❧ A NEW Revenge for an old Grudge. Lately set forth by I. S. Who buildeth not upon sure ground, hath often been, and now is found A loss of time, a vain expense, Thus saith God's word. An overthrow of his pretence. Thanks to the Lord. Imprinted at London by Henry Wykes, for Frances Coldocke. To the Reader. FOr asmuch as we are taught in the first of josua, that in the book of God we should record day and night: and also be circumspect to do according to the same, that our ways might prosper: so assuredly, they that in that sort travel, and make thereof a willing exercise, shall find therein such Felicity, such fruitfulness, and comfort, as I (oh Christian Reader) am not with my pen able to express: for in the Scriptures is wealth to be found for those that be in misery: health for such as be sick: light to expel darkness: comfort to those that be afflicted: in extreme peril, present preservation: and for the defence and safeguard of such as are of the household of Faith, there is also to be found both armour and weapon, to wage battle with that ancient enemy Satan: of whom as the sacred Scriptures make mention, to have been even from the beginning an utter enemy to Christ, his Gospel, and professors of the same: and seeking in sundry wise through his subtlety to subvert thee, whom although the glorious God at no time leaveth undefended, to the greater confusion and shame of that subtle Serpent, yet for all that seaceth he not still to stir up his Hellish army, continually to make new attempts to trouble and assail the flock and family of the Faithful: and that only as much as in them is, to suppress, and darken the light of the glorious Gospel of our Saviour jesus Christ, which comfortably shineth amongst us, which through Christ we have received, which we now enjoy, and are partakers of (to God be thanks therefore) who grant the same a free passage through the whole world, to the more magnifiing of his mighty name, the continual comfort of his Church, and utter destruction of the enemies and adversaries of the same, For ever. Amen. ❧ A new Revenge for an old Grudge. Among the divers & sundry conflicts between Christ & Satan: the Church Apostolical, and the Church Diaboliall; the Church of Christ, and the Church of Antichrist (whereof the Scriptures plentifully make 〈…〉 by many examples; 〈◊〉, and at all times when 〈…〉 happened, or 〈◊〉, when God hath suffered them to 〈…〉 of his Church, 〈…〉, as also for the 〈…〉 his glory) there hath not then, I say, wanted among an innumerable sort of deadly enemies, one Satanical soldier, which hath ever showed himself more stouter than others: more wickedly bend then the rest: more puffed up in pride: more desirous by defacing the truth, to advance Sin: boulder, in the behalf of his 〈◊〉 Satan, and to thunder out threatenings against Christ and his Congregation, which examples 〈◊〉 the Scriptures 〈◊〉 many; as of Herode, Phara●… 〈…〉 more: amongst the which I specially note the great Golliah, that presumptuous Philistine, who so proudly 〈◊〉 himself against the Israelites, 〈◊〉 according to the Scriptures 〈…〉, his Helmet of brass his 〈◊〉 mail, 〈◊〉 of brass his shield on his shoulder, his sword 〈◊〉 his side, and in his hands a spear of great weight: and 〈…〉 ●…ayes supposing that the 〈…〉 of his person, the furniture of his armour, and force of his weapons, should be such a terror to them, as that it should utterly abash and discourage the hole Camp to encounter with him, did therefore show and advance himself before the whole host of the Israelites, making there calling to fight with any one that might be chosen out from amongst them. But 〈…〉 ●…olde now I pray you, how this 〈◊〉 Philistine ●earynge bold of himself, and building upon his 〈◊〉 strength and despising the God of Israel, was in the twinkling of an 〈◊〉 overthrown in the chiefest of his pride, and that by little David, who for the smallness of his stature, & 〈…〉 of his years, Goliath t●ke great 〈◊〉 that he should 〈…〉 ●…atche with him, this king 〈…〉 turned up David's 〈…〉 was he much deceived: for 〈…〉 of a man, 〈◊〉 strength of the 〈◊〉 that 〈◊〉, but 〈…〉 God only that giveth 〈…〉 Wherefore how weak 〈…〉 man seem to be in body, yet is he mighty & strong, if the Lord assist him, as he did his servant David: who putting his trust neither in spear nor shield, but having his whole affiance and trust in the ●…inge Lord, who is the giver of victory and by whom he was appointed 〈◊〉 Champion in Israel's behalf, manlike marched then forward in the name of the Lord God of Hosts to 〈…〉 this 〈◊〉 enemy, having 〈◊〉 a sling wherein was a sto●…, which he ●…ange at Golliah, and there●… 〈◊〉 him such a blow in the forehead, that down he falleth 〈◊〉 at David's feet upon the ground: 〈…〉 fly, they have lost the field, to God be thanks therefore. But behold now a new broil, and according to the saying of Ecclesiastes. Ecclesi. 1. The thing that hath been cometh to pass again: And the thing that hath been done, is done again, for even so is there now sought, A new Revenge for an old Grudge. See now I pray you the practice and device of the Devil, who, as he always hath been a manqueller, & from the beginning a delighter in destruction, so now with his drum of defiance, hath he stricken up a new alarm: an other field is pitched, the enemies be armed, ye they have hent their ordinance against the camp of the Christians: hark, they shoot of, and hear ye not what a noise their guns make? see how the pellets fly through the Christian camp. For who doth not behold the Papists now, how in place of the Philistines they war against the Israelites? how have this cursed crew, of late by heaps, dispersed abroad those detestable, blasphemous, rebellious, and contentious books, in the which is most manifestly apparent, how they, setting a part all shame, neglect their obedience to their Prince, despise the truth, and being void of the fear and grace of God, seek by all means possible how to blemish and deface the invincible verity of our Lord, and Saviour jesus Christ: which although by the malice of Satan, they of late did, and now again would darken, yet never shallbe able to extinguish & put it out: yet ●…se they not, ●…ilthely to 〈◊〉 out their own shame, with the battery of their books, so burnished with blasphemy, and so lewdly interlaced with loathsome and loud lies, as they are utterly to be banished, and not to be suffered in any Christian Congregation, yet such is their folly, and furious frenzy, and their hearts so inwardly fretted with deadly rancour, that they nothing regard nor consider the Council of the holy Ghost: Who saith, Wisedo. 1. that the mouth that speaketh lies, slayeth the Soul: But rather despising the righteous, Wised. 3. & forsaking the Lord, they are very stragglers, and straiers abroad, showing themselves as they are, even a miserable ● of vagabonds, and masterless men, a careless company void of godly skill: soldiers of Satan, whose souls are darkened, and blinded through ignorance: and whose malice hath so mouldered away their wits, that they can not retain nor comprehend godly wisdom, for want whereof, they seek their own death in the error of their life, and destroy themselves through the wicked works of their own hands, but their guns are not to be feared, for their ordinance, being but quill guns, and their shot but Paper pelllets, infected with the moisture of their own malicious minds, doth, even as poison to 〈◊〉 selves, return with reboundes to their own shame and confusion. But Lord, what a stony and hard hearted captain hath this careless 〈◊〉 chosen them to be their Champion? Fors●…th even M. Doctor Harding, who, now hath taken upon him, in the place of Goliath, to stand at defiance with whole Israel, but such men, such master: such soldiers, such captain: and no marvel is it that such a false ●…tor be found amongst so great and noisome a number, when amongst the twelve Apostles one judas betrayed his master Christ and for a small sum of money, both sold & delivered him into the hands of the 〈◊〉 Priests: But according as it is said, Matth. 26. Woe to that man by whom the Son of man shallbe betrayed, for it had been good for him that he had never been borne: as the end of his travel well declared, who through desperation hanged himself, for that he had betrayed the innocent blood. Lo; there behold the reward of an unfaithful servant. But M. Doctor Harding hath forgotten this, he hath forgotten also whose man he himself once was, he did were Christ his badge, he was clad in the glittering garment of the glorious Gospel, and was a member of the Church Apostolical: but now he hath with judas forsaken his master, and is with him become of the Church infernal and diabolical: for he hath refused and forsaken the worthy livery of the living Lord, and wickedly wrapped himself in the clouted cloak of the Lords loathsome enemy the triple crowned tyrant, whose malice against the truth by no means can be qualified, & whose insatiable thirst the blood of the saints of God in defence of the same, can in no wise quench nor satisfy. But M. Doctor harding being forgetful of judas his miserable end is also as little mindful of his own, yet let him take heed: Sirach. 10. For the seed which transgresseth the commandments of the Lord shallbe shamed, for who shall justify him that sinneth against himself, and who will honour him that dishonoureth his own soul: Wised. 2. no, horrible is the death and end of the unrighteous. But to proceed, now is master Doctor Harding stirred up by the device of the Devil to strive against the stream, and in every condition even as Goliath was, so is he likewise armed from top to toe, from the head to the f●…te: for in place of an Helmet of brass, he hath close buckled about his ears, the heavy head piece of Heresies: and in steed of a cote of mail, he hath put on the coat armour of error, he hath hanging about his neck the shield of shamelessness: and for boots of brass he is laden with blasphemy against the truth: and for his spear he hath sharpened his cruel wrath: and thus being armed point device for his purpose as he thinketh, abroad he cometh, before the face of Israel: he brawleth, he chideth, he taunteth, he threateneth, he raileth, he is at defiance with any that dare come: and f●…ynge no peril, but making account that he hath won the field before it be fought, he it is that will fight in his holy Father the Pope's cause, with him that beareth an head: but ye shall 〈◊〉 the old proverb fulfilled, which is, that pride is taken in a net. For behold the Lord liveth, who as he was not forgetful of Israel, but delivered them from the Philistines, and that by the hands of David his servant: by whom that ●…les Goliath was overthrown: Psalm. 129. So hath the Lord done great things for us: ye the Lord hath done great things for us already, for even now in the defence of his Church of England, he hath raised up an other, whom he hath appointed his instrument to work his will by: and hath made him honourable among the congregation, a reverent Father in God the blessed Bishop of Salisbury, that joyful jewel of jesus Christ, to encounter this new found Philistine harding, and to put him to the worse: Oh mighty work of God, a meek spirited Lamb, to conquer a raging Lion: the weak to overthrow the strong, weak I say in body, but sound in soul: whose gifts in Godly knowledge surmounteth, whose ripe understanding and perfectness in the ancient Fathers and Doctors of the primitive Apostolical Church, is singular, and in God's book the holy Scriptures, profound: whereof I make the whole world judge, to whom his worthy works are committed, which in the same do spread abroad his well deserved fame. Lo, such a Champion hath the Lord of Hosts appointed for the defence of his Church, who builded in heart with God's might, and ready in his name to revenge the great blasphemy of this arrogant Papist, marched forward, not with worldly policy, not in Armour, not with spear, and shield, neither high minded, nor yet with proud looks, but with a lowly heart, and an invincibly Faith in jesus Christ, being only furnished with the sling of Godly zeal, wherein he putting the smooth stone of truth, which he had chosen forth of the brook of God's blessed Book, the which he slinging at the proud arrogant Papistical Harding, hath therewith overthrown him, and given him such a dreadful dente in his forehead, which is so festered that all the filthy fraternetie of that butcherly brood, and bloody brotherhood of the babylonical, & Antichristian romanists, shall with the surgery of their schism, never be able to cure. Thus M. Doctor Harding in a piteous perplexity and as one cast in his own turn by being reproved in falcifiing the Doctors, so even as David did Goliath, hath the worthy jewel cut of Harding's head with his own sword: wherefore well may we now say with the Psalmist. Psalm. 129. Many a time have thine enemies fought against us (oh Lord) even from our youth up, ye many a time have they vexed us from our youth up, yet have they not prevailed against us, for as the Lord God of power hath always, and at all times, preserved and delivered his chosen Israel, from the hands of their enemies, so hath he now likewise stretched forth his hand upon their furiousness, and hath appointed this worthy warrior and inestimable jewel, to be a defence for his people, who through the power and assistance of the ever living Lord, hath thus wounded our mortal enemy, not a man, but rather a Monster, a Doctor by name, but a Devil in heart, a revolter from the truth, an enemy to body and soul, and can any man I pray you be counted more careful and honest, than he that fighteth in the defence of the truth of jesus Christ the only redeemer of the world, as this blessed Bishop hath now done. Let Alexander and Hanyball be bruited for Warriors, jewel in my judgement hath best behaved himself: wherefore if well doing may worthily claim a good report, then give to God's good jewel our comfortable captain his wonderful deserved praise, for if virtue could speak, would she not confess that jewel had her in full possession, and let now this question be moved I pray thee: what might this cheerful champion, this jewel of joy hope for, by the matching with, and mastering of such a monster otherwise then forced through the love he beareth to the flock and family of the faithful, the quietness of the Congregation, and according to his duty, the advancement of the glory of God, whose servant he is, and whom he therefore hath now worthily served, whereby he hath obtained and won unto himself the thing he sought not for, the very gift of God even immortal fame, wherefore let Israel trust in the Lord, from this time forth for ever more, and when this act or such other like cometh into our minds: let us remember what a great God the Lord is, Wised. 6. that thus hath weaponed his Creature, to be avenged of his and our enemies, and let us also praise God in them by whom he hath wrought such wonders, to the constant keeping of our profession made to him in our Baptism: But shall we think it now sufficient, that jewel hath given harding his deadly wound: no no, more than it was that David gave the overthrow to Goliath, who being conquered, we Read that the men of Israel & juda: 1. Reg. 17. arose, shouted and followed▪ then after the army of the Philistines, which fled: and chased them till they fell down dead, and till they came to the valley, and to the very gates of Ackaron. Also the like we Read of that worthy woman judith, judith. 15. who when through the mighty assistance of God she had made a devition of Holofernes head from his shoulders, the Israelites than issued forth and followed the Assyrians with sound of Trumpets triumphantly, and so discomforted them, and flew them with the sword, and followed them to the uttermost part of their borders. Also Paul fought not alone with the sword of God's word, but as well the rest of the Apostles, laid about them with the same weapon, upon as many as resisted the verity. But now who almost (but only that worthy jewel) addresseth himself for the better easement and godly comforting of his Christian brethren? wherefore (oh ye reverent Fathers and fellow Bishops with jewel, and also all others whom God hath made skilful Soldiers in the handling of the weapon of his Word, and guides to his flock) I beseech you speak all with one voice, be ye knit together, be ye all of one, and the same mind and meaning with Paul: prepare yourselves to the battle: & Goliath being by David overthrown, pursue you his Soldiers with might and main, lay about you, down with them, strike, lay on load, not with material weapon, but with the two edged sword of the Gospel: blow up the trumpet of truth in Sion, that it may sound so shrilly in the ears of the enemies, that they may tremble there at and be discomfited: oh furnish God's fortresses, double man them, replenish the pulpits, let your tongues be talking, and your pens walking, even as darts to pierce Gods and your enemies, follow them to loven gates, whither they be fled to hide them from the face of God, from the presence & hearing of his word, and from whence they daily shoot of their slanderous shot against you, whom God hath made to be teachers of righteousness, shepherds to his flock, Captains of his camp, & governors of his Congregation: wherefore be careful of the army royal committed to your conducting, that when the pay day cometh, ye may at the hands of the King eternal receive the reward appointed for such as faithfully fulfil his holy will. To whom, and to jesus Christ his true and only Son, with the holy Ghost that sweet Comforter, three persons and one God, be all praise and glory world with out end. Amen. The wicked false reports, of tongues shall never cease: Nor Pharaos' train be clean overthrown, nor Israel live in peace. Nor yet Bethulia have just cause to triumph thoroughly, Till God our judith move with sword to strike for Victory. ꝙ I. S. FINIS.