TRUTH tried, very comfortable to the faithful: but a discomfort to the enemies of God. Newly set forth by. I. S. proverbs. 10. proverbs. 11. The memorial of 〈…〉 shall have a good report, but the name of the ungodly shall stink, and their hope, shall perish, and the ungodly shall fall in their own wickedness. The preface to the Reader. AS the budding branches of every good material tree, at their due time through the mighty work of God, bring forth fruit pleasant and comfortable for the contentation and refreshing of the outward man: although not each branch or bough replenished with like quantity, So likewise the branches of the beautiful tree of gods eternal truth through his gracious appointment, bringeth forth such fruit, as is for the comfort and sustenance of the inward man, the spiritual soul: and though every branch be not endued with like abundance, or replenished with like quantity of sweet persuasions, yet not in the quantity only, but as well in the quality, consisteth the virtue of each thing. And for as much as we shall render accounts of the talents received, and therefore are admonished, whether they be few or many, much or little, yet diligently to employ and bestow them, to the advancement of god's glory, and the edifying of our christian brethren. I therefore as one of the unprofitablest unfruitfullest, and most unworthiest the name of a branch of that tree, yet being desirous to impart unto others such fruit as God hath endued me with: and to employ my talon to the glory of God, and the comfort of my brethren: have therefore enterprised this little work, which although not in that sort and order, as if it had been touched by the hands of the learned: yet I nothing mistrust, but that the gentle reader will conceive the best of my good will and meaning. And forasmuch as the manner of many men, when new works come to their hands, is, to satisfy them selves with reading here & there a piece, and being soon weary, their travail to none effect. I have therefore thought good to require thee gentle reader, not to think it troublesome to read and again to read over these so few leaves which unto the godly minded, shall be both pleasant and comfortable: and as herein thou shalt perceive the terrible punishments & just plagues which god hath in store, for the transgressors of his precepts, and neglectours of his words, to the ruin decay and overthrow of that people and country: so shalt thou likewise behold his unspeakable and inestimable benefits and blessings, which he of his almighty mercy, most plentifully and abundantly poureth upon that people and country, where his holy and blessed word, with thankful hearts is embraced. Of which both) in this realm of England we have had the experience, as to the reader shall most perfectly appear. Thus partly for the declaring my duty to God, & the zeal I bear unto his truth as also my hearty desire of the continual prosperous estate of my country as nature forceth me, I have through the sufferance and assistance of God, simply finished my enterprise begun, giving him wholly the praise. Amen. Would god the smart which we for sin, So late did worthily taste: Might cause us loath the wickedness, That now abounds so fast. That God may spare our souls from death And by his mighty power: Preserve us still from those, that seek, Our freedom to devour. For sure if still we dwell in sin, And live in carelessness: Such woeful plagues shall soon ensue, As I cannot express. Be warned in time, and fear the lord, And with pure minds and hearts: Embrace gods truth, follow the same: Such are the christians parts. Then those which yet his truth resist, God shall justly reward: That neither of the lord, nor yet, of sovereign have regard. But stubbornly against the law, of God and Queen contend: Whose wilful wickedness at last, Shall work their woeful end. And such as fear the lord their God, Shall certainly be blessed: And shall after this life enjoy, In heaven eternal rest. Truth tried, very comfortable to the faithful: but a discomfort to the enemies of god. Newly set forth by. I. S. 1562. Having zealously weighed & considered the great benefit and blessing, that god of his infinite mercy, hath again so lovingly and mercifully bestowed upon us, his people of England, me thought I say myself of duty forced even for conscience sake, to stir up the minds of others my brethren, by putting them in remembrance of the same, lest we again neglecting and being forgetful of our bounden duty towards god, our heavenly father in this behalf should worthily feel a greater and more grievous smart and plague then that, which we already through our late frailty and forgetfulness have tasted of: call therefore to mind my brethren, how that of long and many years before the light of the Gospel appeared, and shined amongst us here in England, both we and our fathers were seduced, walking blindly in darkness, and in stray paths like lost sheep, without their shepherd, we were nourished, fed, and pampered up with foolish fantasies and doting dreams of man's invention with trifles, I say, were we trained in the broad paths that led to perdition, drawn by the guides of antichrist, destroyers as much as in them is, both of body and soul: Oh cankered caterpillars thorough whose subtle means & devilish delusions we were so blinded, that we neither knew god nor how to walk in his holy ways: but still kept ignorant from all godly knowledge & understanding. It would be to tedious to make here a rehearsal of the whole number of the not necessary and needless ceremonies, practised through the pevyshnes of balam's bald ones: and therefore I will not but only treat a little of the woeful worshipping of images, and the detestable Mass (which both) they mightily maintained, contrary to the sacred scriptures, as manifestly shall appear. And first, how grievously offended we the majesty of the almighty God, taking from him the honour only due unto him, and giving the same to carved, graven, and molten images, Psalm 135. and idols, having mouths and speak not, eyes and see not, ears and hear not, neither having any breath in their mouths, being but stocks and stones, the works of men's hands: and yet how wickedly worshipped we them, running and gadding on pilgrimage to them to make amends for our sinful life, seeking at their hands remission of sins: which is no where to be sought nor had, but at the hands of god only: as witnesseth the Evangelist Mark, Who (sayeth he) can forgive sins, Mar. 2. Math. 9 john. 24. Act. 4. but God only? Christ is the way, truth and life, no man cometh unto the Father but by him, neither is there salvation in any other, nor yet is there any other name given unto men, wherein we must be saved, but the name of jesus Christ: and yet not withstanding, (we) then destitute of this godly knowledge and understanding, wandered from place to place, from country to country, to offer, to carry and bring to them that neither, saw nor felt, but yet receivers they had that refused nothing: all was fish that came to the net with them: these pilfering pilgrimages had that papistical brood & Romyshe ●able devised for their own lucre's sake which though beneficial to themselves yet moste abominable in the sight of God, and a plain robbing of God of the honour and reverence only due unto him: whereof though they were not ignorant, yet careless. Secondly, touching the Mass which was their chief staff to stand by, how were we by them persuaded, conjured, and brought to believe the same to be a sacrifice, to put away the sins, both of the quick and the dead: and that by the virtue there of (as they said) they transported souls from purgatory to paradise, purchased eternal salvation: ye, what sore was it not a salve for? or what diseases would it not cure? And after the words of consecration spoken, than no bread nor wine to remain, but were forthwith altered and turned into the very body and blood of Christ, ye the very same proportion of body that hung on the cross, to be there forth coming at their commandment: they had him in a string in such subjection, to pluck him to them, and put him from them, at their own pleasure: the creator to be subject to the creature. Oh abominable blasphemy, oh devilish detestable and shameless sacrificers, directly denying the death of jesus Christ to be only sufficient. But now behold therefore what they are, and what their own doings declare them to be, even the very enemies of Christ jesus: they kept the simple ones ignorant, and show themselves to be even they, Ro. xvi. whom Paul willed us to be ware of, who with their flattering words, and sweet preachings deceive the hearts of the innocentes: These I say be they, of that viperous generation, of that filthy brood, that our Saviour Christ warneth us of, Math 24. Mar. xiii. by the holy Evangelist Matthew. * If any man say unto you, to here is Christ, or there is Christ, believe them not. For there shall arise false Christ's, and falls prophets shall do great miracles & wonders: in so much that if it were possible, the very elect should be deceived. And alas how were we poor silly wretches and innocentes in bondage wretchedly wrapped in captivity, of many years subject to these greedy whelps of Antichrist who without all shame and destitute of godly fear, continual lie poured out upon, and in manner drowned us with innumerable blasphemies and hypocritical superstitious ceremonies against God and his truth. Thus were we by them led towards destruction of body and soul: Thus were we through that wicked Romish train still kept from the bright beams of gods holy word. And being thus in our chief extremity at an exigent, even at the pit brink of perdition, behold the merciful goodness of our almighty God, the God of our forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and jacob: behold (I say) the great care of God for his people: who he so dearly hath bought even with the precious blood of his son Christ: behold how God here tendered the works of his own hands: ye and behold the sweet and comfortable promises of our saviour Christ: most lovingly performed. Nothing (saith he) is in secret, that shall not come abroad, Mar. 8. nor any thing hid that shall not come to light & be know●. For lost pleased our heavenly father of his free mercy then that his word should be a lantern to our feet, Psal 119. Ma●. ●. and a light to our path ways where as before we walked in darkness, now did the blind see, and the deaf hear: and to the poor was the glad tidings preached: Psalm 19 This word gave light and brought forth understanding even unto the very babes, it offered an everlasting inheritance unto all those that with constant faith did or do embrace it. God stirred up then his faithful ministers to pronounce the same his will unto us, Psalm. ●7. to win his people unto himself: Oh how mercifully did god then bless us, and show the light of his countenance upon us, giving us true and skilful shepherds to guide us, even such as at his hands had received a spiritual understanding They preached unto us the kingdom of god to be at hand. They preached unto us the lost sheep of Israel, the gospel of the kingdom of god. They preached repentance, Mathe. ●. * Freely they received even of the good gift of god: And freely they gave again: so that through the sound and true doctrine of jesus Christ taught by them, we were led to the straight and narrow way that leadeth unto life. Mat. 7. Note therefore now, gentle Christian, the great diversity in this point, between the fantasies, dreams, and inventions of the perilous papists, and how much they vary and disagree with the truth of god taught unto us by the faithful ministers of his most holy and invincible word. The Romish brood taught us, that with gadding on pilgrimage, and offering of money and trifles to stocks and blocks, our sins were forgiven us, and that those worm eaten ambassadors, and painted Idols, were as mediators to take up the matter between god and us: but S. james sayeth, james. i●●. that these be liars against the truth, and their wisdom not to descend from above, but is earthly, natural, & devilish, and therefore to be detested, abhorred, and utterly despised. But the true pilgrimage in deed was taught us by the trusty messengers of their Master Christ. Pet●er. 2. And which (of all Christians) ought continually to be observed and followed: and this it is, Jame, ●. ●. that we abstain from sleshely lusts, which fight against the soul, to visit the prisoners and succourless people, the fatherless in their adversity: to cloth, and cover our needy naked brethren with some wholesome and comfortable garment. etc. But not to apparel the blunt block, that neither feeleth heat nor cold. and how is it then possible they should help us, or do us any pleasure, that cannot help themselves? ye what need we any other mediator or intercessor, john, i. but him whom we have already to be our advocate with the father even jesus Christ that righteous one. And thus did those holy men of God teach us, they taught us, Christ alone to be our intercessor and advocate: and that God alone, absolveth and freely forgiveth us for Christ his sake all our sins, if we earnestly repent and believe, as witnesseth Peter: we are saith he, 1. Peter 1 justified by faith only in Christ his blood: let this be sufficient in this point. And now to the second point, concerning the real presence of Christ to be in their Mass, which the Papists continually taught earnestly affirmed and with tooth and nail maintained. Note now I say here, the true understanding thereof taught us by Christ his ministers, which they learned in the book of life, upon which foundation the apostles and ancient fathers and doctors of the Church in this point have builded as upon a most sure and infallible rock, Hebr. ix. Act. 7.17. Esay. 66. Christ (saith Paul) is not entered into the holy places that are made with hands, which are but similitudes of true things, but is entered into the very heavens for to appear now in the sight of God for us. Every priest is ready daily ministering and oftentimes offereth one manner offering, Hebr. x. which can never take away sin: but this man after he had offered one sacrifice for sins, sat him down for ever on the right hand of God, and from henceforth tarrieth till his foes be made his footstool. Ye shall have poor folk always with you, Math. 26. john 12. Mark. 14. john. 7. but me shall ye not have. Also Saint john in his seven. Chapter, ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: where I am, thither can ye not come. Athanasius likewise in his creed saith, that Christ ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God, the father almighty: from whence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. And more over in the articles of our faith, the third day he rose again from the dead, he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God, and from thence (he shall come to judge the quick and the dead:) which judgement of the quick and the dead, if it be already past, then is Christ really present, as the papists affirm: But if that dreadful day be yet to come, (as it is the part & duty of Christians to believe,) although it be not far of, then is not Christ now with us, as in his humanity, Mat. 16. Marce. 8. Luc. 9 but (shall come) in the glory of his father, with his Angels, and then shall reward every man according to his deeds: at whose coming God grant we may be found ready and not sleeping. Well then for as much as that one offering of jesus Christ being all in all, and only sufficient: To what intent or purpose should we have such & so many daily sacrifices? for what are they but a very plain denial of Christ crucified, to be a sacrifice only sufficient for those, that believe to have salvation thereby? And thus good Christian brethren, although there be in holy scripture many more places to be alleged, which might be applied, and aptly serve for the satisfying o● Christian consciences in this point, that Christ sitteth at the right hand of the father, as touching his humanity: Yet I pray you, let these for briefness presently be sufficient, and hereby may ye now see how the juggling Mass Priests have abused the Sacrament of the body and blood of Christ, which mystery of all the faithful, ought thus to be understanded: and for this purpose did Christ our saviour institute, ordain, and leave it unto us to be used. That thou Christian, shouldest come there unto, with a penitent heart, for thy former offences, fully and earnestly purposing through the assistance of the almighty, to put upon thee, the new man, which is created after god in righteousness, and holiness of truth, & steadfastly believing, that through the passion, bloodshed, and death of Christ, upon the Cross, which the bread & wine as holy signs do represent, thou hast, I say, obtained full remission of thy sins. And in this faith, with reverence and humbleness of heart, eat and drink the mysteries of the body & blood of Christ. And this glorious work hath our almighty and gracious God the father, wrought in & by his son jesus Christ, our saviour, for the salvation of as many as steadfastly believe the same. And thus is to be understanded of this pure & holy Sacrament: and not that after the subtle sorcery and conjuration of the priest, being finished, the body of our saviour Christ to be forth with there, in the full proportion of his humanity. For as Saint Austen witnesseth, the bodily presence of Christ, (concerning his humanity) is in some one place of heaven, but his divine presence was, is, and shallbe there, here, and in all places, where it shall please, him, always ready to assist those that faithfully are gathered together in his name. And again he sayeth, as concerning the presence of his flesh, The Church had Christ but a few days, yet now it holdeth him fast by faith, though it see him not with eyes. Cirillus, likewise writeth, that all though Christ took away from hence the presence of his body, yet in the Majesty of his godhead, he is ever here. Also Gregory affirmeth, that Christ is not here by the presence of his flesh, and yet is absent no where by the presence of his Majesty: And this I take to be so plainly said, to satisfy in this point, as that there needeth no more rehearsal of any other authors: But if this suffice the not, resort then unto the golden book of that worthy Cramner, late archbishop of canterbury, where thou mayest have ground work and sure foundation sufficient to build thy faith upon in this point: and then with an upright conscience judge indifferently, how much the devilish and erroneous doctrine invented by the papists, dysagreeth and varieth from the sacred word of God, and the opinions and minds of the fathers, and the Doctors of the primative church. Well thus were we instructed: thus had we (I say) the truth of god taught and opened unto us: we were daily fed and nourished with the lively words of god. In the setting forth and teaching whereof, when the preachers had diligently traveled, and through their zealous earnestness in the declaration of their Master Christ his message they had so instructed and taught us, that thereby we were somewhat trained from the dangerous & perilous pathways of perdition, wherein we were before blindly led: and that by the assistance of God through those his ministers we were brought to some understanding and knowledge of him, and had some taste and sweetness of the Gospel of jesus Christ, which is the pleasant path way, the leadeth to eternal salvation: Then seized they not but continually and lovingly exhorted us, not to be forgetful of the great mercy that God had so lovingly showed in the revealing of his truth unto us, still putting us in remembrance to persever in the same, Prove 23, applying our hearts unto learning, and our ears unto the words of knowledge, 2, Timon, 3, to continued in reading the holy scriptures, which is able to make us wise unto salvation, through the faith which is in Christ jesus. Thus were we then taught, ye infinite numbers of godly instructions were given us by these school masters worthy of their office: 1, Peter, 2 These were true instructors, these were they that Peter speaketh of, even the true prophets of the chosen generation of the holy nation & peculiar people, that showed us the virtues of him, that called them out of darkness into his marvelous light, into the which through the great mercy of God & their painful travel, industry, & daily preaching, we were trained, & according to the same a while we walked. Alas, in deed but a while, for all to soon we began to be weary of our welfare: we disdained well doing, & waxed forgetful of the great goodness of almighty god toward us: we were unthankful, for the great benefits, received at his hands, we hearkened not diligently to the worde● of God, pronounced by his messengers, but necglected our duties, both toward God and his ministers: & yet not withstanding our perverse carelessness then, such was the pity & mercy of God (tendering us as the father his children,) that he would not suddenly, so sharply deal with us, as our deserts deserved, for so little regarding so worthy a jewel (his holy word) but rather lovingly warned us by the mouths of his servants, & chosen vessels, to keep us that we should not fall from him. They, I say, cried out to us for the amendment of our life, that we should leave of sin and wickedness, and follow virtue, that we should remember the great mercy & wonderful work of god, in reveling his truth unto us. And that we should with earnest and zealous hearts embrace it: & while we had the light, to believe in the light, that we might be the children of light, lest darkness again overwhelmed us. Thus were we then daily taught, and put in remembrance: fervent was the love of God's word in these his chosen, and careful were these shepherds, for the flock committed to their charge: but careless we were, & coldly affected, nothing regarding or passing for their godly admonitions and warnings: which our carelessness when they perceived, and that gentle and loving persuasions would not prevail, than thundered they out the plagues, which god had prepared, being then even at hand for us: and whereof we might assure ourselves, unless speedy repentance and amendment of our former wickedness and dissolute life. And was it not then preached, and daily by them cried out in our ears, that if we would not hearken unto the words of the lord pronounced unto us by his ministers, and with obedient hearts walk according to the same, Deu 28.4 that then we should go waist, and be made an ensample & a jesting stock to all nations? Ye was it not by them most certainly said, that if we continued in our unthankfulness, God would give us into the hands and government of a foreign prince: duty 28 jeremy 5 Barn●, 4, and that god would bring a nation upon us from far, whose tongue we should not understand, which should neither regard the person of the old, nor have compassion on the young? Did they not threaten us in the name of the lord with sword, hunger, & pestilence, if we considered not the great blessings of god, being thankful for the same: and framed our lives according to his gospel? Amos, 8 Did they not with Amos prophecy of the hunger of the word of god to come upon us, and that we should go from sea to sea, and from the South to the East to seek it, and should not find it? were not these terrible threatenings daily preached and pronounced unto us, the rather to move and stir our hearts and minds to love & embrace gods truth, and the better to consider the loving kindness of God towards us? But alas, all would not help, the gentle persuasions, the terrible threatenings, as well the one as the other were in vain. So much were we with carelessness corrupt, wallowing in wickedness, so fylthelye infected with vice, so much contemning spiritual instructions, so lusting after carnal things of this world, so addict to our own wills, so puffed up with pride, so little brotherly love amongst us, so altogether care less, that we neither regard God nor his ministers: we were not obedient to the voice of our teachers, Pro 5. nor hearkened not unto them that informed us: The warning of the Prophets we took but for wind, Rom. 6. * we were the servants of sin, and did not obey with heart unto the form of doctrine, whereunto we were delivered: we were hearers of the word, but not doers, we deceived ourselves: james 1. for he that heareth the word and doth it not, is like unto a man that beholdeth his bodily face in a glass: for as soon as he hath looked upon himself, he forgetteth forthwith what his fashion was: but happy is the hearer and that doth follow: which we did not but wholly neglected, and therefore did kindle the wrath of the lord against us: And the lord then hiding his face and sweet countenance from us, performed his promise, and justly poured upon us the plagues wherewith he punisheth those that disobey his godly will, and transgress his holy law and commandments. For did not then the king of glory and power, whose heavy wrath through our perverseness we had purchased, suddenly take from us our noble and prudent prince king Edward the vi. so worthy an imp, so virtuous, so forward, so graciously grounded in christian religion, so altogether given to advance and set forth the glory of god, as that the like of him in godly skill, and of so tender years, the earth did not contain: The living god had so blessed him, endued and so plenteously replenished his princely heart with a spiritual and heavenly understanding, that he had made him more meeter to inhabit the holy heavens, there to he hold the mighty majesty of god, them to continue on this corrupt earth amongst us wicked wretches, that lived in security & waxed forgetful of the great benefits and unspeakable blessings of our heavenly father: And therefore did god take from us our so joyful a jewel, our peerless prince, & with him the word of life, the sweet & comfortable gospel of jesus Christ, which nourished and was the precious preservative of our souls: And for our unthankfulness suffered us again to be made drunk with the spirit of error: and as the loathsome dog to his vomit, or the filthy sow to her wallowing in the mire, so were we turned again to our old abominations: we worshipped idols, we served strange gods of wood and stone, we did the works of the heathen, whereby we highly offended the majesty of the almighty: who therefore gave us over into the hands & government of a strange king and nation, according as he promised by the mouth of jeremy, jerem, 8, * saying: I will give their wines unto aleantes, and their fields to destroyers, and so it came to pass: for they who utterly hated us, reigned over us: we were subject, I say, unto a nation fully infected with filthy idolatry, and all abominations of the Romish superstitious hypocrisy, (a nation) with whom for their presumption and pride, not Lucifer himself in his chiefest arrogancy might compare: a vicious people, which daily devoured both wives and widows, & deflowered maidens, a brood of caterpillars, that wast consume, and destroy all where they come, a merciless people, and destitute of the true knowledge of god. What should I say, even a people, hated and abhorred of us, and of all nations: And yet we were then in subjection to them: Psalms, 100LS Then was the world turned up side down with England, mercy and pity were fled the realm, and merciless cruelty supplied the place, iniquity had the overhand. The true teachers and preachers of his word, the ministers and chosen vessels of jesus Christ, i, Cori. 4. i. Thessa. 2 were then made as it had been gazing stocks to all the world, reviled, evil spoken of, despised, imprisoned, and that only for professing their master Christ: but happy ye twice happy are they and all such, for the spirit of god, i, Peter. 4, and the spirit of glory resteth upon them, that he railed upon for the name of Christ. For such as God hath chosen to himself, have been in respect of the world, wretched miserable, turmoiled with manifold troubles: for so is the promise of almighty God, john 1● * Because ye be not of the world, the world doth hate you, and all that will live godly in Christ jesus (saith Paul) shall suffer persecution. Let therefore the fruits of the late godly ministers, show of whence they were. For such was I say, their steadfastness in Christ jesus, and such was their fervent zeal, love, and hearty affection toward GOD, and his holy word: which they so perfectly preached, and faithfully taught, that for the advancement thereof, and the better strengthening of the faith of their weaker brethren, 2. Tim. 2. they were content like constant, faithful, and worthy soldiers of jesus Christ their grand capitain, not only to suffer hunger, cold, railing, mocking, buffeting, whipping, and imprisoning: but also to give their body to the fire, there to be consumed to ashes. Oh terrible time, Oh pitiful spoil, and Oh miserable murder & destruction of god's household. i. Peter, 2, * but then was the time come, that judgement must begin at the house of god: 2, Tim, 2, * They were vessels sanctified unto honour meet for the lord. This did they through the assistance of the holy ghost, for the advancement of god's glory, 2, Tim, 2, * and for the elects sake, that they might also obtain the salvation which is in Christ jesus with eternal glory: patiently and meekly, as lambs received they death, Saplen. 5, * Whose life of the foolish was thought to be very madness, and their end to be without honour: but they are counted amongst the children of God, Hebr, vi, and their portion is amongst the Saints. * Though in the sight of the unwise, they appeared to die, and their end to be very destruction: yet are they in rest, and their hope full of immortality. Rom, 8, 2, Cor ●…. 5 Hebr, xi, * They confessed themselves to be as strangers and pilgrims upon the earth. They were no greedy gapers for preferment, neither benefice, nor Bishopryke, nor any other worldly promotion or dignity: although largely offered and promised (if they would have forsaken their master Christ, and his word) could tempt or overcome them, nor with draw their earnest minds from God: They would not be fed with eye pleasures, they esteemed not the trysling treasure of this transitory world, nor the vain and perilous pomp thereof, as the vainglorious beallye god bishops and worrying wolves, who then sucked their innocent blood, did: but such was the godly constantness I say, of those lambs of God, that they were nothing mindful of the country, wherein they then were, but were desirous of a better, that is to say, Sapie. 3. a heavenly*. For God had proved them, and found them meet for himself: As gold in the furnace had he tried them: * They were led by the spirit of God, Rom. 8. because the spirit of God dwelled in them*: Wherefore God is not ashamed of them, even to be called their God, and hath prepared for them a city, even the heavenly jerusalem. Now is the promise of Christ performed in them: james. 1. * he that endureth, when he is tried, shall receive the crown of life, prepared for them that love him, whereof they are now partakers. for he that looseth his life for my sake, saith Christ, Math. 19 shall find it: even these therefore were of that number that have given their life for their Master Christ his sake, and in the defence of his truth: therforem have they received the reward of a Prophet, which was increase of knowledge in this life, and everlasting joy and felicity in the world to come whereof God for his mercy's sake, make us with them to be partakers. But Oh England, be mindful how God then of his just justice, revenged the unmerciful persecution, & bloodshed of those his innocent lambs, Prophets, Martyrs, & sanctified soldiers, whose blood cried vengeance in the sight of god, upon the unthankfulness of his wicked enemies, which even then fell upon us, & our country: what numbers of plagues, them followed one in an others neck, misery daily increased, the common wealth went to ruin for want of those, in whom the fear of god was graffed: who being already murdered, or for conscience sake, fled their country, or remaining at home, absented themselves, to avoid the danger of being consumed to death by fire. But in a miserable state is the realm, where the guyders of the flock are without understanding, and where the truth of God is not taught. Whereof the experience was then both to well seen and felt: for who in those days were they that flourished, or who as the term goeth, ruled then the roast, in ecclesiastical causes? But the Romish race of princelike prelate's, the monstruous myghterd men, whose ruffle and ravenous proceedings, for want of Godly skill, or through a devilish obstinacy, for lack of good will to guide their flock, what Christian heart lamenteth not to remember? For in place of true teachers of the glad tidings of jesus Christ, we had detestable destroyers, poisoned perverters, and shameless shadowers of the same: whose only care, study, and travel, tended to train us up, and keep us in ignorance and blindness, according to their wont manner, to keep and maintain in full force, the whole rabble of the romish abominations, to exalt and keep in his pomp the monstruous Antichrist of Rome, as chief and supreme head & governor of the Church: which title by the authority of the Scriptures belongeth to every prince, within his own dominions, as well in causes ecclesiastical as temporal, and yet were not they either ashamed, or afraid of this their wicked proceedings, neither respected they the glory of almighty God, nor regarded their due obedience to their prince: wherefore they declared themselves to be the same, jerem, 5, 1, Reg, 14 that jeremy speaketh of: wise to do evil, but to do well, they know not: * shewing themselves as rebellious sorcerers, and stubborn wicked Idolaters, charmers, & counsellors with spirits: they are therefore as in Deuteronomi is mentioned, duty, 18 even all corrupt, and made abominable in their studies: they be even they, through whose enchantments, Apoc, 18. all nations were deceived. They left the commandments of God, Mark, 15, and maintained their own constitutions, they made division, & gave occasion of evil, Rom, 16, contrary to the doctrine that ye have learned. These be those hypocrites the love salutations in the market places, Mat, 23, which devour widows houses, under pretence of long prayer: they appear beautiful outwards, but inward, are full of filthy hypocrisy and iniquity: They deal with lies, sayeth jeremy: Nevertheless they heal the hurt of the people very friendly, jeremy 8, saying, peace, peace, where there is no peace at all: Fie for shame sayeth the Prophet, how abominable things, do they, jeremis. 9 and yet they be not ashamed▪ They bend their tongues like bows to shoot out lies, and take great pains to do mischief: they are a deceitful people, which for very dissembling falseshod will not know me, (sayeth the Lord:) With their mouth they speak peaceably to their neighbours, but previly they lay wait for him: Oh jeremy, how truly is thy prophecy fulfilled? what great and cruel smart, and torment have the people of god suffered by the means of this wicked generation, 2, Pete▪ 2, * being themselves the bringers in of damnable sects, deceivers, and beguilers of stable souls: and through their covetousness, make merchandise of God's people, promising liberty, and they themselves the bond slaves of corruption. These be the presumptuous stubborn ones, that fear not to murmur, speak ill of, Epistle, judas. and despise the higher power *. These are of those ungodly that were craftily crept in, that turn the grace of God unto wantonness, that deny God to be the only Lord jesus Christ. Woe be unto them: for they have followed the way of Cain, Genes 4 Num, 16. and are utterly given to the error of Balam for lucre's sake, & perish in the treason of Chore: * They are clouds without water, Epistle judas. carried about of winds, trees without fruit at gathering time, twice dead, and plucked up by the roots: they are the raging wolves of the sea, foaming out their own shame, wandering stars to whom is reserved the mists of darkness for ever. Oh how lively and perfectly hath our almighty God, by the mouth of his Apostles and Prophets, painted out in their colours the wicked, deceitful, and detestable nature of this viperous generation & bloody brood: Mat, 23, at whose hands shallbe required the blood of all the Prophets, which was shed from the beginning of the world: Marc 22, * woe unto them therefore, they shall receive greater damnation, so wicked and devilish were all their imaginations and devices in all their pestilent proceedings, that what prospered when they ruled: Yea was not the realm a very wilderness in respect of that it had been before, when the Gospel of jesus Christ was preached? What calamity, what misery, what scarcity? was not acorns in stead of bread a food to a number of our poor brethren in sundry places in England? Yea how pityfully and miserably, did numbers both old and young die in the streets for want of sustenance? Oh lamentable change and alteration. Who then saw not in place of plenty and abundance, dearth and skarsenes, for health, sickness? Yea numbers of unknown diseases: For peace and quietness, which not long before we quietly enjoyed, dyscention and war, not a little hurtful both to people and realm: and through famine, sickness, and war, were destroyed and grew few in number, because we hearkened not unto the voice of the Lord our God: Deut. 28 the blockhouses and bulwarks which should have been a defence to us, and our country, were spoiled, plucked down, and razed: our realm defaced, and made ready as a pray for our enemies, who daily gaped for the spoil. And how suddenly were we dyspossessed of Caliyse? For the which there had been diverse and sundry secret attempts before, but never could prevail till then, and that through the secret treason of some arch enemy of God, more skilful to keep the bodies of silly Martyrs bound in chains at a stake, environed with fiery faggots, then with a white stick in his hand to safeguard so worthy a town against the force of the armed soldier. But (Oh England) never didst thou, nor shalt understand all the privy conspiracies and secret treasons, that by that traitorous train & romish retinue hath been wrought, so subtle are they in their generation. But now was England brought to this point, that where as before it was had in estimation, and feared of foreign enemies, than was it in fear itself, Psalms, 9, and was become a testing stock to all nations. Now therefore my brethren, whether these were plagues which we had worthily deserved, and we at that time a wretched & miserable people, in pitiful estate and woeful case or not, I refer it to the indifferent judgement of those, that either were partakers of the smart in that perilous and dangerous time, or that saw the misery and beheld the terrors, which being so few years past, I trust be not, or I would were not forgotten: but through these plagues which we thus felt, and wherewith god long before had threatened us by the mouth of his servants, the late persecuted martyrs: Herein I say, did he declare them to be true prophets. For what thing in those days happened unto us, as a scourge and punishment for our unthankfulness and careless living, that was not by those the elect ministers of jesus Christ in their life time, duty, 18 declared unto us, should come. Therefore were they true prophets, and their doctrine that they taught, sound and agreeable to the will and word of God: which we regarded not, but neglected: & therefore our wont full and former mirth, was turned into sorrow and care then, vytterly bewailing our poor state, led in captivity: because we had no knowledge and for not regarding the law of the Lord of hosts, Esay, 5, but blaspheming the word of the holy one of Israel, Baru, ●, and for forsaking the fountain of wisdom: wherein if we had still walked, undoubtedly we had dwelt in rest upon the earth: Then famished our souls for want of the lively food of gods sacred word: Amos 8, but better had it been for us never to have known the way of righteousness, then after we knew it, 2, Peter, 2 to turn as we did from the holy commandment given unto us: which than we passed not for, we understood not the worthiness thereof, we knew not that by virtue thereof, we had health, peace & plenty: we knew not that it was the preserver of us, and our country, from our enemies: we knew not how precious a jewel it was, and how sweet a refreshing to our hungry souls, till we hungered and thirsted for it, and could not have it, but in steed thereof, were fed and crammed with the most detestable and Antichristian food of Rome, wherein was no smack or taste, no heavenly sweetness, no spiritual comfort, but rather bitterness and rank poison, corrupting both body and soul: and therefore at those days, might we justly by woeful experience say, where the preachers of gods word fail, there perish the people: Prou, 25, for then perished the poor silly flock for want of the good shepherds, john, ●0, which had given their life for their sheep: and we poor wretches straying and wandering shepherdles, were in danger of every wolf and bloody shepebyter, left as outcasts, and as a people forsaken, void of comfort, without hope, without help, save only at the hands of our omnipotent god, the great shepherd. To whom we were then forced to fly, as to our only refuge: Then began we to behold the frailty of our wicked nature: then considered we the heavy displeasure of god, who for our unthankfulness had so lovingly corrected us: and of whom in the time of our prosperity we we most forgetful, not regarding him, till being rocked in the cradle of care, and as it were in manner overwhelmed with the waves of adversity and surges of sorrow, which then caused us to confess our wickedness, and to acknowledge the eternal God to be our only help: Thenne called we to remembrance the sweet blessings of God which we in the triumphant time of the gospel had received: and for neglecting whereof, we had now felt and tasted the bitterness of his displeasure, who yet more mercifully and lovingly dealt with us, than our desert deserved. Then began we with the prodigal child, to return from the swine trough, and submit our selves to the hands of our heavenly father. Thenne cried we, Lord deliver us from the tyrannous and merciless bloody brood, that daily persecute thy people. Then cried we, lord lay to thy hands, for thy enemies have destroyed thy law: Then desired we the Lord to deliver us, and release us out of the extreme bondage and captivity, wherein we were miserably wrapped: and to be restored to our former freedom and liberty: whereof through our unthankfulness we were dispossessed: Then he sought we the lord that his word might once again be a lantern to our feet, and that we might once again walk according to his holy laws. Thus in the trouble some and tyrannous time of persecution, in the chiefest of our calamity and misery (such was then our song.) This can God do, and this work had god wrought to make his forgetful children know him, and the rather to be mindful of the great and merciful kindness of so gracious a lord. Oh blessed, ye twice blessed and happy were we that it thus pleased our heavenly father, to lay his cross upon us, which doubtless is as necessary for the Christian soul as material food for the body: it made us know him, whom before thorough our frailty we had forgotten, and caused us to humble ourselves to him, in whose hands our only help consisted, who then of his endless goodness, and whose mighty mercy was such, seeing that in our hearts we were turned unto him, & beholding our inward and hearty repentance for so grievously offending his divine majesty: of his unspeakable love, most carefully and lovingly tendering us, as the father his children, had then compassion upon us, and turned his favourable countenance towards us: and though for a while he had suffered us to be evil entreated through tyrants, Psal, 107, whom he used as instruments of his wrath, to corrcet us, yet lo, at the last he hard the mourning voices of us poor captives, and helped us out of misery, and showed himself to be as he is, a mighty god of mercy, and even the only strength of his people, Psalms, 28, and the defender of the health of his anointed: which he wonderfully declared, when we being in our chief distress, thraldom, and slavery to them that daily pursued us: Then he in twinkling of an eye by his mighty power delivered us from that miserable bondage, out of that troublesome and dreadful sea of sorrow wherein we were, even as he did the children of Israel, through the red sea from the evil Pharaoh, whom with all his train, in their chiefest arrogancy, as God by his omnipotent power in the same sea overwhelmed and drowned: So hath he likewise marvelously overthrown our enemies: who in their chiefest pride, he hath smitten down before our faces: and plagued them that hated us, Psalm. 5●, * and put the lying lips to silence, which cruelly disdaynfullye, and despightefullye resisted the truth of God. This marvelous work hath our almighty God wrought and brought to pass by his elect and chosen servant, and handmaiden, our most gracious queen Elizabeth: God I say the worker, and she the instrument, whom God had raised even as it were from the grave, to overthrow his and her enemies, which by all possible means most traitorously sought her overthrow, destruction, and death. But the god that delivered Peter forth of prison, & by whose means the chains wherein he was bound fell from him: Acts, 1●, and before whom the iron gates opened of their own accord, that Peter might escape the hands of his enemies, would have the romish Herodes understand, that there is no prison or fort of that force, nor tower of such terror, or keeper of such cruelty and circumspection, that can hold or keep captive those whom God will have at liberty. Well, now hath judith through God's assistance, cut of the head of Holofernes, the siege is raised, the soldiers being fled, judith with the inhabitants of Bethulia, joyfully triumph, praising god for the victory. Thus hath our God, the lord of hosts disappointed that butcherly and bloody brood of their mischievous purpose, which their wicked hearts had imagined whose serpentlyke tongues stirred up strife, Psalms, 14 and under whose flattering lips lay hid the poison of adders, and hath delivered us from their tyranny, even as the bird from the fowlers snare, and hath defaced their abominable wicked and Romish hypocritical devices, and displaced their false and loathsome gods of wood and stone. And of his mighty mercy hath restored his word unto us, which plentifully is taught and preached unto us, by those which are sprung out of the ashes of them, that with fire were consumed: by whom also the Sacraments are duly and truly ministered: Now have we for chaff, corn, for darkness, light, for rank poison (a preservative) even the blessed word of God, to heal us from destruction, his holy word, I say, the lively food and precious preservative of our souls, which hath brought us quietness with foreign enemies, & domestical peace, plenty health and all things necessary. Oh, how mercifully hath the Lord dealt with us, that of miserable bond slaves, in misery, in darkness, and in the shadow of death, hath made us free men to have & use the liberty and freedom of our conscience, which is a treasure of treasures. Now hath god comforted us after the time that he punished, & plagued us, and for the years wherein we have suffered adversity, he hath showed unto us his mercy, and to our children his glory: Oh that men would therefore praise the goodness of the Lord, Psal, 107, and the wonders, that he doth for the children of men, who of his mere mercy hath delivered us from those that rob and spoiled us, and were to strong for us, and hath satisfied the empty soul, and filled the hungry soul with good: wherefore my good brethren, as our merciful and gracious God hath so done his marvelous works, that they ought to be had in remembrance, & as in the day of our trouble, we called upon the Lord for help, who hath now delivered us, & given us our hearts request: so should we likewise now, with earnest hearts & willing minds perform that, which we then promised unto the Lord our God, which was amendment and newness of life, which I heartily wish and desire of God may be, & the which also the Lord doth look for at our hands, and he will not be mocked with all: But alas, that notwithstanding, I see rather a forgetfulness in ourselves, and sin and wickedness, rather most shamefully to abound, than any amendment of life or reformation of our wicked manners. What pride what whoredom, what theft, what, drunkenness, what blasphemy and swearing, what usury, what greedy and unsatiable covetousness, what untrue dealing, is daily used? no regard of word or promise, no scant the bonds or hand writings with seal upon seal is available or sufficient, without travaiss in the law, and expense of money: Sin I say is made but a sport, for pride is accounted for cleanliness, whoredom, for a pang of youth, theft, a shifter, the drunkard a good companion, the desperate swearer, a lusty courtier, the greedy covetous usurer, a ware thriving man, the untrue and subtle dealer, pregnant and fine witted. Thus sin is accounted none offence, and as it appeareth, there is neither regard or care, for the punishment of the magistrate, nor fear of the plague of God for the same. But my brethren, do not these abominable, filthy, and corrupt things which stink before the face of GOD, and declare that we think in our hearts there is no god. Shall we dwell in the tabernacle of the Lord, or rest upon his holy hill, that live thus carelessly, carnally, and beastly? (No) but he that leadeth an uncorrupt life, that doth the thing that is right, and speaketh the truth from his heart, that useth no deceit in his tongue, and doth no ill to his neighbour, but performeth that he promiseth unto him, and that setteth not by the ungodly: but maketh much of them that fear the Lord: that giveth not his money upon usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent: and that in all their doings have the fear of the Lord before their eyes. And these be they that GOD will bless upon the earth, and in the world to come, they shallbe partakers of eternal glory. But how groweth this carelessness and impudency of life amongst us, which now so shamefully aboundeth? Truly thorough neglecting to hear the word of God preached, and not believing it, when we have hard it: which when we had not, then we hungered for it, and now that it hath pleased God to give it again unto us, we begin again not to care for it: But my brethren, be not so unthankful for the great benefit of God. Consider, be mindful and think upon the doleful days passed, forget not the terribleness thereof, remember I say, the manifold Godly admonitions and warnings: for the amendment of our wicked & dissolute life, in the last time of the Gospel, the great misery, and pitiful plagues that were pronounced and foreshowed by the elect ministers of jesus Christ to come upon us, unless then speedy repentance and amendment: But how little regarded we the same, till cruelty had catched us and that the flame of fiery faggots flew about our ears. Let not therefore that merciless and tyrannous time, (the smart whereof so lately felt) be already forgotten, but let the same rather provoke and move us like Christians, to give better heed now unto the sweet lessons, Godly admonitions, and daily warnings of God's messengers, which he of his loving kindness and great mercy hath thus once again sent amongst us, to declare his will unto us: who daily cry out, repentance, repentance, in the lords name: who most lovingly and fatherly, pitieth our destruction, if his warning may help, which alas, prevaileth nothing as appeareth: For we are as ill, nay rather worse, than we were before: but my brethren, if ye be so careless that ye respect not the embassage and fatherly warnings of the almighty, pronounced by his elect and chosen ministers: Yet be not so devilish desperate, so lightly to regard the marvelous and strange doing and work of the Lord himself: even the almighty, who truly is not pleased, but highly offended with our heathenyshe manners: whereof let the fearful fire from heaven, which so suddenly consumed that huge and mighty monument and temple of Paul's (be witness) and let the sundry strange procreation & monstrous shape as well of children, as also of beasts (bear record) of our monstrous and beastly life: remember also the very heavens, heavily bewailing our woe and misery to come, whose late daily dropping showers, dolefully preached unto us the heavy wrath of god, for our wickedness to be at hand, ye hanging over our heads, unless betime we turn unto the lord what christian conscience quaketh not to think upon the premisses, turn therefore, and let amendment of life appear in time, or else to heavy will the burdeyns be for us to bear, which God for our disobedience and wickedness will lay upon us: I therefore exhort you for Christ's sake, that for as much as in our conversation and living we have swerved from god, thereby deserving his heavy wrath and displeasure: so we may endeavour ourselves ten times to turn again and seek the lord even from the bottom of our hearts with weeping, fasting, and praying: and for as much as nothing is better than to fear God, and nothing sweeter than to have a respect unto the commandments of the lord, sirach. 23 let us be meek and lowly to hear the word of god, the glad tidings of jesus Christ preached, and not slack to believe it. * For where no knowledge of god's word is, sirach. 5 prover. 15 the soul is not well: and vain are all those, in whom no knowledge of god is. Let us therefore take heed to ourselves, Sapi, 22 and keep well our souls, that we forget not the things that our eyes have seen: let our living be agreeable unto the doctrine which we profess, that we give not the enemies of the Lord, a cause to rail: for happy is he that readeth, and they that hear the word of god, and keep those things that are written therein: Revela, 1, and otherwise we are but slanderers of the gospel. And therefore let us take away our evil thoughts out of the sight of God, cease to do evil, seek judgement, help the poor oppressed, Esay, 1. be favourable to the fatherless, defend the widow, & then shall our sins as red as scarlet, be made as white as snow: and then as God of his mightifull mercy hath brought down and suppressed the stout mountains and high rocks, Baruch. 5. Psal ●●, 17. the enemies of his truth, which maintained their own wealthiness with oppression, and who also have long been glad and rejoiced at our late decay, so shall he likewise force them (whose joy is now turned to sorrow, still to mourn in their own destruction, and we shall increase and not diminish, but still quietly inhabit enjoy and peaceably possess our sweet & blessed land the floweth with milk & honey, which god hath given us to our unspeakable comfort and the great glory of our almighty & heavenly father: with whom after this transitory life ended, we shallbe partakers of his heavenly kingdom. To that immortal god therefore, with his only son, our saviour jesus Christ, and to the holy ghost, that sweet comforter, be all praise and glory for ever and ever. Amen. Finis ꝙ I. S. A prayer or giving of thanks for our delivery, from the hands of our enemies, & restoring unto us the freedom of our conscience. MOst puissant mighty and everliving God, the god of all consolation, the comforter of the comfortless, the helper up of such as were fallen, the merciful & free forgiver of the penitent sinners, we sorrowful and sinful wretches, thy poor and silly creatures, acknowledge & confess our grievous offences, ye we protest before thy majesty against our selves, our disobedience, our abominable detestable and wicked sins, which we most grievously against thy divine majesty have committed, in transgressing thy holy commandments, neglecting thy sacred word, and despising the godly admonitions and warnings of thy ministers, the preachers & teachers of the same, (for the which) our most heinous and horrible crime, as of thy just justice it pleased thee to take from us, and worthily to dispossess us of that heavenly treasure & inestimable dwelling, the only substance of our souls thy lively and everlasting word, through want whereof we daily decayed, pitifully perished, and grew more and more into sundry and manifold miseries, ye both we and our country in danger of utter destruction, till of thy only goodness, and heavenly clemency: according to the multitude of thy mercies and not of our desert, turning thy face from our sins, forgetting our unworthiness and rather carefully pitying our woeful and miserable state it pleased the again to restore unto us the freedom of our conscience: and in time to lay to thy hand for the defence of thy people against their enemies, who through their violence had oppressed their flock, and trodden thy truth under foot and didst deliver us from the raging madness and tyranny of that mercycylesse, greedy, ravenous, and romish bloodsuckers, even as thou by thy mighty power deliverdest Danyell forth of the den from the hungry lions, thereby cutting our sack of sorrow in pieces, turning our misery to mirth, our woe to wealth, and clothing us with joy and gladness, and haste also gathered together the remnant of thy flock dispersed in sundry countries to feed now with us, together, upon the wholesome pleasant and sweet pastures of thy sacred word, here in our native, blessed, and fruitful country of England, which we through thy unspeakable and great mercy, to the praise of thy holy name and our comfort, do quietly and peaceably possess: So now must gracious and eternal God, and heavenly father, we silly wretches of ourselves most vile and void of all goodness, without thy assistance and fatherly care for us, prostrating ourselves before thy majesty, do with unfeigned hearts most humbly beseech thee that this cheerful light of thy countenance may continually shine upon us and our country: and that it may please thee more & more to pour out thy holy spirit upon us, that by the assistance thereof, we may be followers of the sweet & comfortable doctrine now daily pronounced & taught by thine elect & chosen ministers, & never hereafter go back again, nor fall from thy truth, but embrace it, & still go forward in the same, according to our profession, that our virtuous life may be an example to the wicked, that sinners may be converted unto thee: be still favourable O'lord, be now & ever a defence unto thy people of England, & else where soever thy gospel is taught, and let no more thy heritage of England be brought to confusion: give us no more over, nor suffer us never hereafter to be a reproof among our enemies, neither suffer any more such as be strangers to thy truth to govern us, that the blood of innocentes be no more spilled: but good lord for thy mercy sake, mollify the stony hearts of those wilful ones that in time they may meekly taste the sweetness of thy glorious gospel, learn to know thee, and become of the number of the flock of thy fold: that we may be glad and rejoice at their conversion but if they shall still frowardly & obstinately persist in their wilful and wicked blindness, despise thy holy laws, disdain the truth, crookedly contend, and rebelliously resist the godly religious procedings of our most gracious and sovereign princess queen Elizabeth, to whom we humbly beseech thee to grant a long, joyful, and prosperous reign, to the more magnifiing and extolling of thy glorious name and the comfort of this thy realm and people of England, by thee committed unto her government: & whom also thou haste appointed, and by thy holy word authorised chief and supreme governor. Then lord we pray the and reverently request thee, as thou art an enemy to the wicked doers, abhorrest the blood thirsty and deceitful, and brought their pomp and power to nought: So let their wickedness fall upon their own heads, and pour out thy indignation upon them, that they may perish together in our sight, to their utter confusion: and never more be able to rise up nor rebel against thee and thy Christ, nor prevail against or molest thy flock: but be thou our heavenly shepherd, ever in the midst of us, that we always may, being as one flock of one fold, drawing together by one line, with godly and zealous hearts, christian-like professing one truth, even thy gracious gospel, and plentifully yielding forth the fruits of the same, may continually receive thy heavenly venediction upon us, and our country: that our pastures may be ●●●ne, and the earth bring forth and yield her increase: that in due time we may with thanks giving, reap and gather the fruits thereof to our comfort, joyfully making our boast of thy praise, and all the days of our life serve thee (our Lord & God) in holiness and righteousness. To whom with the son and the holy ghost, one only and eternal God, be all praise, glory and majesty for ever and ever. Amen. Finis. Imprinted at London by Henry Sutton for Edward Sutton dwelling in Lumbarde street at the sign of the Cradle. The xxi day of December, in the year of our Lord 1562. Perused and allowed according to the queens majesties injunctions.