IT was not without an vrgent cause ( louyng frendes ) that our sauiour Christ preaching his excellent Sermonin the mount to his disciples , Math. vii Luk. vi , and .xiiii. did knitte vp the same wyth the symilitude of a wise & folish builder . The one building vpon the rocke , the other vpon the sand : The one buylding remayning , the other vtterlye decaied , by the impetuous rage of raine , wynde and floudes . wherin it behoueth vs , to consider principally .iii. thinges . First , that the beginning of Christian religion , consisteth in diligent building , and not in idle liuing . Secondly , the cause why we must builde , is to the entent , that in tyme of nede , we may haue a strong castel , and inuincible fortresse , to flie vnto , in all our necessities , therby the better to be preserued from the power , tiranny , and sodaine inuasion of all our enemies . Thirdly , in this similitude , we are admonished , that as vereli as we haue built our tower , & that as verely as it standeth : so certeinly shal therain descend , the wyndes blow , & the flouds arise against it , to trye the strength and situacion thereof .

We the Christian flock of England ( brethren ) bi the merciful prouidence of God , for the space of .vi. or .vii. yeres haue enioied a wonderful calm & quiet time to build out tower ( god his name be praised therfore ) much like the Halcion dares , when the Haltion birdes do hatche & bring forth their yong ones , voide of al stormy tempestes . For so hath God ben accustomed to deale with his Churche , namely to nourish the members therof , during their infancie , in a wonderful calme and quietnes , till they be growen vp into perfect men : able to receiue strong meates , and than doth he alter their diet , from swetenes to towernes , from pleasure to paine . & from quietnes to aduersitie . Suche was the securitie & quietnes of the church of God , Gene. vi . while the Arke was in building , in the daies of Noe : but immediatelye after , there folowed such a tempest , as ouerwhelmed the whole race of the earth . ii . Para. v Suche was also the quietnes amongst the Israelites , while the temple was in buildyng , in the dayes of Salomon : but immediatelye after , there folowed suche a diuision , as subuerted the whole land . Such also was the calmenes and quietnes of the church , during the presence of Christe , in the fleshe : in so much that his disciples wanted no maner of thing , Math. ix . neyther could thei mone or wepe , while the bridgrom was with them , but after he was ascended , their plenti war turned into scarciti , & their mirth into mutning . Suche hath bene the calmenes of other realmes , wheras the gospel from time to time hath ben preached , as Germani . & other places , & namely of this realme of Englande , that a greater hath not bene heard of , nor knowen : wherin no enemi durst apear without rebuke , to hinder our fortificacion in the same . Wherfore let vs not now meruel , nor yet be abashed if our heauenlye father deale wyth vs his chyldren , as he hathe dealte with our predecessoures , from the beginning : That is , after a calme , to stirre vp a tempest , after quietnesse , trouble : and after securitie , & ease , trauaile and paine , to trye our building withal , Math. vii whether it be situated vpon the rocke Christ , in the puritie of his gospel , through perfect faith and godly life , to remain euermore : or els vpon the sand of the vanitie of this world , in the decres , constitutions and pleasures of men , through hypocrisie , forth with to be ouerthrowen . Fot as S. Paule saieth : a tyme wyl come , i. Cor. iii. wherin the fire of tribulation , shal try eueri mans building , whether he haue buylded gold , siluer , or precious stone : eyther straw , haye , or timber . And me thinke brethren , I se the same time appeare , as it were Helias his cloude , rising out of the sea , iii. Regu . xviii , being as yet no bigger than an hand : but forthwith I feare me , it wil spread ouer al this land . wher fore with the prophet , let vs gird vp our loines , and runne in tyme to our tower , before the storme descende : and therin , if the same be buylded vpon the rocke Christ , we shall not only find consolation , but also preseruation . And for this purpose , ii . Tim. ii . we ar called in the scriptures wariours , and souldiours . wherfore now that the battaile approcheth , wherwith the enemies purposeth to beseage our fortresse : let vs not as Cowards waxe faint harted , running awai before the blowes , but rather as men , tepleate with an inuincible courage and boldnes , let vs stand to our takling , in holding fast the ploughe of our profession , whereunto we haue put to handes : & thus not in confydence of our own strength , which is nothing , but in the force & strength of our captaine , vnder whose banner we haue promised to fight , whiche was neuer ouercome , beaten downe , not put to flight : but by suffering hath subdued al his enemies , and by a crosse , vanquished his aduersaries . And as he our head , hath gone before , the straight pathe , and narrow way vnto eternall lyfe : euen so must we his members folowe the same race , if we wil in herit his kingdome . And for this purpose , saieth S. Paule , Rom. viii are we facioned vnto the shape of the sonne of God , not only to raigne with him in glory , but also to suffer with him in miserie . For as he saith in another place : Yf we die with him , li. Tim. ii . we shal also liue with him if we be patient , we shal also raigne with him . But if we shal deni hi , he shal also deni vs . For the affliccions of this life , ar not compatable to the glori of the life to come . This is the only wai brethren , that the church of god obtaineth victorie bi , not as worldli princes do bi subduing , but bi suffering : not bi drawing out the swerd with Peter , but bi hauing our heads striken of with the same : not bi imprisoning , & binding of other , but bi being imprisoned & bound one selues . For as Christes kingdom was not of this world , as he himself witnesseth , no more is out force , strength & inheritance here . For our porcion in this life , is but as shepe apointed to the slaughter , & as pilgrims , traueling through mani tribulacions , necessities & miseris , Psa. xliiii i. Pete. ii . towards the land of promise , being compassed about with enemies on eueri side . But thei with al their malice , shal not anoye vs , nor yet hinder our iourney , if we continue faithfull , but rather further the same . Yea , the lord wil neuer forsake vs , but bi day go before vs , in a cloude . & by night in a piller of fire . And although Moses for our vnworthines be taken from vs : Exo. xiiii yet will the Lord stir vp a Iosuah , to lead vs into our inhentaunce , in throwing out our enemyes before our faces . Here is set furth ( brethren ) the tragedi of our liues . Let vs be contented withal , & aboue al thinges , let vs auoyde murmutatiōs against the higher powers , who are Gods instruments , to worke his will : whether it be life , or death , good or euil , least we perishe with the rebellious Israelites in the desert . Furthermore , Nu. xiiii . and .xvi. if we do depeli consider the great vtilitie that the crosse bringeth to the church of god , we haue rather occasion to wish for it , & to reioyce when it commeth , them to repine & murmur . For bi it our foundacion is tried , our faith confirmed , our knowledge encreased , continuance in praier exercised , being from the wicked & hipocrites separated , wherby the drosse & corruption of our life is beaten of , as the rust of iron with a hammer . For if we lye still as rustye yronne , & be not brought vnder the hammer of aduersiti , we consume away , and serue to no vse . For gold is not purified , but by fyre . wherfore if we desire to be pure , let vs not then despise that fyre , wherby we at made pure . For hitherto we haue experienced a christian life , as Children practise the feates of warre , by sygnes and shewes without any bloudy battail , in triumphing before the victori : but victorye is not optained wyth losse and daunger . Christ our heade , lost his humayne lyfe , to optaine victorye for vs , and to triumph ouer oure ennemies : and do we thincke to optaine the same , by sytting in securiti and ease at home in our houses ? passing our tyme in pleasures , ease and ioye , with our wyues , children and frendes , enuironed with our ryches , lands , and possessions , without comming to the battail without hasarding our lyues . without for sakyng our countryes , without passyng the seas ? No truli . For as S. Paule saith . no man that warreth ; ii . Tim. ii entangleth him selfe with worldly busines , & that he maye the better please him , that hath chosen him to be a souldiour .

Now brethren , if ther be a battail towards , as we suppose , let vs shew our selues worthy souldiours , considering the worthines of our Captaine , whom we serue , who did not let to abandon his incomparable glorye , and to clothe him self with our miserable humanitie , for our commodities : therin optaining victory , not for him , but for vs . So likewise , let ther be no worldli thing so dear vnto vs , as may once retorte , or strai vs , from faithful seruing of our lord and prince , whose seruauntes we ar by profession ( and I trust by eleccion ) without any mutacion , Rom. viii continuing in probation , the ende whereof is glorificacion . What is he brethren , that would not be contented to haue the seede of tribulation sowen in hys lyfe , when it bryngeth furth such plentye of good fruite , as pacience , experience , & hope which shall neuer be confounded . These are the vtilities , profites and commodities , that aduersitie bryngeth to the church of God , with a greate deale more , which I am not able to recyte , for want of experience , in that behalfe . wherfore let vs not despice the crosse , when it commeth , considering the benefites therof : but rather obey the councell of the wise man , wher he saith : Eccle. ii . My sonne , if thou wilt come into the seruice of God , stand fast in righteousnes , & fear , & arme thi selfe to suffer temtacion . Settle thine hart , & be pacient , & shrincke not awaye , when thou art entised . Read for your consolation the hole chapter , for therin is briefly described , what ought to be the life of a Christian , & wherunto he must prepare himselfe , euen to the crosse of tribulation , as to the only souerigne medicine to cure al our festered diseases . On the other syde brethren , for our farther confort , in the dayes of our trouble , let vs often cal to remembraunce , not onely the great louing kindnes of our euerlasting god & father , wherwith he hath alwaies loued vs : but also his omnipotencie , & mighti hand , wherbi he onli ruleth & gouerneth al his creatures , euerie where : So that nothing is , or can be don against his prouidence , purpose & will . For all thing serue him at a becke , Esaye . xxxiiii . yea he putteth a bridel in the mouth of tirants , so that although they pretende to make a long race , yet doth he stop them sodenly , as it apeareth by Senacherib , when he purposed to destroy Hierusalem in the time of king Ezechias . For the wicked & the vngodly , are nothing els , but the instruments of god , wher by he worketh his pleasure : As witnesseth the prophet Esaias , Esaye . x. calling them Axes , Sawes , Rods , & Staues which can procede no further , then it pleaseth their owner to vse them to his glory . Sathan could not molest Iob , til he had licence , no. Iob. i. ii . The deuil could not so much , Mat. viii . as enter into the poore Hog , without the commaundement of Christe . And shall then his wicked members , anoye & hurt vs , the children of god , without the leaue and licence of our father ? No truly . wherefore let vs comfort our selues , for we ar dear vnto him , ●acha . ii . Math. x. as the Apple of his eye . The heares of oure headdes are nombred , and the race of our lyfe is lymyted . So that , yf all the world wolde conspire , to abbridge the same , they shall not be able , til our hour come . And when it cometh , it is the finall ende of all oure sorowe , miserie , calamitie , & payne : and the begynning of all oure ioyes , felicities , and pleasures . For duryng the time of this lyfe , Christe promiseth vs nothing , Iohn . xv . and .xvi. but afflictions , sorow , & weeping : But he biddeth vs be of good cheare , saying , that oure sorow shall be turned into Ioye : what nede we fear , Mark . iiii Luk. viii . as long as we haue Christ with vs in oure bote ? although stormes & tempestes do arise able to ouerwhelme vs ? And if he , during the calme time , do fal a sleape in oure heartes . by ouer greate securitie , and confydence in oure owne strength , yet in the time of oure aduersitye , yf we ernestly call vpon him , he wil suerly awake , and helpe vs : not only in rebuking the windes , and sees our ennimies , but also bringing vs to a quiet harboure , euen the kingdome of his father , purchased for vs thorough hys bloudde .

And thus I ende , beeyng bolde to touble you with this my long letter , wherin are contayned many words , but fewe sentences : But as it is , take it in woorthe , and according to my rudenes , I haue supplyed youre honest request , in perfourming my promise . And where there is no better , be content to accepte a lyttle water from the handes of your frende , to quenche your thurst wyth al , instede of good wyne .

The Lorde blesse you , prosper and encrease you in knowledge , wisdome and vnderstanding , preseruyng you faythful vnto the end . Amen .

The spirite of Christ be with you and comfort you al , to his glorye . Amen .