1 So the Lord God himselfe said vnto Moses , I will Exod. 12. 12. be auenged of all the Gods in Egypt : meaning Pharao , & all the men of might in Egypt .

2 And Moses the man of God amongst other , gaue this law to the people of God ; Thou shalt not speake Exod. 22. 28. euill of the Gods : meaning the heads and rulers of the people .

3 And our sauiour Christ in the gospell saith ; Is it Ioh. 10. 34. not written in the law , I haue said , ye are gods ? Ratifying and confirming , that the men of this world are well called Gods in the word of God .

And the reason why they be called Gods , the queene of Saba rendreth , when she saith to king Salomon ; Blessed 2. Para. 9. 8. be the Lord thy God , which had a loue to thee , to set thee king on his seat , that thou maist be king , for the Lord thy God . Plainly testifying that the Princes and great personages in this world , do sit on Gods seat , by Gods appointment , in stead of God , therefore called gods .

I haue said , ye are Gods , that is , Ye sit on Gods seat by Gods appointment , in stead of God , ye represent Gods maiestie , and beare Gods authoritie , therefore ye are Gods .

And for that ye are gods , that is , set on Gods seate , by Gods appointment , in stead of God , therefore this dutie is due vnto you by all , that are vnder you , to honour and obey you euen for the Lord .

1 For so the Lord God himselfe in the first commandement of the second table commandeth , To honour Father Exod. 20. 12. and mother , that is , to honor and obey all superiors , rulers , and gouernors , and promiseth long life for fulfilling the same .

2 And our sauiour Christ comming not to breake the law , but to fulfill the law , in token of his obedience , according to the law paid tribute to Caesar , commanding Peter to take a hooke , and cast into the sea , and in the Mat. 17. 27. mouth of the first fish he gat , he should find a peece of twentie pence , that take ( saith he ) and giue them for tribute for thee and me .

3 And when the Iewes came vnto him , and asked him , whether they should pay tribute to Caesar , or not , he Mat. 22. 21. sayd vnto them , Giue vnto Caesar the things that are Caesars : teaching all subiects obedience to their Caesars , that is , their Princes , heads , and gouernours .

4 S. Paul in the 13. to the Romanes , setteth downe Rom. 13. 1. sundrie reasons to proue , that euery soule ought to be subiect to the higher powers , as to the ordinance of God .

5 And S. Peter is plaine : Submit your selues to euery 1. Pet. 2. 13. ordinance of man , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is , euen for the Lord : whether it be to the king , as hauing the preheminence : or to the rulers appointed by him , for the punishment of euill doers , but for the praise of them , that do wel .

Thus the Spirit of God doth teach the people of God in the word of God , that the Princes and great personages of this world are gods , that is , set on Gods seate , by Gods appointment , in stead of God : they represent Gods maiestie , and beare Gods authoritie : and therefore this dutie is due vnto them by all , that are subiect to them , to honor and obey them euen for the Lord .

Whence then is that spirite , and whence is that doctrine , that setteth on subiects to conspiracies , rebellions , and treasons ? and teacheth them by gunshot , by witchcraft , by coniuring , by sorcerie , by dealings with the deuill him selfe , to worke mischiefe against their naturall Prince , and their natiue countrey ? and yet telleth them , that therein they do God seruice , and promise them pardons , and hight them heauen for their disobedience ?

Surely , surely , spiritus mendax in ore Prophetarum , that 3. Reg. 22. 2● is , a lying spirit , the spirit of the deuill and Antichrist is in the mouths of such teachers , and the harts of such dealers .

For the Spirit of God by the wiseman saith : Wish no Eccles. 10. 20 euill to the king in thy thought , & speake no euill against great men in thy secret chamber : for the foules of the aire will bewray thee . The foules of the aire , that is , the deuill ( for so our Sauiour Christ in the parable of the sower Matt. 13. 15. expoundeth the foules of the aire to signifie the deuill . ) The deuill , that setteth traitours on worke , he will paye them their hire , that is , he wil bewray their wicked practises against their Princes , to their shame and confusion .

For ye are Gods , that is , set on Gods seate , by Gods appointment , in stead of God , ye represent Gods maiestie , and beare Gods authoritie : therefore this dutie is due vnto you by all that are vnder you , to honor and obey you , euen for the Lord .

Yet some thinke them selues set free from this dutie of obedience to their naturall Prince , by betaking them selues to the protection of the holy father , and by reconciling them selues to his subiection . As for their natural Prince , the present state , and Religion , they are in doubt of the goodnesse of them , that they be not of God , nor agreeable to the word and will of God .

Yet haue they seene , and full wel do know , how wonderfully God hath blessed , prospered , and preserued vs by this Prince , in this state , and for this Religion by the space of these two and twentie yeares and vpwardes . And in all this time , neither Balac his treacherie , nor Balam Num. 23. his curse for money hath preuayled against vs . For howe could they curse whom God doth blesse ? how could they hurt whom God doth defend ? And yet too well they know , that Balac hath bragged , and Balam hath banned , that is , the Pope hath cursed , and the popish haue conspired : Papists haue deuised , & Atheists haue practised cunning conspiracies , trecherous treasons , pestilent practises , and diuelish deuises against the Prince , against the state , and against the religion ; onely God his holy hand hath still from time to time preserued and maintained the Prince , the state , and the Religion : whereby they might see ( were they not too too blind , & will not see ) that God doth loue and like , prosper & blesse , the Prince , the state , and the Religion .

But these busie rebellious Frogs , that cannot yet like the blessed blocke of so peaceable a prince , must needs at length haue a deuouring Storke .

God for his mercies sake turn their harts , or ouerturne all that take their parts .

Rom. 1. 28. For the wrath of God in heauen is reuealed , & made manifest against the gods on earth by sundrie signes and tokens of Gods wrath , both in the heauens aboue , and in the earth beneath . For euen of late dayes amongst vs the often eclypses of the Sunne and the Moone , the diuerse Cometes and blazing starres , the sundrie sights and lights in the aire , the rise resemblances of fire and bloud in the clouds , the maine monstruous & strange birthes ( though some seeme to render some naturall reasons for them ) yet are they vnnaturall , and the wrath of God is reuealed by them . As for the late earthquake amongst vs , that was soone forgotten of vs , because it passed away so soone , and did so litle hurt amongst vs . Yet the prophet Dauid saith , Psal. 18. 7. The earth trembled and quaked , the verie foundations of the hilles shooke , and were moued , because God is wroth . The prophet telleth plainly , that the trembling and quaking of the earth , is a sure signe and token of the wrath of God in heauen . And that the late earthquake amongst vs , did passe so soone away from vs , and with so litle hurt among vs , is an argument , that the wrath of God against vs , is yet mixed with much mercie towards vs , threatning vs so terribly , and yet sparing vs so mercifully .

Thus then by sundrie signes & tokens it is euident and plaine , that the God of heauen is angry with the gods on earth for want of dutie .

For some being aduanced by God to be gods , do liue without God , that is , without the knowledge and feare of God , and become Dauids fooles , and saye in their Psal. 14. 1. hearts , There is no God . But set vp their hornes on high , Psalm. 75. 6. and say with a stiffe necke , That promotion commeth from the East and from the West , that is , They say , their honour and authoritie , their lands and great liuings , their credit and their countenaunce comes to them by heritage , by birth and parentage , or by the worthinesse of their wit and policie , or by the deserts of their labours and industrie .

Therefore they offer sacrifice to their nets ( sayth the Habac. 1. 16. Lord by the Prophet ) and burne incense to their yarne , because by them their portion is made fat , that is , they boast of their birth , they vaunt of their value , their wisedome , and their worth , because by them they thinke they haue whatsoeuer they haue . And so set their whole delight Luc. 16. 19. with the rich glutton to be finely fed and trimly clad , and hauing wealth inough in store for many yeares , they say Luc. 12. 19. to their soules , Soule take thine ease , eat , drinke and bee merrie ; and grow to be like to that wicked iudge , Nec Luc. 18. 4. Deum timere , nec hominem reuereri , that is , neither to feare God nor care for man .

For these godlesse Gods haue commonly , if not continually about them , bewitching Elimasses , that is , besotting Act. 13. 8. epicures , Machiuilists , and Atheists , which feed them with the follies of their owne fansies , and peruert them from all care and feare of God , from reading , hearing , or beleeuing the word of God .

But when God had giuen his people rest in the daies of Asa king of Iuda , the king and all the people made a 2. Pat. 15. 12. couenaunt with the Lord to seeke and serue the Lord their God with all their harts , and with all their soules : And they made a law , that whosoeuer would not serue the Lord God , should die for it , were he small or great .

Oh if we would well consider the peace and rest , the prosperitie and plentie , where with the Lord hath blessed vs in the daies of our Asa , that is , our gratious queene Elizabeth , we haue great cause to make a couenant with the Lord , to seeke and serue the Lord our God with all our hearts , and with all our soules . But if Asa his law were in England , That whosoeuer would not serue the Lord God should die for it , were he small or great , then surely God should be a great deale better serued both of small and great . For our peace and rest , our prosperitie and plentie , hath bred a godlesse securitie both in small and great : and the God of heauen is angrie with the gods on earth for want of dutie .

For some being aduanced by God to be gods , do yet with Achab mislike good Elias , and maintaine Baals 3. Reg. 16. 32. priests , that is , they cannot like of the preaching & preachers of the word of God , but maintaine bald priests to nusle them in Idolatrie and superstition still : such must be their chaplens , their schoolemaisters , stewards of their houses , clearks of their kitchins , and beare all the sway . By sufferance whereof it is come to passe , that not onely themselues are hardned in their superstition , past hope to be wonne , but also their children , a great number that haue bene borne since your Maiesties raigne , are so taught in their trade , that they are become more obstinate enemies to the state and religion , then their fathers are . And this is one great cause , why after so long preaching of Gods truth , the enemies of truth are so smallie decreased , nay so mightily increased amongst vs .

O what a happie thing had it bene for this land , if the children of such as are knowne to be superstitious , had bene taken from their parents at the yeares of discretion , and committed to the education of such , as are knowne to loue the state and religion . But better late then neuer , they say , Nunquam sera est ad bonos mores via .

Christ and his Gospell hath a long time , two & twentie yeares bene on foot in England , and faine would ride , as he did somtime in Hierusalem , with some glorie . And ● . 1. 2. for this purpose he hath sent foorth his two Disciples to bring both the old Asse and the yoong Colt vnto him . The two disciples are Doctrine and Discipline , the word and the sword , ministers and magistrats : both which are sent out , that is , appointed and commaunded by Christ , to bring both the old stubborne asses , and the yoong wild colts to Christ , that is , to the preaching & teaching of the gospell of Christ . These two disciples haue a long time bene in bringing , and haue not yet brought neither the old asles nor the yoong colts to Christ , because they do not go togither to bring them ; disciple Doctrine faine would bring them , but disciple Discipline is verie slacke to go with him : the one seekes means by counsell to bring them to Christ , the other makes means manie times by countenaunce to staie them from Christ . And the one without the other cannot bring them to Christ .

Surely , Dominus his opus habet , that is , The Lord hath Matt. 21. 3. need of them .

Now therfore I most humblie beseech your Maiestie euen for Christ his sake , and on Christs behalfe , to giue a new and a straight charge to these two disciples , to go togither speedilie , and to ioine togither effectuallie , to bring both the old stubborne asses , and the yoong wild colts to Christ , that is , to the preaching and teaching of the gospell of Christ , to the saluation of their soules through faith in Christ . Let Christ now no longer staie on foot amongst vs , least at last he be troden vnder foot of vs : for whilest we be still carelesse of their conuersion , they seeke and worke our vtter subuersion . And the God of heauen is alreadie angrie with the gods on earth , for want of this dutie .

For some being aduaunced of God to be gods , do countenaunce such as seeke to discountenaunce the preaching and preachers of the word of God : both the carpers at their liues , and the catchers at their liuings . Euerie accuser hath too too manie hearers , and too many bearers against Gods ministers , to abate their credit & their countenaunce : and euerie shifter now becomes a suter , to pill and pull away their liuings and their maintainance . But when these dallying Dalilaes , haue curtold Sampsons Iudic. 16. 21. locks , and robbed him of his strength , that is , when they haue curtold the clergies countenance , and robbed them of their maintenance , Sampson shall become a blind Sampson , that is , the Clergie shall become a blind Clergie , and pull downe the house of Gods wrath and vengeance both vpon themselues , and vpon those pilling Philistines that sought their decay .

To be short and plaine , Gods word and religion is contemned by Atheists , condemned by Papists , slaundered by schismatikes , hindered by too many , not faithfully furthered by anie . And because the loue of Gods word and religion thus in England is decreased , therefore the wrath of God against England is increased .

For as the Oracle told the men of Athens , that the strongest state and best defense of their citie , was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. Their rotten wood ; meaning their good laws that were graued in wood , and by antiquitie were waxen rotten . Euen so the heauenly oracles of the liuing God tel vs , that the strongest staie , and best defense of a christian common wealth , is the preaching and teaching of the word of God , the true religion and seruice of God .

So sayth the Prophet Dauid ; There is no king that Psal. 33. 16. can be saued by the multitude of an hoast , neither is anie mightie man deliuered by his much strength : a horse is Psal. 118. 16. accounted but a vaine thing to saue a man , but the hand of the Lord hath the preheminence : the hand of the Lord is mightie in operation , the hand of the Lord bringeth mightie things to passe .

1 Nymrod and his confederates thought themselues Gen. 11. 1. safe , when they builded their Babell vp to the heauens : but all their high Babell was but a bable , that is , a verie vaine deuise , and came soone to confusion .

2 Arphaxad trusted in his strong and well fenced citie Iudith 1. 1. Ecbatanis , but Ecbatanis could not hold him when the hand of the Lord was against him .

Pharao trusted in the multitude of his chariots and Exod. 14. 28. horsemen , and how soone were they all ouerwhelmed in the red sea .

So , not Nymrods high Babels , that is , not high castels and towers : not Arphaxads Ecbatanis , that is , not strong townes and well fenced cities : not Pharaos chariots and horsemen , that is , not the multitude of men and munition , but the holie hand of the Lord , for his word , and by his word is the strength and stay of the people of God .

Not the wals of Bethulia , but the hand of the Lord Iudith 13. 4. held out Holophernes , and strengthened weake Iudith to hacke off his head .

Therefore that we in England haue bene so long , so mightily , and so miraculously saued and deliuered from the hands of them that hate vs , ( which are so many , so mightie , and so maliciously bent against vs ) that their trecheries and conspiracies , their counsels & confederacies , haue bene so many times reuealed , and so many waies preuented , that they haue not taken from vs our most gratious Queene Elizabeth by their gunshot , their witchcraft , their coniuring , their sorcerie , and their dealings with the Diuell himselfe , to the vtter ouerthrowe of the present state and Religion . All this , and all else hath not bene so much by the wisedome of man , by the counsell or carefull circumspection of man , but by the mercifull goodnesse of the Lord our God towardes vs , and by the holie hand of the Lord our God ouer vs , onely for his word and religion amongst vs .

For so the prophet Elyzeus , when he saw Elias taken 4. Reg. 2. 12. vp from him , he cried after him : O my father , ô my father , the chariots and the horsemen , the chariots and the horsemen of Israell . Plainely testifying , that Elias the Prophet of the Lord , who had plentifully preached the word of the Lord in Israell , he was the chariots and the horsemen , that is , the strength and staie of Israell . And euen so doubtlesse Elias , that is , the preaching and teaching of the word of God , the true religion and seruice of God in England , is the chariots and horsemen , that is , the strength and the stay of England .

Make much then of Elias , O make much of Elias . 3. Reg. 17. 3. Let not Achab his accusations make you beleeue , that Elias troubleth all England : not Elias , but Achab , that is , not the religion , but the enemies of the religion , their trecheries and conspiracies , their counsels and confederacies , their crackings , and their priuie packings , trouble all England .

Make much of Elias , O make much of Elias . Let not 3. Reg. 18. 10 the godlesse Iezabels driue Elias out of house and home , and make him to liue in the wildernesse and be fed of the rauens , or else to liue vpon the poore pittance of the widdow at Sareptha , that is , Let not the godlesse greedie sort take away the preachers lands and liuings , and put them to liue vpon small pensions , or little deuotions .

Make much of Elias , O make much of Elias , yet make not a cloake of Elias to cast about you in foule weather , and cast from you in faire weather . Thinke it not inough 3. Reg. 18. 10. to seeke for Elias in the time of drought and dearth , and care not for him in the time of plentie and rest , that is , Thinke it not enough when any trouble or aduersitie comes , then to crie Religion , Religion , the Gospell , the Gospell , and when all is quiet and well , then to haue no care of Religion and the Gospell . O make much of religion both in weale and woe , Religion is your strength and stay both in weale and woe . And the more the loue of Gods word and religion in you decreaseth , the more the wrath of God against you increaseth . For the Lord is 2. Par. 15. 2. with you whilest you are with the Lord , and when you seeke him , he will be found of you , and when you forsake him , he will also forsake you .

The God of all mercies graunt , that you gods on earth may carefully performe your dutie to the God of heauen , that al want of dutie being speedily amended , Gods wrath for the same may in time be preuented , that God may continue a good God towards England still ,

Therefore to conclude , I haue sayd , Ye are gods , but ye shall die like men , and your bodies shall returne to the earth from whence they came , and your soules shall returne to God that gaue them , there to render an account to the God of heauen for your earthy godhead , and to receiue the iudgement , either to the ioy that neuer shall haue end , or els to the paine that neuer shall haue end .

So sayth S. Paul , All must appeare before the iudgement Rom. 14. 10. seat of Christ , that euerie one may yeeld vnto God an account of himselfe .