantasie but froÌ„ the ordinary cause of gods iudgements against manifest contemners of his preceptes from the beginning which is this First to rebuke and notifie by his messengers such sinnes as before the worlde are not knowen to bee sinne Secondly to prouoke them to repentance Thirdly to suffer the reprobate to declare their owne impenitencie before the worlde and last to powre vpon them so manifest vengeance that his churche may bee instructed aswel of his power as of his seuere iudgementes against inobedience This was the order of his iudgement against Pharao against Saule against Ieroboam against Herode against the Scribes and Pharisees and against the whole citie of Ierusalem Our eares haue hearde and our eyes haue seene the first three diettes of the Lordes iudgement executed against the Pestilent Papistes within the Realme of Englande For wee haue hearde their summoning and citation duelie executed by the Messengers of Gods woorde Wee haue hearde them accused and conuicted before their owne faces of theft and murther of blasphemie against God of idolatrie and finally of al abhominations which crimes being laide to their charge in their owne presence they were not able to deny so potent so plaine euident was gods worde whereby their secrete botches olde festered sores were discouered reuealed We knowe that long processe of time hath beene graunted by Gods lenitie to their conuersion and repentance And howe litle the same hath auailed these present dayes may testifie For who nowe doeth not espie their malice to encrease their obstinacie to bee such as none can be greater Shal wee then thinke that God wil giue ouer his cause as that he were not able to preualie against Tyrants Not so deare brethreÌ„ not so But eueÌ„ so assuredly as our god liueth by whose spirite was stirred vp some of his elect first to espie the great abhominatioÌ„s of those tyrantes in this our age which his messengers in despite of their tyranny God preserued to proclaime notifie before their owne faces such sinnes as the worlde knewe not to bee sinne and assuredly as we haue espied theÌ„ still to continue in malice against God against his eternal veritie and against the messengers of the same so assuredly shal wee see Gods extreme plagues powred foorth vppon them euen in this corporal life That some 〈◊〉 vs may witnesse to the generation that shal folowe the wonderous workes that the Lorde hath wrought and will worke in this our age Neither shal theâ—e plagues more then the worde of God which passed before worke in them any true repentance but stil in a blinde 〈◊〉 they shall rebel against the Maiesâ—â—e of God For the deadly venome of that malicious serpent their father the Diuel can â—euer bee purged from their cankered heartes And therfore after these plagues of whome some wee haue hearde and seene for what a Plague was it to the false Bishop of Doresme before his face to bee called murtherer and theefe and of the same to be conuict that neither could him selfe deny it neither any of his proctours or diuine doctours being present with him durst enterprise to speake one worde in defence of his cause After these plagues I say of whom some wee haue seene and the rest wee shortly looke for resâ—eth the last the vnqâ—eÌ„chable fire which is prepared for their portion And therfore yet again dearely beloued in our Sauiour Iesus Christe hope you against hope and against al worldly appearance For assuredly as God is immutable so assuredly shal he stirre vp one Iehu or other to execute his vengeaÌ„ce vpon those blood thirstie tyrants and obstinate idolaters And therefore abide yee patiently the time that is appointed to our correction and to the ful ripenesse of their malicious mindes Bee not discouraged although the Bishops haue gotten the victorie So did the Beniamites naturall brethren to our Bishops defenders of whoâ—edom of al abhohominable adulterie twice preuaile against the Israelites who fought at Gods commaundement Yee shall consider beloued brethren that the counsels of God are profounde and inscrutable The most iust man is innocent in his sight There may be secrete causes why God sometimes wil permit the most wicked to preuaile triumph in the most vniust action but yet wil hee not long delay to execute his his wrath and iustly deserued vengeance vpon such as bee proude murtherers obsâ—inate idolaters and impenitent malefactours And theâ—fore haue they not great cause to reioyce For albeit they haue once preuailed against fleshe yet shall GOD shortely bring them to vtter confusion and great shame for euer Let Winchester and his cruel counsel deuise and studie till his wits faile howe
accuse their former negligence then lament they the miserable affliction of their brethren and then crye cal they in their heartes and openly where they dare for free passage of the Gospel This hunger and thirst doeth prooue the life of their soules But of suche men as hauing libertie to reade and exercise them selues in Gods holie scriptures yet begin to be wery because froÌ„ time to time they reade but one thing I aske why are not they weary euerie day to eate bread to drink wine to behold the brightnesse of the Sun to vse the rest of gods creatures which euery day do keepe their own substaÌ„ce course and nature They shal answere I trust Because such creatures haue a strength to preserue the life O miserable creatures who dare attribute more power strength to the corruptible creatures in nourishing preseruing the mortal carkas then to the eternal woorde of God in the nourishment of the soule which is immortal To reason with their damnable vnthankfulnesse at this present is not my purpose But to you my deare brethren I wryte my knowledge and do speake my conscience That so necessarie as the vse of meate drink is to the preseruation of corporal life and so necesâ—arie as the heate and brightnesse of the Sunne is to the quickening of the hearbes and to expel darknesse So necessarie is also to the life euerlasting and to the illumination and light of the soule the perpetual meditation exercise vse of Gods holie word And therfore deere brethren if that yee looke for a life to come of necessitie it is that yee exercise your selues in the booke of the Lorde your God Let â—o day slip or want some comfort receiued from the mouth of God open your eares and he wil speake euen pleasant thinges to your heart close not your eyes but diligently let them beholde what portion of substance is left to you within your fathers Testament Let your tongues learne to praise the gracious goodnesse of him whose meere mercie hath called you from darkenesse to light and from death to life Neither yet may ye do this so quietly that ye wil admit no witnesse no brethren yee are ordained of God to rule your owne houses in his true feate according to his word Within your houses I say in some cases ye are Bishops and Kinges your wife children seruantes and family are your Bishopprike and charge of your it shalbe required howe carefully and diligently ye haue alwayes instructed them in Gods knowledge how that ye haue studied in them to plant vertue and suppresse vice And therefore I say ye must make them partakers in reading exhorting and in making common praiers which I woulde in euerie house were vsed once a day at least but aboue al thinges deare brethren studie to practise in life that which the worde of God commandeth and then be yee assured that yee shal neuer heare nor reade the same without fruite And thus much for the exercise within your houses Considering that S. Paule calleth the congregation the bodie of Christ wheâ—eof euerie one of vs is a member teaching vs therby that no member is of sufficiencie to susteine and feede it selfe without the helpe and support of an other I thinke it necessarie for the conference of scriptures assemblies of brethren be had The order therein to be obserued is â—xpressed by S. Paule and therefore neede not I to vse many woordes in that behalfe only willing that when the conuent are come together which I woulde were once a weeke that your beginning shoulde be from confession of your offences and inuocation of the spirite of the Lorde Iesus Christ to assist you in al your godly enterprises And theÌ„ let some place of scripture bee plainely and distinctly redde so much as shal be thought sufficient for one day or time which ended if any brother haue exhortation questioÌ„ or dout let him not feare to speake or moue the same so that he doe it with moderation either to edifie or to be edified And hereof I dout not but great profite shal shortly ensue For first by hearing reading and conferring the scriptures in the assemblie the whole bodie of the scriptures of God shal become familiar The iudgements and spirites of men shalbee tried Their patience and modestie shalbee knowne and finally their giftes and vtterance shal appeare Multiplication of wordes prolixe interpretations and wilfulnesse in reasoning is to be auoided at al times and in al places but chiefly in the congregation where nothing ought to be respected except the glorie of God comfort or edification of brethren If any thing occurre within the text or els arise in reasoning which your iudgements can not resolue or capacities comprehend let the same be noted and put in writing before yee dismisse the congregation that when God shal offer vnto you any interpretor your dout beeing noted and knowne may haue the more expedite resolution or els that when ye shal haue occasion to write to such as with whoÌ„ ye wold communicate your iudgementes your letters may signifie and declare the vnceasing desire that ye haue of God and of his true religion And they I dout not according to their talents wil endeuour and bestow their faithful labours to satisfie your godly petitions Of my selfe I wil speake as I thinke I wil more gladly spend ten houres in communicating my iudgement with you in explayning as God pleaseth to open to me any place of scripture then halfe an houre in any matter beside Further I would in reading the scriptures ye should ioine some bokes of the olde and some of the newe Testament together as Genesis and one of the Euangelistes Exodus with an other so forth euer ending suche bookes as yee begin as the time wil suffer For it shal greatly comforte you to heare that harmonie wel tuned song of the holie spirite speaking in our fathers from the beginning It shal confirme you in these dangerous and perillous dayes to behold the face of Christ Iesus his louing spouse and Church from Abel to him selfe and from him selfe to this day in al ages to be one Be frequent in the Prophets and in the Epistles of S. Paul for the multitude of matters most comfortably therin contained requireth exercise good memorie Like as your assemblies ought to beginne with confession inâ—ocation of God his holie spirite So woulde I that they were finished with thanksgiuing commoÌ„ praiers for princes Rulers Magistrates for the libertie and free passage of Christ his Euangelie for the coÌ„fort and deliuerance of our afflicted brethren in al places now persecuted but most cruelly within the realmes of Fraunce and Englande and for such other thinges as the spirit of the Lord Iesus shal teach vnto you to bee profitable either to your selues or to your brethren whersoeuer they be If thus or better I shal heare that yee exercise your selues deare brethren then wil I praise God for your great obedience as for them that not onely haue receiued the word of grace with gladnesse but that also with care and diligence do keepe the same as a treasure and iewel most precious And because I can not suspect that ye wil doe the coÌ„trarie at this present I wil vse no threatnings for my good hope is that ye shal walk As the sonnes of light in the middest of this wicked 〈◊〉 That Ye â—hal be aâ— Starreâ— in the night â—eason who yet aâ—e not chaunged into 〈◊〉 That ye shal be wheat amongst the 〈◊〉 and yet that yee shal not chaunge your nature which ye haue receiued by grace through the â—elowship and parâ—icipatioÌ„ which we haue with the Lord Iesus in his bodie and blood And finally that ye shalbe of the number of the prudent viâ—gins dayly renuing your 〈◊〉 with oyle as you that patiently doe abide the glorious apparition and comming of the Lord Iesus whose omnipotent spirit â—ule and instruct illuminate and comforte your 〈◊〉 and mindesâ— in al assaules 〈◊〉 and euermore Amen The grace of our Lord Iesus rest with you I.K. Imprinted at London by Thomas Dawson dwelling at the three Cranes in the Vintree 1580. The dolorous coÌ„plaint of Dauid in his trouble His praier His confession God his very elect sometimes accuse God Rom. 10. Let this bee vvel noted Enimies driue vs from God vnder this crosse Esay 38. Iob. 9. Obiection of the fleshe Ansvvere by a similitude Ier. 18. Marke vveâ— In trouble Dauid remebreth vvhat God sometimes bad vvrought by him The most spiritual man desireth rest Mercie appertaineth to al the creatures of God that cal for the same vnfainedly Iob. 9. The eye of faith The most pure vvorkes that maâ—â— can do are in the sight of God vâ—cleane Oh most faithfâ—â— confession The care of God is alvvaies one oâ—er his chosen Egesip lib. 1. cap 44. Actes 12. As God did to his afflicted Church in Iudea so shaâ— be doe the same in England Our imperfection may not hinder God to be merciful Gods elect are permitâ—ed sometimes â—orribly to fal The state of Christes Church before shortly after his death Note 〈◊〉 22. 〈…〉 2. Tiâ— 1. Luke 2. â— Cor. 3. The â—ause of â—â—mforte VVby God should sodainely strike the Papistâ— in England VVhat vvee ought to auoid in extreeme trouble Mat. 5. Psalm 119. Perfect and godly hatred 〈…〉 〈…〉 Exo. 7. 8. 14. â— Kings 15. 3. Kings 13. Papistes haue bin summoned Papistes haue bin acâ—used and conâ—icted Time of repentance hath beene graunted vnto Papistes The due execution approcheth Papists shal 〈◊〉 against God to the end Toâ—stal conuicted of murther and theft to his face at Bervvicke The last plague of the Papists Iob. 5 Iob. 15. Esay 12