AN EPISTLE written by John Scory the late bishope of Chichester unto all the faithful that be in prison in England, or in any other trouble for the defence of God's truth: wherein he doth as well by the promises of mercy as also by thensamples of diverse holy martyrs, comfort, encorrage & strenghten them patiently for Christ's sake to suffer the manifold cruel and most tyrannous persecutions of the Antichristian tormentors: exhorting them to continue in faithful prayers, innocency of life, patience, and hope, that God may the rather deliver them, restore again the light of his gospel to England, and confound all the proud, beastly, & devilish enterprises of Antichristes' guard, that do imagine nothing else but the subversion of the gospel of Christ, and continually thrust for the blood of all true Christians. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer, I have overcum the world, john. 15. Anno. 1555. Unto the faithful, and most valiant soldiers of the great captain, the Lord jesus Christ, that be in prison in England, or any other where in banishment and trouble, for the defence of God's word, john Scory willingly a banished man for the same word, wisheth from God our father, the grace, comfort, and strength of his holy ghost thorough our only mediator jesus Christ. Who will not (dear brethren in Christ) call the state of our time most miserable, and most wicked, if a man should speak after the manner of men? And who will not say, that we should not take it in good part, forasmuch as a man may behold all godly men (as most meek lambs) to be slain of their own shepherds: the little flock of our Lord Christ (as fatherless children) to be spoiled and rob of their own tutors: And last of all the very sons of God to be murdered of their own spiritual fathers, as they would be called? Who is so blind or so foolish, that doth not evidently behold that sword sprinkled with the blood of the godly, which ought only to be drawn out against the wicked? Rom. 13. 1. Pet. 2. What is he that visiting the prisons, going to the judgement seats of the ungodly, knowwing the fury and woodness of Antichrist, beholding the gallows, looking upon the fires, whose flames goeth up to heaven: To be short, who (I say) reckoning the number of souls of such, as are so many diverse ways murdered for the word of God, doth not abhor this cruel world? Nevertheless if a man will consider the matter diligently, he shall perceive that god's church was never in any age more happy and more blessed, than she is now. For although in these our days the false prophets, the ministers of Satan, and of that great Antichrist the man of sin, 2. Thess. 2. and child of perdition, being confederate and conspired together with the Kings and Princes of the earth, have waged most bloody battle against the church of Christ: yet nevertheless thorough the goodness of our God, she hath most valiant champions, which hath in such wise defended her, that they fighting until their heart blood was shed out, and their bodies burned to ashes, have most valiantly thrown down, confounded, and put to their wits ends the subtle and most deadly enemies of God, of his son jesus Christ, and of his catholic church and congregation. O most bappye time wherein poverty, need, pining in prison, fetters, chains, stocks, rebukes, revilings, the dens and caves of the wilderness, banishementes, gallows, fires, and the cruelty of tyrants, are again restored to the church. O most happy Ferrar more strong than iron, the late Bishop and true pastor of S. David's in Wales. O most diligent and painful Hoper, the vigilant watch man, and true bishop latcly of Glocetour. O most hardy & constant Rogers, tailor, & Saunders, Tardemaker, Bradforde, Glover, Hichye, anh Causon, with many more both old and young, men & women, married, widows and maidens (whose names and remembrance as they are eternal with God, Sap. 3. so ought they not to be forgotten of you) which in your life time called all England, and namely London to repentance, and faith in Christ jesus, and in your death gave them an ensample, Mat. 10. and. 24. to endure in the same to the end, if they will be saved. O most worthy and blessed martyrs, which have by your patient sufferings, confounded the malice of Christ's adversaries, which by the effusion of your blood have sealed, rarifyed, and confirmed, the true catholic doctrine of Christ's most holy gospel, in the consciences of gods elect and chosen people: which by the contempt of this vain life, have declared that ye sought a better life that perisheth not, 1. Pet. 1. which is immortal and undefiled, kept for you in heaven: which thorough your most willing and constant death, have glorified your alone and only savour, and strenghtned his feeble afflicted church and congregation. You knew and were certainly persuaded (as now appeareth) that it had been a most vile change for you, to have redeemed the short use of this miserable life, with the loss of that joyful and eternal life. You remembered well this saying of your master Christ. Mat. 10. and. 16. joan. 12. He that loveth his life, shall destroy it. And he that hateth his life in this world, shall keep it unto life eternal. And again, what shall it procyt a man, though he should win the hole world, if he lose his own soul? You rejoiced not a little to remember, that by your patient suffering, you should be added and put unto the number and fellowship of the most holy prophets, Apostles, and martyrs of Christ: Whereof some were racked, Heb. 11. and word not be delivered, that they might receive a better resurrection: other tasted of mockings and scorginges, moreover of bands and prisonment: were stoned, were sawen in sounder, were tempted, were slain with sweddes, walked up and down in sheeps skins, in goats skins, in need, in tribulation, and vexation, whom the world was not worthy to have. O most valiant (I say) noble & blessed martyrs of our age, which were not murdered, as in old time, of Emperors or kings that professed manifest hatred against Christ and his church, but of such as glory of the titles and names of the very pastore, and would be counted the defenders, and fathers of the church, and the faith of Christ. Wherefore be not dismayed dear brethren at this sudden and fervent heat, which is now come among you to try you, as though some strange thing had happened unto you: 1. Pet. 4. but rather rejoice, yea I say, a thousand times rejoice, because ye shall not be defended by any earthy power, but by the strong arm of the most mighty and merciful God, and by the most mighty word of jesus Christ, which was sharper than any two edged sword. Heb. 4. For what earthy authority, what power, what kind of armour, what artillery is able to suppress so great rage and fury, of these most cruel and merciless, that would yet be called pastors and fathers of the church, and defenders of the faith. Rejoice I say, therefore, for even as ye be now made like unto the image of the son of God in suffering, Rom. 8.2. Tim. 2. and be partakers with him in dying: even so shall ye most certainly be partakers of his life, and reign with him hereafter in his celestial kingdom. And do not think pour selves better than your brethren the blessed martyrs that lately have suffered for the testimony of the Lord jesus among you, & your forefathers the holy Prophets and Apostles, but say with them: We are troubled on every side, 2. Cor. 4. yet are we not without shift, we are in poverty, but not utterly without somewhat: We are persecuted, but are not forsaken, we are cast down, nevertheless we are not confounded: And we always bear about in our bodies, Rom. 8. the dying of the Lord jesus: We are killed all the day long, and are counted as sheep appointed to be slain: notwithstanding in all these things, we mightily overcome, thorough his help that loved us. Therefore be not afraid of your adversaries, which are unto themselves a cause of perdition, Phil. 1. but unto you a cause of salvation. For both it hath been told you afore hand, and also it is given you now of God thorough Christ, that you should and must pass thorough hunger, nakedness, cold, fetters, stripes, stench, dark dungeons, sword, gallows, and fires, and that the furious rage of most ravening wolves should violently assail you. For likewise as the church of our God (as a man may easily perceive sins the first beginning of the same) did neither spring up, nor was stably shed by riches, by pleasures, by idleness, by eating and drinking, by the power of kingdoms, by abundance and excess of earthy things, by glorious styles, titles, and woridly pomp, but by the blood shedding and suffering of the saints: Even so in the last days of this blind and bloody world, the most glorious spouse of our savour & Lord Christ (which by Antichrist was almost quit banished, and rooted up) can not be again planted, watered, and established, but by many sundry, strange & cruel persecutions & effusion of much innocent blood: which nevertheless the Lord will as certainly require (& that shortly, Bloody hands. of the merciless tyrants of this world, as he required the blood of Abel of the unnatural brother, and cruel murderer Tam, and as he required the blood of the Prophets of that most godless & unthankful city jerusalem. Gen. 4. Mat. 23. Be therefore patient dear brethren a while: Heb. 10. For within a very little while, he that shall come will come, jaco. 5. and will not tarry. Behold the husband man waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience thereupon, until he receive the early & latter rain. Be ye also therefore patient and settle your hearts, for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. 2. Tim. 3. For as many as will live godly in Christ jesus, must needs now suffer persecution. This is that way, this is that path that leadeth unto life. In this must ye walk, yea rather ye must run in this: which we trust ye will do, forasmuch as the Lord that dwelleth with you unto the worlds end, Math. 28. will not suffer you to be tempted above your strength. 1. Cor. 10. He hath promised to give you a mouth and wisdom, Luc. 21. where against all your adversaries shall not be able to speak, nor resist, (which promise as many of you do know, the Lord did most truly keep with thaforenamed glorious martyrs, that did lately suffer among you) he hath promised that not one hear of your heads shall perish. Are not two sparrows (saith the truth that can not lie) sold for a farthing, and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your father? fear ye not therefore (saith he) ye at of more valour than many sparrows. All ye therefore that have pleasure in rightfulness, Esa. 55. and have the law of your god written in your hearts, fear not the curse of men, nor be afraid of their blasphemies and revilings (saith your lord God) for worms and moths shall eat them up like cloth and wool: nevertheless my rightfulness (saith the lord) and my saving health shall endure for ever. And the saviour of men saith, that he came down from heaven, joan. 6. not to do his own will, but the will of him that sent him. And that this is the father's will that sent him, that he should lose no thing of all which he hath given him, but should raise them up again at the last day. Therefore comfort yourselves (beloved brethren) with these and such like words of the truth. And if they shall pursue you, that you shall be compelled to forsake your native country, with other of your poor brethren and countrymen, & to leave your labours and livings unto merciless strangers, and bloody papists: Remember that the holl earth is the lords, Psal. 24. and all that is in it. Remember also how that holy Dauso was compelled thorough the tyranny of Saul, 1. Reg. 28. not only to forsake his own native country, but also to i'll & save himself among the heathen idolaters. Mat. 2. Forget not the most innocent babe Christ, with the most pure virgin his mother, and good father joseph, which were compelled thorough Herodes ambitious tyranny to i'll in to Egypt. Remember also that the same God that helped David, and the babe Christ in all dangers, and brought them home again in to their own country, is yet alive, & as able both to save you now, and also to throw down your enemies, as ever he was. Therefore if ye shall be compelled to i'll from your native country, say as Danid said, when he was compelled to i'll from his own city jerusalem, thorough the rebellion of his own traitorous son Absalon: 2. Reg. 15. If I shall find favour in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me home again in to mine own country: but if the Lord thus say, I have no lust unto thee, behold here am I, let him do with me what seemeth good in his eyes, if they shall put you in to prison, be mindful of jeremy, Paul, and Sylas, jer. 28. whereof the one was let down in to a dungeon, Act. 16. where as was no water, but mire: wherein the prophet of God stoke fast: The other two were thrust in to an inner prison, and their feet made fast in the stocks. If they will rob & spoil you of your goods, job. 1. Remember that naked ye came out of your mother's womb, ●. Tim. 6. and naked you shall departed hence: Remember the faithful brethren of the hebrews, Heb. 10. which took in good worth the spoiling of their goods, and that with gladness, knowing in themselves that they had in heaven a better and an enduring substance. If they shall after their common manner revile you, & call you knaves, thieves, traitors, seditious, schismatics, heretics, and falsely speak all manner of evil sayings against you for your master Christ's sake, Mat. 5. than rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven. For even so have their forefathers reviled the holy prophets, Christ, & his apostles. And remember that there is no disciple above his master, nor no servant above his lord. Mat. 10. If you shallbe betrayed of your fathers, mothers, brothers, suffers, sons, daughters, & of your own household, familiars and kinsfolk: remember that our savour told you, Math. 10. both that these unnatural treasons should be committed, Math. 26. and also that he himself was betrayed and sold of his own familiar Apostle. if they shall saw you in sounder, think on the Prophet Esay, which by (the testimony of Ecclesiastical writers) suffered the same death. if they will throw you in to the bottom of the waters and drown you, jon. 1.2. forget not the history of jonas. if they will cast you to the Lions, or other cruel beasts to be devoured of them: Dani. 6. Consider that the holy prophet Daniel was so handled before you. if they will stone you to death, you shallbe in that suffering, Act. 7. companions with the first martyr Stephen. if they will strike of your heads with the sword, Mat. 14. remember that john the baptist had the same end. if they will unjustly lay sedition or treason unto your charge, & so hang you up on the gallows, look up to your head & master Christ, which was in like manner unjustly accused of the same crimes, Luc▪ 23. & so hanged upon the tree among malefactors and thieves. if they will cut out your tongues and pull your skins over your ears, you have a most noble ensample to behold, the most excellent mother and her seven. sons, in the ii book of the Maccabees: And forasmuch as the most wicked enterprises of this time, ●▪ Mach. 7 in restoring idolatrous and false religion, and persecuting the true christians, is much like unto the tyrannous time of Antiochus: Read diligently I pray you among other things, the four first chapters of the first book of the Maccabees, and the vi and vii chapter of the second book. Whereby you may be both comforted in your afflictions, and also be the less offended, that now the people by heaps, some for flattery, some for fear, and some for filthy lucre, forsake the law of the Lord, commit much evil in the land, chase out the secret christians, which had hid themselves in corners and privy places, ●▪ Mach. 1. & join themselves unto the Papists, running an horing after their most false, hypocritical and abominable worshippings, as they were wode. For even to did they in the time of the cruel tyrant Antiochus, as you may perceive in the first and second chapters, of the first book of the Maccabees. And therefore if you shall perceive that any for fear of trouble, shall shrink and recant the open truth of Christ's holy doctrine (which the cursed papists desire chiefly that so they may gratify their father the devil, joan. 8. in murdering both souls & bodies) remember that Christ hath both told you aforehand of such shrinkers in the parable of the sour, Math. 13. by the seed that fell upon the rock: And also that all his apostles shrunk from him in his most trouble: math. 26. and of them, one denied and abjured him, as the Papists now compelle men to abjure that truth, that is more manifest than the noon day: remember also, 2. Tim. 4. that when Paul was first presented before Nero in judgement at Rome, all the brethren forsook him: for whom he prayeth unto God, that he will not lay that shrinking and backeslyding unto their charges. Therefore if such things have or shall happen, be nothing discouraged (dearly beloved) to continue your fight against Antichrist, Ephe. 6. (as ye have begun) with the sword of the spirit, and patient suffering: but pluck up your hearts like valcaunt soldiers. Behold with Steven the Lord jesus standing at the right hand of power, Act. 7. ready to take your part, and to help you, upon whom your faith hangeth, and not upon any worldly creature. For if now again all the disciples should shrink from their master, and all the brethren forsake Paul: yet should▪ Christ and his word (unto which ye stick, and for the which Antichrist doth persecute you) be the truth, and Paul his faithful servant and Apostle. Finally if they shall (according to their most cruel custom) burn you also quick, as that merciless generation hath already burned a great numbered of your faithful pastors (that gladly gave their lives for their flocks) besides a great number of your innocent fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, husbands, and wives, kinsfolk and friends, whom they have in like manner consumed to ashes, & yet their bloody appetites is not satisfied, nor willbe, so long as the long patience of the Lord shall suffer them to have the sword in their hands, If, I say, they shall also burn you quick, Remember the iii children that were thrown in to the fiery furnace, Dani. 3. because they would not (according to the unlawful commandment of the Idolatrous King Nabuchodonosor) worship with their body the golden image, that he had set up to be worshipped. Remember also the holy martyr of Christ Policharpus, Euse. eccl. li. 4. ca 15 the disciple of S. john the Evangelist: which being threatened by the judge that he would burn him quick, (as now the Papists threaten you) made him answer and said: Thou threatenest fire, that shall burn but an hour, & soon after must be quenched: for because thou knowest not that fire of the judgement to come, and of the eternal punishment, that is reserved for the ungodly. But why tarriest thou? do what thou wilt. If (I say) you shallbe by any of the aforesaid ways, or by any other tormented, above all things life up your heads, & look unto your head captain the Lord jesus, the author and finisher of your faith (as S. Paul calleth him) which for the joy that was set before him abode the Heb. 12. cross, and despised the shame, and is set down on the right hand of the throne of God. Consider therefore, how that he endured shuche speaking against him of sinners, lest ye should be wearied & faint in your minds. 2. Cor. 4. The tribulations are but momentany, short, and light, but the glory that is prepared for you thorough Christ, is eternal, 1. Pet. 1. 1. Cor. 2. Rom. 8. 1. Pet. 4. immortal, undefiled, & such as neither eye hath seen, nor ear heard, nor hath entered in to the heart of man: where of the afflictions of this life are not worthy. Wherefore before all things take heed (dearly beloved) that none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or an evil doer, or as a busibody in other men's matters: but if any of you shall after the ensample of the late blessed Martyrs (for which of all the shameless Papists, and most filthy Sodomites, could or can justly convince the glorious Martyrs of Christ, Ferrar, Hopar, Tailor, Rogers, Saunders, Bradford, Glover, Cardemaker, or any of them, whom they have most wilfully and maliciously murdered, of any notable crime) if, I say, any of you shall after their ensample, suffer as a Christian man: let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God on this behalf, and commit his soul unto him with well doing, as unto a faithful creator. These be in deed, I can not deny, stormy and troublesome days, nevertheless if ye in the holy ghost, thorough the most precious death of our alone and omnisufficient mediator, the man Christ jesus, 1. Tim. 2. Hebr. 4. will now run unto the throne of grace & mercy, and will not cease to call upon our most mighty & merciful father: He will undoubtedly, graciously hear you, he will most certainly deliver you. Psal. 49. For he sayeth call upon me in the day of thy trouble, & I will deliver thee. Here is a most plain promise of deliverance. Psal. 145. God is faithful and true in all his words: he never failed any that called faithfully upon him. This promise is sealed thorough the blood of jesus Christ, in whom all god's promises are, yea and Amen. 2. Cor. 1. Therefore be not weary, be not faint hearted, shrink not. 2. Para. 20. The battle is not yours, but the Lords. Only stand forth like men, and behold the lords help? say with the most noble josaphat, Act. 4. O Lord there is no strength in us to resist these furious and raging enemies of thine, neither wot we what to do, but only we lift up our eyes unto thee. say with the Apostles of our Lord and savour: Now Lord behold their threatenings, and grant unto thy servants with all confidence and boldness to speak thy word. Dani. 9 say with the holy prophet Daniel, O Lord our God thou art righteous in all thy works, we have justly deserved all these plagues, that thou hast brought upon us, because we would not hearken unto thy voice. We have sinned o Lord, & done wickedly against all thy rightfulness: yet let thy wrathful displeasure be turned away (we beseech thee) from this afflicted realm of England, and thy sorrowful congregaciou. O our God incline thine ear and hearken, at the least for thine own sake, for thy dear sons sake, in whose name thou hast promised to hear us. Open thine eyes, & heholde how we be desolate. We cast not our prayers before thee in our own righteousness, but only in thy great mercies. O Lord hear, o forgive Lord, o Lord consider, tarry not over long, most mighty Lord and merciful father we beseech thee▪ if we shall after this manner: boldly and without ceasing are, call, seek, & knock at the throne of grace and of mercy, we shall certainly find fanour to help in the time of need. Hebr. 4. The unrighteous judge that neither feared God, nor cared for man, to be rid of the importunate suit & cry of the widow, heard her request, and avenged her of her enemy. And shall not God (sayeth Christ) avenge his elect, Lucc. 18. which cry day and night unto him, yea though he defer them? I tell you, sayeth he, that he will avenge them, and that quickly. Mark well this parable, dearly beloved, & it will in a manner compel you, will ye, nil ye, to confess frankly and plainly, that God can not (because he can not deny himself) but that he must needs hear your prayers, if ye faint not, nor ware weary in calling upon him. This judge is not a father, but a tyrant, and yet nevertheless he herd the widows cry: But God is our father and so would be called of us, Mat. 6. and should he not hear us? This judge is cruel and hath no compassion of other men's calamities. And yet he fulfilled the widows desire: Psal. 103. Hebre. 4. But God is naturally merciful & pitiful. We have not sayeth S. Paul any priest, which can not have compassion on our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, but yet without sin. And should he contemn our continual, humble and faithful suits? The judge never commanded the widow to come unto him for help, but was rather offended with her, because she troubled him with her daily crying, & nevertheless he herd her: But God hath commanded us to call upon him. Psal. 49 Math. 7. And. 26. Call upon me (sayeth he) in the day of thy trouble: Ask, seek, knock, sayeth Christ, watch & pray, that ye enter not into temptation. Seeing than that he hath commanded us to call upon him, will he not hear us, when we do according to his commandment? The judge made never promise to the widow to help her, he never pmysed to hear her cause, but rather did often times deny either to help her or hear her: And notwithstanding in conclusion he did both hear her, and help her. But God hath promised to hear us, and hath not only so promised, but hath also ratified the same with an oath, saying: Verily, verily I say unto you, joan. 16. what so ever ye shall ask the father in my name, he will give it you: how is it possible now, that God should go from his own promises? To be short, Luc. 11. the judge naturally is evil, and yet do the good unto the widow in hearing her cause and helping her: And will not god being naturally good, do us good in hearing our prayers? Therefore all though God seemeth now to differre us, & to suffer the bloody and cruel adversaries, to long to triumph ever us: yet let us not despair, but continued in prayers, being fully persuaded, that though he seem now to be far of, that yet he will certainly come, and deliver us. He can not fail nor lie, but will come (as the prophet sayeth) and will not tarry. Aba. 2. Luc. 18. Gen. 15. And I say unto you (sayeth Christ) that he will avenge his elect, and that quickly. But the iniquity of the english Ammorites is not yet full, neither their cruel tyranny yet ripe. For so fone as their wickedness is full, and their cruelty ripe, Apo. 14. the Lord will fiend his reapers to cut them down (as he revealed unto his servant john) and they shall be cast into the great wynesat of the wrath of God: yea they shall be theomen into the pit, that burneth with fire and brimstone, into that unquenchable fire where as shallbe weeping and wailing, Apo. 19 Marc. 9 and gnashing of tethe. Go to now ye tender parnelles, that come in proudly with stretched out necks, Esa. 3. and with vain wanton eyes, tripping and dancing so nicely with your feet, that can not endure, that a blast of the north east wind in the winter, or that the sun beams in the summer, should once touch the bare of your own stinking carcases: and yet be so merciless to the poor membres of Christ, to honest, godly, quiet, and obedient subjects, that never offended you, that would feign by all means please you (so that they might not thereby displease God) that pray continually to God for your amendment (so merciless I say) that you put them into the mouths of most bloody ravening wolves, & most currish hocherlidogges, to be baited, harried, & torn in pieces: to be spoiled & rob of lands, houses, livings, liberty, goods, and country, to be pinched & pined in stinking prisons, with stocks, fetters, chains, racks, cold, famine and other rigorous torments: to be strangled with halters, to spill their innocent blood with sword & axes, to burn them quick to ashes, Go to I say you tender parnelles, that be now so tender & dainty over your own vile flesh, Ephe. 5. and. 1. 1. Cor. 6. and so merciless to the flesh, blood, bones, bodies, and membres of Christ, & temples of the holy ghost: tell me what will ye do in the time of the visitation and destruction, Esa. 10. Pro. 1. that shall come upon you suddenly, like a storm & tempest? To whom will ye run for help? or to whom will ye give your honour, that he may keep it? that ye come not among the prisoners, or lie among the dead? Esa. 66. Mar. 9 Tell me (I pray you) how well you shallbe able to endure that unquenchable fire, wherein for your manifold, bloody tyrannies, & murdering of God's people, you shall most certainly burn world without end, with weeping, wailing, & gnashinh of teeth, Math. ●● which are prepared for the devil & his angels. Neither shall your romish pardons, nor your Sodomitical massmongers with all their trompery, be able to pluck you out of the fiery lake: When as ye shall see the righteous stand in great steadfastness against you, Sap. 5. that have dealt so extremely with them, and taken away their labours, when you being vexed with an horrible fear, and wondering at the sudden health, glorious kingdom, & beautiful crown, which the righteous shall receive at the lords hand, and groaning for very distress & anguish of mind, shall say within yourselves. These are they whom we sometime had in derision, and jested upon. We fools thought their life very madness, & their end to be without honour: but lo how they are counted among the children of God, and their portion is among the saints. Therefore we have erred from the way of truth, the light of righteousness hath not shined unto us, and the sun of understanding rose not upon us. We have wearied ourselves in the way of wickedness, and destruction. Tedious ways have we gone, but the way of the Lord we have not known. What good hath our pride done unto us? or what profit hath the pomp of riches brought us? all those things are passed away like a shadow. etc. O ye proud and bloody Papists, such miserable words shall ye speak being in hell, and burning in fire unquenchable with the devil & his angels, whose kingdom you have promoted, maintained, and defended. Wherefore (dear brethren) be not grieved at their most vain pompous, Psal. 37. And. 73. and short pride, and glorious wealth, thorough the which they are become so maliciously wood, to practise daily such furious & monstrous madness and tyranny, against the Lord Christ, his Gospel, & his pure membres: but consider ye the most horrible ends of Pharaoh, Exod. 14. 1. Reg. 31. 2. Mac. 9 Act. 2. Euse. eccl. Li. 9 ca 9 Theod. li. 4. cap. 25. Saul, Antiochus, Herode, Maxencius, julianus the apostata, and such other tyrants, whose ends the tyrants of the Popish Sodomites and princes of Gomorra will shortly follow: And so thou shalt have just cause rather to lament the most miserable state, wherein they are now held captive of Satan, than to follow their cursed & cruelenterpryses. The Lord (sayeth David) hath set them in a slippery place, Psal. 73. that he may cast them down headlings, and destroy them. O how suddenly do they consume, perish, and come to a fearful end? yea even as a dream when one awaketh. So makest thou their image to vanish out of the city. This had David found true by experience, therefore in an other psalm, Psal. 37. I myself (sayeth he) have seen the ungodly in great power, & flourish like a green Bay tree: but I went by, lo he was gone, I sought him, but he could no where be found. Keep ye therefore innocency, and take heed unto the thing that is right. Sat still, be quiet, and patient, embrace & kiss the lords rod: Esa. 30. For in quietness and in hope (sayeth the Lord) shall your strength lie. Call upon God without ceasing, and in your prayers be mindful of the afflicted, oppressed & scattered church of Christ, which is now once again almost rooted up by the wild Boar of Rome, Psal. 80. and other of that swinish generation, that God for his mercy sake may yet again (if it be his blessed will) build up the walls of the english jerusalem, Psal. 50. and. 124. and turn aways the captivity of our Zion. ¶ The God of all grace, 1. Pet. 5. which hath called you unto his eternal glory by Christ jesus, shall his own self (after ye have suffered a little affliction) make you perfit, settle, strengtht, and stablish you. To him be glory and dominion for ever, and while the world endure. Amen. The peace of God, the strength and comfort of the holy ghost, Ephi. 6. be with you all that love the Lord jesus in pureness. AMEN. Apoca. 22. Veni Domme jesu cito. Anno. 1555.