called w e his own name wonderful the geuer of couÌ„cell the mighty god y â— euerlasting father y â— prince of peace â—… In that day it shal be said Lo this is our god we haue wayted for him he shal saue vs. This is the Lord in whoÌ„ we haue hoped we shal be mery and reioyce in the saluacion that commeth of hym They shall see the glory of y â— Lord the maiestie of our god And therfore streÌ„gth the weake handes coÌ„fort the feble knees say vnto theÌ„ y â— ar of a feare full hart be of good chere feare not Behold your god coÌ„meth to take veÌ„geaunce you shall see the reward y e god geueth God commeth his owne selfe will deliuer you TheÌ„ shall the eyes of the blind be lightened and the eares of the deafe opened Then shall the lame maÌ„ leape as an hart and the dumme mans toung shal be losoned O that thou wouldest cleaue y â— heauens in sonder and come downe Behold I see foure men goyng lose in the middest of the fire and nothyng hurt and the fourth is lyke the sonne of god to looke vpon Out of Egipt haue I called my son This is our god ther shal none other be coÌ„pared vnto him It is he that hath found out all wisedome and hath geuen her vnto Iacob hys seruaunt and to Israell his beloued Afterward did he shew him selfe vppon earth and dwelt among men The Lord said vnto me thou art my sonne this day haue I begotten thee Thy seat O god endureth for euer the scepter of thy kyngdome is a right scepter The Lord hym selfe had me in possession in the beginning of his wayes or euer he begaÌ„ his workes afore time I haue bene ordeyned from euerlasting and from the begynning or euer the earth was made When I was borne there were net ther depthes nor springs of water Be fore the foundacioÌ„s of the mouÌ„taynes were layde yea before all hils was I borne The earth and all that is vpon the earth was not yet made no not y e ground it selfe For when he made the heaueÌ„s I was present when he set vp y â— depthes in order wheÌ„ he hanged the cloudes aboue when he fastened the springs of the deepe when he shut the sea within certayne boundes that the waters shuld not go ouer their marks that he coÌ„maunded When he layd the foundacions of the earth I was with him ordryng all thinges deliting dayly and reioysing alwaye before him I came out of the moste hyest fyrste borne before all creatures I caused the lyght that fayleth not to aryse in the heauen and couered all the earth as a cloude I will be his father and he shal be my sonne ☞ Examples out of the old Testament WHen god created the earth and all thynges therein he sayd Let vs make manne in our Image after our owne lykenesse this worde vs. doth euidently declare that there bee three persoÌ„s in the godhead the father and the sonne and the holy ghost Wherof it manifestly foloweth that as the father is god and the holy ghost god so likewise is the sonne god yea true and naturall god hegotten of god the Father from euerlastyng Abraham sawe three and worshypped one saying Lord I beseche thee if I haue founde fauour in thy sight go not away from thy seruaunt ☞ Here it is euident also that there are three persons in the deity and yet notwithstanding they three are one God Therfore lyke as the first and the second persons in the deitie are ve ry God I meane the father the holy ghost so likewise is the second person in the trinitie I meane the sonne true naturall God worthy all honour and glory for euermore GOd sayd vnto Moses I am the god of thy father the god of AbrahaÌ„ the god of Isaac and the god of Iacob ☞ Here also is euidently declared the blessing and glorious trinitie and that there be three persones in the godhead and yet one God so that as the father is God and the holy ghost God so lykewise is the sonne God IN the same yeare that kyng Osiah dyed I saw the Lord sayth the Pro phete Esay sittyng vpon an hygh and glorious feat and his trayne filled the temple And about hym stoode Seraphins wherof euery one had 6. wings With twayne eche couered hys face with twayne hys feete with twaine dyd he flee They cryed also eche one to another on this maner Holy holy holy is the Lord of hostes The whole worlde is full of his glory ☞ This worde holy thryse rehearsed doth also manifestly declare that there are three per sones in the godhead and that they three are one God Christ therfore the second person in the Trinitie is very God Kyng Nabuchodonosor commaunded these three men Sidrach Misach and Abdenago to be cast into an excedyng hote burning ouen because they would not become Idolatours and at his commaundement fall downe and worship the golden Image And wheÌ„ they were bounde in theyr coates bosen shoes with their other garmentes and caste into the hote burnyng ouen the kyng looked into the ouen sayd vnto his counsell did ye not cast these three men bounde into the fyre They auÌ„swered vnto the kyng yea O kyng He aunswered and said lo for all that yet doo I see foure men goyng lose in the middest of the fyre and nothyng corrupt and the fourth is lyke the son of god to looke vpon Here is a manifest testimony y t Iesu Christ is the son of God and God hymselfe as we shall euidently learne of the histories of the new Testament ☞ Sentences out of the newe Testament Hys name shall be called Emanuel which is by interpretation God wyth vs or God and man This is my welbeloued sonne in whome I haue great pleasure Thou art Christ the sonne of the liuyng God Without all doubte thys was the sonne of God He shall be great and shall be called the sonne of the most highest That holy thing which shal be born shall be called the sonne of God In the beginning was the word y â— word was w t god the word was god We sawe the glory of the worde as the glorye of the onely begotten sonne of the father No man hath sene god at any tyme the onely begotten sonne whiche is in the bosome of the father he hath declared hym Thou art the sonne of god y â— art the kyng of Israell He that beleueth not is condemned already because he beleueth not in the name of the onely begotten sonne of god The father loueth the sonne and hath geuen all thinges into his hande He that beleueth the sonne hath euerlastyng lyfe and he that beleueth not on the sonne shall not see lyfe but the wrath of god abideth on hym I am that liuyng bread which came downe from
their wicked liuing and exhorted them vn to repentaunce Amos at the commaundement of kinge Amassas for his preching was cruelly beaâ—…en and greuously formented At the laste Ochozias sonne of Amasias caused him to be thurste into the temples with a great nayle and being half deade he was caryed into his own countrye where he sone after died Micheas was buffeted emprisoned and fed with bread and water Examples out of the olde Testament BLessed are they that suffer persecution for righteousnes for theirs is the kingdome of heauen Blessed are ye when men reuile you perseâ—…ute you and 〈◊〉 speak all euâ—…l sayings against you for my sake Reioyce and be mery for great is your rewarde in heauen For so persecuted they the Prophets before you The scoler is not aboue the maister nor the seruant aboue his Lorde If they haue called the Father of the housholde Belzebub how much more shall they so cal them that are of his houshold Be not afrayed of them that â—…il the body but rather feare him whiche is able to destroy both body and soule in hel fire Euery one that shall confesse me before men I shall confesse him also before my fa ther whiche is in heauen But whosoeuer shal deny me before men I shall also deny him befyre my Father that is in heauen Ye shal be hated of all men for my sake Whosoeuer wil follow me let him forsake him self and take vp hys crosse and folow me For whosoeuer wil saue hislife shall lose it But whosoeuer shall lose his life for my sake and the gospelles the same shall saue it For what shall it profite a man if he winne all the world and lose his owne soule or what shall a man geue to redeÌ„ his soul w tal agaiÌ„ whosoeuer fore shal be ashamed of me and my wordes in this whorish and sinful generation of him also shall the son of man be ashamed when he commeth in the glory of his Father with the holy angels The seruaunt is not greater theÌ„ his Lord. If they haue persecuted me they will also persecute you If the world hate you know ye that it hated me before you If ye were of the world the world wold loue that is his But forasmuch as ye are not of the world but I haue choseÌ„ you out of the world therfore doth the world hate you The tyme shall come that who so euer killeth you wyll thinke that he doth God seruice Ye shal lameÌ„t and wepe but the world shal reioyce In the world ye shal haue trouble but be on a good comfort I haue ouercom the world If we suffer with Christ we shall also be glorifyed together with him I suppose that the afflictions of thys life are not worthy of the glorye whiche shal be shewed vpon vs. Blessed be God the father of our Lord Iesus Christ which is the father of 〈◊〉 and the God of al comfort which comforteth vs in all our tribulations As the afflictions of Christ are plenteous in vs euen so is our consolation pleuteous by Christ. We are not weried but though our out ward man perishe yet the in ward man is renued day by day For our trouble which is shorte and lighte prepareth an exceding and an eternall waight of glorye vnto vs while we loke not on the things which are sene but on the things which are not sene For thinges whiche are seene are temporal but things which ar not sene are euerlasting We know that if our earthly mansion of this dwelling were destroyed we haue a building of God an habitatioÌ„ not made with handes but euerlasting in heauen Unto you it is geuen not only to beleeue in Christ but also to suffer for his sake Suffer affliction as a good souldiour of Christ. If we dy wyth Christ we shal liue with him If we suffer w e him we also shalreigâ—… with him if we deny him he will also dny vs. All that wil liue godly in Christe Iesu shall suffer persecutions This is thanke woorthyâ—… if a man for conscience toward god endure grefe and suffer wrong vndescrued If when ye do wel ye suffer wrong and take it patientlye then is there thankes with God For here vnto verely were ye called Blessed are ye if any trouble happen vn to you for righteousnes sake Dearly beloued maruel not that ye are proued by fire which thing is to trye you as though some straung thing hapned vnto you but reioyce in as muche as ye are partakers of Christes passion that when his glorye appereth ye may be merye and glad If ye be railed vpon for the name of Christ happy are ye For the glory and the spirite of God resteth vpon you On theyr parte he was euill spoken of but on your parte he is glorified If any man suffer as a christian man let him not be ashamed but let him glorify god in this behalfe Let them that be trooubled according to he wil of god commit their saules to him with wel doyng as vnto a faithfull creatour Iesus to saÌ„ctify the people with his own bloud suffered without the gate Let vs go forth therfore out of the tentes and suf fer rebuk wyth him For here haue we no continuyng city but we seke on to come By many trybulations must we enter into the kingdome of heauen The holy ghost witnesseth in euery city saying that bandes and trouble abide me But none of these things moue me neyther is my lyfe dear vnto my selfe that I mighte fulfill my course with ioy and the ministration of the word whith I haue receiued of the Lord Iesu to testify the Gospell of the grace of God I am ready not to be bounde only but also to dy for the name of the Lord Iesu. Blessed are the deade that dye in the Lorde euen so sayth the spirite that from henceforth they reaste from their labours But theyr worke folow them Examples out of the new Testamen IOhn Baptist for truth telling to kinge Herod was cast into prisoÌ„ beheaded Iesus Christ our Lord and sauiour after many blasphemies rebukes slaunders and bitter tormentes suffered the moste spitefull deathe of the crosse and so entred into glory The holy marter S. Stephen was stoned vnto death Iames y â— brother of Iohn was beheded What kindnes Peter and Paule wyth the apostles found at the handes of them whose saluatioÌ„ they most diligeÌ„tly sought the histories make mencion Neither I heare speak of those blessed Marters which sence their dayes haue dyed for the confession of gods truthe so that the gospell is not without a cause called of blessed Paul the word of the crosse For all that wil liue godly in Christ Ie su saith he shall suffer persecution I saw saith Sainct Iohn vnder the altar the soules of them that were killed for the woord of god and for the testimonyâ—… whiche they
bee vnto their soules for they haue rewarded 〈◊〉 vnto theÌ„selues Byd the righteous do wel for they shal enioy y â— fruites of their study But wo be vnto thâ—… vngodly and vnrigheeous for thei shal be rewarded after their workes Thou shalt not praye for thys people thou shalte neyther geue thankes nor byd prayer for them Thou shalte make no in tercession to me for them for in no wise will I heare thee Readâ—… fourth This said the lord vnto me thou shalt not praye to do this people good for thoughâ—… they fast I will not heare their prayers Though they offer burnt offrings and sacrifices yet will not I accepte them For I wil destroy them with the sworde and hunger and pestilence ☞ Examples out of the olde Testament THe seruauntes and all the army of the proude Senacherib were destroyed for their blasphemy agaynst god Holoâ—…rnes blasphemed God when he sayde that there was none other god of the earth but Gabuchodonosor and therfore was he afterwarde slayne euen of a woman Nabugodonosor blasphemed god wheÌ„ he sayde to the three chyldren who is the God that caÌ„ delyuer you out of my hands The children of Isarell blasphemed god therfore perished when they sayd to the Prophet Ieremy As for the wordes that thou haste spoken vnto vs in the name of the lorde we will in no wise heare them But whatsoeuer goeth out of our owne mouth that will we doo We will do sacrifice and offer oblations vnto the quene of heauen lyke as we and our forefathers our kyngs and our rulers haue done in the cityes of Iuda and in the streates and fieldes of Ierusalem For then had wee plenteousnesse of vitails then were we in prosperytye and no mysfortune came vpon vs. But sence we lefte to offer and to sacrifice vnto the quene of heauen wee haue had scarsnesse of all thynges and perish with sworde and honger Those Iewes blasphemed God which saide let vs goe and make a couenaunte with the Heathen that are rounde aboute vs. For since we departed from them we haue had sorowe inough Nicanor blasphemed god when he saide Is their a mighty one in heauen that commaunded the Saboth daye to be kept It was aunswered yea euen the liuing god the mighty Lorde in heauen commaunded the. vii daye to be kepte Then sayde be and I am myghty vpon earth to commaunde them for to arme themselues and to performe the kinges busines Sentences out of the newe Testament He that is not with me is again me saith Christe And be that gathereth not with me scatereth abrode Therfore I say vnto you all manner of sinne and blasphemy shal be forgeuen vnto men but the blasphe mye agaynste the spirite shall not be forgeuen vnto men And whosoeuer speaketh a worde against the sonne of man it shal be forgeuen him But whosoeuer speaketh against the holy ghost it shal not be forgeuen him neither in this worlde nor in the worlde to come If any men see his brother sinne not vnto death let him aske and he shal geue him life for theÌ„ that sin not vnto deth Ther is a sin vnto death for which I say that a maÌ„ should not pray It maye not be that they whiche were once lightened and haue tasted of the heauâ—…nly gifte and were become partakers of the holy ghost and haue tasted of the good word of god and the powers of the world to come If they fall awaye ' that they should againe be renewed by repentaunce which in them selues do crucify the sonne of God making a mock of him If we sinne wilfully after that we haue receiued the knowledge of truth there remayneth no more sacrifice for sinnes but a feareful loking for iudgement and violent fire whiche shall deuoure the aduersarie He that despiseth Moyses lawe dyeth without mercye vnder two or three wytnesses How muche sorer suppose ye shall he be punished which treadeth vnder foote the Sonne of God and counteth the bloud of the Testament wherewith he was saÌ„ctified as an vnholy thing and dishonoure to the sprite of grace Examples out of the new Testament The Iewes spake blasphemie against the holy ghoste when they said of Christ by the power of Belzebub doth he cast out Deuils They were blasphemers whiche sayde to Christe hanginge on the cros thou that destroyedst the Temple of GOD and buildest it againe in three dayes saue thy selfe If thou be the sonne of God come down from the crosse They also spake blasphemy against the holy ghost which now adaies of a pretensed malice condemne the worde of God as herey and persecute the preachers therof as heretickes and sedicious persons Against the despising of Gods word of the plagues that follow the same IF the deuil go about to pluck downe thy minde from the loue of gods worde and to moue thee to despise the doctrine of thy saluation so that thou shouldest no more delight in the moste comfortable gospel of Christe which is the power of god to saue so many as beleue but rather in thinges of vanitie â—…ake hede that thou leanest not to his subtile suggestions but standing in awe of gods iudgementes â–ª and fearing his plagues valeauntly resist Sathan with these holy scriptures following ☞ Sentences out of the olde Testament IF ye wil not harken vnto me saieth the Lord nor kepe my commaundementes but despise them c. then wil I doo this againe vnto you I will set my face against you and ye shall fal before your enemies and they that hate you shall raigne ouer you I will make the heauen ouer you as hardyron and your land as hard as bras I will sende my wilde beastes vpon you whiche shall rob you of your children and destroy your cattel I wil send a sword vp on you that shall auenge my Testament with you I wil send the pestilence among you Reade the Chapiter to thend If thou wilt not harken to the voice of the Lord thy God to kepe and to do all his commaundements and ordinaunces then all these curses shall come vpon thee ouertake thee Cursed shalt thou be in the Towne and cursed in the Fielde cursed shall thine almayrye be and thy store Cur sed shall the fruite of thine bodye and the fruite of thy lande be and the fruite of thy oxen and the flock of thy shepe The Lord shall make the pestilence cleane to thee vn til he haue consumed thee from the lande The Lord shall smite thee with madnesse blindnes and dasing of hart because thou seruedst not the Lord thy god with ioyfulnes and with a good hart for the abouÌ„daÌ„cs of all thinges wherefore thou shalt serue thine enemie which the Lord shal send oâ—… thee in hunger and thirste in nakednes in neede of all thinges And he shall put a yoke of iron vpon thy necke vntil be haue brought the to nought Read this Chapiter diligeÌ„tly from the beginning to
with her at the wine lest thy hart consent vnto her and thou wyth thy bloud fall into destruction A man that breaketh wedlocke and re gardeth not his soule but sayth tush who seeth me I am coÌ„passed about with darke nes the walles couer me no body seeth me Whome nede I to feare the highest wyll not remember my sinnes He vnderstandeth not that his eyes see all thynges for all such feare of meÌ„ driueth away the fear of God from him For he feareth onelye the eyes of men and considereth not that the eyes of the Lorde are clearer then the Sunne beholdinge all the wayes of men and the ground of the deepe and loking euen to mens hartes in secrete places c. Reade forth the Chapiter to the ende Examples out of the olde Testament God drowned once all the whole world eight persons only excepted for the sinne of vncleannes God poured downe from heauen water fyre and brymstone vpon the Sodomites Gomorrians and such other and destroyed them al for their abhominable vncleanes When Sychem the sonne of Hemor had violently defloured Dina the doughter of Iacob her brothers hearing of the matter slew not only Sichem and Hemor but also al the men and men children that were in the city and afterward spoiled the city And when Iacob their father talked with them of the matter they answered should they deal with our sister as w t an whore When it was told Iuda that Thamar his doughter in law had played the whore and with playing the whore was become great with child Iuda her father in lawe answered and said bring her forth that she may be brent Ioseph feared god and woulde not consente vnto his Lordes wyfe in any pointe of vnclenes but chosed rather to be cast into prison then he would commit so great wickednes and defile his Lordes wyfe Therfore did God bless him and brought him to hyghe degree There were slayne in one day of y â— Iewes 24. thousand for the whoredom that they committed For the defloring of a certayne Leuites wife there were destroyed mo theÌ„ an hun dred thousand people Dauid committed adultery with Bethsabe Urias wife but he escaped not vnplaged Salomon before he doted in loue of womeÌ„ was wholy geuen to the setting forth of Gods honor but beyng once nousâ—…ed with theyr loue he dyd not onely neglecte the glory of the alone true and lyuynge God but he also thoroughe the entisment of these women fel vnto the worshippyng of straunge godes and so he prouoked the highe displeasure of God agaynst him and his realme Susan feared God and desired rather to be stoned vnto death then she should de file her husbandes bed or once consent to the two filthy Iudges and so become an whore god therfore preserued her Sentences out of the new Testament Ye haue heard that it was sayde to theÌ„ of olde tyme thou shalt not commyte adultry But I say vnto you that whosoeuer loketh on another mans wyfe to luste after her hath committed adultry already with her in his harte It semeth good to the holy ghost and to vs to charge you that ye abstayne from whordome Kepe no company with whoremongers If any that is called a brother that is to say a christen man be an whorehunter with such one se that ye eate not Neither whoremongers nor adulterers nor weakelynges neyther abusers of them selues with mankinde shall inherite the kingdom of god Knowe ye not that youre bodyes are the members of Christe shall I now take the members of Christ and make them the members of an harlot God forbid Do ye not know that he whyche coupleth him selfe with an harlot is become one body For two saith he shal be one fleshe But he that is ioyned to the Lorde is one â–ª spirite whoredome Euery sinne that a man doth is without the body But he that is a whoremonger sinneth against his own bo dy Knowe ye not how that youre bodyes are the temple of the holy ghoste whiche dwell in you whome ye haue of god and how ye are not your own For ye are dearly bought Therfore glorify god in your bo dyes and in your spirits which are gods To auoyd whoredome let euery man haue his wife and let euery woman haue her husband It is better to marry then to burne Adultery fornication vnclennes wanton nes c. are workes of the flesh and whosoeuer doth them shall not inherite y â— kingdome of god Let not whoredome or vnclennes be once named amoÌ„g you For this ye know that no whoremonger or vncleane person hath inheritance in the kingdome of christ and of god This is the wil of god that ye abstain from whoredome For god hath not called vs vnto vnclennes but vnto holynes Kepe thy self pure and honest Auoyd the lustes of youth but follow righteousnes faithe loue and peace wyth them that call on the Lorde with a pure hart Wedlock is honorable among all meÌ„ and the bed vndefiled but whoremongers and adulterers god wil condemne Whoremongers shall haue their part in the lake that burneth with fire and brim stone which is the second death ¶ Sentences out of the new Testament WHoredome was the occasion that Herodias Herods whore sought so dilygently the death of godly Iohn Baptiste which reproued them of their abhominable liuing Thorow whoredome and kepinge of riotouse company the prodigall sonne was ted away his goodes and fel vnto such necessitie beggerye and misery that he was glad to kepe swine and would faine haue filled his bellye with the coddes that the swine did eat but he could not be suffered Learne of this history what the ende of whoredome is Saint Paule did excommunicate that man of Corinth which vngodlye kept his fathers wife and woulde not suffer that any of the faithful should kepe him company nor yet eat or drink with him The ende of the whore of Babilon is described of Saint Iohn to be wonderfull wretched miserable and dampnable Against Couetousnes If the deuil and the worlde moue thee not to bee content with that is sufficient and enough but inordinatly add vnmeasurably to scrat together the goods of the world to oppresse the pore â–ª to ioine house to house land to land lordship to lordship c. to take great incommes to raise the rentes and to get that maye be gotten by right or by wrong defend thy selfe against them with these holye scriptures that folow euer remembring that thou arte but a straunger and a pilgrime in this worlde and that thou must go hence eyther vnto glory or vnto paine yea and that â–ª how sone thou knowest not Sentences out of the olde Testament TThou shalt not couet thy neyghbours goods Ye shall not trouble hurt nor anoy no widow nor fatherles childe If ye shall hurt them and they cry vnto me I wil surely heare tâ—…eir cry
had and they cryed with a loud voice saying how longe tariest thou O Lord holy and true to iudge and to reuenge our bloude on them that be on the earth And long white garments were g◅ uen vnto euery one of them And it was said vnto them that they should rest a little season til the nomber of their fellowes and brethren and of them that shoulde be killed as they were fulfilled Against the temptation which the faithful haue when they compare their miseries and wretchednes with the welth prosperitie ▪ and pleasures of the swinish Epicures and wicked worldlinges Where thou also shalt see the misera ble end of the vn godly IF Sathan our olde aduersary with his handemaide the fleshe shall at any time moue thee to forsake God and his holy worde ▪ by considering the florishing and triumphant estate of the wicked worldlinges and the to muche miserable and base trade of the Lordes seruauntes and professoures of gods truth which liue in all kinde of misery wretchednes and pouertie and ar piteously oppressed of the tirants of this worlde when on the contrarye part the vngodlye haue all thinges at their owne pleasure and liue at their hartes ease without disturbance for lacke of temporall thinges consent no◅ to his subtil assaultes ▪ but manfully resist them cōsidering with thy selfe that thoughe the vngodlye raigne in t is world and haue the vppermost hand yet shall their end be miserable when the poore afflicted for Gods cause shall altar their manifolde temptations be rewarded with perpetuall ioy and euerlastinge glorye and that thou mayest be the more assuredly perswaded in these thinges ▪ call to remembrance these holy scriptures folowing Sentences out of the olde Testament KNowest thou not this that from the beginning euer since the creation of man vpon earth the praise of the vngodly hath bene short and that the ioy of the hipocrites hath continued but the twinck ling of an ey Though he be magnified vp to the heauen so that his hed reacheth vnto the cloudes yet he perisheth at the laste like dong in somuch that they which haue seene him shall say where is he He vanissheth as a dreame so that he can no more be founde and passeth away in a vision in the night so that the eye whiche saw him before getteth now no sighte of him his place knoweth him no more Wherefore do the wicked men liue in healthe and prosperitie come to their olde age and encrease in riches Their Childers children liue in their sighte and their generation before their eyes Their houses are safe from all feare for the rod of god doothe not smite them Their bullock gendreth and that not out of time their cowe calueth and is not vnfruteful They send their children forth bi flockes and their sonnes lead the daunce They bear with them tabrets and harpes and haue instrumentes of musick at their pleasure They spende their dayes in welthynesse but sodenlye they go downe to Hell O Lord thou art more righteous then that I should dispute with thee Neuertheles let me talke with thee in thinges resonable How happeneth it that the way of the vngodlye is so prosperous and that it goeth so wel with them whiche without any shame offende and liue in wickednesse Thou plantest them they take roote they growe and bring forth fruite They boste muche of thee yet art thou far from their raines But thou Lorde to whō I am wel knowen thou that hast sene and proued my hearte take them awaye like as a flocke is caried to the slaughter house and appoint them for the day of slaughter O Lord how long shal I crye and thou wilt not heare how long shall I cōplaine vnto thee suffering wrong and thou wilt not helpe why lettest thou me se werinesse and labour Tiranny and violence are before me power ouer goeth right for the law is torne in pyeces and there can no right iudgement go forth And why the vngodly is more set by then the righteous This is the cause that wrong iudgement procedeth Thine eies O Lord are clean thou mayest not see euil thou canst not be hold the thing that is wicked Wherfore then dost thou looke vpon the vngodly holdest thy tong when the wicked deuoureth the man that is better then himselfe Thou makest men as the fysh of the sea like as the creepyng beastes that haue no guide they take vp al with their angle they catch it in their net do sacrifice vn to their yarne because that thorow it their porcion is become so fat and their meat so plenteous Wherfore they cast out their net againe and neuer cease to slay the people Like as the wyne deceiueth the dronkard euen so the proud shal fal and not endure Ful miserable is the death of vngodly for they that hate the vnrighteous shall be plucked vp by the roote Freate not thy selfe at the vngodly be not thou enuious against the euil doers For they shal sone be cute down like the grasse and be withered euen as the grene herbe Greue not thi self at one y ◠is in prosperity and liueth in abhominacion Leaue of frō wrath let god displeasure let not thy gelousy moue thee also to do euil For wicked doers shall bee rooted out but they that paciently abyde the lord shal enherite the land Suffer yet a litle while and the vngodly shal be cleane gone thou shalt loke after his place and he shall be away Reade forth the Psalm◅ and marke it well Wherfore thus arrogantly magnifiest thou thy selfe at all tyme. O mischeuous gyaunt wherfore enforceth thy tonge mis chief fordgyng disceat lyke a new set Rasour Wherfore louest thou malice rather then honesty rather to lye then to saye truth For thou delightest in all maner of pernicious speach oh thou desceitful tong Wherfore god shall vtterly rende thee vp by the rootes and destroy thee and he shal throwe thee downe out of thy tabernacle and pluck thy rootes out of the land of the liuing Rede diligently and marke well the. 73. Psalme whiche altogether belongeth vnto this matter Wo be to the proud wealthy in Sion euen to suche as thincke them selues so s◅re vppon the mounte of Samarya which holde them selues for the best of the world and rule the house of Israel at their owne pleasure Ye are taken out for the euil day euen ye that sit in the stoole of wilfulnes ye that lie vpon beds of Iuory and vse your wantonnes vpon youre couches ye that eat the best Lambes of the flocke the fattest calues of the drouy ye that sing to the lute and in playing of instruments compare your selues vnto Dauid ye that drinke wine out of goblets and annoynte your selues with the best oyle but no man is sorye for Ioseph hurte therfore shall ye now be the firste of them that shal be led awaye captiue and the lustye ◅heare of the wilful shall come to an
deuise thinges which be to harde to be kept through which the poore are oppressed on euerye side and the innocentes of my people are therewith robbed of iudgement Wo be to those shriÌ„kiÌ„g childreÌ„ saith y â— lord which seke counsel but not at me whiche take a web in haÌ„d but not after my will y â— they may heap one sinne vpon an other Thus saith the Lorde my thoughtes are not your thoughtes and your wayes are not my wayes but as farre as the heaueÌ„s are higher then the earth so far do my wayes exceade youres and my thoughtes your thoughtes Your lippes speake leasinges and your tong setteth out wickednes No man regardeth righteousnesse and no man iudgeth truly Euery man hopeth in vaine things and imagineth disceite conceiueth wickednes and bringeth forth euil They breede Cockatrices egs weaue the spiders web Whosoeuer eâ—…eth of their egs dieth but if one tread vpon them their commeth vp a serpent Their webbe maketh no cloth and they maye not couer them with their laboures Their deedes are the deedes of wickednesse and the worke of robbery is in their handes their feete runne to euill and they make haste to shed innocent bloude Theyr councels are wicked councels hate and destruction is in their wayes but y â— way of peace they know not In their goings is no equitie their waies are so crooked y â— who so goeth therin knoweth nothing of peace My people haue committed two greate euils They haue forsaken me the fountaine of liuing waters and digged them pits pits I say that are broken and can hold no water Take bâ—…de saithe the Lord ye truste in coâ—…sels that begile you do you no good Heare not the wordes of the Prophets that preach their owne dreames Heare O ye house of Israel saith the lord Is not my way right or ar not your waies rather wicked The children of thy people saye tushe the way of the Lord is not right where as their way is rather vnright Examples out of the olde Testament Ieroboam kynge of Israel contrary to gods word made two calues of gold and set them vp to be worshipped of people as their goddes but both he and his posteritie were greuously punished for it How greuously god punished al such as brought in strauÌ„ge worshippings of god or any matters concerning Idolatrye or ought els contrary to y â— word of God although y â— authors of theÌ„ made the simple people to beleeue y â— they were verities although vnwritteÌ„ as the Papistes do now adaies y â— holy scriptures in diuers places do euideÌ„tly shew namely in the bokes of the kinges and of the chronicles ☞ Sentences out of the new Testament Except your righteousnesse dooth excede the righteousnes of the Scribes and Phariseis ye can not enter into the kingdome of heauen Beware of false Prophets which câ—…me vnto you in sheepes clothing and inward ly are rauening wolues Why do ye transgresse the commaundenâ—…ent of God for your tradicions Euery plant y â— my heaueÌ„ly father hath not planted shal be plucked vp by y e rotes This is my welbeloued Sonne in whom I am wel pleased heare ye him Teache them to kepe all thinges that I haue commaunded you Ye leaue the commaundemeÌ„t of god and maintaine your owne constitutions Well ye do caste aside the commaundemeÌ„t of god to kepe your own tradicions If ye abide in my worde ye are my disciples in deede and ye shall knowe the truthe and the truthe shall make you fre He that is of god heareth the wordes of God My sheepe heare my voice I knowe them and they followe mee neither shall they at any time pearishe nor yet shall any man pluck them out of my hand He that hathe my commaundementes and kepeth them he it is that loueth mee If any man loueth me he will keepe my wordes If ye keepe my commaundementes ye shall abide in my law Ye are my frends if ye doe those things that I commaund you Euery one that is of the truthe heareth my voyce I dare not speak of any of these things that Christ hath not wrought by me I beseeche you brethern marke them that make deuision and geue occasions of euil contrarye to the doctrine y â— ye haue learned and auoid them For they that are such serue not the Lord Iesu Christe but their own bellies with swete preachiÌ„gs and flattering words deceiue the harts of the simple Though we our selues or an Angel froÌ„ Heauen preache any other Gospel to you then that whiche we haue preached vnto you holde him accursed As I saide before so say I now againe if any man preach any other thing vnto you then that ye haue receiued holde him accursed Thoughe it be but a mans testament yet no maÌ„ despiseth it or addeth any thing therto when it is once alowed How much more ought nothing to be added to the tes tament of the moste highe God nor yet be taken from it Be no more children from heÌ„ceforth wandring and caried with euerye winde of doctrine by the wilines of men crafts whereby they lay awaite for vs to deceiuâ—… vs but let vs follow the truth in loue and in all thinges growe in him whiche is thy head that is to say Christ. Caste away vngodlye olde wiues fables exercise thy self vnto godlines If any man teache otherwise is not content with the wholsome words of our Lord Iesus Christe and with the doctrine of godlines He is pufte vp knoweth no thing but wasteth his brains about questioÌ„s strife of wordes wherof spring enuye strife rayling euill surmisinges and vaine disputations of menne of corrupte mindes and destitute of the truth whiche thinke that lucre is godlynes From suche seperate thy self If any man speake let him speake as though it came of gods owne mouth Whosoeuer transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ hath not god He that endureth in the doctrine of Christ hath bothe the Father and the Sonne If there come any vnto you and bring not this lerning him receiue not to house neither bid him god spede For he that bid deth him god spede is partaker of his euil deedes Be not caried about with diuers and straunge learninges If any man addeth to these thinges god shall adde vnto hym the plages that are written in this booke And if any maÌ„ shall minish of the wordes of this boke of this Prophecy god shal take away hys parte oute of the booke of life and out of the holye citie and from those thynges which are written in this booke Examples out of the newe Testament Christ rebuketh the pharises for bringing their traditions into the churche of God by that meanes defacyng the glory of Gods most holy worde Blessed Sainct Paule reproueth them which be dead with Christ from the commaundements
of the world and yet suffer themselues still to be led with traditions as these for an example touch not tast not handle not c. Which all perish through the verye abuse after the commaundements and doctrins of men which thinges outwardly haue the similytude of wisdome by superstition and humblenes of minde c. Thapostles of Christ would not burden the christen congregations with new and superfluous tradicions but only charged them with such thinges as were necessary Sainct Paule in his Epistle vnto the Galathians inueieth against them which after they haue known god turne agayn vnto nedie and beggerlye ceremonyes traditions or ordinaunces obseruing dais monethes times and yeares Against the folowing of vngodly forefathers If thou through temptation of the Deuil or the â—…alse perswasions of Antichrists Prophets be mâ—… â—…ed at any time to doubt of the truth of gods word which the papistes at this daye cal seditious doctrine new learning and heresy because thy forefathers haue both beloued and done the contrary â–ª call these scriptures to thy remembraunce Sentences out of the olde Testament Folow not the multitude to do euill Doo not you these thinges that they haue done which were before you neither be ye defiled in them I am the Lord your God kepe my commaundements The Lord sent his prophets to his people saying returne from your vnrighteous wayes and keepe my preceptes and ceremonies according to all the lawe that I commaunded your fathers But they would not heare but became stifnecked euen as their forefathers were stifnecked whiche would not obey the Lord God Let them put their hope in God not forget the works of the Lord but seke after his commaundementes Let them not be like their forefathers whiche were a frowarde and a spitefull nation a nation that would neuer be true harted nor bear an vpright mind toward God Be not hard harted as your forefathers were saith the Lord whiche chyde and rebelled against me We haue sinned with oure forefathers we haue done vniustly and commited iniquitie Trust not in rulers nor in the sonnes of men in whome is no health For wheÌ„ theyr breath goeth away they return vn to their earth In y â— day shall al their thou â—…hts counsels deuises and imaginations come to naught I haue alway sayd vnto your forefathers synce I brought them out of the land of Egipt euen vnto thys daye heare my voice but they would not hear nor once bow their eare vnto it But euery one of them is gone astray in the frâ—… wardnes of his wicked harte ye the people of Iuda and the men of Ierusalem are also falleÌ„ vnto the wickednes of their fore fathers which would not hear my words Insomuch that thei ar alredy gone away after straunge Gods and serue them The house of Israel the house of Iuda haue brokeÌ„ y e couenaunt which I made w t their fathers Therfore thus saith the lord Beholde I wil bring in extreme punishments vpon theÌ„ so y â— they shal not escap froÌ„ theÌ„ They shall crye vâ—…to me but I will not heare them The cityes of Iuda and thâ—… inhabiters of Hierusalem shall goe crye vnto them to whom they offered sacrifice and yet shall they not saue theÌ„ in the time of their trouble According to the number of thy cities were thy Gods O Iuda and after the number of thy waies O Hierusalem haste thou set vp altars of abhomination to do sacrifice vnto Baalim Your forefathers haue forsaken me sayth the Lorde and they are gone awaye after straunge Gods and haue serued theÌ„ and worshipped them yea they haue vtterlye geuen me ouer and haue not kept my lawe But you haue wrought more abhomination than all your forefathers haue done For behold euery one of you walke after the leudnesse of his own wicked harte and will not heare me Their forefathers haue broken my couenaunt euen vnto thys day and they to whom I send thee are children without all shame and of such an harte as can not be reclaimed Walke not in the commaundementes of your fathers nor keepe not their ordinaunces neither pollute your selues with their idoles For I am the lord your God Therefore walke in my preceptes and kepe my iudgementes and do them Confusion of face and vtter shame be vnto vs vnto our kings vnto our rulers to our forefathers which haue sinned Be not like your forefathers vnto whoÌ„ the Prophets in tymes past cryed saying thus sayth the Lorde of hostes turne from your euill waies and from your abhominable thoughtes but they would not harken nor geue any attendaunce vnto me sayth the Lord. Our forefathers haue sinned and haue done euill in the sight of the Lord our god For they haue forsaken him and turned awaye their faces from the tabernacles of the Lord our God Be not lyke your forefathers and brethren which rebelled against the Lorde God of their fathers and he gaue them ouer into desolation as ye see your selues Be not ye hardnecked now as were your forefathers but offer your hande vnto the Lorde and come to his sanctuarie which he hath sanctifyed for euer and serue the Lorde your God so shall the indignation of his wrath turne away from you Examples out of the olde Testament CAin â—…lewe his brother Abel and followed his forefather the deuill which was a mansleyer from the beginning Nadab king of Israell folowed his forefather Hieroboam coÌ„mitting idolatrie against the lord his God Therfore Baasa destroyed him and his kingdome all the house of Hieroboam so that one of the stocke remained not aliue Ozochias king of Israell followed hys wicked forefather Achab greuously sinned against the lord his God He therfore reigned but a litle time and also died a miserable death Amon king of Iuda followed hys Idolatrous forefather Manasses and dyd that whiche was euill in the sight of the Lord his God He reigned but two yeres and was slaine of his seruauntes in hys own house Ioakim kyng of Iuda forâ—…oke the godlye waies of his moste vertuous father king Iosias and followed the steppes of his wicked forefathers The Lorde therefore suffered him to raigne but three monethes in Ierusalem and gaue him ouer into the handes of his enemies Sedechias king of Iuda followed hys wicked forefathers and prouoked y â— lord his God vnto anger He therfore was depriued of his kingdome sawe his children slaine before his eyes and afterward he hauing his eyes plucked out of his head was bound in chaines and miserably caryed away into Babilon ¶ Sentences out of the neâ—… Testament All that come before me are theeues and robbers but my sheepe haue not heard them O ye stifnecked and vncircumcised of hartes and eares ye haue alwayes resisted the holy ghost â–ª as your forefathers did so do ye Which of the Prophets haue not your forefathers persecuted See that ye passe the