A CHRISTIAN ALMANAC. NEEDFUL AND TRUE FOR ALL Countries, Persons and times. Faithfully Calculated by the course of holy Scripture, not only for this present year 1612. but also for many years to come. Written by I. M. LUKE 21. VER. 36. Watch and Pray continually, that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things which shall come to pass, and that you may stand before the Son of man. LONDON Printed for john Budge, and are to be sold at the Great South door of Paul's, and Britain's Burse, 1612. To the Christian Reader. OF what moment and importance this Christian Almanac ensuing may be unto thee (good Christian reader,) it will easily appear, if thou wilt but vouchsafe the reading thereof, and wilt also consider with thyself, that the days and times wherein we live, are very dangerous and sinful; for that Satan, 1. Pet. 5. 8, the common enemy of Mankind, goeth about continually like a roaring Lion seeking whom he may devour; and how by all manner of subtlety, by the world, and the flesh; by the commodities, pleasures and vanities of them both; by prosperity and adversity, Bernard. he endeavoureth, leaving no means unattempted, Mundus, Diabolus, Caro etc. to the intent that he may destroy us both body and soul; it is high time therefore, that we look unto ourselves, and by a Christian Almanac recount and Calculate our days, and with that most holy Arithmetician the prophet David, and with Moses the man of God, pray unto the Lord to teach us, so to number our days, Psal. 90. et verse▪ 12. that we may apply our hearts to wisdom; that we lay hold on opportunity, and make the best use of our time, that we may profit ourselves in holy and religious exercises, that we may walk as the children of light, in the light, before that darkness come upon us unawares, john 1●. vers. 35 36. that we may not harden our hearts in the day of the Lords visitation. 〈◊〉. 3. ver. 7. 8. Oh let us consider that our life is short, and that the lamp thereof is quickly put out, before we are aware; that our time is precious and therefore to be redeemed; irrevocable, and being once past, cannot be called back again; it ●s the rarest jewel, and the greatest treasure of all treasures; time and tide will not always last, it will tarry for no man. The children of this world be wiser in their generation than we, who profess ourselves to be Christians. Who is there of them, that maketh not great account of his Almanac, to observe both days, times and seasons, to follow his affairs for his best profit and use? The Mariner observeth time, wind, and tide, that he may hoist up Sail and be gone: the Lawyer observeth the Term time, that he may dispatch his Clients suits, for when term is done, there is no more time for their business, the travailer hath regard to the weather and season by his Almanac, and if he can learn thereby that he shall have a fair day, he riseth early to be gone away in the morning; every thrifty husband can make use of his time, observe his days, hours, months and weeks, for his profit; shall not we then, that would be Christians, show ourselves more careful for the spending of our days, times and hours, that we may profit in Christianity, it is always termtime with Christians, every day, every hour requireth a religious employment for the good of our souls, yea this present time is our termtime. The neglect of time and opportunity, is a sin much condemned in the scriptures, and especially by our Saviour Christ, whenas he rebuketh the Scribes and pharisees, Mat. 16. 3. calling them hypocrites, Luk. 12. 56. because they could not discern the face of the Sky, but could not discern the signs of the times. And God himself by the prophet jeremy, jer. 8. 7. complaineth, that the very foul, and birds of the air observed their times and seasons, but his people were ignorant. And verily of all follies and Ignorances', this is the greatest, not to know the times & seasons after the manner of true Christtians, not to know the day of our visitation, when God offereth this mercies to us, by the ministry of his word, by stretching out his hands all the day long; Rom. 10. 21. he standeth at the door of our hearts knocking by the sound of his word outwardly, and by the motion of his spirit inwardly, by threatenings, promises, mercies, judgements, and yet we listen not, we care not, we are lulled a ●●eepe with ease & prosperity, and we continually make excuses and delays through slumbering and sluggishness, like the spouse in the Canticles, Cant. 5. 2. 3 notwithstanding her bridegrooms fer●ent love towards her, waiting all the ●ight long at her door until his locks were hoary with dew. wherefore we ought to be wary and circumspect, how we spend our time, for God will require an account of us for the same, and therefore let us redeem it with an high estimate, let us look into our ●aies, weeks, months, etc. and earnestly repent, lest the Lord surprise us on the sudden, and so call us to the bar of ●is judgement, & let us make this use of ●his christian Almanac, that we may ●etter ourselves thereby to our eternal comfort and consolation through jesus Christ our Lord Amen. The contents of this Almavacke. CHAP. 1. Concerning the Governors of this year. CHAP. 2. Concerning the increase or growing of fruit e●● and the dearth of the same. CHAP. 3. Concerning the Sickness and diseases of this year. CHAP. 4. Concerning the strife and trouble of this year● and the causes thereof. CHAP. 5. Concerning the Estates of Kings and Princes and superior powers. CHAP. 6. Concerning the darkness of this year. CHAP. 7. An admonition to every Christian, what they ought daily to do, and what to leave undone. A CHRISTIAN ALMANAC, NEEDFUL AND TRUE FOR ALL Countries, persons and times, faithfully calculated by the course of holy Scripture, and especially for this present year to come. 1612. CHAP. 1. Concerning the Governors of this year. WHEN I look well and consider the high Master of the Stars in his Doctrine, and in writing I find that this year & from henceforth unto the end of the world, the Sun, Mars and Mercurius shall reign: Now whereas other men seek their speculation out of the stars, that do not I respect so much as experience in the Doctrine of Christ, and for the exhortation and warning of all estates, I will describe the nature and properties of these three governors, the Sun a mighty Lord over heaven and earth, Psal. 2. is jesus Christ our only Redeemer and Saviour in all things like unto his heavenly father, john. 14. Ver. 10. The brightness of his glory, Heb. 1. Ver. 3. the image of the invisible God by whom all things that are in heaven and earth were created, Col. 1. Ver. 15. things visible and invisible, whether they be Majesties or Lordships either rulers or powers. This jesus Christ the everlasting word of his heavenly Father, Heb. 2. 6. which took our nature upon him he is Alpha and Omega, Phi. 2. 6. 7. the beginning and the ending, Reu. 1. 8. which is, and which was, and which is to come, even the Almighty, and showeth us his Father's will, coming into this world, brought with him Mars, that is the Gospel even out of the bosom of his Father. But wonder not that I call the Gospel Mars. Math. 10. 〈◊〉. Christ our Saviour saith, Think not that I come to send peace upon earth, I come not to send peace but a sword; for I am come to set a man at variance against his Father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in-law against her mother-in-law, and a man's enemies shallbe them of his own household, is not this a battle that shall put you to trouble saith he and kill you. Math. 24. ● And of all people shall ye be hated for my name sake. Persecution followeth the Gospel. Therefore may the Gospel well be called Mars, for where it is preached, there is the sword, there is trouble & persecution, there will the enemy's rage at the preachers thereof, as for Mercurus the Poets fayne him to be the messenger and Orator of the heathen Gods, for the which cause he may well be liked unto the world, which with eloquence, painted words, and outward appearance performeth the message of the devil, and enticeth men so long until it bring them into destruction. But as Saint john saith in his Epistle, 1. john. 2. 17. the world passeth away & the lust thereof, and as Saint Paul saith, The fashion of this world passeth away, 1. Cor. 7 3● therefore must we so hold us within the fear of God, that we suffer not ourselves to be deceived or seduced by Mercurius from the Sun and Mars, lest we be corrupted with this deceitful world, and so be defrauded of the joy of the everlasting world to come. Neither should the painted wisdom of this world move us, 1. Cor. 1. 18 in as much as God maketh it very foolishness; and his word, which seemeth to be but foolishness in the sight of the world, Rom. 16. that showeth he to be the only wisdom, & the very power of God to the salvation of as many as believe therein: whosoever now hath the Grace to perceive and consider this, let him not go after Mercurius, let him not follow the world, and the beautiful lust thereof, Math. 7. 13. let him not enter in at the wide gate and broad way, john. 14. 6. that leadeth to destruction, but let him go in at the strait gate and narrow way, which is even jesus Christ, He is the way the truth and the life. john. 10. 9 The only mercy-seat and mean to come by the favour of God, by him whosoever entereth, he may be sure to be saved to receive mercy, find grace, and to be helped in the time of need, which God the father grant us for his sons sake. CHAP. 2. Concerning the increase or growing of fruits, and the dearth of the same. THe Sun showeth plainly that All such as fear God shall have a very fruitful year, Psal. 1ST and plenteousness in the days of dearth, Psal. 37. 19 in so much that though Christ send without shoes, yet will he so provide for them, that they shall lack nothing, for he saith himself. Mat. 10. ● 10. The labourer is worthy of his meat. Who so now will labour shall eat, Mar. 6. 8. but whosoever will not work ought not to eat, Lu. 10. 7. 2. Thes. 3● 10. now if we labour I say, we shall eat also. And God said to Adam, Genes. 3. 19 in the sweat of thy face shall thou ea●e bread, but you will say to me where shall we get ●t? Christ our Saviour saith, Mat. 6. 〈◊〉. Be not careful for your life, what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink, or yet for your body, what ye shall put on, is not the life more worth than meat, and the body than raiment; Behold the fowls of the Air, for they sow not, neither reap, nor yet carry into the barns, psal. 147. 9 and yet your heavenly father feedeth them, Psal. 145. 15 yea he giveth to the beasts their food, and to the young Ravens that cry. The eyes of all wait upon thee and thou givest them their meat in due season, thou openest thine hand and fillest all things living of thy good pleasure: Therefore though our hands should be always occupied in some good labour, yet ought not our hearts to take thought what we shall eat or drink, Ephe. 4. 28. but first to care how to seek the kingdom of God, and so shall all things necessary be ministered unto us. And if you would care or take thought, follow the Counsel of the Apostle, And this I say brethren, because the time is short hereafter, ●or. 1. 29. that they which have wives be as though they had none, and they that weep, as though they wept not, and they that rejoice as though they rejoiced not, & they that buy as though they possessed not, and they that use this world as though they used it not: for the fashion of this world goeth away. And why should we not care? because Man liveth not by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God: Deut. 8. 3. which thing Christ our Saviour declared manifestly, Mat. 4. 4. in that he fed so many people with so few loaves and fishes: like as he had done before unto the Children of Israel by the space of forty years in the wilderness, where they wanted no thing: for he himself fed them and blessed them in all the works of their hands. john 6. 27 And Christ forbade us to labour for the meat that perisheth, but for the meat that endureth unto everlasting life. Wherefore insomuch as God our merciful father taketh such care for us, 1. Pet. 5. 7 and his Apostle Peter his bidding was, Psal. 55. 〈◊〉 Cast all our care upon him for he careth for us, as also the Psalmist David, Cast thy burden upon the Lord and he will nourish thee, he will not see the righteous to fall for ever, as also the holy prophet David in another place, Psal. 37. 5. Commit thy way unto the Lord and trust in him and he shall bring it to pass; we should then by right cast all our care upon him and faithfully to clean unto his word in our hearts, so that we neither mistrust his Godly provision, nor lead an Idle life, and if we mean well in our hearts, and deal truly with our hands, doubtless he shall send us necessary meat by some body, as he did to Elias the Prophet, first in sending the ravens to feed him, 2. Reg. 17. 4. 6. for the Ravens brought him bread and flesh in the Morning, and bread & flesh in the Evening, and he drank of the River: and secondly he fed him by the widow of Sarepta, Cap. eodem. And like as he provided a breakfast for Daniel amongst the Lions by the ministration of Abacuch. Da●. 14. 37. This I say, they that fear God shall have plenty and abundance of all things this year: As for the multitude of the ungodly in general, there shall come a great dearth upon them, according to the words of a certain true Astronomer: Amos. 8. 12. Behold the time cometh, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the word of the Lord, and they shall wander from sea to sea, & from the North even to the east, shall they come to and fro, to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it. But because they receive not the love of the truth, that they might be saved, Thes. 2. 10. and therefore God shall send them strong Illusions, that they might believe lies; Luk. 17. 22. so that the days will come when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the son of man, Luk. 19 24. and ye shall not see it. I pass over many other plauges that Mars threateneth unto them, because they will not know the time of their visitation. CHAP. 3. Concerning the Sickness and diseases of this year. THe Eygptians had a manner & use ni their banquets to carry about an Image of death, and to say to every man that was at the Banquet, Look● upon this, eat, drink, and be merry, such an one shalt thou be when thou diest. And this they did (no doubt) to put men in remembrance of temperance and of death, lest they undiscreetly through excess of eating and Drinking should happen to die before their age, for so doth God use to punish such sin: wherefore if we diet and temper ourselves, through the influence of the Sun we shall have few diseases, except Mars bring some other thing to pass that we misknowe not ourselves, as for such as follow Mercurius, living night and day in riot and uncleaneness, these, I say, shall through the Sun have great Diseases in all the members of their bodies, in the Lungs, Liver, Hands, and Feet, yea, and perils of their ●oules. I pass over the poverty that drunkards and riotous persons shall have. Keep no company saith Solomon with drunkards nor with gluttons: Pro. 23. 2. for the drunkard and the glutton shallbe poor, Pro. 23. 29. ad finem. and the sleeper shallbe clothed with Rags, and in the same Chap. he saith. To whom is woe, to whom is sorrow? to whom is strife? to whom is murmuring? to whom are wounds without cause? and to whom is the redness of the eyes? even to them that tarry long at the Wine, to them that go and seek mixed Wine: and therefore he subjoineth this counsel, look not thou upon the wine when it is red, and when it showeth his colour in the Cup, or goeth down pleasantly in the end, therefore, saith he, it will bite like a Serpent, and hurt like a Cockatrice, and thou shalt be 〈◊〉 one that sleepeth in the midst of the sea, and as he that sleepeth in the top of the Mas●e. They have stricken me, shalt thou say, but I was not sick, they have beaten me, but I wot not when I awoke. Therefore will I seek it still, and though drunkenness make them more insensible than beasts, yet can they not refrain, let them remember our Saviour Christ's warning, Luke. 21. 34. which he giveth in these words of the latter day, take heed, saith he, to yourselves, least at any time your hearts be oppressed with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, & lest that day come upon you unawares. There is doubtless a marvelous sore punishment to come upon the whole world of the wicked, sword, wars, hunger, not only spiritual, as I said before but temporal, which plagues have been aforetime, but are not yet all past. I need not to rehearse the pestilence, and those great plagues that God will send to the reformation of as many as willbe warned, as for the common 〈◊〉 of the ungodly there shall such a fearfulness of death come upon them, that they shall not tell where to turn them, nor how to escape death. O how bitter and grievous shall the remembrance of death be this year to such as seek rest and consolation in transitory substance of this world, to such as know of no adversity, but have good days, live in voluptuousness, and to such Epicures as say, Luk. 12. 19 Thou hast much goods laid up for many years, live at ease, eat drink, and take thy pastime, but God shall say, O fool, this night will they fetch thy soul from thee, than whose shall these things be, which thou hast provided? But oh death, how acceptable and welcome shalt thou be unto such as are in adversity, in their last age, or in despair, whosoever thou be therefore that wouldst escape the sickness of this year, beware that thy body be not overloaded with over much eating, Eccles. 37. 39 30 or with drunkenness; for excess of meats bringeth sickness, 〈◊〉 gluttony cometh at the last to an unmeasurable heat, and Choleric diseases. By surfeit have many perished, 〈◊〉 he that dieteth himself, prolongeth 〈◊〉 life: Eccles. 30. 20. as for unsatiable eaters they ●●all not only sleep unquietly this year, but shall have Ache and pain of the body. Concerning the spiritual disease and sickness that shall reign this year, as it hath done before, Paul an ancient and true Astronomer saith plainly, that we be all sinners, if we say that we have no sin, Rom. 3. 9 we deceive ourselves, Gal. 3. 22. and the truth is not in us. 1. john. 1. 8 This is now the spiritual disease that shall commonly reign this year, john. 9 39 but especially in them that feel least of it and will not acknowledge it, if we acknowledge our sins, 1. john. 1. 9 he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all ungodliness: for the Sun hath such virtue, that whosoever can see his disease and will complain of it, it shall cleanse them and make them whole. Yea Paul sayeth plainly, 1. Tim. 1. 15 that Christ jesus came into the world to save sinners. And Saint john giveth us a good comfort, 1. john. 2. 1●. and saith, if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father even jesus Christ the just, and he is the reconciliation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sinne● of the whole world. Whosoever therefore hath this disease (as there is no man without it) let him do wisely, 1. Cor. 11. 28. let him prove and examine himself all times, 2. Cor. 13. 5. and go to Physic before he be sore sick, Eccles. 18. 28. and above all things let him beware of such false Physicians & feigned Surgeons as heal the hurt of the people with sweet words, and say peace, jer. 6. 14. peace, where there is none. And as a true Astronomer reporteth, with fair speech and flattering, Rom. 16. 18. desceive the hearts of the simple, and all for their bellies sake, such serve not the Lord jesus, such false Physicians lay wrong plasters to men's sores, & speak the meaning of their own hearts, Ie●. 23. 16. but not out of the mouth of the lord Psal. 147. 3. But go thou boldly unto him, john. 6. 37. which only healeth the contrite in heart and bindeth up their wounds, he shall not cast thee away: Mat. 11. 30. But if thou come unto him he shall refresh thee, Mat. 9 12. he shall ease thee, for his yoke, saith he, is easy, & his burden light, if thou be sick go unto him: for he is the right Physician for such as are diseased, if thou be thirsty & come unto him, he hath to give thee a well of water, john 4. 14. springing up unto everlasting life. If thou be hungry for righteousness sake and thirst, Mat. 5. 6. blessed shalt thou be for thou shalt be filled: Isay 55. 1. yea he cries, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and ye that have no silver, come, buy, and eat, come, say, buy Wine, and milk, without silver, and without money, he will feed his sheep, Ezech. 34. 15 and bring them to rest, though thou be lost, he will seek thee; though thou hast gone astray, he will bring thee again; though thou be wounded he will bind thee up; though thou be sick and weak he will make thee whole and strong. Seek him therefore this year and as long as thou livest, for with the Lord is mercy and with him is great redemption. Psal. 130. ●. He hath salvation enough for thee, thou needest not to seek help at any other, neither is there salvation in any other, therefore biddeth he thee ever come to himself, he never bade thee seek other Physicians to heal thee of this disease: Acts. 4. 12. for there is no help in the Children of men. Psal. 146. 3. As for Corporal diseases God hath ordained outward medicines for them, in his creatures, by the ministration of true Physicians, which gift of God no wise man will abhor, Eccles. 38. 1. 2. and thou art commanded to honour the Physician, with that honour that is due unto him, because of necessity, for the Lord hath created him; for of the most high cometh healing, and he shall receive gifts of the King: but against the sickness of sin there is no help or succour, but only in himself, as there is no salvation without him, so is there ever grace, mercy, pardon, and remission freely in him, for all such as will receive it and be thankful for the same. CHAP. 4. Concerning the strife and trouble of this year and the cause thereof. THe sword that I spoke of partly in the first Chapter, is like to be drawn this year; for why the Sun, Mars, and Mercurius cannot agree together; how acordeth the world with Christ and the Gospel, they shall never be at one. 2. Cor. 6. 41 Sore eyes cannot abide the clear light of the Sun, they will not consent to the works of darkness, neither will the believers have part with infidels, and no concord with and betwixt Christ and Belial. Thus can there be no agreement, for they be of contrary natures, again a scorner (as Solomon saith,) loveth not him that rebuketh him, Pro. 15. 12 the children of this world are scornful, and therefore are they not content to be reform by the Gospel, which nevertheless, though it have many enemies, as it hath ever had, yet because it is the truth it shall bear away the victory, and that shortly, Reu●. 17. 16. 7 for God hath put into the heart of divers Princes to fulfil his will, and to hate the whore of Babylon, to make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh and burn her with fire, and utterly to set her out of her soil, so that it appeareth evidently, that Satan shall no more have so great dominion, as he hath had in times past, and now because that he seeth that his kingdom shall have a fall, he worketh and shall do all that he can by the Children of unbelief, specially by the shaven Madianites, Jesuits, Seminaries, excommunicate Papists, and Catholic romans, as they term themselves, to stir up wars, seditions, secret treasons, and utter defiances, both amongst Princes, and Communities, for such adversaries of the truth do wickedly resist the ordinance of God, in the authority of their prince, and not submit themselves to the Gospel. And whereas God hath raised up good men to preach his word, the devil is so mad at it, that he hath sent them a letter of defiance by some of his members, even with such an answer as was given to jeremy the prophet, for they say plainly, Ierm. 44. 16 17. 18. the word that thou hast spoken to us in the name of the Lord, we will not hear it of thee, but we will do whatsoever thing goeth out of our own mouth, as to burn incense unto the Queen of heaven, and to power out drink-offering unto her, as we have done, both we & our Fathers, our Kings, and our Princes in the Cities of juda, and in the streets of jerusalem, and what is our people's saying, I pray you? we will have liberty of conscience according to other Nations yea and some have their privy Mass as is well known, and they say we will do as our rathers have done be●ore us, for when we so did, then had we plenteousness of victuals, and were well, and felt no evil, but since we left off to burn incense to the Queen of heaven, and to power out drink offerings unto her, we have had scarceness of all things, and have been consumed by the sword, and by famine, and is not this the speaking of the Papist, Atheist, ignorant and profane people altogether, never grace since this religion came up, ignorantly ascribing Gods plagues and punishments for sin, to the word and the preaching thereof, such strife and debate shall h●ppen this year, because of the word o● God, or the enemies thereof had rather draw their daggers at it. ●nd I am persuaded it is the thing they daily look fo●, then to be reform, but ●h● lovers of it, shall spare no labour to con●ert them, 2. Tim. 〈…〉 25. ●6. and specially the Ministers and teachers must not 〈◊〉, but must be gentle towards all men, apt to teach, suffering the evil men, patiently instructing them with meekness, tha● are contrary minded, proving if God at any time will give them repentance, that they may know the truth, and that they may come to amendment out of the snare of the devil, which are taken of him at his will, therefore thou lover of God and of his word, when any trouble happeneth unto thee (for great are the troubles of the righteous, Psal. 34. 19 but the Lord delivereth him out of them all,) marvel not at it, as though it were a strange thing, but rejoice inasmuch as thou art partaker of Christ's afflictions, that when his glory appeareth, thou mayst be merry and glad, & be as content to be reviled as he was, 1. Pet. 2. 23 who when he was reviled, reviled not again, when he suffered, he threatened not, but committed it to him that judgeth righteously, for there is no disciple above his Master, nor the servant above his Lord, it is sufficient for the disciple to be as his Master is, & the servant as his Lord, Mat. 10. 24 25. if they have called the Master of the house Belzebub, how much more, them of his household. So these and many other sweet words saith he himself unto thee, that in him thou mayst have affliction, john. 16. 33. but be of good comfort, for he hath overcome the world. CHAP. 5. Concerning the estates of Kings and Princes and superior powers. THe influence of the Sun and Mars, declareth evidently by all conjectures, yea certainly without all doubt, that Kings and Princes shall have a prosperous year, and me thinks, I dare be bold to say, if they begin to seek the true honour of God, and to deliver people from oppression, and to make no doubt herein, Solomon which was a King himself, and that of great experience, saith these words, take away the wicked from the King and his throne shallbe established in righteousness. Prou. 25. 5 Seeing now that God beginneth so graciously to work in Princes, who have not occasion to hope for great increase of prosperity in them: for like as when ● Prince delighteth in lies as saith the wise man, Pro. 29 12. all his serua● are wicked, even so when the King or Prince is a favourer and a maintainer of the truth, his people shall the more be given to the fear of God, and I doubt not bu● God this same year, by the faithful Ministration of his authority in Kings and Princes, shall bring noble acts to pass to the great deliverance of poor people, and reformation of the ignorant. And let Princes remember, that the power which they have, is given them of the Lord, and the strength from the highest, lest they being Officers of God's empire be negligent in keeping the law of righteousness, Rom. 13. 1. but if they delight in much people, Wis. 6. 3. let them love the light of wisdom, which is God's word, for by it they shall govern the people, Wis. 8. 14. and the nations shallbe subdued unto them, whosoever he be then that loveth not to resist the ordinance of God, let him submit himself to the authority of his prince, and let him not bite his lip at it. Good Ezechias brak● the brazen s●●pent, that the Children of Israel worshipped so long, and let it not grieve him, that the virtuous King josias expelled Soothsayers, 2. King. 18 12. Charmers, them that had familiar spirits, and the images and the Idols, and all the abominations that were espied in the land of juda and in jerusalem, 2. Reg. 23. 24. to perform the words of the law, which were written in the book that Hilkaah the Priest found in the house of the Lord, let every man rather give thanks unto God▪ Dan. 14. and be glad that Bel is delivered into daniel's power, that the falsehood of Bells▪ Priest is come to light, and that 〈◊〉 Dragon is devoured, whom the people was 〈◊〉 to worship, let no man th●●refore resist this power of God, that 〈◊〉 such acts by the ministration of Prince's, but let every man be content to be reform of his error, to do well and fear●●, Rom. 13. 4 for he beareth not the sword for nought, for he is the Minister of God, to take vengeance on him that doth evil, and be ye subject, not because of wrath only, but also for conscience sake, and as the wise man saith. The wrath of a King is the messenger of death, Pro. 16. 14 be thou therefore thankful unto God, and obedient to thy Prince. CHAP. 6. Concerning the darkness of this year. WHen I consider the corrupt nature of Mercurius & how he hath been & is, and ever shallbe, contrary unto Mars, & the Sune, I find by all experience that he shall be cast a great etc. dark, for though that the light shine in darkness, 1. john 5. and be come in the world, yet shall they whose works are evil, and after the conditions of Mercurius, 〈◊〉 the darkness more than the light, and this darkness shall be in the● that live naughtily and follow their own abominations, john 3. 20. for because they do evil, therefore shall they hate the light and not come to it, lest their deeds should be reproved, and as Paul saith, if the Gospel shall 〈◊〉 yet hid, it is hid to them that are lost▪ 〈◊〉 whom the God of this world hath blinded the mind, ●. Cor. 4. 3▪ 4. that is, of the infidels, that the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, which is the Image of God, should not shine unto them. But where the Children of God are, there shall be light and the works of light, seeing therefore that the light is with thee, Exo. 10. yet a little while walk, whilst thou hast it, that the darkness fall not upon thee, for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whether he goeth. But believe thou steadfastly in the light, whilst thou hast it, that thou mayest be the Child of light, and escape the horrible darkness of the wicked. CHAP. 7. An admonition to every Christian, what they ought daily to do, and what to leave undone. FOrasmuch as Almighty God hath charged by Moses, that we always should have his Commandments in our sight in our mind, in our heart, and that we should rehearse them continually unto our Children, Deut. 6. 8. and should talk of them when as we tarry in the house, Num▪ 18. and as we walk by the way, and when we lie down, and when we rise up, and we should bind them for a sign upon our hands, and they should be as frontlets betwixt our eyes, and we should write them upon the posts of our houses, and upon your gates, to the intent that we should not forget his word, his will and commandments, and lest we should follow our own imaginations, therefore good Christians, I thought it fruitful to put thee in remembrance of thy duty, and this could I do no better, then by these Godly Texts of holy Scripture, which I have brought here together, specially to the honour, la●d & praise of God, exhorting ye that yet are negligent and forgetful in keeping of his laws, to take better hold, and go forward in his ways, and turn not aside, neither to the right hand, nor to the left, but beware of such as teach thee aught, saving the Doctrine of God, and that thou mayest be sure what thou dost, I pray jesus Christ our only mediator, obtain for thee his holy spirit, and give thee a good wholesome new year, with the true knowledge of his Godly will and increase of his faith. To day if ye will hear his voice, Heb. 3. 7. harden not your hearts, Psal. 95. 78. every day it is good to believe, to learn and to do that God hath commanded, and so likewise it is good to leave undone that God hath forbidden. This day it is good to learn God's word, for it is the uncorruptible séed, whereof we are borne anew, by the word of God, it is the food of the soul, 1. Pet. 1. 2. 3 whereby man liveth: the word of God is quick and mighty in operation, Mat. 4. 4. and sharper than any two edged sword, Heb. 4. 12. and entereth elen unto the dividing asunder of the soul and the spirit, and of the joints, and of the marrow, and is discerner of the thoughts, and intents of the heart, it is good indeed to learn God's word, Wis. 7. 11. for all good things come to us with it, and innumerable riches there thorough, Luk. 11. 〈◊〉 therefore are they blessed that hear the word of the Lord, and keep it, it is good to believe the word of God, for he that believeth, and is baptized shallbe saved, yea God giveth them power to be his children, that believe in his name, wherefore he that cometh unto God must believe, Heb. 11. 6. for without saith saith the Apostle, it is not possible to please God, and what soever thing is done without faith is sin, it is good to keep the word and commandments of God, for he that loveth me, saith Christ, john 14. 15. ●t. 21. will keep my commandments, and my father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our dwelling with him, he that hath my Commandments and keepeth them, is he that loveth me, and he that loveth me, shall be loved of my father, therefore it is good for every one of us to keep God's Commandments, Exod. 20. that is, to have no Gods but one, to sanctify and hollow the name of God, to call only upon him in all need and necessity, not to take his name so lightly in vain as we do, for no cause, and upon a very small and fond occasion, the which if we do, the threatenings pronounced, that is, he shall not be holden guiltless, that taketh his name in vain, that is he shall not be unpunished. To sanctify the Saboth day, namely to rest from our works, as God did from his, to the intent that he may work in us, and we to fulfil his will by hearing his word and steadfast faith, and prayer, to honour father and mother, that is, to be obedient unto them, to help them in their need, to cherish them, to comfort them in adversity, for it is acceptable and well pleasing unto the Lord. To do no murder, that is to hate no man, to bear no malice in our minds, to give no evil words, Mat. 5. 44. but even to love our enemies, and to do good for evil, not to commit adultery, to break no lawful wedlock, to commit no whoredom, nor uncleanness, but either to live chaste, or else to marry, to steal nothing, that is to use no false Merchandise, neither in bargaining, 1. Cor. 7. 1. weight, nor measure, but truly to labour in some good calling, Ephe. 4. 28 for the sustaining of the poor, to bear no false witness, that is, to hurt no man's name nor fame to lie of no man, but either to say the truth, or else to keep silence. Ephe. 4. 25 To covet no man's house, Rom. 7. 7. wife, servant, goods, nor any thting that is his, not once to lust after our neighbours evil, but heartily to love him even as ourselves, and to do unto him after the manner, as we would be did unto us, these Commandments it is good for us to keep, not only this day, but as long as we live, to the honouring of the blessed name of God, to the increase of his Kingdom, and to the fulfilling of his Godly will all the days of thy life, it is in good faith and steadfast belief to love thy neighbour as thyself, love is the fulfilling of the law, & love hideth the multitude of sins, love hath many noble conditions, Rom. 13. 10 love is patient and courteous, ●am. 2. 8. love envieth not, love doth not frowardly, 1. Pet. 4. 8. love is not puffed up, it disdaineth not, Prou 10. 1● seeketh not her own, is not provoked to anger, thinketh not evil, rejoiceth not of iniquity, 1. Cor. 13. 〈◊〉 but rejoiceth in the truth, it suffereth all things, believeth all things, it hopeth all things, it endureth all things, whosoever now hath the spirit of God, and hath truly received the light of his word, will use these works, these fruits of the spirit, and this Armour of light, this is the new Commandment that our Master hath given us, john 13. 34 35. for by this shall every man know, that we are his Disciples, if we love one another, 1. john. 3. 12. not in word and tongue only, but indeed and verily, not to suffer them to want, and we have not to let them perish, and we may help them, but lovingly & with a good heart, to distribute to the necessity of the S●int●, Rom. 12. 13 to feed the hungry, to minister drink to the thirsty, to lodge the harbourless, Esai. 58. 7. to visit the sick, Ezech. 18. 7 and shortly, to do to every man even as we would they did unto us. It is good for every one of us to tell another his fault, and that lovingly after a brotherly correction, without any desire of vengeance; Leuit. 19 17 for it is written, Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart, but thou shalt plainly rebuke thy neighbour, and suffer him not to sin; Thou shalt not avenge, nor be mindful of wrong against the children of thy people, but shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, Eccles. 19 18. and as the wise man saith; tell thy neighbour or friend his fault, lest he be ignorant, and say, I have not done it, or if he have done it, that he do it no more. Reprove thy neighbour that he may keep his tongue; and if he have spoken any thing amiss, that he say it no more: for the doctrine of Christ and the Apostles is, Gal 6. 1 That if any man be fallen by occasion into any fault, Mat. 18. 15 they which are spiritual, should restore such an one with the spirit of meekness, considering themselves what is their own nature, lest they also be tempted. If thy brother trespass against thee, saith Christ, go and tell him his fault between him and thee alone: if he hear thee thou hast won thy brother, but if he hear thee not, take yet with thee one or two, that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be confirmed, and if he will not vouchsafe to hear, then tell it unto the Church, and if he refuse to hear the Church also, then let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Now if any that is of the number of the brethren in Christ, and would be taken for a Christian man indeed, be a whoremonger or covetous, or a worshipper of images, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner, the Doctrine of Paul is plain, that we should not eat nor keep company with such, this day it is good to be ware of false prophets, of men's own imaginations and dreams, lest we receive the poison of antichrist's laws, in steed of the blessed word of God, lest we shoot at the wrong mark, and be deceived by such as walk in humbleness of mind & worshipping of Angels, & beware of false prophets, Col. 2. 18. which come to you in sheeps clothing, Mat. 7. ●5. but inwardly are ravening wolves, 2. john 9 and whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ hath not God, he that continueth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son: If there come any unto you, and bring not this Doctrine, receive him not to house, neither bid him God● speed, for he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds, for by false prophets the Lord our God doth prove us, Deut. 13 3 to know whether we love the Lord our God with all our heart, and with all our soul, or not. wherefore it shallbe good for us, not only this day, but as long as we live, to walk after the Lord our God, and to fear him, and to keep his Commandments, his statutes, his laws, and his constitutions, to hearken unto his voice; to serve him, and to cleave unto him. It is good for every subject to be obedient, 1. Pet. 2. 13 and to submit himself unto all manner of ordinance of man▪ for the Lords sake; Rome 13. 1. for there is no power but of God, and the powers that be, are ordained of God; whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God, & they that resist, shall receive to themselves judgement, for Princes are not to be feared for good works, but for evil, wilt thou then be without fear of the power, do well, so shalt thou have praise of the same, for he is the Minister of God for thy wealth; but if thou do evil, fear, for he beareth not the sword for nought, for he is the minister of God, to take vengeance on him that doth evil, wherefore we must be subject, not because of wrath only, but also for conscience sake. Prou. 16. 14 And let us remember the saying of Solomon, that the King's displeasure is a messenger of death. At is good for Kings, Princes & temporal judges, Wis. 6. 3. to execute their office as out of the power that God ministereth unto them, for in very deed the power is given them of the Lord, and the strength from the highest, therefore seeing they a●e the Officers of his Kingdom, as saith the wise man, they ought not to be negligent, but to execute true judgement, to keep the law of righteousness, to walk after his will, to love the light of wisdom, to expel Soothsayers, Charmers, expounders of dreams, Idols, Masses, and all abominations out of their land, to set up the words of the law of God, to put down the houses of Idolatry, and to see that the law & word of God be taught among the people, to spare neither cost nor labour for the maintenance and defence of the same, to seek the peace, wealth & prosperity of their Commons, to judge every man righteously without any wresting of the law, Deut. 1 15 to know no man's person in judgement, to take no gifts, but ever to have the laws of God, and to do thereafter by them, and to read therein all the days of their lives, that they may learn to fear the Lord their God, and to keep all the words of his law, and to do thereafter, that his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, that he may prolong his days in his kingdom. It is good for servants to be obedient unto them that are their Masters, according to the flesh, Ephes. 6. 5. with fear and trembling, with singleness of their hearts, Col. 3. 22. as unto Christ, Tit. 2. 9 not with service to the eye, as men pleasers, Pet. 2. 18. but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. etc. as also Peter: Servants be subject to your Masters with all fear, not only to the good & courteous, but also to the froward. And therefore was Saint Paul so earnest to see this ordinance of God kept, Tim. 6. ●. namely, that as many servants as are under the yoke, should count their masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and of his doctrine be not evil spoken of. It is good for such men as have servants, Ephes. 6. 8. to put away threatenings doing unto their servants that which is just and equal, and know that they also themselves have a Master in heaven, and use the counsel of the wiseman, whereas thy servant worketh truly, Eccles. 7. entreat him not evil, nor the hireling that bestoweth himself for thee, let thy soul love a discreet ser●ant as thi●e own soul, defraud him not of his liberty, neither leave him a poor man, & if he be not obedient, bind his feet, but be not excessive toward any, and without discretion do nothing, therefore should evil servants be corrected, seeing they will not be the better for words, for though they understand them, yet will they not regard them: tame thy evil servant with hands and correction, If you set him to labour, you shall find rest, Pro. 29. 21. but if you let him go idle, he shall seek liberty, for as Solomon saith, he that delicately bringeth up his servant from his youth, at length he willbe even as his Son. It is good for women to be obedient, and to submit themselves unto their husbands, as unto the Lord, for the husband is the wives head, Ephes. 5. 22 even as Christ also is the head of the Church, and the same is the Saviour of his body, therefore as the Church is in subjection to Christ, even so let the wives be unto their husbands in every thing, as it is comely in the Lord, that even they which obey not the word, may without the word, Col. 13. 18. be won by the conversation of their wives, 1. Pet. 3. 1. while they behold their pure conversation which is with fear, and let not their appareling be untoward, as with broidered hair, & Gold, put about them, or in putting on of apparel, but let the hid man of the heart be uncorrupt, with a meek and quiet spirit, which is before God a thing much set by, for even after this manner did the holy women, which trusted in God, tire themselves, & were subject to their husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him Lord: Gen. 18. 12 it is good for men to love their wives, even as Christ loved the Church, and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify it and cleanse it by washing of water, through the word, Ephe. 5. ●5 that he might make it unto himself a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blame, so ought men to love their wives as their own bodies, he that loveth his wife, loveth himself, for no man yet ever hated his own calesh, but nourisheth & cherisheth it even as the Lord doth the Church, therefore ought every man to do, so that he love his wife even as himself, Col. 3. 19 and not to be bitter unto them, but to dwell with them as men of knowledge, giving honour unto them as unto the weaker vessel, even as they that are heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers be not interrupted. Ephes. 6. 1. It is good for children to obey their parents in the Lord, Col. 3. 20. for that is right and well pleasing unto the Lord, yea the Lord will have the father honoured of the Children, and hath confirmed the authority of the mother over the children. Eccles. 3. 4. He that honoureth his mother is like one that gathereth treasure, whoso honoureth his Father shall have joy of his own children, and when he maketh his prayer, he shallbe heard, he that honoureth his father shall have long life, and he that is obedient to the Lord shall comfort his mother: he that feareth the Lord honoureth his parents, and doth service unto his parents as unto the Lord, honour thy father and mother in deed and word, and in all patience, that thou mayest have God's blessing, for the blessing of the father establisheth the house of the Children, and the mother's curse rooteth out the foundations: rejoice not at the dishonour of thy father, for it is not honour unto thee, but shame, seeing that man's glory cometh by his Father's honour, and the reproach of the mother is dishonour to the children, help thy father in his age, and grieve him not as long as he liveth, and if his understanding fail, have patience with him, and despise him not, when thou art in thy full strength, for the good entreaty of thy father shall not be forgotten, he that forsaketh his father shall come to shame, and he that angreth his mother is cursed of God. My Son perform thy duty with loving meekness, and so shalt thou be beloved of them that are approved: Ephes. 6. 4. It is good for fathers not to provoke their children to wrath, Col. 321. but to bring them up in instruction and information of the Lord: for as the wiseman saith, whoso loveth his child, Pro. 13. 24. holdeth him still in nurture, and under correction, that he may have joy of him afterward: withhold not correction, Pro. 23. 23. from the child, if you smite him with the rod, he shall not die: thou shalt smite him with the r●d & shalt deliver his soul from hell. 1. Tim. 3. 2. It is good for every one that is a Bishop or other spiritual Shepherd to be unreprovable, the husband of one wife, watching, sober, modest, harbourous, apt to teach, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre, but gentle, Tit. 1. 6. no fighter, not covetous, one that loveth goodness, wise, holy, temperate, holding the faithful word according to the doctrine, that he may be able also to exhort with wholesome doctrine, and reprove them that say against it, & above all things, it is good for a Bishop or spiritual Shepherd, to lead an holy and Godly life, going before others, as the ensign-baerer, and to be unto others the good salt of the earth, the light, Dan. 12. 3. the Star that shall bring many to righteousness & shine evelastingly. And now to conclude, whosoever thou art, or of what estate soever thou be, take heed that there be not in thee an evil heart and unfaithful, Heb. 3. 12. to depart away from the living God, but exhorting one another daily whilst it is called to day, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin, and redeem the time, as saith the Apostle for the days are evil, and learn ye to be sober, to watch, to fast, and to pray, and to be ready with the wise Virgins to enter in with the Bridegroom into our masters joy, which shall never be taken from us, and shall endure for ever and ever. Amen. FINIS.