cal al these filthy and stinking dregs which haue infected the Church traditions obseruations and ordinances of the Apostles But you know full wel that they agrée aswell with the doctrine of Christ his Apostles as darknes with light and falshood with truth For where can they finde that Iesus Christ or his Apostles did ordain the masse together with the furniture trappings thereof which are full of foolishe toies Wher can they finde that filth wherewith they haue corrupted holie baptism as creame salt spittle coniured water lights and such like thinges Where cā they finde the baptizing of Belles holie water Processions Praier for the dead and a thousand such bables toies trifles as were too long to rehearse But chieflie an infinite number of errors contained in the masse and in al the rest of their booke of ceremonies Of which sort is that execrable idolatrie which they cōmit in worshipping a morsell of Bread the inuocation and intercession of saints the adoring and worshipping of the images and reliques of dead Saints the fire of Purgatorie the Popes pardons indulgences and such like impieties condemned by the worde of God And yet for al this like séelie soules you haue miserablie bound your selues to receiue and approue al these thinges O eternal God is it possible that you should haue bin so vndiscrete Is it possible that you should continue so blockish as to haue no remorse of conscience in you But let vs procéede you haue béene taught out of the word of God that Iesus Christ hath for the continuall vse of his Church instituted onelie two Sacraments to wit Baptisme and the holie Supper to represent vnto vs the holie mysteries of our saluatiō that is to saie our regeneration and the spirituall life which we drawe from Iesus Christ our head in as much as wée are most strictly vnited and coupled together with him and to seale vp in our heartes the promises of saluation and eternal life which are there made vnto vs by the Lorde You know moreouer that the Church of God must content it self with these two not onelie because they are sufficient to represent vnto vs all the benefites of Iesus Christ and to assure vs of his grace fauour but also because it is not lawful for mortal mā no not for the verie Angels to ordaine any sacramēts or to establish any thing in the seruice of God forasmuch as this right belōgeth to god alone Notwtstanding mark what you confesse by the fourth article of this tyrānous abiuration you ackowledge that there bee 7. sacramēts in the law of grace instituted by Iesus Christ which is most false We confesse indéed that that which they cal Cōfirmation which is nothing els but a receuing of such as are instructed catechised in the church catechisms into the church that is to say of those which hauing bin catechised and instructed in the doctrine of Christ were receiued into the felowship of the faithful with praier to recōmend thē to God is an holy thing which hath bin practised in the Primitiue Church euen in the Apostles time also we do not deny but that repentāce which is nothing else but the acknowledging of our faults the misliking of the same the amēdment of our life is a good wholsome thing ordained cōmanded of God we confesse also that that which they cal the order of Priesthoode that is to say the laying on of hands which was vsed in the Church in old time which is vsed at this daye in many reformed Churches when Pastors Elders Deacons other ecclesiastical persons are to be admitted vnto the publike charges of the church we confesse I say that this is a laudable holy ceremonie ordained practised by the Apostles As for marriage we know also that it is an holie institution of the Lord that the custome of blessing the same in the Church is Christian We graunt I say that al these things are good and holy are grounded vppon the worde of God but we deny them to be Sacramentes First of al because Iesus Christ hath not instituted them to be suche and secondlie because they haue not those thinges that are required necessarily in true Sacraments for then they must haue been ordayned by Iesus Christ to continue in the Church vntill the consummation of the worlde and for the vse of the whole Churche in generall and of euerie member thereof in particular Furthermore there shoulde haue beene visible signes to represent the inuisible graces of God and the promises of saluation and eternal life which things we sée to be in baptisme and in the holie supper onelie As for extreame vnction as they cal it we doe not denie but that the oile wherewith the Apostles did annoint the sicke was an outward signe which did represent the grace of God euen in that time of the said Apostles who had the gift of healing but this Sacrament lasted but for a time and had an ende together with the gift of healing working miracles We conclude then that there be but two Sacraments in the Church of Christ and that the other fiue were inuented by men And yet you confesse that al that was instituted by Christ Iesus that which is worse you auouch an horrible blasphemie whē you graunt that the Sacraments conferre grace for by this you attribute not onelie to the true Sacramentes but also to mens inuentions that which belongeth to the holie Ghost who alone conferreth the grace signified by them and that to the true faithfull alone And the Sacramēts as also the word are onelie instrumēts which he vseth to this end so that we receiue by them nothing appertaining to our saluation vnlesse the spirite of God worke inwardly in vs and vnlesse wée haue a true and liuely faith You haue also learned by the same word of God that the said Sacramentes must be ministred with the same puritie simplicity wherwith they were instituted by our soueraigne Doctor maister Iesus Christ Deut 4. 12. Pro. 30. Apo. 22. and that it is an intollerable boldnes to adde any thing therto and detestable sacrilege to take any thing therfrō how litle soeuer it be forasmuch as this were to séek to be more wise than he who is the eternal wisedome of the father And yet neuerthelesse you approue by the first article all those ceremonies which these men haue annexed to the administration of the Sacraments which they haue wickedly and vngodlily profaned and polluted Also you allow al those things which they vse in the administration thereof which they themselues haue inuented and ordained how foolishe superstitious and wicked soeuer they be as you know that the more part of thē do rather resēble iuglers trickes and toies or the superstitious prophane fashiōs of the heathen then the simplicity grauity of Christiās Moreouer you approue by the same article two horrible sacrileges which amongest others they cōmit
1587. A CHRISTIAN and wholesom Admonition Directed to the Frenchmen which are reuolted from true religion and haue polluted themselues with the superstition and Idolatrie of Poperie LONDON Printed by Iohn Wolfe dwelling in Distaffe Lane neare the signe of the Castle A song or sonnet of the authour containing a graue contestation and complaint of the Lord against the vnthankfulnes cowardlines and disloyaltie of the French reuolts a denunciation of their extreame woe if they continue reuolts still and an exhortation to turne to him HEare heauen and earth and all things els Which th'ample cope of heauen cōtains Heare my iust plaints touching the fall Of people which in Fraunce remaines Whose faint and feeble faith did fail When th'enimie did it assaile What moued thee my couenant Vnthankfullie thus to forsake That thou thy selfe mightst ioine to Baal His cursed waies that thou mightst take O people most vnthankfull then O most ingratefull sonnes of men Tell me if that at anie time I dealt with thee vncourteously What meanes this change hopst thou to find Thy good or thy felicitie If thou estranged be from me In whom all good things are that be O cursed wretch O madding foole Thou hast that thou thy selfe mightst saue Thy selfe bewrapt in Satans nets Who both thy bodie and soule will haue And sure he will thy goods destroy To thy great griefe and sore annoy Bethinke thy selfe Condemne thy fault Returne to me whose merci's great A pardon is prepared for those Which thorow faith shall it intreat Which teares from dewe◠eyes let fall And vnto me for mercie call To the Christian Reader O Lord strengthen vs that wee may fight thy battell stand by vs or els we can not preuaile Giue vs faith and we shall haue victorie for euer Amen MAnie men are of many minds And few there are that accept thankefully the labours of other men in these vnthankefull and last times Yea it may be they will thinke the publishing of this booke to be needles considering that we neither thankes be to God now suffer or are like to suffer persecution For amongst vs Gods word is preached the Churches are in peace and florish all things goe with with vs and not against vs. Againe the gospel hauing continued so long by all likelihood it taketh such deepe root as we shall not need to feare the comming in or springing vp againe of Poperie In deed if these things were as they ought to be receiued followed and obeyed if men did know and would confesse the goodnes of the Lord in calling them and vouchsafing them so manie mercies in waiting so long for worthie fruites of their conuersion and repentance then no doubt we should the lesse neede to feare that which our sins doe threaten that in so great light and after so manie happie dayes in the broad day of so manie graces of knowledge wisedom of God reuealed vnto men that euer either darke poperie in the course of Idolatrie or heresie atheisme or such like iniquitie should euer so grow again as that persecution should be feared But none of these things giue vs anie comfort For howsoeuer Gods word be preached which yet is done with great corruption and that as scantlie as may be yet it is not followed We haue in deed some outward peace but the spirituall peace of God especiallie established in the Ministerie of the Gospel that is farre from vs for alacke we are waxed wantō at home we prescribe God abroad according to our owne lusts in the matters of his owne worship we eate and drinke with the drunkard and say Our maister is gone into a farre iourney and will be long a comming home Gods enimies the Amorites and Edomites may doe what they will and the way is not taken that should stocke vp by the roote these cursed fruites and wicked generations For they haue long looked though God in fauour and long patience haue waited for our repentance and therefore disappointed them for the day wherein they might once againe leade vs forth as sheepe to the cruel slaughter And what shall we say Is not God iust that hee should chastice his children and be obeyed of his enimies Yes verelie In all times the godlie haue and must beare their crosses As long as Christ shall haue a Church on earth Antichrist shall haue his Sinagogue There will euer be children of the flesh to persecute those that are of the spirit And therefore those that dreame of an earthly kingdome they deceyue them selues for it is impossible that Gods seruants should haue their heauen in this world God hath his cup in his hand fully mixed His children must not onely kisse the cuppe and drinke the first draught but also his enimies shall sweepe vp the dregges euen to the bottom Wherefore my good brother whosoeuer thou art reade such like exhortations as this is And howsoeuer God shall worke pray that thou maiest abide such fierie tryals as he doth see meete and expedient for thee Looke not vpon men but looke vpon the truth of thy God All the men of the world shall not be able to stand to plead any thy least reuolt from the truth before the almighty God Therefore neither for liuing nor land for life nor limme deny not the least iot of his euerlasting will In time of peace while it is yet sommer prouide against winter Before the stormes come prepare the cables Remēber the anker that may hold the ship fast in all dangers For surely God will come he can not but visite that he may purge this land frō hipocrises will-worships vanities follies wherewith it is in a manner ouerwhelmed euerie where And albeit this be to be looked for yet feare not thou whosoeuer thou be that art Gods childe For these rods shall be for thy good Thine enimies crueltie shall bring thee to felicitie and themselues to euerlasting woe God will make way for thee to escape all peril Though they would send thee to hell yet thou shalt goe to heauen In killing thee they shall honor thee and thou shalt liue for euer The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ be with thee Amen FINIS TO THE RIGHT worshipfull godly vertuous and my singular good friends M. Henry Neuill Esquier and Maistresse Anne Neuill his wife grace and peace with increase of godlie zeale RIght worshipfull sithence my first acquaintance had with you◠such hath been the continuall course of your manyfolde courtesies towards me as that if I should not seeke in some though not in semblable sort to requite them I might iustlie be counted a man most vnthankfull if vnthankfull persons deserue the names of men And because mine abilitie is in no case such as that I can in such sort as willingly I woulde make equall recompence for the same I must content my selfe in such sort as I can to doe it And therefore as one repaying shales for nuts or shreds for whole cloth I thought meete to present vnto your hands
offence of his Church and to your owne vtter destruction vnlesse you repent To you it is I say that I direct this my worke particularlie that I may louingly and brotherlie conferre with you touching the offence which you haue committed beseeching you in the name of the liuing God that you would find some spare time to reade it pondering together with me the reasons which shall be therein set downe before your eyes out of the word of God And that not onelie to the end you may approue the same as all those will not sticke to doe which will not flatter them selues nor stubbornlie withstand the trueth of God but aboue all that hauing approued the same there may be in you an holie resolution accompanied with the effect thereof that is in summe that you may with speede repaire by a true and readie conuersion that fault which you haue committed Which being well considered and weighed as it ought together with the circumstances thereof you shall full well know and shall be inforced to graunt that it is nothing so small and light as the enimies of your saluatiō would make you belieue namely the diuel the flesh and the worlde which indeuour moreouer to cast you into a déepe sléepe and so to besot you that you may not anie longer haue anie feeling of your faults but may more and more plunge your selues in filth mire that you may there continue and finally become Antechrists a people without God and without religion that is to say being wholie become slaues to Sathan as is befallen to more people in our countrie of Fraunce then were to be wished through the iust iudgement of God Furthermore when you shall well perceiue the greatnes and hugenes of your fall it must needes come to passe that you shall see the horrible fearefull iudgements and vengeance which the Lord bringeth vpon all those who through their slacknesse an disloyaltie haue beene the cause that his holie name hath béene profaned and their neighbors offended Which knowledge may serue to bring you to a true deiection and humilitie before the maiestie of God not that you may faint and sinke down vnder your burden and so fall into despaire through the consideration of your transgressions and by the sight of Gods iustice but rather that being by this meanes humbled in the presence of God you may be the better brought to draw neare vnto him or rather to speake more properly to prouoke him to draw nearer to you according to that which the Prophet saith that The Lord is nigh vnto those that are comfortles beaten downe and broken in hart and saueth them that be of a contrite spirite euen through the feeling of their sinnes and iniquities so that a man may truelie say that such humilitie is as it were the first gate or dore to enter in vnto the throne of the grace and mercie of God who is in such sort iust to punish sinners in his wrath euen those which are obstinate and which harden their harts when they heare his voice and abuse his patience that he is also readie to show mercie he is pitifull gentle and merciful to all those which being conuict in their conscience and hauing accused themselues before God returne vnto him without faining throwing them selues as it were into the armes of his most bountifull father to secke for grace at his hands These are my brethren the principall points which I mean by the grace of God to laie open vnto you in this my present writing that is a briefe collection of that which you must doe that you may escape the iust wrath and indignation of the Lord and bee reconciled to him This is that which I require at your hands for the glorie of God and for your owne benefit and saluation this is that which all your brethren members whom God hath preserued desire and craue daylie at the hands of God with gronings sighes and most feruent praiers This is that which the Angels of heauen looke for at your handes that they may reioyce and praise God for your conuersion Briefly this is that whereunto you are called and inuited by the goodnesse and clemencie of our heauenlie father who stretcheth out his armes vnto you to imbrace you as his children Wherfore it standeth you vppon to looke to it for the case so standeth that you must now either honour or dishonour God you must either be saued or else condemned Now forasmuch as my desire is to help comfort you therein I wil take paine through Gods help to make these things more plaine somewhat more largely in order to deduct them First of al then if you be desirous to come to the true knowledge of your fault that you may detest the same obtaine pardon for it at the handes of God you must beware that you weigh it not in a false ballance such as is that of Satans the flesh the world the sworne enimies of our saluatiō for these shal not be your iudges at the last day but you must peyze thē in the seales of the wil of God which is declared vnto vs in his word for that is the onlie most certaine and most perfect rule whereto all our actions must be referred wherwith they must al be hedged in and according to the which alone men shal bée iudged of the Lord. I know full well that all those which haue forgotten themselues in this case forsaking the profession of true religion that they may raunge themselues vnder the banner Antichrist must not be placed in one the same ranke For one sort is so fallen that they are as it were out of all hope euer to be able to rise againe of which sort are that heape and rabble of hypocrites which had intruded themselues into the Church of God making a show that they would folow Iesus Christ and make profession of his Gospell notwithstanding forasmuch as they neuer had anie sparkle of true godlines neyther anie will to renounce their concupiscences and the vanities of this world that they might dedicate cōsecrate thēselues to God to follow Iesus Christ to reforme their life according to the doctrine of his Gospel it is come to passe that their hypocrisie is discouered for séeing they could not so long as they professed religion giue their lustes the bridle and run into al filthinesse dissolutenes and infamous facts giue ouer themselues to their delights and filthy pleasure satisfie their ambitiō couetousnes enioy their ease delicates cōmodities of this life take their pastime and so liue in such rest according to the flesh that they might not bée disquieted or troubled any maner of way Briefly seing they coulde not serue two maisters which were quite cōtrary the one to the other that is to say God the Diuell they forsook God gaue thēselues to follow the world which is as it were the diuels bawd other some staid not til they might be
tried by the fan of persecutions so to go out of the church but they reuolted of their own accord at sundry times vpon diuers occasiōs either because they could not abide to be reproued for their faults offēces or els bicause they wold not submit their neck to the yoke of Iesus Christ range thēselues according to the order of the church as others did or els bicause they could not addict thēselues to the affaires of the world as hath bin said This was the cause why they stūbled at the first stumbling stone whereon they light in the way nay rather they went purposely to séeke the same Othersome haue takē occasiō at the crosse persecutiō And albeit the most part of these men make a shew that they approue our religion yet to the end they may be counted good Catholikes are more superstitious and addicted to ceremonies then others yet so it is that they be very Epicures Atheists which in their harts deride al religion As for this sort of men we may rather desire it than euer hope for it that they wil euer be brought to a true knowledge of their offence that they may turne vnto the Lord For the Prince of darknesse hath stricken thē with such blindnes through the iust iudgement of God that they are in greater darknes of beastly ignorance as touching the knowledge of their fault then they were before they came to the knowledge of the trueth And it fareth with them as with him that in a dark night cōmeth to put out a candle or light wherewith he was inlightened a while for afterward his eies dazel more he is in worse case than before hee had that light Therfore no maruaile if these men be so turned out of the right way that they cannot returne into the same againe For as the Apostle saith If those which haue once bin illuminated and haue tasted of the heauēly gift haue bin made partakers of the holy ghost and haue tasted of the good worde of God and of the powers of the world to come If these I saie fall away it is impossible that they should be renued to repentance seing they crucifie the son of God afresh so much as in them lieth and make a mocke of him Now then forasmuch as these men are hardened in their wickednesse so consequently incurable it were but lost labour to write to them to exhort thē to acknowledge and amēd their fault wherfore my meaning is not to apply my selfe to them in this my writing saue only to denounce against thē the sentence of the holy ghost speaking by the Apostle to the Hebrues that is that séeing they haue sinned willingly after they knew the truth that is to say séeing that being altogether estranged and cut off from the Church of Iesus Christ they take pleasure in iniquitie contrary to the testimony of their owne conscience doe malitiouslie resist the knowen truth there remaineth no more sacrifice for sinne for them but a fearfull looking for iudgement and a consuming fire which shal deuour the aduersaries And this is that which we both can will saie touching these men at this time But as for you my brethren to whō I now speak God wil not haue me to reckō you amōgst those mē for if it were so then would not I take so much pains as to write to you But as I know that in the more part of you there was more frailty thā malice hatred against the trueth so likewise I haue a good hope that after the lord through his goodnes hath beheld you with the same eie wherwith he beheld S. Peter he will make you come out of the house of that wicked Priest Caiphas where Antichrist his ministers pursue Iesus Christ to death spit in his face with mockes railinges and blasphemies most horrible I hope also that after you haue wept bitterlie for your fault you shal be reconciled to God and receiued to mercie Notwithstāding it is verie necessarie that you be awaked vp thorowly touched least you lye sléeping in your sinne and so flatter your selues whether by excusing or lessening your fault or by féeding your selues with I cannot tel what vaine hope and so fall finallie into the same hardnesse and obstinacie whereinto manie are fallen who when they first began to fal awaie made none account alwaies to continue in the filthie sinke but did hope yea persuade themselues to come out thence in time notwithstāding they haue suffred thēselues to be lulled fast asléep by the world in the bed of their tender delicate flesh they driue off frō daie to daie waiting for some golden world wherein the Gospel of Iesus Christ might be preached without contradiction and the profession of religion should no longer bring with it the crosse afflictions But what They sée that in stéede of hauing an ende these afflictions continue naie are redoubled contrarie to their hope forasmuch as they neuer as yet learned this lesson which Iesus Christ teacheth all those which wil followe him that is Mat. 16 that they forsake thēselues and take vp their crosse that they maye beare it during their whole life and that being thus prepared they follow him Forasmuch thē as these men see thēselues deceiued by their vain hope and that they neuer tooke any time to bethinke themselues and to ponder their fault and to marke and consider the iudgements of God vpon those that are so slacke and disloiall as to flie from their ensigne at suche time as they are to enter the battaile they are resolued to forsake all and to lie tumbling in their filth that they may perish miserably yea eternally rather than they will suffer euen a little with Iesus Christ that they may raigne and be glorified with him eternally And now my brethren to the ende you may make your profite of their follie and that by other mens harmes you may learne to be wise you must beware that you take not the same way which they haue taken but cōtrariwise enter you rather into your selues and examine your conscience throughly without flatterie giuing the same iudgement of your fault and pronouncing the same sentence of condēnation against your own selues which you somtimes gaue vpō these which had vsed the like slacknes disloialty to the end that iudging your selues you may not bée iudged of the Lord as saith the Apostle And that you may the better do this you must rather hearken to the voice of God and to the witnesse of your owne conscience which accuseth you then to the enchaunting voice of that olde Serpent who to the ende he may seduce you as he hath alreadie made too great a beginning ceaseth not to whisper into the eare of your conscience that which he sometimes said to our first parents and hath God said you shall not eate of euerie tree of the Garden c. And if he cannot bring
hell we may well say that his faith was of the selfe same stampe and that this looke which the Lord gaue him was of marueilous force and efficacie séeing that being fallen so farre and hauing committed such an horrible sinne that as they say he was not sufficient inough to punish it yet was he not swallowed vp with dispaire but he was raised vp out of that dungeon of destruction euen by apprehending a greater depth then that was that is the infinite depth of the riches of the grace and mercie of God whereunto he had recourse with full assurance that this most bountifull and mercifull father woulde take pittye and compassion on him You see then the repentaunce and the excellent faith of this holy Apostle and also how hee sealeth and confirmeth all by a sodaine and true amendment for immediately after that he saw the breaknecke of destruction and the wofull and miserable estate whereinto he was fallen hee came thence without delay and then went to seeke his brethren and companions that is he came within the lists of the Church again how small soeuer it were at that time and in how poore and miserable estate soeuer it was according to the world so that the poore faithfull could looke for nothing but for the crosse tribulations and persecutions considering the sharpe intertainment which the soueraigne maister and head of the Church had and found This then was the way and gate wherby Dauid Manasses and S. Peter had accesse vnto the throne of that grace and mercie of God The verye selfe same thing is taught vs by the historie of the prodigall sonne which Iesus Christ setteth downe in the Gospel Luk. 15. to shew vs on the one side how greatly they are blindes and voide of vnderstanding which vpon any occasiō whatsoeuer forsake the house of their heauēly father without that which there is nothing but méere hunger pouertie miserie wo and cursednes On the other side this serueth to teach vs by what meanes we may come and bee receiued into fauour This was then a foolish sonne yea blinde and bewitched of Satan who finding it maye bee his fathers gouernment and discipline too hard and austere and being desirous to follow his foolish affections and disordered desires doth withdraw himselfe from his said father goeth out of his house and runneth after his owne lustes he falleth shortly after into a most pitious and miserable estate he which refused to sit at his fathers table doth now sit at table with hogges he which disdained good and honorable intertainement the exquisite and delicate meates iunkates whereof he had sufficient cannot now fill himselfe with the meat of hogges hee which despised the goodly and pretious ornaments wherewith he was cloathed when he was in his fathers house goeth now all tattered and torne like a begger to make short he which might haue bene in full good case if he had would is nowe accursed and brought to vtter destruction through his own folly and consequētly vnworthie euer to come within his fathers dores and to haue so much as a good looke of him whom hee had so grieuously offended Lo here then a childe that was vtterly lost depriued of al goodnes honor and felicitie and plunged as it were in a gulph of woe shame and reproch What remaineth then for him but to dispaire And yet hee taketh not that course but the quite contrarie for he commeth to himselfe hee perceiueth his wretchednes he bewaileth his estate hee is displeased with himselfe for his sinne hee resolueth with him selfe to come and humble himselfe before his father whom he had offended hee purposeth to craue pardon of him assuring himselfe of his goodnes and mercie finallie he commeth out of that filth and without anie more a doe to his father he comes he confesseth and acknowledgeth his sinne to him saying that he had sinned against heauen and against him and he counteth himselfe vnworthy to be taken for his sonne and hauing none other meanes left but to flye to his mercie he beseecheth him to take pitie and compassion vpon him and to graunt him this grace that hee woulde receiue him into his house if not as his childe yet at least as one of his hyred seruauntes acknowledging with Dauid that the condition of the poore porters of Gods house is farre more blessed and honourable then Ps 84. that of the greatest monarches of the earth which are without the Church Thus did this poore prodigall chylde that he might escape out of that wofull miserie into which he was fallen and that hee might recouer that good that honour and that felicitye which hee had lost as indeede all fell out so well that hee findeth his father better disposed more ready and better inclyned to receyue him not as a seruant but as a son then he durst desire In like manner you see that the true and only meanes to obtayne grace and mercye at the Lordes handes is true repentaunce a true faith and true amendment Lo then my brethren what course you must obserue lo here the way which you must follow lo here the gate wherby you must enter in vnto the Lorde to obtayne his fauour But marke well the band and coniunction of these thynges which cannot be answered for deceiue not your selues vnlesse you amend your fault you may wel saye that you acknowledge it that you are grieued at it that you condemn it that you count it so grieuous and so monstrous as that it deserueth a thousand deathes and a thousand hels if there were so many yet all this is nothing but meere hypocrisie and mocking of God and men In like manner if you say that you haue a true and certaine assurance in the goodnes mercy of God Exod. 20. that he will take pitie vpon you and will giue you grace to returne to his Church that also shal be nothing but a false and peruerse perswasion and rather a carnall assurance and confidence then a true faith to bee short all that shal be nothing but a méere mockery of God and an abusing of his patience and consequently a meanes to inflame his anger so much the more against you if there withal you shew not in effect that you do truely repent and that your faith is frée from al dissimulation and hipocrisie This effect is nothing els but a readie change amendment wherunto you are exhorted in the name of God For execution wherof we need not here stand vpon particulars you knowe my meaning wel inough There remaineth nothing for you to do but to haue a good and fréewil proceeding from a true zeale of God and from a feruent desire of your saluation coupled with an holy affection to aduaunce the kingdome of Iesus Christ and to edifie his church If the very same occasions which made you fall do nowe present themselues before your eies and keepe you from amending and redressing your offence whether it be in regard of
your affaires of your goods of your commodities or whether it be in regard of your own persons and of your kinsmen or be it in regard of your other circumstances be you ful wel assured that is Sathans doing whose drift it is to plunge you déeper in the dunge and filth and more and more to inwrap and intangle you in his nets that you may not escape him But giue no place to the subtilties and false perswasions of this enimie resist him and hee will flye from you saith the Apostle He will set before you a thousand difficulties and impossibilities therby to astonish you and to keepe you backe if possiblie he can that you maye not be resolued to enter into the waye of true conuersion and if you enter the same he will lay a thousand disturbances and stumbling blockes in your waye to stop and stay you and to make you retire he will set before your eies the might the meanes and the multitude of your enimies and the small meanes you haue so that you cannot in long time escape out of this babilonish captiuitie hée will set before you the crosse the afflictions the sufferings the persecutions the pouertie the contempt the perils and daungers whereunto those which follow Iesus Christ are dayly subiect On the other side he will promise you all rest all assurance all good thinges the honors pleasures delightes and commodities of this life if you will worship him and continue in his seruice But you must make him the very same answere and giue him the repulse after the selfe same sort as Iesus Christ did that is by the word of God Mat. 4. come behinde me Sathan for it is written c. You must then here take the Spirituall armoure of a Christian knight which the Spirite of God setteth downe vnto you by Sainct Paule Eph. 6. that is amongst the rest feruent and continuall prayers to the Lorde the buckler of faith and the sword of the spirit which is the word of God to beate backe the firie darts of this wicked one you must oppose against all that which hee shall purpose vnto you through the inticements of the flesh and the worlde that which you sometimes learned in the Schoole of Christ If then he laye stumbling blockes crosse your way to kéepe you from returning to God beware you stumble not at them but strengthē your selues in the power of the Spirit of God and leape ouer them remembring that graue sentence of Iesus Christ whereunto but a fewe haue regarde Blessed is he saith he that is not offended at me that is which shall not be letted or hindered by any occasion whatsoeuer to come vnto me You know full wel what we must conclude on the contrarie that is that he is vnhappye and more then vnhappy the which shall bee offended through him for in very deede it were better for vs neuer to haue bene borne in this world then to be separated from Iesus Christ As for that which Sathan can set before you touching the might meanes and multitude of your enimies thereby to make you astonished and touching the féeblenes and infirmitie of the poore Church and the small meanes it hath according to the world to helpe it selfe that hereby he may discourage you remember that which is spoken so often in the Scripture 2. Tim. ◠that the Lorde hée is a God of power and of hostes remember that which Eliseus saith to his seruaunt Those that are with vs are mo then those that are with them Rom. 8. Strengthen your selues with that which Saincte Paule saith If God bee with vs who can be against vs. His meaning is not that if god be on our side there shal not any lōger be any enimies to make war against vs but his meaning is that if we haue God on our side we may despise al the strength not only of mē but also of Satā of hell And indéed what cā al the powers forces of al the kings potentates of the earth do if they be coupled together and what are they able to do against the power of the most mighty Surely they are nothing but a vapour of smoake that vanisheth away and as waxe that melteth at the fire Ps 58. as saith the prophet How is it then wil some say that the lord deferreth the deliuerance of his church so long Because the time is not yet come wtout all doubt he will deliuer it howsoeuer it be long first and he will breake the head of his aduersaries in péeces euē as an earthen vessell Psal ◠yea euen by his yron rodde For seeing hée beginneth his iudgement at his own house it is a most euident token that hee wil ende it with those that are rebellious against his Gospel and that their end shal be most miserable 1. Pet. 4. For they shal drinke the dregs of the Lords cuppe when he shall visit thē 1. Pet. 4. not in his gentlenes benignity as he dealeth with those that are his owne but in his anger and in his wrath notwithstanding this shal come to passe at the time which hée hath appointed ordayned Wherfore it behoueth vs to watch and in our patiēce to possesse our soules and the Lorde shall shewe vs wonderful things Luke 21. But and if you bee terrified through the horrour of the crosse of afflictions persecutions which are proposed vnto all those which wil be true disciples of the son of God and desire to be made partakers of his celestial kingdome call to minde that which you haue learned out of the worde of God to wit that the afflictions of the faithful are blessed with God forasmuch as he hath sanctified them in the person of his sonne also that they are honorable forasmuch as by thē they are made partakers of the sufferings of Iesus Christ and are made like to his image 2. Pet. 4. Rom. 8. bearing wearing his liuerie as knightes of his order also that they are tokens testimonies of the fauour fatherly will of God who chasteneth those whom he loueth scourgeth euerie childe whō he receiueth to himself Pro. 3. Heb. 12. Apoc. 3. also that they be but light and of small continuance being compared with that weight of most excellēt glory which they worke in vs For if we suffer with Iesus Christ we shal raigne and be glorified with him 2. Cor. 4. saith the Apostle And blessed are they which suffer persecution for righteousnes sake for theirs is the kingdome of God saith Christ Iesus 2. Tim. 1. Mat. 5. Also the afflictions are not onlie profitable for the faithfull but also necessarie forasmuche as by them the Lorde correcteth that naturall corruption peruersenesse which doth incessantly driue vs to rebel against his holy commādements they tame our flesh and bridle it for feare least it waxe wanton goe astray it teacheth vs how to know our selues to forsake the world
to waxe out of loue with it that we may so much the more desire to attain to eternal life by this meanes we are prouoked to pray earnestly to cal vpō God to put our trust in him our faith our patience are exercised proued fined to be briefe afflictions are a meane whereby the Lorde procureth and furthereth our saluatiō so manie waies that those which flie from thē which abhorre thē shewe thēselues not only vnaduised but also altogether blind sworne enemies to their own good and saluation Furthermore Rom. 8. like as afflictiōs as also all thinges els whether prosperity or aduersity fal out to the good saluatiō of those which loue feare the Lorde so likewise on the contrary we may say that al things turne to a curse to those which are out of Gods fauour Wherefore this rest this ease these good thinges these honors and these temporall commodities which the world promiseth you to hinder you from turning to God ought not to preuaile with you And surely if you suffer your selues to be made drunkē with such deceiuable allurements it wil goe ill with you for he which maketh you such faire promises hath no power to performe them so that you shal be frustrate of your vaine hope shall become twise miserable But put case you should enioy al these things peaceably you should yet be more accursed for they shal be giuen you in the wrath of God the vse thereof shal be accursed to you so long as you continue separate frō Iesus Christ and his Church Furthermore what profit shuld you reap by this to haue the full and whole fruition of all beautifull precious excellent thinges that are in the worlde if you loose your owne soules and what wil you giue in recompence thereof saith Iesus Christ Mat. 26. What is there in this world which we ought to count so deare so precious as the eternal saluation of our soules The sonne of God made so great account of it that to purchase the same for vs he shedde his most precious bloode suffered a most cruell a most horrible death not only in his body but also in his soule forasmuch as he was put euen as in the presse of Gods wrath and suffered the heauie burden of his iust iudgement for vs so that he was in a manner oppressed with it so that hée saide My God my God why hast thou forsaken me We must thē néeds say that our saluation is a thing of great price seing it cost the sonne of God so deare Will you then shew your selues so vnthankful towardes him as to contemne treade vnder foote so precious so inestimable a treasure Wil you be so cruel and so vncurteous to your selues as to depriue your selues therof for euer to inioy transitorie cōmodities and to escape certaine light and smal discommodities which are not woorth the naming What man is he so mad that wil stick to forgoe thrée or foure pence to gaine a treasure of one thousande crownes Or who is he that is so daintie as that hee cannot suffer a little pricke of a pinnes point the paine wherof is gone in the turning of a hand that he maie be blessed enioye perpetuall pleasures during his whole life In like sort what man is hée that is so foolish as to hazarde the losse of all his goodes vpon hope to get one poore peny or rather a thing of nothing what man is he that is so madde and voyde of reasō who to enioy a quarter of an hours pleasure would binde him selfe to goe vp at the end thereof vpon a scaffolde and there to haue his head cut off or els to be tormented vpon a whéele And what are al torments yea euen the most cruel tormentes that a man can endure in this world being compared with the eternall torments as hath bin said For the honor of God therfore my brethren bethink your selues Come out of the cursed Babylō return to your fathers house who is ready to receiue you as his children to kil the fat calf to the end to feast you to make you good chéere yea to apparel you with the precious ornamēts of his son Iesus Christ after that he hath forgiuen you al your offences Take héed that you driue not off from day to day abusing his patiēce for feare least his wrath waxe hoater hoater against you least he shut the gate of his grace against you when after you haue stopped your eares against his aduertisemēts you shal come to séek him in vain folow him now seing he calleth you to him hardē not your hart against the swéet voice of this most merciful father You haue dishonored him by your falling away honor him now and giue him glory through your conuersion you haue cowardly forsaken the banner of Iesus Christ gather fresh strength and courage now so that it may appeare that you gaue backe to thend you might leap better and that you might fight more valiantly then euer heretofore you haue denyed and renounced him before men and haue abiured the truth of the gospel make now a quite contrarie abiuration and denyall renounce Antichrist in the face of the whole world abiure all his impieties and abhominations cast vp al his filth and infections out of your stomach you haue offended dishonoured and grieued the poore Church of Iesus Christ edifie it now and repaire the honour thereof you haue made sad the holy Ghost and all good men and haue made glad Sathan and Antichrist together with their ministers do now the quite contrarie make glad all those to whom you haue ministred matter of sorrow and let all those be confounded and ashamed which reioyce at your fall and which triumph ouer it you are gone astray and are againe entred into the way of destruction whence the Lord had drawne you returne now againe to the right way which you haue forsaken Mat. 12. for feare least that wicked spirit which was gone out of your heart returne againe that he may enter in againe with seauen other spirites worse then himselfe least after they haue gotten possession of you they make your last estate worse then your first that is most cursed and most miserable Now the father of all mercie vouchsafe in mercie to behold you the high shepheard and bishop of your soules vouchsafe himselfe to looke out his wandering shéepe and to bring it againe to his flocke The spirit of strength and of wisedome vouchsafe to strengthen and prudently to direct you in all your actions that all this may redounde to his honour and glorie to your good and saluation and to the edification of his church for the loue of his sonne Iesus Christ Amen