IN the premises where Christ our Sauiour sawe the readines of the Church his spouse to look to her children , & thereupon gaue her great incouragement to followe and not to faile in her purpose : to the end that shee might the better proceed in this her godly labour to the gaining and keeping of soules : in these wordes hee calleth vpon her chiefe pillers to consider his vines , how they florish and beare blossomes , & withall the Foxes and litle Foxes , howe they are eger to wast them , that so they might be taken & preuented . For better prosecution of which wordes I note two points . First a metaphor : 2. the matter : the metaphor is double : in the first heretiques are compared to Foxes : in the second the godly are compared to vines . Of the 2. hereafter . Touching the 1. metaphor , as generally in al , so in this I note , 1. the metaphor it selfe , the title giuen to heretiques : and secondly the reason : touching the first therefore as heretiques are sometimes compared to canker , because they doe corrupt and eate men : sometimes to leauen , because they doe soure them that are sweet in the faith of Christ : sometimes to dogs , because they haue not only mouthes to barke , but also teeth to bite the godly : sometimes to euil laborers , because they doe labour vnder and for the diuel to sowe cockle to choake the Lords corne : sometimes to rauenous woolues , because howsoeuer they pretend themselues to bee sheepe , yet their whole hart is how to deuoure the sheep : so here they are compared to Foxes . In which respect as I might at the first perswade you to beware their fretting , because they are canker : their souring , because they are leauen : their barkings and byting , because they are dogs : the mercilesse hart that is in them , because they are reuenous woolues : so my counsel might be and for this time shal be that you beware them , because they are Foxes . But why are heretiques compared to Foxes ' : Surely they are compared iustly to Foxes , & among al hereticks most truly do papistes deserue the name of Foxes : of Foxes , because they are vnclean like the Fox : Foxes , because they are subtil , & crafty like the Foxe : Foxes , because they are rauenous & greedy to deuour like Foxes . For as the Foxe is noted to be an vnclean beast , & most vnclean when he is most hunted : right so doth it fal out with al hereticks , & specially with papistes , who are vncleane alwaies : euen as the vnclean spirit is the father that hath begot them , & the God that alwaies rules them . And as they are vnclean alwaies , so they are most vncleane , when they are most pressed with the worde & most chased . And therefore when the Lordes Dogs doe not only find their feete , but follow them : & not only barke after them , but come so neere as to bite them : when the godly pastors take especial care of christ his lambs , & to that purpose do not only spy out false and hereticall spirits , but also defend the lambes of Christ , that they may not pray vpon them : when to this purpose their titles by them are proued vntrue : their interest a nullest , their claimes counterfeit , their countenance but the false florish of a seducing spirit : oh then , what do they shew themselues to be but Foxes ? When they are thus hardlie followed , and to their peril pursued , oh what are they but in proofe , and therefore but in truth titled Foxes ? Vncleane spirits alwaies , but then most vncleane , hauing nothing but a face for a fence , and a mouth for a manner to slaunder and barke out the matter . A point easie to bee proued by the practise of all heretickes , that euer were , and specially of papists : but for this time wherein I am rather to wet my finger , than to wash my whole hand , onely to touch it . So it fel out with the prophets , when they put their trumpets to their mouths & fought the Lordes battel against false Prophets , then did the wicked most slaunderously charge them and defame them . So likewise fell it out with the Apostles when their sound did sound to the vtmost , and their voice was heard in most places : when their bowe was at a ful bend , and their arrowes did wound the mighty & tame many : the more they preached the trueth and discouered vntrueth : the more they painted out & persecuted false Prophets and idolatrous spirites , the more were they abused , their good name and heauenly doctrine slaundered , as new , not auncient : as schismatical , not catholicke : as hereticall , not true : as diuelish , not diuine : as vtterly corrupt and no way tolerable . And as it fell out with the Prophets and Apostles , so hath it fallen out with vs in these our daies . For where wee are troubled with many false Apostles , who doe not only not consent to the open trueth , but also set themselues openly against it and seek to withdraw others from it : when to that purpose they cast yet out their pamphlets , & paper weapons to winne the field of vs : where yet we do from time to time by the Scripture not onely teare their weapons , but withal discouer their cause to the world to their vtter discredit : in a word : when thus they see that they can no sooner bid battle but that we assoon do foil them : them what do they but fal from arguments , which should perswade , to slaunderous reporting & lying , not only against the persons of men , but also for their sakes against the manifest trueth professed by them : For euidence whereof at this instant not to trouble your worships with infinit instance , I am content only to name their late censure & later defence , wherein they fayling in iustifieng of their diuinitie nothing lesse than diuine , haue fallen from reason to vnreasonable outrage against the good name and zeale of godly men . Howbeit for this point I need not to say much . For where there are too manie stiffe papists at large and diuers in many places in prison or rather in their paradise : if any man come to them of zeale and good will to worke some good among them : if to that purpose he offer a dispute and desire a conference : either of preiudice to the cause they yeeld not thereunto : or if they doe , yet when they are brought to a non plus , and can say no more : what do they but fal to railing & raging : what doe they but apply their hartes to wish euil & their tongues to speak worse of God and his religion ? We are by & by without any premise concluded to be heretiques , no catholiques : new fellowes , no auncients : of Luther , not of Peter : of Caluin , not of Christ : no lesse than reprobates : so that where they cannot match vs in reasoning , they fall to vnreasonable rayling : and all their apologie and final but yet reasonles resolution is this , that they are catholiques , and we heretiques . Howbeit here by the way a retentiue is ministred against al this their manner of dealing : for sith al heretiques , and among al other , papists were neuer more pursued by the force of trueth , it is no maruel , if with the Foxe they bee most faultie and filthy in their wordes against vs and our religion . Iust like Foxes , most vncleane when they are most chased . Whereas if wee would let them alone , and take them for religious rabbins : condemne our catholique verity for vncatholique heresie , and take & esteeme their catholique heresies for Apostolique verities , & bend our knees to their Lord God the Pope and his deuotion , as we doe to God & the only good religion , then should we be their white sonnes , and heare nothing but wel from them and among them . But where we bow to God and not to Baal , and tread their popes triple-crowne , indeede trouble-crowne in the dust , & take Christ alone for our catholique head : and no traditions of Rome , but his worde for our ful and alone direction , whether to beleeue or liue , thereof it is , that neither our profession nor we for the same can heare any thing but euil of them . Thus they proue themselues to be most vncleane , like the Foxe , when hee is hardly followed . And therefore what shall I say to end this point of the metaphor , but desire you to pray : good God therefore purge them or els purge the land of them , for what are they but Foxes ? Foxes , and that not onlie because they are vncleane , but also crafty & subtile like Foxes . For the Foxe is a crafty beast and he hath his holes and he wil hide himselfe , and it shall be hard to driue him from one but that hee will finde refuge for the time in an other , and yet at length the good hunter takes him . Right so fales it out with hereticks , but specially with papists : for they are crafty and subtile spirits , & when we doe most persecute and presse them with the trueth , yet they haue their shews & starting holes : they haue their distinctions , their shiftes , & if one serue not , yet will they coyne some other colorably for the time to credit their vntrueth : whereby it comes to passe ( by the way to mention a lamentable matter ) that for want of good hunters , this their sophistry and Foxly diuinity snareth many simple soules in many places . But to come to the proofe of this point of the metaphor . Thus they commend to the worlde their good workes vnder the name of merit : their merites vnder the name of grace : their penance vnder the name of a sacrament : their worship of saints vnder the name of Gods honour : their masse vnder the name of Christes sacrifice : their praiers for the departed vnder colour of charity : their vowed singlenes vnder the name of chastity : their vnsatisfieng satisfactions vnder the name of godlines & dutie . Thus they commend to the worlde their mistrust of gods mercy vnder the name of godlie feare : their ignorantnes in scriptures vnder the name of Christian simplenes : their pilgrimages vnder the name of deuotion . Thus they commend till it come to lust vnder the name of infirmitie and yet profitable , yea a mean meritorious , more therefore than expedient : their very stews vnder the name of euil , & yet needful & conuenient : yea rebellion vnder the name of catholique obedience , & murder vnder the name of merit . Thus they pretend for their purgatory gods iustice : for their possiblenes to fulfil the law impossible gods mercifulnes : for their abominable transubstantiation the almighties mightinesse . In a worde : thus they commend their sensings , their shriuings , their offerings , their purifiengs , their ignorant praying , their superstitious adoring , their kissing of the paxe & such like lies , toyes and vanities vnder the name of catholique and ancient customes . Thus they play the crafty Foxes and seeke to set a good colour vpon their doctrine most openly false and hereticall : vpon their practises most detestable , perilous and tyrannicall . And though this were sufficient to demonstrate this point , yet to shew more to the proofe of the same . If we alleadge against their praiers to the departed a principle of diuinity , that there is one mediator betwene God and man , the man Christ Iesus : they play the Foxes and run to their holes , they shift off the matter and saye : there is one mediator but not one only : wherunto when we answere that the particle ( one ) in that place is not only a particle of affirmation but of exclusion , as it is in the first place : Christ being our one and only mediatour , in whose name as there is one & one only God to whom we may pray , they play the foxes & run to their holes : they distinguish that indeed ther is one and one only mediator of redemption , & that is Christ : but yet there are manie mediators of intercession : whereas yet the scripture speakes there of both , & applies and appropriates both to Christ : and they for their partes make the saintes not onely petitioners but redeemers : meriters & that not only of temporal but of eternal things , & that not only for themselues but also for others . So likewise where we alleadge against their Popes supremacie a principle of Scripture : that Christ is the alone foundation of his temple , they run to their hole and play the Foxes : they distinguish that there is but one principal head of the Church & that is Christ : but there is another ministerial & vicarial , & that must be their Pope : wheras yet the headship of the Church is proper to Christ , & their pope by his title in this case , ( if Pope Gregory were not deceiued , if the pope cannot erre , ) indeed is not either top or toe of the Church . So likewise where against their iustifieng of lust for no sin , we alleadge a principle of scripture : that euery transgression of the law is sin : & withal the prohibition of the law , thou shalt not lust : they run to their hole & play the Foxes : that the apostle speaks there of lust with & not without consent : whereas yet the Apostle speakes in general of al lust : & it were great folly once to dreame that euer the Apostle doubted whether lust ioined with consent were sin or not . Thus to conclude , if any man please to run ouer their summaries & questionaries : their old schoolemen or new men : nay to leaue al , if to this purpose a man remember & run ouer Maister Campian , that came into the land with a florishing antecedent , with bidding of battell , with a crack & catholique shew for al his fellow Foxes of Rome & of Rhemes : yet where he was not only neerly assaied but easily pressed with truth , what did he but play the poor Fox ? he came into the land for want of sound diuinity with foolish sophistry , ( what lesse can I cal it ? ) in proofe and trial with ridiculous and childish distinctions , and those were his holes and in them he thought to haue kept himselfe safe or at least close to the credit of his crack and to the deceiuing of the simple for the time , till treason had made the craftie conclusion , but al was too little : and ( God be thanked ) he proued himselfe that way the seeliest Fox that euer came among vs . But to end this point of the metaphor : I onely wish this , that al men beware the craft of heretiques , but especially of papists , of seminaries & Iesuites , who of al others play the Foxes most kindlie . And therefore for a caueat as for their olde subtil and yet ouerbold crackes that they are of the olde stamp : that they are catholiques : that they are the Church : that their Church cannot erre : that they only haue the right sense of Gods woord : that they onely wish the good state of the lande , the saluacion of your soules : her maiesties fauour and safetie : nothing lesse ( God saue her from them ) : al wel ( indeede all il , as you all know too too well ) to al that wish wel to Sion ; take heed of them : for these & the like bee but holes wherein the Popes Foxes seeke to colour out their cause and to couer their faithles creed , as demonstration hath bin made and that oft to the world : and therefore to end this part of the metaphor , what shal I saie but once againe pray : good God therefore amend them or els make an ende of them : for what are they but Foxes ? Foxes that not only because they are vncleane and craftie like Foxes , but also crafty and subtil to deuoure and destroy . For so doth it fal out with al heretiques and specially with papists . They come in sheepes clothing : with faire titles & tales : they wil appear like Angels of light : they talk of virginity , merit , abstinence , hospitality , & al perfection , not onely of duty but of supererogation : they tel the world , that no world was good but when they raigned : that then all things were plentiful : men charitable & faithful , and what not ? none liue wel but they , saie they : they fast , they pray night and day , they go long pilgrimages : they punish their bodies and doe great penance : but whereunto tendes al this but to deceiue ? these be nothing els but the false florish of a Pharisee , the Foxes sophistry to beguile the simple : for asmuch as they are nothing lesse then that they would seem to be : they are no lesse then Foxes . For to make the verie best of them , what are they but as naught as naught can make them ? what are they but Foxes ? in shew gold , in truth copper : in shew flowres , in proof weeds : in shew sheep , indeed rauenous Foxes : oh what are they but Foxes ? for what doe they seeke but euery waie and euerie day to deuoure the bodies and souls of Christians ? for what doe their persuasions to their religion most openly heretical ? what doe their conspiracies ( now as you know and maie lament all ) the verie comfort and onelie hope of them , most openly diabolicall say anie lesse ? for ( to appeale to you al ) what is it ? religion catholique or deuilish : to saue or to slaie the soules of men : to command men vnder the paine of an eternal curse to beleeue that a mortal man , the man of Rome , a prelate in title , in trueth the pilate of the woorld , is head of the church : that he cannot er : indeed to plurify the godhead , to make man a god : what religion is it that accounteth mariage in their incontinent votaries as bad , if not worse , then double adulterie ? lust without consent no sinne ? good workes the merit of heauen ? what religion is it , that saith : worship images , wher God saith : do not : but worship me only . Worship in ignorance , where God saith do not : but worship me only in spirit and verity . Lastly what religion is it or how can it bee good , that calleth Gods word darke , though light : the matter of strife , though the woord of peace : imperfect without tradition , though the rule of al perfection : yea the sense of the word only gods word , and their sense the only true sense , which yet is most apparantly false . Though this were sufficient to proue this point , which I might amplify more at large , yet to adde a litle more : for this is not al nor almost anie thing to the largenes of the matter : nay alas what shal I saie of them ? are not papists cockle ? doe they not seek to destroy the corne ? are they not thornes ? doe they not seeke to pricke and teare the rose ? are they not dogs ? do they not seek to deuoure the darling ? are they not Foxes ? doe they not seeke to wast the vine of Iesu Christ among vs ? nay , to appeale to you al : oh where had our corne beene ? how not choked ? oh where had our rose been ? how not rented ? oh where had the darling of Christ been ? how not deuoured ? oh where had his vine been ? how not wasted , if papists had obteined their perillous practises of old or of late among vs ? oh then once againe to appeale to you al , what are they but cockle ? what lesse then the corne ? what are they but thornes ? what lesse then the rose ? what are they but dogs ? what lesse then the darling ? what are they but Foxes ? what lesse then the vineyarde of Christ our Sauiour ? shal I say al ( Right worshipfull and dearly beloued ) & prooue al by that that you know & may lament all ? happie could papists haue thought themselues by this time , if our natural Prince , our gracious soueraigne , our Queene , our Lilly Elizabeth , the very life and comfort of vs al had bin torne in peeces : happie were they now , if forreiners could come in among vs : happie if there were nothing but killing & murthering : in a woord happie could papists think themselues , if they saw al your children and friends slaine before your faces , and you were all to followe after : happie , if there were nothing but fainting of thighes : nothing but foulding of armes : nothing but wringing of handes : nothing but weeping , wailing & woing among you : happy if the diuel & his murthering seruantes could once dispatch and displace you . To this purpose our gracious Elizabeth was like to bee torne : to this purpose they haue sought her the glory of our land : to this purpose the catholiks of Rome are growen to bee cruell and grone to bee cutthroates : to this purpose they haue not long since attempted the matter : Good God therfore saue vs from them , for what are they but Foxes ? and because they are Foxes , therefore at this time I am ( right worshipful ) to craue you to catch them . And so to omit the second metaphor , because the time would be too short , I come to the matter . Catch ( saith Salomon ) the Foxes & the little , &c. Wherein I note two points : a precept and the vse . The precept in these wordes , take vs the Foxes , and the little Foxes : the vse or end implied in these words : least our vines , &c. Touching the first point , to omit manie pointes and at this time onlie to note , 1. Who are to be catched : Foxes and little Foxes . 2. Who are charged to take them . 3. Who chargeth . For the 1. Foxes and little Foxes are commanded to be taken : old therefore and young heretiques must be taken , none spared , whether great or little . For as leauen sowreth the dough , though it be but little : as pitch defileth the cleane , though it be but little : as a canker eates and marres the bodie of man by little and little , though at the first neuer so little : so the Fox and little Foxe may wast the good vine : & therefore al Foxes are commanded here to be taken : al hereticks to be catcht , least the Church of Christ doe suffer daunger by them . But here alas what shal I say ? for though al heretiques ought to be taken : though neither Fox nor litle Fox ought to be free but fast : though the vine bee in peril of wasting by the fox though great , though litle : yet alas neither is little nor great Foxe made fast but suffered free in diuers places . Nay , oh what may we lament but the freenes of Foxes ? for what number of heretiques ? what number of recusants ? what number of papists ? to giue them their due and true name , what number of traitours are there abroad ? abroad and not taken ? or if taken , yet sometimes enlarged ? or if not inlarged , yet so visited , where they are imprisoned , that manie of them neuer find their paradise , til they come to the prison ? where I fear they want no maintenance of ouerplus from their fellow-foxes : where I fear they want no conference , where I feare , the Fox & the little fox are neuer so fast but that they do wast manie vines of Iesu Christ . But alas this should not be so : and here the Fox and little Fox are commanded to be taken , that the vine of christ might be safer then so . Who are therefore to take them ? who are to take care , that it maie not be so ? surelie I take it , that this precept doth bind minister and magistrate , and therefore you ( Right worshipfull ) . For in both there ought to bee such carefulnes ouer the vine , that neither Foxe nor little Foxe should escape their nets , where the vine is in danger . Howbeit they are to catch them differentlie : the Minister by the woord , the Magistrate by the sword : the one by loue , the other by feare : the one by softnes , the other by sharpnes : the one by perswading , the other by punishing , if that persuasion may not preuaile . And therefore seeing that , then in this our daie the light of the truth was neuer more light , and Christ so beareth his stars in his hande , that all men may easily see the old and onely true way that lust not to be blind : and yet with our aduersaries neither our Preaching nor Penning can any way preuaile , but that their whole trauel is by night and by day , by lande and by Sea , elsewhere & at home here not only to dimme the light of Iesu Christ by their false and heretical doctrine , but also by force and violence to remoue the stars that are in his hand , that they may no longer shine vnto vs : nay sith there is in them such zeale to their heresies : such hatred of the trueth , that they count themselues euen no lesse then halfe dead , that Sion lyeth not wast in the dust : yea and to that purpose aduenture not onely their lyms but their vncatholicke liues : content to turne their name of catholickes for the name of vncatholicke cutthrotes ; now by profession and practise refusing the sweete name of innocent Iesu for the traiterous name of Iudas to work out the matter , it belongeth to the magistrate , and to you to your power ( Right worshipful ) to help that way , least the vine of Christ doe lie wast by the means : for the Lords sake to catch Papists , for what are they but Foxes ? whereunto the rather to moue you , I shal not neede to remember you what the Fox hath attempted of old or of late against the vine , because of his liberty : all men doe know it , and al good hearts may lament and fear it , least the Fox attempt the like any longer , if that hee bee not taken in time and preuented . But for this thus , it were policy and piety to keepe the vine safe : but this being so , neither policy nor piety but pitiles impietie to let the Fox free , least the vine doe lie wast . You know what I meane : you know I speak trueth : and therefore for the Lordes sake looke to your charge & spare neither Fox nor litle Foxe , where you may come by them , but see that you catch them . Oh cut Papistes short of liberty : for what are they but Foxes ? In which case I do craue but your charitie , though dutie exact it . Howbeit if the light of Gods countenance bee deare vnto you , if the Golden Candelsticke of Christ be golden and glorious in your eies and among you , if your hearts bee glad to see these gladsome daies , wherein the Gospel of Christ , the very power of God to saue your soules is preached vnto you : shal I saie al ? if the state of our gracious soueraigne and vnder her of Christes deare Church be deare vnto you , then you should of your selues and readily looke to the Foxe and little Fox that looks for the contrary : to catch them betimes & to let them haue the reward of Foxes , least they catch you before your time & to your woe proue themselues to be Foxes vpon you : which day as they hope for , so if it should com ( which yet god forbid , as he hath forbidden these many years of his goodnes & infinit mercy ) yet then you would wish , though too late , you had taken the Fox . It were best therefore for al magistrats to be wise in time , least peril bring repentance when it wil be too late : and therefore diligently to enquire for foxes : namely for papists : & to let them haue neither liberty , nor life , where the vine of Christ maie stand in danger of wasting by them . For that is the cause why this precept is giuen . Oh but there is smal loue in your lips , wil catholickes say : nothing but cruelty in your mouth wil others say : to whom I answere that so shal obiect & that out of my last part , that ther is smal charity in them , whosoeuer they are , that would haue the fox spared where there is danger least the vine by the fox be wasted . For they that haue no loue to the vine may pitty the Fox : & in very deede there is none that wisheth the freedome of the fox , but he that wisheth danger to the vine . But herein I need not to answer much : I appeal to you al : whether euer the vine of Christ were in greater peril of wasting than now it is ? & why ? but because the Fox hath bin too long suffered & hath not by mercy & patience bin wonne but waxed worse , as experience & too too late hath made lamentable trial . Whereas if the fox had bin taken in time , his might & malice had quite been cut off , and the vine of Christ had been in better safetie : but for this onelie thus I saie . You knowe and see all what mischiefe hath come to the world , what daunger to the vyne , because the Fox hath not beene taken from time to time : and therefore hereafter for the Lords cause delaie you no time but see that you take them . Let the vine of Christ be deare vnto you , and spare not the Fox , least you lose the vine . Oh spare vs not Papists : for what are they but Foxes ? for this is the charity , that this my Text craueth of you : this is the charitie that yee owe to the vine : and if any spare the Fox to the daunger of the vine , that is no charitie but crueltie , and iustice wil be sharpe to punish it in the daie of iudgement , when all men shal haue no iudge but God , who is charity . Who will bee sure to smite home , if the Fox bee not catcht , that goeth about to wast his vine , but suffered to worke his spite vpon the vine . And surely sith our aduersaries are so eger to choake the wheat of God , that they the tares : to hew downe his greene trees , that they the drie stickes : to corrupt his sweete dough , that they the leauen : to slaughter his Lambes , that they the butchers : to wast his vines , that they the Foxes of Sathan the God of this world may rule & raigne once againe with their bel of Rome in the church of Christ : and bring in steede of knowledge , ignorance : in steed of light , darknes : in steede of truth , vntrue tradition : in steed of Antichrist , the diuel : and al to the vtter miserie of your estate , that now is blessed and happie : sith they slacke no occasions to bring this about , but euerie daie and euery way doe gape and grone for the last daie of this your comfortable condition in Christ our blessed Sauiour , as of al others , so among al and aboue al , of you ( Right worshipful and others of your calling ) I craue to your power a contrarie care : for the Lords wheat , that the tare doe not hurt it : for his sweete dough , that the leauen of Rome doe not sowre it : for his Lambes , that the bloodsuckers of sathan : for his vine , that the Fox doe not wast it . For ( to appeale to the consciences of you al ) if they fight thus for darknes , oh what ought you to doe for the light ? if they striue thus for ignorance , oh what ought you to do for knowledge ? If they doe thus for heresie , oh for the Lords sake doe you no lesse for the truth and eternal veritie of Iesus Christ : if they for Antichrist , fight you for Christ : oh defend his vine and suffer not the Fox to wast it . Oh saue the vine from Papistes : for what are they but Foxes ? But how shal you saue it , you wil perhaps saie : I haue answered and adde : permit them not free : take care to enquire and catch , and when they are taken , take care to keepe them from comming neere the vine . You haue authoritie to doe it : God and vnder him and for him our gratious Queene hath giuen you power to doe it : and if you shal vse it ( as dutie in these our daungerous daies doth earnestlie beg it ) the Fox I grant may curse you , but the vine of Christ shal haue cause to blesse you for it . Al which I doe not say or vrge ( Right worshipful ) so much to charge you with a dutie vnknowen , as charitablie to remember you of your dutie , which I know you doe know . For I doubt not but you know that God hath called you Gods , and that you ought therefore among men and for men to bee Gods , that you ought therefore to be lights : enimies to darcknes and al the seruantes of sathan the God of darknes : in a woorde , friends to the vine , but foes to the Fox : foes then to our vine foes , foes to Papists : for what are they but Foxes ? Nay I hope that you haue a speciall regarde of the vine and withal a good wil to worry the Fox . Onely therefore I am here to intreat you and that in the blood of Christ and bowels of his mercy , that this your godly care may increase : for the vine of Christ doth craue it , and if you remember neuer so little these our daies of danger , the subtil and the rauenous Fox himselfe of himselfe doeth force it . Although I might remember you , that these words which sound that way , are the words not of anie lesse man then of Salomon in the person of Christ the true Salomon , who hath chosen to himself of al women but one virgine , of all birdes but one Doue , of all Doues but one Turtle , of all trees but the vine , & that is his church whereof he hath such an especial care , that as he hath charged al men , so ( among & aboue al other ) such as are of your high calling to bee protectours of the same , to catch the Fox and little Fox , that hee doe not wast it , to catch the Popish Foxes , that go about to wast it . In fine , this is the charge that Christ heere giueth , Christ who gaue his life for his Church , his vine : Christ who shal iudge all : so that if either loue to his Church or feare of iudgement may preuaile , you are bound to doe to your best in this behalfe . Oh but some wil say it were wisdome for you to speak somewhat for the Fox , or els the time may come , when the Fox will requite your fauour . Whereunto I answere , that indeed flesh and blood taketh it to bee the best course to spare or at least in some sort to speake for the Fox , but wisedome commaundeth and charitie craueth that neither Minister doe speake for , nor Magistrate spare the Fox : and therefore Christ here requireth in the behalfe of his vine , that wee spare not to hunt and take the Fox , wheresoeuer , whosoeuer he bee , that goeth about to wast the vine . And as for that daie , which many men feare , indeed the Fox of Rome hopes to work it , but I hope we shal neuer see it : and yet if wee doe , our sinnes haue deserued it , and I would pitie the man most for his pitiful case , that hath spared the Fox , and al to find pity . For no doubt he that pittieth the Fox that pittieth not but laboreth to wast the vine , should find either in that daie the Fox pitiles , and if he doe , iustly : or if not , yet one daie a God , that will bee sure to punish the foxes friend and his vines foe . And therefore as for those politiques whosoeuer , that spare to catch the Fox that the Fox maie spare to catch them in his daie , when he coms to wast the vine : that their policy is intolerable iniury to the vine , & cruel dealing towards their owne soules , as without harty repentance they shall finde and feele to their vtter smart , when the maister of the vineyard shall come to catch and to bind for euer al Foxes , al foxes frinds , & foes to the vine . In a word : this their policy what is it but folly to be pitied to spare the waue , where the ship , the brier , where the flower , the wolfe where the sheep , the Fox where the vine of Christ is in danger ? nay to indanger al & that to the vtmost : that when the ship is drowned , yet the waue : when the flowre is faded , then the brier : when the sheep is deuoured , then the wolf : when the vine is wasted , yet the Fox a professed foe may proue a frinde : but oh politique , or rather fool , or rather foe to thy selfe whosoeuer thou art : O pittiles policy maie the vine say , the verie next way to bring me to the wast , thy selfe to the pray . Lastlie to draw to an end . Perhaps it wil be yet obiected that the Foxes are many , mightie and malicious , and therefore it wil be hard and daungerous to catch the Foxes that are in the lande . Wherunto I answere , that indeed so it is , and a miserie it is to consider , that the Foxe is so great , so mightie and ful of malice : our fathers haue had trial before vs , and the Fox of Rome hath spared to attempt no attempt in this our accepted time to proue himselfe no lesse vnto vs . But here ( Right w. and deare beloued to appeale to you al ) how came the Fox to bee so mighty , but because he was not taken in time ? and because pity to be pitied , ( what lesse may I saie of it ? ) hath made him mighty : and might hath made him the more malicious & hasty to bring our vine to the wasting : therefore haue you ( Right worshipful & others of your high calling ) nowe the more cause to catch them , least their might , and with their might , their malice doe increase and grow to further euill and woe among vs . God be thanked , where of late both his might and malice haue bin discouered , the Foxe hath had some whelpes taken , and they haue found in iustice the due rewarde of Foxes . And sith God hath beyond our desert brought the perillous practise and ●●…re pitiles purpose of sathan by them to the light , and ( as you al know ) that as yet the great Foxe of Rome hath many whelpes among vs , as some of the principals are taken , so take you the care as far as you can , to hunt for the rest . So wil you doe if the florish of the vine : if the vine of Christ be deare vnto you . So shal you doe what the true Salomon here craueth of you . In a word : you shall doe wel if you purpose it , but you shal do best & god wil highly blesse you if you practise it . In the meane time to perswade you thus I ende : the time it selfe doth vrge it : for the Foxe himselfe is rauenous : the vine it selfe doth craue it : for the state thereof is daungerous : and Salomon in the person of Christ ( who shal iudge vs al ) doth here require it , in whose name therefore I end as I began : take vs the Foxes and little Foxes , which destroy our vines and vine blossomes . To God the Father , the Son , and the holie Ghost , be al praise now and euer : Amen .