THOMAS BECON. ❧ A comfortable Epistle/ too God's faithful people in England/ wherein is declared the cause of taking away the true Christian religion from them/ & how it may be recovered and obtained again/ newly made by Thomas Becon. Abacuk. 2. Though the Lord tarry/ yet wait thou for him/ for he will undoubtedly come/ yea/ and that out of hand. Imprinted at Strasburgh in Elsas, at the sign of the golden Bibel in the month of August. In the year of the LORD M. D. liv. The Epistle. ¶ The first Chapter. TO the faithful Christians/ wheresoever they be dispersed throughout the realm of England/ Thomas Becon wis●…heth/ grace/ mercy and peace from God the father/ with perfect knowledge of his dearly beloved son jesus Christ our Lord/ and alone saviour thorough the hallowing of the holy Ghost/ unto the true and unfeigned obedience off Gods most blessed will/ with an earnest faith in the merciful promises of God/ and assured hope of obtaining the same/ unto everlasting life. AMEN. IT greatly rejoiceth me (mos●…e dear brethren) to hear of this your constancy and steadfastness in believing & confessing the glorious Gospel of our saviour jesus Christ (which as the apostle Rom. 1. saith/ is the power of God to save so many as believe) namely in these perilous and troublesome days/ wherein we see so many sturte back and run away from the confession of God's truth (which when the weather was calm/ they seemed constantly to profess) and follow the fond fantasies of men/ that speak not God's word, but their own drowsy dreams and idle imagis nations brought into the church of Christ by subtle sathan and his marked marchaun te●…/ unto the great disturbance of the Christian common wealth/ so that/ if it were possible/ the very elect and chosen people off God/ thorough their ●…ugsing might be seduced Mat. 24. and led from the way of truth. As ye have godly begun/ so manfully go forth unto the end/ that ye may receive a full joy and a perfect reward of the Lord your God in that day/ when he gloriously shall appear and render to every one according to his deeds/ that is to say/ praise/ honour/ and immortality to them/ which continue in good doing and seek eternal life. But unto them that are rebellious and disobey the truth and follow iniquity/ shall come indignation/ and wrath/ tribulation and anguish. But be it known unto you dear brethren/ that this thing that hath happened unto us in this realm of England/ Roma. 2. I mean the taking away of God's true religion/ and the thrusting in of pa●…istrye in the stead thereof/ unto the great & unspeakable sorrow of all true Christian hearts/ aught not to seem unto you new strange and unlooked for/ but rather such a thing as hath hitherto many times been declared unto you by the preachers/ and ye yourselves godly considering the corrupt manners and unlucky chances of this realm/ did right well the same aforesee and greatly lament. For divers signs had we long before/ besides the godly admonitions of the faithful preachers/ which plainly declared unto us an utter subversion of the true Christian religion to be at hand/ except it were prevented by has●…ye and hearty repentance. What shall I speak of that godly and mighty prince Edward/ duke of Somerset/ which in the time of his Pro The 〈◊〉 of Somerset tectorship did so banish idolatry out of this our realm/ and bring in again God's true religion/ that it was wonder so weighty a matter to be brought to pass in so 〈◊〉 a time? Was not the ungentle handling of him/ and the unrighteous thrusting him out of office/ and afterward the cruel mur thering of him/ a man/ yea/ a mirror off true innocency and Christian patience/ a evident token of God's anger against us? The sudden taking away of those mo●…e goodly & virtuous young Imps/ the duke of Suffolk and his brother/ by the sweeting The 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 and his brother. sickness/ was it not also a manifes●… token of God's heavy displeasure toward us? The death of those two most worthy & godly learned men/ I speak of M. Paulus M. Paulus Fagius. D Martin Bucer. Fagius/ & of D. Martin Bucer/ was it not a sure Prognostication/ some great mishap/ concerning Christian religion to be at hand? But as I may pass over many other/ & at the last come unto that/ which is most lamentable/ and can never be remembered of any true English heart/ without large tears/ I mean the death of our most godly Prince and Christian king Edward the. VI that true josias/ that earnest Ring Edward the 〈◊〉. destroyer of false religion/ that fervent setter up of God's true honour/ that most bounteous Patron of the godly learned/ that most worthy maintainer of good letters and virtue/ and that perfect & lively mirror of true nobili●…e and sincere godliness: was not the taking away of him (alas for sorrow) azure sign and an evident token that some great evil hanged over this realm of England? Who considering these things (as I may speak nothing of the wicked Gross gospelers. nes of those men/ which made the word of God a cloak of their naughtiness/ of their insatiable covetousness/ of their intolerable pride, of their voluptuous & wanton living. etc.) perceived not a shepwracke of the Christian religion too be at hand/ as it is (alas for pity) come to pass at this day? All good men feared the decay of God's true honour in this realm/ that we feared/ that hath chanced/ how could it otherwise come to pass? God's blessing was offered unto us▪ but we thorough our wicked and unthankful life refused it. Shall not therefore blessing be taken away/ & cursing come in the place thereof? as it is written/ he would not have the blessing/ it shall therefore Psal. 109. be far from him. ¶ The. two. Chapter. IF the kingdom of God be proffered unto us/ and we set not by it/ be we not worthy England blessed▪ 〈◊〉 to lose it? What realm since the Apostles time was ever so abundantly replenished with the knowledge of Christ's Gospel yea/ & that in so few years'/ as this realm of England was? But alas how was it regarded? Who repent? who know ledged his sin from the very heart? Who called on the name of God in spirit and truth? Who framed his life/ according to his knowledge? It is therefore come too pass/ as our Saviour Christ long before threatened/ the kingdom of God shallbe taken Math. 21. from you & shallbe given to a nation/ that bringeth forth the fruits thereof. God planted this realm of England/ a pleasant & goodly vinyeard/ dressing and trimming it after Esa. 〈◊〉. the best manner/ looking continually to have some worthy fruit thereof/ but w●… in the stead of natural grapes/ it brought forth wild berries/ unwholesome and unnatural/ was it not worthy too be laid wayste/ to be trodden under foot/ and to be devoured of wild beasts? Were not the people of the old world worthy too be Gen. 7. 2. Pet. 2. overwhelmed with waters/ which being of righteous No he so oft afore admonished/ would not repent/ and make provision for the avoiding of that plague? Were not the filthy Sodomites worthy to be consumed Gen. 19 2. Pet. 2. with fire and brimstone from heaven/ which being afore told of their destruction would not cease thorough their abominable living to provoke the heavy wrath & fierce vengeance of God against them? Were not the Israelites worthy to be plagued even unto the death/ when they despising/ loathing & abhorring Manna/ which Exod. 17 came doùne from heaven/ lusted after the vile flesh of the earth? Were not the jews worthy to be led away miserable captives & wretched prisoners/ to serve strange princes in farreyne countries/ which would 4. Re. 25 not serve their Lord God in their own coum try/ a land that floweth with milk and honey? Was it not convenient/ that the Matt. 21. Marc. 12. Luc. 20. people of juda should be oppressed/ yea/ destroyed both they and their cy●…es of their enemies the Romans/ which refused Ie sus Christ/ their trueliege and souerayg●…e Lord to reign over them/ & most cruelty put him to death? Were they not worthy Mat. 〈◊〉. to be seduced by a sort of false ra●…es/ as they are at this day/ wh●…che would never give ear too the true Prophets of God/ but miserably killed them? ●…s it not also meet/ that they like vagabonds should Acto. 7. wander thorowoute the world without priesthood/ kingdom or common weal/ that would never truly serve him/ which before all other nations did chose them 〈◊〉 be his peculiar people/ giving them a ●…e that flowed with the abundance of all things? Are they not worthy to walk in ●…kenes/ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 ●…f 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. which willingly despise the light? t●… taste ●…oure things/ which abhor the sweet? to wander out of the way/ which r●…fuse the plain path? Even so is it come to pass/ likewise with us at this day. We abhorred the light of God's word/ therefore are we now justly overwhelmed with the darkness of men's tryffeling 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 decrees. We lightly 〈◊〉 the godly prayers and thanks givings 〈◊〉 our Engli●… tongue/ whereby we 〈◊〉 Latin se●… 〈◊〉 have been greatly 〈◊〉/ therefore are we now fed with Latyn service/ which ●…e know not/ whether it be blessing or cursi●…. certain are wē/ that it is altogether with out edifying/ & clean contrary to the command 1. Cor. 14 meant of God/ & the doctrine of the holy Apos●…le▪ which would nothing to be spoken in the congregation/ but in such a tongue/ as all the people understand/ that all may be edified. We set nought by the ministration of the holy & bless Ma●…▪ 〈◊〉. said communion/ therefore this plague is worth lie come upon us/ that in the stead of the lords supper we have most wicked & abominable masses set up/ invented by the devil/ brought in by Antichrist/ practised by his shorn shaue●…īges/ maintained by such as have received the beasts mark/ full of superstition/ Idolatry/ blasphemy/ spiritual whore doom/ and of all that displeaseth God/ & is horrible in the judgement and sight of all good men. We regarded not the godly learned and fatherly bishops/ nor the faithful & virtuous ministers of God's word/ which fed us with the pure wheat off Christ's gospel/ and taught us the holy ordinances of God/ repentance/ faith/ love/ invocation of the name of God/ mortification of the old man/ brotherly charity/ patience/ long suffering/ obedience/ joy in the holy Ghost/ the true & christian good works/ & such other f●…utes of the spirit/ whereby we might learn to serve the Lord our God in Luc. 1. holiness & righteousness all the days of our life: therefore all those men of God/ being put to silence/ some out of office/ some in exile/ some in prison abiding the good pleasure of God/ & even as sheep appointed to be slain: Psal. 44. Rom. 8. we are cō●…elled daily to hear such Antichristian trōpet●…lowers/ such cankered cormorauntes'/ such Caymlyke caterpillars/ such idle Idols/ such loitering lordennes/ such lecherous lubbers/ & such deuel●…h destroyers of Christian men's souls/ as the ears of agood Christian abhor for too hear/ the eyes to behold/ the feet to go unto. O misery passing all miseries/ that flock which the high bishop Christ purchased with his most Acto. 20 precious blood to be scattered/ rend/ torn/ & devoured of those cruel lions & ravening will fes/ who lamenteth not? those people/ whom God hath chosen for his inheritance/ to be seduced & led out of the way by such●… ministers of sathan/ as cloth them selfs outwardly with sheeps apparel/ & inwardly are ●…auenig Math. 7. Math. 2●… wolves/ full of hypocrisy/ ravin/ deceit & of all filthiness/ whose heart distilleth not drops of blood to consider? O to much lamentable case. The. iij. Chapter. FOr what other thing do the lying & blo dy papistes teach at this day/ than the very lies/ dreams and fantasies of Antichrist the bishop of Rome and his adherentes? The doctri●… ne of the papistes. as setting up of altars/ tabernacles/ Images/ and rood lofts/ hanging up of the pyre/ setting up of candles before Ido les and ●…awmettes/ hallowing of bread/ salt/ water/ palms/ fire/ as●…es/ oil/ cris●…e/ rings/ candle's. etc. Ladies psalters/ s▪ katerines knot●…es/ intercessions and merits of saints/ purgatory/ praying for the dead/ trentals/ diriges/ commendations/ masses of Requien/ masses of Scala celi/ masses of Recordare/ masses of Si iniquitates/ masses for all diseas●…s/ masses for all things good or bad/ auricular confession/ creeping to the cross with candles/ eggs/ money/ etc. justification of works/ free will/ popish f●…inge/ prayers without understanding/ faith without knowledge/ devotion without the spirit/ 〈◊〉 masses/ prop●…atory sacrifices/ done by Sodomitical priest●…s/ 〈◊〉/ 〈◊〉 of the Sacramental bread/ th●… real/ corporal/ substantial/ carnal/ natural and sens●…ble presence of Christ in the Sacrament/ so that we break him on pieces with our hands/ tear him with our tethe/ and swallow him into the ma●…/ and so digest him/ and send him/ I can not tell whither/ with an whole sea of like errou●…s and heresys/ which the pilled/ peuy●…/ 〈◊〉 papists teach without the author●… of God's word/ even of their own ●…ayne and fantasy/ unto the great dishonour of God/ and the utter damnation of their souls/ which●… hear/ believe & follow the doctrine of those Antichristes'. And whence cometh it to pass/ that we/ which before were blessed of God/ with so many heavenly benefits/ are now mo●…e miserably compassed about with all kind of evils/ and become the very bond slaves of these Antichristes' and spiritual shameless shavelings/ & as men wholly estraūged from God/ and utterly banished from The 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 away th●… true religion from us. the Christian common weal of the true Israelites? ●…erely our ingratitude/ our vnthankeful●…s/ our unkindness/ yea/ our churlyshenes toward God and his holy word hath caused all these miseries/ worthily to fall upon us. We were weary of the heavenly Mauna/ and had a pleasure to return unto Egypt/ where we might sit among the greasy flesh pots/ eating beffe and brews knucle deep/ and have our dainty fishes/ our melo●…s/ our cucumbers/ our onions/ our garlic/ our leeks. etc. therefore according to the filthy lusts of our wicked hearts hath God dealt with us/ & sent us again into the popish Egipte/ to fe●…e upon the pestilent leaven of the papistical Phariseis/ even the beggarly ceremonies/ ●…feling traditions and dirty decrees of men/ in stead of God's holy word unto the horrible and dreadful damnation of our souls/ as he saith by the Psalmographe: My people would not hear my voice/ & Israel would not obey me/ therefore gave Psal. ●…1. I them up unto their own hearts lust/ & let them follow their own imaginations. Here unto agreeth the saying of s. Paul: Because 〈◊〉. thes. 2. they received not the love of the truth/ that they might be saved/ therefore will God send them a s●…rong illusion to believe lies. Is not this the saying of our saviour Christ? this is condemnation/ that light is come into joan. 3. the world/ & men have loved darkness more than light/ for their works were evil. The thing therefore that brought this condemnation this darkness/ this blindness vpō●…s/ is the hating of the light of God's word/ our unthankfulness for the benefits of Christ's Gospel/ & our sinful life replenished with all kind of wickedness. These things/ these things made God to withdraw the most pleasant & comfortable light of his loving countenance from us/ & to suffer the prince of dare keen to shadow us with his wings of hellish ignorauncy & devilish blindness unto our great discomfort & continual sorrow. God have mercy on us/ & bless us/ & show us the light of his contenancen/ & be merciful unto us/ that Psal. 67. we may know his way upon the earth/ & his saving health among all natious. Amen. ¶ The. iiij. Chapter. BUt/ what is now to be done? shall we How●… the Christian 〈◊〉 ligion 〈◊〉 be reco●… red. cast away all hope? Shall we yield ourself to the pri●…e of darkness? Shall we suffer ourselves continually to be wrapped & covered in with the dreadful clouds of popish blindness? God forbidden. Yea/ rather let us with a lusty courage & bold spirit hunt out & seek some means/ whereby we may be dispatched of this most miserable plague/ wherewith we are at this present justly stricken for our unthankfulness & wicked life/ & so recover the favour of God/ that we may once again walk in the heavenvly light of his most glorious countenance. Sin/ as we heard afore/ drowe away Sin●…. from us the benefit of Gods most blessed word/ & of his true religion/ as the prophet saith: Your wickednesses have made a wall Esa. 59 between you & your God/ & your sins hide his face from you. Now must we therefore seek how to appease the wrath of God kindled against us. verily the mean/ how to make God merciful unto us/ is from henceforth to Remedies against the wrath o●… God. avoid that/ which was the cause of God's displeasure against us/ & of the taking away of his blessed word from us/ I mean sin. Sin must be taken away from among us/ or else c●…we never be reconciled unto God/ nor obtain his favour/ so far is it of/ that we shall recover the heavenvly benefit of his glorious gospel. For the Lord our God is such a God/ as 〈◊〉 wickedness. The evil can not Psalm. 5. dwell by him/ nor the unrighteous abide in his sight. Sy●…e therefore which drove God out of our host●…/ and with him the ●…ght of his blessed word/ must be wedded o●… both of our ha●…e and life/ that we may be pure before the Lord our God/ & 1. Cor. 6. 〈◊〉 him in spirit and body. So shall we 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●…emples for his godly 〈◊〉 to dwell in/ whom if we once receive into our hearts/ with him we may be sure to enjoy all good things. Now to put away sin/ the first remedy is ear●… and unfeigned repentance. Let us all Repentance. even from the very heart be inwardly sorry for our unthankfulness and disobedience against Gods most blessed will. Let us even with tears/ as Peter and Magdalene did Matt. 26. Luc. 7. lament and bewail our wretchednesses/ being most heartily sorry/ that we ever offended so loving a father/ and so merciful a Lord. For this unfeigned repentance & hearty ●…ewayling of our sins/ is an acceptable sacrifice unto God/ as David saith: A sacrifice unto God is a troubled spirit/ a Psal. 51. broken and humble heart God will not despys●…. Yea/ God himself saith by the Prophet: Unto whom ●…hall I look/ but unto hy●… that is ●…owe brought/ and of a broken Esa. 66. spirit/ ●…nd standeth in awe of my words? this way of obtaining Gods favour taught Esa. 55. jere. 3. Eze. 18. Math. 〈◊〉 Mar. 1. Moses and all the Prophets/ John baptist/ Christ and all his disciples/ as the holy scriptures testify. For with out repentance nothing is to be had of God but wrath/ dis pleasure and everlasting damnation/ as our saviour Christ saith: Except ye repent/ all sort of you shall perish. But where true repentance cometh/ & an earnest hate off Luc. 1●…. sin/ with a fervent study of innocency & amendment of life/ there lyghe the grace/ mercy/ favour and good will of God/ bend out for the penitent sinner/ as God himself saith by the Prophet: If the ungodly turn away from all his sins that he Ezec. 18. hath done/ and shall keep all my statutes/ & do judgement and righteousness/ he shall su●…ely live and not die. All his offences shall no more be laid before him/ but in his righteousness that he hath done/ shall he live For I have no pleasure in the death of a sinner/ saith the Lord God/ but rather that he turn from his wicked ways and live. Again/ as surely as I live/ saith the Lord Ezech. 〈◊〉 God/ I have no delight in the death of a sinner/ but rather that he should turn from his ways and live. Turn ye/ turn ye from your evil ways/ and why will ye die O ye house of Israel? divers examples have we hereof in the holy scripture/ as the Examples of repentance. children of Israel/ the ninivites/ David/ ●…anasses/ Peter/ Magdalene/ the thief/ and such other▪ which after they repented/ found favour at the merciful hand of God. As we have followed them in sinning & doing evil/ so let us follow them in repenting and doing well. Than may we be sure to find like favour with them. For it is written: Psal. ●…4 the Lord is at hand for them/ that are off a troubled heart/ and the broken in spirit will he heal and save. ¶ The. v. Chapter. SEcondly to this hearty repentance must a true and Christian faith be annexed/ Faith. which apprehendeth and layeth hand on the merciful promises of God freely setforth to all faithful penitent sinners in Christ's dear heart blood. For without this faith and perfect persuasion of God's favour toward us/ Repentance is vain/ as Repentance and faith must go together. the histories of Cain/ Esau/ Saul/ Achab/ judas/ and of such other do manifestly declare. In consideration whereof our saviour Christ/ when he began to preach/ said not only to his hearers/ Repent, but he added/ And believe the Gospel, teaching that true repentance must be joined Mar. 1. with Christian faith/ or else it profiteth nothing. An example hereof besides many other/ have we in the history of the sinful woman/ in the Gospel of saint Luke/ which Luce. 7. did not only repent earnestly/ as her bitter tears/ sorrowful sobbings and deep sighings do plainly declare/ but she also faithfully believed/ being constantly persuaded/ that she although a most wicked sy●…er should obtain remission of all her sins at God the father's hand for jesus Christ's sake his dearly beloved son/ whose feet at that present she ceased not too kiss/ whose feet she washed with her tears/ wiped with her hair/ and anointed with most precious pleasant oil. Our saviour Christ/ therefore beholding her true repentance conjoined with undoubted faith/ said not only to her/ Thy sins are for●…euen thee/ but he added/ Thy saith hath saved thee, depart with peace, that is too say/ with a quiet/ free/ joyful and merry conscience. Let us bring for the this faithful repentance Note. and repentant faith/ and with all humility pour out our sins before the gracious throone of God's Majesty/ and hartel●…e crave remission and forgiveness off all our sins/ in the precious blood off our saviour Ih●…u Christ/ and without all doubt God will ●…e favourable unto us/ have pity on us/ and lighten his cheerful countenance once again upon us/ that we on the earth may know his ways and his saving health among all nations. For the Lord our God is full of compassion and mercy/ long suffering/ and of great goodness. He will not alway be chiding/ neither keepeth he his anger Psal. 103. for ever. He will not deal with us after our sins/ nor reward us/ according too our wickedness. For look how high the heaven is in c●…parison of the earth/ so great is his mercy also toward them that fear him. Look how wide also the east is f●…om the West/ so far will he set our sins from us. Yea/ like as a father pitieth his own children/ even so will the Lord be merciful Esa. 38. Miche. 7 unto them that fear him. All our sins will he cast behind his back/ into the bottom of the sea will he throw them/ & never remember them more/ yea/ if our sins/ as the Prophet saith/ be as red as s●…arlet/ Esa. 1. yet shall they be made whither then snow. And if they were like purple/ yet shall they be like white wool/ if we unfeignedly repent/ turn unto the Lord our God/ believe his promises/ and crave mercy of him for Christ's sake. ¶ The. vi. Chapter. thirdly/ earnest diligence must be ge●…en/ Good works. that according to this true repetaunce and unfeigned faith we bring forth good works. For the nature of hearty repentance and of Christian faith is not to be idle/ but mightily to work/ to change the penitent creature/ and to transform him into a new man/ that he may serve the Lord his God in holiness & righteousness all the days of his life. If there be not an alteration of life/ if the old man be not Ephe. 4. put of with all his works/ and the n●…we man put on/ which is made according unto God/ thorough righteousness/ if those 〈◊〉 Roma. 6. which afore were servants to uncleanness and unrighteousness/ do not now become servants to cleanness/ righteousness & holiness/ without all doubt we have neither true repentance nor unfeigned faith/ whose nature and property is to bring forth new spiritual and godly fruits/ as the Apostle saith: If any man be in Christ/ he is a new creature. Again/ they that are of christ/ 2 Cor. 〈◊〉. Galat. 5. have crucified the flesh with the affects & lusts thereof. Therefore the holy preacher John baptist/ that priests son did not Math. 3. only exhort his hearers unto repentance/ but also unto amendment of life/ & unto the bringing forth of such fruits/ as become true and faithful repentance. Bring forth fruits/ saith he/ worthy of repentance Math. 3 etc. For now is the axe laid at the root of the trees. Every tree therefore/ that bringeth not forth good fruit/ is hewn up and cast into the fire. And our Saviour Christ sayeth: Not every one that sayeth Math. 7. unto me/ Lord/ Lord/ shall enter into the kingdom of heaven/ but he that doth the will of my father/ which is in heaven. Again/ ye are my friends/ if ye do those joan. 15. joan. 14. things/ which I command you. Item/ he that hath my commandments and keepeth them/ he it is that loveth me. Also in another place/ Let your light so shine Math. 5. before men/ that they may see your good works/ and glorify your father which is in heaven. These fruits of faithful repentance/ which are the true good works/ that God requireth of us too be done in the holy scripture/ and not such as good intent/ blyndezele/ or man's idle imagination fantasyeth/ aught to be brought forth/ when time requireth of every true Christian man/ to declare that his faith & repentance is true and unfeigned. We may not therefore/ if we tender our own salvation/ and will recover the favour of God/ be ●…lacke and sluggyshe in bringing forth these weighty fruits of repentance and faith/ but so adorn/ garnish/ deck Note. trim and setforth our life with them/ that it may appear too all men/ ye●…/ too the very adversaries of God/ that our repentance is true/ and our faith unfeigned/ and that we be true Christians/ not only in name/ but also in deed▪ and not off the number of those/ of whom the Apostle writeth on this manner: They profess (with their mouth) that they know God Titus. 1. but with they: bebes they deny him. And albeit/ at all times it were convenient/ that the true Christians shouldbe bring forth the works of repentance/ and the fruits of faith/ and lead a life worthy their profession/ yet in these our days it is most requisite. For who considereth not/ with how great a number of enemies/ I mean the devil and the papists/ the true Christians are environed and be set in these our days/ which do nothing else but diligently mark/ what they may find in us▪ worthy to be rebuked▪ that by 〈◊〉 means they may slander the good doctrine that we profess and bring us ●…ute of credit with all men/ that they may go forth the more freely to lie/ as they have begun largely all ready/ and tosowe their abominable/ 〈◊〉/ wicked/ popish/ superstitious/ and Antichristiane doctrine/ the more frankly in the hearts of the simple & unlearned people to the great derogation of th●… 〈◊〉 of Christ's Gospel/ and to the Lu●… 〈◊〉 advancement of their beastly and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It were meet therefore/ that the true 〈◊〉 of God and of his blessed word/ 〈◊〉 in these our days seek all means possible so to garnish their life with good works/ that in all things they may do honour to the doctrine of Christ our saviour/ and Titus. 2 stop the mouths of the wicked & ungodly adversaries by well doing/ as 〈◊〉. Peter 1. Pet. 2. admonisheth/ saying: this is the will ofGod/ that by well doing/ ye should stop the mouths of foolish and ignorant people/ as free and not as having a liberty to be a cloak of naughtiness/ but as the servants of God. Again/ ●…erely beloved/ I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims/ abstain from fleshly lusts/ which fight against the soul/ and have an honest conversation among the ●…eathen/ that in that they do backbite you as evil doers/ they judging you of your good works/ may glorify God in the day of visitation. Hereto agreeth the saying Phil. 2. of s. Paul: Do all thing without murmu ring and disputing/ that ye may be faultless and pure/ and the sons of God without rebuke in the mids of a crooked and a perverse nation/ among which see that ye shine as lights in the world/ holding fast the word of life. For there is nothing that so greatly abasheth the adversaries of God's word/ and killeth their courage/ striking The pap●… stes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. them even down too the ground/ as the godly and virtuous life of the Christians/ 〈◊〉 contrariwise/ nothing gladdeth them 〈◊〉/ tha●… to see our life dissolute and swar ●…ng from our profession. For than like hell hounds yell they out and say: Behold your Protestants. See your new Gospelers. Consider their life. Note their manners. Mark their conversation. Where is found the like pride/ covetousness/ falls bargaining/ crafty buying & selling/ oppressing of the poor/ raising of rents/ taking of incomes/ idle words/ vain oaths/ super fluous bancketting/ cont●…pte of the poor/ unmercifulness/ breaking of promise/ untruth/ with all that ever setforth a wicked and ungodly life? O what a stumbling block is this to weak consciences? What a 〈◊〉 o nour to the word of God? What a slander to the Christian profession? What a decay to godly religion? What advancement of Papistry and Idolatry? What encouragement to the blind to persever in their blindness? What a glory to the wicked Papistes/ and a confirmation to their abominable and devilish doctrine? Therefore if we tender the glory of God/ the auaūcem●…t of his true religion/ and the salvation off our own souls/ let us bring forth the worthy fruits of true repentance and vnfay●…ed faith/ that God may have a pleasure in us/ rejoice to do us good/ & delight to bring our enemies and their satanical superst●…cion under foo●…e/ that his name may be glorified/ and his true religion once again flourish among us unto our singular ●…oye and vnsp●…akable comfort. AMEN. ¶ The. seven. Chapter. MOre●…er/ forasmuch as we are compassed Prayer. abou●…e with daily troubles/ and stand in continual danger/ both of the devil and of his tymmes the papist●…s▪ not being able of ourselves too withstand their tyr●…y/ and to 〈◊〉 ourselves out of their hands/ it shall be 〈◊〉▪ that we without ce●…synge flee unto God with mo●…e hearty prayers/ pouring out with tears before the throne of his divine 〈◊〉▪ our 〈◊〉▪ so●…owes/ miseries 〈◊〉 and troubles/ most humbly 〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉 goodness too have 〈◊〉 on us/ to keep us from all evil/ t●… 〈◊〉 us from our enemies/ both bodily and ghost●…ly/ to preserve us from idolatry/ 〈◊〉/ superstition/ hypocrisy and from all false religion/ and too kep●… us in his fear/ faith: love/ and perfect obedience of his most holy law and blessed ordinances/ to give us his heavenvly spirit for too renew our hearts/ and to send his holy Angels to py●…che their tents about us/ and to defend us from all evil and wickedness/ as it is written/ The Angel of the Psal. 34. Lord py●…cheth his tent about them that fear him/ and delivereth them. This kind of prayer is a sweet smelling sacrifice unto God/ & most highly pleaseth him. Therefore was it the daily exercise off all godly people in all ages/ yea/ their whole delight and pleasure. With whatsoever trouble they were accombered/ faithful prayer was their only refuge/ solace/ comfort and succour. Being grieved with any kind of adue●…sitie/ they hasted not unto sai●…es with Ora pro nobis, as the dissembling Hyp●…crytes Papists. and wicked ●…apystes do in their pompous and Idolatrous Processions/ but unto GOD/ from whom alone cometh jaco. 1. Rom. 10. every good and perfect gift/ which also is rich enough for all them that call on him/ and they de●…yred too have their prayers accepted not for the intercessions and merits of any saints/ nor yet for their own dignity and worthiness▪ Io●…. 15. 16 but for jesus Christ's sake/ for his merits/ worthiness and excellency/ & they were most graciously heard/ as David saith: When I was in trouble/ I cried unto the Psal. 120. Psal. 22. Lord/ & he mercifully heard me. Again/ Our fathershoped in thee (o God) they true stead in the and thou didst deliver them. They called upon thee/ & were helped/ they put their trust in thee/ and were not confounded. Was not jacob delivered from the tyranny Gene. 33. of his brother Esau by prayer? Were not the children of ●…srael made noble conquerors of the Amelechites/ when Moses' Exod. 17 4. Re. 19 prayed for them? What a wonderful victory had king Ezech●…as over that proud prince 〈◊〉/ after that he had prayed unto the Lord his God/ although neither he nor any of his fought one stroke? Was not Peter delivered out of prison/ thorough Acto. 12. the prayers of the faithful congregation? Had not the Gospel of our saviour Christ Act. 2. 4. good success at the beginning/ thorough the fervent prayers of the holy Apostles? I should want both time/ paper & ink/ if I should go forth to rehearse unto you all the h●…ories of such/ as have received singular benefits at the h●…de of God thorough prayer. Pray therefore continually/ and be thankful to God for all things in the 〈◊〉. Thes, 〈◊〉. namen of christ/ and ye shall shortly see the wonderful works of God/ in banishing again Idolatry/ papistry/ and all falls religion & in 〈◊〉 unto us the glorious Gospel of jesus Christ his dearly beloved son/ and our alone saviour unto our great joy and singular comfort/ and unto the utter confusion and destruction of Anti christ and of his kingdom. ¶ The. viii. Chapter. ANd albeit that ye do not perceau●… Continuāc●… in prai●…r. Psal. 12●…. remedy strait ways/ yet cease not to pray/ but as the eyes of servants look to the hands of their master's/ & as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress/ even so let your eyes wait upon the Lord your God/ until he have mercy on you. He will undoubtedly come & Abac. 2 Heb. 10 not tarry/ when his godly wisdom seeth the time/ yea/ & that on such sort/ as shall make most for his glory and your comfort. For the poor shall not always be forgotten/ the patient abiding of the meek shall not perish Psalm. 9 for ever. The Lord will be a defence for the oppressed/ even a refuge in due time of trouble/ as he himself witness●…th/ saying: For the comforteles troubles sake of the needy/ and because of the deep sighing of Psal. 12. the poor/ now will I up saith the Lord/ & will help every one from him/ that swelleth against him/ and will set him at rest. Remember this saying of the prophet Isaiah: Esa. 30 In silence and hope shall your strength be. And these sentence also of jeremy: It is Three. 3. good with silence to tarry for the saving health of God. Murmur not against God/ nor appoint him not his time/ but patiently abide his working/ referring all Patience. things to his godly pleasure/ and submitting your will to his blessed will/ which always both willeth and doth that thing that is best for his glory and for our salvation. In your patience/ sayeth our saviour christ/ shall ye possess your souls. We Luc. 21. are commanded too hear the word off God with an honest and good heart/ too Luc. 8. keep it fast/ and to bring forth the fruit thereof with patience. The trial of your faith/ sayeth s. james/ bringeth forth patience/ but let your patience have a perfect jac. 1. work/ that ye may be perfect/ and whole and sound on every part. To the hebrews Heb. 10 also it is written: Cast not away your confidence/ which hath great reward to recompense. For ye have need of patient/ that after ye have done the will of God/ ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while/ and he that shall come/ will come/ & will not tarry. Pray therefore with patience/ patiently abiding the good pleasure of God and his most gracious working. Let your faith & hope never depart from God/ but when things become to most extremity/ & reason judgeth havoc utterly to be made and all things too be passed remedy/ than s●…eke most fast to God & to his promises/ let not your hold go/ but in the mids of death/ hope for life/ & look for deliverance at the lords hand. Be like unto him that job. 13 said: Though he killeth me/ yet will I put my trust in him. say with the Psalmographe/ the Lord is my light & my s●…luaciō/ whom then shall I fear? The Lord is the Psal. 27. strength of my life/ of whom then shall I be afraid? When the wicked (even mine enemies and my foes) came upon me to eat up my flesh/ they stondled and fell. Though an host of men were laid against me/ yet shall not my heart be afraid/ & though there rose up war against me/ yet will I put my trust in him. For know ye/ this to be the God's property in his servants. property of God. He first casteth down/ before he lifteth up/ as we may see by joseph/ David/ Daniel & such other. And when things seem to be past all remedy/ than he setteth to his hand/ & marvelously helpeth/ that he may show him self to be an almighty Lord & valiant ruler of all creatures/ & that there is no wisdom/ no forecast/ no couns●…/ that can Prou. 21 prevail against the Lord/ as David saith: The Lord bringeth the counsels of the Psal. 33. Heathen to nought/ and maketh the devices of the people to be of none effect/ and casteth out the counsels of princes. But the counsel of the Lord shall endure for ever/ and the thoughts of his heart from generation to generation. ¶ The. ix. Chapter. THat God showeth his present help In greatest extremities God chief helpeth. most of all in greatest extremities/ divers histories declare evidently in the holy scriptures/ whereof part briefly to touch/ it shall not be out of the way/ that we may learn in the midst of greatest evils not to despair of the mighty working of God/ but to conceive azure hope/ and to look for all good things at the hand of the Lord our God. Who knoweth not unto what great extremity the children of Exod. 14 Israel were brought after their deliverance out of Egipte? Came they not to this point in their journey/ that before them there was no way to go into/ but the read sea/ wherein they must needs be drowned/ if they went forward/ and behind them was king Pharaoh with all his army/ ready to slay them/ if they tarried? Here natural reason saw nothing but present death. Before them was the read sea/ unable to be passed thorough/ and behind them their mortals fo●… with his bloody & cruel host ready to kill them. Oh/ to what extremities are the Israelites come? Yet behold/ Psal. 145 1. Cor. 10 that merciful God/ which is ever true & faithful in his promises/ found a way for them to escape/ where all reason/ wit/ wisdom/ discretion/ experience/ and policy of man could do nothing in the matter. He caused the sea to divide itself/ so that in the midst thereof he made a dry path for his people safely to pass thorough/ the sea standing on both sides of them like two walls/ and the Israelites being once passed thorough/ that which was a safeguard too God's people/ was an utter destruction to their enemies. For the sea ate the commandment of God closed again together/ and drowned Pharaoh with all his company. O the wonderful works of God. Again/ when they were come into the wilderness/ Exo. 16. 17. where neither meat nor drink was to be gotten/ and they judging after natural reason/ thought that every one off them should there moste miserably have died for want of succour/ how did the heavenly father in that extremity provide for his people/ by sending them meat from heaven/ and giving them most pleasant & sweet waters/ even out of the hard rock 〈◊〉 drink? O the exceeding great riches of the Lord our God. To whom is the history of joseph unknown/ Gene. 39 who being miserably kept in prison certain years without just cause/ every man despaired of his deliverance at any time. But when all things seemed to be passed remedy/ and the matter brought to utter desperation/ concerning his coming out: God setteth too hand/ & doth not only deliver joseph out of prison/ Gene. 41 but he also bringeth him to such honour and dignity/ that he is made chief ruler over all the land of Egipte next unto the King. O the singular good will of the Lord our God toward his faithful and loving servants. What shall I speak of that most noble 4. Re. 18. and faithful king Ezechias/ which being in most grievous danger/ both he & his countries/ thorough the tyranny of Sennacherib that most proud king of the Assyrians/ which was at hand to destroy both him & his realm/ & not perceiving how he & his people with all their wit/ policy & strength were able to enter battle with so mighty an enemy/ utterly despairing of his own might & power/ lamented his cause unto the Lord his God which so petied the sorrowful estate of king Ezechias & of his people/ that even the same night he sent his angel/ which slew 4. Re. 19 in the host of the Assyrians an. c. lxxx. and five thousand/ so that Sennacherib with the rest of his host fled/ which shortly after/ as he was worshipping his false God/ was slain of his own sons in the idolatrous temple. O the pricelike puissance of the Lord our God/ in defending his faithful people. Notable is the history contained in the book of Hester/ concerning the jews/ which were the people of God/ where we Hest. 〈◊〉. read that wicked Aman/ being highest in authority with king Ahasuerus/ for displeasure that he bore unto Mardocheus the jew/ because he would not bow the knee unto him/ & reverence him/ procured of the king a commandment to be directed unto all his officers & magistrates/ that all the jews/ that were within the kings dominions/ should be destroyed. And as for Mardocheus/ Aman had prepared for him a new pair of gallows of. l. eubites high/ purposing to hang him the next days following. Here was nothing at hand/ nor to be looked for/ but present death and destruction. All was like to go to havoc/ all things were brought to such an extremity. The commission is written and sealed with the Kings own ring. Posts are sent with it into all the kings lands/ the day is appointed/ that all jews/ both young and oldechyldrens and women should be destroyed in one day. What is here too be seen/ but present death? The jews are not an handful in comparison of their enemies/ so that utter destruction lieth bend out for them/ & no way there is to escape it/ so far as rea son can judge. But now behold Gods working/ and here shall ye find that thing true/ which Solomon hath: The kings Pro. 21. heart is in the hand of the Lord/ like as are the rivers of water/ he may turn it/ whither so ever he will. Aman/ which before Hest. 7. was so much set by of the king/ is now suddenly so far fallen from the kings favour/ Beware ye papists. that he is commanded to be hanged upon those same gallows/ that he had set up for good Mardocheus/ so that Mardocheus was made ruler of all that Aman had/ & was exalted unto high dignity/ that that may be found true/ which we read in the Psalm: I said unto the fools/ deal not Psal. 75. so madly/ & to the ungodly/ set not up your born. Set not up your horn on high/ and speak not with a stiff neck. For promotion cometh neither from the East nor from the West/ nor yet from the south. And why? God is the judge/ he putteth down Psal. 37. one/ and setteth up another. Again/ the ungodly seeth the righteous/ and seeketh occasion to slay him. But the Lord will not leave him in his hand/ nor condemn him/ when he is judged. Immediately/ after also was a contrary commandment sent out by the Hest. 8. 9 posts with all haste from the king/ straightly charging all the inhabitants of the kings May not God thus worbe in the O●…enes heart, for his faithful servants in time to come. dominions by no means to trouble or too vex the jews/ but to take them as most dear/ faithful and loving subjects of the King/ and if any would withstand the kings commandment in this behalf/ that the jews should gather themselves together/ and slay their enemies/ and take away their goods. Thus suddenly was sorrow turned into joy/ heaviness into mirth sadness into gladness/ slavery into honour/ darkness into light/ and death into life. O the unspeakable power of the Lord our God. To whom is the history of the. iij. iong Dan. 3. men unknown/ which/ because they would not worship the golden Image at the kings commandment were cruelly cast into an hot burning oven? Who would not have judged their life utterly lost? But God/ which helpeth in most extremities/ so provided/ that the fire did hurt them nothing at all/ no/ not so much as an hay●…e of their head perished with the fiire/ nor no part of their garments. Whole & sound came they out of the brenning furnace/ unto the great glory of God. O the fatherly care of the Lord our God/ for all such as cleave to his holy and blessed word. The history of casting the prophet Daniel Dan. 6. into the den of Lions/ because contrary to the Kings commandment/ he prayed unto the Lord his God/ is not unknown to them that read the holy scriptures. Who durst have promised Daniel any life/ being thus cast down unto the hungry & cruel Lions? yet God was present with him/ & stopped the lions mouths/ that they did not once hurt him. O the loving kindness of the Lord our God toward all them that call on his holy name/ and put their trust in him. I pass over the histories of the cytiesins of Bethulia/ of job/ of Thoby/ of Susan/ and of divers other contained in the old testament/ which in all their necessities and troubles/ calling on the name of god/ proved his present help/ which by no means would suffer them to perish. All these things Rom. 14 are written for our learning/ that thorough patience and comfort of the scriptures we should have hope. ¶ The. x. Chapter. TAke one or two examples out of the new Testament/ for the confirmation of our faith in this behalf/ that we may learn God to be one/ and the same loving Mala. 3. father in all ages/ & never more doubt of his fatherly goodness toward us/ but conceive an assured hope and perfect trust off his present help/ even in the deepest of our adversities/ as he sayeth: Though I walk thorough the valley of the shadow of death/ I will fear no evil/ for thou art with Psal. 23. me. When Christ and his disciples were in the shipp●…/ christ at a certain time slept. In the mean while their arose a great Math. 8. tempest in the sea/ in so much that the ship was covered with the waves. The disciples perceiving themselves too be in great danger and peril of drowning/ and not knowing what to do/ nor how to escape/ came unto christ/ awoke him and said: Master/ save us/ we perish. Christ answered: Why are ye afraid/ O ye of little faith? Then he arose and rebuked the winds and the sea/ & there followed a great calm. O the tender mercy of the Lord our God/ toward all such as in the time of their trouble fie unto his name as unto a strong bulwark. This history teacheth us/ that though the seas and the winds/ yea/ though the devil & the world rise/ roar/ rage & ruffle against us never so much/ yet if we fie unto God with hearty & faithful prayer/ he will surely help us/ so that nothing shall hurt us/ seem our case never so miserable/ & our danger never so perilous. The waves of the sea are mighty/ sayeth the Psalmographe/ & rage Psalm. 93 horribly/ yet the Lord that dwelleth on high/ i●… mightier. The like history read we of Peter/ which when he saw Christ walking on Math. 14 the sea/ said: Lord/ bid me come unto the on the water. Christ said/ come. And wh●… Peter was come down out of the ship/ he walked on the water to go to jesus. But when he saw a mighty wind/ he was afraid. And when he began to sink/ he cried/ saying: Lord save me. And immediate lie/ jesus stretching forth his hand/ caught him and said unto him/ O thou of little faith/ wherefore dedist thou doubt? O the merciful favour of the Lord our God toward his weak & feeble creatures. Here find we the saying of the Prophet true/ A bruised read/ shall he not break/ & smoking Esay. 42. flax shall he not quench. But as I may at the last come too the history of our Saviour Christ/ Who seeth not ●…he mighty power of God/ in raising up Christ crucifyde & dead/ when all reason and wisdom of men thought it a thing Mat. 27. impossible? The jews now promised them selves many fair holy days/ great safeguard much quietness and continual rest/ saying they had brought Christ their head enemy to his long home/ as they use to say. Even as our Papists at this present day promise themself many good morrows/ great Papists. assurance of their wealthy livings/ long rest/ perfect establishment of their kingdom and sure safety for ever/ forasmuch as they have now gotten again their devilish and abominable Mass/ their unfruitful Latin service/ their beggarly ceremonies/ etc. & have so handled the matter/ that the true preachers/ being put to silence they alone/ both at Paul's cross and else/ where are the trumpet blowers not of Christ's Gospel/ but of that romish Antichr●…es dirty/ devilish decrees/ as their sermons/ if they be worthy that name/ now of late have manifestly declared unto the great derogation of God's glory/ the dishonour of his holy gospel/ and the unspeakable sorrow of all faithful and Christ hearts. The jews/ but specially the Bishops & the Priests/ Mat. 26. 27. the Scribes & the layers/ the Pharisees & the saducees found the means to lay hand on Christ/ to bind him/ to carry him unto the high powers/ to accuse him/ to condemn him/ to crucify him & to kill Note. him. Yea/ being buried and a great stone rolled to the bodre of the sepulche/ they sealed the stone/ and set watch men with bills/ halberds/ gleyves/ s●…aues/ spears/ pikes & all manner of weapon to keep Christ down/ that he should rise no more/ and trouble the holy religious and spiritual fathers with his doctrine/ as he did afore. But what is the power of this world before God? very weakness/ and the wisdom 1. Cor. 3. plain foolishness. For when they thought themselves sure enough of Christ for ever rising again/ and themselves set in such a goodly stay/ as no misfortuyne could chance to them and to their kingdom/ christ by the power of his Godhead/ Math. 28 rose again a triumphant and victorious conqueror of all his enemies/ and reigneth now in the glory of his father for ever and ever. And shortly after/ the doctrine of christ/ which they sought by all means possible too destroy/ and for the which they so hated christ/ that they thought him unworthy too live/ did so arise/ spring/ grow/ increase/ prosper and flourish/ that it was not only taught in jewrye and Samaria/ but also in all the parts of the world/ and the jews for their unthankfulness and disobedience after certain years/ with their country utterly perished and came to nought. After Beware ye papists. this sort/ without all doubt shall it come to pass with our papists. For where as they think prosperously long too reign by suppressing the word of God/ and holding down/ yea/ quenching the glorious light of Christ's Gospel/ the Gospel off Rom. 1 christ/ which is the power of God/ shall most triumphantly rise again maugre the enemies/ flourish and prosper/ and they with all their pomp/ pride/ vanity/ superstition/ papistry/ hypocrisy/ idolatry/ ceremonies/ masses/ decrees/ constitutions/ counsels/ customs/ etc. shall perish and come to nought. For God himself sayeth/ I will honour them/ that honour me/ and I will bring them to shame/ that do dishonour 1. Reg. 2. me. And our saviour Christ sayeth: He that falleth upon this stone/ shall be broken Math. 21. on pieces/ but upon whomsoever it fall/ it shall crush him all to powder. Here to pertaineth the saying of saint Paul/ 2. Tim. 3. They resist the truth/ being men of a corrupt judgement and lewd/ as concerning the faith/ but they shall prevail no longer. For their madness shall be known too all men. Again/ the God of peace shall tread Rom. 16. sathan under your feet ●…hortly. ¶ The. xi. Chapter. Moreover/ in the Acts of the Ap●…stles Acto. 12. we read/ that after king Herode had killed james/ the brother off John with the sword/ he laid hand on Peter/ and put him in prison/ committing him to four quaternions of soldiers to be kept/ & entending after Easter to bring him forth to the people/ and so to kill him. But prayer was made without ceasing of the congregation to God for him. Here Peter was apprehended/ caste into prison/ bound with chains/ warders appointed to keep him/ & all things so handled/ that he should by no means escape/ but all times be ready at the first call to be brought forth unto death. Peter looked continually for present death. Herode and the jews persuaded themselves to be sure of Peter to kill him at their pleasure/ as though they had slain him all ready. But behold the mighty power of God/ which findeth a means to deliver his servants/ when reason seeth no way to escape. The night before that Peter should be brought forth to death/ there was a very diligent watch/ because they would be sure of him. Peter himself was bound with two chains. Two soldiers also kept him in the prison/ one on the one side of him/ and another on the other side. Besides this/ there were keepers set before the door to keep the prison. All things were as sure as might be. Peter was passed all hope of deliverance. He committed the matter unto God/ & gave himself to rest/ looking the next day after to have been slain. And while Peter was Note we●… & despair no●…. a sleep/ and had given over the matter/ God wrought/ and sent his angel into prison unto Peter/ which wonderfully brought him out of prison/ and delivered him from all danger. Reed the chapter. O the almighty power of the Lord our God/ in the deliverance of his servants. If God determineth too save alive/ who is able too put to death? Here see we the saying of our Math. 1●… Saviour Christ to be true/ that all the hay res of our head are numbered/ and that not ●…ne of them shall perish without the good will of our heavenly father. Here is that verified/ which is spoken by the Psal. 34. Psalmograph/ the angel of the Lord py●…cheth his tent round about them/ that fear him/ & delivereth them. Great are the troubles of the righteous/ but the Lord delivereth them out of all. He keepeth all their bones/ so that not one of them shall be broken. The Lord delivereth the souls of his servants/ & all they that put their trust in him/ shall not be forsaken. The tyrants of this world may threaten/ persecute/ empryson/ chain/ lock/ Not●…. beat/ buffet/ etc. But the life of a Christian man can they not take away before the time cometh/ that God hath appointed. If the devitles could not enter into the swine/ and so drown them/ before Christ Math. 8. gave them leave/ much les can the limbs of the devil kill any faithful man/ before God giveth them licence. What could sathan do to job/ before God gave him liberty to plague him? and yet could he exercise job. 1. 2. his cruelness against job/ no further than he was appointed of God. Saul persecuted David/ purposing cruelly too kill him/ but David escaped his hands. That wicked queen jesabel threatened and 1. Reg. 19 3. Reg. 19 swore too slay the prophet Helias/ but the Lord preserved him/ and she afterward was most miserably slain. The Godly woman Susanne/ thorough false accusations of the two wicked judges/ was at the point Dan. 13. to be stoned unto death/ but God wonderfully delivered her from the hands of her enemies. Esau burned with an immortal hatred against his brother jacob/ because Gen. 33. of the blessing/ wherewith his father had blessed him/ and purposed fully to kill his brother. But jacob prayed to the Lord/ and so mollified Esau's heart/ in so much that when jacob thought/ that both he and his should have been slain/ his brother Esau came gently unto him/ lovingly embraced him/ kissed him friendly/ and for very joy wept: so mighty is God to mollefye tyrants hearts/ when it pleaseth him/ and to make them gracious and favourable too his servants. How oft read we in the history of the Gospel/ that the jews went about too kill christ/ and yet laid they no hand on him. The evangelist showeth the cause/ saying: For joan. 7. his hour was not yet come. But when the time came that God had appointed from everlasting/ than prevailed the wicked against the manhood of Christ/ laid hand on him/ bound him/ and finally put him too death/ as Christ said unto them: Ye become out as unto a thief Luce. 22. with swords and staves. When I was bailie with you in the Temple/ ye stretched forth no hand against me. But this is even your hour/ and the power of darkness. Certain of the Phariseis said unto christ/ Get the out of the way/ and Luc. 13. departed hence. For Herode will kill the. Crist answered/ God tell the fox/ behold/ I cast out devils/ & heal the people to day & to morrow & the. iij. day I make an end. For it can not be/ that the Prophet perish any other where then at Jerusalem. Here see we both the time & the place appointed/ where Crist should die. Even so goeth it with the faithful. Where No●…. & when God appointeth/ the membres off Christ likewise shall die. For it lieth in no tyrants power to take away the life of the faithful/ till God appointeth both the time & place/ as Christ said unto pilate/ Thou couldst have no power at all against joan. 19 me/ except it were given the from above. God alone hath the keys of death & Apoc. 1 hell. Reed we not in the Acts of the Apostles/ that certain men/ about the number of. xl. conspired Paul's death/ and made a Acto. 23. vow/ that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul? Yet for all their solemn vow they were deceived. For God delivered Paul out of their hands. Can ●…sau hurt jacob/ the sea hinder the Israe lights/ the whale destroy jonas/ the fire consume Gene. 33. Exod. 14 jonas. 2. Dan. 3. 6 act. 12. 28 the. iij. young men/ the Lions devour Daniel/ the false judges slay Susanna/ Herode kill Peter/ the venomous adder destroy Paul at Milete? Nothing les. God hath the devil/ the world/ the flesh and all things that are in his power/ and ruleth them all at his pleasure. Look how far he suffer them to go and to do/ so far go they and do they/ and no further/ seem they to rage never so much/ as David witnesseth/ the Lord hath given a command Psal. 148. meant/ and none shall go beyond it. Fire/ hail/ snow/ ice/ & vaporous stormy winds accomplish his word. Again/ thou hast Psal. 118. limited the waters their bounds/ which they may not pass. God gave us our Note. life/ no man therefore can take it away without his appointment. We are God's people/ he therefore will defend us from all evil. We are the workmanship of God's hands/ no man therefore shall destroy us/ (I speak of our bodies) without his fatherly providence. We are sheep of God's pasture/ no wolves therefore shall devour us/ but at his appoyntetement. The Angels of God have charged Psal. 34 over us/ they pitch their tents round about us/ and watch continually for the safeguard and defence of us/ what than can miserable man do against us/ be he Emperor/ King/ Pope/ Bishop/ or any other tyrant? If the devil/ the lions/ the sea/ the fire/ the winds/ the serpent's/ etc. can do no harm to the faithful without both the sufferance and determination of God/ let us not fear the worldly tyrants/ although never so mighty/ fierce and cruel/ which are nothing else but vile flesh/ earth/ asthes/ dust and dung/ whose tyranny is like too a staff of read/ whose imaginations/ counsels and devices are vain/ foolish and of none effect/ when the Lord God take the part against them/ & whose glory was the flower of the field. For they shall do no more against the ellecte and chosen people of God/ than God both suffereth and appointeth. When pilate sitting in judgement/ said to our saviour Christ/ knoweth thou not/ that I have power joan. 19 to crucify thee/ and have power to deliver thee? Christ answered/ thou couldst have no power at all against me/ except it were given the from above. Even so may we say of the worldly tyrants: They shall have no power at all against us/ except it be given them from above. And the holy apostles in their prayer unto God/ said/ that whatsoever Herode and Pontius Pilate/ with the Gentiles and people of Israel did Act. 4. against christ/ they did nothing/ but that the hand and the counsel of God had determined before to be done. No more shall the tyrants of this world do any thing against us/ but that/ which God before hath determined to be done from everlasting. Of this history of Peter therefore may we learn two notable things. first that God than most chief helpeth/ when things be brought to greatest extremities. Secondly that the tyrants of this world can not take away a Christian man's life/ nor yet do any more against him/ than the good will/ pleasure/ determination & appointment off God is/ in whose hand alone/ as the wise Eccle. 11 man sayeth/ is both prosperity & adversity/ life & death. ¶ The. xii. Chapter. seeing/ when that we are taught by so many credible histories that God doth at all times help/ but chief when things be brought unto an extremity/ again that no man can take away the life of any faithful man/ till God appointeth: let us not doubt/ but that God will both hear our prayers/ and help us also/ and deliver us/ although for a season he seemeth to differre his help/ and to leave us in the briars. He is the father of mercy/ and God 2. Cor. 1. Esa. 39 of all consolation. His hand is not so shortened/ but that he is able too help/ neither is his ear so stopped/ but that he both can and will hear us. God is faithful/ saith 1. Cor. 10 the Apostle/ which will not suffer you too be tempted above your strength/ but shall in the mids of the temptation/ make a way/ that ye may be able to bear it. Let us not therefore despair/ though present help cometh not from God at the first calling/ but rather go for the to pray unto God/ after the example of the Cananite/ and not to be weary/ till we have obtayobtayned Math. 15. our request of the Lord our God/ following the counsel of the Psalmographe/ which sayeth: O tarry thou the lords leisure/ be strong/ take a good heart unto Psal. 31. thee/ and patiently abide the pleasure of the Lord. In silence and hope/ sayeth the Prophet Isaiah/ shall be your strength. Here to pertaineth the saying of jeremy/ It is Esa. 30. Lamen. 3. good with silence too abide the saving health of the Lord. If we on this manner behave ourselves toward the Lord our god/ we shall without fail shortly behold the wonderful works of God. We shall see the down fall of our enemies with all their tyranny/ papistry/ Idolatry/ superstition/ ceremonies/ masses/ decrees/ counsaylles/ customs/ etc. We shall see the glorious Gospel of our Saviour Christ spring again/ grow/ increase/ prosper/ flourish and triumph. We shall see God truly honoured/ not after the fond fantasy of men/ but according to his blessed will and commandment. We shall see Antichrist/ that son of 2 Thes. 2 perdition slain with the breath of the lords mouth/ and sathan trodden under our feet. God grant it may be shortly. Amen. ¶ A brief rehearsal of the whole Epistle. THus have ye heard (most dear brethren) how it came to pass/ that the true religion of our Saviour Christ was taken away from us/ and in the stead thereof/ a superstitious and idolatrous kind of worshipping. God placed among us unto the great discomfort and unspeakable sorrow of all faithful Christians. Ye have heard also by what means this plague may be turned away/ and how the true and sincere doctrine of Christ may be restored unto us. The cause of God's wrath toward us/ as ye heard/ was our ingratitude and unthankfulness/ yea/ our sinful life & wickedness/ which was groune up unto such an height/ that God could no longer dissemble the matter/ but must needs take away his blessing from us. We were unthankful for the heavenly benefit off his blessed word/ yea/ we in a manner l●…thed and abhorred his Godly ordinances/ even as the ungodly Israelites were weary N●…me. 11 of the celestial Manna/ again our life was nothing agreeable to the holy will of God/ but defiled with pride/ envy/ covetousness fornication/ adultery/ swearing/ gluttony/ drunkenness. With all their kind of wickedness/ unto the great dishonour of the name of God/ which we profess/ it therefore could none otherwise but come too pass/ that God should be avenged of these things/ take away his holy word/ and throw us again into the devilish darkness of the papish Egipte. For as he filleth Luc. 1. the hungry with good things: so sendeth he the rich empty away. And as our Saviour Math. 5 Christ pronouncheth them blessed/ which hunger and thirst/ after righteousness/ and promiseth that all such shallbe satisfied and have their desire/ even so are they cursed/ which have no delight in the word of God/ and from such shall the bless sing of Christ's Gospel be taken away/ and the cursed traditious of men shall be thrown upon them/ as the Psalmographe sayeth/ he would none of the blessing/ it shall therefore be taken away from him. Hereto Psal. 109. agreeth the saying of our Saviour Christ/ the kingdom of God shall be taken from you/ & Math. 21. shall be given to a nation/ that bringeth forth the fruits of it. Again/ this is condemnation that light is come into the world/ & men have loved darkness more than light. For joan. 3 their works were evil. Now to recover the favour of God/ and to turn away his heavy displeasure from us/ that he may once again lighten his glorious & loving countenance upon us/ and bless us with the most blessed benefit of his sons Gospel/ the means/ as ye heard/ is earnest repentance of our former life/ humble knowledging of our sins unto God/ undoubted faith in the merciful promises of God the father/ setforth unto us/ in the most precious blood of our Saviour christ/ diligent invocation and constant calling on the name of God/ for remission of our sins/ for mercy/ grace/ favour/ peace/ rest of conscience/ etc. Patient abiding of the lords leisure/ and finally a continual meditation & practice of a new life. If we on this manner return unto the LORD our God/ let us not doubt but that he will shortly turn unto us/ mercifully behold us/ and once again bless us with the heavenly benefit of his blessed word/ that we here on earth may know his ways/ and his saving health among all nations. Turn unto me/ sayeth the LORD of hosts/ and I will turn unto you. Zacha. 1. Remember how favourably God at all times dealt with his people/ both when they were captives in Egipte/ and also in Babylon/ yea/ and at all other times/ whensoever they were in any distress. For though he worthily plagued them for their wickedness/ yet so soon as they unfeignedly returned unto him/ he delivered them from their enemies/ and gave them their hearts desire. For God is never so angry with his people/ but that in the mids of his anger/ he will remember his mercy. And though he sometime punisheth us/ yet will he be pleased again/ if he seeth our unfeigned conversion/ as Toby said in his prayer/ Tobi. 3. After a storm/ O Lord/ thou makest the weather fair and calm. After weeping and heaviness/ thou givest great joy. Thy name O God of Israel/ be praised for ever. Only let us return unto the Lord our God/ and become new men/ and without all doubt/ we shall see out of hand the mighty working of God. Repent betimes therefore/ repent/ humble yourselves in the sight of God/ believe his promises/ call on his holy name/ abide patiently his godly pleasure/ become new men in life and conversation/ walk worthy your profession/ and so behave yourselves in all things/ that God may be glorified by you. Far ye well dear Brethren/ and according too the admonition of the holy Apostle/ watch ye/ 1. Cor. 16 stand fast in the faith/ quite you like men/ and be strong. The Grace of the Lord jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. ¶ give the glory to GOD alone. ¶ Man. How long o Lord? Psal. 13. Christ. I come quickly. Apoc. 22 Man. Oh/ come Lord jesu. Apo. 22. Prophet. He will come and not tarry. Abac. 2. ☞ The. C. iij. Psalm/ made in English metre/ by Thomas Becon, for a thanksgiving unto God/ immediately after his deliverance out of prison/ whose emprysonment began the. 16. day of August/ the year of our Lord/ 15 53. and ended the 22. of March/ then next ensuing. ¶ Psalm. 103. BE thankful o my soul unto the LORD And all that within me have their being/ Laude/ praise & magnify with one accord His holy & blessed name above all thing. O my soul/ once again to the I say Be thankful unto the Lord ever more/ And look thou forget not night nor day All his benefits that thou haste in store. For he it is/ yea/ he it is alone Which pardoneth all thy sins/ both more and les/ He delivereth the from all grief & moan And sendeth the health in time of sickness. He saveth thy life from destruction Which otherwise should perish without doubt/ He of mere, ' grace ' and tender compassion crowneth the with loving kindness round about. He with good things/ thy mouth doth satisfy To eat & drink giving the abundance/ He maketh the joyful/ young and lusty Even as an Eagle that is full of pleasance. The LORD doth minister justice and judgement To such as are oppressed with violence/ He defendeth the good and innocent But the wicked he casteth from his presence. He showed his ways unto faithful Moses. And his works to the sons of Israel/ That all his people might know both more and les In all kind of virtue for to excel. O the Lord God even of his own nature Is bend unto gentleness and mercy/ Yea/ friendly is he above all measure Long suffering & eke of great petty. For though our sins be both great and many Yet will not the Lord be always chiding/ Neither will he for ever be angry But show himself toe us both gentle and loving. After our sins he dealeth not with us Neither according to our wickedness/ But like a father/ both gentle & gracious He forgiveth all our sins/ both more & les. For look how high is the heaven supernal In comparison of the earth full low/ So great is his mercy toward them all That fear him & wickedness away throw. And look how wide the east is from the West So far hath he set all our sins from us/ Because our conscience should be at rest And no more troubled with works odious. Yea/ like as a father gentle and tender Pitieth his own children natural/ Even so is the Lord merciful ever Unto them that fear him both great & small. For he being our maker knoweth cer●…es Of what matter we be made and form/ He remembreth/ we are but dust and ashes All of vile and slimy earth created. A man in his life is like unto grass His days are few/ & but a while endure/ Like the flower of the field away he pass Flori●…ing for a time/ but nothing sure. For as a flower with fears w●…d assailed Fadeth shortly away & cometh to nought/ So doth man of cruel death oppressed Depart hence/ & unto nothing is brought. But the merciful goodness of the Lord Doth continue for ever and ever/ Upon them that fear him with one accord And his justice upon their childers children. I mean upon such as keep his coucnaunt And do themselves diligently apply/ To keep his precepts/ & likewise do grant To frame their whole life accordingly. In heaven hath the Lord a seat prepared For himself/ both glorious and royal/ And his prince like power is so outstretched That it reigneth & ruleth over all. O praise the Lord all ye angels of his Ye that excel both in strength and virtue/ Ye that do his will without any miss Ye that hearken to his voice/ & that ensue. O praise the Lord our God omnipotent All ye his hosts and armies supernal/ Ye servants of his/ which always are bend To do his will/ o praise the Lord above all. Yea/ all things that ever God created Praise ye the Lord that God of might and pour/ But thou o my soul/ with heart unfeigned Look that thou praise the LORD at every hour. ¶ give the glory to God alone. ¶ Psal. 112. O Blessed is the man at each season That feareth the LORD God omnipotent/ For such one hath all his delectation To accomplish the lords commandment. His seed upon the earth shall be mighty Flourishing aye like the green olive tree/ The generation of the godly Shall be blessed in every degree. Such a man in his house shall have alway Of honour and riches great abundance/ And his righteousness shall never decay But in all ages have continuance. When that other in darkness do remain Unto the godly pleasant/ light shall spyne/ For such one doth love mercy to maintain To kindness & justice/ his heart he incline. A good man is bend all unto mercy And gladly dareth to such as have need/ As for his talk he ordereth discreetly So that his words unto virtue do lead. From his place shall he never be moved But always abide both constant & sure/ The remembrance of the just & true hearted Shall for ever and ever still endure. The righteous shallbe nothing afraid Of any evil tidings/ when they be brought/ For his heart on the Lord is wholly stayed Thorough strong faith/ that God therein hath wrought. Yea/ his heart is so thoroughly established That he will not thrynke in no condition/ until he seeth his desire satisfied On his enemies and their destruction. He disperseth abroad plenteously And giveth to the poor their need to sustain Remembered therefore continually Shall he be/ & his praise ever remain. The ungodly saying these things/ shall aware wood Gnathe with his teeth/ & consume away/ Yet shall the ungodly with all his mood Shortly come to nought/ perish & decay. ¶ give the glory to GOD alone.