A COMMEMORATION OF THE INESTIMABLE GRACES AND BENEFITS OF GOD, INFUSED THROUGH THE bright light of the knowledge of his holy word, in our most dread sovereign lord HENRY the eight, by the grace of god king of ENGLAND and of FRAVNCE, defender of the faith, lord of Ireland, and in earth the supreme heed next and immediate under CHRIST of the Church of England, with hearty praise and thanks giving unto GOD for the same, composed upon the glad prophecy and joyful psalm of Benedictus dominus deus Israel. etc. ANNO. M. D. XL. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THOMAS LORD CRUMWEL knight of the noble order of the Garther, lord keeper of the privy seal of our most sovereign lord the king, and also vicegerent of the spirituality, your humble and faithful servant, john Pylbarough desireth long health and prosperous perseverance in honour. CONSIDERING often times in myself, (my singular good lord) the inestimable graces and benefits, with the which god of his infinite goodness hath most largely endued our most sovereign lord the kings most noble majesty, whereof his grace hath abundantly imparted also unto us his most humble and loving subjects, by the illustration of God's moste holy word, and unto what consolation, joy, and comforet, from our long peynefully suffered thraldom, dreadefulle darkness, and dangers of our bodies, souls, and all that we had besides forth, we be now most blessedly delivered and come, through the same, I have thought and yet assuredly do think, there is no faithful or true english heart, that can retain and keep to himself the memorial thereof, and not earnestly and with all diligence endeavour and apply himself, by all such means and ways, as his wit power and cunning, which god hath given him, will serve him, to utter and set forth the same, both to the condign laud and praise of god therefore, and unto the perpetual renown and glorious fame of our said most sovereign lord, as the very minister, in and by whom GOD hath thus wonderfully wrought in us, and as in whom (as Paul saith) our rejoicing might abound and increase by Philipp. 1. jesus Christ, by reason of his return home again to his right and just title of godly ministration and power over us, whereof he, and his most noble progenitors, have been unjustly, by usurpation, long deprived. Whereupon for my part, in discharge of my conscience and duty towards god & his majesty in this behalf, I have applied my best will (according to my Matth. 25. little, and not unknown to all men most least) gift, which I have thankfully (notwithstanding) received of god amongst other, to bestow and employ to his use, to compile this little treatise, upon the joyful psalm, Benedictus dominus deus Israel. etc. the glad prophecy and Luc. 1. praysegyving unto god by zachary, which by interpretation is as much to say, as remembering god, of and for the universal spiritual visitation and redemption of mankind, by Christis becoming incarnate, and commendation of his chosen minister thereunto, john baptist: whereof and of whose conception also he was inopinable at the time of the revelation thereof, by reason of the very old ages of him and his wife, to th'intent the same, which I would to god were as effectuously showed and set forth by me herein, as I have both heartily and faithfully purposed and meant it, might be an occasion and example for us, both to laud and praise god of and for our special visitation and redemption, through the light of God's most holy word, whereof we were also inopinable and faythelesse at the first pronouncing thereof, by reason that the same was long hid from us, and man's traditions and inventions crept between. And also to commend worthily our said most sovereign lord, god's holy minister thereof, in perpetual memory, and from generation of us into generation, lest we which as adoptive israelites by faith do presently enjoy so high and godly benefits by god and his said minister the kings majesty, should be accounted any less thankful therefore, then was zachary, who being satisfied with only hope, thanked and praised God and his holy minister john baptist, for the merits of Christ's incarnation, then to come. Which Treatise most temeraryously I have dedicate unto you, whom I have always esteemed, like the right virtuous and faithful Saphan, unto his most godly prince josias, a gracious favourer of all honest and holy purposes, and my very singular good lord: trusting that although both for the gross handling of so fine a matter, and also the rude and inornate style and phrase thereof, it be nothing worthy such preferrment in deed, yet never the less your accustomed benignity will vouchsafe to reform the same, wherein it may seem unto you convenient, & also accept and make it worthy, agreeing to my good will intended therein. And for my part, I shall not only most heartily praise and thank god therefore, but also according to my bounden duty own unto your good lordship my hearty prayer and humble service while I live. GOD SAVE THE KING ¶ Benedictus dominus deus Israel: quia visitavit & fecit Redemptionem plebis sue. FOR AS MOCHE AS in the Scriptures of the old Testament and the new, it is no rare thing, that diverse persons been named some before their births & some when they have continued with one name, have had the same changed, according & for such occasions or qualities as have risen or been in them, or for some singular merits given unto them (whereof to make an hole rehearsal, it were no less to my capacity impossible, than to your reading tedious) I am and dare be bold (without offence to any person) for the godly occasion and virtuous qualities (which now been apparent in us most christian english people) to repute and ascribe worthily to us the name of Israelites. For like as jacob, Genes. 25. which is as much to say, as a supplanter, was an apt name for him, according to his quality than, because he had supplanted his brother Esau, Gene. 27. both of his birthright and father's blessing, wherefore Esau said of him, he may well be called jacob, for he hath twice undermynded me, and Esau's name was changed into Edom, as who should say (red) by cause he had sold the said birthright for a meace of red meat, as like apt a name was after for the same jacob Genes. 32. (Israel) which is interpreted, a man seeing the lord) by cause he had seen god and his wonderful Genes. 28. Psal 113. Exod. 12. Exod. 13. heavenly sights. Which Israel and his generation god chase to him a peculiar people, & in them extended his holiness & strength, and saved them in Egypte, from the grievous plague through the blood of the lamb. And for them Christ said also, I came not but to cure Matt. 15. the sheep of the house of Israel, that were perished: Even so because we now see the lord god by his scriptures and by his holy word, be sanctified & strengthened in him, and spiritually cured through the blood of our redeemer Christ, we may right well & aptly be called Israelites, a people seeing god, a people sanctified and strengthened with Esai. 62. Et vocabunt eos populus sanctus, re dempti a domino. Titum. 2. God's word, & cured with Christis blood. For the grace of god our saviour hath appeared unto us, and opening the eyes of our understanding, hath taught us to see and know Christ. Fantasies nor dreams, men's inventions do not now blind or deceive us any longer. For the broad bushel of hypocrisy, which overwhelmed the bright candle (God's word) is now taken away, and we see all over the house of our own consciences: and we see th'author of light, and the very light itself, that lighteneth (with diversity of graces) all reasonable creatures coming joan. 1. into this world. And whom (although he was in the world) we being seduced and led blyndefulle by vanities, could not perceive or know till now at the last, while we were a people wandering in darkness of ignorance, and dwellers in the shadows of death, which is sin, accompanied with death: the great light of God's most holy word did appear unto us, and Esai. 9 Roma. 13. our redemption was nearer than we were aware. And where we were before in darkness, a people ignorant of god, we be now enlightened with Ephes. 5. the brightness of knowledge in our lord god: who hath commanded the light to shine out of darkness, which hath shined in our hearts, for to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of god in the face of jesus Christ, that is in the Matt. 16. faith, which Peter and his fellow apostles by him, one answering for all, confessed in Christ to be the son of the living god. Upon which Christ, and faith in him, and upon, or in none other, our catholic congregation immediately is firmly settled. Let us therefore now, having received this light of god, imprynte the memorial thereof in our hearts, with perfect belief thereof, & magnify god therefore, that it may fructify in us good works, and make us blessed through the same, before all nations, as was the holy virgin Mary by Elisabeth, saying unto her, Blessed art thou among women, and Luc. 1. blessed is the fruit of thy womb. For because thou haste meekly received the holy word of god, and glad tidings by his angel: Those same things shall be performed in thee, according as the same angel hath said unto the. And also by example of Zachary, who because he believed not the possibility of God's word, which the angel did show unto him, was Luc. 1. made speechless for a time, but when he saw the perfection thereof, being sorry for his infidelity, did receive again by God's goodness, his speech, augmented with the grace and spirit of prophesying and thanks giving unto god for the same: being repentant and detesting, that we have been so long mysbeleving of the word of god, showed and set forth unto us by God's holy doctors and preachers, whom the Satan of Rome hath dyvellishly tormented, , and slain, to keep us faithless, and make us dumb, that we should not blow out his errors and abuses, nor kings & temporal rulers should be learned of their godly authorities over their subjects (which the same Satan had usurped) let us now, not like as the ten, which were Luce. 17. healed of their lepry, whereof one only came again to give thanks to God, but holly and entirely togethers, even as the three which were in the furnaces of fire, lauded and glorified god, as Daniel. 3. it had been with one mouth, braced out like the day spring the light of the faith that is in us, and rejoicing in the birth of john, that is in the holy gospel new risen amongst us by the grace of god, praise and thank most heartily with Zachary our lord god of Israel, which hath visited Benedictus dominus de us Israel qui a visitavit & fecit ●edem ptionem ple bis suae. us, illumining our feeble ignorant hearts with the knowledge of his most holy word. Where by he hath caused the redemption of us his peculiar people, from our thrall captivity of our ghostly enemy the devil, and our both ghostly and bodily enemy, the bishop of Rome, and his complices. ET erexit cornu salutis nobis in domo david pueri sui. ANTICHRIST of Rome hath long dissimuled with us, fooding us forth with vanities: As pardons, pilgrimages, bulls, never right calved, superstitions, counterfeit religion, feigned relics, and such other innumerable sort of trashes, haberdashery ware, and all for money. For the old proverb, Omnia venalia Rome, said by the Pagans, long before Christ Salustius. was incarnate, is not left unpractised by the said Antichrist our most holy father (as they call him) his cardinals and bishops. whereof the chief merchant of mischief is the said holy father. I pray you, what thing was and yet is not sale kind at Rome, saving our english souls: for the which we have now of late found a better mart? And that which is most abhorred of god, the said Antichrist, and most adversary of Christ, had brought us into the gentiles worshipping of false God's. Oh god of Israel, for thy tender mercy, into what blind fantasies of mad mischief were we thy silly creatures brought by the hiding and shutting up of thy holy word from us? And what injuries did thy most faithful ministers, and yet for the most part do sustain, to be so arrogantly deprived of their princely regiments under thee, by thambitious wresting of thy said word to the maintenance of a devilish power against thy right power? whereby the due obedience of subjects was converted into rebellion, and the concord of commonties dissolved: Thou layest good god, as thou hadst been a sleep, and did suffer us to dream by thee, Even as thou didst from Adam's fall, unto the time thy only son became incarnate, whereof zachary prophesied a little before, saying, That thou hadst raised up an horn for our health, meaning, Et erexit cornu salutis nobis In domo david pue●i sui. that Chryst should be borne the universal strength power and glory of our salvation, and that in the house of king David thy elect servant. But now through the light, which is sprung in us, upon thy holy word, (against an usurped power and reign of Lucifer, most untruly counterfeit, upon thy most undoubted true word) thou hast raised up to us thy peculyas people, a godly dew power of health, our natural most sovereign lord king HENRY the VIII. by thy grace, which is also a true strength and rightful kingdom, appertaining to the most noble house of his most famous progenitors, for our great consolation, tranquillity, and wholesome safety, both of our bodies and souls to. Whose majesty we recognize and believe through thy said word, to be thine holy anointed, immediate minister, and vicar over Roma. 13. 1. Petri. 2. Sapien, 6. us: and unto whom only thy goodness hath committed the cure charge and governance of us, and whom we own to obey love and dread, and to whom also we own only to have recourse as unto thy chief herdsman. But alas we have 1. Pet. 2. been long (yea and to long) wandering from him, and have sought a strange shepherd, which seeming unto us as meek and humble as a lamb, (what by himself and what by his whelps) hath been a very devouring wolf of us, and more ravenous than a wolf. for he hath not only consumed the sheep, but the fleece and bones also. But now being returned home again by the diligent search and labour of our 1. Petri. 2. said most loving kind and holy pastor, let us not err nor stray again from him, for he is loath to lose one the worst of us, let us not then lose him, but most kindly follow him, stick by him, defend him, obey him, and lovingly dread and honour him, even for god's sake, and for conscience sake, because gods Roma. 13. holy word teacheth and bindeth us so to do. ¶ Sicut locutus est per os sanctorum: qui à seculo sunt prophetarum eius. CHRIST WAS not suddenly borne, but his incarnation and coming to be borne in the house of David, was spoken of god, by the mouths of his prophets, from the beginning of the world: that we should faithfully believe it. And therefore undoubtedly jeremy, Daniel, Esais, Micheas, zachary, and all the Heir. 23. Daniel. 1●. residue of the prophets cess not, to prophecy Esai. 11. Miche. 5. Zacha. 6. and show Christ's incarnation. And the same also did the deeds of Adam, Abel, Enoch, and of all other the fathers of the old testament manifestly set forth: as undoubtedly also doth the same fathers, and prophets, and other the residue of the old testament, if due application be put thereunto, partly by their deeds, and partly Esai. 14. Ezec. 22. 23. 24. 34. Heir. 29. Daniel. 12. by their prophecies, both show and set forth the pompous pride and usurpation of the bishop of Rome, and the mischiefs captivities and abominations that have ensued thereupon to god des flock. and yet the same bishops, captains of all those mischiefs, neither have nor shall escape quite away: for utter confusion, deep falls, and perpetual damnation, both hath and shall, as sure as god liveth, come upon their necks therefore. And the same fathers and prophets 3. Re. 10. 3. Reg. 1. 2. Par. 29. 2. Para. 30. 2. Para. 31. 2. Para. 23. do like wise show and set forth, that of very godly right and justice, kings princes and other temporal rulers, ever from the beginning of the world, have and ought to be the only governors orderers and rulers of and over their people, naturally brought up, congregate, 2. Par. 34. Sap. 6. and being within their provinces realms and dominions, of what so ever sort degree 4. Re. 17. or condition they be, spiritual or temporal, as we call them: And what honourable and hum 2. re. 18. 19 3. Reg. 1. ble obedience the subjects of every kind and sort, own to use and bear towards their kings Daniel. 4. and rulers, and that god was the only setter up and putter down of them: And that god 1. Regum. 15. 16. 3. Reg. 2. took, and assuredly will take, sore and grievous vengeance upon such, as disturbed the royal seat of any king or prince: And how gracyousely 1. Reg. 10. also god doth preserve kings and princes, infusing in them special godly gifts above other. And the said fathers and prophets 1. Reg. 15. do warn and exhort the subjects, incessant to pray for their kings princes and rulers. All which prophecies and deeds of the said prophets and fathers, Christ himself, after his coming, affirmeth, and by his own most holy word and examples doth teach and straightly bind us, to do and follow the same. For he being of two different natures, that is both god and man, and being king of kings, and the supreme power, as he saith in the last chapter of Matth. All power is given to me in heaven Matth. ultimo. and in earth. In heaven, because he had it so, as god, before he was incarnate: In earth, because he was god and man after his incarnation, and refusing and detesting all worldly honour and kingdom, charging also Peter, and all his true followers, to do likewise, did most humbly meek himself, and taking upon Philipp. 2. him the fashion of a servant, was willingly most poor and most obedient subject to the worldly powers. For he saith of himself. The Luc. 9 foxes have dens, & the birds of the air have nests, but the son of man hath not wherein to thrust his heed. And his obedience was so great, as none could be more. For he was obedient unto his father's will, and to worldly powers will, also even unto the most shameful death of the Luce. 23. cross, by the judgement of the ruler Ponce Pilate. And to set forth this obedience with all, Christ teacheth us a lesson upon the resolution of the perfydous and fraudulent question, demanded of him by the messengers of the chief of the scribes and pharisees, which Luke Luc. 20. rehearseth in the twenty chapter, Whether it be lawful to give tribute to Cesar or no. To which Christ answered thus in effect, yield to Cesar that which is Caesar's, and to god that which is God's. As who saith, because your temporal ruler and sovereign lord, hath power over your bodies and goodis, and is your defender and preserver, and also charged in his spiritual ministry with you under god: yield to him tribute, a knowledge of your subjection. And because god giveth you body and soul, and all that ye have besides Deuter. 6. Matth. 22. forth, and hath power over all, and asketh nothing but your soul for all: yield him that. ¶ And Christ an other time to verify his said Luc. 21. poverty, and for an example of obedience, that his true followers should bear to the temporal powers, he commanded Peter, to take money out of a fishes mouth, because neither of them Matt. 17. had any, to pay to the gatherer for them both. Peter also taught of Christ to set forth this obedience, 1. Petri. 2. gave commandment to all the faithful, to be obedient for God's sake to the king, as to the chief head, & to other his substitute rulers & deputies: And Paul commandeth the same, adding Roma. 13. thereunto, that every power is of god, & is God's minister, & not otherwise, and the resistance thereof is damnation. And Paul writing to Titus, Titum. 3. biddeth him to charge the people, to obey princes, and the higher powers. And Peter, Paul, 1. Cor. 3. and other the apostles, call themselves in holy scriptures but ministers, and their power a ministry. And according to this, Peter was obedient in ministering at the commandment of the Galath. 2. other apostles, to go to Samarie with john. And also Peter was appointed to be a preacher among the jews, and john and james with him: & Paul and Barnabas with him, among the gentiles. And Paul boasteth, that Peter and john gave him their right hands. And Paul saith also, that he blamed Peter openly, because he followed not the truth of the gospel. And innumerable more authorities of scripture are to be rehearsed hereof. But now, lest I should seem to long in this place, let this little pretty piece, though it were moche less, cut out of the right large, true wrought, and most beautiful cloth, God's holy scriptures, concerning the judaical Antichrist of Rome, and his adherentes, which stand best in their own pernyciouse conceits, like the jews, whose blindness caused them to believe john Baptist, better than Christ, not with standing the great number of signs and prophecies, which they had, witnessing that he was come, be sufficient to lay before them, for a patron, to stain and utterly shame all their counterfeit clothes of false interpretations, and coloured gloss of their feigned gospel. And thank our lord god of Israel, that he hath so cleared our sight, that we have now at the last, found a right Paul, our said most sovereign lord the king, to control & abolish Peter's dissimuled successors counterfeit gospel, and to advance, and prefer God's own most true and faithful gospel. Salutem ex inimicis nostris, & de manu omnium qui oderunt nos. OUR ANCIENT enemy, who because he had been so high a creature, above other, and become from an angel of high heaven, a devil Esai. 14. in deep hell, for that that he would have been equal with the highest, never ceased after to strive against god, and his best beloved creature mankind. In so moche, that so soon as ever he perceived the first parents were form and settled in the pleasant place of Paradyse, & that god had bound them to a certain obedience, he infected Gen. 3. them with his pestilent pride of disobedience against god, for the which they were exiled that place, and both they and their posterity brought to rheum and captive bonds of the same enemy and his innumerable sort of evil angels, which continually lay in await of them, until the birth of Christ, who was and is the universal horn power strength and glory, for the health of mankind, against the said enemy, and his said angels, which yet nevertheless desisteth not day and night, nor never will according to his old custom, by a thousand ingyns and means to plant debate between god and man, & between man and man, power and power, & every where causeth disobedience, and rebellion of subjects, against their soverains, & leadeth mankind by fantasies & illusions from one mischief to an other, until he bring them to forget god, and unto what order they were appointed first by god, as by expericce amongst ourselves, here in England we have cause best to perceive. For what by our said enemy the devil, and what by our enemy the bishop of Rome, his traditions and false doctrines, his vanities and dreams, his hypocrisy and feigned religion, the devils snares, we were brought in case, that we did set more by them than by god, or any part of his doctrine, ana feared more the bishop of Rome's curse, than God's vengeance, which began to come in hand apace by the most contagious plagues of commotions and rebellions amongst ourselves. But Salutem that god, which is the inlyghtner of the heart of man, and the health of man's soul, of his inestimable mercy and goodness, raised up for us his power of health of glory and of strength, our godly josias, and most sovereign lord the kings majesty, to wake and consider us his corrupt & wandering flock, and having received by the hands of his right virtuous scribe Saphan, 2. Par. 34. even the grace of god, the book of the law of god long hid, did set forth the same with all diligence, by which our ignorant darkness is become a perfect knowledge of light, And we perceive clearly, that we did abuse ourselves in disobedience both against god, and our said sovereign lord, whom god hath ordained our Michael, our david, Ex inimicis nostris, and our only health in earth, against the pompous Lucifer, and monstrous goliath of Rome, and all our enemies of every sort, and who is an able power and strength by god, to defend and preserve Et de manu omnium qui oderunt nos. Psal. 88 us, from the hands of all them that hate us. For god saith of him, I have put help in the power, and man of might, and have advanced, whom I have chosen among my people, I have found David mine own servant, whom I have anointed with my holy oil. And therefore my hand shall help him, and mine arm shall confirm him, his enemy shall not prevail at all in him, and the child of iniquity shall not press to hurt him, I shall make his enemies fall down by heaps before his face, and shall put to flight such as hate him, my troth and mercy shall be ever with him, and in my name shall his horn of of glory, power, and health, be exalted. Lo, this is most comfortable health, consolation, rejoice, and glory of all faithful loving hearts, and most terrible fear, quaking dread, and utter confusion of all untrue, malicious, and hateful traitors: which are God's and our most detestable and abhorrible enemies and haters. Ad faciendam misericordiam cum patribus nostris, & memorari testamenti sui sancti: jusiurandum quod iuravit ad Abraham patrem nostrum daturum se nobis. ZACHARIE PRAISETH GOD, that by the horn of power and health, which he hath raised up for us in the house of David (as is before mentioned) he should do and show his mercy with the fathers, Abraham Isaac jacob, Ad facien dan misericordiam cum patribus nostris. and all the other of the old testament, that they being dead before Christ'S coming, should be part takers with their children and followers, of the benefits of his passion, wherein they had perfit hope while they lived. And he bindeth god thereunto in the true performance of his most Genes. 15. Et memorari testamenti sui sancti, Ius iuran. etc. holy covenant that he promised Abraham: The most blessed virgin Marie being conceived with christ also (as in the same first chapter of Luke is rehearsed) magnifieth god most humbly for the same, after this manner, That all that is in her doth magnify god, because he hath behold the meekness of his hand maid, whom all nations shall bless. For his might hath done Luc. 1. great things to her, and therefore his name is holy, and his mercy is infinite, for he hath not on showed it in her, but from generation to generation, such as fear him. he hath taken up his servant Israel, being remembered of his holy covenant, according as he promised Abraham, and his seed for ever more. Which Mary and zachary both, enforce us now also (as true israelites and seers of god) to magnify and praise our lord god of Israel, for his great mercy and holy covenant late showed and performed in us. For like as it is also written. That there fell an heavy sleep upon Abraham, and great darkness Genes. 15. fell upon him. And the lord said unto him, know this of a surety, that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs. And they shall make bondmen of them, and entreat them evil, four hundred years, but the people, whom they shall serve, will I judge, afterward they shall go forth with great substance. Even so was it come to pass with us, for our fathers and also we being seduced and led blind with fantasies and men's inventions, by the subtile practice of the ambitious Romanyste Lucifer, and his complices, were cast into an heavy sleep, and great darkness of ignorance in god, and his most holy word, and thereby also were we as subtilely and slily conveyed, and made captive strangers at Rome, because we had of right nothing to do in that city or land, and therefore were we evil entreated of them, with their mischiefs and abominations accordyngelye, And as men use their bondmen, so used they us. For they set us busily and vylye a work, to climb the ladder, to bring them word what god did in heaven, but the more we did climb, the farther down we went, And then we must seek this saint, and that saint, this block and that stock, this toy and that toy, offer here and offer there, and kiss here and lick there, till it was time to rest for weariness. The Egipcian tyranny was never more laborious to our forefathers. And what so ever we could get or gather together was shortly after their own good, and had nothing therefore but clean remission of thrift. And neither would they manumise one of us, but take our chevage and let us go till another time & gather more. And this continued more than four hundred years, until our lord god of Israel, whose inestimable mercy and goodness, whose inenarable righteousness and troth exceedeth all thing that is, vouchsafe of late time to illumine most graceousely our said darkness, with his holy word, whereby we have perceived Christ the author of our light, and our only saviour, to be as it were newly come and incarnate for us: and that through the faith which we have in him, we be (as Paul saith) reputed justified as Galath. 3. Roma. 4. was our father Abraham, whose children adoptive and multiplication of his seed by faith, we now also be. And the very partakers with our said forefathers Abraham Isaac jacob, and all the remnant of the old testament and new both, and they with us, of the merits of Christ's blood, promised by god to Abraham and his said seed for evermore, to whom the blood of a lamb was a figurative salvation in Egypte. Exod. 12. And we perceive also, by the illumination of the said holy word, that the bishop of Rome, to whose tyranny we were thus as is said, thrall, is judged of god, to be Christ'S utter adversary, and the usurper of the rightful power of kings and princes, god's right ministers over his people. And we newly adoptive Israelites from Exod. 12. 13. 14. the said thraldom of the said bishop, through the same word also, no less wonderfully delivered into great wealth and joy by our most godly captain the kings highness, than were our forefather Israelites from the captivity of the tyrant nous Pharaoh into the pleasant land of promission by their holy prophet and leader Moses. sine timore de manu inimicorum nostrorum liberati seruiamus illi: In sanctitate & justicia coram ipso omnibus diebus nostris. SITHENCE through th'only inestimable goodness, sine timore de manu inimicorum nostrorum liberati mercy, and love of god toward us, and not by any part of our deserving towards him, we be thus graciously carclesse and without any fear delivered, from the hands of our before rehearsed enemies, and are become the seers of god, and the adoptive children of Abraham by faith, through the illumination of his most holy word in us, and converted from the night in to the day, that is from the darkness of the ignorant knowledge of god to the bright knowledge Seruiamus illi. of him: it behoveth us with all our mind with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all that which is or may be in us, to love and dread him, and with pure and sincere holiness and faithful In sanctitate & justicia, righteousness, serve and honour him, like as Paul saith, god hath not called us to live impurely, Roma. 12. but to live holily, not to fashion ourselves unto this world, but to be changed through the renewing of our mind. And therefore Paul Ephes. 5. biddeth us to be the followers of god, as most dearly beloved children, and to walk in love as christ loved us. And putting us in remembrance, that we were sometime darkness, and now light in our lord god, biddeth us to walk as children of the light. for the fruit of the spirit is all manner of righteousness and troth, and to prove what is pleasing unto the lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather rebuke them. And Peter also comforting us in our chosen generation, our 1. Petri. 2. holy nation, and that we be a peculiar people, willeth us, that we should show the virtues of him, which hath called us from darkness unto his marvelous light, Even we, which are now a people of god, which sometime were not so, and which now have obtained mercy, which some time we had not, and commandeth us to set a side all vice, that they, which backbite us for evil doers, may see our good works, and praise god in the day of visitation. And he there subjoineth divers rules of good works, of the which the first is, that we should submit ourselves unto all creatures for god's sake, whether it be unto the king, as unto the chief head and most excellent above other, or unto any other his substitute rulers and deputies, which are sent by him, for the punishment of the evil, and praise of the good, for so is the will of god. And briefly amongst other he compileth this lesson, Honour all men, love brotherly fellowship, fear god, and honour the king. And our author of light, christ saith of himself, I am the light of the joan. 8. world, and who that followeth me, walketh not in darkness, but shall have everlasting life. And what shall be our common path saith he, but do Matth. 7. all such things to other men, which ye would they should do unto you. And that we should know our time of working, he biddeth us to work while we have light, and lest we also should spend our time of light unprofitably (like as Paul warneth us, that we should not receive grace in 2. Cor. 6. vain) he threateneth us by example to take it from us, and to bestow it better upon other. For he saith, A certain servant, to whom his master had delivered a portion of money to employ, hid the Luc. 19 money, & did nothing therewith: & therefore when his master came to have account of him & other, & found he had made no increase thereof, he blamed him sore, & caused it to be taken from him, & delivered unto one of his other servants, whom he had tried a profitable servant. And therefore Paul saith unto us, As ye have received of 1. Tes. 4. us, how ye should walk & please god, so walk that ye may increase the more abundantly. and as Peter saith, if you be good lovers and followers 1. Petri. 3. of Christ, who can hurt you? And yet our service must be such as god alloweth holy and Coran ipso righteous, or else it were better undone. And there fore Christ taught his elects, how their service Matth. 5. and works should be accepted of god, saying unto them, ye are the light of the world, and men use not to light a candle, & overwhelm it with a bushel when they have done, but setteth it upon a candlestick, that it may light all them that be in the house, even so let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify, whom? you? nay, but your father, which is in heaven. as who saith, you can or shall do no works (seem they never so holy) that shall be accepted of god, that are not done for God's honour but for your own. For so did the hypocrite pharisees set abroad the skirts of their garments, and used all their doings to be seen and praised of men. But Peter biddeth us sanctify ourlorde Christ in our hearts. And Paul also 1. Pet. 3. 1. Cor. 6. 1. Cor. 10. saith, Glorify and bear god in your body. as who saith, Let all your outward good works be inwardly for God's sake, and his glory. But how far think ye our popish monkery and fryerye, and all other disguised rabbles of every kind of the feigned and popeholy religion (which thanked be god for his grace. are in a good towardness to be made out of our ways for ever more) be and have be differing from Zacharies before rehearsed holiness and righteousness before god? surely as far as between zacharies' acquaintance Matth. 7. and theirs. And therefore all though they cry in never so great a rout, and until they be hoorse, lord lord open for us, and have in never so fast, yet will heaven gates open never the more. For Christ will answer them, I neither know your new fashioned apparel, nor you, ye be not my sheep of the house of Israel, for whom I made my holy covenant, ye be the Idolaters, the gentiles, ye never received my gospel, nor did my father's will, ye embraced Antichristes' gospel, & were thexecutors of his will, even the works of darkness and of death, ambition, sedition, vain glory, and such like abominations. I loved and taught above all things poverty and obedience, ye made a promise, & swore vain oaths, Osee. 10. to follow me in them, but you hated them for all that above all things. Hypocrites, ye promised gold, but ye paid filthy things, you made yourselves possessioners and lords of the earth, and were seditious disobeyours of mine ordinances and holy laws made by mine elect minister and right follower of the good josias, whom you dissimuled 2. Par. 34. your most sovereign lord, bearing an usurper in your corrupt bosoms, that he should redress your idolatry & abominable fashions of ungodly living, & to put to better uses your treasures and possessions, which you did enjoy without just title by me. I say to you therefore yet ones again, I know you not, get you hens Matt. 7. from me into damnation with all your iniquities. And not withstanding these, yet be there other things, whereby our holiness and righteousness are likewise to be made perfect beforegod, which we must also observe, as that there be no diversity of opinions amongst us, but as Paul saith, that we draw all one way, having one love, being Philipp. 2. of one accord and of one mind, that there be nothing done through strife and vainglory, but through meekness of mind, and in that, whereunto Philipp. 3. we are come, let us proceed by one rule. And it is also to be observed, that we boast not ungodly of our ghostly renewing in the light of the Ephes. 4. knowledge of god, as who saith, it came of our 2. Cor. 10. Roma. 12. selves, lest while we measure ourselves by ourselves, and hold only of ourselves, we understand nothing. And lest peradventure, while we 1. Cor. 10. seem to stand, we fall suddenly or we be ware. It behoveth than therefore, that we esteem ourselves as Paul esteemeth himself, and follow his example therein, saying. It is the grace of god, that Philipp. 3. I am such a one as I am, I am not all ready perfect, but I follow, if I may comprehend that wherein I am comprehended of Christ jesus. brethren Omnibus diebus no stris. I count not myself yet that I have gotten it: but one thing I say, I forget that which is behind, and stretch myself unto that which is before, and press unto the mark appointed, to obtain the reward of the high calling of god in Christ jesus. And also our holiness and righteousness must have a durable continuance in a right perfection, and not for a time, or now good and than evil, but all times good, so as it may be said, god's word was sown in a good Luc 8. Matth. 1●. land, which fruitfully abideth to the full time of harvest, and not in stony ground or among bushes, so that it may not fructify and tarry the full time. For what availeth it to have be never so long counted noble, wise, or cunning, and at the last, through wilful ignorance and obstinate frowardness (as we of late have known many) to be condemned to shameful death, and to be noted in perpetual memory most wretched and most foolish? Or what availeth a man to have lived all his days in holiness and righteousness, and at the last moment of his life, to conceive a mischief, & be damned for evermore? yet better it were to live long evil, & die well, as did he that hung on the right hand of Christ, then to live long well, and die evil, as did judas, who was long good after he was called, and yet died most miserably. And therefore as Christ saith, persever in goodness, and thou shalt be sure to be saved by Christis death. Let us then, having continually before the eyes of our hearts the unspeakable goodness and mercy of god showed unto us through the light of his most holy word, not only serve and honour him, ourself in perfect holiness and righteousness before him all our days, but so show and set forth unto out children, and such other as we have in charge under god, how great things god hath done for us new Israelites, that they also, and from generation to generation, may like wise serve and honour him for ever more. ¶ Et tu puer propheta altissimi vocaberis: preibis enim ante faciem domini, parare vias eius: Ad dandam scientiam salutis plebi eius, in remissionem peccatorum eorum: Per viscera misericordie dei nostri, in quibus visitavit nos oriens ex alto: Illuminare his qui in tenebris & in umbra mortis sedent ad dirigendos pedes nostros in viam pacis. LIKE AS ZACHARIE after that he had prophesied & set forth Christ's incarnation, the most comfortable health & salvation of man's soul, and lauded & praised god therefore, he did also prophecienge set forth the gracious qualities of his young son john (for as moche as he Et tu puer ꝓ pheta altiss● mi vocaberis, Prçibis en● ante faciem domini parare vias eius. then knew him by the remembrance of the revelation of the angel before he was conceived) to be a necessary minister appointed of god. and therefore called him the prophet of the most highest god, to go before him to make ready his ways, and to do other divine ministries for him. It is convenient also, that we (now that Christ is plainly and truly by his holy word showed and set forth unto us, and as he were new borne again for us) with all hearty good will and mind should advance into perpetual fame our said most sovereign lord the kings most excellent majesty, whom (by very expert perception of most godly commodities) we know now to be a necessary minister of god for our both bodily and ghostly health. And as it was showed by the angel, that many should rejoice in john's nativity, even so have we great joy (through the light of gods holy word) in the most righteous restitution of his godly title power and ministry over us, whereof he and his most noble progenitors have be long by usurpation deprived. And being also replete with the grace of god, both after the interpretation of the name of john, and his gracious antecellent virtues, resembled to john's, and for his blessed travail in true setting forth his lord and master Christ, may be and aught to be esteemed of us an other john Baptist, and holy prophet of the most highest god. In whose sight by his godly ministration, his highness goeth before him to make ready and plain his ways in the souls of us his regenerate people of Israel, committed by him to his charge, whose highness also (declaring the true Ad dandam scientiam salutis plebi eius. difference between the very right and principal things pertaining to our salvation, and thaccidental laudable ceremonies and rites, not pertaining necessarily to our salvation: like as john Baptist putteth difference between his baptism of penance in water only, and Christ's baptism in the holy ghost, affirming his baptism to give neither remission of sin nor spiritual grace, but Christ's baptism to give them both abundantly) doth give unto us (by the sincere preaching and setting forth of the most comfortable gospel) knowledge and understanding In remissionem peccatorum eorum. of the health of our salvation, which is Christ, the only remitter and pardoner of sin, through the tenderness of gods holy mercy towards Per viscera misericordie dei nostri, in quibus visitavit nos oriens ex alto Zacha. 6. Psal. 77. Illuminare his qui in tenebris & in umbra mortis sedent ad dirigendos pedes nostros in viam pacis. us. And not by any other means or sacrifice, then by the death of Christ, which for the nonce came from above, like a springing light of justice, to light us which sat and abode long both in the darkness of the ignorance of god, & in the shadow of death, which followed us every where for our sin. And to direct and lead the feet of our souls from the obstinate rebellious generation of our forefathers (whose hearts were not direct unto god, nor their spirit believing in god, but rather in men's traditions and fictions, besides Christ's gospel) into the way of ghostly works of righteousness before god, which is peace with god, to whom be eternal glory praise and empire for his before rehearsed inenarrable graces and benefits infused in our said most sovereign lord, whereof he hath also imparted unto us so plentifully that through the bright light of gods most holy word, we be both borne again a peculiar fortunate and blessed people of god, in pure knowledge of him, and also delivered from the horrible & captive thraldom of our most cruel and tyrannous enemies the devil and the bishop of Rome. desiring yet also gods infinite goodness, so to illumine (with his holy word) other temporal princes and rulers, and their people (which yet sit in like darkness and shadow of death as we did, because god hath not showed nor opened his judgements Psal. 147. unto them, likewise as he hath done unto us) that they with us and we with them (all usurped power the only rote of discord, between and in all nations and of all other abominations grown thereby clearly extinct) might participate the aforesaid godly righteousness and peace with god. As one heavenly flock under one most chief herdsman (christ) committed by him to the sundry charge and governance of kings princes and other temporal rulars upon earth: And finally (having a continual devout meditation of gods said graces and benefits) Let us diligently in most hearty wise (according to Paul's exhortation in this behalf) pray unto god, for the most joyful prosperity Tim. 2. and long good health of our said most sovereign lord the king: the most gracious lady queen Anne, his most lawful noble wife, and the most noble Prince Edward his most lawful son and heir apparent, and unto us most excellent precious tewel & treasure: And that god will vouchsafe both to add unto either of the terms of their lives prefinite and appointed, as he added unto the good Ezechias, and also grant that the said Prince may late long succeed his Ezec. 38. said most noble father, both in kyngdomeand gracious virtues, with increase of children to them both also, Vsque in consummationem seculi, And after this worldly reign, celestially to reign with god. Amen. FINIS. LONDINI in aedibus Thomae Bertheleti typis impress. Cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum.